Good-byes

So hate saying good-bye to friends. That's one of the hardest parts of this lifestyle. However, I'm ever thankful that I had the opportunity to get to know this wonderful young couple. My thoughts and prayers will follow you to the sandbox and we will miss you greatly at our get-togethers. Wish I could be here to welcome you both back "home" when the time comes.

Love ya girl. You'll be in my heart, thoughts & prayers. And thank goodness we've got the internet for keeping in touch.

And another good-bye this weekend as well. A favorite eating spot Rosie's Cantina in Hale'Iwa is closing it's doors tonight for the last time after almost 26 years of service due to the new owner not renewing their lease.

Glad I got to enjoy my last meal there w/ an amazing friend, her son and my girls!

Good-byes are crappy reguardless of saying good-bye to wonderful friends or a favorite spot! Dear Erin, this isn't good-bye forever, the Army is a small world. Perhaps the good Lord willing our paths will cross again someday!

So busy....

This is a screen shot of half of my calendar for this week.... it's scheduled through bedtime at midnight. The next 3 weeks look much the same. I think I need to schedule in blog time. since I'm falling down miserably on the whole blog thing.

Can anyone tell me how to add the follow me option to my blog. I'm really not that computer savey and I haven't been able to figure that little trick out. Would appreciate any help in this area. Thanks a bunch.

Hope everyone is having a wonderful and blessed week. There are a couple very important fundraising events coming up in the near future I will be blogging about those soon. Please share the word and support these wonderful causes if you can.

3 Things MckLinky Blog Hop

Three things you didn't know about me/us....

1. I am a first time college student 20 years out of High School.

2. I met my husband while I was in Advanced Individual Training. I was a Combat Signaler in the Va Army National Guard.

3. I am a twin and married to a twin.

My twin brother and I. I think this was taken in 1972.

Hubby (in white) w/ his twin brother and niece.

Looks Like We've Made it.......

My how we've changed! Seventeen years ago today we pledge our love to one another. I thank God for you every day and for the love He's given me in you. THANK YOU for being the amazing and wonderful husband you are. Even though we are apart physically please know you are constantly here with me.

In my heart, in my thoughts and in my prayers baby,

I love you! I Miss you! I am Forever Yours.

New experience of Blog Hopping

I must say I'm a bit surprised that I put myself in the middle of this blog hop. I've only shared this blog w/ a few people, my husband and a very few close friends. When I started following blogs I would comment annonomously because I really just started blogging for myself... granted as you can see I have done fairly miserable at keeping up w/ it.

I spend a lot of time on this computer as it is.... now I could sit here ALL DAY hopping blog to blog and looking at everyone's photos, etc and "meeting" all these new interesting folks. But ack... most of the time when I blog it's me putting my heart out to keep a super special memory or just needing to pour my heart out for my hubby to know what's going on in my mind/heart.

Life is full of ups and downs in this life as an Army Wife and more often than not "single mom". It helps to put my thoughts and heaviness into words mull over them, then deside if I need to send DH (dear hubby) to visit my blog. LOL

You will notice I reffer to my husband as T, and my girls as G and H. I've been an internet junky for way too long. But, one thing has remained the same I don't like sharing everyone's names just a bit of a personal security issue for me. So, please don't take offence that some things I just keep to myself.

Good Morning Sunshine

To a fault I am a night owl! Even moreso when my husband is away. Who wants to go climb in that big empty bed after all? While he was home on R&R we over nighted on the other side of the island at a beach cabin. It was so nice to get out of the house as a family and just enjoy some together time. We plan on going back for a 3 or 4 day weekend when he comes home. I'm so looking forward to the get away for our family.

I managed to roll myself out of bed at 5:30 am which is a time I don't see.... unless I haven't been to bed yet. And we quietly headed out to the beach to sit and enjoy the sunrise. It's amazing and so rare when we have time alone to ourselves in the quiet when one or the other of us isn't completely wiped out and falling asleep. The sunrise was beautiful even though it was cloudy. And, oh what fun to watch the sandcrabs out for play.

I love the last photo. So poignent and such a display of God's wonder and beauty.

MckLinky Blog Hop Tuesday

Treasured Moment in the sand. As a military family we spend a lot of time apart. This photo was taken while my husband was home on R&R (Rest & Relaxation). A picture memory of our treasured time in this beautiful place we are blessed to live.

