Scrolling Saturday, Edition 12

From the Scrolling Saturday site (many thanks to the lovely ladies running this batch of fun!):

Once again, please show a round of applause for another edition of...SCROLLING
SATURDAY! Yes, it's Saturday. Again. So, for all of my new little lovelies...go
and find yourself an unloved and virtually unwanted, archived post. Give it a
little smoochie. And...display it for your new friends to see. Yeah, I
know...it's that easy. Oh...you're sooooo welcome!!Have a wonderful Saturday, my
little friends!!xoxo

From my old blog, January 24th, 2008

This just in....
Right about the time I was thinking I would be able to go about the business of everyday life without thinking about my poor little baby out there somewhere in cyberspace...this floats into my inbox....

Thank you for submitting your story A NEW FAMILY for publication consideration
in A Cup of Comfort for Military Families.

I hope to select and notify finalists by March 1, 2008. Authors whose stories are not selected for publication in the book should receive status notices in by May 1, 2008.

Please note that deadlines are sometimes extended by 1 to 4 weeks.
Due to my heavy workload, I cannot respond to queries regarding the status of individual stories nor comment on the merits or demerits of a story.

I look forward to reading your story.

Oh, ugghh....back to worrying about my blood, sweat and tears..."will she like it? what will she think of it? Am I actually giong to be PUBLISHED?!?"

Okay, enough of that nonsense...back to real life...Mount Laundry is threatening to spew again...


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***EDIT: Sorry guys...I just realized...duh, the dates have passed...I am guessing that my story was NOT chosen, and I'll just have to try again. Yes, I have always written, but never attempted to get published before. Count this as my first rejection slip. Thanks for asking!***

Scrolling Saturday, Edition 11

From the Scrolling Saturday site (many thanks to the lovely ladies running this batch of fun!):

Once again, please show a round of applause for another edition of...SCROLLING SATURDAY! Yes, it's Saturday. Again. So, for all of my new little lovelies...go and find yourself an unloved and virtually unwanted, archived post. Give it a little smoochie. And...display it for your new friends to see. Yeah, I know...it's that easy. Oh...you're sooooo welcome!!Have a wonderful Saturday, my little friends!!xoxo

From Wednesday, January 23, 2008

Cell Groups, Brew Groups...whatever...
Back in the dark ages, before half of the churches in the US decided that Small Groups were the wave of the future, the Bible College I attended decided that it would be a good thing to prepare The Church's future leaders for leading small groups.

Every student was divided into a group, and for certain chapel times, we were all required to attend the group to which we had been assigned. For some unknown reason, I was assigned as a LEADER of a group of some 10 girls.

We met in a little room over by the chapel, and the only thing I remember from that was one lone meeting, and coming away from that feeling like a complete and utter failure. I was not comfortable leading then, I was not comfortable talking to other people then. WHY I was named the leader is WAY beyond me.

I had completely forgotten about that abysmal failure...probably BECAUSE it was such a painful experience for me.

Last night, in our Brew Group at church, we started talking about experiences in Bible College...two other couples in our group went to Christian colleges, so we had a lot of similar experiences. We chatted about sleeping through classes, and experiences on and off campus, and keeping and/or breaking the rules. It was fun to relive those brief five years of my life...and to start remembering some things that had been buried.

All of our chatting started me to thinking about how men and women *do* official Bible Studies. Last night, we sat around the table, and talked and had fun...while having Communion. We talked about how pastors and Christians take themselves WAY too seriously...and that made me wonder.

When men *do* Bible Study, do they have fun? or is it all serious business? Is it just the women who get together in groups who are too full of it to have any fun? Is this why unbelievers see us as stuffy, and full of ourselves?

I was reminded last night that Jesus' first miracle was not healing, or feeding someone...he made water into wine, people! He made GOOD wine! Which made it a PARTY!! Jesus DID have a good time with His disciples, and with His friends and family...HE wasn't all about being all serious, all the time. Why can't we follow His example in this little thing?


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Scrolling Saturday, Edition 10

From September, 2007


September 07
My second home
I normally spend a lot of time in Walmart. I actually spend approximately 40 hours a week there...as a cashier. I have gotten to the point that I HATE to go to work, because standing for that many hours a week on concrete floors HURTS. And the only shoes that were comfortable are now not allowed. However, on my days off, I can't seem to stay away. I've been in the store 4 times in the last 3 days...fortunately only spending about $150.00, total. I find that it is relaxing to me to go in there, and just be able to wander around, looking at things, and not be on some kind of hurried schedule.

