Smoke and Water

Many of you have asked if we're near the fires. Well, it depends on how you define "near"- the fires aren't super close to us (probably about an hour away), but this morning when I woke up the smoke was so bad I was convinced someone was having a bonfire in my living room. We're in official drought here- it needs to rain!

On another note...


Yesterday was the installation ceremony for the new board at PWOC. (The new executive board is pictured to the right) I wasn't quite sure what to expect (though we did have step-by-step instructions kindly printed out for us, as well as a rehearsal the day prior). It was quite an emotional day for many of the ladies.

Many installations (especially heavily-deploying ones like Ft. Stewart) will go through cycles of mass turnover. Last summer, many many people PCSed (moved) out, and many many PCSed in. Because of that, the ONLY ladies who attend PWOC now who were here 12 months ago are the retired ones. When the new crop of ladies began attending last fall, there wasn't a whole lot of direction. Tammy (the outgoing president) stepped up, and others filled in the other positions. With help from the ladies who have been here for 20 years, this chapter of PWOC began to grow once again. It's been a long and hard road for them, though- so passing the baton yesterday was filled with mixed emotions of sorrow... and relief!

After we all said our "vows," the outgoing board washed the hands of the incoming, then we invited all the ladies up who wanted their hands to be washed by us, the incoming. Up until that point, the ceremony hadn't been emotional for me- unlike others, it was the beginning of the road for me, not the end. But during that handwashing, "How Beautiful" was playing in the background, and I was struck with an overwhelming feeling. The washing was purely symbolic- but how symbolic it is! To be washed by the outgoing president and VP of spiritual life was humbling, as they were preparing me for the task ahead. Then washing the hands of other ladies who had come forward was a good reminder to me that the reason I am doing this is for them, not for my own agenda. (It's all about servant leadership, right, Steve? ;)

Then, after it was all over and we headed off to our board meeting, it hit me- this is it! It's one thing to say, "Oh, sure, I'll be the president next year..." It's another thing to have someone hand you binders and folders full of information because YOU are the one that now needs it... (I mean, come on- in what church's women's ministry are there 386 pages of guidelines and bylaws??)

Playin it Cool

Until yesterday, we hadn't yet turned on the air conditioner in the house. (And we were darn proud of it!) It had gotten up to 80 inside (while it was 90 outside), but that was tolerable (heck, if I could justify spending the money, I'd have my house at 80 in the winter!)

But yesterday, when it got up to 82 in here, I thought, "Ok, that's it- I'll succumb to the heat and turn on the AC."

Weird thing- I didn't feel any air coming out of the vents.

It was closing in on evening by that point, though, so it got cooler anyway. You know, all the way down to 76.

Then today, I had had enough. I turned on the AC again, hoping that maybe I was just losing it from heat exhaustion yesterday when I thought I couldn't feel anything.

Nope. Still nothing.

In fact, it got HOTTER inside! I could hear the fan (or... some... loud... fanlike noise... coming from the closet...), but feel no air. Finally, I called my dad, who led me through what should be happening.

We have a problem.

Not sure yet what it is, but what we DO conclusively know is that the outside air-conditioner-unit thing (how had I never noticed a 3' by 3' by 2' box sitting in my yard?) was not running. No noise; the blades on the fan were not even attempting to move.

I'll have to call the repairman tomorrow.

The worst part is that now, knowing the AC doesn't work, it feels so much hotter in here! :(

Oh the weather outside is...

Ah yes. Nothing like 90 degree weather to get one in the holiday spirit.

No, I'm not talking about Dance Like A Chicken Day, although that does happen to be today.

Nope, I'm talking about my favorite time of year- that period from Halloween (including the preceeding pumpkin carving) through New Year's. I have been listening to Christmas music (only when Jonathan is NOT home), and I am even presently watching a Christmas movie. I stared longingly today at a photo of autumn leaves.

It all gives me the warm fuzzies- why reserve that for two months a year?

Plus, since I seem to have come down with a cold, it seems fitting...

My take on military spouses

In honor of the aforementioned presidential holiday, I thought I would share some of my thoughts on the matter. My husband touched on it briefly earlier this week, and I'll explain a little more.

What makes a happy military spouse? One who has, as Jon pointed out, "bought the lifestyle." Let me back up and give you some of our story for those of you who don't know it...

When I first got to know Jon, he was a soldier. I was really the first person who entered into his life in this context, and I loved the fact that he was in the Army. When our relationship began getting more serious, I was looking forward to a life in the military- however, I had an incredibly distorted view of what that life was like. Though my brother had served when I was in high school, the Army remained this vast... unknown... to me, a 20 year career in the military meant about 3 deployments- one every 6 or 7 years. And really, in the "Old Army" (that before 2001), that was not uncommon. Though there were short separations, they were (with some exceptions, depending on his job) few and far between. Now, however, it's a different story. The military life is plagued with deployments- 15 months gone, 12 months home, 15 months gone, 12 months home...

It's hard.

Getting back to our story... as most of you know, he deployed with the National Guard only a couple weeks after our wedding. The whole time he was gone, "the plan" was to go Active Duty as soon as he redeployed (got back to the States). However, for reasons out of our control, that didn't happen when we thought it would, last April. Deep down, I was glad. To be married only 10 days before sending your husband off to war is filled with emotions that those who have never been through it simply don't understand, and those who have understand all too well. There is doubt, uncertainty, fears (both rational and irrational), resentment, anger, and frustration.

Needless to say, by the time the opportunity to go Active came around again in June, I was happy to have my husband by my side and didn't want that ever to change. While he wasn't sure which path to take in life, I was! Out of love toward me he did what I wanted and withdrew his name.

We moved down to Georgia and both taught at the school he was at before he deployed. It was a great time in our marriage, and I will always look back at Fayetteville with fondness. We needed that time together. But, I know Jon. As I've often been told by other spouses, once the military is in their blood, it doesn't leave. This was true for Jon. While he enjoyed being back in the classroom and loved the students, his heart was with the soldiers. Unfortunately, mine wasn't!

Then, something started to change. In September, we went to a ball for his battalion. While there, we were talking with his former Battalion Commander, who told Jon of a mission called "Operation Warrior Training" that he was working with, and that he would love for Jon to come be a chaplain there! Jon kindly smiled and thought nothing more of it.

I thought about it hard for a couple weeks. I knew that if I gave him any indication that I was willing to go back to the Army, that would be it. The decision would be made. Was I ready for that?

I decided I was. Our relationship was at a point that I knew I was more important to him than the Army, and I knew that more deployments wouldn't change that. I knew I could share him with Uncle Sam.

So, I told him. He was taken aback at first- he didn't want to believe me until he knew I was serious!

And now, I realize it was the best decision we could have made. I tell you that whole story to put it in perspective for some of you. As he said in his post, this decision to be military is one we made together. Sure, there are bad things. Downright awful things. But you know what? You'd be hard pressed to find a job that had NO shortcomings! It's all a matter of priorities, and what shortcomings you are willing to put up with to do the job you love.

