Martha Metzler.com

And then we heard a sea lion………..

So, I fully admit that I still feel completely new to the Army and am still on a huge learning curve. We’ve only been in this rodeo for two years now. We love our station and Fort Lewis has a lot of really nice perks. When I say I gave myself a learning curve I wasn’t joking. I seriously looked like a shy middle schooler trying to find a seat at lunch the first time I went to the commissary. First, I had no idea you didn’t bag your own bags and had to tip. (Trust me, now I know those “No Limit Self Check Out” lanes like a pro.) It took me awhile to get used to shopping there but now, I love it! In full disclosure, we don’t buy our meat there because they don’t have organic options but I buy all our staples and a lot of our produce there. The prices are unbeatable and once you know the times to go when its not crowded, its quite pleasant! It’s easy because it’s right there on post and with the exception of no organic meat, they have everything we need.

What’s my point?

Well, I’ve teamed up with General Mills on a little coupon lovin’. They are starting a military only program for military shoppers to sign up and receive coupons via their email. They will email them out so just print them at home and take them with you to the commissary and use them at the check out! It’s as easy as that!

All you have to do is text the keyword GMSAVE to 82857· Then exclusive military only General Mills coupons will be sent monthly right to your email for easy printing before you go to the commissary. They will track products on sale at your local commissary and even send out news about upcoming General Mills commissary events.

Message and data rates may apply. 4 alerts per month. Reply STOP to end or HELP for help.
www.generalmills.com/en/Privacy_Policy <http://www.generalmills.com/en/Privacy_Policy>

I know it’s confusing because it’s an email campaign but you text to opt in. At this time, commissaries do not allow mobile coupons, but by opting in via texting, you’re agreeing that they could contact you in the future via texting. This way when and if the commissaries allow it, you will be all set up. In the meantime, email blasts will be sent out containing the information twice a month.

Note: The coupons are printed using Coupons.com technology. If someone has trouble, they can look at the Coupons.com link:http://print.coupons.com/couponweb/help/print/index.html  

For more info, just check out their Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/GeneralMillsMilitaryRegionCouponsAndOffers

So there ya have it! Yay GM for pursuing military families!

*Disclaimer: I’m being compensated by GM Commissary Coupons Campaign but I love coupons, I love the commissary, and I meant what I said in this post! Word.

Peace.

I’ve been thinking a lot about peace recently. And after years of taking “me” trips to sit next to a babbling creek, journaling to no end, listening to some cheesy Christian music or drinking lots of tea that never tastes as good as coffee, I have come to a conclusion. Peace doesn’t just magically wash over me. I have to seek it.

Now, I’m sure there are some people somewhere that just come across peace naturally. I imagine these people are riding unicorns down the beach or flying through the clouds like a Care Bear.

But me? Well, I have to actively seek it out.

Psalm 34:14 “Turn away from evil and do good. Seek peace and pursue it.”

Ok, so I can’t be the only one that feels this way right? Surely there are others out there that sit down to “find some peace” and end up making a grocery list or wondering what the lady at your playdate meant when she said that your kid’s body would eventually grow into his head or hell, just checking to make sure there are people crazier than you are on Facebook. I have come to accept that I’m not one of those people that peace will naturally find. There, I said it. And you know what else? I don’t think that makes me a bad person. Now, if I stopped at that and just never sought peace, feel free to be judgy and send me emails of rebuke. But I’m not stopping at that my friends. I’m seeking peace and then pursuing it with everything I have…. even when its inconvenient.

Case in point, let me paint a little picture for this morning. Bud woke up early (which is fine) but Mama woke up on the wrong side of the bed because she was awakened from a beautiful dream in which she was BFFs with Amy Poehler. Then Bud preceded to whine for the next 2 hours about his french toast taking too long, his milk temperature, his toys being out of order, me sending a quick email to someone, the blinds being closed, the trash trucks being too loud, the dog breathing too close to him, etc etc. We had his 18 month check up this morning so I was trying to get him dressed, put a bra on (because help us all if this step is skipped), and get out of the door. Well, it wasn’t happening and I could feel my temper being pushed even though he wasn’t doing anything wrong, it was my impatience issue. I realized that I needed to step into another room for a minute in order to remain a good mama. He didn’t deserve for me to be impatient and my heart wasn’t in the right place, so I gave him a book and told him “Mama is going to go find some peace for a minute. I’ll be right back.” And I went into another room, grabbed my Bible (ok fine, it was the Storybook Bible because I could get my hands on it faster) and sat in a chair and read, prayed, sought peace, and pursued it. It took two minutes, because that’s all I had. That was the turning point of my day. The rest of day has been so much better. Not because my son is less whiny (HA) or because I took a trip to Care Bear land in the clouds, but because I chose to pursue peace.

I don’t know what this looks like for you. Sometimes it looks very differently for me. Sometimes I need to slip away and give myself a break like this morning. Or sometimes, I just need to put Bud in a stroller and take a long walk. Or a quick Skype date with a good friend. Or a glass of wine and a Real Simple magazine. What does it look like for you? Is it an hour long counseling session? Massage? Listing things you’re grateful for? A trail run? Even if you’re suffering from major anxiety and need help with a little medication, there is NO shame in that. Whatever it may look like to you, for God’s sake, for YOUR sake, seek peace and pursue it. I can’t promise you that we’ll look like the people in the ads where we pop out of bed ready to face the day or take baths outside in vintage bathtubs overlooking an ocean (because really, who does that!? have yall seen that ad!?) 

