crazy*little*words

spring is finally here!

I cannot even begin to tell you how happy I am that spring is finally here! It's officially two days into the new season, and the weather here is gorgeous. Not at all like the very first day of spring - on Saturday - when we had 3 inches of snow on the ground! It was crazy! We went to Dallas on Friday to visit some friends and the weather was beautiful - 78 degrees, sunny, awesome! We went to dinner at Red Robin - one of our FAVORITE places - and enjoyed some Wii time. When we got up the next morning, it was pouring down rain and FREEZING!! Lovely weather for a road trip. Our next stop was Waco, where we picked up the girls' half-brother so he could visit for a couple of weeks. The little ones love having him around, and of course J and K adore him! Scott was always talking about this fabulous tortilla place in Killeen that he would go to when they were TDY there for ONE. A place called Mama Rosa's Tortilla Factory. We passed a sign on the way, advertising one in Waco, so we knew we had to stop. Can I just say it was THE best Mexican place EVER?? Oh my! I love Tacos al Carbon, and they had THE best one I have ever had. For fast-food, this place was excellent, AND cheap, too! So, if you're ever near a Rosa's Tortilla Factory - go there and eat. You won't regret it! Okay, on to something other than food . . . vampires. Yes, I know, everyone is into vamps these days. I love the HBO series *True Blood* and the encore of the second season just started running this week, so we signed up to get it. What I didn't know was that they had a new series coming out by the producers of *Band of Brothers* - aka Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks - that tells the story of the Pacific theater during WWII. The show is called *The Pacific* and it's awesome! If don't subscribe to HBO, I totally recommend it just for this mini-series. It's an awesome lesson in American history and a wonderfully cast series! It airs on HBO at 8:00PM on Sunday nights {I'm in the Central Time Zone, so check your local listings!} That's it for today. Off to my amazing Girl Scout Daisies and the world of Cookies!! Have a great Monday!

God Bless America . . .

So I promised that I would not post political stuff on my blog, except for one a couple of months ago. But, this video from YouTube explains my sentiments on the war in Iraq, and why I believe we should not just pack it up and leave. Even if you do not support Senator McCain, please watch this through, all the way to the end.

God bless our troops - those who have served their nation honorably and are still serving, and those who have given the ultimate sacrifice of their life inorder to defend the freedoms we enjoy today - and God bless America.

today and no more . . .

I have seriously refrained myself from mentioning politics on my blog. I really believe that everyone has their own opinion on the candidates and thankfully, we can, since we live in a nation that affords us that right. A right that is protected and cherished by the members of our military. A military, where men and women, each and every day put their own lives on the line in order for us to have the freedoms that we so foolishly take for granted. Not so much take for granted - but freedoms we do not truly understand, because most of us have never been without them. To that end, I leave you with a YouTube clip of U.S. Senator Barack Hussein Obama and why I firmly believe he should not be our next president. In this time of war {whether or not we should be there is not the issue - we are there}, a president should bot be focused on scaling down the military that so valliantly serves to protect this nation that we love.

You know the one good thing about this country - whether you agree or disagree with others' political views - you are free to do so. Thanks to all of the men and women of the United States military who seve to protect those freedoms - past, present, and future.

appalling . . . seriously

I was just watching the nightly news and saw a story about a woman, Deborah Shank, who was seriously injured in a vehicle accident two years ago.  An 18-wheeler broadsided her car and left her with permanent brain damage . . . so bad that she has to live in a nursing home at the age of 52.  The good thing - she was employed by WalMart at the time and her medical expenses were paid.  The bad thing - she was employed by WalMart.  Why you ask?  Because now, after reaching a settlement with the trucking company for $700,000 {after attorney fees and other expenses, she had a little over $400,000 which was put into a trust to care for Deborah}, WalMart is now seeking payment for the medical coverage she received while still under their insurance plan.  They say they are being generous, settling for only $271,000 - the entire amount left in the trust - instead of the full amount.  What?  I am SO completely appalled by this.  Seriously.  I am not one for boycotting stores and businesses solely on their legal stances and political issues, but this is just wrong.  Wrong!  I know that companies usually do put clauses like that into their medical contracts - to seek reimbursement for payments when something catastrophic happens.  But come on?   