So, when I went back in after our vacation, I was a little surprised at how different things looked! A LOT had been rearranged...in Cosmetics, I couldn't find the acne cream my daughter needed. In Electronics, all of the shelves had been rearranged, and new, different displays were out. Fortunately, on the grocery side of the store, things were still in their old familiar places. Honestly, I DO understand WHY things are moved around on a regular basis...it is to keep peoples' interests piqued.....BUT, it is aggravating. I like being able to find things in the same place they were the last time that I bought them....and when they're rearranged, I can't find them....lots of times I need help, and during the day, lots of time the help just isn't avalable.

Alright...off to fix lunch for the little girls, and take naps!!


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Scrolling Saturday, Edition 9

This is a fun little meme put together by Colleen at Manners and Moxie and Melissa at SuchSimplePleasures.

So, what you do is, pick an archived post...one that you felt deserved all the love in the world but, alas...you didn't have any readers so...it was ignored. Well, maybe not completely...your mom, siblings and best friends may have commented but...not your blog posse!

So here is my next contribution...

From December 5, 2007

Sent out to everyone today....

Family and friends,

I know that I've been a little lax in keeping in touch over the last couple of months...I'm sorry.

Moving always does this to me, and then I try catching up afterwards, but somehow always fail...so this time, I'm making the effort to email as many as possible to let you know where we are, and what is happening with us. If you've already gotten some form of this, I appologize.

We left Montana on Friday, November 16th, and drove to Fargo, ND, where we spent 2 nights with some friends (Thank you, Karla!).

Leaving there on Sunday, we spent the next 2 nights with some friends outside of Memphis, TN (thanks, Sean and Margo!).

We left there on Tuesday, and had lunch with my grandmother in Montreat, NC, and then arrived in time for dinner with Jason's parents in Winnsboro, SC. It was a HUGE relief to pile out of the van, and carry out stuff in, and know that we weren't going to be travelling again for 5 days. We spent some relaxing time with them, catching up on sleep, and preparing for the remainder of the trip to Virginia Beach.

On Monday, November 26th, we drove up here, along with another friend, and got our keys, and basically moved in. The moving company arrived on Tuesday with our things, and I've been unpacking ever since. I've found all of the dishes, and most of the clothes, but I am still looking for some of the kids' birth certificates. We've found a church (thank you, Tara and Andrew!), but I am still looking for a good AWANA to put the kids in, and I am still working on getting everyone back into school....birth certificates would certainly help!

At this moment, I am sitting at my computer in our new place in Virginia Beach, VA, while my husband is staying with a friend in Helena, MT. He flew back out there last Thursday, and will be at the reserve center there until sometime in January, at which time he will drive across the country again, and hopes to report to his new duty station by February 1st.

The trip went well (no cars broke down this time!), but it was a LONG drive. God was with us all the way, and we are very grateful for His provision and protection. Now, we look forward to the whole family being together again, and getting to know our new community.

Laura, for the Paxtons

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Scrolling Saturday, Edition 8

Originally posted in January, I am convinced this one needs to be seen again!

Tragic Travesty of Justice
I just finished reading a very tragic story, of a loving mother of 5 children, falsely accused of murdering her child. Read the rest of the story here.

For more Scrolling Saturday, go here.

Scrolling Saturday, Edition 7

I missed last week's Scrolling Saturday...and trying to figure out if I actually have something to post has been fun...a trip into ancient history... From my other blog. Thank goodness this one is past!

Entry for November 04, 2006
It has been a LONG time since I found time to write in here. Much has changed, and changed again. Jason has graduated from college....but still no diploma...something the school messed up is hanging things up. The kids are back in school. I have changed from working nights to working evenings...starting at 11, 12, or 1:30, and working until 8, 9, or 10:30....this is getting old....I am also now working 40 hrs/wk, to make up the pay difference from working nights...$1.50/hr goes a LONG ways!! I am waiting to hear on a job that I've applied for on base...it would be a state level job, at more than twice what Jason is making right now. It would be GREAT to be working on base, and close to the same hours that Jason works! I'd be able to see the kids more than I see them right now, and we'd be able to do things together in the evenings!

