Prayer Requests For This And That

I know some of our friends and family are the praying type, so here goes . . . I have several requests to put out there.

I have a 27 year old "friend" that I met through the Army Wives forums about 2 years ago. She has become the highlight of the forums and really a remarkable person. She is from the UK and has had major health complications for a while. By early August 2009, she had complained for almost a year about some degenerative spine thing she had going on and just generally never felt good. She was always putting information out there to let us know what was going on with her. That was the month that she got back in to "university" as they call it and she was so excited. She really seems to be a great person from her stories and what we know of her. Her fiance is in the military and she always had these funny stories and little blurbs that she always shared with us. Well . . . on September 8th, 2009, she suffered a pulmonary embolism her family has been told. She had been in a coma until this past week. The doctors were warning her family that they really did not know her outcome. She woke up this past week and can communicate a little but is in a permanent vegetative state. She is now completely blind and deaf and they feel she will stay this way. Please lift up her family. I know she isn't a friend in real life but we all feel like she is. Without even knowing us, she would mail us sweet cards and gifts and would always check in on each of us during deployments or just every day in general. So caring! Wow!

Also, we have several friends here who are struggling. The military men of the families are deploying, some families are just struggling in their marriages and in many other ways, one family is dealing with some educational disability issues with one of their children, and it just seems to be a time of turmoil for so many.

I would also like to share that we are still dealing with friend issues with Neeley. I tell ya, 7, 8, 9, 10 year old girls can be meanies! We never had such issues in Arkansas but they just continue to grow here. I keep thinking to myself and sharing with other mothers who seem to have the same concerns that perhaps it is the age and the beginning of the hormone fun we have yet to see, but I am ready for it to end.

Thank you so much for including these prayers in your daily devotional routines. I know that isn't all, but these are the biggies right now. I think we will all feel better and healthier when we start to see the sunshine again.

Fasching Fun

Neeley did some research on the tradition of Fasching here in Germany in order to fulfill her requirements for a Girl Scout patch.

Fasching, once again is a time of celebration similar to Mardi Gras, leading up to the time of spiritual reflection during Lent. Wow, what a party! We had a trip scheduled with the USO to go to a fasching parade but because of the weather, the trip was cancelled. That's okay, we had our own party anyway.

Her first requirement was to make her very own fasching mask.



She also had to write a story on some things she learned. And she also got to participate in a fasching party during the Host Nation class at her school. How fun! She was asked to wear her mask to school that day for the party. She is really enjoying learning all about Germany and other countries here in Europe and we are still so thankful for these opportunities.

Right Now . . .

~ I'm reading this book and am loving it! Should have it finished today.

~ I am also listening to this book by Kathryn Stockett. The Army website allows us to download audio books for free! How cool is that!?! And I just found that out. Loving it! Neeley is even listening to some. And those that can't be heard can actually be read online and we are definitely taking advantage of that.

~ I'm not loving the fact that it has been snowing off and on again for the past day, mixed in between bursts of sunshine. Very weird weather!

~ I'm looking in to exercise programs, and think I have found one. Will share more later on that one once I finish my research.

~ We are thankful for good friends! We have had some fun things going on lately and I will share more in the next few posts.

Have a great week!

It's A European Blizzard, Y'all!

Yes, we are getting even more snow. It has come down on us for days now. Post has been closed and school has been day by day. While I know many of the kids are really loving it, we are all kind of sick of it too. The only thing you can do to keep from going stir crazy is getting out in it and having some fun, which is just what we have been doing.

We are fortunate to have several little parks here on RB. Neeley and the other kiddos love them. We visited one on Monday just to get out of the house.

Can you see Neeley from all the snow? :)

As you can see, she headed straight for the swings.



Then we had a good ol' fashioned snow ball fight where I ended up with one in the face. LOVE the expression! :)

And I tried to retaliate but mine crumbled before I could even throw it.



We have never laughed so hard in our lives.

I really keep trying to remind myself that this is all about our experiences in Germany, but I have also told Ronnie that our next PCS better be to the beach.

Up To My Eyeballs I Am . . .

I'm up to my eyeballs in school work today which makes me very sad. I have another week of this mess. I am bound and determined to get everything turned in on Friday even if it kills me. Well, let's hope not. But I just want to be done so I can enjoy another busy weekend.

So, I leave you with this quote. I LOVE it and have been reading it over and over for days now . . .

Each time we face our fear, we gain strength, courage, and confidence in the doing. Anyone can give up, it's the easiest thing in the world to do. But to hold it together when everyone else would understand if you fell apart, that's true strength.

I am trying to decide how many more semesters I want to take this year and I think I may have one more under my belt before I take the summer off. I know, not at all what I had originally planned but I am in major burn out mode and it ain't pretty.

Well, it's back to the books I go. Y'all have a great week and if you don't hear from me for a while just know I am eye ball high in toothpaste market data and article scrapbooking. And maybe a lil cleaning here and there and some such . . .

Family Week

Last week was Family Week at Neeley's school. Every evening a different event was sponsored and we have really had some fun with it.

Monday night was dedicated to National History so the middle school kiddos had their projects on display. Historical dancing and other entertainment was provided along with foods from other countries. Yum Yum! It was so fun!

Tuesday night was Read In Your PJ's night . . .



The grade levels were divided up and the school librarian read to the 2nd and 3rd graders. Their theme was Adventures in Time & Space so he read some great books on those subjects.



Then the kids were served milk and cookies and sent home on a sugar high.

Wednesday night was Bingo and Chili. And I was so excited about winning my Swarvoski crystal vase that I forgot to take any pictures.

Thursday night was supposed to be Games - Unplugged night but the event was cancelled due to the snow and this crazy weather we are having. School was even closed on Friday which we have been told pretty much never happens here. Yes, it has been that bad. Yikes! Pics to come of that as well.

We have been so busy with school events and other things going on. My school is about to still send me over the edge but I only have one more week in this semester. Yay!

This Calls For A Celebration

Celebrating 15 Valentine's Days and counting . . .



Missing my Valentine today. Hurry home! ;) Love you much!!

Hug Your Honey's Today

How 'Bout A Lil Snow?

Ok, really, I know our Arkansas family and friends are wanting the snow but we are really not looking for any more snow in Germany. Seriously, we have been told this past week that this is the worst winter they have experienced in a while.

Friday morning we woke up to this . . .

And this was after I had shoveled for 2 hours Thursday evening and cleared the car Thursday afternoon. Wow!

Everything on post had been closed and cancelled since Thursday afternoon so we were ready to get out in it a bit by Friday afternoon. . .







Where are my feet?



Neeley had already been sledding with several friends that morning. It has been such a beautiful powdery snow that is great to play in, but it definitely keeps you stranded at home which is so new to us.

Snow, snow, go away . . . and wait another year 'til you come back, please!

Organizational Skills

I love that lil miss is as OCD as I am . . .