Celebrate Everyday

Exciting

2009-06-30T18:23:55-04:00

I'm working on a new blog....one I don't have to pay for. Yes, I only pay $6/mo, but still. There are tons of places out there that you can have a blog for free. Why would I even continue blogging (since I RARELY post anything), I guess just incase I get the bug again.

I'm thinking in my new blog, I will talk about all aspects of my life:

1. being a stay at home mom and wife to a man in the military

2. homeschooling

3. parenting a child with bipolar

4. life in the desert

5. scrapbooking

6. and the list could go on and on

Once I get it up and ready for viewers, I'll post the website address.

For now, keep waiting.

Just Found

2009-06-10T17:09:40-04:00

www.half.com

it's great, it's cheap, it's wonderful. check it out for all your media needs!

Favorites

2009-05-31T16:43:06-04:00

I haven't been keeping up with the blogs I read or my own blogging lately. Instead, I've been focusing on my family and my faith. The two most important things in my life. However, on Friday, a post by Ali Edwards stuck out to me and I've decided we are going to do it as a family activity after "quite time" is over. Here's my "favorites flower":

If you want to do one, click here to down load a free flower.

Swimming Tanks

2009-05-18T18:36:27-04:00

On May 7th, the kids and I took a three hour trip to Camp Pendleton to pick up Chris from his seven month deployment to Iraq. I must say this deployment was EASY. It might sound harsh, but I didn't really start missing him (like, the sobbing, I...need...him...here type of missing him) until I had my surgery in March. I think that's pretty good. I obviously did miss him and would have much rather him been at home. But I'm sure you all understand the kind of I don't think I can go on type of missing him didn't happen for five months.

Ok, so back to the original reason I was blogging (other than the fact that I haven't done so in what seems likes years). While waiting for him to arrive, we spotted some Amphibian Assault Vehicles (aka, Amtracks) swimming in the bay/harbor/I'm-not-really-sure-what-it's-called. They were super awesome to watch. And ever since, the kids won't stop talking about the "swimming tanks." I think it's beginning to disappoint Chris, who is a Tanker. They ask, "Daddy, what's wrong with your tank? Why won't it swim?" Then, the icing on the cake was Merit saying on the way to church, "Amtrackers...yum, yum!"

FYI: Here's a couple pictures to show the difference between a tank and an AAV.

TANK:

AAV:

Menu Planner

2009-05-11T16:52:33-04:00

As we all well know by now I'm a type A personality. About a month ago, I found this free downloadable menu planner. I've been using ever since and LOVE it. Just wanted to share my great find.

Exscrapoganza part two

2009-05-02T00:52:40-04:00

More pages = more photos.

a work in progress...it's done now...thought i had a completed pix.

finished photo, but doesn't look very good here.

love those blue eyes

my first mother's day.

this spring at the living desert with the ickles. this page needs some bling.

in person, i like the title, doesn't show up well in a photo.

Exscrapoganza

2009-05-02T00:40:18-04:00

Here are photos from a few ton of layouts that I completed this week. It's crunch time baby...I gotta get his done before my hubby gets home.

I love the beads. This was done as part of class in VA and I put my own spin on it here in CA.

Parts of this double page layout are from a kit.

first and last time i did hand stitching.

part of a kit.

As promised...

2009-04-25T00:47:00-04:00

29 Palms Inn House Oasis Dressing

Dry Mix

2 cups dill

1 cup thyme

1 cup tarragon

1 cup basil

1 cup marjoram

Mix well and store on spice rack in an air-tight container.

1 cup rice wine vinegar

1 lemon juiced

3 cloves garlic

1 T dry mix

1 T soy sauce

1 lime juiced

4 T honey

2 cups canola

Place all ingredients in blender EXCEPT oil. Turn blender on and blend for 30 sec. Leaving blender running, SLOWLY drizzle canola into the middle of the blender. Store covered.

Please keep in mind the above amounts are for a restaurant. My guess is the average household could cut back accordingly.

T-Ball Scrimage

2009-04-22T15:34:44-04:00

Happy boy after the game....quickly changed into the worst public melt down in the history of Evan.

The highly technical spin.

Under control.

The fall.

It was fun to watch. His first game is suppose to be this Fri, but we will have to miss it. I did get some video (to appease the grandparents). Because I take so many videos and my memory is highly effective, it will take me a while to get them uploaded.

Sunday

2009-04-20T02:37:42-04:00

It's Sunday afternoon about 5pm. I'm sitting by the blow up pool in my backyard listening to "Toes" by the Zac Brown Band. Yes, it's a slightly inappropriate song to play around the kids. Yes, my children do sing along. No, I don't care. Instead, I enjoy it. My only wish at this point were that two weeks would have past and my husband would be sitting here next to me. He with a beer and I with a margarita. Ah, that sounds like bliss.

Speaking of bliss...we went to church this morning where a new sermon series was started..."30 Days to Live." Wow, was it powerful. It got me thinking.  That deep kind of thinking where I really started thinking about my life, where it stands now and where I'd like to see it. There's a lot that I can't change, a lot that I don't want to change and some of what I consider to be the more important things that I do want to change or simply things I need to do. In typical Linda fashion, I need to make a list. Whether or not, I'm willing to open myself up and be that vulnerable on the Internet, I don't yet know. Some of these things (i.e. apologies, letting go of grudges, etc) involve other people and I feel it's best if I share my thoughts with them first. My hope is that I can make some really powerful changes that with transform not only my life but those lives around me. Deep, huh?

At the beginning of each year I come up with a word. Kind of a goal for the year. This year my word is resolve. For which reasons you can read here. Today I feel like I'm in need of adopting a phrase, "Live Intentionally." I need to figure out what mark I want to leave on the world. What am I doing that when I'm gone will say, "I was here and my life mattered." Off the top of my head, I think I do a lot that say my life matters. However, I think there is more I can do or ways I can do things differently that will affect more lives, more deeply. For instance, I bet many of you (even those of you who know me rather well) didn't know my best friend in college died from AIDS related complications my senior year. She was HIV positive throughout college and in our senior year was diagnosed with AIDS. With her I went to several HIV/AIDS speeches, walks, awareness events, etc. that have I done since she passed? Not much. HIV/AIDS education and awareness used to be a huge passion of mine. Why isn't it anymore? I'm positive there is still the need, so what's changed...me! I think it's time for me to revisit my "passions." I want to live passionately.

So why was a sermon on dying bliss to me? Well, it got me to take a much needed step back and put things into perspective. It got me to put away the welcome home banner that still needs to be finished and just sit down, relax, and enjoy my children (other wise known as bliss).