Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy happy Thanksgiving to everyone! We are, obviously, especially thankful this year to have Jeremy here -- the kids for their beloved daddy and me for my very best friend.

As I was preparing dinner today, it really got me to thinking about all the history and memories that are embedded into this tradition and how they reflect the life of our family. I've often wondered how we ended up here (in North Carolina in the military, not something we ever planned for when we married). Today, though, I'm very thankful for all the places we've been and the people we've met.

The stuffing made me smile as I thought of my friend Kathryn, a friend and co-worker at Battelle, who gave me the recipe, which made me think of all my other dear Columbus friends....Rona and Jess (who introduced me to scrapbooking), Jim (a truly nice guy, though he always acted the grump), Casey (who inspired me to try the herb crusted turkey), Ann Louise (who was always great to chat with), Rachel (who inspired me to dress better), Rena (who taught me to knit) and so many others that I can't condense them into this post. And thinking of my Battelle friends made me think of my Noron friends from Toledo...Norb (who so very much reminded me of my Grandpa R.), Kevin, Mark & Mike (all three who were just plain fun to work with), Becky (who I still miss chatting with), Jim (who always said what he was thinking), Trevor (whose wife gave me the best darn cookie recipe ever), Rick (who was just the sweetest guy with a great laugh) and many many more. I'm so very glad my life took me in a path that ran alongside, however briefly, with the paths of these people.


The rolls were made from a recipe my Great Aunt Marilyn gave me. Making the rolls made me think of all the family gathering over the years, but especially of my Grandma M. And we sat down to eat at the table that resided in my Grandma M.'s house for as long as I can remember. And thinking of Grandma always makes me wish I could have met my Grandpa. And it makes me miss my Aunt Deb & Uncle Thomas and my cousins, Aaron & Casey. I miss the noisiness of our family gatherings. And I'm thankful for all the times we've had together and the times we will have in the future. I'm thankful for the humor and fun that has always infused our gatherings.


The cranberry fluff was made from a recipe my mother in law gave me. I'm so very very thankful of what Jeremy has brought to my life, and into the life of our family, with his family. I missed having all of them with us today. I missed our post-dinner game of Trivial Pursuit, but am very grateful for the ones we've had. I'm thankful for the times that Judson & Johnna have brought me to tears with laughter (Chinese anyone? How about some key-lime disease, er, pie, i mean?). I'm thankful for in-laws that I love. I'm thankful for the help they've given, which has in turn let me get to know them better.

I set my table with silverware that belonged to my Great Grandma N, who was my Grandma R.'s mother. I thought of my Grandma & Grandpa R. and the times we gathered at their home. I thought of my aunts and uncles and cousins. I thought of Christmas parties at Aunt Jane & Uncle Ralph's house. I thought of card games and laughter. And I am so very thankful for all these things...for happy memories and people to love.

It is funny, how these little details of the day, which seem insignificant in many ways, have so much substance to them. No the stuffing and silverware aren't REALLY important as a physical object. But the memories and history they bring with them are important (at least for me -- a physical reminder to recall things that sometimes get shoved to the back of the brain in the business of everyday life).

And so, most important of all, I'm thankful for where I am now. I'm thankful to be who I am (faults and all) and to have the people in my life that I do. I'm thankful for the ability to be content with what I have, while still being able to look forward to what will come with the next bend in the road.

Getting excited for the Holidays!

I can't believe how quickly the last few weeks have flown by. I am so ready for the Holiday season this year. Honestly, the last year seems more and more like it never happened -- perhaps simply because I am suppressing bad memories. It just seems like I missed the Holiday's last year.

I've spent the last several days prepping for tomorrow. My parents are coming down and bringing Hannah with them, so I'm getting to host (which I love to do). I'm trying a new item this year -- sweet potato pie. Actually, to be specific, it is a maple-bourbon sweet potato pie. It smells divine and I can't wait to try it. Of course, I also have a batch of my Aunt Marilyn's refrigerator rolls ready to go (which are the absolute best yeast rolls EVER), as well as all the other traditional fixings (well, except cranberry sauce, which is something I've never had -- maybe next year I'll try that). I love cooking and baking, so I'm pretty much in heaven this week!

