Things to Say

I have pictures to show you but unfortunately I don't have the camera (or my cell phone) to share them with you (explanation coming). So instead I just have things to say.

We are here in Idaho. We just got the first snow, last night, we have seen since we got here a month ago. Crazy! My parents say it is the first time in 30 years they have experienced a winter this warm and snow less. Just my luck.

Matt finished CDL school, and passed! He left last week planning on being gone a few days to find a job but instead he found a job on the first day and started work the third day of his absence. We are now on day eight of him being gone with another 35-63 to go before we will see him again. Bummer. We were not expecting there to be such long times between seeing him. So we are still adjusting to the idea. Its sad but we are making do. He took with him my phone, for the Internet capabilities, and the camera so therefore I have neither. I have his ancient phone from years ago and it works well enough for us to talk, most days, and send texts.

Matt is hanging in there. I'm not going to lie this isn't his dream job but fortunately for me he does whatever it takes to provide for us three girls. And in the case of this winter it meant taking a long shot risk in search of eventually having more time with our family. Apparently it also meant standing in freezing water up to his knees at 2 am. He does it and he doesn't complain. It may have something to do with the fact that he got these amazing boots. They are waterproof and fireproof and are good to -145 degrees Celsius. He says the only thing they will be good for in NC is running into a burning fire.

Matt hours are suppose to get more regular today, but we will see. Yesterday was the first full (14 hour) day of work he has had. He is working days right now for 2-3 weeks and then he will start working nights. He lives in a 4 bedroom trailer with one other 49 year old man. They get along great and Matt says the guys cooks most meals for him. Including cookies for a treat before bed. I think he really lucked out because have we heard stories about roommates.

As for the home front we are missing Daddy. Brinley was diagnosed with asthma this weekend and we are learning lots about it from my mom. It is a blessing to be near my mom as we go through this discovery. My mom is a severe asthmatic. She has been since she was 3 and has been hospitalized more times than she can remember. That being said we have a personal aid in teaching us all the tricks to asthma like. . milk makes it worse but evaporated milk and cream are okay. Who would have known. Brinley sounded better today than she has in months. She is on steroids and nebulizer, plus is being treated for a ear infection and allergies. You should see this girl on steroids. Oh. My. She is off the wall. I just feel so bad that it has gone on so long. I took her into our pediatrician in April 11' because I thought she had asthma but he reassured me she didn't and she has sounded bad since. Since then she has had 3 ear infections a hand full of colds and a weird rash. Much of this may have been avoided had we known about her asthma. That is 9 months of not being able to take deep breaths. I can't imagine how miserable that would be.

There are all the things I wanted to say. Matt would say its boring without pictures but until I fix the Nikon camera its going to be that way.

A Sad Farewell

Per New Years Eve tradition we headed out to a couple party's. What isn't tradition is saying good bye to our NC family that we have made over the past 3 1/2 years. It wasn't fun and there were a lot of tears but I did it. It's over. And now I'm safely settled in Idaho Falls.

I made sure to get pictures. After I lost a friend a couple years ago it occurred to me that I had no pictures of her. We get caught up taking pictures of the kids and forget to take them of "our" friends. I want to be able to remember these awesome ladies who made leaving North Carolina so difficult.
(left to right Lena Adams, Me, Maria Stayley, Lindsey Grames)
(back:Andera Mackey, Chandelle Walker, Missy Carey middle: Mary Davidon, Lindsey Grames, Karen Pope front: Rebecca Newcomer, Me, Amanda Allen

The hardest part of it all was saying good bye to the Popes. Ohh how we love that family. Karen and I became best friends three years ago as did our husbands. My kids refer to them as Papa Pope and Aunt Karen but really they were more like grandparents (because they spoil my girls). They are the type of friends you can never replace. I saved saying good bye to her for last. Karen wouldn't even make eye contact with me as I hugged everyone else. Once I gave her a hug it was all over the tears came harder and sobbing started. Even the next day when Randy text us as we left Fayetteville I cried. They are amazing people.

When we left the Carey's Matt just held me by the car as I cried. Keeley asked "why are you sad Mommy?" and had to try once again to explain that I was going to miss Aunt Karen and all of our friends.

As we left NC for the last time (until the house sells) Matt and I talked about what we would and wouldn't miss about Fayetteville/Hope Mills.

What we WON'T miss is. 110 degrees plus humidity. People parking in their front yards. Trailers next to million dollar houses. Those "special people" you find in Wal-Mart only in Fayetteville. No sidewalks. No bike lanes. Collards.

What we WILL miss is the people. The Popes. Our friends (all of them, and there are a lot). Our NC "family" that we spent holidays and Sundays with. Our ward ( I also cried when I said goodbye to our sweet bishop). Living close to Matt Parents. Seeing the soldiers, hearing their stories, loving their families and gaining a great love for our country that we had never before experienced.

New Years Resolutions

1. Study my scriptures from 6:30-7:00 each morning. Focusing some of my study on personal characteristics such as humility, patience, love, charity and gratitude.

2. Lose 10 pounds this winter. And then happily gain it back if we are fortunate enough to have another baby.

3. Slow Down. Spend more quality time with my girls. Enjoy them more. Here is my inspiration for this

4. Blog once each week.

5. Settle Down. I'm ready to find a place to call home. That being said see resolution number 6.

6. To be sensitive enough to do whatever the Lord wants us to do and to make to most of it. We are in limbo right now Matt and I both are really working on doing whatever it may be that the Lord would have us do. This so much easier said than done. If that means going back to NC so be it, if it means Texas, North Dakota of Boise we will do whatever He would have us do. It's difficult for me to live with no game plan.