Queen of This Kingdom!!!!

Mid Life Crisis???

2011-04-20T13:31:00.000-07:00

Aloha friends!

All these years I used to think that the term midlife crisis was simply a title people who were in their forties would use to describe a bad decision and was basically a bunch of bunk! However, as a forty year old wife of a Senior Chief who is a CMC, mother of four teenagers, Director of a CDC, and Director of the Children's ministry who is also working on her Masters...I believe it is true!

OMG!!! With all the stress and pressure I have in my life right now I feel like I just may lose my mind (although I refuse to lose the mind of Christ) Let's see where do I begin? Well we are up for orders again...well we really aren't...but have been given a harsh nudge in the direction of picking a boat, as there is going to be a major shifting of senior leadership here on the waterfront beginning at the Force Master Chief and working its way down. This means that there are going to be several COB billets opening up on the waterfront, and they are going to need them filled. So we begin the process of having to choose a boat to be our family for three years. Those of you who have been following me for years, or are close friends know that this is no easy task....for Rick....he checks the schedule, the crew, the upcoming changes in command...and a whole host of other things that he will review. He will change his mind at least 400 times, making all of us crazy. Oh, and let me add that now he is also scrambling to finish his Bachelors before he goes to another command...which means he is cramming way to much homework into a small window. All while attempting to complete all the projects in the house he wanted to complete before he was deployable. I have begun to hate Home Depot!

Four teenagers...I have no idea where to begin on that one! Brittany is doing really well in college...after a rough start and the possibility of loosing her scholarship and she loves her job. However, she is struggling with passing her road test! Three times and still no luck! Joshua turned 17 Monday and Rick refuses to let him get his license until he shows some maturity (ummm...does this mean I should revoke Rick's license???) He has a job...at Mom's Soul Food Kitchen...the white boy is cooking your soul food:-) He is faithful to his responsibilities to include the Usher Board, his job, school, and of course his beloved football! I really am proud of how he is committed and responsible to the things in his life...I just wish he would be nice to the people he lives with. He is so incredibly grouchy! The alarming thing is that he really is not engaged in this whole I am graduating from high school in a year thing...so I am going to have to take the reigns on that one...because I refuse to have him at home everyday playing Xbox in his underwear! Becca is very passionate about REAL an anti-tobacco movement and speaks in the senate to the representatives of Hawaii and does interviews for local news shows. Zachary is still playing football..tackle...flag does not matter to him. He was in the symphonic band but gave up on it.

All of the above have one thing in common....they need a ride where ever they go. They take the bus every once in a while but for the most part I am their driver! Add to that the stress of raising four people who are starting to spread their wings and want their independence...but still need guidance...guidance they don't want. Don't forget to throw in a Senior Chief that would like to see our home run like a submarine...and his children to act and listen like his adult sailors do....this is a recipe for disaster my friends. Most days I feel like a a referee!!!

I love my job....but the Good Lord knows that there are days where people take me to the edge of the brink. Working within the military community has its challenges...we are undergoing major budget cuts and deployments, the whole lifestyle is extremely stressful and that stress comes out in different forms...often times we see it as when we are getting screamed at when we ask a parent to pick a sick child up, or we enforce a major regulation...we try not to take it personally...but after so many times in the day it starts to wear on you. We are also renovating our building. This means I have to move all of my staff and children to another building for six months. Sounds like fun, doesn't it? Well, in doing this I am cutting my spaces down and cutting my hourly program down a two thirds...which is scary because I cannot keep up with the demand now. My staff is stressed because we will be combining some rooms for the move and there are a lot of things up in the air. I can't blame them, at the same time I have no answers for them right now either, so I pray they can hang on for a while with the unknown. I have an awesome staff...and I think that there may only be four or five who hate me as opposed to the entire building...progress!

I have 13 months left in my Masters program and honestly this program is easier than I thought it would be. However, because and I are both in school we often take turns driving to football games and other activities so the other one can do homework in the truck. Children's Ministry is great, although I took a break fro a while it seems that we are back on track and so is the rest of the ministry.

I have come to the conclusion that we need a maid...because my kids already think we do! I am tired of cleaning up after grown people. I can clean all day Saturday and by Sunday evening they have trashed the place. I don't know how many times I can say the same dang thing...clean your room, get your stuff out of the front hall way, do your dishes, clean your bathroom, sweep the floor.....I can't take it any more...there people are ridiculous!

So all of the above, combined with the things I have left out to protect the innocent (and my job) has made me understand that we may all be presented with a possible midlife crisis situation...HOWEVER it is how we respond to the situation that determines whether it will be later considered a crisis or a victory. It is a minute by minute decision making process...often painful. There are times I would like to walk out the front door and not look back. But when that thought occurs I need to dig deep and ask God to help me.....and eat some chocolate!

So my friends if you find yourself at the end of your rope (although after talking to the Joint Base Master Chiefs wife Friday at the Sub Ball I am no where as close to the end of my rope as I will be once he takes a boat) dig deep and embrace the mind of Christ...because while we may be going crazy...God never did or will!

OMG!!!!

2011-03-01T22:29:00.001-08:00

Did you ever have one of those days where if one more person made asked a stupid question...or made a stupid statement you thought you might lose your mind?

I am at the point where there are no real words to convey what I have to say. I feel like I should just shout out random thoughts. For example when an employee walks past my office late yet again...maybe I should yell in my loudest crazy person voice "YOUR LATE AGAIN!!!!" or maybe when they ask a question they already know the answer to I could say, "Do you want to retract that ridiculous question you asked or did you mean to sound that foolish?"

People refuse to take responsibility for the own stupidity....I'm ready to make them own up!

There are two people who want my job!

2011-02-07T07:51:00.001-08:00

There are two people who want my job...Their names are Everybody and Nobody!!!!

Lets start with Everybody. You see everybody wants my job... Or what they imagine my job to be. Those who think being in charge is glamorous really want my job. They think having business cards with their name on them and an office is where it's at. Then there are those who think that all decisions I make are wrong and they could make much better ones and make everyone happy. Let's not forget those who think being in charge equals no work and plenty of free time

Let's move onto Nobody. Nobody wants to have to answer the questions when the person who the business card was given to calls. When do do want this? Where do you want this? Are willing to pay for this? And oh! The work that goes on in that coveted office. The decisions that need to be made, the budget, staffing, schedule, the angry clients... The ones that were made angry by everybody and nobody that I have to deal with. The constant stream of emails and phone calls that need to be answered...the never ending stream of paperwork piles on the desk. The decisions that need to be made...you have to weigh the regulations, customer service, the welfare of the employee, the union, and what's best for the entire picture....not just nobody. Nobody always second guesses you and tells you that you could have made a better decision....and most of the time you were put in a position to have to make a decision by everybody and nobody....because they couldn't...or wouldn't take the risk! Finally...I work 13 hour days with no lunch....while everybody and nobody make sure they get a break, a lunch, and they punch out after their 8 hours...on the dot!

So to Everybody and Nobody....you really don't want my job...you couldn't handle my job!

Blogging from my phone...

2011-01-20T20:08:00.001-08:00

Ok so I downloaded this app to my iPhone to see if I could blog on the go...because let's gave it sometimes you just have to get it out there! This is a test run:-)

Here I am!

2011-01-16T13:33:00.000-08:00

My husband came to me the other day and asked me if I knew the last time I blogged, was. I told him I thought it was sometime in the fall of 2009. In actuality it had been August 2009, right after I started working for the Army. He admonished me to start blogging again and I have to admit I really have missed it!

So much has happened...I don't know where to begin. Some of it would be too painful to write about and some I am still trying to figure it out, so I'll cap the highlights and post some pictures:-)

The biggest thing would that I turned 40, on October 13th. I am not one of those people who see tragedy or even loss at turning 40. Instead I see it as the next step in the journey I am on. I chose to celebrate the whole month by posting an 80's song of the day on facebook for each day of the month. We covered everyone from by beloved Bon Jovi (who we saw in concert last February here in Honolulu:-)) to even my not so favorite Phil Collins. My husband and friends threw a surprise birthday party for me...with much help from my daughters. It was extremely comical to hear their tales about pulling the party together, without me finding out. I have decided that there are things that I want from life, and that now is the time to embrace and celebrate those things, so I look towards the next decades with anticipation and excitement.

I also have moved from being a Training and Curriculum Specialist for the Army Child Youth and School Services to being a Director of one of their Child Development Centers. This center has given me some of the greatest struggles I have faced in my professional life, but also some of the greatest victories and joys. The ladies that work with me are amazing and make coming to work easy. I love what I do, I know I am walking in my calling and I am grateful to be where I am today.

I am now a mother of three teenagers and one tween who still resides as the family Dennis the Menace

In this picture we have from left to right Zachary (12), Joshua (16), Becca (15 next week), and Britt (19 who they have started calling Midge...because she is the shortest out of all of them, except Zachary who is quickly gaining on her...Joshua is a whole foot taller than she is)

We continue to spend all of our Friday nights and Saturday mornings from August to November at some sort of football field or another....with even Britt sporting the Aiea colors..shhhh don't tell those Campbell people. Britt is in her sophomore at Hawaii Pacific University, Joshua is finishing his Junior year at Aiea High School, Becca her sophomore year, and Zachary is in his first year of junior high. Rick is wrapping up his Bachelors from Wayland University and I am still pursuing my Masters in Educational Psychology from Capella University.

I feel we are coming to a time of transition in all areas of our lives....God is getting ready to do something amazing and something we could have never expected....above and beyond any of our expectations....and I am ready!

Now That's An Idea....

2009-08-20T00:37:00.000-07:00

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.....

Time Flies

2009-08-19T10:44:00.000-07:00

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:)

2009-07-31T19:11:00.001-07:00

I'm Alive:)

2009-07-27T19:33:00.000-07:00

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!

2009-07-27T19:30:00.001-07:00

Catching up...AGAIN!!!

2009-06-23T14:24:00.000-07:00

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!

I Don't Think I Can Do This....

2009-05-30T21:44:00.000-07:00

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!

AHAHAHAHAH Attack of the CheerQueen

2009-05-28T23:16:00.000-07:00

OK....friends...those of you who have been following along for a while know that I have not been particularly fond of cheerleaders...since high school....and that both of my daughters are cheerleaders....and that I call Britt's the CheerQueen.

Well I thought the cheerness would come down several notches when Britt graduated from high school and was no longer on the cheer squad. However, she has just accepted a job as an assistant Cheerleading coach for her old high school..so the cheerness will continue on....

Superfriend.....

2009-05-28T22:57:00.000-07:00

I have been listening to the Mary Mary Mary The Sound CD and there is a song that has really ministered to me on there. Superfriend. It talks about how friends will always let you down...well....lets face it because we are human:) But there is one friend who will never let you down and He has already paid the price for your freedom....that's what I call a SUPERFRIEND.

I want to clarify that some of our friends don't let us down on purpose...because real friends don't do it as a conscious thought...and sometime they don't even know they have done it. You may realllllyyyyy need a friend, so you call them up...and maybe themselves are having a bad day...so when they respond to you they are responding from their current position or funk....without thinking that you may reallllyyyy need them right then. This doesn't make them a bad friend....it makes them human.

So this is what happened to me this week. I got some news that I didn't want to hear ....news I was hoping would be other than it was and there are few people outside of my husband I would have shared the news with. So I called one and for whatever reason she was funky and busy so I just told her to call me when she had a chance....then I cried and talked to Jesus all the way home in rush hour traffic.

So here's the deal.....and I am not saying we should have low standards concerning our friends or that we should expect the worse from them. But when they don't meet the friendship need for that moment we need to remember that our friends here on earth are human and have bad days. We need to remember that we have a friend that is better than anyone here on earth...one who has given more than humanly possible...

My Crown....

2009-05-27T22:44:00.000-07:00

The way my day has gone....or rather part of my week.....causes me to think that God has a super crown for me in heaven. This crown will be so large and ginormous that when it is placed on my head that I need someones help hold it on my head...kind of like they did for Moses arms during battle......

Let us begin....let's see....last week when the brakes went out on my truck AGAIN!!! I completely bi passed the service department and asked for a manager when the customer service rep answered the phone. I figured that I would just cut to the chase and talk to them, since that's where I was going to end up in the long run anyway.

I have to give a shout out to James at Tony Nissan...because he has taken pretty good care of me and my brake issue. He is smart enough (unlike the other customer service people) to look and see if I had an extended warranty. So my truck has been in the shop since last Monday. James called me Friday afternoon to tell me that they parts weren't in yet so they would have to keep it through weekend. My first thought was....no biggie...Rick is gone and I'll just drive his car...me and the kids fit. WRONG I forgot Sheila and Obie are out of town and Jojo is staying with us. After a few trips with all the darlings I called Sheila and got her truck.

Here it is Wednesday and I still don't have my truck...hopefully tomorrow.;

Did I mention Rick is gone? Yes, he is and we are praying he will be here graduation day...praying hard. Anyway he is gone and I stuck driving the short bus of people who live/are staying with us. I am the one soley responsible for making sure that Princess has all of her pictures and invitations, I am the one responsible for making sure they get to the people they are intended for, for finding princess a white dress for grad day, for getting the parking passes, for making sure the mess in the girls rooms and bathroom finally get cleaned up, making sure Zachary, Becca, Josiah, Joshua, and Princesses final projects are all finally completed and handed in......that my friends is a small glimpse into what i am responsible for this week....

Now let me get to the jewels that will be in my crown......

Josiah first of all "forgetting"to wear deodorant to the church picnic Monday and then coming to me Tuesday morning, asking me where "the"deodorant was. Dude its not like the toothpaste we DON"T share deodorant.....

Then Jojo coming to me ten minutes before we are suppose to walk out the door this morning asking me, "What am I suppose to wear?" Ummmm...clothes...his response, "They are all dirty!" I told him he better dig around in Joshua's drawers and find something....otherwise he would be wearing a cute pair of my capri's or a dress!!!

Today Becca and Jojo make cookies for Jojo's final project....and them coming out thinner than toilet paper..and tasting much like used toilet paper. So Josh and Jojo start over and make another batch...which Jojo just informed us he would not eat if it was the last food on earth.

Oh,but wait there's more....Joshua asking me to take his uniform to the cleaners....three times...and never bringing it to me....

Zach getting sick Friday at school and Josh being sick since Sunday morning....

To top it all off....I am totally bummed because I called the Director at the job I wanted and she told me that she was really really sorry, she wanted to hire me but she had to choose the internal employee. She did say that she flagged my resume and sent it to the other directors for positions that will becoming available very soon because I would be an asset to the organization...sigh... I cannot tell a lie I cried all the way home... I really wanted that job. I told God that I was being a brat crying about it because for all I know He could have a much better position waiting for me.....but that I just needed to cry.

I think I needed to cry to let off some of the pressure building inside. I reminded myself all day that God has already made a way, and that I should Fear not, only believe. In my heart I do.....I just needed to let go of some of the gaseous emotional built up inside of myself.

I am thankful for my friends who were there for me today ( I only told two people...but some others were there for me without even knowing what was going on) and I pray for their crowns and promise to help them hold them up if need be:)

God appointment.....

2009-05-21T00:32:00.000-07:00

Have you ever had one of those times when you knew at that exact moment you were at the exact place where God had ordained you to be?

I had one of those moments today, while working on the Navy Respite Care project. I went to the home of a wonderful young women who is full or strength and faith. She has two beautiful little boys who are both children with exceptional needs...which really is ok... because she is an EXCEPTIONAL mom...ordained by God to minister to His two angels here on earth.

She went into the meeting with the thought that the whole respite care process was going to be lengthy and it would be some time before she would be able to receive in home care....and be able to take a break and pour back into herself...because as a Navy spouse and a mom she quite often pours out more than is even physically possible to ever pour back in. (can I get an amen on that one...we are all guilty of doing that).

