So, last night we really looked into Zachary's fish tank and realized that his goldfish have some how over night grew to proportions that makes me wonder what Zachary is feeding them. They have completely outgrown the 20 gallon tank they are in. Rick suggested I cruise Craigslist to see if anyone was selling a larger tank.
So, this afternoon I cruised through the different headings looking for either a free or reasonable fish tank. When I stumbled across coin operated washing machines and dryers.....those of you who know me, also know that the first thing that crossed my mind was that I should buy them and install them in the garage for the kids to use.
Think of the benefits....they would have to budget and schedule accordingly.....paying their own way. I would love nothing more for them to realize the value of the Almighty dollar.....they have no concept of money. I spent close to $600 on groceries this past weekend and they still want to go to McDonald's on the way home.....how about you have a McPeanut Butter Sandwich...would you like some milk with that?
And let me give you my opinion on public school...which I thought was suppose to be FREE......I have written more checks to the public schools for this and that in the last couple of weeks than I did when they were in private school....dang you even have to pay to ride the school bus here.
We pay lab fees, lunch fees,picture fees, football uniform fees....and I pay $6 a piece for us to get into the football games to watch my money run up and down the field getting jumped on. At Brittany's alma mater....they are so broke the athletes have to pay to get into their own game....that is crazy. The sad thing is that the athletic departments in schools in Hawaii are fighting to keep their programs alive for the kids.
So.....that brings me back to the coin operated washing machines and dryers...maybe I could open it up to the public and use the funds to help the local high schools pay for sports.....
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Time Flies
Well.... as you can see I have been neglient in posting once again. I don't know where all my time goes.....
Things around here have been interesting......
Rick started shore duty at the beginning of August....after a few Griswold moments:
First because he was waiting for orders before he re-enlisted they almost didn't let him re-enlist. Yes, that's right if PSD had their way he would be a civilian as I type. But thankfully, the Captain, XO, and the detailer put their foots on some rear ends and he was able to re-enlist on July 28th.....his contract expired on August 1...talk about cutting it close.
Since he waited so long to re-enlist our ID's were due to expire...in two days. So I took the whole day off to get our ID's and new stickers for the truck. The kids and I head down to the PSD nice and early in the morning for our appointments. When we arrive we are told that the Deers system is down world wide. I tried to explain to the nice boy sitting behind the counter that, that would not do at all because our ID's expired THAT day.
Now, let me interject here....I have had my ID for 20 years...I have spent more time with that card than I have my husband in our 20 year marriage...it lets me buy food, gas, whatever I need at a reasonable price. It is my ticket to the doctors, to get on base.....what am I going to do with out my ID.?!?!?!?!?!
I called Rick on the boat and his solution was...for him to come down there....dude they don't give a rip what your rank is they cannot make the system work based on that...it is a WORLD WIDE problem!!!!
So, at church a friend of ours told me to come to the Army office and Monday and he would do it without an appointment....which he did. I walked in and there were 20 people waiting...he told all them that I was important and he had to take care of me immediately...coolness!
So, Rick and I have ID's...the kids have an appointment to get theirs Friday..Rick is taking them. He is not happy about it, but I have already wasted a day with his Navy system...now its his turn!
So back to the transition to shore duty.....
Three teens
One tween
One Senior Chief...who deals with men who act like children all day
One mom who has a plan that keeps everything afloat.....
Its not priceless my friends...it is a hot mess. The first week was a nightmare. Rick really has never lived with teens and all that comes with it. The drama, the laziness, the constant having to remind them, the constant out stretched hand asking for money. But, I think things have settled down some...so hopefully I will have more time to write:)
Things around here have been interesting......
Rick started shore duty at the beginning of August....after a few Griswold moments:
First because he was waiting for orders before he re-enlisted they almost didn't let him re-enlist. Yes, that's right if PSD had their way he would be a civilian as I type. But thankfully, the Captain, XO, and the detailer put their foots on some rear ends and he was able to re-enlist on July 28th.....his contract expired on August 1...talk about cutting it close.