More changes....August was a BAD, BAD, BAD month....as was September. August 12th, Jason finished his last class. August 13th, a "friend" threw Jason a graduation party...I was invited as an afterthought. Soon after we ate, Jason sent the kids home with me....supposedly to get some sleep, since I had to work that night. I didn't get to sleep....and Jason refused to leave his party. We FOUGHT. The next 2 weeks were HELL. Jason moved out on August 24th, and went to stay in the barracks on base. So many things went on. We tried counseling. I went to SC for 5 days. The day I got back, Jason filed for divorce. He didn't tell me until almost a week later. He lied to me about doing things with this "friend." He lied to his command. He lied to his parents. He lied to the children. He told me that there was NO chance that we would be able to work things out, that his mind was made up. I was TOTALLY dumbfounded. I did NOT see this coming. NO ONE saw this coming. Still, I was determined that I was NOT going to give up on our marriage. I called everyone I knew, and asked them to pray. I emailed everone. I found a Christian counselor, referred by Pastor John and Irene. The counselor recommended that I pray that Jason become REALLY uncomfortable in his sin. I PRAYED. Our friends and family all over the country prayed. God worked. Jason went to Hawaii for a pre-arranged supply/Haz-Mat conference. I quit talking to him while he was gone, because all he did was badger me. During the 2 days that I quit taking his calls, he called me a total of 20 times....on the day before he was scheduled to return, we actually talked for an hour or so....I could tell that something was going on, even though he was DETERMINED that nothing was going to change his mind. He said that he felt like he had gone too far to come back. I told him that no one was EVER too far gone to come back to God. Jason arrived back on Saturday, September 23rd...he came out and saw the children for about an hour. On Sunday, I had to work in the afternnoon, and Jason was suppopsed to come out and stay with the children. He came out for a little while, then left again. I came home for my lunch time, and found that the children were by themselves again. I was PISSED. I called him, and we ended up talking again for a while. He asked if it was okay to come back out and see the kids again for a little while, before he had to go bowl. Of course, I said he could....he sounded like he was crying. He said that Carol had told him that morning that she never wanted to have anything to do with him again. That really started him thinking about what he was doing. The next morning, Sept. 25th, he was confronted at work by his Chief, who really laid it on thick, about what he was doing to his carreer, if he stayed on the path he was currently headed down. At that point, he started making some serious changes. He called the "friend" and told her that he was breaking EVERYTHING off with her. He called his accountability partner, and set up frequent meetings with him. He called my attorney, and asked him how to stop the divorce. Then, he called me, and left a message about the changes he had made. He came home that night, and has been home ever since. He has appologized to me, and to the children, and to the whole church, in both services, and to his parents, and to some of our friends. He has been going to counseling, both individual, and as a couple. He is changing how he is handling the finances. He is making being with the family a priority. Our counselor is VERY pleased with how things are shaping up. I am still hesitant. I have been through this before, and I feel like I am just waiting for the other shoe to fall. Sometimes I really feel like things are going to go back to how they were before, and I can expect this kind of thing to happen again. Other times, I dare to hope that the changes being made are permanent, and we will have the marriage I have always known was possible, but haven't seen.

Right now, the finances are TERRIBLE. We HAVE TO have more income. Jason is working on his officer's package...he goes on Monday to take the Officer's Exam in Butte. This weekend, he is in Billings for the funeral of a Sailor who was killed in Iraq. This weekend has been HARD for me. It has been a little more than a month since he came home. This is the first time that he has been away since then, and I find myself wondering....I am having a little bit of a hard time turning all my fears over to God. I KNOW that He is the only one who can change Jason. I KNOW that none of my worrying does any good.

I need to go, and get the rest of the kids into bed, so we can get up in the morning.

For more Scrolling Saturday, go here...

Scrolling Saturday, Edition 6

From one of my other blogs, from April 20, 2005...This was when I was working overnights at Walmart, and was still homeschooling my children...I was a little bit insane.

April 20
Trying to learn to be a NICE mom....

It's cold here today...okay, so cold is a relative term...it's been cooler today than it was for the last week, or so...right now it is 40F. We even had a chance of snow. It only rained, and was overcast all day. I thought that was something I left behind when we left south Texas.

