God's Grace.

Today I was at my Kindergarten class and I was going through markers, crayons, and colored pencils. They were laying all over the tables and floor and most of them needed to be thrown or needed to be sharpened. So as I went through them I started with the markers. Just making a check to see if they would need to be thrown or kept. I got to thinking... I'm so glad God doesn't do this to us. There have been so many times in my life, mostly the past year and our recent deployment, when I've felt just that way. Dried up and worn out. Tired of being "strong" being the one that "holds it together so well". Taking care of the house, caring for Brinn, trying to be positive with every conversation from across the world. I'm definitely NOT bursting with color, I definitely would have been thrown right in the trash today. I would be like that neon yellow that when you make the slash it doesn't even show up. 

However, I have seen so many amazing things that have happened in my life through just believing and trusting. We recently just finished our R&R and for some odd reason, I was filled with Joy as I turned and walked from Jon. Yes, not normal I know. Of course I was sad and filled with emotion. The second we were alone it was Brinn and I and we were going to do this. We need to do this, for Jon. 

I feel like some people get the wrong impression. I'm not strong. I'm not amazing. I do know how I do it. It's all through believing. Trusting in God and going to Him for anything. That is what we are called to do, and it's what gets me through each day. Not me, Him. 

Just like the day I got the last phone call and he was getting on a plane to go over seas. I sat up eating chocolate chips all night and woke up full of some weird crazy not normal Joy. God has some of the most incredible ways of making His presence and it's so encouraging and loving. He always knows how to Strengthen me, and fix me up and pat me on the back and put me on my way again. 

Something that I have truly learned from this deployment is God is glorified the most when we can't do anything. We ask for help we throw it all on Him. He never expects us to be something we aren't he knows who we are and exactly what he wants us to be. Every single thing that we face each and everyday is just one step closer to the end result of what HE truly has wanted and created us to be. 

So today be thankful and grateful for Grace and God. I am. 

But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. 

1Corinthians 12:9

Last Goodbye.

We had the LAST GOODBYE today. They don't get easier whoever says that is CrAzY. This one was different in many ways though. We have made it 8 months. Out of the 8 months we've seen and been in each others presence for 18 of them. So that means we are almost done with this thing! 

So whats four more months  So today was bitter sweet for us. We didn't sleep you never do the night before they leave you toss and turn, and Jon just talks and rubs my back and asks if I'm awake... It's really the worse part of it all. However, today we knew this was the last one. We've done three and this is it! So that was encouraging!

We got to the airport Jono wanted us to go in with him so we did. We had breakfast and off to his terminal. Every minute just drew closer to the departure and it was getting really hard. People thanking him and looking at us I felt really exposed. So I made the decision to just leave. We said our goodbyes hugged and kissed. As I walked away from him Brinn waved and said Bye Bye Dada Bye Bye Dada. I hadn't cried until then. I knew how much it hurt for him to be apart from us. I didn't look back you can't. It's too hard.

We hit the car and immediately you go into survivor mode. With out him we simply are just surviving g.We get two miles away and Brinn throws up :( Jon says he thinks she was sad and missed him :) Maybe! Anyways we are doing great. Miss him of course, however, life goes on her at home. We have reality to deal with because the last two weeks have been so blissful! 

So here was the last couple snaps we got of him! Enjoy! 

That little sign makes me tear up! 

Breakfast?

Our little family. I love it. We look really tired it was 5:00am so yes, we were.

Duty Calls.

I was dreading this post. We are spending our last night together. All good things come to end right? Anyways we have had such a great two weeks. It has been so amazing. We've seen so many wonderful people and been able to be our own little family again. 

However, Duty does call. Our country comes first this year. We're in this together and we are on the final leg of this deployment. Something weird has come over me and I'm excited. We both are. I can't wait! So thank you so much for the prayers and love it's very much appreciated! 

Next time his boots are on ground... it's forever. The Army will have had my husband long enough.

Love the Sage's

Jono Birthday!!!!!!!

We were so lucky to have Jono home on his birthday! I had school and after Jono came to get me we went home and got ready for dinner! We went to the Olive Garden it was amazing!!!! Here are some pictures from our night!

MY DAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Today was bitter sweet for me. First day in my practicum WITH MY KINDERGARTEN Class :) Best experience I have ever had, all in one day. My teacher Mrs. Mason is the most amazing teacher I have ever met. Better than any teacher I've ever had to. this. day. I tell ya God's doing some amazing things in my life. 

Today was bitter sweet because that sweet handsome man of mine is still home and I wasn't really that excited about not getting to spend the day with him. After kissing Brinn and Jono goodbye for the day. I entered the school... The janitor greeted me at the door and totally thought  I was a substitute. HA not just a little practicum student. So he showed me my room. My room is beautiful... I adore it. I walk in and I find these on the chairs...

