Cozy Feeling

I am at home for the week, between visit to family for all the holidays. I had a wonderful visit with my family over Thanksgiving and I am looking forward to my visit with Steve's parents for Christmas. Yet I am SO glad to be in my own little home for a few days. Tonight it finally dropped below fifty degrees and it was very blustery outside so the kids and I decided it was soup kinda weather. I made Chicken Tortilla Soup with Quesadillas, and for dessert I made muffins:)

So as for the title of my post:Tonight after dinner, but before the muffins were done I went to my outdoor storage area to rummage through the Christmas stuff for my kids Christmas DVDs. While out there the wind was whipping, so I hurried and grabbed the rubbermaid and headed back inside. When I stepped in my kitchen I was just hit with a sudden wave of coziness! The house smelled good like cooking and baking, the heat was humming and my kids were laughing. Really if that's all I get for Christmas I think I could be pretty satisfied with it. Of course Steve and I snuggling up together watching Home Alone would be better, but a girl will take what the Army will give her:)

Hope you Have a Cozy Christmas Season!

I'm Ok, just Busy!

I know I haven't posted in awhile, and while I still really don't have to much to post on I didn't want anyone to worry! I have just been really busy. A friend of mine moved this week and I helped her out with that. I have been spending a lot of time with my friend Anna which is kinda a retreat for me because our kids adore each other, and she always feeds me:) I am trying to plan a yardsale for this weekend, and then I get to count the days till Clare comes next week! SO between that and just trying to keep up with the house and the usual errands I haven't to much exciting going on to post about.

I have talked to Steve quite a few times and he seems to be doing fairly well. Keeping so busy helps him and I to whittle the days away. So if my post are few and far between just assume I am traveling or am busy trying to keep busy so the days will pass. Thanks for all your thoughts and prayers-keep 'em coming!

$2.13

So I figured since I am always jealous of all the little mentions of fall like weather I needed to make myself feel better about living in Texas. So here is what I came up with: $2.13, that is how much a gallon of unleaded fuel is right now. So while our coolest day yet may be a sunny 68, I paid a paltry 38 dollars to fill up my mini van! So I guess according to my budget I should never move, but according to my heart I would love to live in Spokane! It has been thrilling though to watch the price drop. I promised Steve that if it dropped under $2 I would take a picture of the sign and post it for him. So be on the look out, gas has been dropping here at a rate of at least a penny a day!

FYI

Ok so after much contemplation I finally thought of 6 things that most people wouldn't know about me but that I wouldn't be to embarrassed to admit.
The are in know particular order of importance or insanity:

1) I relieve stress by rearranging the furniture in my house. I just redid the living room and dining room this week, if you would like proof of the validity of this statement. This particular habit came into play the night before Gillyan was born and I took upon myself to rearrange our entire living quarters:)
2)I absolutely abhor talking on the phone! Especially if someone calls for no particular reason, they just "want to chat". It isn't that I don't want to keep up with you or all your going ons. I just prefer them in writtern form (blog, email, SOS whatever!) So please don't take it personal when I don't answer your calls, just leave me a message and if it is valid I will call you back:)
3) I am beyond Obessive Compulsive about matching. I am not talking just colors, I am discussing all aspects. Here are few examples- All spices in my cupboard are McComick brand, I won't buy anthing else. All cereal in my pantry must be by the same Manufactor, say I bought Cherrios this pay period, that would mean all other cereals in the pantry must be General Mills. This one is a great source of stress to my husband! Another example that isn't food is clothing, especially the childrens. I want the outfit they put on for the day to be all one brand, say Oshkosh, or Sonoma, or even Target. It just must all come from the same place.
Even my house some what follows this theme. All the rooms in my house (except the childrens) are either a color scheme of Black and neutrals, or a blend of Red, Green & Cream. The last peek in to my disorder is my need to have even my toothpaste be the same brand as my toothbrush. There now you know my deep dark secret!
4) I prefer things in even amounts, odd numbers are for odd people:) Even are kids hopefully will end up in even amounts. We would like 4. That number was arrived at by a little division. Steve is 1 of 2 children, I am 1 of 8. Four seemed like a fair amount:)
5) Salty over Sweet. If you want to tempt me off a diet offer me popcorn or chips (especially if there is dip!). I do enjoy dessert, but I would forgo it for another helping of mashed potatoes!
6)I always wanted a different name. Growing up I dreamed my last name would be Williams( I was to young to realize who that would reflect!) I am more than blessed though to have married a man with such a terrific last name and can't think of any better.I also always adored the first name Amy and would probably have changed my name to that if it weren't such a hassle!

