Happy Halloween, Crazyhead!

For us Halloween has become quite literally a 3 day "event" with Fall fests, cake baking, costume toting, and trick or treating which, in my opinion , should just be called treating because no one ever plays tricks, gggrrr. Here are the pictures from our fun:

Lu's creation

The Drill SGT of pumpkin carving

My creative interpretation of the pumpkin carving Drill SGT

#1

#1's pumpkin

Our "special needs" bat cake - I DARE you to laugh

Thug? Nope, Hobo...oh and the beard's not real

The "catties"

The "punkins"

#2 in costume

The Woodlands Crew

FYI: I was at my most favorite store today picking up pizza and I saw a witch, cookie monster, some "ladies of the evening" (at least, I think they were dressed up), multiple vampires, and two grown women dressed as and acting like babies. Gotta love it!

"OH. MY. GOSH! WHAT is that smell?"

Ok, I am beginning to think that people believe that, A) Upon entering Walmart they are magically transformed into an invisible being and that B) They are entitled to do/say/eat/wear things that they wouldn't (oh, Lawd, maybe they would) normally.

Here is todays' happy tale:
Scene I:
I was in Walmart, hunting around for clearance toys for Christmas and not bothering anybody, chatting with lil' Kat about Halloween and costumes and candy when I am olfactor-ily (NOT a REAL word, obviously) assaulted. Oh yes! So I start doing what "normal" (and I use this term loosely) do; sniffing my kids' butt and asking sweetly, "Did you poop, lovey?"....did you toot?.....oh my, stinky giiirrrlll!". Kat looks at me in horror and shakes her head "no". This obligates me to investigate further by peering into her diaper just to be sure she is telling the truth. She is. So I continue perusing the toys and humming to my girl and I'm struck again. This prompts lil' Kat to start frantically waving her tiny hand in front of her nose in an attempt to ward off the stench of something long dead unpleasant odor and cooing "poooooo poooooo". I agree, sweet one, someone has gone pooo poooo in their pants. I look around for another source because I am sure that neither Kat or myself has released such an awful stink, when lo and behold, there is another mother and her baby at the end of the aisle. Phew! Must be her baby! As she gets closer, the smell follows and becomes a little thicker, so I mutter something to the effect of "hheeeheeeheee, did you forget a diaper? I alllllwwwaaaaaayyys do that...*plodding around in my diaper bag"...hehehehe, I think I may have one that would fit your lil' man...hehehehe. Do you need wipes, too?". Why, why, do I always feel the need to speak??? I look up at the sewer- treatment -plant-diguised-as-a-baby's mom and realize that she is staring at me blankly. And the I realize why she is staring blankly. And then *she* realizes that *I* have realized why she is staring blankly and that it is not the baby. It's HER! She is clearly feeling the after effects of what must have been some good eatin'! I sure hope it didn't smell that way going in! I thought I could detect notes of Indian spices, maybe some curry and garlic or red pepper....hhhmmmm. Anyway, we stand there stupidly grinning at each other, waiting for someone (anyone, please) to make the first move. I start to move to my right as she moves to her left, then the opposite, we are doing the little "dance" trying to get around each other so we can high tail it away from each other. Well, the movement plus nervousness plus the guilt of being caught must have stirred something up inside her! Not only did I smell the gas, I heard it as well. Right. at. my. side. Lil' Kat looks like she is trying to fly, all arm flapping and poo-cooing at this point. The woman politely (and hilariously) mutters, "Excuse me" and something between a gag and a giggle came from my mouth and I seriously could not walk away fast enough. I am so mature! La!

Scene 2:
After all that, this hardly seems worth mentioning, but what the heck...I also saw a lady dressed as a Fairy. Ok, soooooo? Well, for starters, Halloween is not until Sunday and then there is the small issue of the way the costume fits. *Small* being the key word here, people! I think she got a child-size version in XS, when she really kinda needed an Adult M. Apparently this is the way that sexy is being brought back.

That is the low down of todays' interesting visit to the most magical place on Earth, maybe I should start bringing my camera so I can have evidence to verify these things....then again, maybe it's funnier if you just use your imagination!

More Wordless Wednesday....Wacky Hair Day

This was a once in a life time shot! He's even kinda smiling! Love my boy!

Wordless Wednesday - The World According to Katie Cat

                                                  

Tiny Talk Tuesday

Standing on our dining room table, in his pj's on Sunday morning my dear boy Jason announces that he is the "new Oprah" and commences his tenor(?) performance on the "Cat Song".  I wasn't able to capture it on video, but the lyrics went something like this:

"Caaaaaaaaat fiiiiightinggggggg, ca-ca-caaaaaat fighting! Caaaaaaaat yawning, ca-ca-caaaaat yaaaawnnnning"

Bravo! Bravo! *me throwing rice checks instead of flowers* He even received a standing Oprahtion!

