Get involved

While your soldier (airman, seaman, or marine) is gone, you can busy yourself by volunteering.  A woman doesn't have to "work" to contribute to the family and the community. I work from home but volunteering gives you that warm feeling inside. The military bases have tons of opportunities for volunteers. If you want to give more than just the base itself. Here are some ideas:

Start gathering toys for children of lower ranking personnel for Christmas.
Start a food pantry to give to those in need on base.
Start a coat drive.
(With these keep in mind: you never know someone's personal business. Hard times can fall on anyone!)

Off base:
Do the same as above.
Take sleeping bags to the homeless.
Gather old (still in good condition clothing) to give to those who can't buy new clothes or the homeless.
Take bags of canned food to the needy.
Volunteer to clean your church or mow the lawn
Pick up trash at your local park (use gloves)
Paint over graffitti
Volunteer at a local soup kitchen
Don't have a soup kitchen...start one at your local community center and get sponsors from local businesses
Go visit an elderly in your community: you can learn TONS of information and bless their day
Take the elderly to run errands or to go shopping


Got kids:
Become a 4H or other such club
Teach them the art of giving: take them with you when donating to the homeless. (school age or older and take a trusted man and another woman with you-just in case-most of them are harmless and grateful for something warm but you always want to be safe)
Volunteer at your child's school

Home with family...

I support military wives choices to either remain at their duty station during a deployment or an unaccompanied tour. There are some who prefer to stay behind and there are those who prefer to stay with family for support.  For me I can handle it either way, but during those favorite times of the year I don't want to be "left behind".  So for those times we go home to be with family. 

There is definately an advantage to being a professional mom and a homeschooling family. I can stop and start as I need too. We can pack up and move our lives as we need.

Activities In and Around Colorado Springs for Fun

CHURCH
Focus on the Family
CHURCH
Cheyenne Mountain Zoo
CHURCH
Garden of the gods
CHURCH
Dinosaur Museum in Woodland Park
CHURCH
Country Drive in the Mountains to look for Deer, Elk, and other Wild Life
CHURCH
Tour a health food store to talk about eating healthy
CHURCH
Drive around the military bases and look at the Jets, Planes, and Tanks on display
CHURCH
Go to the park
CHURCH
Go to the gym
CHURCH
Go to the "play areas" at the mall
CHURCH

Hmmm.... I mention church alot! Why? Because in the church is where children NEED to be. We rarely miss church. My children have grown to love it so much. It helps them to see "their friends" (which is just about everyone in the church). Going to church consistantly gives your children a sense of belonging and a love for church. It will become a habit for them to go to church regularly.

If you don't have a church to call home and you live in the Colorado Springs area, please contact me about our wonderful church. They have been the ones who help me make it through the tough times. As soon as I walk in the door, my children run go see their friends and I know without a doubt my children are safe.

Acting Out and Wisdom About Parenting

Matthias is starting to act out more, but he's learning quickly that mom isn't giving in and will NOT tolerate bad behavior. We do a lot of talks with discipline if needed. Direct defiance is the only action that requires a spanking (according to Dr. James Dobson). I personally believe that a corporal punishment should be the last resort, but I believe it is necessary. Too much will not make it effective. Children will determine "why try I'm just going to get in trouble".

Parenting is not all about behavior control. It's about giving them training them and teaching them in a way that what they believe is deeply rooted in them so that their behavior reflects their values. If you teach your children core values they will respect them.

I want my children to be respectful and loving. We must model for them who we expect them to be. If we want 2-faced Christians in the church, then we live a double life. If we want to raise little gossips, we gossip so our children will learn how.

First Sickness While Daddy Is Gone

Last night I got less than 3 hours of sleep. Halle kept waking in the night crying and hurting. She was pouring sweat around 2AM. This morning she woke up with the sniffles even though it's minor now she's still whiny. That takes a lot out of a mom. She didn't want to eat this morning. I even tried her favorites oatmeal, fresh fruit, dried fruit, milk... She ate some grapes and wanted a little water. Now she is in the bath with the baby (I'm sitting right beside the bath), she is playing more now. Water always excites children! I love my kids!!!

