Happy Halloween!!
(not my jack o lantern, just so you know.)
Well, the weather is finally turning non-tropical in coastal Carolina. I'm in my sweats because my house is like an igloo. It actually warmed up a little after I baked a cake and left the oven door open for a little while after it finished. Still in my sweats, though.
I don't have anything exciting to blog about, but I've been doing laundry all day, so I needed a break from mating socks.
Derick has been going to his unit since last week, and I think he really likes it! I think he's just thankful to put some distance between himself and PowerPoint for a while. He had to get a flu shot last week, and afterwards, he started running a fever and feeling puny. That always happens to him. During his first time at OCS, they gave him a flu shot and he came back home to me, not only with a torn ACL, but sicker than I'd ever seen him. Flu shots aren't really his cup of tea. He feels a lot better today though.
This Saturday is our very first Marine Corps Birthday Ball. I'm excited! Ours is in Myrtle Beach, and we've never been there, so that will be fun. I am wearing a very pretty dress that I wore in my friend's wedding. I think it will go just nicely with DR's dress blues.
I started my tutoring job last week, and it was fun. The kids were very sweet. One girl has a dog named Paris as well. How 'bout dat?!
Yesterday, I went to church alone because Derick was sick. (I met the Snows there). Afterwards, I went to the Commissary. It was a crazy mad house. There was seriously a man laying down on the cereal isle as he compared two boxes of cereal. His stupid buggy was at his feet, so I couldn't get by. I was getting a little nutty in there, though I tried to maintain my calm. I finally made it to the checkout, where my sweet little bagger reminded me so much of Jacob Black (the werewolf), so he received an extra dolla from me. He was very nice, and I was grateful that someone else in that store had their brains a' workin.
Ok, so guess what? I JUST had my first Trick-or-Treaters!! Two witches and a Rainbow Bright. It was so exciting!! I love giving out candy! It's starting to sprinkle a little bit. I hope that doesn't keep the treaters away. It's so much fun! So, on that note, I'm going to go put Paris in her costume. Hope I didn't bore you to the point that you want to lay down in the cereal isle.
What a beautiful day it is here in Jacksonville, North Carolina! Perfect weather! I just want to go to the beach and hang out in the sand, or lay on the trampoline and read. BUT, our yard is like a jungle, so I am trying my best to motivate myself to get out there and mow it. This song has been in my head for about an hour:
Does anyone remember it? It fondly reminds me of my dear friend, Matt Avery, who, one hot summer in my pool, introduced me to this song. He thought it was the coolest. Perhaps, it was. We all miss you, Matt!
Anyway, you would not believe our yard. I thought that maybe it would cool down around here and the grass would stop growing. That hasn't happened, and I'm not complaining. I love the warm air, the beautiful sun. Thank God our neighbors' front yard is now a full-sized makeshift graveyard for Halloween. It kinda takes the focus off of our yard. Yeah, pretty creepy. One tombstone says, "Burn in Hell." They have gross doll heads and bloody feet laying everywhere. It's humorously ridiculous. I oughta take a picture for y'all.
So, Derick graduates his MOS school tomorrow morning! Woooo! Go Derick! I am so proud of him, and I know he is excited for the next step. It looks like he will be headed to Truck Company after this, but, in case you didn't know, the Marine Corps loves sudden changes, so we aren't banking on anything.
The following news is doomed to upset some of my former co-workers at CCJPL, and I will probably get laughed at by many, but I will share it anyway. I've been reading the Twilight Saga, and I really like them. Thank you, Kelsey, for being the only one to convince me to give them a chance. I'm getting a little obsessed with Edward. I don't know what it is about the way Stephanie writes, but I just feel like Edward is this hunky dreamboat that always says the right things at the right time. Derick thinks I'm crazy, but he encourages me by allowing me to give him rundowns of what I've read. Derick is really good at correctly guessing what happens next in movies, TV shows, and, as I've recently learned, books. So he also likes to spoil Twilight for me. Bratty brat.
Tonight, we're going to Trivia. Feeling pretty confident.
I guess I better get out there and do something productive. Maybe the ghosts in the graveyard next door won't be too disturbed by the mower. Wouldn't want them to seek revenge.
