This marriage is not just about me. I have to remind myself of that fact when I start getting upset with things. Jeremy and I have a very good healthy marriage I believe. I believe we do because we put each other above ourselves in it. I think to keep a healthy marriage one must not lose themselves either, but the most important part is not to always have it be about ME, ME, and more of ME! As a couple, we also strive to keep the foundation of our marriage centered around God. Jesus Christ was the prime example of what we need to strive to be both for ourselves individually and also as one in a marriage. Sometimes I lose sight of unselfishniess and become what I despise, selfish and self-centered. It is human nature to think mainly on the welfare of one self and to die to self each day can be very hard at times. The thoughts come into mind like an overflowing fountain...."How will this make ME happy?, What can I get out of this?, and so on....
But if you truly love someone, you stop yourself from it all being about YOU and you think of that other person. How can you make THEM Happy? What is it THEY need from you instead of it being reversed around to What is it that I need them to do for me. I am not only talking of a marriage relationship--this can be applied to friendships, family relationships, etc.
I believe each person still needs to take time for themselves to be healthy inside and out, but there has to be a balance. Our society today is all about ME! We are a selfish generation, mainly thinking of only our needs and no one else.
I sometimes am discouraged to see our nation's divorce rate. I understand there are special circumstances for some --adultry, spousal abuse emotionally, mentally, or physically, husband/wife walking out--the fact of the matter is people's selfishness. It's very plain and simple because that is the root of it all.
I hope not to be one of those people that puts myself, my needs, my wants above everyone else and everything and the end results being damaged relationships and damaged self. May God teach me every day to die to my own selfishness and to open my eyes to a world full of people that are in need of love. "Now abide faith, hope and love. For the greatest of these is Love."
I already knew it was coming at some point because we had talked about getting married, but I just didn't know when or how he was going to do it. Our engagement story really wasn't too exciting, not like the ones you see on TV, but what makes this story funny, loving, and ironic is how many times poor Jeremy tried to pop the question but something always seemed to get in the way. Some people have said, "Maybe it was a sign for you guys not to be married." It may have looked like that, if you believe in superstition, but Jer and I have a really great relationship so we just laugh at all the many things that kept hindering him from asking me to be his wife.
The first time he tried to pop the question, it was only hindered by his own fear. He had taken me to my favorite restaurant. We had gotten all dressed up and he was sitting there across from me looking all handsome in his suit. I had no idea that he had the diamond ring in his pant pocket. He would have definitely caught me by surprise if he just would have done it that night. Well, he didn't and you want to know why??? To people that know me, you know I would never do this. But he had in his mind that if he got down on one knee there in the restaurant I was going to make a big scene crying and blubbering like a fool all over him and heaven forbid, everyone would be staring at us. Does that sound like me at all??? I am one of those people that hate to make scenes and hate to have attention drawn to me, but he had it in his mind that ALL girls did this when they were asked. He had just watched to many movies when he was a child! So, he chickened out at that moment, but he had told himself that we could take a walk along the beach under the moonlight and he would ask me there. Well, this time I was the party pooper and when he suggested we take a walk on the beach, I declined stating that it was too windy and I really didn't feel like having my hair that took me forever to do getting completely messed up. Stupid! Stupid! Stupid! If I had only known then...... I don't even remember what we did after dinner but I do know that he didn't pop the question that night.
He was still determined to get me to the beach for his big moment a few days later. But what he didn't know was a hurricane was going to hit very soon, so he put his plans on hold as we evacuated our city. We were evacuated for almost five days, and we didn't know what the damage was going to be like when we got back, but Jer had it in his mind that he was still doing it on the beach. Well, that fizzled out very quickly when we got back and saw that we had no beach left, literally. It was terrible and I was pretty sad. Our beach was pretty much gone! A couple weeks later the city had these huge machines shooting out sand to try to rebuild our beaches. It was pretty depressing to see the city really torn apart.
After looking at the beaches and driving around the little city, we decided we better look at the damage that it had done to his house. Thankfully, it wasn't too bad at all. A little bit of flooding but it only damaged his rugs and some damage outside of the house but that was it. We even had electricity and most of the rest of the city did not so we were pretty happy! It was then that Jer decided to pop the question that night. His plan was going to be that he would cook me dinner since we had electricity and we would have a candlelight dinner at his place and he would do it there. He asked if I wanted to try to find a store that was open so we could get some groceries and I thought sure, why not. We finally found a place that was open but I think the only thing we managed to buy was spaghetti and sauce. Couldn't expect any fresh meats with everything that had happened. We were happy just to have that since we had spent the previous four days at our evacuation spot with no electricity and eating whatever we could eat that wasn't spoiled. Yep, those were some good times!
