Bomb, bomb, bomb, bomb, bomb, bomb

I am so excited. The did away with bombs on the buses. We no longer have to do the bus search. We don't have to go in as early either. Apparently, it wasn't required this whole time. A lot of people were mad about losing their extra 15 minutes, but I was more than happy to give it up. I feel more secure in my job now.

For those of you that don't have a blog...

I know that I have some friends and family that read my blog. So I have decided that you all need to get one too so I can read about your life. It's not fair you only get to read about mine. I want to have people to read about too. Get my point. I know some of you are busy, and don't think you have the time. You may not want to share your life, or you don't think it looks like fun. I am here to tell you blogging is SO FUN!! You get addicted quickly. You will have something happen and can't wait to get home to blog it. It is really cool too when you can write stuff that everyone can read and not have to do the whole individual emails(which I am horrible at, but that's because I have so many people to write.) It is much easier to just blog about your life and then everyone knows what you are up to. You can also comment on things happening to your friends IF you have a blog account. And folks it's FREE, just like myspace, facebook, and email. You can upload pictures for everyone to see. It really is fun. So think about it. Are you thinking about it? Are you? huh? huh? You need to be. I need some friends in blogland. Sure I enjoy the two I have but I feel the need for more. So I am not going to beg you, but I am going to ask nicely for you to join. If you do please send my your address so I can get to reading about YOU! I will be waiting to hear from you.......

The name game

So I have been tagged again. I do enjoy it, but I have a long middle name so we will see. The rules are you have to use every letter from your middle name and put a fact about yourself starting with that letter. If you don't have a middle name then you are supposed to use a name you would like as your middle name. So here it goes:



Conner my son, made me the happiest and saddest that I have ever been in my life. The happiest because while I was pregnant I was so excited about being a mother. He gave me that gift. The saddest because his life was very short, only three breaths long. I feel fortunate to have had him with me every minute of his life except for the last one.

Hot is a feeling that I don't like. I want to move somewhere that actually has a fall and a winter. This tropical island is frying my brain.

Everyday is a blessing, some are better than others, but I am thankful for my life.

Rollercoasters scare me to death. I used to like them, but now they make me sick.

In my dreams I am pregnant with a healthy baby. Maybe one day it will become a reality.

Scrapbooking is my favorite hobby. I do it to relieve my stress. I find myself daydreaming about scrapbooking when I am somewhere I don't want to be. Crazy I know!!

Apples are great, the taste, the smell, the colors of them. I love it all.

So i did it!! WOO HOO! So I know you are supposed to tag as many people as your there are letters in your name, but I don't know more than two people that blog and one of them tagged me and the other person I know. So if any other bloggers out there read this then you need to consider yourself TAGGED!!!

I am so tired!!!

Okay so yeah now I have a job. I am happy about it, but man I am so not used to having to get up. I usually get up around the same time, but I always had the option of sleeping in. My alarm went off at 4:20am this morning. Wow!! I haven't seen that time of morning in like... NEVER!! It is way too early and oh joy I get to do it again tomorrow. I went to bed at eight last night and am planning on doing the same tonight. Okay so I guess I should blog my experience. It wasn't so bad. The kids are good for the most part, a little loud at times, but good. I went over my little instructions of no drinking, eating, or getting up from your seat thing and it went well. The craziest part is that my bus driver seems to have a crush on me. He's Japanese (an Okinawan actually) and wants to know all about me. He speaks English pretty good. He has to do signs for some things but I can understand him. He was rather down when I told him I was married. "Oh" he said. He apparently is just recently divorced and has a baby. Whom he referred to has his "handsome girl". I don't think he knows how to say pretty. Kind of funny. I try to be as nice to him as I can without seeming to interested to talk. Because he freaks me out a bit, I swear he watches me in his rear view. Eww I gotta move on I am getting freaked out. So the rest of my day..... So I didn't have a bomb on my bus, thank God, but there's always tomorrow. As of now I am not working Thursday or Friday and I feel happy about that. I need some rest up time. Nick is off on Friday so I am hoping we get to spend some time together. Maddy will be in school however, which stinks. She is off on Monday so we are hoping to do some fun stuff this weekend. That is if the rain will stay away....

