Mending Fences? They Need To Be.

When 2 people are close friends they feel as though they can say anything to each other and be understood. Sometimes one's actions hurt the other person and sometimes things are said out of hurt and maybe a little anger and maybe not really understanding the other persons situation. After a time...I think those fences should be mended. Friends should be friends. People should understand each other. And..If you really were friends...why let words come between you? Life is to short. Forgive each other. It's easy.

Finally Moved

It has been a remarkably busy several weeks.

Thankfully the drive across the country went well. Even with 3 kids in toe. We only threatened to leave them in a rest area twice. That's good right? And it was actually just the girls we threatened with abandonment. The baby wasn't much of a problem. Do I feel bad for the threats of abandonment? mmmmm no ha ha. I'm only kidding. For the most part the kids were great.

So we've gotten settled in to our new home. We're living on base and I am really liking it. I wasn't sure at first, when my husband and I discussed the pro's and con's of on base housing. I am really liking it. The Norfolk NAS is a beautiful base and HUGE. The new NEX is opening next week and I am so excited about that. Ok I guess I need a life if I am excited about the new NEX.

Emily (my oldest) has started her lessons with her new coach. He is awesome. He feels she has been held back. She's far better than her test level so by the end of next month he is going to have her test into novice. Oh..she's a figure skater if you didn't know.

Oh and....I found the most amazing nail tech. It's the little things you know.

OK When Did This Happen?

My kids feet grew like over night. This morning my daughter puts on a pair of sandals to wear to school and her toes are hanging over the ends. Ok yes they are last summer's sandals but still. So I told her we'd go get her some new ones after school. So since I hate shoes and rarely wear them myself I rarely put shoes on my kids feet...until we have to go somewhere (heaven forbid) or they go outside to play. So I, try, to put my 3 year old in shoes and same thing, her little toes poke out over the ends of her sandals too.

I need to pay more attention to my kids big elephant feet

Love For A Child

I remember when I was little telling my mom that the only thing I wanted to be when I grew up was a mom. I had my dolls and my Barbies like all little girls. I had a favorite doll that I took everywhere with me. Even to the first day of kindergarten. I grew out of the dolls and the Barbies but I never grew out of my desire to be a mom. While I was carrying my daughter I felt a love growing that I never could have imagined. When I held her for the first time I was hooked. She was the love of my life. I'd loved before. Been in love and been loved but this little person who depended on me for everything was a love so different I could hardly imagine feeling love for anyone or anything as intensely as I did her. I watched her grow. Held her hand when she walked. Cried when she went to school for the first time. Kissed her booboos, rocked her to sleep, watched her sleep. Laughed with her. My first baby is growing up so fast. She recently turned 10 and I feel a little saddened. It won't be long and my first born will be driving, graduating and going off to college. I hope the next 8 years don't fly by me like these last 10.

When I married my husband we talked about more children. We also discussed his adopting my daughter. He said he loved her like he loved his own children. That felt a little strange to me. I didn't know yet how I felt about his children. They are older and were out of the house. I didn't understand loving someone else's child with as much love as you would your own flesh and blood. An opportunity fell into our laps to adopt a little girl. She was a year old when we met her. She was handed to me, put her little head on my shoulder and again I was hooked. I knew at that moment how my husband felt about my daughter. This little one I was holding wasn't flesh of my flesh but she is my daughter just the same. The intense love is the same as if I had carried her and delivered her. A year later our son came to be part of our family.

I can't imagine my life without these 3 precious children. Sometimes they drive me up the wall. What kid doesn't drive their parent up the wall? Together we have 5 children. My step children have become great friends. They have accepted me into their lives and think of me as another mom.

I am blessed.

Getting Ready To Move.

I've been away from this blog thing for a little bit. I've been busy, to say the least. As you may, or may not know, my husband went off to Virginia at the beginning of April. So I've been home getting ready to move. I've had help of course. Lots of friends and family helping me get things packed up and a few things shipped out. I spent a few days wondering how we would get the cars to the other side of the country. Then Danny called, like he does about every night, and said he would be back here the first week in June and we will drive his truck and tow my car. How fun does that sound?!?! Driving across the country with 3 children. There will be a lot of prayer for patience (and forgiveness no doubt) any volunteers to take my place? Just checking.

