enJOY it

an archived personal and craft blog from Elise Blaha Cripe.

Makingmehappymay

I spent the beginning of the week in funk. Like a normal funk, it was totally exhausting and frustrating. Unlike a normal funk, I knew exactly what the issue was. I miss Paul. And that is an understatement. I physically hurt for Paul. Before deployments entered our lives, I am not sure I fully understood the word yearn. After one and half, I absolutely do. It's hard because there is nothing to be done. I can't get Paul here any earlier. I can't get to him. We. Just. Have. To. Wait.

And so we wait.

And in the meantime, I focus on the good. These five things are making me happy right now.

View

This exact view. Home ownership is thrilling me so much more than I expected. I really thought it would be a lot like renting except for more upfront cost, more space, the ability to knock down walls and no one to call when the oven breaks. But I was wrong. This is so much different than renting and I am surprised to realize I have so much pride in it. I am obsessed with this house. With getting it right for us. With appreciating it's beauty and quirks. With keeping it clean. I marvel and feel grateful every single day that we took the plunge. I cannot wait for Paul to come home and feel what it's like to live here and make this place more ours.

Artneartv
Orange & Park California print, pinwheel painting, ampersand string art, Paris print, siiso print. frames by ikea, target & pottery barn.

Art over the TV. I hemmed and hawed for two weeks before committing. And once I did, it took more than a few nail holes and shuffling to get it right. But I love the look now. I love that every day a little bit more work gets done. I was talking to Paul the other day about my five step plan for moving all the bookcases in this house to make better use of them and was lamenting a bit that I have to wait for visitors to put my zillion furniture moving ideas into action. The little things (like hanging art and adding plants) that I can accomplish and adjust alone are downright thrilling.

Cheapart

Cheap art. My new TV art wall needed something else. That something turned out to be an Ikea Ribba frame that I had on hand and a piece of black cardstock with white letter stickers. Most likely this will be changed out in a few months, but right now, it's my favorite.

Tomatoes

So many tomatoes. I don't know what the deal is. Is it the San Diego weather? Is it that I planted earlier? Is it that I picked more varieties? Is it that Mother Nature knew I needed a gardening win this spring? Regardless, I am so happy to have tomatoes on almost all of my plants. I ate my first red one Sunday night and it tasted like magic the way only food grown in your backyard can. I am so excited about this little garden. But I am also so excited about what it represents – four more springs and summers in this very same house. Next year we'll go big with planter boxes. Two years from now, I'll have a toddler helping me water our veggies. Three years from now I might be pregnant again with our second child. Four years from now there could be four of us eating from our family garden.

Babykicks

Kicks from my little lady. She's the most active tiny person in the world, I am sure of it. I remember in January waiting and waiting for those kicks. Was that one? Was that?! I was on high alert, hopeful to catch her first movements. Now, they are so frequent and strong they keep me up at night but are still never, ever taken for granted. This girl and her constant rolling entertain and comfort me. As mentioned a million times, it's so hard to be pregnant without Paul. But a quick jab from her and I am reminded that this, this moment, this place, this time, this story is exactly right. We are writing it together the only way we know how.

Posted in , , , ,

57 responses to “making me happy.”

  1. Katie Avatar
    Katie

    I loved this! What a great idea to remind yourself of the 5 things that make you happy right now. I know that long-distance relationship funk, it’s good to know one more trick of pulling myself out of it now. So thank you!

    Like

  2. Tiffany Avatar

    Beautifully written, Elise! Stay strong

    Like

  3. Kaytie Avatar

    I love that you share so much of your heart with us Elise. This was a lovely post. I can’t imagine how difficult being apart from Paul must be but the universe must have known you could do it because you’re able to move through this time with such strength and grace. Stay Strong!

