I'M FINALLY AN AUNT!!!!! :) YAY!!!!

Can you tell I am super-excited???? I am finally an Aunt!!! My sister had her baby (BRODY) tonight!

He weighs 7 pounds 12 ounces!

He is 20 inches long! He is soooo cute.

(Ok I only know this, because I was sent pictures... :( I really wish I could have been there. I have cried a lot today, because I can't be there with Carla. BUT I know Steven is taking excellent care of her! Mom and Dad will be helping too.

Carla gave me permission to post a few pics. so I am going to show off my nephew. (I have waited a LONG time to be an Aunt!!)

The girls are also very excited to have a cousin!!!
Here's Brody....

I'm adding a picture of Steven (Carla's husband/Brody's Dad OR as my girls call him... Uncle Stevie.) and Brody.. .

Catching up...

Pop and Nan came for a visit... so I haven't had time to blog.

We had a really nice visit...

On Dec. 23rd, Keith turned 30! (I'm going to sneak a pic of him. Shhhhh don't tell him...)

I think he looks good for someone turning 30... Then again I am slightly older than him, so I couldn't tease him! (He likes to remind me of this!)

Here are a few pictures from Christmas. The kids were spoiled thanks to all of the people who sent gifts from the mainland.

Here's a picture of Pop and Nan

Gracie


Megs




I hope everyone had a very Merry Christmas! We were blessed to have Pop and Nan with us!!

Prayer Request

I am going to be an Aunt soon!!!!

I am super-excited!!!!!

So I am asking whoever comes across this blog, to please pray for Carla, Steven, and Brody.

I will be back later to blog about Keith's 30th birthday and Christmas. We have been super-busy with Pop and Nan here (Keith's Grandparents). We are having fun and enjoying their company. I will fill in all the details later.

Again. Please pray things go smoothly for my sister. I can't wait to post an update that Brody is here!!! :)

Keith just has to fix everything... :)

Keith went to the exchange to get get coffee...

Or so I thought... I think he was shopping for me too...

He decided to give me one of my presents early. It is the ox and goat to my Willow Tree Nativity Set. As he was taking it out, he informed me that he had to fix the display at the store. The staff for one of the shepherds, was taped to a wise man. I guess it bugged him enough, he had to remove it, and put it in it's proper place. He cracks me up!!!

Now he's wrapping the other presents... And I'm in the next room. I really want to peak!!! :)

Well I never did find the quarter...

Well I never did find that quarter... :) But Gracie is doing fine!

Keith has been working so much lately. He does come home occasionally to shower or eat. :)

We are preparing for the visit of Pop and Nan. Yay! I hope the rain stops before they come. Or Paradise won't look like Paradise.

I really wish I could get in the "Christmas Spirit", seriously I feel like the Grinch this year. I think it's because Keith is hardly home. :( And the rain isn't helping either. Maybe Pop and Nan can bring some Christmas Cheer when they come!

Keith's latest project... :)

Just in case you're worried that Keith has left his redneck roots...

I'm here with proof that he hasn't....

He just got his jeep a couple of weeks ago...

Decided to tear the carpet out and replace it with the stuff that is used for a bed liner...

Thankfully, he's very handy! Instead of paying an insane amount of money to do this, He did it himself.

He did a really good job!!! :) The reason he did it, is so that when we go to the beach, the sand will easily spray out, or vacuum up.

Waiting on a call from the Dr....

Seriously... I just said I was thankful for Gracie... who keeps me on my toes...

She swallowed a penny and I'm waiting for a call to see if she needs x-rays. I really didn't know what to do. She wasn't choking or anything. I figured they would tell me to "look" for it.

I told Gracie we might have to go get a "picture taken of her throat and belly". We might have to see where the penny is.

Gracie said, "NO!! She might show my picture to someone!"

Excuse me??? You swallow a penny at 7 pm. on a holiday weekend, and all you're worried about is the Dr. showing your picture to other people??? I really don't know where she gets the Drama queen gene from!!! (types the girl who uses too many !!!!'s and :)'s

The Dr. on call, called back and said to take her to the hospital. Thankfully Keith was here to stay with Megs. So off we went. We got there about 8:30.

While we were waiting, Gracie informed me that she didn't swallow a penny, it was a quarter. I said, "What you swallowed a quarter? What color was it??"

She said, "White."

I was a little confused by that answer. "White? What do you mean? It wasn't brown like a penny?"

She said, "No It was white like a quarter."

So we go get the x-ray and the tech says it looks like a quarter, but he can't give us any more info we have to wait for the Dr. So we waited for 4 hrs, for the Dr. to tell us that it was a quarter and it is past the areas of concern. She should poop a quarter out in about 3-4 days. :)

The nurse kept asking me, "Do you know why she swallowed a quarter?" I'm biting my tongue, thinking... hmmm you don't know Gracie. I don't have a clue. She has a mind of her own! You ask her!! I'd like to know myself... But of course I just smiled and said, "No, I don't have a clue."

