Confessions of A Lonely Girl

I have another secret confession.

I am a closet stuffer.  
Let me explain.  I like things neat and organized.  I like to have everything in order. But I also usually have multiple projects going on at any moment.  Plus, I often have days like this....

I believe I may have Age Activated Attention Deficit Disorder.

Anyway, I usually end up with piles of papers and other odds and ends everywhere.  SO, being that I like the appearance of order, I stuff these piles of papers and other stuff in closets.  Any closet close by. Sometimes I stuff things in drawers too.  I try to limit this stuffing to only two "junk drawers".  Then at least I can pretend that my world is in order, because everything looks cleaned up.

This.... bothers me and stresses me out, and yet is my continual state of household order.

But when I stuff all that in a closet, I can try to forget about the chaos.

If you walk in my house and it looks all neat and clean and organized, its a LIE.
And please don't open any cupboards, closets or drawers.  Things may fall on you.



So, continuing on in the Epic Adventures of  The Lonely Girl, the past couple of days have been torturous due to my closet stuffing.  You see, when your spouse deploys, there are a few important papers that you MUST keep close by.

Most important, besides the Last Will and Testament is the Power of Attorney.

 Believe it or not, there are SO many things which you (if you are a spouse) cannot do without it!  This week, I needed to transfer the lien holder of the title to my Jeep.  We refinanced it a couple of months ago, and of course everything took longer than it should.  I had to go to the DMV with a car title in the name of my husband and try to do business.  No cigar!  If you do not have a Power of Attorney, they won't even talk to you, even though it is for all intents and purposes MY CAR!

I thought I knew where I put the piece of paper.  Since it was so important, I put it in a special place.   I KNEW that I needed it for multiple purposes. It was not where I thought it would be.  Or any of the other safe places I have.   I spent hours tearing apart every room and closet.  (I actually used the opportunity to organize each place I searched.  I can now walk into my walk in closet, thank you very much)

Finally, after fretting and stressing, and totally falling apart emotionally, I checked one more place.  My art supply closet.  I usually don't put papers in there, other than art paper, but hey, why not?  And miracle of miracles, a pile of random papers were in there!  I feverishly ripped through them and lo and behold, it was there!
I started to sing the Hallelujah Chorus and danced around a bit. After a prayer of thanks, I gathered my papers and fled to the DMV to be rid of the blasted title.

How did it end up there? See, my in laws had made a last minute trip to see  The Chaplain off to Afghanistan, and I had cleaned before they came.
Which meant that I gathered any papers laying around and STUFFED them into the closet.  That is what closet stuffers do.   

I think I could go on about how this is indicative of a spiritual matter.  Of a personality that likes to stuff all their sins and faults away and put on a mask or facade of perfection.
But this is not me.
I just like my house to look clean.
Someday, my dream is to have closets which are organized and pretty.

And I hope to not stuff everything in them.  

If you are wondering what we are up to....

The end of summer is approaching fast.  At the beginning of CH-BOLC (Army Chaplain Training Course), it seemed as though 13 weeks would never end.  But now there is only three weeks left, and the last week, we will all be down in Columbia, spending the week at Fort Jackson.  The movers are arriving on August 9th to pack up.

We have been in a very fortunate position.  Since we live only 100 miles from Fort Jackson, where James is training, he has either been able to come home on weekends, or I have gone there. So, the basic training was  not nearly as difficult as it could have been. (for me, atleast, I wasn't the one waking up at 4 am to run and do extreme physical exercise)  Not only could I see him, but he was able to fix stuff that would break during the week.  And a LOT of stuff has broken.  The latest is the kids' shower head.  I couldn't turn of the water yesterday.  I envisioned a flooded house, and no way to sell the house after it was said and done.  Ransom was able to disassemble the faucet and stop the flow, but I am glad  J will be home this weekend to put a new piece on.  I really need to learn how to do that kind of stuff.

On August 17th, James will graduate from the course.  The Army gives us 10 days to move ourselves across country (all of our belongings will already be on the move) and on August 27th, he will report in to Fort Hood, Texas.  We will have to live in temporary housing (hotel) for atleast a few days.  We are on the waiting list for on post housing.

I am very proud of my handsome husband.  This is the culmination of  7 years of pursuing a goal, and not giving up.  It has been 2 1/2 years since he decided to pursue the chaplaincy.  It was a very, very long process including the year long ordination that is required for our denomination.
Out of the hundred and twenty something soldiers in training this summer, only 12 of them will be Active Duty, the rest are either National Guard, Reserves or part of a Candidate program (for seminary students). Out of the 12,  7 of them know for certain they will be deployed within the next few months.  James may be as well, we just don't know yet.  If he is, that is what he has trained and prepared for.  To be a support and a help for soldiers who  are in the midst of war.

At the banquet the other night, there were quite a few soldiers who were finishing up AIT to become Chaplain Assistants.  (Chaplains don't carry guns, so the Assistants are not only their constant aid, but their protection as well).  It was shocking how many of these young men and women had between 6 and 8 stripes on their arms.  This meant that they have been deployed for 3-4 years (6 months for each stripe).  If you have ever read the book Fahrenheit 541, there is a war going on but no one really talks about it.  There is a little bit of coverage in the news, but it is a distant affair which doesn't concern the average person.(until the end, that is).  That is how I felt that night.  That the reality of what our country is fighting is not truly understood by those of us living within our safer borders.  My point is that this war is real and affects a lot of families in this nation.  It is a serious undertaking that James will be involved in.  I know he is perfect for the challenge.  Although he is firmly planted in reformed theology, he is able to talk to and advise people of all belief systems.  He came away from CH-Bolc  with  friends who were Buddhist, Muslim, Catholic and most surprisingly, even a Baptist or two.  The different belief systems he was around all summer truly indicate the components of the U.S. Military.  In this job, you had better have compassion, love and understanding for those of different beliefs.  After all, Jesus did.  He showed love, compassion, healing, and support for those who needed him, regardless of nationality or religious background. If someone followed Him, it was because of His love for them, not because he told them they were going to hell for not believing in Him.

Now, we are just fervently praying that our house sells.  Quickly.  I didn't really think it would be a problem, I thought it would just happen smoothly, but now as we are getting into crunch time, I am starting to stress.  I really don't want to have to deal with owning property across country while we are starting a new lifestyle all together.  We could rent, but that is risky. And a pain.  Unless you know the people well, and I don't know anyone who is looking for a rental house.

I feel as though there is a lot more I could write, but I just wanted to update on the essentials.  The kids will be attending the public school system in Killeen Texas, where more than half of the students will be military kids.  I plan on keeping them active in sports, school, church, and transitioning everyone into this new life.  I will attempt to get my jewelry up on Etsy again and possibly find a few shops to sell in. Rose wants to take horse back riding lessons, and the boys are all of a sudden into skateboarding again.  Basketball camp next week, and then the big move.  Bring it on.