Goodbye 2012

This year has been a full one, that's for sure. Many many happy times, some scary times, firsts, tears, etc. I like to think that we all learned so much about ourselves and our accomplishments this year. McKenna in her dance class, McKaela in really opening up with her speech and personality, Maisie with a whole lot of firsts; words, steps, birthday! We, as a family, have learned that goodbye's are the hardest but the reuniting makes it all worth it. 

Mark is already gone back to VA so he was not able to spend New Years with us this year. The girls and I went to my in-law's house and ate dinner and set off some fireworks.

And I think that this last picture sums up our year. We had a wonderful 2012 but are looking forward to 2013 with great amusement! Happy New Year's followers! 

P.S. Just in case you are wondering, I'm not sad that I can't kiss my husband on New Years, I'm proud because he is selfless enough to put the nation before himself.

Cleaning and Organizing

Well, today was VERY productive! I took the girls to Margie's this morning and I spent the day cleaning and organizing. I didn't feel that it was, but goodness, after everything I KNOW that it was!!

After 5 hours, however, this is what I accomplished...

Fair enough, Jacksonville, fair enough. You host some people whom I wish you wouldn't. You host some people with whom I wish 'delete' and they would. But all in all, having grandparents in home and a mile down the street is amazing!!

Sad, sad day

Well, Mark has gone back to Virginia. He left this evening. First off, however, let me backtrack...Sunday night I was sick. Daddy was sick. Eric was sick. However, I am the only one who threw up. Last night, however, Mark got it. He was sick last night and today. In fact, mom  was sick, too. He never threw today but he slept pretty much up until we had to get ready to leave for the airport. He woke up and said, "I have good news and bad news." "Um..ok, what is the good news?" "I feel better." "Yay! Bad news?" "I wasted most of the day." :( Nonetheless, we had to take him to the airport and it was so hard. It was hard enough when I was taking him to the dock by myself or with a 2 week old baby but it was just about murder taking him with a 4 year old, 2.5 year old, and a 1 year old. The older two know what is going on and he is kind of attached so it was much MUCH harder. We got to the airport and McKenna had fallen asleep so he woke her up....

(McKaela)

 (McKenna)

I know that you are wondering where Maisie is but she sits in the middle and him giving her a hug and me getting a pic through tears is not as easy as you may think.

McKenna had a hard time and cried as he got out of the truck and on the way home but she is a trooper and she understands and is doing amazing!

 

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas, Readers!!!! I hope that your day has been a wonderful one!!! Mine has been wonderful! It started on a laugh...I told Eric that the girls always woke up between 0700 and 0800 but they had been waking up closer to 7 lately. So he is up and read to go at 7. Seth was here and ready to go. So they are all waiting on us to get up and see what Santa has brought. Eric is ready to wake up and trying to wake us up so he comes into the living room and grabs a couple of the chocolate coins and throws them at McKenna and McKaela......it doesn't work. LOL However, *I* wake up and wake the girls up. They had a blast!! It was insane! There was so much going on that McKaela was just overwhelmed. They all had a great time though!

After we opened presents, but before we went to have Christmas with Mark's family, the girls made gingerbread men with Uncle Eric.

Christmas with Mark's family was just as good and the girls were spoiled, once again. All in all, it was an amazing Christmas!! I would have to say, however, the best present of all this year, was Mark. We have had our fair share of time and holidays apart, I know just how lucky we are.

'Twas the Night Before Christmas

Blackhawk

If you ever get the chance and are in Jacksonville, go look at the Christmas lights in Blackhawk off of Girvin Rd., they are so great!!! It is beautiful!! We went tonight after church and only made it through half of them before it started getting too late and the truck started acting funny. Just be prepared for it to take a while because there are so many people! It is so much fun though! Everyone is so happy and a lot of the residents are out in their yards watching everyone go by and partying themselves. I wish our truck hadn't been acting so funny because I would have loved to see the other half.

