Academy Reunion

My husband and I are going away together for the weekend. Our summer was so busy and he traveled for most of it so we haven't had an opportunity to spent any alone time together.

We are heading for Annapolis Maryland first thing in the morning on Friday.

Our weekend is full of reunion gatherings and get together.

It's always so much fun to see people that we haven't in years, hear the "good ole days" stories and just relax with each other. My husband graduated from the Naval Academy many years ago. I must admit that I love a man in uniform! I love going to the Ball with my naval officer all dressed up in his dress uniforms and medals gleaming against his chest.

We will be attending many events throughout the weekend but my favorite is the tailgating and football game!

His year group goes all out and the catered event is amazing. You can literally graze the day away with the endless buffet.

After the game, we will attend a party and end the night with close friends.

Sunday morning we will attend a service, enjoy brunch, finish up any shopping ,and head for Connecticut.

Monday morning my naval officer heads back out to sea for a short "cruise."

we just got word that John McCain will be their for his reunion as well.

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United We Stand

God Bless the United States

of America!

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Awareness

Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month

A mere fourteen years ago, I lost my mother to Ovarian Cancer. She was a very young 51 years old.

Some days it seems like only yesterday, others, a life time ago.

My mother was always on the go 24 hours a day. She worked 50+ hours a week

in the education field and loved every minute!

Growing up we always had home cooked meals and fresh baked goods in our lunches. She did not believe in prepackaged items, they simply weren't healthy. We always had a garden and from that she would can or freeze her crop. I have no idea where she got all her energy.

Our home was spotless without any enlisted services. My brother and I were excepted to accomplish the outlined tasks on a daily and weekly basis.

I like to take pride in my organization skills which I quickly give credit to my parents for teaching me. It is a very valuable tool. However, compared to my mother, I fall a little short.

Family always came first in her life no matter how busy she was or what deadline was looming. She came to every one of my swimming meets regardless of the city or state they were hosted. In the 11years I swam, she didn't miss a single meet. Even though she was small in stature, she made up for it in her encouraging voice from the stands. The same holds true for my brother, she could always been seen on the sidelines of the soccer field cheering for her son.

My mother and father had a marriage that was amazingly strong. Both were very involved in the community. If one or the other took on a new project, you would find the other right beside helping.

Each day ended at the dinner table as a family. Some nights this may be as late as 8pm since my father was the varsity soccer coach at the high school, and my brother was on the team as well. Regardless of the time, it was our family time to hear about each others days.

Sadly, my mother was diagnosed with Ovarian cancer and three weeks later, it took her life. By the time they found it, the cancer had invaded a large portion of her body. It is called the silent killer for a reason.

I have so missed sharing my life with her.

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Just a Little Giggle ~ Update

I just wanted to let you all know that I received a sweet little bouquet of flowers, and a beautiful handmade card from my little hair critic.

Please understand that one thing I find so endearing (most days) is the true honesty of children. I think it is fabulous that they have their own thoughts, visions and prior knowledge that forms their decisions.

I love to just sit and talk with them about their ideas and how they came up with them. If you just listen to them, you learn SO much!

This little guy was just being honest. He doesn't care for the length of my current hair style. I can accept that. After all, I was the one that asked for his opinion.

Being the fabulous mother that she is, she spoke with her son after school. After their talk, he felt badly because he didn't want to hurt my feelings so he made me the most adorable card and picked out the flowers himself!

I did share with the mother about the child a few years ago who asked me why I wore my pajamas to school! So much for thinking I looked good in my new April Cornell outfit! : )

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Just a Little Giggle

Wednesday afternoon I had my regularly scheduled hair cut and highlight appointment.

With the fall season here (except that it was 90 yesterday and a repeat on it's way today) I decided that I wanted a little change.

I asked my amazing fairy godmother (somehow, she always manages to make my hair look amazing) to take 6 inches off and add a few extra layers.

I left feeling like a new woman and a few pounds lighter!

Yesterday morning, I went out to get my students a few minutes early just to chat with them before the bell rang.

