Oh the Places You'll Go!

Goodbye 2009

2009-12-31T15:08:00.000-08:00

Where oh where has this year gone!?!? Since my last post too much has happened, but while we've experienced some uncomfortable growing pains, it's all been for the best.

First of all, in a crazy whirlwind, we moved in late August. We had only known of the move since early July. That was probably the most painful part to me. I loved my little corner of the world in Pittsburgh. I loved my house, my friends, my church, and all the amenities that were available to me (I had an IKEA and a Costco within 10 minutes of my house!!) We moved to the Raleigh, NC, area, near to where my husband is from, and it's been an adjustment- mostly good. However, we were miraculously able to sell our home without a loss (no gain since we only owned it for 2 1/2 years.) We moved into a much smaller town home, but as we are still getting settled I have come to the realization that this has been good for me since I'm getting rid of a lot of unnecessary stuff. We do live in a wonderful neighborhood, many home schoolers for my kids to play with and lots of nice moms to talk to. After several months we finally settled on a church (there is a church on every corner in this place!) and that has also helped make this place feel more like home. A few nights ago I had a dream that we were able to move back into our old home in the 'burgh. While I felt happiness, I was sad to leave our new life. Maybe this is finally becoming home.

The move came about because my husband was retired from the Army due to his health issues after this last deployment. That was rather bittersweet, but again, it was a God thing. He's now a full-time graduate student, taking advantage of the GI Bill. We've had to tighten our belts a bit, but in this economy it's easier to do. Having my husband home 24/7 has been an adjustment for me. I was so accustomed to the Army way of life where he traveled often or was away from home. I don't mind him being home, but we've had a "shifting" of roles in our household. In other words, I don't get my way as often as I would like. :)

There have been many other changes, but these were the biggest. Looking back on 2009 I would have never imagined that I would be where I am today, but I know God's hand has guided us here. It's been a lesson in trusting Him, but while growing sometimes hurts, I know the end results will be worth it. Jeremiah 29:11-13 has never been more real to me.

My Life

2009-06-13T16:14:00.000-07:00

Well, I didn't mean to abandon my blog for so long, but all I can say is, life happens. Mostly good things, mind you, but nonetheless, something had to give, and that something was temporary silence on my blog. I may not have any readers now, but I'm looking forward to getting back "into the groove" with writing. I've missed it- especially for sorting out my ideas and writing about my favorite things, and I look forward to catching up on my favorite blogs. Pictures will follow someday, but for now here is a quick recap...

During the last 3 months:
-H turned 6- gasp!
-my precious nephew was born
-I started my last on-line class for my certification in TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages)
-we decided to homeschool next year
-H graduated from Kindergarten
-E finished her first year of preschool
-I've lost 25 pounds- with hubby on Weight Watchers On-Line (and he's lost 30- SO not fair as I have been working harder with exercise especially- ha!)
-and we've been making some big decisions regarding where God wants us.
I won't go into any more details about the decisions right now, all good, just we are in "the process" and seeking His will. I've felt some big growing pains from it all- the Potter is really having to pound on this clay, but I'm excited about the future and look forward to sharing more one of these days.

I recently finished an awesome Beth Moore Bible Study called Esther- It's Tough Being a Woman. It was an incredible study, and I would highly recommend it. During our last session the leader gave each of us a poem written by Beth that pretty much sums up my life right now. I know it's been used on a lot of blogs, but I just had to include it here too. Enjoy.

The Life I Planned

Has someone seen the life I planned?

It seems it's been misplaced

I've looked in every corner

It's lost without a trace.

I've found one I don't recognize

Things missing that were dear

Promises I'd hoped to keep

And dreams I'd dreamed aren't here

Has someone seen the life I planned

Did it get thrown away?

God took my hand from searching

Then I heard Him say

"Child, your ears have never heard

Your eyes have never seen

Eternal plans I have for you

Are more than you could dream.

"you long to walk by sight

But I'm teaching eyes to see.

I know what I am doing.

'Til then, you must believe."

He's done so much, I felt ashamed

To know He heard my moans

To think I'd trade in all He's done

For plans made on my own.

I wept over His faithfulness

And how He'd proved Himself

How He'd gone beyond my dreams

And said to Him myself,

"No, my ears have never heard

My eyes have never seen

Eternal plans you have for me

Are more than I could dream.

"Yes, I long to walk by sight

but You're teaching eyes to see

You know what You are doing

'Til then, I must believe."

I felt His great compassion

Mercy unrestrained

He let me mourn my losses

And showed to me my gains.

I offered Him my future

And relased to Him my past

I traded in my dreams

For a plan He said would last

I get no glimpse ahead

No certainties at all

Except the presence of the One

Who will never let me fall.

Are you also searching

For a life you planned yourself?

Have you looked in every corner?

Have you checked on every shelf?

Child, your ears have never heard

Your eyes have never seen

Eternal plans He has for you

Are more than you could dream.

Perhaps you long to walk by faith

But He's teaching eyes to see

He knows what He is doing

Child, step out and believe.

See you soon...

A Cast for a Character

2009-03-05T11:42:00.001-08:00

First of all, I must say after a good night's rest, I was able to put things into better perspective. Thankfully, D's fracture does not affect his growth plate, and the cast will come off in 3 weeks. I'm also very grateful it wasn't his leg as a dear friend of mine's 3 year old broke his femur, and my hat goes of to that strong lady.

D got his cast on this morning. I realized what a crazy scrapbooker I am when halfway to the appointment I almost turned around to get my camera. However, Mr. Happy-go-lucky turned into Mr. Scream-my-lungs-out when they began applying the cast, so I wouldn't have gotten any pictures anyway. Poor little guy just didn't understand what was going on and no lolly pops or any treat could calm him down. I was blessed with a very understanding doctor and nurses who were patient with my son (and me) and had us out of the office in record time. It took D about an hour to really acclimate to his cast, and although he still wants me to take it off, he's adjusting just fine (so much so he's using it as a "weapon of mass destruction" against his sisters.)

Telling family about his boo-boo.

Nothing is slowing this kid down.

And last but not least, the offending bench.

Mama Said There Will Be Days Like This...

2009-03-04T17:26:00.000-08:00

Well, it's been one of THOSE days. I was supposed to be resting, or at least taking it easy since I had a small surgical procedure yesterday (just minor fibroid stuff). Just after I got a nice relaxing shower, hubby called me and informed me that he (or at least his car) was hit by a deer on his way to work. Fortunately, it just took out the passenger's side mirror, but unfortunately it meant it needed to be fixed. No big deal, though. At least he was safe.

I took my oldest to her ballet class in the early afternoon since the school is only 5 minutes from our house and all I do is sit. I could handle it, and to be quite honest, I was feeling pretty good. The class was in full swing and I was enjoying some adult conversation, when out of the corner of my eye I saw that D had fallen down and was laying on his left wrist (he is a lefty). Mind you, he had been standing on a short bench/locker(no higher than a foot) watching his sister dance- something he did each and every week without a problem. His screaming shot all of the moms in the waiting area into high alert mode. Fortunately, one of the instructors ran out with an ice pack, but 20 minutes later he was still crying. I was trying to reach our pediatrician, who then referred me to an orthopedist, who after I called them and waited on the phone, told me that they do not see children- huh?? I then contacted our insurance company who gave me 3 referrals for our area. Unfortunately, they all wanted a "confirmed fracture" before they would see him, and they couldn't see him before tomorrow. Several of the moms who had previous experience with broken bones definitely agreed that he should be seen by a doctor, although within 30 minutes he was back to playing with the other kids.

I made an appointment for later that afternoon with our pediatrician, went home, gave D some Motrin, and put him down for a nap. The little guy fell asleep right away. Hubby came home to watch the girls, and by the time I took him to our pediatrician's office, he was as chipper as could be, laughing and singing. He cooperated beautifully for the doctor, and didn't wince a bit when she poked and prodded his wrist. However, the doctor did feel it would be in his best interest to still get an x-ray at the hospital. Fortunately she wrote a prescription for the x-ray, so that we wouldn't have to wait in the ER.

Once again, D turned on the charm when we arrived at the hospital. He was fascinated with pushing the buttons on the elevator, and nicely and politely played with his trucks in the waiting area. We were whisked back to radiology since we had the prescription, and he was incredibly cooperative with the radiologist taking his wrist's picture- even said "cheese." Since it was supper time I briefly entertained the thought of going on home, but they told me the results would be ready in 20 minutes. D danced around the waiting room singing and playing, not at all acting in pain and using his left hand without hesitation. I began to feel a little foolish, wondering if it was "just" a sprain or a bruise, when the doctor called the waiting room to give me the results. She informed me that he had indeed fractured his wrist, which shocked me. She then asked how he was feeling and I babbled about how he was happy and playing as normal. The doctor felt that we could return home, get him to bed, and see an orthopedist in the morning for a cast. I was still in shock as we returned home, thankful the whole trip to the hospital took less than an hour, but shocked that my baby had a broken bone.

As I write, D is sleeping peacefully. Pictures will follow soon. I'm thinking of taking my mama's advice of eating some chocolate and going to bed early. That's the best way to end a day like this.

Here we are!

2009-02-24T10:47:00.000-08:00

I honestly hadn't intended on abandoning my blog for so long. Nothing happened that was earth-shattering here, just keeping up with day to day living and trying to enjoy the precious moments with my family. I figured for my first post back I would do a brief recap of the last two + months.