We had a WONDERFUL Easter weekend. Danny came home Friday afternoon. I had it all planned out. I picked him up while my eldest was in school and the 2 little ones were with grammy and poppy (my 3 year old came up with the poppy thing) Took him to the school to pick up our daughter. He went to her classroom to get her. I heard there were tears of excitement. They are so close. It's precious. We spent the rest of the weekend packing a few things. Sunday was church and what an amazing event that was. I just love Easter and celebrating our risen King. I still find myself in awe of the goodness and mercy our Lord God shows us. Sometimes when I think of my past life I think how blind and foolish I was. To turn a blind eye to the things people tried for a long time to show me. It's all a distant memory now. I can't imagine a moment now without the Lord leading my life and living in me. How precious a gift that is. Such peace and joy abound in my life now. Friday evening there was a showing of the movie "The Passion of The Christ" at our church. I'd seen it once before not long after I received Christ and it moved me then but this time was different. I was with friends, my husband, and family. Tears flowed freely it seemed through the whole movie. After the film was a worship time and I found myself moved to my knees in praise for the sacrifice that was given for me and those like me.

Anyhoo,

I went to YouTube to watch a video and lost my train of thoughts so I will sign off for now.

Friendship

I've been thinking about friendships. I have some very good friends. A couple I only know the voice of. Meaning we met online and have kept in contact online and over the phone. One of them I think of as one of my very best friends.
What does it mean to be a really true friend? To me it means to be able to tell my friend anything and be told anything by my friend, even if it hurts a little. If your really good friends can't tell you anything then you really aren't being a good friend then are you. Sure feathers may get ruffled from time to time but if you truly are close then you can get through it all.

When Hubby Is Gone

Why oh why are my children (almost) perfect angels when daddy is home but the minute he leaves the state they turn into devil spawn?

My husband left for Virginia Wednesday. He started at his new post today. Yesterday 2 new children moved into the house. Their names are "I don't know" and "I didn't do it" Amazingly enough they look EXACTLY like my 9 year old and my 3 year old. Amazing I tell ya.
My 9 year old decided she wanted a haircut and her sister, who is 3, cut it. Use your imagination to figure out how that came out. So off to great clips we went to "try" and fix 9 year olds hair.
Later on the new kid in the house "I didn't do it" finger painted on the bedroom wall. Thankfully is was water color and washed off. I am buying those no mess markers the first chance I get.

Meet Me On Monday

We had such a wonderful time on our trip but it's nice to be home.

1. Crunchy or soft tacos?
I like both but if they are chicken tacos I prefer them soft.

2. Do you scrapbook?
YES!!!!!!!! I love it.

3. Do you take any daily medications?
Yes a few.

4. What is your favorite sound?
My children laughing

5. Where were you born?
San Diego California

Almost 12am...

and We're still up! Can you believe it?!?! This away from the kids thing is something I could get use to. Not really. I miss my kids. I'm shocked at our up at almost 12am because at home, with 3 kids, I am usually in bed dead by 10. We are having such a good time. Did I mention we're away from the kids? Anyhoo, Last night we went to our new church for their Wednesday service. We LOVE it with a capital L O V E. We met some wonderful people. Several from the base. I am beginning to look forward to this move.

This morning we got up and checked out of our hotel and made the drive up to Washington DC. What an amazing and historic place. We did the touristy thing for a while with a group then went off by ourselves. We went to Arlington National Cemetary. What a beautiful place that is. We went to the monuments. Abe Lincoln had shifty eyes. Seriously. Have you ever been to the Lincoln memorial? No matter were you stand he's lookin atcha. I'm serious..shifty eyes. Anyhoo, We saw the capital building, the white house, the pentagon (hubby got really excited about that) (rolling my eyes) the FBI building (another excited moment for hubby) We went to the Smithsonian. That place is AWESOME! Then we went to the Vietnam war memorial. Oh Em Gee! You see hubby lost an uncle in Vietnam. He was a Marine. OohRaw! Anyhoo, It was an emotional moment for hubby. He actually called his dad and told him he was looking at his brothers (his dad's brother not his..hence his uncle) name on the wall. So sad. Then we decided it was time to just go back to our hotel and relax before dinner.

And so ends our day in Washington. Next stop...NYC!

Life Without Kids (for a week)

If you remember a few posts ago I mentioned that we're being transferred, Hubby has to report on April 1st and we'd be following later..There now that you're caught up...

Danny and I flew to Norfolk VA Sunday afternoon. Just to get him signed in and the housing process started. We will have housing by May 1st. We left the little kids home with our grown daughter. I wanted to spend this week alone with my husband. We'll be apart while he is here and I am with the kids in Washington waiting for the end of the school year.