So here it goes...

I have been called in to my first day at work. It is only the first day of school and apparently someone has already called in. I am also working Tuesday and Wednesday. I am so nervous, but it is time to go so I will blog my experience later. Wish me luck!!

1st day of school

I can't believe she's already in second grade. Time goes by so fast. She was so excited to get to school. Nick and I were more nervous than she was. I hope she's having fun. We will see soon!! She gets out of school in 4 more hours. Geez my house is quite.

RAIN, RAIN, GO AWAY!!

It has been raining so much here. It would be nice to have a sunny weekend so we could hit the beach. Because it rains so much we had to invest in a raincoat for Maddy. Isn't she so cute?

Terrible Twos!

Okay Sissy I am copying your blog so here it goes:

1. Two names you go by: Jodie and Jo

2. Two things you are wearing right now: My wedding ring (which I love because it's not just your ordinary wedding set, it has sapphires in it too.) And a necklace my mom gave me that has a hear with a baby in it. She gave it to me after I gave birth to my son. The box said "You grew in my heart!" I love it so much. These are two things I almost never take off.

3. Two things you want in a relationship: First and foremost I want Faithfulness and then of course Love. I believe that when you are married you need to only have intimacy with one person. You have to be able to trust that you are their one and only. You should only share the intimate part of yourself with your other half. I believe that makes you closer and makes things more special. And Love, well how can you be in a relationship their either doesn't already have or is working toward love? You need to genuinely care about someone for a relationship to work. I could go on about this but hey that's another blog.

4. Two of your favorite things to do: Well that's easy! Scrapbook, of course, it is the best stress reliever for me. Hang out with family and friends.

5. Two things you want very badly at the moment: To be pregnant with a healthy baby and to build my savings account back up.

6. Two pets you had/have: Anakin (my adorable yorkie) and Chloe (my beautiful long haired white cat).

7. Two people who will fill this out first: Well the only two people that read my blog and have a blog are Sissy(who I got this from) and Aunt Sandi. So maybe Aunt Sandi will do one too.

8. Two things you did last night: I did a few scrapbook pages and watched The Little Rascals with my family.

9. Two people that live in your house: Nick (my husband) and Maddy (my step-daughter).

10. Two people you talked to last: My husband and my neighbor, Tangela!

11. Two things you are doing tomorrow: Making brownies and going to a scrapbook thing. It will be my first one to scrapbook with other people. I am kind of excited we will see how it goes. I will let you know!!

12. Two longest car rides: From Pennsylvania to Florida. That was went we left my dad. We left on April 5th and got there on April 14th (the day before my 9th birthday). Then from Florida to Texas. We went to visit my in laws when they moved out there. We also went to Six Flags out there. The ride was about 12 hours.

13. Name 2 of your favorite holidays: Thanksgiving (for the food and gathering of people) and Christmas (for the decorations and everyone seems happier). Wasn't that almost a given?

14. Two favorite beverages: It's funny because I always say lemonade, but I hardly ever drink it. But I do love it when it is just the right blend of sweet and sour. My second would be French Vanilla hot chocolate. I love that stuff. I can't get enough of it!!

Okay so I did it. I hope it doesn't bore you too much. I don't have that interesting of a life it seems. But I enjoy it nonetheless. Happy blogging!!

I have decided....

after the events of today I need a nice hot, steamy, sweet, whip creme topped French Vanilla hot chocolate. Doesn't that sound good? You want one now don't you? Well, I am going to stop my whining and blogging for now to go get one. At least the weekend is near.

