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Exploring Faith, Trust, Fear, and Human Failings in a Love Letter to My Husband

by Tami Stroud Leave a Comment on Exploring Faith, Trust, Fear, and Human Failings in a Love Letter to My Husband
Exploring Faith, Trust, Fear, and Human Failings in a Love Letter to My Husband | Starr-Eyed Pragmatist

Part of our move to Saudi Arabia involved my husband going there first, leaving the kids and I with family in the US. We knew there would be a separation, but hoped it wouldn’t be that long. After a few setbacks in the visa process we began to fear the separation dragging on indefinitely.

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  • It’s my birthday today! I’m #41. I know women are not “supposed” to tell or show you our age, but I love being in my 40s and I love having streaks of #gray in my hair. • 🌟 And since I’m posting a picture of myself, I thought I would introduce myself again: • 🌟 Hi, I’m Tami. I primarily consider myself a #Christian and a #homemaker. I’m the mother to 6 children, ages 14-5. My husband and I have been #married for 19 years. Our family is an #American, nomadic, sometimes expat, family originally from #Atlanta, #Georgia, #USA, and currently living in #Tokyo, #Japan. Since our first international move in 2010, our family has lived in 4 unique locations, visited 13 US states, and visited 16 countries. • 🌟 I’m also passionate about women’s health. I’ve worked as a doula and childbirth educator in the past, but most recently I’ve focused my attention on fertility awareness education. I’ve used various forms of #fertilityawareness for over 10 years. I’ve taken numerous training courses and have read countless books, research studies, random articles, you name it, on the topics of #birth, #fertility, and #hormones. It’s definitely a passionate, geeky interest of mine and I love continuing to learn about all things fertility. •
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I also love #homeschooling. We are #unschooling and #worldschooling our children. I have an education degree, but I believe my best understanding of how people learn has come though diving into the world of unschooling and worldschooling, and seeing how learning happens in everyday simple moments with my own children and in my own learning. • 🌟 I’m an #INTJ according to MBTI and I have #RebelTendency according to the Four Tendencies framework. I find that those two things explains a lot about me. • 🌟 Mostly, I love chatting about “Starry Living.” #StarryLiving is embracing and seeking all the various aspects of life that make your life beautiful, purposeful, and transcendent. My focus here is on sharing practical ways to bring about Starry Living in your own life.
  • I think I must be getting inspired by the lovely #Japanese #fall weather today. We went to some local #thrift stores today to buy an inexpensive TV. That was the mission. 🔴 Let me tell you, I love Japanese thrift stores! Everything is so well maintained and the stores are so well organized. 😍 So, we did end up getting a TV (not the important part of this story), but what I’m most excited about is that I ended up buying my first pair of boots since I was a teenager today (that weren’t work boots or snow boots). I actually bought two pairs of boots. 🙈 Let’s just say, it’s been a while since I’ve gotten to experience fall weather. 🍁 🔴 I also realized that I, apparently, have a thing for red shoes. I might need an intervention. 😂 However, I think only one pair being red, out of the two pairs I got today, was pretty good for me. And the red ones were only 500¥ (~$5.00 USD)! 😱 🔴 The tall boots were a little more pricey being 2000¥ (~$20.00 USD). But they are this pretty grayish-green color. 😍 I liked that the boots were not classic brown or black, but they’re also not red. So, progress (for me), right? 🔴 Well, upon closer inspection of the non-red boots I realized what must have drawn me to that particular pair. Check out the lining of the tall boots. 😂💃🏻 #predictable #totalcliche
  • I recently read a lovely homage to the #apron of our grandmothers. It talked about all the practical uses of the apron from drying dishes to pot holder to carrying eggs to wiping tables to drying children’s tears. The apron’s function was to protect the clothes underneath, but also be a garment that was easier to wash than your normal clothes. • 🌸 This reminded me of when our family first moved to remote #Alaska and I discovered I really needed a practical and functional apron. I actually needed multiple aprons to be able to have one in the wash and one in use. I looked at many beautiful options, but they were all kind of expensive (especially considering that I would probably be wiping countertops with it from time to time). I couldn’t find any inexpensive aprons that were suitable for the type practical use that our grandmothers used their aprons for, so I figured out an inexpensive way to “make” one. • 🌸 The solution I settled on was to “make” myself an apron out of suspenders and a full size towel. I got the suspenders for about $10 USD off of Amazon and used a few old towels I already owned. You want the kind of suspenders that make an X shape (not a Y shape). Take the suspenders and flip them upside down so the shorter end goes over the shoulders and clips to the top of the towel. The longer ends go behind the back and clip to the middle portion of the towel around waist level. You can gather up the fabric and clip a bit further down the length if you’re a little short like me and the towel is a bit too long. • 🌸 Now, you’re not going to win any beauty contests with this apron, but it’s definitely a “I have #6kids” kinda practical apron, in both use and budget! I still use this style apron to this day now living in #Japan. 🌟
  • My husband is getting a true #Japanese experience this morning with his commute after the typhoon. Usually he leaves early enough to skip the big crowds. Not this morning! 😱
  • I have almost gotten my little house in #Japan in order! I have unpacked all the boxes (swipe to see the shipment of boxes I’m talking about) and I have found a home for all the items in our tiny home! 😱😍 These boxes look pretty rough, but they’ve been with us through many moves all over the world. Now to store them in the back of our garage like a true #American. 🤣 🇺🇸
  • Look closely, do you see what I’m seeing? I had to go to my local city office today to file some paperwork. My heart was so warmed to see a baby and toddler area in the middle of the government office. 😍 That is so wonderfully accommodating to parents of young children. Well done, #Japan and #Akiruno city! #itsthelittlethings #fallinlovewithjapan
  • Have you put up your #Halloween tree yet? My local Daiso has fresh decorating ideas for your home. Why hasn’t this caught on in the #US yet?! Seriously, Americans, step up your holiday decorating game! 🎄+ 🎃 = 🤩
  • My daughter is organizing our bookshelf by color. I don’t know if we’ll be able to find anything, but it looks awesome. 🤣😍🌈