Since he waited so long to re-enlist our ID's were due to expire...in two days. So I took the whole day off to get our ID's and new stickers for the truck. The kids and I head down to the PSD nice and early in the morning for our appointments. When we arrive we are told that the Deers system is down world wide. I tried to explain to the nice boy sitting behind the counter that, that would not do at all because our ID's expired THAT day.
Now, let me interject here....I have had my ID for 20 years...I have spent more time with that card than I have my husband in our 20 year marriage...it lets me buy food, gas, whatever I need at a reasonable price. It is my ticket to the doctors, to get on base.....what am I going to do with out my ID.?!?!?!?!?!
I called Rick on the boat and his solution was...for him to come down there....dude they don't give a rip what your rank is they cannot make the system work based on that...it is a WORLD WIDE problem!!!!
So, at church a friend of ours told me to come to the Army office and Monday and he would do it without an appointment....which he did. I walked in and there were 20 people waiting...he told all them that I was important and he had to take care of me immediately...coolness!
So, Rick and I have ID's...the kids have an appointment to get theirs Friday..Rick is taking them. He is not happy about it, but I have already wasted a day with his Navy system...now its his turn!
So back to the transition to shore duty.....
Three teens
One tween
One Senior Chief...who deals with men who act like children all day
One mom who has a plan that keeps everything afloat.....
Its not priceless my friends...it is a hot mess. The first week was a nightmare. Rick really has never lived with teens and all that comes with it. The drama, the laziness, the constant having to remind them, the constant out stretched hand asking for money. But, I think things have settled down some...so hopefully I will have more time to write:)
Friday, July 31, 2009
Monday, July 27, 2009
I'm Alive:)
As you can see I finally have made time to get Britts graduation pictures uploaded. June 6th has came and went...and we all survived!
My parents had a nice relaxing visit, my Dad did end up spraining his ankle, at the stadium for Britt's Grad. So he spent the last couple of days on Brittany's crutches. But it was good having them here.
Soon after my parents left, we jumped right into our yearly Vacation Bible School preparations...even Rick went all out:) We had 76 volunteers and 99 children.
It was an amazing time of fellowship where God was lifted up. Forty-five children gave their lives to Christ on Thursday evening!
Unfortunately half way through the week this icky virus started sweeping through. My whole family ended up with it...except Brittany of course because she was not risking missing her trip to Virginia. We had it so bad we did not get dressed all of 4th of July weekend....we just showered and put clean pj's on:)
Next came Brittany's Grad/Birthday party..yes she turned 18 on me...and yes there were more tears:) But we had a nice party at the pool and she enjoyed herself. She left the next day for Virginia to spend time with her other family.....The Browns:)
Zachary has also started playing Flag football. He is pretty good and spends most of his time trying to convince us to let him play tackle....the jury is still out on that one! So we spend our Sunday afternoons at the football field:)
Becca is anxiously awaiting the beginning of her freshman year, and enjoying dance and cheerleading.
Joshua is still going to football practice everyday and his diligence has paid off, he will be playing first string wide receiver....this has me a little nervous, but I will leave him in God's hands.
I have a new job...I just have no idea when I will start:) I will be a Training Curriculum Specialist for the Army at one of their CDC's. I am really excited. I love training and mentoring...and now I will be getting paid to do it all day long:) I will miss PATCH and the staff there but I am grateful for the opportunity God is giving me to use the gifts and talents He has given me!
Drum roll pleassssseeeeeee....Wednesday Rick will re-enlist and then check off the boat, drive back to subase and check in at SUBPAC. I will tell you that this past three years of sea duty have been the longest of my life and when I say I thank God that we made it through them I say it with all sincerity and a multitude of gratitude!
Thankfully, the raise I get from my new position will make up for the fond farewell to sea pay and sub pay...plus around another 10k a year.I am thankful I serve a God of addition and multiplication instead of subtraction and division!
Finally, I am registered for school....I start my Masters in Educational Psychology on Sept 9th, Britt starts her classes on Sept 8 and Rick the first week of October:)
I believe that I am also going to write a devotional book for mom's....let me rephrase that for "real moms." You know who you are....you don't wear an apron....probably don't even own one, you ask God for strength to deal with your children more than once a day.....and you really want a devotion that will deal with the real issues of motherhood...like who are these aliens people keep referring to as my children?
