So... It seems I'm about as good at blogging as I am writing in my journal. However, there have been some experiences lately that have really inspired me to actually start blogging again, and hopefully this time keep up fairly frequently.
To begin, a little background information is needed. The past few months have been full of changes and new adventures. First my sister got married. That was a huge shift in our family dynamics. Nothing that major had happened since my mom passed away. I am happy to have added to my brothers-in-law, and I'm extremely happy and grateful for how happy he makes my sister.
My other sister got accepted into a study abroad program in Spain for the whole Spring semester. It was huge for her, since she is getting a secondary BA in Spanish. We were all excited for her, but I was secretly sad she was leaving because with her living in Norman she's one of my best friends. So selfishly I was thinking about being lonely and missing her.
Then John got accepted to medical school, which is a huge accomplishment for him. I am ecstatic for him. He has finally gotten to where he has wanted to be the past few years. His acceptance requires us to move back to Tulsa this coming summer, which is exciting.
Finally my baby sister put in her mission papers, and she left for the MTC (Missionary Training Center) at the end of January. She had planned and prepared for her mission the past few months, and I am so proud of her deciding to serve the Lord for 18 months.
So all these amazing things have happened within the past three-four months. It has been a lot to process, and it has all happened very quickly. The last major change in all of our lives was our mom passing away.
I was trying to process everything, and I was feeling a little sorry for myself. Everyone else was moving on, and in my mind away from me. They were out chasing dreams, accomplishing goals they had set for themselves.
Then a couple of weeks ago I was playing with my nieces, who are currently all about Frozen. They wanted to sing "Let it Go." We were playing princess, and one of them was quietly humming and singing broken fragments of the song. It amazes me how easy life concepts are to little children. My 5 year old nieces taught me something in those precious minutes of them singing "Let it Go" first softly, then belting it when I found the song on the internet for them to sing along with.
Here I was feeling sorry for myself because for the first time since my mom's passing, which was very traumatic for me, and I didn't have anyone to help with college applications, to answer questions about banking or which classes to take, or how hard their homework was, wedding plans, or what to pack for Spain. I didn't have anyone who "needed me." Not that I could ever replace my mother, but after her passing I took on those daily responsibilities. Only now my sisters are all adults, John is moving on to professional school, and it hit me really hard.
Then listening to my nieces in their sweet innocent voices singing this silly Disney song, I had my ah ha moment. I had been so busy taking care of everyone else I hadn't thought about what I wanted to chase, what dreams I had. So the past few weeks I've been sifting through all of these emotions trying to find what my new goals are.
So I sat down and listened to "Let it Go" again on my own. I really listened to the words. I thought about how pure those little girls are, and how empowering the lyrics of that song are for little girls. Which led me back to thinking about being a little girl. One of the things that had stuck with me was one of my teachers writing on my report card that I was one of the "spunkiest" girls they had the pleasure of teaching.
As I let that sink in, I thought when did I lose that spunkiness? I realized it was when I had neglected myself, to push everyone else to their dreams.Which, I would do all over in a heartbeat. It then made me think of my mom and her spunkiness. How she pushed us, and how she never let us give up on ourselves. Thinking about how she never wanted us to neglect our own interests, I realized she would want me to have my own goals. So as I listened to the words and balled like a baby, even though I'm fast approaching 26, I decided I needed to accept my sisters are adults. John is going to now have something that is very separate from me, but I need to embrace those as positives to enrich my relationships with them.
So my new mission is to seek out my spunkiness. I will embrace what is to come, and I will "Let it Go and I'll rise like the break of Dawn." Those sweet girls will probably never know the impact they had on me that day, but it's something I'll always remember as the day I consciously decided to seek out new dreams for myself.
So to all of you needing to find your spunkiness "Let it go. Let it go... I'm never going back. The past is in the past. Let it go. Let it go... Rise like the breaking dawn."
Monday, February 10, 2014
Thursday, July 21, 2011
Updates for Home and Far Away...
To start out I had this really cheesy idea to save something from each holiday that John misses while he's deployed. My main reason is so when he comes home he will have a week of holidays, and he won't feel like he missed as much. The second reason is that it still seems like he is being able to participate even if he's not here. So the first holiday he missed was Independence Day. John is my personal little pyromaniac; however I'm starting to think it's an actual gene that most guys possess. So since my pyro had to miss out on all the festivities I bought him his own fireworks, that are safely stored in a dry cool place at my dad's house. John isn't really into sparklers for the obvious reasons that they are just pretty and don't go boom. This led me to get him lots of artillery shells and a 3000 shot firework, and the best part is the sweet people that sold them to me gave me a discount and threw in some small artillery shell things for free since he was deployed. It was a cute couple that owned the firework stand we went to, and they said I'd better bring him around next year so they could thank him. Of course being emotional all the time I teared up a bit and said thank you a hundred times. The 4th was fun, but it just wasn't the same without John lighting all the fireworks. My brother-in-law was MIA as well due to work, so I had to light the fireworks because the nieces and nephews aren't quiet old enough yet. However even with John and my brother-in-law gone we still managed to cause a little excitement when a artillery tube fell over and the shell shot out toward the house and people. It only happened once!!! I made sure that the base was nice and level after that small incident. I did manage to burn my wrist while trying to light a sparkler for one of my nieces, but no major injuries. Harry Potter came out and of course I had to see it!! My sister Hannah and I bought Gryffindor hoodies to show our support for Harry. We are true fans because we wore them even though it was 103 degrees outside, if that's not true loyalty I don't know what is. I thought they did an amazing job, however the book is always better. I was bummed that John wasn't there to see it with us, but when he comes home for R&R, rest and recooperation, it should be out on DVD so he will get to see it then.
The week after the fourth I started back to school bleh. I am excited to be finished next May, but I'm also a little nervous about being a real grown up, and having to find a real job. Fall classes start in August and I'm taking an August intercession class so pretty much I've been in school since John left, and I will be in school until he gets back. I did have about a month break the middle of June to the first of July so that was nice. School keeps me distracted, but unfortunately it doesn't take up enough hours of the day so I need to find something else to fill my time with. If I don't stay busy I either bite all my nails off, which is gross I know (nervous habit), or I will text my friend Amanda incessantly whose husband is also deployed. Fortunately she understands, and she has days that she texts me incessantly. Normally the days we haven't heard from our guys are the days we are the most anxious. I stay in Norman during the week with my sister, but she goes home on Thursday nights and I'm still in Norman. It stinks having to be alone, but I try to find something to do. Norman is really not as exciting without John. He always knew where to go and what to do because he started at OU. Most days are good, but there have been some bad days. I have been a lot better about reading my scriptures and saying my prayers which has mad a HUGE difference. I can honestly say that Heavenly Father has been watching out for our family. He has comforted me when I am having rough days, and He has kept a close eye on John when he has been in tight spots. I thank Him everyday for the blessings that John and I have and the protection He has had over John.
So updates from the land far away known as Afghanistan. John is doing well, most days. The COP, which stands for combat operations post for you non military folk, has a problem getting water to bath. They have plenty of drinking water, but bathing and washing clothes is not exactly on the high priority list. If they are lucky they get to bathe once or twice a week. When I talked to John today he said that he had be able to get a liter of water and he washed his socks etc. He jokes that its very cavemanish living conditions, but that the modern accessories are phones and computer access. I sent him a micro fleece blanket which he said was one of the best things he's gotten so he doesn't have to sleep with hospital blankets. I get to talk to him normally every other day or every two days if I'm lucky. He has been really busy, and he has a lot of responsibilities being the senior medic. John did tell me about a couple of "cool" experiences he had. I say "cool" in quotation marks because they were a little bloody and he said they were "cool", most people probably would've thrown up. He has said that this deployment has really made him more determined to go to medical school because he wants to be able to more than stabilize, clean wounds, and stitch closed wounds. While those experiences have been educational and "cool" he really wants to me more learned so he can make more of a difference, as he says. I think it's great he's had some good medical experiences, that most people would pass out looking at haha, and it has given him the opportunity to show his proficiency and medical skills. Those experiences have also given him the confidence that he is capable of doing what it takes to be a doctor blood, gore and all. I am so proud of him and him serving our country!! I couldn't have asked for a more wonderful husband!! I will post pictures of John once he is able to email some. He says that Afghanistan is a really beautiful country. In one phone conversation he said, "Afghanistan is really breathtaking. I would love to bring you here, but there is the downside of a war going on and people shooting at Americans." My reply was like, "Umm yea that could be potential problem." He laughed and said that maybe someday it will all settle down and he could take me back one day. Well we will see what happens with that. I have a feeling it will be many years before Afghanistan is "settled" enough for the tourist industry.
Well that's all the updates for now!! More to come in the near future!!!
