Christmas Gifts

I hope everyone had a lovely Christmas and focused on the TRUE meaning! My boys got insanely too many gifts and next year we (Chad and I) will be scaling down immensely. Ultimately they just do not need that many gifts and between friends and family they will still get more than they need. They had a wonderful Christmas and loved everything from the Santa gifts to the clothes they recieved! They both have good hearts and were saying thank you after opening every gift! Chad and I were both very blessed! I got a beautiful ornament that I really wanted from Jacob and he picked out these beautiful hand painted bells (the ornament was hand painted as well). I got a Welcome sign that I wanted and great basket that I'd mentioned I liked from Jack, and a Palm Pilot from Chad!! Chad got so much! The big things from me was an Authentic German Nativity and a Artist Signed Stein (the artist also wrote Chad's name on it!) ...Jacob got him slippers he wanted and Jack got him a wallet which he told Chad he got him the day we bought it!! LOL He's 3 and knows nothing about keeping a suprise quiet! :)

The boys each get 1 Santa gift...Jacob got a Hot Wheels Terradactyl Race Track and Jack got a Thomas The Train Electric Train Set. They got a ton of other items as well, it was insanity truly! Here's some pictures from our morning!

God Bless

Ok so I'll have to post pictures later...blogger's picture option and tiny pictures are both just laoding way too slowly.

I'll post the pictures tomorrow!

Guess Who's.......................

Expecting a baby?????? We are! We're so thrilled and can't wait! I'm due August 22. I'll have a c-section, my last 3 have all been c-sections and so at this point I don't have a choice and I'm fine with that as I've had perfect and beautiful babies and just feel so blessed that God's found it his will to allow us to bring another child into this world, into our lives, and into our family.

I'll keep you updated as my pregnancy progresses. So far I'm just extra tired, but so far not feeling sick, which is nice! :) Any prayers for a gentle pregnancy and healthy baby are very welcomed!!

God Bless

Hiding God's Word Week 3

I hope you're all doing well and hiding God's word in your heart! This week's verse is one that I've known, but it's just been on my heart so much that I know this is the verse for the week.


3:16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

It's definately a shorter verse and very easy to memorize. God Bless

What Christmas Is REALLY About

It's NOT about the gifts, it's not about recieving, it's not about the shopping, it's not even about giving...it's about accepting Christ's love. It's about not only Christ's birth, not only his life, but it's about his death on that Cross on Calvary. Let us NOT forget why we have the reassurance of Eternity. Without Christ we do NOT have the security of Heaven. If you have not proclaimed Jesus Christ as your Savior, as God: I AM. If you have not accepted his FREE Gift....you have aboslutely nothing. Without Jesus you can NOT know love. He tells us that, because HE IS Love!

Hiding God's Word Week 2

How many of you memorized the Eph. 1:2? I'm thrilled to say I did!




















This weeks verse is a bit longer, but I know I can do it and I'm sure you can as well!

Proverbs 3:5-6
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, an he will make your paths straight.

Hiding God's Word: Week 1

I prayed over what verse I'd be memorizing this week and well in turn you'd be memorizing and this is the verse that my eyes showed me (GOD showed me)! I feel like it's just well perfect!

Ephesians 1:2 Grace and peace to you from the Lord our Father and our Lord Jesus Christ.

Hiding God's Word: Week 1

I prayed over this and asked GOD to lead me to the verse HE wanted me to use this week, the verse he wanted me to hide in my heart and what I hope you use as well.

Ephesians 1:2
Grace and peace to you from the Lord our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

God Bless...write this verse down, tape it up throughout your home, put it in your vehicle, place it beside your computer and anywhere you spend a good deal of your time.

God bless
Christy

Challenge

I am doing a challenge and would love to see some of you join with me! I will be memorizing one bible verse each week. I will be starting this Sunday and will share the verse here.

Let me know if you'll be joining me. I will be doing this challenge throughout the month of December. Let our focus be on the LORD and not shopping.

GOD Bless
Christy

Grab The Tissue's

I'm so thankful Chad's home this year for Thanksgiving and Christmas. I'm also thankful this song was not out last year, I'd have been a bigger mess than I was just watching this tonight! The first is the news video and the 2nd is the video of her singing without the news over her.

Indecisiveness

Ok, now I can be as indecisive as the next person, but well there's a limit. Have you ever met either IRL or online those who can never make up their mind and ALWAYS ask for opinions, yet never and I mean NEVER want to take them, make their life harder, complain, complain, complain, and then ask for more advice to fix their original problem, plus now a new one as well! Ahhhh! I can only handle so much!

Why ask for people's opinions when you've already made up your mind, but you're not confident enough, or just so needy for attention that you won't just do what you want to do in the first place. Sorry, I know here I am complaining, when without a doubt this gets on someone's nerves! LOL I try not to do it often, we all have to do it sometimes though when someone drives us bonkers.

Oh, the person I'm talking about, has an online blog that I read....lately she's been getting on my last nerve! Could you guess?! ha!

God Bless and I hope you all had a Happy Thanksgiving!

Home Sweet Home

We're back. We had a great time in Garmisch. We really love going down there. We went on a horse and carriage ride the first night, it was a surprise to the boys and Chad, of course Jack fell asleep during it. Jacob really loved it and Chad and I enjoyed it as well. The other 2 families who were with us were really nice. One of the husband's took a family picture of us, unfortunately he missed a little detail or well action that Jack was doing (see above). It was a great picture if only Jack's finger would have not been busy. :)



Tuesday we went swimming, Chad had a massage with hot rocks which he really enjoyed! We went downtown for lunch and did a little shopping and just enjoying one of the most beautiful towns IMO. We found out while on the carriage ride Monday night that the paintings that's on so many of the homes and buildings cost for just ONE picture between 20-30,000.00 Euro! They're beautiful, but my goodness!!!




This is just a picture of down the street in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, I ended up loving the sky the most in this picture! :)



This was taken once we got back to Edelweiss, I just love this picture!


Wednesday we went to Partnach Gorge. I had walked through here in August with friends when we were down there for a retreat, and wanted to take Chad and the boys. Jack ended up being scared while walking through it. I think it was the combination of the dark area's and the rushing and at times very loud river. Jacob thought it was "cool" and Chad loved it!













