Laundry on the line

My friend Autumn was venting a little the other day about some of the negative things about living on base, like not being able to have a clothes line.

The next day I was outside cheerfully hanging two whole loads (minus socks, which go in the dryer, and underwear, which are hung inside to dry) on the fabulously huge line I have in my backyard.

But as I hung out the clothes I was reminded of my own military complaint, and felt the need to vent just a little myself.

Who came up with the bright idea to have light tan colored t-shirts under the new AF camo? I would like to suggest that it was not a "grease monkey", nor someone married to one, who thus has to deal with their laundry. Because yes, that shirt is already clean. Sad, sad times...

I don't have any real complaints against the uniform itself. At least it doesn't have to be starched and ironed, like the old one. However, light tan does not mesh well with black oil, hydro fluid, and about a million other nasty things (including Georgia RED CLAY) that get smeared onto a "grease monkey's" uniform every single night out on the flight line.

(Look at the back of his shirt. How does he manage that?)

Can't be bleached - Drying out on the line, with the sun's beautiful rays doesn't seem to help.

Even my homemade, all natural Borax detergent hasn't beat the grease. (and trust me, ALL wasn't doing a thing)

I give up.

I am pretty sure they will change the uniform eventually anyway. Until then, he just wears stained ones for as long as he can get away with it, then we buy new ones.

At least we always have plenty of old t-shirts in the rag pile!

Running late, but still thankful

Thankful Thursday

I am thankful that Andy has a good job, that is consistent and has good benefits. Hating his hours this week was making me less then appreciative until I started listening to several others around me who have no work at all right now. I am thankful for work.

I am thankful for music. It cheers my husband, gives me something to dance to when I work around the house, soothes my children to sleep when I practice the piano at night, and best of all can be such an amazing way to worship the creator of music. I am thankful for music.

I am thankful for Benin. That country hold my daughter. At moments it seems they hold her captive... but it is her home country for now, and I will always be thankful for the country that has sheltered her and kept her until I can bring her home. I am thankful for Benin.

I am thankful for speech. We take it for granted that we can speak to one another. We harshly tell others to shut up when we tire of what they have to say. Zion is working so hard, and is making progress. One day, one day - I hold onto that promise. In the meantime, I am thankful for speech, and for speech teachers.

I am thankful for wheels. Truly, one of the greatest inventions of man - Canaan has been learning to ride his bike this week, and it has been a wonderful adventure. I am thankful for wheels.

I am thankful for all my many diseases. They introduce me to new people. They make me slow down, appreciate little things. They make me humble, since I have to ask people for things, rather then always doing for myself. They make me spend more time seeking god - with each new one at first asking for healing, then asking for grace to accept, and then asking for wisdom to learn and teach others. I am so very thankful for my sicknesses.

Every day holds a new promise of things to appreciate. Let us praise Him who gives good things while we have breathe to praise. (that means every moment ... because I am pretty sure you are breathing right now)

What are you thankful for?

The First Decade

Today is a big day for my love and I.

October 7, 1999 was our first date. That means that we have now been together for ten years. A decade. One third of my life.

A lot of people don't celebrate the anniversary of their first date, but I think it is a beautiful moment to remember. The anniversary of your marriage is amazing - the dedication of your entire future to each other is obviously life changing. But the first date - it is a big moment too. That moment is so full of potential. At that point in the relationship there is so much still to learn, to explore, to give.

We had only known each other for a month, but had already spent quite a bit of time together "just as friends". I think there were several people on campus who were expecting the "we're dating" announcement to come at any moment. Although there were quite a few others who were taken completely by surprise - let me tell you why.

I was the worship leading, President of the outreach, Organizer of the Campus wide Recycling Drive, Honor Roll student who was going to graduate a year early.

I was introduced to Andy as, and I quote, "This is the guy I was telling you about. The one who got arrested last week." He had tattoos, and crazy facial hair, and had already dropped out of college once.

To redeem him a little, he was 19, and just trying to figure out what he wanted out of life - and as for getting arrested - he was at a party, having a couple of beers and some of the crowd got a little wild. With a cop for a dad, he knew what to expect. I think he is lucky his parents ever let him see the light of day again!

But back to our date. My love had already started showing me his artistic, poetic side by giving me a journal to take on my upcoming mission trip to India, and writing a beautiful dedication in it. He had discussed with me how getting arrested, and then seeing how so many of the kids who got arrested with him totally didn't care, and were back to partying and wasting their brain cells the next day - that had cleared his mind. His desire to get back on track with Jesus was growing by leaps and bounds.