This devotional will hopefully be step one ...ok the blog was step one, step two in my writing career...its all about taking baby steps!
My parents had a nice relaxing visit, my Dad did end up spraining his ankle, at the stadium for Britt's Grad. So he spent the last couple of days on Brittany's crutches. But it was good having them here.
Soon after my parents left, we jumped right into our yearly Vacation Bible School preparations...even Rick went all out:) We had 76 volunteers and 99 children.
It was an amazing time of fellowship where God was lifted up. Forty-five children gave their lives to Christ on Thursday evening!
Unfortunately half way through the week this icky virus started sweeping through. My whole family ended up with it...except Brittany of course because she was not risking missing her trip to Virginia. We had it so bad we did not get dressed all of 4th of July weekend....we just showered and put clean pj's on:)
Next came Brittany's Grad/Birthday party..yes she turned 18 on me...and yes there were more tears:) But we had a nice party at the pool and she enjoyed herself. She left the next day for Virginia to spend time with her other family.....The Browns:)
Zachary has also started playing Flag football. He is pretty good and spends most of his time trying to convince us to let him play tackle....the jury is still out on that one! So we spend our Sunday afternoons at the football field:)
Becca is anxiously awaiting the beginning of her freshman year, and enjoying dance and cheerleading.
Joshua is still going to football practice everyday and his diligence has paid off, he will be playing first string wide receiver....this has me a little nervous, but I will leave him in God's hands.
I have a new job...I just have no idea when I will start:) I will be a Training Curriculum Specialist for the Army at one of their CDC's. I am really excited. I love training and mentoring...and now I will be getting paid to do it all day long:) I will miss PATCH and the staff there but I am grateful for the opportunity God is giving me to use the gifts and talents He has given me!
Drum roll pleassssseeeeeee....Wednesday Rick will re-enlist and then check off the boat, drive back to subase and check in at SUBPAC. I will tell you that this past three years of sea duty have been the longest of my life and when I say I thank God that we made it through them I say it with all sincerity and a multitude of gratitude!
Thankfully, the raise I get from my new position will make up for the fond farewell to sea pay and sub pay...plus around another 10k a year.I am thankful I serve a God of addition and multiplication instead of subtraction and division!
Finally, I am registered for school....I start my Masters in Educational Psychology on Sept 9th, Britt starts her classes on Sept 8 and Rick the first week of October:)
I believe that I am also going to write a devotional book for mom's....let me rephrase that for "real moms." You know who you are....you don't wear an apron....probably don't even own one, you ask God for strength to deal with your children more than once a day.....and you really want a devotion that will deal with the real issues of motherhood...like who are these aliens people keep referring to as my children?
This devotional will hopefully be step one ...ok the blog was step one, step two in my writing career...its all about taking baby steps!
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Catching up...AGAIN!!!
Ok, since I haven't blogged since Britt's graduation I reallllyyyy need to catch up!
Let's start with me forgetting my parents at the airport!!! Well, I didn't really forget them...I just didn't think they were coming in on Wednesday....we all thought they were coming in on Thursday, including my brother who made the reservations for them.
So here it is Wednesday evening and I am finishing up some last minute details, like cleaning my bathroom, and washing the sheets for the bed my parents are going to sleep in...when the phone rings and its my dad. I ask him where he is and he tells me, "The airport." So I ask, "Daddy why are you at the airport at midnight? Your plane does not leave until 8am?" He replies, " I am at the Honolulu Airport!" Ooooppppppssss!!! So I instruct my children to finish all the jobs I hadn't and jumped into the truck to go get my parents. I was bummed because I though they were flying in on Thursday evening, so I had just decided to work until they got there, so I had to go to work the next day. They just chilled out at home!
Then came the mad dash to pick Rick up because the boat did a personal transfer and he was coming in late Friday afternoon. he had just enough time to rush home shower, change and head out the door...to Alycea's graduation. It was beautiful and I pretty much cried from the time we got in the car until I went to bed that night.
