The Paustenbaughs

Documenting a Move

During our recent move I realized I had never snapped any photos during any of the 8 moves we have gone through so far.  It still amazes me each move how quickly our house goes from completely full to not a stitch of our belongings in sight.  It's amazing how it all gets done with little packing on our part!

This past move I decided to get my phone out and snap a few photos throughout the week as it progressed from full to empty. I knew I had to document it to use with the new Ormolu Days of the Week Flair (love those!)

Of coure around Thursday my heart starts getting really heavy, especially when I know it's a place we'll never come back to again.  We were in this house twice, which is rare in the military, and we had a lot of memories here.  Babies crawled, teeth were lost and new health choices were made. Lots of good memories.

I know with each move we make more happy memories and new milestones are reached, but with each one it also gives us time to reflect on how we've grown and what great things are to come for us.

Happy To Be "Home"

At least our temporary home right now.  We survived 24 hours of travel and have arrived safely in Okinawa, Japan!  So happy to have the flight behind us.

We went from looking like this:

To this by the end of it all (someone is smiling, but BEYOND tired!):

We spent the first full day here just trying to keep ourselves awake.  We powered through and made it to 8 pm local time (yay us!).  We did just a wee bit of exploring within walking distance and Ella was excited to find a tiny little zen garden she could do some "meditation" in:

The girls are excited to be here, which makes us all the more excited.  We always worry about how they'll adjust, and although it's only been 2 days, they have come in with a great attitude and that is going to help tremendously.

We went off to explore the beach since we have talked and talked about it and it was a much needed break from meetings, checking in and being extremely tired.

The girls were in their element and so happy to be close to a beach again.  I know we'll be spending lots of time at all the various beaches around the island.

Did I mention we're so excited to be here?!  Lots more photos to come, but for now we're trying to keep ourselves up until 8:30.  We're a wild and crazy bunch!

 

Feeling Overwhelmingly Blessed

For meeting and getting to know them:

I always know when I move that I will make friends, but I do worry about meeting just more than passing friendships.  I value my friendships, probably even moreso because I have to get up and leave them every 2-3 years.  I value those that truly get to know me and yet still love and appreciate me! I value those that continue our friendship after I am hundreds or thousands of miles away.

I value my work life and the friendships I have made this time at my job:

What started as a lunch bunch grew into full friendships with so much laughter that my cheeks and stomach hurt after everytime I hang out with them.  Our school is going through a lot of changes for next year and I won't be the only one leaving lunch bunch, but all of us will.  This was our farewell and "see you later" weekend before we all head off.  I so appreciate it and the time we had together.

Friends aren't hard to find, it's the true long lasting friendships that are hard to find and keep.

That's what I will miss as soon as that plane is wheels up in 3 weeks.

I feel so fortunate to have met such amazing women who have made an impact in my life. 

I know, tears will be free flowing for a few weeks!

Numbers, Numbers Everywhere

I have a new layout up for the Ormolu Blog today using numbers in our life right now. I did a layout like this a few years ago about the numerology in our lives at the moment, and since our lives change what seems like every week I thought it was time to do one again.  Let's just say I got a wee bit crazy here and it went a little out of control.  I'm just warning you!

See? I told you so!

It started out innocent enough with some simple color blocking, then well, let's just say I may have had a manic moment and things got a little out of control here! 

Anyway, this is our life right now in numbers.  In 2 years these will all be different once again and this is why I actually used the "one of a kind" flapper as well.  I wouldn't trade this one of a kind life for anything.  Yes, even in the midst of super stressful moves, I am still in it for the love of it.  I may not know what to do when these numbers one day stay the same for many years.

On a totally side note, I think I need a thousand of these Studio Calico letters now.  I misted them lightly with Schoolhouse and love the contrast.

Have a good Thursday!

