The new little guy

Yesterday, we had the second ultrasound for a new little guy.  Yes, it's a boy!   I knew I was feeling differently with this baby than Emma.  A lot more sick in the beginning to the point of not being able to eat any food with flavor.  It was plain baked potatoes without butter or anything.  Very weird for me because I am a flavor and seasonings kind of gal.   Emma said from the beginning she wanted a brother and Kyle kind of had an idea himself.  So....I guess we all had the gut instincts.  

Ultrasounds are so amazing.  I just fell in love all over again with the little guy.   I am doing all my medical care on base here at Elmendorf.   So far, I have excellent care.   One thing I was told was that to have a 3D ultrasound I would have to go off base and pay the big bucks.  Yesterday, the radiology tech started doing the ultrasound and says, I am going to start the 3D now.     They just got a 3D ultrasound machine on base.  We were able to get a shot of it's little face for free.   That was my "exceeding abundantly" for the day. :) So amazing to see everything so clearly.  I could see the shape of it's leg...quite shapely I might add.  ha! :)

This baby is very active.   It feels like it is doing gymnastics about half the time.   My thoughts are "oh, God another active one"!   Some days I feel a little overwhelmed at the thought of two children.  I think it's the hormones talking.  I know I will be fine.  Emma is getting older and will be 3 by the time this one is born.  

We will be moving next summer with a new little one, just like we did with Emma.   I don't know if I want to do a boy's room knowing I will just move in a few months.  But, I don't want to neglect the little guy either.  I will definitely do a room for him when we get to the new house....wherever that may be. :)   It's sort of a lot of things to trust God with right now.   We have a new baby coming, a preschooler, a house to sell, and we are moving and we don't know where to.   Sometimes trusting is hard for me.  Especially with all these pregnancy hormones going on.    All I can do is just prepare.  We are cleaning out closets,  and getting our house in good shape to sell.  I know I may not have the energy once the little guy is here.    

You want to prepare for the future, but you have to live in the present too.  I am enjoying the current Bible study and the ladies here.  It's sad to think of leaving them behind.  Actually, a lot of them are moving this summer too.   That will make it easier.  I think.  Gotta go, Emma's needing something.  

Our hop to Hawaii

Emma and I at the Paradise Cove Luau

My "roomie" Tami and her kiddos, plus Emma

A gorgeous sunset. I could so live here! :)

Emma and I inside the aircraft

Emma and her friend Gracie

Emma at the Luau

A friend of mine at ladies Bible study told me she was going to miss Bible study because there was a free hop to Hickam AFB, Hawaii on a C-17 from Elmendorf.  Her husband is deployed. She and the kids were going with some other ladies that also attend Bible study. Their husbands all happen to work in the C-17 squadron. The husbands knew the flight was returning in six days.   My friend invited me along.

Kyle was working and told me I should go because it was a once in a lifetime thing.   It was a fun and tiring adventure.  It was the cheapest Hawaii trip I will probably ever get to take.  My friend and I shared a suite and car.   We had all our children (four altogether).  Yeah, we're crazy!  We totally did kid friendly stuff the whole time.  The pineapple farm, the Honolulu Zoo, a luau, the beach and pool.  It was really fun but a week later and I am still tired!   I knew I had to go on this trip because once another child is in the picture it will only be more difficult.  I am glad I was able to go and get some warmth before our BIG winter hits in the next few weeks.  

Speaking of winter...the snow is getting farther down the mountains each day!  We are having a gorgeous fall.  I don't totally mind the snow coming because I was able to escape part of the rainy Alaskan summer and go south.  I also know that we are up for a PCS next summer. Thinking of that is sort of bittersweet.  I will really miss all my friends here.   I won't miss the cold weather.  At least I don't think I will.  :)   This assignment has been such a good assignment for me as far as friends go.  I have made buddies that I hope to stay connected to for the rest of my life.  Thank you, God for the great friends.  They have been like water in the desert for me.

The VP nomination

I was so shocked to hear that our governor here in Alaska is the Republican VP nomination! I am not a big news watching gal so sometimes I don't know things like this for days.  But, it was all over the internet here.  I don't know her personally, but she seems to be really well loved here in Alaska.  I think she is so young and cute but also very smart and obviously can handle herself in tough situations.  This year she has had her share with Alaska politicians.   Just reading her bio is cool,  how that even in HS she led her team in prayer.   I've heard rumors that she attends the AG church in her town, Wasilla AG. Don't know if that is actually true though. 

