Oh wait, I write a blog????

And yet again, my four loyal followers may be wondering where I've been...And the answer is, I really don't know!  It was so good to have the Big Sarge home for two weeks of leave, but I've not really gotten back into the groove since he left.  Fatigue and discombobulation reign here at the LoveShack.  I believe that we have hit.....

the wall.....yep, that's what my head is smacking up against lately.  It's been great.

But, I am actually hoping that school will help.  I'm hoping our first day will be August 15 - that gives me a little room to take off some time when Big Sarge is FINALLY HOME!!!!  I'm hoping that back on a stricter schedule with everyone knowing what each day (in theory) will bring will help.  Also beginning a major overhaul of our schoolroom, in the hopes that a little more order might help, too. 

In other news...my biggest is away at camp.  Sigh.  And while the LadyBug has traditionally been a bit more cautious and not-so-keen on new stuff....she was pretty much like, 'see ya!'....and I was glad. 

yep, that's a tepee...better her than me!

I miss her this week, and am DYING to know what she's up to (the first time ever that she's up to lots of stuff without me), but mostly, I'm glad she's there.  LadyBug is our family anxiety sponge - and this deployment has been tough on her.  She and Big Sarge are birds of a feather and so she misses him most particularly - and she frets about all of us.  So, I'm glad that she's got a whole five days to do nothing but be a kid. 

I'm off to put some shelves together.....drink a coffee.....and watch an episode of my new favorite show - Midsomer Murders.

But, more on that later.....

where the heck have I been????

So, still digging out of the housekeeping hole that comes from two weeks of Big Sarge home (yippee!!!!), followed very closely by five days with my brother and nephew (yippee, again!!).  But, here are some highlights for both of my loyal followers!

Daddie TOTALLY surprised us all - he snuck in the back

door and made us all scream like little girls - which made the Griz cry like a baby. 

 But, WHO CARES!!!

Trip to Lake Codorus - nothing like some water and

sunshine to brighten up your day!

Catoctin Zoo - everyone loved the deer - especially the Griz

who apparently ain't afraid of nothin' or nobody!

The Ladybug, The Firecracker and the Griz...ain't they cute!

The Griz's first swinginginginging...can't stop!

The boys hamming it up!

People movers at the airport!

Look - we're smiling even though we don't want to!

We don't travel without our Grammie!  We love Grammie!

So, that's the leave that was.....come on Christmas so we can have him home for good!

Sweet.

Thank you Jesus for a day as a whole family together.  Big Sarge thanks you.  The monkeys thank you.  And I thank you.  A totally normal day.....yet elevated to heights of joy because we went to WalMart together.  Sweet.  And tomorrow, we're doing chores together.  Sweet.  Going to snuggle on the couch with a coffee and the Big Sarge and watch some tube.  Together.  Sweet.

Big Sarge is in the house!

misuse of government equipment

Happy Memorial Day! 

Although it's one of those things in life that when you think about it, really isn't exactly 'happy.'

I took the girls to the parade today....was nice to be out with just the 'bigs' since the Griz went home with Grammie since it was so blasted hot today.  And I was hatching a devious plot.....

This is a traffic camera:

That street light looking thing on the loopy stand thing (technical, I know) looks up Baltimore Street where it meets Steinwehr Ave.  This is what he could see.

And I knew that Big Sarge knew about it because he told me that he watched it to check the weather where we are and when he gets homesick!  And if you know me, you will know that I would never know a thing about traffic cams if it weren't for the Big Sarge....

I emailed Big Sarge and mentioned that it would be cool if he got online when the parade was going on so we could watch it together.  Not exactly why PennDot put that camera there, but might as well use it for something good.

We got to Baltimore Street about 1:30 and picked out spots right next to the tent they set up for the wounded warriors (which was totally cool in itself since I got a chance to speak with a few of the wives and children.......awesome). 

