As Life Goes On.
By now, you all know our stunningly good news. I was pretty much convinced that it would go the other way, so...I am surprised. Proud and pleased and back on the bandwagon of waiting to see what happens next. The Navy surely has kept us on our toes for the past decade!
Now we wait and see what happens. According to Hans, he will have a little input into what type of ship he wants and where. A very, very little, and of course he is subject to the whims and needs of the Navy.
I'll keep the five of you stalwart readers informed. That's a promise!
I'm just stunned, I think, to find that our adventure isn't quite over. Thankful that we will now have more time for Hans to consider what he wants to do for a living post-Navy. That one was scaring me more than anything: if he didn't screen, what in the world would he do and in this job market?
As life goes on. Of course, I have to mention the tragedy in Newtown. I am praying for them constantly...there are no answers and there are no solutions. People can talk about gun control and mental health assistance all they want. The unfortunate truth is that there will always be guns and there will always be people with mental health issues. Fine, take away the assault rifles and the extended clips. That is fine with me--no one needs those except the military and police. So--you take away those things and instead of having 20 children dead, you have someone who can't kill as many as quickly because he has to use a standard clip? How is that improvement? Even one dead child is too many.
Newtown is just another example of something we as humans are powerless to stop: anger and malevolence and violence towards other human beings. It's been happening since Cain killed Abel, you know?
I did explain what happened to the kids and I emphasized that if their teacher ever needs their cooperation in a scary situation to LISTEN TO HIM/HER and do exactly as they are told, without question and immediately. Norfolk has had police outside the elementary schools at dropoff and pickup and the kids noticed that. Their school has one entry and that is the front door, which is locked at all times. The school secretary has to buzz visitors in and we come directly to the office and must get a visitor's badge. I have to believe that they are safe.
We had an all around good weekend, which is rare. Usually we have a great Saturday but a not-so-great Sunday or vice-versa. This was the weekend when the planets aligned and we had a great Saturday AND a great Sunday. It won't happen again for probably 7 weeks. Four-fifths of us got haircuts on Saturday morning followed with a leisurely stroll down to McDonald's for lunch and then quiet time and an(other) unexpected invitation to the have supper with the Blasers. We owe them SO much hospitality, it's embarrassing. I have this crippling fear of cooking for Cory, who is an amazing cook and baker. What would I make? Eeek. While I sit around trembling in fear over the situation, they invite us over again and we go. With thanks, of course, for amazing friends and sublime food and wine and for the kids who are almost at that age where they will just GO UPSTAIRS ALREADY AND LET THE ADULTS SLOWLY GET DRUNK AND TALK IN LOUD VOICES. We're almost there!
Sunday was very lazy and I was OK with that...usually I really can't stand laying on the couch in my pajamas until after 10:00 (Sunday it was almost 11:00. 11:00!!). Every once in awhile, I just want to sit and read the paper and watch CBS Sunday Morning. Annika had a Daisy Scout project serving at one of the local charities--I had planned on staying, but I was able to drop her off (she served lunch to about 140 people at a Catholic church). Picked her up and we came home to bake sugar cookies while listening to Christmas music. Aw, so idyllic, I know.
This week we have school parties and early release on Thursday, so a short week. I have to bake two dozen cupcakes today for Josiah's holiday party on Wednesday. Will's party is on Thursday and then we can heave a big sigh for having run the gamut of school parties. We decorated our sugar cookies last night and they are pretty dang good, if I do say so myself. My mother-in-law makes the best frosting, but mine is pretty close--not bad for the first time I've made frosting.
Maybe I could cook for the Blasers!
Now we wait and see what happens. According to Hans, he will have a little input into what type of ship he wants and where. A very, very little, and of course he is subject to the whims and needs of the Navy.
I'll keep the five of you stalwart readers informed. That's a promise!
I'm just stunned, I think, to find that our adventure isn't quite over. Thankful that we will now have more time for Hans to consider what he wants to do for a living post-Navy. That one was scaring me more than anything: if he didn't screen, what in the world would he do and in this job market?
