Today - Veterans Day

The following will be quite transparent so read on with carefulness.

Today is Veterans Day and for some reason, the tears are barely kept away. The bank is closed today and therefore I am at home. I really should be cleaning up my house since I have some company coming for lunch but this is a little more important at the moment!

How did he go from this -


to this??


Here is a part of the story from my point of view and since this is my blog - I can do that!! :))

David has always been a fighter - he kinda started out that way being born 3 1/2 weeks early and barely over 5 pounds! But trust me, he quickly made his presence felt and known in this world! He hasn't stopped if you want the truth! :))

We went on a trip just after his graduation from high school and we knew the thoughts that were going on his head about his future. We were in a church service over the 4th of July and we stood while the National Anthem was played and I looked up at this young man beside me who was fighting tears and I knew. Looking back, I can say - I knew. But that knowledge brought a battle along with it. I was not in agreement with what he wanted to do. My son had to stay around home and marry someone and work in the church and do exactly what I thought he should! I know - not too smart of me huh? We continued on with our trip that summer and the whole time, the battle raged. Not just with me though - the battle going on with David was evident. We came home and he struggled. Finally, he went for his physical for his decision had been made - a pilot he wanted to be for the Marine Corp. I prayed. Not in the right way of course. I mean, I was his mother and I knew best. He came home and laid down on the floor in the living room and was an unhappy boy. He couldn't be a pilot since he was color blind. And so, the battle continued on and was getting worse. One evening, I was already in bed for the night, my husband came into our room and said these words that forever changed our lives as we would know them. "Leah, I am going into David's room and I am telling him that he has our permission and full support to join the Marines". My response?? "No he doesn't". The battle took a different course for a few minutes while I argued my point! But in the end, that is exactly what he did. For David, the inward battle was probably ending but for me, the all-knowing Mom, it was only beginning and getting worse with each second. The dreaded day arrived and we drove him to Ft Pierce and said our goodbyes and my heart was ripped out of my chest. How could this be happening? This was all so wrong. For the next 3 months our communication was through letters about once a week. He was surviving and I lived for those letters. Graduation day was an unbelievable memory! Proud of him???? Oh you had better believe it! But guess what? The battle was still on! We kept on with living - something new now because we had a Marine. Life just kept going and we along with it. Then, it was the "D" word. Deployment. There is absolutely no way in the world I can tell you what that 7 months was like and you simply cannot understand it unless you have lived through it. I remember the comparisons people made between their child going off to college and mine going off to war! Yea right - two things that are exactly alike! NOT!!! Not even close. I lived for the weird phone number on the caller id and no matter where I was - that was a phone call I took! Yes - even in the middle of church!! But - for me, the battle was still on! Then, homecoming day finally arrived and nothing prepared me for the emotions of that day! Wow - I actually felt like I could breathe for the first time in 7 months.

Today - my pudgy little baby is a full grown adult in his last months in the Marine Corp. He is married to the best girl parents could ask for and his baby girl is set to make her appearance in March. Wow - what a man! I am so proud of him!

As for the battle?? Guess what?? It is still ongoing. Want to know why? BECAUSE I AM HIS MOM!!!!!!! God has used some circumstances recently to remind me that I battle because I care and because I am normal! But you want to know what I am really learning?!?! God is faithful - especially when I battle in the place of prayer! The devil is working overtime to destroy my children. I wonder why he has not figured out that God and a Mom make an awesome team!

So - David - I am so incredibly proud of you and thank God every day that you are who you are! YOU are such a hero to me - just below your dad if you want the truth! I love you!

Announcement

I shall take a couple of minutes on this small thing called a lunch break to give you the latest news! Unless of course you have already heard it which would make it not news at all! Oh well - I am the owner of the blog and will tell it anyway!!! :)

In March we will be the proud grandparents of a baby girl!! Now - how awesome is that?!?! I am super excited as are all the females in our family! Oh and the males are excited also which means we are all pretty much thrilled with the news!!!

Its weird to say that I am going to be a grandparent but its true! So the big question now is........(drum roll please).........what are we going to be called?!?! Grandma and Grandpa? Nana and Papa? Old woman and old man?!?! I mean really!!! The possibilities are endless!! Suggestions from the blog world?!?!

We are thrilled for David and Christa and can't wait to meet the newest member of our family!!!

