Open letter to my heart-adopted son...

Hey Baby Boy!

I am glad to hear from you:). I know what it is like to be somewhere where everyone I love is at work and I am at home......sucks big time. I also know you are one tough cookie and will make it through this. Always remember: This, too, shall pass.

Please tell Navy Man that I love and miss him...and Hev-G, too. And, please kiss Layla for me and tell her Mama to send me some photos.

Same ole shit around here...got screwed out of $250.00 on the first...now, imagine that!!!

Fif got her place so I have been going over there to hang out. Ummm....there is this maintenance man there...with eyes I could drown in...rotf.

Lij and Jen went to Homecoming...and looked awesome...they had a wonderful time. He got a job and should start soon. He is the perfect hire for a video store:).

We took Fif out for her birthday and had a great time...now I know why you kids like Lemon Drops. I was all puckered up and said, "Wow! This is delicious!" We drank, we danced, we hugged, and we giggled...all in all, we had a great time.

Alana painted one of the walls in the living room teal and, buddy, its gorgeous. I smile everytime I look at it.

I am okay, so do not panic when you read the next line. Somehow I managed to fall down the stairs yesterday. Even though I landed on my feet, I slammed into the wall at the bottom. It scared me more than anything. I was so shook up, I called Fif and she came to pick me up and we went to her place. How's this for timing? The maintenance guy came over to fix the shower while I was there. I told him we had to stop meeting like that:). Today I am so stiff I look like the Tin Man in dire need of some oil.

I am thrilled to know that you are using the book! You know, Kiddo, God doesn't care how He blesses us and that book is definately a blessing for you. Finding a safe place to go when we need to escape the daily grind is such a fantastic tool for you! Keep me posted on your progress and, please, keep writing to me.

Carry this little tidbit in your pocket and pull it out any time you need some encouragement: I love you very much and I am immensely proud of you!

Love and hugs,

Momma

The Wedding Was Wonderful!

Here are a few pics of the wedding. I will post more as they are available!!

The bride & groom:
















Phylicia, Alana, Roger, Jen, Marshall, and me:
















Groom and Chris:






















Best Man, Father of the Groom, Navy Man:

It's Official!

Navy Man and his beloved are getting married this Saturday~

The wedding and reception are at a local vineyard; I think it will be absolutely beautiful.

Navy Man flew in from New Orleans last night and they showed up around midnight and since I didn't expect them till today, I was pleasantly surprised. They are so happy that they glow:). My baby is a grown man...wow!

Of course I have been shopping...lol. I found a gorgeous dress at Kohl's for $20.80 that was originally $54.00, a great pair of shoes at Fashion Bug for $14.00 that were originally more than $24.00(there is an annoying sticker covering the original price), and a purse (that is to die for)for $13.00 that was originally 32.00!

I will take all of the money I saved and invest in WATERPROOF MASCARA!

I will post pics as soon as I have them and then next week I should be able to get back to this blog. Many thanks to all of you who sent warm thoughts and prayers last week. My mouth is healing well. God is good!

Hugs...

Happy Independence Day

Weird mood...imagine that~

Having spent the night tossing, turning, and drowning in hot flashes I find I am in a weird mood today. These hormones are making me absolutely crazy. The NASCAR Race in my mind has slowed down some and for that I am grateful. I hate it when my mind races uncontrollably.

And...hot flashes? Are you kidding me? I haven't had the sheer pleasure(note sarcasm) of these suckers in quite some time and I am not having pleasure now. Top them off with nausea and you can see that it is quite the struggle to be in a chipper mood.

I am slowly but steadily making progress in the wreck that is my sewing/dining room. It looks like a disaster of epic proportions happened in there. Whew~ I am also doing some rearranging as my current system is obviously not working for me. I got some kewl things to reconstruct and instead of leaving them lying around, I have turned my downstairs closet into the Recon Closet. While all of the recon stuff is now nicely hanging in it's new home, I gotta move stuff to another spot. It never ends...lol.

I got an awesome enbroidered jean jacket that will make a darling purse, a huge man's button down shirt that will make a cute puffy-sleeved top for me, a pair of awesome black linen pants that are embroidered with cute flowers...not sure about them as I may just wear them before reconning them. There is a gorgeous green reversible jacket that is quilted and is fated to become the cutest & easiest tote bag of all times plus the mumu that will be a cute peasant top with the addition of some elastic and the removal of feet of fabric from the bottom. I may make a skirt from the bottom.

I also got me an adorable vintage skirt and a pair of vintage capris that I will definately be sporting this summer:). I love the bold fabrics and the zippers on the old stuff. I am trying to break out of the 'fashion'(or lack of fashion) rut I am in. Due to my size, I tend to dress rather plainly and well, it is so boring...lol.

