And The Piercings Continue...

Since Heather and I have a history of sharing when we get pierced with things (click here and here for a reminder), I knew I had to post this one. After teaching at youth group on Wednesday night I got home and effortlessly stepped on a sewing needle. Do these things ever take effort? Well it took effort on the part of the person (Little Boy, no doubt, though no one is 'fessing up) who dug around in my sewing box and carried the needle down to the living room), who not only left one needle on the floor, but Sean found another one after I left for the ER.

Why go to the ER and not just yank it out myself? I was asking myself the same thing for about an hour-and-a-half after it happened. See, I took out "Taking Care of Yourself" (military issue medical book) rather than the needle. When it asked if I'd had at least 4 tetanus shots (I don't think I have, though my last one was in 2007) and if there was any "foreign material in the wound" (duh!), I suggested to Tim that we call the ER before pulling it out. They always "err on the side of caution"; they told me to come in.

Here I am filling out paperwork before the x-ray to see if the needle had hit the bone. (It hadn't.)


The craziest thing about the whole experience was how fun it was. Tim and I haven't had a lot of time together lately, as he is putting in overtime at a second job. As soon as he was told that I had a needle in my foot, he hung up with a client and took good care of me. At the ER the techs, nurse and doctor ribbed me mercilessly and it was fun. We even took out the camera and recorded all the moments we could. Here I am being goofy, still waiting for the x-ray tech.

When it first went in, the only part showing was the eye of the needle. Grossly enough, I pushed on the top of my foot and it stayed at this level the rest of the time, till the doc pulled it out with pliers.


Here's the Staff Sergeant that set off all the teasing when I first got there. He asked me, very seriously, how it had happened. The nurse laughed and said "How else you you get needles in your foot?!" He answered, still serious, "Maybe she did it on purpose." That was it. After that they started teasing me about clearing needles out of every room before they wheeled me, lest I stab myself purposefully again. SSgt P ended up being the one to clean my in-a-flip-flop-all-day foot. Eew!


After it was removed.

Continuing the interesting experience with an airman and the British EMT on duty. That EMT had a blast. I was surely the most interesting case to come in all night.


And afterward, Tim and I had dinner together! What a great way to end a very interesting day. I'd take another needle in the foot for a fun evening with Tim, but I'd probably pull it out myself next time.

And With That, I'm Officially Old!

It's not so much age that makes a Mama old, it's how old her kids are. Now that I have two teenagers in the house, I'm old. But lest I make this about me...

Happy 13th Birthday, Kristine!!!

My sweet Princess got a special trip to the beauty salon a couple of days ago. I even let her skip school for the occasion. Here she is, post hair cut and color.


I love my girl so much. I pray The Lord blesses her with wisdom and grace as she walks through her teen years. Kiki, you light up my life!

Happy Birthday Zach!

Yesterday morning Zach climbed into bed with me and I reminded him:"Today is your last day of being four! Tomorrow you'll be five!" His lower lip began to quiver and tears welled up in his big brown eyes. "But, I like being four!" He was sure that five couldn't compare to the joys of four.

Today being a "whole hand" doesn't seem so bleak. He is feeling sick to his stomach (unfortunately, most of the family is) so we've had to scratch our plans to take cupcakes to school, but something tells me he's going to muster the energy to play like a newly-minted five-year-old.

Happy Birthday, Zach! I love you.

Election Day 2008

Did you vote yet?!

(photos from my trip to the Capital last month)

I took my completed ballot with me to Maryland and Tim mailed it for me after I left. What a privilege to be able to vote. Don't take it for granted!

Cheers!

Tim Checks In With a Report After Attending the 9/11 Memorial at the Pentagon...

I received this message from Tim just after the Pentagon 9/11 memorial service:

Well, it's midnight and I just got back about 20 min ago. It was incredible. Very solemn; a very humbling & at times emotionally wrenching experience. I wish I had you there with me. I got there late so I missed the Navy band's performance, but there were still a ton of people there. In a way, it was as if I was given the opportunity to go back in time to right after the attacks happened and was able to witness the heartache of the victim's families firsthand. There were many of them gathered at their loved one's personal memorial, some sharing stories of the life they once had, and some just sitting there collapsed upon the memorial, crying their eyes out. I saw one lady sitting quietly, all alone in front a memorial with just the most heartbreaking expression on her face, as she just stared at the name plate of her... son? husband? brother?