    Like

  4. Armalite Avatar

    This doesn’t have anything to do with your (once more great) post, but last night I dreamed of you. I was visiting when your waters broke, so I offered to drive you to the hospital, but your car would only work in reverse gear. It was a very strange ride 😀

    Like

  5. Vera Avatar

    I rememeber that yearning… We, too, had to spend time apart when I was pregnant (thankfully my husband was there when our daughter was born).
    Wish you lots of strength!

    Like

  6. Julie Avatar
    Julie

    Hey Elise, isn’t it possible to go to a deployement with your husband? Spain is not Afghanistan after all. 🙂
    It must be very hard to live separated for such a long time, but you seem so strong! Wish you all the best!!

    Like

  7. Laney Avatar

    I pinned this for you, not sure you saw it? http://pinterest.com/pin/15199717464899903/
    I’m sorry you miss Paul so much. You are brave and you’re my inspiration!

    Like

  8. jennifer mcneely Avatar
    jennifer mcneely

    I love your honest heart 🙂

    Like

  9. melissa Avatar

    You are so inspiring. You have such a stamina that makes me look like I am sleeping when I am my busiest. I love coming over here because you always give me that swift kick in my butt when I am moping and in a funk. I keep saying .. “if Elise can do it … I can too”
    Thanks for sharing your life. Thanks for being so open and honest. From your photo’s it always seems you have it pulled together. It’s nice to know you can be a human that falls into the funk pit.

    Like

  10. kate Avatar

    Oh Elise, I’m glad you’ve shared these things that are making you happy. I hope it gets easier ❤ and soon gets here quickly, along with Paul.

    Like

  11. Erica Thomas Avatar
    Erica Thomas

    I admire your strength and your ability to see the positive in so much. Life is hard in general and you are attacking these obstacles with such poise and honesty.

    Like

  12. Debbie Avatar

    Your art work wall looks awesome!! So glad your lovely wildflower walkway makes you happy. Keep finding comfort in all your blessings. You ARE blessed. So glad your little ones kicks bring this comfort. Also, Paul’s arrival is listed in your planner! Smile! Time will pass quickly.

    Like

  13. elise blaha Avatar

    that would have been CRAZY. 😉

    Like

  14. Giulia Avatar

    oh elise, you are so honest and great. i’m happy that you can keep yourself smiling even when it’s hard. just a few more days until you get to see both (!) of your loved ones for real. i hope they fly by:)

    Like

  15. elise blaha Avatar

    I get this question a lot and am always tempted to respond, “WHY DIDN’T WE THINK OF THAT?!?” just for fun. 🙂 Deployments are totally different than being stationed somewhere. Paul is deployed to not just stationed in Spain which means no family members can go with. It’s not a warzone, but it’s still not a permanent move. If I wasn’t pregnant, I would go visit him and make a fun vaction out of it, but we are saving his leave time for his visit home when the baby arrives. 🙂

    Like

  16. elise blaha Avatar

    super pretty!

    Like

  17. Melissa Whittaker Avatar

    You are amazing. 🙂

    Like

  18. Brianna Avatar
    Brianna

    I am mostly jealous that you live in San Diego and can grow a garden. The Vegas heat kills any plant that isn’t a cactus, unfortunately.

    Like

  19. Ffion Avatar

    I admire your ability to focus on the positive soooo much. Way to go girl!

    Like

  20. Kathy Avatar

    Loving your art work too and feeling for you that you can’t be in the same place as your husband. I did love your looking into the future with a toddler watering the garden and another one on the way…such a beautiful story to look forward to. I’ve just planted 8 tomato bushes yesterday and can’t wait for them to grow. I’ve got the left overs of 2 which haven’t really produced too much but I’m being positive about the new ones. We (the kids and I) planted out our potatoes and trust me if you enjoy doing your tomatoes investigate when you can grow potatoes in your area. They take 20 weeks to grow (yep a long time) but my God they were the best potatoes we ever had and we ate them with rosemary and sea salt and olive oil. We have sliced them the same way and cooked them on the grill on the BBQ……endless possibilities. You will have to put this on your garden list but they must be planted at the right time and you should (not must but should) buy “seed potatoes” from a nursery which means they don’t have diseases and are good to go. Just buy a black plastic rubbish bin (big one) the taller the better as you will get more potatoes. Once the green leaves come up you keep putting dirt around it and it grows more all the wild under the dirt the MAGIC is happening. Seriously….we got the most pleasure out of that little exercise last year. Hang in there you are doing remarkably well. Regards Kathy A, Brisbane, Australia

