It's quiet here, sort of...

The granddaughters have gone back to their Dad's in California, so it is quieter now that they are gone. The big girls are still here, Kyle leaves in the morning. With both of the girls working it can be kind of quiet during the day, with Jerry working nights, it's kind of quiet at night. I am very rarely alone in the house. Someitmes it would be nice to have the house to myself for a couple of hours a day.

Any way, everybody is doing good, working hard, and living fully.

I found the perfect Thank You card for Grandma Sam!

Live fully......

Opininions and Thoughts wanted

I would like the opinions of anyone who uses flickr. I use flickr myself and have enjoyed the free photo sharing and storage. Unfortunately I want to add more sets, and to do that I need to upgrade to the pay service. If any of you use the pay service, is it worth it? If you don't use the pay service, why don't you or would you consider upgrading? I've got a bunch of pictures that I want to share through the site and would like to keep the various photos in their own albums.

Tell me what you think, whether or not you like the pay service, whether or not you would upgrade. Thank you for your thoughts on the subject.

Live fully.....

Christmas time

Both of the boys were able to be home this year for Christmas. It was good to have them home this year, I didn't think that they would be home at the same time for a while. Talena has moved back in with us, which is a good thing. We've also had the two little girls as well, they'll be here for at least another week. To say the least, we have had a very full house, it makes for a very warm home.

Because Kyle has leave until the 10th of January, he will not be going to Kuwait. He misses the cutoff date by one day. I am relieved that he won't be going.

Gregory may be able to come home next month to be a recruiters assistant. His schooling doesn't start until February. I received a letter from his Commanding officer letting me know that he had arrived, and would be looked after while he is there learning about electronic communications and stuff. I'm still not exactly sure what his training will consist of, just that it will take about 18 months to complete.

I've put a few new pictures on flickr, these were a couple of crochet projects that I've completed. I will be adding more pictures of the grand kids as I get them edited, and I've started putting them into albums so that you can pick and choose what you would like to view.

Live fully....

Empty Nest!?!

How can I have an empty nest when there are still kids at home? Yes, it is kids with an "s". Talena has moved back in with us. So instead of haveing boys around the house, we now have girls. It is a very good thing that she has moved back in, she needs to be with us. She is trying to get herself back into gear without the distraction of a boyfriend. For about a week over the holidays we will also have the little girls too. I can't wait to see them again!

Kyle will be here for Christmas as well. Right now he is stationed in CA., and doing some combat training. He graduated from his tech school third in his class! Yay Kyle!!! He is now officially a Seabee! After the holidays he will then be assigned to his battallion which is right now stationed in Kuwait. He will be joining them there, it is kind of scary. They will be coming back at the end of February. Being a Seabee means that he builds buildings first, fights second. He will not be on a ship while he is a Seabee, he will be flown to his different deployments. When they get back from Kuwait, they will be at their home port for at least 11 months before being deployed again. The next deployment might very well be Okinowa, I've already told him if he goes there he will be sending me there for a visit. As soon as he gets an address I will forward it on to everyone.

Greg is stationed in 29 Palms, CA. He will be there for at least six months, and could be there for up to a year. This is where most of his tech training will be. He is training to do electronic communications of some sort. School for him doesn't start until the middle of February. The Marines know how to keep them busy though. They have several different programs for them to sign up for, lots of volunteering, and a program called Single Marines. Seems they have lots of things for them to do. Over the holidays there is even a program called Adopt a Marine, it's for those who can't go home for the holidays. He is going to try to get home for Christmas, he has to put in all the proper paperwork to request a four day pass. Phoenix is close enough for him to come home on a four day pass. If he doesn't make it for Christmas, he is trying to get Recruiter's Assistant for the month of January. Since his classes won't start until February, he is very confident that he will be home for that month at least. I finally have an address for him, I will be sending that on to all who want it.

Well, that's all for now. Merry Christmas, Happy New Year to everyone. Remember to always...

Live fully....

I did it!!!