Alternate, yeah that's me

So as you can tell by the title, I was given an alternate position. I know I said what is meant to be will happen so here I am an alternate. I was thinking it may be a good thing since I have Maddy worry about, but now I am not so sure. Now I don't know what my schedule is, I won't know day to day. What happens when they call me at 5am to come to work and I don't have anyone to get Maddy on the bus? Or they call me to go on an afternoon route that doesn't get back until 4pm after Maddy would already be home? I am not guaranteed to be on the bus that goes to her school. There are several bases on this island that the buses go to. So now I feel really frustrated. What do I do? My schedule will be different every time I work. I am also concerned about forgetting all my "rules" that I have to follow. It is easy when you do a job everyday, but when you bounce around here and there it can be easy to forget what you are doing. At our training, they kept bringing up all kinds of reasons how you could be terminated. If you don't find the fake bomb they plant on your bus, if you touch a child, if you don't handle things the way they think you should, etc. Trust me they have more rules for you than they do the students. Seriously. And they contradicted themselves several times. So now I feel even more nervous than I did before. I assume they give you a position as an alternate in the belief that you will always be available. That when they call, you need to be ready to work and drop whatever plans you may have. That is really not the way I work. I like to know what I am doing before I do it. I am not too much of a spontaneous person. I like plans; I like schedules. So now I feel really stuck. They say you will get plenty of work as an alternate, which is great, but I now have a child to worry about because Nick isn't always here. I can't depend on him to be able to be here to get her on and off the bus everyday. As a matter of fact he will be gone for a few weeks in September. What am I going to do then? I can't very well put her in an after school program when I don't know when she will need to go there and when she won't. Not only that but they have a waiting list, so they don't have any openings as of now. I feel very angry right now. Why couldn't they have let me know this last week so that I could have figured out what to do. Rather than telling me three days before school starts. To make matters worse, they said they have four people that will be out Monday but didn't go ahead and tell me that I will be working. I guess they will wait until Monday morning for that. Part of me wants to tell them to find someone else, but another part of me is upset that I would be losing they type of job I have been wanting for over three years (no I don't mean with the school bus, I mean government). So if anyone has any suggestions, I am all ears. Send them my way.

Too close for comfort

TOKYO — A China Airlines jet exploded into flames at an airport in Okinawa after arriving from Taiwan on Monday, but all 165 people aboard escaped alive, officials said. Police said terrorism was not suspected. This really freaked me out. Just two weeks ago this is the plane that Maddy and I flew into Okinawa. I remember the flower on the side because Maddy thought it was cool we were riding the plane with a pretty flower, but would have much rather went on the one with Hello Kitty. I know kids love that Hello Kitty. But really, thank God that this didn't happen to us. Luckily everyone made it out, but can you imagine how traumatizing this would have been? Especially for Maddy. Wow that is really scary. Yeah so I know I have really ruined any chance of my mother in law coming over here now. That was not my intention. Maybe I shouldn't post this. There are still cruises, REMEMBER!! Well, this is just to crazy I have to share it. I am sorry Sissy for scaring you with this, I am posting it so we can all be thankful that it wasn't us. Thank you God! I feel like dropping to my knees with praise. Whew is all I have to say. My heart is still pounding. Maybe luck is on my side after all.

It's my man's birthday!!

My man turned 27 today. Yes he's a big boy now. LOL Happy birthday baby! I love you!

Hi Ho Hi Ho it's off to work I go...

Okay so yeah I started my job today, well it was my training but I got paid for today nonetheless. I don't know what I think of it yet. I am a little frustrated that I have to wait until Wednesday, maybe even Thursday, to get my schedule. And come to find out I may even be an alternate (someone who is only guaranteed one day a month of work). Yeah so that would really suck as far as having a paycheck goes. On the other hand it would help with me not having to worry about what to do with Maddy while I work. But I had finally got a job that I think I may like and that pays well and yes is even a Government job. So wouldn't it be my luck that I would only get a few days of work a month. I really need my optimism kick in here. Okay so I am just going to go ahead and say whatever I get is what is meant for me either way. Yeah I am okay with it now. Yeah really I am. I will let you know when the verdict is in.

Thank you for my award!!

So my mother in law, Sissy, gave me the Nice Matters award!! I have been meaning to thank her for it and am just now getting to it. How wonderful to receive an award! I haven't received an award since I was in High school. Sissy~ The kind things you wrote about me touched my heart. If you hadn't already been awarded I would give you one also, no not to return the favor, but because not many people get along with their in laws. I mean really, they don't. And lucky for me we have formed somewhat of a bond haven't we? So maybe it's because we both adore my husband or that we both LOVE scrap booking(I am so happy that I introduced you!!!) but either way I am thankful for it. It's funny thinking back on when Nick and I were dating; I actually liked coming over to your house for the family gatherings. Not many can say that of their in laws. I thank God that I have you and Randey as my in laws. I couldn't think of any other couple that I would like to share that with. Trust me, I've had some boyfriends' parents that were just a tad loopy. So thank you for my award, I will cherish it always.