God brought him to me at just the right moment. He was ready to seek something serious, and serious is what I had to offer.

Goofball is Andy's nature.

And serious is mine.

Somehow when you put us together, it melts into a perfect blend.
Our first date was just a simple picnic by the river. We had to rush back to his house first because he had forgotten an assignment that was due that day and had to pick it up. Then we had to stop at the grocery to pick up a few things he didn't have for the picnic. Organization wasn't his strong point.

But when the rush was over, we spent some time just sitting and talking and realizing that there was something here.

Something worth pursuing.
I left for India three days later, and our relationship was undefined during that time. But at the airport as we were leaving I realized I had forgotten my watch. Andy took his off and handed it to me. It beeped every hour, just a small "beep", but every hour that I was awake, I would sigh, and smile, and miss him.

By the end of the two weeks, my Mom was ready to hate Andy, and that annoying beep, but she knew that he was probably around to stay.

By the end of the two weeks, Andy had driven my friend Amanda crazy talking about me. The story goes that he was literally dancing around the fountain in the courtyard of Shorter College the day before I came home.

We never had "The Talk". When I got home, he was waiting at my parents house. He has been mine ever since. Months later I teased him that he had never officially asked me to be his girlfriend, so he better be prepared to make up for it when he asked me to marry him.

He just laughed and said... well, that is a story for another day.

Llama, Llama

Addendum added to last post: I did not stop reading altogether during the last two months. There was LOTS of reading being done during the school day for both Canaan and Zion, and before bed, etc. Just wanted to clarify that!

Now, on the new post.

It is a beautiful, but slightly disconcerting thing as a mother to have your child read a bedtime story to you. It is a sacred duty and right to tuck them in, read them a book, say prayers and get that last kiss before they drift off.

Canaan has his assigned reading for school which we do during the day. Practicing different blends and reviewing Fry's list. He is a slow reader, with lots of words that he still has to sound out. I struggle with frustration when he has to sound out the same word, three pages in a row. "How do you not remember it? You just read it on the last page!!"

As the last post discussed, I devour books. He, like his dad, seems to look at them as a necessary evil.

But just in the last week or two he has started having FUN with reading. Parts of it are still work. The words that don't follow the rules - and there are quite a few of them if you really think about the English language - are the bane of his existence, but books are starting to be less of a chore. The Berenstain Bears and Little Critter hold his attention, and I am thrilled. I don't mind sitting with him and helping, if he will read without complaining

I got our new Scholastic order in today. New books always suck me in. It seems that they hold the same power over my children. Both boys have been drawn to the stack all afternoon.

After supper tonight Canaan volunteered to read a new book, "Llama, Llama, Red Pajama" to me. I didn't ask. He just started reading it while I cleared the table.

He had a few struggles - (Have you ever tried to sound out patient? It really is just a word that has to be memorized) but he read the whole book to me while I cleaned the kitchen. When he was done, I told him he was going to have to tuck me in now. He laughed, and so did I.

But inside, I almost cried.

My baby is growing up.

Luckily, I still have another baby. I read the book again to him while big brother took his shower. What will I do when he learns to read?

I guess first he has to speak clearly enough for us to understand...

Oh well. One thing at a time~

In the meantime, they still need me for "The Hobbit". I am so glad to feel needed.

My first true love

I was reunited this week with my first true love.

We have shared a true and deep romance for many many years, my first true love and I.

Through my growing up years, and those awkward teen moments when I didn't know what to do with my emotions, my first true love taught me so much.

In college, when others broke my heart, I could always count on my first love to comfort me. Support me. Hide me at moments. Make me break out of my shell at others.

When my belly was huge with child and I could barely waddle, my first true love could still make me feel beautiful, and free, and graceful.

During Andy's deployments, when the bed was so empty and I felt so alone, my first true love distracted me, numbed the pain, and eventually lulled me to sleep.

This year, hitting that dreaded 30, my first true love as been faithful to keep me feeling young when I request it, while gently reminding me that I am no longer a youth.

But when Andy got home from his last deployment I dropped my first true love cold turkey.

I quit reading!

Other then the words of my Savior (who honestly is my REAL first true love...) and my "Streams in the Desert" I have had...

NO BOOKS!

No novels, no histories, no political discussions. I barely even skimmed Parent's magazine or the newspaper. In the two months he has been home I had read practically nothing.

Until this week.

This week I finished the political book Ellen had given me, "Cheaper by the Dozen", which I started weeks ago, an entire Family Fun magazine and four little romance novels. Plus I read the first four chapters of "The Hobbit" out loud to Canaan, and several chapters of a kids novel set during the revolutionary war.

