For Roe and all my friends....

Sandy, Kim, Peggie, Jenn - you guys have been TAGGED!

1.) Egg Nog or Hot Chocolate? Hot chocolate... no question.

2.) Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree? Santa wraps them very nicely at first, and then it becomes a mission to just get the damned things covered in paper of some sort.

3.) Colored lights on tree/house or white? Colored!

4.) Do you hang mistletoe? Oh yeah, and I make a point of kissing my husband, under it or not, as often as I can!

5.) When do you put your decorations up? As soon after Thanksgiving as possible; we love having the place decorated as long as possible.

6.) What is your favorite holiday dish (excluding dessert)? I love ham, baked pineapple, and my grandmother's special rice!

7.) Favorite Christmas memory as a child? Sled riding with my dad!

8.) When and how did you learn the truth about Santa? I think I was a late blooomer; I was about 9. I got an organ for Christmas and I heard "Santa" and his "elves" delivering it!

9.) Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve? Nope

10.) How do you decorate your Christmas tree? This won't surprise my friends, but it is very "funky eclectic" as my friend Jennifer would say! I have a little of everything - homemade ornaments from the kids, hallmark ornaments, gifts from friends, each ornament reflects a member of my family and each tells a story. My favorite ornaments hold pictures of those I love...

11.) Snow! Love it or Dread it? Love snow, dread the slush that follows shortly thereafter.

12.) Can you ice skate? Yes, but I'm not as good as my husband. He can even twirl!

13.) Do you remember your favorite gift? I loved my organ and I still have it!

14.) What’s the most important thing about the Holidays for you? Being surrounded by family and friends. It's like the one time a year you can tell your friends how much you love them without sounding sappy.

15.) What is your favorite holiday desert? Christmas cookies!!!

16. What is your favorite holiday tradition? Decorating the tree - no question.

17.) What tops your tree? A star

18.) Which do you prefer giving or receiving? Giving!

19.) What is your favorite Christmas Song? No one does "Oh Night Divine" like Nat King Cole. Love "Holly Jolly Christmas" and of course, "Christmas Wrapping" by The Waitresses and Band-Aid's "Do They Know It's Christmas?", because I'm an '80s gal. I also love "Blue Christmas" by Elvis and "White Christmas" and "I'll be Home fore Christmas" - are you starting to see a theme here?

21.) Favorite Christmas Movie? I love the Grinch.

22.) What do you leave for Santa? It varies from year to year. He always gets cookies. This year it is going to be Rice Crispy Treats because they are my daughters favorite!

The Quest for the Perfect Christmas Tree

Yesterday my family went upon our yearly search for the perfect Christmas tree. Finding just the right one is imperitive to the sucess for the rest of the holiday season, it is the event on which all future holiday events depend. After all, the Christmas tree sets the tone of your whole house for the holidays.

Last year, we had a beautiful tree. The idea was to go to the same tree farm but there was only one problem - I forgot the name of it. It was in an out of the way place and both my husband and I doubted our ability to find it again without the name. So, off to Plan B.

There is a farm that has all sorts of seasonal activities - berries in the summer, peaches and apples in the late summer early fall, pumpkins.... We realized that they also are a tree farm so we decided to give them a try. We didn't realize that it was one of those cut your own places, and let me just say that having spent most of our Christmas's together in the South - cutting our own tree down was a new experience for all of us!

They had rows and rows of absolutely gorgeous trees. Our most difficult decision was finding just the right one! But with time and effort, we finally found a tree that we all could agree on. It was the most perfectly symmetrical tree that I have ever seen and an absolutely beautiful shade of Emerald green. The smell of the tree is something that can only be described as divine - it is that crisp, clear scent of pine that permeates everything. It SMELLS like Christmas!