Dazzle someone today!:)
Today, I was vacuuming our bedroom, and I felt God say, "a heart that endures."
God gives and takes away, and it's taken a couple tragedies in my life to realize exactly what that means. Think of a tragedy that you have overcome. I say "overcome" because you are here. We are here. Although we may have dealt with some of the most difficult circumstances, we aren't dead. We live to tell about it, and thus, God gives us a heart that endures.
From the outside looking in at my life, you might think I don't know tragedy. I'm blessed with hardworking, Godly parents who set excellent examples for my siblings and me. I have a loving husband who works hard so that I can shop and play all day. I smile and laugh a lot. I dance a lot. I sing a lot. It's true: I'm a happy girl and I have so much to be thankful for. But I wouldn't know thankfulness had I not experienced my share of pain.
Through my heartache, I've learned that it's ok to be sad for a season. But a time comes to stand up, shake it off, and move on. Of course, we won't forget the tragedy itself, because that's how we learn and love and forgive and appreciate and believe. We just have to refuse to allow the painful experiences to pave the road for what is to come. Instead of wearing our hurt as clothes, we should just let it be a ring or bracelet that we put on every once in a while. Like that precious piece of jewelry that doesn't quite go with a lot of your wardrobe, but it is still important to you so when you occasionally don it, you wear it with style and remembrance.
God wants us to take the time to hurt, but He also wants us to depend on Him for strength, and then use that strength to overcome. We all hurt. We all deal with horrible situations, whether self-inflicted or from an outward source. But we all have a God who loves us and redeems us and gives us hope.
This post, so far, sounds a lot like a devotional in a church bulletin, and that's not my intention. I just feel like maybe I was supposed to say this today, instead of making sarcastic jokes about my rough life as a Marine wife.
I hope God's victory over my tragedy motivates me to maintain a positive attitude and a reliance upon Him. I hope I can see His love in the painful times, rather than place blame on Him and question His will for me. I hope someone else can be encouraged by the triumph He gives me.
We are equipped with the capability to experience tragedy and survive it. It's normal to be sad, but we aren't supposed to sulk forever because there's a world out there and we are alive and able to participate. Where we go after the tragedy is the real story. How we allow it to affect us, and, in turn, how we affect the world, is our decision. In essence, after tragedy, pain and weakness are given a mighty opportunity to actually become strength. We can actually be better than we were before the painful experience. I hope I am always getting better.
Here's to the chance for a comeback!
What up, Friday?!
I'm just eating pasta salad, listening to Joshua Radin Radio on Pandora (highly recommended), and awaiting the arrival of my husband. He's had a particularly long week. Yesterday, he came home with his eyes closed. He had night watch on Wednesday and only slept for four hours. He took a nap with Paris on the couch yesterday. Next week is FEX week for LOC, and then he will GRADUATE the week after that! We heard some scuttlebutt of which unit he will be in, but I'm not sure if he wants me to spill my guts about it yet, since he doesn't know for sure. I will say, though, that if the rumors are true, Derick will be a very happy Marine!:)
Is everybody pumped about the beautiful weather? Is it an Indian Summer, or what? I have enjoyed saving energy and money by keeping the AC off and leaving the windows open. It feels so nice to have some fresh air in the house. Reminds me of when I was in school, and I'd come home after school or volleyball practice, elated to see that Mom had the windows open. I would always secretly hope that the windows would be open and a cool breeze would be coming through the house. My soul has always longed to be free;)
Speaking of free, wouldn't it be nice if Michael's had a sale that marked everything down to free?! I have been on a slight craft/decor binge. I have been going a little nuts with the peacock feathers for our living room. I've been making a list on my phone of what I need (well, want) to buy next. But, good never fear! because guess what?? This lady has a job interview tomorrow! Nothing spectack or anything, just a very part-time tutoring job, working with area elementary kids. Kelsey applied first, and it seemed like they really need a lot of tutors, so I applied, too. This is good news for Derick because if I have it my way, our entire living room will practically be a flock of peacocks. He would like that, I bet.