She is pretty amazing to run in 20 below as well.  Kyle won't even do that.  He thinks its stupid to run outside in that cold of weather when you could be inside breathing warm air.  :)  

 

I think it's awesome that our first woman VP could very well possibly be a cute pro-life conservative church girl. :)

fall is in the air

After a month, I am back home in Alaska. It is beautiful here!  I love the mountains and the cool crisp mornings.  It is already getting dark by about 9:45 or so, and getting the fall feeling in the air.  Emma and I flew home early so that I could go to my first Dr appointment and also be home for Bible study starting back up.   The Dr.'s visit went well.  I was very surprised that they did an ultrasound at only 13 weeks.  I fell in love immediately!  The baby was moving around a lot.   Dr Hansen said, "he's an active little thing".  My thoughts were, Oh my, not another one!  :)  Emma is a sweetie but she runs literally everywhere she goes and I have to run after her!   We are super excited about a new baby and Emma is too.  She said for the first month or so she wanted a brother, but now she wants a sister.  

Kyle has one week left of SOS and I am so glad.   I really miss him. It's been three weeks since Emma and I saw Kyle. :(  This week I have been so busy that I haven't really had time to miss him as much. (which is kind of a good thing) But, today I was trying to take a sabbath after a long week of working on the Bible study kickoff and it made me really miss him.   I don' t know how I made it four months last summer.  God gives grace that is for sure.   I think part of it is Emma's missing him too.  She said on the phone to him today, "I want to hold you, Dad.  I want you to get on the plane and come play in my room". ha.   He said, "I will.  When I get home I will walk right upstairs and play in your room".   Emma loves her Daddy.   One good thing about separation is it helps you to be more grateful.  I am really thankful for a good husband that loves Emma and I.  

Yesterday, I was able to meet several new ladies that have recently moved to our base.   I really love getting to know them and making new friends.   This is the ministry that God seems to be calling me to this assignment.  Ministering to ladies who need support, encouragement and friendship.  It is something God has given me a love for at this time in my life.  We all have a purpose and I think this one's mine for now.  It's exciting to feel fulfilled in what you do!

sweet home alabama

I am in Sweet Home Alabama! It is so HOT and humid here. I know this sounds crazy, but I love it! I am soaking it all in before heading back to Alaska for another winter.
Kyle is in school, but Emma and I are having a great time swimming, shopping at Target, and playing at the playground. We are staying on base and they have a wonderful play area right outside our room. I love how the Air Force really tries to make your time here as comfortable as possible. It's not the Plaza hotel we just moved from in Springfield, but it is comfortable and I can do laundry for free! ha.
Emma is having a blast playing the sand box. It was caked in her hair last night I had to wash it twice and comb it all out, and still I did not get it all out.
I love this base. The housing is so beautiful. It is picture of what you think southern living should be. Of course, the nice houses are for the Generals, and Colonels. But, I did see two Captain names amoungst them. The must be navy Captains. There is no way they would let at AF Captain live in that housing unless there was some special need or maybe a big family.
Anyhoo....I am having a great time. Enjoying Target and Ross. ha! I am glad I was able to come with Kyle for a few weeks. This has been really fun.

im finally in warm weather!!!

Well, I am in the hotel room at our Chaplaincy conference hanging out with Emma. They have childcare for all the services and sessions except for this one tonight with Zollie Smith. I am sure would have been awesome, but Emma is done. She is having a great time at the pool, and playing with all the other little chaplain kids. All AG chaplains are invited to this conference from all branches of military to correctional and VA chaplains. There is so much diversity.
I was able to connect with several other chaplain wives that I have become friends with from either assignments or just going to the conference. It is always so fun to see good friends.
The first women's session was great. I cried my eyes out hearing the stories from the wives/spouses of chaplain's. Hearing what others face really puts my life in perspective. I don't have problems compared to some of the hardships that others face. I've been really blessed, but yet I complain about small things, like the weather. How ungrateful am I? I get to live in a beautiful state!