Wednesday night Jacob ended up sick. We're not sure if it was a nasty bug or food poisoning. Either way he didn't eat dinner. It was Tex-Mex night at the buffet resturant they have at the hotel, and he LOVES Refried Beans, this is his absolute favorite food, and he took two tiny, tiny bites and then just layed his head on the table. I knew he wasn't feeling good, but about 30 minutes after we got upstairs he got sick. He tried to get to the bathroom, but Daddy was in there and the door was closed (he was changing so we could go swimming) and before he could get the door open Jacob was sick. Poor guy. We called the front desk and they had house keeping come and steam clean the carpet. He layed down and about 8:45 he got sick again, but couldn't even lift his head in time and it got all over his side of the bed and of course we needed new sheets, but it also soaked through the mattress cover, so we called down to the front desk again and they had them bring up new bedding as well as a new mattress. I felt so bad for him, he was miserable. Jack actually fell asleep before 7 pm and he slept all night long (no nap). Jacob slept when he wasn't getting sick. Jack slept with Chad and I slept with Jacob. I was up most of the night, watching Jacob. As soon as his eyes would pop open, I'd grab the trash can. The last time he woke up to get sick was about 4:30 am. I guess we ended up getting about 3 hrs of straight sleep after that. He woke up abotu 8 or 8:30 feeling great! Thank goodness. It was a long and I mean long night. I felt horrible for him. I will say though, it's much easier having a little kid sick vs a baby or young toddler who just doesn't quite get the whole "get sick in a trash can or toilet". Jack's in that in between stage right now, where he's starting to figure out that you should do it in one or the other, but the few times he's been sick he just can't seem to make it.

Thursday we ended up going to Schloss Linderof (Schloss=Castle). It's beautiful. The castle is the only castle that King Ludwig finished and actually lived in. I do like the castle, but honestly I love the grounds. Unfortunately although it was prob. 60 degree's, being that it's November all the flowers were pulled up, the fountains were all covered so the pipes wouldn't break, and November is the month they clean the castle ( you can still tour it, just have to step around some things). Everything "extra" on the grounds was closed, well except for the pond. We still enjoyed our day, but I felt sad thad Chad didn't get to enjoy the beauty of this beautiful place. When my parents come in the spring we'll be going there then so he can see it. It's still obvious to tell that it's beautiful there, it's just very bare.





Here's a few various pictures from the week..






I love the fall colors!




The snow-capped mountains




I love how the clouds look over the mountains


Another shot of the clouds over the Alps



I really love this barn! The little details in it. I also have different features on my camera and it pulled out the greens and the rest is black and white.




Me and Chad...I love him so much and I'm so thankful he's home safe and sound!

We're Outta Here!

We're off to Garmisch (Edelweiss) for the week! I'll be back next weekend to post lots of pictures and share of our travels, which we plan to do plenty of!

New Camera!

I got a new camera yesterday! I had a Kodak Easy Share which I really liked! It took great pictures, but the other day the battery lid got broke and now of course without the help of possibly the ever classy duct tape, I don't know how it'd stay closed. We're heading to Edelweiss in Garmish next week and I was feeling a little disappointed that I was going to be stuck using Chad's camera, which although it's new it's range isn't very good and I wanted something at least to the same quality if not better. We went to Power Zone yesterday to get a gift for a friend and while in there we decided to just look at camera's! They had a couple ones I was looking at. I finally decided on the Canon Powershot A640! I love it! It's got a 10.0 mp. So far the pictures are turning out wonderfully! There are 21 different shots I can use! It's really an awesome camera and I feel like I got it at a steal for only $349.00!

Here's the link to my new camera!!
http://www.canon.co.jp/Imaging/psa640/index-e.html

Letter From Iraq to John Kerry

I got this from a friend and it's just too good not to share.



Letter From Iraq
A MARINE IN IRAQ RESPONDS TO SEN. KERRY.

{This was written by my husband, Aaron, who is currently deployed to Iraq, in defense of a recent comment made by Senator John Kerry. Pass it along, it might inspire someone else to speak up! ~ Michelle}

Yesterday John Kerry said, "You know education, if you make the most of it, you study hard, you do your homework, and you make an effort to be smart, you can do well, and if you don't, you get stuck in Iraq...

So I wrote him a letter:

I am a Sergeant in the United States Marine Corps. I am currently on my second tour in Iraq, a tour in which I volunteered for. I speak Arabic and Spanish and I plan to tackle Persian Farsi soon. I have a Bachelors and an Associates Degree and between deployments I am pursuing an M.B.A. In college I was a member of several academic honor societies, including the Golden Key Honor Society. I am not unique among the enlisted troops. Many of my enlisted colleagues include lawyers, teachers, mechanics, engineers, musicians and artists just to name a few. You say that your comments were directed towards the President and not us. If we were stupid Senator Kerry, we might have believed you.

I am not a victim of President Bush. I proudly serve him because he is my Commander and Chief. If it was you who was President, I would serve you just as faithfully. I serve America, Senator Kerry, and I am also providing a service to the good people of Iraq. I have not terrorized them in the middle of the night, raped them or murdered them as you have accused me of before. I am doing my part to help them rebuild. My role is a simple one, but important. You see Senator Kerry, like it or not, we came here and removed a tyrant (who terrorized Iraqis in the middle of the night, and raped them and murdered them). And we have a responsibility to see to it that another one doesnt take his place. The people of Iraq are recovering from an abusive relationship with a terrible government and its going to take some time to help them recover from that. We can't treat this conflict like a microwave dinner and throw a temper tantrum because we feel like its taking too long.

Senator Kerry, you don't have to agree with this war. You don't have to say nice things about those of us who choose to make sacrifices for the rights of every American rather than sit back and simply feel entitled to it. But please, Senator Kerry, if you're going to call me a stupid murdering rapist, stick by what you say. Don't tell me that I misunderstood or that you would never insult a veteran because you are one too. Having been there and done that does not give you a free pass to insult me.

My suggestion for you, Senator Kerry, is to remember that your speeches are recorded, and broadcast to us simpletons over here. You may want to write down what you want to say before you say it, maybe have somebody look at it before you say it and tell you what others might hear. Remember that we can't read your mind, if there are any misinterpretations in what you say, it's because you didn't communicate clearly.

Good luck to you Senator Kerry, if nothing else it's always entertaining to watch you try and climb out of the holes that you constantly dig for yourself.