The Dr. said if it didn't come out in 5 days if I wanted another x-ray to bring her back. She also said it really isn't necessary, as long as she's not complaining of any pain. Even if we don't see it.

Soooo unless she's in pain... She can tell everyone she has a quarter in her belly... I'm not going back again to see if the quarter is there.

Late Thankful Post

Yesterday I had good intentions to post a "thankful" post.

The truth is we just had a lazy day after cooking, eating, and then cleaning. We watched football... and more football...

I am thankful for...

God and His never ending grace and mercy.

Keith... Who is a wonderful husband and Dad. I am so thankful he is here with us for Thanksgiving and Christmas!!! :)

Megs... She is such a great helper and sweet child. Her ability to analyze things like her dad is unbelievable... (They both know it drives me up the wall!)

Gracie...She keeps me on my toes... literally... wondering what's next!! She has a great sense of humor... when she's in the mood to laugh. :)

Although I really don't like living in Hawaii, I am thankful to be here. Being so far from family has helped our little family to grow closer. For that, I am truly grateful!

I am thankful for all of my family on the mainland too...

There's just so much to be thankful for... I'm afraid I couldn't list it all...

Thank You Keith!

I am feeling thankful again tonight... Thankful for my husband. (Excuse the long rambling explanation of why I'm thankful :)

I wanted a signature to go at the end of my blog posts. But I didn't want to pay anyone to do it. There are a lot of sites that will customize your blog, but they are too pricey for me. I'm sure it's worth the money, but I'm too cheap.

I found the "secret" to making your own. The problem with that is, I am technically challenged. It's a miracle I have figured out how to do a blog. I still don't know everything there is to know about blogging. I looked at the lengthy instructions to creating your own signature and decided..... it was a job for Keith!!

Seriously.... I am convinced my husband can do anything!! Anything but "birth" a baby! So he created my signature that is now at the end of my posts! It is so cute!!! All I told him was I wanted my name and maybe a flower or something cute to go with it. I really didn't have anything special in mind. He took that idea and created my signature. He even added a slice of watermelon, because he knows how much I LOVE watermelon!! :)

Also on a side note... I wasn't feeling good this weekend. Keith cooked dinner last night. After dinner, I had to run to the store for something. I left the kitchen a mess. When I returned he had cleaned the entire kitchen! :) The funny thing is, I didn't even notice it at first. I guess I was blocking the "mess" out of my mind! I was in the middle of telling him something about what I got at the store, when I realized the kitchen was spotless!! :)

So I guess what I'm saying is Thank you, Keith.
Thank you for my new signature.
Thank you for cooking and cleaning the kitchen.
Thanks for taking the trash out to the curb.
Thanks for taking the trash to the trash can.
Thank you for being a great dad and husband.
Thanks for being my best friend. I miss you when you're gone. AND I am so thankful you are here right now.
And thanks for agreeing to do the turkey again this Thanksgiving.
I don't think I have ever cooked a turkey. I'm afraid the kitchen wouldn't survive. (I do make the side dishes, just not the turkey.)

Rebekah's Ramblings.....

According to Gracie... She doesn't EVER want to leave our house. She wants to live with us and NEVER get married. WHY???? Because she doesn't want to get a job. She wants to play all day and never get a job or clean. Uhhhh I'm slightly worried. Seriously.

She also informed me that she doesn't want to go to school. She doesn't want to do school AT school or homeschool. WHY???? Because she wants to play all day... :) I think we should all start praying now, that God gives Gracie the desire to do something other than play. (I'm not joking as I type this. I don't want a 30 yr old Gracie playing dress up all day. No job, and living in our house!!! And then whining when she has to clean all of the dress up stuff up.)

Last night it hit me that Keith works on a Submarine. It will be gone for 6 months. And I don't like that idea. Seriously. I started crying. What is wrong with me??? I knew it was going to happen. It's not even happening soon. Just knowing that it will, scares me. 2 months almost killed me. How will I survive 6?????

Megs wants a skateboard for Christmas. I told her sure... but the only time she could ride it, is when Dad is home. Ummm now the 6 month deployment doesn't sound soooooo bad...

I was driving home the other day. I looked at the outside temperature thingee on the dash. It was 82 degrees!! GRRRRRR It's not supposed to be 82 in NOVEMBER!!! It's just not right. I can't wait to have some cold weather!! (Can you tell I'm tired of living in Paradise?)

