Hello, all my friends......I am enjoying my time in NY on vacation.
I have slept late, ate all my favorite local foods, laid in the hammock in the backyard, and I even started getting email from Rick!
I have a lot to write about....but I am at a strategic place right now....sharing the bathroom with my sisters...wow! Does that bring back memories. I have one who showers for 30 minutes...so its a must to get in there before her. Then the other one who drags her feet and is suppose to be in there right now....but I hear her talking in the living room. I am contemplating sneaking in there to do my hair and make-up.
Speaking of hair...in NY I have great hair...its big and fluffy! Must be the water. Is it selfish of me to want to move here when we retire...just so I can always have good hair?
Bathroom is freeee...I'll be back later...Love you all!
Thursday, June 12, 2008
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
OJ's Graduation
You , all may be wondering why I am posting about all of these graduations....well to me they are the beginning of the next stage of my life. You see D and OJ (I'm not being funny here...this is what they go by) are the two young gentleman that begin that journey for me...and several other parents. My daughter, along with three other very close seniors will graduate next June. While we are counting down the days until she graduates..I'm almost positive that I am not ready for this stage.....
Anyway....OJ's graduation was the perfect example of why I love the family God has given me in Hawaii...we were all there sharing in his accomplishments....like a family should!
OJ has come into his own over the last year or so...finding a confidence and strength that we had not seen fully before. We all watched, biting our nails as he played in the state Basketball Finals, crying as they were robbed in overtime by one point. This confidence and positive attitude was shining bright as he hammed it up for his fans (aka his family) on graduation night!
Pictures: OJ and his other little sister...Britt, Oj waving to his adoring fans, and the Woods Family celebrates!
CONGRATULATIONS OJ!!!!!
JJ's Graduation
Well, it is over JJ has left Junior High and moved on to High School. We did the football physical and he now waiting to start practicing.
The graduation was less than thrilling and I had to ask Ms Fran if she had experienced the same twitch that I had. Ms Fran and I are used to graduation ceremonies that having meaning and are meant to be life changing! This one...they walked across the stage shook someones hand and picked up their diploma in a classroom. There was no song, no words of inspiration....
The first picture is of Joshua and his forever friend Andrew. Next, there is Joshua, Andrew, and Netta. Netta was not looking forward to the picture taking but we promised that she would not have to have her picture taken with them until they graduated from high school. Finally, there is a picture of Becca, Joshua, and I.
CONGRATS TO ALL THREE OF YOU!!! I LOVE YOU!
Thursday, June 5, 2008
Another Graduation Today
Today my JJ graduates from Jr. High...which means he will be a freshman in high school in a few months...my son! Where has the time gone? Where is the little baby that would insist that I "rubba his head" so he could take a nap? OH!JJ was a wonderful baby and toddler...actually J had it together until he hit JR high.
I never really had any problems from him....good eater, good sleeper.....behaved for the most part. I don't think it was until puberty started that he gave me any trouble. He has decided to be a professional football player....a goal I admire. However, it took me a year and a half to convince him that he could not be drafted right out of high school and that he would have to go to college(and I'm still not sure he completely believes me now) Yes, Joshua you have to do well in school because you can't go to college if you don't, and if you don't go to college you can't play pro ball.
Josh is an extremely intelligent child...he just lacks motivation. He has an engineering mind. When he was three he would construct all kinds of contraptions and systems out of buckets, string, and other household items that would allow him to pull toys from the bottom to the top bunk, he rigged his closet to do all kinds of things. The boy has brains....and he has potential...we just have to figure out the key motivating factor. I may tie his grades starting in his freshman year to him getting his driving permit.
Lucky for me Joshua has not discovered how good looking he is...or how that power may be used. Hopefully, he will continue on the path he is in that area. Although 14 Joshua is still a kid at heart...give him a playstation or a wide open field and a football and he is happy. At the park near the house, the neighborhood boys his age run to the sidelines to suck face with their "girl friends" between plays....Josh is intent on setting up the next play.
He attempted to have a girlfriend...because his friends thought it would be a good idea...he was completely out of his league...and his siblings of course ratted him out, bringing that to a quick end.
So today my Bubby will move onto the next phase of life....and there's nothing I can do about it but pray for the best and trust that he will stick close to God and follow the path He has for him!
I never really had any problems from him....good eater, good sleeper.....behaved for the most part. I don't think it was until puberty started that he gave me any trouble. He has decided to be a professional football player....a goal I admire. However, it took me a year and a half to convince him that he could not be drafted right out of high school and that he would have to go to college(and I'm still not sure he completely believes me now) Yes, Joshua you have to do well in school because you can't go to college if you don't, and if you don't go to college you can't play pro ball.
