Countdown

Let the countdown begin......Not sure which date we're counting down TO, but it will be within the next few weeks. 

THE SOLDIER WILL BE HOME!!!!!!!

I've come to realize in these last weeks just exactly what that means...The entire time he has been gone has sort of been like a dream.  I tried not to dwell on the fact that he was that far away and I couldn't get to him or him to me.  Now, that his time there is almost over the relief is sweeping through my soul.  I become teary-eyed at anything the least bit patriotic.  (Guess I'll have to be committed on Memorial Day.)  My energy is renewed and at the same time, I become weak as the pent-up stress is leaving me little by little. 

Many unexpected turns have been taken in our lives and in the future as we look back on them, they will be labeled by "that happened the year Joseph was in Iraq."  You know....kind of like we say "Oh, yeah, THAT happened the year I graduated or the year I got married, etc., etc., etc.  Not that nothing else of importance has happened during this time.....that just seems to be the one thing that we will measure the happenings of this year by.

This "year that Joseph was in Iraq" has been the ultimate challenge in parenthood.  Waiting, wondering about him....some endings and new beginnings with the others....a birth, a miscarriage....3 of us moved in the same week (oh,yeah, Joseph, we'll send you the forwarding address so you can find us).....tonsillectomy, mononucleosis, etc....but I'm still here and waiting to see what will transpire after the "year that Joseph was in Iraq."

Meantime, we are all excited about seeing our son, brother, uncle, grandson, and friend.  He's excited about seeing us, too.  He did tell me today that leaving from there is "almost like leaving home."  I get that....

He was home for Thanksgiving and we took him to the airport in Atlanta for his return flight.  It was a long, but interesting day and I was looking forward to going back, again, to pick him up......UNTIL Anna reminded me that he's not coming back to Atlanta.  Good thing I wasn't going alone or I'd have had a REAL interesting day in Atlanta......by myself.

We'll cherish our time together and be a family, again, for awhile.  We'll eat and laugh and get mad with each other and do all the "family" stuff while Joseph is home from "his year in Iraq."

May God bless and comfort the families of the service men and women who didn't make it home and may we never forget their sacrifice.....

The Weary Traveler and the Gift

God put me in McDonald's this morning. I'm sure of it. He knew that my faith in humankind had reached a new level of low. He also knows that everytime He sends me a new miracle to observe that my faith grows by leaps and bounds and I feel His presence in my life in such a strong way. And so my story begins: A friend had to have some labwork early this morning so I trekked along. After all was said and done, I had about an hour to kill. Trying to think of something healthy to eat I headed toward Mickey D's. Oatmeal and coffee....healthy enough. As I sat down inside(which is in itself a little strange, because I very seldom eat at a restaurant alone) with my "health food" I noticed a traveler sitting at the corner table. The evidence that led me to know he was a traveler was that he had a backpack with tags (maybe from a bus station or airport) on it. There was also a heavy coat and gloves hanging on the back of the other chair. The food in front of him had been rewrapped and was still sitting on the table. Maybe he wasn't sure he would get anymore, today, so he was being conservative in his eating and saving some for later. A pretty normal-looking fellow....a little unkempt, but not dirty. The weather was atrocious.....heavy rain and lightning. Not good travelling weather, especially if you may be walking.....He went outside, for what I don't know, and was gone a few minutes. Now here's the good part: While he was gone, a young man looking to be in his late 30's walked over to the traveler's table and left a bag with some food in it. He, then, walked to his table and continued his meal with his friend. Until now, this person had been unnoticed by me. I don't know how long he had been observing the traveler, but obviously, longer than I had. The traveler came back in and went to his table. He looked at the bag, but didn't open it at first. He gently pushed it to the side of the table. After what seemed like a minute or two, he pulled it back to him, opened it, and peered inside. I don't know what or how much was in it or even what the traveler did after this point. I emptied my tray and left for work with the most uplifted spirit from witnessing such an unselfish act. My prayer for the traveler is that he reach his destination soon and his step is just a little lighter because of someone's kindness. May God bless the gift, the giver and the weary traveler.

Christmas past......and onto the present

It's over. Christmas, that is. Tree's down, eggnog's gone, and , now, back to work. Only for 2 days, though, and then off again. Another 4 day week-end. I'm kinda liking these short weeks.

My first Christmas in 27 years that I didn't have all my kids with me. Couldn't be helped. The one....you know, the soldier, is in Iraq. Now, he can say he has experienced Christmas in another country...such as it was.

We all survived and are now awaiting new things.......new baby for Becca and Sed, wedding planning for Ashton and Joseph, and ,hopefully, Grayson will actually talk this year. He seems to be taking his own sweet time on that.