However, after the meeting she was amazed that she would be able to receive care immediately and at that moment she was able to release all the stress and pent up emotion of her children's medical struggles and diagnosis, as well as, the strain of being a military spouse. I was able to (hopefully) encourage her and let her,let it out.

I am thankful to God for allowing me to be the vessel that brought such a blessing into her life and I pray that this project is able to help many more like her.

Practicing What You Preach

2009-05-07T14:08:00.000-07:00

I’m trying to practice what I preach… I REALLY am:)

Here’s the deal I am speaking this Saturday at our church’s annual Mothers Day conference. I had my outline all finished and handed in, the title “Being a Women of Godly Influence”. That’s a pretty solid and interesting topic and I thought I was ready.

So Monday and Tuesday morning I woke up crying and praying. I knew I was off somewhere in my walk with God I just couldn’t figure it out. So I was ironing Tuesday morning and it hit me….I had lost my trust in God. How did that happen? How does someone who has been walking with God for as many years as I have lose their trust in God?

Well, it was one of those slow processes…so slow that you don’t even realize and would never imagine it happening. I could see how it could happen if suffered a devastating loss or disappointment. But it was not that. It seems that over the past several years I have allowed the small disappointments to pull me away from trusting God and pushed me to relying on my own understanding…..yes you all know where that got me…..further away from God.

At some point fear and anxiety replaced trust and faith. I have spent the last two years waking up with my heart beating a mile a minute with fear of what disappointment would come my way. The disappointments I faced were not huge…the GeoBatch tour was awful, but we survived. The adjustable mortgage which almost caused us to lose our house was painful, but God fixed it and make it affixed rate and is working on getting us a lower rate.

The hysterectomy was no biggie, I was just disappointed that my husband had to leave less than two weeks afterwards. AND that my business partner did not take into consideration the fact that I had just had major life changing surgery when we went to work at the preschool.

I think the preschool process is what did it to me….beginning in 2005 we stumbled and fumbled through one faith test after another, until we finally opened in 2008. Had I stayed at my job where I was making good money I would not have gone through the financial difficulties I did…but I left in what I thought was faith.

From the time we opened there was strain and stress over the finances of the school. And today over a year later the school is still struggling. Even in this God made a way for me to leave and He gave me a job that pays well and that I really enjoy. He is an awesome God!!!

So, you see I allowed the disappointments of life to wear at my faith and trust in God until it was so weak that I allowed it to fail at every turn…I did not trust God completely as I should have. Instead I relied on my own methods of economics and math, I relied on what I thought I had to get our family out of the financial mess we were in…EVEN though I had seen God destroy the debt in our lives before…I chose to rely on my own understanding because of fear and doubt.

I had to change my message to “Misplaced Distrust” What happens when distrust becomes part of your relationship with God?

So….I am trying to practice what I preach…I have applied for four jobs in the past week (I love my current job….but I can make so much more and be in a position where advancement is available, unlike my current job) I have to trust that if God has designed for me to have these positions, the door will be wide open and I will walk through.

For those of you who won’t be there Saturday….you just received an over view of my message…..for those of you who will….pray for me and make sure you come hear what God has done in meJ

30 days.....720 hours

2009-05-06T21:24:00.000-07:00

I am a wreck.....in 30 days ....almost exactly 720 hours from this very moment I will be sitting in Aloha Stadium crying my eyes out as my oldest takes that walk from her seat, across the stage, and accepts her high school diploma. I am crying right now...how am I going to pull this off without being a blubbering fool?

Where is the baby girl I brought home? She has turned into an amazing woman...who will go to her senior prom this Saturday, and has accepted the full ride Presidential Scholarship from Hawaii Pacific University. I cannot believe it.

Two days later my youngest daughter will graduate from 8th grade and move on to high school....where does time go? She is unbelievable...a treasure.

Joshua is going to his first high school sports banquet and has been at practice faithfully since February for the fall season. His determination is to be respected and recognized.

Zach will graduate from 6th grade next year...and move on to Middle School......but he promises he will live with me forever.....

Six Favorite Things

2009-05-06T09:37:00.000-07:00

These are the rules:
1. Mentioned who tagged you.2.
List six unimportant things that make you happy.
3. Tag six more blogs, then go and comment on their blogs. Let them know that have been challenged, and invite them to play along.

Shari mentioned me in her six favorite things and tagged me:)

Six of my Favorite Things:

1. The comfortable silence of dawn...when it's just me and God.

2. Camping....waking up to the sound of the ocean.

3. My husband

4. My "family" natural, spiritual, and military.

5. I LOVE to read....I read so much I forget what books I have read and sometimes buy the same one without realizing it:)

6. GOOD chocolate.

That's my six favorite things...now here are the 6 blogs I choose:)

My Family http://thekriegerfamilylegacy.blogspot.com/
Melissa http://lifeinterruptedbutnotdisrupted.blogspot.com/
Lea http://fairlystraightfoward.blogspot.com/
Roni http://ricknroni.blogspot.com/
ElMay http://ellegourmet.blogspot.com/?zx=7247805bee9e50
Gwendolyn http://butterflykiss004.blogspot.com/

Sneak Peak at Britts Senior Portraits

2009-05-01T18:53:00.000-07:00

Sounds of Silence

2009-04-21T12:40:00.000-07:00

So, I am sitting here in my house by MYSELF!!! The kids are all at school and Rick has duty. I was suppose to go to work today for three hours because i worked 13 hours yesterday (check out the article about the project I am working on http://www.hawaiinavynews.com/node/408 )BUT when I woke up my foot, eye lids, and fingers were swollen from a bug bite...so I took another benedryl and went back to sleep.

I am waiting for the appliance delivery people to bring me my new fridge.....its times like this when I miss living in quarters and having Uncle Sam pick up the tab. So I have to wait for them to come between 11am and 1:30 pm....which is cool with me..there is nobody here to bother me.

I should be cleaning my house....but I don't feel like it. After working on school work for the last couple of years I am enjoying doing nothing. I FINALLY finished my last class....with an 80...I don't even care....I'm just glad to have it all behind me....finally!

We are waiting for orders AGAIN STILL...whatever! I have two that need new id's but don't want to get them until he reenlists because I will just have to re-do them again. So we wait and we wait and we wait....

The good news is that we have campsite reservations for 4th of July weekend.....that is what will be keeping me going through...May, Mothers Day, graduations, my parents visiting, and VBS.....the light at the end of my tunnel.

Moments....

2009-04-21T12:26:00.000-07:00

I believe that as a family we have entered a season of moments......

Saturday, we bought Britt's prom dress, today she picked up her cap, gown, and graduation announcements, and tonight she is having her senior portraits done. I cried a little bit last week when I picked up some items that the party store had in stock, so of course I called Fran my "moment partner." Then Sunday, as Alycea took her senior portraits Fran called me crying. We are a pitiful pair!

But it doesn't end with Britt because Joshua and Becca will both be in high school this year. They asked Josh to move up to Varsity...his reply...no way I want to stay where I will see some serious playing time! Becca will begin her freshman year....and someday they will all graduate and leave home:( :) I don't know whether to be happy or sad about that!

Our Sub Ball Photo

2009-04-19T21:56:00.001-07:00

109th Submarine Birthday Ball

2009-04-18T21:57:00.000-07:00

I have to say I haven't enjoyed a sub ball in several years...so last night was a pleasant surprise. I had a really good time. We have been stationed in Hawaii for almost 20 years, so after about the first 10 years I moved from having strickely boat friends to military friends....to just plain friends. So when we go to these functions I usually don't have anyone to talk to. But last night I ran into some ladies that i know from church, SWC, and I got to know some new people that Rick introduced me to...

So, the day started with Rick oversleeping and running out the door to Pearl side. Me I stayed in bed and relaxed for a few moments. Then I jumped out of bed and headed down the road. First I went to get gas and coffee, then I went to get my nails done. Of course, she asked acrylic or gel....gel last longer,dryer faster...lol so I went with gel...and they do dry faster! The foot lady had to do my toes over twice because the first time she put red flowers...on gold toes, I told her no red...so she put green ones....ugly green flowers on gold toes....heeeelllllloooo> Finally, I told her...white little flowers...nothing else.

After that I went to get my eyebrows and hair done....I was so proud of myself...I made her fix it until it was exactly what I wanted. Then, I came home to wait for Brandi to come do my make-up, but she had to cancel because she was having a bad asthma attack. I went upstairs and layered and layered the foundation and cover-up, and did my thing....I was happy with the results.

Next, came the dress...or should I say the underclothes and the dress. Rick helped me jump on into my fat sucker, Britt put on my jewelry, shoes, and dress. She also helped her dad put all of his medals and uniform on. As she was helping him I realized that I had a one piece fatsucker on...which meant I would have to take my dress completely off every time I had to go to the bathroom. Now, for those of you who know me, you know that I use the bathroom more than the average bear.....four kids will do that to your bladder! What had I been thinking?

At this point, Rick is starting to stress getting there on time...it was 3pm.....but he was stressing it. We dropped Zach and Brittany off in Halsey Terr and jumped on Nimitz Hwy. As we drove down the road we hear a horn....Rick unrolls the window and starts talking to this guy from his first boat...he is a civilian now and is out here as a contractor. Only Rick could find someone he knows driving in downtown Waikiki traffic!

We got there at 4:30...with plenty of time to spare. We took pictures and found our seats. Of course Rick knew everyone there, so he was chit chatting. We scoped out the bathroom, because we knew that I was going to have to go once dinner started. I had him unhook and unzip the top part of my dress and I ran into the bathroom....then I came out and had him rehook and zip me.
Luckily, I met a women chief who Rick has gotten to know along with her husband a master chief...and she helped me undo my dress so I could go to the bathroom.

Rick did a great job with the invocation, and once it was over he was able to relax and have some fun.

Overall, we had a really great time. I got to talk to and meet several women who I had only known up until last night as screen names on submarine wives boards. I got to know some new ladies at our command, and some new spouses of friends Rick has picked up through the years.

Of course, Rick got a hundred and one pieces of advice of what orders he should take...so now he is contemplating which ones he should take .....I'll leave that in the hands of God:)

I took my camera to church today and I left it in my office...so I will post pictures tomorrow after church.

The Sub Ball Invocation

2009-04-18T21:52:00.000-07:00

Here is Rick's invocation for the 109th Submarine Birthday Ball:

-The world is yours Lord, and of this, let us be ever mindful. To everything there is a season and a time for every purpose under heaven. Tonight, we ask that you bless us as we use this time for relaxation, for enriching fast friendships and for making new ones. We pray that this night be one of good cheer, celebration and reflection.
-We pray for those currently deployed and the families that support them. We pray for our families as they continue to support us. Keep and protect them, watch over them, and be ever mindful of them. We thank and praise you for giving us so many gifts over these one hundred and nine years - more than we can mention. But, especially we praise you for all your gifts tonight - for the food, the drink, and those who prepared them, for health and contentment, for challenges and opportunities, and above all, peace.
-Bless those in leadership over our nation, local governments, and our armed services. Give them Wisdom and Knowledge to lead and make decisions that are pleasing to you.
-We are grateful, Father, that you created us in your image. We recognize our responsibility to use our intelligence, talents, and energies in ways that honor you. On this occasion, we remember gratefully those whose sacrifices have made possible this laboratory of freedom, the United States of America.
-We are deeply grateful for those who lived and died to preserve this land in which liberty and justice are the birthright of all. Remembering their example of sacrifice, may such memories deepen our motivation to be citizens and sailor’s devoted to the ideals of freedom and equal opportunity for all. Grant us the wisdom to discover the physical and spiritual strengths necessary to maintain peace in this changing world and the resolve to pursue these strengths. Shelter us with the canopy of your grace and pour out your blessing upon us this night, as we reflect on our mighty submarine force, those whom have sacrificed for it, those whom currently serve in it, and those whom have yet to join it. Watch over us now and when depart this place, but never your presence. In Christ’s name we pray. And everyone say, “AMEN”

SHHHHHh

2009-04-17T11:05:00.000-07:00

It's Friday morning at 7:55 am and my house is completely silent....even the neighbors dog has fallen silent in honor of my morning off...God is GOOD!

So I stayed up late last night with Rick and Britt. He was writing his prayer for the Sub Ball tonight (which I will post here later after the Ball) and Britt and I were creating a facebook group titled "What Out For That Tree" It all started with a picture that Rick took of a tree in Okinawa and has now made it his wall paper on his lap top and the profile picture on his facebook. Britt and I are sick of looking at it and have been harassing him about taking it off.....so we started a facebook group to gain supporters of this movement. He's now made it a war of sorts...I am afraid that we will be looking at that tree for many years. But it was nice to just lay in the bed with them and the lap tops last night giggling:) O, I hope that girl doesn't leave me soon......

Anyway i told Rick that I was sleeping in today so he had to get the kids up at 4:30am to catch the bus...he said NO Problem! So I roll over this morning and see him still in the bed...with the sun shining through the windows...he overslept! So he had to hustle and get everyone out the door:)

Now I am laying in bed typing and surfing. He bought me to coolest little lap top...it matches my phone. I told him they could be friends.....and he said that he could hook it up so they talk to each other. My response was, "No they may talk about me....and there are already enough people who do that:):

So I have to get up now and make a program for a luncheon tomorrow and start getting ready for the Sub Ball...yes it will take me that long:)

I am finished

2009-04-16T23:39:00.000-07:00

I can't even think of a title for this post.........lol

I finished my last class for my BS this week. I only took it three times. It wasn't a hard class...especially the second and third times because i just cut and pasted all my work:) But every time it came down to the last week something happened (I believe a broken nose and pneumonia) and I couldn't get the final paper done. So, I wrote it and went to hand it in Monday....and I couldn't access the class online for some reason. So I panicked for a couple of minutes and then realized I had the instructors email address...so I emailed it....there was no way I was taking that class again!

The paper was an argumentative paper....Women on United States Submarines. Of course I argued against it. Not because I don't trust my husband.....mainly because of the lifestyle it requires and the danger of the females not being able to receive medical care quick enough if they were on mission....because on surface ships women have to be transported off the ships for medical reasons at rates more than double of men. Sometimes on mission you make do with what ya got and I don't think we should put the health of our service women at risk just to say they have equal rights. My other strong argument was the right now the sub force is operating as a dysfunctional family and adding women to the picture is like a couple contemplating divorce having a baby....

So, tonight I have found myself at odds without the pressure of homework needing to be done...for the first time in two years.....I am thinking about going for my masters in educational psychology. I really like to learn....I just hate taking nonsense courses that have no bearing on my degree. We will see if I can get Rick to re-enlist for 4 years instead of 3 years so I can use his GI Bill.

Oh yeah...Hope you will love this one....we had orders but they may change....that is all I am going to say.

Britt seems to have listened to the voice of reason...and of God:) and is at least considering going to HPU on her full ride scholarship. If God opens the door for her to have a full ride somewhere else, I will send her off with my blessing.....or if God says she needs to go somewhere else...of course it will be with my blessing.

Today I had to go to Party City for some things and I walked down the Graduation Aisle and picked some things up for her party...and started to cry...sigh...she is a grown up now and if she wanted to could leave my house very soon...and there would be nothing I could do about it. I have to believe that God's Word is true....Train a child up in the way he should go and he will not depart from it.

Her cap and gown will be in Tuesday...right on time for her Senior pictures Tuesday afternoon. Saturday we have to go shopping for a prom dress......

Tomorrow night is the Sub Ball. My dress is hanging upstairs and I have appointments all day tomorrow to hook me up. Then we will sit in traffic for a bajillion years...to eat yicky food:) I am praying we don't have to sit at the command table...I want to have some fun.

Joshua is turning 15 Saturday...wow he is right behind Britt....my baby boy will be 15...I think I may cry myself to sleep tonight.

