Semi Wordless Wednesday - Nutcracker Madness

 The 10 year-old is performing in the Nutcracker, with the Eugene Ballet Company. 

 Today was costume fitting and dress rehearsal, without the set - the truck broke down in Idaho!

It was a long day... 

Tomorrow will be even longer! 

Linking up for Wordless Wednesday:

Love,

Semi Wordless Wednesday - Saying Goodbye

Today was a day I have been putting off for a long time,
but I am glad the Soldier was here for it.

Goodbye Rex. You will be missed.

Linking up for Wordless Wednesday:

Today is the day...

After a very long deployment, the Soldier should be home tonight!

Everyone is very excited and I am desperately trying to finish cleaning things that haven't been cleaned since R&R. Who has time for housework?

Life is about to get interesting. The Soldier is facing two surgeries and months of recovery. We would love your prayers.

I am just going to pretend that I have a 7th child for a while :)

So please forgive me if I am not a consistent blogger for a few weeks. I promise I will be back!

*Quick shout out to my amazing friend Lori on being featured in Reader's Digest! Check out her blog, Witty Little Secret. She makes me laugh, cry and feel better about myself on a regular basis.

Love,

What's Your Song? "I Remember You"

I was driving home the other night, after a day of running children all over, when this song came on the radio.

I am almost embarrassed to admit that I remembered every word...

I *may* have traumatized the children.

And before you think I am really old, I was only 12 when this song came out! Why is it I can remember the words to a song from *that* many years ago, but can't remember where I parked the car at the commissary?

Linking up before I leave the house, once again, to run children all over...

Someday, I *may* get to stay at home. 

Love,

Lest We Forget...

I am proud to come from a long line of men who have served their country with pride. I am who I am today because of their influence and sacrifices.

My grandfather went as a very young man to clean up Hiroshima, he and many others suffered physical ailments that plagued them for the rest of their lives. He also worked on modifications for airplanes that saved the lives of many men - and would have made him a rich man in the civilian world!

My father was drafted into a war that no one understood. His duty included guarding the bodies of the fallen. Daddy came back to a country that didn't recognize or appreciate his sacrifice. He died when I was a teenager from agent orange exposure. I wish he could have been here to meet his grandchildren.

My husband, lovingly referred to as "the Soldier" on the blog, is the most amazing man I know. He joined the National Guard in his 'old age' (okay, he's not that old) and has since served two tours in Iraq. I can't wait for him to come home.

There are many more in my family tree:

My great, great grandfather George Howe was in the fife and drum corps as a boy and was imprisoned at Andersonville during the Civil War.

My great Uncle Will was a decorated veteran of the Spanish American War.

My Uncles Daniel & Andrew both served in the Army.

Both of my husband's grandfathers served in WWII.

My brother-in-law spent many years in the Marine Corp and just made Major in the Air Force (yes, we forgave him...)

As a Military Wife, I do know that they are not the only ones who serve.

My grandmother is a strong woman who traveled across barren land, in a convoy - with small children - to be with my grandpa in Alaska.

My mother took care of my father for many years while he was ill and finished raising three children alone after he died. 

My children sacrifice on a daily basis. They don't have their daddy at birthdays or ball games or holidays. And they do so with pride.

Today we remember and honor those who give so much.
I am thankful for all of you. 

Love,

What's Your Song? "The Wall"

I am thankful for the men and women who sacrifice so much, so that we may live free.

Please take a moment to say thank you this week.

John McDermott - "The Wall" 

Linking up with Goodnight Moon for "What's Your Song?"

Semi Wordless Wednesday - Canada!

Silly me assumed that the Soldier would have been home by now, so I planned a getaway for the two of us to celebrate our 19th Anniversary (which was actually back in September).

I *may* have planned the trip to catch a show by one of my favorite tenors, John McDermott.

Well, since the Soldier is still gone, I decided to just go for one night. I couldn't waste front row seats, could I? 

And, I decided to take the 13 year-old with me. Because:

A - she is young enough that she doesn't need a passport
B - she is old enough to behave herself at the show

and
C - she is strangely obsessed with Canada. 

Hey, I never claimed any of them were normal...

It is a short drive, but we had fun talking and listening to her music. Which I really don't understand... 

I am starting to sound like my mother. 

We hit the mall (stores we don't have are always a treat!), had dinner and then attended the concert. The next morning, we slept in, had breakfast and then she went down the water slide about ten times. Of course, we stopped by the mall again on our way back to the border. 

I wanted to bring these signs home with me...

I still want to get away with the Soldier when he gets home. We will need the time to reconnect without the noise and demands of six children.  

I am thinking Oregon in March would be nice.

 And yes, I have already checked the concert schedules... 

I may need professional help!

Linking up for Wordless Wednesday! 

Free & Bargain ebooks for Kindle 11-7-11

I am headed out to spend some time with the 13 year-old and see one of my favorite tenors in concert tonight. It was supposed to be a late anniversary trip with the Soldier, but he still isn't home. 

So, no time for a full post today, but I wanted to let you know that I just put several great free and bargain books up on the Facebook page. If they last, I will add them to the Free E-books page when I get a chance. 

Reminders:

• Prices change often and without notice. Books are usually only free (or bargains) for a limited time. Always check the price before clicking 'download'.
• You can read these books, even if you don't have a Kindle, by downloading the free app for your computer or phone. For a full list of apps, please click here. Amazon has just announced a new line of Kindles for as low as $79 or read in color (and lots more!) on a Kindle Fire for only $199.
• Please consider following my blog on Google Friend Connect or by 'liking' my Facebook page. I will post books as soon as I find them on Facebook and they aren't always free long enough to make it to the blog.
• If you download a book, please share this page with your friends (via facebook, twitter, etc.). And please leave a comment, I love to hear from you!
• If you enjoy the free book posts, please consider shopping through my links when you do purchase from Amazon. The small commission I receive for your purchase helps me justify all the time I spend on this blog to my Soldier! Thanks :)

What's Your Song? "Kiss Me in the Car"

Well, since I got to see the Soldier this past week, I let him pick today's song. We've been married for a long time and this is one of those songs that we have added to the list of fun favorites. 

Love,

Semi Wordless Wednesday 11-2-11

So last week, I was flying off to Seattle to see doctors and finally, after five months...

to see the Soldier again!

Thanks to the Army, this has been the never-ending deployment and we really don't know when he will be home.

And of course, 

a Halloween pic of the kiddos!

Linking up!

Love,