*UPDATED* I'm Seeing Things More Clearly These Days

See these....Yes!
They are mine!

They are a dark chocolate brown/purpleish with a hint of wood grain on the front corners and the sides with a little bling bling as well. My other glasses just sorta disappeared this past week. I'm not sure if I threw them in the garbage in the process of cleaning up and cleaning out or if a little boy named Clark has hid them from me.
All I know is that I'm driving my SUV to Atlanta this week to the Vehicle Processing Center to be shipped to Germany and I need my "Eyes" to drive to and fro!

Whatcha think guys?
Clark tells me they are PERFTECT :-)

UPDATE
*MY GLASSES THAT DISAPPEARED HAVE BEEN LOCATED. IN THE DRESSER WHERE MY SHORTS ARE STORED. WONDER HOW THEY GOT THERE?

Soo....This is How it Feels

Me and my buddy Vince Johnson. We taught together at the KSD
and he is the director of Hip-Hop for Patti Rutland Jazz......
AMAZING Dancer!!!

Me with Heather (& Heather's Hubby) and Almitra.
These were always MY "Black Girls"!

Me and Patti Rutland-Simpson after the show

"PRJ Old Folk"

WHOA...what a whirlwind of a weekend. Here's a little re-cap for you all!

Friday- Clark had swimming lessons and passed his little test with flying colors. Kid loves the water and for that I am pleased. His mommy and daddy absolutely adore the beach and are delighted to know that we can take him there anytime and he's one happy and content boy. Side Note: Breezy proposed to me on the beach b/c it's a place where we love to spend time together, even before we were married.
Friday evening was spend relaxing at home doing much of nothing. Clark took a nap at 5 and slept till 7. He was pooped little boy. He was back in bed by 10:30.

Saturday: Clark and I got up around 8ish and headed out to the Poker Run for TAPS, which was unsuccessful yet again. I was very disappointed. Our Event Coordinator has another plan in the works. I won't be around to see if fulfilled but hopefully he'll get a good turn out. This event was my last event with TAPS. Today I am placing my letter of resignation in the mail. Due to some unforeseen circumstances and me moving away Breezy and I have decided that it's time for me to step down. It was a hard decision to make because I love those little girlies and desire to see them in their tap shoes for years to come. I just pray that the funds continue to come in and TAPS, Inc. can remain a faithful, profitable Non-Profit Organization.

Our Friend Ethan turned 5 on Saturday and I turned 26. Clark and I celebrated with Ethan at a big birthday bash hosted by his Mom and Manda (from Snatches of Time). It was a lot of fun, definitely a birthday party Ethan won't forget, especially since Manda took probably 200 plus photos.

Saturday night my mom and I had a date night. We got all dressed up and headed to the Opera House for the Patti Rutland Jazz Re:Union Show. Oh friends, I had the best time. There were girls/guys there that I started dancing with when I was 6 (some of these people were Sr. Company at the time I started dancing). Patti Rutland Jazz was originally started in 1989 when I was in kindergarten. I actually became a part of PRJ when I was 7 or 8 and was in Pee Wee Company. I made my way to Jr. Company, left for a couple of years to dance at the Kelly School of Dance and came back to be a part of the actual "PRJ" for 2 years. Times I will NEVER forget. There were around 28 of us there that were "OLD" PRJ memebers and maybe 12 of the "NEW" company memeber. The show was AMAZING. Seeing peices that were performed over the past 25 years. I danced in my seat, I cried, I laughed and most of all I just had an all out good time. RIP J.B. Beasly- this show was dedicated to you my friend!

Yesterday I packed up, cleaned out, picked up and looked for my Seeing Eye Glasses that have all of a sudden disappered. I am leaving in 2 weeks so I have alot to get done before that can happen. I had an amazing birthday dinner of Seafood with my family and finished up the meal with a homeade Butter Pecan Peach Cobbler. YUM-O made by my momma.

What You've Been Waiting For

I love these photos and can't wait to get some of them ordered, matted, framed and hanging randomly on one of the wall's in the family room of our home in Germany.

Thanks to Amanda at Snatches of Time Photography for her brilliant work!

Today was a heck of a day...2 hours at Lyster Army Hospital at Ft. Rucker for the Dr. to tell me that Clark is 6 pounds overweight. Oh Yeah! I pointed to his belly and said...Mam' do you see any fat on this child. Absolutely not, he is SOLID. Yes, my kid does wear 4/5 T tops and 4 t bottoms and he's only 2 1/2, but he's built just like his Daddy, his mommy and his cousin Jason who is 6 foot tall or taller. I love my BIG boy! He had labs to test his cholestorol, thyroid, and something else.

