Fresh and Clean

David is officially moved in.

When we came up from Houston, by way of Ft. Worth, our car was
F-U-L-L, so much so that Leah and Michael brought a couple of things back for us. After the car was unloaded our apartment was, um, a HUGE mess. But yesterday we finally found everything a place. Woo Hoo!

Not only is the apartment clean, but improved!

We put curtains up in the bedroom. (David said it was too bright, and I gave him a hard time about it but wow, sleeping in the dark is amazing! The best sleep ever. If your bedroom isn't super dark at night, make it happen, you will sleep so well.)

Leah and Michael graciously are letting us use an old dresser and old chair. We bought some new pulls for the dresser which was pretty much an excuse for David to use a drill. Men.

I am making it known that I refuse to take down my Christmas decorations, which is basically garland and lights. I have decided that I won't take them down till we go down to Houston next, cause there is no where to put ANYTHING. We have filled every nook and cranny of this apartment. 500 sq ft was plenty for me, but it feels a little tight with a large man moving around and storing giant shoes.

I will admit that we are storing some empty boxes and wrapping paper in the trunk of my car. Hey, it is space.

Butt Update:
I can mostly sit and lay on my back now. Occasionally if I am on it for long periods of time I get sore. My ridiculous bruise, which I did take pictures of but felt it a bit inappropriate to post on the Internet, has mostly cleared. I survived another fall! Yay!

A Very Strange, not even white, Christmas

This was a very different Christmas. Not like any other Christmas before.

Our 12 days of Christmas

*David flew into Houston on Friday. He was FREE! I was still up in Abilene helping Leah test kids and prepare for the holiday week in school.

*Saturday I drove down to Houston. And it was a tough trip. My butt had not healed hardly enough to wear real pants. But I did. I was not even healed enough to sit, but some how I made it down. Although around Comanche, an hour in to the trip, I really didn't think I was going to make it.

*Sunday was MeeMaws 88th Birthday party. We all went to church with her, so she could show us off. Then a most delicious meal at Ninfas. And cake and presents at my Aunt Susan's house.

*Monday was our big shopping day, we had some more elf work to do, as well as be an elf for Leah. We went to Highland village, the Galleria and Rice Village. Oui, we were exhausted. Not to mention some other stores around my parents house. And we went over David's family's house to spend time with them.

*Tuesday was Robert (David's brother) and Dorothy's wedding party in Downtown Houston. The meal was very yummy.

*Wednesday was our big task of finding a bank and a storage unit. Ugh paper work. We went out to eat with Robert and Dorothy to Lupe's (angel chorus), and afterwards had a mini Christmas with David's family, R &D.

*Thursday. Oh Thursday. David got some warts removed, icky, and then our move started. You read about all of that below. That night I was just miserable, there was so much to do.

*Friday we packed all of David's things up, and went back to the storage unit to start taking pictures of broken stuff. We left for Ft. Worth around 4pm, made a quick stop in College Station to pick up some last minute gifts (elf work for Leah and my mom), and rolled into Ft. Worth at about 1030.

*Saturday was Bruner Christmas Brunch. We had a fun gift exchange, played some Catch Phrase and Mark had to go to work to be a police man. So we packed up again and drove back to Abilene.

*Monday we had another mini-Christmas. I cooked David a semi-home cooked meal. And we went over Leah and Michael's for a present exchange and to watch White Christmas.

*Christmas morning David and I opened up presents. Rigby played in the tissue and Abbey was peaceful in her hamper. I made pancakes and we drove to Midlothean for a Micheletti Christmas. And later that night we drove back. We were seriously delirious and spent the night looking for silly names of towns in Texas on the map.(Oh Noodle we thank you for 20 minutes of pure entertainment.)


Whew. It was definitely a weird Christmas.

A Few Thoughts on Moving

We gave moved yet again. And once again we are not with our things completely. Everything was moved from our Washington storage to storage in Houston. Kind of a let down, although having things 400 miles away is much better than 3000 miles.

Moving is awful. It sucks. The packing and unpacking and as we have unfortunately discovered the loss and destruction of our things. I won't say much more about it other than a lot of our things got broken and lost. We are going to have to go down to Houston soon and unpack, check and then repack all of our belongings. A major task. Sigh.

I am trying not to be emotional about it all. I keep telling myself they are just things, replaceable things. But it is still upsetting.

Why can't life ever move along smoothly?

"Life involves a continual leaving behind of stages, of parts of self." -Larry McMurtry

This week has been one of those weeks were you just run around with lists trying to get it all done. And we have. We have been super productive.

David is officially a free man. He is out of the Navy. It doesn't seem real yet, and I don't think it will for a while. Freedom is never free. We have to take the first step and all the rest become simply one foot in front of the other.
David and I have been taking the overwhelming task of becoming civilians one tiny step at a time. This is the best we can do.

