The Needle in a Haystack

Bedtime Routines

...Do you know one of the things I miss the most about having little ones int he house?  Bedtime!...No, not the " Boy I can't wait til the kids are in bed time"..but the time spent snuggling with my boys... a sippy cup of milk and a favorite blanket..bedtime story books and little songs sung while we rocked.

 ..so many times their favorite stories were the ones I just told... with out a book without pictures... ones they could help me tell..

  I got that from my Dad.  He was the king of bedtime.. Tucked in my bed he would sit and tell me stories... not from books...but re- tellings of stories... in his voice... with his characters.  My favorite were Just SO Stories by Rudyard Kipling  he always would follow up with how God actually made the animals and leopard spots and tortoise shells... it was the absolute best time..

  But the highlight was my song... the one that sung me to sleep every night...

it was  great being a Daddy's Girl!

 
  Tonight is dinner at Bogarts with friends.. I love Bogarts and I love these friends... we were so happy to get the invite out of the blue!  As a treat their son will be providing the accompaniment.  Matthew is an excellent pianist.

  Gearing up for our big 4th of July bash... family , friends, foods, fireworks...

Off to pretty myself up for my love... pray for the troops... hug your dads and have a fine day all day long!

P.S.  Enjoy the song!

And you're Daddy's Little Girl
You're the end of the rainbow
My Pot of Gold
You're Daddy's Little Girl to have and hold
A precious gem is what you are
You're Mommy's Bright and shining star.

You're the spirit of Christmas
My star on the tree
You're the Easter Bunny to Mommy and me.

You're sugar
You're spice
You're everything nice
and you're Daddy's Little Girl.

You're the end of the rainbow
My Pot of Gold
You're Daddy's Little Girl to have and hold
A precious gem is what you are
You're Mommy's Bright and shining star.

You're the spirit of Christmas
My star on the tree
You're the Easter Bunny to Mommy and me
You're sugar
You're spice
You're everything nice
and you're Daddy's Little Girl.

Fireworks

.. Josh and Chris made the trip to South of the Border for fireworks .  The had a great time together.  I had breakfast with  a young woman this morning who means alot to us.  She will be moving to SC next week... It has been wonderful to see her mature and grow and turn into the young woman she is.

 Yesterday was my Gram's birthday...  she's a bit upset this summer because at 89, she won't be able to travel as she has due to s couple health issues.  Traveling is just what my Grandmother does... travel and politics... her dream time is always a political conference she has to travel to!  She has been on all continents except Antarctica .and all the remaining  6 more then once. she has been to all 50 states and several islands... and cruised through the Panama Canal twice.  She's going to rest a bit and meet up with all of us in Sept  @ Myrtle Beach.    Happy Birthday Grams!!

  My hooks have been flying the last few days... a few surprises  and a set of   dishcloths using  this   pattern for a friend of mine who asked for some...  I LOVE crocheting dish cloths and am only happy to oblige.

Big news on the Jamie front.. he signed up for his fall classes at NCSU  that means in Dec... if all goes well.. we will have another college grad in the family!  WooHOO!!

I'll leave you with a pic of my Grams... this was taken last year at Myrtle Beach... she doesn't look 89 does she???

 

Blog Silence

..as a Blue Star Mom we realize that every child in uniform becomes "our" child... This young man was with the 3rd Calvary Regiment out of Ft Hood...another IED

  So with the same respect given to my children in the 1132nd... I'll observe a 24 hour blog silence for this young man from NC... remember his family in your prayers..

Spc. Joel A. Taylor, 20, of Pinetown, N.C.

Painted Ponies, 2nd Peter, & Lunch with Monk

..Prepare to be jealous.. Every morning Mon-Thurs. I get up at 5:00 to get Christopher to basketball training an hour plus from our home. I don't have to drive everyday since we split the driving with the Hendersons.  Despite the fact I have to get up at " nobodyshouldbeawakeatthistime o'clock, I really don't mind spending the 2 hours waiting for the guys to condition.   The basketball conditioning is @ Cary Academy which has a lovely campus ...more beautiful then some college campuses.  I love this school.  I imagine that the graduation rate to college is very very high ... I love the pursuit  of  learning and exploring.  I often tease my hubby and tell him I only married him for his IQ... he's a smart one that man!

  Anyhow, before the temps start climbing into the 80's and 90's here in NC.. I spend the first hour walking the campus enjoying the morning... I thought I would share some of the things I see on my walk....painted horses!!  I love these things.. I am seriously trying to convince Chris we need one for the yard in Americana colors... can you see it???  so far its a no -go  but I'll keep trying.  The skeleton horse is sort of creepy... but I still like it... Its great fun walking past these horses..

  after the walk I break out the thermos and pour myself a cup of tea and take my Bible by the fountain to spend a bit of quiet time with  The One I Love Best.  Today I was in 2nd Peter..

        

   the Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentence  2nd Peter 3:9

  Notice Mr Owl staring at me... he's not real...but oh so fun to look at .  He makes me laugh every time I see him.

