When love and duty are one, grace is within you

so I have been thinking for the last couple of days that I should write in my blog. I would like to say it is for all the many followers I have Ha! I guess that is what I get for not writing for 6 months. Anyways I was reading some of my older posts last night and I seriously had forgotten a lot of what I had wrote. If this is just for my benefit then so be it. I always have had a hard time writing in Journals, maybe I will try this for awhile. Like most of the kids in West Texas, Dylan joined the crowd and attended Kindergarten this week. I sort of feel like he should be going to 2nd grade. He has been going to preschool for the last two years, and most of the time he talks to me like he is 7-8. It is hard to get much out of him about what he does or learns. I try not to push it because through out the night he will talk on and off about various things. Like tonight he said that they were talking about Gingermen this week and they learned about the mama gingerbread and the dad gingerbread and the baby gingerbread. Ok well that is nice... I guess they have got to start somewhere. I figure as long as he is happy and the teacher isn't sending notes home we are on the right track. Tonight I told him that I was so happy with him and he said Mom I wish you would tell me to read more. Ok can't argue with that. I was busy with working at the store twice this week, the other manager was out of town. Any other week would have been ok, but Monday and Wednesday were full too. Today was the first time I could actually sit on my *ss for two whole hours while Jax took a nap. It was wonderful! Jackson is speaking so well. I pretty much can understand everything he says. It is a lot of I sit I kick I eat or My show My ball. He loves to say Dylan's friends name, his favorites now are Josshhh (Josh) and Aix (Alex). He loves dogs. I feel bad for a minute that we don't have one, and then I remember how much work they are. If we could have a little dog I would possibly some day consider it, but Jason wants a big Weimerauner, they always look sad to me. Most of my friends have dogs so he can just play with theirs. Umm What else. Well things are coming together with my new calling, R.S.E.L. Poor Laura she works harder then anyone I know. I don't know how I would do this without her. I truly feel like this calling was given to me for a reason. I think it is fitting my new role in my life as the girl to go to to get things done (Huh Mary J/K). I don't know when it happened, mainly gradually. I guess I was just tired of people talking about things and never doing anything about it. So now I am dealing with transitional blues. A new manager (me) our new squadron commander, my new calling...has made things a little tense. I guess that this too will give me the challenges I need to make me even stronger and give me the opportunity to grow spiritually and mentally. I also have decided to become a Key spouse. I feel that is a great way to makes bonds with others in the squadron and hopefully help them and give them the support that I think I could truly offer them. I sort of feel like the Grinch who stole Christmas. My heart has grown some much this year I have really turned into a compassionate do gooder. None of my High school friends would believe it. I was a mess back then. Wow I am so lucky I escaped from there. I couldn't imagine living there the rest of my life. There is no way I would be who I am now if I hadn't lived the trials I have had. Ohh and who would I be without my "Rock" my "better half" "the love of my life". Even though he is thousands of miles away from me, I have never felt closer to him. I think his career is perfect for us. It makes us truly realize how much we mean to each other. I can't do everything by myself, I am grateful that he will be home to hang up the X-Mas decorations. I hope I can manage the ghouls in the dormer windows in the attic. So yeah this week has been a little hard for me. I think I have hit the halfway hump blues a little late. I was able to talk to him a little bit this morning but I am not my best in the morning and that is how I want him to remember me, not the mom who is in her pajamas with ratty hair no makeup running around the house like a mad woman trying to get breakfast ready, kids dressed, teeth brushed... too hectic. Oh well we will get used to it and It has made me go to sleep earlier. Hey it is only 10:19 I could wrap this up and get to bed before 11pm. I think I am going to send out a post to all my facebook friends and tell them to check out my blog. If any of my friends see this I want you to know how grateful I am for your friendship and how truly blessed I am to have you in my life. I don't know how I could handle this deployment with out your support. Thanks for joining me in this journey. Now do you see why I couldn't write in Journals I never can stop!


These are pictures of the "Summer Olympics" that our Primary put on. It was great!