Yes each child had this little cubby on their chair and they were all ACU material. I just knew right then... this was going to be an amazing day :) 

So my teacher arrived and she is AMAZING I can't brag anymore I'm so blessed for the placement I got. She goes to my church, her son is in the Army, and she is just like ME!

Before I knew it we had made it through the morning dancing and singing. We had done our literacy groups and it was lunch time! The teachers lounge... need I say more. I just sat back and listened nobody talked bad about anyone... they all talked about their NAILS. Other than the fact that I hardly brought a lunch (banana, pudding, and apple, that I dropped on the ground and totally had to throw away because all the teachers saw me drop it.) It was an AMAZING DAY!!!!!!!

I just can't say enough good things about my day. The best day I've had in a very long time. I missed my loves at home but they were hanging out with Dawn so I knew they were well taken care of! 

So ending the day waiting for my amazing husband to show up... I was thinking of all the fun things I was going to tell them about my day and how I choose the best career out there! He pulls up in this....

Not only did I have the MOST AMAZING DAY EVER... My husband bought me a new stinking car????????? WHAT???? Totally not deserving of this one... 

I'm extremely blessed with family and friends. I totally felt touched by God today not because my husband bought me a car. Mainly for the way I felt at school and knowing I was doing the right thing. I picked teaching so long ago and it is definitely my calling. It felt so right today... It was so amazing having the memories I have from today and the fact that I still get my husband... he is home and he picked me up on a very important day of my life. I'm so thankful for all I've been given. Everything is a blessing.


"I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.


Genesis 12:2-3

Happy St. Patricks Day!

So we were able to make it to the St. Patrick's Day Parade in Des. Moines. We had a blast Brinn loved it and it was a beautiful day!!! We spent the afternoon shopping in East Village and eating at Noodle Zoo! Perfect day!

We got a Door!

So we decided to get a new door, the other one wasn't working... hmm. Anyways Brinn is obsessed with tools. When my dad comes with his she goes crazy and I warned Jono of this and he had no idea what i meant. She wanted to drill, she was running through the house with screws it was out of control. Jon was so stressed out by the time he finished the new doors. We got a storm door also for Brinn to look out at the puppy's (her new word).

HI Honey!

The new door not finished yet!

 Helping Dad Drill :) 

YA!!!!

We finished our fun day with some of 'Mike's ' Apple Crisp and Brinn ate her first whole apple!

Doctor Visit.

So when I was at Brinn's one year check up I had asked the lady at the front desk if I could change her 15 month check up to a couple days prior to what it was so that Jono could make it. Well... she said NO! So I asked Dr. Shute and she said NO PROBLEM :) So when we got to the doctor today we had lots of smiles the girls at the doctors office are so sweet. They were welcoming Jono back and it was so sweet he enjoyed it. 

They know us pretty well at the doctor's office because Brinn has had her fair share of being sick. So today we were sick just a check up! Everything was good! So I took some pictures like a crazy and here they are!!! 

The Next Three Days.

So Jono and I sat down tonight to watch another Red Box. Our favorite. 

We rented The Next Three Days. It was actually really good. I felt this weird connection to the movie the whole time. This woman is accused of murder and put in prison for the rest of her life. She is innocent. Her husband knows that through the entire movie. 

I didn't like the movie about half way through because it reminded me to much of my life. Not that I've murdered someone or Jono has murdered someone. I think mostly because she was apart from her 6 year old son. She knew she was never going to be his mother. 

No this does not relate to my life either. I just felt her pain the entire movie. She wanted to be with her family. I look at just Jono and what he does. He is in this foreign country with nothing familiar around him. He has no piece of home and it hurts my heart so much that this world can be so mislead. It hurt my heart in this movie that the police could have been so mislead. It's sad that we have to live apart.

Well in the end of the movie... since not really any part relates to our life- Jono. In the end he gets her out he has this huge plan and they escape. I cried of course thinking in my mind that will be the day Jono comes home. That will be our day of Freedom fighting for Freedom. 

So we are going to enjoy our next couple days. 

Totally random post. Watch the movie it's good. 

Day 1

So we had a very crazy weekend. Saw tons of friends and family so great :) So I have some pictures to share. I haven't been able to leave his sight since he has been home. It's been nice to sleep together again and wow I sleep like a rock when he is home. I don't wake up 500 times looking at my phone for an email... or to make sure nobody is breaking our door down. 

It's just been great to hear his voice... to see him with Brinn... and to just have someone with me when I go somewhere...It's been nice to sit on the couch together... to be told I'm beautiful...Kisses... It's just been great. Nice and thankful for this time with him. I don't want it to end. So here are some fun times we've had...

Best Friends again :)