Life is so deeply uncertain for all of us. No matter how much planning goes into life, it will remain uncertain. I am aware of all of those uncertainties, which makes the looming new year many things.

2008 is
scary
exciting
a challenge
the end and a fresh start
burdens
uncertain
new
overwhelming
possibility

Ever wish you could go on a permanent vacation and leave all the work, and struggles behind?

Little Nephews need prayers!

Please pray for Leah and the babies. They are growing and it is is so exciting, but those big babies make it hard to carry them around all day long.

The 3 in 1 needs prayers for safety, peace and 2 more healthy months.

I Feel Like I am Pregnant on a Soap Opera

If you are pregnant on a soap opera, rest assured one of these two things will happen to you:
1. You will be kidnapped and held hostage till you give birth, in order to steal your baby.
2. You will be pushed/fall/trip down the stairs at least once.

I have fallen down the stairs AGAIN!

This summer I fell down the stairs at my parents house. On Sunday I slipped on the icy stairs at my apartment, and down I went. Imagine Home Alone.

*Sound effects of the fall*
Floooooop
Bang
Boom Boom Boom Boom Boom Boom Boom Boom Boom
Oooooooooooh groan
"David, I fell down the stairs."
"You sure?"
"Pretty sure."


I am so tired of falling down stairs. But once again I didn't break my neck, not even one bone. I have a really wicked bruise on my bottom though. It is probably the biggest, nastiest bruise I ever had. (I didn't play sports in school)

I gotta stop falling down stairs.

Holiday Craze!

If you haven't seen this holiday craze, you have to:

click here: Analee Elf

To make yours just go to http://www.elfyourself.com/
(Its easy Mom)


And if you are lucky (HA!) enough to have a Scrooge in your family, there is one for them too.

click here: David Scrooge

Less than 100 days!

A year ago these pictures were taken:

Our family with Josh the doll.
Little did we know that we needed the practice! The twins are less than 100 days from arriving, and we are all getting really excited. They are so big now, a pound and a half each! he he
I think about what they will look like. Leah and I were discussing how big they will be and they will probably be about 5 lbs. I thought wow, that is smaller than little Rigby. (I don't have a lot of newborn experience) After holding my big girl Abbey Rigby is so tiny. But my little nephews will be half a Rigby.
My little nephews are on their way!

A Long Winter's Nap

I am sure everyone thinks their kitty is the sleepiest kitty. But I have the sleepiest kitty.

He doesn't even bother laying down for a nap.

Ding Dong

Well I have been waiting to post this. I really don't want to jinx this one. But, it has been a week and I think it is safe to say....

THE FRUIT FLY INFESTATION IS GONE!!!

It has taken me since July. They were here when I moved in and they just wouldn't die. Just when I think I had gotten them, they would explode again and I would be back at square one. So for future references, the home remedies with vinegar don't work. My remedy involved keeping all the water in the house put up, no wet sinks, washcloths. Keeping the litter box completely devoid of.... you know. And trash goes out to the dumpster immediately, there was no food trash in the house. My big turning point was in keeping the sink plugged and my trash removal system, as well as using Clorox Anywhere spray, everywhere.


Oh happy day! The flies are gone!

ps- I have been a naughty blogger. I plan to fix this.

15 Days

Create yours at BlingyBlob.com!
It is official. David comes home 15 days from today for the last time. It seems unreal that this is the end of that chapter.

David is on leave right now, here in Abilene. We are working on getting settled and having our lives change so much. I kinda feel like we are getting married and setting up our house for real. I am not sure what the last 2 years have been, but they haven't felt like marriage or living together.

It has really hit us that a civilian life is completely different, and has new challenges that military life does not.
****
All be aware of the impending arrival of the twins, my little nephews. They are getting so big inside mommy's tummy, and they are taking their toll on poor Leah who is struggling to keep working, plan for maternity leave, stay rested and healthy and plan for their arrival. I have been happy to be around to help out with what I can. But Leah has the hard part, lugging those two boys around.
****
There was snow last week here in north Texas. Glorious snow!

To see all of my snowy pictures click here:

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=73953&l=fcece&id=683885327

Speaking of pictures...

My parents gave me and David a new digital camera for our birthdays. I have been having a good time playing with it and figuring it out. That means that the kitties have been my models and we have lots of photo shoots.

To see LOTS more pictures, if you are ever that bored click here:http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=62549&l=4dc22&id=683885327

Who? Not Abbey. Nope. Couldn't be.

Bad Pussy

Add to My Profile | More Videos

I don't think anything could me more like my life at about 5am every morning... Abbey's Dance.

ITs to Nephews

I Have NEPHEWS!!!!

Coming and Going

Things that are coming:
1. THE TWINS!!!
Only a few more months and I will be an aunt to twins! Thats right, Leah and Michael are expecting and surprise surprise it is twins. I have been hard at work taking care of the little ones via Leah.