Josh is an extremely intelligent child...he just lacks motivation. He has an engineering mind. When he was three he would construct all kinds of contraptions and systems out of buckets, string, and other household items that would allow him to pull toys from the bottom to the top bunk, he rigged his closet to do all kinds of things. The boy has brains....and he has potential...we just have to figure out the key motivating factor. I may tie his grades starting in his freshman year to him getting his driving permit.
Lucky for me Joshua has not discovered how good looking he is...or how that power may be used. Hopefully, he will continue on the path he is in that area. Although 14 Joshua is still a kid at heart...give him a playstation or a wide open field and a football and he is happy. At the park near the house, the neighborhood boys his age run to the sidelines to suck face with their "girl friends" between plays....Josh is intent on setting up the next play.
He attempted to have a girlfriend...because his friends thought it would be a good idea...he was completely out of his league...and his siblings of course ratted him out, bringing that to a quick end.
So today my Bubby will move onto the next phase of life....and there's nothing I can do about it but pray for the best and trust that he will stick close to God and follow the path He has for him!
Wednesday, June 4, 2008
And another thing....
Ms. Hope I did get TWO coffees today! One hot and one cold....
But can someone tell me why my children go through food like lotus? I mean for real I went to Foodland on Sunday and stocked up on lunch and snack supplies...they had an awesome sale.
Last night (Tuesday) there was nothing left....and I am talking about the big bags of individual chips, tons of 32 oz Powerades, bananas, apples, tangerines......all gone!
Do they even bother to eat food or do they just munch through the snacks, hunched over the table looking over their shoulders making sure no one is going to try to take their food? I know that they eat in the living room(even though they swear they don't)......otherwise our snacks have magical wrappers that can jump into the living room from the dining room.
I am considering building a snack shelter...you know kind of like the bomb shelters they used to have back in the 50's and 60's.....to protect you in case we were ever under attack by bombs...I need to protect the snacks from my kids.....that and my budget.
You hate to tell them they can't eat or to ration their food out...but dang. I also know they hand the snacks out to the neighborhood...like they are running a market out in the garage...and if this is the case I want my cut!
I had to go back in and edit this one because I forgot the thing that really spurred this blog today.....
So Tuesday evening after I get home from Bible study and eat a small bag of pretzels for dinner....and get ready to pass out in my bed two of my children decide to tell me that they need snacks for their parties the next day. I have to wonder if my children are brain damaged.....if I have said it once I have said it a thousand times...you need to tell me BEFORE I go to bed that you need something for the next day.
In the perfect world I would be able to buy extra boxes of brownies, cookies, and chips etc for such situations and keep them on hand...but I am not able to because...the lotus will eat them...so even if I plan ahead my attempts are foiled by the bottomless pits I call children!
My favorite is that Diva 2 waited until 9:30 last night to share that she was out of pads....I think I may by those by the truckload and store them in the garage!
But can someone tell me why my children go through food like lotus? I mean for real I went to Foodland on Sunday and stocked up on lunch and snack supplies...they had an awesome sale.
Last night (Tuesday) there was nothing left....and I am talking about the big bags of individual chips, tons of 32 oz Powerades, bananas, apples, tangerines......all gone!
Do they even bother to eat food or do they just munch through the snacks, hunched over the table looking over their shoulders making sure no one is going to try to take their food? I know that they eat in the living room(even though they swear they don't)......otherwise our snacks have magical wrappers that can jump into the living room from the dining room.
I am considering building a snack shelter...you know kind of like the bomb shelters they used to have back in the 50's and 60's.....to protect you in case we were ever under attack by bombs...I need to protect the snacks from my kids.....that and my budget.
You hate to tell them they can't eat or to ration their food out...but dang. I also know they hand the snacks out to the neighborhood...like they are running a market out in the garage...and if this is the case I want my cut!
I had to go back in and edit this one because I forgot the thing that really spurred this blog today.....
So Tuesday evening after I get home from Bible study and eat a small bag of pretzels for dinner....and get ready to pass out in my bed two of my children decide to tell me that they need snacks for their parties the next day. I have to wonder if my children are brain damaged.....if I have said it once I have said it a thousand times...you need to tell me BEFORE I go to bed that you need something for the next day.
In the perfect world I would be able to buy extra boxes of brownies, cookies, and chips etc for such situations and keep them on hand...but I am not able to because...the lotus will eat them...so even if I plan ahead my attempts are foiled by the bottomless pits I call children!