On that note I am finished.....

Catching up....

2009-04-10T13:54:00.001-07:00

Well, here it is Good Friday morning and I am crashed on the couch in my pj's trying to put off writing my last paper:( I am also doing a load or two of laundry, running the dishwasher and directing children here and there....

So what is going on around here?

Well, we finally got Rick's orders and while they are not the exact orders he wanted (the orders he wanted were not in his rate which at this point in the ANAV world is impossible) they are not bad orders. A E9 billet at Subpac with no sea time.....which is what we were really trying to avoid. So now he can head over to Navy campus and get registered for the class and preparing himself to retire:)

Britt is still wrestling with where to go to school, but all I can do is pray.

We went to an awards ceremony for the Presidential Scholarship Monday evening and on the way over there I thought I was going to explode!!! Here I was sitting with Rick and Brittany driving down the highway with both of them asking me questions about what they were going to do with their future. Each time I gave an answer BOTH of them had a but what if, maybe, I don't know response. I have been going through this with the two of them for 6 months and I was at my breaking point. I told them that they were driving me crazy and that they were so much alike I was going to start calling both of them Rickany (Rick and Brittany combined) Now, that the Rick part of Rickany has made some progress I need to work on the other one. Dude....I have to do this with three more kids....they better remember me on Mothers Day!!!

I am loving my job, although I did apply for the same job with the Army making $10000 more a year. Not because I don't like my job...because it pays more money. We will see how it pans out. I don't want to leave my job....but we need to do all we can to prepare for retirement.

This weekend I am finishing the final paper of my BS and then I am taking six months off before I start my Masters in Educational Psychology. I need a break from writing papers and all that comes with going to school.

I am also getting ready to speak at the church's Mothers day conference. I have my topic and I am working on it. But really gets me is all the junk that the devil tries to throw the in my face.......

First this week my daughter tells me she is getting collection calls from Menehune water.....apparently the account that the school (the preschool I worked at and helped open) opened in her name had not been paid since July......so I called the water people to get to the bottom of the whole thing. Then I text my old partner, because to be honest I really don't want to have anything to do with her.....I forgive her, I just don't want to have anything to do with her and because calling her would have an open invitation for her to argue with me....something I do not plan on engaging in. So I sent the text telling her that I closed the account and they would be coming to pick up the water cooler and asking when this matter would be resolved. She responded....Thanks for the Call...the matter has been resolved. Why can she not understand that I am done, and don't want anything to do with her? I mourn the passing of our friendship, but I cannot resurrect the friendship because it would not be a healthy thing for me. I DON'T WANT TO TALK TO HER!!!!

Now I am dealing with people who think that they are better than others and that the rest of us are morons....be real people....don't you get a nose bleed sitting up on your high horse? When you have to get off and deal with the rest of the commoners do you feel like you are dealing with people beneath you? I'm just asking?!?!

So that's what's going on around here in a nutshell.

I am about to be invaded....

2009-03-27T14:46:00.000-07:00

By teenagers....yes, they are arriving by the droves through out the day. I already called Rick and told him to stop at the commi and pick up more food because we are going to need it!!!

The joke is on him though........because I have a VBS event in the morning, so he will be here with all of them tomorrow morning:)

There will be plenty of eating, Wii playing, and giggling..and ssshhhhhing. I will post pictures I am sure..and save them for bribing.

Rambling

2009-03-26T17:53:00.000-07:00

So, today is Prince Kuhio Day here in Hawaii...which means of course a day off:)

Mine started first thing this morning, with a conference call in my jammies, because of course the mainland does not recognize our Hawaiian holidays:) I tried to go back to sleep after the call but my children were not cooperating......so I did the next best thing...I cracked the whip and got them cleaning....now maybe they will let me sleep in tomorrow morning...because if they wake me up I may find something for them to clean.

I still feel like I got hit by a mac truck hauling massive amounts of snot...it may be tmi for some of you...sorry. I tried to get up this morning and be all peppy and accomplish the long list of things I set out for myself today....but it didn't work. I managed to clean part of my bathroom, all of the closet, and do everything but dust my bedroom. I had such high hopes for the next two days...but I guess I will spend them resting. I may sit pool side for a while tomorrow with a good book, while the washing machine churns away with my clothes.

Fiona has yet to make her college decision...I am trusting God that she will not depart from the Godly training we have been doing all these years and make the right choice. I can do nothing but pray about this..because no matter what I say she doesn't listen....

Speaking of prayer....that brings us to orders....Now, I know we are leaving Hawaii, so moving isn't a concern. the concern is the type of orders....if he gets a shore billet that requires sea time or a lot of traveling he will not be able to finish his degree. This means that he will have to do at least another 6 years in...3 more sea and 3 more shore...so he can finish the degree. I just want to know what we are doing....

The good news is that I have settled on a topic for my message at the Woman's Conference...and no, I am not telling you right now:)

I am off to watch my dvr'd shows for the week...so I will be ready to watch Grey's when it comes on:)

Update...

2009-03-23T17:38:00.000-07:00

What's going on around here...complete and utter chaos of course.....

Rick is in for a couple of months so we are all adjusting to that and getting ready for shore duty. Of course we have no orders...but am I worried...no....because regardless of whether or not I stress and worry about it the Navy will have their way...and I just refuse to get my panties in a bunch about it this time. After much debate and in the end being voluntold...we are going to the sub ball...The Deacon/Senior Chief dude I am married to will be giving the invocation.

Diva is still applying to colleges....none of which are giving her the full ride that HPU is offering AND she claims she is not going to take out loans. Me, as far as I am concerned God has made a way for her to go to college and not have to pay a dime....so I believe the matter settled. She asked me a few minutes ago why we never started a college fund for her.....it took all that was in me not to throw the laptop at her....... She has major PMS and hates all of us...we are bad people for requiring her to have a clean room and be civil to her brothers and sisters...bad bad people!

Joshua is into football practice and weight training. His grades are improving...however I really wish that I could scrub his mouth out with Clorox bleach....he is so negative and has something to say about everything.......it must be tough to have all those hormones bouncing around inside and have no way to release them.... How do I know he is not releasing them? Well, a friend of ours who is younger than us took Josh and his nephew out a couple of weeks ago and talked to them about "guy stuff" SEX came up and Josh's answer was...No way man my dad would kill me. What he doesn't know is that i would kill HIM and HER.

Becca is starting tryouts for JV Football cheer leading...You all know how I feel about cheerleaders...... Anyway, she must be worried about grades because she tackles me everyday to see if her report card came in...can't be good when the honors student is worried about grades.

Zach apparently had some time on his hands and decided it would be a grand idea to shave his eye brows...I blame my sister Amy and her boyfriend...hopefully someday fiance and then husband Ben really.... he has a strange idea in his head that he is going to be the best man in their wedding and is going to get a Mohawk which he will dye blue for the occasion.

I love my job...it is crazy busy, but its all good. I would rather be busy than have to fake being busy. I only have to work three days this week....I am suppose to be off Thursday and Friday...but I have to take a conference call Thursday in the morning...so I will be doing that. I believe we will be heading to the beach and chilling on Friday night because Rick has a dining in.

So that is an update on what's going on around here...I will be back more often...:) Now Amy and Mellie leave me alone

Feeling A LIttle Crusty Today:(

2009-02-27T09:29:00.000-08:00

OK...so its Friday and I am so glad the weekend is finally here....but I'm feeling out of sorts....kind of.

So, last night I had to go to a mandatory senior parent night where such chaos reigned that I cannot even begin to describe the madness... but that's not the point the point is this....OMG my baby will be graduating in 3 months. Of course I cried at the meeting...and at home after the meeting. She very well may get off her duff and actually leave the island.....I of course will be devastated. Rick concurred last night that he will also be sad...but that it was ok, because he would be sad four times and then we would be free! It's the beginning of the end of an era of our lives.

Last night as we tried to get to bed our room was like a three ringed circus...Zach coming in and asking questions, and the rest of them had to do this and ask that. They were all crawling all over the bed (this is when I made the decision to go from a king to a queen size bed)...they were everywhere. I kept trying to get away from them but every where I turned there they were! The straw that broke the camels back was when Zach pulled down his pants and asked me to look at his butt..because there was a scratch. How am I supposed to go from all of that to complete quietness? STOP...yes peace and quiet will be a dream come true....but I cannot imagine such a shift in ones life so suddenly being easy...I don't care how much I am looking forward to it:)

What else...yeah I am struggling with unorganized, undisciplined people in a certain area of my life.....besides my children:) I did something this week that will either have me coming out smelling pleasant or...not so pleasant. Either way people are not going to be happy with me...worst case scenario I will not be happy. Is it life threatening or super huge.....not in my personal life.....but in another area it causes me great frustration....so I wait for the decision to be made and the chips to fall where they may.....

Rick is "visiting" us for the weekend:) We are having a family dinner at California Pizza Kitchen tonight. Tomorrow he has to work most the day and I have a marriage ministry thingy:) We will probably just chill tomorrow evening...same thing Sunday...church and chill, he has to work.

This whole Navy thing is another source of my out of sortness (Mel...its my blog can make up words if I want to) We are waiting for orders again...it seems like we just did this. They SAY he can have the orders he wants...but only time and the hand of God will show us if that is to be. Depending on the direction that the wind is blowing he could be getting out after this shore tour...or not. I just want him to be happy. You must be thinking well...wouldn't getting out make him happy? Well, on one level it would...because he could be with all the time and he would be able to be a bigger part of the children's lives and the ministry.

But of course...there are two sides to every story. He wonders if he will fit in to the civilian community...will he miss his fellow chiefs and the bonds and perks that come from belonging to the goat locker? He wonders how it will feel to be stuck here on the island...without traveling and getting a break. How will it all pan out? Of course we look in the natural to the cut in pay we may have to take...hey, living in paradise is not free. We both fully understand that God is our source...but its scary stuff.

So that is where I am at today....this mid-life stuff is heavy dude!

Can You Guess Where I Spent Most of My Day???

2009-02-25T17:40:00.000-08:00

Well, it wasn't my nice quiet mostly kid free office...I'll tell you that:)

No I spent it at....Tripler...no surprise there.

I woke up and called the appointment line and in my half asleep state (for real I was in the bed, under the covers, with the phone on speaker) made an appointment for 2pm. After I hung up, I realized that 2pm was wayyyy to late. So I called back and changed it to 9am. Look at the clock and it read....7am. I shot up out of bed, ate breakfast, got ready, and had Britt out the door by 8:25...plenty of time right? WRONG as I got on the highway I saw that traffic was at a standstill...at 8:40 in the morning.

So needless to say we got to Tripler late....at 9:10. I then did something I have never done before...I used the valet parking. I have been in protest of the whole valet idea because I think it is ridiculous that I should have to pay for parking because they cannot manage their hospital right...but anyway. I drove up and handed them my keys...and walked my happy butt right into the hospital....and now that is my favorite thing to do:)

So we go in and see Dr. Green who has seen all of my three older ones for various, sprains, fractures,and one concussion:) He wasn't surprised to see us back..he understands that cheer leading is dangerous...lol Rearranged Britt's knee for about 15 minutes, and sends us off to our good friends down at xray. Once we return to the clinic we find that she has sprained her knee and has some patella syndrome....back to the brace and maybe physical therapy...no cheer leading or dancing for two weeks.

So that is what I did today...as for what I am doing tonight...it includes my husband as the only one on duty in the goatlocker after a month deployment..and that is all I am giving you!

MY DAY.....

2009-02-25T00:17:00.000-08:00

So my day started out pretty good. Stopped and picked up the keys for the class I had to teach tonight on my way to work. Did a few interviews in the morning, worked on a few things in the afternoon and did another interview. At about 4:30 pm they inform me that I need to pick up a tv so that I can play the video needed for my presentation tonight.....before I go to class.

OK, so I jump in the car and head out. The phone rings....its Zach's Babysitter telling my that she had to go stay in Waikiki for the night because something happened to her house...did I want to come pick him up in Waikiki after my class.....ummmm not really:) So I called and asked Shalei if she could watch him...she said yes. Ok minor disaster avoided.

The phone rings again.....its Becca..."Where's Britt," she asks. At a game....why...."I don't have a house key." Go to the babysitters house and get Zach's garage door opener...she goes to the house...and guess what? Zach doesn't have his garage door opener. So then I have to call around to try and find somewhere for the little darlings to go...because Shalei cannot watch them at our house...because they can't get in.

So I call over to Sheila and Obie's...Uncle Obie is home...so they can go there:) They feed them and when Josh gets home they all walk home together.....another disaster avoided.

But wait there is more...I walk in the door and Britt is in tears and her swollen knee is sitting under an ice pack. You all know where this is leading, don't you. You guessed it...a ride up the hill tomorrow morning to the big pink hospital on the mountain.

I am so tired, it's 10:27 pm and I have just finished my extremely healthy dinner of pop corn and grape soda...its time to end my day!

Thanks Ms Hope:)

2009-02-22T21:36:00.000-08:00

So, Ms Hope gave me an award:) Thanks Hope. As I have just started my blogging journey and I read most of the blogs Hope listed...my award list is a tad shorter...drum roll please....

"These blogs are exceedingly charming. These kind bloggers aim to find friends and be friends. They are not interested in self-aggrandizement. Our hope is that when the ribbons of these prizes are cut, even more friendships will be propagated. Please give more attention to these writers. Deliver this award to eight bloggers who must choose eight more and include this cleverly- written text into the body of their award."
I'd love to share this award with the following:

Life Interrupted but not DiSrUpTeD http://lifeinterruptedbutnotdisrupted.blogspot.com/

SUNDAY SUNDAY

2009-02-22T21:11:00.000-08:00

*Sigh* When your husband is gone Sunday is the absoulte worst day ever. Well it is for me...You see Sunday is church and family day. Church is something that I associate with my husband...he knows Whose he is, Who he is called to serve, and how he is called to serve. He walks in his calling with assurity and confidence....the Lord's:) So being at church is uplifting and sad all at the same time.

It is uplifting because my family is there...and they love me....and they take really good care of me. Its also uplifting because I also know Whose I am, and Who I am called to serve, and how I am called to serve. So even when I have trying days like I did today...when it seems that there is resistence at every turn and there is a line of people waiting to talk to me for assurance, counsel, or to share a concern out the door after service...I'm good. I'm good because I know I am where I am suppose to be. I know each trial and thing before me has been ordained....and I can rest in knowing that I am where I am suppose to be.

It's sad because Rick is such a part of the ministry and has such a connection with the annointing there...that its hard for him not to be there. Then to come home without him kinda bums me out:( So today, I went to Costco (and boy did someone open a can of stupid in that place today....) with Shalei,and came home and cleaned...now I am just biding my time until bedtime...so this Sunday will be over and I can start another week that will bring me closer to Rick:)

I really want to....

2009-02-18T23:27:00.000-08:00

Say something deep or comical...at this point I believe I would settle for something that made sense. But I am so tired...in two days I have already worked 24 hours and tomorrow will be at least another ten hours. BUT there is a light at the end of the tunnel...I only have to work 2 hours Friday:) I am going to get my hair, cut colored, and highlighted. Maybe then I will feel witty and funny...then I'll write something memorable:)

Tripler....

2009-02-15T22:43:00.000-08:00

Tripler at times to my home away from home...lol For those of you who don't know.....Tripler is the military hospital here in Hawaii. I should be thankful that there has never been a life threatening issue that has kept us going back for more:)

Today Britt and I made our trek up the hill because she has an awful cold and was having trouble breathing. Because of her asthma, we taking not being able to breath pretty seriously:) They did a chest xray, gave her a breathing treatment, and diagnosed her with bronchitis.

She is now resting in her bed...and I am planning on finding my own bed and doing the same:)

Thankful Thursday....