And thanks to ParadiceMom :) Every time I type the word Paradise I almost misspell it!! :) If you're reading this. You are still missed! :)

I know I am rambling on about nothing. I just felt like rambling. I'm sure I could add to this, but it would just get weirder.

Oh yeah and if Carla is reading this. Dad sent me an updated picture of you. You are all belly and very cute!!! :) Gracie said she loves Brody already! And she can't wait to hold him. Me too. I can't wait.

Ok seriously, that's it for all of the ramblings.... :) I'll try to do better next time. I just had to get it out.

Got another video for you to check out.

I decided to post another song... This is one of my new favorite songs. They play it all the time on the Christian Radio here-- It seems to describe my life right now with Keith coming and going. I still feel "stuck" on this beautiful island in paradise.

There are many other complaints, but believe it or not, I'm not in a complaining mood. I'm in a thankful mood. I'm thankful that Keith is home! He will be here for Thanksgiving AND Christmas!! :) YAY!!!!

But in light of all that is going on around us, I love the words to the chorus. "whatever You're doing inside of me, it feels like chaos, but somehow there's peace." There's so much chaos in my life right now, but at the same time there is peace! God is awesome. So here are the words to Sanctus Real's song: "Whatever You're doing" I'm adding the video at the bottom if you want to check it out.

It's time for healing time to move on
It's time to fix what's been broken too long
Time make right what has been wrong
It's time to find my way to where I belong
There's a wave that's crashing over me
And all I can do is surrender

(Chorus)
Whatever You're doing inside of me
It feels like chaos but somehow there's peace
It's hard to surrender to what I can't see
but I'm giving in to something Heavenly

Time for a milestone
Time to begin again
Reevaluate who I really am
Am I doing everything to follow Your will
Or just climbing aimlessly over these hills
So show me what it is You want from me
I give everything I surrender...To...

(Chorus)

Time to face up
Clean this old house
Time to breathe in and let everything out
That I've wanted to say for so many years
Time to release all my held back tears
Whatever You're doing inside of me
It feels like chaos but I believe
You're up to something bigger than me
Larger than life something Heavenly
Whatever You're doing inside of me
It feels like chaos but now I can see
This something bigger than me
Larger than life something Heavenly
Something Heavenly
It's time to face up
Clean this old house
Time breathe in and let everything out
Sanctus Real - Whatever You're Doing Music Lyrics

Target....

A few weeks ago, Keith came into a port. He needed to buy a jacket for a future port call, since he forgot his jacket. So where did he go??? TARGET!!

Some of you might not realize it, but there is not one Target on the island!! Other than missing family and friends, this is one of my biggest complaints.

So while he was shopping, I told him it wasn't fair!! Keith is not a shopper!! It's just not fair!! So I asked him to get me something from Target and send it to me. . Anything... A purple pen (I have a sick obsession for pens and the color purple, but that's another story for another day...) or something small. I patiently waited for my package of "Target Things" to arrive... I figured he grabbed a bag of chips from the checkout line... This is what he came up with:



The red bag is one of the reusable bags that you purchase to shop at Target... We're supposed to get a Target some time next year...From what I understand, they have said that for the last 4 years. Hopefully I'll be able to use it before we leave the Island.

If you'll notice he also sent these...



They are EMPTY gift cards!!! That was mean!! BUT I still love him and I'm thankful for the stuff he bought!!! After all, I was expecting a bag of chips!!

Feeling thankful tonight...

So I thought maybe I should post an update on us.. We are doing good!!! Gracie had a really tough time at first... I started praying for God to help her understand what her Daddy does and that he will be back, just like the last time he left. No matter how much I talked to her about it, she couldn't understand!

So I continued to pray... About a week after praying I got an email from Karen H. (a friend from Philippi Baptist, the church I grew up in!) She had the idea to mark off the date of his return on the calendar. Then right before bed, place a sticker on the day that we completed! This would help her visualize when Daddy's coming home. I thought it was a great idea. We were busy, so I didn't try it right away... I continued to pray. Then my friend Christy (the friend who holds the Bible study at her house) suggested the same thing!! I'm not joking. Well since I was given the exact same idea... I decided to try it!

So the next day, I sat Gracie down and explained what we were going to do. A couple of hours later, Gracie came running up to me... She said, "Mommy now I know when Daddy's coming home!!" We have been doing this for a few weeks now... And she is doing so much better. She really understands when he's coming home!!! Thank you Karen and Christy! God used you, to answer my prayers!!

Give me Your eyes....

I saw this video on another blog... They play this song on the radio all the time... It makes me think for a second while hearing it...I silently pray for God to give me His eyes for a time so that I can see people the way He sees them...and then I go on about my busy day...


