Safe and secure?

Being in a military community for all of these years, I think I've gotten a false sense of security. I've never had to deal with much crime, or fear of crime. With ID checks to get onto the military base, we falsely think we are immune to the impulses of criminals. That's stuff that happens "off-base," right?  Or what about those of us living in small communities, or primarily "mormon" locations? I have family on the mainland that rarely locks their doors.

Almost a year ago, we heard tales of some that may have been gaining access to our base housing over the fences and trying to access homes. I believe they were caught, or it went away, but we didn't hear any more.

Then a few weeks ago, I found out a friend of mine had a stroller taken out of her garage by a woman passing by. In broad daylight. That seems kind of bold, but still could have been a small, one-time incident.

So, Friday morning, when I was awakened at 4:50am by a car alarm, I didn't think much of it. Someone accidentally set it off, I thought. But, when I left the house just before 9am, I found the street covered with police and neighbors out checking homes and cars. Someone had had a hey-day heading down our street, vandalizing and thieving along the way.

I think that we may be initially shocked when things happen that we didn't see coming, things we don't understand. Like criminal acts. I know that at the first report, I was shocked-- at first. And, then again, when I heard the second report. But, it went away and a sense of security returned.

But, when it really affected us, this last time, that's when it really hit me. That you never know how safe you are. Living on a military base, or in a Utah community, you never know.

So, how can we really feel safe? I figure we do what we can to protect ourselves and our family, and we put the rest in the Lord's hands. The faithful part of me believes that living right and making good choices will be all of the protection we should need. But, then that would mean that bad things don't happen to good people. Which I know is not true.

Then, the cynical part of me believes that the Lord helps those that help themselves. So, a certain level of our safety and security is up to us. So maybe that is the answer...it's a little, or a lot, of both. We take precautions. We teach our children safe practices. Then we pray for God to watch over us and keep us safe.

I love hearing my children in our evening prayer asking for their Heavenly Father to watch over them and those we love. I do it too. But I love that, for them, it IS that simple. Their faith is that pure. Another example of greatness by our pure and precious children...

What's up?

The past few weeks have been focused on the upcoming spring break, when Sabrina will have YW camp at Bellows beach, and the end of the school quarter. We plan to take in a movie, hit the beach a couple of times, and maybe visit the Discovery Center for hands-on fun.

Hayden finished his 5 week Starbase field trip to Pearl Harbor complete with successful rocket launch! Dennis and I each spent a day chaperoning. He had a "blast" and got a ton of flight and space education, including CAD engineering design.

We have started weekly appointments to get the training we should have received when Sabrina got her pump in Germany. We have a FAB.U.LOUS. patient educator here at Tripler Hospital that has really taken a caring interest in getting Sabrina's pump therapy running smoothly. We have lots of fun "homework" like going out for a burger, french fries and milkshake, and using a square-wave bolus. Next time we get to try pizza with a dual-wave bolus. Sabrina's thrilled!

McKenna ate an entire appetizer platter of shrimp last week. She has a strange pallet for a 5 year old.

Sabrina had an etiquette night at church, complete with a fake date and a fancy dinner. Hopefully she took it all in. Have you seen her eat? I told her no date would take out an animal like that a second time!

We also finally replaced Sabrina's glasses with a new style she's excited about. Maybe they'll help her be more studious?

We had our dental checkups this month...found a dream of a dental office. Everyone passed with flying colors...but poor little McKenna, those dang baby teeth are no good!

Sabrina and school-- She. is. not. organized. Period. I, however, THRIVE on being organized. So, each quarter it boils down to me working to get her caught up with semi-decent grades. This quarter has been no exception. Her teachers just have not been helping. Dennis and I met with her English teacher (who, by the way, teaches from behind her desk...always) and got a rundown of how she thought Sabrina may have a 1st grade reading level. Really? Last year she was in the average range for 7th grade in the Terra Nova. She backtracked 5 grades?

