September 5
Today was a tale of two nights. My day started off as normal. Mainly it was a day to remember how happy and lucky I am to be married to Jenn. Two years ago today she became my wife. Since we met, there has never been a question about her and I being made for each other. We enjoy being together no matter what we are doing including doing nothing. We rarely argue, but when we do it is never with cruel intent. Most of our arguments end with us laughing or with her telling me “frying pan” which came from a day when she told me she felt like hitting me with a frying pan. Our lives were made even better with the arrival of Emma. I never thought I could have a life so filled with joy and love. Jenn truly makes me feel like the luckiest man in the world!
One thing that Jenn is very good at is making me do things I should do. Tonight while we were talking on the phone there was a knock on my door. It was the Major that lives next door. He was asking me if I was going to a music night they were having on base. I told him I had already changed out of my uniform, was talking to my wife, and then heading to bed. Jenn asked who had come to the door, so I filled her in. Her response was to tell me to get dressed and go, because I should show support for stuff. She mentioned that I had previously mentioned how no one goes to things here and now she was making me do the right thing and go. So I got dressed and headed out.
This is when the night changed. I arrived at the music night and there was a delay. Sadly the reason for the delay was that they needed to take the speaker equipment to use for a ceremony. The ceremony was for an American civilian that was killed today at another FOB. They cancelled the movie night, but I remembered what Jenn said about needing to support the important stuff. So I headed out to the helicopter landing zone for the ceremony. This was a powerful event.
We lined up in formation along the side of the landing zone in complete darkness. The only light was the glow of light sticks to mark the landing zone. Over the speaker they said a few words about the man that passed. He was originally from Afghanistan and had moved to the USA when he was a child. When this war kicked off he volunteered to come back and help. He had gone on several missions and according to the speaker was “an invaluable part of their mission.” He was one of several people hit by a mortar. I don’t know the status of the others. Due to his connection with Afghanistan another speaker got on the microphone and said a prayer in their native language. They then played the national anthem. We all saluted and then felt the wind pick up. A helicopter came from the darkness and landed feet from us. As it landed, a pickup truck with the coffin approached followed by a group to transport the coffin to the helicopter. We held our salutes for what seemed like forever. But every time my arm got sore I thought about the pain his family was going to feel and I held the salute high and strong. The wind picked up and the helicopter took off.
I always hear on the news about how these civilian contractors make tons of money and even rip off the government. This man and the others injured/killed today were just doing their job. They were most likely sitting in their room maybe even talking to their wives (just like I was today). We gave this civilian the same honors we give to a fallen soldier and he deserves it. These civilians risk as much as we do and are many times forgotten.
Monday, December 19, 2011
Saturday, December 17, 2011
Happiness Today
Happiness today was reading our daddy book (the recordable story my husband...well, recorded...before he left for Afghanistan) and watching Em shriek with laughter every time she heard dada's voice.
Happiness today was watching my daughter frantically low crawl towards the computer every time I put it on the floor while we were skyping with daughter. And little girl could probably give an actual soldier a run for his/her money in the low crawl department.
Happiness today was leaving Em with her grandma while I went to the Y, sat in the hot tub, read my Nook (Nora Roberts anyone), and then went in the steam room. Yes, I only use my Y membership for the hot tub, pool, and locker room amenities. Don't judge me.
Happiness today is knowing my sister will be here Thursday.
Happiness today is knowing my husband will be home in 23 days! Yes, I said 23 days. Let me say it again. 23 days. That is 2 more days than 3 weeks! Less than a month! A period of time that will go by amazingly fast because of the holidays and packing and driving back to New England.
Happiness.
Happiness today was watching my daughter frantically low crawl towards the computer every time I put it on the floor while we were skyping with daughter. And little girl could probably give an actual soldier a run for his/her money in the low crawl department.
Happiness today was leaving Em with her grandma while I went to the Y, sat in the hot tub, read my Nook (Nora Roberts anyone), and then went in the steam room. Yes, I only use my Y membership for the hot tub, pool, and locker room amenities. Don't judge me.
Happiness today is knowing my sister will be here Thursday.
Happiness today is knowing my husband will be home in 23 days! Yes, I said 23 days. Let me say it again. 23 days. That is 2 more days than 3 weeks! Less than a month! A period of time that will go by amazingly fast because of the holidays and packing and driving back to New England.
Happiness.
Friday, December 16, 2011
Blood Test Fail
Since I am blessed to be married to someone in the military and thus blessed to have excellent health insurance you best believe I take full advantage of that. I have been to the doctor more in the last 2 months in Florida than I have been the entire 2 years we've lived in New England. In my defense I have been sick. Both baby and I have fought terrible upper respiratory infections and she also had an ear infection. 2 rounds of antibiotics a piece and steroids for me and I finally thought we were better! Alas I appear to be sick...again. At first I thought maybe I had developed some kind of allergy to the Christmas tree we just bought because my symptoms started the same night we bought the tree home. I've been taking allegra and using the NeillMed sinus rinse, but I seem to be getting worse and not better. Ugh! I can NOT do another round of antibiotics!
I digress. Anyways as part of my excellent health insurance my pcp asked if I wanted to have my cholesterol, etc checked and I convinced him that I may have a thyroid problem and he should check (without telling him that I've had my thyroid checked before, it's always normal, and that I consistently gain weight because I am beyond a terrible eater--literally the only vegetables I've had over the last 2 days have come in the form of chicken Caesar salad and the only fruit I had was a slice of pumpkin bread from Starbucks and some lemon in my ice tea. I told you BEYOND terrible).
So I go in for my blood test today. It's a fasting blood test so it's 9am and I have had nothing to eat or drink yet. It must've been casual Friday because the nurse had on jeans and flip flops (PSA if you wear flip flops make sure your toes aren't fugly looking. Bare toenails are okay, but half painted chipped nails are not). She puts the rubber thing on my arm and starts looking for a vein. She keeps pressing in the center of my elbow crook and I finally tell her that they usually use the vein slightly to the side. One thing you don't want to hear your nurse saying as she gets ready to shove a needle in your arm is "Your veins are just so small." Repeatedly. As in over and over. The first try was a prick and a miss. The needles in my arm, but she totally misses the vein. Oops.
Move on over to the left arm. Rubber thing on, pressing around looking for a vein. Again, I point out the vein slightly to the side and offer up that they usually use a butterfly needle. She asks if I've ever had blood drawn from my hand. Really? We're going there? She asks if that's ok. What am I going to say? No. The butterfly needle goes into my hand, blood starts to flow into the tubing, and then nothing. Her response, "What happened to the blood? Where did it go?"