But I can promise you that when you take that moment to seek peace and pursue it, it’ll be a turning point. It will give you fuel to stay the course and remember what Who it is you’re running after.

At the risk of sounding too Episcopalian, Peace be with you my friends.  

So remember the beautiful mullet? Well, it’s gone. That’s right, Bud got a haircut! This haircut was prompted by a couple things. 1. About 984,756 people commented on Bud’s mullet… a lot of them with genuine concern and some with genuine jealousy (we WERE in North Carolina after all) and 2. He was called a little girl at the airport.

Sam did it and it was very drama-free (minus the part where I cried because he looked older and I proceeded to put his curls in a zip lock bag). So is it weird to anyone else that we keep our children’s remnants of their first hair cut? I feel like if someone without kids were to come in our house and search through baby books, they’d think we were serial killers/creepers. A lot of teeth, hair remnants, and photos of kids sleeping. Super.

So Bud went from this :

To this:

And we’ve all heard about my nursery battle with Bud. Well, this Sunday was the first Sunday in a REALLY long time that I can remember not being called back during the service. Yes, he still screams his head off when we drop him off and yes, when Sam went to go get him, my son was pantless (please don’t get me started on this one) BUT I didn’t get this message which is a Christmas miracle.

It was a nice weekend, COLD, but nice. How was yalls!?

If I was better about posting, then you’d see how often we use our Kelty Kids backpack. We probably use it 2-3 times a week MINIMUM. Sam and I love to hike and so now its become our favorite family activity. It’s so easy and fun to strap Bud in the pack and help watch Sam hoist Bud on his back and we get to experience nature as a family.

A couple days ago we went to this awesome trail called Cal Magnusson that was about an hour and a half away. It was a messy day (I’m talking major rain and wind! But we bundled up and put our rain gear on and forged on. And by forged on, I mean I only complained 5000 times.) but we figured if we waited to hike until the rain let up, we’d be waiting until July. It was a pretty steep hike but only 2 miles long so it was a nice, quick trip. Bud loved it. He just looked all around and was so proud when we let him out and walk the last bit of the trail down. It’s pretty rocky so I think he felt pretty badass. (He really was)

I know you’re jealous of the way I look… admit it. But we had to get a picture b/c this was a natural rock formation!

So anyways, if you’re in the market for a nice hiking backpack, we can’t recommend the Kelty one enough.

*I’m not paid to say this, Kelty doesn’t know/care I exist…. although, I’m here Kelty if you need me 😉

Also- can you see the look of pride on Bud’s face after the hike?

I dare you to say I can’t climb this mountain again…

I’m just messin’! Put me on your back again!

My amazing husband built something for Bud  me the other day. And here’s what I have to say about it.

1. He briefly looked at a picture I showed him on the internet and then measured some things and left for Home Deport.

2. He went into the garage for the rest of the afternoon and then came back with this:

I’m so serious. I’m daily amazed at my man. This thing is a life saver for me for real. Every night when I cook supper, I juggle the stove and Bud at my legs…. it’s a terrible circus with an inevitable terrible ending (me= pouring pixie sticks into my mouth) so this allows Bud to help me with supper and feel a part of the action. I’m trying to decide what color to paint it, any thoughts?

It’s a family affair

Family pizza night!

So yall need to get one of these. I realize they sell them, but what’s the fun in that?! (Translation = I’m super cheap).

And I know that its only a coincidence but I can’t help but think Bud is eating better now that he’s watching how much work goes into suppers. AND just a little tip: set up some Play-Doh and give them some cookie cutters and you’ll finish fixing an entire supper without any interruption. You’ll be cleaning those counters anyways! You’re welcome.

Hey yall! I’m so sorry I’ve been MIA. (Yeah, I’m talking to the few people that read this, I’ve missed yall!) We were traveling and then un-traveling which means trying to get a stubborn toddler back on west coast time. I’ll unpack the Christmas vacation tomorrow BUT you should know, until we are moving back to the east coast, my happy ass will be staying put right here. That’s right, no more flying with a toddler and no more time changes until I have to! I’ve spoken it, there it is.

Here is a little video I made of our little Christmas we did as a family before heading east. Bud was super fun this year because he would get really excited about opening presents (duh) and Santa. And he’s my kid so he got really excited about eating candy off the gingerbread house so if I’m going to take credit for one gene in his gene pool, that’s it.

Enjoy! (Song by Rosie Thomas)

(And dumb dumb distracted Roy)

Soooo remember the Easter Bunny situation? Well, Santa went about like that. Bud SCREAMED and then the stupid photographer lady couldn’t get her flash to work. Then a weird fear-freeze went over Bud and he stopped crying for 2 seconds to get this picture and then he resumed. Then I swooped in and grabbed my boy and he immediately stopped crying and pointed at Santa saying, “Ho Ho Ho”. Ok…. so we like Santa from far away but not up close? It’s like college musicians. I liked them from far away and then they come down off the stage and into your dorm room and only want to play Dave Matthews Band and have acne. So, I feel you Bud, been there.

So, we got SNOW! I’ll be a bit MIA for the holidays because we’re traveling east to be with family. But I had to get these on here.

It’s amazing being able to experience things again through new eyes. Bud is taken with such wonder with everything. It was so amazing to sit by the window and watch the snow fall and just see his wide eyes and mouth wipe open and yelling, “WHOA!” Man, how amazing would it be if we were all like that?