I suppose it helps that I spent three hours in the waiting room on Friday, during which time there was nothing to do but read. Still, I am glad to know that my first love has returned, and is not holding a grudge.

Andy always takes priority over books, but now that we have gotten back into the swing of normal life... well, he doesn't need quite as much attention any more.

It all started because I learned to read quite fluidly by five. I don't think I have "come up for air" much since then. When I got in trouble as a child, rather then being sent to my room, or getting a spanking, I had my book taken away as a punishment. Grounded from books... torture. My Freshman and Sophmore years of highschool my goal was to read 180 book over the course of the school year. One for every school day. I read the Anne of Green Gable Series, everything Janette Oke wrote, Anne Frank's Diary. Most of the Bronte and Austen books.

As I have ages, my tastes have matured - I still love romance and history best, but mysteries, and a bit of political intrigue make me happy too. Biographies. Cookbooks. Some amazing devotional studies. Pretty much, if it has words, I like to read it...

These last two months of not reading, or really even desiring to read, have felt odd. But now my passion has returned. My world is correctly on it's axis, once again.

Oh, my love, I have missed you!

Aches

My big boy woke me up this morning with a strange statement.

"Mommy, my ankles hurt. My wrists too. And if I bend my fingers, they hurt."

That is not a good way to start the morning. Since Andy works 3-midnight, we are late sleepers around here. Our boys go down between 8:30 and 9, and sleep until 8 or 8:30.

Unfortunately, it was 7:30 when he woke up this morning. Not fun for a mommy who had been up until 1:15, but such is life.

His temp was elevated, the base doc was full, so an off base walk-in clinic was advised by the 24 hour on-call nurse. When the flu test came back negative we thought we were in the clear - antibiotics and a decongestant, but nothing too serious.

But then the doctor said...

"If his fever spikes over the next couple days, you might want to bring him back. Sometimes the first flu test is just too early, and is wrong"

What!

Of course, tonight before bed his fever spiked to 103. Which means I will have to be stressing and watching him all day tomorrow. He was already complaining that he has had to check his temp "FOUR times today!" Can you believe the torture?

Now if I can just keep Z away from him... Yeah right!

In other news:

I would like to introduce you to my adorable new sister-in-law. She is totally new to the world of blogging, so please drop by and give her a word of encouragement. Also, if you would like to, you can see the story that I had to s l o w l y and painfully drag out of Josh, bit by bit. She has written it out nicely, in a friendly little font, right there for the world to see. Aren't boys fun? Grrrr.

Selfishness and Underpants

I have been slightly "off" the last couple of days. I am part of a ladies bible study that focuses on being good wives. This week our "homework" was to try our best to be unselfish, giving of ourselves, less focused on what we are missing out on.

Now, this is going to sounds like bragging, but truly and honestly, I think I can say that selfishness is not normally something I struggle with. I have plenty of other weaknesses, and sins that I struggle with, but selfishness truly isn't one of my usual sins.

However, with the focus on it this week in our Bible study, I seem to have had to fight (and fail) this week miserably. I have noticed every single time that Andy has NOT done something I wanted him to. I have been offended every time he didn't carry his plate over, or rub my feet even though I rubbed his shoulders, or let me sleep in a few extra minutes, even though he kept me up late every single night this week (he has been working the swing shift, and I have waited up for him), and I had let him sleep late every other day.

So, even though I wasn't DOING anything selfish, I was being selfish in my attitude. And it was starting to show in my mood. I finally broke down and let him know how I felt.

Poor thing - He can't read my mind... So he had no idea that I wanted my shoulders rubbed, or 15 minutes of extra sleep. Just because I know to give it to him automatically, does not mean that he can think to give it to me automatically. It just isn't part of how he is made.

So, he declared that I have to get over expecting him to know - I have to ask.

I will work on that.

Yesterday Andy declared that he wasn't sure he wanted me going to this bible study anymore. He thought that our marriage was happier before I started going to the "Make your Marriage stronger" bible study! That day I had to agree.

Of course, some of it might be because I am PMSing...

Now, to end to end on a lighter note. How about a few Zion stories.

A few days ago Z was sitting at the table, singing, as usual. He makes up songs, about everything you can imagine, on a regular basis.

As he ate his lunch he was singing, "shake your bum bum, shake your bum bum." Then, he changed the chorus... "shake your wee wee, shake your wee wee".

Now, when he goes potty I often tell him to "shake shake" before he pulls his pants up - but I have never told him to shake his wee wee. I really don't know where he came up with that. But, I think Andy nearly came to tears he was laughing so hard.