Braces, Football, Stink-Eye and Family Randomness :)

Hello from Wearenutsville, we hope you enjoy your stay!

First up, Josh finally let me take his picture with his braces. See 'em? Me neither. He refuses to open/smile/snarl big enough so that I can get a picture of them. You'll just have to trust me that he looks cute. And his hair is growing back out - look at those waves! Ugh, my heart melts for this kid!

On Saturday, we had Jay's football game. We love the football season and watching his games so much that when we are there, we often scream and shout and jump up and down or run along the sidelines with the team. This embarrasses Jay when he sees us, but we just can't help ourselves! He is usually hyper-focused on the next play and doesn't see us, so I suppose that means we are just embarrassing ourselves. I don't care, *all* the other parents do it, too. The funny part about this week is that I sat on the other teams' "side" of the field because I was running late, had an armful of junk and am too lazy to move once I'm planted in my spot. So I was a Saints mama in Viking territory and this happy woman did not appreciate my presence. She was stink-eying me the entire game, every time I would shout or jump or cheer she would give me a dirty look. So I took her picture. When she saw the camera, she looked away quickly, so this is what I ended up with. She's darling, isn't she?

This is how we celebrate Sunday mornings. After waking up for 45 minutes and a boat load of coffee (for the parents only) the singing, dancing and performing begin. Usually as an accompaniment to breakfast. This morning was "The Cat Song" and "Freddy Burning On The Dance Floor", which in reality is "Fire Burnin' on the Dance Floor" by Sean Kingston (...fire burnin', fire burnin' on the dance floor, ooooohooohooohhh), but just roll with it, mmmkay! Eerrrr, can't get the video to post! So annoying! Here are the photos....

 And last, but certainly not least, here is Kate doing her latest move. She now crosses her arms at us when we tell her "no" or something that she doesn't particularly want to hear. She also says "Joshua" very clearly, "Yaya" for Jay's friend Zaya and "LoooOOOO" for Lauren. She is really funny, too, jumping, running, dancing and singing. She wags her little finger and says "no, no, no" and also holds up five fingers if you ask her how old she is and then laughs because she knows she is only 2!

Ok, I guess this is last. Luke the puke has been with us for a year now. Imagine! I think back to all the trouble he has caused and can't believe it! See Lucas Pucas for all the gossip and shanigans! He's a jerk, but he is OUR jerk, so I can say that. He is older than we originally thought, maybe like 5 instead of 2, and is developing a nice white beard. He is fat and naughty and very ggod with the kiddos. And (ssshhhhh) he has really grown on me!

There is nothing else really happening....my hair is still raspberry and dorky, Brian still doesn't know me and we will be carving pumpkins and getting ready for Halloween this week. What are YOU planning to be?

***In case you were curious, these are the lyrics to "The Cat Song" by Lu***

"Cat fighting, cat ca-cat fighting, cat fiiiiiiighting! Cat yawning, cat ca-cat yawning, cat yaaaaaawing" 

Now repeat at least 4 bajillion times.

My husband knows me so well......

My hubs thinks he knows everything about me. In fact, his exact statement was, "I know everything I need to know and more." Let's just see how this turns out, shall we?

Me: What's my favorite flower? Answer: Freesia

B: Some kinda weird rose. Some kind of white/silver/gold plated rose. Is that close? Ok, I can see where this is going, isn't it....

Me: Yup! What is my all-time favorite restaurant? Answer: Il Cappricio's

B: Don't type this. I'm thinking. Somewhere in NY. Like, what kind of restaurant? What are you typing, exactly?

Me: What you are saying.

B: You are probably making me sound like a babbling idiot. Maybe Taco Bell...

Me: Is that your final answer? Taco Bell?

B: Um, no. How about, uh, let me just ask you this...stop typing....(clears throat) um, when was the last time we went there?

Me: 7 years ago.

B: Where is it? NY? Why won't you answer MY questions? Sub place? Pizza place? Is it in NY?

Me: Next! How many tattoos do I have? No peeking. Answer: 4

B: Uh, 5? Wait, 4! 4?

Me: Yes! Yay! What is my favorite food? Answer: Toss up between chocolate and pasta.

B: *Snickers* I don't think you have a favorite. You like all food.

Me: Silence.

B: Right? How about, um, dessert?

Me: Silence.

B: How about...your favorite food? Spaghetti? Lasagna? OOOO, stuffed shells! You're not asking fair questions...

