Catching Up

Where have I been since my last post?

Hhhmmmm???

I have been (the theme of the decade) - 

busy. 

Seriously, I can actually recall days that stretched...

Watching the sun and shadows cast long slants on my walls.

Solid blocks of time.

Where did all that go? 

Well, since I last spoke here,

our little one got a raging fever,

a trip to the doctor, chest xray, pneumonia, shots and antibiotics.

Then a recent round of high fever, concerns the pneumonia was returning,

another round of antibiotics.

This was when chills had set in, and eyes drooped closed, with forehead hot.

I have done lots of reading.  As usual.  It is the one thing I do in my "downtime" -

those brief moments between one thing and another. 

Amazing how many books you can actually read - in those in between moments.

Me and my honey celebrated our 21st wedding anniversary!

And we actually ate at a fancy restaurant - all by ourselves,

where they make these squiggles all over your plate.

I am still trudging along in Chemistry and Physics...

Daily trying to decide which one is harder and which one I dislike more...

Yes, that bad.

I had a test in each class today, don't know my grades yet.

But for now, I am taking a bit of a breather.

I still love to get up early, to light some candles,

enjoy my coffee and kitchen table moments...

Always working in some bible study -

 though with school, they take me way longer than they used to.

Presently memorizing The Sermon on the Mount.

My problem is, I get to where I know it completely while looking at the first

letter of each word.  Take away my first letters, and I struggle more than I'd like.

Counting the blessings - the wonderfulness of now.

Even enjoying late nights - at the kitchen table.

Where God can and does meet me over candlelight,

my bible, and a tall glass of iced coffee.

I even went to see a movie with my best girlfriend!

Then promptly went home, did a little research on this

"based on a true story" story.

Bought the book on my Kindle and had it read by the next night.

So glad I saw the movie first...

And all the regular mom things as well...

Laundry, dishes, cooking, cleaning (though less and less these days!),

packing lunches, tending to dogs (who wanted these anyway...?),

driving kids around, trying to get back into running and exercising...,

wondering where the sun had gone for the past few days, celebrating in

seeing it today, grocery shopping, watching American Idol...

I think we are all caught up!

Hopefully I get another breather before long!

Before February Slips Away

I have to mention....

Me and my hubby celebrated 20 yrs of marriage

this month :)

20 yrs of loving, growing, changing, maturing, and truly grafting into one flesh.

After 20 yrs, where do I begin and end?  And he?

Families have become each others',

memories the same.

Shared losses, shared grief.

Three children born -

human beings from our very bodies....!

20 yrs have flown by,

and in other ways it seems we have been together our entire lives.

Perhaps because I have been his and he mine

 longer than we were without each other.

Roses were delivered...

And something I have been wanting was given....

And he was given a new wedding band - for the next 20 yrs

and beyond...

20 yrs ago, I had such hopes for our future.

And God has given so much more than I could ever have imagined.

"For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife,

and they will become one flesh"

Gen. 2:24

Hubbies' Coast Guard Anniversary

Today my hubby has been in the Coast Guard for 20 years.  20 long years that seem to have passed in the blink of an eye.

I met him the summer before he was going to boot camp.  So from the moment we fell in love, this Aug 14th date was hanging over our heads.  Knowing that he would be gone, and not knowing when we would see each other again. 

I remember the day he left, 20 years ago.  His father drove us into New Orleans, where he was to depart.  I don't so much recall the drive there, though I am sure I must have been looking at him, trying to memorize every detail.  I don't even remember if he sat in the back seat with me, or the front seat with his father.  What I recall vividly was him getting out of the car.  Us hugging goodbye.  His father saying goodbye.  Then watching him walk away with an army green bag over his shoulder.  I remember watching him till I couldn't see him anymore - as he walked and we drove.  I thought my heart would break, knowing he would be gone for 8 weeks.  I remember trying so hard to keep in the tears - not being so comfortable with his father then.  I know that after he brought me home, I let loose and don't think I stopped for days.

Poor Clay, I wrote him so many crying, pathetic letters while he was gone.  If I could consult now with a young woman in the same situation, I would tell her to "uplift" her man, not cry to him! 

After 8 weeks were up, he came home.  He looked like someone different than I had known.  He seemed so thin.  Head shaved.  So tall in his uniform.  His whole family swarmed around him, missed him.  I felt so shy.  It wasn't until we had a few moments alone, that I realized it was still him - who I knew.

A lot has happened in 20 years.  Stationed on 2 ships, a search and rescue station in Detroit, Michigan, a station in Gulfport, Mississippi, several back-to-back jobs in New Orleans, and of course somewhere in there was getting married, having 3 children, and all that comes with life.

