Cheers England! You've Been Grand!

The past three years in the UK have been amazing. Richard and I have traveled everywhere. Made friends at every turn. And developed a family we never foresaw having...

We learned a lot in England. It's where we learned to grow up and be adults. Where we learned all about real Whiskey. Grew to love a good beer in a good pub. Where we discovered the beauty of architecture, and the wonder of history. Where we learned some really good words to use when in... frustrating situations... Where our faith grew, and I discovered I could, in fact, learn how to play a musical instrument... So many amazing things happened to us while we were here, it would be hard to express them all accurately!

In seven days we leave on a six day road trip through Europe to our next base in Turkey. I sometimes cannot believe this life that I live...

There are a lot of different reasons why we are choosing to drive to Turkey. One is because it's a lot cheaper on us since we have our two big dogs. Approved airline crates and tickets would cost us upwards of $800 out of pocket, but putting them in the car with us will cost us very little. The government will cover most of the trip (if not all!). Two, who could pass up a vacation through France, Italy, Greece, and Turkey! I mean seriously! We found some amazing hotels for incredibly cheap that will let us have the dogs with no problem. We get to stay on the beach (I mean, looking out the window at water!) at three of our five hotels. Our route through Italy slices directly through wine country. Vineyards on our right, ocean on our left. It's going to be crazy, stressful, and such an adventure!

Before moving to England I never really had the gumption to travel and experience life the way I do now. Living in this country has given me the courage and self assurance to embrace the unknown world. I remember the day before I was supposed to leave America, I called Richard and told him I wasn't going to join him. I wasn't going to move to England. It was too unknown. Too scary. Too cold. Too rainy. Quite simply it was too much and I was terrified. Thank God I loved Richard enough to leave my amazing family and join him an ocean away. It has proven to be the best, most wondrous of adventures!!

In just a few short days we get to say "Cheers, England! It was nice knowing you!" Our next journey beacons us forward, and I cannot wait to start.

Every night of our journey I will post a short blog post about that days road adventure. I plan on picturing, videoing, and blogging this crazy trip we are about to embark on. I'll be posting from my phone so please forgive me the grammar and spelling mistakes I am sure to make in the future. I'm sure someone will point them out to me anyways, but I forewarned you!

If any of you dear readers have ever embarked on a similar journey or trip please comment with your advice or experiences! I'm always willing to learn from others...

In the meantime, I may update a post in a couple days. We are out-processing and saying all our goodbyes at the moment so there may be an emotional post coming...



Welcome to My Version of Life

Oh, Summer!

Wow.

It has been a long time since I have written! Like... 4 months...

A dear friend of mine messaged me today to say how much she missed my blog. I had been thinking about writing for weeks now Always coming up with a good blog title, or topic, and then...BAM... busy smacks me in the face... It's just been one thing after another that has stopped me! Today I said "STOP" to the busyness and "I am going to write!" to... well... no one in particular...

This summer has been crazy for the King family. Just to recap: I went to America with Rhapsody at the start of summer. 4 weeks, 5 states, 6 planes, and lots of hugs in between. Then we landed back in England only to be thrust into full blown summer! A hot summer no less! I led the worship/celebrations portion of VBS  which was an amazing and uplifting experience. When VBS ended we were immediately launched into trying to get everything together for our PCS ('permanent change of station' for the non-military speakers out there. AKA move.) to turkey. Now, THAT'S been a mess and a half!

We are finally seeing the light at the end of the very long tunnel we've been traveling through. Our rooms our booked, ferries booked, out-processing scheduled, passports and orders in hand. We are still struggling through getting our dogs cleared to travel (which is completely out of our hands now!) and trying to learn "pardon me, do you speak English" in at least 3 different languages...

Here in a couple days I'll write a post about our upcoming week long journey to Turkey and how we plan to drive through 4 countries in 6 days with our 14 month old and 2 dogs). I plan on writing a blog every day of the journey, but more of that to come! Seriously. You'll probably be tired of me by the time the end of October hits!

As it is now, I have written. It is late(ish). And my husband has sneaked off to bed without me (hehe. sneaked... funny word!). I'm going to go join him... sneakily... But I will see you all (figuratively) tomrrow!