I found all 3 of us new suitcases today. I picked up 2 Chocolate Brown Docker suitcases with the 360 degree wheels for 69.99 each for Wes and Imyself. I purchased a cute little Red 5 peice set for Clark for 99.00. When we travel back to Germany, I'm not only packing for Clark and I, but for Breezy too. He's been here twice and has enough clothes to dress for a summer without doing laundry! I'm just lacking luggage straps that I'm going to have our names monogrammed on and then....We're all ready to travel in style.

I've been stressing about all the expenses of moving back to Germany, but today I looked on the United Airlines webiste to discover that they do not have a checked baggage charge...THANK GOODNESS. I knew I needed to travel with atleast 3 suitcases, but now I can travel 2 bags each at no additional charge!!!

Ok, I'm rambling again. I'm heading to bed. Its 10:30 and tomorrow is going to be busy; Poker Run, Birthday party and the Patti Rutland Jazz, Re:Union Show at 7!

Life As A Military Wife: Joy Comes in the Morning

Hey Yall!!
I've not been MIA since my last post on the 19th I've just been a busy momma. I've been trying to keep Clark very occupied so that he isn't missing his D-A-D-D-Y (we spell his name, we don't say his name unless we are actually "talking to" Daddy) as much as he has been. Friends, it's been a little rocky for Clark, especially at bedtime. We're making progress though and each day is getting a little easier.

Breezy FINALLY arrived back at camp on the 23rd. He left here on the 19th. It was a long trip for him and he was very exhausted upon arriving. Thankfully he had the night off and next day so was able to get some much needed rest. Of course, we're missing him like crazy, but we're looking forward to his return in early August. I've even got a new dress to wear already :-)

We've been attending swimming lessons at Westgate for the last 2 weeks and my little "Shark" is doing great. He told his instructor Alexis on Tuesday that he wasn't a fish, he was a "Shawk". We've spent a lot of time in the pool over the last few weeks and I must say I love every minute of it, but the joy Clark shares with me while swimming makes each new day a little brighter. I took Clark over to my best friends parents on Monday to go swimming and before I knew it he was jumping off the diving board and going down the slide ALONE...now of course there was an adult watching him at all times. I purchased some Speedo Water Wings this year from Target and they've been the best investment I've made all summer. They are a little big, but they do their job by keeping my little Shark's head above water and by keeping him happy.

Let me give you a little update on baby Leighton since I've not done that in a while. She went for her Newborn check up with Dr. Williams last week and she's already growing like a weed. She has gone from 5 pounds 13 ounces and 18 3/4 inches long to 6 pounds 3 ounces and 20 inches long. She's starting to fill out a little and has a head full of blonde hair. She's just the cutest little thing.She's starting to outgrow her Newborn clothes and is fitting into her 0-3 months a little bit better. She pretty much sleeps, eats and pees (only pooping a little), but keeps her Mommy and Daddy on their toes. She has stollen all of our hearts. I have been spoiling her as much as possible....Breezy I promise not too much though! My friend Amanda from Snatches of Time photography stole some sweet shots of here earlier this week and they are so beautiful.

I'm having problems loading photos for some reason, but just as soon as I get this kink fixed, I've got MORE than enough to share with you. I'm waiting on the Play by Play Disney Vacation Posts until I can get the photos to go along because I know that's all you really care about anyways!

As for the title of my post...of course I've been a little down for the past few days, but this morning I woke up and discovered a joy that I haven't felt since Breezy left. The Lord gently reminded me that I am not in this alone. I've got an amazing support system (my parents, family and a small handful of faithful friends) and that the end is clearly in sight :-). I've got so many reasons to experience joy (I'll save that for another day) and there is not one reason why I shouldn't find a new reason everyday! So, today I'm going to get myself together, put on my REAL BIG girl panties and look for joy in the sweetness of being Breezy's wife and Clark's mommy and just BE! There's to much to be done to worry about being "down and out".

There's Only Us

There's Only This

Forget.Regret. Or Life Is Yours To Miss

No Other Road

No Other Way

No Day But Today

-Rent

"No Day But Today"

My Life As a Military Wife: The Beginning of the End

Today was yet again one of those days where we had to say goodbye to Breezy. Our time together was so very memorable and a time that I will cherish. I believe that our time together was God's was of refreshing our marriage before Breezy comes home for good within the next few months. We picked up right where we left off 11 months ago and fell in love as a family all over again. I'm thankful that I serve a God who is LOVE and who teaches me LOVE as well.