Two Companies every person should know about!!!

There are 2 companies that I believe every person should use:

~Melaleuca.... They promote health and wellness with EXCELLENT vitamins, nontoxic and biodegradable cleaning products and personal care products, and excellent weightloss helps!  Sign up is usually $29 plus your monthly product committment. If you switch your stores, instead of buy at your local store order from Melaleuca and you will save money!!!  Sign Ups are only $1 until 20 October 2010!!!  You can build a business with this company. Which is one of the reasons I use them!  They are endorsed by Dave Ramsey.
Email me at: spurlock060703@aol.com for more information.

~PrePaid Legal... Promoting excellent legal services that EVERYONE should have just in case. It's like having insurance for your legal needs. Words cannot describe the benefits and security that comes from having this for emergencies and peace of mind that no matter what happens you can request legal help. Endorsed by Robert Kiyosaki. A Fortune 500 company. Publicly traded on NYSE. 
Visit my website www.prepaidlegal.com/hub/bridgettespurlock for more information or to sign up!

1 Month and 1 Day completed

It's been 1 month and 1 day since Matt has left. The kids are adjusting better. They have started talking about him being gone and using the phrase "daddy will be back soon".  Matt has been faithful in calling on Skype everyday! Which helps the kids know that even though he's not here, he hasn't left them. They do tend to cling to me often but that's ok. They are just making sure mommy will be here.

So far I have tossed out over 200lbs of junk. I have had my last yard sale of the season and I got rid of all the baby/toddler clothes that I had. I also have lots of clothes that I'm taking to my neice. We have been detailing the house. Focusing on one room a week, so by the time Matt returns the house should have been detailed cleaned about 40 times (taking several vacations this year to Arkansas).

QUICK NOTE TO SELF: GET INSURANCE LICENSE FOR ARKANSAS!!! I represent prepaid legal and it is considered insurance in Arkansas.

I have been redoing the house and trying to make it look like a new home before Matt returns.  I have moved Malachi in to Matthias' room. But due to the cold I have had to move all the kids in my room. We are waiting until the 14th to get the furnance cleaned so that it will be ready for use.

I have the best church here in Colorado Springs. On some Friday's I have 2 of the youth girls, Keeleigh and Jessica come by. This past Saturday Sister Vickie came over to help me with my yard sale.  Last weekend, Bro Joe-Joe, Elder Bro Carrol, and Pastor Turpin, all helped fix my brakes. They had to drive back to the Springs for the part, after I had drove to the mountains to get them fixed.  It was a late night, however, it was great to spend time talking to Sister Stephanie and Elder Sister Carrol.

Well, malachi is crying so I have to get him in bed. I can't wait to post pics of my projects I've completed.

Been a while

Well it's been a while since I've posted. But I've been cleaning house like crazy!!! We are cleaning house and getting ready for a HUGE YARD SALE!!!! I've been clearing items out left and right.

So far I've cleaned out the garage, the kids' rooms and now to go through ALL the clothes and sort them for the sale.

I will updated everyone once I get past this weekend.

Pictures of the Living Room and Front Door

Day 5 & 6: Wednesday and Thursday

Wednesday I had to wake up and go to Lowe's to get Valspar HI-DEF paint. If you are going to paint and don't have alot of time or energy...BUY PAINT AT LOWES!!! The Valspar HI-DEF paint went on quick and easy. I painted an accent wall in the living room a dark red. It took 1 coat with touch up areas. The guy at lowes said I would need two. I think he was just trying to sell me paint...lol. Just joking. 

