Climbing Trees at the Ranch House

How does a country girl raise country kids in the city? We have to go looking for the country. The Ranch House on Camp Pendleton is a perfect patch of "country". Full of open space and climb-able trees. No better way to pass some time than running, climbing, and chasing grasshoppers. That's my kind of fun.

One of my favorite parts about growing up in the Midwest was the open space. As kids, we could roam free without too much concern from our parents. We were surrounded by nature; in fact, many times it was the only thing we had to do was play outside in nature. We made stuff out of rocks, leaves, sticks. We dug holes and climbed trees. We made a game out of jumping back and forth across the creek without falling in. We were creative and adventurous. We had fun.

I miss that for my kids. My kids have lived in California for almost their entire lives. There was a short three year tour to Japan, otherwise we've only lived in San Diego. Nature is limited in the city. Rocks are found in landscaping. Dirt is covered with mulch. Trees aren't allowed to grow big enough to shed any sizable leaf. Creeks are drained and filled in. Bottom line...it's just not the same.

Where there is a will, there is a way. If you look hard enough, you can find the country here. California isn't just shopping centers and freeways. Right off the interstate you will find a windy road. Nine times out of ten the windy road will lead you to the most picturesque place you have ever seen. There you will find some rocks, a tree to climb, and a creek to hop over. You will realize California isn't so bad. And you don't want it to fall off into the ocean afterall.

We Are Not Rednecks!

On Friday, my daughter and her friends were hanging out upstairs at the computer. They were creating PowerPoints about random stuff. Yes, this is our idea of fun.

I hear my daughter talking to her friends. She is saying, "You can't marry your first cousin, but you CAN marry your second cousin." 

What?!? Who the heck told her that?!?

I yell up the stairs. "Ky, please stop telling your friends they can marry their family. We are from Iowa not the backwoods!"

Oh my goodness...I swear I did not tell her it was ok to marry your cousins! Not even if they are your second cousin!



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BTW...State name was omitted to avoid controversy about where it may be acceptable to marry your second cousin :)

Gratitude Journal

 At times our own light goes out and is rekindled by a spark from another person. Each of us has cause to think with deep gratitude of those who have lighted the flame within us." -Albert Schweitzer 

When I found the above quote, I knew it needed to be in this gratitude post. I feel like my light is a slow burning ember right now. This crazy roller coaster called deployment catches me off guard some days. I'm doing ok. I'm not having particularly high or low emotions. I kind of feel I may be in my groove; unfortunately, the groove is even-keel more than anything. I do what I need to do. I'm silly with my kids. I socialize with the neighbors. I converse with my friends and family. But, overall, I think I'm just ticking off days on a calendar.

I don't think it would be surprising to say deployment is lonely. Not because I am alone but because I'm without a very key person in my life. My grandma always says you can be in a room full of people and still feel alone. I guess that is a good analogy for deployment.
As I sit to write this gratitude post, I am deeply grateful for those people Albert Schweitzer talks about. People who continue to "rekindle" my slow burning ember with their spark. 
I am thankful for... a cup of coffee with a friend. Hugs from my Bible Study gals. An invitation to come see the new office from old co-workers. A phone conversation with my "adopted" little sis. A phone call from my actual little sis. And from my mom. My morning text messages from a dear friend. A walk with the neighbor. Happy kids. Sweet comments on a blog post. Encouraging emails from hubby.
These are my sparks when months of deployment feels like years. I am so grateful.   
Linking up with {Bee}autiful Blessings

Sunday Gratitude LinkUp #3

Welcome to the weekly Sunday Gratitude Linkup. 
I hope you are linking up today to share your gratitude, thanksgiving, or reflection posts. For many months, I have been posting my gratitude journal every Sunday. I use a gratitude journal to keep me thinking more positive, especially when I'm not feeling so blessed. Recently, I began the Sunday Gratitude Linkup to invite other bloggers to do the same. I hope you will join me!  

Here are a few simple guidelines to keep true to the Gratitude Linkup:

Post your 'gratitude post' URL, not your blog URL. Click on the title of your gratitude post, copy the URL from the address bar. Paste into the Inlinkz. 

Link back to this blog in your post. Grab the Adventures of a Semper Fi Family button or use a text link. What is a text link? It's 'linking up here' kind of thing. This will help spread the word about the Sunday Gratitude Linkup and give others a chance to participate.

Read others gratitude posts, leave a comment, and encourage them to continue posting.

Let the gratitude overflow! And thank you for joining me!

Confessional (Insta)Friday: Halloween Recap

I am sure we can all agree this was a busy week. It is fun to start the week in one month and end in the next month. It makes me feel like I am accomplishing something.  Not to mention, we celebrated a holiday in mid-week. Bonus! 

My phone pictures documented the changes so well. I'm always snapping pics and posting to Instagram. Why don't you join me? I'm @semperfifam. I will follow back!

I confess...I'm a pizza snob. There I said it. It's embarrassing but I'm not a fan of "cheap" pizza. It's just not my thing. My kids love cheap pizza though. And I will buy the $5 pizza when I'm in the mood for salad. Last weekend we found a great local pizza place with possibly the best pizza around. A total success.

I confess...cleanliness will kill "best" anything for me every time! The pizza was great but the tables were sticky. I'm giving them the benefit of the doubt because it was busy. Next time, I packing the Clorox wipes. Not even kidding!

I confess...our next stop was Barnes & Noble. My favorite place to kill time. Much like Target, it's entertainment.

I confess...it works for me because I'm a book junkie. Library or book store, I don't care. I can spend hours. However, I usually buy a book which defeats the purpose!

I confess...this time I found a great book called A New Teenager By Friday. I really need to read this book. When I opened to a random page,  there was the below list. Um... This Is My Life!
"Likes and dislikes are as changeable as a lightbulb." Yes!! 

I confess... I participated in my first blog swap last week. I was a little worried. I even emailed my partner to make sure we were still good before sending my package. I didn't get a reply due to an email goof and decided to send the box anyway. I got my package early this week. It was filled with such wonderful things including a owl mug. My daughter has laid claim to it. Owls are her favorite (this week).

I confess...I'm teaching myself to sew. And it ain't pretty. Honestly. Crooked seams, bunching fabric, broken thread. It happens! But this week, I finished my 9th baby burp cloth. Woohoo!

I confess...Halloween crept up on me this year. On Monday, I had two costumes to put together and a three pumpkins to decorate. No big right?

I confess...I got everything accomplished by 4:30pm on Wednesday. Nothing like waiting until the last minute. But the kids had a blast and loved their costumes. There was a Pokemon Trainer, a StormTrooper, and a cute witch. They were adorable. Do your kid(s) love Halloween as much as my three children? It's fun to watch their excitement.

I confess... November 1st is officially Halloween Clean Up Day. Unlike my children, I am not a big fan of Halloween and I am ready to move on. Up went my very limited Thanksgiving decorations and Halloween decor went into storage. 

I confess... the Halloween pumpkins still remain on the front porch. Not sure what to do with them. Would it be terrible to find a hiking trail and smash them? My kids would have so much fun!

I confess... I'm excited another weekend is here. Which means another Sunday Gratitude Linkup! Every Sunday I post my gratitude and recently made it a link up for other bloggers to join. I would love for you to join me! I am just beginning to build this community of bloggers; I would love to grow and create a positive link up for all!

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