As we drove up to his house, he turns to me and asks, "Wasn't my light outside on when we first came here?" I told him I thought it was, but I wasn't sure. I had never heard him sound so defeated, "Oh no, I don't think we have electricity anymore." Sure enough, we didn't. Of course, I didn't know about his many attempts that were always ruined so I didn't know why he seemed to be so frustrated and upset about the electricity going out now. It was very out of his character to be upset about something like that; he's so "go with the flow" kind of man. I said something along the lines of, "It's okay. If this is about dinner being ruined now, we can try to find a restaurant that is open, even if it is McDonalds." I remember sitting on the couch and asking him, "So, what do you want to do now?" He just shook his head and kind of laughed and said, "I have been trying to do this for the past two weeks but something has always gotten in the way. I should have made you walk on the beach with me that night. Oh well, I think I'm done trying so I'm doing it now, here it goes." All I remember in that split second is him getting on his knee and making a little speech about how I made him a better man and how he loved me. And then he said those words every girl dreams about "Will you marry me?"
I didn't respond the way he imagined me to respond with the crying and blubbering. I'm not that type of person except when things are really sad then I tend to cry. I just had a huge smile on my face and said, "YES!" and jumped in his arms. Now that I look back at our "engagement story", it's not much to tell about--no romantic story, no fireworks bursting in the air, no plane going by with a sign that says 'Grace, will you marry me?' but when I remember the events surrounding our engagement, I just have to smile. I think our story has character and it's something that I always laugh first when someone says, "How and when did you guys get engaged?" Are you sure you want to know? It's kind of a long story........
I just took this pic of him last night and I think he's so handsome in his fancy uniform!
These past few days have been hard for me. I don't really want to go into why it's been hard, but I know that my faith and trust in God will be tested over the course of this next year. I've always struggled with putting my whole trust in God because that means letting go of areas that I want to control. Well, in this particular area, I can't and never will be able to control and it really is in God's hands. I love one part of a song I heard a couple days back; it said, "I'm not skilled to understand what God has willed, what God has planned. I only know at His right hand stands one who is my Savior. My Savior loves, my Savior lives, my Savior is always there for me....." There was a question in an earlier blog that asked What was my inspiration? and I said it was when I read the Bible and how I found all these people who were so strong in their faith of Christ, but they were humans just like me and faltered at times but they always got back on track. I know during this next year my trust and faith is going to falter at times, but I know that I can never forsake the One who loves me and who has always been right beside me.
(Below are just excerpts from the passages.)
1. When you are in sorrow, read John 14 Let not your heart be troubled, you believe in God, believe also in Me. In my Father's house are many mansions, if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go to prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also. And where I go you know, and the way you know.
Thomas said to Him, "Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?" Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me."
2. When you worry, read Matthew 6: 25-34 Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?
For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.
3. When you are lonely or fearful, read Psalm 23. The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul, He leads me inthe paths of righteousness for His name's sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
4. When the world seems bigger than God, read Psalm 90. Lord, You have been our dwelling place in all generations. Before the mountains were brought forth or ever You had formed teh earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, You are God.
5. When you feel bitter or critical, read I Corinthians 13. Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails. And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.
6. When men fail you, read Psalm 27. The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life, of whom shall I be afraid?
7.When you need rest and peace, read Matthew 11: 28-30 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and My burden is light.
What does one do when the alarm clock is glowing 4:15 a.m. at you and you are wide awake? I hate when this happens because by the time I get tired again, it should be the time I need to wake up and start my day. What a bother!
Last night Jeremy and I watched a 9/11 documentary on the History Channel (maybe that is why I can't sleep) . I think it is important for people to be reminded of that disastrous day. It makes you grateful to be alive and to remember the many brave lives that were lost in those towers, the Pentagon, and in that Pennsylvania field. I have my own feelings on this war, part of me supports it and the other part doesn't. I want my husband safe; I don't want him being shipped off to Iraq to maybe losing his life to people who care nothing for the meaning of life. Bin Ladin said it pretty clear to a Pakistan journalist, "We love death. U.S. love life. There is a big difference between us both." I hate to see innocent people being killed, but it is what war is about. War is the result of people's selfishness, plain and simple. I don't like it but it is the harsh reality of life.