Fashion Show Time

I'm going to switch gears today and go from sappy to sassy!  2 weeks after we get to Japan we will be attending my husband's change of command ceremony.  I'm determined to find a dress here because I will be sleep deprived and have no idea where to shop once we get there.  I'm just hoping to make it through the ceremony without getting drowsy! 

So I'm turning to you and my friends here to help me choose one (yay you!).

Some things to consider when looking at these:

**I'm a sweaty, sweaty gal.  Seriously, I have no idea why. When I think about trying not to sweat, I sweat even more.  I'm sweating right now just writing about it!

**It will be about 80-90 degrees with 1000% humidity.  Ok, maybe not 1000%, but it's horribly, horribly humid there.  (This obviously links to the Sweaty McSweaterson factor).

**Terry is taking command of a Battalion, meaning he is "the boss", meaning all eyes are on us that day, meaning I'm just sweating thinking about all those eyes on me.

 

Ok, on with the fashion show! The ridiculous poses are on purpose to get through this - I would make a horrible model..  Oh, and I have absolutely no idea what is up with those awesomely large calves-weird.

1.  This one is from Ann Taylor Factory Store:

2.  From White House Black Market

3.  J. Crew Factory Store (not sure how I would feel about the shoes with this)

 

4. J. Crew (from a dear friend willing to give me this great dress):

Ok, time to vote!!  I can't decide and no way I can keep them all-mama spent a little too much on a shopping spree on Saturday!

Thanks everyone!

Final Countdown

We are at just 10 weeks until I'll be sitting on a lawn chair and watching my belongings get packed to travel 8000 miles away.  It's that time in the moving process where emotions start taking over and I get extremely sentimental and well, let's just say it-sappy.

This happens each and every time, even at the duty stations where I may not have the best memories.  I always make some good friends and it is definitely hard to think about not seeing them on a regular basis.

Now is the time that I plan and relish in lunches, get togethers, coffees, girls night outs and just plain chatting with someone.  Somehow most of my recent outings have been planned around cupcakes!

I really value these true friendships and will miss them so much, especially during those first weeks of a new move when I don't know anyone and have no connection yet.  And it's these true friendships that I try to focus on during these last weeks and not those friendships that are there out of convenience.  I've been burned more than I care to count from women who pretend to be my friend, then ditch me as soon as something better comes along. Those I can do without.

Lots of plans are being made for getting together before I leave and quite frankly, just hanging out with my friends is all I need.  Lots of laughing, talking and maybe a fair amount of wine too!  That's what I'll miss-just being with those that matter.

What I'm looking forward to the most is having our family together, in one house, and not through a computer screen.

After 8 months of being separated during the week, it is definitely taking it's toll on us, especially a certain 7 year old someone who has taken to acting out recently.  we are so ready to be together again, have dinner at the same table, and just giggle and share together like we do best.

I'm ready to go, but also doing that super slow walk to the finish line and grasping every bit of friendship along the way.

Too Easy

Pardon the lack of crafty projects this week!  I've been diligently working on a summer mini album that is taking about as long as I expected-a really stinkin' long time!!

But in the meantime, you can head on over to Write.Click.Scrapbook today for a chance to win some yummy Ormolu goodies in today's giveaway!!!

 

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So today we take the plunge.  Our house is officially for sale and I'll be biting my nails until an offer comes through and we are signing paperwork to hand it over to someone else!  I really love this house and will remember it with such great memories for our family, but it's time to let someone else make great memories and make it their own.  Bittersweet for sure.

And the title of the post is too easy because that's how things are happening for this around the world move for us so far-WAY too easy.  It's the kind of too easy that has me looking over my shoulder to see if someone is behind me ready to drop a road block.

As with any major changes in families, not just military, you always prepare for hurdles and road blocks along the way.  And since we move what seems to be almost every Tuesday, then more hurdles and road blocks are presented.  We've had none so far.  Paperwork is going through.  Appointments are kept.  Movers are scheduled.  People are answering emails and phone calls.