My favorite is that Diva 2 waited until 9:30 last night to share that she was out of pads....I think I may by those by the truckload and store them in the garage!
You have it so easy.....
OK I may ruffle a few feathers here....
My husband has been active duty Navy for almost 20 years....all 20 done in the submarine community. We have done 9 westpacs, 1 norpac, 5eastpacs, 1 trip through the Panama canal, 8 rimpacs, and I don't know how many local ops, ores....and all those other acronyms. There have been years where he was gone 298 days out of 356. So it is safe to say that we have done more than our fair share of separation.
Here is my issue......If I hear from one more Army or Marine wife how easy I have it because my husband only does 6 month deployments...instead of 15 I may lose it.
This is why I may lose it.....up until 5 years ago it was very rare for an active duty Army soldier to do a 15 month deployment....I know some retired Army people who only did a couple 2-4 month deployments in their whole career. My husband has been doing deployment fro 20 years....
Let me tell you how a deployment works....First you return from a 6 month deployment and get a break for ABOUT 30 days.....then you start getting ready for your next 6 month deployment which will be 12 months from your return. Getting ready includes all kinds of certifications, exams, and drills......99% of which will be done at sea....so you go in and out for the 11 months prior to your deployment. Then you are gone for the month before the deployment ...only coming home for a few days before you leave for 6 months...OR as in the case of one boat...a few hours.
Once you are out there you do not get to talk on the phone but once every couple of months or so and email is delayed and a joke. Everything you write gets read by everybody and their brother before it gets to him. Not only that you can go through periods of no communication for 2-3 months.
I really feel for those who have to be separated for the 15 months and I applaud them and their families. I also feel that we all have a job to and none is more important than the others............
BUT please do not tell me how"easy" I have it compared to you.....because I would never mutter those words to you!
My husband has been active duty Navy for almost 20 years....all 20 done in the submarine community. We have done 9 westpacs, 1 norpac, 5eastpacs, 1 trip through the Panama canal, 8 rimpacs, and I don't know how many local ops, ores....and all those other acronyms. There have been years where he was gone 298 days out of 356. So it is safe to say that we have done more than our fair share of separation.
Here is my issue......If I hear from one more Army or Marine wife how easy I have it because my husband only does 6 month deployments...instead of 15 I may lose it.
This is why I may lose it.....up until 5 years ago it was very rare for an active duty Army soldier to do a 15 month deployment....I know some retired Army people who only did a couple 2-4 month deployments in their whole career. My husband has been doing deployment fro 20 years....
Let me tell you how a deployment works....First you return from a 6 month deployment and get a break for ABOUT 30 days.....then you start getting ready for your next 6 month deployment which will be 12 months from your return. Getting ready includes all kinds of certifications, exams, and drills......99% of which will be done at sea....so you go in and out for the 11 months prior to your deployment. Then you are gone for the month before the deployment ...only coming home for a few days before you leave for 6 months...OR as in the case of one boat...a few hours.
Once you are out there you do not get to talk on the phone but once every couple of months or so and email is delayed and a joke. Everything you write gets read by everybody and their brother before it gets to him. Not only that you can go through periods of no communication for 2-3 months.
I really feel for those who have to be separated for the 15 months and I applaud them and their families. I also feel that we all have a job to and none is more important than the others............
BUT please do not tell me how"easy" I have it compared to you.....because I would never mutter those words to you!
Spiritual Gifts....
Our Children's Ministry has our Bible study on Tuesday evenings because we aren't ususally able to make it to the regular classes because we are working with the kids. So we asked if the Evan over the Foundation Dept and her husband would teach a class just for us. They agreed and we love it!
We have been studying the Spiritual/Motivational Gifts since October. It has not only helped us as individuals, but it has helped us to recognize each others spiritual gifts and how we can all combine our gifts to work as one.
Last night we started the gift of Leadership. At the beginning of the session in October we took a spiritual gifts assessment and my strongest score was in leadership. Last night was really eye opening for me. I was fully aware of alot of the characteristics of a leader, but now I have a greater understanding of some of the frustrations and pitfalls of that gift.
I have found myself recently as part of a group where there was no clear leadership and general chaos....and I was frustrated beyond belief. Last night I learned that those with the gift of leadership cannot deal with lack of or poor leadership...it frustrates that gift within them. However, in a place where there is strong leadership and clear, concise organization a person with the gift of leadership can be an excellent follower.
Another thing we learned is that if there is already a leader in a group or situation that is not an effective leader, someone with the gift of leadership will not step up to take a position of leadership....but if there is no leader and it is clear one is in need they will step up without being asked.