What the terrorists did to our country and to our people is something that cannot be forgotten. We should go after the ones that were behind it and the ones that silently financed it. They want us to go back with our tail between our legs, but we cannot back down to people that are such a threat to us and to this world. I want this war to be over. I want Iraq to be able to stand on its own two feet without our military supporting them. The news only shows the protests of some of the Iraqi people against the U.S.--the news is always one sided. You don't see the other side of the story and you don't hear the real stories from soldiers that come back from the war. You do not hear the kids laughing and running through the streets raising their little hands for the soldiers to give them candy. You do not see the Iraqi flag given to a soldier by one of those children's father in gratitude for the service that our men and women have done for them. You do not see the smiles of people that were once under bondage and oppression from their so called leader.
I want us to get out of this war more than anything but I'm not going to see only the negative things that have come out of it. There are always positives too, and to me if we helped a family become free from a dictator that killed his own people than I am going to look at my husband and his fellow soldiers and know that we were part of something that was good.
Once this war is over, don't think for one minute that it is our last. As long as there are terrorists out there, they will always be a threat. They are extreme and they love death. They do not care if they lose their lives as long as they take out as many lives as possible with them.
These are my thoughts and my opinions. I have a right to them and I don't apologize for what I believe in. I think I may get some nasty comments about this, so if anyone has anything nasty to say, keep it to yourself or write about it on your blog, but don't think about putting them on this one.
It all started at a fairly early age. Compared to nowadays I don't know if it really was an early age, but I would have been in fourth grade at the age of 9 or 10. My parents put my brother and I into a new private school that year, so I was the new kid on the block. I was different from most of the other kids, so I got made fun of alot. I wore dresses and that must have been a bewilderment to most of the kids because I was called a weirdo for awhile. I used a different version of the Bible than the other kids, so they looked at me as if I was an alien when I had to read out loud in class. I have this flat mole on the right side of my head right by the hairline and when I have my hair in a ponytail, if you look very closely, you can see it. I guess nothing ever got passed those kids because I was called "salami head". It's not even a big mole but I guess kids will be kids. Anyway, it was a hard year for me and I never felt like I fit in at that school. I was happy when my parents decided to send me back to the other school that they had taken me out of previously.
Why is it that girls always like the "bad" boys? I actually have never really been attracted to those kind of men, but that fourth grade year I was crushing on Brian, the "bad" boy of the class. I guess he was just popular in the school, but now that I think back on it, he wasn't a very nice child. He made fun of people, cut in line at lunch, knocked your book off the desk, etc. Since I was one of those children that was always made fun of, I have no idea why that one fateful day, he put his arm around me and whispered that he liked me! He graced me with his presence and attention!!! I was on a cloud and it was only going up from there or so I thought. For a brief moment, I was popular and all the jeers ceased because Brian had put his stamp of approval on me. I was the "First Lady" so to speak and I was loving every moment of it.
And then one day, I must have snapped. We were on the playground, me and the cool people, waiting in line to play dodge ball. Brian was behind me trying to get my attention by jabbing my side with his long pointy finger. I told him to stop but he kept at it, poking, poking, poking, it never stopped. I was like the Hulk, it kept building up and building up until I just exploded. I didn't turn into a big green thing but I did swing around with my fist and nailed him so hard on his left arm. He went down like a sack of potatoes and I think he almost started to cry.
All of a sudden, my crush didn't like me anymore. I just can't imagine why!!! His friend told me the next day that I hit him so hard that he couldn't play baseball after school and the coach was mad at him for whining. He told his coach that a seventh grader hit him, and of course, it was a huge junior high male!
From that day on, I became a new person so to speak. No more was the little timid, shy girl that let everyone step on her. I wasn't going to take it anymore. I was going to defend myself from anyone's mean jokes, name calling, bullying around. What surprised me most was it seemed I earned all of their respect or I just frightened all of them to death because I didn't hear any more jokes about my "salami head". Now, I'm not advocating using your fists to solve your problems, but that day made me realize that I didn't need to just stand there with my head down as they all made fun of me. Shoot, I learned to an extent that I didn't need any of them to approve of me either. I was who I was and if no one liked me then so be it.