If only life were as easy as children see it.

So yesterday I had to run to the BX to get our cat, Chloe, some food because she was totally out. Let's keep in mind that yesterday was the 14th here so it's the day before payday. So anyway while walking through the BX, my stepdaughter, Maddy, starts picking out things that she would like for me to buy. So I tell her no we need to wait until payday. She keeps picking things up and I keep telling her we don't' have the money. So she looks at me as if I am the dumbest person around and says, "You know all you have to do is go to the ATM and it will give you money." I laughed because 1) we only had 13 dollars in the account and 2) because she really thought that your payday was anytime you went the ATM. How funny? If only life were that simple I thought to myself. I then had to explain to her that we only get paid twice a month and sometimes we run out of money by the time the next payday rolls around. But wouldn't it be nice if ATMs gave you money whenever you asked? If only...

New pages

Some of my favorite scrapbook pages I have done

A beautiful sight

This is the view I get off my back porch every night. I love it. I love watching the sun go down while I rock in my chair. I cherish these moments, because it helps me appreciate all I have in my life. What a beautiful place God has created for us.

What to buy?

So I know it's only August but here I am thinking of what to buy people for Christmas. I know it's crazy, but I've always been like that. I think I must have got it from my mother, she always shops early. I really like buying presents for Christmas, it's like I get a little high off of it. However, when it comes to buying for men in the family I am terrible. I never know what to buy them. I always want to get something that people will like and enjoy. It seems to me that men are mostly into the really expensive things that I can't afford to buy them. Sure I could get them some cologne, a hat, or a nice coffee mug, but you can only buy someone so much of that. So is it only me that has a hard time with this or do others share my troubles? I would hate to be stereotyping men, so correct me if I am wrong. Luckily my husband is into some things that I can let everyone know he likes (superheroes) but I know sometimes he's even hard to buy for. Why do I torture myself so early with this, it's a curse and a blessing all at the same time. I need to go look at that Lakeside catalog again and see what I can come up with.

Always a romantic!

So I will admit it, I am a romantic movie fanatic. I love to watch sappy movies. I like when they have humor too, but I am crazy for some romance. The movies pictured are some I could watch over and over. Of course The Notebook is my all time favorite, I loved the book even more. Which brings me to a thought. Nicholas Sparks needs to get a new book out. I have read ALL of his books and love them! The only part that sucks is he writes one book a year. I can't stand having to wait that long to read his books. I know it takes a while to write a book but dang he needs to get a new one out. The last one I read was last Christmas. I am getting impatient!! So I looked and his next book is due out September 25. I can't wait. Anyone else out there Nicholas Sparks fans? I think all women and men for that matter should read the Notebook (my husband even liked it). It is the best love story. Oh and the sequel is great too, it's called The Wedding. Happy reading.

Love that chocolate!!!

Mmmmm what I would give for one of those right now. Even better if it was white chocolate. I love chocolate. It is so good. It can make a bad day disappear. I could eat a whole dozen of chocolate covered strawberries right now(hint, hint to my not having a good day). Really I could!! I love how they taste. Every time I go to a candy shop it's what I get, assuming that they have some. Sure they cost almost four dollars each but dang it's worth it. I would make some but the strawberries are so expensive here. It cost 5 dollars for a pint, yeah I know it's ridiculous. I have paid that much out of desperation, but being that we are broke from our trip to the states I won't. But I can dream can't I?

My moo

So you may wonder why I would call my dog "Moo". Well truth is I don't know myself. His name is Anakin. I call him that sometimes but most of the time I use other names for him like moo, monkey, or stinker-roo. It's crazy, I know. He brings me so much joy, that dog. I don't think I could have made it without him. My husband got him for me for Valentine's Day in 2004 to keep me company while he was away on TDY's. I told him he was the best present he ever bought me. He has provided me with so much entertainment over the years. I love that dog to pieces. Everyone talks about how spoiled he is, but I figure if I don't spoil him then no one will. He is four pounds of pure rotten. He has become a lap dog for the most part, which I love. He also sleeps in our bed every night. I feel very thankful to have him. After all, who couldn't love that face?