So it's back over to the right arm and I kindly say to her, "If you want to get someone else I promise I won't judge you." Cause seriously who wants to be covered in bandaids from a simple blood test. She laughs and says unfortunately there isn't anyone else. The pediatric nurse apparently does even less blood draws than she does and the other choice is my actual PCP who probably hasn't done one since med school.
The next tool she pulls out is to put the blood pressure cuff on my arm and inflate it as much as possible. This time she actually hits the vein AND gets blood out. During all this I have to say, "Um, my hand is falling asleep" at which point she looks down and notices that my hand is, in fact, turning purple. "Oops your hand is turning purple," as she laughs. Oh lordy.
Finally we are done and I immediately drive to Starbucks for a breakfast sandwich (hello bacon & gouda I love you) and a venti decaf nonfat mocha with whip cream. Delic!
So we shall see....nothing I'm sure....
I guess I'll have to give up my dream of a thyroid problem as excuse for my weigh gain and move on to my goal of being on The Biggest Loser. Sigh...
I digress. Anyways as part of my excellent health insurance my pcp asked if I wanted to have my cholesterol, etc checked and I convinced him that I may have a thyroid problem and he should check (without telling him that I've had my thyroid checked before, it's always normal, and that I consistently gain weight because I am beyond a terrible eater--literally the only vegetables I've had over the last 2 days have come in the form of chicken Caesar salad and the only fruit I had was a slice of pumpkin bread from Starbucks and some lemon in my ice tea. I told you BEYOND terrible).
So I go in for my blood test today. It's a fasting blood test so it's 9am and I have had nothing to eat or drink yet. It must've been casual Friday because the nurse had on jeans and flip flops (PSA if you wear flip flops make sure your toes aren't fugly looking. Bare toenails are okay, but half painted chipped nails are not). She puts the rubber thing on my arm and starts looking for a vein. She keeps pressing in the center of my elbow crook and I finally tell her that they usually use the vein slightly to the side. One thing you don't want to hear your nurse saying as she gets ready to shove a needle in your arm is "Your veins are just so small." Repeatedly. As in over and over. The first try was a prick and a miss. The needles in my arm, but she totally misses the vein. Oops.
Move on over to the left arm. Rubber thing on, pressing around looking for a vein. Again, I point out the vein slightly to the side and offer up that they usually use a butterfly needle. She asks if I've ever had blood drawn from my hand. Really? We're going there? She asks if that's ok. What am I going to say? No. The butterfly needle goes into my hand, blood starts to flow into the tubing, and then nothing. Her response, "What happened to the blood? Where did it go?"
So it's back over to the right arm and I kindly say to her, "If you want to get someone else I promise I won't judge you." Cause seriously who wants to be covered in bandaids from a simple blood test. She laughs and says unfortunately there isn't anyone else. The pediatric nurse apparently does even less blood draws than she does and the other choice is my actual PCP who probably hasn't done one since med school.
The next tool she pulls out is to put the blood pressure cuff on my arm and inflate it as much as possible. This time she actually hits the vein AND gets blood out. During all this I have to say, "Um, my hand is falling asleep" at which point she looks down and notices that my hand is, in fact, turning purple. "Oops your hand is turning purple," as she laughs. Oh lordy.
Finally we are done and I immediately drive to Starbucks for a breakfast sandwich (hello bacon & gouda I love you) and a venti decaf nonfat mocha with whip cream. Delic!
So we shall see....nothing I'm sure....
I guess I'll have to give up my dream of a thyroid problem as excuse for my weigh gain and move on to my goal of being on The Biggest Loser. Sigh...
Thursday, December 15, 2011
Christmas Letter
Hi,
Since I'm toolazy cheap busy to send out Christmas cards this year I decided to save some money time and do a Christmas blog post. Since I've also not been blogging as much this really kills 2 birds with 1 stone.
So Christmas Greetings to all my family (although I am pretty sure only my sister and 1 cousin actually read my blog), friends, and Internet strangers...Happy Holidays!
I could start off by telling you all the wonderful goals I met this year, how Igained lost 20 30lbs, how I couldn't get past week 1 of couch to 5k ran a half marathon, and how I spent saved a ton of money while Paul was deployed. I don't like to brag though so I won't write any of those things.
Yes, we all know that the traditional holiday letter is supposed to be filled with all the wonderful events that you and your overachieving children have accomplished during the year, but this family is A) not overachieving, B) procrastinators, and C) spent the 1st half of the year pregnant and/or with a newborn and the 2nd half of the year separated with Paul deployed to Afghanistan and mom and baby travelingthe eastern seaboard the world.
I guess our biggest news was that we had a baby! (as if anyone you'd send a holiday letter to wouldn't already know that) After agrueling-never been in this much pain in my life-why are you killing me peaceful and pain free 48 hours of failed induction, labor, and failed epidurals our beautiful Emma Grace arrived via emergency C-section.
So, our year was very much about survival. Paul's survival was a little more extreme has he traveled in helicopters around much of his region of Afghanistan (God bless those gunners on the helios for keeping a watchful eye out for terrorists and not allowing the helio my husband was in to be shot down Amen) while Em's and mine was more about surviving on our own--teething, a month+ long upper respiratory/ear infection that required 2 rounds of antibiotics each and steroids (for me) to finally get better (and now I'm sick again--I actually had the sad thought that maybe I was allergic to the Christmas tree we just bought as the 2 events seem to have coincided, but I refuse to have a fake tree so I will suffer), and missing our husband/father.
We missed out on a 5 days with no power blizzard that hit New England (God bless our house/pet sitters as they were freezing with no power I wassweating to death lazing on the beach in Florida). I am not sure how I would've handled that with Paul not there although I am sure there would've been a Ritz Carlton budget motel in the equation.
Em and I traveled to Buffalo, Dallas, Cape Cod, drove down to FL, Valdosta, Amelia Island, Savannah, and Orlando AND will make the drive back up north in just about 3 weeks! Hopefully stopping along the way to pick up Paul (because we know where he flew out of and are assuming he will fly back into the same place--if you know us at all you know how unlikely this is to happen, but we are nothing if not optimists).
Em is quite the social butterfly and is actually a pretty funny kid (thank God) and she is nosy as all get out. We will have to work on her staring at others while blatantly listening to their conversation as she gets older, but thankfully her mama is nosy, too, and so will teach her the fine art of eavesdropping.