I think being made fun of so much helped me become compassionate towards others. I always tried to be nice to people when I was growing up. I didn't want to be one of those kids that jeered the underdog. Every phase of life leaves its mark on you, whether it is good or bad, but even if it is bad, you can make it into something that is good. I would like to think that I made the bad into good and from that day on, I became me!
I "stole" this one from Kell because I am in her boat once again--I just have nothing for you except another meme. It's a long one so it won't be done in one sitting. I'm waiting for my ipod to charge completely and then I'm off to the gym and then I'll be back to finish the rest and publish.
1. What time is it now? 8:47 a.m.
2. What color are your socks right now? Just plain 'ole white.
3. What are you listening to right now? The sound of the lawn guy doing whatever it is he does.
4. What is the first thing you think of when you wake up in the morning? Did my husband leave for work yet? I need to get up and exercise before it gets too late.
5. Can you drive a stick shift? No, I'm absolutely terrible at doing this. I almost ran my aunt's car into the ground when she tried to teach me when I was fresh out of college. I never tried it again after that.
6. If you were a crayon, what color would you be? I think I would like to be blue. It's just a pretty color.
7. Last person you spoke to on the phone? Jeremy when he told me he was coming home.
8. Do you like the person who sent this to you? Well, Kell didn't actually send it to me; I kinda took it from her, but yes, I like her. Now the question is, does she like me??? :)
9. How old are you today? I am 26....6 months away from being 27.
10. Favorite drink? I would have to say my all time favorite is soda. I love the refreshing, sizzling feeling of a very cold Coke or Pepsi going down my throat.
11. What is your favorite sport to watch? I hate all sports if I have to watch them on TV. I don't mind seeing any of them live.
12. Do you like thunderstorms? They are so powerful and I always think, "Wow, God is pretty mad tonight. What did I do this time?" :) I like them for the first five seconds and then after that I don't.
13. What's your favorite board game? I can't just pick one. I love Scrabble, Sorry, Imagine If, Life, Monopoly, and so many more.
14. Do you like to drive fast? I have been stopped three different times in my lifetime. It's just not worth speeding. So I usually only go 5 mph over the speed limit, sometimes 10 depending how the flow of traffic is going.
15. Favorite food? This one is hard. I don't think I could live without pizza.
16. What was the last movie you watched at the theater? Charlotte's Web. It was very cute. I cried when the spider died.
17. Is the glass half-full or half-empty? I have no idea, it just depends on whatever is happening that day.
18. What do you do to vent anger? I usually don't want to talk and then when I'm ready I will be more calm that way. I cry too when I get upset.
19. What was your favorite toy as a child? It had to be my Barbies.
20. What is your favorite season? Summer. I love the sun, heat, and being able to go swimming.
21. Hugs or kisses? Depends on who it is I have to hug or kiss. Kisses from Jeremy but everyone else is hugs.
22. Chocolate or Vanilla? Chocolate hands down!
23. Cherries or Blueberry? Most definitely Cherries!
24. What are you reading right now? I don't remember the title. I think it's a murder mystery. Give me a break, I only have read two pages so far. :)
25. Favorite thing to do just for you? Laying in my comfortable bed and reading my magazines or a book.
26. Living arrangements? Exactly what is this question anyway? I'm living in an apartment at the time being and I live with my husband and two cats.
27. When was the last time you cried? I shed a tear or two over Grey's Anatomy when George's dad died. I'm such a sap for sad things.
28. What is on the floor of your closet? Shoes, maybe a few shirts that have dropped off the hangers (my closet is stuffed)
29. What is your favorite TV show? King of Queens....I laugh my butt off each time I watch it.
30. What did you do last night? I didn't do much.....we ordered a pizza, made some salads to go along with the pizza, watched some television, visited my computer, and read in bed.
31. Favorite smells? My Yankee Candles when they are burning....yummy!
32. What inspires you? When I read the Bible and I see that these incredible men and women in it were such "spiritual warriors" but they also were human just like me. It makes me want to do all that I can so one day Christ will say to me, "Well done thy good and faithful servant."
33. What are you afraid of? I'm a big scaredy cat....thanks to my dad who is a police officer and scared the crap out of us kids but I'm very cautious because of it so I can't fault my dad for that.
