What?

This email has been cracking me up for 2 days...hope you enjoy!  Don't get all churchy on me, sometimes you just need a good laugh.

Resimay 
To hoom it mae cunsern, 

I waunt to apply for the job what I saw in the paper.   

I can Type realee quik wit one finggar and do sum a counting..   

I think I am good on the phone and I no I am a pepole person,   
Pepole really seam to respond 
to me well. Certain men and all the ladies.   

I no my spelling is not to good but fi nd that I Offen can get a job thru my persinalety.    
My salerery is open so we can discus wat you want to pay me and wat you think that I am werth,  

I can start emeditely.  Thank you in advanse fore yore anser.   

hopifuly Yore best aplicant so farr. 

Sinseerly, 

BRYAN     

PS : Because my resimay is a bit short - below is a pickture of me.  

Employer's response: 
Dear Bryan ,   
It's OK honey, we've got spell check.  
See you Monday.

Appreciative

Thank you so much to everyone who is leaving comments, emails and encouraging words.  We are one month into our deployment and we feel so loved.  I am so excited to check Facebook each day to see who is saying something kind.  Thank you for you love, support and prayers!

My mother-in-laws

You probably know that I am blessed to have two mother-in-laws.  Between both of them we are blessed to have love, support and prayers.  One specific blessing of late has been from M's biological mother, sending me "Daily Words of Encouragement" emails.  They are so touching.  I just opened up today's email and am still sitting here crying.  I was deeply moved that she would think this of me and our family.  She called me her lion.  Though I am not nearly as tough as the Army wives who have to go 14 months with their husbands gone!  Thank you for your love and support!  

Here is the email posted...

The good Lord was creating a model for military wives and was into his sixth day of overtime when an angel appeared. She said, "Lord, you seem to be having a lot of trouble with this one. What's wrong with the standard model? The Lord replied, "Have you seen the specs on this order?" She has to be completely independent, possess the qualities of both father and mother. Be a perfect hostess to four to 40 with an hour's notice, run on black coffee, handle every emergency imaginable without a manual, be able to carry on cheerfully, even if she is pregnant and has the flu, and she must be willing to move to a new location 10 times in 17 years. And oh, yes, she must have six pairs of hands. The angel shook her head. "Six pairs of hands?" No way. 

"The Lord continued, “Don't worry, we will make the other military wives to help her. And we will give her an unusually strong heart so it can swell with pride in her husband’s achievements, sustain the pain of separations, beat soundly when it is overworked and tired, and be large enough to say, "I understand," when she doesn't, and say, "I love you' regardless." "Lord," said the angel, touching his arm gently, "Go to bed and get some rest. You can finish this tomorrow. "I can't stop now," the Lord said. "I am so close to creating something unique." Already this model heals her when sick, can put up with six unexpected guests for the weekend, wave good-bye to her husband from a pier, a runway or depot, and understand why it's important that he leave." The angel circled the model of the military wife, looked closely and sighed, "It looks fine, but it's too soft." She might look soft,” replied the Lord. "But she has the strength of a lion. You would not believe what she can endure." 

Finally, the angel bent over and ran her finger across the cheek of the Lord’s creation. "There's a leak," she announced. "Something is wrong with the construction. I am not surprised that it has cracked. You are trying to put too much into this. "

The Lord appeared offended at the angel’s lack of confidence. "What you see is not a leak", he said, "It’s a tear." "A tear? What is it there for?", asked the angel. The Lord replied, "It’s for joy, sadness, pain, disappointment, loneliness, pride and a dedication to all the values that she and her husband hold dear." "You are a genius!" exclaimed the angel.

The Lord looked puzzled and replied, "I didn’t put it there".

One of those not so fun days.

This was not my favorite day ever.  Missing the daddy to my kids, Caleb tracking poop all through the house, dinner 1/2 burning because I was attempting to clean up poop and L going now on 4 weeks of major pee accidents.  Today was definitely a day of several tears.

This would be where encouraging thoughts come pouring in...:)

Have a Happy Father's day all you over in America.

Twins

I was thinking today about how so many of the questions I would get while pregnant and during the boys' first year drove me crazy.  Now that we are in the second year the questions don't bother me even close to the annoyance level of last year.  Maybe because I now get a full night's sleep most of the time?  Maybe because I am not completely overwhelmed by two parasitic babies?  Or maybe just because I have gotten used to having twins?  Whatever the reason I am not nearly so likely to bite one's head off.

