Celebrating Today....

 43 years of wedded bliss

  Okay , so maybe everyday was not total bliss, but  the fact that we still reside in the same residence says that we deserve a pat on the back!!  Even my niece finds it surprising that people actually make it that length of time....so kudos to us!

And we shared our special day today with all Americans who devote this Thursday to food, family, and acknowledging all our blessings.  Research tells me that it was in 1789 that George Washington declared a day every year be devoted to giving thanks for our gifts and our plentiful harvests.  George...for that idea we are forever grateful!!!

So, celebrate and give thanks we did....because George said it should be done!

And now that the food is all consumed, kitchen cleaned, and we have returned home to relax and end the day with a little football...let me say I am doing so in the typical "carb coma".

Why do we find it necessary to stuff our face with food that tastes so good while we are consuming it and then makes us feel so bad when we finish?  It is the great American way!

I suffer for days after the meal with the feeling of extra fluff around the middle....pure misery.

I only have 27 days until I have to repeat the process with the same meal on Christmas.  This is not a good time to begin my holiday baking!

I guess I do not need to repeat that I am stuffed...and thankful for that because tonight I know that not everyone is blessed to have an overabundance like we do.

  I am glad to have family to celebrate with, even if we were missing at least half of our clan this year.

 I am declaring tomorrow a day of rest and relaxation.  

I am not doing any shopping tomorrow unless it is via the internet.  Black Friday has just never called my name. The fact that Black Friday now begins on Thanksgiving Thursday gives me extra cause to revolt.  To even think that the need to purchase anything would interfere with a day of thanks  is something that would surely send America's forefathers over the edge.

AND

I hope that your day was as blessed as our day was and that we all wake up tomorrow and find that all that extra fluff around the middle has magically disappeared.

Off To Africa.....

After two months of mentally preparing, weeks of goodbye dinners and outings, multiple sessions of family photos, and tearful goodbyes...Tim boarded the plane (after a brutal weather delay) and is off to his new home in Djibouti.

I have done some research and what I know is it Camp Lemonier lacks what we all know as the comforts of home.  Tim  (and most probably a roommate) will be residing in a 7x20 foot pod that most of us recognize as a storage building.  It has a front door and an air conditioning unit to give relief from the 100 plus degree temps.   Roads are shared with camels and donkeys and dust is your everyday friend.  Lubbock only thinks they understand dust storms.  It is going to be a new and different life.  It gives credence to the much used phrase "Join the Navy...see the world".  I am quite sure he could do without seeing this particular part of the world but his input was not requested.

Back here at home, we will do everything we can to make sure Mandy and the girls are taken care of.  

The holidays this year will be different.  Though I understand separation, because Tim was gone for  14 years, we never had a Christmas without all of the kids home.  We might have celebrated a few days late but we celebrated together.
Today I am curled up on the couch while the weather outside just screams....STAY INSIDE...trying to feel optimistic.  This time next year this phase of Tim and Mandy's life will be over.  The girls will have their daddy-o back and things will be normal again. Tim will have another set of experiences to add to his resume and Mandy can pat herself on the back for being the backbone of the family here at home.
I think we will just cue the old ballad from Tony Orlando and Dawn and "Tie a Yellow Ribbon on the Old Oak Tree"....and perhaps we will be able to untie it just  little earlier than we expect.....
MAYBE
May the God of hope fill you all with joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope and the power of the Holy Spirit
       Romans 15:13

Because Of The Leaves.....

 Please blame this whole post on the fact that I have moved my life into "pause" mode. I have made a mental note each morning not to be in a hurry and not to adhere to any list...except a grocery list, because without that I make way to many unnecessary trips to Kroger and run my grocery bill up to astronomical levels.  I am bound and determined to "stop and smell the roses" or in this case...drive and notice the leaves.

 It is quite possible that in years past I have driven past these same trees and not noticed how pretty they are.  I am sure that they don't come close to those along the East Coast but since I have never been I am totally satisfied with the brilliance of the Bradford Pear!

All of these introductory sentences just to say that a week before Thanksgiving I am in total grateful mode.  Thank you, Father Timothy, for the sermon to the children in church this morning on gratitude.  I was listening too!

So my grateful list goes something like this.....

*Faith, renewed faith.  It is at the top of my list of blessings.

*My precious family and the tenacity, courage, and strength they have always shown.

*I am healthy...a year ago I was not and I am so thankful for good doctors.

*Old friends, Whataburger lunches, and Bunko.

*My "phone a friend" who always listens to my rants.

*New church friends who have welcomed me and who actually like me!

*Retirement and the security to be in a comfortable place at this point in our lives.

*My home...it is where I am happiest.

*Memories, because when I think back over 65 years I have so many great ones.

*Hobbies, they occupy my time, and are my therapy.

*The gift of Matt's friends.  Just today I got a beautiful note from a Navy buddy who wanted to say he was thinking of us.  What a blessing that is 11 years later!
*Remembering to focus on all the good, it far outweighs the bad.
So, today it was the leaves that generated this not nearly complete list.
And...it is "pause" mode that caused me to notice the leaves!

Thank You Maggiano's

 For treating the whole family to a perfect evening of incredible food.

The kindness you showed to us is much appreciated,

The Honest Truth....

I COVET!!!!

