Thankful Thursday!

Happy Thursday and Happy October!!!

Now that I have some time, peace of mind, and the desire to post again, I'd thought, "What is a more wonderful time than my favorite day of the week AND my favorite season?"

Just a reminder on the purpose of Thankful Thursday:

This is something I started in about 2009ish when I became concerned and disgusted about all the negativity on the most popular form of social media. I decided that I could bring a small amount of positivity by creating a list of the blessings, items, people, etc., that I was most thankful for each Thursday. This has grown over these past 6ish years to become a small movement on that same social media, and I know that it has been posted in several languages and in different countries. Join the movement!!!


This week, I am thankful for:

Mom's first visit to Maine
Job offers
The courage to listen to my gut (and the voice of my former therapist) to accept a job that will only propel me further towards my professional goals
Already feeling respect and kindness towards my potential new supervisor
Cool, rainy fall days
My Coastie and his success at this new assignment
Bike rides
Prayers with Jenny
Finding a new church home
Lunch with a friend
Scarves, boots, and fall sweaters
Apple pickin' in my very own back yard

Take a moment to count your blessings!!!

A Lot to Update!

Greetings from Maine!

Yes, you read that correctly. Team Preston has re-located to Maine. Josh received an advancement, which resulted in an automatic transfer. Maine was our number two pick on our dream sheet. We wanted to move back to the East Coast to be closer to family. We are blessed to be in such a beautiful location!!

Echo Lake on Mount Desert Island, Maine

Leaving California was difficult, however. I had just been given my dream job as a social worker in hospice and home health care. I was able to work that job for about 7 months before we had to move. It was a dream come true! The work is my calling and I felt very fulfilled and encouraged to finally be good at what I love to do. We also had to leave behind a wonderful church family and friends. Everyone was extremely supportive of us, but also sad to see us go. I forget how hard it is for friends of military families... they are experiencing loss just as we are each time we are called to a new duty station. To all my California friends: I love you, I miss you, and I could not have survived the difficulties and stresses of life in California without your love and support!

So, here we are in Maine. Josh is thriving at his new assignment. I am currently seeking full-time, meaningful employment. I have had several interviews, but no conclusive results or job offers at this time. I can admit to one item: I was not cut out to stay at home all of the time. I am already volunteering as a pet therapy team with our dog, Buttercup. We visit a residential care facility - the residents adore Buttercup and I enjoy spending time with all of the residents. I have also begun volunteering with a local, volunteer-only hospice. I'm sure that comes as no surprise to anyone who knows me!!!

Please continue to send us your prayers, support, and good vibes. Settling in a new place is hard, but we love this military life and we know that God continues to call us to new locations.

Love from Team Preston!

National Day of Unplugging

I caught onto this movement just in time!!!

The National Day of Unplugging is coming this weekend!

This is an annual movement where we can literally "unplug" from our technology, smart phones, tablets, computers, and emails. We unplug to give our brains a break; to rest; to make eye contact; to be outside; to enjoy someone's company... the list goes on and on.

CNN has an interesting article about the National Day of Unplugging and the scientific movement behind it. Our brains and social skills need some new/different stimulation in the form of human contact, good ol' conversation, and a day to reflect, enjoy, and BE. 

You can read the article here.

Here is the skinny:

Date: March 7-8

Time:

Sunday down on Friday to sundown on Saturday

(think of it as a technology-free Sabbath!)

How:

Literally unplug yourself from your technology and devices.

Yes, it is that simple and straight-forward.

Turn off your phone.

Turn off your tablet, computer, emails.

Use an alarm clock instead of your phone.

No texting.

You may want to prepare family, friends, bosses, and co-workers ahead of time if you plan to do this.

For example, I am planning to meet up with family on Saturday, but I will be able to talk to them on Friday ahead of time to plan out our schedule. There should be no need for a phone!

I plan to "unplug." 

Will you join me???

"30 and Purdy" - A Birthday

I recently turned 30 years old! Happy Birthday to me! 

I was expecting this birthday to be difficult, emotional, possibly traumatic, but it wasn't. The day was pleasant and filled with friends and a delicious cake. 

