God Roots

Our Current Home & God's Promise...a beautiful banner of Love.

We are a nomadic family.

We move, on average, every two years. And... to the average person, that seems insane. Maybe it is. =/ But we're making it work. Our travels have taken us almost around the globe and we try to make the most of every station we're anchored to.

In the same way, I try to make the most of every house we land in. Often times, we have no control over the place the military puts us. Generic shoe-box homes that you can barely squeeze your queen-sized beds into are typical. Just look at our last place!

 As you can see... cracker box!  Literally. That thing was 1042 square feet and over 60 years old. And when we got there, the yard was as TAN as the paint on the siding. Ugg.

But, it is what you make of it. 

So I watered the heck out of the grass and planted tons of drought-resistant stuff (pictured here in its baby stages). The beds bloomed into life and we were a little prouder to pull in the driveway.


Thankfully, we have since moved on from the flowery cracker box and into a much larger and more modern place. I have to say, it's the nicest military housing we've ever lived in. When the housing lady told us about the place she apologized that it was not new... "It was built back in 2007." 
Whaaaa? Are you kidding me? New is anything built after the 1940's!! We'll take it!

And so here we are.
Before we moved out here to this rock, I was worried about what our housing situation was going to be like. How can you blame me...leaving out of what we did? Would we get a newer place? Would it be big enough? Would my washing machine have to sit right next to my stove again? (Yes, my kitchen doubled as a laundry room in the cracker box.)
But then I remembered something...

 God has a plan for us.
...and further more... He has ALWAYS provided for us. Always. Every place we've been, every home we've lived in..has always been enough. Usually, it was more than enough. When I realized this, all worry ceased. I became confident in the Lord and what he had in store for us. We were headed to this rock for a reason. I needed to embrace it all with a faithful heart.

There is this verse:
Hebrews 6:18 "God cannot tell lies! And so his promises and vows are two things that can never be changed. We have run to God for safety. Now his promises should greatly encourage us to take hold of the hope that is right in front of us." (CEV)

When I saw the rainbow brushed over the sky above my home yesterday I was reminded of this...  God is faithful to his children. His rainbow, a promise made thousands of years ago, also serves as a reminder of his Faithfulness and Grace. When I see it, I am reminded of His constant Love and Protection. I am grateful for every place that He's planted us. 

Some might say that our little family's roots are in Texas. And they might be right. We love us some Texas! And can't wait to move back there one day. But really, what we have are God Roots. He plants the seeds for growth in our lives... not always where we planned, or predicted... It is up to us to take hold and trust in Him.

So in the spirit of growth and home... Here's a little something that I've been working on... trying to nurture what I've got to work with... Where my current God Roots are. =)

 This is the back patio.. or I could be fancy and call it a lanai. =D  I built the little lattice fences because we're on the corner...right where everyone and their grandma's dog walk/drive by. I wanted to sit on the patio and have a smidge of privacy. Plus... they're long horn orange! YAYA!

The bougainvillea is my favorite plant that I'm currently growing. White is pretty unique in Hawaii... you usually see hot pink, orange, purple, red... it lines the highways. Right now, my pretty plant is about 6 feet tall. I've had passersby complement the plant... I guess I'm growing it right? haha

And there is my side yard Rainbow Shower tree...as seen through my hangy ferns from the lanai. (ogh.. I was fancy right there.)

Front Porch Planters!

Look at my baby Plumbago plant!!  I had a monster one growing at the cracker box house..it was on the other side of that wall with 2 stars. The dark brown planter is something I slapped together (I'm not exaggerating here) one day with left overs I found in the garage. I am quite happy with how it turned out.

This is today's Project 365 photo.

It's the Mexican glass wind chime that my mama brought back for me on one of her recent-ish Cozumel trips. 

Its delicate tinkling reminds me of the glass chimes my Granmommy has always had under the vent in her kitchen.

I love these chimes.

As you can see, my little butterflies hang on the back patio near the hangy ferns. They're neighbors with another set of chimes that my mama bought for me. It doesn't feel like "home" with out those chimes...

Their soothing melodies will seriously put you to sleep on a breezy day.

Home really is where you make it.

Joshua 24:15
"But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD."

