Untraditional...That's What We Are

If you know us you know we are anything but traditional around here. Not purposefully, it’s just who we are.  I had a baby at 17. Graduated high school early. Got hitched so young that my Daddy had to sign the document giving me permission to say ‘I do.’ Moved. Went to college. Took a ‘break’ from college. Moved. Was a stay at home mom. Moved. Had two more babies. Went back to college. Moved. Got a divorce. Met the man of my dreams. Eloped. Moved. Graduated College. Finally. Commissioned in to the Air Force alongside my future baby Daddy. Moved. Dealt, already, with more TDYs between Seth and me than I want to count. Started working full-time. Moved. Lived. Moved again. Lived some more. Hubby moved, without us, due to the Air Force. Now the crew and I are moving next week. Yes. Again.

Due to our untraditional life we’ve lived in six different houses in less than four years. Seth and I have spent birthdays and holidays sleeping in PT gear, or in a sleeping bag, or in the field, or on the side of a mountain, and away from any loved ones. We’ve only been together on one anniversary. We’ve even spent Thanksgiving in a bar. Don’t ask. 

We’ve logged more miles on our odometers in a year than most would in three. I have sang goodnight songs to the kids over the phone, read stories via Skype, and just stared at my kidlets through a computer screen, soaking up their innocent faces, anxious to get back home to them.

We are in the military, like a lot of people. My kids have two different houses, like a lot of kids. They have a step mom and a step dad, like a lot of kids. We are all separated, a lot, like a lot of families. We miss each other. We love each other. We kiss. We fight. We hug. We cry. We laugh. We question why on Earth we are doing what it is we’re doing. We resent our times apart. And yet we are more grateful for each other during the times we are together. 

We have challenges, like a lot of people. We have fun. We have simple times. We have needs and wants and deep, deep yearnings. We have ever-changing minds and attitudes. We sometimes get so caught up in chaos that we fail to stop to appreciate the beauty around us. We forget to thank God for all that he has given us. We know we have more than a lot of people and yet we have moments where we wallow in self pity and ask “Why can’t we just have a normal life?” But I've come to realize that this life that we live is a 'normal' life. It's our 'normal'. It's our life. Chaos. Separation. Challenges. Laughter. Tears. Love. And all. 

I have so much to be grateful for. And so do you. We all do. So when situations seem too hard to push through, try your best and make the most of life. Stop wishing things were different - accept the way things are and make the most of them, and if you want them to change, change them. But if you are doing the best you can and God obviously has different plans for you then what you want (e.g. I want to be with my husband but it's just not possible after doing everything we are willing to do) then simply have faith that so long as you keep trying, keep believing, keep giving your all, it will all work out just the way it's supposed to.

I love all my family, but at the end of the day my number one priority is my immediate family - my husband and the three cool kids that call me mom. So I was more than a little disappointed a few months ago when I realized Seth would be moving without us. And it's hard at times to not have him around daily, especially with things like our move, the kids' first day of school coming up, and my promotion happening. But we remind ourselves to make the most of it.

Today we had my promotion 'ceremony' Rumbarger style. Straight up. With Seth on the east coast he gave me the oath via skype, I stood in our apartment that is covered in boxes due to our upcoming move, with my homette Sara unsuccessfully holding back her laughter but successfully holding Seth (aka the laptop), Manda videotaping using Ethan's cell phone, Owen standing on the ottoman holding the flag, Ana and Ethan pinning me on, Witten running around, and Jersey hiding in my bedroom. It was fast, and fun, and hilarious, and great, and chaotic, and absolutely perfect. It was untraditional. But it was so us. And I'm so grateful.

Happy Friday, ya'll.

Lorri

Toothless

My baby lost his second tooth yesterday. He lost his first one the day before that. He's in New Mexico. I'm in Florida. My baby lost his first tooth and I wasn't there. 

To you nonparents, I'm sure you're wondering what the significance of the above paragraph is and if that's the case you may as well close out of this window because you won't understand this post even if you tried. To my fellow parents, I'm sure you feel my pain.

I was Skyping with Owen yesterday morning when he told me he lost his first tooth Saturday night. Immediately I got teary-eyed and as I responded to him with an, "Oh my goodness, that's so awesome Monkey, tell me about it!" I realized my voice was shaky and my hormones were haywire. 

It's a tooth to most but it's a milestone to me. I'm used to being there for all the milestones. I've been there for every first crawl, step, word. Every first day of school. Potty-training. Learning to ride with no training wheels. But now, I've missed out on Owen losing his first tooth. He probably won't even remember the day - I don't remember losing my first tooth, but that's not the point. The point is that I'm that mom…that mom that makes heart-shaped pancakes on Valentines Day. The mom that sends balloons to their school on their birthday. The mom that custom makes their easter baskets and dresses them in green on 17 March. I'm that mom, that annoying mom that constantly has a camera in my hand and a project up my sleeve. So to miss my youngest's first lost tooth made me stop and think.

It made me think about how lucky I am to even have three kids. Some people, despite yearning for the opportunity, will never experience the miracle of a baby growing inside of them. Some people have children and don't get to speak to them. Some people will never experience any of the amazing occasions I've experienced and will experience with my three. So it made me think how blessed I am. It made me grateful. 

Because come on, how can you look at the newly toothless smile and not feel that all is right in the world?

Blessed, 

Lor