I went shopping and found a pattern for a house/sun dress and one of the options is for a halter top on it. I am making that out of some pale blue fabric that is covered with white polka dots. I figure if I don't get the gumption to wear it out of the house, it will work for running around inside. I do love polka dots...and my Beloved will love it:). I also got more orange fabric...for some reason this year I am crazy about orange. I made a housedress out of some 'Finding Nemo' fabric and managed to cut the front too short...ugh~ So...I made an orange ruffle and put it on the bottom front and it is toooo cute. I swear I am gonna make a pair of orange jammie bottoms and put a ruffle at the bottom of them. Please note that any attempt on my part to go out in public in that get-up will be thwarted by my occasionally anally retentive children. I can just see me sneaking out...and giggling the whole time!

My Navy Man flew to Chicago yesterday to meet his fiance'. They are driving her car back to New Orleans and she will be staying in the hotel on base for 2 or 3 weeks! I will be surprised if she goes home before August 16th. They moved the wedding date up till then. This way she gets a happy medium between the wedding of every little girls dream and a quick to-do at the courthouse. I am thrilled they are getting married close to my house so I can be there~ And, yes, I will be making a dress for the wedding:). I am thinking something fun & flirty in a turquoise with white polka dots all over it...and turquoise shoes...cute ones!

I am hoping to squeeze in at least a one-week vacation to New Orleans between Heather's going home and my Beloved's visit here. I wanna go hang out with my Navy Man and will be sewing while he is at work. I am quite certain there are fabric shops in New Orleans:). When I told my Beloved about my plans, he began suggesting that I just go walking around base and informed me that surely I would meet new people. He stopped in mid-sentence. "Why am I telling you this? Stay in your room!" Gotta love a little jealousy. From a man whom I absolutely adore no less:).

I am also hoping that my Beloved is still here when the wedding rolls around. He has already promised to dance with me!

May I have a proud momma moment?

I just called my Navy Man with some good news...his federal tax refund is here. Well, he had good news for me, too. He is volunteering and working with Habitat For Humanity! As a Mom I feel that I did not instill enough of a sence of community in my children. Health and lack-of-car kept me from volunteering and setting the example I would have preferred that my children had seen. Lemme tell you...him doing this just warms the cockles-of-my-sweet-lil-ole-pea-pickin-heart! It also made my eyes tear up.

As a low income family, we recieved a lot of assistance from our local community and I am thrilled that my Navy Man is paying-it-forward!

Mike just gave this award to my son! This is what Mike had to say:

That is really nice for your Navy Man to do; my hat's off to him. I have a big Bear hug award on my site. I'd like you to come and get it and send it to him with my thanks for A) Serving our country, B) for giving some of his time for Habitat for Humanity! Pay-it-forward is such a grand idea and even grander when put into practice.

Thank you so very much Mike! I will email him the link to this post.

Hugs,

There is a fella in blogland and I got to meet him~

Mike is a sweet fella and it seems we have a few things in common. He stopped at my blog one other time and I hope I commented at his blog when I popped over there. Today he has let me know that he has added me to his Blogroll of Honor. How sweet is that? Mike plays the dulcimer...it is such an amazingly wonderful instrument. He, like me, is differently-abled than he used to be. He, also like me, struggles with the adjustment. Mike served in the military and supports our troops. My son is currently serving our country in the Navy. Mike is from Ohio...me too! Now, to be honest, the fact that he snagged my "Wind Beneath My Award" to give to some of the folks who have helped him in his journey through Blogland didn't hurt my feelings either:).

I think I have made a blog-buddy and that, my dear, is good news~

Close to my heart~

As some of you know my oldest son is in the Navy, so when I learned that a dear friend of mine is taking donations in order to send things to our troops I donated. It is only $3.00. I thought you might like the opportunity to do the same!

Here is what her e-mail said: 'I thought since you have a child away from home you might put a link to this in your blog. I am raising money for toothbrushes and other items that troops are requesting.'

Here is the link:). If you would like alternate ways of contacting Brandy lemme know.

Thanx, Brandy~

Please note: these donations do not go to my son.

Hugs!

If you donate leave a link to your blog or a post you make about this, be sure to get some Linky Love by filling in the Mr. Linky!

Bittersweet

My Navy Man just left to report to his new duty station(New Orleans) after 2 weeks leave:(. He is going to be 1,052 miles away from me! I am so very proud of him and I hugged him extra long. I wish I could tell you that he did not see me crying when I went out on the porch to salute him as he drove away. Being a parent is such a bittersweet thing. How can my heart be breaking and swelling with pride at the same time?

Wordless Wednesday

Wordless Wednesday

Edited to add: ROTF~ I knew those pics would spark curiosity. Those 2 critters are 2 of my 4 GROWN(and I use the word lightly) children having a confectioner's sugar fight in MY LIVING ROOM~ Lucky for them they are cute...or I would not keep them...lol.