I have been so caught up in my own life right now, I haven't stopped to think of others. I haven't felt good, Keith's not around to help (not his fault of course!) , I miss him too, and I'm worried about my family on the mainland. Each having a variety of burdens that I won't publically address... BUT I love them so much I hurt when they hurt!!! My neighbor moved. (ParadiceMom if you're reading this we miss you and your family!) My other neighbor that I do Bible Study with is moving in December.. It seems life is falling apart...


But the truth is, it could be worse. There are people out there hurting worse than me... I just pray that my eyes will be opened and I will help others. See people the way God sees them... He created us and He loves us all...The Chorus is really great:

Chorus:

Give me Your eyes for just one second

Give me Your eyes so I can see

Everything that I keep missing

Give me Your love for humanity

Give me Your arms for the broken-hearted

The ones that are far beyond my reach

Give me Your heart for the ones forgotten

Give me Your eyes so I can see

I didn't know Keith was soooo Sneaky!!

Yesterday I got a call from a florist. I thought she had the wrong number! She was calling to see if I was going to be home. My sneaky husband ordered flowers, before he left. I have no idea when he ordered them!! It was a nice surprise.

Here they are...


He sent the girls balloons:


They love their balloons! I think it's sweet their Daddy thought of them too. I can't wait to tell him how much fun they have had with them... They have used them as parachutes for their polly pockets and littlest pet shop animals!! They have also used them as punching bags! :) It really brightened their day too!!

Keith's animated video for Megs... I hope you can see it.

I'm not sure how well this is going to show up, but I want to try and share it with you guys. Keith recorded himself reading a few books to Gracie for when he's gone. She was sitting in his lap. He also left a message for Megs and one for me. He made this short animation for Megs too. I thought it was sweet. I told him I was going to try and put it on my blog. I won't put any of the stories or personal messages, because I don't want to embarrass him, but I thought you might like this...



It is a picture of Megs and Keith playing soccer. She scores a goal. It took him a few mins. He drew the picture and then added a little and snapped another picture. It took him awhile and then he made a little animated movie out of it. It shows up better on our computer. It's actually bigger, but it comes out smaller on here. I guess I'm just really emotional now... He's not gone yet, and I'm already weepy and crazy... Just ask any of the people living here!! :) So please pray for us... We're closer as a family, and it's harder now...

Keith's Got Baby Watermelons!!!!!

Ok this is exciting to me....So I had to share!!!! We have baby watermelons!! Now I will have to really try not to kill them.... Everyone say a prayer!! :)

OK 1 more post tonight and then I'll quit.... For tonight anyway!

Keith and I were watching Food Detectives on the Food network. They were trying to see if you can eat 6 saltine crackers in 1 min. So, Keith decides he's got to try it ! I wish he would let me take a picture... Anyway, He ate 4.5 in one minute. The Food Detectives determined it was impossible to do. BUT of course Keith just HAD to try it for himself. What am I going to do when he does leave?? I will be so bored after 8:00 with no one to talk too. AND my entertainment will be gone too. So, if anyone is up at 2 a.m. on the East Coast and you can't sleep.... give me a call!!!

Gracie's 4th Birthday

Here are some pictures from Gracie's birthday. She wanted an ice cream cake like Meghan. When I went to Cold Stone Creamery, they didn't have any "birthday" cakes. So I got one of the regular cakes and had them write "Happy Birthday Gracie" on it. We added some Littlest Pet Shop animals on top to make it look like a birthday cake. She loved it.
Here is the cake:

Here she is opening presents.




She was so funny. After opening each present, she would pick it up and say, "Thank you Mommy and Daddy, and Meggie!! I always wanted this!!" She would say it, before she looked at what it was!!

Keith's watermelon plants

I love watermelon. I could eat it everyday. Knowing how much I love watermelon, Keith planted some seed after we ate some watermelon from the store. He didn't tell me... Until it started to grow. He had to re pot it, because the vines were growing fast. I thought it was so sweet, that I just had to share it with all of you. So these are the "BEFORE" pictures. Before he reported to the boat. Now that he's on sea duty, I will have to water them. Everyone knows I turn beautiful green leaves brown. Hopefully the "AFTER" picture won't be too bad!!




He is so sweet, I love him. I'm really going to miss him... Hopefully, I can keep the watermelons growing...

Megs last Soccer game from Aug. 23rd.

Megs Played Goalie first.


Here she is going after the ball.

Megs 9th Birthday Pictures from June 21st.

I started back blogging in July. So there aren't any pictures from Megs birthday this year. I decided to put a few up. Gracie's birthday was yesterday, I will post some of them also. I can't believe Meghan is 9!!

We started the day, with a climb to Diamond Head.



Here she is with her cake.



This is Megs with one of her presents.


Later we went to a Luau. She's growing up too fast!!

This is at Bellows playing with her present, the next day.