34. Plain, cheese, or spicy hamburgers? I'm a plain type of girl. I don't really like cheese on mine except if I have a taste for it.
35. Favorite dog breed? I love rottweilers. I had the sweetest one when I was growing up.
36. Do you sleep with an animal? We are currently doing this on a trial basis....we are letting our cats roam the house free during the night....so far they have woken me up about ten times throughout the night. jumping on the bed, jumping off the bed, jumping on the bed, jumping off the bed, etc......
37. Number of keys on your key ring? I have four keys on my key ring and I also have this tube of mace attached to it (disguised as a flashlight), a actual little flashlight that is used as an alarm if somebody gets near you, and my car remote. I told you I was cautious!
38. How many times do you eat out in a week? Once or twice.
39. Favorite day of the week? Friday
40. How many states have you lived in? I answered this in an earlier post. 4 so far. (CA, FL, TX, and SC) Soon to add another one to my list in about three months time.
41. Favorite holiday? Christmas
42. Ever driven a Motorcycle or heavy machinery? A four-wheeler before....that was fun.
43. Who is your favorite NFL team? I don't have one. I just don't follow sports.
44. Do you have a house phone that is NOT cordless? I don't have a house phone at all. We had one in TX and the only people that ever called us were telemarketers so it wasn't worth it. We only have our cell phones.
45. Prefer 10 inches of snow or 100 degree weather? 100 degree weather. I'm used to it since I lived in FL and TX.
You probably have discovered my pattern here. When I have writer's block, I use pictures. Last weekend Jeremy and I went to explore a little city outside of Columbia. The only thing there was to do in this place was to see their museum. As we are following the directions on how to get there, we turn into the last street and looking around all we see are residential homes. We turned back around to retrace our steps and I see this old fashioned looking home and in the back you could see what looked like a office type of building. This must be it, right? We get out of the car and notice that all around us there is not even one single car. Jeremy says, "This is just weird." I agree with him so we hop back in the car deciding what our next move will be. As we drive past the house, I notice across the street the sign that says "Lexington County Museum". The sign looked like it was falling apart and we almost didn't go in, but Jeremy thought we might as well since we were there. I was having my doubts but I was actually glad that we did. The place is run by volunteers and since admission was only $3 per person, it was no wonder that it didn't look all that good. Here are some pics and I'll write a little something about each one.
Here is the old sign that Jer insisted we take a picture of.
This little house was built by a revolutionary war soldier who was an immigrant from Germany. This place was so tiny inside that I just can't complain about our apartment anymore. :) The German people couldn't stand the humidity and heat in the SC summer so they built the floors of their homes in a strange way--you could see the ground in between each floorboard. They didn't care about being cold during the winter months; they only cared about being able to get some air through the floorboards during the summer.
This spinning wheel for cotton dates back to the time this soldier built the house. I believe there were about six or seven people living in that little place.
This house was owned by John Fox in the 1800's. He owned a plantation about 20 miles away from this place and this was his summer home. He was considered to be rich but the more I went through this house, the more I realized that his family all worked along side with their slaves. We imagine all rich people were like Scarlett O'Hara in Gone With The Wind but those people were like the Donald Trumps of today. What was considered wealthy in that day to our standards would be middle class families of today. They may have had slaves and a few house servants but the family still worked to keep the farms alive.
I don't know if you can tell in the picture but the chairs and dining room table were really short. It wasn't because they were short people, but it was designed like this for the purpose of not getting their floors and clothes dirty. Their logic was if the chairs were the same height as the table, less food would get on the floor and on them. When I first saw it, I thought that must have been the table meant for the children of the house. I was wrong.
This was their cotton mill and right below where Jeremy is standing, there were these huge looking bowls just sitting on the ground. I asked what those were for and I found out they would slaughter their pigs and other animals in them. Yuck!!
Now that I think back on the way they lived back then, I don't think I would have survived. Nowadays we are all so spoiled with the modern conveniences we have; I just can't imagine ever living the way they did. Thank God I just have to go to the local store to get my meat and not have to slaughter it myself and then hang it in a smokehouse for a few days before I can eat it. Can you imagine it??? When I left that place I was thinking to myself, "Thank you, Lord, for letting me be born during the modern time!"