Me: It's pasta. And chocolate.

B: Silence.

Me: Last one, pal. What is my favorite color? Answer: Yellow

B: *Looks bewildered.* Pink. Is that right? Why can't you answer my questions?

Me: That's wrong.

B: Green. Is that right?

Me: No, it's not.

B: I don't like this game. What's the answer?

Me: Yellow.

B: I have never even known that. Are you typing all of that?

Me: *Nods.* Any last words?

B: No. You didn't get my question right either. What's MY favorite movie? Oh wait, you didn't ask that...

Me: Josie Wales.

B: Ok, fine. What is my favorite food?

Me: I'm going to go with kimchi and rice.

B: Not kimchi and rice. In fact, I don't have a favorite...I like all food. What do you think about that? Them apples? What is, um, what were some of your other questions for me that I barely missed because they were trick questions...

Me: I don't want to type anymore.

B: HUH! How convenient....how convenient for you.

I love my man! This is what keeps things soooo interesting around here!

B: For not wanting to type, you are sure typing a lot.

What would you do for $100?

Find the new poll on the main page and vote! I don't have a prize, but it will be interesting to see what most people would do....have fun! Ciao!

Pee outside?

Picker?

ABC Gum?

Eat a cockroach?

Polls are now closed! See who won here!

Just because I knew you were waiting anxiously by the computer all week just to find out the results of the most anticipated poll of the century, I have decided to relieve your stress sooner rather than later. Also because I just now remembered that I did it....here are your results: (drum roll)

Peanut Butter Cups took 1st! (woot, yeah baby, uh huh, come to mama!) with 50% of the votes.

Candy Corn (the ear wax-like candy from hell) too a far second with 29% of all votes. *gag*

Kit-Kat took 3rd with 11% and Skittles 4th with a sad little 8%. I'll have to eat some today to vindicate them!

Ok, people, you can breathe easier now that you know, right? Anyway, happy snacking....just leave some for the trick or treaters!

Hair-story: A Tale of a Follicularly-Challenged Women Part 2

As promised, here are the pictures of my hairror! What color IS this, anyway? Raspberry? Cherry chapstick? Hot pink? Oh well. I'm gonna rock it and pretend I'm not a dork that I did it on purpose.

Raspberry? I know I look like I've been smoking something, but I swear it's just coffee.

Cherry chapstick?

Try to control yourselves at the awesomeness represented here. Ahem, and if you want to achieve it yourself, mix as much red Kool-aid as you can fit into a gallon jug and rub it into your hair, rinse, repeat. I'm kidding!  DON'T do that, but if you do, I'm NOT responsible. And while you are laughing at me, I'll just pretend you're laughing with me...except I'm not laughing.

Meet & Greet - **Becky Cullinan***

I thought it would be fun to do a meet and greet on Mondays and this weeks' Supermom is (ta da!) Mrs. Becky Cullinan! Here is our interview:

KC:  Tell us about yourself and your family. Be sure to include your own hobbies and interests as well as information about your kids and hubby.

 BC: I am a busy Stay at Home mom with 3 kids – ages 5,3,and 1 - and 2 beagles who refuse to stop barking.. I spend most of my time cleaning up dog hair and trying not to break my neck stepping on Legos and mini Disney Princesses. I am a military wife. My husband is a helicopter pilot and has been in the Army – in one capacity or another – since 1996. We met in college in 1995 and got married in 2000 after graduating in 1999. If you’re counting that’s 10 years of marriage! We both grew up in Massachusetts but in our married life we’ve been lucky enough to have lived in Alabama, South Korea, Colorado, Virginia, England and Kentucky.

I enjoying photography and scrapbooking as well as cooking and baking. I went to Culinary school after college and worked in a hotel before we had our first child. I love staying home with the kids because I can watch Keeping Up with the Kardashians during nap time! 


KC:  Tell us about your blog. What do you tend to write about?


BC: My blog is a family chronicle. I document our daily lives and activities. I try to write about challenges we’re facing and how we’re coping with the realities of military life. I use our blog to keep our family and friends updated on what we are doing and how the kids are getting along. Our families live far away and it makes them feel more connected with us on a daily basis.


KC: What are some of your favorite posts/topics?


BC: I like to document the changes in the kids. They grow so quickly and time passes by so fast that it makes me happy to preserve some of the little things. It’s nice to go back and read what we’ve been through. When I have time to write longer posts, I like to write about what I’ve been doing and how I’ve been dealing with the many changes in our lives. Sometimes I have a hard time with all the moving around and writing about it and sharing with my readers makes it a little easier.

