The Surreal Life

This is my third attempt to write this post. So much has happened this past week.

 I originally thought that I wouldn't have to write anything particular about my husband's job for me to write about our family's adventures.  I am not even sure how much is appropriate to discuss.  Of course, most details, I wouldn't even know.  There is a lot of confidentiality and all with his position.  And even now, I am not sure what is prudent or not.

But the tragedies which have hit James' battalion , and even his sister battalion, this past week are surreal.  And pointless.  And so extremely sad.  He will be holding his first memorial service within the next few days for three soldiers (one of them from the other battalion, two were his soldiers).  He has seen first hand what happens when despair and hopelessness take control of a person's heart and mind.  I don't really know how to support him or help him.  He is working hard at helping others with grief management, and host of other tasks that are before him.

On a positive note, he was able to give the invocation for a homecoming celebration on Sunday.  It was an incredible experience.  These soldiers were deployed for over a year, and the excitement and love in the building were so inspiring.  The funny thing is that as the soldiers entered, they did this smoke thing to build the excitement, and the fire alarms went off.  The whole ceremony (which was around 5 minutes long) was drowned out by the alarms, so no one heard a word of it.  Not that they would be listening anyway.... they hadn't seen their families for over a year!  Anyway, James can reuse the prayer he wrote and no one would know!

This weekend we will be going to San Antonio for a marriage retreat.  He will be teaching/facilitating the workshops or whatever they are called.  The Army believes that strong families = strong soldiers, so chaplains do a lot of marriage building events.  I am looking forward to taking some photos of some old missions and other sites.  I want to go see the Alamo too!

My dream world...

I have had some extremely vivid dreams the past two nights.  In them, I am in a park or woods or other beautiful place of nature, and I want to capture the beauty in a photograph.  By the time, I position myself, and get my Canon out, the scene has changed, or the lighting, and I miss the moment.  I don't know a lot about dreams, but I assume there must be some meaning to it.  Especially since the dreams are very colorful.  Last night, I kept on finding misty ponds with wildflowers growing around them.  The night before, I was in Hawaii (and I have never been there in real life) but I think I was really in Texas, in the way of dreamworlds.... and the ocean landscapes and waves were the boldest blues. 

In real life, I keep on seeing pretty things, but usually only have my camera phone with me, and I miss it.  I love my dslr camera, but it is big and bulky.

Since I don't want to forget them, I figured I would try to find some similar images online.  

This photo is very much like my Hawaii dream, but the waves were bluer and really big.

Anyway, this is not what I usually blog about, my dreams, that is, but that is the beauty of blogging.  Maybe these dreams are more about my desire to see the world, and the ability to see more now, being part of a military family.

Texas Musings

One would think that being a bohemian at heart, one month of living out of suitcases wouldn't be too difficult.  The movers took our stuff on August 9th and tomorrow on September 5th is when we will have our boxes and furniture delivered.  It is a long complicated boring story.  Next move, I hope to move ourselves.
So, before I receive the sea of boxes, I wanted to jot down some reflections. Texas is so beautiful.  Here is the lake which is right off Post, which offers every type of outdoor recreation imaginable for military families.  Everything from horseback riding to paintball to huge water slides. 

Texas is more beautiful than I had thought it could be.  The sky is large and beautiful, and unlike the big sky of Wisconsin, (where we lived for five years) it is full of color.  In the day, bright blue with large fluffy white clouds.  In the evening, pinks, yellows and every  other imaginable hue.  (Did my best trying to capture it while riding in a moving car with my phone).

The flowers and plants are awesome.

Some prickly pear and a hidden trail behind my house.....

The schools on post are very nice, and very close.  Walking distance, but since the times for the elementary and middle school are not staggered, I am still trying to figure out how to get both kids.  Ransom has a 45 minute bus ride to school, but he doesn't seem to mind.



 This flowering tree, whatever it is, is so pretty....


We have a quiet, tranquil backyard with a gorgeous view of the golf course.  So far, Ethan is learning how to golf in the back, and Ransom is skate boarding every day.

There are so many thoughts in my head right now, but I think this is good for now.  A week with no internet survived and ready to blog some more artsy stuff once I am unpacked.

 And for the most important part, James.....
he is a Battalion Chaplain and he has around 1600 soldiers to serve.  He was made for this job. But it is not going to be easy. Anyone who has family in the military or has served in the military knows what challenges he will be up against and the situations he will be trying to aid. So if he is in your thoughts or prayers... THANK YOU!