Do You Know Me?

* I am the only daughter in my family.

* I have 3 Brothers, 7 Sisters-in-law, and 4 Brothers-in-law

* I have more than 2 dozen nieces and nephews.

* I was born in New Hampshire.

* I lived 21 years in NY.
* I love NY snows.

* I lived 7 years in FL.
* I love the snow-white beaches of Pensacola.

* I lived 4 years in WA.
* I love the rocky west coast.

* I have lived 3 years in NC.
* I am still trying to figure out what to love about NC!

* You can hear my NY accent when I say "Caw-fee."

* I love "cawfee" - with flavored creamers.

* I am a nervous person.

* I used to be blond.

* I started to go gray in high school.

* I collected Precious Moments figurines as a girl ...

my favorite .. the Nativity set from my parents and my hubby.

* My first job was as a book shelver at a public library.

* I never worked fast food.

* I hate talking on the phone.

* I worked 2 years in college as a phone operator LOL.

* I had to be forced to get my driver's license.

* I never owned an automatic and have trouble driving them.

* My first car was an '89 Ford Escort passed down from my parents.

* My second car was a deep purple '98 Dodge Neon.  (It was a Barbie car)
* I briefly shared a Ford F-150 ... that was fun!

* My current cars are a 2003 Ford Focus and a Ford Ranger.

* I was an Education Major.
* I love school - both teaching and learning new things.

* I love teaching "littles" - ages 3-5.

* My first class of 4 year olds should have graduated in 2010.

* I love Winnie the Pooh (and Tigger, too)

* I love Fisher Price Little People ... too cute

* I love music.

* I play 4 instruments at differing levels.

* I always wished that I could sing bass.

* ... or that I played a low instrument.

*I prefer real Christmas trees.

*I have studied 3 languages (4 if "y'all" count Southern)

* I love cold mornings and warm beds.

* If it is cold, I think that there should be snow.

* Favorite Restaurant: Olive Garden
* My real favorite restaurant is the Melting Pot - but it is only for VERY special occasions.
* Favorite Holiday: Valentine's Day!

* I love breakfast (any time of the day)

* I love my KitchenAid Mixer.

* I am a chocoholic who abstains from chocolate.

* I now have to limit caramels and marshmallows.

* Favorite Dessert: Cheesecake

* I don't like cake ...

I typically have an ice cream cake for my birthday

* I am not afraid to eat dessert first - or as a meal.

* Favorite Food: Spaghetti (also turkey or scalloped potatoes with ham)

* I gained 20 lbs in my 1st year of marriage.

* I lost 35 lbs in the next 2 years of marriage.

* I have a love/hate relationship with exercise.

* I love Yankee Candle.

* I love Bath and Body Works.

* Basically, I love pleasant scents.

* I love gardening.

* Favorite flower: lilacs

* ... enjoy roses too!

* My mood lifts considerably after mowing the lawn.

* I married the only guy I ever dated :)
* I married my best friend.
* My first kiss was on my wedding day.
* We honeymooned in Bar Harbor, Maine (or Bah Hahbah - as the locals say).
* I want to be a newlywed forever.

* I once made a "wish" list of my perfect mate which included

a military man and a man in the ministry ... I got both

* I introduced my hubby to classical music.

* I am 4 years older then my hubby.

* I was a student wife for 3 years.

* I was a Navy wife for 6 years.

* I spent nearly 1/2 of my first 6 years of marriage away from my hubby.

* My hubby missed only 1 Christmas at home, but numerous birthdays.

* An aircraft carrier whistle is the happiest and saddest sound ever.
It is blown as they pull away and as they pull in!
* My hubby spoils me.
* I love children and hoped to have 12 (all boys).
* God had other plans for my life which include a struggle with infertility.

* I never lived overseas.

* I am solar-powered. (I get a lot more done on sunny days)

* I love Seattle weather from May through September.  Can you say mild and SUNNY?

* I believe that rainy days were meant for napping.

* I love any weather that calls for sweaters or sweatshirts.

* I think toe socks are fun.

* I am usually cold.

* Favorite Season: Autumn (close second - spring)

* I love the smell of line-dried laundry.

* I recycle greeting cards.

* I compost.

* I prefer mountain vacations to beach vacations.

* I love to walk and hike.

* I love a warm campfire (with marshmallows, of course)

* Favorite hotel: Hampton Inn (great beds and awesome breakfast)

* I love Kim Anderson photos (or quality knockoffs)

* Favorite Store:  Lowes

* I love sparkles ... cards, nail polish, clothes...

* I am not artistic. 

* Favorite Zoo Animal: Otter

* I am usually a home body.

* I complete the newspaper puzzles almost every day.

Sudoku, crossword, and jumble

* Favorite Color(s):  deep, rich jewel tones

* I am a people-watcher.

* I still use dial-up.
* I enjoy sharing in the "Blog-o-sphere"



What are we up to?

Some people say that journaling is a good discipline and also a way to relieve stress. I don't know about that, but it is at least a method of letting people look into our lives and know what is going on that week.

I guess the first entry will be easy. What's going on with Chris and Sandra? Well, we are currently 2 1/2 months into our FINAL 7 month deployment. So that puts Sandra in Mukilteo, WA and Chris in the Persian Gulf on the USS Abraham Lincoln. We are still not aging this year and remaining newlyweds (no spouse=no birthday, no anniversary) - that is my spin on the situation in order to maintain a positive attitude.

Chris will be busy keeping the ship running so that they can use the catapults to launch planes. Usually he is helping to propel the ship, but they are parked for awhile (we think). He is of course keeping up on his workouts and is trying to start a Bible Study again. He has had two different sailors show up on Sunday. His work is starting to wind down as they slowly give other sailor's his responsiblities.

Sandra is currently itching to get going on packing. It is still a little too early for that, but there are always cupboards and drawers to go through and mental planning to be done. It is my job to empty fridge and freezer and do the logistics of our coming move.

So where are we going? We were accepted to Ambassador Baptist College beginning in January 2009. We are more than a little excited about this new adventure. The real packing will begin in August and I will move out of our cute little apartment here in Washington at the end of August. Chris is due home mid-September or end of September (that is Navy time for you). He will do official separation paperwork and then we will pack up the Storage Unit and head across the country again. Hooray!

Until then, I must check my enthusiasm. There are still a few months ahead of us. Of course, I am reading, teaching piano and flute lessons, teaching Sunday School, and accompanying congregational singing. During the week, I am crocheting blankets for a program called Project Linus. It fills my time, uses up yarn, and aids families facing severe illnesses. I am also sewing dresses for some of my students and attempting to teach myself to play the violin. Again, discipline will be the key. And the exercise endeavor, which my husband has instilled in me - with gas prices rising and an unpredictable fitness center at the apartment complex, I am trying "real" running in place of my treadmill. I am currently doing 5.5 miles in just over an hour. I am in training so that I can run with Chris without slowing him down. I have a little way to go. I guess I can make some progress in my remaining 4 months of training.