John's Sunday Trip

John went out this weekend. Here are some pictures from the Sunday trip. It was somewhere north of Kabul. Most of the photos were taken from a moving vehicle and through that thick safety glass. I thought they were flying in helicopters out to the site--glad I didn't know they were going in a convoy, because I don't think I would have been able to sleep had I known.

Make a Smilebox slideshow

November 2

So thankful today for the GORGEOUS weather.

Thirty Days of Thanks

This idea comes from NaBloPoMo, National Blog Posting Month. I think the 30 days of thanks started last year. I am not really sure. Here is the post that started many, many bloggers to post every day. I'm going to try it; I hope you will, too. If you do, please leave me a message so I can read your blog everyday!

I am thankful to live in a country where I can write whatever I choose, where thinking and speaking is allowed.

Gaahh!! I hate driving in Georgia.

We've traveled a lot. We've probably traveled more without John than with him. But today has got to be the all-time record for misery in the car. One child was loathe to leave Vero Beach. It was not the 5 year old! If you happened to be driving through Orlando around noon, you would have seen us on the side of the Florida Turnpike, with that same child doing push-ups. (Again, not the 5 year old.)

And then leave it to Georgia to have so much freeway construction going on that we had an extra hour of driving.

Luci added an extra 30 minutes onto that by having to "go potty" three extra times. Why did I ever potty train her? I guess it will be good in the long run, huh?

Ares 1-X Rocket Launch

We saw the rocket! What a wonderful thing, even from 58 miles away. Now, to make you all jealous: Luci and I rushed out of the pool to go to the beach to watch the launch. Bryan and JT missed it--they were busy with surfing lessons!

Here's the story: Ares1-X Rocket Launch and a photo from Fox News.

Tuesday at Vero Beach

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Happy Birthday!

Luci turned five on Monday. She proclaimed it "The Best Day Ever."
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After Luci went to sleep Sunday night, JT decorated the apartment and I frosted the cake. We had cake for breakfast!


Luci went to a crafts class.

Campfire at night--complete with silly songs. I didn't know the boys were so talented at singing "A Tooty-Tah-Ta." I thought that was just a Luci thing. The campfire ladies also chose Luci to take part in a song, but then had her go find her mom or dad. Since dad wasn't available, I got to embarrass myself in front of the crowd. Unfortunately, no pictures of that disgrace survived....


Roasting marshmallows....

to make Smores! How did that marshmallow get on her temple??

Sunday at the Beach

What joy! This is the first time Luci has touched the Atlantic Ocean. She is jumping in this picture. You can see the reflection of her feet beneath her on the wet sand.
Why I should be more diligent with Luci about what she eats. We were playing bingo. Prizes were candy and little toys. This was taken about 10 minutes after she started eating one of those Halloween packets of Skittles. She went from calm to pretty wild in that length of time. Thank goodness her reactions seem to be short--she was calm three hours later. Bryan's reactions used to last three whole days! Check out the Feingold diet for help with ADHD-type behaviors.

Good thing I brought the things for Luci's birthday cake with us. Naturally colored icing, courtesy of India Tree food colors. Not such a neat icing job, but cute and just what she asked for: "banilla cake, banilla frosting and PINK dots!"

Yes, we're on our way...

Isn't that the song from Disney's Brother Bear? We will be at Vero Beach tomorrow--with our Disney Vacation Club. We've been planning this since we knew for certain that John was going back overseas--so, since the end of June. We are so ready for time off from everything! Yay! When we got across the Florida line this afternoon, the temperature went up 8 whole degrees! I am not kidding. So looking forward to a whole week of no school, no schedules, no whining (at least from myself).

The Pumpkin Patch

Luci and I went to McGee Farm today. Luci was thrilled to ride on a hay wagon. She went a bit nutty as the tractor rolled into sight. Luci also painted her pumpkin and milked a "cow." Other shots in the collage are of JT swinging Luci around--that one made a neat shadow--and Bryan putting the new license plate on the van. Double-click on the collage to see it larger. (oops. It might not enlarge for you--it didn't for me.)