    Like

  21. Kathi Avatar

    So glad your glass remains half full this far into deployment! You are doing a great job with the house and the plants and growing a beautiful baby and some delicious tomatoes it looks like! Keep going strong and resting often! Soon there will be lots of commotion in the house with Paul and the baby and you build onto your family in person! Yay 🙂 Kathi

    Like

  22. Chrissy Avatar

    Beautiful photos as always! Love the shot in front of the tomatoes! Oh my goodness, you will have so many of them! we had one plant last year and had tomatoes every day! xxx

    Like

  23. Sarah {findingabundance} Avatar

    Your positive focus is so lovely, and may I just say your home is looking incredibly cozy and unique? LOVE the yes art! 🙂 I remember the last month of my first pregnancy as feeling ‘in limbo’… Like having prepared as much as possible for something we can never fully prepare for. It’s definitely a waiting game now, in so many ways.

    Like

  24. kat Avatar

    YOU SHOULD WRITE A BOOK!
    Honestly!
    What you write moves my heart!
    YOU WILL GO THROUGH THAT
    AND IT WILL MAKE YOU EVEN STRONGER!!!

    Like

  25. Carlee Avatar

    I love your writing and your words. So inspiring and thanks for sharing.
    Carlee
    http://almostendearing.blogspot.com/

    Like

  26. Caroline Avatar

    You are the ultimate planner Elise, I love that you have already planned the next baby before this one arrives:)
    Also make sure you continue to take photos of yourself with and without the little one. I am the photographer in my family and have almost no photos of myself. Always seems more important to capture everyone else but I really regret it. Also, you are handling this with inspirational grace, but I kind of hope you already know that.

    Like

  27. Katie Avatar

    Beautiful post, Elise.

    Like

  28. Debra Avatar

    Is this really only your second deployment, you seem so down to earth about it all. We are coming up for my husband’s sixth at the end of December (his are only 4 months long though). They do seem to get easier each time. I remember being in bits the first time he told me he was deployed and now I just sort of say ‘oh right’.

    Like

  29. sofie Avatar
    sofie

    Elise,
    you are such a wonderful person!
    lots of xo

    Like

  30. Glynis Avatar
    Glynis

    Wow…If Oscars were given for the best blog, best posts, best pictures, best words, you would be Meryl Streep. You are such an inspiration! Thank you for sharing!

    Like

  31. Andi Avatar
    Andi

    I know you have tons of tomatos and herbs in your garden, but what other veggies did you decide to plant?

    Like

  32. Tracy Avatar
    Tracy

    hang in there…you are one strong and “brave” girl! Such an inspiration to others.

    Like

  33. elise blaha Avatar

    artichokes and green bell peppers.

    Like

  34. Renae Avatar

    Love seeing peaks of your house! Home ownership is so very different from renting. It must be incredibly hard having Paul on the other side of the world, I can’t even imagine… but I have to say your positive attitude is contagious in the best way! Wishing you the very best until he gets back (and after too!)

    Like

  35. Renae Avatar

    Love seeing peaks of your house! Home ownership is so very different from renting. It must be incredibly hard having Paul on the other side of the world, I can’t even imagine… but I have to say your positive attitude is contagious in the best way! Wishing you the very best until he gets back (and after too!)

    Like

  36. Jessica Avatar
    Jessica

    Very happy for you. I loved those kicks. Always a reminder that you are never alone. Happy to hear you are relishing them.