Yeah College Football is here!!!!

Even though I had to get up at 6:30 A.M., to watch the Dawgs play, it was worth it. (NO, THAT ISN'T A TYPO!) I am so excited that it is FINALLY College Football Season!! It stinks that Keith is going back to a boat just in time for football!!!

And on another note. Megs had a friend over last night. When her Mom came to get her, they both came downstairs. Megs was wearing her grey jacket. I asked her, "Why are you wearing your jacket? It's not cold in here!" She told me, "I was playing the Snowboarding game!" Yeah.... she's crazy too. Just like the rest of us.

Our Dinner last night

I wish all of you could come and eat dinner with us for one night. That is all it would take to understand this story. I'm not sure if I can get this story across to you, but I am going to try. Gracie is our drama queen. Eating with her is a challenge. She can't sit still and always wants to talk or sing.

So last night we were eating dinner and Gracie was up to her usual bouncy self. She didn't want to sit still, and was chatting and wouldn't stop for a second. Meghan asked if she could have another biscuit, since she was done with her meal. We said yes. Gracie looks at her Dad and says, "I want another biscuit too." Keith told her to eat her broccoli first. She begins whining, "I don't want to eat my broccoli! I don't like my broccoli!" Keith's reply was,"Oh really?? You liked it when we first began eating. If you don't like your broccoli, then you don't like the biscuits either!" (because just a few mins. before, she was happily eating her broccoli, as she was talking). Soooooo, Gracie as sarcastically as she could, asked her Dad, "WHY? ARE BISCUITS MADE OUT OF BROCCOLI??? Keith told her, "No, eat your broccoli and if you say another word you are going in the corner." So then she mumbles something to him, and Keith put her in the corner. This made her mad! She screamed for 5 mins and cried. When she finally quit crying, Keith went to get her out of the corner. He asked her if she knew why she was put there. Her reply was......... "Because I said another word!" So then he explained to her, it wasn't just because she had said another word.

Sometimes I just wish I could see the "Bigger picture". I know God has plans for all of us. We are told that in Jeremiah 29:11. I am just VERY curious, as to what those plans for Gracie are. She is starting to test us once again! It seems we take 2 steps forward and 20 back. I know alot of it is, because we have begun talking about the sub. Reminding her that Daddy is going back to the boat. She is still to young to understand. So please pray for us. And remember Meghan too. She understands, but it's still tough on her. They are so close to their Dad. It really hurts them when he's gone.

Gracie's great idea...

This morning Gracie came up to me and said, "Momma I have an idea! If Daddy's gone a very, very VERY long time and he comes back for a minute, because he forgot something or he needs to go potty, then we can give him a card. I make pretty cards!!"

I wish Keith could get off the sub, because he forgot something! I didn't have the heart to tell her he can't do that! I told her we can make cards for Daddy to take with him when he leaves! At least she is trying to grasp some idea of what is ahead. I'm praying that she will understand a little better this time!! I'm very thankful they miss their Dad when he is gone. It means he's doing his job as a Dad. He's a great Daddy! I'm glad he enjoys spending time with them. I hope they realize how blessed they are.

So please say some prayers for the girls.... It's tough being a Navy Brat... (Ok nobody get mad, that's what they call the kids who has a parent is in the Navy.) :)

The start of our "fun" week...

So....today was the start of our fun week, before Keith reports to his new sub on Friday. We decided to go to the beach. We went to Bellows our favorite beach. Grabbed Subway for lunch and then headed on down to the beach. We were there for about 45 mins., when Megs got stung by a Portuguese Man-of-war. She's ok now. I am very thankful, she's not allergic to them. She feels fine now, but it gave me quite a scare. I'm glad Keith was there!! Our fun week didn't start out fun. I wonder what's in store for us tomorrow?? Here's a picture of what stung Megs.

Meghan's Name in Hieroglyphics

Meghan is studying Ancient Egypt for History. She wrote her name in Hieroglyphics. Her name is in the purple rectangle going down the page. The pictures on the sides are things that she likes. We are on our third and last week of studying Ancient Egypt. We are taking the next week off to spend time with Keith before he reports to his sub.

I asked Megs what she wanted me to put that she has learned. She said," Too much to tell!! I have learned, the burial customs (mummies and pyramids). Also, what they eat and how the Nile was very important to them. Each Pharaoh had their own pyramid built for the afterlife. The Egyptians thought the heart was the organ that you thought with and the brain was considered useless. We are also studying about Moses and the plagues that God sent on Egypt, so that Pharaoh would let the Israelites go. It is really interesting to see what was going on at that time.

Tonight after Bible Study....