I began this post with saying that the key to being a happy military spouse is "buying the lifestyle." And once you do, it's great! For me, it's PWOC. That is how I have chosen to get involved- it was first something to do, quickly became my social network, and is now also my ministry. There are tons of other clubs and groups on an installation- anything you want to be involved in! And the family support is unlike you would get anywhere else- you just have to be willing to do the research to find the resources you need. I know some pretty miserable spouses- and they make their husbands miserable. The reason is that they only see the negative things about the Army, not the amazing camaraderie and benefits. (if you want just a glimpse of what is out there for spouses, go to militaryonesource.com and browse...)

The military is not only a job, something to pay the bills. It runs through your blood and gives you a sense of pride that you have never felt before. It is a way of life, and the only way to enjoy it is to view it as such.

So yes, it's hard. It brings challenges and frustrations not known in any other context. But those things are countered with immense joys... each difficult goodbye makes the coming reunion that much sweeter.

You have to choose it. Together.

Happy Military Spouse Day!

It's official. President Bush declared today "Military Spouse Day"- so give that military spouse in your life a big hug of appreciation!

On that note, many women in PWOC said goodbye to their husbands earlier this week- many for the third time since GWOT began. As always, keep them in your prayers...

By the President of the United States of America

A Proclamation
America's military spouses inspire our Nation with their sense of duty and deep devotion to our country. On Military Spouse Day, we honor the husbands and wives of those who wear the uniform of the Armed Forces of the United States.

The husbands and wives of our service members have made significant sacrifices for freedom's cause, and they are an integral part of the success of our Armed Forces. Spouses may endure long periods of separation and frequent relocations, and they often set aside their own personal and professional ambitions for the benefit of their family and the Nation. Despite tremendous personal challenges, military spouses maintain everyday life for their families here at home, while sending love, prayers, encouraging words, and care packages to their loved ones stationed around the globe.

On behalf of a grateful Nation, we salute our Nation's military spouses. For ways to support our troops, their spouses, and their families, visit americasupportsyou.mil.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim May 11, 2007, as Military Spouse Day. I call upon the people of the United States to observe this day with appropriate ceremonies and activities and by expressing their gratitude to the husbands and wives of those serving in the United States Armed Forces.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this ninth day of May, in the year of our Lord two thousand seven, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-first.

GEORGE W. BUSH

Good Times

We went to Grace's "Non-Prom Banquet" last week- it was a great time! It was at the Sundial restaurant in Atlanta, and we ate on the 72nd floor with windows all around. It was so good to see some of our students again (Hannah, a graduating senior, is in the pic with me). Dinner was heavenly... I even ordered the steak (instead of chicken), and the dessert was a delicious chocolate mousse cake. We sat with some students that hold special places in our hearts, then we hung out with some of the other teachers afterward!


We're sorry we won't be able to make it to graduation... this is the first graduating class at Grace, and it is special especially to Jon, since he was there at the beginning. We pray the best for these kids as they venture out to their places in the wide wide world...

Lest you think I'm turning liberal...

I am studying for my American Social Problems final right now. Can I tell you how much this book frustrates me? It is written with an incredible liberal slant! Any time the current President is mentioned, it is quickly followed up with an explanation of how he is wrong- SEVERAL times throughout the book! Bush's Faith-Based Initiatives is brutally attacked, while every other governmental policy on poverty and aid is left untouched. I understand that the authors may not feel that FBI is best, but is a college textbook the place for that? They even slammed him for getting into Yale on his family connections, because he doesn't support affirmative action but was a recipeient of it. I think the authors of this book forget that the government did not have a policy in force to REQUIRE Yale to let him in. Ugh.

It also manipulates statistics. Here's one example: The text pointed out how 73% of characters on prime time network television shows are white- what an outrage! However, in doing research for the subsequent paper on racism I had to write, I realized that 74% of Americans ARE white! Is that racism, or simply an adequate representation?

I suppose that being a sociology major I'm asking for it...

ETA: I just read that what matters is not whether you are male or female, but where you individually choose to live on the "gender continuum"...

Dear Anonymous,

If you hate what I have to say that much, please refrain from commenting. If the thought of a husband doing loving things for his wife makes you ill, please keep that to yourself. Or, at the very least, instead of remaining anonymous, be brave enough to leave your name with an intelligent reason of why you disagree. I don't personally like anonymous comments to begin with, and what you wrote begged to be deleted.

Thank you.

Lessons Learned

I have many things I would like to write about, and a few posts will be coming in the next few days about my week!

But for now, I want to write about my husband.

He is absolutely wonderful.

Let me explain.

He not only listens to me, shows affection to me, and is altogether kind to me, but he also does things to make me feel special.

When I took my finals earlier this spring, I came home to freshly baked chocolate chip cookies and milk! (and if you know Jon, you know that while he is a fantastic cook, baking isn't high on his priority list...)

We got home late last night, and to celebrate him doing well on his PT (physical training) Test on Friday, we decided to order pizza (after having eaten very healthy foods for the past couple weeks...)

I went out to pick it up, and when I pulled in the driveway, he met me at the door, wearing khakis and a collared shirt. That's when I knew he was up to something.

As I got closer to the house, I could hear Nora Jones playing in the background, and he led me into the dining room.

He had changed the tablecloth, lit candles, and set out the fine china.

For our pizza.

He said he wanted to make me smile.

I write this not because last night was anything unique- in fact, quite the opposite.
Having a husband who goes out of his way to do things (even small things like bringing me chocolate when he returns from a trip) just to make me happy is an indescribable feeling.

The very first night we talked, two and a half years ago, he had just gotten done taking a marriage & family counseling course at seminary. I remember him speaking about how he was determined that the key to a happy marriage is waking up every day and thinking of something nice to do for your spouse- and do it!

We didn't even know we would date then, much less get married.

But you know what? I have met countless couples who have been married longer than I've been alive who haven't seemed to realize this yet.

What is your spouse's love language? (words of affirmation; quality time; gifts; acts of kindness; physical affection- though I am CONVINCED that food is a separate love language...)

Speak it to him or her, even if it's not the language you prefer to use.

That is my challenge to you: whether you have been married one week or fifty years, do one thing today to make your spouse feel special. To make him or her smile.

Not married? Do something kind for a friend- putting others before yourself is the key to any healthy relationship; not just marriage.

Until next time...

technical difficulties

Comments are again allowed! Sorry for the confusion...

We're at Ft. Jackson in South Carolina this week for a conference. I just burned my finger quite badly on the coffee pot.

Anyway, read yesterday's post and tell me what you think! :-)

A question of ethics

Jon and I heard something quite interesting on NPR yesterday during "All Things Considered."

A lady called in with an ethics question. Here is the story: The high school in her community had all their students sign a pledge that said they would neither drink alcohol nor be around alcohol at parties, etc. However, these same students posted pictures of themselves at parties with alcohol on their myspace pages. The school administration found them and disciplined the students.

The question: Is this ethical?