The biggest event of December was enjoying my family visiting for Christmas. Although things were a little tight in our 3 bedroom house with 6 adults and 4 children, we had a wonderful Christmas.

H also lost her first tooth with the help of an apple.

I managed to fit in a quilting project. This was my precious niece's "I Spy" quilt with pictures of family. Since they will be moving back to the other side of the world, I thought it would be a good way for her to stay familiar with our faces.

There were also many classroom parties and Christmas performances.

E was a sweet little angel.

And of course there were parties at hubby's work.

Visits with Santa, and thankfully no one screamed this year. :)We celebrated the true reason for the season.

And after all the relatives left, we have dealt with snow, snow, snow, and did I mention, snow... However, since I was "deprived" of the stuff growing up, I haven't tired of watching it yet, just not of fan of driving in it.

Happy Birthday E!

2008-12-02T14:22:00.000-08:00

I have this big hang-up that what I do for one child I should try to do for the others. Of course it doesn't always work out that way and children need to understand that life's not fair and not everything can be perfectly equal, but if I blog about one child's birthday I definitely need to blog about the other two!

Therefore, this really should be post-dated, but on November 17th E celebrated her big 4 year old birthday. She is my wonderfully strong-willed middle child. She was that way literally before birth- refusing to come on her due date but instead waited a little over a week. When the doctor decided to have me induced and sent me to the hospital, she came before he was able to start the induction- all on her own terms. That's the way it's been ever since, and I wouldn't change a thing.

For her birthday we did a combined party with her brother at the zoo since their birthdays are two weeks apart, and I certainly wasn't going to plan two separate parties with all the craziness that was going on. It was a big hit. They had a little animal show- totally up E's alley since she is the animal lover of the family (rode a full-sized horse with no fear when she was 18 months old.) Her favorite animal was the snake (that's her in the picture with the boa), and she spent the most time petting it. A few weeks later I was at her classroom Thanksgiving party and when I went to retrieve her backpack, much to my surprise there was our stuffed animal snake in there (big thing- about 3 feet long). I was surprised she had left the house with that in tow and my not noticing it. However, her teacher informed me that E had been telling everyone in class she would be bringing a snake to school that week. She really did. At least it wasn't a live one, but I wouldn't put it past her...

Thankful for rest

2008-11-29T13:33:00.000-08:00

Can I just say that the month of November has flown by? I've been blessed with family visits (I absolutely cannot get enough of my favorite niece- and my sister and brother-in-law too, of course.) I've also been slowly but surely preparing the house for a wonderful Christmas with my parents and sister's family. It will be the first time all of us have been together since hubby and I were married 11 years ago. (That's what happens with the majority of your family live overseas.) Then there is just life with a husband whose love language is shared time (sigh! football season is tough for me, honestly speaking) and raising and enjoying 3 wonderfully vigorous children.

The biggest "drainer" of my free/ blog time has been my second on-line course for my professional certification in TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages). This one has been challenging in it's own right, but I have enjoyed it more than my first course (partly due overcoming the learning curve and this one only has one textbook and no 12 page paper- WHEW!) I only have one more course to go in order to get my certification, but I'm going to wait until the summer. It's too much balancing school schedules and being flexible to take a class.

For Thanksgiving we drove 8 1/2 hours (10 + with stops for the kids) to my in-law's house. For various reasons I dreaded the trip- packing for EVERYONE, inclement weather, cleaning the house, classwork deadlines, not being in the comfort of my own home, etc. However, yesterday I realized that I was able to actually relax. When I'm home I can always find something to do- I never just sit. Here I have family to help, and except for cleaning up after the kids who have very few toys here (and this has totally convinced me how little my children really "need" or, better put, that they just have too much at home) I can just enjoy my time with my family. The kids have even slept in past 7 a.m. the last few days, and that is a luxury in itself. This has been a great time to just relax and reflect on what I have to be thankful for.

Perhaps once I get home and finish my final exam next week I will get back to regular blogging...

Pumpkin Pancakes

2008-10-30T12:59:00.000-07:00

While there are many things to love about Fall, one of my favorites is the food, namely ANYTHING with pumpkin. Several years ago I was introduced to a fabulous recipe for Pumpkin Pancakes and it instantly became a family favorite. We even have it for supper since pumpkin is technically a vegetable (but if anyone clues my kids in on that fact they will have to deal with my wrath.) In celebration of this season, I thought I would share the recipe.

2 cups flour

2 tablespoons granulated sugar

4 teaspoons baking powder

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1 1/2 cups milk

1 cup pumpkin puree

4 eggs (my recipe calls for separating them, but I don't do that, too much effort- dirtying more dishes, but if you are a glutton for punishment or a better "cooker" than me beat the egg whites until stiff and fold them into the batter after mixing together all the other ingredients.)

1/4 cup melted butter

Sift together dry ingredients. Combine milk, egg yolks, butter and pumpkin puree. Stir into dry ingredients until just blended. Pour about 1/4 to 1/3 cup batter onto hot, greased griddle. Cook until tops bubble; turn and cook other side. Serve with warm maple syrup, and whipped cream, after all, syrup is a fruit because it comes from a tree (we use the real stuff) and the whipped cream is dairy- I can justify it all.

On a side note, the smallest size of pumpkin puree that I can find is 15 oz. (approx 2 cups). Instead of having half a can of pumpkin puree left over, I just double the recipe. Then I freeze the leftovers and they make a fabulous quick breakfast for those rushed "school mornings."

Happy Birthday D!

2008-10-29T12:44:00.000-07:00

Although this picture is a bit blurred, it totally captures my "baby" who just turned 2. He's always on the go, a whirl of energy, and only stops when he's being read to or asleep. He's 100% boy, getting into anything and everything, and yet he is sweet and tender until his sisters bug him, then he retaliates. However, his sweet, mischievous smile melts my heart even after he's pulled his sisters' hair, drawn on the wall, thrown something, climbed onto the table, locked the bathroom door... Fun times! Happy birthday, D!

So what was she thinking?

2008-10-11T11:14:00.001-07:00

So long summer

2008-09-30T13:57:00.000-07:00

Okay, so I know summer ended a little over a week ago, but I just had to share this.

This past March I decided to be ambitious and plant my own, home-grown flowers.

I went to Wal-Mart and bought seeds and two flats that would act as "mini greenhouses" for the seedlings. I planted Forget-me-Nots, Marigolds, Shasta Daisies, Dahlias, Sunflowers, Zinnias and Cone Flowers.
My girls even got in on the action, although they got bored after planting a few seeds, plus it was hard to work with such small seeds.
A little less than two months later most of the seeds that I had planted had sprouted. It was fun for the kids to see the plants grow. Some of the seeds didn't do so well, namely the Cone Flowers and Marigolds, but it was rather painless. When the seedlings were ready and the weather had warmed up enough I transplanted them into our yard.

Out of all the flowers, the Zinnias did best although they were a lot taller than I had expected. My landscaping skills would certainly not get me on the pages of Better Homes and Gardens, but it was the learning experience that counts.

I wasn't thrilled with the way the Shasta Daisy's did, but since they are perennials I'm hoping they'll come back fuller next year.

The Dahlias also did very well and I loved the colors- many different kinds. Next year I think I'll move these to the backyard (since they are perennials also).

I also love how these flowers have made great arrangements in the house. It was a very fun, worthwhile family project.

I Remember

2008-09-11T11:26:00.001-07:00

I remember September 11, 2001. I had gone to school early that morning to teach my 3rd grade class in Norcross, GA. My husband had gone to work at 3rd Army in Ft. McPherson, GA. My parents were in town visiting and were going to the airport that morning to pick up my sister and her husband who were flying in from Washington D.C.

I remember a fellow teacher coming into my room and telling me that two planes had hit the World Trade Centers in New York City. I remember the shock and horror I felt, knowing this was no accident and wondering who could be that evil. I couldn’t begin to imagine the number of lives that were lost.

I remember hearing about the plane that had crashed into the Pentagon and knowing that my sister and her husband were flying out from D.C. that very morning. I remember the guilty relief I felt when I saw that their flight had landed in Atlanta but knowing that many other families were learning that their loved ones had not been so fortunate. I remember my sister later telling me that they had seen the Pentagon as they flew out of the city, just 30 minutes before it was attacked.

I remember trying very hard not to let my students know that something so horrible had occurred that day. During my lunch break I called my husband, and that was when I first cried because his job primarily dealt with the Middle East. I remember being afraid that he would have to go to war.

I remember the days, weeks and months that followed. My students came with so many questions. “Why had this happened?” “Who did this?” “Why didn’t they like us?” Too many of them had seen the images on T.V., burning buildings, people jumping, and they needed assurance that they were safe. I remember hearing so many stories on the news of acts of heroism and an increased sense of patriotism.

I remember holding my newborn daughter in my arms and watching as we went to war. I remember the mixed emotions that I had and how I selfishly prayed that my husband wouldn’t have to go.

I remember my husband telling me that with his new job assignment would be a deployment. I remember watching him hold our 5 month old son and praying that he would come home alive. I remember the sense of pride mixed with fear and an unexplainable God-given peace as I watched him walk away, knowing it would be a long time before I saw him again.

I remember the year without my husband. Relying on God’s strength for each day, and anticipating my husband’s phone calls, letters, and e-mails, and praying for his and the other soldiers’ safety. I remember feeling God’s hand through the hugs and support of friends and family, offers of help, the simple “Thank you’s.”

