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Monday, July 25, 2011

Post-R&R is for the birds....

Today I am grateful for Skype...I am sitting here crying, watching my husband sleep via Skype.  I miss him SO much. 

Today, I am thankful that we are over the two-thirds-of-the-way mark...meaning I only have to do this for four more months. 

Today, I am thankful for technology...and the free webcam I got just months before he deployed. 

Can you tell I am trying really hard to cheer myself up?!? 

Saturday, July 23, 2011

He's still workin' on me....

God has reminded me several times in the last couple of weeks that I have not yet arrived.  I am not who He wants me to be...by far.  I have things that need work.  Some very big things. 

It is easy for me to sit here and compare myself to others, and think that I have it together.  After all....well, we all do it.

"I'm not so bad...after all, I don't do...."

Ha!  From the outside, I *may* look like a "goody two-shoes".  Those that really know me, know that I DO have struggles, and I am far from perfect.  I yell at my kids.  I get frustrated and angry with things that I should just let slide.  I speak my mind...lose my mind...give people a piece of my mind.

My mind is a HUGE part of my struggle.  And my tongue.  Pride.  Ugh.  That one gets me every time.

God gifted me with the ability to do a lot of different things.  I am so very thankful for that.  I have to keep reminding myself that HE is the One who gave those gifts...I had nothing to do with them, and CAN NOT take credit for them now. 

As I was sitting here contemplating, I was reminded again of a song we used to sing when I was growing up...think I'll pull it out, dust it off, and take it with me for the rest of my day...

Wednesday, July 6, 2011

R&R =/= REST or Relaxation (yet)

Jason got home for his R&R last Tuesday...he's been here *just* over a week now, and we have yet to slow down. 

Tuesday afternoon we went to the airport to pick him up (YIPPEE!!), and spent the evening at home. 

Wednesday Jon had a performance, so we got him there.  We cleaned up the house, packed our stuff, and sorted through where the kids were going to stay, since our arranged-months-in-advance house-sitter/baby-sitter fell through.  We went to the store.  We went to the bank. We finally dropped the kids off with some wonderful friends, stopped and got supper, and made our way out of town for two nights at Great Wolf Lodge in Williamsburg, VA.  That *WAS* actually restful.  We talked, Jason did homework, we played putt-putt, we went out to eat, we shopped, and we SLEPT.  That was Wednesday night, and Thursday. 

Friday we drove back to town, took the kids to lunch, picked up things at Walmart, Sam's Club, Verizon (new iPhones!!), Men's Wearhouse, and the vacuum cleaner store (new GOOD vacuum!!).  We made appointments to get the car in to the shop, the dog into the vet's, and verified dentist's appointments for myself and 4 of the kids.  Then we finally made our way home and hung out for a while, waiting for the big surprise for the kids...Nana & Papa get here in time for supper!!  After eating, they left for their motel, the kids went to bed, and Jason and I stayed up waiting for our friend's flight to get in....and we finally got to bed around 1:00 a.m....

...only to get up and go at it again in the morning, leaving early for a beautiful wedding back up the road past Williamsburg.  Jason was an usher for the wedding, and the two little girls were flower girls...and Jason's parents met us up there, too.   Saturday was another LONG day...we got back to the house around 9:00 pm.

Sunday was another long day...church, with Jason, Carl, David (who got in LATE on Saturday night), and Jason's parents all needing to catch up with people they hadn't seen in quite some time...then home for naps and then swimming and dinner at Jason's sister's house for the evening...which meant ANOTHER late night.

Monday started early, since Jason's parents were leaving again to head home to South Carolina, which meant an early breakfast at our house, to include *only* 15.  Pshew...ever so glad for paper plates and a dishwasher!!  Carl was supposed to leave then, Monday night, but because of a thunderstorm his flight was canceled, so he got to spend another night here. 

Yesterday saw Carl catch his flight, the dog to the vet, and Leah to the dentist to get two (baby) teeth pulled and another filled, as well as two separate Bible studies for the two oldest kids, and a movie for David and Jason. 

Today, the little dog went back to the vet (poor little guy is having surgery today), the car in to the dealer for an A/C recharge, an oil change, and a visor replacement....and now Jason and David have taken all of the kids to see Cars 2, while I sat down to catch my breath...do laundry, do dishes, shower, work, and catch you guys up on our crazy lives. 

Hopefully tomorrow will slow down even more....because I can't keep this up!! 

Meanwhile....Isn't that man in the tux handsome?!? 

Saturday, July 2, 2011

What I do when stressed....


Take one block of chocolate almond bark....
 Melt...
Add one bag of pretzels...
dip...
dry...
and eat...
YUM!!