The week after the fourth I started back to school bleh. I am excited to be finished next May, but I'm also a little nervous about being a real grown up, and having to find a real job. Fall classes start in August and I'm taking an August intercession class so pretty much I've been in school since John left, and I will be in school until he gets back. I did have about a month break the middle of June to the first of July so that was nice. School keeps me distracted, but unfortunately it doesn't take up enough hours of the day so I need to find something else to fill my time with. If I don't stay busy I either bite all my nails off, which is gross I know (nervous habit), or I will text my friend Amanda incessantly whose husband is also deployed. Fortunately she understands, and she has days that she texts me incessantly. Normally the days we haven't heard from our guys are the days we are the most anxious. I stay in Norman during the week with my sister, but she goes home on Thursday nights and I'm still in Norman. It stinks having to be alone, but I try to find something to do. Norman is really not as exciting without John. He always knew where to go and what to do because he started at OU. Most days are good, but there have been some bad days. I have been a lot better about reading my scriptures and saying my prayers which has mad a HUGE difference. I can honestly say that Heavenly Father has been watching out for our family. He has comforted me when I am having rough days, and He has kept a close eye on John when he has been in tight spots. I thank Him everyday for the blessings that John and I have and the protection He has had over John.
So updates from the land far away known as Afghanistan. John is doing well, most days. The COP, which stands for combat operations post for you non military folk, has a problem getting water to bath. They have plenty of drinking water, but bathing and washing clothes is not exactly on the high priority list. If they are lucky they get to bathe once or twice a week. When I talked to John today he said that he had be able to get a liter of water and he washed his socks etc. He jokes that its very cavemanish living conditions, but that the modern accessories are phones and computer access. I sent him a micro fleece blanket which he said was one of the best things he's gotten so he doesn't have to sleep with hospital blankets. I get to talk to him normally every other day or every two days if I'm lucky. He has been really busy, and he has a lot of responsibilities being the senior medic. John did tell me about a couple of "cool" experiences he had. I say "cool" in quotation marks because they were a little bloody and he said they were "cool", most people probably would've thrown up. He has said that this deployment has really made him more determined to go to medical school because he wants to be able to more than stabilize, clean wounds, and stitch closed wounds. While those experiences have been educational and "cool" he really wants to me more learned so he can make more of a difference, as he says. I think it's great he's had some good medical experiences, that most people would pass out looking at haha, and it has given him the opportunity to show his proficiency and medical skills. Those experiences have also given him the confidence that he is capable of doing what it takes to be a doctor blood, gore and all. I am so proud of him and him serving our country!! I couldn't have asked for a more wonderful husband!! I will post pictures of John once he is able to email some. He says that Afghanistan is a really beautiful country. In one phone conversation he said, "Afghanistan is really breathtaking. I would love to bring you here, but there is the downside of a war going on and people shooting at Americans." My reply was like, "Umm yea that could be potential problem." He laughed and said that maybe someday it will all settle down and he could take me back one day. Well we will see what happens with that. I have a feeling it will be many years before Afghanistan is "settled" enough for the tourist industry.
Well that's all the updates for now!! More to come in the near future!!!
John's fireworks
Gryffindor Hoodies
SO EXCITED FOR HARRY POTTER!! Yes I know that's nerdy, but I accept my nerdiness :)
The surprise in Samantha's laundry basket when I came home one weekend
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
Four Day Pass and Deployment...
So I'm finally posting an overdue post, but I'm just now getting around to it. The third weekend in June I had the opportunity to see John before he left for Afghanistan. We had the got to spend 5 nights and 4 days together and it was absolutely perfect!!! I left right after my final to go run some errands around the Sapulpa area before I finally left at midnight to drive to Mississippi. It was about an 11 and 1/2 hour drive there, and I probably could have made it in less time if I hadn't had so many potty breaks. I drank tons of water and Gatorade to keep myself awake while I was driving. It also didn't help that about 45 miles into my drive I got pulled over and got a warning for speeding so I lost my nerve to speed at all the rest of the trip down. I know I know speeding is bad, but I was just so stinking excited to get to John.
After the long fairly uneventful drive I made it to Gulfport, where we stayed. By the time I got to the hotel John had called to say that he was going to be released early. So instead of being able to take a quick nap I had to rush and get all dolled and shower in 40 minutes, which I was able to accomplish but did result in some small cuts on my legs from shaving really fast with just water and a razor from the hotel (not a good idea). Once I had my hair and makeup on and heels I basically flew to where John was to pick him up. I was so nervous to see him which was silly, but I had butterflies all over like when we first told each other we liked each other. Well I had 35 new medic bags in my car for all the guys going over to make them more agile and effective. It took me, John's dad, and mom about 15-20 minutes to load them in my car, but when I got to John he was so excited/ready to leave he pulled the Sergeant card and had like 7 other medics helping unload the car so he could get the heck otta dodge. Once the bags were unloaded he pretty much ran out saying bye to the guys over his shoulder. When we were about 30 minutes away he remembered he hadn't packed anything. Fortunately I packed all his clothes etc because all he had with him was military uniforms, but he didn't even pack his toothbrush because he was so excited to leave with me. It was pretty cute because then he remembered he didn't have soap or deodorant. Even though he was completely unprepared it was sweet that he was so excited to see me that he forgot absolutely everything.
So the first night we were both so tired that we just stayed in and watched American Pickers on tv. It was really nice to just be in the same room doing something normal. I had decided before hand not to plan anything that way we could do whatever John wanted to do or nothing if he didn't want to do anything. The only thing we knew for sure was that we were going to go on a fancy date for our 3 year wedding anniversary since we were blessed enough to spend it together. So the first actual day we had together we woke up went to breakfast and then took a nap. John was so funny he loved all the naps for two reasons 1) they were longer than 15 minutes and were uninterrupted 2) he got to snuggle with the "prettiest girl in the world" (according to him). After the nap we read our scriptures together for about and hour which was really nice to do that as a family again. We pretty much just relaxed all day and then went to dinner. The next day we slept in super late which was awesome for John who had been getting up at 4:30 or 5 every morning during training. After we ate breakfast we took another nap then decided to explore the beach. Our hotel was seriously just across from the beach, so after our nap we decided to go for a stroll and check it out. So we put on our swim gear just in case. It was a little cloudy so being the brilliant person I am when John asked if we needed sunscreen I said, "Ehhh we won't be out here that long." Bad bad bad idea to get sunburned on the second day, but we did of course. After meandering the beach for about an I hour we decided to go jet-skiing. I had never been, which is crazy since I live in Oklahoma and we have more coastlines from all the lakes than either the East or West coast. It was a blast!!!! John of course being him threw me off intentionally a few times which he thought was just hilarious. I did manage to throw him off, but I fell off in the process so I say it counted John said it didn't. After a day getting burned to a crisp and jet-skiing we went on a double date with another couple that was staying in the same hotel that we are friends with. We went to see Thor which was pretty good. Before the movie John was noticeably starting to show a sunburn while I was not; which was weird because I'm way more fair-skinned than him. During the movie however I started noticing my legs and arms feeling really hot through my clothes. So after the movie we decided it would be wise to stop and get some aloe vera on the way back to the hotel. I was as red as Rudolph's nose by the time we got back to the hotel. Poor John was also burned, but he helped me put aloe vera on because I couldn't reach every where I was burned. So most of that evening and night was spent applying aloe vera to each other. My sunburn hurt so bad that even when John tried to warm up the aloe vera in his hands it still hurt to rub it on. We were both pretty miserable and shaky because the aloe vera cooled off the burn and made us chilly. Even though we were both hurting we were miserable together it was definitely better than being miserable apart. After applying aloe vera all night we slept fairly late the next day. So late in fact that we ate lunch instead of breakfast. The third day was our anniversary and John called and made reservations for dinner at a restaurant called Thirty-two. He also said we could do whatever I wanted to do that day, and even though we were sunburned we bought SPF 110 sunscreen and decided to go jet-skiing with the earlier mentioned couple. It was even more fun the second time around!! The second time we escaped sunburn thanks to the SPF 115 haha. After jet-skiing we went back to the hotel to get ready for our fancy date. I thought John looked quite handsome even with the sunburn. Our dinner was amazing. When John called to make the reservations the lady asked if it was a special occasion and John told her it was our anniversary. When we got to the restaurant, which was at the top floor ie the thirty-second floor of the IP casino, they had reserved a window seat for us. It was so romantic being able to look out and see the ocean. Our waitress was so nice and first told us happy anniversary. Then she handed us our menus and inside there was a personalized note saying happy anniversary. The chef even had a special small appetizer that was on the house just for us. Everything about the dinner was amazing the food was delicious, the service was friendly, and of course I had the best date most handsome date a girl could ask for. After the date we went back to the hotel and changed out of our fancy clothes and went to see Xmen first class, which John was pretty impressed with. He was into the comics as a kid. The fourth day was his last and we spent it getting things he needed and just spending time together.
I had to take him back by midnight and he wanted to be back a little early to make sure all his guys got back in time. I had to drive back to the hotel all by myself and sleep in a huge king size bed alone, which was lonely. The next day I went back to take some quick pictures of the guys with their new bags for the sponsors that donated money to buy the bags. So fortunately I did get to see John again for an hour or so. John had some things he wanted me to bring home and mail to him because he didn't have space to take it with him. In the process of loading his few things four other guys shyly asked if I could take some for their stuff home to their wives and girlfriends. I thought I was going to come home being able to see out of my rear windshield because I couldn't see driving down because of all the bags. So I became a carrier service which was ok, but involved a list so I could keep track of what belonged to who. After a lot of hugs and kisses and a few tears from me I finally had to leave. It was awful and so much harder to leave him again. I did get text him for a few days after I got back because they didn't leave right at first, but now he's in Afghanistan and the phone calls are intermittent and sporadic.