2009-02-12T22:29:00.001-08:00

I am thankful that in a few short hours...all my kids will be asleep...lol

Today I am thankful for my friends....they come in all different shapes, sizes, and ages. They have different strengths, weaknesses, gifts, talents, backgrounds, education, spiritual walks, needs, and personalities.

There are those whose children I have taught, as I have taught theirs. There are those whose children I held as babies, those whose pregnant tummies I am now rubbing, and those whose children I have met as elementary students, junior high, and high school students.

There are my children's ministry friends...as awesome group of friends who have been knit together by the Lord himself to serve with excellence, purpose and passion. This group of friends carries each other with prayer, compassion, and truth. We have seen each other through some of life's biggest challenges and come together every week with joined hands, hearts, and prayer.

There are my submarine wife friends...these are a unique breed of woman, who roll with each wave that the sea sends our way. They understand the tears I cry and the pain I feel for my husband as he serves in the deep, and my children as they attempt to push me off the deep end.

Then there are my soul sisters...those who minister to me in my deepest places to my hurts, fears,and struggles...they know me like no others. As we pour into each others lives...we are lifted and taken higher and higher in the Lord. We are bound together by the Holy Spirit, who has us so in tune that we can feel each others anguish and joy.

Then there are those who I love like my own daughters...those who no matter their choices and path I love them unconditionally...and that's why they love me:)

Then there are those friends that God has given to me as family...my daughters Brittany and Becca...even though they don't know it yet....they are my friends...bound to me as only daughters can be. My sisters Cole and Amy....even though they tell people I left them at 2 and 3 (it was really 9 and 10)....I am sorry I missed your proms and graduations.....I promise to never miss anything like that again:) Cole thanks for my Nino and Amster thanks for those babies to come. To my sisters in law Jenn and Tina.....Jenn you are the woman God meant for my brother and I am thankful that you love us like we love you:) Thanks for Cassidy and Kendall...they are beautiful. T....you and I both know that I AM the woman meant for your brother:) Through thick and thin...kids or no kids...you get me:) Ladies we are bound by love, legacy, honor, and the fact that we all have to put up with the same crazy family members...Griswolds:) Then there is my mom....mom I understand so much more now than I did then..what you are tried to tell me...I am sorry I wouldn't listen and had a hard head...I love you:)

I am thankful for my friends...some of them overlap into several categories....Thank you God!

In Honor of the Upcoming Anniversary of My Hysterectomy.....

2009-02-12T16:42:00.000-08:00

This is an actual letter from an Austin woman sent to American company > Proctor and Gamble regarding their feminine products. She really gets rolling after the first paragraph...

Dear Mr. Thatcher,I have been a loyal user of your 'Always'maxi pads for over 20 years and I appreciate many of their features.Why, without the Leak Guard Coreor Dri-Weave absorbency, I'd probably never gohorseback riding or salsa dancing, and I'd certainly steer clear ofrunning up and down thebeach in tight, white shorts..

But my favorite feature has to be yourrevolutionary Flexi-Wings. Kudos on being the only company smartenough to realize how crucial it is that maxi pads be aerodynamic. Ican't tell you how safe and secure I feel each month knowing there's alittle F-16 in my pants.

Have you ever had a menstrual period, Mr.Thatcher? Ever suffered from 'the curse'? I'm guessing you haven't.Well, my time of the month is starting right now. As I type, I canalready feel hormonal forces violently surging through my body. Just afew minutes from now, my body will adjust and I'll be transformed intowhat my husband likes to call 'an inbred hillbilly with knife skills.'Isn't the human body amazing?

As Brand Manager in the Feminine-HygieneDivision, you've no doubt seen quite a bit of research on what exactlyhappens during your customers monthly visits from 'Aunt Flo'.Therefore, you must know about the bloating, puffiness, and cramping weendure, and about our intense mood swings, crying, jags, andout-of-control behavior. You surely realize it's a tough time for mostwomen. In fact, only last week, my friend Jennifer fought the violenturge to shove her boyfriend's testicles into a George Foreman Grilljust because he told her he thought Grey's Anatomy was written bydrunken chimps.Crazy!

The point is, sir, you of all people mustrealize that America is just crawling with homicidal maniacs in Capripants... Which brings me to the reason for my letter.Last month, while in the throes of cramping sopainful I wanted to reach inside my body and yank out my uterus, Iopened an Always maxi-pad, and there, printed on the adhesive backing,were these words: 'Have a Happy Period.'
Are you freaking kidding me? What I mean is, does any part of your tiny middle-manager brain really think happiness- actual smiling, laughing happiness is possible during a menstrualperiod? Did anything mentioned above sound the least bit pleasurable?Well, did it, James?FYI, unless you're some kind of sick S&M freakgirl, there will never be anything 'happy' about a day in which youhave to jack yourself up on Motrin and Kahlua and lock yourself in your house just so you don't march down to the local Walgreen's armed with ahunting rifle and a sketchy plan to end your life in a blaze of glory.

For the love of God, pull your head out, man!If you just have to slap a moronic message on a maxi pad, wouldn't itmake more sense to say something that's actually pertinent, like 'Putdown the Hammer' or 'Vehicular Manslaughter is Wrong', or are you just picking on us?

Sir, please inform your Accounting Departmentthat, effective immediately, there will be an $8 drop in monthlyprofits, for I have chosen to take my maxi-pad business elsewhere.And though I will certainly miss your Flex-Wings, I will not for oneminute miss your brand of condescending bull sh*t. And that's a promiseI will keep.

Always.Best,
Wendi AaronsAustin,
T XPC Magazine's 2007 editors' choice for bestwebmail-award- winning letter

This is not for the weak at heart....

2009-02-11T23:11:00.000-08:00

Ok....this is not for the mothers that are weak at heart or live in some surreal world where your children are perfect angels and never do anything that makes you gag....I am just warning you now.....

I was sleeping in my bed nice and cozy Tuesday morning at 4:45 am when Becca came in to use my bathroom..I asked her what she was doing and she said that her toilet was clogged. I asked her who clogged it...of course her response was...Not me Brittany. Of course Brittany said that she did not do it...Becca did it. So I told them to knock it off, figure it out,and unclog the dang thing.

So this morning I walked past their bathroom(something I rarely do because it just makes me crazy)...and see that the toilet seat is down and that they have covered it with a towel...like it was a dead body...which it may have been for all I know...how do you just cover something like that up? Like covering it up makes it go away?

So, when they came home tonight I made them unclog it and clean it...how gross can you be? Becca unclogged it and cleaned it and Britt is suppose to clean the rest of the bathroom...we will see how that goes....as if I need a crystal ball to see how that will be playing out!

Speaking of gross....their bedrooms are another thing that are icky. Brittany's room requires you to step up into it, and Becca's smells like a boys gym locker room.....its quite frightening:(

So the deal is that they cannot get their new phones(which they really need,the ones they have just randomly fall apart...while they are talking on them...and yes they need phones, because they take public transportation to and from school...sometimes leaving early in the morning and if they have practice later in the afternoon/evening. At this point the phone is more for my piece of mind than for them.) until they clean their rooms.....so not happening.

Today they both got their panties in a wad because I had to go get Josh a new phone because his got stolen a couple of months ago. I was so mad that I wasn't getting him one for a while. But then the football team started weight training and he is having to ride the bus home later in the afternoon again....so I need to know how to find him and make sure he is safe. So, I got him a phone....much to the girls dismay...but I have to give them kudos...they didn't ask me why they didn't get one.....

Where Do I Begin?

2009-02-08T22:58:00.000-08:00

I guess I should begin by apologising for not keeping up to date on my blogging....but for the last two weeks life seems to have been stuck on fast forward:)

Zach is now better and back to school...phew! The poor guy lost 6 pounds while he was sick. But he is back in the saddle again and riding on my last nerve sometimes..lol The boy has to know where I am every second, where I am going, where I might go and where I have thought of going....I think it all has to do with dad being gone so much. He also has nagging down to a fine art...ignoring it doesn't work....believe me....I do it....and he keeps asking....even when he is sleeping!

Becca, well Becca is just...I don't even have words. How do you lose a $20 bus pass in January, two days after I give it to you...and turn around and do the same thing in February...at least this month she found it. She also has this unique gift for doing everything half way....washing the dishes, doing her laundry, cleaning the kitchen....none of it is ever completely done. It a bit maddening. What makes it even worse is that as I fuss and fuss...she just looks at me and has no idea what I am talking about.

Now Josh.....he doesn't even attempt to do what I have asked....oh wait let me take that back....he just pretends he did it. Perfect example....Saturday morning I told him to take all the snacks I bought for Children's Ministry out of the Jag and put them in the truck. Then I told him to vacuum the truck and clean it out. This morning a friend called to get a ride to church for herself and her two kids. So I sent Becca out ( I took a risk here first of all) to check if when Josh put the stuff in the truck he had to put the back seat down. If he did she needed to rearrange everything and put the seat up so that we had enough room for everyone. She comes in and I ask her if she took care of it...she said...well I put the seat up, but underneath it was all the stuff that was in the truck that Josh was suppose to clean out and he didn't vacuum it. So I went down stairs and got him out of bed and told him that if he did not get that truck cleaned and vacuumed before I was ready for church he wasn't going to the probowl. Of course he's all about anything football....so it got done.

Britt...well I don't have words. She was told by HPU that they would give her 80-100% worth of scholarships. She doesn't want it. I am at the point that if she doesn't get this much aid from another school...then she will be paying for it. Her dad forbid me to buy them new phones like I had planned to until they cleaned their rooms.....well you all know how likely it is that this has occurred....so she is really angry at the injustice of it all. Never mind that I forked out I don't know how much for her probowl weekend, picked her up at practice at 10pm every night, and the fact that she did not do a flippin thing she was suppose to do around here....but I am suppose to run out and get her what she wants...............................................she must think I am as brain damaged as she is!

Rick is gone:(

Work is great....but to borrow a term from my husband...I am busier than a one legged man in a butt whopping contest:)

I have so much more to say...but I am too tired:)

It's Not Hard.....

2009-02-04T23:15:00.000-08:00

I know today is suppose to be walk it out Wednesday....but I have creative rights here:) Besides the topic today is my children...and if they don't keep me on my knees before the Lord...nothing does.

So you see...I teach a class until 9pm on Tuesday evening, a class that pays me very well...I make almost as much as I do in 8 hours in those three hours of teaching. So it makes sense to me that the whole family benefits (by whole family I mean those cell phone, clothes/sneaker/make-up wearing fools who do not do have JOBS) by me taking this class:)

So I try to go in later in on Wednesday's because I am tired, this means that I don't have time to get back to the house before I have to be at church. So the kids either get a ride with Shalei or catch the bus.

All they have to do is eat, bathe, get dressed, and get in the freakn car...ITS NOT HARD!!!!! But can they handle it? NOOOOOO They have to fight over what they are going to eat(even thought I tell them what to eat), who is going to cook it(tell them that too), if they are suppose to play the wii (they know they are not suppose to), and then finally who is going to sit where in Shalei's car.

So all the way ...I mean allllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll the way home from church I had to hear about what they argued about all afternoon...and on top of that none of them ate dinner!!! How hard is it to wash your butt, feed your face, and dress the butt?

I will tell you it is much harder for them to do those things than it is for them to walk around with their hands out like I owe them something. You know what I do owe them something......A BIG FAT NOTHING SANDWICH!!!!!!

Ugh! I cannot wait for shore duty....its going to be like boot camp around here for them!

I'm So tired and its only Tuesday.....

2009-02-03T23:38:00.000-08:00

So Rick tried to leave yesterday...but didn't...they left today:)

I went back to work yesterday after being off for almost a week and a half with Zach. I was greeted with 38 phone messages and 57 emails....took me all day just to deal with those:) Today had me working on the respite care contract and pulling my hair out trying to get state and federal agencies to play nice and share.....need I tell you how that worked out?

Tonight I taught a class that almost revolted on me when I told them I may not be their instructor next week....I have a respite meeting to be at. Oh! how I could clone myself so that I could be in two places at once. So it is 9:45 and I am jut getting home from work.

What did I come home to you ask? Well...a dirty kitchen and four children who wanted to share the injustices imposed on them by their siblings, a request for money, and news that a bomb blew up at one their high schools today. Pretty typical Cr**

Let me run this by you...Britt received an offer for a full ride scholarship to HPU here in Hawaii...but she doesn't want to go to that school...nor does she want the new car that comes with going to school on the island (hey...we figure a new car payment is cheaper than living expenses in another state).

Me, well I am 38 trying to decide what to get my master degree in for two reasons.....one I like school (I'm a knowledge junkie) and two if I am in school I do not have to pay back my student loans yet....at this rate I figure I will have a doctorates degree before I want to pay them off. I have two car payments, a mortgage, and a host of other bills.....how about if someone gives me a full ride scholarship and a free car!

Unexpected Happiness....

2009-02-01T11:51:00.001-08:00

Well, I have been burning the midnight oil with Zachary being sick and last night I planned to go to bed at 7pm....for real Zachary was tired and I was tired...so my plans were to go to bed EARLY:)

So as I prepared to get ready to head upstairs for the evening when I decided to check my email one more time and to send Rick an email with the updates of the day. As I log in I see an email from the ombudsman....that said the boat was pulling in...NOW:)

So I scratched the whole going to bed thing, got things ready to drop off at church so I would be able to spend today with my husband, and headed out the door.

The email did not have a pier or a time....so that meant I had to drive around the waterfront to find the boat. Have you ever driven around looking for a large black submarine at night? Not such an easy task, I'll tell you! So I finally find them, and they look like they are offloading a bunch of stuff, so rather than take Zach out into the wind, I sit in the truck and read while he watches a movies.

After about an hour I got in touch with Rick and we headed home.....I was ok with not getting to bed at 7:)

I DO Have My Big Girl Panties on...I DO

2009-01-29T17:47:00.000-08:00

I have never been what the Sub force calls a "My wife she problem", I have never whined and complained about DH's line of work, and I ALWAYS have my big girl panties on....I think they just might be giving me a wedgie today:)

If you read several of the prior posts you know that Zach has been sick and that I took him to the ER in the wee hours of Monday morning. They looked at him(barely) and declared that he had a virus and sent us home with Motrin and Tylenol. Only they didn't work and he continued to have a fever, refused to eat, and has been lethargic (so unlike him).

So, I tried to make an appointment for today, yesterday (did you get that?) They told me that I had to call back this morning and ask for a same day appointment. Which I did at 630 this morning and God had mercy on me because I did not have to wait on hold at all...that is a miracle my friends. I got him an appointment at 1120.

Let me back track a bit and say that my three other children all had brain cramps this morning....all three of them and the bus. I told Becca three times that there was two dollars in my wallet for her to take the bus. Why doesn't she just use her bus pass you ask? Well because she lost it less than 24 hours after I bought it. So about 520am she calls me to ask me if I can get out of bed after being up with her sick brother all night and bring her bus money because I forgot to give it to her...ummmm NO! So she had to run all the way back to the house to get bus money and by some miracle of miracles they made it school in time.

Next comes Britt. She comes and asks if I have a dollar because she missed her bus and she needs to take the city bus...ummm NO your sister took all the ones I had in my purse! I told her she needed to wait until I got up and got ready to take her brother to the doctor. So we dropped her off on our way.

We get to Tripler and drive around for 45 minutes...to find a parking spot...45 minutes. So we get in there and get in to see the doctor right away...another miracle. She listens to his lungs and asks me why the ER did not do a chest xray...ummm don't know...you should ask them. So she sends us down to have a chest xray and said she would call me with the results at home later.

Let me jut say at this point I knew he had pneumonia...don't ask me how...I just knew. Just like I knew Britts nose was broken, her knee was fractured, and Becca's numerous fractures and sprains were real.