We busted out our sign:

And held it up tall and proud for Big Sarge to see!  And he did!  Granted, he really couldn't read it, but he knew that it was for him.  And all intense cutie-ness of the blonde girls attracted a lot of attention.  We were interviewed for Fox News, got lots of 'thank you's' for us and Big Sarge and had a great time.  All the folks got a kick out of the furious texting back and forth between G-burg and the desert....especially when Big Dad mentioned that one of the bigs ought to sit still since he could see them wandering around on camera!  The only bummer was that the news people didn't use the part of the interview where I told the whole world how proud we were of our soldier.....guess we'll have to tell him in person.

And then ice cream at the Sunset:

The Ladybug downs some cheesecake swirl.

Firecracker opts for watermelon.

And Mama let everyone stay up late to watch How To Train Your Dragon (cute, but a disappointment after reading the book).

A good, small-town kind of day......but, true freedom will never come from anything on this earth but only comes from the Lord of Heaven and Earth - the risen and reigning Jesus Christ. 

Pray for our men and women in harm's way, away from home, training and serving wherever they are.  Pray for their families - their husbands, wives, parents and children.  Pray for those who mourn the loss of their soldiers.  Pray for the injured to heal.  Pray for peace.  Pray.  Pray.  Pray.

soon and very soon

For the last few years, our crib has lived at my mom's house.  There wasn't any sense in it gathering dust here and she used it for my brother's kids when they came to visit.  But, since the Griz is getting bigger by the minute and rapidly outgrowing the bassinet, it was time to bring the crib home.  Good timing, really since the Big Sarge will be home in the next few weeks and there's probably not enough room for me, the Griz and the Sarge in a double bed.  Maybe back when Big Sarge and Mama were a bit skinnier, but now, perhaps not so much.....

So, job done - crib disassembled, moved and re-assembled.  I rock.  Yes, I do. 

And now, there it sits.

A large, obtrusive reminder that mid-tour leave is nearly upon us.  The monkeys are excited.  The Sarge is excited.  I'm.....scared to death.  I've been alone for over five months now.  And I'm tired, and a little harried.  But, I'm making it.  I always do. 

Since we've been married, the Big Sarge has often been away, or worked crazy hours or been on orders.  We lived through several years of his being a National Guard recruiter.  This equals crazy hours, always being available and taking appointments whenever and wherever you can get them.  Then the first 362 day deployment.  Then a few months of a civilian job where Sarge was home every night, but not making good money, so I worked at night.  Then a job in the mobilization cell at Indiantown Gap where we averaged two nights a week and every other weekend with him home.  Then last year, he was at Ft Dix for what amounted to almost 7 months when you added it all together.  And now deployment #2. 

dropping the Sarge off.....boo!

I'm good at being on my own.  And not so good at having him here.

Most people think that the hardest thing would be to let someone else make the every day decisions that I can make all by myself - and do make all by myself.  But for me, that's not really a big deal - it's actually a relief to have someone else hand out consequences, tell Firecracker if she's allowed to wear stripes and plaid together and tell me where they are going to drive me to eat supper. 

And our life is so chaotic and our house such a pig sty that there's very little order that can be disordered around here. 

For me, it's a heart issue.  Too much time alone cultivates a hard heart in me.  A heart that doesn't really want to need anyone.  A heart would just rather be left alone.  This is not exactly a healthy approach to marriage...

So, I'm striving to un-harden this heart of stone.....and I really want to succeed.  I really want us to have a good two weeks.   I really want the Sarge to head back to the sandbox knowing that he is loved, honored and respected.  I really want to do this well. 

Prayer gratefully accepted.

IT FINALLY CAME!!!!

Ladybug's been after me everyday about checking the mail......and finally, on Thursday, it came!! 

Her packet from Our Military Kids.  If you don't know about this organization, shame on you!  They award grants (up to $500!!!) for camp, lessons or tutoring to kids of deployed members of the National Guard and to children of wounded veterans.  Firecracker's been going to tap class on a grant and now Ladybug is heading off to camp in July.  River Valley Ranch here we come!!!!!  A week of trail rides, archery, swimming, Bible study and sleeping in a tepee!  Not to mention a whole week without having to be Mama's sherpa!  I'm excited for her and praying (really praying) for her to have a great experience...to hear God's truth in a new and heart-touching way.  SUMMER CAMP!!!!!