So, we stood up for her, discussed her medical conditions, looked for possible reasons she wasn't producing grade-level work and testing well. She gave her a different kind of assessment, and lo and behold...she scored mid-senior and post high school on her vocabulary and comprehension. All of a sudden this teacher, that thought Sabrina was a slacking loser, is her best friend...in her corner...helping to prepare an education plan that takes into account her medical needs and focuses on the main rubriks to help her succeed. I'm so hopeful that it will turn around for her...and us. It has been an exhausting year! This next quarter will be the real test to see if it works.

Hayden earned his Webelos badge last week, and he is set to earn the Arrow of Light at the upcoming Blue and Gold banquet this month. We are so proud of all of his hard work...he is doing his 3rd hike this Saturday...just for fun, he doesn't need to fill a requirement. He'll be moving to the 11 year old scouts on his birthday in April.

Dennis has been acting superintendent this past month--a job he'll gladly relinquish when someone else comes in soon. He can't get ahead of the volume of email.

Me? I just can't wait to sleep in on Friday...and every day next week! That's the best part of the school breaks for me...Yay!

Welcome the holidays!

I think that the ushering in of the holidays may help me feel more settled here. We had a nice, quiet Thanksgiving...I decorated for fall, Sabrina helped me cook (although next year we'll put SUGAR in the pumpkin pie...), and I even braved the Black Friday crowds. Those price matching policies at the main stores and the BX saved me some money and a ton of running around.

It's the 1st of December, and while I was worried that being in Hawaii would hinder feeling the holiday spirit, we are all decorated for Christmas, and feeling a bit jovial. I've spent the past week or so getting ready for a holiday craft fair. I haven't started my Christmas cards yet, but I'm making some for the fair, so hopefully will get them all knocked out at the same time. I even have nearly all of the Christmas shopping done and everything wrapped. Way ahead of past years...That's how this post was supposed to go...all gingerbread and holiday glee...yeah, right...

Then, I headed out yesterday to finish some last minute errands, mail packages, exchange some items. First, my morning took way longer than I had planned to get out the door...

Then, at the post office...I had put 3 packages in flat rate boxes that the helpful clerk informed me were going to cost more than if I had used regular boxes. So, he handed me some so I could repackage them. I had also apparently used the wrong customs form...yes, the same form I used for the last 6 years to send packages FROM Germany was not allowed to send packages TO Germany. When all was said and done, I nearly ran out of there...on to the next stop.

Braving the mall, I spent almost 2 hours in Ross, scouring the racks for specific items, including a costume for Sabrina for her role as Mary in the nativity at the Christmas party (they don't sell very many long, humble, tunic-type dresses these days), standing in line, then getting to the register and realizing my credit card was gone. Having used it at the post office, I HOPED it was there.

I rushed out of Ross to check my car seat where I had put the post office receipts and try to track it down. It wasn't in the car and, of course, they weren't answering their phones. So, I had to call a head office, in a different building, where a woman took my information. Still unsettled at the possibilities that I left it there or could have dropped it, and a random stranger was finishing his Christmas shopping on my dime, I called Dennis to head over there....5 minutes til they closed. He called the post office first, spoke to the same employee I did, who assured him that none of the clerks remembered anyone leaving a card.

At this point it is 2 hours until our church Christmas Party, where Sabrina was Mary, both Hayden and McKenna were singing, and I was charged with providing part of the dinner...

I called the woman at the post office back, got her voicemail and proceeded to give detailed information on the clerk, time of day, how he kept my card in front of him, and "handed me my receipt, but no card, as I rushed out the door." After leaving this message, I decided to AGAIN scour around the car seat, dump my purse, and tear apart the center console, where I noticed...yes, here it comes...the card had fallen flat against a CD. Relieved that it was secure, I made yet one more phone call to that poor woman at the post office and left the most apologetic message that all was well, and profusely thanked her for her time and service.

Next, I made one more stop before heading home where I handed out the items from Ross and noticed I was missing a bag. I checked the car...no bag. Really...no bag. I know what you're thinking, but it really wasn't there. So, I called Ross. They were still slammed, and she said there wasn't anything around the customer service desk, but if I called back in another hour, they might slow down enough for her to look around.