Jacksonville Zoo Lights

We took the girls to Zoo Lights at the zoo tonight! They were SO excited.....*I* was SO excited! LOL It was a good time and we had a great time but I was a bit disappointed.I'm not really sure why or what I was expecting but I felt like I waited in lines more than anything. The lights that they have are fun but...I don't know.The train ride is a one way ride do you get on at the beginning, it takes you to the back, let's you off, and you walk. It might not be so bad if you do it first thing and work yourself forward but, again, the line was already forever long. The Polar Express ride, you have to be 42" to ride but the line was so long that McKenna and I didn't eve get to ride. They had jump castles but there were so many people that we didn't even attempt those. The line to see Santa, we won't even go there!! It was so long that we didn't even attempt to see him. I am not sure how long the line was but the lines for the Polar Express and the Train were 45 minutes a piece. And this is not even considering the snack bars! Those, too, were IN-SANE!!! All in all, the girls had fun but I was a bit disappointed. I wish that I could pinpoint exactly what it is that I expected but I can't. I just left feeling like it was almost a waste. :( Oh and because of the freeze the giraffes were not out. The stingrays were open.....but they only feed them during the day so the rays don't want anything to do with you. All of that being said, I am glad that the zoo started doing something for Christmas but there is definitely room for improvement. BUT room for improvement is a good thing!! I just know that next year is going to be even better!!!

It's the End of the World!!

Here are a few of my favorite pictures of the day...

4. 

3. 

2. 

and my favorite...

1. 

Here We Go Again

Wow, what a day!! It started out pretty good until Maisie just started deteriorating fast and before long was just miserable so we took her to Urgent Care...the left ear was "a little red" but the right one, the one that we went for anyway, was bulging. I got a "good job" from the doctor for noticing that something was very wrong and bringing her right in. Yes, that was a proud moment. haha Then we went to pick up her antibiotics and ear drops, that was a hassle. We went to Walgreens but they don't accept Tricare anymore so we went to Publix and they didn't have the drops but they had another brand so they had to call the doctor and ask if those would be ok and if so they needed them to fax over the prescription...goodness, what a mess. After that we came home we ordered pizza because by this time no one felt like leaving the house again or cooking, and now all three babies are down. *whew* I am exhausted.

So Many Questions!!!

So the world is supposed to be ending tomorrow huh? That's too bad. I never found out who let the dogs out, the way to get to Sesame Street, why Dora doesn't just use Google maps, why we don't ever see the headline "Psychic Wins Lottery", why women can't put on mascara with their mouth closed, why "abbreviated" is such a long word, why lemon juice is made with artificial flavor yet dishwashing liquid is made with real lemons, why they sterilize the needle for lethal injections, why do you have to "put your two cents in" but it's only a "penny for your thoughts"? Where's that extra penny going to? Why did Joanie love Chachi? If a deaf person has to go to court is it still called a hearing? Can a hearse carrying a corpse drive in the carpool lane? Does the alphabet song and twinkle twinkle little star have the same tune? Why did you just try to sing those two previous songs? And just what is Victoria's secret? You see, the world just has to keep going. I have too many questions!!!!

(I did not write this...I wish I did but, alas, I did not.)

I'm accomplished!!!! But a terrible friend.

Oh my goodness, I feel so accomplished today! Woke up, showered, went to lunch, got 2 (yes, TWO) of the girls down for a nap, cancelled Banfield coverage (still have my dogs but found a good vet with better prices), got new PCMs for the girls and I, got dental coverage for the girls and I, AND updated DEERS. *whew* 

That being said, I completely got my days and dates mixed up and messed up and TODAY is the wedding of a good friend of mine. I thought that it was Saturday!! I had the weekend all worked and planned out. :( I am so upset. I can't believe that I am missing one of the most wonderful days in her life!! I so wish that I was there to share it with her. :( Congratulations, I miss and love you, Amy Variell-now-Thayer!!!!

DA-DA!!