2. WINTER
The Abilene winds have arrived and have brought the first cool front which will probably not be the cool front that brings winter.

3. CHANGES
But when is life not changing? Yet, changes are on the horizon for me.


Things that are going:
1. DAVID:
Always leaving, rarely coming and never staying. David came to town for the weekend. It was nice but always bittersweet. We are ready for the long distance to be over with. Saying goodbye is all we ever do. It is not easy.


2. THE KITTY
I rescued a kitten. Of course I rescued a kitten. It was in the parking lot, my heart melted, and we drove all around Abilene searching for a non-euthanizing shelter. And yes she VERY cute and it took all the strength within me not to keep her. I found her on the eve of Juni's anniversary. It has been 3 years already since my Juni passed.
Seeing the little kitten made me think of Juni and Abbey and how life gives and takes. Life took Juni from me and that we dreadfully painful. But life gave me sweet Abbey and precious Rigby both of whom I never would have known without Juni moving on.

Kitty Tales

So we have a big bed, a full, and the kitties always make sleeping an adventure.

Instance 1:

They spread out. Resulting in very little room for me, forcing me to sleep horizontally across the top half of the bed.

Instance 2:

They clump. I scoot over, they scoot over and I end up on the edge with two cats on top of me.

Instance 3:

Perfection. Abbey shares my pillow and we spoon, and Rigby sleeps on my legs. Ahhhhhhh.

P.S.- According to my utility bill the number of occupants in my apartment is 1.6. Who new 2 cats = .6?

My favorite thing in the whole wide world!!!!

On the edge of my seat

David is so very close to being home. It is a very strange feeling and the waiting is something I wish I could just skip all together. Imagine the most anxious you have ever been in your life, maybe waiting for a baby to be born, or waiting for your wedding day or something of that caliber. I am THAT excited/nervous/anxious.

I am in Washington now. It feels a lot better to be up here and waiting, mostly because I know I have no more air travel by myself.

Brianne's wedding was really beautiful and super fun. It was a nice break from the Texas heat as well. :) The airline did lose one of my bags but it arrived before I had to fly up here, which was very relieving.

I guess it is safe to say now, that the ship has left San Diego and is on its way up here, and David will be home by the end of this week.

Freaking Out

Well I am really starting to freak out. I leave tomorrow to go pick up David. I am going a little early. Me and Jeni are going to be each other's support.

I am very nervous. I have forgotten to breathe serveral times. And I pretty sure tonight I will not sleep.

Feeling Less

I have to admit that my last post was written in the midst of sleep deprivation. I feel alot better. Just a case of the Mondays I guess.

Are we there yet?

The countdown has begun. David is out of the gulf, which puts my mind at ease, and they have started their trek back home. But this has always been the hard part for me, the last leg.

I am tired.
I am tired of being apart.
I am tired of 15 minute phone calls every...barely never.
I am tired of the Navy and what it demands of us.
I am tired of being alone.
I am tired of school and homework.
I am tired of feeling not good enough.
I am tired of being misunderstood.
I am tired and ready for a break.

I am sad that I have forgotten David's smell.
I am sad that I have forgotten what his hugs feel like.
I am sad that I have never gotten to really be with him.
I am sad that I will still have more goodbyes to say to him.

I am anxious for the homecoming.
I am anxious for the first hug/kiss.
I am anxious for our return to the civilian world that cannot come soon enough.
I am afraid of the transition time when David returns.

There is a wall, the last hump before the end. And I am tired and anxious and afraid. It would be nice for a little vacation to get me through it.... well not yet. It is soon. But not soon enough. I need a nap.

ps- I have a HUMMINGBIRD!!!

David's Birthday Video

So this was for David, a present from his kitties.






His birthday was yesterday.
Happy Birthday Honey!

24 and there's so much more...

Fun Things About My Birthday

1. Mirkat Manor Marathon
2. Lounging with the cats
3. Lots of birthday wishes
4. A call from David
5. Dinner with Micheal, Jon and Krystina (poor Leah is sick!)
6. ICECREAM!
7. Presents! I didn't think I would get any. And I got lots
(a) Papa Smurf & Smurfette
(b) my very first candle warmer!
(c) a bird feeder (just what I wanted)
(d) THREE Halmark cards from Mommy

As the World Turns... furiously

Things are good. Still busy, but good.

Abilene is pretty yucky, I don't know if the two of us will ever get along. But you know I guess I am over it. I am pretty determined and I am trying to completely focus on school... the task at hand.

School is fast, busy, enlightening, and fun. I like school, my classes are good too. Spanish and Latin Literature, and I feel Latinofied. I spend all day everyday engulfed in the language and the culture, it is good.

The kitties are happy and content. But miss their grand mama and also the grandparent's house, with all the windows, fun stairs, and birdies. I am so happy to have them here, I don't know if I could have made it through my first week here without them.