I bought paint at Walmart Tuesday night, it was supposed to be a dark red...well. It turned out to be bright red. The kilz paint took 1 quart to do my front door...and it didn't go on evenly. I painted while the kids played. When it was time to rearrange the furniture I called the expert at everything...MOM! She watched on skype and helped me see what needed to go where. Hmmm.... 1,000 miles away and she is still bossing me around. Another joke! My mom has always been there when I needed help. She is AWESOME!

I added 2 accent pieces to the room. a small dark blue 2 shelf cabinet that doubles as an end table. It hold the router and modem now. Now the kids can't touch the buttons on the internet!!!! Yay. It has a door on the front with ...old chicken wire? It a metal screen with large squares.  I also added a small wooden bench by the front door to put back packs, purses, and diaper bags on top, plus it hold the kid's shoes on the bottom shelf.

I also covered an old ottoman with some Americana fabic. The living room is totally different. Matt was shocked. I could here the amazement in his voice. I must have done a good job.  Each month I'm going to redo a room. Not actually spend alot of money but go through it remove unwanted/unused items, paint if I feel up to it and maybe add a couple of accent pieces to the room.

So far I've sold the roll top desk and the changing table! YAY I'm clearing items out of the house. I have also tossed out 3 bags of paper trash, 2 old pairs of shoes and a child's table the kids' broke.  Making progress!

-----------------

Thursday: My phone died!!!!!!! I was so upset. It finally stopped working except to make calls. I couldn't recieve anything! So I had to go to the AT&T store to look at phones. The guy there told me to check out Best Buy for an iPhone. So I went to Best Buy (thankfully it was by Whole Foods). They had the iPhone for $100. So I decided to get that one...which Matt has been telling me for a long time to get it! I'm so glad I did. It's awesome! I got some apps for it to keep the kids busy during church...oh it's awesome!

Other than that we ran errands and ate Pizza from Whole Foods. The kids love going there. The food is healthy and as Matthias says "mom, you don't want to be fat no more?". I tell him often that we can't eat at McDonald's or Wendy's or other fast food places because they make us fat.  LOL I love my kids they are so funny!

Church was great! We had a guest speaker who has spent many years researching around the world. He can prove that the "Jesus Name" baptism has always existed. It's not always been "Father, Son, Holy Ghost.
 In fact those who refused to baptism that way where punished. It was very interesting and exciting. Of course, I like history.

After church, I got to talk to Matt by text. He's in Osan and finally got his barracks. He will get internet on Monday.

Day 4: TUESDAY PARTY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Tuesday we woke up to seeing daddy on Skype. I think this helped my children a lot! It is very hard for them to understand that daddy has to work "far away". But seeing him helps them know he's still here for them. I think about the trouble they are having and daddy will be coming back. What about children whose homes are split permenantly? How sad it must be for them.

I sold my roll top desk and I also sold the changing table. I'm using this time that Matt is away to redo the house and to clear items out. I'm declutter and dejunking the house every day. It's my goal to toss out at least 3 broken/missing pieces toys each day until all the toys have been clear through. It is also my goal to toss out a "Wal-Mart" size bag of paper trash a day. I'm taking each room a week and clearing them out...rearranging if needed and just downsizing. I'm also concentrating on 1 room a month to decorate it and make it ready for Matt to come home. 

This week I'm getting rid of large items from the upstairs and concentrating on the Living Room, the front entrance and the kid's rooms (those have to be done daily lol).

To make life a little more exciting for the kids, we went to starbucks last night for a Frap and Chai Tea! Then I went to buy a new truck to put in Matthias' room, a little bench to put by the front door for the kids to sit on and put their shoes on, and a small dark blue shelf with a door and chicken wire for the front. It's so country and cute!!! I'll post pics once my living room is complete!

Well for more fun... I bought a can of RED paint and painted my front door last night. We are going to be painting one wall red today as an accent wall. The kids are really enjoying having fun with mom doing this!

We stayed up late working on the house. So the kids slept until 8...YAY!!!