I remember him finally coming home, our children running towards him and holding on tightly to their daddy. I remember his strong arms holding me; it was as if no time had passed by at all.

I remember those who lost their lives on September 11th. I remember those in the military who endure time away from their family and friends and who have given their lives to defend our freedom. I remember those who anticipate the phone calls and letters from their loved ones who are far away, and I remember those who will never see their loved one again. I remember and pray for them all.

I remember. I will not forget.

Venezuela Parte Dos

2008-09-06T18:22:00.000-07:00

I forgot to mention that the cabin we stayed at was a flower farm. It was breath-takingly beautiful, but sadly pictures will never really capture the true beauty.

We visited one of our favorite hotels, Hotel Lost Frailes, but with the sky-rocketing inflation we didn't stay there. Supposedly it was once a monastery and dates back to the 1600's.

Hotel Los Frailes nestled in the mountains.
The courtyard.

Venezuela Parte Uno

2008-09-06T12:52:00.000-07:00

I was a bit taken aback today when I realized we'd been home for 2 weeks. When we got home after our vacation we practically hit the ground running with school starting less than a week later, hubby going back to work, and trying to return to the usual routines of life.

I've been a bit overwhelmed by all the pictures we took (I had over 400 and my parents gave me a CD of their shots- 700+). Even though I had originally said that this was my last trip to Venezuela, in reality this has only helped to increase my desire to return again. If only money grew on trees...

It's hard to pick out just the highlights from our trip. As much as Blogger will allow me, I'll post a as many pictures as I can and try to include a brief description of the trip.

After we got over our exhaustion from the flight, we drove to the Western part of Venezuela where the highest peak is located. It's always been a favorite vacation area for my family and my husband had never seen this area.

We stayed in Rincon de la Venta (a tiny little village) in a cabin that had a fireplace. As odd as this may sound, we needed it. I'm not sure what the temperature was, but there was snow on some of the nearby peaks since it was the rainy season. We all wore several layers of clothing. My girls had the cutest room, beds with curtains.

We drove to the nearby city of Merida where we planned on riding the world's longest cable care. Much to our surprise and disappointment, although it was the peak of tourist season, the cable car was closed due to maintenance. Later we did find out that it is now closed for good because it is beyond repair and must be replace completely. Glad we didn't ride on it after all!

However, there is a lot to do in that area. We went to the ice cream store that is in the Guinness Book of World Records for most flavors of ice cream. They sold flavors such as smoked trout, tomato, asparagus, sardines, and even Viagra. I tried corn, rose and lemon- and it was all good.

We also went horseback riding. There aren't very strict standards of safety, so my 5 year old and 1 year old were able to ride on the horses (helmets were not available). They had a blast. We enjoyed the unique beauty of the area. This plant is called a Frailejon and is native only to the Andes. It reminds me a little of the Edelweiss in Europe only these plants can grow up to 6 feet tall.

On the Road Again

2008-08-14T15:38:00.000-07:00

I honestly didn't mean to be so vague in my last post about our last vacation of the summer. My intention was to do a quick post about our upcoming trip, but as it always does, time flew by and before I knew it we were on the plane headed to Venezuela. Yep, we're in Venezuela, South America. For those who may not know, I'm an MK (missionaries' kid), and my parents are still in Venezuela. What prompted this trip was the fact that my parents are retiring next year, so we would not be able to come to Venezuela and have a free place to stay, plus it's been 10 years since I've been "home" and we still could fly one kid for "free"- with some minor fees.

I consider myself a seasoned traveler having flown since I was a toddler and made this treck from the States to Venezuela many, many times. What threw me for a loop and kept me packing and preparing franticly for an entire week (in addition to school shopping since both of my girls start school less than a week after we get home) was traveling with 3 small children. Thankfully I had a few friends who were able to give me tips for traveling with young kids, but what made my stomach do the most loops was 1.) that we were having to drive 7 hours to the airport- we saved a significant amount by doing that and 2.) that our flight was an overnight flight- we left at 1 a.m. and arrived in Caracas at 9:30 a.m.

We hit the road at 10 a.m. for JFK Int Airport in New York City. On our way there we did stop by and visit some dear friends of mine, the Schloneckers, who hosted us in their home for a few hours (broke up the long drive) and gave us a great route to JFK. We got to JFK just before 9 p.m., checked in with the airline, stood through a headache of a line for security and had about 1 1/2 hours to spare while waiting to board the plane. The kids were entertained by running around the terminal (we were always close by) and exhausted themselves before the flight. I had them change into their pj's and brushed their teeth shortly before we boarded. Fortunately just as they flight started to take off all three kids fell asleep. Unfortunately for whatever reason the flight attendants started handing out food at 2 a.m. and my husband woke me and the youngest two up by excitedly declaring that they were serving a meal. What can I say, men and their stomachs! I was thankful that we all fell back asleep, although since I was holding my son I didn't sleep quite as well.

We had a 1 1/2 hour layover in Bogota, Colombia, which seemed a little short to me, but our flights were on time. Our flight left at 7 a.m. and my son cried practically the entire hour and a half. This time I made my husband hold him. D was just tired and wanted to be done with this nonsense. Upon our arrival in Caracas we made it through customs and got our bags in record time. My parents were even caught by surprise since the arrival board said that our flight had not yet arrived.

Needless to say, we were thrilled to make it in one piece, luggage, kids and all. Our travels went smoother than I had expected, and even the long drive and odd flight hours worked in our favor. We have a week left here in Venezuela and at this point I can't even put into words how much fun we're having. I'll post pictures in the future, but no guarentee that I'll write before we return to the states.

Oh where has the summer gone?

2008-07-28T10:57:00.000-07:00

Perhaps it's having school-age children now or this has just been a very busy few months, but I'm shocked at how quickly this summer has gone by. I really had planned to get more done and relax more and to just have time to do more in general. I'm almost looking forward to having a regular routine when school starts, but I know I'll miss the flexibility. I honestly didn't mean to abandon my blog so much either, but we've been doing "stuff" like hanging out at pools, shopping, scrap booking, traveling, hosting visitors, etc. Our biggest travel is coming up in a week, and although I am so excited, I'm a bit nervous too, but that's for another post at another time.

Here's a brief glimpse of what we've been up to:

The girls took swim lessons and absolutely loved them. They beamed every time they got in the water, and although the lessons were everyday for 2 1/2 weeks, they were well worth the effort and time.

I've also managed to finish two complete scrapbooks (90 pages- front and back, journaling and decorating, etc.) in about 3 weeks. My albums are rather simple, just basically tell the stories behind the pictures, journaling our everyday lives.

I'm able to make my albums rather quickly by laying out the pictures and borders with a Power Layout box. My husband jokingly says that I remind him of the guy on "A Beautiful Mind" because I often have them spread out over every flat surface in the house.
We enjoyed visits from my in-laws and my sister's family (including my one and only beautiful and brilliant niece.)

We also visited my in-laws in Cheraw, SC, and went to North Myrtle Beach. The kids loved playing in the sand and warmed up a little more to the waves. It was a long drive to and from the Carolinas but the kids were troopers and I got some rare "reading time" done. I took advantage of a few Sonic Drive-Ins here and there since there aren't too many in our neck of the woods. (Sorry, Stephanie, but I would have sent you some if I could.)

Like I said before, this summer has gone by way too fast, but I have no regrets about how we've spent our time.

Note to all the little sisters out there

2008-07-19T16:29:00.000-07:00

Should you be playing dress-up with your big sister and she offers to make you even more beautiful by applying make-up, think twice about letting her apply green marker in place of eye-shadow. It doesn't come off very easily, and you'll get lots of funny looks while running errands with your mom.

Happy 4th!

2008-07-04T20:27:00.000-07:00

There's no better way to celebrate the 4th than to welcome an Army unit home. The rest of hubby's unit came home this week. It's great to have them back on our soil, but please keep praying for all of those who are still in danger's way to protect our freedom.

Dancin' fools

2008-06-21T08:02:00.000-07:00

Due to our "situation" this year, I decided that routines were a must for our household. I also thought it would be a great idea for my older two to have an outlet. However, because it was entirely on me to drive them to and from their "outlets" I also knew it had to be fairly simple (I firmly believe in one activity per child.) Therefore, I was thrilled to find a dance school that had a class that both of my girls could participate in together, and it taught beginner ballet, tap, and acro.

My girls loved it from the start. It was a little pricey but still reasonable, and a few of my friends also joined with their daughters. Every Monday afternoon we went to the dance studio for an hour, and while my friends and I chatted our girls learned the basics of dance and some coordination (which if they are anything like their mother they need all the help they can get.) Also, it was a great thing for their grandparents to give them as gifts as opposed to more clutter, I mean, toys.

From when I signed up I knew there was a recital in our future. I paid for two costumes each (one for tap and one for ballet), and I was pleased with music selection ("Personality" and "Give the Girl a Hand"). I wasn't pleased with a rehearsal on Mother's Day weekend, and I really wasn't happy that the recital was scheduled for the evening of Father's Day. Not sure why it was planned that way other than we had to use a high school auditorium. However, I knew the experience would be good for my kids, and my oldest had been pining for the day when she could dance on stage.

