daily life...

It's hard to believe that next week is Thanksgiving. A huge milestone for us in the deployment, that means we've put a few months behind us. We've only killed 5 appliances in the house, and sold about half the wood, but hey... it's still early! No more appliances are allowed to die, it's just not allowed. And the wood we want to keep still needs split and stacked in the back... the right way! Anyone wanna help? I'll rent a wood splitter! And I promise his name will not be "Johnny Appleseed" or Paul Bunyan! It shall be known as John Deere! Any takers... awhhh come on! I promise hot cocoa and smores over an open pit fire!

Pink Cow Girl Boots

My Life with Katie... no explaination needed!

Happy Birthday USMC!

Happy Birthday Marines!

Thank you for your unwavering dedication to our freedom and security since 1775.

Soccer, Mark's new job and life...

Well, the sad news is that the kids did not make it past the second round in the single elmination tournaments this past weekend. So in our house, soccer is over for the season. I am sad that they didn't go further in the tournaments, but not running to soccer practices 3 nights a week is a much needed break.

Mark, everyone wants to know about Mark. He is doing well, he didn't sleep for 50 hours straight this week. He began a new job on dayshift... YIPPEE! But we all know Mark and he couldn't leave his night crew without guidance and training so abruptly, so he's been training for his new day job (getting turnover briefings/training during the day) and teaching his replacement at night. Thus the 50 hours straight without sleep. He's been eating so that is a wonderful thing, and being on dayshift now he'll get much better meals and will see more friends. He is still going to be averaging 18 hour work days, but at least he's on days and can sleep at night. We were able to Skype with him for about 15 minutes this afternoon. This is how good this man looks for only having 4 hours of sleep in the past 3 days. We all get so excited to see each other's beautiful faces... you can see the love for the kids in his eyes and his smile. I love it! I love him.

I am so excited for the Christmas season! The kids and I are making our lists for Santa and believe it or not I am almost done with all of my shopping. We are ready to get the decorations out and put up the tree. This time of the year is so magical and I hate not having Mark home to share it with us. Never fear Mark the kids are planning your Christmas package... they've got some sneaky surprises for you!

Can't pass this one up!

6 Weeks Down...

6 Weeks Down! Mark is doing well. He is averaging 18 hours a day of work. That translates to about 4-5 hours of sleep a day. I mean day b/c he works the night shift. He’s got a lot and I mean A LOT of responsibilities and the work load is rather stressful. He’s mentioned several times that this has been his most stressful of all of his deployments to date. He is on a huge base over there but he still doesn’t get to see many or any of his friends over there (that are in other units) because of his work load and the hours he works. Most people work days over there and since he’s on nights it’s almost impossible to catch up w/ them. He still lives in the “tin can” and works in a “tin can”. He is doing well otherwise, he’s only lost 10 pounds so far. The first time he was over there at 6 weeks he had lost over 18 pounds and last year about 12 pounds. Mark is a strong guy, he knows he has a purpose there and is working hard to finish the job so “everyone” can come home. He misses home, all the soccer games, cub scouts, computer games, butterfly kisses and cuddling w/ Katie in the lazy-boy during football. He’s bummed that he can’t watch Ohio State or the Bengals play but he always wants me to send him the scores! He longs for warm fires in the fireplace, homemade pizza and ice cold Jones Cream Soda.

Here are a few exerts from the emails he’s sent to me in the past few days…

It is pouring rain outside right now, first real rain since I got here. The
thunder and lightning is intense. The wind cutting across the desert has
nothing to slow it down or take its edge away. With every passing minute, the mud is getting deeper and more soupy. We are going to have some serious cleaning to do.

We have regressed to picking people we look like out here and posting their visages by our desks. I have been deemed Dr. Evil from the Austin Powers movie series. I thought it was funny. We have Drew Carrey (Gamble), Cleveland (off the Family Guy, Williams), Scott Evil from the Austin Powers movies (Curbow)... we are at least taking our minds off of the job for a little while in making fun of ourselves.

He feels horrible that he is not emailing and calling more often and sending info out to you all personally. Please know that he deeply appreciates your prayers, your letters, emails and packages that are being sent over there. He says he certainly doesn’t feel forgotten like many of the other guy and understands the time and sacrifices made by you all to keep in contact and support him. I am personally sincerely grateful for all of you. Thank you for keeping us and Mark in your prayers.

We’ve already had the appliance demon visit us, so that is already done and over (he killed the sump pump for the pool cover, my curling iron and the heating pad! Nothing too big! Yeah!) Things are running rather smoothly around here. Soccer season is almost over, tournaments this weekend. Looking forward to sleeping in on a Saturday!

On a personal note from me, this has been a different deployment so far for us at home too. The kids are getting older and much more knowledgeable of what is going on the world and in their little world. We are beginning the “coming of age” stage of life and I understand and get how to talk to and deal w/ girls, but wow, this boy stuff is strange. So keep all of us in your prayers, pray for Godly friends, good mentors, and courage to do what’s right when no one else is doing it.

I read quite a few blogs...

I read/follow about 15-20 blogs a week. Some I ready daily others about once a week. But something crazy is going on in the blog world.

I have to put this out there. I know for many a blog is their escape, their way of venting. But I wonder if the bloggers who write like this realize or remember that their family and often their spouses read their blog. Or even better their spouses co-workers / friends read their blog. I feel like the new "bandwagon" for blogging is Spouse Bashing. I understand people have marital issues, but do you really think your marriage or your problems are gonna get any better by posting your issues all over the internet!

When did people stop thinking?