I tried to give my chihuahua away to my sister, but I am such a great pet owner that he decided it wouldn't work out and is coming back to us. He let her know that he was unhappy by peeing all over her carpet. I told her that if she crates him when she leaves he is less likely to pee, but she felt bad (hello he's 10lbs and he's just gonna sleep while she's gone anyways--might as well sleep in the crate is how I look at it. Don't judge me. At my house the little dog crates are big enough that our 80lb boxer has squeezed into them--not on purpose or because I made her, but because she is that stupid).
In a nutshell that was our year. I am looking forward to seeing Paul, going on vacation, and getting home to our house and our life together. I miss my Air Force family and can't wait to meet baby Felicity! And I miss my nursing mother's group and can't wait to see the babies. Emma misses all her baby boyfriends.
Hope everyone has a fantastically wonderful Christmas and New Years! I promise next year to send out actual Christmas cards and of course the brag letter. :)
Much love,
Jenn, Paul, & Emma
Since I'm too
So Christmas Greetings to all my family (although I am pretty sure only my sister and 1 cousin actually read my blog), friends, and Internet strangers...Happy Holidays!
I could start off by telling you all the wonderful goals I met this year, how I
Yes, we all know that the traditional holiday letter is supposed to be filled with all the wonderful events that you and your overachieving children have accomplished during the year, but this family is A) not overachieving, B) procrastinators, and C) spent the 1st half of the year pregnant and/or with a newborn and the 2nd half of the year separated with Paul deployed to Afghanistan and mom and baby traveling
I guess our biggest news was that we had a baby! (as if anyone you'd send a holiday letter to wouldn't already know that) After a
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| Just before c-section |
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| Just after c-section (ps that's Paul, not the ob) |
We missed out on a 5 days with no power blizzard that hit New England (God bless our house/pet sitters as they were freezing with no power I was
Em and I traveled to Buffalo, Dallas, Cape Cod, drove down to FL, Valdosta, Amelia Island, Savannah, and Orlando AND will make the drive back up north in just about 3 weeks! Hopefully stopping along the way to pick up Paul (because we know where he flew out of and are assuming he will fly back into the same place--if you know us at all you know how unlikely this is to happen, but we are nothing if not optimists).
Em is quite the social butterfly and is actually a pretty funny kid (thank God) and she is nosy as all get out. We will have to work on her staring at others while blatantly listening to their conversation as she gets older, but thankfully her mama is nosy, too, and so will teach her the fine art of eavesdropping.
I tried to give my chihuahua away to my sister, but I am such a great pet owner that he decided it wouldn't work out and is coming back to us. He let her know that he was unhappy by peeing all over her carpet. I told her that if she crates him when she leaves he is less likely to pee, but she felt bad (hello he's 10lbs and he's just gonna sleep while she's gone anyways--might as well sleep in the crate is how I look at it. Don't judge me. At my house the little dog crates are big enough that our 80lb boxer has squeezed into them--not on purpose or because I made her, but because she is that stupid).
In a nutshell that was our year. I am looking forward to seeing Paul, going on vacation, and getting home to our house and our life together. I miss my Air Force family and can't wait to meet baby Felicity! And I miss my nursing mother's group and can't wait to see the babies. Emma misses all her baby boyfriends.
Hope everyone has a fantastically wonderful Christmas and New Years! I promise next year to send out actual Christmas cards and of course the brag letter. :)
Much love,
Jenn, Paul, & Emma
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
Old Friends
The countdown has begun. We have less than 30 days until Paul will be back in the US! Of course we are hoping with fingers crossed that he flies into the same city he flew out of because that is where I am planning on picking him up. lol With our luck he'll fly back into some totally random city and I'll be stuck driving from FL to New England with an infant by myself. Oh well. All the tears and crying (both Em's and mine) on the way home will be worth it to see my love. I feel like I'm starting to wake up after a long sleep. Of course part of that may be because Em is sleeping better and I actually got 7 hours of uninterrupted sleep in a row last night.
I think one of the best parts of my visit to Florida has been catching up with old friends...I'm talking people I haven't seen in over 15 years.
This is after many many martinis (mostly drunk by me and the precursor to my month long alcohol hiatus). We were band nerds in high school (although I don't consider myself a nerd and I will admit that I was the worst flag twirler ever). Michele--bad influence! She was the one who taught me how to smoke and convinced me to have sex in high school! And she's still a bad influence because she made me have a coke when I saw her over the weekend when I was trying to go a month without soda! Anyway, we had a great time catching up and realized we hadn't seen each other in 17 years! All of us are moms now which is so weird because when we were together it was like no time had passed at all. (And I apologize to Shayla for having to endure a drunken ride home with me. I blame Michele.)
Leah was my college roommate and by extension so was Ryan because they have been together that long. I love me some Leah and Ryan and always try to see them when I can. They were nice enough to drive over to our hotel in Orlando for a very lengthy dinner (because our waiter was so slow--he tried to convince us to get the buffet, but we didn't listen. Not winning). Em was not sure about Ryan at first (maybe too much resemblance to that mean Santa) and Leah's laugh scared her, but they quickly won her over with their charm and she was fast friends with them by the end of the night.
This is part of the group of friends I hung out with when I worked at the Y in college (missing was Mike and Tanya and Sam who had just left and Lisa who has a teething infant). I loved, loved, loved seeing these people with their kids and seeing what amazing parents they are (which is weird because we were drunk all the time in college). It was so much fun catching up and talking about all our craziness and laughing about the Y. When we were all hanging out Tracie's niece was an infant...she is now 15 years old! I can't believe how much time has gone by and how quickly life is moving. I probably hung out with these people more than any other group of people I knew during college (even more than my sorority sisters). To tell you how long we've known each other when we met Jacob and Gene were in high school and I was a freshman in college. I've been out of college since 1998.
I met these wonderful women (and our friend Nichelle) during new employee orientation at the school board. We are all social workers and it was love at first sight. At that time Alex was the only one married and none of us had kids. Having a baby playdate yesterday made me miss living here for the first time (not that I don't miss my other friends every day). There is something about spending time with good friends who have infants that speaks to my heart.
There have been so many more friends that we've spent time with since we've been in Florida that I either don't have pictures of or the pictures are on my phone. Em has made so many new friends in Florida. She is a lucky little girl. I can't believe we head home in roughly 3 weeks. I feel like there are so many people I haven't gotten to see yet. And I can't believe when we get home that we'll have an 11 month old! (Em was 4 months when Paul left) I just can't wait for him to re-meet his daughter and see in person how funny and wonderful she is (and not have to rely on skype). He is never going to put her down when he first gets home (which works out well for me because I'm tired and I don't want to hold during our flight to the Caribbean haha).