Sincerely,
Somebody who is watching his daughter grow up in photographs so that you can have the right to say whatever you want about him.

If You Have Children You NEED to watch this

He's Home!

Waiting for Daddy!

Our Hero's of HHC are home! This is Chad's company, he's somewhere int he sea of soldiers on the far side! There's 126 soldiers thrilled to be back in the land of Germany! :)

Daddy and his boys! My mom made the boys shirts! Jack really was excited, I just couldn't seem to capture his smile! Everyone was pretty tired at this point! They didn't get home until 7:40 pm, and Chad had been up since about 4 am!








Our family together again.


















And...just for Linda....Banner Row. There are banners on the other side of the road, and much farther down the fence on both sides, but this gives you a small idea.

The banner we made tonight (it's a shower curtain!) My wonderful friend Michelle did the letters for me (bubble letters) and I brought it home and colored it in. I'm prob. going to hang it either on the scaffeling that's outside our building if it's still there (which it prob. will be) or hanging it on the outside of our building. (Linda they painted our building blue...ugh!).

I also bought a banner, that's hanging up on what I'm calling tonight "banner road"! We made a banner a few weeks ago as our FRG had a banner party. That's hanging up in the gym. We also made posters and have placed them here in the apartment and also have one we're taking with us!

We have about 12-13 hrs most likely until Chad's in our arms!!!!!!!!!!!

Chad will be home in.....

TWO DAYS!! ON Tuesday! I'm about to burst! We got officially told today! He should be home and in my arms actually in about 48 hrs from now! I'm so excited I could just burst! I'll post pictures of the home coming once he's home!

Almost Done

We're almost done! We're down to single digit numbers now in counting down until Chad's home! I'm ready and I'm excited. I have been cleaning all day and by this weekend everything should be done the way I want it. I have bought quite a few groceries so that when Chad comes home I can make him just about anything his heart desires!

Once he's done with reintergration we'll be going down to Edelweiss. We're going to be staying there for a full week. We're all looking forward to that. There's so much in that area to do and see. I'm excited to get there and wish time would just hurry up! LOL If you know anything about deployments, well any that are longer than 6 months, the last weeks are the longest and the last week itself is the absolutel longest! The days feel like weeks in themselves. We're down to that last week and oh man it's killing me to just be finished already! I think last night I missed Chad's calls too, which really makes me sad. I was talking to my friend Emily and my call waiting kept beeping, but because of the phone of the year which likes to lose it's signal every time I turn around, everytime I'd try to switch over, I'd lose the signal and by the time it was back up, who ever was trying to call had hung up. :( It happened a total of 4 times last night. I'm going to go buy a new phone today, so that this will not happen anymore, hopefully.

Ok, laundry is beckoning me, so I'm off to the basement!

My lovely find!

My new cario cabinet! The first picture shows our "old" cabinet. When Chad comes home I'm going to have him attach it to the wall, because it's not as stable as I feel it should be and I don't want it falling and breaking all the glass, but most of all hurting one of the boys or anyone else.

You can also see our birds! Tweety and Mecy. (Mecy is pronounced me C) I'm going to guess it's about 7 feet tall. I need to measure it! It's really, huge! I got it at a 2nd hand store in town.

Playing in Puddles

Ok this first picture I took of Jacob leaning on my arm! :) We were at the lastest home coming of one of our soldiers on Thursday night! Anyways, I just loved the picture of him!!


































And there's Jack my muddy little mess! he had a BLAST splashing in the mud puddles during Jacob's soccer practice on Wednesday! He found the biggest puddle and went to town, jumping up and down, running through it numerous times! He was soaked to the skin, but he loved it! Sometimes we just have to let them play in puddles. Ultimately 99% of the time them doing it, isn't oging to hurt a thing. Look at the smile on his face....how could some dirty clothes not be worth that joy?!!

School Days, Play Days

As you may know Jacob's home schooled. This is something I have felt led to do for years and Chad although initially apprehensive in the first few yrs of me feeling led, as Jacob got older he started to feel the same way and is now 100% behind US home schooling our children! I never pressured Chad, or at least hope he never felt that way. I just knew this was something GOD had layed on my heart and I wanted to obey. I did years of research, literally. (I first felt the desire 7 yrs ago when Jordyn was alive, but I was very apprehensive and honestly scared to go against the norm. My parents lovingly (HA) roll their eyes and without a doubt don't approve, but the facts are that we can't worry about how others feel about this decision. We know it's the right thing for our family. Jacob really loves it and the last month we started working daily on math. I recently ordered Singapore and Miqoun Math's, they compliment each other and after about 6 months of researching, talking to other home schooling families felt these would be the best for Jacob. For now I have a Kindergarten math that in the pictures above he's working on! He really, really enjoys math and yesterday told me that when he grows up he wants to be in the Army (nothing new), a Dr in the Army (which he later changed to Vet), and then decided he wanted to be a Scientist in the Army! I am truly loving this age! There's so much possibility and they're really starting to discover all the possibility that is out there in the world for them. I have no idea what Jacob will do and of course neither does he, but it's exciting to watch him!

I love seeing him grow into HIMSELF. He's not so much an extention of Chad and I anymore. He's Jacob and of course he always has been, but you know how when they're babies and toddlers they really are still such an extention on of you to an extent.























Now on the the "play" Jack's taking a Tumbling class. Heather (Mitchell's mom) is teaching it. He's not participating hardly at all. He's actually smiling in the bar picture, but trust me he wanted NOTHING to do with it. The parachute picture, you can't really see him, but he's sitting down on the floor, he did like when we pulled the parachute over us. When we get home he's all for doing everything that he "learned"! This past Monday we actually left 15 minutes early, because he wasn't participating anyways and I had a PWOC board meeting. When Heather walked in through the childcare room to go to the board meeting he was showing Heather how he could do flips! Next week Heather said to let Jacob participate (he has been doing school work) and hopefully Jack will follow along, we'll see. I'm hopeful! The class only goes to the end of October, it's once a week on Mondays from 9-9:45.

Well, I'm off! Jacob has soccer practice and I have to get both boys changed into sweats. It's been raining off and on all day and unless it's actually storming, they will practice. Yippee! LOL Jack will love getting to play in mud puddles. Hopefully it won't rain for the hour we're at practice! We won't be going over to the park this week, since it is wet though!

