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Party Under Blue Skies

in Writing

 

Ultimate Blog Party 2011

{Have you heard about 5 Minutes for Mom’s 2011 Ultimate Blog Party? Get the low down here!}

Is it your first time here? Then welcome, y’all!

My name is Kristen, and I welcome you to my little sanguine corner, Chasing Blue Skies. It is a place where you can “stare out the window” and receive fresh-air encouragement through all circumstances, come rain or shine. You can read more about me and this space here.

I’m the wife to one hot Air Force man and mama of 3 crazy cute young’uns.

 

As a military wife, I have {mostly} loved moving from place to place.  Less than a year ago, we lived in Hawaii.

 

Then, Uncle Sam “voted us off the island.”

 

We currently live in Colorado. We love it here!


I may not know much, but I write what I do know…

About marriage {where I first really learned I can be mighty selfish}…

 

About parenting {it isn’t for wimps}…

 

And about general woman-y stuff {how I’m learning not to compare myself to others, whether it be fellow PTO moms or Heidi Klum}.

photo
photo credit

 

Also, you may have seen my around my fine first home, Moms Sharpening Moms.

If you’d like to sit a spell with me under some blue skies, I’ll serve you some sweet soul encouragement as I struggle and succeed and struggle again while clinging to the One who never lets me go.Thank you for visiting, and I look forward to visiting you in your neck of the woods, too!

His work-in-progress,

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Filed Under: Writing

« On Blessing Others When Your Heart Isn’t in It
Uninviting Hurry {You Ain’t Welcome Around Here No More} »

Comments

  1. Dawna says

    April 1, 2011 at 2:26 pm

    Hello, Kristin, from one military spouse to another. 🙂 We were stationed at Fort Carson 1998-2002. Currently at Fort Drum and… I thought we got snow at Carson. Nothing compared to the snow here. lol

    Just dropping by from the UBP and thought I’d say “hello”.

    Hope you have a great weekend!

    Reply
    • Kristen says

      April 1, 2011 at 2:31 pm

      Hello, Dawna! So nice to meet you! Ya, the good thing about snow here is it melts quickly! 🙂 Thanks for stopping by.

      Reply
  2. Linda @ My Name is Momma says

    April 1, 2011 at 3:15 pm

    I hope that you are enjoying the UBP!!

    Reply
  3. Melinda says

    April 1, 2011 at 6:33 pm

    From Hawaii to Colorado?! Uncle Sam has a sense of humor! You are so right – parenting isn’t for wimps – but then marriage isn’t either!!

    Reply
    • Kristen says

      April 1, 2011 at 8:49 pm

      True dat, Melinda!

      Reply
  4. Meredith says

    April 1, 2011 at 7:34 pm

    What a great intro post! I can’t wait to hear more!

    Meredith @ http://realfaithjourney.blogspot.com

    from the UBP11!!

    Reply
  5. Bethany {3SonsPlus1} says

    April 1, 2011 at 9:21 pm

    Great blog! Your family is beautiful, and I think you’re even cuter than Heidi Klum! I can’t wait to come back to read more…blessings!

    Reply
    • Kristen says

      April 2, 2011 at 5:33 am

      Awww shucks, Bethany. Thank you, even if that’s a load of hogwash! HA! Kidding. Seriously, nice to meet you!

      Reply
  6. JDaniel4's Mom says

    April 2, 2011 at 12:26 am

    Stoppin from the UBP’11! I love your header! What fun intro.

    Reply
    • Kristen says

      April 4, 2011 at 7:37 pm

      Thank you so much! It’s great to meet you.

      Reply
  7. Alida says

    April 2, 2011 at 3:23 am

    Here from the UBP and it is so great to meet you!! Love your photos and your sense of humor about the military voting you off the island. My dad was in the Air Force and we did our share of traveling growing up.

    joy & blessings to you,
    Alida

    Reply
  8. Jenn says

    April 2, 2011 at 5:43 am

    Stopped by from UBP11 and I am following your blog now as a subscriber 🙂 Can’t wait to read more!