The face that makes me smile and weep at the same time.

When I posted below I titled it "The faces that make me smile" and as soon as I was done I realized someone was missing from those pictures. He is pictured to the left, my son, Conner. He only lived for three short breaths and was taken to heaven. Sometimes when I see pictures of the family I get upset realizing that he should have been there too. I know he is better off not having to deal with pain or worry, but the selfish part of me wants him here. I wish he could have experienced the good things in life like family, love, and laughter. I will never feel whole again after losing him. There will always be a part of me wishing he was here and wondering what he would have been like. I don't think our family will ever feel "whole" to me. When I think of having another child, at first I get excited and then I remember him. I know he would want me to move on and I have but... Well sometimes it's hard. When I picture having another baby I picture him, maybe that's why I haven't been able to have another one. Maybe I need to be okay with having another baby before God gives me that gift. I know I sound rather depressing today. I don't mean to, it's just one of those days. I'm just missing my little boy. Love your children and grandchildren with all you have, they are SO precious. You never know what the future holds.

The faces that make me smile...

These are from the little island we found near the beach we go to. The rocks are really cool. I had to get some pictures of these two. They are so sweet together. :)

Maddy meets the Pacific

Maddy had a blast at the beach. We took her on Sunday after we got here on Saturday. It was her first outing on the island. I thought she might be kind of scared to go in the water, but I was surprised when she put her snorkel on and was ready to go. She's like a little fish if you don't watch her she'll go to the deep water. She and her daddy swam out to the island (pictured above), while I sunbathed. She really loved that. She seems to have an obsession with rocks, she would have taken the whole beach had we let her. We kept having her but the rocks back in the water. Nick was scared she was going to toss one on someone under the water and knock them out. It was funny. We plan on going back this weekend. It's free entertainment for all of us and we love it. Maybe next time we will try a new beach!!

I miss the kids the most!!

Being in another country of course I miss all my family and friends. But to tell the truth it's the kids that I miss the most. I think it's because they change so much, so quickly and I feel I am missing out. I hate missing out on their lives. Luckily we got to bring Maddy back with us this time. I feel very fortunate to have her here. I really do love little children. They always make me smile. I hope they will remember me the next time I come to visit. Jo Jo miss you all Kellan, Caitlyn, Haylee, Austin, and Madison.

4 years down and many more to go!!

So my fourth anniversary has come and gone. I think it may have been almost as good as the first one if not better. Went to New Orleans on our first one and had a really good time. I believe this one may have been more special because my husband had it all planned out and surprised me with an awesome day. He has a romantic side that comes out every once in a while. I love when he gets that way! Aww the stars in my eyes. Oh yeah to let you know about our day. We first rode horses, which I had been dying to do for a while now, his was named Junior and mine was Chrome. Chrome was a huge horse, the biggest I've ever seen. Nick said Junior wasn't the most well mannered horse, but he was cute. Sadly, I didn't get any pictures. I really hate that I didn't. I am kicking myself for that daily. Oh well there will be other times, hopefully. So after that we went to a Bed and Breakfast that he had reserved us a room at. It was so awesome! Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful!! It was the best room in the house with a fireplace and large jacuzzi tub. I love a huge tub, that is a must in the next house we buy. I can't live without one. So after we got settled in he had reserved for me to get an hour long massage. Getting a massage is one of my favorite things. It relaxes me and makes me feel so good. He earned some major brownie points for that. After my massage we had reservations at a restaurant called Springfellows. Oh my it was so good. I wish I could be eating there now. I ordered Chicken and he got the Steak. They both came with salad, bread, broccoli, and roasted potatoes. Mmmmm it was so good. The steak was so tender you could cut it with a fork. It was a good ending to a great day. So if you ever are near Granbury, Texas you must visit the American Heritage House. You will be pleased. It is so beautiful and the owners are very nice. My husband was in love with their cookies, I wish I would have asked for the recipe, they were great. I am so glad to have a husband that still can be romantic after 4 years of marriage. I pray that we celebrate many, many more!! I love you Nick!! XOXOX