{Self Control}

.....I haven't had a soda in 6 days :)

...........I've limited my sugar, although I haven't eliminated it

...today, I allowed myself one soda with dinner

........and tonight...I was craving a Blizzard

...hubby went to Dairy Queen and bought me a small

..........& guess what??

...I only ate 1/2 of it...I was able to stop and put the rest in the freezer

.....people, this is HUGE for me

...a small step in the direction of self control

{2011 Project Life...Week 1} & a winner :)

First things first...we have a winner for the giveaway!! Woo Hoo!! Going about it the old-fashioned way, names were written on a piece of paper, folded, and placed in a basket, the lucky winner that was randomly drawn is......Erika! Congratulations...message me your info and I will get the book headed your way. Enjoy!

I failed miserably at my attempt at a Picture A Day last year...I really think it had to do with me trying to start on our Anniversary in August. My brain just doesn't work that way. So...I'm trying again and this time, beginning on January 1. I'm also only going to recap on here once a week instead of trying to do that daily and my daughter is joining in on the fun and we're meeting once a week to put our layouts together for the week. Fun!!

The cabins at the Lake Norfork River Resort....we spent the weekend here for a Military Marriage Retreat sponsored by our church, Southside Community.

Quentin, Pat, Josh, Me, Joann (holding Pixie) & Karla

This was our last morning of the retreat. We had a wonderful time worshipping via YouTube...can't say I've ever done that, but it worked and it was amazing. Such an incredible weekend of fellowship & reconnecting as a couple.

We traveled to Blytheville for Blake's basketball game...the boys started slow, but ended up winning 43-21. Blake had 8 points and a bunch of assists, steals, & rebounds.

Sugar Bowl....We stayed home and watched Arkansas play Ohio in the Sugar Bowl at New Orleans. We had a few missed opportunities and couldn't quite come up with a win, but I'm still cheering on my Hogs.

Ashamedly, this was the first Wednesday night service I've attended in a while.
The church is reading through the book of Acts and on Wednesday's they're digging deeper into each chapter, each verse.

Quentin traveled with his brother, Warren, to Union City to look at guns today. He left me the sweetest note (leave the dishes and I will do them). I write him letters weekly, but getting a note from him is very rare, so I treasure everyone I get.

Date Night! I really meant to get a picture of me and Q at Olive Garden, but I brought the camera without an SD card...ugh! We had a wonderful dinner courtesy of a gift card from my Aunt Liz and then went to Barnes & Noble (our fave pastime) where I purchased The Chronicles of Narnia (I've never read these books!). Simple pleasures that I don't take for granted having been through two deployments.

There ya have it....the first week of 2011 in the life of the Bales' Pretty exciting, huh?! Seriously, I'm looking forward to capturing the everyday moments this year for my Project Life album. If you have no idea what I'm talking about...click the link on my sidebar :)

{Update on Giveaway}

I will be drawing tomorrow (from those who have messaged me on Facebook and those that have commented here) ...if you want a FREE copy of Tour of Duty, you need to comment tonight :) and I will announce a winner tomorrow....

....don't miss your chance to win :)

{Military Marriage Retreat}

This past weekend, we had the opportunity to go to a marriage retreat for military families in our church, sponsored by our church, paid for by our church....I couldn't imagine passing up this chance for a weekend away. We left on New Years Eve at lunch...I have to tell you, that was tough...to know that I would be away from my children for the first time on the 1st day of the new year, but I also knew that Quentin and I would come back a better couple and parents for having went...so I packed our bags and we arrived at the Norfork River Trout Resort Friday afternoon and settled into our 3 bedroom cabin (with our own bathroom in each bedroom).

Our cabin overlooked the river and was just the quaintest thing! Seriously, I did not want to leave this place!

The view from our balcony...

We had the absolute best time....studying God's word and hearing what He has to say about communication, expectations, and even how to handle our anger. There was only two other couples, so our group sessions were very intimate, which enabled us to be transparent. We also had communication building exercises that we did on our own...Quentin and I learned alot about each other in these two days...lol.

Of course no church retreat is complete without some great food...and man, did we ever eat some great food. We ate like Kings & Queens and I'm pretty sure I gained a few more pounds..Pat was the Grillmaster :)

Doesn't that make you hungry??

There was also plenty of games...we played WII, Apples to Apples, and a new card game (new to us anyway) called Golf. We were quite the competitive bunch and sadly I did not win any games...ok, I take that back...I beat Karla at WII Tennis...lol,

Me and Quentin on the last day....