I know I said I would post pics of "Our" birthdays, but I might just do Dylan's for now. I am so far behind on posting pictures, I am going to have do to a Little bit at a time. It might be a little confusing.. maybe I will make up a time line for you and you can look back here to see where we are at. I am trying to think back to the last time I posted...February. Jason was in Puerto Rico for "work" Huh! Then there was Easter, Our trip to Colorado, Utah, and Arizona, Jason deploying, Trip to Michigan, My Birthday, and now Dylan's Birthday. I might add in a few pics of the 50 playgroups and 15 squadron and church activities I have had in the last 6 months! So where should we begin I don't have much time, I believe I am still teaching my class that I was released from, I told them I would do it until they found a replacement. I was called as the RS enrichment leader. I am to do what I can to get activities and enrichment's organized and carried through! I thought it would be a piece of cake until I had my meeting with the RS counselor. She then told me what it all entailed. (SN) I am looking for any ideas for a good RS Activity. Please let me know ASAP! This summer has brought many trials and hardships, but I think I am doing a great job so far in keeping my crap together. I honestly thought I was going to fall apart when Jason left. I have done a great (almost too great) job keeping the boys and I busy. Where I have succeeded in keeping Dylan entertained, I have failed in making him keep up with his reading. He is in that real critical stage where you need to do it often so it can come natural. I am scared where he is a genius (Oh yeah we had to have his IQ tested to get him into a "smart" camp this summer, yeah it was 147) he has inherited my lazy jeans especially with anything school! I have tried to drill it in to him how much fun reading is, but I am now bribing-disciplining him that he can not do anything other then play outside with a ball until he reads. Some days I give in, he fights me to no end about it! We have had some really good times. I wish we could have gone to Sea World like I wanted to, but there really as never been time (or money). When Jason gets back we are going to go on a mini vacation sans kiddos. I didn't think I was busy enough so I added a few more things. I don't know if I put this in before, but I am now co-managing the Thrift Store on base. The other girl does the books and I keep up the stores appearance and make manage the volunteers, Oh that reminds me I better send out my September calendar. I will still only work one day a week, but I will have to always be there. I am thinking about joining a gym. The Kia is paid off this month, so I told Jason that I could use a whole car payment to buy a year pass. I am also going to join the MOPS, and try to volunteer with Dylan's school more. I know I should cut back, but I am social butterfly and crave the energy I absorb being around other people! Off the top of my head, I know I will have book club, Bunko, girl's night out, DSC, squadron and church Activities, DSC and Enrichment board meetings, Thrift store, Church and Squadron Playgroups, MOPS, volunteering at Dylan's school, Dylan's Soccer practice and games and trying to work out three-four times a week. At least I don't have my house spotless until Jason comes home, by then I might have a hang of it all. BTW I still have another child, he is doing great! He will be turning 2 on Sept. 21st. He loves music and to dance. He climbs on EVERYTHING especially my counters. He talks like a parrot repeating word after word. His favorites are Juice, car, go, fishies... too many to write. He says Dylan better now, for awhile there it was Duhuh. He and his brother beat up on one another all day long. I have stopped trying to come between them. I will get busy trying to post some pics of Dylan's 5th B-day! I will try to post more often my Laptop is fixed now so it will be easier. Ta Ta for now! BTW We took him to the Prime Time Entertainment Center for his party, they had a great time. I was so grateful for my friend Mary to take pics for me. I don't know what I would have done without her!

From look of my border, It seems I haven't posted here since Valentines. Whenever anyone asks me why I don't post anymore I tell them I usually only blogged when I was having a hard time. I guess that it is safe to say that it has been a good year. We stay busy! I can't say much now it is 9:15 am and no one is dressed and only Jackson has had his breakfast. Typical behavior for a 10:00 am playgroup! My beloved birthday is tomorrow! They aren't as much fun as they used to be. I will try to post some pictures on here of "our" birthdays( Dylan's is Aug 15th.) Take care.

a little young? He stayed and I only had to tell him a few times to stay there. I wish I would have gotten the first look he gave me on camera. That's what gave me the idea to take the picture, and then write a post about it. I need to take after my Friend Stephanie more, and make smaller posts more frequently. So much has gone on this week it would take me all day. I had an idea about making a list of all the bad things that have happened this week, "while Jason wasn't here". Not all of them happened because he was gone, but he sure could of helped in many of the situations! Jackson ran around the Y while I was trying to get Dylan ready for his basketball pictures and game. I had to drag the kids through about 10 different "Don't touch" stores in Dallas looking for my infamous clock. The "big" ice storm hit on Tuesday and Dylan was out of school, too cold to play outside. Tuesday night Dylan starts coughing. 4 am comes into my room with 100.8 fever. Stays in my bed, and that means no more sleep for me. Sick all day Wednesday. He was coughing, fever, puking, the works. He seemed to feeling a bit better that night, but 3 am came in my room with a 102 fever. Again no sleep for me! It's now Thursday had to duck out on both of my playgroups! School is back in, but Dylan is in no shape to go. I finally made an appointment. They said they would see me that day, at 3:40! Dylan spent the whole day in bed. I tried to get him to eat, but he would just throw it up. I have never seen him like this, it was pretty scary. I called all of my friends and all of their kids were sick, so Jackson was going to have to go with me. At the last minute I called my other neighbor, she was able to watch him. It was getting to be about 3:15 I went to get Dylan dressed, and it was like dressing a sleeping baby. I was in the process of caring him to the car when he puked all over both of us. No problem can handle that! Get him dressed again get out to the car and...nope won't turn over. It was the first time that I had tried driving since Monday night. Yeah I forgot to mention that it died in Dallas but luckily my BIL was there to save me. I called the base clinic, I wasn't going to make it. I didn't know what to do. The only neighbor that was home was the one who was watching Jackson. I swallowed my pride again and knocked on her door. Luckily she has an 11 year old that could sit with Jackson while she brought her car over. I pushed the car out of the garage. She didn't know anything about jumping cars either, but I just tried to do what my BIL did. It worked and I was on my way. Dylan threw up again in the room, but they had given us a pail. He had to have an antibiotic shot and was diagnosed with a "sinus" infection? yeah that's some sinus infection. Dylan finally said he was hungry and wanted a hamburger. I picked up Jackson and headed to McDonald's. We were about third in line at the pharmacy drive up and Dylan puked up the fries that he was nibbling on. Oh yeah! having fun now!Dylan went straight back into bed. Again coming in at 4am, I didn't care this time. I was worried about him all night. Thankfully he started feeling a little better that next day. I couldn't take it anymore. I had to miss a birthday party that morning, but at least it was looking up. We tried to go to a squadron pizza party that night, but Dylan wanted to be stuck to my side so it wasn't any relief for me.