Slide Show

Here's a slide show I made of Jordyn.

To Scott

Thank you Scott for sharing the one link with me (military.com) the other blog is mine. I had no idea military.com had my blog on theirs.

God Bless and Thank you

Respecting Someone's Words

I am a little upset as well as humbled. I got a call from our FRSA this morning saying that she read something I had written and that it was beautiful titled "Memorial", it's the entry I wrote about the last soldier from our unit who was killed (on 9-11). Someone who is either new to my journal/blog or who's been here for a while took my entry and posted it elsewhere. My name is not anywhere on it and I was never asked permission if my words and feelings could be shared else where. If asked I would most likely give permission, but and this is why I'm a little upset...I was not asked. These words may not be legally copyrighted, but they are my words. No one else can write a journal entry on here, just comments. I would apperciate if anyone reads this and wants to share what I've written that they please come and ask first. Yes this is for now a public journal, and I really do not want to have to make it private because of fear that someone may take what I've written and possibly use it as their own or just not give ownership.

Often when you read an article or poem, etc there's no author, it's because someone took it without permission.

So, if you did take my entry and post it somewhere else, please let me know where and who you are, not because I'm angry, I'm not. I'm honestly humbled that you felt my small entry was worth sharing, but so that I can put my name on it. Those are my feelings and it mentions MY husband, so if there's something out there from me I want my name with it.

I hope this makes sense. I don't want anyone to think that I'm mad, I'm truly not. I guessI was just really taken back. I never had any intention for anyone here where I live to read my words. It's not because I write negatively about them, just this is something of mine that I don't go and advertise so much to a lot of people I see face to face on a semi-daily basis.

I read many journals/blogs on many different forums. One that I read her husband is in law enforcement and every once in a while he has to work late shifts. Tonight I read her journal and she's complaining about how her dh is working late and how she's just dying for him to get home, since she hasn't seen him this morning. It got me to thinking how so many really do live in a nice bubble more or less. We all have our hardships, and I do realize that when someone's not used to her husband being gone that often, when they are working late or have to go out of town for a few days it's not easy for them. At the same time I wonder do they EVER think how it must be for a military wife who's husband's been deployed for a year (or very close to it)?

I of course can't imagine life where Chad doesn't deploy, go out to the field, go TDY, etc at different points in the year. There's never been a point in our marriage where Chad's not at least went out to the field for a few days, even when Jordyn was going through treatment (tx) he went out to the field for a few days. When he's home for well more than a year's time (no deployments) I am often ready for him to go out to the field for a week or a few days anyways. I can even handle up to a month, after that though it does just stink. We get used to our routine, and there's actually a transitional period once he comes home (from a deployment). I just can't imagine what life will be like when he doesn't leave either for the field, TDY, or deployment once he's retired. We have a few yrs still until then, but it is something I think about! I'll be the wife complaining that her husband's always there! LOL

On another note, I had a nice evening...it was really a good way to end an emotional day. I had 2 friends over for dinner, both are in my unit. One has a little girl who's almost 9 months old, who's just beautiful! I made roast, carrots, potatoes, noodles, and home made bread. It was a great dinner, but most of all it was great company. I think for the next 6 wks until Chad comes home I'm going to have someone over for dinner once a week. It'll be a great way for me to stay on top of our home, plus it's nice to have another adult over to talk with.

Well, I'm off! I think tomorrow I'm going to get some scrapbooking done. If I don't get any done during the day, I'll do it after the boys go to bed. Jacob has school work tomorrow during nap time. So depending on how much help he needs, I maybe can get part of a page done. I have to get more school books ordered tomorrow. We're starting on his kindergarten math, I bought a book a while back that he's working out of, but it's not challenging enough for him. We're actually going to be working out of 2 different books. Miquon and Singapore. They complement each other, and I truly believe Jacob will be challenged in a great way! We're also working hard on writing and reading. I haven't been focusing on him doing science right now, we'll get into that once Chad's home. We're also working on memorizing bible verses as well.

God Bless

Memorials

The memorial service for Spc. Harley Andrews was at 11:00 this morning. His beautiful wife was there, along with her mom and brother. We all filed in after they did and sat down the service started. It's rather frightening that the words coming out of our Rear D Captain's mouth is becoming familiar, as he starts the service the same way the last 2 were started. I couldn't help from looking at this fallen hero's wife. She's so young. You just really don't understand. She couldn't be more than 22 yrs old if that. They have a 14 month old son, Ayden. She sat there weaping, and how do you not cry when you see someone's heart literally breaking right in front of you? Well I couldn't hold the tears back.
In April, Spc Andrews had written in the Battalion Newsletter. He described how his job of finding IED's were keeping other soldiers safe, and how he was proud of what he was doing, because he was preventing soldiers from getting injured or dying and that he was saving families from heartache. He was killed by an IED.
After the service we gave our condolences to his wife, and then someone went and got precious Ayden from the nursery. You don't know how beautiful this little boy is, or how heart breaking it is to me that this precious little boy will NEVER get to know his Daddy. It just isn't right. He toddled around without a care in the world, as literally everyone doted on him. He was probably hugged and kissed more times than he had been his entire life. He also got to eat German pastries, which he REALLY, REALLY liked and was not happy if when he was done with one, he wasn't handed another immediately. At one point, he was walking around with the little handout they give you, it had his Daddy's handsome face on the front and he was walking around pointing at his Daddy saying "Dada" then kissing it and then hitting himself in the face with it. He was completely oblivious to the heartache and life changes surrounding him.
It's very humbling to experience what we have experienced 3 times since July. Today was by far the hardest memorial service to attend, because this Brave soldier's wife was there. She's the first one who was at a memorial service. The last one we had only one soldier's wife was in the area, but she's a German national and she was/is ANGRY at the US Army. I can't say I blame her, but it does make me sad that she wasn't able to see that we do care and ache for her.
I did not know Spc. Andrews or his wife. Haley Andrew's is living I think every deployed spouses worst nightmare and greatest fear. We have 6 weeks left aprox. and this happened. I ask that you all pray for this young wife and mother. That she feels GOD's hand covering her every single day and that although there will no doubt be horrible days, that eventually she'll start finding reasons to smile again, that the thought of her husband will bring tears of joy over sadness, eventually.
I think the quiet echo of words that came from all of us other spouses was "just let us get through the next 6 weeks with nothing else happening and get them home". Our soldiers are the absolute best. They have found MORE IEDS than ANY OTHER UNIT through out this war! That is truly amazing and something to be proud of. Now though it's time to just come home, get out of Iraq safely and back into our arms.
I also found out that one of the soldiers who died in July, his family is planning on coming over here when our soldiers return. I can not imagine the heart ache. I have no doubt they NEED to do this FOR THEM. I ask that you pray for the Lidell family. I don't believe that we ever have "closure". I honestly can't stand that word when it comes to grief. We have a right to be sad, angry, etc. There is absolutely NO TIME LINE for grief, yet so many seem to think there is or should be. Of course most of them have never lost a loved one unexpectantly or just simply too soon.
I'm proud of my soldier. I love him more than I can possibly explain and I honestly don't ever want to know the pain the wives who've lost their husband's in this war have. I am ready for Chad to be back home, safe, sound, and where he belongs.