    Reply
  9. Kristin says

    April 2, 2011 at 5:44 am

    Visiting from UBP and will be visiting again! Great name by the way 😉

    Reply
  10. Stacey says

    April 2, 2011 at 1:19 pm

    Hey girlie! Loving your pictures of your sweet family! I will most likely be in Colorado this summer (Ft. Collins area) and would love to meet up!

    Reply
    • Kristen says

      April 2, 2011 at 3:26 pm

      Oh, Stacey, that would be awesome! Let’s try to make it work!

      Reply
  11. Erika @ chambanachik says

    April 2, 2011 at 3:00 pm

    Great to meet a fellow milspouse blogger! 🙂

    Reply
  12. Dana says

    April 2, 2011 at 3:26 pm

    Love your blog! And welcome to CO

    Reply
  13. Dayngr says

    April 2, 2011 at 4:30 pm

    Hi! New follower here. I’m Dayngr {like Danger} surfing in from the UBP. Hope you’ll stop by and visit my ultimate blog party post at Dayngrous Discourse {in Miami} and follow along if you like what you read. Have a great weekend and keep partying!

    :::: tossing confetti ::::

    @Dayngr

    Reply
  14. molly says

    April 2, 2011 at 5:43 pm

    Here from UBP! What an adorable family you have! Following now 🙂

    Reply
  15. Lollie says

    April 2, 2011 at 8:58 pm

    We have visited Hawaii, love it! I’ve never been to Colorado:) I love the message of your blog, we all need some fresh air;)

    Reply
  16. Kristi says

    April 3, 2011 at 2:34 am

    Hey girl!! stopping by for UBP. love ya!

    Reply
  17. Glenda Childers says

    April 3, 2011 at 11:26 am

    Lovely to meet you, Kristen, through ubp. Thanks to your family for your service to our country.

    Fondly,
    Glenda

    Gg – Notes on the Journey #269

    Reply
    • Kristen says

      April 3, 2011 at 10:28 pm

      Thank you so much, Glenda! Those sentiments are always so appreciated.

      Reply
  18. Launa says

    April 3, 2011 at 3:17 pm

    What a beautiful blog and you have such a lovely family. I’m slightly jealous you’ve lived in Hawaii and Colorado… two of my favorite places… although I can’t really complain about living in Cali too much! Hope you’re having fun at the UBP!!!

    Reply
    • Kristen says

      April 3, 2011 at 10:27 pm

      Thank you so much, Launa! Yes…Cali is not too shabby! 🙂 You have both the ocean and mountains close by! 🙂

      So nice to meet you!

      Reply
  19. Beth says

    April 3, 2011 at 7:55 pm

    What a lovely blog you have here! This is my first experience as a participant in the Ultimate Blog party–what a delightful way to meet new people of like interests.

    Have a lovely day!

    Reply
  20. Living the Balanced Life says

    April 4, 2011 at 1:32 am

    I love your header! Visiting from the party, would love to have you visit me! More about Living a Balanced Life
    Bernice

    Reply
  21. Nancy says

    April 4, 2011 at 2:59 pm

    Stopped over from UBP. First, thanks to you, your husband, and family for serving our country (yes, I know enough folks in the military to know that you all serve). I wouldn’t mind getting voted off the island and relocated to Colorado! Beautiful pics. Blessings.

    Reply
    • Kristen says

      April 4, 2011 at 5:26 pm

      Thank you so much, Nancy. I appreciate that!

      Reply
  22. Leigha says

    April 5, 2011 at 12:47 am

    Hi! Nice to meet you through UBP! My best friend was in the air force and is married to an airforce hubby! haha Her blog is http://www.hopeabound.blogspot.com I am a stay at home mom to one little guy. He sure keeps me busy and I love it! 🙂 I hope you have a great day!
    Leigha
    http://www.edinfamily.blogspot.com

    Reply
  23. Alicia @ Alicia's Homemaking says

    April 7, 2011 at 12:29 am

    Kristin! Wonderful to “meet” you…I’m stopping in from the UBP! 🙂 Love your pictures…what an adventure living in Hawaii and now Colorado! I’ve never been to either but would LOVE to visit (or maybe live). My husband is a former Army guy. 🙂 You have a lovely family…
    I look forward to reading more!