Dylan slept all night, but that meant I was going to have a bad dream.(That always happens when I go without good sleep for awhile) It was horrible, I don't want to get into it, but it is one of my worst fears. It put me in a horrible mood. I thought I would try to snap out of it and take the kids to the church for a stake activity. Nope! They wouldn't go into the provided child care. It made for a interesting experience. If it hadn't been for all my great friends, I would have lost it then. Since the dishwasher was now flaking off "blacks specks" where the trays are eroding, I took the kids to the mall to look for a new one. I parked outside of Sears. I got back to the car after I had pushed the kids to their limits. I went to turn the car over, and again wouldn't start. I went into the automotive department and waited in line for about 1/2 hour. When I finally got to the front of the line I was whispering because I was scared I was going to start balling if I talked too much. He told me he would bring over a charger as soon as he could. I knew that was going to be awhile. I decided just to go out to the parking lot and wait for one of the cars around me to comeback. I was thrilled when I got to the door and saw the car in front of me pulling out, I ran out and stopped him. It started right up. I decided to go to base and to switch out for the Saab. I was trying to make it as easy as possible, at least for me. That was the first thing Jason told me to do anyway. I started too late, but I had to print out the schedules for my church playgroup. I was able to set it all up, which Jason usually does. I felt like I was on a roll, spoke too soon. I hit print and it gave me all that not connected blah blah computer jargon I don't comprehend. I did everything it said but still wouldn't work. An hour later, 2 am where Jason is I called him, he wasn't much help. He did suggest I just take a printer cord and connect it to our "wireless" printer. It asked me to load the software. I then spent the next 1/2 hour looking for it. I couldn't call Jason again, and it just hit me that it was probably still in the box that is in the attic. I loaded it up printed one paper and....yup the ink was gone! I just laughed. My neighbor bailed me out in the morning. Seriously what a week. Sorry my "list" got a bit expanded. I wanted it to be cute and pithy, but it was too serious. Even though I have been stressed out and on the verge of tears every day, I have been taught a very important lesson. My husband is here to be the head of this family, and save me on his white horse. But he isn't always going to be available, especially in his line of work. I need to buck up and be the strong mother that my sons need. So instead of twinkling my toes in the waters of deployment, I have jumped in head first. That is ok by me, it will only give me a good look to what I may be up against. I know one thing for sure Jason is going to replace the battery in the Kia and buy all new tires before he goes on another deployment. To get back to the title, the reason I put Jackson in time out, is that he hit Dylan on the head with a new gun that I bought Dylan. I feel bad that Dylan can't cock it back. The age limit was 6+, I probably should have obeyed that. Oh well at least they are finding a use for it. J/K Take care!