So far the deployment has been as expected, it stinks it's no fun and it's lonely. I have heard from him a few times and I have gotten an email from him, but while he's has been in transition it has been hard for him to have reliable phone access or Internet. We are both just ready for this to really get going and be over so he can come home. He did have a stop over flight in Ireland and his comment with a slight country accent was, "The people here sound funny." I was dying laughing. It was just one of those you had to be there for it to be funny kind of thing. So now I'm counting down days, weeks, and months until I have him home with me again.
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After the long fairly uneventful drive I made it to Gulfport, where we stayed. By the time I got to the hotel John had called to say that he was going to be released early. So instead of being able to take a quick nap I had to rush and get all dolled and shower in 40 minutes, which I was able to accomplish but did result in some small cuts on my legs from shaving really fast with just water and a razor from the hotel (not a good idea). Once I had my hair and makeup on and heels I basically flew to where John was to pick him up. I was so nervous to see him which was silly, but I had butterflies all over like when we first told each other we liked each other. Well I had 35 new medic bags in my car for all the guys going over to make them more agile and effective. It took me, John's dad, and mom about 15-20 minutes to load them in my car, but when I got to John he was so excited/ready to leave he pulled the Sergeant card and had like 7 other medics helping unload the car so he could get the heck otta dodge. Once the bags were unloaded he pretty much ran out saying bye to the guys over his shoulder. When we were about 30 minutes away he remembered he hadn't packed anything. Fortunately I packed all his clothes etc because all he had with him was military uniforms, but he didn't even pack his toothbrush because he was so excited to leave with me. It was pretty cute because then he remembered he didn't have soap or deodorant. Even though he was completely unprepared it was sweet that he was so excited to see me that he forgot absolutely everything.
So the first night we were both so tired that we just stayed in and watched American Pickers on tv. It was really nice to just be in the same room doing something normal. I had decided before hand not to plan anything that way we could do whatever John wanted to do or nothing if he didn't want to do anything. The only thing we knew for sure was that we were going to go on a fancy date for our 3 year wedding anniversary since we were blessed enough to spend it together. So the first actual day we had together we woke up went to breakfast and then took a nap. John was so funny he loved all the naps for two reasons 1) they were longer than 15 minutes and were uninterrupted 2) he got to snuggle with the "prettiest girl in the world" (according to him). After the nap we read our scriptures together for about and hour which was really nice to do that as a family again. We pretty much just relaxed all day and then went to dinner. The next day we slept in super late which was awesome for John who had been getting up at 4:30 or 5 every morning during training. After we ate breakfast we took another nap then decided to explore the beach. Our hotel was seriously just across from the beach, so after our nap we decided to go for a stroll and check it out. So we put on our swim gear just in case. It was a little cloudy so being the brilliant person I am when John asked if we needed sunscreen I said, "Ehhh we won't be out here that long." Bad bad bad idea to get sunburned on the second day, but we did of course. After meandering the beach for about an I hour we decided to go jet-skiing. I had never been, which is crazy since I live in Oklahoma and we have more coastlines from all the lakes than either the East or West coast. It was a blast!!!! John of course being him threw me off intentionally a few times which he thought was just hilarious. I did manage to throw him off, but I fell off in the process so I say it counted John said it didn't. After a day getting burned to a crisp and jet-skiing we went on a double date with another couple that was staying in the same hotel that we are friends with. We went to see Thor which was pretty good. Before the movie John was noticeably starting to show a sunburn while I was not; which was weird because I'm way more fair-skinned than him. During the movie however I started noticing my legs and arms feeling really hot through my clothes. So after the movie we decided it would be wise to stop and get some aloe vera on the way back to the hotel. I was as red as Rudolph's nose by the time we got back to the hotel. Poor John was also burned, but he helped me put aloe vera on because I couldn't reach every where I was burned. So most of that evening and night was spent applying aloe vera to each other. My sunburn hurt so bad that even when John tried to warm up the aloe vera in his hands it still hurt to rub it on. We were both pretty miserable and shaky because the aloe vera cooled off the burn and made us chilly. Even though we were both hurting we were miserable together it was definitely better than being miserable apart. After applying aloe vera all night we slept fairly late the next day. So late in fact that we ate lunch instead of breakfast. The third day was our anniversary and John called and made reservations for dinner at a restaurant called Thirty-two. He also said we could do whatever I wanted to do that day, and even though we were sunburned we bought SPF 110 sunscreen and decided to go jet-skiing with the earlier mentioned couple. It was even more fun the second time around!! The second time we escaped sunburn thanks to the SPF 115 haha. After jet-skiing we went back to the hotel to get ready for our fancy date. I thought John looked quite handsome even with the sunburn. Our dinner was amazing. When John called to make the reservations the lady asked if it was a special occasion and John told her it was our anniversary. When we got to the restaurant, which was at the top floor ie the thirty-second floor of the IP casino, they had reserved a window seat for us. It was so romantic being able to look out and see the ocean. Our waitress was so nice and first told us happy anniversary. Then she handed us our menus and inside there was a personalized note saying happy anniversary. The chef even had a special small appetizer that was on the house just for us. Everything about the dinner was amazing the food was delicious, the service was friendly, and of course I had the best date most handsome date a girl could ask for. After the date we went back to the hotel and changed out of our fancy clothes and went to see Xmen first class, which John was pretty impressed with. He was into the comics as a kid. The fourth day was his last and we spent it getting things he needed and just spending time together.
I had to take him back by midnight and he wanted to be back a little early to make sure all his guys got back in time. I had to drive back to the hotel all by myself and sleep in a huge king size bed alone, which was lonely. The next day I went back to take some quick pictures of the guys with their new bags for the sponsors that donated money to buy the bags. So fortunately I did get to see John again for an hour or so. John had some things he wanted me to bring home and mail to him because he didn't have space to take it with him. In the process of loading his few things four other guys shyly asked if I could take some for their stuff home to their wives and girlfriends. I thought I was going to come home being able to see out of my rear windshield because I couldn't see driving down because of all the bags. So I became a carrier service which was ok, but involved a list so I could keep track of what belonged to who. After a lot of hugs and kisses and a few tears from me I finally had to leave. It was awful and so much harder to leave him again. I did get text him for a few days after I got back because they didn't leave right at first, but now he's in Afghanistan and the phone calls are intermittent and sporadic.
So far the deployment has been as expected, it stinks it's no fun and it's lonely. I have heard from him a few times and I have gotten an email from him, but while he's has been in transition it has been hard for him to have reliable phone access or Internet. We are both just ready for this to really get going and be over so he can come home. He did have a stop over flight in Ireland and his comment with a slight country accent was, "The people here sound funny." I was dying laughing. It was just one of those you had to be there for it to be funny kind of thing. So now I'm counting down days, weeks, and months until I have him home with me again.
Getting ready to go Jet-skiing
Movies and the first signs of sunburn
Anniversary Date
Our personalized menus
The dessert plate
Dropping him off
My car after five guys brought me their left over stuff
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Road Trip
The first weekend in April I flew to Idaho to help my sister Rebekah drive back from college. Lucky duck, she got done with spring semester a whole month earlier than OU. The drive is about 22 hours, with minimal stops. It took us around 26 hours because we had to stop a couple of times to catch some zzzz's. My one request of Rebekah was that she be packed when I got there, so we could leave early Saturday morning. This of course didn't happen.
After all the packing was done we then had to pack her car. It was definitely a challenge, but having moved three times with John and twice just me I totally had it down to a science how to squeeze everything in. By the time I was finished packing there wasn't a nook or cranny that was free. After all the packing and rearranging to get everything to fit I just had her snowboard left to fit somewhere. Well Bek has a roof rack so I decided we would just lash it down to the top. She had a few bungee cords, and her friend the eagle scout Danny "lashed 'em down tight." He did suggest that we squeeze the snowboard on the very top of the rest of the stuff, but I thought no way it won't fit lets just tie it down to the top. This resulted in being a bad idea later. Finally we were packed, the apartment cleaned, and keys turned in. We finally got onto the road around 12 pm. Bek's great idea was that she should drive first because "She had been up all night and she was still going from adrenaline and she was fine and she could drive and its her car and she was fine." I took one look at her half glazed over eyes and said uh no way you are not driving. She said but it's my car!! I said "Yea but I still have the key and I'll call dad if I have too." Yes, I'm 23 and married and I threatened to call my daddy to make my little sister behave haha. She finally conceded and agreed I should drive first.