Hopefully everyone is enjoying their December and not letting the craziness of the holiday season ruin the reason for the season.
Merry Christmas!
I think one of the best parts of my visit to Florida has been catching up with old friends...I'm talking people I haven't seen in over 15 years.
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| Jo Ann, Cristin, Kyan, Shayla, Michele, Jenn |
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| Leah and Ryan with baby Emma |
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| Jacob, Jenn, Tracie, Gene |
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| I love this picture because Isabella and Emma are staring at each other |
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| Hailey, Alex, Isabella, Jenn, Emma, Lisa, Ryleigh (and just out of view was newborn baby Sydney) |
There have been so many more friends that we've spent time with since we've been in Florida that I either don't have pictures of or the pictures are on my phone. Em has made so many new friends in Florida. She is a lucky little girl. I can't believe we head home in roughly 3 weeks. I feel like there are so many people I haven't gotten to see yet. And I can't believe when we get home that we'll have an 11 month old! (Em was 4 months when Paul left) I just can't wait for him to re-meet his daughter and see in person how funny and wonderful she is (and not have to rely on skype). He is never going to put her down when he first gets home (which works out well for me because I'm tired and I don't want to hold during our flight to the Caribbean haha).
Hopefully everyone is enjoying their December and not letting the craziness of the holiday season ruin the reason for the season.
Merry Christmas!
Thursday, December 8, 2011
Another Adoption Miracle Needed
As I sit here typing this I am sobbing quietly (and by sobbing quietly I mean cannot stop crying hysterically). My heart is breaking for this poor little girl and if Paul gave me the okay I would be on the next plane overseas to get her. I cannot imagine, I cannot imagine any child living without love or care. How can anyone look at this beautiful, sad little face and not want to go get her, hug her, love her, feed her? So I am spreading the word, praying for a Christmas miracle for Kolina, praying that there is a family somewhere who is strong enough to fight for this sweet child. This is from the blog No Greater Joy Mom.
December 7, 2011
the gift of HOPE this Christmas
Sometimes words are just so terribly hard to find. Many times I feel like Moses when he cried out to the Lord, telling Him that He really was not very eloquent. I can totally relate!
This will be one of those posts--the kind where I struggle to put into words what is on my heart. Sometimes situations are such that no amount of words can do it justice. Trying to convey truth without crossing the ever-present boundaries regarding just how much to post is a challenge for me. I long for the whole world to know the truth and see the truth when it comes to the conditions in which children live in foreign orphanages. But it's a fine line--one I struggle to find.
Anyway.
It's Christmastime. Such a glorious time of the year as we celebrate the birth of our Savior. Families come together, gifts are given, praise is uttered to the Baby who was born so that we may have life, and life more abundant. Honestly though, Christmas is so different to me now compared to what it was even a few years ago. I am different. I just cannot help but allow my heart and my thoughts to drift to the millions of children around the world who will [still] be alone this Christmas. For most of them, there will be no gifts, no tree to decorate, no fancy meal...and no family. Again.
It will just be another day.
Once you have put a foot in the door of an orphanage where children are lined up in cribs by the dozens, where a staple diet consists of drinking cabbage water out of a bottle, and where no heating exists, well, Christmas takes on an entirely different look. It is no longer a time when we think of all that we can get--but rather what we can give. It becomes a time of being so thankful for the many gifts we have been given--not for the next best gadget or the latest have-to-have, but for the things that truly matter in this life--love, joy that bubbles over, laughter, warm embraces, acceptance, belonging. FAMILY!
This week the Lord led me to a little face. A face who, very sadly, will not even know that December 25 is a reason to celebrate. No, for this little face it will just be another day in paradise--lying in a crib, rarely touched, some kind of liquid diet to barely sustain her, drugs to induce "best sleep" 24 hours a day. I know all too well how it goes.
Allow me to introduce you to Kolina. The little girl who brought me to my knees this week, begging the Lord to have mercy on her fragile little body. One of the saddest faces I have ever seen.
But then again, who can blame her?
Kolina languishes in the same awful place as Liliana. Many of you will remember Liliana as the little girl we all advocated for last August. A family is working hard to bring her home. Praise the Lord. No words can ever fully convey the heinous conditions these children live in. It is truly beyond human comprehension.
Sadly, Kolina has not been found yet. No one is going for her. It is only by Divine Intervention that this little girl is even available for adoption. She almost fell through the cracks...again. But God! The father to the fatherless reached down from heaven and said, "This one too," and Kolina was made available for international adoption.
This sweet little girl is literally deteriorating daily in a crib in Eastern Europe. On December 16 she will "celebrate" her birthday. Kolina will be nine years old. Yes, nine! She has Down syndrome. Looking at her pictures, she probably only weighs around 10-12 pounds. If that. Clothes cover her clearly skeletal legs, and her pitiful frame is nothing but skin and bones. Poor little darling.
Oh, how I would LOVE a Christmas miracle for Kolina! I would love to see her sad, sad little face turn from sadness, hopelessness and despair to joy. Joy that comes from being in a family. Joy that comes from human touch and from knowing that she belongs.
I would love to give Kolina the gift of HOPE this Christmas.
But, as usual, I need your help. Kolina needs help! In order for her family to find her, Kolina's story needs to be spread far and wide. Just like Julia, and Vanya, and Kevin, and Liliana, and David. The ONLY way these children have found their forever families is through the body of Christ coming together and posting their faces and their stories on blogs, facebooks, and any other social network.
Would you please help Kolina? Will you share her story wherever you can?
Time is obviously crucial and she needs to come home as quickly as possible. Poor lovie is living on borrowed time--she is severely malnourished. A home-study-ready family would be ideal, but at this stage, it is not essential. Anyone wanting more information can contact Shelley at shele337@yahoo.com.
Also, Kolina has a grant fund which has been set up by Reece's Rainbow. Please pray about donating to her rescue! A large grant would be such a huge blessing for her family. Adoption is expensive! What a beautiful miracle it would be if her ransom was raised. All donations are tax deductible and every single dollar will go to Kolina's RANSOM! If you feel led to contribute, just use the donation box below and all funds will go to sweet Kolina.
As I type this, Kolina's grant fund is at a measly $94.50. Would you prayerfully consider playing a part in her unfolding miracle this Christmas?
