Has it been 9 years already?

It seems like just yesterday she was this tiny little thing ... a mere 6lbs 6oz with her black hair & black eyes. It's amazing to look back and see how she has grown into a beautiful, young girl. She's a perfectionist, very loving, sings well, and wants to learn how to play some instruments. She also is not a big fan of mommy doing her hair :( unless it's for something special. She takes pride in what she does and loves to spend time with her family. That's my wonderful daughter, Karah!

Karah on her birth day - May 22, 1999 - Okinawa, Japan

Karah approx 1 yr - Fallbrook, CA

Karah at 2 - Fallbrook, CA

Look at me, I'm 3! - Fallbrook, CA

Dora was her thing at 4 - Twentynine Palms, CA

All her presents at 5 - Twentynine Palms, CA

Rising star at 6! - Twentynine Palms, CA

Pretty girl at 7 - Twentynine Palms, CA

Lovely at 8, almost 9 - Camp Lejeune, NC (will update when I can download my pics)

Memorial Day

As today is Memorial Day, most people think about that extra day off work. Fewer think about the real reason why it's a "holiday". I was raised in a family with a big military background. My dad was in the Army and his dad was in the Air Force. On my mom's side, my grandma was in the Navy and my grandpa was in the Marine Corps - they met at Parris Island, SC. Their oldest son went into the Navy, and 2 of the other boys went into the Marines, where one of them stayed in until retirement. I have some cousins that were in the Army, and I myself was in the Marine Corps. I have married a Marine whose brother is also a Marine, his mother is retired Air Force, and his dad is retired Navy. To say we're a military family is a bit of an understatement. I wasn't raised in a military family, but I was raised very patriotically by my grandma. My children are being raised as a military family. A life that was chosen before they were conceived.



We are in a place nowadays where there is arguments over whether we should still be in Iraq. They want "our boys" to come home. Know one knows better than the families left behind how much we our boys (and girls) to come home, but we know why they're there. My sister once asked me, "How can you be so calm about it?" (referring to Brian having to go to Iraq). I replied, "It could have been me." I was still active duty when 9/11 happened. I re-enlisted that December, although I was going to anyhow, even if the tragedy hadn't happened. Because of my job, I had to go back to school for more training. When I was done with that, I stayed as an instructor. Being in the training environment put me in a non-deployable status, so I was never with any unit that went. I am glad to have not gone, but I would've if it had been needed. It is very hard with Brian being gone, but I am not sorry he's serving his country in this manner. We both knew what could happen when we signed up, although the threat at this level wasn't there at the time. I am very proud of Brian and everyone else that is currently serving. They are there for us.



Just like those who have been there before. With all the military in my family and all the friends/acquaintances I've made because of the Marine Corps, I can only think of one that I personally knew that has died in a war. I also know of my aunt's first husband who was killed in Vietnam (my mom was only 10 or 11, so I was not yet born). Other than that, all I can say is that I've been blessed so far, and Lord willing it will stay this way. Although I know the longer we're in, the more people we know, the more that chance increases.



The other day I was in class, and as it was the first day we did the introductions. It's a resume class, so I did mention that I was in the Marine Corps (gotta put something on the resume, right?). They all said "thank you for serving", and honestly - I don't feel the need to be thanked. I didn't join for the fame or recognitions. I joined because this is my country. As those who joined before me, knowing what could happen - and did happen.



To them I give my thanks. Without them, our country would be in a much different place.



Thank you


The older gentleman in this video is a real Medal of Honor recipient.

I'm glad I know that I'm saved!!!

Praise the Lord!

Tonight at church, I had the privlege of leading Vincent to the Lord. He had me go with him down to the altar and I asked him what he wanted to pray for. He said he wanted to get saved. I asked him if he knew what it meant and if he realized he was a sinner. He said yes, so I said a little prayer first, then led him through the sinner's prayer. Everyone was very happy, especially Vincent. On the way home, he was singing along with the cd that was playing and one of the songs went "I'm saved, I'm saved, I'm saved" sung in different parts (each part being held out) but Vincent sang them all. What a blessing to know that he now has Jesus living in his heart, and will one day live forever in Glory! What a Great Saviour we have!

The Past 2 1/2 weeks

have just flown by! My memory stick extender is still MIA and I have no clue where the original box is that probably still contains the cord we've never used. *sigh* So eventually, I will have pictures to put on here.