So We've taken a tour of the base, seen where he will work, and where we will live. We've not lived on base before. This should be kind of fun. We met some of the people in our future neighborhood. Lot's of kids in our neighborhood. I am looking forward to this new adventure. Kind of sad and a little worried about leaving family behind but we're only a plane ride away right? Right.

Tomorrow we're going to explore the town. We're going to visit the church we've found to attend and check out the skating rink where our daughter will take her lessons. Thursday we are going to drive up to Washington DC and do the touristy thing and spend the night. Friday We're going to drive up to New York and do touristy things there, Spend the night and see a show, then fly home Saturday afternoon from Kennedy airport. I'm really excited about the last leg of our trip.

Follow Friday!!!

I'm getting really nervous about this weekend. My husband and I have been asked to give our testimonies in church this Sunday. I'm not really sure if I am ready to do it but how do you say no to your pastor? You just don't I guess. My husband is nervous as well. It's not easy telling people just how bad your life was at one point. It's easy to tell how, by the grace of God, your life has turned around and you've become new, but telling people where you came from is hard. I'm not ashamed of my life prior to my salvation. (for more info see the very first entry in this blog) I'm just not sure that I am ready to let all of my friends (and some people I don't even know) know all that I was. OK maybe I am making too much of it. I suppose I don't have to go into great detail but to do this honestly I think it's important to do just that...go deep. Danny and I have been discussing this and praying about it. He's even written his out already (show off) I pray for guidance and I pray for God's hand on mine as I write mine out. Giving me divine inspiration and the words to tell my story.

Moving

A few months ago my husband was notified that he was being considered for a post command. After months of waiting he was told that he was passed over. He was bummed of course but decided not to let it get him down. There are only 5 years left until retirement after all. Last week he was told that we're being transferred. I say "we" because I and the children are part of the navy as much as he is. So, April 1st he is to report to Virginia. Our new assignment. The kids and I will stay here until the end of the school year. Then make the move to join Dan. In approx. 2 weeks he and I will make a trip over and get ourselves on the list for housing. He was told that by the time the kids and I join him in June we'll have our housing. Crossing fingers here because those who know the military know they don't do things quickly...Unless you're being deployed.

I'm looking at this as a new adventure. I am a little sad to be leaving the west coast. I've only ever lived here. How different can Virginia be? There are beaches right. I'm really sad about leaving our church and all of my groups. I just hope we can find a worship home that we love and feel welcome and all that good stuff.

I love this little picture so I had to share it.

My daughter is most concern about her skating club. She is sure, without a doubt, that she won't be able to skate in Virginia. I think she researched this. I, on the other hand happen to know there is a very nice rink and I've already contacted them about her lessons, competing and skate club.

Meet Me on Monday

Good morning fellow bloggers out there.As I posted Saturday, Yesterday was my birthday and I was a little frightened by what my husband had secretly planned. Well let me put your minds at ease. It was a wonderful day. Obviously I lived through it. Ha ha. My children woke me up with lots of hugs and kisses. We went to church. Then we went and had a wonderful little lunch with my inlaws and some friends. A great time was had by all. My inlaws kept all 3 kids for the rest of the day so Danny and I could have some alone time to kick back and relax. So we played tourist in Seattle. WITH NO KIDS!!! It was a great birthday. It reminded me of when we were first dating. Only we lived in San Diego then.Anyhoo, on to Meet Me On Monday! 1. What are you wearing right now?Well it's 4:45am so I am in my jammies. 2.Do you have any freckles?nope 3.What is your favorite Lifesaver flavor?

Cherry

4.What was the last movie you saw in the theater?

Harry Potter and the deathly hallows

5.Would you rather live without tv or without music?

Tv for sure.

Happy Birthday To Me!

Tomorrow (sunday) is my birthday. #41. I'm not sure if it will be a happy birthday or not. I wasn't at all bothered about turning 40. It was a milestone. An age that, at one time in my life, I didn't think I would live to see. Turning 41, however, is a little dperessing. It means that I am "in my 40's" uggh. Can't I stay 40 forever?

My husband has some special stuff planned. He won't tell me what he has planned (which is a little frightening) Don't get me wrong. Danny usually comes up with some pretty good ideas.....for the kids. I suppose I just need to give him the benefit of the doubt. Usually he asks me what I want to do...I'm scared.