These Days

We all have them. We all want them to just stop. I'm in them right now....it's one of those days. I'm exhausted. Mostly mentally and emotionally, but also physically. I think when your mind and heart at at their breaking point, it just takes a toll on you physically. Yesterday was already an emotional day I think for our nation just in general, then I found out our unit lost another soldier. That really seemed to be the kicker for me. Simply put, I'm ready for my husband to come home. I miss him. I miss his support, his face, his arms around me. I miss him being here, just his physical presence. I miss him helping out around here so it's not all on me.

Anyone that TRULY knows me, knows cleaning house is one of my least favorite things to do in this world. I really, really do not like to do it. I know there's someone out there saying "who does", trust me I seem to be surrounded by those women who do. Everywhere we live GOD places "those" women in my life! LOL Oh but I am just NOT one of those women and honestly I don't have the desire to be. BUT I do have the desire to have a nice, organized, clean home. It's clean right now, but organized not so much. I feel the need to get rid of a lot of things. I guess you could say a fresh start with things. I honestly don't see myself as materialistic. I want the things we have to be in nice condition, but I'm not someone who feels the need to have everything, to have the best of everything. I don't rush right out to get the newest and latest gadget. I just don't see the point. Eventually the majority of things are going to wear out (for the simple fact that most things are just not made to last anymore). I just want things more simplified.

Anyways....today we had a waste of my time briefing, for 1 1/2 hrs. The boys went with me and did really well. But my goodness it just dragged on forever and ever and in the end I got nothing out of it other than the fact that I just wasted 1 1/2 hrs of my life, of nap time for Jack and school time for Jacob. I was pretty aggrevated by the time we got home. We had another meeting tonight, I got to stay a whopping 5 minutes, because my 5 yr old decided it was time to pop one of his attitudes. He did not want to stay at the CDC center. I was furious and he got to learn what it's like to go to bed at 6:45 pm! Lucky him, huh? I get online and my husband's online and offers exactly NO support at all. That was the lovely topper of my evening. I just was ready to explode by the time I walked away from the computer.

I wish I could find the words for the rest of the day. I'm sure to an outsider looking in they'd think my day was fine. It's all the emotions inside though. I'm just worn out. I am ready for a break. I told my husband I'd love to be able to just run away for a few days once he's home. I can't and I won't, but a girl can dream. I know before I know it, Chad will be retired from the Army. The boys (and any future children) will be grown up, and I'll wonder how the time past by so quickly. It's already passing by quickly. It just seems like the great days fly by and the not so great, drag on and on and on.

So it's one of those days for me. I'm actually thinking I'm going to head to bed early tonight! I have PWOC in the morning!! It's our fall kick off. I've decided what book study I'm going to be in: "Lies Women Believe". I'm excited. I have already started reading some of the book and find myself just pulled into it. I look forward to being convicted, finding ways to change and live as God wants me to live.

Good night. I am prayerful that tomorrow will be a better day. That I will be a better woman, child of GOD, mother to my children, teacher to Jacob and Jack, and wife to Chad.

Where Were You When The World Stopped Turning?

The title today of course is a song title by Alan Jackson. Today here on post we participated in what other communities in the states will be doing, through "America Supports You".com, we did a Freedom Walk. For Linda :) We walked from the Elementary School down Beach Street, in front of the high school and then took a left at the light, down to the Recycling Center, back up the street to Memorial Park. We had a small ceremony in the park. Col. Gatto spoke, Brenda S. spoke (who organized the event), and the Ele. Principal spoke. When Col. Gatto was speaking there were tons of school age children there and talked about how many of them were either babies or so young they don't remember the events. It's hard to imagine that they don't remember a time before "Homeland Security" "Terror Alerts", etc I'm raising children in truly a different world than I grew up in. Jacob asked a lot of questions when we got home about what happened 5 yrs ago and so I told him some things. He got teary eyed and said it made him sad that so many people died. We talked a lot about Flight 93. I think it seemed almost amazing to him that those people chose to crash the plane. It is amazing, the true sacrifice they made. I can't imagine the terror they must have felt knowing that most likely they were not going to survive, yet being willing to do it so that evil could not hurt even more.

I was driving to work that day, after dropping off Jacob at my friends house (I'd given my 2 wks notice the day before). On the radio they said a plane had went into the first tower, by the time I got into work the second tower had hit. I don't remember what time it was, but I was sitting around ( I worked in a bank) with my coworkers, we were all in shock, when they announced a plane had hit the Pentagon. Terror hit me then, because we had friends who we'd been stationed with at Fort Belvoir who worked there. A lady who I worked with grew up in NYC and her brother still lived there and worked in one of the towers, she was truly paniced and of course went home and continued to try and call. She finally heard from her 3 or 4 days later. He didn't have to be work until 10 that day, so he hadn't even left for work yet.

I went and got Jacob at noon from my friends who was watching him for me until I quit working (the woman who had been watching him was well an idiot and had no business watching any child), and took him to my neighbors. Normally from the bank to where my friend lived off post it took 15 minutes, it took me nearly 1 hr to get off post and it took over 2 hrs to get back on post. I dropped Jacob off at my neighbors, and went back to work, not that there was anything to do. Our bank and the branch literally had NO customer's that day. The commissary ended up closing early, as did the PX because there was simply no business of course...everyone was glued to their tv's at home, if they weren't at work themselves.