We were blessed that my husband was able to be present for the recital (he wasn't supposed to be back until July), and my in-laws came to watch their only granddaughters dance their little hearts out. Long story short, this particular dance studio offers many classes from little tots to teenagers and participates in competitions. Therefore, ALL of their dancers participated in at least two dance numbers, and the show went on for over 2 1/2 hours with no intermission. I also cringed as I put make-up on my babies faces- just seemed too grown up AND I didn't want them to get any ideas about hitting Mommy's stash of cosmetics. But that wasn't the worst part of it. No, several of the older age groups had, well, rather mature dances. Lets just say that it wasn't really the classical aspects of the dance, and some of the girls just lacked a pole, if you know what I mean. Seriously, one of the ending numbers was "Moulin Rouge," and the girls, beautiful teenagers, wore something out of a "Fredrick's of Hollywood" catalog including thigh high pantyhose. I was very embarrassed to be sitting in between my husband and father-in-law, and SO thankful that my girls couldn't see the show.

My little ones did a great job, and now they can play to their hearts content with their costumes. IF we decide to take dance classes next year it won't be with this same studio- although I really loved their teachers, and I'm debating whether or not to write the director a letter nicely explaining why we won't be returning next year. However, in order to help foster well-rounded children I think playing soccer might be a fun thing that won't require make-up or a fancy costume.

Summer Fun

2008-06-20T18:40:00.000-07:00

I meant to be better about this whole blogging thing, really. The last two weeks have been rather hectic, not the laid back summer days I had hoped for. We had family visiting, the girls' dance recital, and then daily swim lessons for both the girls. Also, I managed to volunteer to help with our church's vacation Bible school each evening this week and juggling swim lessons, nap times and all the other "stuff" life throws us. Today I finally uploaded almost 200 pictures from my camera, and I took a breather, reminiscing on the fun that happened just before things got hectic.

Those in the South and other hot, humid areas would probably laugh, but earlier this month we were sweltering in the 90's. For those of us in the Northeast, that's not the norm. We're usually in the mid 70's. Being the mom of three young children, I decided we needed some respite from the heat. I'm not one to enjoy going to a water park with my little kids- too stressful. Trust me, with a 5, 3, and 1 year old I would not get my "money's worth" out of an overpriced water park that they can only play in a small area. So I got the bright idea that I would bring the water park home for a fraction of the price. On a very hot, sunny afternoon I picked up a sprinkler at Wal-Mart and I hooked it up with our slide set.

Perfect, right?

The kids were thrilled and I envisioned exhausted children going to sleep early while my husband and I relaxed and enjoyed an evening with no interruptions. I got them all dressed, lathered up with sunscreen, and out the back door. I turned on the water, and listened to the screams of joy that lasted until my five year old asked me, "Mommy, is there ice in our water?" Apparently even though it's horrendously hot here, the ground is still not thawed out. I even stepped in, and she was right. The fun lasted for about 30 minutes, but they did sleep pretty well, albeit they were rather cranky.

Time Flies

2008-06-07T12:10:00.001-07:00

On a much lighter and happier note... ELEVEN years ago today, on an unusually chilly and rainy Charleston, SC, afternoon (I called it our showers of blessings) I married my best friend. Three kids, a cat, a dog, and five moves later, I feel like the same girl, just a bit older and wiser. I know that it's cliche, but it seems like it was only yesterday that I opened the door for him at the Charleston Baptist Association building and introduced myself. After working together that summer I returned to college with a gut feeling that he was "the one" but not having a clue how it would work out since I was in Arkansas and he was in Virginia, starting his career in the Army. Sure enough, less than a year later we were married, and 10 days after the wedding we took off to start a new life in Germany. Our life together has been an adventure, and looking back on it all, I wouldn't change a thing. I love you babe!!

The Waiting Place

2008-06-06T19:34:00.000-07:00

That's where we've been the last few weeks/months. I don't "do" waiting well. I'm the type who will take a longer detour just so I don't have to wait in traffic, and if I'm stuck in the waiting room at a doctor's office, my blood pressure WILL go up if I don't have something to do- give me a magazine PLEASE!!!

What are we waiting on? Decisions to be made about my husband's career in the Army. If things had gone the way we had planned, he would be coming home in a few weeks and we would take off for most of the summer and just have family time. However, I mentioned it a few months ago, but my husband had some health issues that prevented him from returning to Iraq after his two week R&R- a mixed blessing of sorts. It's a very long story, but he had blood clots in his lungs (could have been due to a variety of things) and had to go on blood thinner. Blood thinner and war zones don't mix. This is not the first time, so many questions have been raised and what it boils down to is that he is having a medical board done which will decide his future with the military. In the mean time, we have to hurry up and wait, lots of speculations and no real answers. Plus there is a grey cloud hanging over my head in that he could potentially have to go to a base (the nearest one being 5 hours away) for about 8 months while the medical board is being done. We've already endured a year of separation as a family- is that really necessary to go through another one?

In spite of all of this, I consider us blessed. That realization came when hubby was told by a very well qualified doctor (several degrees from both Harvard and MIT) that he should congratulate himself on being alive. This was after the doctor had reviewed his CT scans and saw how bad the pulmonary embolism (blood clots in lungs) were. I don't want to imagine what would have happened had hubby not gone to the hospital.

Dr. Seuss calls the waiting place a most useless place, but that is where I will disagree with him. Although I don't like it, it is a necessary place. My faith and trust in God is being tested and strengthened. I believe He holds our future in His hands and I trust that ultimately He will work all things together for the best (Romans 8:28). Whether that means we stay with the Army or not, well, that remains to be seen (and not apparently any time soon either.) Isaiah 40:29-31 has been my comfort during this time: "29He gives strength to the weary, and to him who lacks might He increases power. 30Though youths grow weary and tired, and vigorous young men stumble badly, 31Yet those who wait for the LORD will gain new strength; They will mount up with wings like eagles, they will run and not get tired, they will walk and not become weary."

Before and After

2008-05-17T20:45:00.000-07:00

I love those designing shows, you know, the ones where they show the before and after and the place is totally transformed, neat, and oh-so-trendy. Unfortunately I don't have a shred of design know-how in my brain, and I very much admire my friends who do- Jerusalem at My Little Life and Jeanetta at Splendid Things.

When we moved into this house, we placed our desk in the living room. It just felt wrong from the beginning, but there wasn't a better alternative at the time. I'm also a recovering pack-rat and fight the "clutter fires" (ala FlyLady) on a constant basis, so you can imagine how the desk looked more often than not. To add insult to injury both our TV cabinet and desk (located side by side in a prominent area of our living room) were not "quality" furniture and had not fared well in our moves. I happened to come across a fabulous must-have desk in a parenting magazine. It looked like a wardrobe and had doors on it, so when it wasn't in use you could close it up and not see the stacks of papers. I wanted that for some time (along with a replacement for our decrepit TV cabinet, and long story short, after some shopping around we found some good quality replacements for both the TV cabinet and desk.

This is my before...
Here is the after...Now you see it, now you don't.

Somewhere over the rainbow

2008-05-17T19:30:00.000-07:00

Today was an "official" pajama day. We woke up to cloudy/rainy weather, and with the "hecticness" of the last few weeks, I felt it was high time I had a "do-nothing" day. Actually, I did do stuff around the house, nothing spectacular, just the basics, BUT I did not change out of my pj's all day and enjoyed time in the house without having to run errands with grumpy kids (having 3 kids basically guarantees that one of them will be grumpy at any given moment). The weather stayed grey and chilly until early evening when we got a glimpse of some sunshine although it continued to rain. Upon further inspection we noticed a brilliant, beautiful rainbow right across the street. Although the picture does not do it justice, this was actually a double rainbow. It was an encouraging reminder of God's promises.

SIGH!!!

2008-05-08T12:31:00.000-07:00

My home is way, way too quiet. For the last three weeks we have been blessed with a revolving door of visitors. They were all so very special to us, but the last was my most anticipated, though. My sister, her husband, and precious 9 month old daughter (my only niece!!) came for a visit. They live out of country in a place very, very far away. I had never met my niece and it had been three years since I had seen my sister! We had a wonderful time and thankfully they will be in the states a bit longer. We'll have more time with them, although they are now visiting other family. Our time together was fabulous (like we had never been apart) and I couldn't tear myself away from any of them in order to blog.

I have LOTS to write about, but just enjoy the pictures for now.

Oh, and did I mention she's a redhead?

Can You Read?

2008-04-24T16:35:00.000-07:00

Visitors to our home, BEWARE, shortly after you sit down and make yourself at home, you can expect to get "the question"from all three of my children. Since this past weekend we have been blessed with three sets of visitors to our home. It doesn't matter if you stay the night, are just passing through, old, young, married, or single, they couldn't care less. That's the litmus test of our kids, whether or not you will read to them. They LOVE books, and we have lots of them. Usually I will try to save the guest after one or maybe two books, but if you stay a little while, you can expect to get asked again and again and again.

Caught them being good

2008-04-19T13:26:00.000-07:00

No, not my two-legged children but my four legged ones. While I was enjoying a moment of nap-time peace as I wrote my last post, I turned around and saw this sight. How sweet! Meet Moose the dog and Pokey the cat. They've been buds for the last 10 years.

p.s. This is another reason why my couch cover is washable. They don't do pet beds.

Joy comes in the morning

2008-04-19T12:30:00.000-07:00

There's no better way to say it, I LOVE SPRING! I love seeing flowers pushing up through the ground and the trees in full bloom. Winter left kicking and screaming and in her wake we have had amazing weather and all that brings with it. My front yard only gets morning sun, and although the cold weather hangs out a little longer in this part of the country, my flowers are one of the last to bloom (I just think of it as a way to prolong the celebration of spring.)