The moment of truth came and my husband had to cut down the tree. Well, in order to do so, he had to lay down on the ground. The other family that was in the field appeared to be having some difficulty with their tree, so we were all somewhat trepidatious about the cutting; however, we needen't have worried. In just a few short moments, my husband had quickly and expertly cut the tree. He was so good at it that my daughter told him he should consider a new career. ( I think she was just looking for something that would keep him home most of the time - wink, wink)

The farm workers then loaded our tree on the tractor and bundled it up for us while we enjoyed some fresh cocoa and christmas cookies in front of the fire at the farm house. It was a wonderful experience from start to finish. We found the perfect tree and best of all, built lasting memories for our family.

Saying Goodbye - Again....

This is my daughter (in the center) with her two best friends. They have been the best of friends since the girls were 2 and a half and the boy was 4. Their mom is also my best friend. We met their family by chance - and maybe a little divine intervention. They were on the same boat as our family years ago, when we lived in Georgia. My daughter and I received an invitation to a Valentine's day party, but we were unable to go because she was sick. When I called to give our regrets, I asked if we could schedule a playdate when she was feeling better. That was one of the best things that I have ever done. They came over - the children were like peas in a pod from the beginning and so were Jennifer and I. The rest - as they say - is history.
Jennifer and I have been best friends since and so have our children. We have been through illness, broken bones (Jenn, if you are reading this, I'm knocking on some wood!), 4 submarine patrols, 2 moves and so much more.
When we moved from Georgia, the only thing that I regretted was saying goodbye. It was so hard! I had just had a baby - well, she was 8 months old by then. Jenn was pregnant with their youngest. We both got through that move though because we knew that their family wouldn't be in Georgia too much longer either. We moved to Annapolis, and they moved to Connecticut.
Through it all we kept in touch. We visited several times. Kaylee and I went to Connecticut to meet their new baby, they came and visited for Emily's birthday. I even got to have Isabella for a week in the summer - that's the beautiful blonde in the picture above.
Finally it happened that it was time for us to move again and we got orders to Connecticut! We were over the moon!!! I knew that my daughters would love being near their friends again. We have had weekly playdates, sleepovers where Jennifer and I were able to keep up with our passion of scrapbooking, birthday parties, trick or treating... you name it.
Their family is Navy, like ours. We knew that the time would eventually come when one of us would have to relocate again, I guess I just hoped that it wouldn't happen so soon. We had only been here a few months when we heard that they would be moving.
We made the most of all of our time together, but unfortunately, the time finally came where we would have to say goodbye. I finally understand why the Navy came up with the lame saying of " fair winds and a following sea" because saying goodbye to the people you love over and over again is just too painful otherwise.
I knew that saying goodbye to Jenn would be hard. I knew that kissing Isabella for the last time ( for a while anyway) would rip my heart out. I knew hugging little Ana goodbye and missing out on so much of her growing up would be hard. What I wasn't prepared for was saying goodbye to Andrew.
I thought we would make it through it ok. I thought we could joke and laugh and it would be alright. I was so proud of how well I was handling the goodbying when it came time to say goodbye to him. He put his arms around me and the tears started to come for both of us. Then, he whispered in my ear, " Ms. Laurie, I love you and I will NEVER forget you." Even thinking about it now makes me cry. We made plans RIGHT THEN to see them next year. Until then, we will write, e-mail, call, share pictures....
People come in and out of our lives. Some stay a short time, some are friends forever, but all impact our lives. I know that their family and ours will be friends forever. I know that I didn't truly just say goodbye because we will see them again. Still, it was one of the hardest things I have ever done - cheerily waving goodbye....

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Looking forward to tomorrow!