A Dilemma

So here is the dilemma that I have had in the back of my mind for quite some time. I am not a writer like some others I know. I have read some blogs where the writer sounds like he/she comes right from a devotional book. I have read some others that absolutely had me in stitches the entire time I was reading it. I have read some where I have to admit that I just "sped read" my way through and went on my way. I have even read some that I kinda felt bad because the writer was bashing their significant other like there was no tomorrow.

One of the reasons that I started a blog in the beginning was because I felt like I needed a way to express myself in my own unique way. Another reason was so that I could just post some pictures and events and happenings in my family for far away family members. But - since my big move a little over a year ago, I have kinda lost my way when it comes to posting pictures of things going on. I really don't like to take pictures that much anyway and so I put myself on a guilt-trip for doing a blog without pictures.

So - the dilemma?? Do I just keep blogging whenever I have the time and if I have pictures I post them and if not, too bad for the readers? Do I blog what I really think about some things or do I just keep my mouth shut (which is pretty hard for me)?? Do I keep this blog going and then start one that is private and just post my "horrible" thoughts there? If I don't have time for this one, how can I do another one? And another thing, I have to be careful what I blog about so as to not be offensive to people. I really have no desire to blog about things that will cause my husband grief since he runs into people all the time while he is out traveling that tell him they read my blog! What to do? Oh what to do??

That is my big dilemma where this blog is concerned. If I really have that many readers out there, maybe you could post your comment and let me know what you think. Which brings me to my request - if you are a private lurker, would you be so kind as to send me an email and tell me who you are? Its just the curious part of me! I look forward to reading your responses!

Guess Who?

I know - this updating my blog thing has really taken a backseat to pretty much anything and everything else in my world. I never realized how many people actually read this but never commented! I mean.....I was even reminded by my father-in-law some time ago that I had not updated and "when are you going to do that?".

To be honest, I really just don't have the time and I am pretty sure that any small window I have had in the past will be non-existent by the time January rolls around. You see, silly me has decided that I need to find a way to gain back the brain cells my children have been frying for the last 22 years and I am heading back to school. Excited? Yes. Nervous? Most definitely. Scared? A little. Nuts? Without a doubt! But - I am! I am going to go to Ivy Tech and get an Associates Degree in Business and hopefully, go on and get my Bachelors in Human Resources but time will tell. For starters, I have to go back to basic Algebra which literally sends chills up and down my spine! So other than working full time and "sorta" taking care of my house, that will be my world!

Dave has been traveling quite a bit and is home for another week or so and then will be gone for a couple of weeks and then home till the spring! He LOVES evangelistic work and I am so very proud of him! We are blesses that he has such a great boss who lets him come and go as he needs to!

Kids are all well! David and Christa are handling the constant changes the Marine Corp world throws at them quite well. The newest addition to our family fondly referred to as "THING" is doing well and causing the mommy to need sleep, throw up on occasion and declare often that "Your grandkid hates me!!". We hope to find out in the next little while if it is a boy or girl that will appear but the jury is still out on what anyone wants I think!! Josh and Carrie are unfortunately enduring all the nosy questions as to when they will be having a baby! The poor girl can't sneeze without someone asking if she is pregnant! I mean really - can't they survive the first year of marriage first?!?! But - they were raised well and are handling life as it comes with a smile and enjoying married life in general!! Ashley is breezing through her senior year of school, a new job and for some reason, we CANNOT get her to agree to spending her life at home with her parents! Annoying! :)) There just seems to be someone who has attracted her attention and therefore, AGAIN, our last child is growing up FAR TOO FAST!!! But - we like him anyway!!!

So - there you have it! The very latest, up-to-date information regarding the goings on at the funny farm! Who knows? Maybe I WILL update this more often! I feel better all ready and it is only 8am!!!! I have lost my desire for taking pictures so maybe I will work on that too in my spare time! But then that would mean I would have to find the camera and the cord to plug it in and then remember how to upload - oh....forget it, my brain just fried on all that! Maybe I will leave the downloading of pictures up to the hubby!!! GREAT idea Leah!!! When I start talking to myself in my blog, it is a sign to be done!

Happy Fall everyone!

Happy Birthday

I don't have any pictures on the computer from "way back then" and a lot of my older pictures have been made into a scrapbook by my sister so I don't have any to post here! But - it is once again the time to wish someone a Happy Birthday!!