Yesterday was my mom's actual birthday, but since I didn't blog yesterday, I thought I would mention it today. Do you ever look at your parents or think about them, and in your mind, you don't see them any older than their 30's or maybe early 40's? My mom isn't old by any means. She had me at an early age, and I know I may be treading on thin ice here talking about age, but it is all meant to be endearing. Growing in years is inevitable. It's harder for some more than others. My mom has taken growing older very well. She has always taken care of herself and always looked pretty. I think I have become like her in many ways. I really won't leave the house unless I look presentable. The only time you will see me without makeup and my hair not looking so good is if I'm going to the gym or not feeling well. I go for the classier look when it comes to apparel and I love jewelry, just like mom. I was never embarrassed by mom. Other mothers would drop their kids off at school still with rollers on their head or just look like they had woken up. I was so glad my mom always made sure she looked nice wherever she went.
Mom was strict and demanded obedience and respect, but even with that strictness she still had a softness and love about her. In some things, I knew to ask my mom first before my dad because she was more soft about things, but then it would backfire because mom would ask that question that every child dreaded...."Did you ask your dad?" Darn it! Dad was a softy too at times so I usually was able to do whatever it was that I wanted to.
I remember on hot summer days the sound of the ice cream man's truck coming down our culde sac and running as fast as my legs could carry me back to the house. "Mom, mom, can I please have some money for ice cream?" "Pppppllllleeeeaaaasssseee!!!!" Most often than not, I would get a quarter or fifty cents to get something, but I do remember a few times when mom said no too. What disappointment that was but when I did get the money for ice cream, it was always a treat and it didn't turn out to be something I expected to get each and every time.
My mother's softness was demonstrated one warm afternoon in 1995. My brother had taken me to the dentist and as I was going up the stairs to the office, I almost tripped on this tiny bundle of fur. Right on the step was this malnutritioned runt of a kitten. She had some hard looking stuff over her eyes and she seemed to be blind. When I got out of the dentist she was still sitting there looking pathetic. I got in the car with my brother and pleaded her case to him to let me take her in the car. Will was mean and said...."There is no way I'm letting that thing in my car!" I was so mad at him all the way home. As soon as he pulled in our driveway, I jumped out of the car and ran straight to my mom. Mom was in her bathroom taking a curling iron to her hair and I told my mom about the poor destitute kitty. I wanted to slap my brother across the head for being so heartless, but my mom did that for me, figuratively speaking. She didn't actually slap him but she did get a little upset with him and told him, "You drive your sister back there and bring that kitten home this instant." He was not a happy camper and the whole way back with the kitten he made mean remarks about bringing home "that ugly thing". Well, that "ugly thing" got better with many antibiotics and she is still alive living with my mom. My mom was my hero that day.
I could go on and on about my mom, but I don't think this page could hold everything that is stored in my memories. I just want to say that I love you, Mom and thanks for making my childhood a happy one! Happy Birthday!
Thanks to Tink I have a topic to write about because I'm having writer's block today. This is one of many questions Tink had on her list in case something like this happened .
Since I don't remember the events surrounding my birth, I can only go by what my mother and father have told me. I was born in Santa Clara, CA in a hospital that my parents loved to point out whenever we would pass it during my childhood. I don't know the exact room or even who my doctor was that brought me into this world. I do know from my dad that I supposedly "shot out like a rocket". Guess I was really ready to start living!
My childhood was a stable one in that we didn't really ever move. I grew up in the house that will always be known as "home" to me. As a child, I thought our house was big, but now that I look back, it was pretty small. When I was in my junior year of highschool, my dad told us we were moving to an apartment complex that my parents were going to manage because they were going to be building a new house in Hollister, CA. I will never forget being so mad at my dad for moving us. It was really hard for me since that was the house I grew up in. Dad held onto the house and rented out for awhile and then sold it while the new one was being built. I didn't even really get to enjoy the new home because I was only there for a few months before I headed out to Florida for college.
I went to college in Pensacola, FL and was so excited to be "out on my own". What a shell shocker that was when I found out just how many rules there were that had to be followed if you wanted to stay as a student. (It was a private college so they were allowed to do that.) I saw many people drop in and out, but I persevered and made it to graduation day four years later.