Should school administration be allowed to discipline students based on what is posted on myspace?

Though I can see both sides of the issue, the two important things in the case in my opinion are that:

1) the students ALL signed the commitment form, giving the school the authority to control this (the argument could have been made that it is not the school's right to monitor off-campus behavior, if it were not for this). Regardless of how you feel about the school demanding that kind of behavior, the fact is that they signed.

2) the pictures were posted ONLINE. The lady on the internet used the argument that even though the internet is public, "the students don't view it that way- they view it like a locked diary." Why does what teenagers THINK matter? (I have also heard students say that they thought that in writing a paper, if they changed one word in a sentence of a book they read, it wasn't plagiarism. Regardless of what they think, that IS plagiarism, and it is wrong.) If they think that what they post online isn't visible by everyone and their pedophiliac brother, they need to be educated in it- not excused for it. (As a sidenote, myspace allows you to set your page as "private" so it can ONLY be viewed by the people you allow. Most teens look at it as a "way to meet new friends," so they don't use this feature.)

Also, take a look at the recent VT shootings- the school is being blamed for NOT monitoring what he posted online! If a high school student posted on his myspace that he was going to kill students (even off campus), would the administration have a right to take charge then? If so, what makes that any different from other harmful vices?

And if the students are posting/ commenting on myspace on school computers (which, as a former teacher, I can guarantee you happens frequently), does that make a difference?

What do you think? Is this an infringement of privacy, or did the school have grounds to suspend these students?

Mosquito Test

It's been a while. A couple times I have even opened blogger dashboard to write something, then have utter writer's block.

I officially got the Kids Church contract! I'm excited to really start working on that now... but I sure am staying busy!

In lieu of anything interesting going on in my mind, I will refer you to Jesse's site. He just posted something quite fascinating about how as people get older, they lose hearing at high frequencies (he was even kind enough to post different frequencies you can listen to to see where you rate!) What's interesting about this is that apparently (I had never heard of it), kids can set this as a ringtone on their cellphones, so they can hear them in class while their old-fogey teachers can't! You really need to read this!

ETA: Follow the Earl's lead and post how you rated in the comments section!

an oddity

I woke up stiff this morning.

The front of my thighs felt like I had done a serious work-out...

Thing is, I haven't been to the gym since Friday...

It hasn't gotten better- "What did I DO?"

Then when Jon came home from work, he said he experienced the same thing.

He figured out why:

Yesterday at Kids Church, he led us all in "I've Got the Joy" (an updated version of the old Sunday School classic). The verse has the word "joy" in it 18 times- he had us jump up/ every time we said the word "joy"... then the same with "love" and "peace"- basically we did 54 squats...

Man alive, never would I have thought that children's ministry could be so exhausting...

PWOC Retreat & More Army Life

I'm beat.

The last thing in the world I wanted to do this morning was get out of bed... even after I did, watching the rain beat down on the deck made me desire a cup of coffee and good book.

Alas and alack, I headed off to Kids Church...

We had our PWOC retreat this weekend. It was just for one night, but I wish we could have stayed longer! We had a great time of fellowship- I didn't go to bed until 2am! (If you know me from college, that was the norm then... if you know me now, you understand that that's a good 4 hours after my bedtime...) Because of block leave (the couple weeks soldiers get off before they're deployed) and childcare issues, not many were able to attend, so the group is a bit sparse and not representative of what a Wednesday morning would look like... those of us that went loved it though! The little house that's pictured was our private dining room!

As a side note, please remember to keep our soldiers and their families in their prayers. As you probably heard this week, they just found out that their tours will be extended to 15 months. That is a long time to be away from home! (to add salt to the wound, the media published it before they were supposed to... our spouses heard it for the first time on the news with the rest of us, and had to then tell their husbands, who had NOT yet been informed! As if this news wasn't bad enough, hearing it on the nightly news made it so much worse...)

I actually was speaking with a lady this week who has been married for 15 years and not once spent her anniversary with her husband.

Though most families love the military, that doesn't mean these things aren't hard...

Our Anniversary Trip

We had a fantastic time in Charleston!!

We left Saturday morning and headed up the three hours to Charleston, South Carolina. It is one of the oldest cities in America, so it has a lot of historical significance.
On Saturday night, we went out for dinner with a friend of Jon's from CHOBC and his friend. We had an absolutely lovely time catching up with him, meeting her, and walking about the city!







Sunday morning we were determined to find a good church for our Easter Service! We found one that we were really excited about and got there ON TIME, only to realize that they only had an evening service... figures... we did find another service to attend and enjoyed it for what it was.

That afternoon we went to Fort Sumter. It is an island that was built as a defense in the Civil War. It is interesting because it was occupied by the North, then the South, then the North... can you even fathom all the history of that small little plot of land? Being an island, we had to take a ferry across... and boy was it cold!! (notice the picture of me huddled trying to keep out of the wind...)

After that we toured the Yorktown, the oldest Naval aircraft carrier still afloat today. Aside from a minor claustrophobic near-breakdown in the depths of the engine room, it was quite enjoyable!

It was really neat seeing the exhibits about the chaplaincy on the ship. The picture of Jon standing in a room is actually the chapel room itself- there is a picture hanging to the left of him of the chaplain doing a service in the same room. It made us feel a part of that heritage of ministering to members of the military- whether it's to soldiers, sailors, marines, or airmen- it's all ministry.

The whole weekend was wonderful. We stayed at a cabin at a campground (can you believe I went three days without wifi?) It was fully equipped with a bathroom and kitchen (including pots/pans and dishes!) Now that's what I call camping! Monday morning I accidentally locked us out of the house. We were enjoying our morning coffee on the screened-in porch overlooking the river, and the door was one of those that opens from the inside even when it's locked (I HATE that!) We found one unlocked window on the side of the house... we pulled the picnic table over and Jon hoisted me through. Only me, only me...

Enjoy the pics!

Two down, forever to go...

Three years ago today, I was living my life alone. I was the secretary for a church, also working at Pine Ridge Bible Camp. I was living in the basement of the camp office, not having any idea what I was going to do with the rest of my life.

Two years ago today, much had changed. I had met an incredible man who had asked me to be his wife, and we said "I do." He wore his dress blues, and I had daisies in my hair. It was perfect.

One year ago today, I was again living alone. My husband of 12 months was in Iraq, though was but a week away from redeploying. I had dessert with some friends to celebrate. The joy I found in my anniversary was knowing that I was soon to see Jonathan again.

This year, however, is much different. My husband is home and not leaving (long-term) for an indefinite amount of time.

To all of our friends and family who have been with us for the past two years, even if just for a season, Thank you.

To Jonathan, my love, here's to the rest of our lives...

Guess what I just did?

You might as well stop. You'll never guess.

I worked out at a gym.

Ok, go ahead, pick your jaw up off the ground.

One of the perks of having a husband in the military is free membership at the post gym. Right after lunch is a great time to go- all the intimidating soldiers are at work, so it's mostly a few wives. And I have a great husband who showed me how to use every machine so I didn't look like a complete exercise idiot.