I hosted a wonderful party a local hotel/bakery/steakhouse. We had space in the ballroom and enjoyed cake and drinks while the house band played a variety of music to keep us lively. I had about 20 friends from the Coast Guard, church, Bible studies, and work attend. It was so wonderful to see what a great network of friendships I am building in only 2 years in California! I felt incredibly blessed.

Oh, and did I mention the birthday party was a formal affair?

 

 Here's to a great 30th year!!!

A Rainy Weekend Escape

Recently, the Coastie and I went to Monterey and Carmel, California. We knew that we were in need of some time away from our everyday stressors. The past four or five months have been exhausting. We really wanted time for just the two of us, to be away from home and work, and just BE in a new place with each other. We love exploring and traveling, but with only a weekend available to us, we had to stick pretty close to home. We chose Monterey and Carmel because they are such beautiful, peaceful, and friendly towns.

We stayed in Pacific Grove - a tiny little place in between Monterey and Carmel. Unfortunately for us, our weekend away coincided with the Pro Am Golf Tournament. This tournament is probably one of the biggest tourist attractions and cash flow for the area. So we definitely did NOT stick out like sore thumbs as tourists! It was also the last days of the "Community Appreciation" days put on by Carmel, so a lot of the attractions were free to the local residents (i.e. the Monterey Bay Aquarium).

Plus, it rained the entire weekend! The Coastie and I have desperately missed rain during this drought in California. Rain also reminds us of home, family, and the Great Smoky Mountains. We didn't let a little rain damper our spirits! We absolutely loved it! We had to forego our idea of riding bicycles out to the Lighthouse because of the rain and a 5K run for charity that was blocking all the roads, but we still managed to do and see a lot, as well as rest and relax. Our hotel room even had a wood burning fireplace, so we got to cuddle up on the cool, rainy nights in front of the fire! It was perfect and amazing! We returned home feeling rested, connected, and rejuvenated!

Elephant seals near San Simeon Lighthouse

Monterey!

Golf course is in the distance

Top of Monterey Bay Aquarium

The sun was shining for just a little bit...

Penguins!

Cannery Row in the rain.

Last morning's breakfast at Holly's Lighthouse Cafe. Yum!

The Lighthouse! (Closed, but I still got the photo!)

Gluten-Free and Dairy-Free Trial

I have been very blessed to be healthy my entire life. I've danced for almost 15 years, been practicing yoga for about 10 years, and have recently taken up running. I've also been blessed to be naturally fit and happy with my body.

However, lately, some health issues have begun to creep into my life. In order to avoid any invasive Western medicine procedures or medications, I've turned to acupuncture, Chinese herbs, and holistic approaches.

The most recent venture I have begun is a trial of eating gluten-free and dairy-free. I plan to try this for one month, with the exception of a cheat day on my birthday. I hope after one month, I will know if eating gluten- and dairy-free have made any positive impact. If it has not, watch out world - I will be eating cheese, pasta, bread, and yogurt (not necessarily all at once... yuck). 

                                Today's inventory of health at the beginning of this journey:

Almost consistent heartburn after any type of meal.

Feeling flushed and exhausted from sinus allergies.

Allergies.

Poor digestion and the issues that follow.

Moderate energy.

Moderate mood.

Blemishes on chin.

Cravings for salt and sugar.

This inventory has little to do with my current lifestyle - I exercise regularly, drink water constantly (over 80 ounces a day!), etc. I just wanted to write down any trivial fact that may help me deduce the outcomes of this trial period.

Wish me luck!!!

PS - The hardest part of this will be the Girl Scout cookies that were delivered today....

Thankful Thursday!

Today, this is the BEST Thankful Thursday is several months because of one major fact:

It is raining in central California!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It is only a drizzle, but it is still precipitation! This is the most action our area has seen since October! Forecasters are only predicting about 0.25" of rain, but I know that God is a big, mighty God and can give our dry, parched land some needed relief. I will be praying continuously today for more and more rain and thanking God for the drizzle we saw this morning.

In other gratitude news, I am also thankful for:

Coffee with a friend before work. 

Long talks with my mom.

Pictures from "home" of all the beautiful snow.

Mangoes.

Coffee.

A night to relax at home.

Being abundantly blessed.