Related
Also read: Home in HI

Pizza Kitchen

The other day, My Love asked me to make my home-made pizza for lunch to feed him and his work buddies. 3 pizzas please by 11:30 am. My initial reaction was to panic... how could I get to the store, shop for ingredients, make the dough, prep everything, roll out, assemble, bake...and then transport!!! everything and maintain its heat? UGG. His "office" is 20 minutes away. There is no way, I thought.
But then my brain stopped spazzing out and I calmed and said, "of course I'll do it for you Babe." 

So 8:40 am rolls around and I mix up the dough and set it to rise for an hour (see the white covered bowl?) while I go to the commissary to grab the toppings. The store is pleasantly empty at 9am in the morning. Only a few retirees and their wives and some early bird mommies are browsing the isles. Nice!! I was able to zoom through the produce section and fly through the meats in a fraction of the time that it usually takes me. And I only almost rammed someone else's cart once! The icing on top of the grocery store cupcake... self check out was EMPTY!! Commissary Heaven!

9:30am: back at home. But due to some little girls I know... groceries are not unloaded until 9:45. Ah!  But never fear... as you can see, I got it done.

Cheese, Italian sausage, pepperonis, ham, bacon, mushrooms, bell pepper, tomatoes, spices, tomato sauce, foil trays and hot/cold bags! 

That's right. I figured out my transporting/heating issue while

blasting through the baking isle. I just hoped it would work. 

9:50 am. Prep work begins. 
They requested half of a veggie/supreme pizza and half with no pepperoni. The other two should be just meats. Easy enough.
So while the sausage was sizzling under pressure (cause I put a lid on..hehe) and the bacon was broiling (cause it just better that way!)... I chopped the veggies and mixed up the sauce.

  I have been making home-made pizza for FOREVER. My mama started making this pizza back when Balki and Larry and the Dinosaurs were part of T.G.I.F.
You remember... "Not the Mama! Not the Mama!"
I loved Friday nights when I was little. Always helping Mom mix the sauce, place the pepperonis... sitting on a beach towel in the living room to eat while Steve Urkel pined after Laura. Good times. Good memories from then. Now, we don't have T.G.I.F. traditions in our home...but I still make the pizza way too much and the girls eat on top of towels. =)

10:10 am. Time to punch down the dough. Look at that! ==>
Perfectly risen! Yaya!
I added some garlic and oregano into the yeast-water mixture. Ok...lots of garlic. I love it.

 

Rolling out the dough in cornmeal gives it a nice crunch after it's baked. And works better than flour in keeping the dough from sticking to the board.

10:20 am. Time to assemble the pies!

This is the longest part of the process. But it's also my favorite. I consider myself a Pizza Artist. Yes I totally just made that up. Each creation is unique and spectacular! Below is the half veggie/half no pepperoni pie. I love using my baking stone for pizza. The crust comes out perfect almost every time.

I also use the air-bake pan if I'm making more than one pie. It does a pretty good job. That's one of the meat pizzas sitting in queue.  So pretty.  I have another pizza pan...that I only use in emergencies...like this day. I don't like that one. It is lame. So you don't get to see it. =/

Did I mention yet that pizza is the best food on the planet?!
It is.
Smelling all of this yumminess started making my stomach growl...but since it would be bad form to deliver a half-eaten pie to those hard-working men, I pulled out a granola bar instead. Protein! Energy!

10:45 am. The first pizza comes out of the oven. Gorgeous! But... I am pushing it. I'm supposed to be walking out the door in 15 minutes. Each pie takes a good 12-15 minutes to bake!

Waiting...

...waiting...

11:02 am. Husband calls. 

Just checking if I'm on the way. I am not. Sorry dude. 3 pizzas is a lot more work than our regular ONE. But he's precious and sweet and says, "just give me a shout when you're here and I'll come carry it in!"  

And just so yall know, he did invite me to eat  with him and his friends...but there was no way I was going to let any of them see me in the state I was in... 

Pig Dog.

As the pizzas emerge from the oven one at a time, I cut them and layered them into the foil turkey trays. Then...to hopefully keep them warm-ish on the trip, I place them in hot/cold bags. Support the Troops. Appropriate for the diners. =) Yah!

My mom always taught me to clean and put away as I go when I cook. It saves on the cleanup in the end. Hm... well today, I could only half-way follow directions. All the spices and flour and garbage was put away and disposed of in process, but the dishes...yah.... 

11:24 am. I am so late. Supposed to be there in 6 minutes. Yah right!! But all the food is packed up and ready to go. I kiss the girls and throw carefully place everything in the truck. I text Handsome.. "Leaving NOW" and hit the road. This is going to be the longest 20 minute drive EVER. 