Yeah sorry about that! I send everyone my blog telling them it is a great way to check up on us, then I don't post anything for two months. The last two months have just flown by. We had a great Christmas! We had a visit from Grandpa and Grandma Yardley. I will have to down load some pictures when I get to the big computer. I had to give Jason a hard time when I cleared out our S-card and out of 75 pictures there wasn't one of me. I know "boo hoo" but really.. 75. I have been using the time I would blog to do my leg exercises. It has been feeling better, but I think it is mainly from not wearing heels anymore. Dylan and Jackson are perfect. I pinch myself everyday. They make me laugh non stop. Today Dylan and his friend Adam were pushing their trucks in a line and Jackson was pushing his little car following their every step. Jackson is at a hefty 23 pounds. I promise I feed him. The only time he is not full speed is when he is sleeping. He loves to get me to chase him especially when we are in a crowded restaurant. Dylan is doing good in his school. His teacher sends home newsletters about things that the kids should be doing. Usually Dylan can already do it and has done it for awhile. We are debating to hold him back from kindergarten next year. He is only two weeks behind the cut off date. Jason thinks he will be fine, I want to talk to his teachers about it before I make my decision. This morning I woke up and listened to the alarm radio (which I never do, I usually turn it off right away) anyway, they were saying how they will have a report about the closure and delays I figured that they were talking about the airports... anyways they start listing off the schools. At first I got all excited like when I was a kid and we got out off school for a snow day. I looked out the window expecting to see three feet of snow. Nope..nothing. There was ice on the roads so they shut the whole city down. It wasn't too bad, but not as fun as when I was kid. I didn't get to go to the Thrift store either. I wouldn't have minded, but I spent the night before getting my consignment ready. The angel in me, or the martyr, volunteered to manage the Thrift Store next year. I really am glad to do it. The work is so rewarding, and we have a great time. It isn't going to be the same without my good friend and neighbor Jenn. It will be hard to see them go, but that is life in the military. It brings wonderful people into your life and yanks them out just as fast. It ended up snowing, well sleet that stuck. It was at least enough to get me excited. Jason left for Puerto Rico last Friday. He was lucky to get this mission. We were going to go with him, but I didn't want to be the only wife down there, and we didn't know how the kids would do on the Herc. Jason says we could still come down, but we will have to see what his schedule looks like next week. Well I better go I still have to do my leg exercises Ugh!!! I will down load some Christmas pictures soon. Here is one I found of me.

Hello friends and family, Welcome to our blog. I am glad that you were able to understand my mess of a card and find us here. I was in a rush trying to order them. They even remind you to check it all over and make sure everything looks good. For those of you who know me pretty well, you are probably not surprised. Then I noticed that the picture is lopsided in the frame. I feel like I have given you all a little game. "Lets find all the mistakes in the card", fun for the whole family! I just have to keep telling myself that it is the thought that counts. I went to a Time Out for Women conference in SA this fall. Jason Wright talked about how important it is to send out letters. I believe in that, but I also believe that a blog is a Christmas letter that never ends. You can check up on us all year long. It really is the gift that keeps on giving. I will try to give a little summary for this last year, but if you want to get more info, you can look at my older posts and get it all. Watch out though I tend to carry on a bit.
Jason joined the Air Force in 2006, since then we have lived in Del Rio, Corpus Christi, Little Rock and Abilene. It is so nice to finally be settled, well at least the AF's idea of being settled. 3-4 years in the same house seems like an eternity to us. We bought our first home in July. As you can tell, we really like Texas. After Jason finished his training in Little Rock, he was ready for his first assignment at Dyess AFB. He flys the C-130 Hercules and loves it. He didn't deploy with the squadron this time, but will probably go in June. His only complaint about his job is he either flies too much or not enough. There doesn't seem to be a happy medium.
We love our new home and it is in the best neighborhood. Dylan has boys his age that live on each side of us. They have become "Best Buddies". He is going to a 5 day a week preschool 8-2:30. He has learned so much. He comes home everyday telling me what they did. His teacher is impressed with how well mannered he is. Dylan played soccer on the YMCA league. He was awesome! He would tell us before each came how many goals he was going to score. He is going to try Basketball this winter. Jackson is my climber. He would make my cousins Jonathan and Chad very proud. I had to put my chairs on top of my table. I figured out that he can scoot them over to counter and climb up on top when I found this I was in the other room. I thought he was just pulling the Tupperware out of the cupboard. He is quite the babbler. He also says Mommy, Dadda, What that, and uh oh. He will sometimes try to repeat what I say. I just discovered that he will shake his head when he means yes. It has made things so much easier. He is still small, but he can hold his own. We feel so blessed to have him in our lives. It still isn't decided if he will be the youngest or the middle child.

A top of my full time job as a stay at home mom, I have volunteered at the thrift shop on base. It is a great way to meet new people. I have also been very involved with Jason's squadron spouses. They have get togethers all the time. The only problem is that I don't know if Jason will be able to stay with the boys until the day before. Luckily I have a girl down the street that is always willing to watch them. I wanted to do more to help, so I offered to help with the squadron playgroup. That same week, I was asked by one of the mothers in my church if I would take over their playgroup. I really enjoy it. I use what I learn from one to help the other.
I saw something on the Internet about "This vacation will change your life". It made me think, I don't want to change my life. I wouldn't mind more money or sleep, but we wouldn't change a thing. It will be hard when Jason deploys, but I have the greatest friends that will help us through it. I want to wish all of you the happiest of holidays. Please relish in the time that you can spend with your families. I hope you have all enjoyed my blog. Please check back again. I usually post once a week. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!