My Navy Man Is Home~

This is my Navy Man in his dress blues...and with his fiance'. It was her 19th birthday yesterday. He got her the gorgeous diamond necklace:).

Today I am grateful for wonderful news!

I finally got the call I have been waiting for~ My Navy Man is coming home tonite~~~ He is on leave between A-School and his first permanent station and will be here till the 27th. Now THAT'S a birthday gift worth waiting for:).

About my birthday, sorry for being so slow to post. You know how I hate it when real life interferes with my fun! Good news is my spring cleaning is done...whew~

Alana's honey, Roger, cooked my dinner and you saw a pic of it in my Wordless Wednesday post. It only took me about 3 minutes to decide what I wanted when he asked...lol.

Fried Chicken
Cornbread
Green beans with bacon and onion
Mashed Potatoes
and...for dessert...Cherry Breeze

Can you tell who grew up a country girl? Now, can you guess who was also one happy birthday girl? It was absolutely delicious!!!

Here are a few more pics from the evening...

And for dessert...I am gonna share the recipe for Cherry Breeze with you. If you have never tasted this before, I assure you that you are in for a delightful treat. This is similar to, but not the same as, cheesecake. The lemon makes it especially yummy-licious.

1/3 cup butter or margarine -- melted

1/4 cup sugar

1 cup graham cracker crumbs

1 package cream cheese -- (8 ounces)

1 can sweetened condensed milk

1/2 cup lemon juice

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 can cherry pie filling -- (1 pound, 5 ounces)

1. Cook butter and sugar in saucepan over medium heat until mixture boils. Remove from heat and mix in graham cracker crumbs. Press mixture evenly and firmly into 9 inch pie plate to form a crust. Chill.

2. Beat cream cheese until smooth. Gradually mix in sweetened condensed milk, stir in lemon juice and vanilla. Spread in crust. Refrigerate 3-4 hours or until firm.

3. Top with chilled cherry pie filling. To remove pie pieces easily, place hot wet towel around sides and bottom of pan before cutting.

Today I am grateful for...

Last evening I got to spend almost an hour on the phone with my Navy Man~ It was wonderul. So I am grateful for my son, telephones, and the fact that his new fiance' was on a plane headed home.

I love my kids, its just that simple. I respect their rights as people and I think this makes for wonderful relationships with each of them.

Martail, who is 18 and just graduated Navy boot camp on Friday got engaged to be married Sunday night. He and Heather have been together for a little over 3 years! I have never had a problem respecting my kids 'sweetie' because ultimately I am the Mom and their 'sweetie' is a potential life partner. It had usually been a trait of mine that is well appreciated.

I must admit, that while I respect the couple, it has been tough to share my child's time on occasion. It's been especially hard with Martail at boot camp. I miss the hell-outta-him! He has been the one constant giggle I can count on everyday and he is also my buddy.

This weekend, I am sure, was hard for Heather cos she had to share him with me, his dad, his sister, and his best friend(who just so happens to be dating his sister...how convenient is that?). He has been gone since December 4 and all of us missed him.

All was well, and we had a great time. Martail has grown into a wonderful person. He is strong and determined yet gentle and loving. He now also has a deep respect for himself and his country. It is amazing~ He is what parents want their kids to be. I told him that I no longer have to be concerned that he will be okay and that I truly apppriciate that gift. He said thats good but that I couldn't stop praying for him! LOL...that'll never happen. He even has a new appreciation for God, Mo, you are gonna love this: He is making a list of the blessings in his life that he is grateful for~~

Any way...he called last night after his fiance' got on her home-bound plane and we talked about everything!

This kid actually made arrangements with a jeweler here in town(where it just so happens that Heather is currently employed and they love my son) to purchase the diamond ring that he knew Heather loved, paid for it, and had her mother pick it up. The exclusive resturant he wanted to take her to was booked, so he took her to the upscale(his word) resturant in the hotel her parents stayed at for the weekend. During dinner he stood up, got down on one knee and asked her to spend the rest of her life with him. He said the place was packed to the max, and when he got down on his knee, Heather burst into tears, and the table next to them made sure everyone noticed. When she said yes, everyone stood up and clapped! The people at the table next to them also sent them a celebratory dessert:). Martail was amazed that most people came over to the table...the men to shake his hand and the women to 'ooh and aww' at the ring. They also thanked him for joining the military.

The ceremony for his graduation was beautiful. All in all, it was wonderful weekend and the long phone call made it even better.

I am grateful to God for the children He gave me and that He was and is always there. It's been a rocky road, but I have and will continue to cling to this:
And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28

Thank you God for being faithful!

Today I am grateful for...

Today I am grateful for...being back home safe and sound. Getting to spend 2 days with my 'sailor'. All of my computer friends!

Prayer for our troops

When you read this, please stop for a moment and say a prayer for our troops around the world. Please feel free to copy or post:).