I actually finished my novel for this years NaNoWriMo!! I didn't meet the challenge of 50,000 words, but my story is done. I'm not sure how it will read, it seemed to come out rather confused, yet that's how the story unfolded. I'm not going to look at again until after the first of the year. As it is, I'm already making plans for next years challenge.

A Different Christmas Poem

The embers glowed softly, and in their dim light,
I gazed round the room and I cherished the sight.
My wife was asleep, her head on my chest,
My daughter beside me, angelic in rest.

Outside the snow fell, a blanket of white,
Transforming the yard to a winter delight.
The sparkling lights in the tree I believe,
Completed the magic that was Christmas Eve.

My eyelids were heavy, my breathing was deep,
Secure and surrounded by love I would sleep.
In perfect contentment, or so it would seem,
So I slumbered, perhaps I started to dream.

The sound wasn't loud, and it wasn't too near,
But I opened my eyes when it tickled my ear.
Perhaps just a cough, I didn't quite know,
Then the sure sound of footsteps outside in the snow.

My soul gave a tremble, I struggled to hear,
And I crept to the door just to see who was near.
Standing out in the cold and the dark of the night,
A lone figure stood, his face weary and tight.

A soldier, I puzzled, some twenty years old,
Perhaps a Marine, huddled here in the cold.
Alone in the dark, he looked up and smiled,
Standing watch over me, and my wife and my child.

"What are you doing?" I asked without fear,
"Come in this moment, it's freezing out here!
Put down your pack, brush the snow from your sleeve,
You should be at home on a cold Christmas Eve!"

For barely a moment I saw his eyes shift,
Away from the cold and the snow blown in drifts.
To the window that danced with a warm fire's light
Then he sighed and he said "Its really all right,

I'm out here by choice. I'm here every night."
"It's my duty to stand at the front of the line,
That separates you from the darkest of times.
No one had to ask or beg or implore me,

I'm proud to stand here like my fathers before me.
My Gramps died at 'Pearl on a day in December,"
Then he sighed, "That's a Christmas 'Gram always remembers."

My dad stood his watch in the jungles of 'Nam',
And now it is my turn and so, here I am.
I've not seen my own son in more than a while,
But my wife sends me pictures, he's sure got her smile.

Then he bent and he carefully pulled from his bag,
The red, white, and blue...An American flag.
I can live through the cold and the being alone,
Away from my family, my house and my home.

I can stand at my post through the rain and the sleet,
I can sleep in a foxhole with little to eat.
I can carry the weight of killing another,
Or lay down my life with my sister and brother.

Who stand at the front against any and all,
To ensure for all time that this flag will not fall."
"So go back inside," he said, "harbor no fright,
Your family is waiting and I'll be all right."

"But isn't there something I can do, at the least,
"Give you money," I asked, "or prepare you a feast?
It seems all too little for all that you've done,
For being away from your wife and your son."

Then his eye welled a tear that held no regret,
"Just tell us you love us, and never forget.
To fight for our rights back at home while we're gone,
To stand your own watch, no matter how long.

For when we come home, either standing or dead,
To know you remember we fought and we bled.
Is payment enough, and with that we will trust,
That we mattered to you as you mattered to us."

I'm alive! In CA, will post pics later!

You are The Moon

Hope, expectation, Bright promises.

The Moon is a card of magic and mystery - when prominent you know that nothing is as it seems, particularly when it concerns relationships. All logic is thrown out the window.

The Moon is all about visions and illusions, madness, genius and poetry. This is a card that has to do with sleep, and so with both dreams and nightmares. It is a scary card in that it warns that there might be hidden enemies, tricks and falsehoods. But it should also be remembered that this is a card of great creativity, of powerful magic, primal feelings and intuition. You may be going through a time of emotional and mental trial; if you have any past mental problems, you must be vigilant in taking your medication but avoid drugs or alcohol, as abuse of either will cause them irreparable damage. This time however, can also result in great creativity, psychic powers, visions and insight. You can and should trust your intuition.

What Tarot Card are You?
Take the Test to Find Out.