So when she called me and told me that it was pneumonia I almost cried...you see I have been well aware of the fact that today is Rick's Birthday and I was cool with it...but then when she told me he had pneumonia I kind of wavered...I cannot tell a lie I had a tiny pitty party...

Enough of a pitty party that when the pharmacy clerk at Makalpa tried to tell me that she couldn't find his prescription after I drove all the way from Ewa to Pearl...that I pulled the myhusbandisdeployedIhavebeenupfordaysandifyoudon'tfindtheprescriptionaseniorchiefswifewillmaterializebeforeyoureyes fit! I am not proud of it...but like I said I think my big girl panties were giving me a wedgie!

Traveling Tuesday...

2009-01-28T16:21:00.000-08:00

So the only place I went yesterday was to teach my class, because Zach was sick and I couldn't go to work during the day.

Not much was going on, on the road yesterday at 9pm when I came home. But today, I had to run out and get him more medicine because the poor guy is as sick as a dog still, if he doesn't get better I will have to take him into peds tomorrow.

Anyway, there is construction on Fort Weaver Road. Now for those of you who have never been to Hawaii or have never ventured out that far in Hawaii...Ft Weaver Road is the one road in and out of Ewa Beach...one way in and one way out. They are currently working on other ways in and out, but for the most part this is our only option. So we start at the off ramp to the hwy with four lanes, one of those lanes goes back on the hwy, and another is an exit to get off Fort Weaver. So as you come over the bridge there are two lanes, just pass the bridge it looks like it opens up to four lanes...but they trick you...it really doesn't. One of those lanes turns right into the hospital, and the other one merges into the lane next to it.

So...I come over the bridge and they are merging all the lanes into one lane...except the hospital lane....how come some of the donkeys who drive out here think it is ok to turn right into the hospital, turn around in the middle of the road (blocking those coming out of the hospital) and then turn right back onto Ft Weaver, by passing all the traffic?

Who do they think they are that they should be given an express lane and permission to do what ever they please? So, of course that lane that they turn into has to merge into the lane of people that just waited patiently for their turn to come across the intersection..do you think that there is a snowballs chance in hell that they are going to let those special people who just cut in front of everyone into their lane.....you guessed it...NO WAY!!!

So it makes for very entertaining driving to see these hot shots try to cut into the lane of law abiding citizens who have been waiting their turn. I mean can they really think that they are entitled to special treatment while the rest of us have to wait? What makes them so special that they should not have to wait in line?

Mom Monday:)

2009-01-26T16:20:00.000-08:00

Well Mom Monday started early today...like at 3am, when Zach woke up mumbling about pushing a button on his costume, a fever of 103, and the shakes(he was not cold...but hot). I jumped up, brushed my teeth and got him out the door.

Of course before I did that I did the mom flip flop....should I go to the ER or should I wait until the clinic opens...If I wait another 30 minutes and it gets worse I will be stuck in traffic with a super sick kid...but if its nothing we will wait in line for ever....but what if it is something serious and I wait. So I finally decided to get dressed and head out.

Once, we got there we spent a couple of hours waiting...taking some motrin in there somewhere. My poor baby sat in the waiting room, burning up and shaking...it was awful. He just laid his head on my lap and tried to sleep.

I say tried because...there was a family that left their 3, 4, and 5 year old in the waiting room...by themselves!!! Of course they were jumping around and being obnoxious...and there was no sleeping for anyone in there. Just as the parents came out I was debating whether or not I should say something to the lady at the desk.

So they took us back and ran all kinds of tests on him...finding that he has a viral infection that causes extremely high temperatures. We came home and he crashed. He is jut waking up now.

On a side note Britt and i had a nice chat last night when she came to apologize to me for her attitude the night before....maybe I will buy her a tiara:)

Where is my Tiara?

2009-01-25T01:56:00.000-08:00

Tomorrow is our big Children's Ministry "Cultural Celebration" and the teachers or Dream Coaches as we call ourselves (long story) are representing America...to include "There She is Ms America"...with tiara's and sashes.

So as we were trying to get all of the states represented I asked Britt if she would like to represent a state, I got the usual noncommittal teenager answer. So yesterday when I was buying 23 tiara's @ $3.50 a piece I was not buying one for anyone who had not committed.

Tonight as Shalei and I labored over sewing the sashes, cutting out the letters, and gluing them on...Britt got down right offended because there was no tiara for her. She actually made the statement, "If you would have told me that I was going to be wearing a tiara I would have said yes!" Is that so princess?!?!?!

Melissa I know you feel my pain...Jenn take heed this will someday be your dilemma!!!

Then she proceeded to attempt to goad me into arguing about everything from dating to what she was going to be allowed to wear to church tomorrow. She was none to happy when I told her that her breasts did not to receive their own salvation and that they will go to heaven with the rest of her body...and that there was no need for them to be SO present at church and that she needed to find a top that would contain them properly.....

So my dear.....I would like to tell you where I would like to put your tiara!!!!!!!

Freaky Friday......`

2009-01-23T18:08:00.000-08:00

#649 Being a mom means reading your child's MYSpace page daily, because that's how you learn what's really going on(Taken from 1001 Things it Means to be a Mom, by Harry Harrison Jr)

This is the truth, I don't care what anyone says. I mean I don't stalk my girls pages, but I visit a couple of times a week and when I am led to do so, more.

Many may argue (and those that do, probably do not have teenage daughters...they are most likely just past their own teenage years....) that it is an invasion of their privacy. Well, when you live under my roof privacy is a privilege, not a right. AND as a parent in today's world I can and will use all tools available to me to ensure that my children are safe and keeping on track.

So, back to the myspace.....yes, I check Britt's and I check both of their facebooks...but not in a lurky kind of way. I trust my daughters and they really don't have anything to hide. I just cruise through there to make sure that all is in order and really to see what's really going on in their lives. Sometimes, when you ask them how their day was and you get the one word answers because they think you really won't understand ...you have to dig a little deeper:)

Now Josh, he doesn't even have one...too many possible issues there:)

So call me a mean mom or whatever:)

Happy Birthday Becca Naynay!

2009-01-23T15:56:00.001-08:00

Happy Birthday Comments

Thankful Thursday....

2009-01-23T15:26:00.000-08:00

I am catching up:)

I am thankful this week for.....

My husband...he always wants the best for me and truly has set out to take care of me in life and I appreciate all of his efforts and love:) He is swimming 20,000 leagues under the sea right now and my prayers for him are numerous and constant...this trip is going to be a stressful one for him...it usually comes once a year and he hates it....but prayerfully this is the last time he will ever have to do it:) Another thing to be thankful for:)

Brittany....she may be a moody senior who cannot wait to move on to the next phase in life, but she is a great help to me. She gets Zman up for school and out the door every morning and this week, she got her brothers and sister out the door and on the bus to go to church Wednesday night..thanks Britt.....words cannot express how much I appreciate you and will miss you when you leave in 5 months:)

Joshua has turned into quite the young man....he really wants football to be his career...so much so that after we got his report card last night, gave the appropriate lecture for the science grade, he buckled down and studied all night:) God has great things for you Joshua:)

Today is Becca's birthday she is 13...where did my baby girl go? She is 5 months (smile) from being ready for High school. Becca I am thankful for your zest for life and your refusal to allow people to put you in a box and be anything less than what God has ordained you to be:)

Zman is home sick today:( I am thankful not that he is sick, but that he is still mommas boy enough to climb up on the couch and cuddle with me when the chips are down:)

I am thankful for my job..I reallllyyyy love it. I am passionate about Early Childhood and teaching....and now they have added a military family support opportunity in there and I love it:) I also am blessed to work with a great bunch of people...smile:)

I am super duper thankful and blessed by children's ministry. This group of people is amazing:) We are getting ready for our big production Sunday and they have all worked so hard to be part of making it happen. The way we think a like and move in the same direction with the same thought with no communication is amazing and can only be credited to God:)

I am thankful:)

Walk it out Wednesday.....

2009-01-23T15:12:00.000-08:00

Yes, it's Friday welcome to my kingdom:)

So, my walk with the Lord this week has been perplexing to say the least...not on His part of course, but mine:)

My old partner at the preschool called me this week. She says she misses my friendship and she says she's not mad at me....but her tone, words, and the number of times she told me that if anyone should be mad it is her tells me other wise.

Part of me wants the friendship back, but another part of me just wants to be free from it. The hard part is that she thinks that the reason I have disconnected myself is because I am mad because I had to leave in order to collect a paycheck....that's not even why I walked away and never looked back.

The real reason is because I was almost at my breaking point...I was so stressed out from not saying what needed to be said, because I would be accused of being judgemental or have her get upset because she would say, "I can't be the only one doing something wrong." The bottom line was that even though we talked about things before we started, like how we would treat our employees and how the business would be run with the highest integrity, never letting money speak louder than what was right....in the end those things mean different things to different people and since I had no control or say over the finances I never really had a say in what happened.

This is not to say that either of us is wrong or right....we are just both right in accordance with our life experiences, our teachings, and the way we view things. I just got tired of fighting for what I thought was right...I got tired of biting my tongue, and I got tired of being a bundle of tied up muscles. I am sure she got tired of my know it all attitude and my resistance to doing what she deemed right, as well.

We both petitioned God for direction when it came down to the wire. I asked, she asked...but we got different answers...hers was stay and mine was go...that is God not me and not her. So my question is.....I say I have forgiven her, but I'm not sure if I want things repaired....I just want healing...but can there be healing without the friendship being restored?

That is where my walk has taken me this week........

Traveling Tuesday......

2009-01-22T09:02:00.000-08:00

Yes, I am aware that it is Thursday and I am just getting to Tuesdays Blog....But it has been crazy in the Kingdom this week and the forecast promises that its going to stay that way.

So in my travels this week, I have encountered so interesting things, as well as some of the usual Cr**, and made a new discovery:)

Interesting things.....well I have discovered that people cannot read street signs and if they read them they cannot follow them. For example a yield sign does not mean that you automatically get to push your way in front of me in traffic.....what it means is that you have to wait and yield to oncoming traffic...I think I should give a class on such simple driving rules:)

Same old bs: As I dropped Rick off at work at o'dark thirty this morning (he won't need his car after today) I stopped at the shoppette to get some much needed coffee and I ran into one of my old co-workers. We worked together at the CDC. The second question out of her mouth after she asked where I was working was, "What rank is your husband, now?"

This has always been an issue for her. When I first started working at the CDC I didn't tell anyone my husbands rank....for good reason...its none of their business:) So this co-worker was always going around making it a point to tell everyone what her husbands rank was, mostly because I think she was sure her husband outranked mine, because they were older than us... a lot older. I never told her mine outranked hers by two paygrades...NEVER. It wasn't until my husband stopped by in his uniform to have lunch with me that she figured it out. Then she had a snippy little attitude.

She was not the only one at that job. I had several parents who my husband out ranked but because their husbands were Chiefs and they were slightly older than me, they assumed theirs out ranked mine...I just let them throw the attitude and the snobbiness around the preschool....whatever. I'll never forget the look on one of the spouses faces when she saw my husband and I at the sub ball....it was hilarious...she so wanted to be my friend after that....to bad honey I do not play that game:)

Moving on to my discovery:) I have discovered that I like to sleep a little later in Wednesday mornings and drive into work when there is less traffic, because I teach a class until 9pm on Tuesday nights. So I did just that, my dilemma came in when I was trying to figure out how I was going to get back into Ewa and get my kids to get back to church on time for Wednesday night service.(Because if I start late I get off late) Then it hit me, it is a 45 minute drive down Ft Weaver Rd in traffic, while if my kids take the bus going the opposite way of traffic to get to church it takes them only 15 minutes. So from now on I will go to work later on Wednesday and all four of them will take the bus together and meet me at church,saving me the hassle and headache of driving in traffic, just to turn around and go right back down the same road:)

Thats it for Traveling Tuesday this week:)

Cooking....

2009-01-19T16:31:00.000-08:00

So some of us were going back and forth on Ms Hope's facebook about cooking. I stated that I don't like too cook...but after thinking about it I have decided that its not that I don't like to cook, I am just tired of eating and cooking the same old things...I am bored.

So I am on a quest to find meals that are interesting and easy to make that are yummy to eat. Last week I made this recipe and I can easily say it is the best meal I have ever made(yes even better than my lasagna)

Chicken Florentine Casserole

Ingredients:
4 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
1/4 cup butter
3 teaspoons minced garlic
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 (10.75 ounce) can condensed cream of
mushroom soup
1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
1/2 cup half-and-half
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
2 (13.5 ounce) cans spinach, drained
4 ounces fresh mushrooms, sliced
2/3 cup bacon bits
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
Directions:
1.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Place the chicken breast halves on a baking sheet; bake 20 to 30 minutes, until no longer pink and juices run clear. Remove from heat, and set aside.
2.
Increase the oven temperature to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
3.
Melt the butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Stirring constantly, mix in the garlic, lemon juice, cream of mushroom soup, Italian seasoning, half-and-half, and Parmesan cheese.
4.
Arrange the spinach over the bottom of a 9x9 inch baking dish. Cover the spinach with the mushrooms. Pour half the mixture from the saucepan over the mushrooms. Arrange chicken breasts in the dish, and cover with the remaining sauce mixture. Sprinkle with bacon bits, and top with mozzarella cheese.
5.
Bake 20 to 25 minutes in the 400 degrees F (200 degrees C) oven, until bubbly and lightly browned.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED © 2009 Allrecipes.com
Printed from Allrecipes.com 1/19/2009

It was awesome:) So ladies what do you have for me?

A Little More Insight on the Monday Mom tip of the day....

2009-01-19T15:44:00.000-08:00

Apparently, they only argue about things between them, but when it comes to things I require of them they are totally united on this front. They wanted to go to the pool and rather than argue with them about the reasons they shouldn't go....like Britt's asthma and the temperature of the air once she gets out of the pool.....I said, "Sure once you clean your rooms and bathroom," knowing that it would never happen before the sun went down:)

Sure enough every time I took a load of laundry upstairs or went to clean something up there they were sitting around Britt's room giggling....this is the view I got the last time they checked on them:

There they sit on the computer instead of cleaning their rooms....not arguing, united in Not cleaning their rooms. I am not going to fuss about the rooms...because some day they will have their own daughters to fuss at, but these days are numbered......and I am going to be in big trouble for posting pictures of them with their hair like this.....

Mom Monday...

2009-01-19T11:08:00.000-08:00

Well, inspiration has hit me this morning and I have decided that there is no need to rely on my trusty mom book to get a quote to start this week's blogging....I will come up with it on my own.

1. Being a mom means that you wear a black and white, horizontally striped shirt and a whistle everyday!

So, Rick had to get up this morning and go to work because they are preparing to leave yet again...nothing new there. So we spent some time together this morning (wink wink) and then when he left for work I got up and had some breakfast (not a healthy one by the way, which after reading Missy's blog about committing to being healthy has me feeling guilty) and decided to catch up on my blog reading. It was peaceful and quiet, until the first one came down the stairs...then it all began. My daughters argued all through breakfast, about trivial things and things that in the big scope of things really don't matter. Then came Joshua who just wants to argue period...with anyone or anything...it doesn't matter to him.

It is now 9:15 and they are all back in their rooms where they will stay until they can act like civilized human beings...which may be quite a while. I just don't get it...ok I do but I am sick of it...

We have several types of arguing that got on in this house:

1. The I am better than you argument: So I have two cheerleaders, one in junior high and one in high school. They are no longer allowed to talk about cheer leading, dancing(both on the dance team at church...and God forbid one of them miss a practice and the other try to help them), or grades(both are brainaics in their own rights) The boys are the same way....they both play football and they cannot talk about it like humans they have to talk about it like they are both competitors for the world title. Video games are the same.....a simple game can turn into an all out brawl because one of them who I will not mention cannot handle being beaten by his brother and insists that the computer and the brother cheat...so apparently we have the only WII in the world that cheats.