Then today when we were at the mall Andy took Z to the bathroom. He came back laughing, once again, at our little one.

When we got home I took at picture of the reason why.

See anything wrong with his underpants?

He likes to completely strip when he "sits down", and it seems he had put them back on by himself this afternoon.

I don't think that could possibly be comfortable, but he didn't complain.

They were so stretched out that I just threw them away!

Thankful Thursday

Today I am thankful for an update on my daughter.

It really isn't much, and it isn't precisely encouraging, but it IS an update.

News is news, and for now, I am hanging onto it with both hands.

Pierre, our contact from Benin is out of the hospital, recovering nicely from Malaria. He has hit a few roadblocks with the paperwork - but he remains optimistic. I am choosing to remain optimistic too.

My parents are going to get to visit him in The Netherlands (where his wife is from and where he lives most of the time) on their way to India in a few weeks. For some reason that is encouraging. Just knowing that my parents are going to be in the same place with him, and he has been in the same place as my daughter - it makes her seem closer somehow.

I am also thankful for Homeschool P.E. class. Canaan loves the chance to run and play and interact, and I get a chance to run on the treadmill at the gym while yapping away with the other moms. AND they have a playroom for Zion! What a fabulous combo!

I am thankful for Baked Potatoes and Broccoli, which make a delicious and easy supper when Daddy is once again working the swing shift and won't be home to eat with us. (much better then the popcorn and leftover veggie tray we ate last night!)

And, I am thankful for Tricare. Sometimes they are annoying, and make me run around in circles to get the care I want. But, I have medical coverage when I or my children need it, for very little out of pocket cost. I do not take that for granted.

What are you thankful for today?

Life Changing Day

Yesterday was a big, huge, life changing day for my Canaan.

Or maybe more for me. He doesn't seem to be that affected...

He got glasses.

My camera battery was dead yesterday by the time I thought to take a picture, so these had to wait until today.

He complied for the first few shots, but then he just wanted me to leave him alone...

so he could watch Daddy play his new game.

Hurray for "repackaged" markdowns at Target!

Game, plus extra controller for less then the price of the game.

Thank you Carrie & Corey, Kelsey & Travis. Your Graduation gift money has already been greatly appreciated!

You should have seen this boy punching and ducking and dodging, like he was 10 years old again.

In the meantime - our son with the glasses proudly proclaimed tonight when it was bath time

"Mommy, I wore my glasses all day today! "

(because yesterday he kept taking them off and "forgetting where they were")

"Am I supposed to wear them in the shower?"

New Family

Andy's little brother, Josh, came home on leave last week from his Army training and got married. He didn't give us much warning that this was what he was planning, and I must admit that I panicked a good bit. Josh had just turned 14 when I started dating Andy, and I have watched him grow up. I very much consider him a little brother.

So, I have annoyingly picked and picked at him over the last couple of weeks, dragging every tiny little bit of information out of him that I could about this mystery girl that he was going to marry. It is really hard to drag information out of little brothers who are 1000 miles away. Guilt still works some, but the pouty face doesn't work as well over the phone.

Finally, I got to meet her.

And I loved her!

Suddenly, life was much easier again.

Now, I know I should have trusted him all along to pick a wonderful woman, but the protective gene came out just a little. He really should have just given me her phone number several weeks ago. I think he was afraid I would scare her away - little old me - Surely I am not that scary?!

Perhaps when I look like this... but that isn't too often, and thank goodness for what those foil highlights accomplish!

The wedding party.

Almost all relatives - poor Joe, no uniform, or blood. That is one really good best friend!

Her daughter Anistyn (finally, a girl in the family!) was the flower girl and Zion was the Ring Bearer.

They both look eager to cooperate in this picture.

Anistyn still looks like she is going to cooperate in this picture, but Zion is looking unsure.

Since this wedding was planned on short notice, and with one party in CA, one in Alabama, and the location in GA, it was slightly haphazard. At the last minute I ended up directing "traffic". As in, Groom - Go.

(He doesn't look nervous, does he?!)

Bridesmaids - Go. Kids who are pulling out the runner - Go.

Anistyn declared she was not going to walk down that aisle. Zion refused to go without her. Tara, the bride, just wanted to walk down herself and didn't want to deal with the stress. So, I ended up carrying the flower girl down the aisle, while holding Zion's hand.

Last minute addition to the wedding!

After it was all over, Zion was perfectly happy, and loving that ring pillow!

Here are two different versions of the family picture of our new, expanded family.

