Welcome, 2011!

It’s no secret that I’m a type-A person who just adores making lists and goals. Usually I agonize about what resolutions to make, as I wrestle with a long list of challenging things I want to accomplish. But, this year, I’m taking a different approach. I’ve slowly come to realize that some of the best things in my life that have happened were not things that I methodically planned and listed as a goal. They were things that happened to me without my doing at all, like meeting my husband, making great friends, getting to see family, and having opportunities to serve in the community. This year I’m going to be open to what the year has in store for me. It’s probably a good thing because this year already holds so many things that will be out of my control: where and when we move, when the house will sell, what I’ll do at our new location, etc. It’s a little scary, but also incredibly exciting. Happy 2011!

Farewell, Christmas

I think this was one of the best Christmas holidays I’ve ever had. It had everything that makes a Christmas complete: family, too much good food, an annual viewing of A Christmas Story, laughter, and a beautiful morning at church. It also had an excessive amount of presents, which was completely unnecessary but still appreciated. (Example: I have not been able to go more than a few hours without holding my Kindle in my hands.) We took down our Christmas decorations yesterday, even though it made me sad. And my parents left this morning. I told Husband this morning, “I’m sad that the visit is over!” He wisely said, “Well, that’s a good thing because it means it you had a good time.” It was a good time, indeed. Goodbye, Christmas 2010!

Christmas Adam

Husband informed me, while we were dating, that December 23rd is Christmas Adam. “What??” I asked him. He explained that if December 24th is Christmas Eve, then he decided that December 23rd was Christmas Adam. As in, Adam and Eve. I’m not sure if he came up with this clever naming on his own, but I like that the day before the day before Christmas gets its own name. I hope you have a wonderful Christmas Adam and Eve. Merry Christmas!

Happy Birthday, Grandma

Today is my grandma’s birthday. She passed away many years ago, and I’m always sad that our time together was so short. But, I remember her very fondly, especially today.

My grandma lived several states away from us, so going to see her was always a fun and exciting adventure.

I remember once we arrived at her house earlier than we expected. I ran up to her in the yard, and before I could say anything, she said, “I have a granddaughter that looks just like you!” I giggled and said, “It’s me, grandma!” She hugged me and said, "Well, bless your heart." My grandma had trouble seeing later in her life, so to this day, I’m not sure if she truly didn’t recognize me at first, or if she was just trying to make me laugh.

She had a huge collection of salt and pepper shakers in her dining room, displayed on several glass shelves. Every time we visited, I loved looking at them and admiring all the different shapes and sizes.

I inherited one set of her salt and pepper shakers, which I’ve displayed in the kitchen of every place I’ve lived. It’s one of my most treasured possessions. In fact, when we hosted the party for Husband’s (ahem) high-spirited military co-workers, the salt and pepper shaker set was the only thing that I thought was important enough to put in a safe place before the party.

I also inherited my grandma’s hair, or at least family members that have told me that my hair is a little bit wavy like my grandma’s. Even when I have a bad hair day (or decade), the one consolation is that I have something of my grandma.

My grandma is my kindred spirit, too. It just so happens that my grandma got married in a place thousands of miles away from her hometown before my grandfather went off to war. And coincidentally, I met Husband in that very same town, where neither of us are from, but happened to be at the time. And, Husband and I have almost an identical wedding anniversary as my grandparents: we got married the day after they did many years later.

I know my mom has expressed her appreciation over the years at how welcoming my grandma was when my mom married my dad. My mom was of a different religion from my grandma, and my grandma told her that there are many different paths to heaven.

I remember that she was always impeccably dressed, wearing a nice dress and jewelry every day, even if she wasn’t going anywhere special.

I remember that she liked watching Dallas. I wonder what she would be watching today.

She must have been an early riser. One time when she visited us, she was up and dressed, sitting quietly in our living room before everyone else. Except that she had accidentally set off the motion detector of our alarm system. I remember my parents frantically running around the house in their pajamas, trying to turn off the alarm that, by that point, was blaring outside throughout the neighborhood. “What’s going on?” she asked. She happened to be hard of hearing and had no idea that she had set off the alarm.

My grandma wore false teeth, and I was fascinated by her nighttime routine of taking them out. Before I was old enough to know what was impolite to say, I told her once after seeing her without teeth, “Grandma, you look like a frog!” Instead of being offended, she just laughed and squeezed me tight, saying, “I love you a million.”

To the woman who I love and admire, I wish her a happy birthday. I love you a million.