I don't know about you guys, but I am so excited about the holiday tomorrow. It is so wonderful having my family all together - well, at least my immediate family- and that is what I am most grateful for. It means so much to me to have my husband home. In our family, he is the one who usually handles the turkey! Not that I can't, it's just that it's evovled into being his job over the years.
I love every aspect of Thanksgiving! It seems fitting and right that this was the first offical " American" holiday, after all, we are by and large a grateful people. I love the idea of setting a day aside to focus on all the many good things that each one of us has in our lives - though I must say that I try to do that everyday. I love sitting around the dinner table with my family, sharing conversation, memories and delicious food.
I love to reflect on all those that I love who are no longer here. I think of Thanksgivings past. I remember my grandfather in his apron, my grandmother's smile. I think of my Uncle John who was so handsome, so quick with a smile, a joke and words of love or support. I think of my cousin Dana, who was so little when she passed and the brother that I never knew. Even though I reflect on these things, it is with love and happiness in my heart, not a sullen heart. I know that my loved ones are with me still, for those we love are never truly gone as long as we remember them. Every Thanksgiving I light a candle to let them know that I think of them and miss them still. My mother's best friend started this tradition and I liked it so much that our family adopted it too.
I look forward to curling up with my daughters on the sofa and watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade. I have watched that parade every year since I was a little girl and it reminds me that though some things change, others remain the same. My daughters love it as much as I always did, and for me, the joy of seeing it through their eyes is twice as great.
Then of course there is the whole purpose of the day - saying thank you to God for all the wonderful blessings that he has brought into my life. I feel humbled and unworthy and so incredibly lucky. So I can't wait ....
I can't wait to cook my turkey.
Cuddle my daughters.
Look into my husband's eyes and tell him how much I love him.
Call my mom and dad and say thank you again for all they have given me.

Thanksgiving a day that should be every day, but certainly needs to be embraced, enjoyed and celebrated!

HE'S HOME!!!!

I don't think I have ever been so happy to fall into my husband's arms as I was yesterday. It was a huge surprise. They weren't supposed to be home yet. Then, on Saturday morning came the surprise news and my heart just leaped for joy!!! I am so thankful and so happy to have him home!
I drove with the girls to lower base to pick him up. I saw him walking toward me, I knew right away, even without seeing his face, that it was him. I love that thrill I feel when I see his face and I love feeling like I hang on his every word and he on mine. I love that even though he has been gone so long, it feels like not an instant has passed since last his eyes met mine. I love how when we talk together everything, even stupid things, sound like a secret just for us.
Right now I feel like I have to rush to get all the I love you's out.... I have to tell him everything and get him to tell me everything... because too soon, it will all be over. This will be just a dream that I had as I wake up, crying in the bed alone.
But for now, it's such a beautiful dream and I don't want to wake up yet. For now, I will take the time I have, savor every single second because I know it's a finite period of time.
Realistically I know that we all have only a finite period of time, but can you imagine that being your constant reality? Every second, every moment, is over way too fast. I wish I could just hold on, make the moments last, hold back the dawn.... but I can't.
For now, I'll be happy for today and happy for the hope of that tomorrow when he'll be back forever. No more Navy. No more mission. Just us. Someday....

Heaven

Remember that 80's song by Bryan Adams? Yeah, I know... bad 80's hair, that snarl as he sang, but say what you want - it's an awesome song in spite of it all. That song, describes exactly how I feel.

Oh - thinkin' about all our younger years
There was only you and me
We were young and wild and free

Now nothin' can take you away from me
We bin down that road before
But that's over now
You keep me comin' back for more
Baby you're all that I want
When you're lyin' here in my arms
I'm findin' it hard to believe
We're in heaven
And love is all that I need
And I found it there in your heart
It isn't too hard to see
We're in heaven

Oh - once in your life you find someone
Who will turn your world around
Bring you up when you're feelin' down
Ya - nothin' could change what you mean to me
Oh there's lots that I could say
But just hold me now
Cause our love will light the

I've bin waitin' for so long
For something to arrive
For love to come along
Now our dreams are comin' true
Through the good times and the bad
Ya - I'll be standin' there by you

You all know you were singing along.... All I can say is that mental message that I sent out a couple of days ago. He heard it. Somehow he heard it. And Roe.... It's OK - because it has to be...... and for now, that's enough.