KC: What is one thing about you that we might not find on your blog?


BC: I don’t tend to write about my husband’s work unless it’s something that affects our family like a PCS or a new job. I chose to share details about my job but it wouldn’t be fair to him to share details about his job – plus my bosses can’t read.

KC: How do you manage “life” with a military spouse? Any tips on relaxing?

BC: Life with a military spouse is split into 2 parts – during deployment and between deployments. I try to take things one step at a time and not look too far into the future. I like to enjoy the time I have with my family and not dwell on what is coming up. While my husband is gone I try to spend a lot of time with my girlfriends and their kids. I like to have another family over for supper at least once a week and we make sure to go and do things outside the house on the weekends. There’s no use sitting around! Relaxing with a deployed spouse is something I haven’t mastered. I try to get to the gym a few times a week and I also try to spend a good amount of time in the evenings working on projects I have going but I always end up staying up too late.

KC:  Military wives often have to step up and take on the role of both parents when TDY’s, long hours or deployments occur. How does this affect the way you parent? The way you relate to your spouse?
BC: I don’t think it affects the way I parent too much. Although we’re a parenting team, I’m the primary care giver and the one who doles out 90% of the discipline even when my husband is home since he’s at work most of the time. If there is one thing that changes when my husband is away it would be that I’m MORE patient. It is a lot of stress knowing that there isn’t anyone to give you a break or take over the parenting when you’ve just had enough so I have to take it slow – lots of deep breathing. I have to be deliberately patient – actually work at staying calm. The kids need me to be a comfort for them and I can’t do that if I’m screaming or angry. My kids need a hug the most when they’re acting the worst.

KC: Tell us about your yummy cakes? What inspired you to start your business/blog?


BC: They are yummy – all from scratch – cakes and frostings! I went to culinary school for hot food but my first love is baking. I would have studied baking and pastry but they didn’t have a short enough program. Although I have always baked and made birthday cakes, I made my first real decorated cake for my middle child’s 1st birthday.
http://cullinanfamily.blogspot.com/2008/06/emmy-is-1.html

I was very proud of the cake and I got lots of positive feedback – although I’m a little embarrassed by it now! I made a few cakes for my husband’s office when he worked in DC and some other birthday cakes. I bought books and practiced and I got much better – and faster! When we were in England I made a few cakes for baby showers and parties and then when we moved to KY a friend paid me to make a cake for a baby shower she threw. She said the ladies were asking for my business card and website but I didn’t have either! I set up the blog so that I could have somewhere to direct people if they were interested. It’s a great compromise. I can take as much or as little business as I want. The only downside is that it is cake – and it tastes so good.

Thank you so much, Becky! It was great to get a birds-eye view into the Cullinan world - what a fun family! Please go directly to her blog and see for yourself! And order you some cake, too! YUM!

The Cullinan Family: Playing Outside

cullinanfamily.blogspot.com

Share

Hair-story: A Tale of a Follicularly-Challenged Women

Let me say that I used to be capable of styling, coloring, trimming and generally doing my own hair. Now a days I'm lucky that I can operate a blow dryer. I am going to take a journey through the last year of my hairific styles. Won't you join me?

This is from 4/2009. I was growing out the last cut and trying to work out the "holy-crap-my-hair has gotten-cuuurly issue" - I have always had pin-straight hair until my pregnancy with Lu. I discovered the waves at a salon after the stylist asked if I wanted to style it curly or straight. Whoa, curls you say? My dreams have come true! When I got home, styling curls proved pretty difficult. Brian has said "wow, working the 'fro today, eh" on numerous occasions, but in this picture I managed to do pretty well at straightening and styling. It's a natural auburn-y color, nothing dramatic. So naturally, I decided to do this....

Why? Because I CAN! I don't really know why, actually. Because I get bored easily? Because I can change it on a whim and become a "new woman" in 30 minutes? Because it's kind of fun to "shock" people? I don't know why. I'm sure there are theories. This picture is from August 2009. Still somewhat reddish, it was kinda cute! My summer 'do, I suppose! 

So because I have zero self-control and an equal amount of patience, this is what I decided for October! Note, it's my long-forgotten natural color, very dark brown. It is so short! I can say that my sweet stylist, Steph, begged me not to do it and I obviously made her anyway, but in the end we both really liked it. Did that satisfy me? Well, of course not! Since I can't get any shorter without being bald, let's play with color! I choose to believe I'm creative and like to use my hair as a canvas and so.....

