Thank You, Diane

The last time I spoke with Diane was a little over four (4) years ago.... She came over to my house to play cards. She was full of laughter and natural charm.... She told me she was going out of town for awhile - I asked her where and she told me Afghanistan.... My first reaction was Huh? - I had no idea she was in the military.... She was in the National Guard and her name was drawn - it was her turn to go..... She was nervous of course.... but she was also excited to go.... You see, Diane believed in our country.... She believed in Freedom... We hugged and I said I'll see you soon.....

About a year after she left - she came home with a broken leg... She had been in a helicopter that was hit by a sniper.... The helicopter crashed with over 25 other men and women.... Diane survived that crash because a Marine covered her body with his.... She lived.... He did not.... Diane was not the same girl that left... The laughter was gone.... I watched Diane from a distance - I could not get closer - I would if I had the opportunity - but I was close enough to see the sadness in her eyes... A hero died so that she could live.....

I heard through the grapevine that she still believes in our country.... she is still fighting the fight. When her leg was healed she headed back to Afghanistan - she had a job to finish.... She had the option to stay here where it's safe but she chose to go.... I don't know where Diane is today - I have not seen her - is she there? is she here? I have no idea - but I want to thank her next time I see her.... Because of men and women like Diane - we have our Freedom... She is my hero.... All the men and women who protect and serve our country our heroes....

The Best Commercial..

Dad and Daughters Day At Disneyland

Today my husband took the kids to Disneyland sans mom (me). As you know, we have season passes (the girls and I) and we go all the time.... Lately, I have been having some "girly" medical problems that makes it difficult to leave the home for longer than a few hours - right now - let's make it an hour..... Oh how I long to be with my family....... My husband does not have a pass - when the girls and I took my niece a few weeks ago - I bought the California 2 days - 2 park hopper... So we could have a family fun-filled day with the husband.....

So Hub wanted to surprise the girls - he is the kind of guy that wants to start things first thing in the morning - be at the gate when it opens and run to all the "big" rides... So at 7:15 AM - I hear whining coming from the teen's room - "I don't want to get up.... I'm tired... I don't want to go anywhere.. Disneyland? ... I don't wanna go.... I'm sleepy" My husband is now feeling kinda hurt... Now he's not giving her a choice - "get up..." He had prepared their favorite cinnamon rolls to surprise them too... Neither one of the kids was gracious....

The youngest comes to me complaining that she wanted her friend Emily to come over and play - they had "made plans" - now the youngest who I thought would be all fired up to go with Daddy is coming to me complaining... Saying things like Daddy is going to want to run to all the rides... he's going to make us share a snack (so do I).. I don't want to go.. and the crocodile tears start to flow - I know they're fake for the fact that she squeezes her eyes really tight in hopes of trying to get a tear or two...

I received a text a little while ago - before 10:30 AM - they have been on Space Mountain, Matterhorn, Haunted Mansion, Pirates of Caribbean, and Thunder Mountain - and they were heading over to California Adventure.... the kids are having a good time.... I think.. At the pace they are going - they'll be home a little after lunch!

I think because the girls and I do many things together and I am always there - they have a tendency to not want to be with their dad as much... It's sad really and I don't know how to get them fired up... how to get the hub to lighten up and slow down.... I cannot fix it - it's up to them to work it out.... I know there has to be some give and take...... some sacrifices at times... My husband has to understand that the girls are only with us for such a short time - we need to slow down... soak it in... enjoy every moment and not treat everything like it's a race... My girls need to know that their dad loves them more than anything on this Earth.... He wants only the best for them.... He wants to spend time with them.

So I am hoping... praying that today ends as a successful daughters/dad day... and good memories were made...

I Love Vampires

Okay - I am going to make a confession.... I love Vampires... I know crazy, isn't it? Here I am a 44 year old mother of two - a member of the leadership team at my very conservative Southern Baptist church... and here I stand confessing that I love Vampires... I don't care for the ugly vampires of old.... Only the good looking ones... or sexy ones in a sick sort of way.... Picture Brad Pitt in Interview with the Vampire - or Keifer Sutherland in The Lost Boys Or the really evil vampire in John Carpenter's Vampires

My first taste of my obsession was when I was young and George Hamilton played a vampire in Love at First Bite .... When he started dancing with Susan Saint James - to I love the night life - I love to boogie..... Are you getting any flashbacks with that? I'm telling you - I'm a nut.... I also love to read romantic suspense novels with vampires in them. My favorite books in this genre are from author Shannon Drake - they are both entertaining, romantic, and suspenseful. The first book in the series is Beneath A Blood Red Moon (Zebra romantic suspense) and the ones that follow are: When Darkness Falls, Deep Midnight, and a few more - you gotta check them out.. seriously... I won't tell anyone...