It was a GOOD day. Got up, got tea, breakfast, and got all the laundry folded and put away, plus washed the rest of what was dirty. The whole house was picked up(gotta vacuum sometime tomorrow!!), the 3 year old decided that she WANTED to go in the potty...what an amazing development...I was beginning to think she'd be taking diapers to college with her! Got the 3 oldest doing school work...you know, the thing that amazes me the most is that they have initiated having the oldest teach the other 2 piano lessons. I am almost beyond speechless. THIS IS HOW IT IS SUPPOSED TO WORK! I LOVE HOMESCHOOLING!!!!

Stacy came over today with the 5 monsters...her 2 and the 3 that she babysits. Had to "tomato-stake" the Dillon-Monster. He just doesn't listen to Stacy any more...but then neither do her older 2 children.... We had a really good visit...since Dillon was sitting with us in the kitchen, he didn't get into anything, and the others played together really well. We also went over the second chapter of the book study we are doing...The Excellent Wife. I hope it is helping her some.

Got an email from Liz today...she said that Cynthia (from the Women's Retreat) donated a book for me to be able to do the Bible study that is starting tomorrow. Checked my schedule...I think I can do it...something else to fit in, but it should work...especially since we are so close to the end of the school year for the kids. Also have a WIC appointment tomorrow afternoon, and I need to get a nap before I have to go to work tomorrow night.

I called the Doctor yesterday, to ask him to go ahead with the referral on the 7 year old's scar tissue on her chest. Hoping to hear back from him soon. I'm a little nervous about it, but don't want her to have to deal with scars, especially during her teen years, if she doesn't have to. Hopefully we can get Tricare to pay!!!

Lance came by tonight, with M...the lady whose family he is staying with. I think they are good for him...hubby still thinks that he needs to end up in jail, so he'll get a clue. At least he is TRYING again, instead of giving up/wanting to commit suicide. Most of the time when he says stuff, I wonder why he needs so much attention? I don't understand how all of his labels interact with each other. I feel for his parents, but I DO think that he feeds off of their anger/anxiety/frustration. More stuff to pray about!!!

Still trying to decide who to invite with me to the Women of Faith conference next month in Billings. I don't think that Stacy needs to go right now...she needs more to work on her relationship with her hubby...but I don't want to hurt her if I don't invite her. Am leaning toward asking Kaci...I know that don't have a lot of money right now, and I think it would probably be nice for her. Also had a couple of others on the list, but don't think that they would be able to get away right now. Still thinking/praying about it.

Had a GREAT study with Delma tonight. I LOVE doing the study with her...she's SO down-to-earth. I come away with all kinds of practical applications to use...how to love my hubby, how to help my kids feel special. Really starting to feel at home with her.

Alright, going to have to quit for now...it's 1:15am, and I probably ought to go to sleep, since I'm going to that study tomorrow...even if I AM working tomorrow night!

LATER...

I signed off, and went to fold Stacy's towels (she brings laundry over, cause they don't have a washer), and I realized that I never wrote anything about actually BEING NICER to my kids. Oh, dear. Also realized that I had a story to tell.....

So, the study tonight with Delma was the second installment of the section on loving my children. Made me really wonder how my kids view me. I scream at them, I hound them, I discipline them...how often am I *really* nice to them? Do they see ME as a mean mom, the way I often viewed my own mom? I HOPE NOT! I don't want to be just a functional mom...cleaning, cooking, washing clothes, insisting on baths and clean clothes, but not filling their emotional and spiritual needs.

Going to try doing some new things with them. I ordered Keys for Kids online, again today. I don't know what happened last time, but I never got the book. This time I got 2 emails, confirming my order. Hopefully it works! Wanna start doing devotionals with them each morning...also praying with them, and for them.

Also want to start having Special "K" nights....special kid...one per week, or one every couple of weeks...have a special plate, a LITTLE gift, make it special. Definitely going to start with the oldest...she really gets a LOT of responsibility put on her, and I want her to know how much I appreciate what she does.

Can't think of anything else to do with them right now...Elizabeth George's suggestion was to work on ways to make the mundane special. A little harder to do with 6 kids than it would have been when we only had 2...but definitely something I need to work on!

Alright, a story...

Got back from Delma's sometime around 8:15pm...watched a little of Nashville Star, then went in to say goodnight to the girls (the boys were already sleeping). Walked into the girls' room and smelled nail polish. hmmmmm....why do I smell nail polish? (the light is off) The oldest answers..."oh, L-(3yrold) got into my nail polish, and painted her toes on the bottom bunk." So, the light goes on....so mom can see what the damage is...and I inspect the offending toes. She REALLY painted her toes...not just the toe nails, but the whole toes, on both feet...BRIGHT RED. Got a little on the bedspread...not too bad. You have to understand that last time she got into the nail polish (dark purple), she painted her chest, her legs, her hands, her arms, and 2 or 3 spots on the floor....She's DEFINITELY improving!!! and someday this will be hilarious!!!

