Easy as Pie

mmmmmm.......apple pie!

My Mom makes the best apple pie in the entire world. I'm not exaggerating, you'd know if you have been lucky enough to try it. Usually I can go about my life completely pie-free and happy. That is until Fall strikes. The moment that wonderful chill in the air hits I really miss my Mom's pie. Which is a problem, because she lives 1,200 miles away.

About 3 years ago I made it my quest to try to replicate her apple pie. Whoever said "easy as pie" is a liar. Pie is one of those deceitfully, easy recipes. It lures you in with it's simplicity and then crushes your dreams of a perfect pie. Seriously how can flour, salt, shortening and water turn into such heavenly pie crust? Well after 3 years of Frankenstein pies, I have finally make a pie that almost resembles my Mom's beautiful pies. The timing is perfect as it is a little homecoming gift for my husband.

So thank you Mom. Thank you for teaching me how to bake and then carefully guiding me through the process again, and again on the phone. I think it has started to sink in. Maybe with luck one day I will be able to teach my kids how to make your amazing pies.

Perseverance

I don't know how many times I have tried to write this post. I have been searching for all of the right words to say and nothing comes out right. It is one of those posts that easily gets bogged down with too much military lingo, whining and rambling explanations. So I am going to try to keep it simple:

The Army is sending my best friend/husband to South Korea for a year, I will be staying in Maryland. When we first got these orders I was ecstatic, because I thought I was going to go with. Then our paperwork was denied. We are going to try to re-apply once Jeremy gets there, hopefully it will go through. We are in another kind of limbo, so we are (as always) preparing for the worst (another year apart) and hoping for the best (us being together in Korea).

Regardless what happens we will be ok. We know that God has a plan for both of us, we just have to trust and persevere through this. Perseverance is a word I hadn't really thought too much about before the Army. It is because of the Army I am beginning to understand it's true meaning. To me perseverance is about never losing hope and never giving up when you are not only on empty, but have been running on empty for miles. It is the tenacity to say "I can do this" and the humility to realize some things are out of your control. It is being flexible with your decisions and the willingness to prepare for the unlikely; all while reaching for your goals. Perseverance is me saying that I will not only survive having Jeremy go to Korea, but also thrive, learn and motivate myself while he is gone. I will see the silver-lining and embrace it. It is me also saying, that I won't loose hope that I could actually be able to move to Korea with him. That I am willing and able to prepare for a international move, even though it may not happen. That I not only look forward to that adventure but will find my own way in a country I never have been in. I will accept whatever decision is made by the Army and then learn to grow from it. That is my version of perseverance and my way of being at peace with this decision.

Regardless what happens I plan on being better about posting on my blog... so stay tuned. :)