The question we get most frequently these days is, "Are they twins?"  But this question is a true question as opposed to asking a very obviously known answer.  You remember my favorite responses..."Nope, I just like to collect babies" or "no, I just found this one the other day" or my favorite of all time, "yes, but they have different fathers."  Now this question is no longer someone asking a question they already know the answer to.  People are now legitimately trying to figure out if the boys are twins.  The question, "Are they twins" is usually immediately followed up in the same breath by, "Are they Irish twins."  I thought that you would get a kick out of my new answer to these two questions.

Right away I respond with, "We are not dumb enough to have Irish twins unless you have Irish twins then you are not dumb.  They are regular twins."  Most people laugh and then say the usual about how much the boys don't look alike.

I suppose part of the reason this Irish twin question or even the twin question doesn't bother me much anymore is that the boys really are so different.  Caleb is several inches taller and about 2 pounds heavier.  They really don't even look related.  Without the obviousness of having two babies the same size, I am not nearly as annoyed as I once was.  Though this really is probably just due to my sleep-full nights.

My boys are growing and laughing.  They giggle with each other, with big sister, and with mommy.  They are each saying a handful of words.  Connor almost runs all over while Caleb would still much rather stick close.  Though since daddy left Connor has become much more needy and Caleb more independent.  We had expected this to happen at some point because they have both repeatedly switched roles over the last 16 months.  Caleb is pointing to things he wants and imitates almost every word said.  Both boys are picking up sign language like sponges (while sister is speaking lots in Japanese).  Connor is beginning to point to things around his environment.  Caleb growls for a lion and Connor loves to say "uh oh".

All 3 kids are going to the Child Development Center on base (CDC) and they appear to love it!  There is a job opening at the CDC that would be perfect...but I need to stay home with my kids right now.  I will be working for many many more years, but this time will go so quickly I don't want to miss it!

L is taking swim lessons next week and about to start gymnastics.  She is enjoying staying busy and seems to be better behaved when she has lots to do and places to go.

Mama is missing daddy, but doing well.  I am enjoying my evenings of quiet and not much cooking.


Have a wonderfully wonderful day!  Enjoy your weekend.

Chipper -- because the end is in sight

If you know me even a little bit, you know that I am very expressive...joy and anger.  Happiness and sadness.  Excitement and frustration.  So please don't laugh when you read the next part...or at least don't let me hear you laughing.  


Have you seen the movie CARS?  You know, Lightening McQueen and all that?  In the 3 years that I have had children, I had yet to actually sit down and watch the movie.  The other night I specifically sat down and watched the movie with L.  (I am usually trying to get something done while she watches a movie).  So I sit and watch the ending with her for the first time.  


Holy smokes I did not see this coming.  I started crying when McQueen pushed the old race car across the finish line.  I know I know.  But I am, at my heart, a special education teacher -- so anything remotely resembling helping the underdog gets me going.  I did realize then though how much this week has meant to me.  This week M finally gets to his destination and the clock starts ticking.  I think the kids' movie just triggered the tears.  


You see, when I saw that scene in the movie, it made me think of the next time I know I my heart will be joyful -- which is when my arms are around my husband's neck again.  So then I was really crying thinking of how happy I'll be when he comes home!  How do you explain tears of joy to a 3-year old?  She started getting upset and I tried to explain that I was crying out of joy.  When I think of daddy coming home I am just overwhelmed with love, joy, excitement...she didn't get it.  After a couple of minutes she was distracted by the movie and let it go.  


Though it has been fun to talk with her about what we will do when daddy gets home.  We'll make posters, have balloons, streamers and jump up and down.  We can stay excited because we know how wonderful it will be to have the man of the house, the daddy, the husband, the lover, the best friend, the rock of this home back with us.  We love you M!  You mean the world to the 4 of us!  Let the countdown begin!






Just in case you are as unobservant as I am, M's address is posted to the right.  Please don't send chocolate (it melts and he doesn't like it anyway).  


A few of the things he likes:


Swedish fish
Sour Patch kids
Red licorice
Cool Ranch Doritoes
Combos
Beef Jerkey
Desk Games -- desk football, desk bowling, you know dollar store junk
Ritz crackers
Cheezits
Chocolate chip cookies
Brownies
Military books to read
Historical fiction and non-fiction
Movies
Pictures of close friends and family
Runner and Mac magazines
AAFES Gift Cards (can get online for military stores)  Its where we do most of our shopping
              when overseas


Hope this helps give you ideas on how to encourage and support M if you feel so inclined.  


Here's to the countdown beginning!!!!!

In a Groove?

We may have gotten into a groove.  Though to say this out loud may just jinx us...

On Sunday we actually made it to church, though I am now certain that for the next 6 months I will not be going anywhere that requires me to wear makeup.  The boys were sitting on the floor next to me screaming the whole time I was attempting to apply makeup.  So, no makeup Sundays it will be from now on.