I miss Houston tons. I miss my family, even though hanging out with Leah and Michael has been fun. I miss my job at the church. I miss Friday Night Mexican. I do not miss traffic. Or my car being 200 degrees with 0 oxygen after sitting in the parking lot for only 20 minutes. Or worrying about Rigby jumping off the second story window and breaking the other leg. But mostly I miss Houston, alot.

I am working on getting my apartment less.... just moved in, and then I will take pictures and post them for everyone.

I wish I had some fun story to tell but not yet.

Busy Busy Busy. That is me. This last week has been a tad on the busy side. So I guess update time.

Movin' On Up
I am moved into my new apartment in Abilene. It is way bigger than I imagined. I was expecting the size of my shack, but this is a palace, 518 ft of pure Abilene palace. I even met my below neighbor, she gave me watermelon. But it is a weird feeling to be back here, I am just a little bit nervous about being here. I fear that I might mess this up, my past is still in the back of my mind.

The Tunnel King
Oh Rigby, why are you such a booger? He gave me a pretty big scare yesterday. They were just hanging around after my shower, and I went to blow dry my hair and Rigby disappears. I looked everywhere and couldn't find him. I brought out the treat bag and shook it. Abbey came but Rigby didn't. That is when I knew he was not in the apartment; Rigby is always first in line for treats. That is when I discover a hole in the wall behind the water heater that lead to a crawl space for the pipes, and I suspect it is shared by at least two or three apartments. So it is a pretty big space. I saw fur around this square hole, and said he went in there. I freaked out. I won't lie. I heard rustling and was pretty worried that it might be a rat that pokes his head out of the hole, but it was my buttons. So yes I got him back and the maintenance man patched up the hole. But the little booger got in trouble for leaving without telling me. He wasn't upset, he just wanted his treat. (he finally came back after I kept shaking the treat back.)

School Daze
I start school on Monday, Spanish and Latin American Lit. More updates later.

Port of Call Him David
David finally sent me pictures!

David giving a Navy thumbs up.

Manny the Mammoth. (have no clue where he found a mammoth in the gulf)

Wandering the Streets in Dubai.


Rock Climbing. It probably went by real quick, look at that extension!

In the Irish Villiage. Yup they have one of those in Dubai.

July 3rd

Of course this occasion deserves a video.

Ok. Done. What's next?

The mid-term is done. Want to see what all the fuss was about? Follow the link below.

Shakespeare: A webquest



Whew. Glad that is over with.

Oh Where Oh Where has Analee Gone?

I am alive and well. Although I have been mega busy, yes mega. And so since my cognitive ability is failing quickly because of many things on my mind, I enjoy little update blogs. I have a lack of creativity at the moment.

I found 5 gray hairs
So I have been studying pretty hard here to make it to then end of this on-line course. The mid-term is due tomorrow which is a big task and not really a midterm at all because it is due a week before the class ends. But he final is due when the class ends. Sooooooo, mid-term? No, 3/4 term. So I have been a tad stressed.

She's Going Going Gone
Um... I fell down the stairs on Tuesday, head first. It wasn't pretty. But I caught myself and didn't die or break anything. It is pretty amazing. I just scraped my legs up pretty bad and was sore for the rest of the week but Tuesday... not so much a good day.

4 DaysI wish it said like 10 days because then I would not be as freaked out as I am. I have 4 days till I move to Abilene. And my to do list is frighteningly long. I really don't think I am going to sleep this upcoming week, I will be packing and forty other things that need to get done before I leave. Just a little scary.

We have a date!!!So my exciting news is we have a date that David comes home! YAY! When they leave the Gulf maybe I will be allowed to announce it. The other bit of great news is that they get to go to Singapore and Hong Kong on their way back. We didn't think they would be able to and David is very excited about getting to port there. What a great treat for them. Also, we have plane tickets for our leave, which unfortunately will be spent in Abilene. So it is getting real that they are coming home. I am ready, but also nervous and anxious and scared, and excited it really feels like just before my wedding.



So that is basically my life right now. Work from 9-3, homework from 4-6, dinner, homework until 12 or later, sleep, repeat. This week I will add in vet, laundry, pack, and freaking out. :) When will it be over?

UpDate-o-rama

What has been going on with you Analee? Well.....

Rigby is fine.
Unbelievably the kitten acts like nothing ever happened. Much to my horror he jumps and runs and wrestles with Abbey. I know when I ask him, hey does your leg hurt baby? He says, whatever, and runs away.

School is interesting.
I finished Canterbury tales, hooray! They are pretty awful. Mostly I have to turn in e-journals (mini-essay tests), post a discussion essay, then respond to my classmates discussion posts. The responses have been challenging so to speak. Ask me sometime about how much fun it is to be in a class with boys... and reading Chaucer... cause it isn't...fun...at all.

