My New Normal

Well, this week will be about my new normal.  Can I just say that I am not a fan?  I really, really, do not like this at all.  But there is zero that I can do about it.  I went to the bank today to take care of something for my son; and as I explained to the banker, he said that he would remember Josh in his prayers.  Hmmm.  I thought that was really nice, and a gift from God. 

Yes, prayers are the only thing that is going to keep me going.  Yesterday at church, so many people came up to me to say they would be praying for my son, and for us.  So many hugs, kisses, tears.  It was amazing and very, very appreciated! 

Really Bad!

Wow, I am really bad at this photo a day blog.  So I thought what I would do is to maybe do one post a week; and include pictures from the week.  Maybe not exactly what the whole thing is about; but if the idea is to have a photo blog of the year, it will certainly serve that purpose.

EDITED TO ADD:  Boy, it's hard (at least for me) to add a bunch of pictures.  Oh...wait...I'm going to try one more thing before I go to plan B.  I sure hope it works. 

EDIT #2: It worked!!!  So excited!

This week has been a weird one.  We have gone thru it with the knowledge that our son will be leaving at some point.  We weren't really sure when, we thought it was Friday morning.  But late on Thursday, we got the word that he would actually be leaving on Sunday!  So we got a couple extra days! 

Monday was a sad day for our church family.  A young couple had a memorial service for a baby they lost through a miscarriage.  I went to the graveside service; and it was very touching, but also very sad.  I didn't go to Bible study; as I wanted to spend time with my son. 

Tuesday was spent trying to get a new insurance policy for our home and our car.  And almost dying at the price increase over last year; and wondering how we are going to pay for it.  Thank goodness, God is in control of providing for us.  



Josh at lunch

 Early Wednesday morning, I found out that my niece and her husband were going to be on TV!  They were outside the studio where the Today show is broadcast.  I saw them as the camera panned the crowd outside.  Then I got a text from my sister-in-law saying that my niece was going to be on the Kathy Lee & Hoda show.  So I waited around to see that.  I actually video'ed it using my iPhone.  Pretty neat!   Then my son and I went and got some legal documents signed and notarized.  I hope these will help when he is deployed - I can take care of any situation that comes up; or at least I hope so.  He took me out to lunch at a coffee shop in Edmond, Java Dave's.  It was pretty good.  But it was wonderful to spend time with him.  The weather was gorgeous, warm and breezy!  I wished I didn't have to go to work, I just wanted to hang out with Josh.



Josh and Pastor Ken



But he came to church.  And he looked really handsome, if I do say so myself.  The pastor and elders prayed over him; and after the Bible study we had cake for him. 



Cake for Josh





Jerry and Dan at church


We have a great church family.

My last day at work for the week was Thursday.  I enjoy my job very much; but I'm always glad for the end of the week.  At this point, we still didn't know exactly when he would be leaving, so it was a kinda sad day.  I made tacos for dinner, and both sons came over to hang out.  We watched our current favorite TV show and hung out.  And then we found out that he would be leaving Sunday for training.  He spent the night because he had all his gear here; and it was just easier for him to load it once.



Cardinal outside my window


Friday is my day off work.  I love my Fridays.  This little guy was outside my front window - hopping from the roof to the nearby tree.  I actually was able to snap a picture of him, and even had time to grab the other camera.  I love cardinals - they are so beautiful.  When I see them, it always reminds me of Matthew 6:25-34 - "Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?  Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?  “So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin;  and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.  Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?  “Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’  For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.  But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.  Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble."  I have to remind myself of that verse more often than I would like!

I went to pick Josh up this afternoon, and we went to Tinker.  He had to pick up a few things, and I was in heaven, being on an Air Force base again.  I was in the AF many years ago; consider it one of the best things I did in my life and sometimes miss it.  I love all things military; well, except for deployments, that is.  But I couldn't be prouder of the young (and old) service men and women who serve our country.

This pic was snapped as we drove along the highway. That's why part of the plane is cut off.  Josh told me it would probably be best if I didn't take pictures once we got on the base.  (darn it!)

After getting what Josh needed, we went to my favorite grocery store to pick up stuff for dinner.  I decided to grill steaks (well, actually, I volunteered my husband); made potatoes, steamed broccoli, and salad.  It was all very good.  Apparently, Crest was having their semi-annual or annual "monster" of a sale.  And so I had to take that picture!

Well, that about covers it for this week.  Tomorrow, my husband will be going to a retreat, Josh will be at the armory, and I'll be home alone.  I'm really not looking forward to tomorrow night and Sunday; for that is when Josh will be leaving.  

Not sure what the pics for next week will be about.  Will be interesting!!  

Heart Wrenching Ceremony

Well, I made it through the ceremony today.  Barely.  My husband and I walked down from the parking lot. I saw the American flags and a bunch of what looked like vets standing by the buses and watching everyone walked in.  At first, I wasn't sure who they were, but my husband said they were there to protect us from any crazies (i.e. from the Westboro Church).  I was so grateful for them. 

We got in the Ford Center, and when we got to our seats, I looked around and I swear, about half the Center was soldiers.  The paper said that 3200 soldiers are part of this deployment - and I just about lost it then.  Oh.my.goodness. 

Once the ceremony started, they played a video called "Citizen Soldier". I couldn't really see it because we sat basically right underneath the jumbotron.  I did catch bits and pieces though, and honestly, I was glad that I couldn't see it all.  I loved the music, just not the pictures so much. 

Many dignitaries gave speeches, and it seemed like it was basically the same thing that was said.  Through the whole thing, I wanted to just break down and cry.  Cry hysterically, I might add.  I do not want my son to go next week. 