Going to bed now!

And if you made it all the way through that, I'm impressed! If you'd like to go see more Scrolling Saturday, go here.

Scrolling Saturday, Edition 5

Originally posted on January 8th, 2008, reposted here, hoping for some love....

STEPS IN THE JOURNEY

I have been a Christian for just over 27 years. I was 11 when I said the prayer (yeah, you do the math! ). In my naive thoughts, my life was supposed to be easy. No struggles. No battling with sin. After all, I was a Christian. That meant that the path was all laid out for me, and would be easy to find, and easier to follow. Boy, was I mistaken.

As a teen, I struggled, as do most teens, with rebellion in some form or another. I also struggled with depression. I was in a very legalistic church, and struggled with obeying the many rules, and with the path my life would take. We didn't belong there...we were WAY different. My parents expected us to go to college...very few of my friends even graduated from high school.

College was good, but it was also hard. I was going to Bible College, and there were so many different people there...with different backgrounds, and different beliefs. I learned a lot. I grew a lot. I learned that there IS good Christian life without the abundance of legalism. I met my husband!When we were dating, my struggles changed. My friends and my family didn't like my boyfriend. They didn't like him as my fiance, either. My parents liked him a LOT less as my husband, and it got worse as we had children, and our finances got tighter. I struggled with depression, and with burn-out from my time in Bible College, the stress of working full-time, and trying to make ends meet. We spent 4 long years not speaking to my parents. We dealt with job changes, moves, car accidents, a miscarriage, a run-in with DSS, and a church that just didn't quiet "get" us. Did I mention the depression? It was part of everything...just there in the background....kind of "mood music."

Then my husband had an affair. The kids and I moved in with my brother. My husband repented. I was overjoyed, and very apprehensive. This time, it was his family that wouldn't talk to us. My husband moved home. We decided that this would be a good time for him to try to go active duty in the Navy. He had been a reservist for a year, and we needed him to have a good, full-time job...one that would support us. Oh, and the depression was getting worse.

We moved to Texas after he finished A-school in Mississippi. I learned a lot about Navy life. I homeschooled 2 of our children, and had another beautiful little girl 1 week before his ship deployed. I was the Ombudsman, so I was BUSY...too busy to think about ME. Life in a homeschooling house, with 5 children, one of whom is less than 6 months old, is CRAZY. Add in dealing with the drama that is ship-life...that summer was FULL. Finances were always a problem...as were the cars. I was still dealing with the depression, and I hadn't yet learned how to trust my husband again.

When that beautiful little girl was 18 months old, and I was 5 months pregnant with the next, we moved to Montana. That was a LONG drive! Two adults (one pregnant), 5 children, 2 cars, driving from south Texas to Montana...a 33 hour drive, according to Mapquest. We stopped off with some friends in the northern part of TX....only 14 hours into our trip. We stopped in Cheyenne, WY, for a night. We were supposed to make it all the way to our destination in MT the next day. One of the cars died in a tiny little town in Wyoming. We spent the night there, and bought a van...a 1988 conversion van...a V-8, running on 6....burning gas like there was no tomorrow. Somehow we limped into town, having spent our last $2.64 on gas. We had no money for the motel, dinner, gas. We knew no one. Fortunately, one of the guys from the reserve center where hubby was going rescued us.

Life in Montana was hard. Hubby was at a tiny command...with 8 active duty, and about 100 reservists. Very little in the way of support for the family of the active duty. We found a great church, and got involved quickly. I was still homeschooling, and jumped right into the homeschool community. The kids were involved in AWANA. I was involved in the women's ministry. Hubby ran sound at church, and was involved in the men's ministry. We went to couples' retreats. I was depressed...more than ever.

I tried counseling. I still couldn't figure out how to trust hubby. I felt like there was something terribly wrong with our relationship, and neither one of us could figure out what it was. Hubby decided it was him, and told me that he was moving out. He filed for divorce. My depression hit an all-time low. Our pastor referred me to a Biblical counselor. That counselor was a God-send...literally. God used him to turn around our marriage. I have learned to trust again. My walk with God is back on track. We were in counseling for just over a year. During that time, we learned to enjoy each other again...dates, having fun together. We also got new orders....we were moving back to the East Coast! Yippee! And fear....what would we do without our counselor? We graduated...