2. The everything is everyone elses fault argument....some examples would be..
I can't sweep the kitchen until the dishes are done...ummm why are the dishes laying on the floor? How can the fact that you did not do your chore be the fault of the person who was suppose to do the dishes? There was a doosie yesterday......After the Youth Sports Day I had to take 3 coolers, six kids, Shalei, all the sports bags the six kids brought with them, and myself home. There was very little room for arguing (but believe me they found plenty of things to argue about...Shalei told me that the half hour drive seemed to last about 7 hours) Anyway...we get home and we have to unload all of the things(which I have to give the three older ones kudos for helping me with) Zach left his sneakers in the truck (again) so I threw them over the top of the truck so they would be closer to the front door... Well I am 5'2" and the truck is closer to 7'...so how far do you think those babies got? One ended up on the roof...so I asked Joshua to get it for me...and didn't give it another thought.....

Until Sunday morning when the boys came thundering up the stairs arguing while I was getting ready for church. As they bust into my room (a huge no-no) the phone rings and its Rick...asking me if the boys are arguing...his response was I knew it! Apparently, when he was getting ready to go to work(yes on a Sunday...gotta love the Navy) Zach was looking for his shoe...so he went to look in the truck. Rick was in the driveway with him and saw it on the roof of the truck...Zach went ballistic insisting that someone put his shoe on top of the truck....not entirely true....so he assumed it was Josh. So as Rick is pulling out of the driveway he saw him storm into the house...that is why he knew they were fighting. So Zach insists it was Josh's fault his shoe was wet....never mind taking responsibility for bringing your own shoes in the house...

3. The other argument is whose turn it is to do___________. It doesn't matter what it is, its just not thier turn. My girls will argue about whose turn it is to clean the bathroom for hours on end. My question is how am I suppose to keep track of all that goes on in this house AND remember who cleaned their bathroom last?

4. The final argument is about how unfair life is and how unbalanced the scales of justice in this house are. Well, when so and so did this you let them , so how come I am in trouble and they weren't....my response is always....well, because I like them better:)

Now I need to go find my whistle:) and get to refereeing(is that a word?)

Do Rude and Selfish People.....

2009-01-17T19:02:00.000-08:00

Really not know how rude and selfish they are? I mean come on....can you really be that much into yourself that you don't notice how off the chain you really are?

I have four children, an active duty husband, work a full time job during the day, teach classes one night a week, am finishing my BS and getting ready to start my Masters, run the children's ministry with 53 staff members, 135 children which includes a Sunday program and a Wednesday program, a week long VBS, two full program productions a year, and two monthly meetings AND training, I am a member of the Marriage Ministry Board, Woman's Board, and the Youth Board............do you think I am busy enough?

Apparently, you don't because you think it is completely acceptable to call me and ask me to drive across town and pick up your grown son up because you have lunch plans and your husband is at work......ever heard of a bus pass? Well all three of my older ones have one and they are easy to obtain.

Never mind that I started my day with a quick meeting with Fran and Sheila about the program NEXT week, then I moved to a planning meeting to plan for the entire ministry (which you were suppose to be at, but standing around talking was more important to you), then I took 8 kids to Costco and Walmart to get food for the youth sports day, then I drove them to the sports field, unloaded the food, and headed off to pick up my niece who is spending the weekend with us. From there I went back to the church and spent two long and painful hours watching 75 children prepare for next weeks production (let me add here it is only painful because practices always are chaos and I never think we will pull it together in time for the actual production.....but those babies prove me wrong every time...the pain is just part of the process) I worked in the sound booth, watching and changing what needed to be done, correcting from there. Then I had to drive out to pick the kids up at the field and help them clean up.

All YOU did all day...was talk and go out to lunch....now please take a good look at what you asked me to do and quit acting so bloody needy, grow up and truck your own dang kids around. Please......I had a truck full of children, coolers, and left over food where was I suppose to put your large little darling?

Can you really be that clueless about what you asked me to do? AND if you are please tell me and I will gladly spell it out for you in a plain and simple language that you are able to understand!

AND finally YES all of the 10 times you called me and asked me to pick him up and I told you NO..I DID hit the IGNORE button on my phone....why if you can ignore me when I tell you no...then I can ignore you when you call me to ask me again!

Freaky Friday

2009-01-16T13:33:00.000-08:00

Ok, so today is the first of our Freaky Friday posts.....

#673 Being a mom means talking about college even though your daughter wants to talk about what movie stars are wearing. Taken from 1001 Things It Means to be a Mom by Harry H Harrison Jr

This is ringing true in my life right now....you see my daughter is brilliant and could go to any college she chooses, probably on a full ride scholarship. HOWEVER she has in her mind an area of the country that has nothing to do with academics and everything with what she thinks she will find there.

My struggle is in several areas...

1.The first one being that what she believes she will find there could not be farther from the truth...and no matter what I tell her, she will not believe me. I no she is headed for a major disappointment if she goes through with this choice. My gut tells me that I need to limit her to two colleges that my husband and I feel are suitable for her. At least we will still be giving her the chance to spread her wings and experience freedom from mom and dad, and we will be giving her a choice...one or the other. All while keeping her safe and in an environment where she can grow and learn.

2. We are not the Rockefeller's...so I keep telling her she needs to be applying for as many scholarships as she can so that the cost will not be overwhelming to our family. She is content to cruise along on bare minimum applications....assuming that when the time comes the scholarship fairies will come and give her all the money she needs to go away from home and the awful life her parents offer her, so she can spread her wings and do what she wants all because she has reached the magical age of 18.

I refuse to do the applications and beg her to do what is right. If she cannot be bothered to fill out the scholarship applications and she does not get the funding she needs to spread her wings and move on to the mainland I will be the mean mom that will tell her that her only choices will be the University of Hawaii,Chaminade University, or Hawaii Pacific University. I made my choices and did not finish college after high school and I am just now as I type finishing my BS....she has to make her and she will have to live by them.....

Things are going to change around here...

2009-01-15T21:36:00.000-08:00

Ok, so I realize things have been very dry around here lately...I haven't had the energy to be controversial or even slightly amusing:) I am also sure you have all heard enough of the we may or may not be retiring saga vs my babies are growing up saga....So I have come up with a plan to take things to another level around here.....I going to have a schedule of topics...of sorts:)

Monday: Mommy Monday: I have come across this little jem of a book that has quotes as to what it means to be a mom in the different stages of motherhood...so on Monday's I will write about mothering school aged children.

Tuesday: Traveling Tuesday: I will write about all my adventures on the roadways of Oahu...promises to be interesting if nothing else:)

Wednesday: Walk it out Wednesday: I will share my walk with Christ.

Thursday: Thankful Thursday: I will list one thing about each of my family members that I am thankful for that week.

Friday: Freaky Friday(after the Disney Movie): I will share my thoughts on quotes from the motherhood book about raising teenagers.....maybe a little frightening for mothers of little angels...

Of course I have creative rights so any other time I may jump in and post about other things...but these topics are guaranteed.

Since today is Thursday....I am thankful that.....

My husband is in port right now and will be pulling in the driveway any minute now:)

Britt is at a basketball game with Netta supporting Ace whose mom is in Iraq...she's a good friend and she goes all out for those she loves.

Joshua and Becca brought all the patio furniture and my swing from the backyard to the garage...they are really growing up:)

Zman still likes to cuddle:)

Thankful Thursday:)

Please Please Please

2009-01-15T21:31:00.000-08:00

I am super tired, it has been a very long week...which is yet to be over, all the schools in the state are closed, I am waiting for my job to wake up and smell the coffee and tell us we don't have to come to work tomorrow because of the impending wind storm, AND I my kids are on a super high because they have no school tomorrow and they are bouncing off the walls. I just want them to eat in silence ...without arguing and nonsense.....I can't take it anymore.

By the way mel that long run on sentence was for the grammar nazi in you:)

They are sitting at the table making up songs using a loud swallowing noise in their throats as the beat....as they argue about whose song or tome is better....because they all sound great.
The good news is that dad will be home very soon and he can deal with the nonsense and I am going to bed.

I did it:)

2009-01-09T18:14:00.000-08:00

After looking at Ms Hope's new skins I got to work:) I have been trying to change the layout and skins of my blog to something that looks more like me. So I searched and I downloaded something I probably should not have....but now my blog looks prettiful:)

Thanks for your offer of help Shari...the only think I don't have is the Word of the day and I can't find it on any of your blogs...do happen to know the link?

Orders Update.....

2009-01-09T12:41:00.000-08:00

Getting orders has always been a little stressful....only because Rick goes back and forth, talks to this one and that one, and I just want an answer:)

So last night he came home and told me the detailer locked his orders in and he won't be dropping his fleet reserve chit and retiring in August. Phew....I'm not sure we are ready to go cold turkey like that!

He got the orders he wants and he will be able to go to school and finish his degree. I am trying to talk him into a BS in nursing with a minor in psychology, so that he has options when looking for a job when he does get out.

The bad news is that because he is going to shore we lose sea pay, and because he not obliserving we will not be getting sub pay...gulp....for the first time in 19 years, and since he is not filling an ANAV billet we will lose that propay also.....so I will be paying off bills like crazy for the next several months. He says its a good thing...kind of easing us into living like civilians. Let me tell you I don't like civilian math!

Be Kind in 09

2009-01-08T12:22:00.000-08:00

That was the message this week at church. I have to say I am struggling...I don't like stupid people. I know I know I am sure you are saying to yourself...who are you to judge who is stupid and who isn't....and Jill how do you know that you are not one of the stupid ones?

I guess I just need to learn to understand people are who they are and that it's not my place to judge them or try to improve them, when they really are just who they are. Am I making sense?

For example, there is a woman who has worked at the Navy Exchange since I was pregnant with my 17 year old. My first experience with her was in the old flower shop. It took her 35 minutes to put together a floral arrangement that included 4 carnations, some baby's breath, and some greenery. In this time the line formed and went out the door. It took me 55 minutes to reach the counter and pay for my purchase...all while standing on very swollen pregnant lady feet.

Next they moved her to the registers in the main sanctuary. That did not fair well either, I got caught in her line once and that was the last time that happened....they eventually caught on that positions that required speed were not for her...so now she stocks the shelves. I am sure she is a wonderful lady that has children and grandchildren who love her dearly...me I can't deal with her...that's on me I guess. Maybe speed is not important to her, maybe she has challenges that I no nothing about.

The there are those people who you have never met on message boards whose necks you'd like to wring...the know it alls, the hoity toity ones, and the one who always has to pick a fight or be the negative nellie. Why do I let these people get to me? It is my choice to allow their ignorance to frustrate me...I have no one to blame but myself......my bad!

I need to take a deep breath and figure out why I let these people bother me and then fix myself rather than them!

New Years Eve

2009-01-06T20:28:00.000-08:00

I had to wait for Carolyn to send me pictures of our kids playing in the rain on New Years Eve to blog about it:) They were outside doing sparklers when the skies opened up (a true Griswold New Years:))...and they stayed right out there and celebrated...all except Britt with her asthma she had to stay inside to avoid all the smoke.

After we rang in the new year we had a blast playing Mexican train Dominoes....can't explain it....just have to show you how:)

There's no room in my head for....

2009-01-06T19:48:00.000-08:00

A coherent thought:) My head is so full of snot I cannot even think straight! I went to Walmart and got all the things needed for Wednesday night Bible study and Zach's camping trip. When I walked out I couldn't find my sun glasses. At this point my head hurt so bad I started to cry..I was also crying because i finally found a pair of sunglasses I liked and they were gone.

So I come home and bring everything in the house, help Zach pack his bag for camp and put around the house. I look over and there are my sunglasses on the end table....how on the earth did they get on the end table? I know I took them and I know I wore them all day...up until Wallymart. My only guess is that they fell in the bag of stuff I bought or by gigantic purse.

Anyway...so I got two pieces of really good news today...one is that they are going to diversify my position at work. What I think this means (from what I can gather) is that because we just got a new contract to train a certain organization and I am already a qualified trainer, that they will be adding training to my duties...which means I get to teach grown ups all day...how to teach little people:)

The other piece is concerning my tuition. You see I was not the model student this summer I dropped two classes half way through because there was just too much on my plate and I was tired. Dropping half way through means you have to pay for the whole course. Well, because of that it meant in order to receive my diploma I would have to pay for my remaining class...to the tune of $750. But today I was on SWC and there was a wife on there saying that she just started her first class with the school I am going to and the tuition with the military grant was only $12 a credit...that seemed a bit off to me, so I called to make sure. Unfortunately, that was not the case...BUT we did find out that my military spouses grants had not been applied to the last 6 months of school and they had to make an adjustment...which was just enough to cover my last class:)

Right now, I am sitting on the couch trying to breath and wiping my runny nose nonstop...why you aske? Well because my office is the coldest office on earth:) Even the girls who came back to my area agree that it is much colder back there than anywhere else. I was so cold yesterday that I swear my blood was cold. So today I was armed with socks, a sweatshirt, and my heating pad..I was not going to be cold today:)

Well, i am off to sneeze and take some nyquil:)

Britt's hair cut

2009-01-04T19:03:00.000-08:00

I knew if I just waited it out she would post pictures on facebook for me to copy instead of me hooking my phone up tp the computer and downloading the pictures...

Sunday Afternoon....

2009-01-04T15:46:00.000-08:00

I am stilling on the chair waiting for Rick to get home from church so we can have lunch together. He had to stay even later than me to do Deacon stuff, so for the first time in a long time I have beaten him home.

Life is kind of crazy right now:) The year just ended so I have just completed all of my end of the year reports for church and I have to change everything over to 2009so I can accurately record 2009 so when the time comes I will be ready to close that year out:)

The Children's Ministry is also putting on a production called A Cultural Celebration, where each class is presenting a cultural or country, some facts about the country, and a christian praise song/dance in that countries language. It is amazing what three and four year olds can absorb...they are amazing:) All of this requires hours of practicing and behind the scenes work. Ms Fran is heading this production and I am her wing man:)That's just how we roll:) The teachers have really taken all of their classes to another level and I appreciate all of them:)

While VBS is 6 months away...we are heading into our crucial planning stages and that will require a lot of my attention once we complete this production. Our theme this year is Crocodile Dock....a swamp theme....it seems like it will be interesting:)

The beginning of the year also brings three other ministries that I work with, which are also in the planning stages of the years events....Meeting meeting and planning fill my days.

However, I am excited by the possibilities that this year holds for ministry:)

The family is just as busy:) Britt is applying for college and filling ut scholarship applications: She cut her hair and as soon as I get a chance I will download the pictures.....she cut it as short as mine...she looks like me...all grown up *sigh*

The three older ones are off of school until Jan 12th...so they have some more downtime. Zach goes back tomorrow and is excited about his camping trip ..two nights this week with his class. I am going to miss him:)

Rick is back to work and a really awesome job came his way this past week..he is checking into it to see if he can swing it. It pays more than he is currently making which is cool because we thought he would take a pay cut when he retired...but this one would be an increase...isn't that just like God. So we are being prayerful and considering what we need to do. If he gets the job...he will be out of the navy by Sept 1. Not to sure how I feel about this....

You see we have friends who retired about two years ago and they are still trying to adjust to it all. He has had trouble going from being a chief who gets respect because he's a chief and the notoriety and privileges that come with khaki's...to a civilian who nobody recognizes. I am sure some of you will not understand and will have your stank opinions of this but to you I say....until you have walked a step in khaki's SHOOSH your mouth:)

Chiefs are recognized and given privileges because of the accomplishment of making chief....do all of them deserve to wear khaki's..probably not. But the ones who do far out number the ones who don't Anyway, to go from being in charge and running the show, being recognized and getting favor because of your title to not having those perks can be and is a major life change. My husband has worked long and hard to make it to where he is and I am super proud of him. He has made quite a reputation for himself and enjoys his position in life. I am sure he will have some trials with the transition. That is my concern on the upcoming retirement:)

Time for lunch:)

2009-01-01T21:40:00.001-08:00

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The year in review.....