In 2010, I decided to go absolutely the opposite of natural! Again, Steph wasn't sure, but I pay her so I get to boss her around. Lucky for me she is a pro! She did the best with what she had, and here is where I began the downward spiral...I decided that I could do what she can do. I had watched her and studied her technique and I just knew. No training needed! Kinda like a kid that thinks he can drive just by watching his parents do it. And you can imagine the results of that theory. 

I went slow my first time. I went back to red and added a blonde streak in the bangs. Not too bad. And if I could do that, why, certainly I could get a little more daring. It was reasonable. Note: this is where my friends should have stepped in. Or at least my Mom. I wouldn't have listened, but you could've tried. You know what happens when I gain a skill, I cannot stop using it. Remember when I starting making the mint chocolate chip cookies? It was like flavored chocolate chips cookies (mint, raspberry, peanut butter, caramel, chocolate on chocolate) on crack, except with  hair color. I just can't make myself stop. I push the limits, y'all.

This was my Mother's Day hairstyle - I was still digging the red/blonde mix and felt like starting to grow it out again. Enter the "wings". Cute, I know. Don't judge me. I was bringing "The Farrah" back. Ahem. When it occurred to me that this wasn't working and was satisfied that I had created a nice little hole in the ozone above our house with my use of hair products, I changed again. I'm wily like that...I'll keep you on your toes, honey. Next up.... 

Short again. And why not! I can ROCK it!! I had Steph do this again. I think this is right around the time she decided to leave me. I'm kidding, she just left her salon for another job, but I'm too embarrassed to go see here again after she asked who was coloring my hair. I admitted that it was uh, another stylist, and she ordered me to cease and desist. Um, yeah, the very best way to get me to do something is to tell me to stop. Thusly...

I told you. Here is the long and short (heehee) of this. I wanted platinum blonde in the front and red in the back. Platinum requires the removal of all color and then a re-color with the lightest blonde. I turned it white. Not even joking. So logically, I can just use the red dye and make it red, right? Not. so. much. I even thought to myself that pink might happen, but I had gone too far to stop. I had pink hair. And for those of you without mad skillz like mine, chemicals like color remover on your hair + not having mad skillz like you think you do = hair that won't stop processing which equals even pinker hair. I reasoned that it wasn't that bad, but when I was visiting my dear and honest friend TH, she confronted me. And promptly made an appointment with her stylist. J "fixed" it but said that I was lucky that I didn't burn my hair off. I also had to stop doing it myself and promise to never play with colors again. How do you get me to do something? Yes, I did....

What's wrong with dark brown? And this time, I even cut it myself! Mad skillz are back, baby! Just in time for my baby sisters' wedding! Why stop there though? I was on a roll! This was July....

Fast forward to today. Purchase hair dye: check. Prep hair: check. Apply color: check. Rinse and praise thyself for mad skillz: screech to a halt. Holy. Flippin'. Heck, y'all. I cannot describe this color. Wow! In my own defense, I don't feel well and I've had waaay too much coffee and was wearing contacts that should have been thrown away a week ago. I will post pics soon. Tomorrow, even. When I can stop reminding myself why I should not do this, ever, ever again. I mean it. This is the very last time. I swear. I'm cured. Holy. flippin'. heck.....

***News Flash*****

Sooooo, the somewhat expected/unexpected decision has been made. As of this morning, we are on orders to Guam beginning in June of 2011. They will extend Brian for one more year (he'll serve 21 years total) and we will spend three years there. In Guam. Wow. I saw it coming, but it's much easier to ignore if it's in the rear view mirror.

I'm again in a weird place about it because there are so many positives; traveling, beaches, relatively low stress level from Brian's job, tropical island atmosphere, etc. but there are an overwhelming amount of logistical things that need to be done to make this move happen. First, we need to have EFMP here approve our move due to Jason's allergy shots, we need yo finalize K's adoption paperwork (we have been very slow to do this because she is home and really, it's paperwork, blek), everyone needs passports, vaccinations, etc. So I am anxious. And for those of you that have walked this path with me before, you know what's coming. For those of you that haven't, get ready for the ride - you know I'm gonna write about everything!

Your prayers and support would be appreciated and large amounts of chocolate will be accepted, so be generous, friends!!! Only kidding about the chocolate, they have weight restrictions on airlines now, folks! And you KNOW how I feel about the Halloween candy (by the way, who the HECK keeps voting for the colored wax AKA "candy corn"...that's just wrong!) so let's just move on...

Feel free to leave comments, advice, rude words, a poem or whatevs, just let me hear from you! Love, K

Take a break from the candy....

No, I'm not telling myself that! How dare you!