That night I sat in my living room floor rocking Jacob back and forth. Chad was in Kuwait at this point, he'd only been there for not quite a month. I was so scared of the unknown. Not knowing what was going to happen with Chad and their unit. I think it was 4 days until Chad was finally able to call, and it was for I think a whopping 2 minutes, but everyone got the same amt of time just to for everyone to hear their loved ones voices and then it was the next soldiers turn.

I look at Jacob and think how he was this little tiny baby who was just crawling around and now he's this 5 yr old little boy. I know this day is one of those days we live with that will stay with us for the rest of our lives.

ALAN JACKSON LYRICS"Where Were You (When The World Stopped Turning)"
Where were you when the world stopped turning
that September day
Out in the yard with your wife and children
Working on some stage in LADid you stand there in shock at the site of
That black smoke rising against that blue sky
Did you shout out in anger
In fear for your neighbor
Or did you just sit down and cry
Did you weep for the children
Who lost their dear loved ones
And pray for the ones who don't know
Did you rejoice for the people who walked from the rubble
And sob for the ones left below
Did you burst out in pride
For the red white and blue
The heroes who died just doing what they do
Did you look up to heaven for some kind of answer
And look at yourself to what really matters
I'm just a singer of simple songs
I'm not a real political manI watch CNN but I'm not sure I can tell you
The difference in Iraq and Iran
But I know Jesus and I talk to God
And I remember this from when I was young
Faith hope and love are some good things he gave us
And the greatest is love
Where were you when the world stopped turning that September day
Teaching a class full of innocent children
Driving down some cold interstate
Did you feel guilty cause you're a survivor
In a crowded room did you feel alone
Did you call up your mother and tell her you love her
Did you dust off that bible at home
Did you open your eyes and hope it never happened
Close your eyes and not go to sleep
Did you notice the sunset the first time in ages
Speak with some stranger on the street
Did you lay down at night and think of tomorrow
Go out and buy you a gun
Did you turn off that violent old movie you're watching
And turn on "I Love Lucy" reruns
Did you go to a church and hold hands with some stranger
Stand in line and give your own blood
Did you just stay home and cling tight to your family
Thank God you had somebody to love
I'm just a singer of simple songs
I'm not a real political manI watch CNN but I'm not sure I can tell you
The difference in Iraq and Iran
But I know Jesus and I talk to God
And I remember this from when I was young
Faith hope and love are some good things he gave us
And the greatest is loveI'm just a singer of simple songs
I'm not a real political manI watch CNN but I'm not sure I can tell you
The difference in Iraq and Iran
But I know Jesus and I talk to God
And I remember this from when I was young
Faith hope and love are some good things he gave us
And the greatest is love
The greatest is love
The greatest is love
Where were you when the world stopped turning that September day

Ticking of the Clock

I'm hopeful that tonight I can get to sleep earlier than last night. I didn't fall asleep until nearly 4:30, well that was the last time I saw the clock, I believe it was 4:18 am. Yes I was awake past 4 am. Insomnia has plagued be since Jordyn died. After she died it was most definately the worst. I just could not sleep at night. I'd normally just kill the time online and actually met my wonderful Kelly(2) through an online support group for parents who've lost a child to cancer. Kelly and Tami were there every night. We lost our sweet children all with in a two months span of each other (Kelly and I lost ours with in days of each other). Those long nights, they were there for me though. I honestly can't remember how late we normally sat up on the computer, I know after midnight,especially in that first year when Tami and I were pg with our boys...Kelly was right there.

There were many nights I would be on the computer at 6 am still when Chad got up for PT. I always felt bad, because he just wanted me to sleep next to him, and yet I couldn't fall asleep. I was just wide awake. I'd normally sleep for a couple hours in the morning, normally wake up when he came home from PT, then sleep off and on and be "up" between noon and 2 pm, although there were days I'd just lay in bed still not being able to sleep well.

I had maybe a year where I was doing a little better, getting to bed around 1 am or so, but it didn't last long and the insomnia got worse and worse. Last night was one of the worst nights I've had with this in quite a while. I was talking to an old neighbor about this a while back (it was about 2 am here when she was online and we were chatting) she asked why I was still up and I told her and the whole 2 yrs we were neighbors the only time she ever stayed up past 11 pm (and that was late for her!) was when they had friends from church over for dinner and just an over all get together. Otherwise, she was normally a 10 pm in bed kind of woman. Anyways, she tells me "yeah I deal with insomnia too, but I just get in bed and make myself sleep." Seriously if it were only so easy! I wish I could get into bed and just "make" myself go to sleep. I've just gone to bed many times and will just lay there, wide awake, praying for sleep to come to me.

Tonight I'm hoping I can get to sleep. It's already 2 am and I do feel a little tired, so I'm hopeful! We have cleaning to do tomorrow, finish putting up laundry, finish laundry in general, finish cleaning the boys room, the kitchen (just need to mop), and finish cleaning off the table, and clean the floors. It's I guess you could say "fall cleaning" for us tomorrow. We're having a BBQ with friends tomorrow evening. I will also be watching a baby I've watched off and on for the last 9 months or so. He'll soon be going to the states to spend time with his dad (who as far as I know he's never met!...Linda it's DJ and his mom is letting his dad take him back to the states!!!!). It'll be nice to get to see him for a few days for the last time.

Well say a prayer that I can get to sleep and get at least 6 hours of sleep, it'll definately be better than the 4 I got last night.

A Breathtaking View of Grace

This is from the devotional that I read every night. This was from August 28, which is my Jack's birthday and it just really touched me and I wanted to share.

"From the fullness of his grace we have all recieved one blessing after another". John 1:16

There are times in my life when I am breathless. It may come when someone gives me a gift I never expected. At other times it comes from seeing an incredible painting or from reading a beautiful story. And, of course, there is always that moment when I see a "breathtaking view" of nature.

I can feel that way spiritually at times. Consider the grace of God in John 1:16. Now that's breathtaking!

I've grown to see grace on its own as part and parcel of our incredible Lord. His grace saved me. His grace sustains my life. His grace showers and sun on the good and the evil. His grace withholds judgement on nations. Inexplicable, His grace. But I accept it and live on.

But grace upon grace?! I'm floored. What can I say? His grace upon grace not only lets me live, His grace lets me serve, it lets me worship, it lets me take His name as my own, it called me by name, it grants me fullness of life as John says.

