Did I mention…
January 30, 2010 | Filed Under Andrea, Life Stuff, New Mexico, Photos | 17 Comments
That we painted our livingroom wall blue…
‘Cause, we did. And I love it.
Promise I’ll show you more when I’m all done decorating!
MyPay
January 25, 2010 | Filed Under Deployment, Military Life, Photos | 15 Comments
The only part of post-deployment I don’t like… the jacking up of one’s paycheck.
It seems like it happens with every deployment and sometimes with a PCS.
Times like this it pays to anticipate that your money is going to get messed up. It also helps to plan for it and have a proactive approach. Thankfully we were ready.
Annoying though.
Dare I?
January 22, 2010 | Filed Under Eliza Dove, Eve, Photos, Sewing | 34 Comments
I have this thing with my girls… I love, love, love to dress them alike. My girls wear the same clothes as much as possible, and thankfully, Target and Eve have cooperated very nicely with this plan. With Eve still being in a size 5T it’s easy peasy to find matching clothes. But, the girl is growing like a weed and soon matching clothes won’t be so simple to find.
Enter: Mama needs to learn how to sew.
What’s that sound, you ask? Oh, that’s just my mother laughing her head off.
But, I’m serious. My lack of knowing how to sew has been bothering me for a couple of years now. I feel like I am missing a needed skill, or something. The thing is, I’m not so good with fine details. Like, laying out a pattern or figuring out said pattern or threading a needle…
I mentioned a sewing machine purchase to Daniel the other day and he got a look in his eyes. It wasn’t one of those, “Sure, babe! What a great idea!” looks. It was more of the, “Oh dear, this could be bad. Very bad.” looks.
But, I am feeling very determined. I need to learn how to make curtains, and pillow cases, and clothes. And maybe some other fun stuff. I have ideas in my head and either I can’t find them in the stores or the price is too high and I’m too cheap.
Here is where I need your help (should you sew, of course): What brand of sewing machine should I look for.
And lessons… are they the way to go? Or should I start small and try to teach myself?
Any other advice (preferably sewing but I’ll take whatever!) is much appreciated!
Still on our third honeymoon!
January 17, 2010 | Filed Under Uncategorized | 24 Comments
It’s so good to be on my third honeymoon… with the same man!
I can’t believe that it has been almost three weeks since Daniel came home. The last two days have been the first “normal” days we have had since we were re-united. Between the moving out of New York, driving across the country, having an intense three week case of bronchitis and pleurisy, Daniel going back to work for a couple of days and then waiting on pins and needles to find out if he was leaving to go to Haiti Friday night…. we haven’t had a chance to catch our breath!
Yesterday and today were finally normal. We are, of course, unpacking boxes, but it’s been at a leisurely pace. I am completely enjoying having my life back. I feel spoiled by Daniel. I still can’t really believe he’s home. Sometimes I have to find him and hug him because I am overwhelmed with gratitude that I can.
Daniel has taken two weeks off (TWO WEEKS WITH MY HUSBAND!) to finish settling the house and enjoy life.
Eve playing jr. scrabble with Daddy
Tuesday we are headed to the ABQ for some shopping and the Aquarium… yay for civilization!… but mainly for some amazing Mexican food. I can not wait!! We are also going to pick up some paint at Home Depot (I’ve heard that Behr is the best??) so we can paint a few walls here at the house… robin’s egg blue in the living room (that will go well with my poppy couch, right? (best picture I could find fast) and a grass green to go in the kitchen (with purple and red accents – am I crazy for that?) and maybe a soft grey in Daniel and my bedroom. We’ll see if I am feeling up for anything else. And yes, I do realize I threw out my no-painting in base housing rule. I.need.color.
Sigh… life is good. I’m happy. Daniel is happy. The kids are happy and all warmed-up…
Daniel has submitted his application for the Air Force Physician Assistant (PA) program. And now we wait. His application is incredibly strong and way more than qualifying but you just never know. We’ve prayed about it and left all in God’s hands. We know that if He wants us to walk this path… it’s gonna happen. I have to admit, living in San Antonio is very appealing to me. Even if it’s only for one year. If we are accepted there will be an incredible amount of moving but… we’re getting pretty stinkin’ good at it. And I love the thought of making new friends and seeing new places. I tend to get kind of antsy to move after a year in the same place.
There is so much going on in our lives… I am so grateful for you and how you are always here encouraging me, sharing in my happiness, crying with me in my sadness… sharing life. I am deeply indebted to you.
So, as Judah says…. Chanks!
Dear Grandma,
January 11, 2010 | Filed Under Lond distance good-byes, Military Life, Perspective | 40 Comments
I’ve always counted myself as blessed. Very, very blessed. For part of my life I had two Great Grandmas and one Great Granddaddy, all of my Grandmas and all of my Grandpas. Over the course of the last probably twenty years, I have lost only one of my Great Grandmas.
Shortly after Eve was born we had a picture taken of my Granddaddy, Grandma, mom, myself, and Eve. Five generations… we were in the paper for goodness sake! I’ve always felt that having this much of my heritage still alive was a really big deal. One that I have been very grateful for.
Thursday around noon my Grandma passed away. Betty was her name; she was my Dad’s mom… But she was my Grandma. Daniel and I were in the middle of driving through Mississippi when my Dad called me with the news. There had been no warning, no sickness, no nothing. Grandma had a heart attack and died in my Grandfather’s arms in an instant.
You just never know it’s your last time to hug someone’s neck until it’s too late.
The funeral is today and I can’t go. We pulled into New Mexico late in the afternoon yesterday and l have been dealing with some sort of very painful issue with my lungs for the last six days that I need to take care of. Flying to New York just couldn’t happen. This is most certainly a part of military life that, though I had read about, I had never experienced. Oh, it hurts to not be able to be with the rest of my family. To be the only one not flying in.
