Well they found my van. There was very little damage. The lock was only popped out, no need for broken windows, it was open. There was a brick inside it that they were going to use, I guess. They took out all the inside lights, but we were able to get them back in. We are blessed.

I have had a horrible day that ended up with me getting my van stolen.

Have a look at this :)!

Google Search: I'm tired

Did I tell you that I have quit smoking yet again. Oh I probably didn't tell anyone that could see me that I had even started again.

I am attempting to start working out again and have done fair so far. Thirty minutes on the epiliptical two days ago. Just have NOT found time but that once this week.

ANNNNDDDD, I am SO tired!

Well, Jake graduated from bootcamp. He did very well. He was home for 10 days leave and then he worked 14 days with the Marine recruiter here. He spend 90% of his time with his fiance Jessica. I have mixed feelings about that.

They want to get married January 29th before he goes in Iraq. I have mixed feelings about that too. At LEAST he is trying to do things the RIGHT way and I have to give him credit for that. I pray he doesn't get anymore tattoos though .

Things are really goint so well here. God has truly blessed us. NOW if I could just get all these clothes folded!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

jj

They have moved Jake's graduation up a day due to Hurricane Frances.

I'll bet Jake is glad!! We are too really. Now we get to spend one more day having fun before coming home. We don't have too much money, but we have enough and Jake will have some too!!

I am so glad to be able to see my son again! It will probably be the last family trip we will go on for a long time, if ever, again. Jake did say that he won't be going to Iraq though, Praise God!!! He was interviewed for those guys that march all the time, etc. I will write back when I figure out what it is.

We leave tonight for the graduation 13 hundred hours tomorrow. Tomorrow my son will be a United States Marine. Hmmmmmm...............I can't wait!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The Many Faces of Joy

Philip B. Kunhardt Jr.

Joy is contagious.It can spread like a forest fire,Whipped by a high, hot wind.

Joy can be shared in a crowd.Or it can be savored all alone.Joy can bellow.

Or it can fall soft as a kitten's tread.Joy can excite.Or it can comfort.

Joy can be sensuous.Or it can spring from the intellect.

Joy can bewitch. Joy can be sweet.Or it can be zesty, euphoric, giddy.

It can teach. It can heal.It can lay to rest old pain.

In a world so darkened by suffering and uncertainty, joy can brighten our heavens and make life worth living all over again.

Up until after 11 a.m. yesterday, all the storm trackers had Hurricane Charley coming directly for Tampa Bay................then...........it turned and hit farther south. I guess you could say that was a good thing, but it just destroyed stuff for people that were actually LESS prepared. Although we have all learned to stay prepared.

We have severe thunderstorms now as I type, but those are normal here.

I am supposed to start me new "side job" today, parking cars in Ybor. I know that may seem a little out of character for me, but I just want to make some extra money doing something where I don't have to analyze, coordinate, or 'think' really.

Hurricane Charley just passed through where Jake is but it is down to a Category 1. That's not too bad, but I hope he is not out in it.

Well Hurricane Charli is going to kick our butt. Pray for us, but don't expect a play by play from me. I have to get prepared and then the electricity will probably go out. Just pray for us, k?

A Baby's Prayer Keep me dry and keep me warm and oh how much I need you, Mom!Keep me clean and keep me fed and oh is that you, Dad?Listen to my cries, rock me and sing me lullabies.Give me kisses when I smile, but when I'm hurt or blue, addgentle hugs, too.Listen when I coo, cause I'm saying I love you and when I smile, it's to make it all worth while.There is so much to explore, so keep me safe and secure and be patient with my busy hands, talk to me with words I'll understand.Talk to me a lot so I'll be smart and keep me close to your heart.Sounds like so much to do, but I won't be little forvery long and before you know it, lullabies will bebye-gones.

I'm tired!

Last couple of days I have been exhausted when I get home. I guess stuff is catching up with me. I never put it on here, but I did the credit counseling thing a while back. Where they take all your cards and unsecured debt and consulidate it to where you only have to pay a lump some every month, live with in your means, and in 4 years you are debt free. I don't know about you but this sounded like a good deal to me. We lost money when Jake left. I had been receiving SSA for Jake because his dad was killed. I no longer have that income and Leroy had really enjoyed his cards, Master, Home Depot and Lowes. Need I say more.