My move to Abilene is fast approaching.
Only a few more weeks till I make the change to Abilene, which is kinda scary. I didn't get to stay in Houston long enough. I love it here. But I am really excited to get to hang out with Leah, Michael, Mav and Zekie Poo. Also, I got my apartment! YAY! Which is a a super big weight lifted off my shoulders. My mom is making piles of things for me to take up there. (all of my stuff is in storage in Washington) Everything I am taking is going into hospice care, these will be its last few months before... the dump.

David is alright.
I think we have finally hit the fatigue that comes with a deployment of this size. He just wants to come home, he doesn't want to be over there anymore, he misses me and home and the kitties. So if you can spare a couple, just pray that he gets a burst of energy to make it through the last half of this cruise. He was in port not too long ago, so we got to talk. Which was nice because it had been two months since our last conversation and it was time. I have some really exciting news which I can't announce on the blog just yet, for safety reasons, but stay tuned for a fun announcement.

Life is GOOD!
It has been a hard four years of my life but things are good right now. And it blows me away that I am to a happy place. God is good. And there are bumps and dark places in life but God promised a rainbow, and a new day. I am happy to feel happy.


P.S. The birdies have flown the nest. A week after my attack I looked again and they were gone. Fast little learners.

When children get in BIG trouble and don't tell their mommys.

By now you all know how much I love my kitties. We had a little situation this week with Rigby.

I was just holding him and squishing his little paws, they are extra squishy. And I found a lump on his leg. I asked him, "What is this?" And he says "Nothin'" "Does it hurt?" "Nope" So I start to freak out. I found a lump on my little kitten and it isn't hurting him so I think it is a tumor. Sunday night I am a mess. I am crying and praying all night. (I lost Juni while David was on his last cruise and I could only think I was going to lose another one.)

Monday was awful. I had to go to work and worry about him the WHOLE day. So mom and I went to the vet after work and the vet says "Hmmmmmmm. It isn't hurting him so I am not sure what it is. Lets take xrays." (and by the way, who was the best kitty in the world at the vet? Rigby!)

When the vet comes in he says "Well, it looks like this little guy has a broken leg!" Yes, my little kitten is walking around, jumping, running, going up and down stairs with a broken leg. It wasn't even just a fracture, the small bone in the leg is not in the socket at the foot joint, and there are chips of the socket just floating around! We are all surprized, including the vet, because Rigby is showing NO sign of pain.

I went into the vet with all my checkbooks and credit cards ready to save this little cat's life, and when I heard the broken leg thing I am thing, "Yay! But this is going to cost me." But the vet said, I don't think we are going to do anything for him. He is not in any pain, and a bandage would only hinder his movement. So we left there with a almost healthy kitten.

So how did he do it? Don't know.
When did he do it? The vet said it was not a fresh break, some healing had already begun.
So what does this mean long term? He is going to live his little life with a broken leg and athritis. But he did get a talking to about getting hurt and not telling me.

Lesson Learned

Um so yesterday I was attacked.

Yes attacked, by momma bird or possibly daddy bird. I was just LOOKING at the baby birds, well I was saying "Goodmorning Birdies!" And all of the sudden I was attacked from the rear... in my rear. I screamed so loud, because
1. I was startled, what touch my butt?!? and
2. It really hurt.

So I took off and did one of those where you move faster than you thought you could, jump higher than you knew possible, I was at the door in one leap. It was so scary because there was no warning, no caw caw or anything, just the nip, peck, bite or whatever. She was circling for another assault, but of course I was inside pretty darn fast.

No worries, I will not catch the bird flu. She didn't break the skin. But I am thinking no more birdie updates for a while.


Oh and David sent me a picture of him on snoopy team, that is the look out job. He could have been here on the look out for birds on the war path.

THEY'RE HERE!

It has been raining so Momma bird has been protecting her babies like a good mom. Today was my first chance to see the little babies. And they are huge. The last time I looked, the one was just a sliver of a bird, and the other two were eggs. Now they are huge!!

There are 3 black, fuzzy birdies. Cuties, aren't they?



ps- sorry about the quality. I didn't want to disturb the nest too much. And they are nestled in this web of branches.

Go Away May

I am ready for May to be over. It has been a long long month. I went on a cruise, made a life changing decision, started a new job and a new weight loss plan (of course right?) all in one month. I have been to Jamaica, Grand Cayman, Cozumel, Galveston and Abilene 2 times!

Not that it has been a bad month, because it hasn't. May was great! But I am ready for June.

Part of my impatience is due to the fact that all I have left is the summer and David comes home. The summer just isn't coming fast enough.

I got to talk to David on Thursday. I was hitting a wall, that is what we call it when we get so frustrated, lonely and tired of long distance. Normally this happens if it has been over a month since we have spoken. Anyway, David stayed up late one night and talked to me. It is so refreshing, it is literally a replenishing moment to hear his voice, "Hey baby!" he always says.

