VISIT FROM THE AIR

This July, Cain has been back and forth from Shelbyville, IN.  He has been going through RL progression which is all for his flight training. He has to know so much about the aircraft and he also then has to get flight hours in before getting signed off. A couple of weeks ago I get a text in the morning from Cain that said he would be flying over Huntington (about 43 minutes from where we live) 

Back when Cain first got this flight medic job I told him to tell me, if he is ever close to home, that I would love to see him fly over ... because, well, that's super cool to me! Ha. So when I got the text he would be close, I had to go! (thank goodness for a flexible job!) 

What Cain wasn't aware of was that they were planning on landing and spending some time on the ground for a HERO's camp at Huntington's middle school. I saw them land and was able to go over with everyone else and greet the Soldiers. 

It was a nice time spent with Cain and with the other Medic and Pilots. Cain now knows to check ahead of time next time they are flying over our area to see if they will be landing, that way everyone can see this amazing sight. 

It truly was so wonderful to see him fly over because it made me visualize what he has been working for the past 9 months. In the last 12 months Cain has been gone now over 9 of them for his medical and fight training but to see him living out a dream and loving his job, I am able to know that it was worth the months apart and makes me very proud of him and for the hard work he put in, because it wasn't all easy! 

I can't say enough how proud I am of Cain, he is so incredible at everything he does and God has so much in store for his future. I love seeing God work in Cain's life every day, no matter what he does, God is using him... 

Blessed, to have him. 

Evenings Before Goodbyes

Oh, I would love to spend every evening like this. The three of us together and enjoying the sunset together. The last year has been a long one, but for some reason, the last few months have been the hardest! July started out looking just wonderful, it looked like Cain would be home all of July, I counted the days he would be home and I was pretty stinking happy about it. Then, that very afternoon he got dates to leave for the last of his flight training in Shelbyville. Thankfully, things always work out and he was able to get dates home still through out July, here and there. 

So that's what we have been doing and what's left of July for us. He will be home for a day or two and gone for a few more, then back again. Just always being very thankful for the time we do get. As I was sharing with friends over the weekend, a whole day together is huge for us and if it's a weekend, that is like a unicorn! 

As you can see in these pictures with Nova, she is pretty happy when her family is together. I've got nothing on Cain, she loves him so much and I would have to agree with her. 

Guess what, today... we are together <3 It's a good day. 

FORT RUCKER, AL | PERSONAL UPDATE

This afternoon I realized a week has already passed since being in Alabama with Cain and then realized I had yet to blog any of the trip there, so I am doing it now! Like.. right now!

Aggieland Tailgate Lovin

It's Monday and our work and studying have already begun for the day

but I sit here still smiling and have so much joy to be here with my

husband <3

Hello from Texas

Distance Unveiled

Just when you think you've got this long distance thing down something comes along and knocks you back three steps and you feel like this just isn't going to work. I knew going into this distance period that we could get through it like we had before in the past but I was seeking for something more out of the distance period.

What I was looking for was growth from the distance. When you're married and your husband is away for a long period of time you can either just make it through the time or you can grow from it coming out stronger on the other side (that was my thought process at least!)

 I wanted and longed to come out of this period of time a better wife having more confidence in my marriage than ever before. Because if you want to test your marriage, spend some time on facetime with bad internet, be in a different time zone and both be doing work/school full time and do all of the above every day for months.  It will test your patience and communication skills.

We have news! What's next for the Groggs....

I wanted to catch everyone up to date with what is going on at the Grogg's house.

No baby is coming, if that was your first thought! So if that was all you were hoping I would say you can stop reading now and leave the blog :p

But for those of you who would still like to know about the other things that have happened the last few months, stay and I'll tell you!

In November (2015) Cain drove to Shelbyville, IN to try out for a Flight Medic position at C Co. 2-238th GSAB unit that is in Shelbyville. He had to do a written test, hands-on test and go to "boards" to be interview for the position.

There were a lot of other great Soldiers who tried out that day with him so we left Shelbyville knowing that whatever happened, it would all work out.

We got through the holidays and then in early February Cain got the call. He was accepted into the Flight Medic position! Cain was ecstatic.... and I was too!

If you remember back in October I wrote a post about Cain having to change units from Fort Wayne to Marion. And how I was a little disappointed in the move. Well, even though Shelbyville is farther away and that's more time apart... Cain is going to be happy there, and that makes me happy.

So this past month Cain had his first drill with the 2-238th and loved every minute of it! He thinks he is going to fit in nicely there. He feels like he will be able to use his Medic training for good things and continue to grow as a Medic.