So.....these are my personal thoughts........I find that if I am in a group that has a leader that is ineffective or there is chaos I will pull back. First reason being that I cannot deal with chaos, the second being my fear that if they don't get their act together that I will step in and seem bossy...because I am frustrated with the way things are going.
Alot of people are intiminated by people who have the natural gift of leadership. They see them as bossy or pushy and believe that they think more of themselves than they ought to.
Me....well it has taken me a long time to be comfortable with who I am and who I was created to be. When Rick and I began to be moved into positions of leadership and received promotion after promotion, I was scarred witless. I was not comfortable in my own skin....I questioned each decision I made, every word I spoke, and wondered if I would ever be comfortable in the positions that God has placed me in.
Now eight years later I can say that I walk in the roles that I was ordained to walk in. I don't question every move I make and every word I speak...occassionally some...but I think that only happens when I allow the enemy to use others to drop things in my spirit...my fault for receiving it.
With this acceptance of who I am called to be and do comes a confidence....one I have learned to stop questioning and embrace. It took me many years to arrive at this point and I will not aplolgize to anyone who feels threatened by it, or perceives it as something other than what it is.
I can say this because before I understood the Spiritual gifts that God has placed deep inside of us...I would think...who does she/he think he is....? Because I did not understand their spiritual gifts, nor was I confident in my own.....so I questioned their ability to walk or operate in something I felt tugging at me.... It was a form of jealousy.....like my spirit recognized the gift operating in their life...but my flesh didn't understand it.
I now accept my gifts, and walk in them without apology or apprehension...and pray that others find theirs and embrace them...... I will not allow myself to be moved by those who doubt or question my gift...or feel threatened by it.
I am fearfully and wonderfully made....not only that God has thoughts and plans about and for me....who am I to question what God has ordained...further more.....who are you to question God?
We have been studying the Spiritual/Motivational Gifts since October. It has not only helped us as individuals, but it has helped us to recognize each others spiritual gifts and how we can all combine our gifts to work as one.
Last night we started the gift of Leadership. At the beginning of the session in October we took a spiritual gifts assessment and my strongest score was in leadership. Last night was really eye opening for me. I was fully aware of alot of the characteristics of a leader, but now I have a greater understanding of some of the frustrations and pitfalls of that gift.
I have found myself recently as part of a group where there was no clear leadership and general chaos....and I was frustrated beyond belief. Last night I learned that those with the gift of leadership cannot deal with lack of or poor leadership...it frustrates that gift within them. However, in a place where there is strong leadership and clear, concise organization a person with the gift of leadership can be an excellent follower.
Another thing we learned is that if there is already a leader in a group or situation that is not an effective leader, someone with the gift of leadership will not step up to take a position of leadership....but if there is no leader and it is clear one is in need they will step up without being asked.
So.....these are my personal thoughts........I find that if I am in a group that has a leader that is ineffective or there is chaos I will pull back. First reason being that I cannot deal with chaos, the second being my fear that if they don't get their act together that I will step in and seem bossy...because I am frustrated with the way things are going.
Alot of people are intiminated by people who have the natural gift of leadership. They see them as bossy or pushy and believe that they think more of themselves than they ought to.
Me....well it has taken me a long time to be comfortable with who I am and who I was created to be. When Rick and I began to be moved into positions of leadership and received promotion after promotion, I was scarred witless. I was not comfortable in my own skin....I questioned each decision I made, every word I spoke, and wondered if I would ever be comfortable in the positions that God has placed me in.
Now eight years later I can say that I walk in the roles that I was ordained to walk in. I don't question every move I make and every word I speak...occassionally some...but I think that only happens when I allow the enemy to use others to drop things in my spirit...my fault for receiving it.
With this acceptance of who I am called to be and do comes a confidence....one I have learned to stop questioning and embrace. It took me many years to arrive at this point and I will not aplolgize to anyone who feels threatened by it, or perceives it as something other than what it is.
I can say this because before I understood the Spiritual gifts that God has placed deep inside of us...I would think...who does she/he think he is....? Because I did not understand their spiritual gifts, nor was I confident in my own.....so I questioned their ability to walk or operate in something I felt tugging at me.... It was a form of jealousy.....like my spirit recognized the gift operating in their life...but my flesh didn't understand it.
I now accept my gifts, and walk in them without apology or apprehension...and pray that others find theirs and embrace them...... I will not allow myself to be moved by those who doubt or question my gift...or feel threatened by it.
I am fearfully and wonderfully made....not only that God has thoughts and plans about and for me....who am I to question what God has ordained...further more.....who are you to question God?
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