"Lord, hold our troops in your loving hands. Protect them as they protect us. Bless them and their families for the selfless acts they perform for us in our time of need... I ask this in the name of Jesus, our Lord and Savior. Amen."

New Christmas Poem~ snagged and dedicated to Martail

The embers glowed softly, and in their dim light,
I gazed round the room and I cherished the sight.
My wife was asleep, her head on my chest,
My daughter beside me, angelic in rest.
Outside the snow fell, a blanket of white,
Transforming the yard to a winter delight.
The sparkling lights in the tree I believe,
Completed the magic that was Christmas Eve.
My eyelids were heavy, my breathing was deep,
Secure and surrounded by love I would sleep.
In perfect contentment, or so it would seem,
So I slumbered, perhaps I started to dream.

The sound wasn't loud, and it wasn't too near,
But I opened my eyes when it tickled my ear.
Perhaps just a cough, I didn't quite know, Then the
sure sound of footsteps outside in the snow.
My soul gave a tremble, I struggled to hear,
And I crept to the door just to see who was near.
Standing out in the cold and the dark of the night,
A lone figure stood, his face weary and tight.

A soldier, I puzzled, some twenty years old,
Perhaps a Marine, huddled here in the cold.
Alone in the dark, he looked up and smiled,
Standing watch over me, and my wife and my child.
"What are you doing?" I asked without fear,
"Come in this moment, it's freezing out here!
Put down your pack, brush the snow from your sleeve,
You should be at home on a cold Christmas Eve!"

For barely a moment I saw his eyes shift,
Away from the cold and the snow blown in drifts...
To the window that danced with a warm fire's light
Then he sighed and he said "Its really all right,
I'm out here by choice. I'm here every night."
"It's my duty to stand at the front of the line,
That separates you from the darkest of times.
No one had to ask or beg or implore me,
I'm proud to stand here like my fathers before me.
My Gramps died at ' Pearl on a day in December,"
Then he sighed, "That's a Christmas 'Gram always remembers."
My dad stood his watch in the jungles of ' Nam ',
And now it is my turn and so, here I am.
I've not seen my own son in more than a while,
But my wife sends me pictures, he's sure got her smile.

Then he bent and he carefully pulled from his bag,
The red, white, and blue... an American flag.
I can live through the cold and the being alone,
Away from my family, my house and my home.
I can stand at my post through the rain and the sleet,
I can sleep in a foxhole with little to eat.
I can carry the weight of killing another,
Or lay down my life with my sister and brother.
Who stand at the front against any and all,
To ensure for all time that this flag will not fall."
"So go back inside," he said, "harbor no fright,
Your family is waiting and I'll be all right."
"But isn't there something I can do, at the least,
"Give you money," I asked, "or prepare you a feast?
It seems all too little for all that you've done,
For being away from your wife and your son."
Then his eye welled a tear that held no regret,

"Just tell us you love us, and never forget.
To fight for our rights back at home while we're gone,
To stand your own watch, no matter how long.
For when we come home, either standing or dead,
To know you remember we fought and we bled.
Is payment enough, and with that we will trust,
That we mattered to you as you mattered to us."

LCDR Jeff Giles, SC, USN
30th Naval Construction Regiment
OIC, Logistics Cell One
Al Taqqadum, Iraq

Answered prayers~

Monday my son left for boot camp. He had to go to Cleveland for the night and then yesterday, he flew to Great Lakes.

He got a few second phone call and let us know he made it safe and sound~ I know he will be okay, but it is weird not having him home...making me giggle with his sharp wit-or giving me those great hugs. Please remember him in your prayers.

On a smaller note...pun intended...I let his girlfriend keep her drawf hamsters here cos her mother refuses to have any animals at her home. So, Munchies and Lady did what critters do...they had a litter. Two babies...both boys. The lil suckers go into heat as soon as they deliver and the kids didnt find the first litter until it was too late. So....there was another litter. This time there were 7 babies!!!

We did, however, get the dad and the older sons moved out of the cage before another litter was conceived. These babies are now 2.5 weeks old and hell bent on "breaking out of jail." Monday, three of them made the great escape. Two were immediately re-captured close to the scene of the crime. My favorite, Smokey, is the runt and he eluded capture. Its been 48 hours and no sign of him so we assumed the worst. Hubby was just in the basement and heard scratching in the furnace vent...close to the filter. All I can say is, "Thank God for furnace filters!" It kept Smokey from getting burnt up. I grabbed some food, and something to replace the filter long enough for Smokey to hopefully come out, and then we pulled the filter out slowly. Guess whos adorable lil face followed the filter out? He is fine...eating lots and drinking tons of water. Of course, I had to call all the kids and tell them that God answered my prayers and Smokey is ok. We are all amazed!

God is faithful...even in the lil things~

Phyl