But that's where the next news comes in. Cain is going to leave and be gone from May-Aug to get his Paramedic license. Which is awesome! This accelerated schooling will give Cain the chance to come home in August and hopefully find a better job and he will be doing what he has wanted to do from day 1.

The only down fall is that I can't go with him. It was a toss up at first what was going to happen for me. We love, love (love) the home we are at, and the location. But with Cain being gone for those months it made him, and our families a little nervous for me to stay here by myself (minus Nova, of course)

I don't fear it here, where I live. I actually feel very comfortable! I have a wonderful neighbor too! But, I also have always had Cain at home almost every night. So the decision has been made for me to move "Home" to Bluffton and live with my parents for the summer.

This is a GOOD move. I have to remind myself of this, not because I don't want to move back home... that is the easiest part of this all. I am happy with my parents and love the chance to be closer (really close!) to my mom. The hard part is... leaving the home we have come to really love.

 It was a safe haven when we moved in. We felt like God had led us here and that he was taking care of us. The place before this was not good, it was not a happy and peaceful place. When we came into this home we were able to feel closer together because this was "our" place, "our" home-sweet-home.

Also, I have made a life here! I found a nanny job, that I love! I have found clients here that I photograph, that I love! I love my neighbor!  I love my Earth Fare and Fresh Thyme. I love walking over to the Rose Garden with Nova... I love my enclosed porch in the mornings when the sun was rising..... All those things have made this place "Home"

So trusting in God, and leaning on him again and asking "Where do you want us?" this was hard.

After some tears and panic attacks ... and going back and forth , back and forth (more tears!) We found peace knowing that God is in control, he will take care of us and that no matter where we go, he can still use us. And that's what I want, to be used by God. Fort Wayne, Bluffton, out of the country ...  wherever!  He will look out for us and will always have our backs.

What happens after August? We don't know!

I've decided to make that the fun part of this all. (I have to find some humor in this!) We aren't sure yet what will happen. Cain will be applying for the IPFW nursing program this summer, so there is a chance Cain will be in Nursing School this fall. There is also a chance that his Unit will send him to more medical training. Which would mean I would stay in Bluffton until after that training was done.

Once Cain is home, to stay (who knows for how long!) .... We aren't sure where "Home" will be.

The sweet thing about marriage. "Home" is when I'm with Cain. Call me cheesy, call it lame.

I will never forget Cain telling me when we were just dating "Lanette, I could live in a cardboard box and as long as you were with me, it would be home"

I'm with you, babe.

How can you pray for us? Pray for us to really lean on God, and to keep the faith that everything will work out.

Please, please keep Cain in your prayers this summer as he will be going through a very intense schooling. It's long hour days with test almost every week.

We love our support system. I'm pretty sure we have the best family in the world, who would do just about anything for us. THIS is BIG to us. It's what can really bring me to tears. I'm not alone in this struggle, I have this family (and friends!) who care about our needs ... and who pray for us.

 Things will change, guaranteed. We are an Army family and, therefore, nothing is guaranteed and anything could happen.

I was given some really good advice last week a close friend of ours who is retired from the Army ... he said "Stick to your plans" Meaning, don't plan things around the Army. Because things will change. We can't plan life around it.

We need to live life, enjoy life and keep going. And in the end, it will work out!

What are they, and why?

So in October of 2014 I ordered a kit that I knew very little about, had to save my money to buy and was just hoping I would find value in it. Doesn't sound like a "sure thing" and you might wonder why I would do such a thing if I didn't know what I was buying. But I will explain that here in a minute...


So now it's March of 2016 and I can say ... I truly have found value in Essential Oils and I am so thankful I invested in my health and way of life.

What I knew about Young Living (Company I purchase my oils from) was very little, but I trusted my friend when I purchased my first kit , in that I was buying my moneys worth. Now after doing my own research and understanding so MUCH more about the process to make Essential oils I am so so thankful I made the right choice in the Starter kit I chose.

So what are Essential Oils, here is what I know and have learned.


Have you ever heard the story of Jesus's birth? You know where the Three Wisemen brought gifts to him? They brought him gifts of Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh. I'm going to be really honest in this blog post.... I did not put the two and two together that Frankincense and Myrrh were essential oils that I could have for myself today. I thought it was something that was a thing in bible time.

So if you think Essential Oils are a "Fad" you can say, sure ... right now, it's very "popular" but , is it a new thing, or something we just came up with? NO... it's been around for a very long time. And they have so much value ... the wisemen brought these oils with gold. .... Gold... a piece of gold is put next to Frankincense and Myrrh. To me that says it all, they are of value, it's something that I can have in my home that the wisemen themselves wanted Jesus to have.