2008-12-30T10:38:00.000-08:00

It may take me a while to write this one...I feel like this year was at least a decade long!
While it was a long and painful year, one full of emotional ups and downs I can say that I am truly grateful that I had God walking along side me through it...I even suspect that He carried me through a great deal of it.

The year started with my hysterectomy....which believe it or not was not one of the down times...it was a blessing and I am thankful to be free of all that came with having that stubborn uterus of mine! My surgery and recovery went well...despite the two biopsies they had to do afterwards just to be sure.

Just 14 days after my surgery my husband left for a six month deployment...what we were thinking? Well, in the beginning I was trying to wait until he came back to have the surgery....but two months of agony cured me of that thought process...which meant I had a choice to make wait and suffer for 6-7 months and risk the possibility of more biopsies and waiting....just so he could be home for my full recovery....OR have it right before he left, recover with the help of the kids (oxymoron if there ever was one)...but be pain free, So we decided to go for it before he left. That meant the poor guy went 6 months and 2 weeks without any due benevolence......ahh the life of a sailor!

Next came the opening of the preschool. We had worked long and hard for that moment and it was such a blessing and relief to see it come to pass. However, what we did not anticipate was the complications of bringing two people together from two different backgrounds which brought two different meanings to the foundational building blocks of a business. It was a struggle and I shed a lot of tears. I carried so much inside that it started to affect my health and well being.

I truly believe that when my partner made the statement..."If you need to get paid, you need to find another job," my subconscious was relieved. I had been working 12-13 hour days, keeping in things I should have been saying to keep the peace,and was definitely in a state of depression.

At that point I just saw a way out of the oppression....and I prayed and asked God what He wanted me to do and when He answered in His word....Depart from this place Depart from this place...I made a hasty departure. I cut it all off....in hindsight it probably wasn't the best way to leave....but I working with God to fix it:)

Less than 24 hours after being told to find a new job...I had an interview...and then less than 24 working hours later I had I job that today I can say I love and that I am so thankful for.

Days after receiving the new job my husband came home from pac...this was the hardest pac of his entire career for us...it was a miracle that we made it out in one piece. Separation is really hard on a marriage...add inconsistent email communication and there is a huge area where misunderstandings and misconceptions can come in. He had no way of knowing the pressure I was under at the preschool and in our fiances because of the preschool and there was no way I was going to put all of that in an email that the whole seventh fleet may get a chance to read.....so I blogged which made him feel like I was communicating with others rather than him....but the things I needed to tell him I couldn't tell him through email.....so I let steam off here with you my friends.

But he did come home and I am thankful for the healing God has brought. I am also thankful for the healing that has been going on in his relationship with Britt. They are two of a kind and tend to bump heads...he just wants what's best for her and doesn't trust boys her age...he still remembers what it was like....and she wants to be seen as a young woman, an adult and he isn't ready for her to be one....due mostly to the fact that he has missed most of her growing up .

Next, came my families visit...it was wonderful...it really was. Yes, we had one big blow out....but hey we don't see each other that often and I think one every once in a while is a good thing...I just pray that we can all find healing and love in the aftermath(bro and sis's......I will be heading over to our blog to address this...so stay tuned:) But it was a great trip, whose idea was born out of love. About 5 or 6 years ago my mother fell down the stairs and was unconscious in ICU for over 30 days. During a family visit(which was actually suppose to be my sisters wedding day...which THANK GOD it was not:)) we started to talk about my parents 40th wedding anniversary and how we wanted to do something special for them. The first idea was a wedding reception...but we changed that idea because none of us live in NY...so we had a family trip to Hawaii.

It was great and it went very well...thanks to my brothers planning and desire to make sure we all had a great time:) But then it came time for them to leave. I will tell you internets I have cried every day since they left...I miss my family:) It has even had me looking a houses in New Hampshire:( AND made my heart jump when Rick came home with the list of possible orders in hand...one of them for an ANAV on a boat in the NH shipyard...yeah like I could sell my house in this market!

I feel like this year was not such a good year for me in regards to my relationship with Christ...I feel like I stumbled and fell in so many ways....I let circumstances and fear speak louder than His love and Word. I think that is my biggest regret for this year...because He is the only thing that kept me sane this year and I repaid Him by allowing others to crowd our relationship....I am working on forgiving myself.

God blessed us greatly this year to see so many milestones....Josh, Andrew, and Netta graduated from Jr High, OJ and Darius from high school. Josh and Andrew went out for and made the jv football team...then stuck with all the long grueling practices...I am so PROUD of them. Britt went out for and made the Varsity cheer leading squad...she so something and she went after it. Jay and Khat had their baby girl. Shalei and Mike got married, Chantel and Charles got married and pregnant...in that order:) My parents celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary. So very many blessings...I am thankful!

The next year brings so many changes...Britt will graduate, turn 18, and go off to college...all within a 3 month time frame. I will finish my BA and start my masters. Rick will ride a boat as his own for the last time (or so we think....you never can tell), and Becca will start high school...and these are just the changes that I know of:)

My Layout....

2008-12-30T10:34:00.000-08:00

Ok, so my brothers and sisters and I have a family blog that allows me to change the background and layout....and it is with blogger also....but mine won't let me change it.

The generic ones offered really don't suit my personality...lol Does anyone have any advice on how to change the layout to one not offered by blogger?

Facebook.....

2008-12-30T10:26:00.000-08:00

So I have been a member of several Internet boards for military wives, submarine wives, and christian women for several years now and have been blogging for about a year. My husband never understood what it was all about and just never understood it...UNTIL

Until his graduating class had their 20th reunion...yes he is old... he will be 39 in less than a month which brings him closer to 40 than I am:) After the reunion invites to facebook were flying and he begrudgingly joined....now he is on there daily...he even let our youngest daughter get one...wow.

So he is getting to know people he hasn't seen in over 20 years....and now I think he gets it:)

Why is it????

2008-12-29T13:58:00.000-08:00

Ok my friends I am slightly irritated about several things today....but I will release some steam here about the most mundane item on my list right now...because the others would just be airing dirty laundry!

Why is it that people with monster trucks feel it is necessary to come to almost a complete stop when going over speed bumps?!?! You must be thinking really Jill this has gotten you irritated?

Let me explain ......our community has about a billion kids running around every day....so from the main street to my house there are 6 speed bumps.....where I park at work has speed bumps every 25 yards or so.....for 6 floors...so as I have to follow all these big truck driving people as they go painfully slow over the speed bumps...I have a lot of time to think!

They are TRUCKS people....big v-8 having engine trucks...they are built for a little bump in the road here and there...there is no need to come to a complete stop and then ease over them. Put your foot on the gas and go!

I can say this because I drive an Armada....which is fitting seeing how my husband is in the Navy....let me know if you got that one!?! It is a monsterous v8 engine having affair...I ride over curbs sometimes just so the poor thing can see some real action. So I just glide over the bumps...I don't rush at them like I am in a cross country race...I just approach them and glide. Let's say it together...GLIDE For Pete's sake I go over them faster in Rick's car and its a low to the ground sports car...GLIDE I say GLIDE!!!!

I spend more time waiting at traffic lights in Ewa (they have been times...all of them on Fort Weaver Rd are 4 minutes each people....4minutes) and waiting for lolo's to meander over speed bumps than I do blogging these days!

Only in Hawaii....

2008-12-27T16:03:00.000-08:00

You see we live on an island that has to depend on it's own resources to exist.....

Twenty billion Christmas lights Wasteful
Twenty million air conditioners running Comfortable
Family and friends at the house Joyful

NO ELECTRICITY ON THE WHOLE ISLAND PRICELESS

Yes, internets....the entire island was without electricity for 9 hours last night...some still don't have electricity.

Thankfully, I had gotten up from the table to make dinner when the notion came to me...because I had just taken our turkey pot pies out of the oven...so we had dinner. Sheila and I were sitting at the table working on center pieces for the teen social tonight when the lights went out...so that ended the process right there.

We all ate dinner and chilled for a while. Then we ended up with all five teens who spent the night playing cards by candle night...while we went to bed.

I thought about taking pictures....but I couldn't find the camera in the dark....and ummm it was dark. I mean REALLLLLYYYYY dark......imagine the whole island with no power.

Tweezers....

2008-12-18T18:10:00.000-08:00

Apparently, my tweezers and hair spray are also fair game like my socks and panties. At this point my eye brows are threatening to take over my face....but I refuse to buy yet another pair of tweezers. I am going to have to rig some kind of system to attach them to my counter in the bathroom....

I hate barf....

2008-12-18T18:04:00.000-08:00

So I am crazy busy working through lunch today and my cell phone rings....yes it is the YMCA day camp calling me...Zach has a stomach ache. So I wrap as much stuff up as I can and throw it in the car and head off to pick him up. Just as I get there he runs to the bathroom and as he is sitting there he is throwing up.......

Once we got home he set up camp on the couch to watch tv in the living room...something he knows he can only do because he is sick. At this point lets just say that my washing machine and clorox are very busy today:( Rick and I have managed to juggle our schedules so that we can stay home with him tomorrow.

Other than that the other kids are wrapping up their last day of school and getting ready for their Christmas break. Tonight Britt is going to the ballet with the cheerleaders and Josh and Becca will probably veg out.

Rick goes on leave tomorrow and standown begins. Me...tonight I have to teach a class and tomorrow I have a presentation at one of the high schools.

My thoughts of the day...on the economy!

2008-12-16T09:28:00.000-08:00

So yesterday we got our copy of Military Money magazine in the mail and almost every article talked about the current state of the economy and what we should be doing to make sure we are safe. One of the articles that really caught my eye was titled “The Best Thing You Can Give Your Family For Christmas is Financial Security.” I was unable to read the article because of motherhood duties, but it got me thinking.

At every turn we hear about how the economy is failing and how we all need to do what we can to secure our finances and keep our heads above water. The news is telling us of bailouts, bankruptcies, and the dismal retail numbers. HOWEVER every commercial within the news cast is prompting you to buy the most expensive, flashy items you can find AND if you don’t you really don’t want what is best for your family.

I have never been a fan of advertising certain products….take for instance all the toys and products that are advertised during children’s shows…making children think they need that toy to be cool or have their lives complete. Or the commercials that make teenagers think that every teen has a top of the model phone…yeah right! My absolute number one on the low down dirty list of tricks advertising trickery is (*drum roll please…..) the candy in the check out aisle of the grocery store!!!!!! Come on by the time I get to the check out my nerves have had it (well my kids are older now so it’s not so bad….but I remember the pain and the agony of days gone by)

So here’s my message to all those toy, cell phone, jewelry, car, video game, music apparatus companies…..

How about if you all tone down the advertising onslaught that you usually engage in at Christmas time and join the rest of the country in attempting get the economy under control. I understand you need to make your money and you think your annoying commercials are going to brainwash me into running out and spending thousands of dollars I don’t have which will of course push me further in the hole and increase your profit.

AHA! This is the way it suppose to work. I am suppose to spend $40k on a SUV, make my monthly payments, pay my insurance, pay for gas, and repairs, and still bail you out? Does anyone else see the problem with this plan? I still have to pay my bills….failing companies so should you…hellllllooooo when people stop making their payments for their vehicles to you….do you offer to bail them out? Do you offer them assistance? No you make nasty phone calls to them…..well guess what? I think someone should make nasty phone calls to you! I say America should give them some of their own medicine.

Anyway back to this Christmas present thing. I think that EVEYONE is exercising caution this year, because it’s the wise thing to do. I think that the companies that make all of the items that are shoved in our faces night after night on the boob tube should join America in trying to cut back in all the unnecessary spending and be quiet!!!

And let me add here...Christmas is not supposed to be and was never meant to be about presents. It is about the birth of Christ the Saviour. I think those that choose to cut back on their spending this year and give the gift of time to their families will be like the man in the Bible whose master left him with the money and he invested it and it gave a profit. AND those who chose to buy into the commercialism of Christmas and those bloody advertisers will be like the man whose master gave him money and he hid it....making no profit.

Update.......

2008-12-11T19:24:00.000-08:00

I am very glad I decided to take my truck instead of Rick's car to work today...because riding in the Armada was very appropriate today! As I pulled up to the parking garage at work I had to drive through water that was half way up the door of the truck....that water would have swallowed the jag. The roads were all flooded with some mud slides and sinkhole to. It was pure craziness.

When I got to work it was raining through the ceiling in the office next mine....yes through the ceiling....so we moved everything out of the office into the hallway.

The good news is that it only took me 40 minutes to get from my desk to my front door....that's incredible in Hawaii. The bad news is that it is suppose to pour all night again. I am going to work super early so I can beat the traffic tomorrow morning.

Tonight is a duty night so it is left overs and Grey's Anatomy:)

Weather....

2008-12-11T10:31:00.001-08:00

This is the view from the drivers seat of my truck at 7:20 this morning...yes morning! It took me 2 hours to get to work and they are closing schools left and right. I have a house full.... I told Britt her and Zach could stay home. The preschool closed so now Shalei, Meghan, Amaris, and Tristin are headed there! I am work:( I'll keep you posted!

Where are all my socks....

2008-12-10T18:38:00.000-08:00

Ok, I do laundry 2-3 times a week, so can somebody tell me why there is NEVER NEVER EVER any clean socks in my sock drawer? I buy new socks at least every other month....huge packs of socks from COSTCO...so I should never run out.

BUT every time I go in my sock drawer for socks there are NONE. I know where they are....hiding under beds, in gym bags, lying of the floor of teenagers...I even saw one under one of their pillows recently. How can you just take my sock and wear them like they are your own.....it's not like I don't buy you socks of your own.....but you never have any clean because you don't care to do your laundry. AND please please stop taking my underwear......

Don't worry I do not want the socks of the underwear back. I have issues with socks....they have to be white. Don't try to give me back the ones you wore all thought the streets of the neighborhood.....or the ones that look like you walked on hot molten lava with. Keep the nasty socks....you underwear/sock stealing keiki's.

Maybe I will buy some nice new socks and write "these are my mommies socks and I am wearing them because I am too lazy to do my own laundry...oh! and I might have her underwear on too" all over them in neon pink!!!!

What's Really Up....

2008-12-08T16:44:00.000-08:00

Ok this is what is really up with me....my teenager is going off to college very soon...too soon for me. My baby just turned 10....no more baby:( And Saturday I got a phone call from my brother (in the middle of my Christmas party). He told me that my mom had pnemonia and my dad seemed really upset about it. When my parents called to wish Zach a happy birthday yesterday we were at church so I didn't have time to talk to them about it. So I called my dad back to day and asked what was up.

The very important detail that was left out Saturday came to light today. Apparently, when they did the xrays for the pneumonia they told my mom that she needed to get to the oncologist as soon as possible. Now to be honest that they said this is not a shock....but it is painful. My mother is a breast cancer survivor so for cancer to be mentioned is not a road that we have been down before. What makes it painful is that in spite of the fact that my mother beat cancer she continued to smoke like a chimney.

I really don't even have any words to say right now. I normally would ask for prayer from those who surround me and have been placed by God in my life to be part of my prayer circle, but I can't even bring myself to say it to them. I have talked to several of them today, so its not like I haven't had a chance...I just can't say it...so I am writing it.

So I am emotional case right now. Add to it something that is being changed and rearranged in me by God and I basically cry at the drop of a hat.

Catching up....

2008-12-08T16:21:00.000-08:00

Why do I always feel like I am playing a game of catch up?