One of my favorite spring flowers are hyacinths because they are just so fragrant. These are just outside my front door and I could sit on my front steps and smell them all day long. Playing in my garden is therapeutic for me, and I hope to have many pictures to come.

This month has been one of highs and lows for us. Hubby is still home (I'm not complaining although I understand his desire to finish his work and we're still waiting on final answers) and the kids are healthy and growing like weeds. I finally finished my on-line course, and although it was a bit stressful towards the end, I did well and feel all the better for having taken it. My grey cells have been exercised and I have some new found knowledge I will apply in the future. We've had some trials that I will one day share but at this time I'm still processing, but through all of this I can say that God has been and is faithful. He's given us the strength we've needed for the giants we've faced, and while we don't understand all the whys I'm going to trust the Master Gardener's plans.

Something's Fishy

2008-04-02T16:09:00.000-07:00

I really should be doing many other things, but I just had to share the quilt that I made for my daughter's pre-K class (I finished it while we were traveling with hubby.) I can't take credit for the idea. It came from Marcia Layton's book Handprint Quilts. Each child had their hands dipped in paint and then the teachers embellished the prints with "puffy" paints. Although it's hard to see, I sewed on sequins for bubbles and made little waves with a blue thread. I also added each child's picture and made it look like bubbles in the center of the quilt. It will be auctioned off to help raise money for the school, and I have to say that it's probably one of my favorite quilts- VERY easy to make. (But I won't be buying it back since the minimum bid is $200.)

Change of Plans

2008-03-31T23:00:00.000-07:00

The latest word is... due to an unexpected illness, hubby will not be returning to Iraq. He's fine, but we need prayer for wisdom for those making decisions about his health and about his career.

While I'm more than happy to have him home, it's hard for him not being able to finish the job he started. Right now we're taking one day at a time, trusting God's will above our own.

A few more...

2008-03-31T19:40:00.000-07:00

Here are some highlights.

My oldest turned FIVE!!! Where has the time gone?!?
The weather warmed up just enough for a bike ride.

And D finally got a haircut!
Before and... after- still curly.

Time flies

2008-03-25T15:38:00.000-07:00

We had a wonderful three weeks. There's a lot to write about, but I'll do that later. Here are some of the highlights:

Daddy has cool gear!

We got stuck an extra night on the drive home due to a blizzard. Some areas near us had two feet. When the snow plows were clearing the parking lot the snow was piled as high as our van.

"The boys" chilled out together in the hotel.

It felt very good to finally make it home. Jerusalem's (from My Little Life) banner was a perfect welcome back.

Together at last!

2008-03-02T13:21:00.000-08:00

After 8 months, 4 flights/ 19 hours of flying time, and 2 days/ 10 hours of driving we are finally together again. It was a little hard to know how things would be after having been apart for so long, but I am thrilled to say that it's almost as though he never left. The kids have adjusted beautifully (D, the 16 month old, was a little shy at first, but now he jumps from my arms into his Daddy's arms right away). And all I can say is, well, it's very, very, VERY good to be back in hubby's arms.

Our smooth adjustment into our "normal" family life comes from 1. Lots and lots and LOTS of prayers, and 2. We have kept up strong lines of communication. Not all military families are as fortunate to be able to talk to their loved-ones every day like we are. We're just blessed that my hubby works in an area that he can call us daily, and he chooses to forgo hanging out and relaxing in his "hooch" at the end of the day, in order to take the time to call us.

We're also blessed that we are able to have some extra transition time as we met Hubby at an Army base far from home while he trains the unit that is replacing his (which is what he's doing at this very moment). Next week we will drive home and his actual "leave time" begins, and then he returns back to Iraq for his last 3 1/2 months. Three months don't seem so bad in comparison to 8 months, but we'll make it through like we did before, all in God's strength. I'll be out of the "blogging world" while he's with us during the training and especially while he's home on leave. Time is precious...

Home Sweet Home

2008-02-22T18:35:00.000-08:00

It just dawned on me. Today marks the one year anniversary of moving into our home. Of course, this isn't a very accurate picture. Imagine the skies a dismal grey and the yard and driveway covered with an icy slush. The funny thing is, the weather conditions are exactly the same today as the day we moved in. I remember the movers weren't happy with us because the driveway was a frozen mess, but we had just signed for the house the day before after having driven across the country with three children (ages 3 and under, a cat, dog, and all the stuff we could cram into a van and sedan.) Not to mention on the trip we had visited the ER in Indianapolis with a sick 4 month old and had to do breathing treatments. Ah, the memories!

The move had come rather suddenly. We were notified at the beginning of January that we were to move here by February 21st, not even a month and a half notice. Thankfully the Army provides movers, but it was still a stretch moving with a newborn, a toddler and a pre-schooler. However, some dear friends of our watched the girls for a weekend (at the end of January) while hubby, baby and I flew out here to meet with our realtor. This was the last house we saw, and we loved it. Three weeks later we had signed the papers and the house was ours (thankfully the owners had already moved to Alaska, so we didn't have to wait for them to move out.) It's a good size for us- 3 bedrooms, 2 1/2 baths- not too much space to clean, but my favorite part is a finished basement. I have my crafting stuff down there along with the majority of the kids' toys.

My other favorite part of the house (not to mention the windows which let in lots of natural light and the laminate wood floors in the dining room and basement- pergo-something or other, and tile floors in the kitchen and bathrooms) are our neighbors. They are very friendly and incredibly helpful. One of our neighbors sons mowed our grass this summer and they also shovel out the driveway. Knowing our situation they watch out for us and call if they haven't seen us in awhile. We are very blessed.

The other interesting tid-bit about our home is that many of the previous owners have moved from here to exotic locations (according to our neighbor who has been here 20 yrs.) We're either the 6th or 7th owners, and the people who previously lived here did, in fact, move to Alaska. There was another military family here with 3 kids who moved to Hawaii. It'll be interesting if the same remains true for us.

On a side note, my entries will remain few and far between as I finish up my 12 page paper and prepare for a 9+ hour drive with the kiddos next week. However, a week from today we will hopefully be in my hubby's lovin' arms for 3 weeks. I can hardly wait!!! I'm praying for clear weather on Wednesday as we take off!

To Laugh or To Cry

2008-02-11T23:00:00.000-08:00

That is the question... Thank you for all the love from the "blogging world." I very much appreciate your support and your prayers. Today started off a little rough in that I woke up with what appears to be a sinus infection, but fortunately I had some left over meds from the last time I was sick and they kicked in with no side-effects. The kids seemed back to their "old selves," so I dropped my 4 year old off at Pre-K and got some grocery shopping done. However, when I went to pick her up, she had just started crying that her ear was hurting. She was very upset, which was unusual for her and thankfully I was able to get a doctor's appointment within an hour. Sure enough, she has an ear infection. That makes three ear infections in three weeks and hopefully the last of it.

Often times people who know about my current situation express admiration for my being able to do what I do. I feel I must set the record straight. This deployment, child-rearing, crisis-dealing, is not done on my own strength. I'm not that strong, and I give the total credit to God that I haven't already been "commited." The Bible says that God won't give us more than we can handle WITH His strength. The following verses have been great sources of comfort during these "challenging" times whether is an obstinate toddler, household full of sick kids, craziness of life or worries about the safetly of my husband or of family members.
"No test or temptation that comes your way is beyond the course of what others have had to face. All you need to remember is that God will never let you down; he'll never let you be pushed past your limit; he'll always be there to help you come through it." 1 Cor. 10:13 (The Message)
"Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty. This I declare about the Lord: He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; he is my God, and I trust him. For he will rescue you from every trap and protect you from deadly disease. He will cover you with his feathers. He will shelter you with his wings. His faithful promises are your armor and protection. Do not be afraid of the terrors of the night, nor the arrow that flies in the day. Do not dread the disease that stalks in darkness, nor the disaster that strikes at midday." Ps. 91:1-6 (NLT)

Mommy and the No Good, Horrible, Very Bad Week(s)

2008-02-10T18:38:00.000-08:00

The last two weeks havn't been nice for us. I'm tired enough that I can hardly remember the first week except that my son, D, had a double ear infection, and we had an ice storm. Then Super Bowl Sunday came. Although I do not watch football on a regular basis I had it on because it's something hubby and I would do if he were here (and I figured he might have stayed up late to watch it too- kind of like a long-distance date). After an amazing game (Go Giants!!!) I was excited about the prospects of an early bed-time when no more than 30 minutes after the game ended I heard D crying. I went in to check on him, and he had apparently gotten very sick. I will spare the gory details but will say that he required a full bath and new sheets. Not long after that I had to change the new sheets again, but fortunately the rest of the night he was fine.

Monday my 4 year old, H, had a bad sore throat so we skipped pre-K and ballet, and at the end of the day I did notice that the 3 year old, E, had an excess of sleep in her eyes. The next morning H woke up feeling better, but E had what appeared to be pink eye in both eyes. I got an appointment with the doctor and discovered that not only did she have pink eye, but she also had a bad ear infection which is what started the pink eye. I figured while I was there I would kill 3 birds with one stone and had him look at the other two. H was fine, but D's ear infection was much worse. We got stronger antibiotics prescribed and that was that.