Welcome to My Version of Life

Brag Post

I feel like getting my brag on at the moment. So, if you don't like braggers this is NOT a post for you!

My husband gave me ANOTHER reason to be proud to bear his name today. Staff Sergeant results came out for the Air Force... He made the cut!!! Sure, his line number (when he gets to actually sew on) is waaaay out there, but he also made it his first time! And when they only let 32% through, it's cause to celebrate! We honestly weren't sure if Richard was going to make it. He studied... a lot... but when it came to the test nothing he studied was ON it... We had a happy family dance in the living room for a good five minutes.

Rhapsody is just... amazing... She's been driving me more insane recently since she learned how to just SCREAM at me to get her way... But I guess that shows how smart she's getting... She is now a full time walker. All day long she walks around the house, plays with the dogs and climbs on top of her toys (sometimes recklessly!) I just see this awesomely smart, and adorable child coming out of her and it makes my heart swell with joy.

And me... well... I crocheted a cool headband today. Anyone want to buy some?

 Oh. And I took a pretty picture! I don't normally like my face (it's just the truth ya'll!) but I love this picture!

A Little Bit of Me

Blog Every Day In May

Day 11, Saturday: Sell yourself in 10 words or less

I kind of wanted to take a poll for today's post. I've never been  very good at selling myself, not even when applying for jobs! Jenni (the girl who started this month's challenge) just did a list. I like that idea. So here is my list of what I think makes me!


Creative.
Bold.
Musician.
Funky.
Playful.
Cheerful.
Hardworking.
Adventurous!
Loving.

And for lack of a tenth one I will use my husbands word. "Beautiful"

Welcome to My Version of Life

Get A New Job!!!

My baby turns 1 tomorrow... God. Where did the time go?

I am not one of those mom's who cry's because their baby is becoming a toddler. In fact, I am one of those mom's that welcomes it! I watched my daughter walk to me from the hallway to the couch in the living room without touching ANYTHING today. Joy people. Real joy. I won't have to carry the rascal for much longer! Just kidding... well... sorta.

So I hopped on me ol' bloggy here tonight to confess something to the internet world. Something I know every single mom has felt and I am sure there are a plethora of blog posts on it...

I am a bad mom.

For real. I seriously nearly had a mental break-down over this today. I get those email updates on 'where your baby should be now.' And it was all congratulating me on my baby hitting 1. Yay Me... wait. Yay Rhaps! Anyways. I popped onto the website to look up some other information and that's when the mommy forum loaded. I kid you not. It was these mom's comparing "well my SON walked TWO months ago and is now running..." and "my kid feed's herself..." and "we're still BF, don't know how any mom stops at 1..." and "we've completely transitioned to cow's milk..." Everywhere I turned it was mom's one-uping each other. Not being mean. Of course they were civilized. But I found myself reading these post thinking, "I'm a bad mom. I want to stop breast feeding... like... yesterday... and Rhapsody doesn't really say wooords, more like syllables that sorta make words that she uses often... Rhapsody can't really walk... She doesn't use sign language... She doesn't use a spoon... She can't recite her alphabet!... This is ALL my fault... I am a bad mom..." Seriously internet. You are one fantastic recourse, but you feed into my low self esteem so easily. All of my human and motherly fears can be brought forth by one minuscule email! I realized while I was reading all these mothers triumphs I was destroying all of mine... Why do we do that! Every decision we as mother's (and father's!) make will not only be ridiculed by people around us, but also by ourselves. This is not to say that sometimes you need to adjust how you parent if you come to realize you are operating in an unhealthy manner. However, why should I feel bad because of your kid's advancement? I shouldn't! My kid is AWESOME, and I am pretty awesome myself. I mean, dear god, I birthed that thing that now crawls screaming through my house, dropping toys (mostly not her toys, but I digress) into my toilet, and causing general mayhem! She rocks, therefore I rock. And you, mom who judges me (or dad... men read too... right?) well you person can SUCK IT. And to the freaky lady who lives in my brain... get a job that doesn't involve ridiculing me! Why don't you make me cheesecake and bring me wine? Seems like a better job for the internal me.....

Welcome to My Version of Life

Three Years...

