Blogs are the Cat's Meow!

Hi everyone. Have I told you lately how much I appreciate your company? It's really wonderful how my world has opened up since I visited my first blog about 3 years ago...oh my gosh - it's been that long. First blog I visited was Cathy's...she is a friend from our military moms website...and she led me to Erik who led me to others and so on and so on. Problem is, I am noticing all of your WONDERFUL sidebars with lists of links to other blogs and I CAN'T FIGURE OUT HOW TO DO THAT! There are so many sites I would like to post links to...blogs that have made me laugh, and cry; they have sent me to the Lord in prayer, to give thanks, and rejoice. So many good and gracious bloggers I have "met." Ok, so this weekend, I am going to read all the help topics I can find about posting links and other cool things. When I think of the things that I do on my computer at work - the programs I use, and the processes I run...and yet I can't figure out how to dress up Two Star Mom.

Meanwhile, please say a prayer tonight for a little cat named Butterball. She was recently adopted by a friend of mine, but she has kennel cough and she needs a few prayers. You might remember that when we adopted our doggie Lily, she had kennel cough and she was a very, very sick puppy. She probably wouldn't have made it because humane societies can't afford to make all the sick puppies and kitties well. So God lets them get adopted and then He takes it from there. Butterball...get better please. Your new mom needs you - and you need her very much (there will be lots of treats and a nice soft bed and maybe even a can of tuna once in awhile). As I said, blogs are the cat's meow. Meow and purr and have a happy life, Butterball.

I first began this blog when Laurie re-joined the military. The roller coaster ride of being a military mom - a love/hate thing that stirs up so much pride regardless of whether it's uphill, downhill, or hairpin curves - life wouldn't be the same with out this ride. But we need company along the way. It was my hope that I would be able to encourage military loved ones - cause we understand each other. Funny thing happened - you have blessed me. With your friendship, your own blogs, your encouragement when things have been difficult in my life, the blessings have been abundant. I have seen faith that can move mountains, strength and courage that give me strength and courage. And always understanding - we really do understand that life is ours to experience just once...with the adventures and the blessings being constant. I've learned a lot in the last few years - but it always comes down to one thing dear to the hearts of so many of us - our military.

May God bless them all - ALL of them - but especially those who serve in the sands of the Middle East. Lord please keep them safe and send them home soon to their loved ones. We're all waiting for them - and we love each and every one of them.

Blessings my friends...thanks for stopping by.

Sometimes the blessings are beyond our comprehension.

This morning I overslept a bit. Not too too late, but about half an hour. So I had to move pretty quick to get out of the house on time. I got to work early as always, and I checked my email - my work email and then my home email. I opened an email from my little sister - her name is Michelle, but we call her Chelle. She lives in FL so we don't see each other very often but we talk on the phone at least once or twice a week. She had called here on Sunday needing Laurie's phone number so Ron gave it to her and she said she would call back later. By the time we talked to Laurie a couple of hours later, she had already talked to Aunt Chelle. Just chit chat she said.

Now Michelle has a way of doing these wonderful acts of kindness, and so this morning when I opened her email - the subject of which was: "WE LOVE YOU" I wondered what it's contents would be.

There, in living color and with lots of letters and numbers, was an itinerary for Laurie, Stephen and Kasey. They are coming home for Christmas after all, compliments of Aunt Chelle and Uncle Bob. I got my cell phone out and called Michelle right away - she has caller ID so she knew it was me. I said - tears in my eyes and huge lump in my throat..."MICHELLE!!"

And she said, "Isn't it fun?" And I said, "but I can't pay you back..." and she said, huge lump in her throat, "You already do....every single day." Now we were both crying. I couldn't talk and she couldn't talk and so we just said I love you and hung up. I sat there and cried my eyes out - to think that she loves us this much. One of our staff members was in the other side of the office and she came around the corner really quickly and asking me if I was ok. I said, "Diane, these are happy tears..." and I told her what was happening and she hugged me. God always puts people in my path when I need a hug or when I need to share wonderful news and give someone a hug out of sheer thanksgiving. Poor Diane - first I scare the heck out of her...then I hug her. All before the coffee had finished brewing at my desk. :)

So now, instead of the kids being alone way out where they are, and our family being incomplete at Christmas....Kasey and Veronica will be getting a visit from Santa at the same home. And from now til Christmas, when I hear that "I'll be home for Christmas" song...I can turn up the radio and sing along...instead of just listening and wishing. Cause the kids will be home.

To think GOD loves me this much to have given me this beautiful and generous sister and her husband. I just tried to leave her a voice mail - I wasn't able to say very much - that lump again.

Now I realize that being apart for a holiday isn't the end of the world considering the distance between deployed soldiers and their families...and that's why I didn't say much about not being together - but when I think of how God blesses us when we least suspect it... well, it just boggles my mind.

Michelle and Bob - we love you. Oh Lord, bless them abundantly, please.

God bless our troops. And those who wait for them.

God blesses us in so many ways.

