Summer Came

April and the beginning of May were on the chillier side (for Florida, anyway), but now the days are long, full of blinding sunshine and oh-so-hot.

Maddox got really sick about a month ago and was diagnosed, after two long visits to the pediatric ER (which included two butt shots) with virus-induced asthma. It basically means a cold triggers his asthma but when he isn't sick, he has ZERO asthma symptoms. Now we know to start the breathing treatments right away at the first sign of the sniffles. It wasn't a fun week.

The only thing that made it better was that EJ, his buddy from preschool, was sick with similar symptoms, and they'd make each other cards and have us moms post their pictures on Facebook. They have the same penguin, too!

Toward the end of the never-ending asthma, Andrew's parents came for a visit. Unfortunately, Maddox was in a grumpy mood and the steroids he was on turned him into something worse than a teenager.

Still, it's always good to see family from back home.

They left for SC the same day Andrew left for Greece. We watched his plane take off into the sky and then we drove back home, with tears in the backseat (and driver's seat, too).

The next two weeks I got a taste of single parenthood.

No thank you.

But, we made the most of our time together. We had lots of playdates, cupcake dates, outside time...we visited the pet shop and met the sweetest Golden Retriever...we ventured to Moe's alone...and we had a great time at the Earth Day Festival, where we ate snow cones and learned about different kinds of snakes. We even saw a yellow python and he smelled so bad poor Maddox started gagging!

Of course, I can't forget the circus show at Maddox's school. Here, he is a "strong man" about to lift some heavy weights. It was adorable. And Jude behaved through the whole show, thanks to several cups of popcorn!

We missed Andrew and we were glad to get him back!! Every day, Jude made him a card and a bracelet (made of a pipe cleaner and one bead). Maddox was faithful with his cards too. 

He got to see some amazing sights overseas, but he had a pretty bad accident there that almost ruined it. As soon as they landed in Greece, he fell through an open grate on the flight line and ended up with twelve stitches. Thank God they are healing nicely and no infection ever set in!

Now, life is back to normal.

This post is way too long so I'll have to wrap up April and start with May next time. 

Time is passing so, so, so fast.

Sometimes I want to speed it up...or slow it down.

Sometimes I want to change it, like when my parents were supposed to come visit for my upcoming birthday but my poor mom got food poisoning. Then I got a nasty sinus infection. Then my dad got a fever.

I was so disappointed, but sometimes you just gotta accept things and look forward to the next time.

Next week will be better!

Summer has arrived

Today, the boys asked if they could get in the pool. It was hot, but not THAT hot. And...I didn't feel like dealing with wet clothes and muddy feet. So what did they do? They sat in their water table. They pulled out the shovels and we made mud pies. They ate frozen strawberries and got the juice...everywhere. 

I guess we have jumped straight from winter to summer.

I'm ready! (Even if that means tracked-up carpet, instant sweating and yes...even geckos, just not in my house!)

Down by the Bay....

Living away from family and never knowing what the military will throw at you brings its ups and downs, but living in a beautiful place definitely eases the burden. After my grandad died this year, my great-grandma soon joined him. I was relieved, since she had suffered from dementia for so long, but my heart still ached knowing she wasn't on this Earth with us anymore. I remember simple things about her - her amazing jelly rolls and lemon tea, her plastic raincap, or how she always let me win in Monopoly. She was a prayer warrior and would pace the floor for hours, praying for loved ones and ones she didn't even know. I can almost hear her voice singing "The Bears Went Over the Mountain," as we cuddled on the front porch swing. That is the hardest - forgetting the voice, the touch, the smell. But we never, ever forget the life...or the impact. How can we? It is a part of who we are.

Andrew, the boys and I recently started taking weekly strolls down to the bay by our neighborhood. We stand at the top of the rocks and show the boys Okaloosa Island, Destin and the Niceville Bridge...way in the distance. The salt air and sound of water, and its endlessness, brings me peace. The boys love to throw rocks in the water and spot the occasional boat. It's a happy place for us. Somehow, no matter what is going on in life, it reminds me to be grateful for this short, yet beautiful time, and for the people in it.

♥♥♥

Valentine's Day

Seven years ago on Valentine's Day, Andrew proposed to me in a freezing park in Columbia, South Carolina. This year, I woke up to a sparkly-eyed little boy, asking, "Mom, where is my Valentine's surprise?" I'm used to waking up like this. My early bird (Maddox) rarely sleeps past 6 am. He is always the first one up. But on this special day, I popped out of the bed (instead of dragging), excited too.

The boys followed my treasure map and clues to find their candy. And guess what they had for breakfast? Candy! They also are pretty lucky when it comes to grandparents. They got a total of six adorable cards and racked up $70 altogether. 

Maddox got even more candy at school. It was almost Halloween-worthy.

Andrew got me some chocolate and I got him some chocolate and an iron skillet he's been wanting. No rings this year (like seven years ago), but I'm pretty sure we love each other more now than we did then. 

That evening, we celebrated at McGuire's Irish Pub and stuffed our faces with spinach dip, bread, our main course, and then a giant brownie topped with ice cream. 

It's been a fun February and I hope the trend continues through the rest of the month (and hopefully year). 

Oh! Back home in Carolina, they have had two days of snow! I'm pretty jealous, but I guess the view of the freezing cold water will have to do. 

A Look at 2013...According to January

January was split between Florida and South Carolina. It's a blur, but here are some snapshots to keep the moments a little more clear.

It was a month of hope, grief, sickness, and yet joy. No matter what, the old saying is true: life goes on. The hardest part for me is processing the tough times and appreciating the past while moving forward and savoring the present. 2013 has already forced me to look deeper, invest deeper and grow.... 

Andrew graduates ALS

Andrew finished ALS (Airman Leadership School) and we celebrated his graduation on Thursday. I'm thankful that the long days of him being gone, then coming home to eat and disappear again (to study all night and write essays) are over. I know he's thankful too!

Congratulations Andrew! It's another step  in our ever-changing adventure.

A New Year, A Final Farewell

Almost a month ago, we rang in the New Year. We had laughs and yummy food at a friend's house, then came home and barely stayed up til midnight. I wondered what 2013 would hold for us. Some good things, some bad...but I had no idea that 12 days later (my brother's birthday) I'd be getting a phone call that my Grandaddy Bill had passed away. He rang in his New Year...his last year here on Earth...in a hospital. And then it all ended. I'm so thankful he got to tell his final good-byes to everyone and that he was 100% ready to go. He knew where his true home was and he was eager to get there.

It's still hard to not see him one more time, hug him, or crack a joke about his beloved Clemson Tigers. I can still hear his laugh and picture his smile when he looked at the boys. And then other memories flood in from years ago...trips to the "candy store," a trip on his little fishing boat, seeing him in his fuzzy red recliner, or watching him tool around in the garage, one of his favorite places. He was a wonderful grandaddy. He loved to help people and never complained about it. He was quick to lend a tool (he had every tool that ever existed), a hand, and always his truck when my car was having problem. 

I was thankful I got to fly home for the funeral with the boys. It gave me some closure and it was a blessing to be surrounded by all the family. I wish my boys had more time with him, but hopefully they will remember him and I will be sure to fill them in with countless stories. 

I came home to find these trees, bare when I left, in full bloom. 

They're gorgeous. They remind me that things change quickly and nothing will last forever. Everything has a time and a season. We need to cherish what we have, love wholeheartedly, and remember what is important in life...not things, not "success" (however you define it), not activities...but the people in it who mean the world to us.