I never know what to expect when I come home from Bible Study! Keith always has a funny story to tell of at least one of the girls. Tonight Keith said Gracie was brushing his hair. She said, "Daddy there's something on your ear." and Keith said " No there isn't." So she started hitting his ear with the comb. Then she said, " Uhhh it feels like there's something in my ear!" So, Keith said, "Whatever!" Gracie said, "There's something in my ear!!" Keith said, "Ok, let me look at it." Then he turned around and started to look at it, and right when he got next to her ear, she turned and screamed at him. Trying to scare him. I asked him if he did it to her first. He said no. Boy the things I miss when I am away.... And you wonder why I need the break from all the craziness!!!

Megs' turn at the whiteboard

Here is a picture that Megs drew this weekend on the whiteboard. I thought it was cute, because she drew ants on the anthill. I just had to take a picture before it was erased. Yep I'm a dork, who loves her kids artwork!!

God heals our boo boos!!!

When Gracie woke up this morning, she was looking down at her boo boo. She said, "Mommy, look! My boo boo's almost gone. God is healing my boo boo!" I said, "Yes, isn't it amazing how God made our bodies so they could heal when we have boo boos? He heals our boo boos." Gracie said, "He doesn't heal them with bandaids, He heals them with His hand."

Now I have never said God doesn't heal with bandaids. She came up with that on her on. It was a nice reminder that God doesn't just heal with bandaids. He doesn't just cover up the situation and hastily go on His way, but He heals with His hands. He heals boo boos, and emotional pain, and thankfully He forgives us too. He is a loving Father, who heals with His hands! I know Gracie wasn't thinking any deeper than her physical boo boo on her leg, but I pray one day she will see just how much God loves her. This is my prayer for both girls. I am thankful that His hand has been on us through this journey to Hawaii. And this morning, I am very thankful that God heals our boo boos!!!

My weekend....

Keith and I are in the den talking... In walks Gracie. She says I need some medicine for my throat. We tell her no, she can have some before bed. If she wants to go on to bed we will give her some... (I don't think her throat is hurting, but since it's only about 30 mins. til bed time, she needs to wait, so it will last longer throughout the night). She whines, and finally realizes it's either bed and medicine or no medicine at all. Next thing I know, Gracie grabs her red chair (it was her naughty chair, now she just stands in the corner) sticks it in the corner facing the wall. Keith asked her, "Why are you moving you're chair there? Are you going to sit in the corner?" She said, "No, it's only for when I be ugly." So then Keith asks her, "Are you planning on acting ugly later?" Gracie answered very seriously, "YES!" and then goes on upstairs! I'm telling you it is never a dull moment around here.

Ok, here's a test to see if Keith reads my blog :) !! We were sitting at the soccer game. I gave Gracie some stickers to play with. She was having fun with them. They were animal stickers with pictures of real animals. During one of the breaks, Keith looked down at the stickers,and out of the blue says, "They should make scratch and sniff animal stickers. So when Gracie sees the skunk she won't play with it. " Seriously, he cracks me up. Everyday, he comes up with something funny and he doesn't even try!

Megs' soccer team won again this week. She's doing great. I'm so proud of her. This weekend we didn't do much, but go to the soccer game. I'm sick and we didn't make it to church this week. The girls played outside for the rest of the weekend. Megs has the entire neighborhood kicking soccer balls! As a matter of fact, a couple of the soccer balls got stuck in the tree. One of her friend's got the bright idea to give his shoe to another kid, and have him throw it up into the tree to get the soccer ball down. So what do you think happened? It got stuck!! So I got Keith and asked him to go get the shoe down. It was way up in the tree, you couldn't see it. It was black and hidden well. Our neighbor tried to climb the tree and was going to rescue the shoe, but he wouldn't climb across the branch. So Keith didn't climb the tree, because he didn't want it to look like he was trying to "out do" him. So he got this bright idea to take the poles from our brooms, mops, and other misc. poles and tapes them together with nuclear duct tape that they use in the Navy. So then he takes the pole he made (made from 5 different poles) and got the shoe down. It's funny, everyone was standing around wondering how we were going to get the shoe, because it was so far up. And Keith comes in and saves the day. (I guess while I'm telling on him, I'll go ahead and mention.... that he cleaned the kitchen and helped with the housework this weekend, because I have been really sick. He is such a great husband. Shhhh don't tell him I said that. He might get embarrassed!)

My Becky Moment for the day!!

Ok so I've had enough of the G's, M's, and K's, :) !! LOL!!! Keith and I talked about it and from now on, I will just type their names. (See the picture below and you will know why!!) I came home from a homeschool group planning meeting to find that Gracie had written her name. Keith wrote the top one and then Gracie wrote the 2nd one. (The third one, she wrote for me after I got back). I was so excited! I had Keith take a picture. (Yeah I know, I'm a dork. I have always been one and will always be one!) So I decide to put it on the blog. It hit me, halfway thru, that there is no point in typing "G" if I'm going to post the picture with Gracie in the background. Well I guess that was my "Becky" moment for the day. (Sorry Mom, You know I love you!) So we decided from now on, I will just type the names and not worry about it. Ok, so now for the picture that probably isn't a big deal to anyone but me. I just HAD to share it with everyone!!

