3 weeks, 2 states and why I bought a swimsuit today

Last week was Oregon.

Lunch with Leanne

Birthday Party

My brother Stephen & big sis Coco

Nephew Caden.

Susan's house.

Yup, we have a lot in common... A shared love for JoTotes, photography and being half-Korean!

We are home in Texas this week.

In case you are feeling behind this Christmas, here are a few bah-humbug slacker-mom things to help you feel better about yourself:

1. I did not send out Christmas cards. (again)

2. We do not have a Christmas tree up. (again)

3. Zero Christmas lights up. (again)

4. Zero Christmas music playing. (still trying to recover from last year's overload. nonstop Christmas music from Thanksgiving to Christmas makes me not want to listen to the radio. ever.)

In my defense, I do have a very small nativity set up. What I like about it is that there are no wise men at the manger! That drives me nuts to see. Jesus was a CHILD, not baby, when the wise men arrived. (I love this little video about the nativity.)

It is the week of Christmas and I still have done none of the above. But guess what I DID do today?

Bought a swimsuit. Because I'm all about logical. *snort*

I had mentioned it on Facebook, but forgot that I haven't told my non-wastebook friends that we are going to GUAM! We will try to fly out there around January 1st and will be there for all of January and February. I never would have thought that I would spend 2 months on an island anywhere in the world, let alone the South Pacific!

A few temporary duty assignments became available with Continental (er, United) and we decided to take advantage of the opportunity. :) David is excited about flying in a different part of the world and the boys and I are excited to come along for the ride. This is one of those times that I am so thankful to homeschool! We wouldn't be able to take off for such a long time and on such short notice if our boys were in regular school.

It sounds silly to say, but David and I aren't even beach people. We much prefer the mountains and water that doesn't have salt in it.

Regardless, there is much to look forward to while in Guam:

1. It is an island in the South Pacific. Even a non-beachy person can appreciate the new landscape and culture that is far removed from Texas.

2. Everyone looks like ME. What a fun change for David to be the one to stick out!

3. Korean food available at the food court in the mall.

4. Fried rice with your Grand Slam at Denny's.

5. No cooking for 2 months. (this could be good and bad)

{I am all about the food, aren't I?}

6. No busy-ness. Goodbye guitar lessons, Boy Scouts, soccer and all the other "good" activities that force us to leave the house every single day of the week!

7. Highs in the upper 80s and lows in the upper 70s.

8. No house, business, cars, pets or anything else to maintain and take care of. It's all about relationships! :)

In all honesty, I do realize what a tremendous blessing this is. It is a DREAM to be able to live on an island for a couple of months. The normal commitment for being based out of Guam is 2 YEARS. So this short stint isn't available very often.

If you don't hear from me for a while, I'll be packing and flying. I am thankful that we will have internet service while we are over there. But if y'all need to text or call me, DON'T... at least not yet. We do plan on purchasing a pay-as-you-go cell phone when we get there and we can still Skype, email, google chat and Facebook! (Don't y'all just love technology?)

PS Rosetta Stone winner announced!

And now a few questions for y'all.

If given the opportunity, would you go to Guam?

Any advice for surviving 2 months in a single hotel room with kids?

Do you think not being able to cook for 2 months is a good thing or a bad thing?

Anyone reading this from Guam?

I Heart Faces: Orange

My friend has an annual pumpkin party the first Friday of November. This year she had over 500 pumpkins!

What a blessing to carve pumpkins, roast hot dogs and s'mores, have a hay ride and play with our friends. Everyone ends up smiling up to their eyes, just like Alli up there!

(Even with a giant butcher knife in her hand, it is impossible for her to be scary... Although I'm sure there are some knife safety rules being broken. Ack!)

Hop on over to I Heart Faces to see more Orange themed pics!

My friends are flat

I am leaving the house for Relevant in a mere 5.5 hours.

And I haven't even started packing yet.

While my clothes aren't packed, my friends are all packed and ready to go!

These were my original roomies-- Amy, Karin and Amy.

The Amies really are two people, although some people think they are one person with a split personality. Beautiful Karin in the middle up there looks like a pretend friend that I cut out of a magazine. She really is that gorgeous, y'all!

What do y'all think of their outfits? Stylish, no?

I am SUPER sad that I won't get to hang out with these wonderful ladies this weekend. *sniff, sniff*

However, God has blessed by giving me 3 new roomies-- Stephanie, Faith and Natalie.

The funny (and cool) thing is that none of us have ever met each other. I hadn't even known them at all until this afternoon when they said they would have room for me! I know, I know... it's a crazy thing to do. (Boy, am I glad this is a CHRISTIAN Conference!)