His grace upon grace is too much for me. Sometimes I cry out for God to remove it because there is no way I deserve such grace. At that very moment His spirit says, "I'm glas you see your complete dependence on Me. Now, loosen your limbs. Clear your throat. I've got more work for you to do. And more grace."

My breath restored, I live and move again until another day when He takes my breath again.

Lord, You are too good to me. I don't deserve even the simple pleasures of life, let alone Your bountiful grace. It's too much. But teach me how to move according to that grace. For by it You will be glorified and I shall rejoice.

From: Diamonds in the Dust: 366 Sparkling Devotions by: Joni Eareckson Tada

(If you're looking for a wonderful devotional, I highly recommend this one)

Opportunity to Help Soldiers Returning From Iraq!

I just sent this out via email and hope that those who didn't get it in their email box will pray about helping, pass it on to friends and family so they can pray about and hopefully help us! Thank you and God Bless Christy



Hi I'm sending this out to many of you in hopes that you'll find it in your heart to give to our unit's single soldiers. We have I believe it's 80 some single soldiers just in our company, we are planning currently to supply new sheets, pillows, and little goody basket, and personal hygiene items for them for their first night back.

If you're interested in helping welcome home the Headquarters Company of 54 Engineer Bn single soldiers home, please respond to me. We're accepting sheets, pillows, checks, & personal hygiene items. We know it's probably easier to just write a check which I can let you know who to make the check out to. We will happily take pictures of the soldiers rooms.

Our soldiers will be home the last 2 weeks of October! We are definitely excited, and we're down to aprox. 8 weeks until they come home. I hope you'll find it in your heart to help us wives out as we try to make the first couple nights for the soldiers home as comfortable possible. They do all have sheets, but they've been packed up for a year and will be smelling musty and need to be washed, so it's nice for them to come home and find a nicely made bed and comfortable new pillow to sleep on!

Email me: My3gifts@aol.com

If you know anyone else who you think would like to help (friends or family) PLEASE share my email address with them and have them email me! If you can not please just be in prayer that we're able to get enough donations so we can do this for our soldiers...the least we can do is give them a set of clean sheets and a pillow to sleep on after sleeping in the desert, on a flimsy mattress about an inch thick, and working every single day for the past year.

Thank you and God Bless
Christy....Proud Wife of my Soldier Chad 10 months down...2 to go!

Jack is 3

Jackson turned 3 today! I can't believe my baby is 3! He's so different from his brother, but they're best friends. I feel so blessed to have my boys love each other so much!
We had his party on Saturday and he had a blast! All the pictures here are from Saturday. We had it at the Yellow Ribbon Room, which was perfect! I didn't have to clean my house and get all stressed over that and clean up there was simple as can be!





Jackson's showing off Fergus, who's one of the many trains in the Thomas line. He's crazy about Thomas! Today he got his big gift....a Train table! My friend Julia had it and her kids have hardly ever played with is, so she was going to sale it and when I offered to buy it, she gave me a great deal on it! It's in perfect condition and Jack loves it! He was so excited he could hardly talk! So he'll be getting lots of Thomas trains and tracks for his new table!




This was the popular gift on Saturday. Jack went crazy over his new Superman!

















Jack opening his big Thomas gift from Mamaw and Papaw! He loved it and it's already been played with many times! LOL I love that little smile on his face! It just captures his orniness so perfectly! LOL











Here's his wonderful cake! I hated cutting it, it was so cute! My friend Julia just makes the best cakes! She did a wonderful job on his cake, it tasted it so good!








I still need to get the pictures from today/his actual birthday downloaded from my camera. I'll try to do that tomorrow so I can share those on here too! :)

God Bless

Numb

I know this feeling, I've felt it more in my life than most women my age ever have. The numb feeling is not a bad thing, so don't think it is. It's a feeling I truly believe God gives us to get through those horrible days that we have to after someone we love dies and we have so much to take care of. When Jordyn died, we flew from Va to Kansas with in 28 hrs of her death. She died on a Monday and on Tuesday we planned her funeral, it was just something Chad and I could not bring ourselves to do while she was alive....some parents of children who are dying can, some can't...there is NO right or wrong way, you do what you can.

We went in on Tuesday, my parents there to support us, but they kept quiet as Chad and I made all the decisions. Her funeral was just as we wanted, I can say now over 6 yrs later there's nothing I'd have changed about her funeral. We picked her casket, which was a beautiful white casket, with silk lining and a beautiful little silk pillow with ruffles on the edges. She was a very girly-girl and had she been alive, she would have loved it. I know this may sound morbid, but well this is part of my reality, my life, and at times I just have to go through it in my head. Her casket had angels on every corner, they were little/petite so beautiful and perfect for our precious girl.

So what has made me go back there tonight? My uncle. My dad is #5 out of 12 siblings. His oldest brother who was the 2nd child, died yesterday morning at 8:10 am. My dad was holding his hand. What a precious gift my dad will have forever, to know that the last person to feel him alive was him. They were very close. For a large family, we really are close. I can still hear my Uncle Duane singing "Go Tell It On the Mountain, Over the hills and everywhere, go tell it on the mountain" or "She'll be coming around the mountain when she comes" those two songs are just stuck in my head with his beautiful baritone voice singing them.

I talked to my parents today. They were getting ready to go to the funeral home for the families first viewing. I know that had to be so difficult for all of them. Ten of the 12 siblings would be going and my Grandma along with spouces and I'm sure cousins (I'm thinking my brother, but honestly not sure forgot to ask). It honestly feels so unreal. I just can't imagine going back home and him not being there. He and my grandma bought the house I grew up in from my parents when my parents built a new house that was 1/4 mile off the road (my grandma's house is right by the road), they bought the house 7 yrs ago. Dad said that Duane made them laugh many times that last day of his life, but he said there were a lot of hard times too. I'm truly thankful they all have those moments of lightness to go back on. I kept crying when talking to my dad and his voice kept cracking. Jacob talked to him and said "Papaw, I'm so sorry that your brother, Uncle Duane died. I'll miss him". My dad had to get off the phone. For over a year now, we've known Duane was going to die. A good amount of that time, he had a good quality of life, and I'm so thankful for that.