Heard and Seen Recently

A couple of days ago, at dinner, one of the boys (who shall remain nameless, but his intials are J.T.) was going on and on about what he "needs" us to get him. I said, "(nameless son), it's not all about you." Whereupon Luci pipes up, "Yeah! It's all about ME."

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Bryan has been wearing a bracelet--you know, those rubbery things that are so popular now--that says, "Army Strong." He's had it on since John's trip started up again at the end of June. He says it is in support of his Dad.

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JT has been practicing his paint ball moves in the field out back. He's ready to take us all on when John gets home.

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John told me I could go look for a camera for my Christmas present, so I did. I now have a very nice Nikon D3000. John is so good at picking out gifts. Here's a photograph that I took today, after about 45 minutes of learning how to use the camera. Luci is trying to blow the fuzz off of a dandelion.

You might be Homeschooled if....

Luci-isms

Vamplier--Vampire
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Glip Gloth--lip gloss (and no, she does not lisp at all)
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Jacklyn--one of those pumpkins that makes a face like this:

Science Experiment--From Alpha Omega Publications

This fun fall science experiment that teaches children how to see the rainbow in a leaf. An easy project that only requires simple household materials, this leaf chromatography experiment reinforces why leaves turn different colors in the fall and other fascinating photosynthesis facts found in LIFEPAC® and Switched-On Schoolhouse® sixth grade science lessons from Alpha Omega Publications®. Plus, your child will also gain a deeper understanding of God's marvelous design of a leaf.

Materials:

Assortment of green leaves

Small jars (baby food jars work great)

Jar covers, aluminum foil, or plastic wrapRubbing alcohol

White paper coffee filters

Shallow pan

Hot tap water

Tape

Pens

Plastic knife or spoon

Kitchen timer

Scissors

Notebook

Procedure:1. Gather two or three large leaves from several different species of trees. (Maple trees and other trees that have dramatic fall color changes work best). In a notebook, designate a page for each of the leaves and record the different colors you see in each of the leaves.

2. Cut two long, thin strips of coffee filter paper for each jar. Use half of the coffee filter strips to label the jars with each tree's name and location.

3. Tear or cut the leaves into tiny pieces and put them into separate small jars.

4. Add just enough rubbing alcohol to cover the leaves in each jar. Carefully chop or grind them into the alcohol using a plastic knife or spoon. NOTE: Isopropyl rubbing alcohol can be harmful if not used correctly. Read label warnings and directions carefully.

5. Loosely cover the top of the jars with lids, plastic wrap, or aluminum foil.

6. Place the jars into a shallow pan filled with one inch of very hot tap water.

7. Allow the jars to stand in the hot water for at least a half hour (longer if necessary) until the alcohol has become colored (the darker the solution, the better). Gently swirl each jar every five minutes and replace the hot water if it starts to cool.

8. Uncover the jars and remove them from the water.

9. On one end only, label the remaining coffee filter strips with each tree's name and location.

Then, place the strips into the appropriate jars, so one end is immersed in the alcohol, and the labeled end is wrapped around a pen suspended across the top of the jar. Secure the piece of paper with tape.

What you'll observe: The alcohol will slowly begin to travel up the paper, bringing the colors in the leaves with it. After an hour or two, the colors will travel different distances up the paper as the alcohol evaporates.

Depending on the type of tree, your homeschooler should see different pigment shades of green (chlorophylls), yellow (xanthophylls), orange (carotenoids), and red (anthocyanins) from the leaves.

10. Remove the strips of pigmented paper before the alcohol reaches the top and allow them to dry. The finished paper strips are called chromatographs. Tape them to the pages of your notebook and record your observations. How many colors are visible? Could you see the same colors in the leaves before the experiment? Based on your fun fall experiment, which tree leaves do you think will turn the brightest and least bright this fall?

Retail Therapy

Oh, my goodness! I had such a nice time today. Luci and I ran off to Huntsville to the Build a Bear Workshop. The boys were supposed to be doing their schoolwork while we were gone. Suffice it to say that they are doing their schoolwork now. Luci and I had a grand time chatting about lots of things (almost all of her choosing, of course--there's only so much you can talk to a four-year-old about). After choosing the perfect (purr-fect?) Hello Kitty and a camouflage bear for JT (we named it Daddy Bear, of course), Luci and I had lunch in the food court. She loves the mall. Any mall. But this one had escalators and an elevator (which our one-story mall does not) and she was in hog-heaven.