We even made it to the 9:30 service which is a feat when M is home, let alone while he is gone!  We then had lunch at Subway and shopped for a few grocery items.  I felt successful when we got into the car and everyone was still smiling!  Leading me to the conclusion that we seemed to have hit our groove.

The boys no longer wake up at all times of the night which they did the first week and 1/2.  No one is currently sick (knock on wood) and I get 10 hours a week to myself!  I think the kids have adjusted to having daddy gone.  This was proven by L getting a sad pitiful face, sniffing twice and announcing that she was, "sad daddy was gone and therefore needed some TV."  I knew she was definitely adjusted when she was attempting to manipulate convince in that way!!!

Now that I have the logistics down of doing this on my own, we should fly from here on out right?

Well, maybe we will make it after all.  Maybe not with flying colors or it may not be a piece of cake.  But we can do this!!!

I truly appreciate every note, card, comment and word of encouragement!  Thank you for sending special little gifts and sweet books to read.  Thank you especially for your prayers!!!

Private

Yeah, we never went private.  way too much work for this mama to enter in all the emails.  maybe we will someday...

Have to look for more blessings...

This deployment is not going to be my favorite time in life, I can see that already.  Last week 3 of the 4 of us were knocked out with a stomach bug.  Then L had a trip to the ER for a UTI.  Today I threw my back out and on a scale of 1 to 10 (10 being most pailful) it was an 8 at the time of the injury.  M has not had an easy time either.  His paperwork has been delayed and messed up causing more stress for him.  His computer died and he had to buy a new one and several of his other electronics died as well.

So to remember that all is not hard, here are a few blessings...

When M and I married he had several preferences; but with him gone I get to use my old detergent and eat the frozen pizza I used until 8 years ago.  I haven't "sacrificed" my preferences, they just weren't big deals to give up.  Now I get to enjoy a few of the simple things like my favorite frozen pizza.

I am getting to watch lots of episodes of Bones.  I really like that show.

Friends are cooking for us several times per week which is AWESOME!

M has gotten to run into several friends  at his current location which has been good for him.

He and my brother are hanging out together so that's fun.

Asking for help is no longer an issue for me.  Which would I rather have -- mommy stressed out because I want to do everything on my own, or a little embarrassment at having to ask for help.  I will pass on the extra stress.

So since this has been a hard ten days already, I had to stop and count my blessings.

Please pray for us!

Blessings

Just a few of the blessings we will enjoy while daddy is gone....

Mommy gets to take up the WHOLE bed without worry of pushing M out of bed.  This is a nightly frustration for him.

This trip away is great for daddy's career.

We will definitely be relying on the body of Christ, that is always good for the soul.

Separations make the heart grow fonder right?  The Marine Corps. is definitely skilled at keeping up spice and excitement in the marriage.

We have a trip to Australia to look forward to when daddy gets back.  L is SOOOOOO excited about going to visit grandma and grandpa in Australia.  These children have more stamps in their passport than most adults!

Mama is independent so we should be able to survive just fine.  The thriving part is what we are shooting for.

Daddy gets to know how much we love and appreciate him!  We will most certainly be letting him know more than usual how much love in our hearts we have for him.  Between notes, letters, cards, emails, and FB, he will know we are thinking of him.

Since my goal is to upload pics each day so daddy can see what the kiddos are up to, all the grandmas get to have more frequent pics of the kids as well.

The $$$ is definitely alright.  We will hopefully be able to set aside a good amount to help towards buying a house when we get back to the states.

The boys are not old enough to really miss daddy.  They absolutely know something is up and will be asking for him, but L is the one comprehending.  So the boys adjustment should be easier.

I am so grateful that today's deployments are not like they were in WW II.  Then guys were gone for years and you never really knew where they were or what they were doing.  You might get a letter, but it would months upon months old.  Now we have FB, email and SKYPE.  We have video equipment and recordings.  The deployments are so much shorter!  So thankful to be a military family now rather than 60 years ago!

M got few extra uniform supplies at no cost to our family...that was a bonus.  Since Officers don't get a uniform allowance and the uniforms are a bit expensive, free to our family is always good.

L and Connor are very very very independent children.  They need no one and no body.  That personality will make the transition easier.  As long as Caleb has mama, he is fine.

10 hours per week of free-to-our-family child care at the Child Development Center.  I am so grateful to have a bit of free childcare!  That means I will have time to grocery shop and run errands all by myself!!!

The friends we have here in Okinawa are amazing!

Just a few of the good things to be thankful for!  Have a good day!