So much....

It's been far too long since I stopped by this place and posted an update. I really need to catch you up. I've got lots to share. I'll be back very soon to post some wonderful things. Until then may today be blessed as only can come from our Lord.

I'm STILL amazed!

Where do I begin? I think I begin back on Jan. 13, 2007 when my family and I made our very first trek to the North Shore of Hawaii and a little town called Sunset Beach to watch the sunset over the ocean for the very first time. The girls (our birth ones along with our "big kid") were wading in the little pools in the rocks and my wonderful husband I were sitting next to each other on the sand watching the beauty of the sun setting. When suddenly there it was, A WHALE I saw it slap it's fin on top of the water. I was SO excited and so completely amazed I couldn't believe I was REALLY seeing it. I pointed in the direction for my wonderful husband to look and was yelling to the girls "A WHALE, A WHALE" as I sit here typing this blog a fresh stream of tears is welling in my eyes and flowing down my cheeks. I cried that evening sitting on the sand from pure joy. Joy at seeing the perfect beauty of God's creation. The sunset, the beauty that is Hawaii and A WHALE! In all my trips to the beaches during the "winter" I am constantly on the look out for these most amazing creatures to show themselves in some way or another. So that my eyes can behold the beauty of their wonder! NEVER in a million dreams did I ever believe I would actually catch them on camera! "Winter" is whale season here in Hawaii. (Dec. - March/April) This winter was a busy winter with visitors coming from the mainland. Mom, Mother-in-love, and 2 of my friends from back home.

While my latest visitor was here visiting we went to the Halona Blowhole on her next to last day. I pulled into the parking lot and was most excited when we were able to get what we call "Princess Parking" in our family. A spot right up front at the lookout.

How excited were we when there just out in the water we could see that Majestic creature coming out of the water! Not ONE but TWO whales, a mother and her calf swimming along. I stood there so excited just crazily snapping my camera in hopes that the unthinkable just might happen and I would FINALLY catch these wonderful creatures of God on camera.

That evening after returning home and uploading all the photos of the day onto my laptop I sat here amazed that it actually had happened. I caught them! A fresh stream of tears overtook me once again. Each and every day we've been here I have been thankful for the opportunity and blessings to live in this beautiful place. But, as I looked with wonder at the pictures I was over come yet again with a strong wave of sadness. This could very well have been the last time my eyes behold the beauty of the whale here in this wonderful place. I said a silent prayer of thanksgiving. Thanking God for giving us these opportunities. The whales to me are such a huge reminder of what a mighty and Awesome God He truly is. If I should never again have the opportunity to watch as the whales swim through these waters I know I have been blessed. Thank you Lord for showing me all the wonders of your beautiful creations here in this island paradise. There will always be a part of me that is forever here.

A Mama's blessings

A Mother's Day spent with the 2 most beautiful girls a mama could be blessed with. Some days they make me absolutely crazy with their sibling battles that are sure to insue.... well most days. However I am so very blessed and grateful for the times when their sisterly love is pouring from one to the other of them.

I pray for them each and every day. How lucky am I that God has trusted me with 2 of His most wonderful creations. Lucky indeed!

Thank you so very much to my beautiful girls for the happiness you've brought into my life each and every day. Keep smiling and know that you are loved so much that it overflows my heart.

Baptism

It was a beautiful day on Sunday April 19th in Hale'iwa, HI when I recommitted my life to Christ and was baptized by submersion in the ocean at the north shore. What more perfect place for this to happen..... there is none. My sister informs me I finally did it right lol.

As a young child I grew up going to Sunday school, GA's and church in a Baptist church. But around 11 my mom and I started attended the United Methodist Church just down the road from our house. My sister continued to go to the Baptist church we'd been going to as that's where all her friends were. My brother went to another baptist church with one of his friends. At the age of 12 I dedicated my life to Christ and was baptized by sprinkle in my "home" church (UMC).

God has blessed us with this beautiful place to call a home, and a wonderful church where His love and His word are present and over flowing. So, I've found myself once again in a family of Baptist and what a beautiful family it is.

I am of the belief that the "denomination" is not what makes the church, it's the body of believers within and if your spirit is being fed that makes the difference.

Have a blessed today and look around for the grace of God is always around.