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A Mom, A Memory and a Moment of WHOA!
As a Mom… I got to know the Emergency room a lot better (or worse) than I ever had known it. James was ( a wonderful word here) asthmatic. He went from racing 70 miles an hour around the house to hunched shoulders and sitting in a corner in 32 seconds. Housing at Scott AFB was so close to the hospital, it was quicker to walk cutting through a neighbor’s yard and right into the ER. They knew us. We knew the routine: a shot, the IV insertion, and then the albuterol in a breathing treatment. He would be admitted up to the 4th floor, nurses greeted him by name,…
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Spring is Here and What are those Trees?
We moved so many times and to so many different climates from tropical; to near Arctic; to desert SW; coastal Carolina and Pacific NW. We appreciated learning new plants and trees and really enjoyed relaxing in our new garden once we got into the house. I think one of our best stress relievers was walking outside during the moving in process and taking a look around and dreaming/planning what we could do with our yard and the landscaping. Fast forward to our retirement home and walking around deciding what trees and plants can go where! So much fun and maybe we could see them in 5 years! Then we pulled…
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Financial (In)dependence
My son opened his first checking account this last weekend. He is 14 and can barely hold onto a nickle before it is spent. Financial Independence. I was 16 when I got my first credit-card. I was preparing to travel to England with our high-school drama team. We were stationed at Keflavik NAS, Iceland and I was no actress. But it was an opportunity to get off of “The Rock” as we so lovingly called our little part of the island. Mom & Dad decided I needed a way to pay for things beyond carrying around a lot of cash. The card was attached to my parents’ name too but,…
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A Minute out of the Norm: Plant Some Seeds
It is still pretty cold here in the Midwest, the danger of frost certainly has not passed. In fact, I wouldn’t be totally surprised if we got more snow (aghast) between now and the end of the month. However, my boys and I have started our summer garden. Before I dive into the topic of our garden I have to share a ‘funny’ story about miscommunication. My husband was going birthday shopping with the boys last Saturday for me. I asked him while he was out to please pick out some seeds for our annual vegetable-garden. He won’t be around this year for our vegetable & herb garden so I…
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A is for April… every Military Child gets an A too!
April is just jammed packed with action. It is after all the month of the Military Child: right there my mind is racing through pictures of friends, their babies, my babies… and my babies’ babies. Whoa… better stop. April comes in like a lion… and out like a lamb. April Fools. April showers bring May flowers. They all relate to those military children: Hear the roar of their excitement, patriotism, experience and networking friends. See the shy sheepish look as they once again enter a new school building. But don’t forget the warmth of their smiles! Catch that glimpse of a sparkle in their eye when they realize the new…
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April is Month of the Military Child
April is a big month for military families as we recognize the younger part of the family teams that serve their country! Month of the Military Child is celebrated in many ways and you can find events occurring throughout the month at nearby installations! Military kids face many challenges and hurdles as they relocate with their families. From long separations with a deployed parent(s) to an extensive list of schools attended; friends made and then goodbyes spoken (too often for most parents). How many times did we recognize that the friends knew we were leaving as they slowly withdrew from our kids to protect themselves from the pain? But the…