What my husband really finds amusing in my love for Buffy The Vampire Slayer - I own the entire series.... My teen is also a major fan - I know.... I'm a bad mom... but there's censorship and then there's CENSORSHIP... I think you know what I mean.. I also like supernatural - Kay Hooper and all the books that have the psychic FBI team created by super psychic FBI agent Noah Bishop.... I'm warning you if you start reading you WILL be hooked. Stealing Shadows (Shadows Trilogy), Hiding in the Shadows (Shadows Trilogy) and Out of the Shadows (Shadows Trilogy). This is the first 3 book series but she has a few series after this that include some of the same characters and new ones too...

What's Your Secret (not-so secret) obsession?

Love at First Bite - I Love The Night Life

Something To Think About..

The other day I was complaining to my husband about the emails I get from some friends. You know the kind that has a heartwarming video that lasts FOREVER.... or the read this and pass it on to 100 friends and your dreams will come true... and of course the gazillion jokes... To be honest - I usually delete the forwarded emails and videos before reading them.... I JUST DON'T HAVE THE TIME.... The same thing with Face Book - I love to connect with friends old and new but I refuse to accept the applications - the Farmville, the Mafia Squad, the eggs, the save the planet, and hugs.. and poke - What is that- anyway? I discreetly delete and go my way....

Today - I received an email -this time from my husband and of course I HAD TO OPEN THIS ONE.... Dusty's quick heading was "Something to think about"

This explains why we forward jokes:

A man and his dog were walking along a road. The man was enjoying the scenery,
when it suddenly occurred to him that he was dead. He remembered dying, and that the dog walking beside him had been dead for years. He wondered where the road was leading them.
After a while, they came to a high, white stone wall along one side of the road. It looked like fine marble. At the top of a long hill, it was broken by a tall arch that glowed in the sunlight.
When he was standing before it he saw a magnificent gate in the arch that looked like mother-of-pearl, and the street that led to the gate looked like pure gold. He and the dog walked toward the gate, and as he got closer, he saw a man at a desk to one side. When he was close enough, he called out, 'Excuse me, where are we?' 'This is Heaven, sir,' the man answered. 'Wow! Would you happen to have some water?' the man asked. Of course, sir. Come right in, and I'll have some ice water brought right up. 'The man gestured, and the gate began to open. 'Can my friend,' gesturing toward his dog, 'come in, too?' the traveler asked. 'I'm sorry, sir, but we don't accept pets.' The man thought a moment and then turned back toward the road and continued the way he had been going with his dog. After another long walk, and at the top of another long hill,
he came to a dirt road leading through a farm gate that looked as if it had never been closed. There was no fence. As he approached the gate, he saw a man inside, leaning against a tree and reading a book. 'Excuse me!' he called to the man. 'Do you have any water?' 'Yeah, sure, there's a pump over there, come on in.' 'How about my friend here?' the traveler gestured to the dog..
'There should be a bowl by the pump.' They went through the gate, and sure enough,
there was an old-fashioned hand pump with a bowl beside it. The traveler filled the water bowl and took a long drink himself, then he gave some to the dog.... When they were full, he and the dog walked back toward the man who was standing by the tree. 'What do you call this place?' the traveler asked. 'This is Heaven,' he answered. 'Well, that's confusing,' the traveler said. 'The man down the road said that was Heaven, too.' 'Oh, you mean the place with the gold street and pearly gates? Nope. That's hell.' 'Doesn't it make you mad for them to use your name like that?'
'No, we're just happy that they screen out the folks who would leave their best friends behind.'
Soooo...

Sometimes, we wonder why friends keep forwarding jokes to us without writing a word.... Maybe this will explain. When you are very busy, but still want to keep in touch, guess what you do? You forward jokes. When you have nothing to say, but just want to keep in contact, you forward jokes. When you have something to say, but don't know what, and don't know how, you forward jokes. Also to let you know that you are still remembered, you are still important, you are still loved, you are still cared for, guess what you get? A forwarded joke. So, next time if you get a joke, don't think that you've been sent just another forwarded joke, but that you've been thought of today, and your friend on the other end of your computer wanted to send you a smile.

You are all welcome @ my water bowl anytime!

Okay - definitely something to think about when I hit the delete button.... I'm just saying...

Pro-Life Is Also A Choice -

Okay - I am going to get on my soapbox and I am NOT going to be politically correct...

Tim Tebow will be in a Super Bowl commercial about pro-life - This is a simply a commercial talking about his mom's choice to maintain her risky pregnancy - she chose to give life to her son... Tim Tebow - a young man that I admire... A young man - who is not afraid to reach the unreached... A young man who has gained the respect of all that know him - A young man who won the Heisman Trophy in his sophomore year of college.. A young man that - I believe is so transparent - that he amazes me...

I do NOT understand why some women groups get so upset when pro-life is discussed.... Why is the idea of choosing to give birth to a child so offensive to them? What is so wrong? Obviously, their mother chose to give life to them.... was that bad?

Pro Choice - is a choice..... Pro Choice does NOT mean to abort a child... It means - Women have a choice..... A choice to give life..... A choice to bless a family with a child.... A choice to love another human being... I believe these women groups should embrace this commercial because if there was not a choice - this commercial would not exist.... This commercial is promoting that there are options... and life for an unborn child is also a choice....