The weather was gray and rainy and super windy. The snowboard that was attached to the roof would wriggle around like a puppy on a leash. The wind would get on the underside of the snowboard bag and the bag would twitch up and down reverberating on the roof. This resulted in the most annoying thumping sound. It was pretty funny though because the bag would only make the noise when Bek and I would talk to each other. At one point Bek looked up through the sunroof shook her finger at the snowboard and said, "Hey you up there. Yea I'm talking to you! You need to settle down. It's rude to interrupt other people's conversations. You just need to wait you turn and shush it." We were both tired and a little sleep deprived her more so than me and we burst out laughing for like 15 minutes. It was just one of those you had to be there for it to be funny kind of thing. After about two hours in, the snowboard started thumping again. Bek looked up in time to see it slide sideways and then go flying off the roof at about 70 mph. Instead of saying Sarah slow down or something like that all she could saw was, "No no no AHH AHH AHH." then she screamed really loud as it flew off. I pulled over and ran about half a mile back against the wind to retrieve the snowboard because I'm the best big sister ever. It's a good thing I've been exercising and working on my cardio because Idaho's elevation is was higher than Oklahoma's haha. Once we recovered the snowboard, Bek did a full all over inspection as she sweet talked to her snowboard saying, "Oh baby you're ok it's ok I'm sorry you're ok." So after the snowboard had been inspected and deemed all in one piece without any scratches we shoved and pushed it into the back until the glass on the rear door would close.
The first four hours of the drive Bek was awake and super hyper like a small kid with way to much candy. After finally getting some food in her and turning on a little Enya she passed out. She slept most of the way through Utah and some into Wyoming. When she woke up she insisted on driving again. I told her I'd let her drive once we got to Denver. Denver is about the halfway point. It's about 11-12 hours to home from Denver. She feel asleep on and off and when she would wake up she'd ask where we were. I knew that if I let her drive she wouldn't make it very far, and we'd have to pull over and rest. I made it almost to Kansas before she realized I had been fibbing about where we were. Once we got to Kansas it was about 1am in the morning. I finally agreed to let Bek drive because I was tired. As she drove and I dozed I kept waking up because it felt like we were all over the road. I asked her several times if she was ok and if I needed to drive. She said she was ok but around 4:50 am she shook me awake and said I think I need to stop I'm falling asleep. So she had made it about 3 hours before we had to pull over. We pulled over at a big busy truck stop and slept for a about 2 hours. She was still tired so I switched her places and got back into the captain's seat to navigate the rest of our drive. We made it into Oklahoma before I needed to stop again. We rested again for about and hour and then finally headed on the home stretch. We finally made it home around 1pm Sunday afternoon. It was a crazy long drive and we were both exhausted after the trip. I laid down and took a 3 hour nap then got on the road to Norman which is about a 1.5 hour drive from my dad's house. It was a good trip and nice quality time with my sister, but I was exhausted for the rest of the following week from basically being awake for 48 hours. The following video clips and pictures are just snippets that documented our travels.
A Little Willow Smith to get the Road Trip Started. Plus Bek is super hyper at this point.
Car Packed and Ready to Go
Seriously Stuffed
Bek Relieved "Her Baby was ok"
Finally Passed Out
In Oklahoma!!!
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Military, Birthdays, and New Habits....
So John has been gone for three weeks now, and I only have a week left until I get to see him for FOUR WHOLE DAYS!! It has been a roller coaster of emotion, but fortunately I have a wonderful family who have been very supportive and checked up on me. I have been focusing a lot on school. If I'm not doing homework, I have been watching army wives. Throughout John's training this past few weeks I have gotten to talk to him everyday which has been a blessing.
I have picked up some new habits since John has gone to help with the loneliness. I now consume unhealthy amounts of lemonade and root beer because those are John's favorites. I also have started sleeping on his side of the bed. I surround myself with pillows so it doesn't feel so empty. It took me two nights to finally get up the courage to sleep in our bed by myself. I also have been listening to a lot of books on CD in the car. I have also been spending a lot of time with family. It has been lonely, but I'm adjusting ok. I just hate that John has missed so much in just a month. The good thing is that we are a month down so only 11 or so more to go!!
We celebrated Jordyn's third birthday the first weekend in March at Incredible pizza. It was Toy Story themed. Ever since the third movie came out Jordyn has been all about Toy Story. She wore jeans her cowboy boots and her Jessie tshirt to her birthday party. She also called me to inform me the should could not be like Toy Story if she did not have braids. She asked very politely in her sweet three year old voice if "puwease can you come over to bwaid my hair" I of course could not refuse such a request and hurried over to french braid her hair before her party. She had a blast eating pizza and cake, and then playing games. We even rode a go kart. She was very excited even though we had to ride in the slow race because she was barely tall enough to ride. She informed me "Mommy doesn't like go Karts. You go with me!!" I asked Amy if she wanted to take Jo and she said no she's right I do not like go Karts. So we went to stand in line for our turn. We came in third place, but I think we could have won if the woman in front of us didn't keep cutting us off. She didn't even have a kid with her. All in all it was a good time had by all.
I have picked up some new habits since John has gone to help with the loneliness. I now consume unhealthy amounts of lemonade and root beer because those are John's favorites. I also have started sleeping on his side of the bed. I surround myself with pillows so it doesn't feel so empty. It took me two nights to finally get up the courage to sleep in our bed by myself. I also have been listening to a lot of books on CD in the car. I have also been spending a lot of time with family. It has been lonely, but I'm adjusting ok. I just hate that John has missed so much in just a month. The good thing is that we are a month down so only 11 or so more to go!!
We celebrated Jordyn's third birthday the first weekend in March at Incredible pizza. It was Toy Story themed. Ever since the third movie came out Jordyn has been all about Toy Story. She wore jeans her cowboy boots and her Jessie tshirt to her birthday party. She also called me to inform me the should could not be like Toy Story if she did not have braids. She asked very politely in her sweet three year old voice if "puwease can you come over to bwaid my hair" I of course could not refuse such a request and hurried over to french braid her hair before her party. She had a blast eating pizza and cake, and then playing games. We even rode a go kart. She was very excited even though we had to ride in the slow race because she was barely tall enough to ride. She informed me "Mommy doesn't like go Karts. You go with me!!" I asked Amy if she wanted to take Jo and she said no she's right I do not like go Karts. So we went to stand in line for our turn. We came in third place, but I think we could have won if the woman in front of us didn't keep cutting us off. She didn't even have a kid with her. All in all it was a good time had by all.
Jordyn's Toy Story Cake
Checking out the Elmo pick up game
Going "super fast" in the go kart
Super excited to ride the go karts
Eating pizza excited for her party
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Snowmageddon
Oklahoma exprienced a massive snow storm last week. The Tulsa area got 14 inches of snow over 12 hours or so. Norman received 9-10 inches in the same amount of time. School was cancelled state wide even universities. OU was closed Tuesday through Friday. And my sister Samantha is still out of school. Her school has been closed from Tuesday last week to today. The best part is it supposed to start snowing again tonight with snow anywhere from 6-10 inches again. Norman cleared out and melted over the weekend, but the streets in the Tulsa, Sapulpa area were still awful. If anyone knows anything about Oklahoma you know that we have some of the worst constructed roads and highways in the United States. Why I don't know, but 14 inches of snow and 1-2 inches of ice don't help the already bad roads. Needless to say many people got stuck in all the drifts and abandoned their cars on the side of highways and side streets.
John and I made it home over the weekend just fine in my car which is all- wheel drive. Then my superbly talented husband managed to get my dad's four-wheel drive truck stuck right after having driven without any complications. He was not a happy camper, but the look on his face was priceless, the what the heck this can't have just really happened look. Classic. Of course he couldn't just get it a little stuck he high centered it. All the shovels were conviently in the basement. The problem, the basement door was frozen shut. So this allowed for a little creativity on my part. I gave john a long broom handle that he used to dig his way out a little. Then he said he needed some more weight in the back of the bed to help weigh the truck down, in order to become unstuck. The master plan, Samantha myself and three dogs got in the back of the truck with sand bags and a chain to weigh down the bed of the truck. After much spinning of tires and smell of burning rubber and 10 minutes we were able to become free of all snow. We did however cause lots of ice from John melting the snow with his tires, which once free on his tires froze into ice.
Despite all the bad roads and cold temperatures, we did enjoy getting to spend so much time together. John's sister and niece built a cute snowman in his parents front yard. Jordyn enjoyed herself in all the snow. Amy, her momma, tried to help Jordyn to make a snow angel, but the snow had melted and frozen a little again. Jordyn is a very petite little girl and didn't weigh enough to actaully sink down in the snow, so Amy had to push her down in the snow. It still didn't work very well but it was funny trying to watch them make snow angels. Well with the next snow storm on the way we have stocked up and are ready to hunker down again if need be.
John and I made it home over the weekend just fine in my car which is all- wheel drive. Then my superbly talented husband managed to get my dad's four-wheel drive truck stuck right after having driven without any complications. He was not a happy camper, but the look on his face was priceless, the what the heck this can't have just really happened look. Classic. Of course he couldn't just get it a little stuck he high centered it. All the shovels were conviently in the basement. The problem, the basement door was frozen shut. So this allowed for a little creativity on my part. I gave john a long broom handle that he used to dig his way out a little. Then he said he needed some more weight in the back of the bed to help weigh the truck down, in order to become unstuck. The master plan, Samantha myself and three dogs got in the back of the truck with sand bags and a chain to weigh down the bed of the truck. After much spinning of tires and smell of burning rubber and 10 minutes we were able to become free of all snow. We did however cause lots of ice from John melting the snow with his tires, which once free on his tires froze into ice.