I think I worked muscles today that I never even knew existed...

That's a good feeling...

The Life I Lead...

I spent the morning brushing up on my Army Wife Handbook. Though I don't need all the information now, I like to keep abreast of what's in it so I can remember to refer to it when needed. And the more Army experiences I have, the more that the things in the book make sense... It includes everything from Introductions (as in how-to), all sorts of correspondence etiquette, Coffees and Teas (which are quite different, by the way), seating charts, military weddings, funerals, roles of the wife of different ranks/positions, appropriate attire for various situations, etc- it's a must-have for any Army wife!

On a somewhat related note, I was named PWOC's President for next year! (If you don't remember, PWOC stands for Protestant Women of the Chapel- it's the Bible Study/ Wives Group I have been attending.) I am really excited about the opportunity and the chance to serve. And Misty (the one I talked about in my post about the Chili Dinner) is First Vice President of Programs, so it should be great to work with her. I was so honored that I was asked, though the task still seems a bit daunting!

Finished Product

But first... this is my 100th post! Yes, 100 glimpses into the life and mind of Sara...

Back to business- When Jon was gone last week, I purposed to busy myself... on top of getting together almost every day with some indivual or group of friends, I had a couple "projects"- one was, as I said earlier, to empty the spare room... here was the other one...






We wanted a bench in our entryway... I bought this unfinished at Michael's, patched up a hole with wood filler, apoxied hooks on the back of the mirrors (thanks to Lori!), screwed the hooks into the back of the coat hooks (also unfinished)... I'm quite proud of the final product- AND of my use of many things I have never touched before!!

My Sunday

I did something tonight I have not done for a LONG time: attended an after-evening-service fellowship dinner.

Now that I'm doing Kids Church, attending an evening service has become much more important. (Even though I still make it for the last 45 minutes or so of the Gospel Service after packing up Kids Church, it doesn't fulfill my need for what church should *feel* like.)

With Jon gone this week, I ventured out on my own to a local church here in Hinesville. I sat near the back, and about five minutes into the service I realized, when they all filed in late, that I had inadvertently sat in the teen section... when I looked across the auditorium and saw Misty, a new friend from PWOC, I took the opportunity to move.

After the service, she convinced me to stay for the Chili Dinner... and I'm glad I did! Okokok, so I didn't meet anyone new (other than a few people who smiled and shook my hand then promptly forgot I exist), but it was great getting to know Misty a little better. She hosted a get-together Friday night (PWOC has them monthly), and that was the first time I ever really got the chance to talk to her. This is their first Duty Station as well, and about 2 months after they got here her husband deployed. I'm looking forward to spending time with her!

And I have to admit... I'm a sucker for potlucks. I have always loved them... what can I say, I'm a casserole girl...

I also finished my first paper for my new class: American Social Problems. I can already tell this course will be WAY better than the last two...

btw... if you don't frequent it, check out my husband's blog- he just posted some picks of his trip to Vicksburg today!

time to say goodbye

I began this morning yet another thing that has been on my "to do" list for a long time...

I am in the process of going through all my pictures from middle and high school. It is pretty interesting, looking at glimpses of the people and things I used to hold so dear.

I have quite literally forgotten that many of those people existed... and yet, I have hundreds of pictures of them.

Some of them I saved, of course. I have two friends from high school I still keep in touch with. Two. I kept ones of them.

I also kept a couple pictures from youth group days (probably because you've been reading, Derrick...)- those really were good times.

But you know what? The overwhelming majority of them I'm outright throwing away. I suppose everyone hits that point in life, the point that you realize all those adults that told you you wouldn't be friends forever were right. I maintain that I still have Sara and Beth... which is more than most people probably do.

I'll admit, it was harder to part with college pictures. Those friends were in the more recent past, and they also were a bigger part of shaping who I am... even still, I only saved a few of the group pictures...

And THEN... there were the letters... boxes of notes from junior high (though now they just skip the paper and text message each other...)

I have moved this stuff several times; not doing it again... so we now have a cleared-out spare room if you ever want to come see us!!!

I'm Here!!!

I am extremely happy right now.

Long story short, Jon has my laptop in Mississippi, because the power cord on his stopped working over the weekend... leaving me with a laptop that has no power and an iMac that sometimes works; sometimes doesn't.

I bought a new power cord online, but got impatient tonight and started fiddling around with the port and a straight pin... and got it working! Woohoo!! I have once again entered that beautiful web known as the internet.

*sigh*

I'm not sure life could get any better. Maybe I should eat an Oreo to celebrate.

On another note, I changed my name with the Social Security Administration yesterday. I read online that if you don't do it within 2 years of getting married, you need to provide "additional documentation"... and my 2nd anniversary is in 3 weeks... So not wanting to deal with that gave me the motivation I needed to head to Savannah to get it done. It feels good to check off your "to do" list something that has been hanging over your head for two years...

random thoughts

We've had a good week.

We saw "300" the other night. It didn't end how I expected it to... shows how much I know...

Our neighbors took us to a great little restaurant called Mrs. Speed's Kitchen. It is (quite literally) in two single-wide trailers that have been (somehow) connected. The walls are that 70s brown paneling that made me feel like I was in some church basement... but the freshly caught shrimp and flounder were great!

I also bought a plane ticket to Michigan for the beginning of June... woohoo!!!

We watched "The End of the Spear" tonight- it is the story of the missionaries who were killed in the Ecuadorian jungle 50+ years ago. If you haven't seen it, you should. It is a good depiction of a familiar story, and is more quality than most Christian films tend to be.

Someone came to my site this past week from searching "house wife pics" in msn... who knew... (you can also, so I see, get here from "wwI normalcy" "your grace still amazes me" "dogface soldier" "until death do us part wow"...)

Why do I come up in searches in msn faster than google? Do any of you have any idea how that works?

That's all my tired train of thought can come up with for now... hopefully a more interesting post will follow soon...

Who Knew?

Apparently, so I hear, it's basketball season again.

I was invited to participate in two brackets- one with my old work and one with my family -but I wasn't sure I wanted to break my rocking awesome winning streak from last year (okokok, so the ONLY time I won- or participated- was last year...). I bit the bullet, though, and guessed primarily on seed.

So have any of you ever heard of some place called Old Dominion?

There were actually about 6 or 7 teams I had never heard of... I didn't pick those teams.

I am certainly not going to be trash talking, because I don't want it to bite me.

I will just remind you all- especially Josh, Chris, Ken, and Derek- the feelings of utter defeat and loss that they felt last year...

The Weekend in Numbers

Minutes we drove around on Friday before stumbling across something to do: approx. 30

Number of times we marveled at the amazing beauty on our walk through the woods (more like jungle) in South Georgia (what we stumbled upon): too many to count

Episodes of "Into the West" watched: 2

Trips to Walmart yesterday for yard supplies: 2

Hours it took to rake the yard: 2.5

Hours it SEEMED it took to rake the yard: 11

Trash bags now filled with leaves: 13
Gallons in each bag: 29
Total gallons of leaves now NOT strewn about our backyard: 377

Times I have previously raked in my whole life: 1 (though, admittedly it was at a youth group function and, truth be told, I probably wasn't the *most* helpful...)

