I'm An Addict!!

Yes!! I'm addicted!!! To what, you may ask? Well, to those who know me well would instantly answer COFFEE!!! And they would be right! But my new found addiction is to juicing! My wonderful, oldest son, has bought many things while in Afghanistan and has sent them here to be stored until he gets home. One of the things he sent was a Big Boss Juicer.

When I told him it was here, he said I could use it if I wanted to. Well, that was the beginning of a love affair with fresh fruit and vegetable juice. I can't wait to make it when I get up. In fact, I get the coffee going in the morning and while I'm waiting for it to finish, I start making my juice. I'm not too adventurous in juicing yet. I found a favorite recipe and so far, I'm sticking with it. What do I use?? My morning juice contains spinach, carrots, celery, apple and strawberries. Sounds like an odd combination, but it is so good and good for you. So, thanks to my son for getting me started. Now I have to buy him a new juicer before he gets home!!!

25 Years and Counting.....

Twenty-Five years ago, a 19 year old girl and 20 year old boy, stood before God, family and friends and pledged to love each other till death do us part. Well, hopefully we are nowhere near the end. It's been an amazing 25 years!!!

I've had a few people ask,  what's the secret to staying together?  I don't know that it is a big secret, but for us, it's been God, each other, kids, then everything else. Has it been like that all the time? No! We mess up, get things out of order, but figure it out and come back together. We also told each other from the beginning that divorce will never be an option. Murder, maybe, but never divorce!! Just kidding!

We spent our anniversary in New Orleans. We had driven through before, but had never stopped. We stayed in the French Quarter. Walked, shopped, ate, walked, listened to some street musicians, walked, ate some more. It was a great few days. We are taking a bigger anniversary trip in March. A cruise to Roatan, Honduras; Belize, and Mexico. So excited to be visiting countries we've not seen before and to do it with friends, Mike and Lisa, who are also celebrating 25 years of marriage. I can't wait!!

So, I will leave you with a few pictures of us through the years and our New Orleans getaway. Enjoy (And don't judge the hairstyles, it was the 80's when we met!!)

Engagement July 1987

Wedding Day 1-23-88

Our Family grew one little boy at a time!!

Brian Jr 

Brian Jr and Jeremy

Brian Jr, Jeremy and Joseph

Serving in Haiti

June 2012 The day the last son graduated High School 

Our Family all grown up!!



New Orleans!!

Our Hotel

Cafe Du Monde and Beignets

Mississippi River

The Man who serenaded us while walking along the Mississippi River!! 

One of the places we ate for dinner!! So Good!

Decked out for Mardi Gras!

At the Crescent City Brewhouse - Here's to the next 25 years!! 

Foster Care

My husband and I have been taking foster care classes to get licensed to care for children in need. Each class is on a different area of need for these children and lasts approximately 3 hours. On Saturday we had a double dose...2 classes! It was overwhelming to say the least, but also very informative.Each class has an activity. This time we were given a spelling test. I know, felt like we were in school again!! We had been talking about kids who have undiagnosed disabilities, such as dyslexia. So, he had us number 1-10. Then he asked us to raise our writing hand. When we did, he told us to write with the opposite hand. Then he said, turn your paper upside down. Now, trying to write with the opposite hand is challenging enough, but now upside down? Then, before we started he chose one lady to write with her correct writing hand. He said he would say the word, say it in a sentence, then move on...no going back or repeating any missed words. When we were finished, he asked how many of us thought that the speed of giving the words was too fast? Everyone, but the lady who was writing with her correct hand, said yes it was too fast. He then told us, that he used her as a guide. When she finished her word he moved on. He then told us this is the best way to show us how some of these kids struggle in regular classes. They have moved from school to school and slipped through the system. 

The second class activity was a debate. He divided the class into to sides. He said our side was pro and the other side was con. (whether it was your actual position on not) Then he gave us a statement and we went to another room to come up with our position. We came back and the debate began. Some got very heated over the subject matter, but no one was out of line with what they said. Then he told us, there is no right answer to this, you have to take it case by case, child by child and have multiple conversations. Ok, so you're wondering what the topic was? I'll leave you with this... You have a 14 year old foster daughter in your care. She sends you a text that says... I want to be on birth control. What do you do, how do you react!!