The end of 714NM

We said farewell to a part of our family and our history last week. 714NM left us to go live with a 16 year old boy whose love of flying matches Daniel's quite perfectly. I met 4NM when I first met Daniel, in 1994. It was our first date, to fly over Monroe in this airplane. Daniel was 17 when he got the Cessna 150, and was 38 when he sold it. We've all had fun in this airplane and it will be surely missed! Happy flying 714NM! We love you!

The lack of blogging

I'm beginning to understand what everyone means about blogging becoming both therapeutic and addicting at the same time! I can't help but wonder, will I need therapy because I've blogged too much, or will I blog to avoid therapy? Nonetheless, I find myself going about my day with the thoughts like, "I could write about that in my blog!" or "Nobody would believe this happened to me when I blog about it!" So lately, there hasn't been a blog posted and I've felt strange not updating my site! I've felt guilty and at the same time, all the thoughts have jumbled themselves together so much that I sit here wondering what I was going to say! The next phase is comparing my blog to others! I can't update you on current events except that it is terrible to hear about the earthquake in CA, terrible to see how our presidential candidates don't look promising, even more terrible that babies aren't safe around puppies, or that there are times our 911 system lets us down. But I can leave my newly found wisdom on parenting, life lessons, and promises from above that will hopefully take you to a new dimension of thinking while at the same time keeping you from making the mistake I already did.

Santa makes a Summer Visit

For those of you with small children, who might be nearing the end of your rope of summer fun, here's a glimmer of hope. If you believe. I believe.

Santa makes his magical visit to our home every year. In fact, my own mother still believes in him. So it makes perfect sense that in the day of "don't lie to your kids" or "tell them the real reason of the season" that I'm okay with a little magic. Make no mistake, we are a family of faith, of prayer, and of understanding the reason we celebrate Christmas. Our kids know as many details as we do. And while I may regret it when the truth hits them both, it works for us now.

So yesterday, after a long weekend of cousins, birthday parties, cookouts, and travel, we had a meltdown. Well, Sarah had the meltdown. It began innocently enough, while we were amidst a game of hide n seek. I had been "it" but was this time hiding, conveniently enough in the laundry room where I took advantage of the slow finder and changed out a load of laundry. I heard the grandparents talking about crying, who it was, where it was, that kind of thing. Fast forward downstairs, top bunk, Cameron's room. Both of ours crying. Cousins not crying. That's typical. As it turns out, Sarah had taken a salivating turn to her brother's back for a little hors d'oeuvre treat to herself. Luckily, she didn't get a mouthful, but she most definitely made her mark.

Where does Santa come in? Well, after much debate with family about whether the punishment fit the crime, I once more discussed the deal with the 3 year old. And, I told her I'd be making a call to Santa while she was asleep! Nothing like a Summer check up. And just like last year, it worked much better than any threat or punishment we've ever dished. It even comes with a visitor from Elf on the Shelf. Visit www.elfontheshelf.com website for help with your little ones! Magic put a spell on us once more, and not a minute too soon!

Quito

The people in Quito, Ecuador may not have much, but they are happy people. Daniel spent several layovers there, and that was his first and lasting impression. I like this picture.

All they need is love

Children love to be loved, praised, thought highly of, and payed attention to. I don't think that is new info to anyone, but something we often forget. In a day's time, I've been guilty of using phrases like, "Are you serious? You thought mommy would be happy that you did that?" I'm no expert, but what I do know is the look in both of my kids eyes when I bring out the positive of a situation, instead of the negative. When I surround a situation with love. My kids recently broke a window by throwing marbles in our sun room. My presence? Negative. Somewhere in the other end of the house. Cameron reports, mommy investigates. My first question was, "Oh wow! Are you both okay? Did anyone touch the glass? Is anyone cut?" Instead of, "Why did...what were....you're in trouble....give me those....wait till your father gets home.....get to your room!" No, they don't need to hear that! What they did need to hear was love and that I thought of their safety first. These windows are from the floor to the ceiling, 2 stories high, and on somewhat of a hill, with rocks all around! Luckily it was a small break, didn't require repair immediately, and was on the higher pane. Luckily, they were throwing marbles, small ones. Anyway, of course I told them not to do that again, but why? Not because the windows are probably expensive, or because it would be a hassle to fix, but because their safety is the most important part of my job as their mom. But I think, no I know, I got more respect that way and I can be sure they won't do it again. Well, hopeful anyway!

Tomatoes in the Window

Yeah, that's right. They're there. Two tomatoes in the window sill. From my sweet grandmother "Granny Jones!" This should've been happening sooner than mid July, but I got 'em now. And they'll be gone tomorrow. Yum yum. Thanks Granny Jones, and Happy Birthday! 87 years old, and living in her new home at the end of my parents driveway! What a life!

Flight Status

It's two minutes 'till midnight, and I'm heading off to bed. As usual, I take one more look at the flight he's on, where it is, and how much longer he'll be in the air. I look at the little airplane on the screen, having more of a connection with the little icon than with the truth that it is just that. An icon. I get the lump in my throat when I see that he's about to leave the U.S. and head over the "big pond" as he calls it. As he gets closer to leaving land, I zoom in on his little plane icon, only to see that it's heading in the opposite direction. Why does it look like he's turning around? Why does it look like he's making an emergency landing? Would there be any reason he would need to land in Greenland? Or Iceland? What's happening? But he's not landing there. Nor is he turning around to come home. He's just going around weather, or whatever, and for some reason the tracking program picks it up. Thanks a lot. All I can say is that it's keeping my heart healthy because every time it changes, I feel my pulse race. So now I'm x-ing out of the tracking system. And sadly enough, he'll still be in the air when I hear the light footsteps coming up the stairs followed by kisses on the hand. That'll work. Okay guys, I'm up.