I am looking forward to building a friendship with these thoughtful women, as well catching up with old friends and friends that I've known online for years but have yet to meet in person (until TOMORROW! woohoooo!).

Okay, I'm off. Leaving now in 5 hours...

o ruthanne, where art thou?

Laugh,

talk,

eat,

laugh,

click,

fabric shop,

drink lattes

geek out...

It's been a pretty fabulous couple of days, y'all.

I am sad that Ruthanne and her fun and adorable children are leaving in the morning. :sniff, sniff:

Why can't we be neighbors? Our kids play so well together. And we have fun, even when we're doing a bunch of nothin'.

Who's going to drink coffee with me tomorrow?

Or practice with the speedlight? Or help me figure out how to fold up that stupid reflector (or is it called deflector?)

I hope you come back again REALLY soon.

Like waaaaay before the next Bourne movie comes out.

Be sure to bring our blonde buddy with the no-lid-Carmex addiction with you.

Yo, over and out.

who says blog friends aren't real?

My friend Ruthanne brought her crew to visit today. Right now, all the kidlets are tucked in bed and (hopefully) tuckered out.

Now we're chillaxin.

If Melissa were here too, we'd have the thermostat kicked up to 80 just for her. Because blog friends are nice like that.

(Not to mention the fact that if you really tick one off, they can write all sorts of bad stuff about you. Not that any of us would do that of course!)

Have you met up with any bloggy friends lately?

It's about kindred spirits, y'all. I highly recommend it.

loving my new coffee

My friends Zephyr and Nathan just started a new business-- Cane Creek Coffee.

Yes, COFFEE. Yummy coffee grown in the mountains of Western Honduras and freshly roasted in Tennessee. Coffee and Tennessee are two of my favorite things. Does it get any better than that?

Oh wait, it does. Did I mention that my friends have a coffee business? Great coffee and friends really do go together. Especially if said friends can supply my addiction help make my mornings bright and perky. :)

Since I prefer a dark, bold coffee, I tried their French Roast, Chocolate Almond and Cinnamon Hazelnut coffees.

But not all in the same morning... boy, would I have been bouncing off the walls if that were the case!

It was a tough decision but I would say that the Cinnamon Hazelnut was my favorite. Mmmmmm...

If you want to try something new and delicious, visit my friends at Cane Creek Coffee and order a free sample!

Do you have a favorite coffee?

(or are you a tea drinker? i don't want my proper friends to feel left out. do you have a favorite tea?)

I'm linking up with TidyMom today. Hop on over there to see what other peeps are lovin'!

blog friends and baby

I have been blessed to meet some fabulous friends after having stalked known them online for years.

Last week, I had the absolute pleasure of spending a few hours chatting it up with Ali from MyGodGivenMissionField and her husband. Oh. my. word. Ali is so beautiful both inside and out (and has the coolest green-brown eyes EVER)! Ali and Adam are such kind hearted, intelligent, sweet, and amazing people that truly love the Lord.

AND guess what?! *I* got to be the first not-the-mommy-and-daddy person to hold their newly adopted baby boy! (Yup, I am totally bragging!)

Eeeeeeeeeeee! Brown eyes, brown skin, expressive face, precious curly hair... perfect in every way.

Thanks Ali and Adam for sharing him with me! Y'all blessed me beyond words!

WELCOME HOME, SAMUEL!!!

Sweet Shot: birthday boy

My friend's sweet boy was born on my birthday last year.

As he celebrates his first birthday in a couple of weeks, I will be celebrating my 35th!

Growing up, I shared a birthdate with this guy Ray from church. When I turned 13, he turned 27. I remembering looking at him and thinking "WOW, THAT IS REALLY OLD."

(Boy, did I have some feeling old issues when I turned 27!)

I wonder if know Baby C will think the same thing of me some day. And that's okay.

The thing about shared birthdays is that you have this super special bond that means you'll get a birthday present (on time!) every year, even if you speak your mind.

Unless your name is Marsha and the co-birthday-er is named Ray. Then you get zilch. Bummer. I was always jealous that my sister Bobo got $5 from her co-birthday-buddy. I learned early on that life is not fair.

Do you share a birthdate with anyone? What do/did you think about the whole thing? Is there a magical "I am an old person" age in your mind?

I'm linking up with Darcy@my3boybarians. We would love for you to join us for Sweet Shot Tuesday!

I Heart Faces: Hands-On Fun

The theme for this week's challenge at i heart faces is "Hands-On Fun."

While many of the participants have chosen to focus on hands, I am choosing to focus on FUN!!!

I'll never forget the laughter of this day when 6 little rascals put their grubby little hands on my horse and tried to run away with it!

They didn't get very far with all that excess baggage...

Yeeeeehawww!