Seriously though, I want to ask for prayers for my friends' sister. She is a 29 year old mom that was just diagnosed with melanoma that has metastasized. She is having experimental treatments to try and reduce the size of the tumors as she is in the end stages of cancer. God is working through her and her tumor on her side is reducing in size, but we need to ask for complete healing! her kids are pretty young and there is no way they should have to grow up without a Mom! So pray, meditate, think healing thoughts, whatever, just think of her today, please. Thank yous and blessings to you in advance!

And now you can get back to candy voting! :)

The Big Debate

Watch out! Try not to faint when you read this amazing amazingness of a blog! And then vote, people...find the poll on my page and exercise your right to vote! I'd say there is a prize for most popular, but how do you award candy? Besides, I probably already ate it....I need a Halloween candy intervention.

And show me some love for being so gosh, darn, clever and original! *smirk*

Tiny Talk Tuesday - "Poke Your Face"

So Lu was talking the other day about all things Lady Gaga, with whom she has a love/hate relationship, and she says "Mama, I don't like Lady Gaga. She's weird...she sings a song called "Poke Your Face". And she has really long nails." Yes, love, of course, but I think the song is actually "Poker Face"......

My Bucket List

TO DO:

1. To hike down into the grand canyon and camp with just my hubs. And sleep under the stars.....ooooo la la! Romance!

2. To white water raft the hard rapids...anywhere...I don't care!

3. Go to Africa. I would love to do missions work there, but if not, then a visit would be amazing.

4. Learn to fly a plane - I'm not joking - I have wanted to do this since Paul F. let me fly his (with a little help)! It is an amazing sense of freedom and terror all at once. I WILL do this!

5. To visit every single state in the USA - I have 32 under my belt!

6. Learn to play guitar. Acoustic first and then electric! So far it hurts my fingers too much to actually press the strings down at the top (go ahead, call me a wuss) and I don't own one, so that is an issue....

7. Live on the moon. (Kidding, Kidding) I would like to live somewhere and develop deep roots. No more of this every-two-year moving business.

8. Run a marathon or at least a half!

9. Have a weekend with my Germany Girls all together again! Mel, Chris, Dana, Denise, Holly, Stella? Whatcha think?

10. Leave a legacy for my children full of warm memories, pictures with journaling, favorite recipes and hugs they will feel long after I am called home.

11. Go to my next high school reunion.

12. Keep a pet for its whole life.


DONE:


1. Given birth. Three times - I'm an over-acheiver! *pats back and bows*

2. Mastered Grandma Caffee's lemon pie for my love!

3. Adopted a child.

4. Assisted a friend during labor and birth! A miracle in it's truest form! Thank you ladies for sharing and trusting me enough to be there!!

5. Reconnect with some besties from high school!

6. Mastered my cell phone!

7. Finished my degree! This will happen in December - BA in business marketing! WOOT!

I am a Princess...

My Father is King of Kings and I am His daughter! He loves me unconditionally! He wove me together in my mothers' womb and He knows each hair on my head! He gives me the gift of a brand new day each morning and watches over me as I sleep. He gives me more than I deserve and rejoices in my delight!

Today he gave me a brand new house, a place where I can go and sing to him and listen at His feet. He guides my brothers and sisters with His mighty words there; He washes us clean with His blood. He redeems me when I fall short of His will for me, but He always brings glory from my mistakes.

I heard His voice so clearly this morning and I cried tears of relief because He was welcoming me to my new home, blessing me with His presence, bathing me in His healing love. Even though I have been away for so long, He welcomed me. Like the prodigal son. My soul has been longing for Him, thirsting for Him. I have been searching for my Daddy for two years in Kentucky but I haven't be able to see Him  in the places I have been looking. I have missed Him so much. But I know that it was His perfect timing that brought me here. I have had trials and hardship in this place, but He overcame all of it and continues to grow joy in my hearts' garden. My Daddy brings beauty from ashes, always. He comforted the unspeakable sadness that I have felt these last few months and took my burdens. He is healing my brokenness. My wounds. He is bringing peace into my life again and reminding me that I can trust Him forever. Thank you, Lord. Amen.

Holy Cow! And some info on Guam....

Okay, I admit this post has all of about nothing to do with cows, holy or otherwise, it's just what keeps popping into my mind when I think about my new job! I am so beyond excited about this opportunity that has seemingly fallen out of the sky! Hello, dream job! I am going to be writing a weekly blog for a fantabulous web site called 
http://aboutone.com starting now! WOOT!


If you don't know what it is, find out! If you do, why have not shared, crazy head? This web site will organize your life - seriously - I adore organizing products and this is the best one I have seen, even if I didn't work for them, I would so subscribe! Amazing! But I will let you discover it on your own - they have a free 15 day trial period - no entering of credit card numbers and remembering to cancel if you don't like it! And if you are military you get 50% off for a year! Score deal! I LOVE THIS SITE!