So, I rushed my family to get ready, dropped them off at the church, and headed back to the mall. 20 minutes later, after circling the parking lot for a spot, having stood in the customer service line, and saying multiple prayers, I was the reunited with my shopping bag, which had a huge note on it, "CUSTOMER LEFT IN SHOPPING CART." Yay! I was so grateful, and took a moment to thank God and promise I would slow down...this is the message I received loud and clear! Again, all was well.

I made it back to the party before anyone performed, even before dinner was started. McKenna was a little warm, and a little clingy, but all in all, it went well.

Today, we were all ready for church relatively on time...not too much hassle, everyone looking good. We get to church and I noticed that McKenna barely touched her pop tart. She said she was full...whatever. We are just about 3 minutes late, still making announcements. I barely put my rear end in the pew (of course, nearer to the front than I normally sit), sit her on my lap, when she turns to me with her hand up by her mouth and starts to cry.

I KNOW that look...we make a bee line for the bathroom, my hand in ready position by her mouth just in case, and barely make it to the trash can in the hall...I say barely because none made it to the floor, but my hand and the front of her new black velvet dress weren't so lucky. Yes, most made it in the trash. I now had to go back into Sacrament to collect my kids and belongings, where Sabrina decided she'd stay, so I had to find her a ride home. I hope they were all thinking "that poor mom" and not "I wish that lunatic would take her seat and quit walking up and down the aisle."

McKenna seemed to be ok by dinner time. I don't know if it was too much from last night, or what. I took the kids out just before dinner to take pictures for our Christmas card, and they turned out pretty well. This one looks like it is in front of a picture, but this ethereal sunset background is very real. And, I'm typing on here instead of finishing my Christmas cards...

So, that was my weekend. What did I say? Welcome the holidays? What was I thinking? If it continues like this, I might have to Bah Humbug!

Spring cleaning and a surprise...

You may recall an earlier post about a cruel trick by Mother Nature...snow after a tease of spring. Well, I'm so glad the real thing seems to be here. I was telling my dad how nice it was that it was 60 degrees yesterday, and unfortunately he had a chilly 29. Poor thing! I thought we had it bad!

But, it's spring...and to me that means spring cleaning...bustling, organizing, brighter days and capris. With the impending move and the kids on Spring Break, I am in full clean out mode this week. It's good timing to switch out wardrobes and pack away the winter clothes for three (ghast! Will I even want any of it by then?) years. That has kept me from making this overdue post.

Every year when we do our taxes, we are glad to get some back, even though we have it worked that we don't have lots of extra taken out through the year (why give Uncle Sam need a tax-free loan?). But, it is nice to make a double bill payment and maybe get something fun. This year, with Dennis gone, I made a decision to get something big and surprise him.

We were grateful to get my parent's dining room set when we needed one years ago. It was a sturdy oak pedestal set with 6 chairs. But, over the years, I have grown to dislike the oval shape (can NEVER find table cloths) and it seems to take a large amount of space for the seating available. So, we talked about leaving it here and getting a new set at our next station.

Well, I was told that furniture selection isn't so great, so I started to look around here and found this set...I liked the idea of a bench seat (you can slide a lot of kids in on that one) but had not pictured this set in my mind at all. I had imagined cloth seats with wood backs, a more solid color, medium stain table. This is so completely not my style. Way more modern than I imagined. I did, however, fall in love with it instantly. Especially those deep chocolate high back chairs. I got 5 of them, plus the bench...that's a minimum of 8 seats (and more if your hineys are small!). I found it on the German economy, was able to use a VAT-relief form, and got a GREAT deal. I've received good feedback from my girlfriends...here it is:

Plus, doesn't it look pretty with the polish pottery settings? And, with a spill already of strawberry milk by one daughter and gum between the legs of another daughter (I'll let you guess which is which) that I was able to clean off of both chairs, I am so glad I found these! I hope Dennis will be too! Surprise! What do you think, hunny?

Ugh...it's just sickly ol' me...

Ok, so you know that feeling of joy you get after childbirth, when you can finally feel semi-normal, climb out of bed without groaning and can't ever imagine feeling as bad as you recently have? That's me today.

