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!

meredith

Meredith says that I should write a blog about her. So, here goes.....

Meredith is the second of four children...... born with hair about 2 inches long that stood straight up......hence, the nickname - Spike. (I wouldn't suggest calling her that, now.) At about the age of 2, her entertainment was to take all the cans out of the pantry and put them in the middle of the kitchen floor. I think she still does that....

When she started 4 year old kindergarten, the teachers were worried because she wouldn't talk....they should see her now!

One night she had a little accident......"but mom there was a cow in the road." (sure there was)
That's the night I met "Jason"......"the boyfriend". Not the best of circumstances, but I'll have to say he DID take good care of my child.

"Jason" and Meredith ended up, as you may guess, married and I'm pleased with that. They are both firefighters and have very "selfless" jobs.

She has a good job, a good husband, a good hunting dog, and a good home.

I'm proud of Meredith. She's a beautiful young woman and I love her dearly. I hope she's pleased with the blog. I tried not to embarass her too much.

Friends.....

After doing a post on Facebook, I glanced at my Friend list. Flash of insight.......my friends are varied and no one any less a friend than any other.

Friends of all shapes and sizes, various socio-economic backgrounds, cultures, lifestyles, ages......and were all involved in my life at some point whether only for a "season" or for a lifetime.

My children are always amazed at how many friends I still have from school and jobs I've had in the past. We may have lost touch for awhile, but have come back around to find each other, again. How cool!

I have a very close friend who is struggling with some medical problems that are and will remain life threatening. After talking on the phone with this friend for some time last night, I became very sad at the thought of possibly losing her. Heartbroken would actually be a better word. As my mama once said (during a previous scary medical episode with said friend).......that friend carries a lot of memories that you haven't shared with anyone else. How true! Before we ended our conversation, we both (maybe in realizing how serious a situation this is)made sure that the other knew how important we have been in each other's life.........

Make sure your friends know how important they are in your life. They probably already know, but it won't hurt just to say it and make sure.

Now, I'm, of course, hoping that my friend, my comrade, mi amigo, my sister, my secret-keeper, my shoulder to cry on, (well, you get the drift) has a long full life ahead and I'm hoping that all of my "Facebook friends" also have someone who's as reliable a friend as she.........
Some are silver and the others gold, but ALL are important!

Much love to ALL my friends!!!!!

Go where there is no path......

I have just returned from a 10 state adventure starting in SC and ending there......in my driveway as a matter of fact. Actually, this happened the week before Christmas. A friend and I were driving to Missouri to see my son graduate from basic training. When talk of this trip first transpired, I began plotting the best course of travel.....wanted to get the most bang for my buck so to speak.

After declaring "empty nest" and turning 50 all in the same year.....I was raring to go. Looking at mapquest and heading to Barnes and Noble to buy the obligatory atlas.

1st day: Ate lunch at the Dillard House in Mountain City. If you've never been there, it's worth the trip. $20.00 will get you approximately 19 dishes (I counted) of home-cooked food. Not to mention the strawberry cobbler and coffee for dessert. Quite the culinary adventure.

Decided not to venture into Nashville as there was no Grand Ole Opry that day. Stayed the night on "yonder" side of there.

2nd day: Onward and upward to St. Louis. Went through Kentucky and Illinois....Both are really quite pretty. Didn't realize Illinois had as much water as it does. Saw my first oil rig there. Stopped at a couple of wineries. Once in St. Louis, we located the airport as we had to pick up 2 of my daughters there that evening. Got a room across the road from there and relaxed until time for the pick-up. Both girls wanted to check out Harrah's as they've never done that before. We were all bored with it after about 45 minutes. The other 3 had "donated" all their money to the Casino and I came out a winner........by about 6 or 7 dollars. Oh, well, better luck next time.

3rd day: In the AM, we opted for the Anheuser-Busch tour. We absolutely loved it. That place is immaculate. No dust, no dirt. Aren't all you beer drinkers glad to hear that????? Great tour. Definitely, you want to do this if you are presented the opportunity. Saw the arch. Wasn't about to go inside. I just don't do heights......especially THAT high. Lunch at an Irish pub somewhere downtown. We just happened upon it....and isn't that the BEST kind of adventure. Small, smoky, and great food. With our hunger pangs satisfied, we journey on.........to Fort Leonard Wood where we had a reservation at the BEST WESTERN.

OH, YEAH, the Best Western. Normally, and I repeat NORMALLY, the BW is a safe place to stay if you're picking a hotel off the Internet. NOT ANYMORE......The proprietors were Indian and could barely speak English. The room .....as my middle daughter says.....was do-it-yourself remodeled. In front of the hotel was an abandoned gas station. The proprietor suggested we eat supper at the restaurant next door........can't remember the name b/c I'm afraid I'll have nightmares about it. We didn't go. Cracker Barrel..here we come. After we got in the room, out came the laptop and cell-phones. NO other rooms to be had anywhere around. We finally found one at the Candlewood Inn for the next night (only due to a cancellation), so we made our reservation. All night long at the BW, I was getting up and down turning on the heat, turning off the heat. What fun.

4th day: Off to family day on the base. Joseph had already told me that I may not recognize him. I laughed. "I gave birth to you. I'd know you anywhere." We won't tell him how long it took me to find him. He had lost 35 pounds, shaved head and was dressed like 100 other people. But when our eyes met, he lit up and I knew that was my baby......only he didn't look like a baby, anymore. VERY PROUD MOMENT. After a short ceremony, he was free to roam the base, but couldn't leave the base. There was a mini-mall where we all bought our "HOOAH" bumper stickers and various and sundry other items. You know......Proud Army Mom t-shirts.....My Brother serves in the U.S. Army. Oh, yeah, we got it all. Back to the barracks for Joseph and off to the Candlewood Inn for us.

5th day: GRADUATION DAY. I went to this expecting pomp and circumstance and I got it, but with a lot of proud parents and friends cheering their graduate on.......We were encouraged to celebrate the graduates and we did. That was such a proud and patriotic time. I'm so thankful to have been able to travel and be a part of something like this. After the graduation, there was a special ceremony........4 of the graduates were sworn in as American Citizens. WOW. We got to be a little part of this history being made. Pretty overwhelming.

Back to barracks to get duffel bags......and OFF TO HOME!!!!! Our journey was not over as we continued home through Arkansas, Mississippi, Alabama, and Georgia...........quickly. Got home at 4:30am on Friday, just in time for Anna the teacher to get ready for school. We, of course, woke everyone in the house up, so Joseph could see the babies. We were home. Joseph was with us for 2 weeks and then to Baltimore for training.

Very thankful to live in such a beautiful country and to be able to travel and see some of it. Got to get the pictures printed because.......

Next week-end is the trip to BALTIMORE.