Queen of Denial - hey it works!

As a military wife, deployments are always a possibility. There is a system so I know when MWC is "in the window" to deploy. This is a 6 month period in which he is vulnerable to be tasked for a deployment.

People inevitably ask "so when will MWC deploy again" to which I always respond, "never." he, being the mental health professional he is as well as a man of high integrity, does not think this answer is healthy or honest. For me, its a matter of survival.

Do I really think he'll never deploy again? Realistically, no. Do I HOPE he never deploys again? ABSOLUTELY!

I have told him my state of denial is an effective, acceptable coping mechanism and he is not to try to change me or teach me otherwise. If and when deployment orders come, I will remove my Denial tiara, don my military wife cap, put on my big girl panties and do what I need to do and deal with it. Until then, let me be Queen in my own Kingdom of Denial.

A few days ago, he commented on the end of his window coming up today. To which I responded, "you've been in the window???" It sounded vaguely familiar like I must have known about it. However, being Queen that I am, I'd pushed it completely out of my mind.

Knowing how scientifically minded that he is, I pointed out that this was proof positive that my means of coping - AKA denial - was indeed effective. I've spent the past 6 months in complete oblivion and happy as a clam.

I rest my case.

Blessed are you, O LORD, the God of Israel our father, forever and ever. Yours, O LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, for all that is in the heavens and in the earth is yours. Yours is the kingdom, O LORD, and you are exalted as head above all. Both riches and honor come from you, and you rule over all. In your hand are power and might, and in your hand it is to make great and to give strength to all. And now we thank you, our God, and praise your glorious name.

1 Chronicles 29:10-13

MWC giving "how to be romantic" lessons???

Yes it is true. For all the hard time I give my beloved MWC for his lack of romantic inclinations, I have to admit he is qualified in giving such lessons to Smitty (who recently complained, "you're setting the standards too high!" after Swan received flowers from her dad for the 3rd time in 3 weeks!) Dad 3, Smitty 0. uh-oh.

The above flowers were given to me "because its Tuesday!" as if there were need for any other reason to give me flowers. Swan and Sunshine and Sweetness all also received one for the same reason.

and just in case you are wondering, MWC's qualifications include:

• surprise kidnapping for a romantic getaway - on average once every 20 years
• jewelry given - on average once every 5 years
• first year we were married - 1 silk rose each month on our "anniversary" so that I had 1 dozen silk roses by our first anniversary
• commitment to anniversary getaway every year that is possible (and we've succeeded for most of them)
• regular dates
• flowers - he's really good at that one :)

There are many more but those were the highlights from Smitty's most recent lesson.

Bragging rights

This is one to mark in the record books so I just couldn't resist the urge to brag. This weekend, Swan and her boyfriend, "Smitty", who are known for their passion for volleyball and their great talent for it, and are virtually unbeatable when playing a doubles match, agreed to play volleyball with MWC and me and....

WE BEAT THEM!!!!



2 out of 3 on Saturday
2 out of 3 on Sunday


**tomorrow I might disclose more details on how we did it and hence, reveal the "whole story" but for today, let me just gloat a little! :D

then again, tomorrow I just might get too busy to blog and then after that I might just forget. in any case the important facts are out here: we played volleyball against the formidable team of Swan and Smitty and WE BEAT THEM!!!

Swan's gift

Last year a dear woman at church underwent chemotherapy for breast cancer. Last summer, my boys and her son shaved their heads "in solidarity" with her baldness. Her daughter and Swan and some others promised to have their hair cut to donate for wigs once it got long enough. Almost a year later, that day did arrive!

Here are the before and after shots:

Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
and do not lean on your own understanding.

In all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make straight your paths.

~Proverbs 3:5-6

Sunshine's Special Day

5 years ago today, Sunshine was placed in my arms for the very first time and I became her Mommy. What a blessed day that was!

It would be 6 weeks before she met her Daddy which is why he's not in the picture with us.

A Mom's gotta do what a Mom's gotta do

A mom's lot in life includes a lot of bittersweet tasks. Today I am trying to tackle one of those.....

checking into flight information to set my Swan on her flight out of my nest and on to college.

She is ready. She is mature, talented, capable, loves the Lord and is ready to soar into independence and to see what the Lord has in store for her.

I am so happy to see that she has arrived at this point and is ready. I am happy and excited for her.

Hopefully by the time she actually goes, my tears will be spent and I will be able to fully rejoice with her and share her joy. Right now though, I can only think of how much I am going to miss her.

God's Word will keep you from sin, or sin will keep you from God's Word.

Life lessons

Sometimes lessons we learn in life are painful. Sometimes we get off easy. Sometimes we learn very valuable lessons with very little negative impact on ourselves.

Last week, Frog and 8 other teens thankfully experienced the latter. On Friday afternoon, I got the call every mother dreads. "Mom, I've been in a car accident." I could see the accident when he called so was able to get there very quickly after he called so I didn't have long to worry before I could see him.

He was riding home with a friend from school with 4 other kids in the same car. They were stopped. The jeep behind them, did not brake and rear ended them and sent them into the car in front of them.

Because of state law, all the kids under 18 had to be transported to the hospital via ambulance to be checked out. All were checked and released very quickly (in fact, by the time I got to the hospital Frog was being checked by the doc and told he could go home)

One boy in Frog's car, had forgotten his seatbelt but remembered to put it on as they left the school parking lot. 50 yards later, they were hit. Because of his location in the car, he would have been very hurt had that not happened.

There had been a brief discussion of overfilling that car and putting someone in the rear hatch b/c there were not enough seats. They wisely decided against it. That hatch was quite crumpled after the impact.

3 cars, 9 kids, 1 accident. 9 seatbelts in use. 0 passengers where they did NOT belong in the car.

9 kids safe at home, a little sore and hopefully even more assured in their wisdom to buckle up.

Memorial Day take 2

Frog is on the Color Guard for both Civil Air Patrol and JROTC. Over the Memorial Day weekend he had a few opportunities to serve. These were both taken at the Memorial Day service we attended.