   Played a game of tag with my friend Patti ..not on purpose...we were driving around Butner trying to find each other with our cell phones... It was hysterical!!

 Dropped of a tired Christopher and headed out for lunch with Combat Monk....oh... Josh and Mom by marriage were there too.  We had such a good time...so good to spend time with our boy.. to hear him laugh ...and stroke his arm a bit when he choked up....

  He really will be Ok... he's strong... far above Army strong...

Continue to pray for the troops....and our Wounded Warriors...and have a fine day...all day long

.

Payton's new shoes

.. Ahh.. today was my day off from driving to Cary thanks to the Hendersons.  Tomorrow I am up to the plate again with a drive by to Camp Butner

  I promised 100 dinner rolls for the rifle competition that the Blue Star Moms are helping with.  It was an easy request and I was more then glad to help.

I was able to spend the morning with Josh helping him work through his disability/veteran/tricare stuff... Oh the military is so.... military like!!  Hopefully next week he will be at Bragg getting his much needed MRI & CAT scans

  I spent the afternoon making ballet slippers for Miss Payton, an adopted grand daughter of mine.  Johnson was one of Josh's good friends over in Iraq.. When Johnson came home not only did he see  his lovely Jen, but he met for the first time  his month old daughter Payton.  I love this picture of the three of them  .. it shows how Johnson would just stare at Payton... madly in love... she is a  Daddy's girl already!  ...and  Uncle Josh spoils her rotten... he's  made it a goal to do that...

  I htought I should join in the spoiling since I stole as many moments to hold the babe as I could.. I used a crochet pattern from the book Precious Baby Booties  there are so many cute patterns.. The pattern takes less then 30 minutes per shoe... but for some reason I had to make 5 shoes to get two that looked the same... In the picture one does look bigger but its not... just the camera angle.  I'm thinking Miss Payton might need a red pair of felted Mary Janes a girl just can't have too many shoes you know!!

Enjoy the pictures of Love..and have a fine day... all day long

Promised Pictures

... Not much to blog about.. it was one of those days where I just did routine stuff... while it feels good to have washed down the showers with vinegar and take a load of old VHS tapes to the swap shop, it really doesn't make for exciting blog reading... dinner was from boxes and cans... crafting was finishing up odds and ends...you know the drill...

  One thing I haven't shared is our family summer read... we chose All Quiet On the Western Front  by Erich Maria Remarque.  I highly recommend this book.  We have a set amount to read each week and then have a family discussion on the book each Sunday evening.  Since we all have our own reading too we don't rush it... not a marathon..but something to be absorbed.. We haven't decided if we will watch the movie when we finish the book or not.. sometimes the movie can be so disappointing after the book..if any of you have read the book and watched the movie we are open to opinions...

   Now, yesterday I promised pictures of our Sat.  any day with my 4 boys and an extra bonus of John and Tammy ( Lance's parents) are always a good thing.  Tammy is the sweetest thing and John is HYSTERICAL.. I am so glad to be able to call them family...  They were leaving us to go to a Toby Keith concert with tickets Lance had bought for Tammy before he died... how very special for them...
...It was raining... Josh was more then happy to play in the rain... Jeremy is much quieter and decided to chip golf balls in the rain instead of using the front yard as a slip and slide...

..Pray for the troops... those on foreign soil... and those getting use to life on US soil... that isn't always easy ...Have a fine day...all day long...

Elders, Grilled Cheese and Cross stitch

..No end of  busyness happening around here!   Tomorrow I promise a post of our Sat with lots and lots of pictures... We had a wonderful visit with lots of folks we love but I need to upload to my laptop and that hasn't been done yet..

  Today was a wonderful Sabbath... I enjoy days of examination and thought.. discussions of Christ centered things.. gives strength for anything the week might throw at you.

   awhile back we had the privilege of visiting  Hope Baptist Church   in Wake Forest.  Both Chris and I appreciated the service and fellowship we have been waiting for an opportunity to fellowship again so we pulled up the website and found what I htink is an excellent quiz for Elder requirements.. you can find it
here Today's churches seem to elect Elders by popularity instead of knowledge and qualifications.  What biblical comfort comes from having knowledgeable leadership! 

  A quick trip to the grocery store today where I literally almost plowed over Mr & Mrs Nathan Black Poor Jesse is nursing a bad foot ..nothing that won't heal in good time.  I love that couple ! Their self sufficient goals mirror so much of ours.  Scroll down to April 6  on Dr Black's blog to see their wedding.

  At home I decided to spruce up the grilled cheese with this recipe form Pioneer Woman  Oh these were so good with fresh sliced cucumbers on the side... PERFECT ( although Chris did say some meat product would have been great on there)

  Working away at so many things... I just had to share how cute I thought this cross stitch   was .  I haven't done cross stitch in awhile  but with the new cool glasses it was much easier.  Not doing the whole thing.. just a couple...

  and the picture of the day is what I saw out the back door ... they must be friends with the dogs cause they walked right past Rox & Raven and the dogs all but invited them over for coffee...so far there is enough green here and the meadow that they haven't smelled the peppers, tomatoes etc from the garden....