...and moved to Virginia. Hubby is still in Montana for another week, or so....but things are still on track. God has been SO good! He restored our marriage. He has provided for us in ways we never expected! Oh, and He took away the depression! For the first time in 20ish years, I am NOT depressed!

I am amazed at all of the things that God has brought me though in the 27 years I've walked with Him. Each new turn is another adventure...definitely never a boring minute!



For more Scrolling Saturday, go here.

Scrolling Saturday, Edition 4

Originally posted on my other blog, December 27th, 2007.

Brain-drool (or random ramblings)

I talked to Mama tonight...she sounds more like herself, though still very tired-sounding. She hopes to go home tomorrow. They had planned for her to go home today, but her blood sugar was dangerously low, and they decided to keep her for another day, to give her more time to get that under control.

I also talked to Daddy...the boys were at the house today, doing more to help get the house ready for Mama's homecoming. They finished up the porch, and worked a bit more inside, cleaning out more stuff, packing some up to go out into the storage, and loading up some more trash. They also were able to move all the cars out of the front yard. While they were working, James (married for all of a week) lost his wedding band in the garden. Fortunately, he was able to find it relatively easily.

This whole thing of my parents' hoarding/pack-rat tendencies really bothers me. I have been reading articles and web-sites dealing with children of hoarders, and how to help hoarders. I am scared to death that I will get back into that level of saving/grime that I lived in for so long. I know Jason won't let it stay that way, but I do know my tendencies. I am also shaken by the thought of having to clean out the wreck that is my parents' home, when they pass away, or can no longer care for it themselves. That day may come a LOT sooner than we expect....Naomi is looking into art schools...in Florida and California. That day of her leaving is probably in less than a year from now.

Right now, Daddy is doing a lot better...his tri-geminal neuralgia is not bothering him at this moment...for which we are IMMENSELY grateful! If/when that starts acting up again, he has a VERY difficult time dealing with eating, dressing, showers, etc....caring for the animals and house become almost too much for him.

Unfortunately, my brothers disagree STRONGLY on how things should be approached with my parents. David is pressuring Daddy to get another well drilled on the place. James is willing to consider other methods of water collection. My thought, right now, is that there is NO water to be collected right now...there has been so little rain in the last 2 years that having any kind of water collection system is useless. At the moment, Daddy DOES have a little money that could be used to drill a new well....one that has been needed for close to 20 years. Daddy is a TERRIBLE procrastinator. He tried to drill a well in several different spots, himself, but wasn't able to go deep enough to reach water. Since then (at least 15 years), he has only worked at hauling water from the well 1/2 mile up the road, at the old Simmons' house. That house is falling apart, but if some work was put into it, they could move up there, and have running water and a be able to wash clothes AND shower AND wash dishes. As far as procrastinating goes, Daddy still hasn't finished Mama's kitchen, which he was working on when I was in high school, in the mid-80's....nor has he finished the basement, which has been in the works since I was 3 years old.

Someday.....


To see more Scrolling Saturday, go here.

Scrolling Saturday, Edition 3

Getting on this late today...too much to do this morning, and too late of a night last night...anyway, this was originally posted on my other blog on September 6, 2007...just another picture of my life.

Okay, so this WAS supposed to be a daily blog...RIGHT. Who has the time?
Technically, I SHOULD have the time, since I'm on the computer all the time, but
then, I'd have to actually remember that I have a blog, and update it from time
to time.

So, a litte update. School just started back after a long,
eventful summer. A much better summer than last summer way, by the way, for
which we are all MOST grateful. So the kids are back in school....Frances is now
in 8th grade (!), Jon is in 5th, Heather in 4th, and Justin is in 2nd grade.
We're not doing kindergarten, or Leah would be in school this year, too. So,
naturally, I had to go buy all the crap that's on those back-to-school lists
that the teachers come up with. What was I thinking?!? We don't have that much
money!?! Oh, and what were those teachers thinking...."hmmm...if I put all MY
supplies down on the kids back-to-school lists, then I won't have to buy any
this year!" Brilliant idea on some teacher's part....my question is
this....where are all those millions in dollars that we spend on education
going, if the teachers don't get enough money to buy their classroom supplies?

