I keep thinking I will sit down and post something here and then I get tied up somewhere else doing something else. I can't believe that I honestly thought I would be bored after Gabe deployed. I knew I would miss him, but I think I may have gone overboard in planning activities to keep me and the little man busy because we have hardly had time to catch our breath in the last month.

There has been a lot of stress in my life recently related (in a roundabout way) to the deployment but not related to my husband at all. In short, I feel like I am dealing with a loon and it is almost impossible to reason with someone who cannot see past the end of her own nose. I think I am finally ready to stop beating my head against a brick wall trying to make a difference and to accept that there is only so much that I can do. I cannot make this whole year about her because she just isn't worth that kind of stress in my life.

As I type this, I have a recovering child on my lap as well. 2 days of high fevers really did a lot to put everything else into perspective. I am very thankful that it wasn't worse. Answered prayers are a beautiful thing.

Finally, since I don't seem to have enough things to keep me busy (insert insane laughter here) I have decided to explore some new crafting projects and to pick up some old ones. Thus far, I have actually completed 2 scarves and two cards. Most recently, in my second stamping attempt ever, I produced the card below. As you can see, I have a long way to go before I am considered proficient at the art, but it sure was a fun quick project to work on while Liam colored beside me. He likes the stamps too!

The front:


The inside:


I realize that the picture quality leaves a lot to be desired, but I can only do so much with a camera phone and surely you wouldn't expect me to walk out to the car to get the good camera!

On this day...

5 years ago, I was finally able to rent a car from most reputable companies if I chose to do so.

9 years ago, I had my first legal drink of alcohol outside of New Orleans, LA.

12 years ago, I became eligible to vote in elections.

14 years ago, I was able to legally drive a car for the first time.

16 years ago, my parents took 10 giddy teenage girls on a tubing trip down the Shenandoah River.

25 years ago, it was all about the presents and the cake.

30 years ago, I was born.

Here's to a whole new decade of possibilities.

I have just learned that doing the RIGHT thing and doing the EXPECTED and EASY thing are two entirely different courses of action.

This has been a rough week, but I hope that I can continue to stand my ground.

I could sit here and write a long post about how our last two weeks have been and how we are getting through this family separation, but I just don't have the heart for it.

Our country is hurting internally right now after this latest hurricane and I am heartsick over the "blame game" that is being played all over the internet.

This is a tragedy and one that needs to be addressed and addressed quickly, but I am amazed at the number of people who seem to think that it could have been prevented and who are pointing fingers over everything from incomplete evacuations to slow responses.

I wasn't there, but I do know that my grandparents (they live in the Mobile, AL area) have been advised to evacuate 3 times this hurricane season. Even if they wanted to, they are physically incable of such a thing. They prepare in the best way that they can and they pray for the best. 3 times prior to Katrina they were urged to evacuate and 3 times nothing happened. Not even heavy rain.

Anyone who thinks that a tragedy of this nature could have been prevented is naive and anyone who is pointing fingers and trying to organize the lynch mob to rise against the government is not helping the process. Sometimes things happen that are horrible and sometimes you can see in hindsight things that could have been done differently, but the cold reality is that you have to trust that people (right down to the ones who chose not to evacuate or were otherwise unable to do so as my own grandparents are unable to do) are doing the best that they can with the information that they have.

If you are someone pointing fingers, why don't you try something new and put your hands to something helpful and productive.