It's been awhile....

Wow, I can't believe I haven't blogged in awhile. There isn't much going on. When Keith returns to the sub, I will have plenty of time to whine (oops I mean blog).

Homeschooling is going great!! (Please don't judge the teacher! I admit there will be many misspelled words and MANY MANY gramatical errors on this blog. Just smile and remember I was educated at the great school.... Henry County High!!) We are studying about Ancient Egypt. Much to my surprise, she is retaining most of it!! I am excited. I think she is enjoying it too. I am very thankful that we have a substitue math teacher for the moment. K is teaching math while he is on leave (military term for vacation). G is learning her letters. She can say her abc's, but she doesn't recognize some of the letters, so we are working on that.

I'm sitting here watcing the news. I am a news junkie. M is out playing and G is napping, so I am watching the news and blogging. They are talking about the airline industry and the price of flying. Not only do I need to save for airfare, I need to save extra money for water, food, extra baggage, and a pillow and blanket. By the time I save enough money, they will probably make me pay for bathroom use too. It's getting crazy!!

Well G just woke up, she wants to go out too. So I need to get off the computer and help her get ready. I will try to post more often. Right now, there is nothing interesting to post. All we are doing is school, soccer, and church. On the 15th we are taking a week off to have fun with K before he goes back to the boat. So hopefully I will have some new pictures to post as well.

The Bulldogs won!!!

M had another soccer game today. They won 5-2!! She scored 2 goals!! Unfortunately, I forgot the camera. I don't have any pictures. A ball was kicked into her stomach really hard, and she stayed in the game. She is much tougher than me!! LOL!!! I would have been crying and begging to come out of the game!! (Ok stop laughing, you know I wouldn't even get out on the field!!)

On another note... Our first week of homeschooling was great. It was mostly review and testing to see where M is. On Monday we got news that K got a submarine. We also found out we are here for another 5 yrs. I have really been upset all week about this. I think I am finally accepting the fact that I will have to be here and there is nothing I can do. After a week of praying, crying, begging God for answers and strength, I am feeling much better. I know God has a reason for us being here. I know He will never leave us either. Please continue to pray for us, it's going to be hard. K will hardly be here. His schedule will be very sporadic. We will be blessed if we get to see him much at all. Ok that's enough whining. I have alot of laundry to catch up on.... Seems like I am always behind in laundry, it's a never ending cycle!!

Prayers Please!

Tomorrow we begin our homeschooling adventure. If you want to hear the entire story, just let me know. I don't feel like blogging the entire thing it's really long. So I'll try to give you the "long story short version." The public schools here are awful. There are homeless people sleeping in the bathrooms overnight. The only things being taught are math and language arts so that the kids will be deemed "adequate" and the school will receive money. Private school isn't an option for us, since we live in Hawaii and everything is expensive. M began begging to be homeschooled. I had no desire to do it.

A lot of military families here homeschool, whether they are christian or not, because of the horrible school systems. K and I talked about it, and he said he would support me either way. We know several people that homeschool here, and the kids are doing great. So I began to pray that if this is something that God wants and no just a "phase" that M was going through, that God would give me the desire to homeschool. I had absolutely NO desire to homeschool!

My neighbor homeschools her kids and she began to show me that I could do it. Within a couple of months of praying, God gave me an overwhelming desire to do it. I don't know how long we will homeschool. It may be just while we are in Hawaii. We are taking it one year at a time.

So tomorrow we begin the journey. I have prayed and researched for months. We have all of M's books and a lot of things for G to do. Please pray that everything goes smoothly. I was going to do an easy week that wouldn't count to get everyone ready. I decided to just do spelling, grammar, vocabulary, and science. M asked me today if we could do math too. I told her if we did that we could count it a week.

I know everything will be fine, because I feel this is what I'm supposed to be doing. That doesn't mean we won't have rough days. I wouldn't worry so much if my neighbor was going to be here all year, but she's leaving in September. She has been a tremendous help. I could never thank her enough!!

Well I guess I gave you the longer version anyway! I just can't keep anything short and sweet. I really need to work on that!!

Thanks for the prayers,
Bekah

I'm a soccer Mom again!

Here are a few pictures of M playing soccer. She's # 10. Her team's name is the Bulldogs. They won 3-0. She's having fun and doing a good job.