It has been good to get away from Alaska and just have to deal with the humidity that comes with the warmth of the south. Wow. I forgot how hot it gets! It has been so fun to be down here with Target, good shopping and lots of yummy restaurants that we don't get in Alaska. It has been a really relaxing break for us so far and I am really thankful for the break and God allowing us to come as a familiy. Making time for family vacations is so important, we've have really been needing some time just us three. It's been great.

I am so thankful that it all worked out exactly how God intended it to.

By the way, we just found out we are expecting Hundley baby #2. We are thrilled! I will be delivering in my 2nd militaryhospital! That should be fun. Actually the hospital on base is wonderful. They won best Air Force hospital for 2007! So, I thank God for the opportunity to enjoy good care. God is always mindful of our needs. Escpecially since I will be delivering so far from home and probably without any parents there to be there when the baby is born. God knows I have a lot of support here and I am thankful for that.

I had a Andy's custard from one of Kyle and I old date spots. It was stinking awesome, but I couldn't even eat half of it. And we both used to finish off our own. No wonder we both gained weight that first year of marriage. wow. We are getting old and we can't live like that anymore. Young people can eat junk and stay pretty fit, once you hit 30 it's over!

4th of July, family, travel and trust

Happy 4th, everyone!  It was gorgeous and sunny for the past two days up to about 70-75 which is stinking hot for Alaska.  Yesterday, I power washed the deck to prep for repainting it and of course today it is over cast and looks like could rain.  Oh, well.  There are plenty of other jobs to do inside.  

Kyle's Dad and the boys left Tuesday night, and now we are preparing for my sister to arrive Saturday night.  I am so excited.  I am ready!  

 

The weird thing about Alaska and the 4th is that you have to wait until after midnight to see any fire works at all.   It barely gets dark here at all this time of year.  I kind of miss the fireworks displays I am used to in states that actually have a night. :)

I have been doing a huge catch up because while Kyle was on leave and we had family here,  it was really hard for me stay up with all the mail.  The desk was piling up and that drives me crazy.  Finally, today I was able to file and organize some of the garbage.  I am in such a throw a way mood.  I really should hit my closet next. agh!

 

We are also trying to plan for our trip the the south the end of July.  We always try to go to our annual AG Chaplaincy Conference in July.  It is so worth it.  There have been days this year where I literally just thought if I can just make it to conference I know I will get the encouragement that I need.  Of course, God reminded me that He is always here and I don't need to wait  until the conference to get help.  It is just a wonderful time to be with people who are on the same page and other Chaplain's who really try to love you and mentor you.   It is really an awesome time for us because I sometimes feel like such a novice at this whole military lifestyle.  

Kyle is also going to Squadron Officer School in Montgomery, Alabama the week after the conference, so that is another added stress.  It is a five week school that most captain's in the Air Force attend.   He is still trying to get orders cut, because he can't even talk to the travel people until that is done. Of course everyone is out of the office most of this week  because of the holiday. yeah! ha.  God knows all about this and I know He always has our best in mind. I am trying to go with Kyle to most of SOS, because my family is so close by.  But that adds another stress of trying to figure out the how to get where and also be budget friendly. :(  It will be fun though.  I am really wanting to go with him because I know there are a lot of times that I can't travel with him.  Especially when kids start going to school or when he deploys somewhere I can't visit.  We try to stick together as much as we can. 

I am really trying to learn to trust God with our future.  We visited an awesome church service during Kyle's leave, and the pastor spoke about trusting God.   He said something that I wrote down and have been reminding myself of it about a million times.  "Anxiety is the result of not trusting God with your future".  It is simple but it really hit home for me.  I have struggled so much with this very issue... it seems all year long.   I long for the day when trusting God is something that I can do easily.   Right now, I really struggle with it.  

It reminds me of people who eat at the same restaurants all the time and order the same thing on the menu.  They know it's good and they don't really care to try anything else.  I want to get that way with God.  I want to get to the point where there is no other thoughts in my head but just simply to trust Him.   I think that comes with closeness.  Once I am close enough, I won't have to doubt ever.  Trust will come naturally.   

So, in the midst of a lot of chaos with travel arrangements for Emma, myself and Kyle... I am TRYING to trust God to work it all out.   Lord, I believe, help my unbelief.