Despite all the bad roads and cold temperatures, we did enjoy getting to spend so much time together. John's sister and niece built a cute snowman in his parents front yard. Jordyn enjoyed herself in all the snow. Amy, her momma, tried to help Jordyn to make a snow angel, but the snow had melted and frozen a little again. Jordyn is a very petite little girl and didn't weigh enough to actaully sink down in the snow, so Amy had to push her down in the snow. It still didn't work very well but it was funny trying to watch them make snow angels. Well with the next snow storm on the way we have stocked up and are ready to hunker down again if need be.
Jordyn and her snowman
Jordyn, Amy, Laurie, Trisha, and Jen with the snowman they made
Snow on our balcony
Snow on my dad's deck
John and I bundled up to walk to walmart
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Blankets and Dogs.....
So now that baby Hannah and Jordyn have gotten their quilts I can finally post pictures of my hard work!!
Jordyn's Butterfly
Hannah's Teddy Bear
I finished them down to the last second Christmas Eve. These particular pictures are before I frayed all the edges. I loved the way they turned out!! I need to get a picture of the girls all snuggled up in their blankets
In other news we moved our puppies down to Norman for a trial period. They had been living at my dad's, as predominately outside dogs. Lucky us we have had the wonderful joy of potty training. Sofie is already pretty much potty trained , but Lucy only being 6 months old is still working on it. Fortunatley we haven't had to many accidents, and the few we've have had have been small and NO number 2's!!
They have been adjusting well. I on the other hand have not been doing so well. My allergies have been killer, so we are debating about whether or not they will be able to stay with me while John is gone. Even if they aren't able to stay we have been enjoying them here at our apartment.
Sofie wasn't too sure of the stairs when we fisrt brought her, but now she's quite a dainty little lady going down the stairs. After walks Lucy will run up the stairs, and peek around the corner until we come up. Sofie on the other hand waits until we come up behind her. She will turn around and come back down the stairs if we aren't following close enough behind. This video is one of the times this has happened.
So far everything is quiet the way we like it. I'm hoping that I will be able to adjust to them being inside. All is well in the Lowe Home!!
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Christmas, New Year's etc.
Our holiday season began as soon as finals were over. John got to take his finals a week early because he had a military training thing during finals. I was home alone during finals week, but in some ways it was good because I didn't have to many distractions. After my last final my best friend BK and I went to our other best friend, Cassie, graduation. It really made me want to be done with school, but I still have a year or so left. We were supposed to go to another friend's graduation party that weekend, but lucky us we both got sick. John was much more sick than I was. Fortunately we both recovered, but John has been slower to recover than I have.
Once feeling better we helped my sisters decorate the REAL Christmas tree at my dad's house. We got John to actually take a few pictures by guilting him into them. We finished our Christmas shopping with a few days to spare. I let John help me wrap this year, which was difficult for me. I am admittedly an obsessive wrapper. The ends on the paper must match and be folded down both directions. John folds down one side and pulls the other to the underside of the box. I also will tape the paper to the box with exactly three pieces of tape. I enjoy using ribbon and bows. John of course loves watching me concentrate and spend ten minutes wrapping a present that his niece can open in five seconds. He gives me a hard time, but he did try to follow my directions a little better because he didn't want me to re wrap the presents he wrapped. I know it's weird and a little obsessive compulsive, but if that's my one vice I think I'll be okay.
This year Christmas was fairly hectic. We woke up at 6 am to go to John's parent's house to open presents, ate breakfast, and then hustled back to my dad's to open presents. We then hustled back to John's parents for dinner, and of course bustled our way back to my dad's house after to eat dinner again. Fortunately our parents only live like ten minutes apart, so that is a huge blessing and makes Christmas with both families possible.
John and I were attempting to make all of our Christmas gifts this year, but after I made two quilts for his nieces I said yea forget that haha. I would've loved to have made all the presents, but we just didn't have enough time this year. So instead of home made, fill the cockles of your heart with warmth and love presents, we went for useful presents.
We got lots of gifts from family and Santa. Jen, John's sister, got Just Dance one and two from Santa and that was a big hit at the Lowe home. I managed to capture a hilarious video of John and his Dad dancing to Louie Louie, but I can't share this hilarity because John would kill me. I also captured Jo and Jen dancing. Jo only being three didn't really get the concept of the wii remote, so it was strapped very securely to her wrist. She would let go of it and spin in circles. She almost took out the cat at one point. She may not have been a high scorer, but girl can shake what her momma gave her.
We had a good Christmas with our family and lots of food. New Year's wasn't to exciting for us. We had some small family emergencies right before so most of John's family was out of town. My family had a small emergency also so we didn't have any big plans. Since most of John's family was out of town, John and his dad watched the New Year's Rockin Eve, while his 14 year old sister and I played makeup. We had our toast with sprite and kiss and then ended the evening.
We have a month off for Christmas vacation from school, and it's almost over. We have spent most of our break with family. Fortunately we both have great families that make us laugh and know how to have a good clean time. I've been spending most of my time with my sisters and John's super cute nieces, oh and John of course. Unfortunately school starts next week, but I'm looking forward to my classes. Hopefully the next semester can be as fun as this Christmas break has been.
Me, Cass, and BK after Cass' graduation
Once feeling better we helped my sisters decorate the REAL Christmas tree at my dad's house. We got John to actually take a few pictures by guilting him into them. We finished our Christmas shopping with a few days to spare. I let John help me wrap this year, which was difficult for me. I am admittedly an obsessive wrapper. The ends on the paper must match and be folded down both directions. John folds down one side and pulls the other to the underside of the box. I also will tape the paper to the box with exactly three pieces of tape. I enjoy using ribbon and bows. John of course loves watching me concentrate and spend ten minutes wrapping a present that his niece can open in five seconds. He gives me a hard time, but he did try to follow my directions a little better because he didn't want me to re wrap the presents he wrapped. I know it's weird and a little obsessive compulsive, but if that's my one vice I think I'll be okay.
All the Sisters
Classic Hannah and Samantha Faces
John Finally giving us a good smile
This year Christmas was fairly hectic. We woke up at 6 am to go to John's parent's house to open presents, ate breakfast, and then hustled back to my dad's to open presents. We then hustled back to John's parents for dinner, and of course bustled our way back to my dad's house after to eat dinner again. Fortunately our parents only live like ten minutes apart, so that is a huge blessing and makes Christmas with both families possible.
John and I were attempting to make all of our Christmas gifts this year, but after I made two quilts for his nieces I said yea forget that haha. I would've loved to have made all the presents, but we just didn't have enough time this year. So instead of home made, fill the cockles of your heart with warmth and love presents, we went for useful presents.
We got lots of gifts from family and Santa. Jen, John's sister, got Just Dance one and two from Santa and that was a big hit at the Lowe home. I managed to capture a hilarious video of John and his Dad dancing to Louie Louie, but I can't share this hilarity because John would kill me. I also captured Jo and Jen dancing. Jo only being three didn't really get the concept of the wii remote, so it was strapped very securely to her wrist. She would let go of it and spin in circles. She almost took out the cat at one point. She may not have been a high scorer, but girl can shake what her momma gave her.
We had a good Christmas with our family and lots of food. New Year's wasn't to exciting for us. We had some small family emergencies right before so most of John's family was out of town. My family had a small emergency also so we didn't have any big plans. Since most of John's family was out of town, John and his dad watched the New Year's Rockin Eve, while his 14 year old sister and I played makeup. We had our toast with sprite and kiss and then ended the evening.
We have a month off for Christmas vacation from school, and it's almost over. We have spent most of our break with family. Fortunately we both have great families that make us laugh and know how to have a good clean time. I've been spending most of my time with my sisters and John's super cute nieces, oh and John of course. Unfortunately school starts next week, but I'm looking forward to my classes. Hopefully the next semester can be as fun as this Christmas break has been.
Thursday, December 2, 2010
Thanksgiving and Christmas Decorating!!
This year Thanksgiving consisted of my three younger sisters, my dad, my grandpa, and my uncle and his girlfriend. Hannah and Samantha made all of the pies. I made our cranberry surprise and homemade yeast rolls, recipe via my wonderful friend Nat. Then my dad made the mashed potatoes. While us girls finished up the green bean casserole and sweet potatoes. My grandpa brought stuffing and the turkey, and my uncle brought more sweet potatoes and stuffing. We wound up having way to much food. We made five pies anticipating my older sisters and their kids to come over some time during the break. Unfortunately every one's schedules were to busy for us to get together.
I have the most wonderful in-laws that worked around my cooking/eating schedule at my dad's house. The night before Thanksgiving John's younger sister and I helped his mom make the pumpkin pies, which were made with real pumpkin. My mother-in-law is a domestic goddess and cooked down pumpkin mush as I called it (just the inside of a pumpkin). This in turn was our pumpkin flavor. IT WAS AMAZING!!! That was my first experience with a real pumpkin pie, no canned filling.
John and I had to eat twice in one day, and go back and forth to help cook. It was a challenge, but I think we handled it really well. John's family was so gracious and accommodating to my other schedule that everything worked out perfectly. Nothing to exciting happened except eating and cooking. My sisters and John played alot of Halo Reach and watched him play the new Fable game for the xbox360.