What I woke up too on Friday Morning :)

Ok..LONG story short... (Yeah right, everyone knows it takes me forever to get to the point!! LOL!!!!) Thursday night I spent the night at my neighbor's house, (Keith was at home with the girls) in case her kids had an emergency. (She has an "almost 14 yr old" daughter who is great, and had everything under control, I was just there in case of an emergency.) I couldn't sleep at all. I think I may have gotten a couple of hrs of sleep if that. On Friday morning I came in and told M. I was going to sleep for a couple of hrs. (it was 6 am) I explained to her I hadn't had any sleep. She had everything under control. At about 9 am she opens the door and asked me, " Mom how do you turn the oven on, I made biscuits." WHAT??

I came downstairs to this:

And here is the finished product:

M and G said they wanted to make me biscuits since I didn't have any sleep and I was tired. Isn't that sweet?? M and G have made biscuits with Grandma almost every time they see her. When Grandma and Grandpa were here a few weeks ago, they made biscuits and M has learned what to do. They tasted great too!!

An old post that was originally on myspace.

I've decided to put an old blog that is on my myspace page. It's from October 15th, 2007. I am not looking forward to sea duty!! Here it is:

I have never posted a blog. And as you know. I am really lonely after 8pm my time in Hawaii. So I thought I would try it. And since I talk way too much, be forewarned not only is this going to be long, but possibly boring too. With a ton of typos... So most of you have asked How's it going? What's Hawaii like? Honestly, I'm not sure how I feel about it. One min. I hate it and the next I am learning a lot and growing in my faith. G. has had a tough time lately with Daddy having sea duty. (If anyone has tried to have a phone conversation with me in the last couple of months, you'll know this to be true. That's why I don't call ANYONE, anymore. They call me and I pray for no outburst... Back to my story, I ramble way too much!!) I have asked everyone that prays, to please pray for her. And I can honestly say, between the prayers and being consistent with the discipline, we are making progress. The other morning, she woke up happy. I went downstairs to make M.'s lunch. G. stayed upstairs. She started crying. M. came downstairs and told me that G. wanted me. She continued to cry a little, but mostly whine! I hollered up (sweetly of course!) stairs to G. that I was making M. lunch for school and I would be upstairs in a minute. Well she got quiet. So M. went upstairs to check on G. for me. I hear M. ask G...."G. are you praying??" M. comes back down the stairs and said to me... "Mom, G. is praying. She said she's praying for Daddy to have a good day at work and for God to please take away his headaches and make him all better!" (He's been having trouble with Migraines and we have been praying for Daddy to feel better while he is gone.) M. said G. had her little hands folded and everything... We've come along way... A few weeks ago, the crying would have gone straight into complete screaming for 30 mins. to an hr. She still has her moments... But praise God they are getting better... and She's learning to pray... How cool is that?

Saddest thing heard today...

We were sitting at the table eating dinner and M says to us, " Is it just me or do ya'll miss having a backyard? I wish we had a backyard." Then G precedes to ask, "What is a backyard?" What is a backyard???? I think we have lived in military housing too long. My poor 3.5 (almost 4yr old) doesn't know what a backyard is!

I long for the day when we can have our own place with a backyard. Of course, by the time we have one, our kids won't be kids anymore!

"Celebrating" 1 year in Hawaii

Wow, I can't believe it's been 1 year since I arrived on the wonderful Island of Oahu. (HMMMM can you read the sarcasm??) I'm still not crazy about living here. Imagine going a whole year without a Target, Chick-fil-a, Kohl's, O'Charley's, Sonic, Applebee's (never thought I would miss that!), a "real" mexican restaurant, Publix, Cross Anchor Church (Ok so not everyone has Cross Anchor.. but that is my 2nd family.), AND most of all, your entire extended family. Of all the things I miss, it is family and friends that I miss the most.
Ok I guess that is enough complaining... There are some things that I am thankful for. Our family is closer now than it has ever been. I am personally closer to God than I have ever been. I know my heavenly Father loves me and has a plan for me and my family. I cling to the promises of Jeremiah 29:11-13. I think I was too comfortable with my faith. I needed to step out of my comfort zone. It just took something a little more drastic to get my attention. You know a move across the country and over the pacific ocean. The first year really hasn't been that bad. K. has been home for most of it, and we have been able to explore the island. Thankfully alot of family have been able to visit too.
With sea duty looming overhead, I find myself worrying again. I hate being the only parent to"physically" be here for the kids. It's harder on me when K. isn't here, because he is an awesome Dad!! BUT I'm thankful that it's not easy, because that means he's doing his job :)!!He is a great Daddy to both of them!! They both have a great example of what their heavenly Father is like, because their "earthly Father" is so loving!
Well that is enough whining from me. I can barely keep my eyelids open. I think it's time for bed.