I just roasted some pumpkin seeds left over from this weekend when D, J, K and I (perfect name for a clothing line or law office) had a carving party. The pumpkin seeds turned out quite delish. Maybe D will be impressed.
Speaking of impressed, my law associates and I went to bar trivia at Rick's Grille in Surf City this weekend, and we WON! Our team name is "Generally Better." No need for explanation, right? We won a $50 gift card for our next trip to Rick's! Thank you, D, for securing the win! Who knew the Mississippi wasn't the longest river in the world after all?
Tonight, Derick is taking me on a date. I told him to. He has to choose the restaurant without consulting me. He is in charge. So, we will probably end up eating hot wings and watching some sort of sport. Fine with me. I'm just blessed to be able to eat, and to eat with him.
Well, young'ns, I'm off to take my princess dog on a walk around the block. She has a free soul, as well. Just like her Mama.
TaTaForNow.
A compilation--not really a list-- of what's going on in my life, my thoughts, and everything in between. Just some ramblings from a rambler.
1.) I like the North Carolina weather we've been having lately. I've always said summer is my favorite season, but as I get older and less able to handle intense, suffocating heat, fall is becoming a closer friend.
2.) You know Jeff Buckley? The guy who wrote "Hallelujah," made more secular by blue-eyed American Idol contestant, Jason Castro? Well, MY favorite artist, Reeve Carney (front man of the band Carney and Peter Parker in Broadway's production of Spiderman: Turn Off the Dark) is playing Jeff Buckley in a film about his life. Reeve is more than perfect for that part. They chose the right guy. Hallelujah.
3.) Advice for the CEO of Scentsy: Your plug in warmers are wonderful, but almost impossible to remove from the outlet. Today, I yanked that stinkin' think out of the wall, only to spill hot wax all over my hand and bare feet. I should sue and make some money to pay for Derick's speeding ticket he received this morning, which takes us to number 4.
4.) Derick was going 60 in a 45 this morning leaving the base. He promises that he thought it was a 55 zone, but he drives that highway everyday. So, I'm unsure if I believe him on that one. He owes me lavish gifts after we fork over the $218 to the PD.
5.) Today, as I took a break from cleaning our filthy house, Jay Brannan's cover of "The Freshmen" came on Pandora, and Parisann jumped down from her perch on the arm of the couch, bounced over to me as I sat in the chair, and hopped up into my lap. It's funny how dogs sense when we could use some company. That song always makes me nostalgic.
6.) Happy and able to rejoice in the gift of good health and abilities. I find it so easy to gripe and complain about current situations, but I forget that I'm better off than most.
7.) My mother let me borrow The Help when she was here last week, and I am over halfway through it, which is really an accomplishment for me. I'm slow when it comes to reading. It's such a good book, and I can't wait to see the movie. I think I will go alone, since Derick doesn't want to see it. Plus, I've always wanted to see a movie in a theater by myself.
8.) I got a package in the mail from my mom today. In it, I found several pictures from their visit, a Bay Harvest Fest 2011 t-shirt, and a cake icing tool. My mom is perfect.
9.) The Wonder Years is on Netflix instant watch, and I am so glad.
10.) Derick is now a green belt in MCMAP. He could kill you in less than a half second. He graduates his MOS school later this month, and I know he is so ready. He's done really well, and I know he is ready to apply all he's learned to an actual job.
11.) This morning on our way to the gym, my friends and I waited in a long line of traffic as a group of Marines ran in formation past us. We wondered aloud what it would be like to just fall in with our pink and purple athletic clothes on. I want to do that and film it.
12.) I long for these things:
a. 10" rice and bean burrito from Blue Coast Burrito, with cheese and green salsa. make it a 12"
b. a really good band to play a show nearby.
c. Fazoli's drive-thru
d. jeggings
e. a pumpkin to carve
f. a pumpkin to paint
g. to see my friends Shannon and Beth
h. Squiggles ice cream in Carolina Beach
i straight-across bangs?
j. patience
k. cute magnets on my fridge like Kelsey's, so I can retire the Military One Source magnets
13.) This line is in a song by The Format, and it seems appropriate to use to conclude this blog:
"Let the wind catch your feet. If you love somebody, you better let them know. Take your time coming home."
