It Is Well

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Hello! I'm still alive! Sorry it's been a little silent around here since Thursday. We've been packing, running errands, planning, meeting up with friends for the last time, etc.

We move Wednesday afternoon! Like tomorrow! Eekk! 

We are closing up our time in North Carolina and unless WWIII breaks out, my husband's active service in the Marine Corps comes to a close (officially April 28th--we leave early thanks to terminal leave.) I'm sitting on the ground on a pallet we made with what blankets we didn't use to pack the trailer, next to my husband who's scrolling on his phone, with my laptop on top of a laundry basket that I'll fill with miscellaneous items. It's starting to become real, this whole--end of military life--thing.

We had to load the trailer Monday because Jaime had to get it weighed on base. We are thankful they help pay for the final move home!

Several emotions are running through us both right now. For me: excited, anxious, scared, uncertain, relief. Jaime said: happiness, worried, anxious, grateful, confused. As you can tell, we're both a little lost with what is to come after the military. You get comfy when you know you have paychecks coming twice a month. You don't worry about anything. Spend and save your money how ever you see fit.

I have a job to go back to when we get home. We are so thankful to my boss for holding my position at the Travel Agency. Jaime, however, gets the privilege as a civilian and citizen of America to pursue whatever career path he so chooses. He has his second interview with a company we think very highly of this Friday. (Say a prayer for us, if you think about it, it's at 1 EST) It would be a huge relief for us if this is the job God wanted Jaime to have. It couldn't have come available at a better time. If this isn't the job or direction Jaime should go, now we have more to think about.

Jaime is a great Marine. He would have climbed the ladder faster than most if he would have been a "lifer".  But he wasn't always happy doing what he did in the USMC. He missed being home with our huge families. We missed being together. Whatever he decides to do, I want him to be truly happy. Each and every day, I want him to get up and be excited with his career choice. He's the leader of this household and his happiness matters so much to me.

After this interview Friday, we have several more choices to make. Buy a home. Build a home. Buy land. Live in my parents apartment. Buy a farm. Buy cattle. Start a family. Buy Jaime his own dog. Save for a vacation. The list goes on and on. The possibilities are endless really. It's the fun and scary part of being a young newlywed couple with our whole lives ahead of us. We want it all. We want to do it all. Life can be so overwhelming. That's where God plays a huge role in my life as well as my husbands. There's too much to think about. I have to just give it all to God and let him handle it. It's so much easier on me and my mind.

I kind of just wanted to pour my heart out in my little corner of the world. It feels good to get it out there. All these changes coming has my mind racing in a thousand different directions. God hears and He knows it all. He wants to take my burdens and stress away, I just have to stop and let Him. Although we may not know how this week will end or how this year will, "even still, It is well."

If your curious where that quote comes from, it's a hymn by Phillip Bliss. I encourage you to read his story that lead up to this beautiful song. I've cried many times while singing this song. Only God can bring you the peace your soul needs to get through rough or trying times. I'll end the post with this song.

I'll be busy and running around this week and I apologize for my absence. Hopefully I can back on track and on a better schedule next week! We would appreciate your prayers for traveling mercies too! Thanks for bearing with me!

When peace like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to know,^a
It is well, it is well, with my soul.

Refrain:
It is well, (it is well),
With my soul, (with my soul)
It is well, it is well, with my soul.

Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
Let this blest assurance control,
That Christ has regarded my helpless estate,
And hath shed His own blood for my soul.

My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!
My sin, not in part but the whole,
Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!

For me, be it Christ, be it Christ hence to live:
If Jordan above me shall roll,
No pang shall be mine, for in death as in life,
Thou wilt whisper Thy peace to my soul.

But Lord, 'tis for Thee, for Thy coming we wait,
The sky, not the grave, is our goal;
Oh, trump of the angel! Oh, voice of the Lord!
Blessed hope, blessed rest of my soul.

And Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight,
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;
The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,
A song in the night, oh my soul! 

I just love that song. So so good. 

Making The Best Of It: Camp LeJeune Edition

I drove down to Camp LeJeune end of July 2013. I welcomed my new husband to our new home after not seeing him for 6 months while he finished his time being stationed in Okinawa.

