our new normal

1. I know that eventually we will be able to talk on the phone without crying. We will be able to hang up the phone without crying. The tears will just stop.

2. I know that some days they really do just want their daddy. And when they hold on to the Daddy dolls like a life preserver, it's the next best thing.

3. Two more Daddy dolls are on the way but you can't overnight or Express ship those things because every other kid requesting a Daddy doll wants it for the same reason we do. I should have invented those things.

4. Every day I will choose joy. Some days it will be harder than others but I will choose joy. At the end of this, I will not have sad, bitter children.

5. The one thing I know without a doubt, my children know sacrifice. They know service. They know courage. They know honor. They will be proud.

They know these first hand more than some adults will ever know.

6. On week one day, day one, our car battery died. The kids were loaded in the van, ready to head to dance and straight to church. We weren't going anywhere. I pushed the van out in the driveway, with Sammy steering and her mom helping. The battery was so dead it couldn't even be jumped. I hitched a ride to buy a new battery while Sammy watched the kids and her dad came over to change it in the freezing cold.

7. On day 1, reduex, the vacuum cleaner died. If this didn't happen every.single.time I would probably cry. I actually laughed. It happens every time. I can now fix vacuum cleaners and jump car batteries. Pretty soon I will be a mini electrician and a plumber.

8. People ask what they can do to help. When someone starts puking here, that's when you can help. Jason handles all the puke.

9. The kids are fighting less than I thought. They are all very excited to help each other out and help me do things. The girls actually enjoy getting Drew dressed in the morning.

10. Sometimes people come out of no where to help you. To bring you coffee, to hug you when you when you need it most, to say nothing when that's what you need to hear, to laugh at with you when you flush markers down toilets, to stand in your driveway in the pitch black to change a battery, to feed you cheeseburgers. We are blessed beyond measure and I thank God for all of you.

Ten on Tuesday - combined

1. Well we have managed to survive another year of funrun fundraising at our house.. barely. I am totally serious when I say that Bella is like living with the Kirby salesman during the week of the funrun. And in all seriousness, I would almost rather roll the dice with the door to door salesman. At least I know at some point he is leaving..

2. After gathering her pledges, I sent Bella to school with a word of caution one day. "This is it. Do not come home again asking me to call anyone else asking for anymore money. I don't care what they tell you, this is what I'm telling you." My friend tells me that they are like frat boys of fundraising and she isn't kidding because wouldn't you know my sweet obedient 6 year old walked in the door and said they told her she needed just one more pledge. Next year the week prior to the funrun you can find us at the beach. Or maybe Disneyworld..

3. Isabella entered a Christmas card contest at Poppy's plant three weeks ago. She had to draw a Christmas scene on an 8x10 sheet of paper and the contest was for anyone from three to ten years of age. We found out she got 2nd place!! She was so excited!!

4. We packed up our Halloween candy and took it to Mr. Rowe and his fireman this week. Will decided that the firemen could eat on their way to save the people in the fires and if you've been reading long enough, you know there is nobody better than Mr. Rowe as far as Will is considered.

5. To make Will's day even better, Mr. Rowe brought Will his very own fireman shirt. We can barely get it off of him. Mr. Rowe really hung the moon now..

6. Today at school our CD player didn't work. I told my kids I would have to sing our morning songs rather than listen to the CD like usual. One of my little boys said "Oh no that's terrible" I asked him what was wrong and he said, "well you can't sing but you sure are pretty". I love my job and the honesty of kids. They always make me laugh!!

7. My parents closed on their house last week. Yay!! So nice to have them less than five minutes away from us. We went over as soon as Bella got off of the bus today to take dinner and help with unpacking... so fantastic.

8. The kids went with my parents to Indiana for a Christmas party this weekend. They had a fabulous time and loved taking a road trip with Nene and Poppy.

9. Will sang in the choir performance before church on Sunday. I have to give it to him, he looked so cute singing and dancing up there. We were so proud of him!

10. Bella finally lost her top front tooth last week. It was literally just hanging on waiting to fall out. So disgusting. Last Thursday night, I told her it needed to come out and she finally just pulled it out with her bath towell. Finally!

Giving Thanks..

1. In the words of Amelia, when you ask her every time what she is most thankful for she will respond first with Jesus..because he died for us.

2. My husband. People were shocked that we got engaged after three months of long distance dating but marrying you was the best decision I ever made..

3. My mini-me, southern belle, cowboy and silent operator. They bring continued joy every day into our life and I will be forever grateful that I was chosen to be their mother.

4. My parents, for always loving and supporting me and finally moving south to be with us. I guess they realized we really weren't leaving..

5. Southern weather.. I'll take the boiling heat for no snow. Or snow that comes once a year.

6. My church family. I love my church and the people in it. I enjoy being there everytime the doors are open. I hope you feel the same way about yours.

7. My work family. I always knew that I probably wouldn't be a big career driven person. I wanted to be a mama. This job, while I'm not making decisions that change the world as a whole, gives me the opportunity to change individual worlds.. It is the best job I have ever had and I love it. I love the women I work with and am thankful for the friendships I have there..

8. Our military. So many men and women have fought and continue to fight to give us freedom. There is no way to ever repay them for the sacrifices they make.

9. My friends. They are like the sisters I never had. I love you all.

10. The teachers that teach my children. You are giving them a foundation of learning and loving them when I can't. I will be forever grateful for the hard job that you do, every day.

Veteran's Day Parade

Today my biggest girl and I walked in the Veteran's Day parade. Bella has been waiting to participate in this parade since we started watching it several years ago. Finally her day came. She was able to ride for her Daddy, her Gramps and both of her great-grandfathers. We wrote all of their names on the papers and stuck them on the float. She was super excited and road through the parade saying Happy Veteran's Day. She was so proud and excited to honor her Daddy. I know a lot of people are proud of their veterans but no one more so than my Bella. She is so proud of her Daddy. Jason will very rarely offer up the information that he serves his country but his children proudly will..
We love you Daddy and are so proud of all you do for us and your country!!

costume day at school

I love the ladies that I work with..we always have such a fun time. On Monday all the children and most of the teachers wore their costumes to school. Here are a few pictures.