Free lunch at work on Tuesdays.

Hearing Kara's voice and Jacob's baby sounds on the phone.

My adorable, funny Coastie.

And my amazing Monday night Bible Study gals, who rejoiced with me

for my miracle of health. 

They even sent me flowers! I am so blessed!

Veterans viewed as "selfish" by some Americans

I came across an interesting article today by TIME. 

There have been many debates, conversations, arguments, and social media attention lately to the latest budget deal in regards to military spending and veteran benefits. If you need to get caught up on the conversation, check out mainstream media such as CNN, TIME, and your local news broadcast stations.

The conversation has mostly circulated around veteran benefits in terms of a cap on the COLA (cost of living adjustment or allowance).  COLA essentially means that a service member will receive an adjustment to his or her base pay and/or BAH (base allowance for housing) based on the local economy and cost of living. For example, the Coastie and I live in the only county in California of which the Coast Guard does not apply a COLA, but we do receive an increase in our BAH. That means, the Coast Guard recognizes that since there is no supplied military housing and we have to find housing just like any other civilian, we receive a slightly higher BAH than others of our rank that live in supplied military housing. This is to off-set the higher cost of a civilian rental market. However, we do not receive any adjustment to the Coastie's base pay.

As always, you can find information about military pay here.

The conversation has also circulated about closing commissaries, aka military base grocery stores. These grocery stores are available to active duty and retired service members that have the privilege of shopping on base (not all veterans qualify for this privilege). The debate really escalated on the threat of capping the COLA for retired veterans' pensions. This only refers to those military members who have completed 20 years and are entitled to a pension.

These pensions are now under threat by Congress.  A 1% reduction in pension COLAs will cost veterans (including my Coastie!!!) tens of thousands of dollars in the future. This is money we will have EARNED but will NOT be paid! (Source)
 
The question raised in this article was: Are veterans selfish?

Here is my response:

Is anyone who has served 20 years to the same employer, who was hired with a contract including the terms that a pension would be available to him/her after a certain number of years of service, selfish?

Is my mother "selfish" for receiving her pension after 30 years serving our local state government?

Is my father-in-law "selfish" for patrolling our hometown as a police officer for 27 years and expecting a pension upon retirement?

No. None of these people would qualify as selfish. Yet, the debate continues on if veterans are selfish for demanding the U.S. government to uphold their end of the contract signed by each and every one of our service men and women. The Coastie phrased it this way: "If I had known that all these years of service with the hopes that I would have a pension at the end of it could be wiped out this easily, I probably wouldn't have continued to serve this long." Most service members do NOT stay in service for the 20 years that must be met in order to qualify for a pension. However, my Coastie decided long ago when he signed on the dotted line to live his life in service to his country that he would commit 20 or more years. He made this commitment for various reasons, but know that we are married and the economy is not friendly for new job-seekers, he is holding to this commitment.

I would urge you to think critically about these issues. I'd also like you to make it personal. Think of a grandparent, friend, school teacher, neighbor, church member, family member, or friend who has served or is currently serving in the Armed Forces. Think about the sacrifice of what they have given up, the sacrifices their families have made, or how blessed we all are that our country only takes volunteers into military service instead of mandating every male over the age of 18 to participate against his will.

Obviously, the Coastie and I have our own, albeit very biased, opinion on benefits regarding service members and veterans. I'm not here to push my agenda on anyone or to influence one way or another in regards to your idea of a balanced budget for our country. I'm simply hoping that the average voter will educate herself on these issues.

You can find more information from these resources:
National Military Family Association     http://www.militaryfamily.org/ 
Stars and Stripes     www.stripes.com
Military Times   http://www.militarytimes.com/

Thankful Thursday!

It's another warm, sunny day here in central coast California. Today, I feel empowered to be grateful and thankful to the extreme. I am so blessed. I am so lucky.

Today, I am thankful for:

Cozy mornings with the Coastie.

My sister and her courage.

A car to travel to and from work, home, church, errands, and friends.

A long chat with a new accountability partner.

My young adults' group at church.

Apples.

The commissary only one hour away.

A stocked fridge and pantry.

The view out of my office window.

Clean water for drinking, bathing, and cooking.