My husband got in late last night, the girls were already in bed long asleep when we got home, actually. He went in and kissed them, told them that he loved them, and then we went to bed. Now, he bought them U.S. Navy Pillow Pets so we put them in our room at the end of the bed for in the morning; we didn't want them moving around and kicking the pillow pet to the floor. So Baby M wakes up at about 6am and notices that he is there and from then on until she woke everyone up she yelled, "DA-DA! DA-DA! DA-DA!" It wasn't too long that McK1 and 2 came in and yelled, "DADDY!!!!!!!" It was such a glorious reunion! Though *I* could have done with a later time than 6. SO. TIRED.!!!

Answers

The answers to your questions? Yes WAS able to come home for Christmas. He was NOT wearing his blues (boo!!). He was NOT too tired. He DID come with presents. And, no, he was NOT able to wait to give them to us. The girls will get theirs in the morning when they wake up but *I* got an iPad 3!!!! Totally NOT expecting that one!!!! Yes, my husband is pretty awesomely amazing!! And, yes, I do know just how lucky I am.

All I want for Christmas, is you!

My husband WAS able to take time off of the ship and spend Christmas with us!!! How awesome is that?! I absolutely cannot wait to see what he has in store!!! He gets in tonight at about 11 and I can't hardly wait!!!! Will he be wearing his blues? Will he not?? Will he be tired? Will he not?? Just a few more hours and I will see!!!!!!

Another Ear Infection?!

Well, I am exhausted. McKaela went to bed at 7p last night and at 11p she woke up crying. I thought that maybe it was because Mark wasn't here but she kept scratching he ear. I tried not to notice but there was no getting around it. She would fall asleep and within minutes she was crying again. I was so tired and so frustrated initially because she would not even tell me anything was wrong or anything hurt. I didn't want her waking her sisters up plus I figured that if it was an ear infection sitting up would feel better so I brought her to the couch. It didn't matter. She still cried. It wasn't until 4am that she passed out cold. And of course by the time that I was able to fall asleep Maisie started to cry. I settled her and she went right back out....and so did I. I got a couple of hours of sleep before McKenna and Maisie woke up for the day and when I checked on McKaela she was burning up! I had already decided but it was now confirmed that as soon as Urgent Care opened I was taking her in. I did so and it was confirmed...ear infection. I made it almost 4 years without any ear infections at all whatsoever and here it is, the second one in about a month. *sigh*

"Let the little children come to me..."

Today is another day that will make the history books. I am sad to announce that this is the 3rd major school/church shooting in lifetime so far and I hope to never go through another one! My first was the Columbine school shooting. I was in high school and remember just watching the news and crying. The second was the Wedgwood church shooting in Fort Worth, TX. I, again, was in high school and this one hit close to home because I was supposed to be there. It was a See You At The Pole rally and my youth group was supposed to be there. At the last minute my youth minister made the announcement that we were not going to be going because he felt that we were not supposed to go. I remember him saying that he didn't know why but he felt that God was telling him that we were not to go. It was during Backstage, our weekly youth service, that someone came in and let us know that there had been a shooting during the rally. I remember immediately breaking down in tears and falling to my knees and praying. All I could think was "I was supposed to be there" and "Thank you, God, that Johnny followed your direction....that could have been me/us." I went home that night and turned on the TV and just watched...in shock...tears streaming down my face. I don't remember much more of that night. I don't remember turning off the TV. I don't remember going to bed. I DO remember my grandfather calling to see how I was and I was just in a trance the entire time on the phone. I didn't say much more than "uh-huh.....yeah.....ok..." and I remember him praying with me..though I don't remember what was said. It was a horrible feeling and one that I hoped I would never have to go through again. Then comes today. I can't say that it is the exact same, seeing as though I am not in CT so I wasn't supposed to be at the elementary school but I am a mom and as soon as I heard my heart broke. All I keep thinking is why?! Why babies?? 20 children..TWENTY 5 to 10 year olds!!! What did they do to you?? Then I find out the guy who did it was a parent (he wasn't but at the time that came out...) and it was "what?! How could a parent do that?" but at the same time thinking "well maybe the mother was keeping the child from him and he felt "if I can't have mine than no one can have theirs." Make sense? Not really but to my human brain it was an excuse that made more sense than anything. Then it comes out that the shooter was 20 years old. Ok, so not a parent...but his mom was a teacher at the school. Ok, still doesn't make sense but at the same time does make sense; he got mad at her and decided to "hurt her" by shooting her kids and then her. Nope. Wrong again. The mom *was* found dead....AT HER HOUSE. Um....WHAT?! And the brother in the woods and the fact that the shooter wore a bulletproof vest yet killed himself.......IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE!!!!