Times I reminded Jon that I have never done anything like this before and/or told him it is *not* my favorite thing: approx. 8

Number of times I felt like giving up: approx. 8

Number of times I actually gave up: 0!! (though, there were a few "breaks"...)

Trip to the theater to see "The 300": 1

Times I saw "The 300": 0 (sold out)

Times I was glad I am no longer a teenager, as they were running, yelling, and cutting in line: too many to count

Time I went to bed last night: 10:00

Time I remembered to change the alarm clock to the new time: 10:15

Times my stomach decided all on its own to "cleanse" itself in the middle of the night: 4

Age I was when my stomach last decided all on its own to "cleanse" itself: 11

Time I got out of bed: 11:00 (the old 10:00)

Naps I have taken today: 3

Temperature outside when I sat on the deck for fresh air: approx. 75 degrees

Times I have desired to relive this weekend: 0

First of many, I'm sure...

I had another military first yesterday: the Spiritual Fitness Luncheon (formerly the Prayer Breakfast)

Jon described it as a "military potluck"- except, instead of endless (delicious) pasta dishes, green bean casserole, and jello desserts as far as the eye can see, it was catered: roasted chicken, vegetables, and beef stroganoff. The head table was full of area pastors and leaders. Anyone there who wasn't garbed in ACUs (the new digital cammo) was quite dressed up (boy, was I glad I decided last minute to wear a casual skirt instead of jeans!)

There were about 500 people attending, mostly soldiers. The special speaker was Mark Richt, the University of Georgia head football coach. He spoke of going into battle- whether on the football field or the sandbox- and the things necessary for success- the biggest of which is spiritual readiness. I thought he did a good job of emphasizing that football doesn't come close to being the same as the Army, while drawing in the comparisons.

I think the most moving part of the ceremony was when a young soldier sang "It is Well." The 6 people sitting at the table with Jon and me are all deploying next week... as are many of the other soldiers who were there (nothing makes you want to be "spiritually fit" like an imminent trip to a combat zone...). Keep these men and women in your prayer.

On a lighter note, my personal favorite part of the ceremony was right before the benediction, when all the soldiers joined together to sing the Ft. Stewart song- "Dogface Soldier" (lyrics follow, click here to hear Ft. Stewart soldiers sing it!). I think it's because my first encounter with soldiers singing was at my brother's boot camp graduation- ever since then, it just cracks me up... probably because my brother isn't one who exactly sings for fun, yet there he was in chorus with all of his fellow graduates. Soldiers singing is always fun for me.

I wouldn't give a bean
To be a fancy-pants Marine;
I'd rather be a Dogface Soldier like I am.
I wouldn't trade my old O.D.'s
For all the Navy's dungarees,
For I'm the walking pride of Uncle Sam.
On all the posters that I read it says,
"Be all that you can!"
So they're tearing me down to build me over again.
I'm just a Dogface Soldier
With a rifle on my shoulder,
And I eat raw meat for breakfast every day.
So feed me ammunition,
Keep me in the Third Division,
Your Dogfaced Soldier's A-Okay!

A further explanation...

Due to an unexpected amount of interest in the subject, allow me to quote from the earlier-mentioned book: The Surprising Power of Family Meals: How eating together makes us smarter, stronger, healthier, and happier by Miriam Weinstein. If you have been participating in this conversation, I think it explains my view. If not, still read it! It is all about how knowing your family heritage can help a child succeed. I have added the boldness for emphasis. The Duke that is talked about is Marshall Duke, a clinical psychologist at Emory University.

"In recent years, psychologists have been paying increased attention to what might be called the bad things happen model of life. Instead of concentrating only on pathology, they are looking to understand its opposite -- how some people suffer tragedy and trauma, and yet go on to do quite well. Their goal is to build this resilience into children. Or as Duke puts it, 'to deal with what's in this life.'

Based on his clinical work, Duke had a sense that kids who knew more about their family background tended to be more resilient. This notion that we get strength from our family ties, from our antecedents, flies in the face of our peculiarly American celebration of self-invention. It is also out of step with the way that we Americans structure our families. Because we count the family as the nuclear, child-rearing unit, we create families whose goal is to self-destruct. We define successful off-springs as those who move out and away. Extended families almost never share homes or businesses, and the leisure time we spend together is often quite limited and formal.

Duke wanted to study whether a child's rootedness in his family contributed to his stability and resilience. So, along with colleagues at Marial, the Emory-based multidisciplinary organization that studies middle-class working families, he looked into how children learned about family lore... at the dinner table.

Beginning in 2001, Duke and his colleagues arranged for the members of forty-two families, each of whom had a child between nine and thirteen years old, to remember and discuss a negative and a positive past event, which were recorded. The families also recorded two dinnertime conversations. In addition, the parents were asked to tell stories about their families. But when they did, all was not sweetness and light. Duke says, 'They told horrible stories about bankruptcies, losing jobs, having to move, accidents; one family talked about a murder.'

But Duke pulls back to consider the context. 'You have to look at where they're telling about it. They're in the safety of their own home. The message is: Terrible things have happened, but we're okay, the family survives. We're thinking it gives the kids grounding, a sense of place, a sense of context.' And he goes on: 'Kids find heroes in their own family.'...

When the group wrote a working paper about their research, they called it Of Ketchup and Kin: Dinnertime Conversations as a Major Source of Family Knowledge, Family Adjustment, and Family Resilience.

The authors, whom I'll call the Ketchup Group, measured the kids in the study according to several standardized psychological tests. They found that the more kids knew about their families, the better they measured up. So those ridiculous stories, as well as the more serious ones, might actually have some value. As the Ketchup Group wrote, 'These give-and-take interactions go beyond influencing memories for the events; they encourage perspective-taking, critical thinking, theory-building, and relationship roles within the family... We propose that family narratives contribute to the current well-being an psychological immunity of its individual members.'

That is, we are our stories. Hearing the family tales again and again over time anchors our sense of who we are, and gives us a feeling of belonging and hope."

Well said.

Favorite Things #3

I just discovered a new favorite thing: Pearled Barley.

I had only had it before in soups and stews... but it is really good on its own! I am, admittedly, a carb girl- give me pasta, bread, and rice! I was raised having (and am continuing the tradition of having :) pasta or rice at almost every meal... but sometimes I want something different- that's why barley is great! It is almost like brown rice, but creamier- like pasta. I made it last night with chicken stock instead of water, and folded in basil, parsley, and thyme at the end.

I also cut up some carrots, mixed with olive oil and rosemary, and roasted them in the oven- the sugar extracted from the carrots glazed them with a sweet coating- they were delicious!

Ye'll tak' the high road, and I'll tak' the low road... and I'll be in Scotland afore ye...

Today I breathed a sigh of relief.