This is how things went down ~ I got an email from B's lovely cousin Ken that was asking if anyone knew of someone that was a military spouse and a mom because a company was looking for a person with these attributes to write a blog for them that addresses military-type issues. Uh, me me me!! So I emailed the contact and she emailed back right away, asking some questions and chatting a little bit. She asked if I would email another person in the company with my info and I did. She called me in the morning and we just kind of chatted about what they were looking for and such and then I got the job. Easy peasy! I wasn't looking for a job at all, but I know a blessing when I see it - there was no way I could say no!


Anyway, on to Guam....

...it's back on the table for us. Someone talked to someone and yada, yada, yada, blah, blah, blah, we should know by next week. Maybe. We hope. I'm not quite sure how I feel about it yet, there are so many freaking pros and cons, so I'm just gonna roll with it. Gangsta style, yo! Didn't know I had such street cred, did ya? I really just threw that in there to see if you were still paying attention.....peace out, jokers!

*Side bar* - I just reread this in a preview and was thinking about changing all the stuff in the Guam paragraph, but have decided to leave it. I have already stated that my brain is a scary, scary place and you subject yourself to what comes out of it by reading, so you have no one to blame but yourself if you are privy to my crazy. So there. *wink*

I think....therefore I ?

So here's the deal:

I think Halloween candy should not be available for purchase before October 29th.
It's like crack. Except you don't have to be sneaky about buying or consuming it and it's totally legal. So I guess it's not really like crack at all, but it is addictive. I know there is candy available all year, it's just that I am much more prone to buying it when it is the first thing I see as I walk into the store and there are coupons galore, sometimes attached directly to the bags! Every. single. year. I have the same conversation with myself; "No!! DO! NOT! get lured in! You will buy 29 bags of candy "for Halloween" at the beginning of October with every intention of "saving" it for Halloween, but then you will EAT it ALL and have to go out the night before Halloween and buy the only $15 bag of  "mixed-assortment-no-name-junk-candy" left because everyone else already bought the "good" candy and actually didn't eat it, so now you'll be the sucky trick-or-treating house AGAIN this year! And you'll be 6 pounds heavier." *takes a breath* Now guess what I have in my garage....

I think the people in charge of the assignments we get in the Army have a sick, sick sense of humor.
In the last two months we have been put on orders to Korea, taken off orders to Korea, given an assignment in Guam, taken off assignment to Guam, told we were staying here and then retold that we were possibly going to Guam again. Maybe. Likely. Sort of. If they get the paperwork they need for Jay's allergy shots. And if they approve it. So the latest is that we should know something "more definite" next week. Uh huh, I will not be holding my breath.

I think yoga ROCKS! SUPER ROCKS!
I admit that I used to make fun of my sister(s) behind their backs for practicing yoga. All hippy-dippy, wierd- self-centering, breathing/ooohhhmmmming and whatnot. So when I started doing it as part of a workout program, I was pleasantly shocked to find out that it is awesome! In a life-changing way! I LOVE it! I love IT! I can bend my body into strange shapes and feel so strong and fit, more so now at 37 than ever in my life. Plus the breathing and self-centering make me get all balanced inside which equals happier and less stressed mama which equals happier and less chaotic husband and childrens! Try it....

Oh, and I know I wrote "childrens"...thanks for pointing it out, though.... *sigh*

I think and I think and I think and I can't make my brain stop it with the what if's, already!
Do you understand this? Do you have a wild animal of a brain that paces and stalks you all day? I will just not let me relaaaaaxxxxx! I think about my kids, their education, their health, their security. I think about my husband and our relationship, his job, our future. I think about my friends and their families. I get a tad obsessed sometimes. And I totally over-analyze E.V.E.R.Y.T.H.I.N.G! Which leads to worry and stress and no hair and randomly appearing kit-kat wrappers beside me on the couch. "Uh, did I seriously eat 62 bite- size kit-kats without knowing it?" I think I may have that sleep-eating disorder. You know, like sleep-walking, except you eat? C'mon! You SO know what I'm talking about.

I think I should probably go to bed now.


I won't, but at least I'm considering it. And I am rambling about nothing which is generally an indication that I should stop writing....

....but I'm done with my classes until the 20th....

...and I am an insomniac....

....and I think waaaay too much....

...which means I get to (electronically) verbally vomit on whomever chooses to read this....

and I think that is kind of a cool way to spend my time.... :)

Sorry. I'm Lazy.

Let me just preface this post by announcing that *I* did not write this, I have seen it before, and I adore the messages it sends. 