The road in the Coast Guard has not been easy or always nice, there were many more times of him being away - from me and from our children.  We have made it this far - and I am so proud of all he has done!

Happy 20th Honey :)

My Birthday Gift

Okay, so everyone who knows me knows I always have to have a book with me.  You never know when you might be just sitting somewhere...

Like when you are sitting in a McDonalds while your little one wants to play.

While you are just cozy on the couch.

While taking a bubble bath (but I had really better not drop this!)

Before bed reading.

When doing bible study.

When I can't have my everyday bible handy.

Ta-da!!  My hubby got me the perfect gift - 

The Sony Reader - I love it!!

It's even cute! 

The first thing I bought for it was this women's bible.

Now, I have several books on it, and I only bought 3. 

 There are lots of free books available online - yay me!

I absolutely love that I can have several books with me - all in one!  All bookmarked where I last left off. 

Great job honey,  if I would have chosen for myself, this would be it!

19 Years Ago Today.......

We said, "I do".



Some pics of us over the years.

19 yrs?  How can that be?  We met when I was 17.  I am now (sigh....) (wince....) (cringe.....)  37. 

2 people who couldn't be more different, who it seems would never even have met  - that's how I am reminded that it was all of God. 

Our anniversary celebration this year has been a little...delayed.  We had it all planned - going out last Friday night.  A nice dinner, maybe a movie, a night out.  My mom was to babysit.  Yes, it was all planned.

That is, until Thursday morning.  Joshua woke up fine.  Played Mario Bros on the Wii a little, walked into the kitchen, and threw up all over the floor.  I could have cried.  Thankfully, that was the only time he threw up, but then had the other part of a stomach virus for 2 days.  (not much though!)  Over all it was very minor.  Just enough to throw off our anniversary. 

My mom is having cataract surgery today of all days (right now). SO, in a couple of weeks, we will try this again.  It is all planned.  Or maybe we should write it in pencil... again...

Anyway - here's to 19 years of daily walking this road together....

Old letters

Okay, I read them tonight- the letters found in the box from the attic. The ones Clay wrote me from boot camp. All of them. All that is left.

And I'm just gushing with love! LOL!

I don't know what took me so long, but tonight was perfect, because he has been gone this whole evening, visiting his brother. So, I came into the den to get something - saw the box, and just sat down and sorted them by date. Starting Aug. 1990 - Sept. 1990. On one hand, that seems so long ago, but after reading them - like yesterday.

Poor boy - in boot camp dealing with the stress of being away from home, drill instructors yelling at you and punishing you for not having your belt buckles perfectly polished, (or anything else they can think of), having little to no sleep, exercising like never before, shin splints, shots, wisdom teeth being pulled, new buzz cut (which I loved), having lots of classroom time and tests but little to no time to study - and what did I do? I sent him lots of depressing/sappy/moping letters.

At one point in a letter he told me something that made me laugh (several times - but this in particular). He said not to send him such big bulky letters, because they think there is something in the letters, and they make him open his mail right in front of the company commander. And he said he did not like doing that. Now, he wanted me to write, and loved getting my letters - but to split them up - into different envelopes. Funny now, but I'm sorry I did that to him. Even though we don't have any of the ones I wrote him, I remember how I felt at the time - and a few times he mentioned things like, "Don't worry so much", or "stop being so depressed", or "It'll work out, I promise". I should have been happy and upbeat for him!

We had just met the summer before he left for boot camp. We were so crazy about each other, and didn't know what would become of us. He planned on joining the military and moving out of here, then he meets me, and tries everything he can to get stationed near home just to be near me. SOOO sweet! As I look back now, God has directed our steps in ways I couldn't have imagined. It all worked out perfectly.

I can remember my 18 year old self like yesterday. It was the sweetest thing - us, but boy I wouldn't want to go back to that bundle of emotions again (me at that age). No way.

I'm happy right where I am now. But looking back has been so nice.

Out of sorts

I have been out of the blogging loop lately.

For a few reasons - Clay is still home recuperating (and doing well, but wonders if the soreness will ever go away) - and the fact that the kids have been off for the past week. Tomorrow they go back to school, so with it will come a little "normalcy". Five more weeks, then they will be out for summer break - and I can't wait.

Yesterday I was in the attic looking to see if my high school diploma was up there, somewhere. I was praying that it was in the attic, and therefore survived the hurricane. It was. I was so happy (tomorrow I have to bring it to school). Even happier, I found a taped up shoe box that I had labeled "Old Letters". I had no idea what was in there. When we opened it up, it was like opening a time capsule.