5 Reasons to Love Halloween

5 Finally, a no-cook holiday. Woo-Hoo!

4 Raiding--er...inspecting your kids' candy.

3 Calling your sister's kids "little devils" won't start a fight.

2 Cobwebs are considered decorations.

1 Three words: chocolate, chocolate, chocolate.

taken from First for women, 10/26/09

Mid-Autumn Moon Festival

Today is the Harvest Moon Festival in China. Luci fell asleep before the moon came up tonight. Luci's nightly ritual is to blow kisses to the moon for Daddy and catch the kisses Daddy sent up the night before. (Another thing to help with Daddy's deployment.)
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We skipped the real moon cakes and had moon pies instead. Moon cakes are an acquired taste.
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This website has some interesting tidbits about the Moon Festival. Here is a real moon cake recipe and here is one place for ordering, if you are more adventurous than we are.

On the Home Front

This is just my experience; others whose family members are in a war zone have different experiences. This is what it’s like at our house.

I hear a lot of “Oh, you are so brave, I would just fall apart if my husband was over there/gone for so long/in such a dangerous place.”

Bravery does not enter into the equation for me: falling apart is not an option. There are kids here who need to be fed, need someone to be there, and keep things going, so things just get done.

The kids. They keep me going. I cannot be a mass of jelly when kids need me to get up and fix breakfast, quell their almost daily riots and teach them. I don’t know how I’d handle this separation without the kids here to keep me somewhat sane. Although they do seem to suck out what sanity I do have on some days, they help so much to just get me through those days.
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We’ve done this for three tours of duty, and now we are on tour four. 2002-2003: twelve months. 2004-2005: six months. 2008-2009 six months. 2009-2010 six months. The boys are used to this now, and deal with the separation much differently than they did in the first two tours.

Bryan was 9 when John’s first trip started. He’s 17 now. JT was so clingy during the first trip that Bryan complained, “You don’t hug me as much as you do JT. I want hugs, too.” OUCH. Ever since then, I have made it a point to hug on Bryan as often as he’ll let me. He still hugs back, and even chooses to sit next to me in worship instead of searching out his friends.

JT was 5 when John left the first time. JT wears his heart on his sleeve. We “sent JT” to John in 2003, like we did with Luci last year. JT told us that he would answer the phone if the army ever called again, and “tell them ‘You can’t have my Daddy!’” JT says that he still hates many commercials because “they show Dads having fun with their kids.” And then he cries.

Luci has had an agonizing time, even worse than JT had back in ‘03. Much of her angst stems from remembering being left in China--she is aware that someone left her for the orphanage to find. She vaguely remembers being left by the orphanage director in 2005--handed over to some strange people who became her family. The International Adoption Clinic in Birmingham has helped quite a bit, helping us to be more sensitive to what she needs and not forget the fear she has in all the rush just to get through the day. Dreams, nightmares, recurrent fears of Mommy never coming back, of strangers stealing her away, and even of Daddy dying really keeps me wary of just what is said around her, and what is on the TV and radio. Something that has helped Luci is a special photo album of just pictures of Daddy in Afghanistan, Daddy with her during his time here, Daddy in his armor and with his weapons (that is comforting because Luci can see he can protect himself) and of course, printed out emails that John sends just especially for her. We also “sent Luci” to John and he posted her picture in his office. It was a big hit not only for John, but the other engineers in the office, too.
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We’ve started a construction paper chain this time, as a visual for Luci so she can have something concrete showing John’s trip. There is a link for every day since John left. So far, we have 93 links up (just over half-way through this trip), and it is half-way around the dining room. It is depressing to me to have this reminder of just how long this trip is. Luci is excited about it, though, because she wants to decorate “the whole house!” with it when John comes home in December.