{You can see more Hands-On Fun here.}

My first Photowalk

This past weekend, I attended my very first Photowalk EVER. The walk was hosted by I Heart Faces and led by Michael Howard.

Am I the only one that is slightly intimidated by artsy people? And professional photographers? Zoiks.

(I am still kicking myself for not having a picture of Amy and Angie. If you thought they were funny, friendly and beautiful through the old internet, they are even more fabulous in person!)

Cameras in hand, we braved the freezing temps of Nashville.

I had my happy shoes on.

Ruthanne had a pleated poppy nestled in her gorgeous curls.

And Melissa was the only smart one of us to wear gloves. She is definitely the coolest person ever.

Literally.

Don't believe me? You can read about it over HERE.

We walked, we clicked...

...we laughed... (and not just at with Melissa, but Darcy and her Handyman and talented Hannah too!)...

...and then we jumped into the warm van and drove straight to Cracker Barrel!

The End.

If you are getting this in a reader, click through to see a slideshow of some of my favorite pics. You can see other IHF Photowalk photos at the flickr group HERE.

Gift from South Africa

Look what these little birdies surprised us with all the way from South Africa!

Oh Fifi, if you only knew how crazy for World Cup Soccer we are!!! I so wish we could go (and make a pit stop at your house)!

The universal language of yum. CANDY.

THANK YOU, FIFI AND FAM!

Life

This is my friend Andrea and her little guys Artimus and Gollum. We have been friends since the 5th grade, but grew apart as we got older.

This past year, God allowed us to get together again and reestablish our friendship! We have kept in touch over email, texts and blogging. :) I had planned to get together with her during my next trip to my parents' house...

Andrea passed away this past Monday in a drowning accident.

(How I hate even writing those words out!)

I ask your prayers for her family and for her husband Tom.

Andrea's great laugh, beautiful smile, happy eyes (they were the twinkly kind) and compassionate heart will be greatly missed by myself and many others.

I am reminded yet again of the fleetingness of life, the sorrow in this world, and always always the hope and salvation that can only be found through our Lord Jesus Christ.

But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.

For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. - I Thessalonians 4:13,14

Do YOU believe? Do your actions and life prove otherwise?

Be ready.

what a great day

I wonder if I would show my true lameness if I gushed about how great today was?

I thought these girls were pretty awesome through my virtual stalking over the years, but they are even more beautiful, hilarious, smart and fun in person! Eeeeeeee!!! Look who came to visit my sister and I today!

It's Coco! And me! And Gayle! And Susan! And Leanne! And Emily!

Together in one place, y'all.

We ate and laughed and talked and time went by way too fast. Do you think 30-something (and a young 40-something) is too old to have a slumber party?

I am so blessed to have such great friends and even more blessed to have been able to hug them in person. When I started blogging in 2005, I never would have thought that the internet could be full of such goodness.

I like them. I like them a lot.

My new old friend

I labored not on this Labor Day. I partied with friends instead.

One very special friend is Sister Doris from my church. (And no, she's not a nun nor my sister, although she is my sister in Christ!)

She is one very sweet, thoughtful and interesting 90-something year old woman. I always enjoy her company whenever I have the opportunity to pop in for a visit.

This past Friday, I stopped by to say hello. And guess what she likes to watch on TV on Friday nights?

WRESTLING!!!

I kid you not. Isn't that a hoot? I wonder if she was also a fan of the Von Erich's back in the old days. Back when wrestling was REAL, y'all. :snort:

Awww... I just love her. She is very fun to talk with and full of surprises!

Is there anyone in your neighborhood or church that you could befriend? Don't be shy! This is one of those things where it really is more blessed to give than to receive. You always get back sooo much more than you give.

The Country Club

On the way to church, there is one building that constantly gets some sort of remark from my boys-- the "Country Club."

Lest ye think, ahem, that it is a high falootin' sort of place, it is the Country Club Bar. As in a seedy cinder block building set right next to the railroad tracks (because drunks and train tracks are always a stellar combination, y'all).

When my boys were younger, they'd ask about it and what people might do there.

They asked questions like "So what kind of drinks, mommy?" And I'd tell them that people would probably be drinking beer and liquor in there. When explaining liquor, I told them it was stinky, tasted bad and I'm sure burned their throats.

That's when they started whispering to each other "*gasp!* Look! That's where those people drink hot drinks instead of go to church!"

If that wasn't funny enough, conversation took a more interesting turn when we added three little girls to the mix last Wednesday night.

Upon passing the Country Club, this was overheard:

"You can't get drunk from drinking root beer because it's just soda."

"What do you think they do in there?
-I bet they play pool and drink beer.
-And smoke cigarettes!"

"And there are women in there too! And they show their bellybuttons!"