(First you must know that Clay's parents both passed away several years ago - both of cancer. Clay had a big wooden box that my dad had gotten him one year for Christmas - with a pretty deer scene on it, and Clay had it filled with letters from his parents and his Uncle - his father's brother (- who passed away the day before the Sept. 11th attacks.) All the letters and cards he sent to his parents when he was in boot camp, and the ones they all sent to him, also all the ones I sent to him and he sent to me (several a week for 8 weeks) - all in that box, and all destroyed in Hurricane Katrina)

So, when we opened this little shoe box, there are letters in there from his father to him, and from Clay to his father (while in boot camp, and while we were stationed in MI). Also one from his Uncle Bill. One letter from his dad, he doesn't think he ever read before - it was like hearing from him afresh. From a father who has been gone for 8 years. There were also letters he wrote me while in boot camp (which I haven't read yet) - but he did, and he said they were sweet... hmmm... I'll have to read these very soon.

There was also a pocket calendar that I had from the first year of our marriage. I have read every day of it, and it has been neat and funny. Life before kids - way before kids. Things like, "Slept half the day, ate lunch at Taco Bell, went to the mall, fried chicken for the first time". Lots of them read, "Clay is gone, the boat left (he was stationed on a buoy tender on the Mississippi River - in New Orleans), Oh I miss Clay". I wrote everything - what we did, where we went, what we ate or cooked - did I ever mention that I am very sentimental?

I am so happy to have those letters and calendar. Especially because we thought all such things were lost/destroyed forever.



So, this week I have school orientation on Thursday. I am so crazy. I am leaning toward nursing, but have thought about radiology and ultrasound. So, everywhere I go, if I see someone in scrubs, I ask them about their job. They all seem happy to talk about what they do, their schooling, the hours they work and such. Today at Chuck E. Cheese I struck up a conversation with a woman sitting in the booth next to me (because of the scrubs). We chatted away. I am a people person by the way. Maybe too chatty at times! LOL.

Anyway, it has been a very nice week with everyone home. If it wasn't for the extreme heat that comes with summer, I wish it were already here.

18 yrs. ago today

Feb.9th, 1991. It was a sunny Saturday. I was 18 yrs. old. (Too young!)

But oh so in love.

I had no clue what the future held for us. All I knew is that I could not bear to be away from this man I had only met the year before.

As I looked over our wedding pictures last night, seeing pictures of my parents - so young looking, I was wondering what they must have been thinking. They adore Clay now, but didn't know him nearly as much back then. They just knew I loved him.

I never knew 18 yrs. could feel so fast. The first 18 yrs. of my life felt so much longer.

I look forward to the next 18 - but hope the years don't go by as fast!

Do-Over Date Night

******UPDATE*******

We got to have our date night after all.

It was great - Clay really liked the movie. I cried a lot less the second time around!

The kids did great, and when I went to pick them up, Joshua was sleeping and had been for about 2 hours. Did they luck out or what? He doesn't want to go to sleep here at home until past 10pm, and he fell asleep there at 7pm!!?? He did it so that he could keep ME up until midnight that night (once we got home)!

Anyway, I'm so happy we finally got to see it together, and that we both had a nice time.









Okay, we are going to try this again.

Tonight is our date night - since we missed last week.

We are going to see Fireproof!!!

And this time, with my hubby!!! Yeah!

The kids are all sleeping, and I pray when they wake up, nothing strange happens. No fever, no rash, no throwing up, no bleeding, no nothing. A nice, healthy day - just like every other day since our last Would-Be-Date-Night.

Oh, and that goes for my best friends two kids as well.

Please Lord!!!

Why, Why and Just Why????

As you all know, I had plans for tonight. Nice plans.

Plans for me and Clay to go to dinner and to see the movie "Fireproof".

Well...

Joshua woke up this morning, went straight in his sissy's room, and began playing.

All was well.

I ordered me and Clay's tickets for the movie online, to be extra sure that it would not sell out.

I had to be sure we would see it.

Moments after I PAID for the tickets and printed up the paperwork, Joshua asked for something to eat.

I got his breakfast/early lunch. By the time I got it to him, he was laying on the couch and not looking to well. I began silently pleading with God, "Please don't let him be sick... Not today of all days... Please."

He wouldn't even sit up to eat. I fed him a few bites. He didn't want much. It soon became obvious that he was not well.

Some time after, he started to cry, and it came. What I dreaded - he threw up.

That did it. I had to tearfully call my friend and tell her that we couldn't go, and she wouldn't have to watch the kids.

Now. This child has only had one stomach virus ever - if you want to call it that. Back in January, he threw up twice one morning, then was fine the rest of the day. That was it.