We also just got back into town from our vacation to Colorado Springs.
It was a BLAST! We got to go visit our friends, Brian and Carol, and their son
Aarron, who are now stationed at Ft. Carson. Colorado Springs is BEAUTIFUL! We
got to do all kinds of things....after I spent half of our first day there in
the ER.....seems my husband rearending someone on the way there messed with my
already stiff neck....I couldn't sleep, or get comfortable, and really, reallly
needed some painkillers. So, after spending forever in a crowded military
hospital ER, I went back to our room, took drugs, and happily slept away the
rest of the day. Jason took the kids, and Brian, and they visited the Air Force
Academy (just in time for chow), and went and walked the mall....brought me back
Chick-Fil-A, and some cashew pralines...YUM! We got to visit the Cheyennne
Mountain Zoo, the Will Rogers Shrine, and Helen Hunt Falls. Beautiful....but
steep mountain roads. I would have some serious issues living there! We also got
to eat Sonic and Waffle House....oh the things we miss out on, living in Helena!
All in all, it was a good visit....pictures posted at
http://pics.jamesjweg.com/gallery/3240042#179179992

So now we're back to
reality....school's started. I head back to work tomorrow night (I'm back on
overnights again). Jason's back at work. We're getting closer to moving. Our
pack-out date is October 29-30, and truck-loading will be on the 31st. I don't
know why they think they need 2 days to pack it....but, maybe they pack slower
here than they did in TX...they do everything else slower here. In the mean
time, we're waiting to hear back from the insurance adjuster about the van...I
got the estimate done on Tuesday, and it wasn't too bad....well, except for the
fact that we have to come up with the $500 deductible. ICK. Hopefully hubby's
school money comes in soon!

Oh, yeah....that's the other thing that's
going on right now....hubby's back in school...this time working on his Master's
Degree. He's still planning to put in his Officer's Package...when we get to the
new command in Virginia. For now, they've exended him here until the first of
January. We'll all go to SC in November for Thanksgiving, and hopefully at that
time, we'l be able to get into housing in Virginia. Then Jason will fly back out
here to finish out his last couple of weeks, before he reports to Little Creek
NOSC on February 20th.



Then there's all the fun medical stuff.
Two weeks before we went on vacation, Frances decided that she NEEDED to spend 2
1/2 hours in the ER...CAT Scan, mild concussion, super-glued nose, sinus
infection, antibiotics...you can also see pictures of her scraped-up face in the
pictures referenced above. She's almost completely healed up...there's some mild
scarring on her nose, which the plastic surgeon we saw yesterday said should be
helped immensely with Oxy-10 and Vitamin E oil. I'm also working on my
headaches...I saw the physical therapist yesterday, and she wanted me to see the
Doctor again before she worked me...seems I was responding strangely to some
testing of the ligaments that she was doing, and she wanted to make sure
everything was okay from the wreck. I also picked up the oxymetry thingy
yesterday....Dr. Diane wanted to check my O2 levels overnight, to make sure that
lack of oxygen is not causing the all-day-every-day headaches. That was fun. Put
the little clippy-thing on your finger, tape down the wire, in two places, and
let it do it's little magic all night. RIGHT. I did NOT sleep well...was aware
of the stupid thing all night.....woke up with the wire completely wrapped
around my neck! At least it's DONE. I get to return it to the office today.

Okay....breakfast and coffee time...and time to start kicking kids outa
the house, so they don't miss the bus.

To see more Scrolling Saturday, go here.

Scrolling Saturday, Edition 2

Originally posted on my other blog on December 19, 2007

Nothing says "Welcome to Virginia Beach" like...

....like having my XM radio stolen out of my van, along with my cell phone charger, and a container of CDs....which my son found in the bushes, minus *1* CD....the one positive in the whole thing...they must not like my taste in music!!!

So, I just spent a ton of time on the phone with XM, cancelling service to that radio, and reporting it stolen, and with the police, filing a report. What a pain in the rear!!!

Nothing makes me more mad (madder?) than dealing with people who steal. While working at Walmart, it was THE ONE THING that really made me mad. Grumpy people, tired people, fussy kids...none of that is too bad. People stealing...now THAT really works me up. I will never understand people who think it's okay to steal from a big company, because "they'll never miss it anyway," or because it gives them some kind of adrenaline high, or something. To me, it is just WRONG. Wrong to think that way about someone else's possessions. Wrong to justify it that way. Wrong to teach your children that it's okay to steal from ANYONE.