    Like

  37. Jane Avatar

    Your eloquence and positive focus is inspiring. I know what you mean about not knowing the true meaning of “yearn” until you’re separated by a great distance from your love, though I have thankfully never had to endure anything so challenging as a deployment – my boyfriend lives about 200 miles away. I get to see him about 2-3 days per month, but during long absences, I absolutely feel (in my body, in the physical sense) the distance between us. I probably shouldn’t admit this to anyone, but on really difficult days, I wear his deodorant so that I can smell him. (Sometimes that makes it worse, but sometimes that makes it much, much better.) I appreciate that you share both how difficult it is and how you cope and stay positive.
    Unrelated, I LOVE your TV/art wall and especially that California print!

    Like

  38. Angie Avatar
    Angie

    I wish I had your energy and your strength to be positive. I suppose baby’s kicks help a lot 😀
    Stay positive and make yourself happy. June will be here in a blink and then you’ll have Paul for a bit and a baby for the rest of your life. And then Paul will come back again!
    You are so inspiring and wonderful! Keep it up. For you and your family.

    Like

  39. Meghann Avatar

    “Before deployments entered our lives, I am not sure I fully understood the word yearn. After one and half, I absolutely do. It’s hard because there is nothing to be done. I can’t get Paul here any earlier. I can’t get to him. We. Just. Have. To. Wait.”
    I can’t explain how much this sentence spoke to me. It summarises perfectly how it feels to have them be gone, and simply being unable to change it.
    I love these little glimpses into your life, and can honestly say you have helped me completely change my own perceptions of deployments, and the time apart, and now find myself more positive, more able to cope, and more accepting that sometimes I simply can’t cope (and that’s okay too)
    Thank you Elise.

    Like

  40. Cerise Avatar

    I need to start doing that when I’m in funks. I always have a hard time pulling myself out…but 5 things, seems so easy.
    LOVE homegrown tomatoes…they really do taste like magic :o)

    Like

  41. Amanda Avatar

    Elise, you make me feel better about life. If I’m in a funk, sometimes I think of how positive YOU are, and it helps. Thank you!

    Like

  42. Jennifer Avatar
    Jennifer

    All I can say is, how cute are you watering your plants!!?! Stay strong…you CAN do this! I look forward to watching your story unfold. Take care!

    Like

  43. Donna Gibson Avatar

    Hi Elise! It was great to see a fellow 2013 PL CT member live and (sort of)in person. I love your blog and your PL pages! Wishing you the best with your new baby!

    Like

  44. J3SS1C4 Avatar

    Such a happy, inspiring post! I’m sorry to hear that you’re missing Paul, although it’s easy to understand when he’s on the other side of the world for so long. I’m glad you can still find things to be happy about to get you through it, though. And they’re such good things to be happy about, too! I bet it’s the most amazing feeling when you feel bub kick!

    Like

  45. Kristy Avatar

    I’ve been through five deployments, some ridiculously long so I know that YEARNING feeling and that feeling of physically hurting because I missed my husband so much. The separations make you stronger in different ways I think each person needs though.

    Like

  46. Giuseppina Avatar

    I’m sorry you’re missing him but I love this post. It truly shows how much strength you have.

    Like

  47. Esther Avatar

    This post really inspired me, thank you Elise ❤

    Like

  48. Brooke Avatar

    You are awesome!

    Like

  49. Rob Avatar
    Rob

    awesome! hang in there beeze

    Like

  50. Marie Avatar

    Hey Elise,
    I don’t comment often (as in, like, never) but I just wanted to leave you a comment saying how much I envy your strength and energy and positive attitude. I’ve loved reading your blog in the past months more than ever and I’m glad you share so much personal stuff with us.
    I’m currently opening a small business and I always turn to your blog for inspiration or motivation – thank you 🙂
    All the best from Germany,
    Marie

    Like

Leave a reply to Meghann Cancel reply