I told him that I really forget sometimes that he is over there, and is this real person and not just this email. Yeah, I occasionally believe that I am married to a computer program. Hearing his voice reminds me that he is alive and floating around over there. By the way, it is really far away. Look at a globe.

 So I feel ready to take on the world now. One phone call and I am refreshed and ready for June... if it will ever get here.

The Birdies in the Tree Tops

Have you heard any increased tweets in your trees lately? Well, I am a proud host of at least one new baby birdy! He is a baby mockingbird. His mom is sitting on him most of the time because she still has some eggs left to hatch and I want to give her some privacy, so no pictures yet.

They are living in our multi-family duplex bush in our backyard. On the first floor was a dove nest with two eggs. I got really excited and named them Humpty and Dumpty. Yet, after some research I learned they are not baby birdies, they are just eggs. I got so sad. Just about that time Mama Mockingbird started hanging out full time in her nest that she has been building with what I assume is her husband.

Yesterday Mama was not in the nest and I checked to see if there were eggs and there was a teeny baby bird!!!

Stay tuned for updates on my little family of Mockingbirds.

-------------------------

On a more personal note, I have been overwhelmed by the support I have gotten since my last post. It seems the things that I was most afraid to share matter so little to the people that love me.

I am constantly learning that my little world is so much bigger than I realize, my fear much smaller than my potential, and dark painful moments are always over shadowed by the good, the lovely, and the pure in life.

So thank you so much for your prayers and kind words. I am blessed.

Junction Ahead

* I plan to be completely truthful and open in this post. I think sometimes we need to be honest to start fresh.*


Well I mentioned that things were crazy in my life, but seriously they are crazy. I think there are definite points in our lives where you can realize, wow this is a big moment! Other times only looking back do you see the significance of certain events. But I can definitely see that I am at this major junction in my life, and it is all happening so fast it seems.

I guess I should say that I have not yet finished my degree, a fact that I have hidden because of much shame and disappointment. I left ACU two years ago. It is a long and miserable story and I will spare everyone the details. But I will say that I needed a break from school. I had always intended to finish my degree but it was just a difficult process transferring to a new school. As I have returned to Texas I decided to try and finish at ACU, which is a big step for me because ACU and I had a bit of a falling out, I guess you could call it that.

Last weekend we were up in Abilene and stopped my advisor for a quick meeting. This is where I discovered that I could be finished by this December, which I did not think could be possible. My original plan was to attend the spring semester only. I really can see God working in this situation because things are just lining up so perfectly. But it was a bit of a shock and a big change in my plan, and it happened in a day, literally. So, I will be in school the summer and fall semesters and will graduate in December about the same time David gets out of the Navy. It seems fitting that we will both finish a major part of our lives almost at the same time.

Until I go up to Abilene I will be working at my church as the secretary/web designer. This also came about rather quickly. I am happy to be working there and wish I could have stayed longer. But I just believe I am being guided to Abilene and things are happening in such a way that I am confident that I am being looked after.

And now that we have hit the half way mark of our deployment I am starting to get excited/nervous about David's homecoming. And nervous/excited/amazed that we will be free of the Navy so very soon. And I have this strange feeling like all I need is just one more step and I will be this completely new person, triumphant and new, with nothing to hide or dread just opportunity and possibility. I am aware that life is never free from troubles and challenges, and also that happiness is not on the other side of anything; happiness is everyday. There is joy in a simple sun rise. But there was a time when I could not see any hope for possibility in the future, there was no dawn.

Yet now I see my self standing in the doorway that leads to a whole new world, and David and I with a great sigh and release of burdens will step over the threshold hand in hand.

I can not wait.

Cruise Top Ten

Well I know that I have been a bad blogger lately, I'm sorry. Things have been crazy on the home front, which shall be explained in subsequent posts.

Melanie requested a top ten and I thought that was a pretty good idea. So....

Analee's Cruise Top Ten

10. FREE STUFF! I don't know what it was about this boat, but stuff was free, everywhere free. And I really liked it. I kinds got obsessed with going and getting the free stuff.

9. The HAIRY MAN CONTEST. I have never laughed so hard in my life, than this hairy man contest. Too funny. But we all got sun burnt watching it. It was worth it.




8. The HAGGLING! This deserves it's own number because I was a great haggler!! And it made me happy. My best work was in Mexico and I got a red coral bracelet for a real good price. and The shopping! Well I just had a fun time picking out stuff. I liked seeing what kinda of different stuff I could find in different cultures. We shopped in every port and I got some good deals.

7. Animals! I got to see so many different animals in the ports. Which is good because I have a one track mind, "pets, pets pets pets". We saw two parrots, Pablo and Shaniqua, me and Jeni named them. And feral chickens just running around! And three iguanas. My most favorite was Frederico the wild lizard. Yes, I named the wild lizard.