To continue from the last post, the weekend of camping with a bunch of girl scouts went really well. The ticks were out in full force, and thank the Lord they didn't like me! Or maybe they just didn't like the bug spray/repellent I was wearing. Either way, I am quite thankful. Karah escaped the weekend with only having 3 on her. When all the girls in my troop had been picked up, we went and picked up Vincent from my friend's place, and then went home where I did a full body check for ticks on Karah. That's when I found the 3rd one in her hair. She took her shower while I checked myself for ticks, then had Vincent look in my hair since I obviously couldn't. After her shower, I took her to a birthday party for one of her fellow girl scouts. Vincent & I came home and I got to take my shower. Oh, it feels so good to take a shower after 2 1/2 days without one! After I got dressed, we picked up Karah from that birthday party just to take her to another girl scout's birthday party. This time when we went home it was Vincent's turn for the shower. Another trip to pick up Karah, and when we got home we all got ready for church.

On Monday (May 7th) Vincent had boy scouts. They did their things, and afterwards Vincent ran around in the rain - and lost his slide. The second one. So we had to buy him a new one.

Tuesday (May 8th) I was doing some things around the house. Due to the change in weather, some rather undesireable insects kept getting into our home, plus we had a sudden outbreak of fleas (we don't have a pet anymore so they were getting us!), so I bug-bombed the house. I stopped by the school to drop off some paperwork, and I see Vincent in the nurse's office. She was just trying to call me, so I checked him out early (I was going to anyways, this just made it excuseable). He had a temperature of 101 degrees. They had gone to the farm for a field trip earlier to pick strawberries. I obviously couldn't take him home, so we went and picked up Karah and then went to the px and then out in town, looking at/for webkinz stuff. The kids really like their webkinz. Then we came back and I did my girl scouts, went home to open the windows so the house could air out, then went and had Subway for dinner. Once we got home, Karah helped me strip and remake the beds, I gave Vincent some medicine and got him in bed. The next day he still had a fever in the morning, and in the afternoon he started losing his water, so needless to say, we didn't go to church that night. I kept him home from school on Thursday just to make sure the virus/sickness was gone and then he went back on Friday.

Friday evening we spent 5 hours at a carnival here on base. Admission and rides were free, which was great (because you know they usually have just outrageous prices). I have lots of pictures that are still stuck on the memory card. They went on the Magic Carpet Ride (a HUGE slide that they slid down on burlap sacks - oh, and they pur armor all the slide to make it easier to go down), the DragonWagon (kiddie roller coaster), swings (all 3 of us), the zipper (me & Karah - she screamed my ear off, but had fun), the Super Shot (you go way high up in the sky, and then it drops you - they liked it). They also went on the Sizzler, Ferris Wheel, and a several others whose names are alluding me right now. We had a good time that evening and finally made our way back home. The next day, there was a swap meet in the building next to the carnival. We went to it, then decided to stay and do some more rides before it got too crowded. They also had an area with bouncys set up by the USA and sponsored by Disney. It was pretty cool b/c we wre able to get a free Disney movie that we didn't yet have. They also had practically every bouncy imaginable. They first went on a couple of the reguar ones, then they headed for the water inflatables. The one they liked the best was the one that the slide ended into a pool. They went down a few times before it was time to go.

My girl scouts were meeting to play laser tag and go roller skating with some of their money from cookies sailes. Since the laser tag din't start for a couple hourse we just rollerskated. It was fun and by the end Vincent was starting to get the hang of it. This past weekend we took it easy and just stayed home.

On Monday, it was time for boy scouts again, and ths time thye got to do learn how to play tennis and ultimate frisbee. Thursday, Karah's troop is meeting at the roller skating rink. She'll have a fun time, I know.

So there's a bit of a rundown over our past couple of weeks. Soon I hope to have pictures up her.

Preparing for the weekend ...

camping! This weekend is Camporee for all the girl scouts here on base. We're going out tomorrow evening and coming back on Sunday morning. My troop will be myself and my co-leader and 6 girls. The theme this year is "Pirates" so the girls voted and our name this weekend will be "Dutchman Divas". Very cute and girly, kinda like this picture.

Once we get back, we'll get to take a shower (finally) and then Karah has 2 birthday parties to attend. Later, we'll go to the evening service at church. Vincent should have fun having a sleepover with his friend this weekend. I think we'll all be ready for sleep by the time this weekend is over. Wish us luck!