Thank you for standing with me and for trusting that Kolina will NOT be one of the 95% of children who have Down syndrome who die in orphanages around the world each and every year. It is beyond human understanding.
Thank you for sharing Kolina's story and for believing that someone WILL go for her soon!
My arms ache to hug this little girl and to give her a mommy and daddy this Christmas. Pray, pray, pray people! Tis the season for miracles!
December 7, 2011
the gift of HOPE this Christmas
Sometimes words are just so terribly hard to find. Many times I feel like Moses when he cried out to the Lord, telling Him that He really was not very eloquent. I can totally relate!
This will be one of those posts--the kind where I struggle to put into words what is on my heart. Sometimes situations are such that no amount of words can do it justice. Trying to convey truth without crossing the ever-present boundaries regarding just how much to post is a challenge for me. I long for the whole world to know the truth and see the truth when it comes to the conditions in which children live in foreign orphanages. But it's a fine line--one I struggle to find.
Anyway.
It's Christmastime. Such a glorious time of the year as we celebrate the birth of our Savior. Families come together, gifts are given, praise is uttered to the Baby who was born so that we may have life, and life more abundant. Honestly though, Christmas is so different to me now compared to what it was even a few years ago. I am different. I just cannot help but allow my heart and my thoughts to drift to the millions of children around the world who will [still] be alone this Christmas. For most of them, there will be no gifts, no tree to decorate, no fancy meal...and no family. Again.
It will just be another day.
Once you have put a foot in the door of an orphanage where children are lined up in cribs by the dozens, where a staple diet consists of drinking cabbage water out of a bottle, and where no heating exists, well, Christmas takes on an entirely different look. It is no longer a time when we think of all that we can get--but rather what we can give. It becomes a time of being so thankful for the many gifts we have been given--not for the next best gadget or the latest have-to-have, but for the things that truly matter in this life--love, joy that bubbles over, laughter, warm embraces, acceptance, belonging. FAMILY!
This week the Lord led me to a little face. A face who, very sadly, will not even know that December 25 is a reason to celebrate. No, for this little face it will just be another day in paradise--lying in a crib, rarely touched, some kind of liquid diet to barely sustain her, drugs to induce "best sleep" 24 hours a day. I know all too well how it goes.
Allow me to introduce you to Kolina. The little girl who brought me to my knees this week, begging the Lord to have mercy on her fragile little body. One of the saddest faces I have ever seen.
But then again, who can blame her?
Kolina languishes in the same awful place as Liliana. Many of you will remember Liliana as the little girl we all advocated for last August. A family is working hard to bring her home. Praise the Lord. No words can ever fully convey the heinous conditions these children live in. It is truly beyond human comprehension.
Sadly, Kolina has not been found yet. No one is going for her. It is only by Divine Intervention that this little girl is even available for adoption. She almost fell through the cracks...again. But God! The father to the fatherless reached down from heaven and said, "This one too," and Kolina was made available for international adoption.
This sweet little girl is literally deteriorating daily in a crib in Eastern Europe. On December 16 she will "celebrate" her birthday. Kolina will be nine years old. Yes, nine! She has Down syndrome. Looking at her pictures, she probably only weighs around 10-12 pounds. If that. Clothes cover her clearly skeletal legs, and her pitiful frame is nothing but skin and bones. Poor little darling.
I would love to give Kolina the gift of HOPE this Christmas.
But, as usual, I need your help. Kolina needs help! In order for her family to find her, Kolina's story needs to be spread far and wide. Just like Julia, and Vanya, and Kevin, and Liliana, and David. The ONLY way these children have found their forever families is through the body of Christ coming together and posting their faces and their stories on blogs, facebooks, and any other social network.
Would you please help Kolina? Will you share her story wherever you can?
Time is obviously crucial and she needs to come home as quickly as possible. Poor lovie is living on borrowed time--she is severely malnourished. A home-study-ready family would be ideal, but at this stage, it is not essential. Anyone wanting more information can contact Shelley at shele337@yahoo.com.
Also, Kolina has a grant fund which has been set up by Reece's Rainbow. Please pray about donating to her rescue! A large grant would be such a huge blessing for her family. Adoption is expensive! What a beautiful miracle it would be if her ransom was raised. All donations are tax deductible and every single dollar will go to Kolina's RANSOM! If you feel led to contribute, just use the donation box below and all funds will go to sweet Kolina.
As I type this, Kolina's grant fund is at a measly $94.50. Would you prayerfully consider playing a part in her unfolding miracle this Christmas?
Thank you for standing with me and for trusting that Kolina will NOT be one of the 95% of children who have Down syndrome who die in orphanages around the world each and every year. It is beyond human understanding.
Thank you for sharing Kolina's story and for believing that someone WILL go for her soon!
My arms ache to hug this little girl and to give her a mommy and daddy this Christmas. Pray, pray, pray people! Tis the season for miracles!
Christmas Cheer
My mom and I took Em to get her first picture with Santa Claus today. Seeing as it's her first Christmas we I was pretty excited about it. Paul was too and asked me to call him on skype so he could watch her reaction to Santa (and he didn't want me to get an iPhone--we couldn't have done that if I hadn't had the glory that is the iPhone). They had a sign up that said no cell phones, no personal cameras. Santa was on his lunch break so I explained our situation to the woman working and she said as far as she was concerned it was okay, but she'd have to ask Santa. In our 5 minute conversation I learned that the woman was from NJ, has 2 kids, is about to become a grandmother in May, and her daughter got kicked in the face by a horse 2 weeks ago (please say a prayer for the unborn baby as the mom had to have surgery to repair her jaw and she was barely out of her first trimester when this occurred plus she's lost a lot of weight from not being able to eat anything), her first husband was in the army and her current husband spent 25 years in the Coast Guard. Um, I think that was it. Oh, and Santa retired from the military.
I thanked her and went over to wait with my mom and Em. Santa was off break at 2pm and about 1:45 the woman came over to get us. Santa had agreed to see us early so we scrambled to get Paul on skype and it was all very exciting.
I put Em on Santa's lap and she immediately started crying. lol Paul and I were both laughing. So I picked Em and then poor Santa got to have my fat ass on his lap. You can tell by his facial expression how thrilled he is by this development.