Wednesday wasn't good at all. The girls woke me up in the middle of the night wanting to get in bed, and I was so tired I just let them. Quarter to 6 (in the morning) an alarm goes off. I have a bad history with our gas alarm (another over-long post) and it sent my heart into panic mode. However it only sounded once, but while I was up checking out what caused the alarm to sound, the electricity went off and stayed off. It would be one thing if I was used to dressing my children by candle-light and fixing coffee on the stove. However, although I had all of their clothing laid out and was up much earlier than intended, I still had a hard time getting out the door for school on time. Not to mention that I had to open the garage manually, and while I'm perfectly capable of doing so, the door does not stay open all the way, so I had to ask a very gracious neighbor to lend a hand. The lights eventually came back on and I went through the Starbuck's drive-through, but I couldn't get out of the funk that had started that morning. Plus, with all the unexpected illnesses I had to cram to get my assignment done for school, and the electricity kept threatening to go off.

On Thursday my husband asked why I was so grouchy, and I must admit that I just spewed off all my stresses and frustrations. Fortunately he just listened and didn't try to fix things and I felt better getting it off my chest. I even managed to get a few things done around the house since the kids were on the mend and no assignments were due. Friday was a slight return to normalcy, running errands and eating out with friends (all-be-it Chick-fil-A and the 15 month old HAD to throw his food in any direction.)

Saturday I had another unexpected awakening at 3 a.m. H entered my room and wanted to get in bed. She wasn't feeling well, so I let her and before I knew it, she was sick all over the place. Again, sparing the gory details, but I was up for several hours and am still looking for a way to get red Jello stains out of tan carpet. The rest of the day she wasn't much better, even slept for 3 hours in the afternoon and didn't eat at all. I stayed up late washing towels, sheets, clothing and couch slip-cover and got a few things scrubbed down in the house.

Today we stayed home, just to fully recover and the weather was really bad. Tonight it's getting BELOW 0*F with a windchill below -16. I've been able to reflect and rest today too. In spite of all the insanity, there is a silver lining. Dealing with sick children isn't easy especially without my hubby to help out, but we've had lots of uninterrupted together time lately since I haven't had to do my usual running-around. I've been able to cuddle and love on my little ones who are growing up so quickly. It may be miserably cold outside, but although it's less than clean, I have a warm, comfortable home. The recent tornadoes with such devistation put things into perspective for me. I also have friends who have called me just to make sure things are fine and to offer to get groceries. One even stopped by unexpectedly with soup, lasagne, bread, and salad. Plus, I just saw that school is delayed two hours tomorrow morning- YAY!! I hope that we return soon to normalcy- whatever that is...

Future President

2008-01-29T20:23:00.000-08:00

In light of the impending presidential election, I thought I would add a little levity. Apparently in our image conscious society potential candidates have a better change of winning the presidency if they have a great head of hair (my husband claims it's true). If his current head of hair is any indication, my son is a "shoe in."

The one physical trait he got from me is curly hair. In comparison to my daughters, he has more body and curl, and it's grown rather evenly (both girls had mullets). However, he's getting to the point that he needs a hair cut (he's been called a girl too many times for this sensitive mommy.) The good news is that Daddy will be coming home for a visit a month from today and so I'm going to hold off until he's home. They can do some male-bonding over at the barber shop.

Mommy Guilt

2008-01-28T22:30:00.000-08:00

Tonight I am battling a severe case of mommy guilt and quite possibly the flu (if my aching body, scratchy throat and insane tiredness are any indication). I'm sure I caught the flu from any number of places we have been recently, but the mommy guilt started when I opened my 4 year old's progress report from her Pre-K. Let me preface all of this by saying, I LOVE her teacher and think very highly of her school. The majority of her progress report was about how sweet a child she is, works great with peers, excels in Biblical principals and participates well in discussions (she is my child after all and could hold a conversation with a brick wall.)

However, what jumped out at me was the check-marks in the no column that show she has not "mastered" recognizing numbers, letters, patterns, etc. Immediately I began feeling like I had done her some sort of disservice, that I'm not spending enough time with her working on her letter and number recognition. I began rethinking our daily schedule, how I had to make more time to sit down with workbooks, puzzles, and other various learning activities to "catch her up to speed." Perhaps I should even run out and purchase one of those electronic toys that makes learning fun and noisy.

However, once the kids were in bed and I had a few quiet moments to think while loading the dishes in the dishwasher, I was able to somewhat clearly sort through the mommy guilt. I think what I'm fighting is expecting my kid to be "the best" at everything. It's a natural temptation to want to brag to the other parents that my kid already reads "sight words" at age 4, when in reality, there are very few children who can read that early and sometimes to push a child can cause them to regress. From my background in education, children really aren't ready to read until around the age of 5, boys even later. I recall in my childhood struggling with school in the early years because I started too young- I HATED working with the alphabet, but I did love books.

I know that her pre-K is not expecting her to read novels by the end of the year, just have a good familiarity of the letters and numbers. My daughter is a precious, unique child who excels in other areas. I'm thrilled that she has a wonderful imagination, loves to "read" books to her sister, and can play for hours without a TV or electronic device (ADHD toys as my husband refers to them)- not that those are bad either, all in moderation. It also made me think that perhaps I need to be a little more cautious about how I measure up my child to her peers. So often there is a "one-upmanship" going on in playgroups, that I avoid those things. Comparing my child to others can be a prime contributor to mommy guilt and makes me feel as though I'm a failure. Truth be told, by the grace of God my husband and I've done a pretty good job in fostering her imagination, giving her a love for books, and building her character qualities. Sure I may go out and purchase some flashcards or something else along that line, but I'm thankful for the unique little girl that she is, precocious and brilliant in her own special way.

Open Mouth, Insert Foot

2008-01-24T19:37:00.000-08:00

I've been hit with "the funk" for the last few days. We've all fought some sort of stomach bug (I had it the worst- go figure!) and the night-time coughing has started again. Thank goodness for humidifiers and buckwheat honey (since none of mine are older than 6, cough meds are out of the question but honey works like magic). My favorite teapot has been working overtime keeping my chamomile tea hot. To top it all off, the temperatures have been 10-15 degrees below normal (and the normal temps here aren't that great either) which has also forced us indoors. The sun has rarely peaked out, but even if we went outside to enjoy the rare rays we got a blast of freezing reality.

The silver lining to the icky weather and illnesses is that it has inspired/forced us to do things that we normally don't get much time to do during our normal busy routine. The girls and I made snowflakes out of coffee filters (they are easier for making round, six-branched flakes and have more of a lite feel to them) and I let them embellish with our new glitter glue pens. I then showed them how to make paper hearts, and once again, we decorated with glitter pens. There was LOTS of coloring and playing and reading going on. I made a few cards, and I was even able to finish up another project of mine, my "Faces of Christmas" album. I know this is almost a month past the Christmas holidays, but one of my favorite things about the season is sending and receiving Christmas cards. I especially love the ones with the family photo, but I hate throwing away the pictures. A friend introduced me to the idea of making an album of those pictures, so every year I add new pages. My designs are very simple, but it's fun to look back on the last few years at our family and friends.

Today a friend of mine blessed me more than she knows. She offered to watch my two girls so a little girl she was watching could have some playmates. My son and I went shopping, nothing fabulous, just so much easier with one rather than three. I came home refreshed and happy.

The house has seen cleaner days, but like Scarlett, I'll think about that tomorrow. In spite of the cold weather and sick bugs, these last few days have been a needed break.

Oh Where Have All the LIttle Grey Cells Gone?

2008-01-22T12:57:00.000-08:00

One of my New Years Resolutions was to learn something new. This was fairly easy to say because I had made plans during the summer of 2007 to take some on-line courses in order to get re certified in elementary education. I have always been attracted to teaching English to speakers of other languages (TESOL) and have some experience in that area. The program that my hubby found is completely on-line, fully accredited, and not only will certify me in that area (after I take 3 courses) but will also count towards a master's degree, something I would definitely consider. Once I am ready to go back into the professional world of teaching a certification in TESOL (or better yet, a masters) would open a lot of doors for me. My thinking was "Because I have prior experience in this area and did fairly well in college, this shouldn't be too stressful." Plus, while my hubby is away, what better time to "occupy" myself with "higher learning?"

My first class began this month, and I was all proud of myself because I helped some of the other students set up their web pages on Black Board. Last night I started reading the assigned books in order to respond to the discussion question. I have to say, I'm really out of practice. This is the basic course, and I haven't read books with this kind of language since college (which was a "few" years ago.) I finally consented to pulling out our dictionary and looking up practically every other word. Needing consoling I wrote a desperate e-mail to my hubby and went to bed. This morning he responded by saying, "Don't worry, babe. You'll do great. Those books were just written by a bunch of liberal, draft-dodging professors who want to show off how smart they are." Comforting, very comforting. He's been watching CNN too much, but he did make me laugh.

Nevertheless, if I'm not heard from for awhile it's only because I'm reading the dictionary trying to figure out what these people are really trying to say.

I must clarify one thing about this post. Those of you who know me personally probably know that I did not mean to insult any professors. My husband and I have total respect for those who teach higher education and are brilliant enough to write books at that level. Furthermore, my husband would probably shoot me (not literally since he does presently carry a gun everywhere he goes) if he knew I had quoted him on my blog saying that. We have many friends who are professors who we dearly love. SORRY Monica, Tad, Andrew, and the many other who I may have unintentionally insulted.
Also, after getting some sleep, I realized that my main problem was that I had tried reading my books after 10 p.m. I turn into a pumpkin at that hour. SIGH! I'm not as young as I wish I was.