    Reply
  24. Char says

    April 7, 2011 at 2:53 am

    Dropping by to say “Hi”!
    Beautiful blog.
    Take care,
    Char from UBP #372
    http://1epicmom.com/2011/04/07/ultimate-blog-party-2011/

    Reply
  25. Kristine says

    April 7, 2011 at 3:52 pm

    I LOVE that you mention Uncle Sam voting you off the island and the picture too. Too funny! I’ve got many friends who are military moms. I am excited to have found your blog. You look like a fun family! I’m visiting from the UBP2011. Please stop on over to my mission aviation blog and check us out! Since your husband is a pilot too, maybe it would be of interest! 🙂 http://reednewsletter.blogspot.com/2011/04/ultimate-blog-party-2011.html

    Blessings,
    Kristine

    Reply
  26. Heather (One Take On Life) says

    April 7, 2011 at 7:31 pm

    Stopping by from the UBP, love your post on Parenting. Oh how true it is about hurrying them up and it is counter productive, they so don’t try to spite us. I am now subscribing…thanks for sharing your take on parenting.

    Reply
    • Kristen says

      April 7, 2011 at 7:45 pm

      Thank you for visiting my neck of the woods, Heather! It’s awesome to meet you.

      Reply
  27. LaDonna Rae says

    April 8, 2011 at 1:40 am

    HI I’m LaDonna I’ve found you via the UBP, would love to have you stop by my place over at http://www.iFRoG.me.

    Reply
  28. Marci@OvercomingBusy says

    April 8, 2011 at 3:56 am

    Hi there! I just saw you on the UBP links and thought I’d say “hi!” I was just thinking about our nice chat on our way back to the airport after Relevant. Are you going this year? Nice to “see” you again!

    Reply
    • Kristen says

      April 8, 2011 at 4:14 am

      Marci, hello sweet girl! I am hoping to go to Relevant…still don’t know for certain. Are you going?

      Reply
  29. Jenn @Home is Where You Start From says

    April 8, 2011 at 10:59 pm

    Nice to “meet” you! You have a lovely family. How wonderful to have lived in Hawaii! I’ve never even visited there- someday! But I am always cold, so I tell dh often that “Hawaii is our only option, really!”..for retiring some day 🙂

    Reply
  30. Tina says

    April 9, 2011 at 12:53 am

    Hi! I’m stopping by from the UBP – trying to visit all on the link for Christian blogs by the end of the day (I’ve not been going straight down the list…but I’m now on my last round!). I’m #73 (Being Made New – http://tinahollenbeck.blogspot.com). I hope you might be able to pop in at my place sometime soon.

    Reply

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The sun sets on a downright delightful month of ha The sun sets on a downright delightful month of having all the chicks back in the nest. We puzzled, Uno’d, and played a new game called Knope for President. (So fun!) We watched Mandalorian all together, and David and I started a Netflix show called Turn. We had tea (and coffee!) at 4:30 each afternoon like some kind of Brit wanna-be’s. I cooked like a crazy person because cooking is the most predictable Enneagram 2 thing I do. Pot roast, spaghetti, and baked casseroles, oh my! Plus, 21 year olds who’ve had a semester of fending for themselves on the food front are mighty appreciative when dinner magically comes out of the oven. 

Said 21 year olds are back at college now, but I’m thankful for the good memories that stay with the rest of us Strongs after they’ve left. This last month held hard stuff for many of us, I know, but I hope it left you with some good memories as well. 💛
If your life looks anything like mine, difficult c If your life looks anything like mine, difficult change that started in 2020 didn't give one whit about the new year and walked right with you into 2021. Your change could be more broadly felt like fallout from a lingering pandemic, or it could be more individual —marital, parenting, job, or relational struggles that refuse to let go. 

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Our difficult change may not be going anywhere, but our outlook on it can. 

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It’s also my business how I choose to respond to something—indeed, it is a choice. Will I be thoughtful or defensive? Will I be someone who displays or douses the light of Christ? 

In our work to love our neighbor as ourselves, may we be a people who persevere and refuse to stop using our own unique God-given light to dispel the dark. People are desperate for it, and this work matters.
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