Josh & Karla.....Josh served with Quentin in Iraq in 2006-07 and in this last deployment to Afghanistan in 2009-10

Our wonderful hosts...Pat & Joann...and of course Pixie. This couple really know how to make you feel like you're the only person that matters and they have a heart for God that I rarely see. They flesh out their faith every day and infuse God in every aspect of their life.

A weekend much needed...more than I realized.

A final group shot...

Quentin, Pat, Josh

Ginger, Joann (holding Pixie), Karla

Friends, Fellowship, Food, Faith....I really can't think of a better way to bring in the New Year.

{Book Review & Giveaway}

The past few weeks I've had the privilege to work through a new Bible study geared toward military wives. Sara Horn hits the nail on the head with her new book, "Tour of Duty...Preparing Our Hearts For Deployment."

One of the things that I loved about this study was the real-life excerpts from her life that she shared at the beginning of each chapter. Seeing her life mirror aspects of mine, made me want to read more because I knew that she was speaking from experience and a place that made us kindred spirits. She wasn't afraid to tackle some of the emotions and hidden thoughts that torment military wives during deployments....but she didn't stop there. In 7 weeks, she armed me with God's truths and scripture to combat these emotions and walked me through what she calls the "7 Emotional and Spiritual Stages of Deployment."

I definitely feel more prepared to handle the next deployment that comes our way and only wish I had this in my hand a year ago. I'm grateful to add this to my arsenal to combat Satan's lies and to come through the next deployment stronger and healthier.

If you're a military wife....you need this study. If you know a military wife....get this book for her. As a matter of fact, if you'd like this book for yourself or perhaps someone you know that fights the home front war, then leave me a comment. I will randomly select someone to receive this book FREE :) So, leave a comment. Gather up your girlfriends. Start a Bible study group...and get ready to have your socks blessed off.

Be sure to check out Sara on her personal website and at the website she founded for military wives, Wives of Faith.

{Merry Christmas 2010}

As everyone knows who reads this blog...it has been one heck of a year around here...thus I haven't even bought a Christmas card, so this shall be it :) Consider it a Christmas letter and card all rolled into one....

Quentin's unit was mobilized in 2009 and left for Afghanistan in January 2010. They did a phenomenal job clearing the roads and had the best det-to-find ratio of any unit past or present and ZERO fatalities. They ALL returned in November with a very low number of injuries. Since being home, Quentin has went deer hunting a few times, duck hunting, and numerous basketball games....he even danced his baby girl down the aisle as he gave her away on her wedding day. We took a couple's trip to Kansas City the weekend before the wedding where he got to watch his team the Denver Broncos take on the Kansas City Chiefs.

Mallorye has been a busy beaver!! She competed in the Miss Teen USA Arkansas pageant in January, graduated high school in May, started college on a full tuition scholarship in August, bought a house in September, started a new job somewhere in there, and got married (to Matt...a pretty awesome addition to the family) in December!! I've been so proud of how well she has juggled all the new roles that she has and I'm excited to see her blossom in this new chapter of life.

Blake killed yet another deer this season, keeping our freezer stocked. He's decided to focus only on basketball and has really excelled the past few games, averaging around 13 points a game. School is going well for him with all A's (with the exception of a B in Geometry) and for the first time....zero absences! and....he has a girlfriend...surprise..surprise. Actually, she's a very sweet girl and was brave enough to come hang out at our house last Friday.

I've stayed busy this year planning a wedding and sending letters to Afghanistan and running Blake here and there and everywhere. I'm still singing in the Praise Team at church and lovin' it....still writing for Army Wife Magazine and lovin' it.....still burning the candle at both ends and....oh never mind....

One things for sure....we have been very blessed this year and are looking forward to an incredible 2011....so from the Bales' Family.....

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Family Picture taken in January the day Quentin deployed

{Goal Setting}

With January right around the corner, I've been thinking about the areas in my life that I really want to work on. One of these is in the area of spiritual discipline. I consider myself a good person and I'm a Christian...no doubt about that...however, I falter with some of the basics of spiritual discipline. This year I really desire to draw closer to God and create the habit of some of these basics...not as a way to check things off of a list...but because I know these disciplines draw me closer to God...disciplines such as; reading my Bible EVERY day, tithing, daily prayer (the real, conversation kind), and scripture memory.

Well, what do you know? One of my spiritual mentors from afar is offering a neat tool to help in scripture memory, along with accountability via her blog. I'm all about a crafty tool, that's cute and useful, so you can bet I jumped on this opportunity!! Beth Moore is an incredible godly woman that has a heart for women. Her blog is full of encouragement, challenges, and accountability...check it out here. While you're there, check out the Siesta Spiral to help memorize scripture in 2011.