My only hope in getting through this next year is knowing that the Lord is in control.  And that He loves me; and will be there to help me.  If I didn't have that certain knowledge....well, I just don't know what I'd do. 

Going Away Ceremony

Tomorrow, I am going to a going away ceremony.  Not really looking forward to it; as my son will be deployed the following week to Afghanistan.  Not a fan.at.all.

So my son transferred from VA to OK National Guard.  He knew that he would more than likely be deployed one way or the other.  But we never expected it to be this soon.  He signed in at the end of November, at which time, he was told that his unit was deploying in February.  He had just started his new job. 

Tomorrow, like I said, is their going away ceremony.  My pastor sent out a church wide email today informing everyone in the church of the ceremony.  A bit later, I received this in my email.  I thought this was appropriate for my picture of the day. 

What a wonderful card!  Thanks, BBFF, love you too!  I hope you don't mind me putting it on here, but I wanted to always have a record of it. 

V-Day!

Today is Valentine's Day.  After I went to the doctor, came home and did some billing for our small company, I went into work at church.  This is what greeted me as I went into my office.

Of course, the best Valentine's Day present is the gift of eternal life offered to us through Jesus Christ our Savior!

Sunny in the OKC!

Today was a glorious day - especially after the last two weeks and two blizzards!  This temp was at 5:30 in the afternoon, I took this picture as I was grilling some hamburgers and hot links (which turned out to be too hot!) for dinner. 

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This is all the snow that is left after the last two weeks of blizzards.  Snow covered my front yard as well as the street.  This little snow pile here was almost 5 feet tall last Wednesday morning! 

Ties, Ties, Everywhere are Ties

So today, I went to the mall with my two sons.  The oldest, wanted to find a power shirt and tie.  We went to all the major dept. stores - Macy's, Penney's, Sears, Dillard's.  We couldn't find exactly what he was looking for, but had a lot of fun looking at shirts and ties. 

I love this shirt and tie combo!  Think it's very snazzy. 



I liked this tie with the paisley and the little hints of blue.  My son didn't like it so much though. 

It was a fun time to hang out with my sons!





I Heart Valentine's Day!

So, I know some people don't care for Valentine's Day - I guess it depends on where a person is in life.  If you are not in a satisying romantic relationship, I can see where Valentine's Day wouldn't be your favorite. 

But, the fact of the matter is, I am in a satisfying relationship.  And I don't say that to brag, just as a matter of truth.  I try not to take it for granted, because I know all too well that things can change on a dime.  So...just like I strive to be as loving and gentle to my spouse, I refuse to deny it for the sake of others who aren't in my position.  I don't want to flaunt it in their face, but...I cannot just pretend that my husband and I are just friends either. 

Oh dear, I don't know if this makes sense; or sounds much more insensitive than what I actually am. 

Truth be known, my husband and I have not always had the best marriage.  We've had our ups and downs, our times when one of the other of us felt like, "And, just why am I staying with him/her?"  Believe me, we have.  But we have just pushed on through those feelings...it was hard for me, really hard for me at one point to do so. 

I am now some years past that, and I can say that I am so glad I stayed around, that I stuck it out.   So in celebration of Valentine's Day, last night my husband and I made this bouquet of "roses" for my friends. 

And here is a picture of Kirby the cat, well, just because.  He is such a good cat. 

Have Missed a Few Days!

Well, with my daughter in town I didn't update as I planned to.  She's been gone now for over a week; and I still didn't get in the groove again.  Hopefully, now, I will be back.  I like the idea of doing this, as it will be a photo journal of our year.

We had a great time together, my daughter and I.  Too short.  The first day we went to eat at Big Truck Tacos, and everything was delicious, except for smelling like a giant taco for the rest of the day!  My son joined us for lunch.  Then we all went to the mall to hang out.  My daughter did some shopping - no surprise there, LOL; but in her defense, it was more productive and fun for her to go shopping without her three kids!

Saturday, we went out to lunch at Inspirations Tea Room - had a very nice salad, delicious tea (some sort of tropical), banana nut scones with lemon curd!  And, tomato basil soup that was to die for!   The whole lunch was extremely delicious.  We went and got a treat at Gigi's Cupcakes; had a pedi, came home just in time for our biweekly Bible study.  After Bible study, we talked to one of my friends about some big changes in her life; and stayed up too late!

Sunday, after church, we went to Abels for another Mexican meal.  We had to compare Big Truck Tacos to Abels; and discovered that is like comparing apples and oranges.  Abels was very good though.  (and no taco smell for the rest of the day, LOL!)  After dropping off my husband at home, we went to Michaels to look around.  We found some goodies in the dollar bin there, including a blue bird candle.  We both discovered that we love birds (even though I liked them first).   Later that afternoon or evening, we watched "Temple Grandin" - a great movie which my daughter enjoyed.  The rest of time was just down time, since my daughter had to leave very early the next morning.  In between our excursions out, my daughter introduced us to the TV show "Glee" which for the most part, was fun to watch.

So here are some pictures from the last week or so; and from today.

 Our two dogs playing tug of war.

 My son and daughter playing video games.

 Playing video games again.  This is the son who will be deploying to Afghanistan later this month.  :(

 Our back patio area this morning after most of the storm hit.  Yes, I think that plant is dead and needs to be disposed of.

 View out the front door.

I took this shot to show that the snow is still falling; and the wind is blowing.

So for the rest of the day, I hope to be safe and warm in my house.  Thank goodness we haven't lost power.