Well, I make it 14. Shhhh! 

And as I hand the pies over to My Love, he yelps because the bags are so hot. Mission Accomplished. 

I am making the kids do the dishes when I get home. ;) 

My Other Man

My Daddy came to visit me for a few days on his way to the Big Island of Hawaii. His beautiful wife was rewarded with a trip to Kona by her company for her valuable and rather badA$$ contributions. So they stopped through Oahu for a small chunk of days...because coming to Hawaii with out seeing us would have been...well, unforgivable...ish. Ha! ;)  

I haven't been off this rock since I moved here a year and a half ago and haven't seen my Daddy in just as long. I miss him so much...I miss everyone. But sometimes I just NEED a hug from my Dad. I need to look at his face. I need to see the man who has been my protector and counselor and home...and just feel like his little girl again. Neither of us are very good phone-talkers... being in his presence is much better...silence between us is never awkward; it is comfortable. He emanates love. His looks and facial expressions can simultaneously frighten and warm the soul. =) hehe. This is something that those closest to him know well. He is an amazing man... 

I have not lived near my family in over 10 years now. And I have never felt true home-sickness until I moved to this island. This little taste of "home" only fed it more. Now...I am ready to go back "home" and be near MY people again.

So, since I am playing catch up in Project 365 (I felt visiting with family trumped blogging these days passed, though, I made sure to take pictures each day...) my Wednesday, Day 5, photo will be this...of me and my Daddy...My Other Man....The First man in my life. 

Day 87 - A picture of someone you grew up with

This is a photo of a photo... I think Grandma did it. =) These are the people I grew up with. The Hearron Cousins!


We all did everything together. In the later years of our "childhoods" our time together grew further between...but all of us have amazing, fun, loving memories of our time together. Grandma and Papa Bill always made that possible! Our parents always brought us together, dressed us alike and promoted deep family bonds...that I think we all still feel! I miss seeing my cousins! Precious people.

From left to right: Alisabeth, Samantha, Bryan, Seth, Brandon, Meeee
Danielle
Mandi, Lauren (and that is pronounced Law-ren!! get it right!), Sheldon, Tiffany, Tracey

Back to the 100 Day Page

Home in HI

These past couple of months seem like such whirlwind to me now, as I knew they would. Since that last moment, we've been re-united, had 6 Christmases, a New Year, a wedding, a funeral, 2 engagements, a major surgery, a move overseas...

Now as I type, very sleepily I might add, from within my new home at our new base-I am again grateful and blessed. God does come through for us, every time, regardless of form. This time we get to live in a breath-takingly beautiful place and we have a nice ((new)) roof over our heads. I'm so happy with the house that we ended up in. It feels right. It feels comfortable. We've only been living in this place for a week now, but I can already sit here in the living room and look over at the kitchen and feel like I've done that a thousand times before.

I guess that's part of being a nomadic family. The instant "home" you feel through your new front door. Granted, that has not always been the case. At our last base, we felt comfortable enough but that house was not really and truly home. Time will tell if this new one will be. I feel as though it maybe already is.

The girls have already made a ton of friends, as they always do. Luckies. It's so much easier for kids...kids all over the place at school and in the neighborhood. They have the ability to just walk up to a kid and say, "hey, want to play/be friends?" And then viola! BFF's.

Can you imagine the crazy lady that knocks on people's doors saying, "hi, I'm new here. Want to be my friend?"

No. It's tougher for us. Military Wives as a whole have a ton in common, and it's natural for us find each other and eventually become friends... but the waiting for those moments to come stinks.

We got lucky this time, and the 2 bases before this-come to think of it...that we had some friends already stationed here ahead of us.
See, another testament as to how God is taking care of us. ((THANK YOU LORD!))

OH! So get this. Hawaiian guys that were delivering our HHG's were telling us all sorts of goodies about Hawaii. A few hours into our Stuff-Delivery-Day, a big fat giant moth lands on our screen door. I commented on it's giantness and Hawaiian dude tells me that those moths are special. Hawaiian people believe they represent ohana,family, spirits and are good signs. They never kill them.
Hours later, after Hawaiian dude is gone, My Love and I are in the garage and see another giant moth just chillin' on a box.
I guess that must mean we are home... and welcome. E Komo Mai!