Fish out of Water

For those of you that do not know, Mark is presently out of the country. That is why I titled this blog 'fish out of water'. That is exactly what I feel like. Don't get me wrong, I couldn't be more proud of him and all of the hard work he has done. (If you haven't caught one of his videos, you're missing out!) For the most part, I like to think of myself very independent. I do not need anyone to take care of me! However, during our time apart, I have discovered that I want Mark to take care of me! I want him to be here! It's for this reason that Friday can not come soon enough! It is for sure that we have become one, just as God says...I feel empty and sad without him, like half of me is missing! So, maybe next year we can make the trip to Brazil together. It is very amazing to see God at work there.

On another note, Grammy's house is not too bad. Tonight she made us fried chicken, fried okra, mac n cheese, spaghetti squash, and cantaloupe for dinner...YUM! She has 3 empty bedrooms, but the kids still find it necessary to sleep on the fold out couch in the living room! She also took them on their annual shopping spree to her store (she's the manager of the Family Dollar in Buffalo, TX). Every summer, she lets them get a cart and fill it up with everything they want! I guess if Mommy and Daddy don't spoil you like that, that only leaves Grammy and Papa! They have also been swimming lots-it's not as hot here as it is in Houston. Our dogs have also really enjoyed the free space. They go out on the porch in the morning when the deer come up practically to the door, and proceed to chase them through the woods. They also take at least three dips in the pond a day...they should smell nice and ripe on the trip home! Tomorrow we will be driving to Arlington, TX to visit Uncle Jimbo. Then, Thursday, it's home sweet home. Friday morning we pick up Mark very early!!!

So, I guess I will survive until then!

another favorite

Another favorite song I've run across lately:
Savior, please take my hand
I work so hard, I live so fast
This life begins, and then it ends
And I do the best that I can,
but I don't know how long I'll last
I try to be so tough
But I'm just not strong enough
I can't do this alone,
God I need You to hold on to me
I try to be good enough
But I'm nothing without Your love
Savior, please keep saving me
Savior, please help me stand
I fall so hard, I fade so fast
Will You begin right where I end
And be the God of all I am because You're all I have
Hallelujah
Everything You are to me
Is everything I'll ever need
And I am learning to believe
That I don't have to prove a thing
'Cause You're the one who's saving me

Also added it to the playlist!

Ticking Clock

It's Wednesday...Mark leaves for Brazil Friday morning. Today I will be picking up a large bottle of sunscreen and bug spray to pack for him. It seems unreal that he will be leaving in two days!!!! I am excited for him...and nervous for me. We haven't been apart from each other for this long since I separated from the Air Force. Mark and the kids drove back to Houston a week before I did...it was a very lonely week. Nevertheless, time is ticking, and before I know it Friday will be here. His sole job on the Mission trip is to document everything by video and photos. He will be blogging and posting videos daily at: http://copperfieldchurchbrazilmission09.shutterfly.com/ for those of you interested in seeing.

On another note, I turned in all of my VA stuff, it's now out of my hands (as if it were ever in my hands!)

I'm growing tired again. Summer does this to me! It's hot, I hate hot! I am ready for the kids to start school, interested to see what progress they both make this year. I try to keep them occupied for the most part, but in those moments when they are bored...those are fun times...I don't necessarily want a break from the kids. But being a stay at home mom can make one very tired...there are never any break times it seems. It's go 100 miles an hour ALL THE TIME! My energy (very low) is just no match for theirs (sky high)! Perhaps, while Mark is gone, I can re-energize at Grammy's and Papa's house!!! And one day I will learn how to keep the dogs from waking Abi up at 6am!

Down to the wire...again...