After graduation, I headed about six hours south from Pensacola to Merritt Island, FL to stay with my aunt for the summer. Well, I kinda already had a plan established that I was really going to stay for good in Florida but I didn't tell my parents that because I knew they would get upset. I just kept it to myself and I found a job a month and a half later and settled myself as a Floridian. Those were my first three years actually living single. I made mistakes and I learned from them. I was only 21 at the time and that was the time to learn life's lessons and it's usually the hard way that we learn them. If I had gone back to CA, I would have never met my husband, so you see, I didn't even know it but God had a plan for me already working itself out. I was in Merritt Island until I got married in April 2005.
Jeremy was stationed to San Antonio, TX. We moved there and bought our first home. We thought we would be there for 2-3 years but it didn't work out that way. While in Texas, I got a job with a financial company that now I look back as both a good and bad experience. It taught me alot about other people and how some people are truly selfish and unhappy. It also taught me to stand up for myself and at the same time turn the other cheek when it was needed. I did get to know some great coworkers and we really got each other through some bad times. It was during this time in San Antonio that Jeremy decided to transfer from the Airforce into the Army and we were called to come to Fort Jackson in Columbia, SC.
So, it now brings us to the present. We only have three and a half more months here and not sure where the next move will take us to. I'm crossing my fingers that we will find out in a month where the next place will be and when I know, I will be sure to report it to you all.
Well, that is my story for today. I know it wasn't too exciting but maybe you learned something new about me anyway. :) Have a great weekend everyone!!!
Alright folks, you all know about my two cats and how they drive me flipping insane but I still love them nontheless. If you are not familiar with them, here is at least two stories to brush up on-- My Psycho Cat & Update On The Psycho. I really can't come up with 13 reasons to why I'm going to kill them, so I thought I can come up with 7 and then would come up with 6 reasons why I wouldn't do it. :) Altogether that will make it 13 for today!
1. Remember the mat I bought for under the litter box?? Well, they have decided to not only disregard it and do anything in their power not to step on it, but they have thought to shovel great amounts of litter out of their litter box onto my bathroom floor in order to protest this horrible injustice that has been done to them.
2. They can't eat without somehow getting half of the food all over the floor. This used to not be a problem until recently. Maybe they are protesting the mat even when they are eating??? Little Devils!!!
3. My mom bought me this wonderfully warm blanket for Christmas and my darlings have claimed it as their own. I tried to take it away from Bugsy last night so I could get a turn to use it and she did this meow that was, I swear, cussing me out.
4. One of them peed on the bathroom floor right beside the mat yesterday afternoon. Do you think they are trying to send me a message or something about that mat???
5. Buttons insists on roaming free during the twilight hours and when we lock him up in his room for the night, he completely freaks out with the never ending pawing at the door. So, you ask, why don't you just let him roam free? Well, my dear friends, I have tried that but he's a wild man....he becomes this little monster at night and will run around the house as if he's gone crazy and will keep us awake the whole night. If any of you have cats, I hear this is common behavior for most of them at night. We must keep the beasts locked in!!
6. I suspect the culprit is Bugsy in this one but one of them is eating my orchid plant to death. I wrote about my plant that nearly suffered its ill fate by my own hand, but I have been able to keep the little bugger alive. While we were on Christmas vacation, they discovered the plant since they had free roam of the house and ate most of it. It doesn't matter where I try to hide the plant, they always find it!!!
7. I'm pretty sure Buttons is the one who deleted my blog from last week because I caught him up on the computer desk and his little paws were on the keyboard!
Alright, those are my reasons for ending their ever so privileged lives..... Here are six reasons why I actually won't do it.
1. You know it's really because I love them. They are just like children--they drive you up the wall but in the end you still love them.
2. They are just too darn cute!! Buttons with those big blue eyes looks at me and I can't get mad at him anymore (You know the cat in Shrek with those big eyes...that is exactly what Buttons does)
3. Somehow they know instinctively if I'm not having a good day. I think animals sense these things. One of them will at least come to cuddle and comfort me.
4. They are good for something--they kill bugs in the house! They like to play with them for awhile and then kill them. We've never had a mouse problem, but I think they would get those too if we ever did.
5. Whenever I'm in the kitchen cooking, they both will come sit on the edge of the carpet side by side and in their own way ask for some treats. It's too cute; I can't resist.
6. And the best thing I love about them is I don't have to take them out for walks. They are happy to just hang around the house all day and they entertain themselves with my hair bands. They haven't lost all of their "inner kitten" within them.