Written by a 90 year old

This is something we should all read at least once a week!!!!! Make sure you read to the end!!!!!!

Written by Regina Brett, 90 years old, of the Plain Dealer, Cleveland , Ohio .

"To celebrate growing older, I once wrote the 45 lessons life taught me. It is the most requested column I've ever written.

My odometer rolled over to 90 in August, so here is the column once more:

1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.

2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.

3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.

4. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and parents will. Stay in touch.

5. Pay off your credit cards every month.

6. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.

7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.

8. It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it.

9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.

10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.

11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.

12. It's OK to let your children see you cry.

13. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.

14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.

15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don't worry; God never blinks.

16. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.

17. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.

18. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.

19. It's never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else.

20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.

21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special.

22. Over prepare, then go with the flow.

23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.

24. The most important sex organ is the brain.

25. No one is in charge of your happiness but you.

26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words 'In five years, will this matter?'

27. Always choose life.

28. Forgive everyone everything.

29. What other people think of you is none of your business.

30. Time heals almost everything. Give time time.

31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.

32. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.

33. Believe in miracles.

34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn't do.

35. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.

36. Growing old beats the alternative -- dying young.

37. Your children get only one childhood.

38. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.

39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.

40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd grab ours back.

41. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.

42. The best is yet to come...

43. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.

44. Yield.

45. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift."

All About Me, Me, Me.... 25 Things You Probably Never Knew, and Maybe Wish You Didn't

1. I have gotten into the shower with my socks on. More than once. Actually, more than twice.

2. I can barf on command. Seriously.

3. I have four tattoos and plan on more. The symbol for "breathe" on my left foot, a chain of vines on my right ankle, 6 different colored stars on my right shoulder that represent my family members' birthstones and a black "sun" on my left shoulder.

4. My eyes are green, with gold rings around the pupil. I like them very much.

5. I went trick-or-treating until I was 17. My best friend and I dressed up as young boys and ran around the neighborhood collecting candy. I don't think we fooled anyone, though.

6. I used to steal my Dad's car and drive around town when I was 15 or 16. Mom, I finally admit it. I was the one that knocked over the mail box. I'm sorry.

7. I am a Jesus freak.

8. I love the smell of gas, vinegar, paint and nail polish remover. Weird, I know.

9. When I am angry or frustrated, I clean stuff until my hands are raw. Not necessarily mentally healthy, but the side effects are awesome.

10. That said, I find clean windows amazingly wonderful. Most aesthetically pleasing.

11. I used to be an Army Vet Tech, but I don't really care that much about animals. I'm not a die-hard proponent of animal rights. In fact, I have been known to say things like, "UGH! It's JUST a DOG!". It's mean, I know, but I can't help it.

12. I am very afraid of clowns. Not like "uncomfortable" afraid, but "phobia" afraid. They make me break out in a cold sweat. Really long bridges and creaky floors have the same effect.

13. I have worn glasses and/or contacts since I was 8.

14. I once ate a silk worm because I thought it was a potato.

15. I have lived in Korea, Germany, Texas, New York, Connecticut, Washington state, Illinois, Tennessee and Kentucky.

16. I know how to shoot a gun. Accurately.

17. A few times a year, I request a perfectly roasted marshmallow. I loooovvvvveeeee them, but only allow myself a couple because I love the idea of savoring them more than the act of eating them. (This year, I actually had several because my kids were competing to make the most perfect one.) If only I had the same idea about all other sweets.....and potato chips.

18. My own dog broke my fingers this year. What an idiot! But he is still living here, so who is the idiot,
really?

19. When I laugh really hard, I do so silently, mouth wide open, eyes squeezed shut and then I cough and cry. And sometimes pee. So embarrassing.

20. I have fallen down in every country and state I have ever visited. My hubs thinks it's super hilarious to announce this fact to random people.

21. I have a sick fascination with all things medical. I will pull teeth, pick zits and clean ears obsessively on anyone who asks. And my good friend recently asked! I watch Discovery Channel just to see if I will ever get disgusted enough to stop, but the grosser the story, the more drawn in I am.

22. I can't watch scary movies without covering my eyes.

23. After I had Josh, I asked the nurse that was discharging us, in all seriousness, if they really trusted me to take him home. I also told her I didn't think that was the smartest idea because I had NO CLUE what I was going to do with a baby.

24. I married my love after knowing him for 4 months. We then kept it a secret from everyone for 3 months because we didn't want to be "judged". We laugh about that now.

25. When we lived in Korea, I would often speak in Spanish. I know, I know....I have no defense for this behavior, I'm crazy.