Another Milestone

2008-01-17T19:29:00.000-08:00

Tonight my three year old declared while getting dressed for bed that she would wear panties tonight and didn't want a pull-up. Just like that she took the final steps to being "completely" potty-trained. Thank goodness I didn't buy another box of pull-ups while at Costco today because my son surely won't wear princess ones.

I'm thrilled, but a little part of me is torn. My babies are growing up. Well, DUH!

Like a very wise woman once said, "These are the longest days but the shortest years."

Another Sign of Global Warming

2008-01-11T11:08:00.000-08:00

I had another title for this posting, but I was afraid that it might offend some readers. It's not anything I really say either, but when my husband called me this morning it was the first thing that popped in my head after I thought, "I have to write about this..."
I could tell something was going on by the tone in his voice. That always puts me on edge because of where he is right now. Plus he doesn't always call first thing in the morning either.
He told me about how he was leaving his "hooch" and upon opening the door he was hit with...snow.
Yep, it was snowing in Iraq.
I live in the northeast, and we had rain and record high temps for January. My husband had snow, in the dessert, in Iraq. I wonder just how common that is...

Storms A Comin'

2008-01-10T12:18:00.000-08:00

We had two glorious days of record highs. This "southern" girl doesn't venture outside too long in freezing weather, so this winter we haven't done much outdoor activity. The laundry was screaming my name and the Christmas decorations were begging to be put away, but I decided to take advantage of the fabulous weather and go where we have not ventured for months- the zoo.

The girls were ecstatic about seeing the polar bears and that's all they talked about during the drive there. Wouldn't you know, after I had loaded them up on the stroller and walked up the hill to the entrance a large sign stood there informing us that the polar bear exhibit was closed for the week due to maintenance. SIGH! Nevertheless, I told the kids that although the polar bears were on "vacation" there were still plenty more animals to see. They took the news relatively well.

The animals did not disappoint. Because of the unseasonable weather and a storm on the way, the animals were, well, wild. In light of recent events I was a little unnerved by the tiger exhibit, but my oldest daughter stared the big cat down. The lion roared for about 10 minutes straight. The wild dogs were always sleeping whenever we've visited in the past, but they were out and running around. Even the sea lions were very active. One kept on coming up to the viewing window. I think it was interested in some quarters a little boy was playing with.

Of course my kids found a fuzzy caterpillar very fascinating and spent more time looking at it than any of the other exhibits!

It was truly a day well spent. When we returned home the laundry was still screaming, but the Christmas decorations are now just about put away since the weather is returning to normal. So nice to have a little respite!

I'm IT!

2008-01-05T13:32:00.000-08:00

My dear friend Jerusalem tagged me to tell 5 weird things about myself. She knows me too well and limited me to only 5 because the list could go on and on and on...

1. I love to eat with chopsticks. Really, I do, and I usually limit it to oriental foods although I have been known to eat chopped fruit and spaghetti with them. What's even weirder is where I learned to eat chopsticks- McDonald's. It all started back when I was pretty young and we were in the States for a visit. McDonald's had some promotion with their chicken nuggets that had something to do with oriental sauce, and you got a pair of chopsticks with your meal. I figured out how to use them from the instructions on the paper sleeve that held the chopsticks, and the rest is history.

I have quite a few pairs of them in our silverware drawer. My mom recently brought me this beautiful set from her trip to Thailand. They're almost too pretty to use. My kids seem to eat better when they use chopsticks, perhaps it's the novelty of them, and I just ordered some that are geared toward children. My 14 month old wouldn't eat his food the other day. He wouldn't eat it with a fork or a spoon, but when I offered it to him with chopsticks he devoured the meal. The apple doesn't fall far from the tree.

2. My husband would say this is the weirdest thing about me, I can eat frozen items, such as ice cream, slushes, milkshakes, etc very quickly with no "brain freeze." I don't know when that started because I never thought it odd, but my husband swears that if I was to enter an ice cream eating contest I would win.

One of my favorite places for frozen confections is Sonic. The one "commonality" between all 3 of my pregnancies was my deep craving for Sonic slushes (orange slush floats to be exact with the girls.) I didn't care if if was well below freezing outside, I WANTED a slush. Tragically, where we live now doesn't have a Sonic, but fortunately I'm not pregnant.

3. Whenever we move something big comes to the area that we left. For example, when we left Germany, they were just opening up a 24 hour Shoppette (like a 7 Eleven), and anything that was open 24 hours in Germany was a BIG deal. When we left Atlanta, they had just opened a Super Wal-Mart 5 minutes from our house. Before that I had to drive 20-30 min to the closest Super Wat-Mart (I also went into labor in that store- craziest 20 min drive of my life). Shortly after we moved from Colorado the base where we lived got a mega-Commissary (military grocery store). The one they had was horribly cramped and left a lot to be desired. Who knows what will open up here by the time we move, probably a Sonic.

4. I can fly 8 + hours on a plane without batting and eyelash, but put me in an elevator and my palms go sweaty. I used to calm myself by biting on my dad's shoulder. Can't do that now, and because I use a stroller I HAVE to take the elevators in malls. I put on a brave face for the kids, but should we ever get stuck...

5. Finally, I'm directionally challenged. Seriously, I could get lost in my own backyard. That doesn't bode so well with frequent moves, but I eventually get the hang of it just in time to move again. Before he deployed my husband bought me a Garmin, which I have lovingly nick-named "Jill" (that's the voice that "talks to me). The area we live in is very confusing for those who have a normal sense of direction, but I fell apart at the first 5-way stop sign, and roads change names at least three times in a mile. Jill was well-worth the investment.

Now it's my turn to tag some people. Julie, Stephanie, Becky, Leslie, and Jeanetta, YOU'RE IT!!!

New Addition

2008-01-04T13:37:00.000-08:00

In my reflection time I recalled one of my biggest blessings of 2007. I officially became an aunt. My husband is an only child, and I have one sister so imagine my glee when shortly after I had my son, my sister called me and informed me she was pregnant. On July 10th Natalia Jordyn arrived with a head full of auburn hair. She was a true answer to prayer because my sister has some health complications, but both she and Natalia were very healthy- a miracle.

The one downside of all of this is that my sister, brother-in-law and adorable niece live very far away (as in overseas and in a remote location). I haven't even been able to hold her yet. HOWEVER, this year they are coming back for an extended stay. I cannot wait. I've already begun to send her books and hold onto my girls' "good" outfits. From the pictures and video clips they send me, she's full of bubbly personality and has the most adorable chuckle. Of course, I'm not biased in any way.

Hello 2008!

2008-01-02T18:11:00.000-08:00

Well, the year is off to a wonderful start. The last two days have been very restful, something I have needed for a long time. We haven't gone anywhere except to our neighbors' house for supper on New Years day, and although I've gotten some things done, it's been a perfect time of rest, relaxation, and reflection.

Today was a bit of a gift. As all good things must come to an end, we did have some commitments today, BUT it snowed last night, waking up to pristine, clean white, and, hallelujah, canceled meetings. I stayed in my PJ's all day and loved every minute of it. No make-up, no "stressers", just breathing and doing things that I have very little time for during our regular routine.

Which led me to make a decision. For a long time, I haven't made any New Year's resolutions, at least not that I have written down. However, this peaceful day did such wonders for my spirit that I came up with a list of a few things I will do this next year.

1. I will wear my PJ's all day at least one day each month. It does me a world of good to step out of the routine once in awhile and just let my hair down.

2. I will become a better learner. This past year I felt like I was running to catch up with myself- unpacking and settling a new home, potty training a wonderfully strong-willed child, commitments after commitments, etc. I've already registered for an on-line TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) course- something I hope to teach again one of these years, but I've also decided to hire a babysitter and sign up for a Saturday class or two at my favorite quilting store. I must exercise those little grey cells.

3. And speaking of commitments, I will commit to less "things" this year. I felt I had to keep myself busy while hubby was away, but when he comes home, I will use that as an excuse to step down from some of the "unnecessary" obligations and focus on being a wife again. AND I won't feel guilty for saying NO.

4. I will read for myself and to my children each day. I LOVE books, and thankfully so do my kids. There are days, though, that it feels like we don't sit and read together, just caught up in the busyness of life. I can let the dishes sit till evening or even the next day, and I will read for my personal pleasure and my children's enjoyment.

Mommy Brain and Kissing the Cat

2007-12-31T17:52:00.000-08:00

For me, there is never a dull moment raising three kids ages 4 and under. In fact, I don’t remember the last time that I was bored. Speaking of remembering, I still have a bad case of “Mommy brain.” My short term memory (even the long term memory) seems to have shorted out.

Just the other day I was talking to my husband on the phone and there was something cute and significant that my three year old had said that I couldn’t recall to tell him. I remember thinking when she said it that I had to remember this and then the typical crazy stuff happened and of course, I forgot all about it. Last night while I was brushing my teeth I had a flashback as to what that something that the three year old had said was. She was showing me a scratch on her foot. I asked her how she got that, and she replied that Pokey (our cat) had scratched her. I carted her off to the bathroom to get a band aid and antibacterial ointment, and I asked her why Pokey had scratched her (that’s not really like him).

She replied, “Because I was brushing him.”

“What were you brushing him with?” I asked.

“The brush teeth (otherwise known as a toothbrush)” she replied.

I began to scold her and asked which toothbrush she had used, fully expecting it to be either hers or one of her siblings since they were easily accessible.

