New Year, New you?

Here we are again, the day after Christmas and all through the house we were trying to cram things in and haul out the old to make way for the new. Again, I will say we are blessed. Blessed to have so much stuff you have boxes of decorations for each holiday in the attic, blessed to have so many who care enough to send special cards and gifts. As the new year approaches, take a minute to slow down and savor what is left of '09. I just filled out my 2010 calender, the years add up, little kids don't seem so little anymore. I pray that everyone has a wonderful holiday season and a quiet, enjoyable new year.

Christmastime

As Christmas fast approaches, I get tired of just shopping and wrapping things... we already have lots of things. What is important? Important things to me are family, friends, fellowship and a true relationship with Christ. Other things, not so important. Family - a two way street... one person can't do all the work - I used to think I could. I tried to buy and do everything for everyone else, the only thing I accomplished was just spoiling children who now expect you to do everything and you get nothing in return... no phone calls no communication. Sorry, I'm done. It's my turn now - me and my family. I call my brothers, email regularly and some of us talk on the phone periodically. Lots of phone calls from and to my Dad, Julian and my in-laws... the two way street thing works well.

Friends, more important now - this is the family you get to choose and what a varied group we have - just like beautiful colors in a quilt - polka dots and tie dyed, argyle and solids... what a bunch!

This year I hope to study my Bible more, do more at church and worry less!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all of you Shileys out there.
~amy

Things Happen

I'm in Dubai on my way to England so I can post here.

I hope to have a great time. Memories flood my mind.

Not much else to say except that I appear to be the only person posting any more.

I'll have to use non-companny computers to post here when I get back.

More soon. I hope.

More from England

Claire sent me a recent picture of the house I lived in near the base. I lived in the bottom half and entered in the side. The upstairs renter entered through the front.

There seems to have been some landscaping since I was there. Though of course they used to be able to rent anything near the base. The Air Force people needed places to live. Now, with the bases closed, they must have had to renovate and clean up these places.

They said they wanted the US out and now they're missing all of that money that came with having a base near by.

Claire and I are still emailing and remembering old times. The lady she was nanny for in the previous post (a Master Sergeant I worked with) seems to have been convicted of murder in 1994. WOW!

Father's Day is tomorrow. I hope you didn't forget.

Less than seven months until Christmas

Now that I'm working day shift I've started NOT wearing my watch. At least not on my wrist. I was getting a tan line so now I wear it on my lanyard, with my ID, around my neck.

Years ago when I was stationed in England I had a dear friend named Claire. I met her because she was the nanny for an Air Force couple I worked with. She and I became inseparable until one day when she mentioned a guy she liked. Then we saw less and less of each other until we just drifted apart.

The picture is of Claire, Yvette and William. The year was 1985.

I came back to the states and moved on with my life but I often wondered about Claire. Did she have any kids? Where was she living? Etc, etc.

After the Internet connected the world I tried to look her up but without success. After my separation I tried to find her a little harder. I didn't know her married name and so I had no luck.

Then last month I got an email from Claire. She has been looking for me too. I don't know where this will go. Right now we're playing 'catch up', 'remember when' and 'what if'. I'm very happy to be together with Claire again.

Have you all remembered Father's Day is 21 June?

And there's less than 7 months until Christmas. Have you started shopping yet?

I've already received a few comments on my t-shirt in Amy's post. Maybe it should read, "Me want cheesecake!"

The trip to the states was very nice but there is never enough time to do everything or see everyone.

Next R&R will be Oz where I'll see baby Eden again. Though she may be walking and talking by then.

I enjoyed holding Amy's baby Marigrace too. She had the biggest eyes and a big toothless smile. She wasn't feeling well so I'd hold her. Sometimes I'd feed her and then do "the daddy dance" until she burped.

In the blink of an eye

Wow, it is May already! So much can happen so quickly. We had a terrific visit with Allen in April. Caredith turned 2 and Marigrace is nearly 6 months. This is what everyone means when they say "in the blink of an eye". So much happens, so much life. Some bad things, some good things, some mixed that we hope and trust we will understand the meaning of at some later date (God willing).

There is so much going on, it is good to sit a minute and just appreciate what we have. Fortunately, most all of us are employed. We may not have that dream job, but we have a place of employment, to go and be creative or even just be and in return we receive wages and that is so much more than others in this recession. We all have a church home, even Allen (not sure about Jeff) a place where we can be active or as active as we want to be in service to our Lord and others. We all have family who loves us and wants the best for us.

As we go into another busy Summer, packed with summer jobs (Allison), vacations, beach trips and fun let's take some time out to get together. Maybe a picnic at the lake, or meet at a central state park.

Oops!

I haven't been here in almost a month and a month from now I'll be returning from R&R.

In two weeks I'll be dragging my bags through the Baghdad International Airport on my way to Dubai. From there to Atlanta, Tampa, Jessup, Atlanta, Seattle, Atlanta and back to Dubai. Then the return flight to Baghdad and from there to here.

I'm looking forward to it. Just getting away will be nice. Maybe a day fishing with my Dad. See Amy, Creston and my nieces. Maybe Curtis and his family too. Then time with Alex.

We'll do our anime convention thing and spend time together.

Someday I need to win the lottery so I can spend more time with my family and friends.

Someday

Prayers for Gary

Gary's brother, Allen passed away this week. It was unexpected and quite a blow. Our prayers and hearts go out to Gary and Toddi during this tough time.

We should also be praying for Dave as he is having a difficult time. Please lift him up daily, pray specifically that he experience a sense of peace during this period of changes.

Brian had a birthday today, I am thankful for you and hope you had a great day. You remain in our prayers during this tough economic time.

Let's remember all of these and then the rest of our family, too. Have a wonderful week.

I have no Idea what I've just done but I hope I didn't register as a democrate....BLOG to me means complications and blind faith.......Does it work????

Minna & Caredith

Pop & Marigrace

Daytona 500

Well it's Nascar season again. I became a fan of stock car racing when I was pregnant with Caredith. I had no attention span, but I could follow cars going round and round. Now, I know the drivers and the teams. It's fun and exciting!

What are your plans for Spring? Will you start an exercise program? Will you get a new hobby? It feels like Spring is already here. The weather is warmer and nice here (in South Georgia). Things are starting to bloom. A season for new things. I really love Spring.

We are looking forward to big brother Allen's visit. Creston's parent's 50th anniversary. A vacation. A revival. Hope you have some big plans, too.

Friday the 13th VS Valentine's Day

Back to back bad luck if you forgot what the 14th is. You are toast!

Brian has a birthday next week on the 24th. I forget how old everybody is.

I'll be 50 this August. Why have I already started to refer to myself as 50?

When I was young I wanted to be older. Then around 25 I didn't want to age any more.

Suddenly I was 30. Then somebody sticks a sign in your yard that says, "Lordy, lordy Allen is 40". Oh just kick me please.

Remember the speech Billy Crystal made in "City Slickers"?

So why do I suddenly, with 7 months to go, start referring to myself as 50?

Happy V-Day everybody!

change

Belated Birthday Greetings

My Father celebrated his birthday on the 3rd (oops). Happy Birthday Dad.

It looks like somebody else found the family blog (brother Brian) and nobody has commented on my postings yet. Or maybe that's the way this should be. Weird or main stream, we're all family.

I've been whining about the cold here while family in Montana have been really cold. With snow.

The economy. I hope they do something about it.

I hope I can do another 12 months here. The company is already talking about cutbacks. Though there will be bases closing this year so that will reduce manning some.

I'm glad I got some wool socks in Oz. I'm not used to the cold. After a long hot summer this sucks.