I'm pretty sure he will need to go to the chiropractor to deal with the excess weight on his right leg. lol
So after we say goodbye to Paul and I climb off Santa's lap so he can massage the feeling back into his leg, I'm getting ready to pay for my photos and I hear this woman complaining. See it's only 1:50pm and she thought it was unfair that we were allowed to have our picture taken with Santa when the sign said he wouldn't be back until 2pm. She demanded that she be allowed to have her child's picture taken. The woman explained that it was a special circumstance because of my husband being deployed, etc. and the woman says that her husband is in Iraq and do they want to see her military id. Well, at this point I feel awful because I was planning on waiting until 2pm to see Santa and he had us come in early. We profusely thank Santa and the women working and head out as people start to get in line to see Santa.
The woman who pitched such a fit didn't even bother to stay and wait the 5 minutes it was till 2pm. She could've been first in line. The woman working with Santa said she did not think the woman was a military spouse because she was so unsupportive of our situation and so rude and I tend to agree. I NEVER would've acted like that! I love my military family. I couldn't stop thinking about how appalling her behavior was and in front of her children, too. Where was her Christmas spirit?
But Paul got to see his baby see Santa for the first time (and on his birthday, too) and that is all that counts. It made my heart sing to see him so happy on skype.
In a totally unrelated note I decided to take a bath tonight and slipped and fell in the tub putting the bath mat down. Luckily I caught myself and sort of slid into the tub onto my back, but I am definitely sore and going to feel it tomorrow. Thank goodness for icy hot and Motrin and for God watching over me.
Headed out of town for Paul's family reunion tomorrow and to see some old friends. Very excited! Hopefully the weather is nice. I know it'll be nicer than what my friends in New England are experiencing.
Merry Christmas!
I thanked her and went over to wait with my mom and Em. Santa was off break at 2pm and about 1:45 the woman came over to get us. Santa had agreed to see us early so we scrambled to get Paul on skype and it was all very exciting.
I put Em on Santa's lap and she immediately started crying. lol Paul and I were both laughing. So I picked Em and then poor Santa got to have my fat ass on his lap. You can tell by his facial expression how thrilled he is by this development.
So after we say goodbye to Paul and I climb off Santa's lap so he can massage the feeling back into his leg, I'm getting ready to pay for my photos and I hear this woman complaining. See it's only 1:50pm and she thought it was unfair that we were allowed to have our picture taken with Santa when the sign said he wouldn't be back until 2pm. She demanded that she be allowed to have her child's picture taken. The woman explained that it was a special circumstance because of my husband being deployed, etc. and the woman says that her husband is in Iraq and do they want to see her military id. Well, at this point I feel awful because I was planning on waiting until 2pm to see Santa and he had us come in early. We profusely thank Santa and the women working and head out as people start to get in line to see Santa.
The woman who pitched such a fit didn't even bother to stay and wait the 5 minutes it was till 2pm. She could've been first in line. The woman working with Santa said she did not think the woman was a military spouse because she was so unsupportive of our situation and so rude and I tend to agree. I NEVER would've acted like that! I love my military family. I couldn't stop thinking about how appalling her behavior was and in front of her children, too. Where was her Christmas spirit?
But Paul got to see his baby see Santa for the first time (and on his birthday, too) and that is all that counts. It made my heart sing to see him so happy on skype.
In a totally unrelated note I decided to take a bath tonight and slipped and fell in the tub putting the bath mat down. Luckily I caught myself and sort of slid into the tub onto my back, but I am definitely sore and going to feel it tomorrow. Thank goodness for icy hot and Motrin and for God watching over me.
Headed out of town for Paul's family reunion tomorrow and to see some old friends. Very excited! Hopefully the weather is nice. I know it'll be nicer than what my friends in New England are experiencing.
Merry Christmas!
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
Slacker
I really really really gotta get on the ball. I feel like I have zero motivation to do anything! And there are things I want to do and then I think eh, who cares. lol I certainly don't want to pass my slovenly ways on to Emma. Paul and I are the top dogs of procrastinators and what a terrible habit to have.
First off let's talk about my weight. I am slightly disgusted about how I keep letting opportunities to lose weight slip by and instead just keep gaining weight. I for sure am the person who eats for taste instead of eating to be healthy. Ugh! And if anyone makes a comment about how I'm being too hard on myself I may have to come beat you up. It's not about being hard on myself it's about being honest and realistic. Sometimes the truth hurts and that is ok. I guess I am just not ready to get healthy. I am way addicted to sugar which is a huge part of the problem. And I think part of my lack of motivation is knowing I'm going to get pregnant next year anyways so what is the point of losing weight now. haha When you are overweight going into a pregnancy you don't have to gain as much weight and your baby weight comes off very quickly (of course then you are still just overweight, but hey...thick chicks gotta get something).
Secondly I have done super well staying away from alcohol and soda. Granted it's not even been 2 weeks yet without alcohol, but I actually don't even miss it (although I'd love one of my hoarded Blue Moon Octoberfest beers) and it's only been 7 days without soda. I used to never drink soda and then I went crazy. Pepsi was probably one of the few things I craved during my pregnancy. I know how terrible soda is for you and I really don't want to be someone who drinks soda or eats fast food (I had Taco Bell the other day and it did not agree with me so that may keep me from fast food right there). I probably went 10 years without eating any fast food. I was much much thinner then.
Thirdly I think I stress eat. For sure our time in Florida has not been the relaxing vaca I thought it would be. We've been plagued by illness and doctors appointments and what not. My goal is to get Em to sleep through the night 12 hours by the time Paul gets home. I (wait for it) have finally broken down and let Em cry. I know! Are you gasping in shock???? I only went in 3 times last night for brief comforts and she fell asleep within 30 minutes and slept till 4:30am. I let her cry and then went in briefly and then went back in again at 5am because she was ready to nurse and then we fell back to sleep until 8am! I got 6 whole hours of sleep in a row! I may have woken up briefly to look at her on the monitor but I went right back to sleep. And she cried at naptime this morning, but then she had pooped so once I changed her she fell right to sleep (nap time hasn't really ever been our problem minus the fact that she only sleeps for 30 minutes).
Fourth I am beyond ready for Paul to get home. It's so close and yet seems like its taking so long. It's that last hour of a car trip...you know how close you are and yet it's the longest part of the trip.
I need to go to the dmv to get our tags switched to FL, and I need to do my CEU's for my FL license, and I need to start sending boxes home.
Thursday I think I am going to take Emma to get her first picture with Santa Claus! I'll post the pic so you can see how it goes. All I can think about is the year my BFF Cory took her daughter and used it as her Christmas card...Santa, Abby hysterical crying, and Cory hysterical laughing...best Christmas card ever!
