Perceptions.....

How often doI misunderstand someone. How often do I think something that is not really right. How often do I judge before I even know anything. Well, I definitely learned a lesson on this. While at T.J. Max with JB's mom and the kids, I had gone off by myself. As I returned to the area where Gramma and the kids were, I see and hear a lady talking to Brady. She is saying "Do you know what happens to 5 year olds in my Kindergarten class that act like that? They go into time out! Do you want to be in Time out?" And his answer was "No". I quickly got the scoop from Gramma and Rach. She apparently said "excuse me" to Brady and he said back "oh, excuse you".....meaning You're excused. She took it to be that he was being a smarty pants (of which if you know Brady, he is no where close to that kind of thing yet) and then she proceeded to say what she said. So, seeing where this could have easily been misunderstood, I went to the next aisle where she was and said "Ma'am, that was my little boy. I'm sorry about that, he didn't mean that the way....." and she cut me right off and said "I don't need your excuses, he's just a smartelic (sp?) kid that needs to be taken home and taught some manners. He would not be allowed to act that way in my Kindergarten class" and she walked off. I was left shaking and feeling like I would cry at any moment. I don't think I've ever been treated that way by anyone. But, besides the point of who was right or wrong, who did good or bad, It taught me a lesson that sometimes what I perceive to be the case...may not be. And to try to take the time to understand other people. I really do just want to love other people, even above my pride....which is SOOOO hard!!!!

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!!

We had a wonderful holiday season. JB was finally home and he had some time to get some R & R. JB's family(they're mine too) came for Christmas. It was a lot of fun being at our home for Christmas and just letting the kids open their stuff and do whatever they wanted with it. Usually I am a freak after christmas because I know that I have to keep up with everything and somehow get it all back home with us. And it was special for all of JB's side to be together for Christmas. I did however miss the rest of our family back home and hope that next year we will be able to make it home for Christmas.

It snowed some more on New Year's Eve...so pretty! We just hung out together and had some fun. Rachel, our very talented manager, had all of the things that we could do written on a list. We played a game, watched a movie, read some books, and had a Wii tournament. It was fun. The kids were both asleep at 11:00, but we woke Rach up at Midnight. She said happy new year and then went back to sleep. It was the first time in a while that I rang the new year in with my hubby so that was great! I pray that in 2010 I will bring glory to God more than I ever have before! We will hopefully soon see what's in store for us this year. Moving or Not???

I have never......in all my life....seen such a thing. Have You?

SNOW!!!!

I love snow! I really do! I get so excited when the forecast is calling for it. I know it can be so dangerous and so inconvenient for so many people and sometimes even for me, but I just love it. I feel like a big kid everytime I hear it might snow. This time was a pretty good one for us up here. I really don't know the accumulation total because it is different all over. The winds were so big that we just have snow drifts everywhere. At one place it's about 12 inches and at another place it's up to my thigh. I do know that it's taller than Gracie. She loves it too! We've had a fun day!!!

Talk about emotional~

The big day finally arrived! November 21st. We had dropped him off on May 1st, said our tearful goodbyes and drove away. I cried a few tears and then took a deep breath and put a bandaid on my heart and asked God to hold it there until he comes home. We had much to do to keep us busy and a few ports here and there to be able to hear his voice. We got into our daily routines and tried not to really even think about counting down yet. Knowing that he was in dangerous territory for a while made it hard to not think of the worst, to not think of all the "what ifs"...But soon we were down to 1 month....so exciting...until we were told they were extended....maybe....not sure how long. HARD! Then it was 6 weeks extended and I just cried a little and then got tough again and moved on. But then Cindy told me the extension was to be shorter than expected and we rejoiced.....and started counting down DAYS! In the last week, I couldn't sleep or think of anything else. I daydreamed of his return and what things would be like. I was so very anxious and excited. I truly missed him like I've never missed him before. We'd done a zillion of 2-3 monthers on a trident, but just never anything quite like this. The day came and we tried to pass the hours. I tried to look so nice for him.........and finally it was time to go. We went down to the pier and the excitement filled the air. The navy band was playing good ol patriotic music and the other wives and family members were everywhere all filled with excitement. And then...........we saw the boat. My friend Cindy and I gave each other a hug and just said "we made it" and the tears started and I couldn't stop them. The relief, the excitement, the joy, the thankfulness and the pride that wells up when that sub comes toward the pier and we know that our men are on that and where they have been and what they have been doing for our country.......it is just inexpressable. They opened the gates and let us on the main pier and we watch and wait for our man to come off (and they all look the same ofcourse). But I knew when I saw him and Cindy just said "Go, Go"! He was in his dress uniform and looked so very handsome. I have never seen him come off in his dress blues before so that was really awesome. The kids ran to him and he knelt and they both hugged his neck and he hugged them like I have never seen before. I then got my hug and I never wanted to let go. He was home, He was home , He was home!!! May I never, ever forget how it felt to be without him, may I never forget what he and all of the others are doing for our country and may I never take for granted my freedom and my safety because there are men and women fighting and putting themselves in danger every single day to make sure that I have just that. May God truly bless America and may America truly learn to love our Amazing God!!!!!

"17th"

The 17th of November, the day I was born. The sound of that day always bring such warm memories and fun times. Each year as a child, I was always made to feel as special as anyone could feel on that day. Special treatment from Mom and Dad, the birthday cake (homemade ofcourse) of my choice, and always fun! A few times I had parties with friends which was fun, but many years, my birthday was just celebrated at home with my family and those are some of the best memories I have. Ofcourse my Mom is the master of getting special presents and wrapping them as that of an artist. I ALWAYS got happy birthday sung to me and my picture taken as I blew out the candles......sometimes we had to do a redo because the first one didn't take.....and I still do that to this day to my kids:) And after I married and have moved from state to state I still have been able to have special birthdays. Some I have been home for, some have been spent with family visiting, some with my husband, some with my kids and some with my husband and my kids. And some have been spent with very special friends made along the way that truly understand the navy life and care enough to make my day special. This year my friend Dee (of which we need a real picture taken of us together with me NOT in a spongebob suit) made me dinner and had me and the kids over. Rach made my cake, Gramma sent what she needed, and so we ate and laughed and had a great time. And my other friend Cindy took me for a girls morning as well the day before.....Great friends, special memories. And my family back home and my friends abroad all still remember me on that day with a card, a gift or a special phone call.......Those days are when I realize all of the people that God has put in my life that I so often take for granted. All of them thinking of me on that same day.....Should I ever be so blessed?

The Latest....

Just a few things that have been going on around here lately....

MawMaw, PawPaw, and Hudson came for a visit in September. I got to experience just how funny Hudson really is...and he doesn't really mean to be! He's a joy to have around! And oh so patient with Brady. Then Cindy and I took the kids to the pumpkin patch...that was fun! Thank goodness for good friends! Then Gramma, Grandpa, and Daniel came for fall break. They were here for Brady's birthday party at Chuck e Cheese. That was so much fun too. We didn't do much else that week, but always nice to have them around. Daniel also did good with Brady, but being 13, I think Brady got on his nerves a little bit more. I'm sure he would mine too if I was still 13!!! Time is going by, little by little, day by day. We found out that Daddy is extended another month. 7 months, 5 days.......hopefully it won't go any longer, we are ready to have him home! But until then, we will just fill our days with friends, fun and thankfulness!