Day 3: Monday.... It's a MONDAY

I didn't type anything for Monday on Monday because it was TOOO emotionally frustrating to even think of waiting something. Matthias was hyper and loud and disobedient all day. It got worse as the day progressed and even more erractic when Halle sprayed some of Matt's cologne (which he never uses). At one point he disobeyed me and Malachi ended up with a pop-knot on his forehead. He is ok, I watched him and checked him over carefully. Being a mother of 2 boys and a rough little girl, I know the symptoms and warning signs of a concussion. Other than a constant battle with Matthias the day was ok.

We went to an appt to get a referral for allergy testing for Matthias. Seeing that he asks erratic when Lysol, cologne, air freshner, etc is sprayed I think it's best to have him tested for chemical allergies. The doctor also suggested that food allergies be tested, considering his ADHD behavior and his past allergy history. There is a direct link between food, chemicals, and allergies to ADHD behaviors and other erratic behaviors.

I was able to text with Matt. While waiting at the doctor's office. I got a random text and it was Matt. I felt like a girl with a crush. LOL. That man still has me head over heels for him!

I found a cute storage trunk for $10 on craigslist. So I will be looking at buying that to put some of the kid's toys in. I'm also trying to sell my roll top desk and the changing table. Hopefully I can get those out of the way! YAY!  I'm doing a lot of getting rid of stuff while Matt is gone! Every day I try to toss out 2 broken/unusable items or toy and I try to gather 1 "grocery" bag of paper trash. I hope to have the house cleared out and move ready for when Matt gets back. It's going to take a while to do it...but I can. I just have to think positive and keep myself motivated.

Day 2: Sunday WOW What a church service

Sunday was a usually Sunday...until service. Church started and it was so good Pastor didn't even get to preach. I love those services!!!! (No offense Pastor Turpin!) It is just what I needed. It is in God where I find my strength to go on day after day. I felt so much peace after church.

Keeleigh was AWESOME at church. She came up to help me with the kids and she sat with us for the short time we were sitting. Mashella helped during prayer by taking the kids and letting me pray for a few moments without interruption. Several others came to offer to help.

After church we went to Country Buffet to Pastor's Birthday Party. It was SO funny watching him open the "40+ Survival Kit".  It was a great time. BUT STACIIIII, gave the kids Sprite, Icee, and of course they had cake at the party. They were so hyper. Sister S. Yarberry and Staci were a great help to me while trying to serve 3 kids and feed myself.  I did get to talk to Matt via text today. I felt like a kid in the candy store talking to him.

 I was already tired. Then...I got a skype call from Tammy! We talked until 0100! LOL Tammy and I NEVER shut up. Then we got to teasing each other and taking goofy pics of each other. I always love talking to Tammy!

Nothing really eventful happened.

Not as bad as Ziklag

Last night I couldn't sleep well, 1) because I was afraid I would miss Matt's phone call and 2) it was so lonely...even with 3 kids in the bed. LOL.  God kept bring to my mind a story from the Bible that many preachers preach about and this is a favorite of mine....The story of David coming home to Ziklag and finding everything and everyone gone.

The Message Version (great for story telling)

1 -3 Three days later, David and his men arrived back in Ziklag. Amalekites had raided the Negev and Ziklag. They tore Ziklag to pieces and then burned it down. They captured all the women, young and old. They didn't kill anyone, but drove them like a herd of cattle. By the time David and his men entered the village, it had been burned to the ground, and their wives, sons, and daughters all taken prisoner.

4 -6 David and his men burst out in loud wails—wept and wept until they were exhausted with weeping. David's two wives, Ahinoam of Jezreel and Abigail widow of Nabal of Carmel, had been taken prisoner along with the rest. And suddenly David was in even worse trouble. There was talk among the men, bitter over the loss of their families, of stoning him. David strengthened himself with trust in his God.