So is you don't hear from me ever again....naw it won't be so bad...I hope

How Great is Our God

I was driving home from doing some shopping on base. I had my 3 children with me. My two little ones asleep in the back seat and my 9 year old riding along side me up front. We were listening to the radio. Serius XM The Message. A Christian station for those who don't know the station. After a song the dj comes on and he says "we hear these songs so often, we know all the words but after a time we get to the point where we don't really hear the words." He goes on to say, "now sit back and just listen, don't sing along just listen to the words." He plays Chris Tomlin's How Great is Our God. I have so much to praise God for. My husband, my happy home, my wonderful children, but most of all, Christ dying on the cross. I had lived a sinful life for so long. I had no idea such Grace existed. Imagine having such love that you would give your life to save the lives of your children. I would do it in a minute for my children. I don't deserve all that I have been given. It is by the grace of God that I have a new life. I have the security in knowing my destination after my body no longer walks this earth.

A friend of mine were talking on the phone the other day and the end times came up. Do I believe we are living it. Yes. I believe we have been for a long time. Do the things happening in other parts of the world frighten me. No. I know that the Lord will come and take his church home before anything happens to this earth.

Follow Friday

Finally Friday! We have a nice long weekend planned. Hubby is off for 3 days. Woo hoo!! So we're taking the kiddos down to see some friends in Portland for the weekend. Hopefully the weather will be nice. I've spent a busy week doing my volunteer work for our church. We had a sweetheart dinner Monday night. Lucky me was the contact person for tickets. So needless to say my phone was ringing off the hook all last week. It was a huge success. We had 2 couples get engaged and several celebrating their anniversaries. It was a wonderful time. Our women's ministry is starting plans for a spring yard sale at the church. So I am going to starts playing with the fliers for our Sunday bulletins. It won't be until early April. This will be our second annual spring bazaar. Time for everyone to clean out those closets. Bring what you don't want any longer and drop it off. Heaven knows those of us with small children have a lot of clothes that our little ones have grown out of. The men's ministry is planning a father/son weekend camp out. Our son is too little, he's only a year old, but you can "adopt" a son for the weekend. We have several single moms in our church. Some of the kids have no father figure in their lives so this is a great time for fatherless boys to get some "man time" as my husband put it. They are planning a Memorial day weekend trip up to Snoqualmie. So ends the update on the goings on of my life.

Michael W. Smith - Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone) (Live)

I came to Christ a little over 3 years ago. I believe I've gone into details about how and why and what my life had been like prior. I won't go into that again. Past is past. I am a new creation made in my Lords image. I have a dear friend who has been a child of Christ most of her life and I love talking to her. Not just about general life but about life as a Christian. I'd never known such peace. God's grace has given me a new life. One thing I have found amazing is the wonderful and passionate music I have found and been introduced to. Some of it moves me to tears. It's the power of the Holy Spirit washing over me when I hear the words.

This song moves me to tears every time I hear it. Even in church.

My chains truly are gone. I've been set free by His amazing grace.

Mondays seem to come so quickly! I am feeling much better than I was in my last post Thank goodness. So lets get on with the Meet me on monday thingy. 1. What do you put on your hot dog?I like ketchup and mustard on mine. Cooked on the grill is the best. 2. Do you play Sudoku?Noooooooooo. I can't figure it out. My 9 year old can do them in about 5 minutes. Makes me mad lol 3. What is your favorite vegetable?I don't really have a favorite veggie. Can I say salad? I really like a good salad 4. Do you color your hair?no I don't...yet 5. What is your favorite brand of clothing?I don't really have a favorite. I'm not picky I'll wear anything.

When Mommy Gets Sick

The world stops in a dead halt. The last few days I have felt as if I'm coming down with a cold or some icky flu/ish thing and today it hit. I feel like road kill. Thankfully I have a husband who can cook so the children will get fed. Otherwise they might all starve. My recliner and I have grown very close these last couple hours. I have my pillow, my blankie, phone, tv remote and a thermos of hot tea. My wonderful husband dropped my 2 littlest kids at his parents for the day so I have been in and out of consciousness all day. He even made my school age kid lunch this morning. He's so wonderful. I plan on milking this just so everyone knows. I feel as if we moms deserve to milk a little and I don't mean lactating ladies ha ha..ok That wasn't really that funny but in my delirium it is ok. Let me have that one. As I was saying. I figure after years of taking care of kids, husbands, nurturing, wiping runny noses and runny butts for that matter we moms deserve to milk a little. So I intend to milk and maybe even whine a little.