It honestly doesn't seem real to me, being in Germany definately helps that feeling. It's hard. Even though I've buried my own child because of cancer, I have no idea what to say to my Grandma. I am waiting to call her until everyone's left and she's left to the reality that her child is really gone. I don't think it matters how many yrs or how prepared you are. The fact is we're not supposed to bury our children. EVER. My grandpa died over 27 yrs ago, for the first time in 7 yrs she'll be living alone again. I'm thankful my dad and brother are less than 1/2 mile from her, but I worry about her. She's going to be 80 this year and this past yr really took it's toll on her. I didn't think we'd go back to the states in this first year, but my heart's starting to tell me that I need to start praying and listening if God thinks I should go back to visit my grandparents (my mom's dad is alive as well). I don't think I'd ever be able to forgive myself if I never saw either of them again. I love my grandparents so much and although I know long before I'm ready they will be in Heaven, I want more time with them.

Uncle Duane....I love you and I'll miss you. I'm so thankful you're painfree and in Heaven with our Lord now. You will NEVER be forgotten.

My Uncle

My uncle died this morning. Please keep our family in your prayers. My mom called me about 15 minutes after he died. She said it was very peaceful. My dad was holding his hand and the last person he talked to was my grandma, telling her he loves her. Most my dad's siblings were there all the day before and all night. Everyone was able to say goodbye to him. I truly can't imagine going home and him not being there. Every family gathering memory he's there. I'm thankfuly he went peacefully, he'd been in some terrible pain the day before, but thankfully they were able to get it under control. He sang some yesterday evening, got to a point where he was loopy (because of one of the meds he was on), was actually giggling and mom said everyone else couldn't help from giggle as well with him. I'm truly thankful they have those memories to hold onto. I'm sure my Grandpa and Jordyn welcomed him to Heaven. It just doesn't seem real to me.

Venting

Ok I'll start off nice and go into venting soon, oh I promise. VBS is almost over. Thankfully. I will say that the 8 months give or take of Awana is FAR LESS exhausting than the 3 hrs a day of VBS is. I'm truly wiped out. We ended up having a lot of teens volunteer, which in a way is great, because they're also hearing about Jesus, granted most if not all of them know him, and hopefully have given their life to him, but lets just say that a good amount of them think it's 3 hrs of social time. I seem to have a couple rather popular teens helping me out in my group as crew leaders so I have ended up with teen boys (who want to goof off) and teen girls who just want to talk join us. Today I pretty well had it and talked to the director over the Ele. age kids and told her that, and she said to feel free to just kick them out and if they don't like it and want to give attitude to tell them they can either see her or just go home, but that she's standing behind me 100%. Craft time seems to be the worst time these teens "join" us. This is also the time the crew leaders needs to be helping the kids out the most. The lady who is leading crafts is great and while I was helping kids the other day, she walked in (she was late) and got after a girl who was actually instigating the younger ones to misbehave. It was rediculous. So tomorrow, the last day I will NOT be nice. I warned my crew leaders that if their friends came in, they WILL be kicked out of the room. I also reminded them that they're crew leaders and that they need to be helping the kids or them being with us is pointless. I have honestly really great crew leaders in adults and teens, the 2 adults I have both said they'll HAPPILY kick the extra teens out (lol) they've been getting on their nerves as well. Otherwise, it's really been a great week for VBS. We have some great kids in our group, and I pray that at least a few of them are close to giving their hearts to Jesus who have not yet.

Ok, now with my vent. I post on a board that I've been posting on since I found out I was pregnant with Jack. It's definately had plenty of fights, disagreements, and just plain ugliness. There's also been amazing friendships made, bonds, and just pure caring. I've also been saddened by the women who just simply deny GOD. They do not believe there even IS a God...yes true athiests. One woman her mother was a devout Christian, but because GOD did not cure her mother from her breast cancer, and she went to be with him, there's obviously NOT a GOD. @@@@@@@ I've prayed for her, but I struggle with liking this woman. So anyways a person brought up a Pagan way of finding out if you're having a boy or a girl and asked the board what we thought about it. I said it wasn't up to stars and charts, it's only up to GOD. Of course this woman who I just spoke of a moment ago said "actually it's all up to the male". One I know my science and 2. It's STILL Ultimately UP TO GOD. He knows WHEN everything is going to happen, etc. Then a person who's proclaimed she's a Christian says that we should respect everyone's different beliefs and that just because "S" doesn't believe in GOD doesn't mean we should push our beliefs on her. What????????? I am just utterly disgusted. This is what we're dealing with ....PC with Christians. I'm not going to play that game. I just can't. It just watched a video last night and it talked about how many Christians today are more worried about being Politically Correct than standing up for Christ and God definately showed me that tonight. I'm honestly still so angry I can't see straight.

At what point are people going to realize that being PC is NOT going to get them to Heaven? I'm just honestly disgusted and furious right now. WHEN do people think it's ok to stand up for Christ? In church, not in quite a few. Definately not in business, because you'll be infringing on someone elses rights and beliefs, and rarely in one on one conversations.

I'm starting to shake just thinking about it again. AHHHHHHHHHHHHH I want to scream and tell them how STUPID they all are and that if they don't get their butts in gear and realize that the ONLY WAY to HEAVEN is through Jesus Christ...they're going to spend an eternity in Hell. Why doesn't Hell scare more people? It should. It's not this rediculous "hell" people have conjured up in their tiny little brains, this is eternity of true and utter misery. Any misery we've felt physically or emotionally has NOTHING on what an Eternity in Hell is going to be like. I know I should feel more pity for them, I do pity them. I'm also just ticked though. I just think for so many they're not going to get it until it's too late.

We have VBS this week! I'm so excited! We spent our afternoon decorating the gym and rooms we'll be using for the week. The older kids got to help! Jacob loved it, he helped one lady make a cross and then he came and helped cut out cactus's, tape them and flowers up, and helped move out mats out of the room too. He did so great with another little boy (who's new the area).

I know it's going to be a great week and I'm really looking forward to the week! Jacob's so excited! He wanted to look in my bag to see everything we're going to use for this week! I didn't let him, but he's so excited either way! LOL :)

The childcare is also doing something special for the little ones everyday. They'll get a craft to do everyday, outside time, a movie, playtime/free time, and snack time of course. Everyday has a different theme. Jack's excited about it! I think he'll have a great time!

Have a great week! I know we will be!