  ~sheesh~~

  Continue to pray for the troops..even though my child's boots are on American soil, some mama's child isn't...
    and have a fine day... all day long..

 

Here's a thought

...................What if the Hokey Pokey IS what its all about????

Fisher House, Womack, Silver and Gold Star

Today was one of those days where I can say " Oh, I had the best day"... but it was so emotional... so very very emotional.

..I NEVER run out of laughs with my own Chapter 7 Blue Star Moms... add into that Barb from Chapter 4 and Deborah & Mary Jo from Chapter 5 (hope that's right MJ) and I know it will be a day of hugs and love...

.. after food and potty breaks on our way to Ft Bragg, we arrived at Fisher House , a sort of Ronald McDonald House for soldiers and their families. I was so excited to hear Spence from the 1132nd was there and passed on the well wishes...he was having surgery for wounds from April 6.. I met Paula & Lucy, 2 of the most wonderful ladies you will ever want to meet who run Fisher House... if you have a moment would you say a prayer for Lucy's son Ryan... He is preparing for a bone marrow transplant very soon... the great news is they have found three matches... ALL PERFECT 10s!!  How amazing is that???  When things start moving along with it I'll keep you updated...

.. I also met Lori.  Lori is a Gold Star Mom  I can't fully express the respect I have for these moms whose babes have given the ultimate sacrifice for our country.  Lori is full of love and joy and giving... we had a special presentation at lunch to give her a gold star banner and remember her son who gave all April 23, 2007.

... as I was blabbing away to Mary jo at lunch, I didn't even see Deborah come behind me and as I turned... the Blue stars presented me with a Silver Star banner .  These banners are presented to families of wounded warriors. It is a great honor to be a member of this club... but oh so very very hard to be a silver Star mom and look deep into the eyes of my sisters who carry the Gold Star.   How I treasure the hugs form the Gold Start Moms I care for so dearly to let me know " its Ok"... these brave brave women...  Its that twisted emotion that has no definition... " I am so happy my child lives...but my heart breaks to pieces for your child"... Very humbling.... very humbling..

.. we made a quick stop to Barb's after our meal and we were able to each select  a bell from her collection.. Mine is the sweetest Hummel bell from 1983, the year Jeremy was born.. A double treasure...

..did I mention that in between Fisher House and Mexican food we visited Womack Army Hospital  , grabbing hugs and giving goodie bags to a few soldiers who are injured... One little sweet girl from CA  was in tears... I was in tears back.... If any of you live near an army Hospital...make a visit... wounded warriors NEED us!  we also visited the Family Life Center  where I was able to talk to those who knew my boys... you know, all my boys in the 1132nd.... it felt good to connect... drinks delivered via wheel chair... which was a Lucille Ball moment watching Patti and I get the thing filled with drinks into the Life Center.... very interesting...

...what a blessing I have in life to have those who know and love me... soldier Moms...

..... and those Gold Star moms... well, when Lance died I promised Tammy i would share my soldier son with her... I must say that Mama Tammy and Papa John do a great job !   Thanks to their love for my boy and his love for them he is able to drive a new  Impala LTZ  Josh has named the car Honor... because it does...and is..and now is his favorite possession .  It goes back to what I said about hte Gold star Moms just being the best... the absolute best...

....I'm worn out... I've laughed ...cried... hugged...teased... living life is a very tiring job some days...

    Enjoy the pics of the day..and I pray each of you can live life hard too!

Hummingbirds & Family

..With Josh back home... Chris & I , the boys, the inlaws and friends have been spending free moments together... Our balance is back you know... we all were really a bit out of kilter with Josh in Iraq ( some of us more out of kilter then others~smile~)... BUT.. we've had lunches and played games... talked and dreamed together... the Blue Star Mom's had a marathon bracelet making session with tons of love and laughs... Christopher started Networks which require me to get up at 4:30 to drive the hour plus drive to get him there at 6:45....we flow through days with just a glitch or two..  Jamie turned 27 and of course we had to celebrate... Gosh Jamie... slow down... you're making me feel old!!

  In the middle of all the busyness a hummingbird decided to visit the enclosed porch.. poor little thing was so scared.  I caught it gently with my hands and stood with my mouth open in awe... I WAS HOLDING A HUMMINGBIRD IN MY HAND.. he/she wasn't as in awe of me so our love time was a bit short and I sent it on its way... Now I'm in love with hummingbirds... can't get enough of looking at them and  dug out the feeder Christopher bought me for my birthday ... finding just the right hummingbird tree will be a bit of a challenge... not to tall..not to short... what trees DO hummingbirds like??

.. so here are a few pictures of the last few days...Everyone at  lunch to celebrate Jamie's birthday... a pic of my MIL... foodie pics & the hummingbird...