I dug my china out this afternoon, which I did not use at all while Jeremy was gone. It was weird, because I totally forgot about a lot of the stuff I have (or don't have, for that matter). In fact, I was talking to Jeremy as I was pulling things out and mentioned that I would really like to have a set of silver some day so that I don't have to use my beat up stainless with my good china, when I pulled open a drawer and found my Great-Grandma's silver set (well, silver plated anyway, which is close enough for me). Duh! I had totally forgotten that my mother had given it to me and that I was supposed to be looking for replacement pieces to fill in the service pieces. Talk about being forgetful!!!

And now to go finish prepping what I can yet tonight...

We're adjusting....

...and I'd say we're adjusting very well to having Jeremy home again. The last week has flown by and somehow (and I can't believe I'm saying this) his deployment already seems, in many ways, like a distant memory (or perhaps nightmare is a better word for it). For the most part, we've fallen back into our old roles. Jeremy's jet-lag and complete exhaustion from his trip have been the biggest challenge.

The kids have done amazingly well. Lucy has been reluctant to let Jeremy put her to bed, but other than that you'd never know that they've spent most of her life apart. And Jeremy has been just fabulous at stepping back into his role as daddy. The first morning he was home he popped right up with the kids and made waffles for them before I could even stumble out of bed.

We haven't done too much other than to enjoy spending time together. Jeremy is still on 1/2 days at work, so we've been playing each day by ear doing whatever it is that catches our interest. We're being mostly reclusive right now, so emails and phone calls aren't always being answered, which I'm hoping most everyone can understand. Family time is our #1 priority right now.

We did make a trip to the zoo on Sunday with some good friends of ours. We got the news just a few days before Jeremy came home that our friend would be deploying in a few short weeks. On a very selfish level, this upset me because I had really been looking forward to spending time with them as a couple (I'm way overdue for a few good games of euchre). And on a more serious level, I'm sad that my girl friend is just starting this horrible journey that I'm ending. So, that has been the one dark spot in our otherwise sunny lives. I suppose this is life in the military...

And I'd like to take this opportunity to say thanks to everyone who supported us for the last years -- whether through prayers, cheerful thoughts or a helping hand, we've really appreciated everything! I owe a special HUGE thanks to my in-laws, who did absolutely everything under the sun to keep things running smoothly here at home. It is an understatement to say that I would not have been able to survive the last year without them.

Finally!!!!!

He got home late last night. He was EXHAUSTED -- hadn't been to sleep in a bed for more than 3 days or something like that. We're all happy and healthy, though, and that is what matters!

Because I'm STILL waiting...

...I thought I would post our Halloween pictures.

I was very proud of myself for the resourcefulness that I used in assembling the kids costumes this year. I really don't like spending a lot of money on something they will only use once. So, I managed to put together all three costumes for about $16. The boys were pirates -- the black pants and vests were modifications from the sweatsuits that were left over from last year. The eye patches came from a very kind friend (good thing we know lots of eye docs). And the red fabric was about $2 from JoAnn. Lucy's costume was the "splurge". I bought a $10 hooded sweatsuit and sewed brightly colored felt on to make her a parrot costume. All three of the kids looked great and had a blast!

Still waiting!

And I'm running out of things to keep me busy. The floors have been swept over and over and over. The dishes are done. The laundry is mostly caught up, though I could possibly manufacture a load if I really wanted to. I went to the grocery store again today (for the 3rd time in the last 5 days). I have re-polished all the glass surfaces in the house for the 3rd day in a row. I cleaned the bathrooms (at 5:00 this morning -- yes, I'm a freak, I know). I got my hair cut and a pedi this morning. I finished knitting Lucy's hat today. I made cookies this evening and then I made a batch of homemade ice cream. I rowed this evening and then I worked out again after I put the kids in bed. The kids clothes are laid out for tomorrow and the diaper bag is already packed for any trips out of the house. And I CANNOT SIT STILL!!!!

Uggghhh...I know I should sleep. But I CAN'T! I'm too hyped up to sit still. JEREMY IS COMING HOME AND HE'LL BE HERE SOON!!!!!!!! I've been waiting for this day for almost an entire year.

Okay, so I'm a little excited.

REALLY Crazy Now

He's on his way!!!!!! I'm not sure how much I can/should post here, but did want to update that Jeremy is indeed on his way. In fact, he is no longer in Iraq!!!

I'm bouncing around here like an over excited toddler!!!

Now to see just how long it takes the Army to get him all the way home...