So Much Going On

So I have started a second blog to track my change of lifestyle plan. Anyone wishing to help me out, root for me, or just lurk is welcome. You can check it out at eightypoundproject.wordpress.com.

The family is fine as a matter of fact we will be adding a new addition in November. Marshal is overseas right now but should be returning home just in time for the last couple of month's before his and Stephani's little one arrives! We couldn't be more happy for them both and are grateful for a new grandparent opportunity!

Fred has been home for a few days but leaves early tomorrow for New Jersey for three weeks and then to Tennessee for the summer. I am hoping to visit Steph this summer in South Carolina and my girl Vicki in Texas. TN seems like a good jumping off point. Of course there will be visits to see Jason and Cares in MD and trips back home to make sure the boys are taking care of business. Maddock is getting ready for graduation and looking for direction for the future, stay tuned.

Our little family is growing by leaps and bounds and I am so very proud of them! They venture out all around the globe and find their happy place and for that I can only be truly grateful!

Puppy Sitting

So, I spent the last couple of days puppy sitting for the Shepards, while they went to Vermont to snowboard. Got to visit my girl Lisa, thanks to Maddock who came down and puppy sat for me. Now back to the day to day. Fred says he will finish this job in the next two weeks and has no idea where he will go next. But, he will have a job which is something I am grateful for everyday!

Marshal has finally arrived in UAE and seems to be settling in. Stephani is working it out at home. Sometimes it is hardest on the ones left at home to hold down the fort. I speak from years and years of experience. My hubby has travelled for many years and has been away for months at a time. Sometime the sacrifice is necessary and worthwhile, sometimes not.


Tonight I am missing my family and I need a massage!

Winter Blahs

So winter is still here, everything is a shade a grey, even the snow. It is either time for a fresh coat of snow or some greenery to show itself. I love snow, but dirty, yucky snow is depressing and I find it more and more difficult to find just white, lovely, glittering snow. So ...what do I wish for now??

Snow!

More snow...and while I love the snow and how beautiful it makes everything look I begin to understand why people move to the south after a while. I look outside as it falls and think how wonderful and what a scene it makes as it covers over all the old, dirty snow and makes everything look so lovely. Then I look over on the driveway and think about shoveling and how much work that will be. Today I will focus on the lovely part...wait isn't there a line in "Gone With the Wind" that covers this? "I'll think about that tomorrow" and being from the south I believe I will take Miss Scarlett's advice and do just that!

The Joys of Family and Friends

We (Maddock and I) headed for Maryland to see Cares and J. Saturday Maddock and J hung out in Hagarstown while the new Mrs. Shep and I headed off to visit the Huntleys in VA. Lovely hanging out day! Took Carter for his basketball photos, then McDonald's for our fix of soda and chicken nuggets, then off the Carter's basketball game...which his team won!!!! Then we dropped the Carterman off and us three ladies headed to PF Chang's for a quick (2 1/2 hour) dinner. Did I say quick...for us two and half hours of eating and talking is quick. The only thing missing was Mrs. Midgley, our British contingency, Leah. She and Rik are busy getting ready for their first baby and boy did we miss her.

Then dropped Miss Lisa off at home and then onto to Frederick for Jason's little sister's 25th birthday bash. Goodness, just typing it all out makes me tired.

I am so blessed to have so many loving friends and family members close by. I miss the ones that are away but I surely do appreciate the ones close by.

Just and update, Marshal should be leaving for the UAE any day now...let the games begin!

Snowmaggedon 2010

So we have survived the snow storms! We (I should say the boys, mostly Maddock) have almost got us dugout. We have had to cancel a trip to Maryland and Virginia for two weeks due to the weather. Cabin fever has set in and now it is time to get out of the neighborhood. Still too soon to travel far (MD and VA) got more snow and they are much more congested than we are so no long trips right away. But I finally understand why people retire to the south...I believe I am beginning to see the benefits of being a Snowbird!

The Wedding, The holidays and The New Year

Post wedding, straight into the holidays and finally things are slowing down enough for me to remember that I set up this blog. The wedding was wonderful and I can honestly say that it was the most perfect day ever for a wedding. The bride was beautiful, the groom adorable, the mother of the bride a bit frantic and frazzled but everything went beautifully!

We rolled straight from the wedding into the holidays and of course, because of the wedding I had spent exactly zero time shopping for Christmas. It all came together in the end though and everyone seemed to have a wonderful time. We were so happy to have time to spend with Marshal and Stephani before Marshal leaves for the UAE for six months. This Christmas Eve marked our last one for a long time. Time to do something different! But there were dinners out with family, long chats by the fireplace, music playing, baking and cooking and our house was filled with our wonderful family and great friends!

I have finally had time to sit and read a book or two and am spending some time deciding what to do next. Down to visit Cares and Jay next month and visit Miss Lisa while I am there. Planning another big trip to visit the DH in Alabama and visit some dear, old friends there! Then over to Texas to visit my girl Vicki and some other old friends. Then home to await the our youngest's graduation from high school.

The big question for me is, then what? Who knows! I am rediscovering old friends, old passions and new ones, enjoying time with my children and their companions, waiting to spend more time with mine and dreaming about the next part of my life! Let the adventure begin! And where is my gold watch?