Psalm 143:8

Sleepytime tea.

The Harry Potter book series that has kept me so entertained.

Planning for my big milestone birthday. I'm so blessed to be healthy and happy at 30!!!

What are you thankful for today?

Blessings are all around you. Be grateful today!

An Interesting Read: "The 31 Slump"

I read an interesting op ed piece today at the website XOJane. The author chronicles her career-life from her early 20s to early 30s. As I read through the piece, I thought "Wow! It's like she was reading my mind! I didn't know other women my age felt like this!"

You can read the entire article here.

Essentially, I felt comforted that other women in my age bracket were wrestling with the same questions that keep me up at night.

What do I really want to do with my life?

How are others perceiving me in my current career choice?

What would happen if.... I changed careers? I didn't use my degree? I stayed at home? I earned more than my spouse? I went off the beaten path? I had kids? I didn't have kids?

I've had a few moments of brutal clarity and honesty with myself the past few months. After a traumatizing ordeal with my first job in social work in California, I've been able to lick my proverbial wounds through counseling and an "easy" job. The odd thing is that I'm mostly satisfied and content with my work and volunteer efforts and finally breathing again. Mostly. There is still a part of me that I'm still trying to steal myself to face:

Am I truly content where I am? Or am I still terrified of being judged by others and thereby motivated to change courses yet again to fit "their" perfect mold of a working 30 year old female with an education?

Am I terrified for history to repeat itself and to be so quickly verbally thrashed, shamed, judged, and demoralized by another superior?

Am I terrified of what others' are saying about me "back home?"

Am I terrified of what I may or may not regret in 30 years?

I'm not sure what the future holds. I do know that when I chose my career path at 25 years old, I had NO IDEA that I would be where I am today - living in a small, essentially rural middle-of-nowhere California town where nepotism is the ONLY way of life. It's crazy and unnatural to think that the choices I made in my early 20s from a severe depression and boredom should determine my next 60 years. Yes, I like helping people. I am kind, compassionate, and smart. But does that mean I'm locked in to one particular method of helping people for the rest of my life?

I'm in my 30 Year Slump, to borrow from the author's words. I'm open to the idea that this "slump" will become a milestone in shaping me for the next 5, 10, or 20 years. I'm open to change. I'm open to being brave. I'm open to releasing my fears of others' perception and opinion of me.

Now I just have to be open to taking that first step out of the slump.

Maybe next year.

Thankful Thursday!

We are so thankful that it is 2014! What are you thankful for so far this year?

Today, I am so grateful for:

My new women's Bible study group. I already adore these ladies and I'm excited/apprehensive of the work God will do within me with our new study.

A good night's rest.

A wonderfully supportive, funny husband.

A birthday party to plan and THE most fabulous dress to wear!

Wonderful friends here in California and some amazing "girls' nights" I've recently had with them.

Warm, sunny weather.

Knowing I am healthy and whole.

The Unity daily devotional prayer book. It is so encouraging, positive, and uplifting!

Conversations with my sister as she begins an exciting new chapter in life.

Cards from two dear sweet friends and my mother while I was going through my health scare. I still have those cards!

My place of employment.

Be thankful today for all of your blessings!!!

It's a New Year. Is it happy?

Welcome back to The Coastie Life!

The Coastie and I have had some tumultuous months recently. Not as a couple. Oh no. Because of everything that has happened to us, we are more closely knit and secure than ever before. I'll do a quick recap for anyone who is just curious to know.

August 2013: We had to move out of our rental home. The property owner wanted to move in her daughter, so we got the boot. Talk about stress! The government wouldn't pay for this move, so we had to do it all on our own dime. Luckily, we found a cute (albeit smaller) home still in our sweet little town. We give all the credit to our dog, Buttercup, as she was the deciding factor with our new landlords. They said they liked her sweet personality out of all the dogs that they had met during the application process. Homes that allow dogs are extremely rare here, so we're lucky we made the cut!

September 2013: We experienced the joys and sorrow of parenthood in just one week. We will forever be changed by this month, but again, we are closer than ever. We truly believe that our angel is now watching us from Heaven.

October 2013: Pretty uneventful. Still recovering from September.