John was such a good sport and helped out alot. Even though we kept pushing him out of the kitchen, he was very attentive and always asking if he could do anything to help. He kept an eye on the rolls for me so they wouldn't burn, while I worked on other things. All in all it was a wonderful quiet Thanksgiving.
I am a firm believer in not decorating until December 1st at least. I really hate that stores start putting out Christmas stuff after Halloween. It bugs me because they are like hey forget about Thanksgiving and just start buying stuff for presents. Thanksgiving is an important holiday. It's one to remember why your grateful and how blessed you are. I don't want to be distracted from that by discounted sales and great deals and become another blind consumer. I don't mind people who put up their Christmas trees after Thanksgiving, but at least wait until you have eaten. I don't put ours up until it's December, that way I can remember what November should be about. Plus November is my mother's birthday and my sister Rebekah's birthday. My mother always said that Santa appreciated patience from good little girls and that he wanted us to remember what Thanksgiving was about.
So today was DECEMBER 1ST!!! So I excitedly asked John all day when we could put up our Christmas tree. I'm so excited for Christmas this year because John and I are making many of our presents. Not all of them will be home made but we are trying to give everyone at least one home made item. I can't divulge to much because it's driving my sister-in-law Kara crazy to not know what I'm making her 6 mo old daughter for Christmas. I love Christmas because growing up it was all about family and the miracle of the birth of Christ. My mother has a beautiful porcelain nativity set that we put out every year, and it's honestly one of my most favorite decorations. I've been hinting to John for awhile that I really like the Willow Tree nativity scene, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed.
Sadly we didn't get a real tree this year. Growing up we NEVER had fake trees and neither did John, but we had this little tree that I got last year when we lived with at my dad's in his basement. Our room wasn't big enough for a real tree so I surprised John one day last December with a little pre-lit fake tree to make it more cozy. Our first Christmas together we did have a real tree, but not so this year. Yes I did have to hold back tears when John said well lets just use the small fake tree since we won't even really be in Norman after finals. I grudgingly agreed and up went our cozy little tree.
I love decorating Christmas trees. My mom loved cluttered trees with all of our home made ornaments and special ornaments she had collected over the years. We used to always make Christmas chains out of red and green construction paper to decorate around the ceiling and arches in the living room. I did keep with tradition this year and got everyone Christmas PJ's when they were on sale at old navy. John and Hannah have polar bears. Sam has reindeer. Bek has Christmas trees. I have snowflakes and my dad said ah I won't wear them I always just wear scrubs to bed.
I told John that when we grow up and have our dream house (whenever that may come to pass) that I needed a formal living room and then a family room. He asked why, and I replied so we can have TWO Christmas trees. So we could have a fancy formal one in the front and the chunky covered to death in home made decorations one in the family room where we would actually open presents. I love the smell and freshness that a real Christmas tree brings to a home. One year my dad actually bought a live tree that we planted after Christmas. It's cool because now its his backyard and every year we look at that tree we remember that long ago Christmas.
John's family has a really cool tradition that we incorporated into our Christmas traditions. Every year everyone in the family gets a new Christmas ornament before they get the tree. This year our ornament is a piece we picked up when we visited Rome. It's just really cool because you can see the difference in personalities on John's parents trees. Once the kid moves out they get to take their ornaments with them. So our little tree is covered in clunky and beautiful ornaments carried along through out John's childhood.
When I decorate a Christmas tree I try to break up the colors so you have to actually look at everything, and you don't just look at a focal point. And yes I even decorate the back of the tree that no one can see. I got that habit from helping and watching my mother decorate our tree when I was growing up. She used to say don't you think the back will be sad if he or she doesn't get to dress up all fancy like the front. This was always followed by laughs and giggles by myself and my sisters because my mom was insistent on not hurting the back side of the tree's feelings.
I have the most wonderful in-laws that worked around my cooking/eating schedule at my dad's house. The night before Thanksgiving John's younger sister and I helped his mom make the pumpkin pies, which were made with real pumpkin. My mother-in-law is a domestic goddess and cooked down pumpkin mush as I called it (just the inside of a pumpkin). This in turn was our pumpkin flavor. IT WAS AMAZING!!! That was my first experience with a real pumpkin pie, no canned filling.
John and I had to eat twice in one day, and go back and forth to help cook. It was a challenge, but I think we handled it really well. John's family was so gracious and accommodating to my other schedule that everything worked out perfectly. Nothing to exciting happened except eating and cooking. My sisters and John played alot of Halo Reach and watched him play the new Fable game for the xbox360.
John was such a good sport and helped out alot. Even though we kept pushing him out of the kitchen, he was very attentive and always asking if he could do anything to help. He kept an eye on the rolls for me so they wouldn't burn, while I worked on other things. All in all it was a wonderful quiet Thanksgiving.
Great Pic of John answering a phone call while watching the rolls. He has two oven mitts on and was trying to block out all the noise with one and hold his phone in the other.
After two yummy meals.
I am a firm believer in not decorating until December 1st at least. I really hate that stores start putting out Christmas stuff after Halloween. It bugs me because they are like hey forget about Thanksgiving and just start buying stuff for presents. Thanksgiving is an important holiday. It's one to remember why your grateful and how blessed you are. I don't want to be distracted from that by discounted sales and great deals and become another blind consumer. I don't mind people who put up their Christmas trees after Thanksgiving, but at least wait until you have eaten. I don't put ours up until it's December, that way I can remember what November should be about. Plus November is my mother's birthday and my sister Rebekah's birthday. My mother always said that Santa appreciated patience from good little girls and that he wanted us to remember what Thanksgiving was about.
So today was DECEMBER 1ST!!! So I excitedly asked John all day when we could put up our Christmas tree. I'm so excited for Christmas this year because John and I are making many of our presents. Not all of them will be home made but we are trying to give everyone at least one home made item. I can't divulge to much because it's driving my sister-in-law Kara crazy to not know what I'm making her 6 mo old daughter for Christmas. I love Christmas because growing up it was all about family and the miracle of the birth of Christ. My mother has a beautiful porcelain nativity set that we put out every year, and it's honestly one of my most favorite decorations. I've been hinting to John for awhile that I really like the Willow Tree nativity scene, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed.
Sadly we didn't get a real tree this year. Growing up we NEVER had fake trees and neither did John, but we had this little tree that I got last year when we lived with at my dad's in his basement. Our room wasn't big enough for a real tree so I surprised John one day last December with a little pre-lit fake tree to make it more cozy. Our first Christmas together we did have a real tree, but not so this year. Yes I did have to hold back tears when John said well lets just use the small fake tree since we won't even really be in Norman after finals. I grudgingly agreed and up went our cozy little tree.
I love decorating Christmas trees. My mom loved cluttered trees with all of our home made ornaments and special ornaments she had collected over the years. We used to always make Christmas chains out of red and green construction paper to decorate around the ceiling and arches in the living room. I did keep with tradition this year and got everyone Christmas PJ's when they were on sale at old navy. John and Hannah have polar bears. Sam has reindeer. Bek has Christmas trees. I have snowflakes and my dad said ah I won't wear them I always just wear scrubs to bed.
I told John that when we grow up and have our dream house (whenever that may come to pass) that I needed a formal living room and then a family room. He asked why, and I replied so we can have TWO Christmas trees. So we could have a fancy formal one in the front and the chunky covered to death in home made decorations one in the family room where we would actually open presents. I love the smell and freshness that a real Christmas tree brings to a home. One year my dad actually bought a live tree that we planted after Christmas. It's cool because now its his backyard and every year we look at that tree we remember that long ago Christmas.
John's family has a really cool tradition that we incorporated into our Christmas traditions. Every year everyone in the family gets a new Christmas ornament before they get the tree. This year our ornament is a piece we picked up when we visited Rome. It's just really cool because you can see the difference in personalities on John's parents trees. Once the kid moves out they get to take their ornaments with them. So our little tree is covered in clunky and beautiful ornaments carried along through out John's childhood.
When I decorate a Christmas tree I try to break up the colors so you have to actually look at everything, and you don't just look at a focal point. And yes I even decorate the back of the tree that no one can see. I got that habit from helping and watching my mother decorate our tree when I was growing up. She used to say don't you think the back will be sad if he or she doesn't get to dress up all fancy like the front. This was always followed by laughs and giggles by myself and my sisters because my mom was insistent on not hurting the back side of the tree's feelings.
Our stockings! Our real ones are at my dad's so we bought cheap ones and put a Little Gingerbread Woman and Gingerbread Man on the stockings
Our little decorated Christmas tree
The tree in comparison to John
We always use an angel as a Christmas topper.
The story behind why I always put an Angel on the Top is very sweet. I don't know whether or not it is a true story, but it is one my mother always told us growing up. I have not been able to find any documentation to verify this story, but even if it didn't really happen it's a good story.
My mother was born in Germany on and Army base. She did not live in the US until she was four and she spoke very little English. Her nanny was German and so she learned German and English at the same time, but heard German more often because of her nanny. So this story may have come from said nanny.