I wrote a letter to my Grandma for my brother to read at her funeral. I didn’t know what else to do. How else to say good-bye. I sure am going to miss that tiny beautiful woman…
Dear Grandma,
I am so sorry that I couldn’t be there in person. I agonized over the decision of whether to come or not. For two days I went back and forth; on Friday I reserved a ticket to fly up but as I sat in the cab of our truck watching Alabama roll by I heard your high pitched beautiful voice voice in my head, “Andrea Leigh, don’t be ridiculous! I am just fine, you stay right where you are.” And so I am.
Oh Gram, this is so tough. I just saw you the other day! I gave you Calla Lilies in a pot and you remarked on how they were the same flowers you carried in your bouquet when you married Grandpa. You were suppose to work your green thumb magic on them and when I visited I was suppose to be blown away by how marvelous they looked.
Grandmas aren’t suppose to die. They are meant to always be around spoiling their only granddaughter, like you did for me.
I’ve had lots of time to think as Daniel drove our family across the country towards New Mexico; and I have remembered so much of you. I remembered how every time you kissed me your one lone whisker would poke me in the cheek. And we would always laugh together about it. I remember how you would tell me that you had to go “Tinkle” when you would use the bathroom. And how you called yourself a fish because you loved being in the water so very much. I loved how as a little girl you always let me go through your make up and play. I would come out of the bathroom and show you my creation and you never laughed at me. Thanks for that. I remembered eating your store bought oatmeal cookies and thinking they were the best thing ever. And the way you made poached eggs was simply amazing.Truly one of my favorite breakfast foods.
Grandma, I loved you so much. You were a fireball underneath a soft layer of love. I still laugh over the time, one summer when David and I were staying at your house, you were driving us into town and you were mad as a hornet. I don’t remember why but you were; and you yelled out “Damnation!” Not “damn” or damn it” but the full and entire word, “Damnation!” And me, never having heard that word before asked, “Grandma, what is “damnation?’ Oh, you were so red and embarrassed. You back peddled yourself into a theological discussion that I still remember and laugh about today.
I have so many memories with you, Gram. Way too many to write about here, and you know what… I couldn’t be more grateful. Simply because it means that you were around for 29 years of my life. And you invested in me; you played with me, you fed me, you bought me presents, you swam with me, you took many summer night walks with me, you laughed with me; the years rolled by and you spent time with my children, laughing over and loving on them too.
Grandma, you loved me so well. And I loved you. I wish more than anything that I wasn’t writing this letter to you. That this was all just a silly made-up story and that I could hear your tinkling bell of a laugh and know that I could stop by your house and everything would be just how it has always been for all my life.
But, it can’t be. And that makes me cry. I can tell you that I am very much looking forward to seeing you in Heaven, with your fiery red hair and your sweet smile. I hope that God lets you keep your one lone whisker ’cause it’s part of what makes you, you… to me anyways.
I love you Gram. I’ll miss you always.
Love your Andie Pandie.
Daniel and the kids re-unite video…
January 7, 2010 | Filed Under Andrea, Daniel, Deployment, Eliza Dove, Eve, Judah, Military Life, Perspective, Video | 44 Comments
I thought you all might like to share in our joy.
I video-ed on my mighty little Flip video camera when Daniel and the kids first saw each other at my parents house.
Just try not to cry.
Untitled from andrea hub on Vimeo.
This video is after a few minutes had passed and Eliza was in the process of warming up. Thank the Lord for Skype! Daniel and I directly attribute Eliza seeing him and talking to him via Skype to her recognizing and quickly being comfortable with him.
Eliza warms up from andrea hub on Vimeo.
The “reintegration” process has been absolutely seamless. The kids have fallen right back into rhythm with Daddy; the only issue I can see is that they have to learn to trust Daniel again. Trust that’s he’s here to stay… they tend to get a little frantic, asking for him when he leaves the room or to run out to the truck. Especially Eliza.
Right now I am laying on a couch on Columbus AFB in Mississippi watching the Texas/Alabama game with Daniel. We are well on our way back to New Mexico and it has been a wonderful trip thus far. I will write a detailed blog about our trip once it’s over but truly, it has been an amazing time as a family. I am thankful for every minute I sit next to Daniel in our truck. The kids have been complete angels and we have made some great memories.
This is the first time I have been on my computer since Sunday (I KNOW!) so to say blogging has had to take the back seat would be an understatement but this family time minus any distractions has been a blessing. But I am very much looking forward to getting back into a rhythm. I am so much happier and peaceful now… as my brother David said today, I am a “totally different girl!”
And I really am. Daniel does that to me. I’m so thankful for my magnificent husband!
The red-heads re-unite!
January 1, 2010 | Filed Under Andrea, Crossfit, Daniel, Deployment, Photos | 45 Comments
Oh yes, my husband has red hair. Did you not know that?
Well, I did. And I love his hair. But he loves to shave it right off. For my birthday all I wanted was for him to grow out his hair. It was a sacrifice but he did it and oh….. it has made me happy!
So yes, the red-heads have re-united! And what did we do?
We went and worked out, of course!
You can’t see the bar but we are hanging from the pull-up bar over at the Crossfit gym…
My mom and dad took the kids for us and we have so far had a day and a half of togetherness. And it has been amazing. We have had such a blast just being together. I’m so thankful for my magnificent husband.
Thank you all so much for sharing in our excitement. You are a blessing to my life and you bring me much joy.
Today the kids and their Daddy are going to be re-united. We are all so very excited!!