November 2013: The Coastie heads off to a 5 week school for federal law enforcement officer training. He did exceptionally well! I could not have been more proud of him. Plus, he got to go home to see his parents and a UT football game. We met in Tennessee for Thanksgiving and got to spend several wonderful stress-free days with our families. We definitely felt rejuvenated and loved when we left!

December 2013: I ended up in the emergency room with a health scare. Thankfully, cancer was ruled out right before Christmas, so we were able to relax and celebrate the holiday just the two of us. Even more than that, in January we found out the health issue had miraculously disappeared! My doctor could not explain it, but I know that God's healing hand was on me and allowed His Glory to be revealed in my body. Praise God!

So, here we are - 2014. What will this year bring? The Coastie and I have no idea. We are half excited, half terrified. We are so exhausted, tired, broken from the fall of 2013 that we enter 2014 with our hopes soaring, but our shoulders set to prepare the weight of whatever may come. This year, our goal and hope is just to BE. Yes, just to BE. We are being intentional to love each other, love each day, and enjoy the moment where we are, right now. We want to reclaim our joy in the Lord. We want to stop looking back, stop licking our wounds, and stop looking forward. We want to just BE.

It's a New Year. Is it happy? So far... yes!

The one thing we do know: our God is an awesome God and He will be with us every step of the way.

" 'For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.' " Jeremiah 29:11

We Re-Committed

Just recently, we re-committed the United States Coast Guard! The Coastie's current commitment was about to expire, so we thoughtfully made the commitment to continue on this great Coastie adventure.

This was the first ceremony of any kind I have been able to attend as a military spouse. Most of them had taken place out at sea while the Coastie was underway. So I was overly excited about one of the simplest ceremonies in the military. But, to me, this particular ceremony, in this particular political climate held a lot of significance, commitment, dedication, and sacrifice on our parts. The Coastie kept calling the ceremony, "her enlistment" (in speaking of me) because it was the first time since we've been married that he has re-enlisted. So, in a far-fetched way, it was my enlistment. Even though it was the Coastie raising his right hand and swearing to protect and serve, it was also my time to reflect on my commitment to this life of service and sacrifice.

We toyed with the idea of civilian life, but we're not ready. We're not ready to leave behind the security and brotherhood of this life. We're not ready to give up on our dream and passion of serving our country. We're not ready to give up on adventure, seeing new places, or trying new things. Sure, we could find ways to do these things as civilians, but we actually LOVE what we do and the life we painstakingly create for ourself day after day. And as we say in the Coast Guard, Semper Paratus: Always Ready. Since we are not ready to end our commitment to service, we will continue to be ready to serve, protect, and sacrifice.

"I do solemnly swear that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice. So help me God."

Semper Paratus

Thankful it's almost Fall

Happy Thursday! Not much has been happening in our quiet lives here in California. The Coastie and I are just floating right along through life. So this week, I am thankful for:

A full-time job right when the government shuts down. God provides for our family!

The strides made by Congress to ensure military families are paid and provided for during this time.

The support of our family and friends.

The decision and ability to come home to Tennessee for Thanksgiving!

Facing bittersweet memories of the past with grace (only by God's mercy).

Learning.

"Wo"manning up to get the tough stuff taken care of.

Fun activities with friends.

Sunsets over the Pacific Ocean.

Rain in Central California! It's a miracle!!!!

A good night's rest.

Our pets who keep us company.

Our cozy little home.

And making 3 dinners in one morning! Whew!

Be thankful today for all of life's little blessings!

Friday's Favorites

Welcome back, Friday!

It's time to bring back Friday's Favorites: a random assortment and ponderings of ideas/products/activities/nonsense that I like.

As some of you may know, I don't explore much on the internet. Ever since giving up the-social-media-site-that-shall-not-be-named almost one year ago (next month), I've used the computer even less. I didn't even get on Pinterest for about 4 months! *shock and awe*

But I did manage to find this blog about cats thanks to Pinterest. I have entertained myself for an hour (okay, maybe more than a few) with these posts about a cat named Mittens who likes to text his owner.

WARNING: These are incredibly funny, witty, and smart conversations between a cat and human. Be prepared to laugh, cry, and possibly pee a little from all the laughter you will experience. They make me die a little inside from sheer hilarity. I also want to run home right now and squeeze my cat, Mr. McGee, and teach him how to text.