The story: In a small German village there was a sculptor that had a young daughter that he loved very much. She was a beautiful little girl with bright blue eyes and long dark blond ringlets. She would play and draw while her father sculpted pieces that people paid him to make. His daughter was always a happy child, and loved to play outdoors when the weather was fair. During World War II the sculptor's shop was bombed and everything was destroyed. His precious little girl died in the accident. The sculptor was so sad that he couldn't sculpt for a very long time. You see his daughter had been his inspiration. One night he had a dream of his daughter laughing a playing in Heaven. She turned and looked at him, and said Daddy don't cry I am happy in heaven. God gave me wings and made me one of his angels. I want you to be happy. I miss you but we will see each other again. After the man awoke from this dream all he could picture was his daughter's cherubic face looking down on him. He started sculpting her face over and over until it was as close to a perfect replica his hands could make. Once he made the face, he sculpted a body with wings. He then added his daughter's face to the Angel, and set it in the window so she could always watch over him. A woman walking by saw this beautiful Angel in the window and rushed into the story asking the man how much he would sell it for. He said he could not sell the angel because it was inspired by is deceased daughter. He told the woman I could never put a price on that face, but I can make another if you truly wish to have one. The woman said she couldn't let him create something so beautiful with out compensating him. He refused any payment and said it was his Christmas gift to the woman. She finally agreed since he said it would be a gift. When she picked up the finished piece the sculptor had hollowed out the inside and left a sheer material for the clothes so the woman could put a candle near the Angel and it would shimmer and shine. The woman showed her beautiful new Angel to all her friends who all decided they must have a copy of this breathtaking Angel. The sculptor would not accept any money for his sculptures, but gave them all away as gifts. When people asked why he wouldn't take any money he would look in the window at his first Angel and say my little Angel wouldn't accept money for her beauty so why should I. That year when he placed his Christmas tree in his shop he put his little Angel on the top so she could see all the decorations and look down on him. When the women and men who bought his little Angels saw his tree they followed suit.
And to this day that is why I use an Angel as a tree topper. I know the star is traditional, as the guiding light to the shepherds, but the Angel that guided the shepherds and told them of Christ's coming is equally important. I like to think of my Angel now as my mother's gift to me. She will always be there to watch us and look out for us. It may not be a real story, but it's real to me because that is why my mom put an Angel on our tree every year. I have continued the tradition as well as my sisters. Hopefully we can pass it on to our children. I love the holidays and I'm so excited for all of our home made gifts this year!!
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
Mom's Birthday
Yesterday November 8th was my mother's birthday. She would have been 54 years old this year. It was a difficult day to get through. It is even harder because the holidays are coming up. She was an amazing woman. I miss her every day. She never liked to make her birthday a big deal, but us girls always tried to surprise her with something. I remember one year we made her breakfast in bed. I was about 10 or 12 so my sister Hannah and I did most of the cooking while Bek and Sam made the tray pretty with a flower and tried to fold the napkin in fancy shapes.
Birthdays are a big deal in my family, even though my mom tried to downplay hers. She always made such a special day for us we always wanted to return the favor. One year for my 8th birthday I think, she filled up tons of balloons. I had no idea, but when I got home from school my ceiling was covered in pink and purple balloons. I just wish I had more time with her to return all the favors that she did for me.
It's hard especially because she and I were getting to the stage where we weren't just mother and daughter we were becoming really good friends. My sister Bek sent me a sweet text, that I'm sure she sent to all my sisters. She said she knew that the day would be hard, but that mom would want us to keep our heads up and not boo hoo all over the place. Boo hooing was a term my mom used to explain self pity. I couldn't stop thinking about her all day. I know that she wouldn't want us to be sad, but it's so hard to lose your mother at any age. It is even harder when you didn't get the chance to spend as much time with her for all the important things.
Being the oldest of my sisters I always think about the things she is missing with them. Sam was only 15 when my mom passed away. My mom missed her driving test, her first prom. She will miss her wedding. Her high school graduation. She missed Bek's high school graduation. She will miss all of our college graduations. She will miss all of her grand children being born. Sometimes I feel guilty because she was at my wedding, but she won't be at any of my sisters. I try very hard to keep her memory alive for myself and my sisters. I'm trying to keep the Holiday fairies in tack as much as possible. I know that she will "be there" but it's not the same as physically. I won't ever have pictures of my children with their Ya Ya (that's what she wanted to be called) She said Nana and Mimi were to delicate for someone as feisty as her.
She was an incredible woman. She raised 3 teenage girls that weren't her own, while having four more girls. She stayed at home with us until Sam was in Kindergarten, before going back to work. She always sacrificed so we could have what we needed and most of what we wanted. She worked like mad racing around every where to keep up with chores and after school activities. She made sure we were involved and active in our church youth programs. She would rub our backs till we fell asleep even when I was 15 years old and was sick. She always had that special mommy touch and stern look. She always yelled when she was happy, excited or mad. She always had a zeal for life and her children. She always knew when you needed a hug or to be left alone. She loved serving others and had a huge heart for other people. She was an amazing and loving wife to my dad. She always stood up for herself and her family. She loved us unconditionally even when we were terrors. She was steadfast in her faith even though she was a convert and the only member in her family. She blessed me with wonderful sisters that all remind me of her in different ways.
Since she passed away I've been trying to read this book called Motherless Daughters: The Legacy of Loss by Hope Edelman . I can't read very much at a time because I get all weepy and sad, but it is an amazing book. Grief and loss is some what of a taboo subject in our culture. You're expected to deal with the loss and get over it. It is a cyclical thing. You go through the cycle and then are better for awhile, but something will always set off the cycle again. A birth, an important event, a smell, a song, or sometimes even just a thought. One of the first lines in the book was, "When a mother dies, a daughter's mourning never completely ends." That is so true. The author talks about a friend she had in high school asked how much her mother's death could really affect the rest of her life. She wrote that if she could go back and tell that friend she would tell her,"I would tell her: Everything. It effects everything. When a mother dies, a daughter grieves. And then her live moves on. She does, thankfully, feel happiness again. But the missing her, the wanting her, the wishing she were still here- I will not lie to you, although you probably already know. That part never ends."
I know that sounds like a depressing thing always missing your mother, but it is true. I miss her every day. I am fortunate to have to knowledge to know that I can and will be with her again someday. While I know that I will see her again one day it does take away the missing her and wanting her. I know she will be waiting for me on the other side, but that doesn't fix the right now. I know she's still my mom and she's still there, but she can't be on the other end of the phone listening to me tell her about an argument I had with my husband or sister. I won't ever be able to call her and tell her I'm pregnant. She won't be able to be at the birth of my children. She will miss alot of important things that have yet to happen in my life and the lives of my sisters. I will always miss her. I w ill always love her. Even though she's not physically here she will always be my Momma.
Birthdays are a big deal in my family, even though my mom tried to downplay hers. She always made such a special day for us we always wanted to return the favor. One year for my 8th birthday I think, she filled up tons of balloons. I had no idea, but when I got home from school my ceiling was covered in pink and purple balloons. I just wish I had more time with her to return all the favors that she did for me.
It's hard especially because she and I were getting to the stage where we weren't just mother and daughter we were becoming really good friends. My sister Bek sent me a sweet text, that I'm sure she sent to all my sisters. She said she knew that the day would be hard, but that mom would want us to keep our heads up and not boo hoo all over the place. Boo hooing was a term my mom used to explain self pity. I couldn't stop thinking about her all day. I know that she wouldn't want us to be sad, but it's so hard to lose your mother at any age. It is even harder when you didn't get the chance to spend as much time with her for all the important things.
Being the oldest of my sisters I always think about the things she is missing with them. Sam was only 15 when my mom passed away. My mom missed her driving test, her first prom. She will miss her wedding. Her high school graduation. She missed Bek's high school graduation. She will miss all of our college graduations. She will miss all of her grand children being born. Sometimes I feel guilty because she was at my wedding, but she won't be at any of my sisters. I try very hard to keep her memory alive for myself and my sisters. I'm trying to keep the Holiday fairies in tack as much as possible. I know that she will "be there" but it's not the same as physically. I won't ever have pictures of my children with their Ya Ya (that's what she wanted to be called) She said Nana and Mimi were to delicate for someone as feisty as her.
She was an incredible woman. She raised 3 teenage girls that weren't her own, while having four more girls. She stayed at home with us until Sam was in Kindergarten, before going back to work. She always sacrificed so we could have what we needed and most of what we wanted. She worked like mad racing around every where to keep up with chores and after school activities. She made sure we were involved and active in our church youth programs. She would rub our backs till we fell asleep even when I was 15 years old and was sick. She always had that special mommy touch and stern look. She always yelled when she was happy, excited or mad. She always had a zeal for life and her children. She always knew when you needed a hug or to be left alone. She loved serving others and had a huge heart for other people. She was an amazing and loving wife to my dad. She always stood up for herself and her family. She loved us unconditionally even when we were terrors. She was steadfast in her faith even though she was a convert and the only member in her family. She blessed me with wonderful sisters that all remind me of her in different ways.
