Grateful

(Joplin Hospital)

Joplin, MO was hit by a horrible and deadly tornado Sunday May, 22.
I was in Springfield, MO that day and had to drive through Joplin to get back home.

I left Springfield at 5:30 pm because I saw black clouds overhead, so I thought it would be better to leave now, then half an hour later as I originally planned. Little did I know that those black clouds were tornado clouds that followed me all the way to Kansas City.

I'm in complete shock and awe because if I did leave half an hour later I could have been caught up in that storm. It's an eerie feeling!

My heart goes out to all those affected by that tornado. 89 (as of yesterday) people have been reported dead. This is I think one of the top 10 deadliest disasters! Another top 10 happened a month or two ago. I pray they find some comfort in this horrible tragedy!

For whatever reason I left half an hour earlier, I'm grateful! I've always wanted to see a tornado, but only in the comforts of my home, not on the highway in my car!

Happy 7 Years!

An East Coast girl and an Army boy meet online March 27, 2004. They talk for hours a day every day until they meet in person that April. Boy proposes to girl at the Boston Temple.

May 22nd they say their vows to be together forever.

Best. Decision. Ever

"Memory
All alone in the moonlight
I can smile at the old days
I was beautiful then
I remember the time I knew what happiness was
Let the memory live again"

"Cats" Musical (Sung by Jose Carreras)

All about Matt.

I stole this from another blog.

1. Sitting in front of the TV.. what is on the screen? FOX News or ESPN
2. You're out to eat what kind of dressing does he get on his salad? Ranch - although he prefers caesar salad
3. What's one food he doesn't like? Meatloaf
4. You go out to the bar. He orders...... A&W Rootbeer
5. Where did he go to high school? Eisenhower High School
6. What size shoe does he wear? 10 1/2
7. If he were to collect anything, it would be......classical music cd's
8. What is his favorite type of sandwich? classic ham and cheese
9. He could eat--- pizza and mexican --- everyday.
10. Favorite cereal? grape nuts
11. He wouldn't be caught dead wearing..... anything pink! Believe me...I've tried!
12. Favorite sports team? Red Sox and the Bears
13. Who will he vote for? Whoever he thinks is right (He's an Independent)
14. Who is his best friend? Me
15. What is something you do that he wishes you didn't do? Spend money...lol
16. How many states has he lived in? 10 (2 are countries, Germany and El Salvador)
17. What is his heritage? Scottish and Sweedish
18. You bake him a cake for his birthday... what kind is it? German Chocolate with Chocolate icing!
19. Did he play sports in high school? Football
20. He could spend hours...... talking, reading, listening to music, playing video games.

Gosh, it's been forever...

Sorry about not posting anything lately! Oh well....life goes on.

A lot has been happening. Gabriel is almost done with his kindergarten year (may I add he got in the 95%ile in the WHOLE nation with the scholastic scoring, not sure if that means anything...but either way, it was worth celebrating)
Brooke is about to start kindergarten (if things go as planned) I'm not sure what I'm going to do with just 2 kids at home....but I'm sure I'll find something ;o)
Tristan is getting so much better with his talking. He's just a cute kid with those big husky blue eyes. We love spending time together.
Elise is well....Elise....a baby, and whats cuter then a baby? She is almost crawling, she just has to move her hands forward and she will get the hang of it!

Matt is going to AT (Annual Training) for the Army and will be gone for 3 weeks :o( to California (death valley to be more specific) He will come home, we will then head to Utah to go to a wedding, then to CO for a reception and then....THEN he will (we say will because there is a 95% chance he will be deployed to Afghanistan) but you honestly never know with the Military. He would be gone for 13 months helping the Engineer Corps rebuild. He would actually have it pretty easy, they said he would get his own room with wi-fi plus, he could talk on the phone whenever he wanted to, it's pretty laid back.
I'm still a bunch of mixed emotions. I first have to get through this 3 week hump and then I can focus more on the 13 month thing.
If/when he does deploy I will be packing up and heading to Massachusetts (if my mom can get her house ready by then, I will be renting from her) I decided this because it would help my mom with her situation and I would be near friends renting from my mom for wicked cheap. And Brooke would be able to go to school!

So, that about sums up what's been going on in my neck of the woods! Here are some pictures of the kids.