Happy Thanksgiving! I suspect not too many people will be checking out blogs today so I thought that when I got a break in the chopping and dicing and all that good stuff I could pop in and say hi.
God has blessed us so abundantly as a nation - and as individual Americans. I was saying to some of my friends this morning He has so many wonderful things in store for us all - I have seen that at work every single day.
This may seem short for a holiday message....but there is sincerity when I say that you all are so important to me. Most of you I have never met and yet we have this connection - many of us because someone (or more than one someone) we love is serving in the military. May each and every soldier be blessed today - no matter where they serve, they are the true spirit of what the Pilgrims wanted for this nation. We are a baby compared to so many other countries and yet, God has chosen to bless us with His love...and the freedom to worship Him.
God bless you all - I am truly grateful for all of you. But especially, may He bless our troops - and those who love them.
Blessings,
Sue

Saturday at Nana's house.

Sitting here listening to Ron and Veronica in the kitchen having their breakfast - the rule of thumb is that Papa makes eggs and toast for her on Saturday and Sunday mornings while I sit here and enjoy my Saturday morning coffee and wait til Ron is out of the kitchen so that I can clean it up and start messing it up again with some sort of baking project. Today I will make chocolate chip cookies with one slight change in the routine. Veronica will be helping Nana make them. :)
Last night, Scott took us out for dinner to Ruby Tuesday's. It was a great dinner just because the four of us were together. Veronica had a great time - sampling everyone's flavored lemonade and then drinking her chocolate milk - served in one of those little one serving bottles they sell in the grocery stores. She just thought that was so cool. Then we went to Toys r Us and that didn't last long because Veronica's eyes were like saucers. Scott bought her a pound puppy and I bought her some barnyard animals. She LOVES her barnyard animals and has enough to start her own zoo.
Scott is working today so we will make it a Papa, Nana and Veronica day. Tacos for dinner and then her Saturday night bath. Tomorrow she will go home when Scott goes to work.
It's taking some time getting used to all the changes in our family. Tina is a little different now and while I still love her so much, I don't understand her sometimes. I have decided that it's time to take the pictures of Scott and Tina together with the kids off my sofa table. Another chapter is beginning in our lives - it actually began last July with their separation. I think it might be painful for Scott to see them everyday and it's time for me to face the music. It's not a happy tune, but sometimes we need to sing it anyway.
It's life and as I've said before, it is what it is.
But praise God for little girls who still think it's fun to spend a Saturday with Nana. It's been awhile since I've baked cookies with a 3 year old, but I think it'll all come back to me.
God bless our troops and those who wait.

38 Years

Today is our 38th wedding anniversary. Yikes. I always thought that people married this long had to be old, or infirm - heck, maybe both. But we aren't - at least we don't think so. It was a great day - I had requested the day off and this morning when I opened my eyes and looked at the clock, it said 5am. I smiled, pulled the comforter up and fell back to sleep until 7:30. That's like noon to me. Went and had some blood work done and came home and had a good breakfast with 2 cups of coffee...this morning I used the Folgers.
We started watching a movie - Amazing Grace - but then it was time to take Scott to work and so we paused it. We dropped Scott off and then I said I wanted to do a little Christmas shopping. Ron was thrilled (not). But I did get a few cute things for Laurie - there is a new store at the mall that I'd heard was nice. She is always the one I start with because she is so easy to buy for - and this store is to die for. Well, Ron was with me so I behaved.
We went to Red Lobster for dinner - MAJOR food consumed - it was delicious. Key Lime pie and coffee too. We don't do that very often - very special occasions only. I think celebrating 38 years makes it a special occasion - don't you?
So it's been a really great day - time spent together always is a wonderful thing. We've been blessed with many things in our marriage. There have, of course, been some lean years, some times of growing, and times when if we hadn't had our love we wouldn't have made it.
But that's the thing - God has always blessed us with love and no matter what we went through, we came out stronger on the other side. Unfortunately, couples don't always have that nowadays.
I love you Ron.
And I will just close by saying Thank you Lord for Ron, for our marriage, and for all that You have given us in our 38 years together. Blessing upon blessing.

For the brave - who have always kept us free.

Today being Veteran's Day, it was important to me that I post. This morning in church as part of the prelude, the organist played the Navy hymn. I love that hymn and of course it always brings tears to my eyes. I cry when the Star Spangled Banner is sung, or when we are visiting the kids and we happen to see a platoon of soldiers marching by. They represent the very best our nation has to offer - seasoned SGTs yelling out orders, or PVTs calling cadence as they march along - men with their basic training haircuts and women with their hair gathered in a little knot at the nape of their neck. The best of the best. Sons, daughters, husbands, wives and grandchildren - maybe they are the boy or girl next door. Whoever they are, we love them and the pride that fills our hearts does bring a lump to our throat and tears to our eyes.

For those who have served in years past - you are the role models for those who have followed in your footsteps. In the muck of Vietnam, Pork Chop Hill in Korea, WW II's Battle of the Bulge and Iwo Jima; the battles of the German forests in WW I...and so on and so on. Since our nation was born.

Thank you for your sacrifices - your time away from your homes. Your willingness to go into harm's way. And for the ultimate sacrifice you have often had to make.

Let us not forget those who are serving in harm's way today - let us remember them in prayer as they take on the missions they are asked to. Not everyone believes in those missions - but we all believe in YOU.

God bless you all - for you have blessed America.