This is the point where Austin, who will be 10yo on Monday, loudly sucked in his breath.

One of the girls turned to him and said "It's not funny, Austin!"

He replied, "I don't think it's funny! I think it's DISGUSTING!"

And all five children concurred that it was indeed sinful and disgusting to be showing your bellybutton.

We tackle deep, spiritual subjects in our devotional time, can't you tell?

They aren't imaginary

I know people crack jokes all the time about online friends being imaginary friends.

But LOOK! I went here:

And got to spend time with my two fabuloso friends Sprittibee and Rachel.

They're real, y'all!

I have to add that babyBee is adorable and he is blessed to have such an awesome big sister that adores him! And Rach, it was great to finally meet your other half.

I wish we could've hung out longer but am very thankful for the time that we did get to spend together. :)

Good times, good times

You know you've found good friends when:

+ You can sit in the same hotel room and still have a group chat going in googletalk.

+ You kinda laugh at how dorky you are for the aforementioned chat but do it anyway just because it's fun.

+ Even though you had never met "in real life" before, you will still travel from far away and be super excited about staying in the same hotel room together.

+ Gifts of matching sassy tinkerbell socks, Pringles and chocolate makes you happy.

Good friends are a blessing! What a blast we've had so far!

And although we're not rooming together, I am SO EXCITED that I got to hang out with Eeeemommy for a little while today! Look at how cute and very pretty she is!!! And tall. :)

What a fun convention it has been so far here in Cincinnati!!!

Yeehaw in Arkansas

I had a fabulous visit with my friend Leslie in Arkansas.

And the lucky-duck that I am also got to meet another bloggy friend. You can meet Amanda too- right HERE! I promise you'll like her, I sure did! And next time, I'll give a little more notice so I can meet up with Chickadee too. (Don't be jealous!)

Sorry Leslie, I have NO idea why we look so sparkly in that picture! Something happened when it uploaded.. ah well, too bad it makes us look like we have white hairs tangled in there... And Amanda, I should've put my foot down and taken a pic of you.

Well, there's nothing much to report from here. I think my next post will have to be school related- just to remind everyone that we do actually get some learning squeezed in every now and then!

Christmas and blessings from friends

We are officially done with having our first Christmas without Christian at our side. It honestly was not especially difficult... emotionally, it was just like any other day in that we just miss him. David and I thought about Christmas last year and how Christian would've really loved the tree and gifts and special time with grandma and grandpa this year.

But I know that he isn't really missing out on anything down here! Can you imagine the amazing celebration in Heaven?! Yup, our little artificial tree, white Christmas lights and made-in-China nativity scene couldn't possibly compete with the tree of life, light from God himself and hanging around the real Jesus!!! He is such a lucky-ducky!

Nevertheless, Christmas would've definitely been more fun with an energetic bundle of 3 year old boy running around. So I'll just have to choose... choose to be joyful and thankful for the Christmases past and look forward to celebrating in the future with Christian in Heaven. :-) And I am VERY thankful to have the gift of these two joys to wake up to every day!

Speaking of gifts, Tank up there did get a really cool remote controlled car... that goes UP THE WALLS! Wanna see?

I would also like to thank my wonderfully dear friends from Five in a Row (FIAR) for the beautiful Dozer quilt they made for me. When Gwen dropped it off at my house two days before Christmas, I was surprised at how very personal the quilt was!

(and here's the back)

Each square is precious and close to my heart-- from fwogs to Christian's Good-Night Song to the hand-stitched rainbow... When I opened it up, it immediately brought me to tears. I spread it out on my bed, fell on it and wept... I'm not sure how long I cried but it was deep and heavy... and cleansing. I had been so emotional all month long and felt like I was teetering on the edge of a cliff... on the verge of tears every single moment. I'm telling you, God's timing was PERFECT in this gift! After that good cry I felt so much better. I know that was instrumental in keeping me from being a basketcase on Christmas Eve and Day. THANK YOU, my dear FIAR friends for your timely and very blessed gift!

I also want to thank all of you dear friends and family for your prayers, gifts, comforting cards, phone calls, instant messages :-) , and encouragement. You have truly ministered to our hearts.

Love,
Marshie

PS When writing this post, I was blessed by finding an account of Christian's first prayer tucked neatly away in my blog archives. God is so good!

When girls come over

I thought about posting about the election, but I'm going to try to practice the old addage If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all.

Meanwhile back at the ranch, we had 4 friends spend the night last night. GIRLS. Ages 4-10. Anyhow, Dash, Tank, the girls and I all had a great time together. We painted our nails (well, the boys opted to skip that part- which I am very happy about!), did some crafts and made some sweets. Friends are such a blessing, even if they are girls!