I have been thinking lately how weird it is without any friends. Now, don't think of me as a loser, but moving around like this frequently really doesn't do too much for your social life. It's not that I really mind it because I'm pretty much a loner in nature anyway. I value my private time with just myself to do what I enjoy most--reading, blogging, scrapbooking, etc. I've always had a select few that could be coined as friends during my years in highschool and college. You know how life goes, you just lose touch with them or something happens that staying friends is really not the wisest thing to do.
At this point in my life, I can't say I really have any friends, except for maybe all of you--my blogger friends. I look forward every morning to seeing all of you, hearing from you, and just getting to know you by what you write. Each one of you is unique in your own different ways.
I am not trying to get any sympathy from anyone because I said I don't really have any friends at this point of my life. I'm writing this because I am really content just being this way right now. I'm content with having a full relationship with my husband, including us having the greatest friendship two people could have. I'm content in being able to come here and let out my thoughts, worries, funny stories, etc. to all of you. I'm very content living here in Fort Jackson, SC and wish it wouldn't end, but I know it's inevitable that we will be leaving in April again. That is why when someone asked me what one thing I would wish for was I said that I wished time could stand still. Why? Because I'm so content with my life right now.
This will all change in a few months time and maybe within a year when Jeremy is called to Iraq or Afghanistan. It will be then that I may wish I had many many friends close by. I try not to think about the months after April because they are yet to be foreseen. We don't know what the future holds, only God knows that. I'm trying to find my personal friendship and relationship with God to be more strong for when this time comes.
I know I write quite a bit about my thoughts of when Jeremy will be sent to war; it's just what is on my mind constantly. When I'm with him, I try not to think about it. When we lay in bed at night and he's fallen asleep before me (which is most nights), I just stare at him and tell myself to take a mental picture of that moment he's beside me because sooner than later my bed will be empty for a long time.
I'm so content at this moment of time and wish it would last forever!
Jay did this meme a few days ago and then Chelle did this one today, so now it's my turn. I thought it looks like fun to do. What's on your ipod???
Rules Open your library. Put it on shuffle. Press play. Type the song that is playing for every question. Press the button again when you get to a new question. Do not lie and try to pretend that you are cool.
Opening Credits: "Come Let Us Worship" by Chris Tomlin
Waking Up: "Wonderful King" by David Crowder Band
First Day of School: "Take All Of Me" by Rebecca St. James
Falling in Love: "LA Tortura" by Shakira (Isn't that the truth sometimes???)
Fight Songs: "Hear My Voice" by Jeremy Camp
Breaking Up: "Take You Back" by Jeremy Camp
Prom: "Mirror" by BarlowGirl
Life: "Man! I Feel Like A Woman" by Shania Twain
Mental Breakdown: "Until Your Love Broke Through" by Rebecca St. James
Driving: "Beautiful Stranger" by Rebecca St. James
Flashback: "Come Thou Fount" by David Crowder Band
Wedding: "You're Still The One" by Shania Twain (Goodness sakes, I hope "you're still the one" on the wedding day...LOL)
Birth of a Child: "On My Own" by BarlowGirl
Final Battle: "Blessed Be Your Name" by Matt Redman
Death Scene: "Breakaway" by Kelly Clarkson
Funeral Song: "Not To Us" by Chris Tomlin
End Credits: "Alive" by Rebecca St. James
I laughed on alot of these..........that was fun to do! Thank, Jay and Chelle!
It's been so busy around here this past weekend and today, but I thought I would post some pictures that we took this weekend, so at least then I did do something on blogger today.
Jeremy in front of the Columbia Art Museum
This huge thing was built in the middle of a parking lot near the street. I have no idea why they did that, but I thought it was pretty cool.
This church is one of the oldest churches in America still in use today. It's just beautiful!
I liked how this Catholic church looked too.
Me and Jeremy in the car (we were at a stop light) :)
Sorry folks, I just wrote out my whole blog for today and somehow unbeknownest to me, it was deleted when I got back to my seat to publish it. The only thing I can think of is my cat may have jumped up to the desk and his paw hit some key that deleted everything. I just don't have the energy to write it all out again and because I'm too ticked off to. I will try again tomorrow. Hope your day doesn't start off on the wrong foot like mine did. :) See you all tomorrow!
Name: Gracey Home: United States About Me: Welcom to my site! This is a place for me to write from day to day or sometimes from week to week. It just depends what is happening in my life. Please stay as long as you'd like and hope to hear from you soon as well! See my profile...
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