The student loans will come next. DID I BOTHER TO SAY ON THIS BLOG THAT I GOT MY COLLEGE DEGREE???? A Bachelors, Cum Laude, I could have done better..............

So I have a lovely piece of paper now, and an $18.000 bill to pay eventually, and am 44 years old. Well, at least the loan will die if I do and not haunt my family.

Now, with only 4 kids at home and no more school, PLUS we have to live within our means, I have decided to get a part time job...............and I did. Parking cars in Ybor City, which is Tampa's version of Bourbon St. It is 10 hours a week, which is perfect, 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. on Friday and Saturday nights only until the Forum gets back up and having sporting events, hockey games, etc. Then maybe more hours. I want to be able to PAY for Christmas. I thought I would even start lay-away now and K-Mart and WalMart. Leroy is already working six days a week now, so I have to catch up a little. He doesn't really like the idea, but it's plain that we need to do SOMETHING.

It is almost time for Jake to graduate from Boot Camp. I have written him probably 3 or 4 times a week since he has been gone. We will be going to SC EARLY the morning of the 2nd and getting back the 4th. That gives us two nights in hotels, so that should be fun for us, the kids, and of course Jake. He will actually be a Marine. Maybe even a MAN. That is so weird.........

First Day of School

Well, this is it! The first day of school. I woke everyone up a little after five. They got dressed and had some cereal. I wanted them to have something in case it was too hectic to eat at school. Georgie leaves for the bus at 6. He has a TON of kids to walk to the bus stop with, that's a good thing! I left at 6:30 to take Jamila and drop her off. She got there about 6:50. Then, I went BACK by the house where Lee Lee and Destiny's school is. I had not met their teachers because I was at George's open house when they had theirs. Leroy took them to theirs. BUUUUTTTT, I was able to met their teachers and I even had breakfast with them at the school. They ate some more cereal, and I had a bagel pizza and a banana. It worked out well.

I did feel weird without Jake starting to school. It seems hard to believe that he has graduated and is gone. I have been getting letters from him. He failed his first rifle range test and he took another one Monday. I have not heard anything since then, but Brother Bradley prayed for the shooting test itself in church Sunday, so I am sure it went well. I have not made the correct plans to get to and stay the night at Jake's graduation at Parris Island! I have to do something soon!!!!

I am so sick of these kids not doing what I tell them to do.  They always say "I forgot".  So this morning I wrote a list of what I wanted each child to do BEFORE they left the house for the rec center and daycare.  How much do you think was done?

Bump this stuff...........

This Land

It is raining again today.  I like the rain, but the only problem is that Leroy can’t work a whole day.  We truly don’t need any short checks around here either.

 It is time to buy school clothes for the girls.  Luckily Jamila still has a lot of her uniforms from last year, but I do need to get a couple of school logo shirts at 14 bucks a pop, and a couple of skirts.  Georgie needs black shoes, and Lee Lee and Destiny need a few things.

I really have to go through all the rooms, AGAIN, to purge all the clothes that are not suitable and/or too small.  They have lots of clothes, but they are play clothes.
When I got home yesterday, Leroy had been home most of the day.  He used it to relax though and he really needs to do that, so I didn’t care.  I do hope he gets some things done if he goes home today.  He probably will too, with it raining so badly.

I moved to a different space (cubicle) in a different section of the building last week and I like my new spot.  It was recently painted in shades of tan and brownish and I find the colors very soothing.  Everyone says my space looks like a living room, but I like to be comfortable and I enjoy my plants and “stuff”.

The dogs have been staying in the shed since the rain has been so bad, and Leroy is upset because now his shed smells like dog.  He needs to clean it out anyway, you can’t even walk in there.

George and Lee Lee are staying home today because Lee Lee did something to her toe and it is all swollen up.  It is better to stay off of it for a day or two.

Well I better get to work!

A rainy Sunday morning................one thing Florida does not lack is rain in the summer time.  Sometimes I think that the whole state is one big over-developed swamp.  I love it here though, even with all the humidity.  Even though the air seems too thick to breath sometimes.
 
We did have a drought a couple of years ago though.  There was NO significant rain for two years.  Now THAT was NOT a good thing!  We need our rain because of the intense heat.
 
I got a decent letter from Jake yesterday AND he wrote his brother George.  He got all the stuff we sent apparently.  He had strep throat at one point and he said his temp was up to 104.  All my kids have always gotten really high temps like that, but he is kind of old to be getting up that high.
 