One of my little sweeties quickly noticed that my hair was different and commented on it.

Little guy ~ Mrs. .... did you get your hair cut?

Me ~ Yes I did, what do you think (should never have asked this!)

Little guy ~ umm I don't think it looks so good, you should go back and get it uncut

Me ~ I don't think I can do that

Little guy ~ well, I guess you'll have to get a wig like my grandma

Ya just gotta love their honesty!

The best part was the look of mortification on his mother's face!

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Good People

Our family is so lucky to have good people in our lives. We have many friends that we enjoy sharing our lives with. One bonus of being in a military family, is the ability to meet so many people from different walks of life. I've had the pleasure over the years of meeting people from almost every state in the United States.

Over the holiday weekend we had our friends over that are to the core, good people. What you see is what you get.

Our neighbors across the street from us are amazing! It never fails, the minute my husband leaves, something breaks. It worked perfectly fine until he pulled out of the state. This summer it was the riding lawn mower, and burrowing bees (that was a lot of fun!). Last winter it was the snow blower and so on, you get the idea. Without a second thought, our neighbor is walking up the drive asking what is wrong and the options available to fix or replace. His wife is just as sweet.

We had two other families here as well. They are both military families. My dear friend's husband is currently deployed. They have two adorable sons that make me giggle each time I see them. I can do this because I've already lived (and survived) these stages in children. We have so much in common and truly enjoy just spending time together. She would go to any length to help me if I were in need and the same is true on my part.

Our other friends have children closer in age to ours. I must admit when my hands are in the air, I call this friend. She is a good woman with such a calm soul. I am slightly on the other side of the spectrum. : ) Within minutes she has me calm, level headed and ready to handle the situation. Our husbands get along wonderfully and have much in common.

When we are with these families, we can relax and just be us.

They are good people, what you see is what you get.

Last Sunday we had them all over to our home. What a fabulous way to end the summer.

I cooked a turkey on the grill. We stuff it with fresh herbs and baste it in herb butter and beer or wine. If you've never had a turkey this way, you really should try it.

As the sun went down we had a fire and of course, smores.

My favorite is chocolate graham crackers, white chocolate and blackberry preserves ~ yummy!

It was a lovely day with dear friends!

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Routines

I function much better when I have an established routine. One that that is followed daily or weekly. If this comfortable balance is shifted, I find that I can't concentrate or focus let alone accomplish tasks at hand. This is not to say that I fall apart and need therapy (well, maybe but just a little).

This school year is completely different for me, it is unlike any that I've had for the past 13 years. My son started his freshman year at UNC. He is my early riser (yes, I know, odd for a boy) and seemed to get the family moving in the morning. You could hear him singing in the shower, razzing his sister, then thumping down the stairs for breakfast. If he was in a really good mood, he'd start the coffee for my husband and I. When he and his sister left for school he'd yell up the stairs bye mom, have fun with your kids today.

I SO miss that!

It's much quieter around here now. Rather than sharing the days "drama" with her brother on the ride home, I've become the listening ear. I use to just get the highlights by the time I got home. This was the shorter version lasting only 45min to an hour. You know us girls, we can't leave a single detail out, and if we do, we must began again! Now I get every painful detail which sees us through prepping for dinner, through the meal and possibly the clean up as well. What's really funny (in a not so funny way) is the fact that what my teenage daughter is dealing with in high school, is some of the same nonsense that I hear from teachers that I work with, and they are adults! I've noticed that my daughter seems to be going through something of the same as I am. She has commented on how different it is at school and around our home without her brother. I would often find the two of them talking, sharing advice and laughing in the family room watching a show or movie together.

It's taken me much longer than I would have imagined to find my routine, rise out of my funk, and get on with life.

I think I'm back!

School is back in session for me, my daughter has begun her Junior year, my son is happy in North Carolina, and my husband is gearing up for yet another trip.

I have my new daily and weekly routines established, my calendar is in full swing, and finally I feel normal.

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