What is Frankincense, Myrrh and other Essential oils like Peppermint, Lavender and Tea Tree?

They are distilled from flowers, leaves, wood, bark, roots, seeds or a peel. They come from what God put on earth for us to enjoy and use. Just that simple.

Even if you don't think you are super "Holistic" or "All natural" these are very useful oils that have been around for so long, I trust that they are giving me the support and boost my body's needs. Because why else would God put them there for us. I don't think he did it with no purpose, I think God has a purpose for everything!

But if I'm going to use essential oils, and going to be apply it to my skin, take as a supplement or diffuse for the aroma...  I want to use the purest oils.

This is when I realized I made the right choice when choosing Young Living. Their "Seed to Seal" promise does help me sleep better at night knowing that when I apply them to a kid (And my own future babies!), myself or my animal that nothing bad is going to happen, there is no fake additives or chemicals also being applied.

Why did I buy my kit back in October of 2014, even though I didn't know a whole lot? Like I said, I trusted my friend when she told me that they were of great value to her and that they had blessed her family.   But because I wanted to start making a change in my life style to have better overall health, to not use chemical products in my home and to be blessed by them also.

I think at the end of the day we all want what's best for ourselves and our family. These oils and other products from Young Living have blessed my family. They have found a place in our home and lives forever. Once you use them everyday there is no way around it, they are of great value.

For more info on these special oils go HERE, HERE or HERE :) I would love your family to be blessed by them like they have ours.

2015 wrap up

What a great, great year! We can't believe it's over. We did so much in so little time :)

Traveling, spending lots of time with family and even more time cuddling on the couch together with our girl Nova, school, work .... so much work! I did more this year then I have ever done! It excited me, drained me and made me better. Couldn't of asked for a more perfect year :)

Here is a little recap of our year. I couldn't put everything, sadly... that would be a super long video!!!  But I did put a lot of Nova, Cain and Graci .... you can tell a lot about a person on what they photograph/video :)

Goodbye 2015 !

I see... | Military Ball 2015

This blog post is brought to you by: I need a break from work. 

Sometimes I have to remind myself that I don't need to work every waking minute, that I can not only have a personal life BUT enjoy it too! It's a real dilemma when you love what you do, but do to much of it, then you feel torn between loving it, but being to tired too do it! 

Anyone else? Just me? ugh. 

We weren't going to be able to make it to the Military Ball this year but some last minute change of plans lead us to be able to go. We are so thankful we were able to attend! 

Like I said in one of my last post I wasn't really excited about Cain changing units (angry Army wife coming through ;) ) But after some time I was able to come to grips with it. Knowing it would all work out no matter what. 

 This night was a big reminder though of why I didn't want him to have to leave in the first place. The men he has come to know and build friendships with are awesome. They are so good to him. And if you are good to my husband, I'm gonna like you! Hearing "It's not the same without you" "When are you coming back?" etc. makes me feel good. 

I'm so proud of Cain and his willingness to work hard at his job and always thrive to be better. I know that no matter where he goes in the next 10+ years they will be lucky to have him. I don't think anyone will be happy to see Cain go. But maybe that's the wife in me talking. 

On to the pictures! These were taken downtown Fort Wayne. I love that we live so close to down town and everything that is available to us, even if we don't take advantage of it like we should, its there for us if we wanted it!

  I'm happy we had these pictures taken because it will bookmark this chapter in our life. Does anyone else think about that when having their photos taken? I always think "Bookmark this milestone" Not just the normal Engagement or Wedding photos, newborn and 1st birthdays etc. But everything else in between! 

When I look at these photos I see more then anyone else will.

 I see the hard work Cain put in to get SGT. I see that Cain has been working hard at not only getting into the nursing program, but also into some Army schools.

I see that I am thankful for my job. I'm thankful that it's December and not October anymore! Yes I can see that! (Haha) 

I see that I am trying really hard to be the best wife I can be for Cain. I see that we are so thankful for each other, that we have a best friend in each other to always count on. 

I see we are young, and that we have so much to look forward too. I see that we are going to hold on to each other really tight, because I know the years ahead will bring waves of ups and downs. But if we hold on to each other we will make it through. 

I see a lot, maybe it's not what you see but it's there in every photo. A story, a chapter that has been bookmarked for you to look back on. Here is this chapter.... Bookmarked for us. 

A huge, great big THANKS to my friend Jennifer for taking time out of her schedule to take our pictures. She is so stinking busy but was willing to take 30 minutes out of her evening to do this. She will never know how much it means to me too be able to call her a friend. She is just the best <3