Clark and I really enjoyed having Daddy here for 2o days but we were both very sad this morning when we had to watch him cross thru security to go back to "Work" (as we told Clark). Friends, believe it or not I held myself together (for Clark's sake) until Clark went running after Breezy in the security line. I lost all of my composure. I got Clark back into my arms, we blew daddy some kisses and out the door we went...quickly. Clark and I both cried all the way to Wal-Mart. As we were strolling through the parking lot we heard a plane flying over and Clark said "There goes my Daddy, him's going back to Work." Then..everything was alright.

Clark and I have both been pretty good today, besides me feeling like 1/2 my heart is missing. Clark dosen't really understand, which I guess is a good thing. He knows that Daddy had to go bye bye and has made it clear that he knows that Daddy will be back, he just dosen't know when.

I decided yesterday that I'm going to look at today as the beginning of the end of this deployment. In only a few short weeks Clark and I will be packing our things here in Alabama and getting on a big plane ourselves and flying over the pond to Germany. We've been packing boxes of toys, home good, etc. getting ready to ship overseas. Only a few more weeks after our arrival in Germany we will begin to prepare for Breezy to join us in our "Home". Boy are we excitied about that!

We had a sign in our yard that Welcomed our soldier home. Well my mom took it down today. As it was falling to the ground Clark went running out of the house screaming and running as fast as he could to mom screaming "Thats My daddy don't you take him down". It was too late, I was hot and I wasn't going to put it back up. I tried to explain that we'd put it up again soon when Daddy comes back home.

On a more exciting note, we had our photos made AGAIN by Amanda at Snatches of Time Photography and she did an amazing job. She did a photo shoot of our family down at the Depot in Dothan and at Popular Head park. I'm planning to give you a sneak peak of Clark's photo shoot and our's as soon as I get a chance. I've already picked out my favorites but am having a very difficult time deciding what exactly I want.

I got an invitation today from Patti Rutland Simpson to attend a Re:Union party at her house after the Re:Union show next weekend. I danced with Patti for many years and was a part of Patti Rutland Jazz for just over 2 years. Many of the dances that the Company will be performing in this show are dances that we're performed during my days at Oz Performing Arts Center. I'm looking forward to the show next Saturday night and seeing many of my friends from my "younger" days! I'm thinking I might even go out and by myself a new dress to wear :-). How does black sound?

Well I'm outta here for tonight. It's been a long exhausting day and I'm actually ready for bed!
Good Night World!

A Whirlwind of Fun

o




Friends, let me just tell you. The past 12 days have been some of the best days of my life. Spending time with my 2 boys and our families has been great.

Breezy FINALLY arrived here on Sunday 31 May after a long 11 month wait. After 48 hours of planes and airports he was suppose to arrive in Dothan around Noon but thankfully he made it to his connecting gate just in time to get on the 9:20 a.m. flight. He was coming and I only had one hour to get myself and Clark ready to go.

Clark was so sweet when he saw his Daddy for the first time. He checked Breezy over real good to make sure it was really who he thought it was and then he climbed up in his arms, took Daddy's face in both hands and said in the sweetest voice "Oh Yes, This is My Daddy!" I was almost in tears, but more relieved that Clark took to his Daddy with no hesitations. I sorta stepped back and let the boys have their moment and the joy that I experienced in my heart is unexplainable. It was a beautiful picture a Father's Love for his Son.

We've had a whirlwind of fun over the last 12 days. We spent the first 5 days with my parents in Dothan, pretty much just relaxing and getting things ready for vacation (SHOPPING TOO). We did make an overnight trip down to the Beach to hit up Pier Park and Dusty's for dinner. We left on the 4th to head down to Gainesville to get ready for the big Graduation of our niece on the 5th. We left on the 7th for Orlando until yesterday the 11th.

Orlando was an experience that Clark will hopefully look back on and remember...or at least somewhat. Between my FIL and myself we took over 600 photos. I won't bombard you guys with all the photos today, but I'll try to cover our R & R over a period of a few post. I'm sure you are all anxious to see Mickey too.

Breezy will be with us for about 7 more days. I'm not looking forward to him returning to his station of duty, but it makes me 4 weeks closer to heading back to our home in Germany and only a month or a little more to becoming a family of 3 living under one roof.

I'm one pooped mama and its 11:00 p.m. here so I'm heading off to get some beauty rest. Keep your eye out there's more to come.

The Wait is OVER

Breezy is here...Enough said for now.

I'll post again soon with a little sneak peak into his arrival!!

Until then...Ciao