Weird I tell you.

Oh those hurdles will come. They always do and we'll be ready!

For now we ride the wave and enjoy the time we have left here with our friends and in this area.  We wait for the hard part to get here!

And because I hate a post without a photo:

Is there a doctor in the house for the crazy person?

52 Week Challenge: New

Last year in the spring I ventured over to The Bloom Forum because I wanted a place to go and learn more about photography and it didn't seem quite as "hard core" as some other sites I had stumbled upon.  Unfortunately, my motivation and heart actually weren't in it so I gave up my subscription.  Later I took Karen Russell's class and my photography bug was inspired again.  One of things I wanted to try harder to do this year is really learn my camera, play with it and just have fun taking pictures again.  January through March is hardest for me because of the lack of light and colors outside, but I really want to push myself.

Enter the Bloom Forum again!  I figured that is the best place for me to go and learn from those wonderful ladies and challenge myself.  They have various groups that do a 52 Week Challenge Blog Circle and there was a group gracious enough to give this amateur a try!

Every Friday we'll have a new theme and our interpretation of that theme through one or more photos.  This week's theme is "NEW".

I went back and forth most of the first half of the week not having a clue what I actually wanted to photograph, but knew the message I wanted to convey.  As I was driving home from a run on Wednesday I passed the new housing development that is going up right behind our development and inspiration struck!

This year there is so incredibly much that is going to be new: new move, new country to live in, new experiences, new jobs, new schools, new everything.  However, with all the new-ness and all the excitement one thing still remains: organized chaos.  The home selling, organizing, packing, unpacking, paperwork to fill out, long flights, etc.  My mind is excited, but filled to capacity too.

This photo embraces all that I'm feeling.  Brand new excitement, but still random chaotic messes surrounding it.  That's us this year, but we're embracing it!

 Head on over to the very inspiring Amy Schilling, Austin, TX Photographer for her take on this week's theme!

The Calm Before The Storm

There's a new gallery up at Write.Click.Scrapbook and this month really spoke to me and I knew what I wanted to do immediately.  I created this layout about 2 weeks ago and at that time it definitely felt like the calm before the storm.

 

We have so incredibly much to do in the next 4.5 months and I literally felt the tide turn on January 1st.  That started Operation Organize.

We started organizing the holiday decor according to what we were taking and putting in storage.

Next up: closet organizing to prep for the (hopeful) sale of our house.  Luckily, the Mister is in charge of that tomorrow since he has another day off!  Although it does make me a bit nervous since he tends to throw things out that haven't been touched in approximately 4 days.

Mentally I'm feeling the storm too.  I enjoyed the calm for a bit though and am ready to ride it out. 

 

Going In Open

2012

2012 is a huge year of change for our family.  I'm going in with an open mind, an open heart and open arms. Even on the days when I'm cursing the military and it's inefficiency, I will try to keep it to a minimum and focus on the opportunity given to our family.

In the first 5 months of 2012 we will:

*Organize and prep our house (not my favorite way to start!)

*Attempt to sell our house

*Go to countless doc appointments to get a medical clearance for our move

*Figure out what to sell, what to put in storage and what to take with us.

*Fill out 4,502,839 pieces of paper (this is just an estimate)

*oh yeah, and move 8,000 miles away to a foreign country!

But again, I'm determined to go into it all open and with patience. 

Patience

My word for 2012.  I'll need a lot of it.  To say I'm terrified of this whole process is an understatement. I look forward to June and being settled and exploring our new home.

This is also the year I hope to play with and learn more in the photography arena.  I took Karen Russell's class last year and loved it.

This is also the year I take advantage of those free personal trainers on base (post move).  40 is creeping up ever so quickly and I need to combat that!

This is the year I'm doing scrapbooking for me.  I love, love the teams I am on right now and the freedom of creating with them and hope to continue on and do what I love.

So here's to 2012. 

Bring it on-I'm ready!