Before moving here, I only heard the negatives about Jacksonville and Camp LeJeune. No one had positive things to say. That makes one a little more anxious about moving to a new state. But I've been taught, your attitude determine's everything in life. You can go into new situations with a bad attitude and you will hate it. Or you can "Bloom where you're planted!" like my grandmother has always said to all of her children and grandchildren.

Honestly, I didn't care where we lived. I was just thrilled over the fact that I actually got to be a 'real' wife and live with my husband. Finally! Jacksonville is the place where we finally got to enjoy the married life and experience so many new & unfamiliar obstacles: good and bad. I wouldn't trade our experience here for anything. Sure, I'd love to live in California, Hawaii, or Germany! But that wasn't what God had planned for us.

So we've made the best of it here!

Before, I heard the base was right on the water. I'm thinking a easy 10 minute drive from the house. I've never been to a base before, I had no idea the base housing we lived on wasn't even connected to the main base. The beach on base (Onslow Beach) is a 35-40 minute drive if you live off base. Thats about the same distance as going to any of the local beaches. So we have also visited two other beaches nearby: Emerald Isle and Top Sail. I don't know about you guys, but we love the beach. I do more so than Jaime whereas I could stay from 10-4 (sun time) and be perfectly content. Jaime would rather we stay 2 or 3 hours and go do something else. Regardless, we've put in some hours enjoying the beaches this area has to offer!

 Sometimes the ride to the beach is just as fun.

Going for a evening stroll on Emerald Isle after dinner.

Emerald Isle

Top Sail

The base alone as some free or very inexpensive activities to do! One Sunday afternoon we went kayaking! I've only kayaked in the ocean but never in the bay or a river. Way easier in case your wondering! We had the best time! We heard about it through word of mouth but I'm sure you can ask your husband's unit's FRO or go to here for more information. Trying to get this picture was difficult but worth it!

Kayaking on base

I cook most our meals but we have gotten out to explore a couple local restaurants near Emerald Isle that you must try. In this picture we ate at Ballyhoo's Island Grill. Their seafood was great! We've also ate breakfast at The Village Market in Emerald Isle; I love their omelets and coffee. There are a couple restaurants downtown Swansboro that we must try before we move! And of course, if you're in Cape Carteret, go eat frozen yogurt at the Fuzzy Peach--a wonderful local family owns and runs it.

I am a runner and I have some of the best views here on base! There are plenty of sidewalks all over to get those long or short runs in. I've ran on the beach,  on ice/snow, and on everything in between. No matter the weather, the view is always pretty! To help you find some trails for running, biking, family strolls in this area and its surrounding: click  TRAILS !

Jacksonville-Camp LeJeune Rail-to-Trails

Yes, that is ice forming on the bridge.

Felt like Snow White with all the wildlife coming out to cheer me on during my run. Deer--middle left.

Onslow Beach-Camp LeJeune

Emerald Isle Half Marathon May 2014

You are also close to major cities and attractions you can do in a long weekend. I've been to Washington D.C.; my husband did some training nearby for two weeks so in between those weeks, I drove up and spent two nights. We went to some museums, the zoo, and drove around all the monuments. 

National Museum of the Marine Corps-Quantico, VA

Smithsonian's National Zoo

I went to Myrtle Beach for a couple days while family was there. It's a quick drive with lots of places to eat, outlets to shop, and sights to see.

North Myrtle Sunrise

Just horse'n around.

I've also been to Savannah, GA for my first Marathon. That city has so much to offer and I can't wait to go back to explore more.

Historic District of Savannah

Forsyth Park Savannah, GA

There are two larger cities relatively close that are worth the drive: Raleigh and Wilmington! My husband took me to Raleigh to the outlets for our first wedding anniversary. It was nice to be in a big city that had any store you could think of. He also surprised me with a picnic lunch on the side of the road!

We've gone to Wilmington several times! There have more stores & restaurants and for a 45 minute drive, it's worth it to us! We've had lunch on the water & got to walk all over downtown. It's a cute historic city! You must come at least once while you are here! I think there are places around here where some movies/tv shows have been filmed. That would always be a fun thing to do with the girls!

So moral of this post: Being stationed at Camp LeJeune is what you make it to be. You get so much more joy making the best of your situation. Even I felt a sense of excitement by living here while I wrote this post! There's no question that I'm excited to go back to Kentucky but not because I hate it here. I have loved the memories we made/are making here.

Don't let those Negative Nancy's drag you down, you've got a fun life to live while you're here!