6. The Food. I did enjoy going to dinner and ordering just anything and everything. It was also picture time for me and Jeni and we went nuts taking a million pictures. Also, the chocolate melting cake. Yum.

5. The Towel Creatures. Who doesn't love the little towel animals that appear on your bed every night. LOTS OF FUN!

4. The Shows. We did go to almost every show. My favorite was this fabulous juggler. He could do super human stuff on a moving vessel. Amazing.

3. The Motion of the Ocean. I LOVED the rocking of the boat, after being in port and then getting back out on the water I would always say "It is good to be moving again." I really liked being out on the open water. PS- the Gulf of Mexico is HUGE, if you didn't realize.

2. Snorkeling in Cozumel. After the not so great snorkel in Jamaica, Cozumel was gorgeous and I really got the hang of breathing through a tube. I saw so many fish and now all I want to do is snorkel.

1. Jeni! Spending time with Jeni was refreshing, fun and so hard to leave. I had forgotten how much I miss Jeni and how much fun we have together. The most fun thing was just being with her.
As you can see I had a really good time. It was really hard to leave and leave Jeni. It is always nice to come home, but I would jump at the chance for another week long cruise with Jeni.

Home Again

So yes I am back and safe and still alive, I didn't sink to the bottom of the ocean or anything. I am still writing emails to David giving him the whole story of my cruise, and it is a lot of typing and emailing pictures, so my blog audience can wait a little while for the whole story but of course I had a great time.

My car went to the hospital while I was gone and still isn't home. :( So keep him in your thoughts, that he is healthy and hurries home. I miss him.

The cats did fine with out me and my transition home was so smooth, no hard feelings or standoffishness. If you have a cat you know sometimes you get a nasty cold shoulder after a vacation. Not my precious little pumpkins.

This is how I feel about being home and not on a cruise with Jeni

Leaving Today...

So it is 1 am and I can not sleep. Pre-trip jitters.

I did get everything done. I finished cleaning and I'm so happy I did. My mom told me something a long time ago and I have always remembered it for some reason. She said that she always likes to come home from vacation to a clean house. And now I do to. I know that it is because of her. See, kids do listen sometimes. I am not a particularly clean person, I don't mind clutter or messes but when I come home and everything is just so in the house it does make you think "ahhhhhh it is good to be home."

But tomorrow I will be happy when I get to say "ahhhhh it is good that it is finally here."

Hope the last minute is a LONG minute!

So am I ready for the cruise? No! eeeek!

My big long list:

1. pay bills

2. pack- which involves figuring out outfits. This week I finally found a pair of capris that don't make me look like a Lost Boy, or Piggy from Lord of the Flies. For some reason short pants make me look shipwrecked. But I found a pair! HA HA

3. clean- Jeni is staying with me Saturday night, and my room is awful, because of the packing, what a horrible cycle.
4. get the kitties ready- :( I don't want to say goodbye but Grand Mama can take care of them very well. I will miss them.
5. stress out- I predict that I will stress out, be grumpy and over do everything. I will over pack, yeah I bring 5 pairs of underwear for a weekend trip- what will I do for 8 days? I will over clean, over prepare. I just don't want to sit still and get nervous and anxious and start the lip chewing.

I can not wait to get on the boat and sail towards relaxation. Big changes are happening, for me and David, and for me personally. This has made the past couple of weeks very challenging. But in change comes healing. I am so glad God gives us so many chances to get it right.

So my theme for my cruise? Genesis 2:2-3
I will rest because it is good.

Hooray Hooray Hooray!

Jeni wrote a get excited for the cruise song. I think it is pretty fabulous:

The Cruise Hooray Song (sung to the tune of Row Row Row Your Boat)We are going on a cruise so soon
Hooray Hooray Hooray
We'll shop and eat and drink all day
Hooray Hooray Hooray (here I would and an eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!)

See. Much better than my song which is to a made up tune

Muy Excited
Excited
I am excited
So excited I could do a little daaaaaaaaaaance. (and here I do a little tap or box step or something)

Don't you think it is about time for a vacation?

So I am going on a cruise! Uh huh. A nice 8 day cruise to the Caribbean. I have never been on cruise before and this of course makes me a tad nervous and a lot excited.

I am going with Jeni, another navy wife, and I say that like she is just a navy wife but she isn't. She was my closest friend in Washington and we became really close. David and I were long distance for a long time and never had couple friends. And Jeni and her husband Chris are our first couple that we get along with really well. Jeni is TONS of fun and a great listener and we have such a good time together. We haven't seen each other since January so it will be such a blast to get to spend a whole week with her.



So we leave from Glaveston and go to Montego Bay, then Grand Cayman and lastly Cozumel, and then they drop us off back in Galveston. So it sounds like a lot of fun. We are going snorkeling in Jamaica. (and yes I am terrified BEYOND words, but I have decided that I only live once and I get a life jacket so I am just going to do it) And we are going a tour/shopping excursion in Cozumel, and we are free range in Grand Cayman. Have I said I am excited about the whole thing? Cause I am!