Meet Me On Monday

Well I'm here. Better late than never. I would have added my link yesterday but life with 3 kids (4 if you count the husband) gets busy on Sundays. There is Church, Family time (usually lunch out with the in-laws and a fun thing the kids pick), making sure homework is done, finishing forgotten math homework, and so on. I love my life. So since I'm here lets get on with it shall we :o) 1. What is your favorite kind of fudge? Just plain chocolate! 2. Is there snow outside your window? No thank goodness but I can see the snow on Mt. Rainier 3.What is your favorite meal of the day? Dinner without question. It's our family time. Hubby is home and we all sit down together and talk about our day. 4. Do you text on your cell phone? Constantly 5. Waffles or pancakes? Depends on the day really. I like both.

Yep It's Friday!!!

It's Friday and I am linking the Java and her wonderful blog. This follow Friday thingy is so much fun! I've missed it. First let me say a great big thank you to all of you who commented on my previous post. Thank you Saimi for the welcome back! It feels good to be back. I have had a mommy free day today. My beautiful MIL took my 2 youngest kids for the day and picked my eldest up from school and is going to keep them over night. I LOVE my inlaws. They are awesome. So I called hubby, who is equally as awesome, and told him that we suddenly find ourselves kidless. I think he dropped the phone. Seriously, I heard a clunk, then he asked a silly question, "what did you do sell them off" I never laughed so hard. Scary thing is...how did he know. Hmm.ok ok I really wouldn't sell my children. Then again, on the right day, to the right buyer...nooooo lol So I called up a couple friends, who I think forgot who we are, and set up a little get together at a fantastic restaurant. We haven't been out with adults in a long time. I'm not sure I remember how to talk adult talk.

Oh My Goodness

Well now that the holidays are officially over I have time again to sit and pay attention to my lil ole blog here. Oh how I've missed you my little blog and the people who read and comment.

It all starts in October when we get ready for Halloween and our little trick or treaters. My children love dressing up and getting their bags full of yummy candy, daddy and I monitor the candy intake carefully, We don't usually take them to too many neighborhoods. We stick to Trunk or treat at our church, our neighborhood and a few places on base. All in all a good time is always had by all.

The rest of the holiday season is mixed with school programs, church programs, fall festival at church and my eldest skate club winter show, which is usually a huge production, of which I am one of the coordinators. Fun fun. My daughter has been skating since she was about 5, she's 9. She love love loves it with a capital LOVE. She lives and breaths skating. It's to the point now that we have also started ballet, I guess it helps with grace and poise on the ice blah blah blah ok. She does freestyle, is on a synchronized team and now wants to try ice dancing. Special skates for this, that and everything else. I get so confused. It's a good thing she knows what is what. I get a little freaked out about the cost when I write the check to her coach every month, pick up skates from being sharpened, or new costumes for what ever competition is coming next. but she loves it and that is what matters. My husband tells me to relax and enjoy her joy. I do believe me.

I also was on the planning committee for the fall festival. It was fantastic if I do say so myself. I cannot take all the credit because there were many people involved. High 5 to everyone.

Christmas came with a bang. We spent Christmas eve with my in-laws. We thought we would have to rent a u-haul to get all of the kids presents home. Thankfully we fit them all in the car, we strapped the kids to the roof. Christmas morning mommy and daddy were allowed to sleep in until 6am, after staying up half the night putting out santa gifts and eating cookies meant for santa and carrots meant for Rudolph and the other reindeer (I don't recommend mixing sugar cookies and carrots) Mommy and daddy awoke to little eyes peaking over the edge of the bed and pats on the cheek from little hands. We tried to ignore them..didn't work. So up we get and out to the tree we go. Little girls laughing and carrying on wakes the baby. Half an hour later everything was open and it was time for pumpkin pancakes. Have you ever had pumpkin pancakes? OMG!!! That is all I can say about that.

I have to say bless my 9 year olds heart. We were watching tv the other day and an ad comes on for the Susan G. Koman 3 day walk for the cure. She looks at me and says "mom how come we never do that?" As you may know from my older posts I am a breast cancer survivor, praise God, So I said well maybe we should start doing it. So we are registered for the Seattle 3day. Bless her little heart. I'm smiling really, kinda, ok I'm not smiling. So now I am getting together a "walk for the cure" committee at church to raise money for donations and sponsership of women/families who want to walk but can't. ok so maybe I'm not going to be as free as I thought I was. Yes I will.