Since she passed away I've been trying to read this book called Motherless Daughters: The Legacy of Loss by Hope Edelman . I can't read very much at a time because I get all weepy and sad, but it is an amazing book. Grief and loss is some what of a taboo subject in our culture. You're expected to deal with the loss and get over it. It is a cyclical thing. You go through the cycle and then are better for awhile, but something will always set off the cycle again. A birth, an important event, a smell, a song, or sometimes even just a thought. One of the first lines in the book was, "When a mother dies, a daughter's mourning never completely ends." That is so true. The author talks about a friend she had in high school asked how much her mother's death could really affect the rest of her life. She wrote that if she could go back and tell that friend she would tell her,"I would tell her: Everything. It effects everything. When a mother dies, a daughter grieves. And then her live moves on. She does, thankfully, feel happiness again. But the missing her, the wanting her, the wishing she were still here- I will not lie to you, although you probably already know. That part never ends."
I know that sounds like a depressing thing always missing your mother, but it is true. I miss her every day. I am fortunate to have to knowledge to know that I can and will be with her again someday. While I know that I will see her again one day it does take away the missing her and wanting her. I know she will be waiting for me on the other side, but that doesn't fix the right now. I know she's still my mom and she's still there, but she can't be on the other end of the phone listening to me tell her about an argument I had with my husband or sister. I won't ever be able to call her and tell her I'm pregnant. She won't be able to be at the birth of my children. She will miss alot of important things that have yet to happen in my life and the lives of my sisters. I will always miss her. I w ill always love her. Even though she's not physically here she will always be my Momma.
My Mom and Dad in Hawaii
At one of my older sisters weddings.
Sunday, November 7, 2010
Halloween, Holidays, and Happy Family
Halloween this year wasn't terribly exciting for John and I this year. We did not dress up, mainly because we didn't have any where to go. On Friday the 29th of October John did have a tall green friend visit one of his classes. Gumby was visiting random classrooms around OU campus, just to freak people out. John of course loving any kind of prank thought the man behind the Gumby suit was a genius. Unfortunately John didn't get a picture of Gumby sitting in on his History of Science class.
While we didn't dress up John's two year old niece decided to be Ariel this year, wig and all. All of the mermaid outfits we could find didn't really have enough room for her to walk in. The tail on the bottom of the costume would be to tight for her to move her feet. Fortunately John and I found a cute little dress that was "mermaid." It was the same colors as the other Ariel costumes, but it stopped around her knees so she could walk normally. Jo was so funny because she wanted the red wig to go with her costume. This of was funny to the rest of us because as a baby she hated bows, hats, or headbands on her head. She looked super cute and was very excited to "twicker tweat."
Two of my favorite Holiday's are now well on there way!! I love Thanksgiving because all of my family gets to together, and you don't have to feel to guilty about how much that you eat. My younger sisters and I will be cooking this year. We cooked last year too, but it should be interesting because everyone wants to be in charge. My grandpa is making the turkey like he does every year. We always make a cranberry thing that my mother never had a name for. My freshman year of college we had an FHE Thanksgiving, I made my cranberry stuff as I called it. Two of my lovely roommates, Natalie and Kristin, decided it was much more elegant to call it Cranberry Surprise or Cranberry Salad. Now in my family it is known as Cranberry surprise rather than cranberry stuff.
I love my family more than anything in the world. We have so much fun most of the time. Anyone that knows my family well, knows that we do not sugar coat things for each other. While we are all very stubborn and opinionated we mesh very well. Once we get past the arguing and screaming we normally get along well. Growing up with three younger sisters does make for a crazy household, especially in the mornings trying to get ready for school. As we have gotten older we seem to be getting along much better. My favorite thing about my family is that we can have fun in any situation. One time we were in Tennessee for a basketball tournament, and we were walking around the mall in between games. My mother always up for games decided we should all talk in a British accent and see if anyone could tell we were really from Oklahoma. I am proud to say we passed it off pretty well. Samantha my youngest sister was 10 or so at the time, and occasionally would slip and say y'all or something along those lines. We did convince the people at the checkout we were really from England. If we weren't mimicking an English accent we would talk in a deep south Mississippian accent.
We have an Aunt Marie and Uncle Bob who live in Mississippi. We would go to family reunions every two years when I was growing up, and for a couple weeks after we would come home we all had a deep south accent for awhile. My sisters are some of the funniest people I know. Sometimes it's planned humor and other times some of the things they say (myself included) is so out there you don't know where it came from. For example, a couple of months ago John, my sister Sam and myself were picking up my dad from the airport. My dad is very particular about how far the gas tank can get before it is imperative to fill up. He doesn't like it to get under a quarter of tank. After we filled up, Sam looked at my dad and John with a serious contemplative look and said, "When a car runs out of gas it just runs on the battery right?" I thought my dad and John were going to die from laughter. Sam immediately realized that she was incorrect and tried to cover it up my shouting over John and my dad's peals of laughter saying "Well hybrids do!! They run on batteries!!" I can't talk much because John almost got me when he said that I needed to go to walmart and get more blinker fluid. I had to think about it before I realized he was pulling my leg. I know this sounds like we Worrall girls no nothing of cars and such but our dad took car of that stuff for us. He was always worried we "wouldn't do it right." John has been quick to fill in my gaps in my car education. I am proud to say I know how the pistons work in the engine. If nothing else the Worrall girls are good for laughs. I love my family despite all of blonde moments (we are all prominently brunettes) and our craziness. A family without some craziness in my opinion would be incredibly boring. Families are forever and I'm so glad to be blessed with the family I have.
While we didn't dress up John's two year old niece decided to be Ariel this year, wig and all. All of the mermaid outfits we could find didn't really have enough room for her to walk in. The tail on the bottom of the costume would be to tight for her to move her feet. Fortunately John and I found a cute little dress that was "mermaid." It was the same colors as the other Ariel costumes, but it stopped around her knees so she could walk normally. Jo was so funny because she wanted the red wig to go with her costume. This of was funny to the rest of us because as a baby she hated bows, hats, or headbands on her head. She looked super cute and was very excited to "twicker tweat."
Two of my favorite Holiday's are now well on there way!! I love Thanksgiving because all of my family gets to together, and you don't have to feel to guilty about how much that you eat. My younger sisters and I will be cooking this year. We cooked last year too, but it should be interesting because everyone wants to be in charge. My grandpa is making the turkey like he does every year. We always make a cranberry thing that my mother never had a name for. My freshman year of college we had an FHE Thanksgiving, I made my cranberry stuff as I called it. Two of my lovely roommates, Natalie and Kristin, decided it was much more elegant to call it Cranberry Surprise or Cranberry Salad. Now in my family it is known as Cranberry surprise rather than cranberry stuff.
The Women behind the Name of the Cranberry Suprise
Nat
Kristin
I love my family more than anything in the world. We have so much fun most of the time. Anyone that knows my family well, knows that we do not sugar coat things for each other. While we are all very stubborn and opinionated we mesh very well. Once we get past the arguing and screaming we normally get along well. Growing up with three younger sisters does make for a crazy household, especially in the mornings trying to get ready for school. As we have gotten older we seem to be getting along much better. My favorite thing about my family is that we can have fun in any situation. One time we were in Tennessee for a basketball tournament, and we were walking around the mall in between games. My mother always up for games decided we should all talk in a British accent and see if anyone could tell we were really from Oklahoma. I am proud to say we passed it off pretty well. Samantha my youngest sister was 10 or so at the time, and occasionally would slip and say y'all or something along those lines. We did convince the people at the checkout we were really from England. If we weren't mimicking an English accent we would talk in a deep south Mississippian accent.
We have an Aunt Marie and Uncle Bob who live in Mississippi. We would go to family reunions every two years when I was growing up, and for a couple weeks after we would come home we all had a deep south accent for awhile. My sisters are some of the funniest people I know. Sometimes it's planned humor and other times some of the things they say (myself included) is so out there you don't know where it came from. For example, a couple of months ago John, my sister Sam and myself were picking up my dad from the airport. My dad is very particular about how far the gas tank can get before it is imperative to fill up. He doesn't like it to get under a quarter of tank. After we filled up, Sam looked at my dad and John with a serious contemplative look and said, "When a car runs out of gas it just runs on the battery right?" I thought my dad and John were going to die from laughter. Sam immediately realized that she was incorrect and tried to cover it up my shouting over John and my dad's peals of laughter saying "Well hybrids do!! They run on batteries!!" I can't talk much because John almost got me when he said that I needed to go to walmart and get more blinker fluid. I had to think about it before I realized he was pulling my leg. I know this sounds like we Worrall girls no nothing of cars and such but our dad took car of that stuff for us. He was always worried we "wouldn't do it right." John has been quick to fill in my gaps in my car education. I am proud to say I know how the pistons work in the engine. If nothing else the Worrall girls are good for laughs. I love my family despite all of blonde moments (we are all prominently brunettes) and our craziness. A family without some craziness in my opinion would be incredibly boring. Families are forever and I'm so glad to be blessed with the family I have.
Jojo as the Ariel
Our Little Mermaid
(John has grown some more he's 6'6" or 6'7" now. He was 6'5" when we got married.)
Classic Samantha Face
Typical of reaction of to many pictures
Exploring the L.L. Bean store. Great Hats huh!!
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