I MUST tell this story. While I was working at Walmart, a kid (12-14 years old) was caught leaving the store with 2 bottles of $50+ weight-loss medicine. Never mind that he had no need of this....he was stealing it. He was caught. His mother was called. She came, and was overheard severely castigating her son...."I told you never to steal anything worth more than $10.00!" WHAT?!?!?!?? This mother was basically telling her son that it was okay to steal, as long as it wasn't too expensive, and/or he didn't get caught. That is one parent you really want to slap...and then throw in jail, herself.

People that stole from us at Walmart must have really thought we were stupid, or something. They think we don't notice that they're not buying anything? That they just spent an hour in electronics, for the 5th time tonight, and for the 5th time, are walking out after purchasing nothing?!? Or that we don't know where they stash all the packaging that they ditched in the bathrooms, on the rug aisle, in produce, in dairy, in the seasonal stuff....we know. We REALLY DO know.

Oh, and don't think that this stealing doesn't affect you because it's not you doing it. If you're not stealing from the stores you shop with, I applaud you. Thank you. But realize that those people that ARE stealing ARE affecting you. THEY cause prices to be raised, to compensate for the losses that the store is suffering. Oh, and those grumpy cashiers....they just had a really bad day, because of that kid stealing from the store. He just cut their bonuses in half. Give them a break!


Go see more Scrolling Saturday here.

Scrolling Saturday

Memories (installment 1)
So, all the stuff that is going on with my mom has really started me thinking about how we grew up. I don't think we had a really exciting life, but it made me who I am. For that, I need to remember.
I was born in February, 1969, the first child of two college graduates. My mother majored in Spanish, and minored in Russian, and was invited to translate at the United Nations. My father graduated with a degree in Textile Engineering, and went to work for Regal Textiles, in a little bitty town in South Carolina. Right before I was born, they bought a farm, and settled down to raise their family. Daddy was just starting a new job, and Mama had quit her job as a 5th grade teacher, and was settling into life as a mother and housewife.
Thirteen months later, my brother was born, and my parents started making some major changes to the homestead. The house on the property was up very near to the road, and they didn't want to be that close to traffic with toddlers. Arrangements were made, and the house was taken off its foundation, and moved 300 yards away, to its new resting place, with a basement under it.
The night after the house was moved (I was 2 by this time, and my brother was about 11 months old), while we were sleeping in the house, it shifted on its foundation. My parents were concerned enough about the shift that we all finished the night's sleep in the car.
Sometime soon after this, my parents became dissatisfied with the direction of the Presbyterian church they were attending. I remember visiting a couple of churches...the Southern Baptist church in town, and the local Mennonite church. Before long, we found ourselves attending the Mennonite church, learning about this new way of life, and I began attending the Mennonite school.
The year that I was in first grade, another child was added to the family. My baby brother was a happy little guy, and we really enjoyed him. The family and doctors noticed something was wrong with him, and after some checking, it was determined that he had a heart defect. At 5 months of age, surgery was attempted, and my baby brother died while in surgery. That was a tough year. Daddy also lost his job that year, and they almost went bankrupt paying off the medical bills.
The next year, my other brother was born. He was healthy, and really added a lot of life to our family. When he was close to 2 years old, my parents bought a dairy farm, and we moved there in February. Our 5 years on the dairy farm were a LOT of work, a lot of growing, and financially devestating. I loved the animals...we had chickens, goats, horses, 100+ cattle, cats, dogs, and I had some pet white mice. We all worked our butts off....the shortest work days were 12 hours long. At various times, we had people working for us, helping with the milkings, and my parents sponsored 2 families of Cambodian refugees.
At the end of our time on the dairy, the whole industry was going thru some very hard times. The government instituted a buy-out program, to help small farmers get out of farms that were drowning in debt, and to slow the glut of milk on the market.
After selling the farm, we moved back to my parents' farm a couple of miles from the dairy. Daddy got a job working at a retirement home in town, as a maintenance person, and we settled back in to life, hand-milking our one cow, and caring for our chickens, goats, horses, and the cow. My brothers and I were attending the Mennonite school still, though things were not all well on that front.

Go see more Scrolling Saturday here.