p, m, m, a, & p2

This morning I woke up to major gun blasts... both large and small. To me, it was nothing new... I hardly notice them, but today they're doing really big ones that shake the apartment. To the outsider, it would have sounded like World War 3 had started! Patrick's actually very soundly sleeping through it, and always does. It's just interesting the kind of things you get used to in a military town...

I'm
still
up.

Too much on my mind.


Among other things, this is the time of year when every day I read back on my journals-both on my college blog page and on paper-and do a "this day in 2003", filling me with every emotion felt on that unbelievable two months spent in Central America. I miss it more than I can explain, even four years later... a piece of my heart is truly still there. One day I'll put all of my old Livejournals and the paper journal that I kept together and get it made into a nice book... I wish that everyone could read it and see the power that God places in the most unexpected things.

My heart moves just thinking about it. I WILL go back.


This time four years ago I was still a child of nineteen, amazed at the wonders of a third world country, not yet fathoming what I would experience.


This is the little girl that I loved...
















This is the day that I loved...
















This is the place that I loved.

Here are some pictures from the past, oh, few weeks or so.. more to come because our one roll is not back yet.








... and here is what I was talking about the other day when I was going to help the girls hang up welcome home banners. It's quite a moving sight first time you see them... they are lined up for a good half mile or more on each side of the highway, different ones going up all the time. But this is what I was meaning when I was talking about them!

Well my gallbladder surgery was yesterday... and it went well! I'm hurting a lot and can't find many comfortable positions... but I'm sure it will get better in a couple of days. Grama and Aunt Gayle surprised me and it was so fun to have them here but far too short! I got gorgeous flowers from both them and from Kas and Rae... it's so lovely to look over and see them. Patrick has been more than amazing... helping me get up from and lay back down on the couch, rearranging pillows for me, getting medicine and drinks... this morning he made me pudding (of which I ate about three spoons full), bought me a shake from Chick-fil-a, and just now made me some mashed potatoes. Last night he even slept on the floor next to me (I slept on the couch) just so he could watch over me. He's such an amazing husband and caretaker... I am blessed for sure!

I just got this e-mail from Patrick at work... it made me crack up so if you need a good laugh...

After every flight,  UPS  pilots fill out a form, called a "gripe sheet,"
which tells mechanics about problems with the aircraft. The mechanics
correct the problems,document their repairs on the form, and then pilots
review the gripe sheets before the next flight. Never let it be said that
ground crews lack a sense of humor. Here are some actual maintenance
complaints submitted by UPS pilots (marked with a P) and the solutions
recorded (marked with an S) by maintenance engineers.


By the way, UPS is the only major airline that has never, ever, had an
accident.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
P: Left inside main tire almost needs replacement.
S: Almost replaced left inside main tire.

P: Test flight OK, except auto-land very rough.
S: Auto-land not installed on this aircraft.

P: Something loose in cockpit
S: Something tightened in cockpit

P: Dead bugs on windshield.
S: Live bugs on back-order.

P: Autopilot in altitude-hold mode produces a 200 feet per minute descent
S: Cannot reproduce problem on ground.

P: Evidence of leak on right main landing gear.
S: Evidence removed.

P: DME volume unbelievably loud.
S: DME volume set to more believable level.

P: Friction locks cause throttle levers to stick.
S: That's what friction locks are for.

P: IFF inoperative in OFF mode.
S: IFF always inoperative in OFF mode.

P: Suspected crack in windshield.
S: Suspect you're right.

P: Number 3 engine missing.
S: Engine found on right wing after brief search.

P: Aircraft handles funny. (I love this one!)
S: Aircraft warned to: straighten up, fly right, and be serious.

P: Target radar hums.
S: Reprogrammed target radar with lyrics.

P: Mouse in cockpit.
S: Cat installed.



And the best one for last.............

P: Noise coming from under instrument panel. Sounds like a midget
pounding on something with a hammer.
S: Took hammer away from midget.

Well last night was the Halloween party at Petsmart... Of course we HAD to go! Kas, Rae and I had been planning costumes for a couple of weeks but of course in normal fashion put off making them till last minute yesterday... I quickly sewed up a cape and mask for the girl and she went as "Super Evie"... sooo adorable! There was a costume contest and so of course competitive me wanted her to win (I am going to be such a terrible parent when it comes to wanting my kids to win stuff)... she didn't, and I don't totally agree with those who one-excluding my obvious bias, there were a lot of other far better costumes that should have been chosen over the ones that did. Oh well... there's always next year! She had fun with her pals Charlie and Rocco, and that's all that matters!

Well, welcome to our blog. We figured this would be the easiest way to keep everyone updated with our lives here in North Carolina-we can post pictures and tell stories on here instead of clogging up everyone's e-mail inboxes.

Patrick is doing well, enjoying lovely inventory at work. He's working 12+ hours a day... and today was actually his first Saturday off (not including holidays) that I can remember! He's been working out every day and looks great... I wish I had as much drive as he does to get in shape.

I (Mandi-Patrick swore he'd never write in this) am doing well. I am actually getting my gallbladder out in about a week and a half. It's not that big of a deal really... a few days rest and I'm sure I'll be as good as new! I've started putting my craftiness to work and started making bags and quilts and stuff to sell online-so far in my first week of business I've sold two purses and another friend wants a quilt. To see the stuff go to http://www.myspace.com/madebymandi -it's a myspace page, but it works. If you know anyone that wants stuff... I'm your girl :)

We have the sweetest puppy who cracks us up every day. I think we're pretty much obsessed with her... we talk about her all the time and how great she is. We're complete wierdos, I know. :) But I can't wait until we get a digital camera and upload some videos on here... she is seriously a riot and such a great little girl.

Married life has been great so far. I don't know what anyone was talking about when they say that the first year is the roughest, we've had fun! Tonight we bought a cool version of Monopoly at Target and played it-(Patrick won of course. So it's Patrick-1, Mandi-0) yes the board stayed intact and catty comments were not thrown! :D We're both very competitive when it comes to that game so I'm glad we kept it civil.

I'll often update with pictures... we sure do love taking them! For the sake of saving a lot of time here are the highlights from the past couple months. Enjoy :)