Nuf Said

Ice Cream

This comic is so true, but if I tried that with Mark at the commissary I am certain he would say... "I behaved, so I am buying it and you can't have any!" Gotta love a man who loves his ice cream!

Falling behind...

Seriously I am falling behind, if it weren't for friends I think I would have fallen in a hole by now desperately trying to dig myself out. The OSU bathroom is 99.9% done, just a few finishing touches left. I will post pictures I promise, my goal is by Sunday night. I can't wait to share with everyone all the excitement going on around here, but it'll have to wait until I unveil my master plan to everyone (give me at least another week, so much left to do!!)
Love and hugs to all... especially you Mark!

Mark's New Email

mark.francis@cf.mnf-wiraq.usmc.mil
Here is Mark's new email. I am sure he'd love to hear from all of you!

We're Bored!

I swear the writer of Baby Blues get his script from my house!

What else can I say... only 80 some days till Dad gets home!!!!

Star Wars Lightsaber Duel!

I just had to post this, Seth challenged me last night to Star Wars the Clone Wars Light-saber duels on the Wii. I've never played it, the boys got it for Christmas and have probably played it everyday since. I rose to the challenge and kicked tail. Seriously, I won by a landslide. I was Obi Wan Kenobi, and Seth was Ventress. He won't play with me anymore.... I am the Master Jedi!

P.S. 90 Days til Dad gets home, 90 Days til Dad!

Starting the Count Down...

Well it's official, we have started the count-down for Mark's return home. Last deployment we did a paper chain, and well I really didn't want a paper chain adorning my home this time. The kids are older and I wanted something a little more... not so kindergarteny! A friend of mine, and I can't remember who - sorry, suggested that I use a jar with rocks in it. Move one rock from one jar of 'days he's been gone' to the other jar called 'days left til he's home'. Sounded great, and looks nice too. So I counted how many days he's been gone, to this date it's 123 days. Doesn't seem like much when you look at it like that but believe me it's been a long time. We have 91 days left if he comes home as planned in mid-April. So we've past the half way point. Now we are in the midst of mid-deployment emotions and stresses, but we are on the downward slope of things. The kids are starting to get excited as we have officially started the "Dad's coming home jar!"
Remember the song... 100 Bottles of Beer? Well, we've changed it.

91 Days til Dad gets home
91 Days to go
Cross one off, jump for joy
90 Days til Dad gets home!

Even though I don't remember much of Christmas, but I apparently took a few photos. These are some of the best. You can see the joy in their hearts, it was Christmas, Jesus' birthday, and He was generous to share his birthday and presents with us. I love this time of the year... the magic still exists in our home!

A note from Santa on our chalkboard!

Katie and her cowgirl boots, she got her first pair when she was 3, she still loves them!

Seth's #1 on his wish list... the "Ultimate Lightsaber"!
Watch out, it's Caleb the Storm Trooper!

New Disney Class

This is a new class that I am teaching in January and possibly in February at Combat Creations. This is a mini-tin with 4 albums that fit inside. I created one album to use for just autographs, another for character photos and the remaining two for random photos and journaling. I just love it! I am so excited about this project because I actually will get to use this. We are planning a family vacation to Disney when Mark gets home from Iraq and I can't wait. I've been begging and badgering Mark for 8 years to take me and the kids to Disney World. We are finally going. I am not sure who is more excited me or the kids. We don't know dates yet because the Marine Corps hasn't told us when we are "allowed" to take leave, but watch out Mickey we're coming down!

Mark has moved...

I just wanted to let everyone know that I did hear from Mark today. He's good. I can tell you he has moved to another part of Iraq. Where he is at now he has to pay for Internet service, which is about $60 per month. He's going to try to "share" access with another Marine and split the cost, but he said they have to see if it'll work or not. One thing he did want me to pass on to you is that with his Internet service he is only allowed to download so many KB per day. So please do not send any pictures, files or any kind of attachments because it will eat up his Internet access time. Do not try to embed pictures into an email either, that will also cause trouble. He's glad to have moved, it has some advantages and different disadvantages, like paying for Internet access. I hate when he is moving around Iraq and out on patrols, it just causes me to worry more. Seems like where he is at now he'll be doing more of that, so please continue to keep him in your prayers. Thanks... I am sure as soon as he can he'll be back on here blogging; so check back often!

No News is Good News

For those who are checking this blog for Mark's status. He's doing fine. One thing I've learned in 15 years of marriage in the Marine Corps is when the guys are deployed -No News is Good News! I live by that, and I've come to appreciate that quote more and more when I get accustomed to talking via email with him everyday and then suddenly it's like he drops off the face of the earth for days to weeks at a time. So just remember that... No News is Good News! But I will keep you updated when I hear something.

back to work, back to school, back to life...

The kids went back to school today, thus starting cheerleading, tumbling, scouts, homework and such.... the list goes on and on. I was asked to make the yearbook page for my boys fourth grade class. No big deal right. Well it's a lot harder thank i thought. It's hard to be creative in a 8x11 space and still put 22 photos with names and dates on them. I did it, but it's certainly not my favorite layout of all time. I wish I could post it for you all to see, but because of privacy rights of the school and the students I cannot post it on the Internet. On a lighter note it's one more thing crossed of my list of things to do in January... not like the list isn't long, only about 25 things to do this week!

Happy New Year!

I know many of you partied and stayed up to 'ring' in the New Year. I was in bed sound asleep by 10pm. And let me tell you it felt great. That was the first night in 11 nights that I went to bed pain free, and it was on the eve of birthing a New Year. Many great things are expected in 2009. I've heard many political predictions, religious predictions/messages, but my personal message of 2009 to me is ...

"Live life to the fullest without regret, without hesitation, full of vigor, vitality and a strong vision of accomplishing the personal goals I have set for 2009! They are my goals and no one else can accomplish them for me, it's my turn, it's my year, it's my destiny!"

What are your goals, your steps set out to accomplish your vision and destiny for 2009? I'd love to hear about them! Happy New Year... it's gonna be a great one!

I am BACK!

Happy New Year! I have another posting to put out soon, but I just had to celebrate! I feel Great! 2009 has started and I am 100%! That was something I wanted and I got!
Look out 2009, here I come!