Goodbye Aunt Shirley

On Sunday Heaven gained one of the most precious women in my life. A woman who told me stories of a Grandmother I never was able to know, who loved me as much as she possibly could, who was a devoting wife, mother, and grandmother to her own. Who until the end came in every Friday and took care of her own mother until her passing. She praised GOD on the day of her husband's funeral as she knew he was with our Lord that day and that one day she'd join him. She gave some of the best hugs I've ever had. She also introduced me to "The Sound of Music"! (The movie).

I had planned to spend a couple days with her when the kids and I went back to the states, I wish so much she could have met Emma. I know she's in Heaven though, with my Great Grandma and Grandpa, her sister and 3 brother's who died before her, and most of all her adoring husband. Please keep her 3 children and her grandchildren and great grandchildren in your prayers, as well as the rest of our family. She has 3 siblings left alive...Uncle Raymond, Aunt Phylis, and Uncle Tom.

 

Computer stuff

There's no secret website, we have a HP Compaq Presario computer and I just went there, if you have issue's with your computer  you should go to the maker first, follow their instructions and it "SHOULD" (may not) work, it worked for me. I just followed directions that is all.

I did it!!!

My sound hasn't been working for a few days. I made sure the speakers were ok and then well I was scared. The "technical" stuff is Chad's thing, I do internet stuff, he does everything else. So he told me the website to go to but that was it. I followed the directions which were well stupid proof, uninstalled what was corrupted, installed a new program and tadaaaa... I have sound again! Wahoo!! I'm so excited none of you have any idea! Plus I just pushed the button for my burner which has not worked/opened for quite some time and it opened! Wahoo! It's my night!!!!

 

Well, I'm off to bed soon!

Emma Grace is 10 months

So here she is...all in her 10 month old glory. I can't believe my baby is already 10 months old. The time has just truly flown by since she entered our world and graced us with her smile. How blessed we are! She was being silly on the couch today when I snapped the majority of them. She gave me a few serious looks and then decided she'd had enough of sitting and stood, crawled away, etc. I also made spaghetti for dinner tonight and the girl loved it. I'm not one who takes a lot of pictures of my babies with food, because well it's rather gross, but you have to have a couple. She of course got a bath after dinner since she was so covered in sauce! LOL

 

Lil' Update

Wow it's been over a week since I last wrote. Life is just going along, busy to a degree. We finished up baseball with the end of the season party, last Wednesday. We've been going on walks almost everyday and trying to suffer through the heat and humidity that took over at least our area of Germany the past week. On Sunday we went to the pool off post and the kids had a great time. They have a great kiddy pool that Jack and Emma both love. Jacob prefers the bigger pools, the wave pool and another that's connected to the wave pool. He was thrilled to discover that he now can walk flat footed in the other pool, where last year he was going under if flat footed! Starting today it's cooling back down to the 70's and when I looked the other day it's supposed to stay in the 70's for the next week or so, so we are definately going to enjoy the cooler temps!! Lots of time outside walking, going to the parks, etc.

My friend and I are going to hire sisters to watch the kids while we go to the gym 3 days a week. We're going to have them watch the kids at the park so they can burn energy. If it's raining they'll obviously been either here at my place or at hers, but hopefully it'll be nice so the kids can all burn their energy off at the park!!! :) :)

My goal is to have 20 lbs off by the time I go home and I can do it, I figure the 3 days at the gym, plus walking 2 miles a day at least the days in between, and watching what I'm eating I should be able to obtain that goal or very close to it!! My hope is that by Christmas I'll be inching closer to another 30 lbs off if I keep up the diet and excercise. We don't know if Chad will be home over Christmas for R&R, if so I think he'll be very happy with the wife that he comes home to! I'm absolutely determined to get this weight off, get healthy and most importantly STAY HEALTHY.  I'll take any and all prayers and encouragement you have to give!

The boys are doing well. Jacob's school works has went down to about 20 - 30 minutes a day at this point. We're just keeping him sharp on math and reading. I have to make a final decision on the curriculum for next year and get it ordered soon. I want it here before by the time we leave for the states so that when we return once we've recovered from jet lag, we can get a jump on it for both boys and get a schedule going for all of us, including Emma.

Speaking of Miss Emma, she's 10 months old TODAY! I will get a picture taken of her in alittle bit (she's having a late nap) and put it up later. I can't believe she's 10 months old already. It seems like she was just born, yet I can't imagine our lives without her! She's talking more and more, says bubba for the boys (mostly Jacob though), bye-bye, she waves hi and bye, mamma, dadda, meow (for our cat Whiskers). She's cruising the furniture and has been letting go here and there and on Sunday decided to try and take a step, as she stepped she went down, so I do not count it, but I know it's only a matter of time!

I've talked to Chad a few times via phone and IM, hoping he gets to call today or else tomorrow. It's hot there for sure! They've been dealing with 115 degree's give or take a few degree's since arriviving and it's only going to get hotter! They're still not where they will end up for the duration of their deployment, they're doing some training and then will head North, which should be soon. Thank you for the prayers. I am writing on our deployment journal (links on the left) so stop in and read. Hopefully once Chad's up there and in his room, we're hoping they have internet in their rooms and hopefully he can journal some too while deployed and share his thoughts on things.