Hope everyone is enjoying their December! Much love and holiday cheer to all!
First off let's talk about my weight. I am slightly disgusted about how I keep letting opportunities to lose weight slip by and instead just keep gaining weight. I for sure am the person who eats for taste instead of eating to be healthy. Ugh! And if anyone makes a comment about how I'm being too hard on myself I may have to come beat you up. It's not about being hard on myself it's about being honest and realistic. Sometimes the truth hurts and that is ok. I guess I am just not ready to get healthy. I am way addicted to sugar which is a huge part of the problem. And I think part of my lack of motivation is knowing I'm going to get pregnant next year anyways so what is the point of losing weight now. haha When you are overweight going into a pregnancy you don't have to gain as much weight and your baby weight comes off very quickly (of course then you are still just overweight, but hey...thick chicks gotta get something).
Secondly I have done super well staying away from alcohol and soda. Granted it's not even been 2 weeks yet without alcohol, but I actually don't even miss it (although I'd love one of my hoarded Blue Moon Octoberfest beers) and it's only been 7 days without soda. I used to never drink soda and then I went crazy. Pepsi was probably one of the few things I craved during my pregnancy. I know how terrible soda is for you and I really don't want to be someone who drinks soda or eats fast food (I had Taco Bell the other day and it did not agree with me so that may keep me from fast food right there). I probably went 10 years without eating any fast food. I was much much thinner then.
Thirdly I think I stress eat. For sure our time in Florida has not been the relaxing vaca I thought it would be. We've been plagued by illness and doctors appointments and what not. My goal is to get Em to sleep through the night 12 hours by the time Paul gets home. I (wait for it) have finally broken down and let Em cry. I know! Are you gasping in shock???? I only went in 3 times last night for brief comforts and she fell asleep within 30 minutes and slept till 4:30am. I let her cry and then went in briefly and then went back in again at 5am because she was ready to nurse and then we fell back to sleep until 8am! I got 6 whole hours of sleep in a row! I may have woken up briefly to look at her on the monitor but I went right back to sleep. And she cried at naptime this morning, but then she had pooped so once I changed her she fell right to sleep (nap time hasn't really ever been our problem minus the fact that she only sleeps for 30 minutes).
Fourth I am beyond ready for Paul to get home. It's so close and yet seems like its taking so long. It's that last hour of a car trip...you know how close you are and yet it's the longest part of the trip.
I need to go to the dmv to get our tags switched to FL, and I need to do my CEU's for my FL license, and I need to start sending boxes home.
Thursday I think I am going to take Emma to get her first picture with Santa Claus! I'll post the pic so you can see how it goes. All I can think about is the year my BFF Cory took her daughter and used it as her Christmas card...Santa, Abby hysterical crying, and Cory hysterical laughing...best Christmas card ever!
Hope everyone is enjoying their December! Much love and holiday cheer to all!
Sunday, December 4, 2011
A retrospective
I know it's been awhile since I've written anything. I'm not sure why. I haven't been on my computer much, partially because I got an iPhone and partially because Emma requires a lot more entertaining now that she's older and partially because we have been traveling and sick and sick and traveling. It's been never ending. I think we've both been to the doctor more down here than in the entire time we've lived in Mass.
And there has also been a part of me that hasn't been sure what to say about my stay in Florida so far. For sure it has been fantastic to watch my family and Paul's family interact with Emma and really great for her to get to spend time with other people. On the other hand I am not sure how good the trip has been for me. Yes, it has been a good trip, but I mean...well, I don't have much purpose here. I had the expectation that I would get here and slip seamlessly back into my old life of seeing friends, hanging out, etc. acknowledging that I would have a tiny tag-along. And it hasn't been like that. I've seen friends, good friends, but I've seen most people only one time. I didn't take into account that just as my life has changed with us moving so, too, has their lives changed. People have busy lives, lives that make it hard to see an unemployed, on a long ass vacation momma and her baby. People have jobs and families and commitments. I didn't really think about all that. I didn't think about how challenging it would be to be away from my house, MY life in Mass. I didn't realize how much I would miss my Mass friends. Am I happy we came? Absolutely. Would I do it again? Yes, but for a much shorter period of time probably.
And I tracked down the post I wrote BEFORE Paul left listing all my goals and gosh, I have been so unproductive. I don't think I've met ANY of my pre-deployment goals.
1. Get in shape and lose the baby weight! Paul and I want to do a tropical family vacation when he gets back and I want to look sexy in a bikini for once in my life. I tend to overeat when stressed or depressed and I do not want Paul to come home to a chub a lub. Although I know he’d love me either way I am tired of feeling overweight and unhealthy.
Well, I'm still overweight, still unhealthy. I finally cancelled my monthly donation to WW. I've actually gained weight living at my dad's (thanks wine and sugar and dessert and overeating). Paul on the other hand has been a working out machine and is currently doing Cross Fit. I have a gym membership (thank goodness it was free), but haven't been able to use it because Em and I have been sick for 3 weeks! I did just decide to give up alcohol and soda for a month. It's been over a week with no alcohol and just since Dec. 1 with no soda. Still fat.
2. Garden, garden, garden. I learned a lot from the garden I had last summer and I’d like to make some changes in how I plant things and also enjoy my garden since last summer I was prego and had morning sickness. I also need to work on our landscaping.
Um, yeah, NOT.
3. Organize and par down our possessions. We have so much stuff and as much as I’ve given away to Salvation Army I am sure I can get even more organized.
I did go through a ton of stuff and make donations to Big Brothers Big Sisters Foundation. And I got organized in a lot of the rooms and closets and rearranged furniture. So I do feel pretty good in this category.
4. Paint our bedroom. The color is nice, but it ended up being a lot pinker than I thought it would be.
I dodged a bullet here because our insurance paid for most of the interior of our house to be painted as part of repairs from last winter's damage. So, our room got painted, but I didn't have to do it! Sweet!
5. Learn how to be a good mom. Take lots of pictures of Emma for Paul. Keep her safe and healthy. Make a scrapbook of her first year. Take videos.
I feel I am a pretty good mom. I feel I can always improve something. I did take tons of pictures, mostly on my phone. Let's see Em has been sick and to the ER twice and feel off the bed once and almost rolled off the changing table (that was all my friend though) and....I brought her baby book with me and have done nothing with it. Sigh...
6. Visit friends. Plan a good traveling schedule and some quality time with my closest friends. Grand Island, Huntsville, Cincinnati, Valdosta are some of the places I’d like to visit.