We got a Wii game set-up and made a Wii character named Daddy (I spelled it “Daddii“ on the game)--that sounds so silly, but you would not believe how much fun all three kids have seeing “Daddy” rooting for them or on their baseball team. It’s as if John is participating with them. Every time he pops up in the games, all three (yes, even Bryan!) holler to everyone else that “Dad’s in my game!”
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Me? I was old enough when John’s first trip started, and I’m older now. But it is all the same. I constantly check email. I carry the phone around the house and on his first trip even rigged up a place to hang it in the shower so I wouldn’t miss any call from John. This time, John’s in a place where he can call every day--really a blessing. But I end up not wanting to leave the house if he hasn’t called yet, or staying up late if he hasn’t called yet. I check the internet news sites many times a day, especially if he hasn’t called. Trying to be calm around the kids when I think he should have called but hasn’t for some reason…that is hard. Sometimes it’s just because the phones are out. Sometimes the internet is out where he is. But then there are the times when I do get the email, and it will have the title, “Bombing” or “Blast” and my heart nearly stops. The other day, our neighbor came to the door around 8:30 pm. I nearly panicked when the doorbell rang. We are in a rural area and our houses are far apart. Showing up at near-dark never happens. I was so relieved to see “just” a neighbor.
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We’ve had some doozies happen while John’s away. One friend says that she thinks the house can feel a drop in testosterone and thus starts to fall apart. On John’s first trip, our septic tank backed up into our basement…one-inch deep. All over. Nothing salvaged. $30,000 worth of damage to the structure. Thank God for good house insurance and for the Delano and Woods families from church. They helped me empty the basement and several businesses in town got the basement put back together.

On John’s second trip, nothing really major happened. But the trip started about 10 months after his first trip was over. He landed in Kabul on our third baby’s due date. I had miscarried the April before. I was devastated and so depressed. John had no idea what was going through my mind as he settled in to his new job; he had forgotten the due date. Really hard.

The third trip: We are in a different house, further out in the county. Truly wonderful neighbors helped us out, and are still helping. Nothing major that time. We did have a nice “daddy-do” list on the refrigerator for John when he got home. Everything from taking the boys to play paint-ball, having a tea-party with Luci, to fixing the kitchen cabinet doors.

This time, everything is going fairly well. I did get summoned for jury duty in US District Court, told to show up on October 5th. It meets in Birmingham and for two weeks I was biting my nails hoping they would defer my duty until after John gets back. I finally heard late last week that my “request for deferral has been granted” and that I “would be summoned at a later date.” They have me on file for the next two years, so I imagine that in February I’ll get another summons. Oh! I got shingles this time, too. Thank goodness it was not a bad case.
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Most of the time it is smooth sailing overall. It is very isolating, as we are not in a military community. John’s trips have all been the sort where he is plucked from his unit and plopped down with a completely different unit. We’ve had no support group at all, until the YMCA here started up a support group for all of their patrons connected with the military. I am so thankful for the YMCA. Finally some ladies who know what I am going through!

Homeschooling isolates me even more. The kids get to do lots, but I don’t. My circle of friends here is rather small. To combat the closed-in feeling, I search out more field trips to do while John’s gone. Usually there is a little extra money associated with John’s tours so we can go on more field trips (we have plans this week to go to the Nashville Zoo, for example). We’ve been able to go visit my folks 2,000 miles away. I have traveled out there 4 times now without John. I think it’s four times. Driving. Yes, that’s 2,000 miles each way. Since we got home with Luci, I don’t fly anymore. 9/11 cured me of the desire to fly. I remember JoAnne asking me, at the beginning of John’s first trip, if I were the type to sit and mope. I told her no, we have plans to go places and do things. And go we do.
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When John was debating whether or not to go on trip #3 (last November through May), he said that the kids and I seemed to do really well. I told him that was because I didn’t burden him with any bad news. (The basement flooding with excrement was an exception! I can think of only one other major problem I unloaded on him.) He has enough on his plate to deal with without petty problems from home. John said this time he wants to hear the good and the bad. So, that’s what he has gotten--he leaves me here with two teenaged sons and a preschooler, there are going to be problems. Sometimes I wonder which one of us is in the war zone. Trying to parent and correct from so many miles away doesn’t always work, so he does leave most of the decisions up to me. Talking long-distance all the time is very unsatisfying and often frustrating. He’s my rock. I don’t know how he feels when he hangs up, but I know how I feel. Most of the time I hang up and pray for John. Sometimes I end up bawling.
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When we go to town, we have to drive through a little village named St. Florian. When we get to St. Florian, about two miles from town, I tell the kids, “Everybody smile.” By the time we get to where we are going, we have a nice face plastered on and most people think we are doing fine. Our church family is our family here, and we love them. They give us hugs and pats on the back, and an occasional meal. Some of them get to see our real faces.