No...didn't have any babies recently, but I liken it to the horrible flu I got this weekend. The one that left me in the bathroom every hour for 8 hours straight, then aching so bad the next day that my hair follicles hurt, and you couldn't pay me to get out of bed.

The part I feel really horrible about was the big District Pinewood Derby that Hayden was eligible for because he earned First Place out of the Webelos in our Pack Derby. You had to be present to race, and I couldn't find him a ride after 4 phone calls. I really feel like I let him down, but my head was literally spinning. I couldn't have driven the 1/2 hour to base to take him. He's been pretty understanding, but I know he's disappointed.

With Dennis gone, my kids were on their own...literally. Hayden and McKenna had "FREE FUN" weekend. As long as no major crashes occurred, I pretty much said "Yes" to whatever they asked for. Movies...Wii...computer...candy...more movies. He fixed lunch...Sabrina fixed dinner. All in all, I think they went through 9 packages of Top Ramen (although one of them was meant for me, when they brought me lunch in bed...that I immediately asked them to remove, but aren't they sweet?)

But, today...I'm getting some semblance of my life back. Plus a new appreciation for health and wellness...not to mention I lost about 6 lbs...so a good time to start a diet. But, I can't believe how feeling so bad can make you feel so good, when you finally get back there again. Back to where I am today...feeling like a million bucks, compared to yesterday!

Flashing blue lights...

Ok, so have I mentioned I have this wierd kharma with cops whenever Dennis is deployed?

I took the kids to see Sugarland last night on Ramstein. They didn't have any food booths, just a beer kiosk that remained REALLY busy the entire time. So, I took them to eat at the bowling alley afterwards. It was about 10:15 when we pulled out of my parking spot, a parallel spot to the road, but being that late on base, there was NO ONE around. So, I pulled out...and kept going to the main road, where I turned left to head to the gate to exit base.

So, there have been a few times I've been pulled over in the past (I know, you're all aghast, saying "not Lisa, she's such a great driver!" Ok, you can stop laughing now...) and usually, I knew I was going a "little" fast.

But, there have been a few times when I was seriously shocked and sat there dumbfounded while the officer sauntered (yes, I said sauntered. Doesn't it always seem they are sitting back there eating lunch, purposely taking their time to make you stew?) up to my car. Last night was one of those times.

As I turned onto the main street, I'm driving along, ready to get home, when I see those dang flashing blue lights behind me. I even naively thought, "they must need to get around." But, no, as I pulled over, they stop behind me. Crud! Do I have an unlit tail light or something? He asked for the paperwork...license, registration, and ID.

It was at this point I'm still feeling a little high and mighty, so I asked, "What is it for?" (as I'm pulling out my ID's and registration...I'm bold, but not stupid!) He said, "You just went the wrong way on a one-way street." Dangit! He's right! I don't know what to say...see, the one-way I was on, met another one-way coming at me, and you are supposed to turn left before that. I know this...I've driven on that road for nearly 6 years...although coming from the other direction. So, I apologize profusely, admitting my oversight, and he lets me go. I think the 3 kids and lack of alcohol on my breath probably made him feel sorry for me, and he realized it wasn't going to be the big DUI collar he was expecting.

My bad...but I'll be so glad if I don't see those flashing lights in my rear view again for the next 2 months.

The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly

I decided today, that very rarely do I have completely, horrible days...not like a few weeks ago. Not like one friend's experience to rent a car today. I do, however, have days with good things, bad things, and terribly ugly things that make me want to crawl back in bed and give up for the day.

So, for The Good: Today I checked out a dining set I've been looking at for several weeks on the German economy. It's in stock and on sale for 60 euro (just under $100) less right now.

The Bad: I opened my yogurt on the way to take McKenna to swim lessons, the one with an expiration date a week from now...and it was grainy and curdled. Yuck! No breakfast for me...

Also, we have been having trouble with Sabrina's on-site CGM (checks her blood sugar through her belly every 5 minutes) and made yet a 3rd attempt to get in touch with her endocrinologist's nurse. No dice...