As life goes on. Of course, I have to mention the tragedy in Newtown. I am praying for them constantly...there are no answers and there are no solutions. People can talk about gun control and mental health assistance all they want. The unfortunate truth is that there will always be guns and there will always be people with mental health issues. Fine, take away the assault rifles and the extended clips. That is fine with me--no one needs those except the military and police. So--you take away those things and instead of having 20 children dead, you have someone who can't kill as many as quickly because he has to use a standard clip? How is that improvement? Even one dead child is too many.
Newtown is just another example of something we as humans are powerless to stop: anger and malevolence and violence towards other human beings. It's been happening since Cain killed Abel, you know?
I did explain what happened to the kids and I emphasized that if their teacher ever needs their cooperation in a scary situation to LISTEN TO HIM/HER and do exactly as they are told, without question and immediately. Norfolk has had police outside the elementary schools at dropoff and pickup and the kids noticed that. Their school has one entry and that is the front door, which is locked at all times. The school secretary has to buzz visitors in and we come directly to the office and must get a visitor's badge. I have to believe that they are safe.
We had an all around good weekend, which is rare. Usually we have a great Saturday but a not-so-great Sunday or vice-versa. This was the weekend when the planets aligned and we had a great Saturday AND a great Sunday. It won't happen again for probably 7 weeks. Four-fifths of us got haircuts on Saturday morning followed with a leisurely stroll down to McDonald's for lunch and then quiet time and an(other) unexpected invitation to the have supper with the Blasers. We owe them SO much hospitality, it's embarrassing. I have this crippling fear of cooking for Cory, who is an amazing cook and baker. What would I make? Eeek. While I sit around trembling in fear over the situation, they invite us over again and we go. With thanks, of course, for amazing friends and sublime food and wine and for the kids who are almost at that age where they will just GO UPSTAIRS ALREADY AND LET THE ADULTS SLOWLY GET DRUNK AND TALK IN LOUD VOICES. We're almost there!
Sunday was very lazy and I was OK with that...usually I really can't stand laying on the couch in my pajamas until after 10:00 (Sunday it was almost 11:00. 11:00!!). Every once in awhile, I just want to sit and read the paper and watch CBS Sunday Morning. Annika had a Daisy Scout project serving at one of the local charities--I had planned on staying, but I was able to drop her off (she served lunch to about 140 people at a Catholic church). Picked her up and we came home to bake sugar cookies while listening to Christmas music. Aw, so idyllic, I know.
This week we have school parties and early release on Thursday, so a short week. I have to bake two dozen cupcakes today for Josiah's holiday party on Wednesday. Will's party is on Thursday and then we can heave a big sigh for having run the gamut of school parties. We decorated our sugar cookies last night and they are pretty dang good, if I do say so myself. My mother-in-law makes the best frosting, but mine is pretty close--not bad for the first time I've made frosting.
Maybe I could cook for the Blasers!
Comments
As for the evil experienced in that small Connecticut town, my heart aches for the families, staff and fellow students. Forever their lives are changed. When I first heard the news, I thought of Josiah, Annika and Aurelia. How vulnerable our little ones are. I'm grateful your school has good security measures in place and I'm thankful you have had the discussion with Josiah and Annika.
I'm positive your cookies taste very good, Rachel!
This is mom: First, we just keep praying for our grandchildren's and children's health and safety. That will (of course) continue. Saw a picture on Facebook yesterday of Jesus sitting in a classroom and a note about how 20 happy, rambunctious children had just stormed into heaven. And, yes, evil has always been in the world and always will be, at least until God's return to earth. Secondly, you ARE a great cook, Rach! Don't sell yourself short. Lastly, still SO happy that Hans is a CO and you're a COW. You deserve to be a COW, hon. Love ya! I guess dad's done with his message too although he did mention that you should be considered more of a heifer than a COW. Let's see, could we come up with what HEIFER could mean in Navy terms? Something to think about...
I love reading your blogs. Your writing style is great. Makes me feel incompetent about mine when I read yours. I can relate to not feeling up to par with the cooking also. That is not my forte' either. I do not enjoy cooking and I have come to be OK with that.
Keep up the blogging. I love reading it.