Because we have been out of town all week, I had to take the final exam for both of my classes this morning... suffice it to say that last night wasn't happy. But, I think I did pretty well. I am quite confident, actually. I finished the first in 25 minutes and the second in an hour and 15. Could I have done better? Of course. Do I really care? Not really.

One of the essay questions I had to answer is why knowing a nation's history is important to its citizens. I am absolutely fascinated with this subject. My brother posed the same question to me earlier this week in another context. Why should we be proud of our Scotch-Irish heritage? he asked.

I am very proud to be Scotch-Irish- and I intend to find out more about them... just think- it may have been my ancestors that were monks who preserved the written word during the Dark Ages! It may have been them who sat under St. Patrick (my mom's maiden name is actually McCool) and spread Christianity on the island. The Lennoxes (Jon's mom's maiden name) were descendants of the Stuart Kings- the castle they owned (this picture was taken by Jon's brother Ben) is still there today- near Loch Lomond in Scotland. I find this fascinating!

I read a book last year called The Surprising Power of Family Meals: How eating together makes us stronger, smarter, healthier, and happier. In it, the author related a conversation she had had with a colleague who was a college professor. He had done a study on his students and found that those who knew thier family's heritage- recent and ancient- seemed to have more success in school and beyond.

The book asserted, and I agree, that knowing what "your people" have been through- whether it is the trials of the ancient celts, the journey from the isles to America, or the stories of my grandparents in the Great Depression, this connection to the past empowers people to have the strength to succeed.

Keep in mind this is not always a cognitive decision. When faced with a hard time, I don't think, "Wait a minute! I have ancestors who survived the Potato Famine- I can get through this!" No. I don't.

I do think, though, that the subconscious knowledge of what your family- or nation- has been through can positively affect an individual.

Jon and I have begun compiling information we know so that, someday, we can pass it on to our kids- the book suggests that the dinner table is a great means for that.

What do you think? Do you feel a connection to your past? Is passing family history on to your children important to you?

And an even more pressing question: Do you want to buy a used Western Civilization book?

Homes for Our Troops

Last night Jon and I met a man who is a plumber with Homes for Our Troops. This is a group of homebuilders who build new homes (or upgrade existing ones) that are handicap accessible for troops who return home in wheelchairs or otherwise impaired. It seems like a great program- I never would have even thought of that need!!

Kids' Church

I began a new ministry today. Well... the ministry isn't new... I'm just new to it.

Anyway, I'm helping out with Kids'Church at Ft. Stewart.

With so many of the chaplains deployed, these ministries are severely lacking in volunteers... and with the surge and accelerated deployments, it is all happening quite quickly... as in... last week.

There are about 80 kids Kg-5th grade who come on a Sunday morning- this is one of those ministries that is all the chapels on post, plus unchurched kids that the bus picks up or whose parents drop them off. In that way, it's more like an AWANA program than a Children's Church. It only lasts about an hour, though, so there's barely enough time to realize what's going on before it's over! This morning they took a count of how many kids have a parent deployed right now- about 75% of them do. As you can see, it's vital that we keep reaching out to these families right now.

There is actually a possibility that I could be hired as a contract worker for the children's ministry. There's a bit of a process that has to happen, but it would allow me full reign of the ministry- and get paid for it!! From what I know of the position so far, it seems perfect for me! I won't know anything for a few weeks, but it looks promising!

Since the gospel service continues well after Kids' Church, I was able to go and be with Jon for the last half hour or so of the service. And... I didn't have the urge to cry AT ALL! Improvement... (funny sidenote... I was talking to one of the other KC volunteers who attends the gospel service, and she comes from an Anglican background- she said she was entirely caught off guard her first time!)

Anyway... I'll keep y'all posted... happy Sunday!

amazing grace?

we saw it tonight. today was the opening day of the amazing grace movie. my parents went to see it earlier in the day and had given it good reviews, so i was quite excited. i won't comment on the movie for now except to say that you should go see it! Christian cliches were kept to a small minimum... and after googling them when i came home, i realized that john newton (who spoke them in the movie) actually originally penned them!

that is all i shall say on the movie... for now...

no, coming home at close to one in the morning, there is something else pressing on my mind: the woman who sat next to me at the theater. she was the epitomy of what you don't want the person sitting next to you to be! She talked through the entire thing... it seemed like every thought she had she vocalized. any moderately emotional part, she responded with "mmm... how cool..." or "that is so cute" or "good for him!" or "that's just great"- it drove me crazy. i digress.

the point is that, between the previews and the movie, a coke commercial celebrating black history was shown. this woman, the SAME one who sang the praises of william wilberforce and the abolitionist movement, she said during this commercial, and i quote, "blah blah blah."

BLAH BLAH BLAH?? you're at a movie celebrating abolition of slavery and you "blah blah blah" the black history commercial?

so what... we should abolish slavery but supress the race after that? we should avoid any contribution they have made? it's a 30 second coke commercial... you are bored with history after 30 seconds? you glorify the "amazing grace" of God (and rightly so), yet you are unwilling to extend his grace in your own life by recognizing what a particular race has accomplished?

blech.

if there was anything i could have changed about the movie, it would have been that woman.

i am so stinkin high-tech.

here it is, folks...

getting annoyed with trying to remember to stop by?

not stopping by much because you don't remember?

i have solved your problem!!!

all you do is enter your email address in the top right column of this page, and you will get an email notification every time i post. no more wondering when in the world i'm going to post or if it's worth your time to check.

happy subscribing!

just in case you were wondering...

tomorrow's expected high here in hinesville is 78 degrees.

armyspeak

i have realized that, in spite of my valiant efforts to make what i say make sense to civilians, there are some things that need to be explained. keep in mind that everything i'm about to say brings with it about 5 other things that should be explained, and if you have military experience, you'll look at this and will want to add several exceptions and specifications- this is not an exhaustive explanation, but hopefully it will help this life we now lead make more sense for most of you!

each installation (for our sake, an installation is a fort- like fort stewart- it is the geographical location) has a chaplain that stays there and runs the chapel ministries at the installation. each brigade has a chaplain, and each battalion has a chaplain. there are typically several battalions in a brigade. in the active duty world, the first several years of your career are spent as a battalion chaplain. (this is what jon was in iraq and will be after this year of being a trainer.) battalion chaplains serve their unit (battalion) AND usually a post chapel.

ft. stewart currently has 5 post chapels. these are basically church buildings and are run similar to a large church that has different campuses across town. each faith group (protestant, catholic, islam, wiccan, etc) has access to these chapels. for example, at ft. stewart, there is catholic mass; protestant traditional, contemporary, liturgical, and gospel; as well as other meetings for varying faith groups.

when we say that jon is the "associate pastor" at the gospel service, that is not his full-time job- he is still a chaplain trainer. however, he also has responsibilities at this church service. the gospel service has about 300 people who regularly attend and has its own small groups and ministries- just like any other church. the difference is that some of the ministries are post-wide- for example, the youth group is the post youth group- regardless of what service you go to on sunday morning (or if you go at all), the youth group meets at one of the chapels on sunday nights. ladies Bible study (pwoc), single soldier ministry, and kids' church are other examples of this.