The next day saw us running around for lei's and other items for the graduation ceremony, painting the windows on the truck, and juggling all those people into the cars.....
I will stop here because Britt's graduation deserves a post all of its own.....so stay tuned...I'll be back by this weekend!
Let's start with me forgetting my parents at the airport!!! Well, I didn't really forget them...I just didn't think they were coming in on Wednesday....we all thought they were coming in on Thursday, including my brother who made the reservations for them.
So here it is Wednesday evening and I am finishing up some last minute details, like cleaning my bathroom, and washing the sheets for the bed my parents are going to sleep in...when the phone rings and its my dad. I ask him where he is and he tells me, "The airport." So I ask, "Daddy why are you at the airport at midnight? Your plane does not leave until 8am?" He replies, " I am at the Honolulu Airport!" Ooooppppppssss!!! So I instruct my children to finish all the jobs I hadn't and jumped into the truck to go get my parents. I was bummed because I though they were flying in on Thursday evening, so I had just decided to work until they got there, so I had to go to work the next day. They just chilled out at home!
Then came the mad dash to pick Rick up because the boat did a personal transfer and he was coming in late Friday afternoon. he had just enough time to rush home shower, change and head out the door...to Alycea's graduation. It was beautiful and I pretty much cried from the time we got in the car until I went to bed that night.
The next day saw us running around for lei's and other items for the graduation ceremony, painting the windows on the truck, and juggling all those people into the cars.....
I will stop here because Britt's graduation deserves a post all of its own.....so stay tuned...I'll be back by this weekend!
Saturday, May 30, 2009
I Don't Think I Can Do This....
I can't breathe...I can't do this.
How am I suppose to sit in the stands and listen to them call her name next Saturday, listing all her accomplishments, and watch her walk across the stage and accept her diploma? How am I suppose to sit there and watch her?
I remember like it was yesterday....searching for the right school for her, teaching her to write her name, shopping for her first school back pack, first lunch box.....dressing her for the first day of school.... I remember 9 years later laying in my bed crying and praying about her starting public high school....and now I have blinked and it is over...she will graduate.
The past couple of months...well actually since OJ and Darius (get back to Darius in a minute) graduated last year Britt has been able to take me to levels of frustration that have mostly (smile) kept the unbreathable moments that I have experienced this week at bay. The lack of energy put into applying for scholarships, her dogged determination to decline the full ride scholarship, the lack of mathematical abilities when considering her future...and lets not even go into the 7 months it has taken her to get her room clean.
But today as I am planning out what I have to do this week to get ready for my parents arrival and the graduation I can no longer put off the onslaught of emotions that I am feeling...what really doesn't help is that Rick is not here to hold me through it.
Darius....yes...he is not helping me any either....you see he is going into the Air Force and I have to say good bye to him tomorrow.....so if you pass me on the street and I am crying uncontrollably anytime in the next two weeks....you will know why!
How am I suppose to sit in the stands and listen to them call her name next Saturday, listing all her accomplishments, and watch her walk across the stage and accept her diploma? How am I suppose to sit there and watch her?
I remember like it was yesterday....searching for the right school for her, teaching her to write her name, shopping for her first school back pack, first lunch box.....dressing her for the first day of school.... I remember 9 years later laying in my bed crying and praying about her starting public high school....and now I have blinked and it is over...she will graduate.
The past couple of months...well actually since OJ and Darius (get back to Darius in a minute) graduated last year Britt has been able to take me to levels of frustration that have mostly (smile) kept the unbreathable moments that I have experienced this week at bay. The lack of energy put into applying for scholarships, her dogged determination to decline the full ride scholarship, the lack of mathematical abilities when considering her future...and lets not even go into the 7 months it has taken her to get her room clean.
But today as I am planning out what I have to do this week to get ready for my parents arrival and the graduation I can no longer put off the onslaught of emotions that I am feeling...what really doesn't help is that Rick is not here to hold me through it.
Darius....yes...he is not helping me any either....you see he is going into the Air Force and I have to say good bye to him tomorrow.....so if you pass me on the street and I am crying uncontrollably anytime in the next two weeks....you will know why!
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