Enjoy and happy Friday!

The Return of Thankful Thursday

I'm sure only a few people are still following this blog, mainly because I have been away so long. But I really crave and need to be back into focusing my life on gratitude, rather than the daily stresses that can threaten to overwhelm us at times.

I am preaching to myself when I remind you to take a few moments today to be grateful. To simply BE and be thankful for this moment, this breath, this heartbeat.

This week, I am thankful for:

The miracle of prayer.

My sweet mom who has worked so hard to get my condo ready for new renters.

That I am making the best, most peaceful choices for me that I possibly can.

The Coastie and how he makes me laugh every day.

The cooler weather and gorgeous sunsets we've had here the past 2 days.

Feeling that my inner peace is beginning to show on the outside.

Knowing I can overcome any obstacle with the support of the Coastie and my incredible family.

Warm soup on a cold day.

Thrift shops.

Dancing in the kitchen.

Morning jogs along the harbor.

Be thankful today for who you are and where you are!

Been away too long!

We have been away from blogging for way too long. I've noticed that without the accountability of the blog, I've neglected Thankful Thursday in my personal life. So many changes and things have changed in our life recently, that we really need and want to get back to a simpler time.

So, for a quick update:

I quit my job and immediately found a new one. The new job is not in my professional field, but I am much happier and healthier. The Coastie agrees and loves having his wife "back."

We moved to a new house in our little coastal town. Not by choice, but the Lord definitely provided for us when it became crunch time.

We have overcome THREE very stressful, heartbreaking, and uncomfortable situations just in the last 6 weeks. Team Preston is stronger than ever!!!

I've found a great Bible study with some incredible ladies here in California. God is so good providing me with supportive friends!

We celebrated our two year wedding anniversary this past week. The second year of marriage had it's own ups and downs, but we are loving every single second of being married and facing life's challenges together.

I made the best soup of my life the other day. The Coastie has dubbed it "Hilary's Harvest Soup." I'll update with the recipe soon!

I'm also toying with a new trend-setting weekday idea. More details to come!!!!!

Blessings!

Friday's Favorites

This week, my new favorite thing is this Vera Bradley "seashore tote" aka beach bag:

I'm not normally a brand snob, but I do love me some Vera Bradley. When I saw this bag in a cute shop here in town that carries Vera, I couldn't stop thinking about it! So I saved my pennies and splurged several weeks after seeing it. I love it! We are taking this fabulous bag out for it's first beach trip today. I'm going to look so cute!!

Happy Friday!!

Thankful Thursday

It feels so strange to be getting back into this habit. So many of my life's circumstances have tempted me into a time of.... well, let's just say... the opposite of gratitude. BUT, this week, I have made a conscious choice to step back into a life of gratitude.

So this Thursday, I am thankful for:

My mom. Mom, you are heart of my heart, spirit of my spirit. I am grateful for all the cards you send me in the mail. I am grateful for the book and pendant you sent me to help me re-focus my thoughts and energy into being grateful, not bitter. Thank you for listening to me hour after hour. Thank you for forgiving me while I selfishly dominate our conversations these days. Thank you for believing in me that I will be a more hopeful, positive, giving person again very, very soon. Thank you for always believing in my inherent goodness, worthiness, and beauty and reminding me of these things when I forget. Thank you for giving me life. Thank you for walking beside me on this journey.

My husband who puts up with me in ways he never thought he would have to! He still treats me like a queen and spoils me rotten. He is my cheerleader and rock. I am so grateful for his love, friendship, laughter, and positive attitude.

Yogurt with granola.

My sweet pets who are always glad to see me.

The card from my best friend about being friends even during our "bingo years." So sweet, thoughtful, and funny, you are Liz!

The exciting, miraculous, spectacular news for a friend.

Intuition.

Morning runs.

Be thankful today for all the little things and important people in your life today!

Happy Armed Forces Day!

The Coastie and I wish you a happy Armed Forces day!

Today we honor all the men and women who currently serve in any branch of the armed forces.

Say thank you to someone who serves to protect you and your freedom today!