I do not covet thy neighbors wife (or husband), and I have never coveted thy neighbors goods.  It is not because I believe in following the Commandments of God (which I surely do) but it is because I am pretty happy with what I have.  I don't really have a need for more because truth be known I do not even need all I have...

BUT

I covet ANYONE who gets to go to New York....especially at Christmas time.

I simply love New York.  I hate to travel, but I love New York.  It calls my name for some reason.  

I don't have a bucket list but if I did Christmas in New York would be the only thing on it.

I cannot imagine how anyone, even those that do not like New York could not find pure pleasure in walking through FAO Schwartz during the holidays.  Just strolling the streets and enjoying the window decor at the major department stores would make my heart smile forever.  I don't want to shop....I want to view!!!  I want to savor.  I want to pretend I am part of "Miracle on 34th Street" and I assure you if I ever got my husband to join me on this coveted trip it would be a MIRACLE on 34th Street.  

He simply hates New York while I love New York.

I want to ride in a horse drawn carriage through Central Park in the snow. Do you know that the famous "The Night Before Christmas" classic was penned after a carriage ride in Central Park in 1823. That is a fact folks.  

It is inspirational.  It is magic.  I am missing it.

Who knows what I could conjure up for a blog post if only I could ride in that carriage.

I want to see Macy's,  Rockefeller Center,  Radio City Music Hall and everything else there is to see.  I want to go to mass in St. Patrick's Cathedral and listen to the music coming from that amazing organ.

I want to see New York in the winter, and I want it to snow.

I don't just want this...

I COVET THIS!!!!

So, Santa if you happen upon this page of my blog, PLEASE know that Christmas 2014 would be a perfect time to send me some tickets for my dream vacation.  I am even willing to travel alone!!!

Veteran's Day 2013......

Today is Veteran's Day. 

Today has been a tough Veteran's Day for me.  

I have been beyond my normal emotional.  

I have always had an attachment to the days set aside to honor the military.  For me they go way beyond advertised sales and discounts.  I can relate to the true meaning behind both Memorial Day and Veteran's Day.  My sons served.  They have ties to thousands who have committed to the military.  They were educated at the United States Naval Academy.  A tremendous education at a prestigious university came at a price.....a debit to be paid in years of service in the military.  Matt and Tim knew what they signed up for.  They knew when they received their diploma they would also take an oath on the same day and be commissioned as officers in the United States Navy.  As parents we knew the risks of service, we just never really knew how directly it would affect us until we lost a son.  A month after Matt's death, Tim received his "wings of gold".  That was one of the hardest moments of my life.  Tim would follow in his brother's footsteps.  It was a choice for him.  He could have changed course and gone another direction, but his heart knew that he belonged in that plane.

Today I am struggling with so many feelings.  In a little over a week Tim will leave his family, his wife and two beautiful girls, and head to Djibouti in Africa for a year.  I thought we were done, he was done.  I thought he was finally home for good.  Tim remained in the Naval Reserves when his commitment was up to better provide for his family.  Never did I ever think he would be called back to active duty....but he was.  Again, Tim had a choice.  He could have walked away when he got the call, many do.  He could forfeit his military retirement and the GI bill that will educate his girls, but Tim is a man of his word and knowing my son like I do, I never doubted what his decision would be when he was given his orders.  My heart again is hurting and I wish I could just stop the clock, but once again as sad as I am I am counting my blessings.  Tim has the support of an amazing wife who was thrown a total curve ball when she was given the news of his deployment.  My daughter-in-law has been nothing short of incredible in her support of Tim as they face this year of separation.  This will be a very long twelve months, a very tough time for all,  but Mandy has the support of much family that surrounds her and Tim has the support of a strong and willing wife.  I am grateful for once again as we face what is ahead I know our family is strong enough and strong enough is what we need.  

"Bravery is saying goodbye to the ones you love 

to go to a place you've never been to protect people you've never met".

Split personality......

I was just thinking as I unloaded my grocery bags that I must have been in dual personality mode when I walked in and out of Target today. Not only were all of these items purchased at one time, they were also the ONLY things in my grocery cart.  Sometimes you shop with a purpose and then there are times when insanity just takes over and there is no rhyme or reason to to what makes it's way into your basket.  

Today was the epitome of insanity.

 I made a special trip to the store after Halloween because my husband said a litany of not nice words when he discovered I had bought pretzels to hand out to our little trick or treaters...meaning of course that if in fact there were left overs he would have nothing satisfying to munch on.  A pretzel is about as appealing to him as a carton of yogurt.  To keep harmony in the household I made a dash to the after Halloween candy sales isle and grabbed a bag of candy bars.  Then I grabbed cookies, candied pretzels, scones, bread mix and headed to the checkout.

HOWEVER, panic set in as I lined up behind the other shoppers.  I was actually fearful they would judge me on the contents of my basket...so I backed up and added the above items.  If you throw in some yogurt, celery, blueberries, and granola I am sure they will be more lenient in their judgement.  And, personally I felt much more in tune with my healthy side.  I am sure that the granola will soak up the fat from the row of purple cookies I am likely to eat in the car on the way home.  

There is nothing better that a life that is totally in balance, right?

Happy Halloween Ya'll......

Cute!!!

Strange!!!
 Probably don't even have to guess who is buried beneath this Homer Simpson face...and here is a clue...it is not Jimmy.