What's going on around here? Well let's see the week of Thanksgiving I had some icky ucky stomach thing. I was out of work for two days and thankfully I was able to eat a little of Auntie Carolyn's yummy Thanksgiving dinner.....but then I crashed on the couch. Once i woke up we played a competitive game of Phase 10..always competitive. Then we crashed on the couch again and ate some dessert!

The next day we went to the football playoffs...at which our team got slaughtered....it was really sad:( My daughter is now done with football cheering and we now move on to basketball.

Last week was crazy hectic with work, the chiropractor, and Rick's Christmas party. Work is good and I am enjoying what I do. The chiropractor is pretty cool...all that bone popping seems to be helping. Now Rick's Christmas party....was the lamest Christmas party I have been too in his entire Navy career.....that's 20 Christmas parties. The food was horrid, the entertainment was dismal and the prizes were pathetic. I was made I missed a hot bath and Grey's Anatomy for that one.

We are looking for orders. Right now the idea of 30 years sounds just peachy to me. You see by that time all my kids will be out of the house and I will not need to make enough to feed a small army. Additionally, my husband who is really a kid at heart is going to need all of my attention when he makes that transition from being active duty to civilian. So the orders they are proposing will take us out to thirty years....because if he takes these orders he will not have time to finish his degree. This means one more sea tour and a shore to finish the degree.

I love my husband, he truly is my best friend but I know in my heart of hearts this is going to be a rough transition for him......so if it means he has to do 30 so when he gets out I will be able to give him 110% of my attention instead of splitting it between him and three teenagers....I'm ok with that.

This past Saturday was the Hawaii ROTC ball. As mentioned earlier this is the only time my tow older ones will ever attend a formal event together. It was nice and we even got pictures....

This is Joshua, Brittany (mine), Alycea, and Andrew (Ms. Fran's) all dressed up and ready to go.... There was much drama and posing in order to get this picture. From what we were told a good time was had by all.

The picture was actually taken in the middle of the Chidlren's Ministry Christmas party....so they had an audience! The party was nice...a little low key for us because we are all exhausted!

After the party we went to OJ's basketball game. His school was in from the mainland to play HPU. Have to say it was a pretty good game!

Sunday was Zman's birthday. He rose his new bike and I think today he ate all of the remaining cake....after he had cupcakes at school and at church yesterday....wow!

My husband

2008-11-29T12:29:00.000-08:00

My husband. I have a good husband who I am thankful for and makes my life most blessed. For example because I was so sick Wednesday after I picked him up from work he declared that he was taking all the kids to church so I could rest is peace....which was great because he had duty the night before and it was much less than peaceful in our home. So off they all went and I settled in to some good sleep:)

He supported me through me getting my degree, doing homework with the kids, and making dinner and handling the nightly business so I could go to class. He supported me 100% in opening the preschool and was probably madder than me when I had to walk away. Now he supports me in my new job.

In a conversation he had the other day with someone he said this and totally blew me away.....You know that Jill is one of the best leaders we have at our church. You and I know it....but others don't because she stays down the street and runs Children's Ministry...which is the best running ministry at our church. This means a lot to me for two reasons....1 My husband is one of the best leaders I know. His military training combined with the leadership skills he has obtained in the ministry make him stand out above the rest. So for him to compliment me in that way means a lot. 2. The conversation they were having was about my lack of confidence in myself...so that statement blew me away:)

So, while he may be a bit seniorchiefly and slightly off.....he is an awesome man and I am blessed to have him:)

Happy Thanksgiving

2008-11-26T10:58:00.001-08:00

Graphics & Myspace layouts

The Kids

2008-11-24T09:48:00.000-08:00

So my youngest two just figured out that their sister is really leaving for college and this is the end of family life as we know it.

Zach has been glued to Britt, and Britt has been attaching himself to her a little more also. He has to to hug her every time he walks past her and there have been less arguments in the morning when she gets him off to school. They hug and kiss each other good bye and good night.

I have heard the girls giggling more and yelling less....of course the bathroom and whose mess is whose will always be an issue.... Becca has refused to move into Britts room once she leaves....but I hate to tell her...she's going to have to because it has pink carpet and there is no way the boys will move in there!

Britt announced Friday that there was just 28 weeks exactly until she graduates...becca started crying...so did I:)

More blessings....

2008-11-24T09:33:00.000-08:00

Day 3 My husband
Day 4 My job
Day 5 Rainy days
Day 6 I am almost done....with my BS two classes Lord!
Day7 The world wide web.....

I will be posting about these this week...stay tuned!

Catching up.....

2008-11-24T09:16:00.000-08:00

Ok, things have been crazy around here....would you expect anything else? Rick came home Friday, the kids had a Try Wait seminar Saturday, and a UH football game Saturday night. Yesterday was church and a good long nap in the afternoon, followed by homework and dinner.

So.....Day 1 Ms Fran

You see I believe that Ms Fran is one of those friends ordained by God to be in my life. We have been carpool parents, co-workers, co-workers in the ministry, and the mother of not one but three sets of very good friends. I have taught her children and she has taught mine. We have sat in the audiences of school productions together, woman's ministry messages, in the front row orchestrating the children's ministry productions, in the stands of others high school graduation, and in a very short six months we will sit together as our daughters, who are best friends graduate from high school no doubt sharing a box of tissues.

Our friendship is one of balance and divine revelation. Our ministry as a team benefits from this friendship and is stronger because of it. While she is calm and quiet....lets just say I am not. I have seen her get a little more boisterous over the years....even (mock sigh of horror) wear jeans to church, and I have seen myself become a little more quiet in certain areas (come on I said certain areas) I have seen God take our strengths and weaknesses and blend them together to make us both stronger.

Football games are the perfect example of this. I understand football, so I explain it to her, and she possesses enough team spirit for both of us...I really think she is a (shutter) a closet cheerleader.

Last Tuesday I was driving to work thinking about the next couple of weeks and all that needs to be done. Our four oldest will all be going to a ROTC ball the same day we are having a Children's Ministry Holiday Fellowship. When I realized that they would be going...all four them I began to cry. This will be the only time that Britt and Josh will ever go to a formal dance at the same time...they go to different high schools...so this is rare. Then I thought about pictures and the memories they will all share on this night and began to cry.

I naturally called Fran because the way God has spaced our children puts the older three for me and all of hers all at the same stages of life at the same time. I knew calling Fran would put me in touch with the only person who really understands what it meant to me.

So I am thankful and blessed to have Fran in my life...a true friend who will correct me. love me. laugh with me, and over the next few years stand by my side as our children go through the milestones in their lives.

I AM Blessed.....

2008-11-19T23:33:00.000-08:00

I know I said I would share something everyday from now until Thanksgiving about why I am blessed.....but life is crazy....so here is the list so far and I will go into greater detail later(I just don't want you guys to think I forgot)

Day 1 Tuesday: Fran
Day 2: More changes in the relationships of my children:)

Gotta run...stay tuned!

I am blessed...

2008-11-17T20:16:00.001-08:00

Although next week is Thanksgiving...my thankful attitude has nothing to do with the holiday. It has to do with the fact that I am very blessed woman:) I have really been thinking about how blessed I am.

Even though I lost a dream this year, which almost ruined us financially and my emotional and spiritual healing is still in progress... I am very blessed. God gave me another job the minute I asked for it...which pays more, allows for more advancement, and they have also given me a part time trainers position that pays more in a three hour class than in a regular day. I am blessed:0)

My kids argue fuss and fight and generally take me to places mentally that I would rather not go...but they are good kids...they don't take drugs or drink, they are not sneaking out of the house, they are not having sex (Lord please please keep their minds focused on you). Instead they play football, cheer, dance for the youth group, are on the youth council, work in the ministry, and for the most part are good kids.....I am blessed:)

So everyday from now to Thanksgiving I will blog about one thing that makes me feel blessed!

2008-11-14T22:10:00.001-08:00

The Fam

2008-11-14T22:06:00.001-08:00

The Preschool....

2008-11-14T20:28:00.000-08:00

Ok I have finally come to the place where I can accept that it's not God's will for me to be at the preschool and that I did was I was suppose to do AND the place where I can let go of the anger and hurt of how it happened.

It would be really pointless to tell you all what happened because I have discovered something on this little journey.....each persons perception is their reality and no matter what anyone else says it will remain how they see things.

My ex-partner has her version and perception and I have mine. I am quite sure that neither of them are absolute and that the truth is somewhere in the middle.

Our perceptions of any given situation are determined by many things: our past experiences, our values, our morals, our priorities, our integrity, our education, our culture, our religious beliefs and maturity...the list goes on and on.....

No two people will have the same perception of any given event, there will always be slight differences. When you talk about offering something like quality education there is much room for each person to have differing opinions. Your experience, education, and understanding of education are going to shape how you see quality education and the things required to achieve it.
Managing and leading people is also going to differ...even if you are saying the same key words....it doesn't mean that you both have the same definition of those same words or that they mean the exact same things to each of you.

Also, things will mean different things depending on what position you hold...if you are the person who is responsible for making sure the quality education occurs then you will be looking for all the tools required to make that happen because that is your responsibility. If you are the person responsible for paying the bills you may not see the items needed to provide a quality education as important as you see paying the bills....because paying the bills is your responsibility.

For me it was a very valuable lesson on many levels. I learned so much setting up the preschool from scratch....I loved every minute of it. I also learned that with my personality and my views on how to get things done to a certain standard that I will never go into business with anyone but myself again, In my mind I know what I think is right and what is wrong, what is acceptable and what is unacceptable....again my perception. BUT I am stubborn and unwilling to compromise my stance on many things, which I am sure makes me a joy to work with:) So it is best that I not go into business with anyone....

So there it is....

I just decided what I want to be when I grow up....

2008-11-13T23:09:00.000-08:00

I have say that I am a really great preschool teacher....I'm not being boastful...I just really love teaching children. However, having done it for 17 years I was beginning to lose my excitement and I was teaching out of habit rather than excitement. Then I moved on to Directing which I also enjoy.

My new job is with PATCH Hawaii. The major focus of my job is to recruit, mentor, and assist Family Child Care providers. But like most jobs in Early Childhood Education I wear many hats. Today I think I found the hat that fits the "bestest" My boss asked me if i was available to teach a class on Talking with Preschoolers tonight, to which I responded yes!

It was amazing to teach about something I am so passionate about. To take all the skills and experience I have gained in early childhood education and the classroom and teach them to those who will in turn take them and adapt them into their classrooms and daily schedules was a rush.

I absolutely LOVED it. I think I have my answer to whether I will go back to school for my Masters...yes yes yes So I can teach our future generations of preschool teachers at the college level!!!

I have somethings I want to share...

2008-11-12T22:52:00.000-08:00

I really do have somethings I want to share...the good the bad and the ugly:)

*The preschool....ugly.....I have been putting it off because I wasn't ready to deal with it yet....but I see a glimmer of hope and the beginning of healing...so I will be able to share soon:)

*The good my husband came home from WEST PAC...it has been long enough that I won't feel like I am violating any rules and regs in sharing that:)

* More good....I really like my job and I am blessed and excited by the new opportunities it offers.

* Still more good......my families visit was great and you can learn more about it on our family blog:)

* Bad bad bad...Mellie really is leaving:(

* There is another good...the kids have realized Britt is leaving and have started to get along a smidge better...just a smidge:)

BUT I am super tired so I cannot write about these things tonight...or tomorrow night because I have to teach a class tomorrow night (one of the good things about my job:)) So hopefully this weekend I will have time to share :)

On Being A Navy Wife.....

2008-11-12T18:16:00.000-08:00

Many people assume that the hard or difficult part of being a Navy wife is the constant separation, but in reality it is not. The enemy we all struggle with is named "Yes, No, and Maybe."

Yes we are leaving today so I need to be at work at 5:30am. Later that day...maybe I will be leaving today but I'm not sure, but if we aren't I will be here until late. An hour later "No, we are not leaving so come get me now."

Yes, I am up for orders, maybe we will get what we want, no I have no idea when we will hear anything.

Yes, I am up for promotion, no I don't know when we will hear anything...once you make it...maybe we will get paid for it before the cows come home.

Yes, I will be here for Thanksgiving go ahead and make those camping reservations. Two weeks later....no I won't be here cancel the camping reservations.....three days later...Maybe I will be here can you get those reservations back?

This is what Navy wives live with on s consistent basis. We have been attached to subs that have sat pier side so long, waiting to go out to sea for so long that the shipyard has begun calling them building ***(insert hull number). Everyday for a month I would drop him off with a goodbye only to return to pick him up later that day. When they finally left I was not ready for it and in a state of shock.

I can handle anything as long as I can come up with a plan. I can handle him being gone and the truck breaking and the kids having to be in four different places at once all while maintaining my sanity.....if I can plan ahead. However, this constant state yes I will be here, no I won't be here, maybe I won't be here is about to drive me mad. You would think after 20 years of it I might have gotten used to it.....sorry no I haven't.

I have learned to plan without him and to keep rolling....but when you add a please, maybe I might need you to pick me up into the above chaos the ball stops rolling in one direction and begins to have some sort of spasms.

So to the Navy...YES I was in my right mind when this all began, NO I am not liking this tour, and MAYBE I will still be sane when this tour is over.

I Think It Should Be Illegal.....

2008-11-11T11:18:00.000-08:00

To require the spouse of an active duty member to work on Veterans Day:( Yes, my friends I am at work and will be here all day. the truth of the matter is that it didn't bother me before yesterday because Rick was suppose to be gone. Those of you who understand the submarine lifestyle know that "suppose to be gone" really means nothing. So I left the house this morning with my family all snuggled into the bed :( sigh

The Countdown is On....

2008-11-10T18:40:00.000-08:00

Well......the battery in my SUV decided that blowing up and spewing battery acid every where was a fine thing to do on a Monday evening....so that's what it did last week. Rick and I were too busy to deal with replacing the battery so we just carpooled last week. So Saturday morning we went to take the battery in to replace it and we discovered that it was under warranty, so we called the dealer and they told us we couldn't just bring the battery in we had to bring the whole vehicle in. So the tow truck showed up and off she went.......which is where she still is. This means all 6 of us have been getting around in Rick's Jag....and let me tell you it is a very tight fit.

I said all that to say this......

Yesterday we went to Uncle Mike and Carolyn's for a cook out....which means that all of us rode together out to Waianae in close comfort. I made the comment that we will only be living together as a family for a couple more months and then after that we will never live together as we are now. My youngest two gave me a bewildered look and asked what I meant. My response was that Britt is going off to college next year and after that she will probably never live at home again. Apparently, in all the college talk and arguing over who was going to get which room it never occured to my two youngest that their sister was going to move on to the next phase of her life....without them.

This is when the tears began....Becca just sat there and outright bawled and Zach put a blanket over his head to disguise his tears. Me....I have been crying for months. A song that they play at al lthe graduations came on the radio the other day and I started tearing up...Rick finds it highly amusing, but we will see who is crying next summer. I suspect that he will have his share of tears also.

She has started to put her college applications is and is scouting out scholarships...she is excited about moving on and I am excited for her....but I am really going to miss her:(

MONDAY MONDAY......

2008-11-10T18:35:00.000-08:00

Oh how you drag on......I suppose it may have something to do with the doctor who suggested that I take muscle relaxers three times a week as opposed to him doing his job and adjusting my hip bones. Seriously, if you can't do it please refer me to a doctor that is not scared.....

Family Visit

2008-10-31T10:37:00.000-07:00

For those of you who are anxiously awaiting the blogs on my families visit you can go check out our family blog at http://thekriegerfamilylegacy.blogspot.com/ I will be posting the vacation blogs there:)

Quick Update

2008-10-29T16:30:00.000-07:00

It's a couple of hours before my family leaves.....we took over 2000 pictures and had tons of fun. I have many adventures to blog about...I'll be busy this weekend blogging...and oh yeah writing that 8 page term paper on Computer Piracy I have been blowing off!