She honestly answered, “It was the noisy one.”

I demanded that she show me which one, and she took me out of her bathroom into my bathroom where she pointed out my electric toothbrush that was sitting on the sink. Did I mention that I recalled all of this WHILE I was brushing my teeth? Funny how memory works sometimes.

The Latest Project(s)

2007-12-30T13:44:00.000-08:00

The first 3-6-9 pattern I made for my youngest daughter

Now that the holiday busyness is over, I can finally get back to finishing my latest project. When I found out that my husband was deploying, I thought it would be nice to make a quilt for him and our children that integrated pictures into it of us as a family and individuals of them and Daddy. My idea was it could be something that they could cuddle up with when they miss him, and I called it a "Daddy Hug Quilt." Unfortunately his deployment came a lot sooner than I had expected (I'm also not that fast at quilting either), so I wasn't able to finish the quilts before he left.

I still feel like a novice at quilting, but I was fortunate to find a quilt store here that had very patient and helpful employees. The ladies at The Quilt Company introduced me to the "Three-Six-Nine" pattern, something the store owner, Karen, designed (she also designs beautiful fabrics). It's a pretty easy pattern, and I have enjoyed making them (all 4.)

My son's quilt.

I'm finally completing my oldest daughter's and son's quilt. I sent my husband's quilt off right after I made it, so unfortunately, I don't have a picture of it completed. This is the layout of it, and I had the kids put their hand prints on the quilt. He loves it (adds a bit of color to his otherwise drab "hooch"- like a trailer.) I was also very surprised to find out how cold it gets in Iraq. During the day the highs are somewhere in the 50's and at night it can get well below freezing. I knew the desert would be cold at night, but I thought it'd be warmer during the day.

Lately the kids haven't asked as much where Daddy is, but I think the holidays was a good distraction for them. In March Daddy is coming home for 2 weeks, so I think they'll "need" something like the quilts all the more after he leaves again. Fortunately, after March there will only be 4 months left of the deployment.

My oldest daughter's quilt

Third Culture Kid (TCK)

2007-12-29T13:21:00.000-08:00

My least favorite question is, "So where are you from?" From the age of 4 I grew up overseas in Venezuela because my parents were (and still are) missionaries (which also makes me an MK - Missionary Kid.) It's something I personally love and one of the things that makes me unique. However, I often struggle with where I'm really from. Perhaps that's another reason I love being a military wife because we move so often.

I was blessed to attend a university where there were many individuals who could relate to me. At one point, if someone asked me my dreaded question, I would respond with, "Do you mean where was I born (Ft. Worth), where I call home (Caracas), where I go to school (Arkadelphia, AR), or where my driver's license if from (Mississippi)?" Now I try to respond with "Oh we're a military family" since only two of my three children were born in the same state. It'll be something my children will have to contend with, but I see advantages with it broadening their perspectives. However, it does also cause a bit of an identity crisis and restlessness. One of my favorite books, Grandfather's Journey, has a quote that sums it up. "The funny thing is, the moment I am in one country, I am homesick for the other."

I recently came across a list that made me laugh an put things into a humorous perspective.

You know you're a TCK when:

- You've heard this 'textbook' definition of a TCK before: "A third culture kid is a person who has spent a significant part of his or her developmental years outside their parents' culture. The third culture kid builds relationships to all the cultures, while not having full ownership in any. Although elements from each culture are assimilated into the third culture kid's life experience, the sense of belonging is in relationship to others of the same background, other TCKs."

- "Where are you from?" has more than one reasonable answer.
- You've said that you're from foreign country X, and your audience has asked you which US state X is in.
- You speak two languages, but can’t spell in either.
- You feel odd being in the ethnic majority.
- You have a passport but no driver's license.
- You go into culture shock upon returning to your "home" country.
- Your life story uses the phrase "Then we moved to..." three (or four, or five...) times.
- You wince when people mispronounce foreign words.
- You don't know whether to write the date as day/month/year, month/day/year, or some variation thereof.
- The best word for something is the word you learned first, regardless of the language.
- You think VISA is a document that's stamped in your passport, not a plastic card you carry in your wallet.
- Half of your phone calls are unintelligible to those around you.
- You believe vehemently that football is played with a round, spotted ball.
- You consider a city 500 miles away "very close."
- You get homesick reading National Geographic.
- Your minor is a foreign language you already speak.
- When asked a question in a certain language, you've absentmindedly respond in a different one.
- You miss the subtitles when you see the latest movie.
- You've gotten out of school because of monsoons, bomb threats, and/or popular demonstrations.
- You speak with authority on the subject of airline travel.
- You know how to pack.
- You have the urge to move to a new country every couple of years.
- The thought of sending your kids to public school scares you, while the thought of letting them fly alone doesn't at all.
- You think that high school reunions are all but impossible.
- You have friends from 29 different countries.
- You sort your friends by continent.
- You have a time zone map next to your telephone.
- You realize what a small world it is, after all.

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

2007-12-27T09:30:00.000-08:00

For me, the days after Christmas up to the Three Kings Day (Epiphany, I think, otherwise known as Jan. 6th) are the best time of the year. It's the time that I can truly relax and reflect on the season with no outside stresses of school, ballet lessons, Mothers of Preschoolers (MOPS) meetings, church programs, or many other obligations for that matter, time to enjoy my holiday decorations, relax with my family, and do the things that I don't normally get to do when I'm on my "regular routine." I don't even think about taking my holiday decorations down until around the 6th, something I picked up on while living in Venezuela since it's a tradition there.

This is not to say that I don't enjoy the events leading up to Christmas. I try to "de-stress" the holidays by doing my shopping in advance, limiting the outside-the-home activities, and simplifying as much as possible. I also put a great deal of emphasis on the true meaning of Christmas, doing a nightly advent calendar with my kids that tells the Christmas story. However, it's just a busy time of the year and I miss those care-free days of my childhood, when I could just sit and enjoy my tree.

This year was a bit more challenging since I was doing the holiday preparations by myself. Plus, I wanted my husband to have a special Christmas too, so I spent some creative energy into sending him some holiday loving (I did the 12 days of Christmas with a variety of things he'd enjoy- little tree, nativity, Christmas CDs and DVDs, socks, boxer briefs, assorted food, etc.) I also made him a scrapbook that has a page for each child every month, so he can see the things we're doing and how they're growing (not to mention a stocking and a few other odds and ends.) He was very appreciative, but it was hard for him to get into the holiday spirit where he is. Thankfully my parents were here prior to Thanksgiving, so I was able to get the vast majority of my holiday shopping done before Black Friday. They also helped me get the tree set up and the holiday decorations out.

Not only that, I obligated myself to visit my in-laws for Christmas. My husband is an only child, and from the time that we got married they have been pining for grandchildren (my father-in-law wanted 5 grandkids- we have 3 children plus a dog and a cat) with dreams of them spending the holidays at their home so they could show off the grands to their friends and family. This required me to drive the kids 8 1/2 hours all in one day (10 1/2 with pit stops- and I've got it down to a science) to their home all the while praying there would be no inclement weather nor major traffic jams and PLEASE no explosive diapers nor vomiting children. I did this for selfish reasons too because next year my parents and sister and her family (all of whom live overseas) will be back in the States for Christmas, so I we will have the Christmas holidays with them. The whole trip went off smoothly, but I was so relieved to be back to the comforts of my own home.

Now I have every intention of sitting back, recharging, and doing the things that I want to do. I may stay in my pjs all day and read books (a page here or two for me and 20 books to the kids), catch up on some unfinished projects, etc, etc. I plan on savoring each and every moment and welcoming in a blessed new year of hope.

Here I Go!

2007-12-25T21:35:00.000-08:00

For the longest time I have wanted to blog. I love reading my friends' blogs, but I just wasn't sure what I wanted to write about and time is always a factor. However, I became inspired watching the news tonight. There was a story about an Army Reservist's family and how they got through a year without their husband. I can relate. My husband is in the AGR (Active Guard Reserves), and this summer he deployed for a year to Iraq. It's not been easy on us. I'm home with three small children, ages 4 and under, and he's working 12+ hours seven days a week with people who tend to drive him crazy. I'm proud of him and what he does, but sometimes I miss him so much it hurts. A part of me wants to chronicle the rest of this deployment, how God strengthened us, and it's something I know we will one day be able to look back on this and smile.

Today we made it through what I feared would be one of the hardest days of the deployment. We love to celebrate Christmas in our family, and I've tried very hard to "normalize" things for my kids. I decorated the house, watched the Christmas movies, read the Christmas books, sent out the cards, and went through the advent story. We even managed a trip to the in-laws home for Christmas which turned out a lot better than what I was expecting. It's not ideal, but we've made it by God's grace. I think this whole experience has somehow made the true story of Christmas more real to me. The first Christmas was not in an ideal situation, but Mary and Joseph made the best of it, to God's glory.

Although having my husband deployed has been difficult, we have been so blessed. God has provided an amazing support group in an area we have not lived for a whole year. My husband and I can also talk every day and occasionally do the webcam. We are at about the halfway point of this deployment, and it feels that time has gone by quickly. The last few months may drag by, so this will keep me occupied (among my other hobbies and activities.) We stay busy, but that's good. Because my husband is not here physically to protect us, I won't use my children's real names nor his name. I probably won't even reveal where we live, but I look forward to this being a great outlet for all those thoughts that come to mind that I just need to get off my chest.