Don't the little ones look excited?

I had to put this one - classic Andy and Josh pose.

At the Reception Canaan decided he wanted a "grown up" meal. It was as big as him, but he dug in with relish. There was enough left over for Andy to have for lunch the next day!

Zion declared his French Fry was a mustache.

My boys were a little "wired" for dinner that night!

This picture shows Josh being awful, smearing the cake on his new wife's face. (Sorry Tara!)

It also shows most of the beautiful cake that my mother-in-law, Ellen, made. Isn't she talented?

Tara proudly showed off Josh's handiwork.

The great-grandboys with their Granny.

It was a great party, a fun time, and I am very excited to see where God takes this couple next.

Congratulations Josh and Tara. Blessings to you!

A very busy week

My average bedtime this week has been about 2:00am. That means several nights have been later. But, it has been a great week. A birthday. A wedding. Attending a major league baseball game. Learning how to use a table saw.
I promise, pictures are coming. But, 90% of my blogging has been done on my Mac, and I don't have it with me on this trip. I can't figure out how to do anything on a PC.
So, for now, know that I have a beautiful new sister-in-law and neice that I am dying to show off, so be ready for some pictures!

After seeing that caterpillar at Wild Adventures on Monday, Canaan has been on a bug "kick". He really wanted to know what kind of butterfly that specific caterpillar was going to turn into, why it had bristles on it's back, what it ate - the list goes on and on.

Being a homeschool family, we adjusted our curriculum to match his interest.

First, I would like to recommend the site, "What's this Caterpillar?" The name says it all. It was very easy to use, narrowed it down by style of caterpillar (smooth, hairy, spiney, horned, etc) then had pictures of each kind so you could "match" them.

Ours is an Io Moth.

When it "grow up" it will first turn green,

then build it's cocoon, (which will be similar to this)

then look like this:

Isn't that beautiful? It is easily identified by the "eye" markings on the hind wings.

Want to know something really cool? The caterpillar spines have poison in them. The website we found actually says "handle with care". Canaan was pretty impressed by that! If you touch it, you might feel a "sting", and some people even react to it strongly enough to need hospitalization.

Another site worth checking out is "The Children's Butterfly Site". Fairly simple, but some good links.

I have been reminded this week of all the reason's why we homeschool. Yes, my children still have to learn to read, and that 2+2=4, but I want as much of the other stuff to be fun. I want life to be an adventure and school to just fit into that adventure.

Canaan worked on two column addition and subtraction this week, and he kept saying he hated it. 24-14=10. 17+8= 25, with carrying the 1. Those were new concept, and he had to learn them - but by the end of the week, he had them. He still had to work, but he had them.

And in the meantime, he had fun studying caterpillars and what they turn into, and reading a mystery book and studying transportation in history.

Life is good.

Wild Adventures

We went to Wild Adventures Theme park on Labor day.

Our good friends, the Enderle's have season passes and on occasion Wild Adventures runs a special "bring a friend" day. You can read about last time we went here. This time the daddy's got to come too, which multiplied the fun 100 fold. Especially since Andy HATES roller coasters, and heights in general.

So figuring out which rides he will actually get on is quite amusing.

At least Zion had someone to ride with!

Canaan loved absolutely everything, and had not one single cautious bone in his body.

He wanted to ride everything he was tall enough for, and several that he wasn't.

Look closely - you can see Zion behind Andy. I was laughing so hard because I was sure he would be smashed, but he didn't want to get wet, so he hit behind Daddy on the water ride.

I have had to readjust my ride "ability level". Normally there is nothing I won't ride, but with the threat of a seizure I have had to be more wary. I have discovered I can handle high, and fast, but not jerky. And, as much as I love to look down and see the world below me, my eyes have to stay closed on rides now. Oh well - I still get the rush!

The above picture was a "Free Fall" of sorts. The kids had their own version, and the LOVED it. I think they rode it four times!

Zion was very helpful reading the map.

Wild Adventures also has a "zoo" of sorts. After being members of the Atlanta Zoo, Wild Adventures really can't compare.

I must say I wasn't impressed. Too many cages, and sad little improper habitats for some amazingly beautiful and large wild animals. If I were slightly more outspoken, and didn't have my children with me, I might have had to protest a little more loudly then I did. Bears in a cage just felt so wrong after watching Brother Bear too many times!

I mostly kept my mouth shut... mostly.

The animals I enjoyed the most were the wild ones that were freely scattered throughout the park.

Freedom gives them their own beauty, don't you think?

Boys, being boys...

Me, with my little red head.

It was a good day!