It's those sweet furry faces that melt my heart!

Well I'd like to take a moment to say what a proud mama I am. I have the best little kitties around!

Abbey Darling is named after the Beatles album Abbey Road and her song is Here Comes the Sun.

Abbey is my little lady.



She has a sweet spirit and it just makes me so proud to see her become more and more trusting of humans. I love Abbey so much, she is a special kitty. She is very nice to her little brother, although sometimes she just wants to be alone and relax. Abbey also LOVES Grand Mama's house. She seems so happy here. I hate thinking that I will have to take her to a new home one day.

Rigby Buttons is named after the Beatles song Eleanor Rigby, one of my favorite songs of all time.

Rigby is my little goober.


He is a toddler. I am serious.

1. When he wakes up from a nap he cries for his mama. (he cries, seriously.)
2. His favorite food is Cheerios.

3. I have to wipe his chin and pick his little boogies. (he would be the little boy with the KoolAid mustache)

4. He gets in to EVERYTHING! (just the other day he comes to me with BLUE paws! I have no idea how it happened but they are still a light sky blue.)

5. He scoots down the stairs one stair at a time. (if he were a biped he would be on his bottom scooting down the stairs)

6. Sometimes he just wants to be held by his mama and if I don't he becomes naughty and throws a little fit, he will also walk up to me whine and stick his front paws on me and say "carry me".

7. He idolizes his big sissy and has a "me too" attitude. If he sees Abbey doing something he says, "Me too! Me too!"

8. He plays hard and sleeps harder. (but his games are primitive, like patty cake, his favorite is knock the mousies off the stairs and watch mom or grandmama put them back up again and then do it some more.

Of course he isn't a human toddler, he sleeps 21 hours a day.

ps- I thought we could all use a little pick me up this week, hence the kitty posts.
pps- I do not favor one cat over the other, Abbey has expressed to me that she doesn't like her picture taken.

Gray Skies are Gonna Clear up, go hug a cat!

I LOVE animals. Love them, all of them. The big ones, the little ones, pretty ones, ugly ones, chirpy ones, barky ones. I LOVE animals. Animals make me happy, giggly in fact.

My very first friend, besides Leah, was Scoobie.

And if I didn't have very diligent attention, I could become one of those crazy people with 16 cats, 4 dogs, 8 birds, 2 hamster (1 expecting), and a sugar glider. I would pick up any cat, and dog and take him home.

But wait, you say. Analee you only have 2 cats. I realise my pet to human ratio is a little low to be a crazy pet hoarder. I am not allowed to get dog till I have a house, that is David's rule. So I wait patiently. I have cats but I am not cat crazy. I am an equal opportunity animal lover.

*I am not allowed to the zoo anymore because I ask David for every animal there, still waiting on the camel I was promised.

* In high school I had a pet squirrel, that was neither mine or tame, but I loved Stubby and trained him to wait for me on my walk home from school.

*My pseudo husband is Kermit the frog. I think he is sexy, kind, and would make the BEST husband in the world. So I tried to find my own Kermie.

BUT I love my kitties the bestest. Stay tuned for a special Abbey and Rigby post.

(and no they aren't going to have a brother/sister, I am not allowed to acquire any pets while David is gone, even if they look at me with sad eyes, say mew, or follow me home. No more pets, I can only wish. )

Prayers of Peace

I have been searching for words to speak about Virginia Tech. And at first I didn't want to.

I pray for peace and comfort.

My heart goes out to all the people hurting.

The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. - Psalms 34:18

A day in the Gulf

The Persian Gulf that is. David sent me a couple pictures of him while they were in port. So I thought I would share. They aren't the most Persian Gulf looking pictures but they were in a very wealthy city that was a major tourist destination before 9-11, Dubai. And so it is really nice, or so David says. He went to the gold and spice market but I guess didn't take and pictures of that.

I know it doesn't look like the Persian Gulf, but it is. This is David "taking a siesta" so he says. He could also be doing crunches.

This is him on the pier I think, that is his boat behind him.

Here he is at the Mall of the Emirates. I am not sure why he isn't smiling.

This is him on a "Beer Day." When they can't get off the boat for several months they have a "steel picnic" on the flight deck and get 2 beers each. Apparently it is a lot of fun, sometimes on holidays bands come and play a little concert on the flight deck. This time it was just two beers. And they cut of all his hair!!!

I only hear good things from David. They are working hard. And he is used to being on the boat. Being in port was real good for him, it is just that little boost to keep going. He has officially been gone 3 months, which is just a drop in the bucket, but everyday we get one day closer and that is fine by me. I miss him a lot, but I just get over those missing feelings and think about the good stuff. I try not to think about the past, the future or what we could be doing, I just try and appreciate him right now. That seems to work for me!