(Credit is given to http://www.elite-view.com/ for the above image)

I have heard it a thousand times about how DAVID was upset, how DAVID sought God, how DAVID prayed, and how DAVID pursued and won taking back everything that was stolen.  But last night I was impressed by this story... what about the women and children?!
 
They were the ones attacked and taken captive. They watched their city and homes destroyed. They were the ones fearing for their lives and the children. Could you imagine being a part of the women and children who were taken?
 
The Bible speaks that David strengthened himself in God. Of course, there are always nay-sayers but I felt very impressed that some women were strengthening themselves in God and trusting God for their safety.
 
David had NO idea what had happened to his family or where they were, but he was strengthened in God. He cried until he could cry no more.
 
--Matt know where we are and where we are going to be. Matt also has the assurance that we have a security alarm and an overprotective dog. We are not taken captive, but we are safe in the home he provided.
 
--It is in GOD where we both will draw our strength. It is in GOD where we will find direction. It is in GOD where we will place our trust. This doesn't mean it will be easy. No battle has ever been won without the use of strength and force. No growth has happened without stretching and strengthing.
 
It is in God where strength comes from.

Intro & The 1st Day of a Long Year

Welcome... if you are reading this you are wondering what a SAHM will do for a YEAR without her best friend. Well I have no idea except for the next few days. This blog is also meant to serve as a journal for my husband so that he can know what his children are doing on a daily basis.

Today...the first day of a long year!!! A year of waiting...

I began the day at 0330 to take Matt to the airport. I couldn't stop crying before we left but I was able to hold it in while in his presence. Saying "see you later" to my best friend and my love is hard to do, no matter how many times we say it.

United Airlines was kind enough to issue security passes for me and the kids to go and sit for 40 minutes with Matt until he boarded. Matt boarded his plane at 5:50 and we left the terminal with tears flowing. He posted on Facebook shortly after that he too couldn't stop crying. Even though I was emotional and sad by him leaving, I also felt a sense of pride of being an Army Wife. It's not always easy...It's not always joyful...But it is the life we have chosen.

Once we loaded into our van we went to Fort Carson to watch all the planes take off and leave from the airport until after 0630. This gave the children some closure about daddy being on an airplane. Then we spent the morning doing "retail therapy" LOL...well going to yard sales! We scored some GREAT deals. An 5x8 Americana Area Rug $5, Mirror with a window pane and shutter closures $5, 2 Woodland End Tables $2, Woodland Lamp $2, Play Kitchen $5, 5 pieces of Americana Decor for the outside $3, and Clothes for Halle.

The kids love to go to yard sales with me! After we finished, we came home for naps and to talk to daddy while he was on a layover in San Francisco. We are using Skype to talk to daddy while he is gone. AT&T charges TOO much for South Korea calling...$2.29 per minute with NO packages available. UGH!!!

We spent the afternoon talking to Nana, Aunt Mary, the cousins, Uncle Britt and Uncle Blake on Skype. The kids really love having the ability to talk to people and see them! It is so amazing to them that they can be in our home and see their cousins and grandparents in Arkansas or daddy anywhere in the world.

We had to go get dog food this afternoon. While in Big R, Matthias wanted a $50 toy tractor... well I said NO. As we were walking out to the van he said "you are a piece of Chevy". Daddy and Uncle Britt's dislike for Chevy's has rubbed off on him. I thought it was so funny... even though he was being rude and disrespectful I coudn't hold back the laughter. Just to hear him say that made me laugh and appreciate the ability of a father to influence their children. We enjoyed a quick pizza from Little Caesar's then we talked with my family in Arkansas once more.

At bed time, I couldn't bare to hear them cry for daddy. So I decided to just let me lay down in my bed. It's 2200 and they are still awake. So we are relaxing and watching a movie. Correction "Picasso" is almost asleep, she is dozing off quickly now.

No matter how much I occupy the children, my heart still longs for my best friend, my love, my husband. I am so blessed by God to have married my best friend.