So, once again I am having problems with the VA. You would think that after last year, my turn of difficulty would be done....nope, not so much! The VA is now accepting applications to convert GI Bills from Ch. 30 (etc) to the Post 9/11. For me, it makes much more sense to convert to the Post 9/11. I submitted my paperwork on May 1 (the first day they accepted it). I received my certification letter on May 19, and responded to the mistake they made on the 21st (had to wait through the weekend and call). I have been waiting for several weeks for my corrected certification letter, seeing in WAVE that I have pending documents (you just don't know what documents they are!). For about a week and a half they show no pending documents, so I have been expecting it to arrive in the mail. Finally, I broke down and called yesterday- they have no record of my request for correction AT ALL! The man I spoke with told me to fill out some form...that's when I said "I have already filled out this paperwork, I sent a letter to correct the mistake only because the last time I called that's what the guy told me to do!" So, the guy decides to log into my account (what a concept) where he saw that I originally requested the correct school, and the VA listed the certification for the wrong one. He said that he was going to submit an inquiry; in the meantime, I should try to see if UofH could accept the cert. letter with the wrong school name for now. I haven't heard back from them yet, and I hate cutting it close when it comes to getting my paperwork done! The reason I say we are down to the wire is because th UofH VA office requires 4-6 weeks to process paperwork...and as you heard in earlier stories, they aren't very helpful either!

On another note, we have 9 more days until Mark leaves for his Brazil mission trip. It seems unreal to me that he's going to be gone for a week! The kids and I are going to stay with my parents for the week in the sticks. yea. I am in the process of trying to talk Mark into a mini vacation to camp by the lake or something before school starts. Speaking of school, yesterday, I bought the kids these CUTE little thermos' for their lunch bag- they even came with a folding spoon/fork! How cute! I also sorted through their clothes yesterday to make room for school clothes. I love this time of year- getting ready for school to start, getting ready for the fall (MY FAVORITE SEASON!) The anxiety is killing me!

Red, White, and Blue

The forth of July is one of my favorite holidays- it means getting together with friends and family, and the wearing of beautiful red, white, and blue! This year I made Abi's dress, she was very festive! Also, because it is hotter than anything down here in Texas, there is a burn ban in effect. So, this year we went with red and blue silly string instead of fireworks...the kids loved it!

Austin, handsome as can be!

Austin and Abi, actually being nice to each other!

Abi in her USUAL form, animated!

AMaddox, Austin and Abi playing with silly string


What's the forth without watermelon?

Children's Museum, again

This past Friday we made another visit to the Houston Children's Museum. Mark didn't get to make the trip over spring break, but this one he did...he hadn't been since they remodeled it either. The kids had a blast, they love the Kidtropolis area!

Abi cooking in the cafe

Austin making a stone baked pizza in the cafe

Austin working in the vet clinic

Abi shopping at the HEB

In a Pickle

First of all, the expression 'in a pickle' is well known in our family! When Peaches and Bandit were smaller and trying to determine who was in charge they would often fight. In order to show them that we were dominant, we would break them apart and hold them down by there necks (not angrily of course!) One time while holding Peaches down, she was pretty upset...I, trying to remain calm (like the dog whisperer recommends), spouted off to Peaches 'Looks like you're in a pickle'. The kids thought it was the funniest thing, and remind me of it all the time!

So, anyways, Mark and I were in a pickle recently. The brakes went out on the Saturn, so Mark had to use the truck. I am not a big fan of not having a vehicle when I am home all day with two kids! With my two, you never know what's gonna happen or who will get hurt! After a week of not having a car, John and Wendy showed up on our porch, TOOLS IN HAND, to fix Mark's car! What a random act of kindness! John actually fixed the saturn (with some assistance from Mark). The friendships that we have made are awesome, not because we 'got something' but because we have friends that are willing to help out when we have a need! At times, our church family seems closer than our blood family...that's a pretty neat feeling. The moral of this story is: if you don't have a small group/life group... find one! It's not cool to go through life without close friends that you can count on!

Did I mention the windshield wipers were broken too?

Mark and John working

PS Wendy, I'm looking forward to 'Paying it forward'!