I think the hardest part was toward the end of my time there when I was exiting the memorial area. At the entrance to the field of 184 memorial units, stands the first unit which is dedicated to the youngest victim, a three-year-old little girl named Dana Falkenberg. There is a plate listing her Mom, Dad and older sister and showing the locations of their memorial units. They all died together; they were on board American Airlines Flight 77 when it crashed into the Pentagon. It was pretty hard to hold back the tears. Especially when I looked around and a good half of the people around you have tears in their eyes. I'm sure there were perfect strangers hugging each other tonight.

The one thing that was foremost on my mind, was the fact that if these people and the other NYTC victims hadn't died that day, I most likely wouldn't be here tonight, or in the Air Force at all. It is strange how the lives and deaths of others can effect so many people who didn't even know them personally, even change the course of their lives.

I hate it when I hear people say, "Oh, who wants to remember that day anymore" or "We shouldn't think about that day & all those people who died". I think I agree more with the words carved on the Memorial Gateway Stone, "We will never forget" & "These lives will never be forgotten". That's the reason we built this memorial, to honor their lives and their sacrifice and to honor the families they left behind.

Lest We Forget

On September 11, 2001 I lost nothing and everything. I didn't know anyone who died; I don't even know anyone who knew anyone who died. But my life changed that day. My innocence was gone. Though I went forward to with my plans to hike with Heather that day, my heart was in New York and Washington DC and Pennsylvania and with every hurting wife, child and parent. Shortly after, my life change even more as I watched Tim sworn into the US Air Force as a result of the attacks. My oldest son, just 7 years-old at the time, is already pursuing his goal of joining the military because of the events of 9/11/01. My old life collapsed with the rest of the nation's hearts as the World Trade Center fell.

My story isn't unique. All of us have been changed. But as time creeps on we move on too. Sometimes that's a good thing, and sometimes we need to be reminded of the past. Several thousands of military men and women have died in the Middle East since that day, and much of the world remains at high alert even now due to the threat of terror attacks. There have been attacks in Spain and in London. Let us not forget why people are giving their lives for our freedom, and most of all let us not forget to pray for the peace and safety of the intended victims around the world.

A Blessing!

Our blogger friend Ruth has some amazing news on her website! I can't even remember how I stumbled onto her site. It's possible that Reese stumbled first and directed me to her. Anyway, we have both come to love Ruth and appreciate her words of wisdom and encouragement. I also enjoy reading about her little one Shiloh and now, I will enjoy reading about her new little one!

Congratulations and Many, Many Blessings from Crazyville!

&

Inspire Your Heart With Art Day

Today is "Inspire Your Heart With Art Day" so I'm posting one of my all-time favorites: "The Singing Butler" by Jack Vettriano. I bought a print of this and it was hanging above my bed in the house-before-last (it was waiting in the wings to be hung above the bed in the last house, but it sadly never made it there). I loved it from the first time I saw it in the Coffee Mill at Bitburg, and when I set out to buy a picture for my room I thought If they have that ONE, I'll definitely buy it. Well, oddly enough, it was at the furniture store waiting for me (I had never seen it there before, or since).

I love the colors, the romance implied, and the curiosity behind the images. What are they doing? Is the gentleman trying to impress the lady? Are the maid and butler happy to help their employer in this way? Are they mentally cursing him? Or are they lovingly devoted to him and his beloved wife, maybe the latter who is dying or newly pregnant and celebrating with her husband. Why is the lady barefoot? Where are her shoes? Wherever they are, are they black or red? How can they enjoy themselves in a dance when they are so obviously putting others out? What's in the bag on the ground; a picnic? Most importantly, what is the butler singing? How would we know he was singing, if not for the title? (I would have assumed the music was in the minds of the dancers, since it must be in my mind as I watch them.)

How about you? Is there any art that inspires you, in one way or another?