Keeping It Holy

Sunday is the day to honor our heavenly Father, to praise Him, and to rest as He did. Today started about as abnormal as any day could have, in our household! In the words of the parents in "Home Alone" "We slept in!!!" The kids stayed at my parents last night, on a whim, just because my father is the most amazing grandpa in the world. He wanted to get Sarah, his "little Kristie" for the night, but when I told her he was coming, she said she didn't want to go. In the life of 3 year old drama queen, that's pretty normal. So Cameron, being the tender little man he is, said he would go, so Grandpa wouldn't be sad. BUT, when Grandpa arrived in a new/used Nissan sedan, Sarah got new ride jealous. And being the prepared and hopeful grandpa that he is, he had 2 car seats in the back! Off they went, leaving me and Daniel to stare at each other in amazement. How perfect is this Saturday night? So after I payed my respects to a friend who lost his mother, we went to dinner in Athens. Fast forward to Sunday, and the main point of this post. It's quiet, it's a king sized bed, and it's Sunday morning past 9. How did that happen? Daniel has a late sign in, will be flying all night to Stockholm, and it only made sense to sleep in even more. But I'm so thankful we are plugged in to our church home, Monroe FBC, and we had two little worshippers waiting for us to sit with them at "big church." We got there in time for the 11 o'clock call to worship, enjoyed a wonderful sermon, and headed off to the mack-deddy town of Jersey for lunch. Thank you Dr. McGarity and family for a wonderful restaurant! So, after lunch, we rested with my parents hanging around in recliners and sofas and watched a cute Disney movie. Daniel left on time, and I squeezed in a trip to the Wal-Mart super center. Ok, now about the Holy part. Would God consider my day a day of rest? Would he consider my actions to be keeping it Holy? Probably not. Why is it so hard in this day/age to hold true to biblical principals and truths? Why are we a self-consumed society, and why am I a part of it? I'd almost rather be in the decades before electricity, running water, cars, phones, much more than in this wifi world. What am I doing in my home office at 11pm on my computer? Why are my kids on the couch in the den watching "Hannah Monontana?" No, not a misspelled word, but my 3 yr old's version. Anyway, I couldn't help but wonder today, the Sabbath, if I'll ever get out of this rut and begin to keep it Holy. Where do we start?

New Blog

Okay, I've posted these all in one night, but in the event someone finds my blog tonight, I don't want them to hang dry. Plus, I was curious if I could pull it off!

I hope to stay current on this, so come back if you're interested!

It's late, and the cicadas are going crazy. Hope this night brings no more storms. It's pj time!

On being a Pilot's Wife

One of the main reasons this blog is important to me is the voice I can have while my mate is gone! Sometimes the only adult conversation I have is the call I make to my friends, only to listen to each of our children in the background acting out to gain our attention once more. Whether your husband works locally or travels, your conversation sees its limits.

Just today, we were on our Skype call, which I highly recommend, with a camera of course, and the kids were bouncing so fast that he couldn't even see them! I had to hold the camera still, while holding them in my lap so he could get a good glimpse of them! So of course I couldn't have a needed conversation with him. Now, he'll come in just about the same time we get up in the morning, he'll have been flying all night, and he'll be utterly exhausted. The transition from cockpit conversation to Kristie conversation is one we've laughed about for years! He'll need the skinny details, and I'll just want to ramble on and on. I'll forget that the man he needed to talk to about the airplane called, that his dad called, that he needs to sign this, pay that. All I'll really want to know is how long he wants to stay awake, what food he wants, is he planning on a long hot shower, or does he need to jump in, jump out, and dive in the bed.

So we'll be heading out after he starts his day with a long nap, and we'll hope to spend under $100.

My kids

We were blessed with 2 beautiful children very quickly after being married for only 1 year. It makes me very sad to hear about couples that have a hard time conceiving, but at the same moment I'm sad for them, I'm also sad that we didn't experience the "trying" phase of life. And I don't mean that in a gutter way, but our children came in God's time, not our own. He completely knew how long we would've waited, so he fixed that quickly. Well, we're done now, and much to every one's dismay, no more red-heads!! Cameron, our oldest is the bright red that is so striking, but with the most gold flecks I've ever seen! Sarah's is the dreamiest with enough red to not be blond, but strawberry gold-ish, like Cameron's! They are 17 months apart but are now so close it's beautiful!

My First Post

It's late, I know, but I just ran across an old friend's blog and got all green with envy. I've done this before and was a little overwhelmed about the entire world reading my thoughts, but I think I can handle it now.

It's after midnight, and I'm extremely tired from doing absolutely nothing all day. And when I say nothing, I mean nothing out of the ordinary, nothing unique or worth of a bragging word or two. Daniel left 2 days ago for Santiago, and is somewhere over the South Pacific Ocean right about now. Me and the two kids spent the day doing laundry, painting, and chasing each other in batman costumes. We made more of a mess than 3 people should. So now I've spent the late part of the evening destroying the evidence that we didn't care what we did while daddy was on a trip.