The best thing about being adopted...

Today has been rough on little Luci. She "fell apart" and cried and cried, wanting her daddy. We figured out that the best thing about being adopted is having someone to hold on to and hug you when you need comforting.Luci, after the tears.

Waiting for My Prince....

They were really waiting for the Beast. (You know, of Beauty and the Beast.) I'm glad he didn't show up! Kalyn and her mom Kathy and little brother Jack came to visit on Tuesday. This photo was taken around 10:30 am--it was very dark and dreary day. Luci finally getting to hold Baby Jack. Yes, that's his name. "Baby Jack." Just ask Luci. He is so cute and happy. Kathy, you have a real joy-bringer!

Luci tasting lime juice. I had to take a picture of her reaction.

Hi, Melodie!

I've been really crummy about writing. You are in my prayers often.
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Lots of good memories with you through the years!

Playing Hide and Seek

It's past Labor Day....

Birthday Party!!!!!

Woo-Hoo, Kalyn had a Princess Birthday Party today! Luci has been excited all week. The invitation is nearly worn out from Luci toting it around the house and re-reading it. Here are some shots from the party. Kathy, I need to get some good shots of Jack. The photos I took came out fuzzy. (Maybe I should wear my glasses all the time, then I'd notice before I get home.)

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An explanation of a few photos: I tried my best to get Luci to take a nap this afternoon. She would have nothing of it, and fell asleep on the way to Kathy and Greg's house. Luci and Kalyn have this ritual of a huge hug at the end of every visit. Tonight was no exception. It is a mixture of a hug and a tackle.

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Since it was a Princess Party, Luci wore her Snow White dress. Kalyn had on a gorgeous Cinderella dress that I'm sure Grandma Millie made. The girls have a blast with each other. Kathy and Greg, thank you for the fun evening. We can't wait to see you on Tuesday morning!

For Nana and Papa:

Everyday Heroes

Last week, a guy driving one of these trucks hit our mailbox--he was swerving to avoid a dog in the road. I knew the box had been hit, but didn't know who did it. It's been hit before and we just stand the thing upright and the mailbox still works. So I didn't think anything about it. The day after the box was damaged, two guys from Cook's Pest Control showed up at the front door and told me that one of the guys had hit the box.
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I told them thank you for coming forward, that was very nice. I was impressed that they did come tell me, because this sort of thing happens. We are on a hilly, curvy road and boxes just get hit occasionally. They offered to bring me a new mailbox and I said that was very kind, but it still was working and they didn't have to do that, and anyways, my husband is the one who'd put it up and he's overseas right now.
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Well. That did it. They said they'd bring me a new box. One of the men, James, gave me a business card, and said they'd call me about bringing out the new box.
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Today they showed up with a new box, complete with numbers, and put it up. With directions to call them if something isn't working with it.
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Everyday Heroes, indeed!




The cinder blocks were my idea...the post is in rocky ground and will not go deeper. If you need a bug man, call Cook's. If you are ever in Decatur, visit Cook's Natural History Museum. It's pretty neat.
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Guess who I'm calling when we need help with bugs?

Mom....

Mom, do you see what she's wearing? Look at her feet! She wore those to the YMCA and now the library!

Yes, I see the glass slippers, Bryan...and when you were her age, you went everywhere as Batman for a whole year.