The downright Ugly: As we were walking out the door to church tonight, Sabrina put my soda in my purse, not having noticed that I had already lifted the tab...half of my diet Coke with Lime pooled in the bottom of my month-old Vera Bradley that I love. Camera inside, cell phone, ipod, calculator...the next 15 minutes were spent doing damage control to save paper and electrical devices....not to mention my pretty Java Blue purse.

My day in a nutshell...look for future installments of The Good...The Bad...and The Ugly!

Just some tidbits to share this week:

#1)
Hayden is my techie...he is in LOVE with the internet. He also is a big fan of SWAG...so to him anything he finds on the internet for free, really rocks his world. I am getting confirmation emails for free subscriptions to various kids' sites at least once a week. To him the internet is free entertainment, so he has spent some time creating his own website. It's linked to his school email somehow, and he is very proud of it. He has added some satellite maps so we can see where his dad is....or get close anyway.

So, last week he came to me and asked me if I had a paypal account. I was a little leery that my 9 year old is interested in my paypal account. He actually wanted me to tell him how he could get one. Why? I asked. So he can put a paypal button on his website, so people could send him money. I gave him a short economics lesson that people want a product or a service for giving you money. I asked what he was going to provide. About 3 days later...he came to me and said he figured it out...he was going to collect for the homeless. Short of the logistics of a 9 year old in general collecting for the homeless, I had to smile at my clever boy with a heart of gold...

#2) I've spent the majority of my life flying under the radar. And, yet I had two incidences with the police this week. (Why does this always happen when Dennis is deployed?) They seem harmless now, but I get seriously nervous when I even see the SP's coming into the food court to grab dinner. I can't figure out what I feel so guilty about.

So, on Saturday we went with some friends to dinner, and we rode together in our van. We had the youngest kids in the far back, Hayden, McKenna and their 3 year old, Ryan. After dinner we were going on base to get some ice cream. When you go through the gate, you have to show your ID to the guard or Security Police. So, while he's checking our ID's, the toddlers are working each other up...getting really excited about the "police," and Ryan starts shouting "Police! Police!" I swear he must have said it about 5 times...he really was excited...a 3 year old boy, police...who's surprised? Anyway, the guard starts looking at me, trying to peer in the back. And, finally asks me, "Is everything all right?" We were all laughing so hard...my cheeks hurt so much. all I could say was, "He's fine, he's 3..." Just the look on his face, I surely thought he was going to make us pull over and check it out.

Second, the last thing you want to do on a military installation is leave a package lying around. It instantly becomes a source of investigation, just short of sending the bomb squad. So, tonight I was packing groceries in the Volvo, rearranging in the back to fit it all in. From there we were going to Karate, so I took Hayden's karate duffel out of the trunk to easily get at later. I tossed it next to the car and called to the kids to put it inside. I finished fitting everything in and took off.

About an hour later we pulled into my cub scout leader meeting, and I asked Hayden to grab his bag and go change...what, no bag? Think back...crud!! Not only did I commit the cardinal sin, we were now on a different installation. So, I tried calling the commissary, and my fears were confirmed...the security police had the bag. I then had to call the Law Enforcement desk, admit my bungling, and ask pretty please to get the bag back. He told me they had "several" calls about it (Eagle Eyes program at work) had checked it out, and dropped it off at the youth center where they did karate. Unfortunately, being the wrong installation, it was the wrong karate class. 45 minutes later, I was able to retrieve the bag, but it required yet another trip to Ramstein today, and my son was 15 minutes late to his class.

This is my life...my quirky entrepreneur, boisterous kids, and running around like a chicken with my head cut off. Good thing they can't arrest you for that!

Chocolate, take me away!

The question "How are you?" has taken on new meaning in the last few months since Christine passing away. And, there's no easy way to answer. I usually respond with "I'm fine," "It's ok," or "Keeping busy." But, then it's usually followed by, "you're so strong...I can't imagine how hard it must be," or "I'm amazed at how you do it all."