So what *does* make sense, you ask? God is in control. He makes sense. Someone made the comment on Facebook today that the events of today are the reason that he doesn't believe that "everything happens for a reason." Well, I can see that. I am angry, too, but I also remember that God is in control and we don't know His plan. He says in John 9:3, "Neither this man nor his parents sinned," said Jesus, "but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life."  We don't know God's plan but He is the Ultimate and He knows what He is doing. If one person comes to know Christ as their personal savior through all of this then it is all worth it. Sound bad? I agree, but maybe this is the something that it takes to ensure that one person who has ignored all other calls from Christ will live eternal life with Him. Don't you think that these little children, who may have known Christ, some were too young to understand, and other were never given the opportunity to know Him, are now sitting on Jesus' knee talking to Him and rejoicing that their mother/father/brother/sister/whomever are now going to be joining them one day?? These children have seen the face of God and touched His nail-pierced hands! We are hurting here on earth wishing we had them with us to hold and to kiss but they are sitting up there with God pleading for us to accept Him so that we, too, can all join them and hear the story one day of how they went from being scared and fearful to an instant of the most overwhelming peace they never knew existed!! Don't get me wrong,  I am as confused and angry and brokenhearted as the next parent but I also believe that God is in control and He knows all of the answers and if I trust in Him than one day I, too, will know those answers.

Do you know that if you were to die you would be standing hand in hand with Jesus?

Romans 3:23  "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God."

We all have sin in our hearts. We all were born with sin.  

We were born under the power of sin's control.

- Admit that you are a sinner.

Romans 6:23a  "...The wages of sin is death..."

Sin has an ending.  It results in death.  We all face physical death, which is a result of sin.  But a worse death is spiritual death that alienates us from God, and will last for all eternity.  The Bible teaches that there is a place called the Lake of Fire where lost people will be in torment forever.   It is the place where people who are spiritually dead will remain.

- Understand that you deserve death for your sin.

Romans 6:23b  "...But the gift of God is eternal

life through Jesus Christ our Lord."

Salvation is a free gift from God to you!  You can't

earn this gift, but you must reach out and receive it.

- Ask God to forgive you and save you.

Romans 5:8,  "God demonstrates His own love for us, in

that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us!"

When Jesus died on the cross He paid sin's penalty. He paid the price for all sin, and when He took all the sins of the world on Himself on the cross, He bought us out of slavery to sin and death! The only condition is that we believe in Him and what He has done for us, understanding that  we are now joined with Him, and that He is our life.  He did all this because He loved us and gave Himself for us!

- Give your life to God... His love poured out in Jesus on the cross is your only hope to have forgiveness and change.  His love bought you out of being a slave to sin.  His love is what saves you --  not religion, or church membership.  God loves you!

Romans 10:13  "Whoever will call on the name of the Lord  will be saved!"

- Call out to God in the name of Jesus!

Romans 10:9,10  "...If you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Jesus from the dead, you shall be saved; for with the heart man believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting  in salvation."

- If you know that God is knocking on your heart's door,

ask Him to come into your heart.

Jesus said,

Revelation 3:20a "Behold I stand at the door and knock, if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him..."

- Is Jesus knocking on your heart's door?

Will you answer? Did you answer? Have you answered? If you have not or you are not sure, please talk to someone who can help you understand and answer His call. Christ is knocking, will you answer Him?