i've also had the question- "what is the gospel service- aren't all services gospel?" a post gospel service is predominantly african-american; the music is the style of gospel music you may hear on the radio (NOT southern gospel, mind you!).

i hope that clears things up a bit!

comfort zone? what comfort zone?

i'm drained.

if you read my husband's blog, you know that he was assigned (and gladly accepted) the associate pastorate at the gospel service here on post. if you know anything about me, you know that i am not exactly "gospel service" material.

in my background, "expressive worship" means you smile. and... that's about it. during songs, you probably fell into one of four categories:
1) stood there and looked grumpy
2) stood there and looked pleasant, sometimes mouthing the words
3) sang (most people were in this category)
4) smiled while you sang
those in the fourth category were the charismatic expressive folks. they may have even raised their hands on occasion, but you brushed it off because, well, they came from a different background.

if you are like me, you also attended a service that ended by the designated time (either noon, or possibly 12:15) to allow for the lunch crowd to get to their favorite restaurant- and if you weren't out by that designated time, the pastor probably heard about it. you may have even had a burnt roast on those sundays because the longevity wasn't expected.

fast forward to february 18, 2007. picture me, with the afforementioned religo-cultural background (i may have made that word up), standing (even swaying sometimes!) in a service, a quite expressive (putting it mildly) service... for two and a half hours... suffice it to say it was a different experience.

i have to admit, i enjoyed it. the people were loving and friendly, welcoming us into their congregation with open arms. i am quite excited to get involved in the group and get to know these dear folks better. the senior pastor (a chaplain) and his wife seem like really neat people that we will benefit greatly from working with.

there were times during the service that i just wasn't quite sure what to do. each tradition of worship has its own mores and norms... and this was not my tradition. i'm sure that the more i attend there, the more comfortable i will become with it. in "prepping" me, jon had encouraged me to just do whatever i felt like doing, and not try to make myself be someone i wasn't. on the other hand, i didn't want to look disapproving (my resting facial position, i have been told, looks "mad" or "stern"). so, this morning, i decided to stretch myself... i smiled.

long, but worth it...

in honor of black history month, i thought we should take a moment to think of the slavery that still is happening worldwide.

there is a movie coming to theaters next friday called "amazing grace." it is a story of true events that led to abolition of slavery in england. i have been excited to see it ever since i first saw the trailer a month ago... i would encourage you to check out the amazing change campaign - it is a website dedicated to helping slaves- both literal and economical- worldwide. look around there to see some of the things that are happening globally.

yesterday at pwoc (the army wives' bible study i have been attending), there was a special speaker who worked in vietnam and northern thailand for several years as a missionary. one people group he talked about especially stuck out to me- the shan living between myanmar (burma) and thailand. this people group (300,000 in number) were forced from their villages in burma and told that they would be killed if they returned. however, thailand won't allow most of them into their country, either- most of them are literally living in the jungles between the guarded gates of both countries. children are often either abandoned or sold into slavery or prostitution (which are really synonomous...)

have you heard of the dalit? they are a people group whose name literally means "untouchables"- 250 million people who have been told by the upper castes of india that they are less than human. if even a dalit’s shadow falls on an upper caste person, that person is polluted according to caste rules. (that description comes from this website.)

if you want more information that any of these sites have, just do a google search- you will be amazed what you come up with.

if you are like me, you will look at this information and say, "so what? what in the world can i do about it? nothing." you know, in some ways i agree. i don't believe that signing a petition will honestly end slavery- it is a much deeper issue than american popular opinion. however, i do believe that we do the body of Christ good to be informed on these issues, to at least KNOW what is happening. to pray over these people groups. to do what we can to help the truly needy in our world.

keep in mind, too, that these people also have little to no Christian witness- some are persecuted horribly. we have brothers and sisters who are suffering in chains even today.

and honestly, i think that many churches and Christians- not wanting to be named among the social gospel movement- have gone too far in neglecting the physical needs of those around us. yes, you will get taken advantage of. yes, you may feel like it's just a drop in the bucket. is that what you would tell Christ? you didn't contribute to the food pantry because people take advantage of it? that you didn't give to a charity because you think it's probably some grand conspiracy to take your money?

maybe so. i know that i would rather err on the side of showing love. isn't that what Christianity is all about? helping the poor, the widows, the orphans... showing love to those who would never see it otherwise...

here are some practical suggestions if you'd like to get involved. this is just the tip of the iceburg. if you can't give, then pray. pray for these people to know Christ, and pray also that they would be free from the physical torment in which they are currently living.

World Vision
Samaritan's Purse (they have a cool catalog at christmas that you can actually buy "gifts" for someone in a third-world country- gifts like chickens, bibles, school supplies, a well, farming equipment, etc)
Amnesty International
Peace Gospel
Compassion International


if you know of other groups that focus on enslaved, displaced, or impoverished people groups, feel free to list it in the comments section.

where in the world is hinesville?

so for all you northerners who aren't really familiar with georgia geography, here is where we live. as you can see, it's near the tip of south carolina.

by the way, last night at 9:00 when i was driving home from class, the bank sign said it was 59 degrees. nice.

on this day in history...

a baby was born.

he would grow up to be an incredible man.

he would be thoughtful, sensitive, fun, and driven.

he would also be my husband.

happy birthday, darling!

(go over to chaplainfisher.com and tell him happy birthday!)

only in the military...

is the background "music" of your ladies' Bible study artillery and such going off at a nearby field, shaking the entire chapel...

(by the way, we can hear it booming loudly at our house- miles away...)

an open letter to customer service reps

if you are a customer service representative and you ever get me on the phone, please, i beg of you, do not call me "hun." or "sweetie." or any other term that makes me feel like an 8-year-old.

actually, unless you are my husband or a very close friend, please do not use any sort of term of endearment whatsoever. i am NOT endeared to you.

i may sound like a teenager on the phone (and look like one in person...), but i assure you that i am a grown adult.

i am not "playing wife." the account i'm calling about is real.

and especially, ESPECIALLY, if you can't give me any information because my husband's is the only name on the account, ESPECIALLY then i am NOT AT ALL endeared to you.

never mind the fact that i can spout off his social and date of birth faster than i can my own (when people ask me for mine, i have to think a minute- his comes to mind first these days).

unless you want me to start paying my bills with pretend money, please start treating me like an adult.

pwoc

i went to my first pwoc meeting today. pwoc is protestant women of the chapel- it's a national Bible study at military installations. i wasn't really sure what i expected, but it ended up being good.

it didn't start out so hot... i called the installation chaplain's office for directions for the specific chapel it was at. i got lost (long story) and arrived to the chapel 20 minutes late... only to see a sign on the door that today's meeting got moved to another chapel- one i am familiar with and is much closer to my house. i got there 30 minutes late... but apparently all i missed were songtime and announcements.