I haven't heard from Joy lately, since she was posting on the photo page.  I don't know what's up with that.
 
Jamila has been going to the camp that is held at THE BEST prep school in Tampa.  Did I tell you she and 3 other girls from her school got a scholorship to go there !!!  We would never be able to afford something like that and it is a true blessing that she was chosen and is able to attend.
 
My van broke down.  I don't know what is wrong with it.  Leroy said it was something to do with the fuel.  I think he put a fuel filter in yesterday, but I don't keep up with all that stuff.
 
I have to go get groceries!!

Shhhh!

A Sunday school teacher asked the children just before she dismissed them to go to church, "And why is it necessary to be quiet in church?"

Annie replied, "Because people are sleeping."

My Never Again List

Never again will I confess "I can't" for "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." Philippians 4:13

Never again will I confess lack, for "my God shall supply all of my needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:19

Never again will I confess fear, for "God hath not given me the spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind." II Timothy 1:7

Never again will I confess doubt and lack of faith, for "God hath given to every man the measure of faith." Romans 12:3

Never again will I confess weakness for "The Lord is the strength of my life." Psalm 27:1

Never again will I confess defeat, for "God always causeth me to triumph in Christ Jesus." II Corinthians 2:14

Never again will I confess lack of wisdom, for "christ Jesus is made unto me wisdom from God." I Corinthians 1:30

Never again will I confess worries and frustrations, for I am "casting all my cares upon Him who careth for me." I Peter 5;7

Never againwill I confess condemnation, for "There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus." Romans 8:1

Ah...........life in the big city!

Great weekend for us folks! I got Jake's package of stuff off finally. He had asked me to send him some Power Bars and powdered Gator Aide. I had bought them along with his birthday cards BEFORE his birthday on July 5, but just got everything off last Saturday.

I also mailed all the kiddie pictures out to the relatives here and there, but forgot my sister, Paula, and have to go back and make her package up.

Jamila started camp, at the number one Prep school in Tampa, today. She was chosen with 3 other girls out of her school to attend on scholarship. It really is a big deal, and we are very grateful that Jamila can be exposed to that environment.

George with to Wet N Wild with the Parks Dept. Saturday. I have to find a good field trip for Lee Lee to go on that I can afford. Our money is a lot less than it used to be, so we really can't do things the way we have before.

All else is well. I am working on getting everything totally organized at home and work. That is my BIG goal. I also want to finish painting the house. I had started that when I was off work. I still have the paint and stuff.

I would like to do the laundry room in the evening sometime this week. I have borders and all................hope I have the energy!!!

The Cookie Thief:



The woman arrived

At an airport one night

With several long hours

Before her flight.



She hunted for a book

In the airport shop,

Bought a bag of cookies

And found a place to drop.



She was engrossed in her book

But happened to see,

That the man sitting beside her,

As bold as could be,



Grabbed a cookie or two

>From the bag in between,

Which she tried to ignore

To avoid a scene.



So she munched the cookies

And watched the clock,

As the gutsy cookie thief

Diminished her stock.



She was getting more irritated

As the minutes ticked by,

Thinking, "If I wasn't so nice,

I would blacken his eye."



With each cookie she took,

He took one too,

When only one was left,

She wondered what he would do.



With a smile on his face,

And a nervous laugh,

He took the last cookie

And broke it in half.



He offered her half,

As he ate the other,

She snatched it from him

And thought... ooh, brother!



This guy has some nerve

And he's also rude,

Why he didn't even show

Any gratitude!



She had never known

When she had been so galled,

And sighed with relief

When her flight was called.



She gathered her belongings

And headed to the gate,

Refusing to look back

At the thieving ingrate.



She boarded the plane,

And sank in her seat,

Then she sought her book,

Which was almost complete.



As she reached in her baggage,

She gasped with surprise,

There was her bag of cookies,

In front of her eyes.



If mine are here,

She moaned in despair,

The others were his,

And he tried to share.



Too late to apologize,

She realized with grief,

That she was the rude one,

The ingrate, the thief!



How many times have we absolutely known that something was a certain way,

only to discover later that what we believed to be true...was not?



"Keep An Open Mind And An Open Heart, Because...... You Just Never

Know..." Ya might be eating someone else's cookies