Oh one thing I've started doing since Chad has left. Cooking breakfast. That's always been Chad's thing. I'm the cereal mom, sometimes toast, etc...but all but 2 mornings since he's left I've made breakfast! I found a wonderful recipe for oatmeal and the boys and I all loved it! Pancakes, Bacon, French Toast and Sausage, Scrambled Eggs, life's been very enjoyable for the kids! I have to say that I've actually enjoyed making it for them too! So I'm now on the search for various breakfast idea's. I am also going to get me a waffle maker. I LOVE homemade waffles, I detest frozen ones. The boys honestly only know frozen, so I want to let them know what TRUE waffles taste like! So I'll be searching for a good waffle maker!!

I'm also in the process of decluttering. That's a much slower process and laziness wins out more than it should. I have Emma's room pretty well done. I still have a couple things to do, but for the most partit's done. My room is my biggest challenge, but the oneI want done the most. The kitchen is the 2nd room I want done the most. I'm going to the PX tomorrow to buy new rubbermaid bowls, a small set and I'm getting rid of all the ones I have right now. That mess will be gone!! I'm going to get rid of a few other pots that I don't use (I have a nice pampered chef set now that I use and LOVE!!). Go through the rest of our small appliances and get rid of what we simply NEVER use. I also am going to go through all the mugs (coffee mugs) and get rid of most of those. We're not coffee drinkers so we just need a few for Hot chocolate and hot tea and the rare occassions we do have a coffee drinker here. I don't need 30 coffee mugs!

I set up a chore chart for the boys and that's going well. Some chores they do because they're part of this family and that's just simply what they do. Some chores they earn an allowance for, some they earn an award (movie and choice of dinner, game night/snacks,etc).

 

 

***The pictures are from the the night/morning Chad left as well as the days after.

Van update

A friend of mine took me and the kids (and her kids) down to where the van is (almost to Munich/Munchen) so I could get the rest of our belongings out. It's about a 2 hr drive down there and of course we hit a good amount of traffic, saw an accident, and were in a stau (traffic jam). There was a lot more stuff in the van than what Chad said was in there, but we got it cleaned out. The manager of the shop called our insurance man while I was there and came and said they had DEFINATELY totalled the van out and that I'd be getting a check in the mail. Up until that moment I'd actualy been doing ok, but when he walked away I just started crying again. I felt stupid, it's just a piece of metal, but as my friend pointed out....it carried my family, my most precious of cargo to and from all over the place, heck all over the world. So in another of my silly/stupid moments as we were leaving and I did one last check over, I said "Goodbye and thank you for taking care of my family up until the end". The van had some issue's, but ultimately it was a good and safe van, got GREAT gas mileage, most importantly my family had always remained safe, even in the accident. So it's done, the van is officially "gone" you could say. I do think the tears were more of just what's happened to our family in the last week. The accident, then dealing with the insurance (which was actually not a bad thing), looking at a new van, deciding to wait for a few months, and then Chad leaving 2 days later. Oh and lets not forget a messy home, and 3 kids to continue raising without losing my mind, being an example of a Godly mother, showing grace and firmness, giving hugs and discipline (sometimes all at the same time), it can be a lot.

One our way home we stopped at an indoor play area that we've taken the kids to before. It's great because there's an area for even Emma to play safely in, and I don't have to follow the boys around with every step. It definately wore everyone out and we were heading home by 5:00.

Once home I heated up left overs (Taco Soup), and cleaned up the kitchen which was necessary. I have been bad and hadn't done dishes in 2 days. So I emptied the dishwasher, loaded it, and dished up dinner for all of us. Once that was done we sat down and cried through Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. Now keep in mind that our shows are NOT on the same timeline as yours in the states, we're a few months behind. Tonights was about a Marine living in Kansas City, Ks (I started crying when they showed the country side....aka HOME). I just sobbed watching that show. I actually haven't cried much this season watching the show, tonight was a big boo-hoo one.

As I end this, I hope each and every one of you took time to Thank GOD for being an AMERICAN. For the men and women who died for your freedoms. For your right to gripe about our government, gas prices, the economy, what ever your gripe is...it was given to you because of the blood of soldiers. Be thankful that because of the willingness of brave men you have the right to worship GOD.

 

We are a nation full of luxuries that many see has necessities. We are a nation that is honestly VERY spoiled, who complains easily, and praises rarely. We are a proud nation, a wonderful nation, and a nation that needs to imo be more thankful for the blessings we have, most of all our Lord and SAVIOR Jesus, and our Soldiers who are willing to die for a cause that ultimately is greater than they are. Today remember. Stop with the BBQ'ing, the opening of pools, and just all around getting ready for summer and REMEMBER what today is being marked for. Remember that the TRUE Memorial Day, or more accurately Decoration Day is on May 30. Don't forget. Don't get too busy, self-involved, distracted, etc...remember the TRUE meaning.

 

 

 

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Come on over

I'm blogging over here for all things deployment:

TalesfromtheFrontandtheonesleftBehind

 

Come read the ups and downs of this 15 month deployment from my side of things of being left behind and "hopefully" Chad's side of things from being on the Front. (His connections not the greatest where he's at right now and they're not even where they'll ultimately going to be so we'll see how good it is once he's there). It's a public journal, so feel free to share the link.