Sports

Yesterday was a day full of sports! Luci's first soccer game of the season, and JT's karate competition.
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Prayer before the Upwards Soccer Game

Rolling around on the field while the rest of the team plays. ?

Game's over, Mama!


JT only entered two parts of the competition...and won both. Here is a very happy JT with his gold medal for his staff work:

and on the stand accepting his second gold for his form:Here is JT competing in his form:

The Beauty of Mathematics

1 x 8 + 1 = 9
12 x 8 + 2 = 98
123 x 8 + 3 = 987
1234 x 8 + 4 = 9876
12345 x 8 + 5 = 98765
123456 x 8 + 6 = 987654
1234567 x 8 + 7 = 9876543
12345678 x 8 + 8 = 98765432
123456789 x 8 + 9 = 987654321

1 x 9 + 2 = 11
12 x 9 + 3 = 111
123 x 9 + 4 = 1111
1234 x 9 + 5 = 11111
12345 x 9 + 6 = 111111
123456 x 9 + 7 = 1111111
1234567 x 9 + 8 = 11111111
12345678 x 9 + 9 = 111111111
123456789 x 9 +10= 1111111111

9 x 9 + 7 = 88
98 x 9 + 6 = 888
987 x 9 + 5 = 8888
9876 x 9 + 4 = 88888
98765 x 9 + 3 = 888888
987654 x 9 + 2 = 8888888
9876543 x 9 + 1 = 88888888
98765432 x 9 + 0 = 888888888

Brilliant, isn't it? And look at this symmetry:

1 x 1 = 1
11 x 11 = 121
111 x 111 = 12321
1111 x 1111 = 1234321
11111 x 11111 = 123454321
111111 x 111111 = 12345654321
1111111 x 1111111 = 1234567654321
11111111 x 11111111 = 123456787654321
111111111 x 111111111 = 12345678987654321

Mind Boggling...
Now, take a look at this... 101%
From a strictly mathematical viewpoint: What Equals 100%?

What does it mean to give MORE than 100%?

Ever wonder about those people who say they are giving more than 100%?

We have all been in situations where someone wants you to GIVE OVER 100%...

How about ACHIEVING 101%?

What equals 100% in life?

Here's a little mathematical formula that might help answer these questions:
If: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
Is represented as: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26.

Then: H-A-R-D-W-O- R- K
8+1+18+4+23+15+18+11 = 98%

And: K-N-O-W-L-E- D-G-E
11+14+15+23+12+5+4+7+ 5 = 96%

But: A-T-T-I-T-U- D-E
1+20+20+9+20+ 21+4+5 = 100%

THEN, look how far the love of God will take you:

L-O-V-E-O-F- G-O-D
12+15+22+5+15+ 6+7+15+4 = 101%

Therefore, one can conclude with mathematical certainty that:
While Hard Work and Knowledge will get you close, and Attitude will get you there, It's the Love of God that will put you over the top!

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author unknown

Never Forget

Cookie Sale for Missions

Tonight was our annual cookie sale at CrossPoint. The proceeds go towards foreign missions--this year, to help out our missionary family in Australia. Imagine about 100 kids selling cookies, milk and water to 300 or more parents and friends. It is lots of fun! And a great bedtime snack, too.
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Luci selling cookies with her class. One dollar per bag. She made sure to touch most of the dollars that were spent at her table. She would not get up until all the cookies were sold. I was impressed with her perseverance. She was hanging on for quite a while. Finally I bought the last three bags and then she got up.

Buying cookies for herself.

Look what I got!

Bryan and JT made a good haul, too.

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I got a haircut and perm today. I told Rita,my hairdresser, to do what she wanted: just don't change the hair color. Luci's reaction was not good. She pointed at my head and said, "What is it?! Can you take off the wiggly parts and make it flat again? How will you sleep? Is that a wig?" It did inspire her to paint my portrait...the real me is on the left.
(It's purple lipstick. Not my usual shade.)

Ode to Forgetfulness

Luci-Speak

I took Luci to a baby shower this afternoon. She came prepared, with her box of bathtub crayon/soaps. She was fully expecting to spend the time washing babies!

I had to include the second photo--just too cute, with those crossed eyes!