And guess what we had scheduled for that day. My sister in law gave me and Clay gift certificates for a massage - in our home - for Christmas last year. I had called and scheduled the date for the lady to come.

It was that day. The only massage I have ever had in my life (done professionally) was that day.

I believe in warfare!!!

This was to be our only dinner/movie date in YEARS I am telling you.

Anyway, Joshua is fine, he only threw up once, this morning. You could tell he did not feel well for a few hours. He took a little nap, and stayed on the couch most of the day. By the time his Daddy got home from work (my would-be date), he was just beginning to feel better.

So, the tickets were already paid for. Clay told me to ask a friend and just go. I thought about who for a while and was too sad about us not going. Finally, I thought about taking Jalyn. I know it wasn't a "kids" movie, but it was PG, and I knew it would be a good movie. I explained to her that she could go with me if she wanted to, but that it was a movie about marriage. She's only seen 2 or 3 movies in the past few years, so she was happy to go.

Me and her just got home a little bit ago.

I was so sad that Clay wasn't next to me, but he promised me that he would go with me and I could just see it again, as soon as it is possible.

The movie was AWESOME!! I loved it. It was sad, funny, heartwarming, encouraging, and just such a good story.

I would encourage everyone to go see it - with their sweetie. Even if their sweetie isn't being a sweetie. Even if you have to see it with your 9 yr. old daughter.

I can't wait until our next date night.

What on earth will happen on that day? Everyone be praying that absolutely NOTHING happens on that day - just a good ole' ordinary day - with nothing noteworthy or date - stopping. Please.

Details

Okay ladies - we went to Emeril's in New Orleans.

We went with 2 other couples and one single guy. One of the couples' uncle knows Emeril and reserved us seats that usually cost $500 just to SIT there. If you've ever watched Emeril's cooking shows, you know that he always has these people who sit in these high stools around a bar/counter, close to where he cooks. They always get the "preferential treatment" on his show, while the rest of the people sit behind them, in the "audience".







Well, it was just like that, except that Emeril wasn't there. And the great part was that we didn't have to pay the money to reserve the seats (or we would not have been sitting there!).








It was very fancy. I wore a black dress with silver outlines of flowers on it, and black shoes (with a slight heel).

There were waiters waiting on us constantly - to give us a napkin, replace our silverware after every course, refilling our glasses with some expensive bubbly water if we drank an inch of it, stooping down to pick up the contents of my little purse when I accidentally dumped it all over the floor, and bringing us bread, butter, and our food. Oh, it was nice.

The food was... okay. You are paying for the atmosphere, me and Clay figure.

The best thing we ordered was something I always wanted to try - chocolate souffle'. It came in a white ramekin, and when the waiter brought it, he said, "Let me crack it open for you." He proceeded to take a spoon, and split the middle open, then he took a tiny pitcher, and poured the most wonderful chocolate sauce over the top (it had a hint of orange in it). Yes, that was delicious. Me and Clay shared it. Yes, so sweet.







Then, we ladies changed into jeans and flip flops in order for the miles of walking we had ahead of us. One couple had never been to New Orleans, so you know - we had to see it all. And ALL we did see! There are sights in New Orleans that I can't imagine you see anywhere else. I'll just leave it at that!

We walked to the river, and looked out at the Mississippi. I took a picture of the lights on the bridge. It was also so hot - that standing near the river, with the slight breeze felt great.



We got home about 12:30. My mom was falling asleep on the couch, and the kids were wide awake! Joshua had fallen asleep at 7 pm and woke up about 8:30 pm. I felt sorry for my mom, but over all, he did great and didn't even ask for us. Oh, this opens up possibilities... Maybe we can increase our date nights to 4 times a year!

Date Night

Oh, this night only comes around 2 or 3 times a year.

My Mom is coming to spend the night, while we go out to a fancy restaurant. (The fancy restaurant part actually NEVER comes around, but we are going with visiting friends who made the reservations)

So tonight, I get to dress up in a nice dress and leave the kiddos at home. As a mom, do you ever REALLY leave them at home? I will be thinking about them all night, I'm sure. Jacob and Jalyn will be fine, and will enjoy spending time with my Mom, and Joshua... Not too sure. We never leave him, so... Hopefully he will be fine and enjoy playing with his Granny.

As for us, we will be going into "the city", which we never do. And dine at a restaurant known around the country.

Unfortunately, from what I've heard, the prices may leave us in a state of shock.

Well, like Clay said, "We've never done this before, so it's okay to splurge this once."

I'd better enjoy it, because our next date night doesn't come around until our anniversary -

in February!