Well, I made it to Valdosta. And Dallas. I've seen some friends and feel like I am going to miss seeing a lot of people because my time is quickly approaching to head home.
7. Take Emma to see my aunt and uncle in Amelia Island. I love that place!
We made it to Amelia Island! Of course I didn't realize Em's ear infection had not cleared up with antibiotics and she cried for 2 days so we probably won't ever be invited back, but we made it!
8. Write to Paul every day. Skype as much as possible with Paul even if I have to get up in the middle of the night to do so.
After realizing that our lives are boring and it takes a crap long time for letters to go back and forth we did not write each other, but once. I did send Paul cards for all the important events (anniversary, birthday, holidays, etc.), but that was about it. We have skyped about 99% of the time and that is my priority every day. And we do talk on the phone. Sometimes I miss him more than others so those days we might skype and then talk on the phone, too. We are so blessed to be able to have that ability when so many others don't.
9. Enjoy spending time with my family in Florida.
I am afraid my parents are going to need counseling for depression when I take Em back to Mass. I said something to my mom today over lunch about us leaving and she started to cry. I feel guilty already.
10. Go to church. Strengthen my relationship with God.
Sickness, teething, and sleepless nights have made it hard to get up and get ready on Sunday mornings (no excuse I know), but we have started getting up and watching Joel Osteen on Sundays which I actually really enjoy. He always has a good message that I can relate to even though I cannot imagine going to a church that huge! And he tweeted me back one day so you know I'm happy.
So, that is where we stand. 31 days until Paul gets home. 31 days until life gets back to normal! Not that I'm counting down or anything.
And there has also been a part of me that hasn't been sure what to say about my stay in Florida so far. For sure it has been fantastic to watch my family and Paul's family interact with Emma and really great for her to get to spend time with other people. On the other hand I am not sure how good the trip has been for me. Yes, it has been a good trip, but I mean...well, I don't have much purpose here. I had the expectation that I would get here and slip seamlessly back into my old life of seeing friends, hanging out, etc. acknowledging that I would have a tiny tag-along. And it hasn't been like that. I've seen friends, good friends, but I've seen most people only one time. I didn't take into account that just as my life has changed with us moving so, too, has their lives changed. People have busy lives, lives that make it hard to see an unemployed, on a long ass vacation momma and her baby. People have jobs and families and commitments. I didn't really think about all that. I didn't think about how challenging it would be to be away from my house, MY life in Mass. I didn't realize how much I would miss my Mass friends. Am I happy we came? Absolutely. Would I do it again? Yes, but for a much shorter period of time probably.
And I tracked down the post I wrote BEFORE Paul left listing all my goals and gosh, I have been so unproductive. I don't think I've met ANY of my pre-deployment goals.
1. Get in shape and lose the baby weight! Paul and I want to do a tropical family vacation when he gets back and I want to look sexy in a bikini for once in my life. I tend to overeat when stressed or depressed and I do not want Paul to come home to a chub a lub. Although I know he’d love me either way I am tired of feeling overweight and unhealthy.
Well, I'm still overweight, still unhealthy. I finally cancelled my monthly donation to WW. I've actually gained weight living at my dad's (thanks wine and sugar and dessert and overeating). Paul on the other hand has been a working out machine and is currently doing Cross Fit. I have a gym membership (thank goodness it was free), but haven't been able to use it because Em and I have been sick for 3 weeks! I did just decide to give up alcohol and soda for a month. It's been over a week with no alcohol and just since Dec. 1 with no soda. Still fat.
2. Garden, garden, garden. I learned a lot from the garden I had last summer and I’d like to make some changes in how I plant things and also enjoy my garden since last summer I was prego and had morning sickness. I also need to work on our landscaping.
Um, yeah, NOT.
3. Organize and par down our possessions. We have so much stuff and as much as I’ve given away to Salvation Army I am sure I can get even more organized.
I did go through a ton of stuff and make donations to Big Brothers Big Sisters Foundation. And I got organized in a lot of the rooms and closets and rearranged furniture. So I do feel pretty good in this category.
4. Paint our bedroom. The color is nice, but it ended up being a lot pinker than I thought it would be.
I dodged a bullet here because our insurance paid for most of the interior of our house to be painted as part of repairs from last winter's damage. So, our room got painted, but I didn't have to do it! Sweet!
5. Learn how to be a good mom. Take lots of pictures of Emma for Paul. Keep her safe and healthy. Make a scrapbook of her first year. Take videos.
I feel I am a pretty good mom. I feel I can always improve something. I did take tons of pictures, mostly on my phone. Let's see Em has been sick and to the ER twice and feel off the bed once and almost rolled off the changing table (that was all my friend though) and....I brought her baby book with me and have done nothing with it. Sigh...
6. Visit friends. Plan a good traveling schedule and some quality time with my closest friends. Grand Island, Huntsville, Cincinnati, Valdosta are some of the places I’d like to visit.
Well, I made it to Valdosta. And Dallas. I've seen some friends and feel like I am going to miss seeing a lot of people because my time is quickly approaching to head home.
7. Take Emma to see my aunt and uncle in Amelia Island. I love that place!
We made it to Amelia Island! Of course I didn't realize Em's ear infection had not cleared up with antibiotics and she cried for 2 days so we probably won't ever be invited back, but we made it!
8. Write to Paul every day. Skype as much as possible with Paul even if I have to get up in the middle of the night to do so.
After realizing that our lives are boring and it takes a crap long time for letters to go back and forth we did not write each other, but once. I did send Paul cards for all the important events (anniversary, birthday, holidays, etc.), but that was about it. We have skyped about 99% of the time and that is my priority every day. And we do talk on the phone. Sometimes I miss him more than others so those days we might skype and then talk on the phone, too. We are so blessed to be able to have that ability when so many others don't.
9. Enjoy spending time with my family in Florida.
I am afraid my parents are going to need counseling for depression when I take Em back to Mass. I said something to my mom today over lunch about us leaving and she started to cry. I feel guilty already.
10. Go to church. Strengthen my relationship with God.
Sickness, teething, and sleepless nights have made it hard to get up and get ready on Sunday mornings (no excuse I know), but we have started getting up and watching Joel Osteen on Sundays which I actually really enjoy. He always has a good message that I can relate to even though I cannot imagine going to a church that huge! And he tweeted me back one day so you know I'm happy.
So, that is where we stand. 31 days until Paul gets home. 31 days until life gets back to normal! Not that I'm counting down or anything.
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