Well, it's a well-known fact (there's actually probably some collegiate study about it) that the day your husband leaves for deployment, all's up for grabs...challenges and trials come out of the woodwork. Literally, the day Dennis left, he woke up to a flat tire, that then took me 10 days to get fixed and back on his car.

So, for all of you that sincerely want to know "how I'm doing," here is a rundown of my week...

Monday: not too bad...had to take Hayden to a makeup karate class, but got to stay home the beginning of the day and get some housework done. It did snow pretty good that night, but "I just got new tires" so I got home ok.

Tuesday: is my busy errand day. McKenna has swim lessons in the morning, gymnastics in the afternoon. So, in between I decided to get my car inspected as the registration is coming due. I drove over to that base and realized that I didn't bring my checkbook with me. So, I decided to get an oil change. I was the first one in line, and 1.5 hours later, I just had time to run into the food court and grab McKenna some lunch before running back to the other base for her gymnastics. I was actually 10 min late because my cell phone keeps losing time. As I was dressing her, I realized I had forgotten her leotard, so we put her semi-wet swimsuit on her, ran her up to the class, and there was a sign on the door that the instructor was ill and class was cancelled. I then had to wait around and pick up the kids. Sabrina and I had haircuts, then ran them to get dinner, then I had an OCMT meeting for Girl Scouts, then they had karate....I got home at 8:40pm....to our entire village blacked out. The wind was insane! I spent 35 minutes getting candles lit, lanterns found, and then the electricity came back on...already behind schedule, the kids still had homework and ended up in bed an hour later.

Wednesday: I had an appointment to get my nails done, then ran to try the inspection again, where I was told that I not only needed a new muffler (which we already suspected) but I have not one, but 2 oil leaks. I drove to the other base to pick up the kids from school, met them at the library, and unsuccessfully tried to contact my mechanic husband about what he wanted to do with the car (I mean, isn't that why we marry men in the first place?) Then I had to go to church for Sabrina's New Beginnings program. Again, getting home around 9pm. Homework, yada yada yada.

Which brings me to today, Thursday: McKenna again had swim lessons, which we were 10 minutes late to because I was packing the car for church tonite. She actually went in her pj's and snow boots....she is so hard to wake up in the morning! After swim, I checked mail, ran to the community center to try Dennis again, and proceeded to overflow when I finally got him on the phone...in the lobby...in front of anyone that couldn't avert their eyes... So, then I went to make dental appts for exams for everyone for medical clearance for the PCS. They had an opening in 45 minutes, so I fit in a dental exam for McKenna. Which, sad to say, was an unfortunate revelation that her late-night snacking has to end as she has 2 cavities and bad flossing habits. (bad mommy) After picking up the kids, I decided to take my cell phone in as I talked for a total of 17 minutes today on a completely full battery and the phone was dead. Then I fed the kids and ran to church for enrichment tonite. We had a flea market type swap, so I had a van full of stuff to get rid of. During the evening, I was told my usually more intellectual son was in the room under the stage lighting matches (apparently they fell out of the camping equipment stored down there). As we were packing up, someone offered to help take totes out to the car if I would give her my keys. Where were my keys? I sent Hayden to check the car, as it doesn't lock if they are in the ignition. He came back, "I have good news and bad news. The good news is, I found the keys in the car. The bad news is, it's locked." ugh! Husband deployed. No spare, although I do have a remote key at home, but remembered to lock the basement door this morning, so I can't even get into the upstairs part of the house. 2 disconnected phone calls to ADAC (auto club) later, I decided to check the car for myself...I couldn't see the keys. When confronted, he admitted he didn't actually see the keys, perse....but a glitter between the seats. Hope! I went back inside to search again, and a light bulb went off...Sabrina was missing. Find Sabrina, and pray she has the keys. That worked! So, we packed up the car, kids, and my sanity, and I vowed to stay home tomorrow.

My lovely friend, Leslie, sent me home with truffles. She had it prepared, so she must have had a feeling I'd need them. So, as soon as I finish this, I'm going to put in a movie...go through some fabulous scrapbooking donations we received for Christine's project, and eat truffles.

So, next time someone asks "how are you doing?" I'm going to say, "I'm fine...with chocolate."