Early this morning Dave's cell phone rang and it was David. Being the strange and weird mother that I am, sometimes I get a little nervous when he calls. The conversation began like this:

Dave: Hello?
David: Hi, Dad!
David: Happy birthday to me, Happy birthday to me, Happy birthday to me, Happy birthday to me!

I thought I would crack up!! The kid has such a weird and wacky sense of humor! I do NOT know what I would do without him!!!!

David, Happy birthday! You are the best son in the world and by far my very favorite Marine ever! I am so very proud of you and would not trade one single minute of your life with us! Ok - maybe one or two!!! :)) But I do love you and am extremely proud of you!!!!! Have a grand and glorious day!!!

An Update (and even some pictures)

Before you go to looking, there are no wedding pictures. For one, I didn't even pick up my camera the day of the wedding - that is what we hired a photographer for! Second, posting pictures of the wedding is Carrie's privilege - not for her very proud mom!! So, the following is just a quick update of the different things that have gone on in our lives over the last couple of months!

First of all, Dave was the evangelist at a camp in NC and David and Christa drove over for a weekend! He was so excited to get to see his kids! I think they all had a blast!


Then my sister (brave soul), Carrie, Ashley and myself made a very fast and very long trip to Florida for a bridal shower for Carrie. Ok - it was a blast and we had a GREAT time but trust me, NONE of us want to do it again!!!! The decorations were beautiful and the food was delicious and getting to stay at Tara's house was an added bonus!!!!


Then this beautiful young lady turned 20. Yes, that is very hard to believe but it is the truth! The girls have 2 years and 8 days between their birthdays so we had a family picnic on Sunday at our house to celebrate for both of them! But, Carrie's comes first! Josh was able to be here for her birthday and that was a great present for her!!


We had a special cake done for the girls that day! There is a long story behind their nicknames that I won't tell right now but they sure did enjoy the names on this cake!!!


Then this beautiful girl turned 18. And just in case you are wondering, yea....it is hard to believe that my youngest child is 18 already!! But - she is my "favorite youngest child" and I wouldn't trade her for anything!!!! We planned a surprise birthday party for her at some friends house (although she probably knew about it anyway) and we had a great time!! Mexican food, volleyball and a homemade bomb that scared a deaf horse!! It was great!!!!

I am pretty sure that she enjoyed the food and the volleyball and the bomb but for some reason, it is the guy beside her that keeps her attention most of her waking moments!!!


So the week of the wedding was one of the busiest I have had in awhile! There was so much that happened that would literally fill a book but I will just hit the highlights! My wonderful friend Angie so graciously opened her home for a bridal luncheon for Carrie and her bridesmaids. It was decorated so beautifully and the food was delicious and it was a relaxing time for everyone!


Carrie had a great group of girls in her wedding! Let me see if I can name them and put then in order starting from left to right!! Ashley (maid of honor), Katie (cousin), Anna and Esther (bridesmaids and sisters to Josh), Christa (matron of honor), Marianne and Kyla (bridesmaids and Carrie's best friends from high school), Bethany (cousin) and Rebecca (bridesmaid and sister to Josh). It was a great time for all of us!!!


The rehearsal dinner was really good and the best part would have been the dessert table! :)) The Kline's had the dinner at the same place where we had the reception so that went well!


We did learn however, that these two should never be trusted if they are off in a corner and whispering! The song (if that is what you want to call it) that came from these two was something that will not soon be forgotten!!!


The rehearsal actually went really well and I was so glad!! What helped the most was having a dad who has a loud voice, a bride that knew exactly what she wanted and people that kept their opinions to themselves!! :)) Carrie and Josh had t-shirts made for everyone in the wedding party and so this is the group all together!! They were all fantastic and we all agreed we had the best Bible Bearer and Flower Girl that EVER were in a wedding!!


So that is it for now! There is plenty more to tell about but that at least gives you some idea of what we have been up to!!!

Apologies

I realize that I have not updated this in a month but in case you didn't know, things have been a little busy around here! I am promising to do several blogs in the next week or so. About what?? Well, lets see - had a daughter turn 20, had another one turn 18, drove to FL and back for a bridal shower, took a weeks vacation for a wedding.......ummmmm......I think that about covers it! So, once I get my camera and a laptop all together in one piece and the proper permission is obtained, I will get to blogging!

But until then, just know that the Fulton Family Funny Farm is alive and half sane. Well, the last part is seriously questionable!!