there were probably 35 women there, of all ages. everyone was incredibly friendly... actually, people were more friendly here than at any of the churches we've visited. the very nature of a military installation-based group is that there is CONSTANT turnover- every two to three years, everyone moves. so, unlike a church that has had people who have been there for the past 40+ years, anyone who has been there longer than about 6 months is an "oldtimer"- new people are the spice of life.

of these women, the overwhelming majority of them said good-bye to their husbands (most of them for the 3rd or 4th time since 9/11) just a couple weeks ago. the 3rd infantry division (located at ft. stewart) is in the process of deploying... unlike last year, I am the one who has a husband at home while everyone else is alone. it made me very thankful that we're together, yet at the same time, the feeling that one day very soon I will again be the one dealing with stateside life alone loomed in the back of my mind.

it is great to have a group like this, though, in those times. a group that laughs at the same "you know you're a military spouse if..." jokes, that cries just as much (if not more...) than you, a group that asks not what your husband does, but if he's in the country or not (because really, that's all that matters).

have a good day, and keep the troops in your prayers...

new house pics

here they are! the house is still a work in progress (especially the wallpapered kitchen...), but it looks great already. there's also a formal dining room and spare bedroom that i didn't deem it necessary to take pictures of. (the dining room is our next project, but right now still has cardboard boxes as the decor...)

enjoy!

(sorry for the double- the pictures are represented as text in my "edit" box, so I can't figure out what to delete!)

fixing the unbroken

i'm sitting in a motel room bored out of my mind.

okokok, so that may be a slight overstatement... but just barely. jon is at drill, and i am waiting for him. i briefly considered staying home this weekend, then i remembered what it was like the time i DIDN'T go with him...

anyway, this time on my hands prompted me to make a change to my blog. i attempted doing this a few months ago, but when the template changed, it did some crazy things to the site- it was like the new one was on top of the old one. i quickly changed back to the original and took it as a sign that i shouldn't try to fix something that isn't broken.

then, i went to josh's site... and realized that blogger beta is equipped with new template options- woohoo! (what? copying him? no. not at all.)

i'm not so sure i agree with that statement anyway- "if it's not broken, don't fix it." i think that just because something is still functional, that doesn't mean it can't get better.

and... with all of these new changes in life, i suppose my blog needs a lift too. (side note- i found the camera this week, and jon found the cord- pics soon I PROMISE!!) i have realized that i am, in many ways, a completely different person than i was two years ago...

two years ago next weekend (why do i remember these things?), jon gave me a ring. i was already starting to plan a wedding, calling friends and family to let them know the news!

i view life much differently now than i did then. two years of marriage- one spent with a spouse in a war- will do that to you. i have joined a new family, gotten to know my own in a different way, met new friends, and gone through things i never imagined. i'd like to think i'm much less critical and judgemental now. i feel that i am. i realize that if i expect people to accept me for who i am, i must in turn accept them for who they are- even if it is very different from me. i have learned to be much more gracious and much less harsh. i have realized that i don't know as much as i thought i did.

i hope you enjoy the new look...

mmmmm.... pudding....

here's another of my favorite things: cook 'n serve chocolate pudding.

i hadn't had it since i was a kid, and when i was at the commissary (military grocery store) the other day, it looked darn good.

and let me tell you, it was.

jon even crushed up hershey cookies in it for me!

if you have never experienced such a delectable treat, i suggest you get on it right away!

a change and an answer

first of all, suffice it to say i'm not president bush's biggest fan right now.

now that that's out of the way...

i have, once again, changed my educational mind. after looking into the degree programs columbia offers a little more thoroughly, i discovered that the teaching minor is only available at their home campus- in missouri (i thought it seemed a little too good to be true...). without that teaching certification, i'm not all about a degree in history... so... (drum roll please)... i am doing sociology. i have always been interested in it; i was just never sure what i could do with the degree. after looking through the program, i realized that i am much more drawn to it than to history. it's in a way a ministry degree through a secular worldview. it fascinates me. i brought the idea up to jon, who got more and more excited about it the longer we talked about it.

rhonda- since you asked, the bedroom is slate blue- two adjacent walls are a darker color, and the other two a slightly lighter color. i love it. the living room has an oak chair rail- white below, and a slightly-bluer-than-sage green above. the ceilings are vaulted in there. the study has a deep chocolate brown on three of the walls and a lighter brown on the other one. that room has a huge top to bottom window that lets in a lot of light, so the dark looks really nice. :-)

did you all see that lost is going to start coming on at 10 instead of 9? boo.

i will soon post pictures... have a good weekend!

from monday night

i felt like i could vomit.

the sky was starting to darken. it had been quite sunny today after a heavy rain last night. i have had increasing feelings of emotion about this evening- anticipation mixed with fear, doubt, and excitement. i walked into the building, not quite knowing which of those feelings was the strongest.

i have taken the plunge. four years since i waved good-bye to moody bible institute, i find myself enrolled in more college classes. this time, i’m attending columbia college, and will major in history with a minor in education.

so here i sit. the professor is talking about the city of ur (sidenote, i have jon’s laptop, which happens to contain an 80-slide power point of ur- i’m looking at pictures of what she’s drawing on the white board…)

now that i’m here, i feel much better. students in front of me are furiously writing every word the professor says. the woman in front of me is working out the cramp in her hand. that i can see, i’m the only one with a laptop. nice. i’m sitting in the back corner (close to an outlet) with no one next to me. there are probably 25 students, most military. some are adorned in ACUs, others just have the distinct haircut.

it is certainly and odd feeling, going back to school. I haven’t completed an assigned reading- let alone written a paper- in years…

i have now been in class for an hour and 45 minutes- only three hours and 15 minutes left (yes, for those of you who are math-impaired- that’s FIVE hours!)

this is going to be a long night…

to everything turn, turn, turn...

sorry i disappeared. i have been living in the dark gloomy world of no-internet-at-home.

yes, we're back. we moved. to a climate that demanded i actually turned my air conditioner on in the truck in january. yes. it's wonderful. (just don't talk to me come june...)

we ended our time at grace christian academy on a tuesday, closed on our house on wednesday, and headed to michigan on thursday. i enjoyed this trip much more than thanksgiving, for we could actually spend time with people instead of on the road back-and-forth! unfortunately, i got sick the night before we went to be with my family, and didn't get feeling better until the day we left... suffice it to say i was a bit foggy the whole time.

we got back into fayetteville late on friday, packed on saturday, and loaded the truck on sunday. thankfully, rocky and carolyn were there to help... and help us unload... and help us paint...

yes, the day after we moved in, we got the bedroom and living room (complete with vaulted ceilings and a chair rail) painted. we really couldn't have done it without rocky and carolyn. their experience and willingness to help went miles in getting us moved in and feeling at home.

we've now been here for a week. i start classes tonight- eek! haven't been to school in a while... this is weird... i'm taking western civ I at a local campus (from 5:30-10:30 pm) and western civ II online. fun fun.

that's as much of an update as i can cram into this post... i promise more interesting thoughts are to come!!