Keep Ashlyn Dancing

Please take the time to read and consider.  It would mean a lot to Ashlyn and our family. 

1st day of school!

It's the 1st day of the 2014/2015 school year!  I now have a high school freshman and a 4th grader!  Ack!  We started our day with a 2 mile run...we'll I ran and the kids rode their bikes.  According to Ashlyn, dancers don't run!

We are now settled in and starting the school day.  Hoping it'll be a good year!!

9th & 4th grade

End of Summer!

Summer is over!  School starts tomorrow!  Where did this past year go?!  We have been so busy that I haven't had time to take as many pictures/memories as I would have liked to.  So this year I am making it a priority.  I took a peek at my old "picture a day" blog and it was so nice remembering all of those little everyday things I had forgotten about.  So, while I know I probably won't be able to keep up with a picture a day, I will try to do a few a week.  Today's picture is of me and Chason.  Ashlyn was being a typical teen and refused to be in the picture. *rolls eyes*

The Silent Illness

So I started this blog when we moved from Mobile to Elizabeth City with the hopes of documenting our new life journey for our friends we had to leave.  From the day we arrived, it has been a whirlwind.  I don't have much time for anything anymore.  In fact, just this week, our house went without milk for 4 days cause I just couldn't get to the store!  lol 

Anyways, I wanted to finally sit down and write about something that has been heavy on my heart lately.  I'm sure several of you have seen my posts on Facebook recently.  Some have even messaged me, asking what happened.  It's such a touchy subject nobody wants to talk about.  It's uncomfortable, upsetting, confusing, awkward, shameful...just to name a few.  I'm talking about Mental Illness and Suicide.  It has affected our family directly twice in the past year and a half.  How do you begin to explain it to your kids when you can't fully wrap your mind around it yourself?!  Mental Illness is an illness just like the flu or cancer, but most of society does not see it that way.  It's a silent internal struggle with one's thoughts.  With the flu or cancer there are cures, unlike mental illness.  It's something you learn to live with, whether it be through therapy or prescription meds.  I'm no doctor, I have not studied psychiatry, but I have seen how it has affected several people.  It's a daily struggle.  Nothing is ever black or white.  There is no answer.  A lot of sufferers seem like they have it all together.  They've learned to hide it very well.  They are ashamed.  When the public says that an individual is "Mental" they are really saying they're crazy, right?  Why would anyone out their secret illness then?  I think it is our job to educate ourselves, to help those in need and not judge.  NAMI is a good starting point.

Please watch this short video about depression.  If everyone was a little more compassionate and understanding, their struggle may not seem so immense.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XiCrniLQGYc

"Suicide does not end the chances of life getting worse.  It eliminates the possibility of life ever getting better." 

Although our hearts ache with the loss of our loved ones, it is nothing to be ashamed of.  It happened, we can't change it, but we can educate ourselves and help others so that nobody has to struggle with hiding depression or deal with the impact suicide leaves behind.

Rest in Peace Clint and Charlie!  We Love and Miss You!

Ashlyn, Clint and Chason

12/13/56-11/19/12

Charlie (top left) with the family at Tarah's wedding

12/11/81-2/7/14

We plan on attending this walk at Mount Trashmore
September 6, 2014
Please join us and 
Make a difference!

There's no place like home?

We finally made it!  After 55 LONG days, we are now settling into our new place in Elizabeth City NC!  The movers came Saturday and delivered our HHG (Household Goods for those that do not know military acronyms).  So far only a few things were broken, nothing major, but all can be replaced ( I think). 

For the past 2 days we have been unpacking, unpacking, unpacking....seems like it will never end.  The house we moved into is bigger sq ft wise, but we lost A LOT of storage space.  So right now we are trying to figure out what we can live without.  Things just aren't fitting in this house like in our last.  Our dining room table is too big for this house, so we had to purchase a new table.  Our curtains didn't go with this house either, so we had to get new ones.  And because this house has a FROG, our living room furniture went there (Chason calls it the man cave) and we had to buy new living room furniture.... darn!  ;)

All in all, I will say it has been the most stressful move we have made by far!  It was a hard one for the kids too.  Seven years is a long time in a child's life.  They are adjusting well though.  Ashlyn was able to attend  DMI nationals in Myrtle Beach and started dance classes with Denise Wall's Dance Energy the day we arrived in Virginia Beach.  She was hesitant at first, but is loving every minute of it.  Chason is having a blast hanging with his cousins and has picked up a new hobby....skateboarding.  He was happy to learn that there is a skate park, driving range and disc golf course 2 minutes from our house!  

As for me, I will admit, I DO NOT LIKE CHANGE!  I, however, will adjust.  I take it one day at a time.  I miss my friends back in Mobile (Semmes), but am so happy to be back near home.  Y'all know you are always welcome to visit!!!!    Anyways, here are just a few pics I took this weekend.  Hopefully I'll be able to update this blog soon with pics of the house unpacked!  ;)

The movers delivering our stuff.

Living room

 

 The Garage

 Master Bedroom

 Chason's room

Are we moving or camping?

Well, the movers were here M,T,W this week and have taken all of our stuff.  We tried to gather everything we didn't want the movers to take, all in one room.  Unfortunately we forgot a few things...can opener, cork screw, beach towels, goggles, sunscreen.  Thankfully, it is all items that we could buy.  Now we will have double (or triple, it may have happened before, oops) once we get to NC.  But for now, we are camping out in our home.  Brian finished his last day of work yesterday.  We've got a few more things to close up on and we should be headed out Tues or Wed.  Praying for smooth sailing!!

They're here!

Chason checking out the truck

Camping out in the living room, watching tv

Tucker and Willow patiently waiting for the movers to leave.

Willow exploring.

Recital 2013

Yesterday was Ashlyn's last recital at Melinda Leigh's Performing Arts Center.  She has attended this studio for 6 yrs and has made some wonderful memories and lifelong friends.  We are so lucky to have found them.  Ashlyn has learned so much from Melinda and Anna.  We are really going to miss our dance family when we leave.  Thank you again for everything you have done for her.  You are a big part of who she is.  There is no doubt in my mind that Ashlyn will continue to dance...you have given her a strong foundation.  :)

A Day to Celebrate!

After several years of hard work, Brian was promoted to CWO2 (Chief Warrant Officer 2) on June 1, 2013.  The swearing in ceremony took place June 3rd, this past Monday.  A little late getting these on here because we're in the process of moving as well.  Movers will be here in 5 days!  Ack! Here's just a few pics of a great day!

Shifting Sands

If the sands are shifting, circumstances are changing.  This seems to be the the mantra of our life, so I see it fitting as our blog name.  I've tried blogging before with a "Picture a Day" blog and did really well at the beginning.  But as life got busier, I started skipping days and then tried to play catch up.  I eventually stopped blogging...fail!  This time around, I will not promise a picture a day!  lol  This blog is intended to document and share our ever changing lives as a Coast Guard Family.

In Brian's Coast Guard career we have been stationed in Portsmouth VA, Elizabeth City NC, Sitka AK, Mobile AL and are now headed back to Elizabeth City NC.  We have made MANY friends along the way and leave them behind each transfer.  Now even if you don't have a facebook acct, you can still keep up with the family.  In a couple weeks our new journey begins as we head back to North Carolina.  I'm excited and nervous to see what the future has in store for us!  :)  Enjoy!