So, within the next 6 weeks, we should be experiencing the arrival of Miss Mia Michelle. We are all anxiously awaiting her arrival. My prediction is she has a headful of hair (can't miss that one...mom and dad both do)and that she weighs app. 8 lbs. and is going to be 21 inches long. Let's see how good I am.

Ready to make the New Year's Resolutions.....lose 20 lbs by the middle of March.

"It's just a thought....."

from an old Creedence Clearwater Revival song by the same name. One of their "calmer" ones. I love music....always have....always will. My tastes haven't changed so much in my lifetime. I've always liked pretty much any music except acid rock and rap.

The radio station selection depends on my frame of mind. I had a friend-who was going through a divorce at the time- say that the only music he could listen to during his emotional goings-on was "head-banging" music. I, of course, doubted his wisdom at his young age. Later, when I was going through some "stuff" of my own---I remembered what he said. Tried it and it rang true. Lesson learned.

I love to sing with the radio....my kids love it when I "don't" sing with the radio. It's a great stress reliever for me. Just let me be frustrated and crank up the music. A couple of hours later, I'm a new woman. Beats drinking and eating......and no hangover or weight gain. Try it.

There are the songs that make me cry. The ones that make me laugh. The sentimental ones. A mirage of memories all wrapped up in a song. Wow.

A friend of mine was riding along with me, recently, and I wasn't feeling too well. This person looked at me and said, "You're sick." I said, "How do you know?" Response: "You don't have the radio on.........

Homecoming

It's been awhile since I've written. Not because I didn't have anything to say.....I ALWAYS have something to say. Don't really know why......just didn't, I guess.

So, here I am, now. Back in writing mode and back to one of my favorite subjects......my son. He will be home from Iraq in approximately 9 days. He'll get to be with us and us with him for about 2 weeks. We are all excited......Anna has missed her little prodigy, Meredith gets to take another road trip to pick him up, Becca gets to actually look at her confidant and partner in crime instead of just "chatting" on Facebook, and me......well, I have all my children back for a short time. Nothing quite like that feeling. I'm so proud of how they have all grown and the paths they've taken. They are turning into quite the adults. And, yes, I'll take a little of the credit for that. Didn't do it by myself.....the good Lord had quite a hand in it, also. Couldn't have done it without Him. I really don't know how people who don't believe in God make it through. I'd be lost without him. Literally.

While Joseph is home, we will celebrate Thanksgiving and Christmas (for him). Quite the whirlwind, but that's how we roll. I hope he gets to relax and visit his friends and family and gets a renewed spirit for what he has chosen as his vocation. He's become quite the man, soldier, brother, and son.

You make your mama proud!

The Send Off

I had another adventure with my children. We journeyed to Hinesville, GA, to watch "the soldier" leave for Iraq.

The 3 girls, 1 soldier, and their mama...in one vehicle....and everyone survived! We picked up Joseph on Monday morning at 6:00 on base. As we were loading his gigantic army bags into the car, reveille played. Seems as if you could hear it everywhere. Wow! That was great! Things were really put into perpsective at that point and we were all a little more solemn after that. Joseph met with quite a few more young men and women, were issued their guns, and began their journey.

He called on Wednesday with excitement in his voice. I was glad to hear that. He's called a few more times throughout the next few days. Haven't heard as much from his this week as I imagine their duties have really begun.

Many prayers and much love sent to all who serve........especially that one "soldier".......

Ch..ch....changes......

My life has taken quite a few twists and turns these last few months.

I have gone back to my "old" job which is a "good" thing. Not that my other job was a "bad" thing. It's just that the benefits of my return are greater than the benefit of my staying where I was. Make sense?

I have also had to start taking the trash off, again, since Joseph left. A chore I really do NOT enjoy.

Speaking of changes..... I made a request of my 4 children. I invited them to a sleepover at my house....just the 5 of us before Joseph's tour began. They all complied. I think I can speak for all of us in saying that we really did have a good time. Many thanks to Ben and Jason for allowing me to take their spouses for the night. We started the evening with supper @ Wings followed by a trip to the grocery store for snacks. I might add that they were a lot easier to keep track of in the store when they were little. I stuffed them all in a buggy and off we went (Not now. When they were little.) We all had things to get and then meet at the register. I fully expected to be stuck with this tab, but to my surprise they paid for their own.

When we got home, we laughed and laughed and finally made our way to dreamland at about 11:30. I realized a few things during this sleepover......
1. We take up a lot more space than we used to.
2. If you don't beat Meredith to the shower, you won't get one. She uses all the hot water.
3. I have very witty children.
4. I am VERY blessed to have such caring children and am so proud of each and every one and the additions they have brought and will bring to our family. Of course, I always knew I was blessed, but I just wanted to put it in writing.

There have been a few more changes we won't go into, right now, but...

It's ALL good!