3 Years, 2 Dogs, 1 Baby later....

Today marks the three year wedding anniversary of my husband Richard and I. I always see on FB how everyone changes their pictures to ones of their wedding, but I thought I would write a blog instead!

Three years ago today I stood in a tiny chapel in Bryson City, NC and said my vows for all my family and friends to see! We had legally got married on April 30th thanks to some circumstances involving the military and Richard's orders to England, but the 10th of July was the first time we got to say the vows together, and more importantly in front of the people who meant the world to us.

What honeymoon period? Maybe it's because Richard and I were together for nearly four years before we got married (by together I mean we were 'together' in a total teenage sense for a while before becoming "steady"), but I never really feel like we had a 'honeymoon' phase... In fact, I like where we are at in our relationship now so much more than when we began our marriage. We've both done a lot of growing up together. We have had some amazing adventures together. Everyday gets better! We are learning how to work more and more as a team as each week passes. And the sex is always getting better! (sorry mom! I know you read these blogs, but I had to brag a bit!)

I love that I married a man who is so similar and so different from me. My firecracker is tamed by his mellow. We share a love for music that is contagious. Richard is always teaching me new things. Heck, he even taught me how to play my first musical instrument, and how to keep a car running! And I know my big mouth is always teaching him something about the nonsense I know.

Now I will boastfully share the beautiful photo's from our wedding taken by our friend John Read at Read Creations!

There are alot... I had a hard time chosing my favorites!

           

The artsy fartsy ones come first! I love all of these pictures. They are quite simply just beautiful...

Pretty proud of myself here. These were the days before pinterest and we did alot of things ourselves! Including making the bridesmaid bouquets and the centerpieces!

All my bridesmaids! My two best friends Brittany and Kari, and my sisters Nina and Annie. I love all of these girls so much and am so thankful that they got to enjoy the day with me....

 One of my favorites of Richard and I...

My parents...

My foster parents. This was the church they were married in and I am so glad to have gotten married there as well. My sister also got married in this church a year after me. Words cannot express the love that I have for Jack and Carolyn. They were my rocks, and I look to them as my mom and dad. I am one lucky girl, I have so many parents! 

Richard's parents! 

Richard's grandparents. I'm pretty sure grandpa said something at the point just before the shot that made me laugh. That man is always making me laugh! 

 

My men! Richard and Richard. Richard Read was my husband's best man and is his best friend. 

Seriously ya'll, who is that girl? I have never felt pretty, but I really love this picture of myself. I feel pretty when I look at it...

  

The real center of this whole shindig! THE CAKE! Another mother in my life, Momma Read, spent hours, days, and weeks making this cake as our wedding gift. It was glorious.

Richard's idea. He'll be the first to tell you! We just love this picture!

I thought I would be cheeky and get Richard... Then when he came at me I ran. That's when Read grabbed me and held me for Richard to get me back! 

Meet Chuck... My 1987 Toyota Corolla that I simply loved. He was amazing. 

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And us now! Each a few pounds heavier, sporting some more wrinkles, but as happy as ever living this great adventure that the military has called us to! Ups and downs and pitfalls abound. We have trials and hardships a plenty but I love this man with all my heart. I love our dogs and our child. I love our life at the same time that I find myself cursing it. Here's to a lifetime more of adventure!

................

This next year of marriage is sure to be interesting! We have a move to Turkey to conquer and a trip home with a toddler. We have new friends to make, and too many goodbyes to contemplate. I know that hand in hand we can conquer anything thrown our way!

Welcome To My Version of Life...

Seriously Baby?

In our house Rhapsody gets to roam wherever she would like. When she leaves the room I'm in I just keep an ear out for her. This afternoon I was vacuuming the living room, when finishing I realised I hadn't heard my baby in a while. I walked about the house calling her name, looking in every room. Twice. I heard her call for me a couple times but I couldn't figure out where she was!! Then it hit me. The stairs. I walked down the hall and peered around the corner to the stairs and there my child was. Looking down at me. Big grin on her face and Nali dutifully beside her. Then Rhapsody began climbing down the steps. Like a pro. I swear! How much heart attack can one baby give! Her newest form of entertainment will surely keep me on my toes....