Now, I live in a smallish town, and WalMart is huge here.  It is where most people shop for food, toys, household goods, etc.  Me included.  Yes, I could shop at the Commissary.  It would be less money.  But WalMart is closer, more convenient, you name it.  No more.  I will NOT shop there.  I won't say ever, because you never know what life will throw your way.  But I will seriously be making a concerted effort to avoid the place, and spend my husband's hard-earned money somewhere else.  Oh, did I mention that recently her husband had to divorce her in order for her to receive more government benefits?  Or, that he son was killed in Iraq?  Yes, it's THAT bad.  You can read more about this HERE if you want more details. 

Okay, I am off of my soap box now.  I think.  Anyway, I had to get that off of my chest because I am just so disgusted over it.  Bleck . . .

**under construction {phase 1}**

Just so you know, I am in the process of revamping my blog!  So, if you notice things look a little whacked out every now and again, please be patient, as I "redecorate" my blog for the new year/season!  Gee, that seems to be a current trend in my life right now - redecorating, revamping, freshening up!!  Anyway, it shouldn't take long and things will be back to normal in no time!!

years ago . . .

It has been SOOOO long since I have blogged!!  With the end of summer and the start of the school year, I have been so busy with family obligations, vacations, and getting back to the school schedule routine, I haven't had the time to put my thoughts on paper {or on the keyboard!!!}  So, with that said, here is a little post about September 11 and the effects that day has had on my life.

Six years ago today, I was lying in bed with my husband of not even a year, watching in horror at the events that were unfolding on the TV.  I could not believe that our country was being attacked by these inhumane, crazy, thoughtless individuals that have no regard for human life.  It has taken six years of reading and learning to understand that it is not a true follower of Islam that attacks innocent people and causes death to so many. 

Four years ago today, I sat in my OB/GYN's office, praying that he would admit me {and induce me!} so that I could FINALLY deliver my sweet little Emma.  After nine long months - filled with tons of hopefulness, fearfulness, and lots of laughter and tears - I was so ready for her to just be here.  Just not on this day {well, hopefully anyway!}  I really did not want her birthday to fall on September 11th, even though it would be a bright moment on a such a sad day.  After over 19 hours of labor, they finally wheeled me into the operating room on September 12, at 3:30 in the morning, to deliver my sweet little girl.  More to come on that tomorrow!!

So, in the six years since the September 11 attacks on America, I have much to be thankful for.  Thankful that my husband is safe at home, on American soil {even though he would much rather be "over there" fighting for his country}  Thankful that I have a happy, VERY healthy, little girl named Emma Grace who was born a day after one of the most memorable dates in American history.  Thankful, that six years later, we still have a very free, very strong country that still stands for peace, freedom, and basic human rights - because of the very strong, very brave, very capable men and women of our all volunteer military.  Thank you to those who have served, are serving, and to those who support them.  Thank you to those who have given the ultimate sacrifice to this wonderful nation that I truly love. 

God bless America - home of the free because of the brave.

A New Drug - 'Strawberry Quick' - Protect Your Children

I read about this on another blog today and wanted to post it here.  If you have children, please keep an eye out for this.  It's VERY scary that people are trying to sell to little kids now!  Protect your kids and read this {it has been checked out on snopes.com and is true!}

NEW STREET DRUG 'Strawberry Quick'
This is pretty scary!!!

A message to parents, grandparents and guardians from Principal Gilkison:

I have been alerted by one of the EMT's at our volunteer fire department that they have received emails from emergency responder organizations to be on the lookout for a new form of crystallized methamphetamine that is targeted at children and to be aware of this new form if called to an emergency involving a child that may have symptoms of drug induction or overdose.

They are calling this new form of Meth 'Strawberry Quick' and it looks like the 'Pop Rocks' candy that sizzle in your mouth. In its current form, it is dark pink in color and has a strawberry scent to it.

Please advise your children and their friends and other students not to accept candy from strangers as this is obviously an attempt to seduce children into drug use. They also need to be cautious in accepting candy from even friends that may have received it from someone else, thinking it is just candy.

I don't want this email to scare anyone, but as a parent, administrator and friend, I thought it would be best to share this with you, so you can once again talk to your children about the effects of drugs and how easy it could be to take drugs without knowing it, until it is too late. I worry, just as each of you do about kids and drugs and all the problems our kids today are faced with. So please talk with your children about this newest threat to get children addicted to drugs.