OK, so now that you know not to call me and that I secretly go by Amy, you can come to my house and mis match my Tide detergent with Bounce softner to really drive me crazy!

Every Moment

This week has been a roller coaster of emotions as we truly begin the countdown for Steve's departure. I think my sister wrote about this when her husband left, but I wanted to reiterate it. How sad it is that when we begin to count down the moments and day, is usually the only time we decide to make moments "count". I wish it weren't so, I wish I could look at everyday as if it were a countdown to a separation. But so often I just get caught up in surviving, that I forget to see the beauty that is routine in my life.

My sister Clare and I have made an unofficial pact over our hubbies deployments to not only survive but to THRIVE. Does this mean that we won't cry, or that some days wish that we were the one thousands of miles away? NO! However we are going to make a dedicated effort to make each day count, not just count the days:) Not only for our own sakes but for of our kids. Please pray for us as we work on this all year.Bear with us as we have down days, and remember to send us your happy thoughts to brighten the boring days. We love all of you and couldn't even consider doing this with out the network that is our family and friends.

Steven Curtis Chapman has this song called Miracle of the Moment if you have it or can figure out how to listen to it on line for free please do it and think of me. I cried about this song the other day, not that it takes much lately to make me cry however I found it so fitting. Here is a link for a youtube video that plays the song http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rResKXjKqjQ I suggest cutting and pasting it into your browser bar, But I am including the lyrics incase like me you are electronically challenged and can't watch it:)

It's time for letting go
All of our "if onlies"
Cause we don't have a time machine

And even if we did
Would we really want to use it
Would we really want to go change everything

Cause we are who and where and what we are for now
And this is the only moment we can do anything about

Chorus:
So breathe it in and breathe it out
And listen to your heartbeat
There's a wonder in the here and now
It's right there in front of you
And I don't want you to miss the miracle of the moment

There's only One who knows
What's really out there waiting
And all the moments yet to be
And all we need to know
Is He's out there waiting
To Him the future's history

And He has given us a treasure called right now
And this is the only moment we can do anything about

[Chorus]

And if it brings you tears
Then taste them as they fall
Let them soften your heart

And if it brings you laughter
Then throw your head back
And let it go
Let it go, yeah
You gotta let it go

And listen to your heartbeat

[Chorus]

And breathe it in and breathe it out
And listen to your heartbeat
There's a wonder in the here and now (here and now)
It's right there in front of you
And I don't want you to miss the miracle
Of the moment

Tooth Video/Pics

Photobucket Album

Gilly Loses her 1st Tooth

Gillyan officially turned 6 this month, see earlier blog, and just proceeded to lose her first tooth yesterday! It was big stuff for the whole family, her dad especially was glad to get a chance to be part of it before he leaves. So I have included a video clip ( a really BAD video clip) or the short experience and a few shots of Gilly before and after the big event.

Rain Rain DON"T Go Away

It's raining here, not just a drizzle and not sheets. A very pleasant steady rain. Here in the beloved state of Texas that seems to be as close to fall as we can manage, no matter that the temp is still 74 degrees! So while some may be grousing that it is yucky and dreary outside, I will gladly take the rain. Here in my house with the AC on AND the window open, I can close my eyes and pretend that it is fall outside. So I think I will go start a pot of chili and whip up some pumpkin cookies, cause what says fall more than those two thing?!
Here is a Pic of my front garden getting some much needed rain:)



P.S. My online devotion today was on rain, I found it so fitting I wanted to share it with you.
http://proverbs31devotions.blogspot.com/