Homecoming

This has been a fairly long and tiring week. But, by far, my favorite thing this week was going to the airport to greet one of Husband’s friends, who just got back from his deployment. We brought him some balloons and even a couple of cold beers. Before we left for the airport, I told myself, “Don’t forget the camera….don’t forget the camera…don’t forget the camera.” And you know what? I forgot the camera. Thankfully, another lady brought hers, and she captured the sweetest scene of my friend running up to greet her husband and hugging him tight. It brought tears to my eyes. And it was the perfect reminder that what is important isn’t what’s under our tree, but who is around our tree, especially if you’re lucky enough like me to have your loved one home this year. And maybe, just maybe, at some point this season, I’ll remember to have the camera ready.

Christmas Landscaping?

Is it me or does our landscaping sort of resemble Christmas holly?

I can’t tell if it really does, or if I just have Christmas on the brain after a weekend of seeing the Nutcracker, admiring Christmas lights in our neighborhood, and enjoying our Christmas tree.

Either way, I know our little plants have come a long way since they were eaten alive by deer after we first planted them. And the fact that I haven't killed them yet is a Christmas miracle!

Happy St. Nick's Day

As I get older, I become more thankful for the traditions that my parents did when I was a kid. One of my favorites was celebrating St. Nick’s Day, which is on December 6th. We’d leave out our shoes the night before (December 5th), and there would be a treat from St. Nick in our shoes in the morning. I’m continuing this tradition this year with Husband. I wrapped some candy (Butterfinger minis and a box of Raisinets) and put them in the only shoes that I knew for sure he’d see before work: his flight boots. This link has more information on the actual holiday. (I was pleasantly relieved to see that the holiday really exists and wasn’t just something my family dreamed up as an excuse to have more candy.) Happy St. Nick’s Day!

Roger that

It’s been 3 years since I got out of the military. Even though I work in a civilian job now, the military lingo hasn’t left me. Yesterday I sent an e-mail to a colleague that I’ve never met telling her about a problem and asking her a question. She wrote back, saying that she wasn’t sure. Then she closed the e-mail with the words that tugged at my military heart, “Roger, we’ll have to look into that.” My mind raced at first, wondering if she had been in the military or maybe was a military wife, too. Then I looked at the cc line of the e-mail and noticed she had sent the e-mail to a man named Roger. Roger that, she’s not military.

December already?

Just yesterday when I went to write the date, I wrote October instead of November. Clearly, my brain is about a month behind schedule. I still cannot believe that tomorrow is December. There is part of me that wants to panic because we still have pumpkins sitting on our front porch, and all of our Christmas decorations are still safely stowed in their containers in the closet. But, I’m determined to have a different Christmas season than years past. Usually it seems like I’m rushing around going from task to task, and I really only stop to enjoy the season when it’s a day or two before Christmas. This year, I’m going to remind myself that things don’t have to be perfect. My goal is to do things simply and still with kindness. That means that I’ll be sending out our Christmas cards soon without the pictures of us (sadly, the CD with our pictures is still M.I.A). Our decorations may not be as elaborate as last year. And some (or all) of our Christmas cookies may be of the slice-and-bake variety and not from scratch. But, I hope that gives me a little more time to remember what the season is all about. Or, at the very least, this will ensure I don’t end up wandering store aisles late at night talking to myself. Happy almost December!

Thanksgiving Show-and-Tell

It doesn’t take much for me to get excited about Thanksgiving. What’s better than a holiday spent with family where it’s practically mandatory to eat large amounts of delicious (I hope!) food?

We made our last-minute preparations today, so we’re ready and I’m even more excited.

The meals are all planned. I plan our normal, weekly meals by list, so it’s only fitting that the biggest meal of the year would be planned as well.

And we have plenty of food. The table is (somewhat) ready. I’ve really been on an apple kick this year. I like the look of these apples in my favorite bowl. And best of all, this centerpiece is edible! My sweet neighbor friend, when I lamented to her that stores no longer have any Thanksgiving decorations, let me borrow some of hers, since she is going to be out of town. She let me borrow those pretty placemats… …and these cute hand towels. (The green one says, "give thanks.")

I love having company because it’s a great excuse to splurge on fresh flowers.

Is it Thanksgiving yet??

Maybe I spoke too soon

Remember how I bragged about finally getting our Christmas photos? I suppose I should have waited to celebrate until we actually got the pictures in our hands (or on our computer, in this case). Since the day that we took the photos, I’ve bugged the lady that supposedly has the photos on a CD at least three or four times. After a couple weeks went by, then I finally found out that a different lady has the CD. The result? Still no photos yet. I’m confident that we’ll have them in time for Christmas – maybe Christmas 2011.

Megamind

This past weekend Husband and I saw the movie Megamind. I wasn’t sure how it was going to be, but I was pleasantly surprised that:

1) Our outdated movie theater is finally offering movies, including this one, in 3D.

2) The movie was hilarious!

We laughed so much throughout the movie. I’d go as far to say that it’s one of the funniest movies, animated or otherwise, that we’ve seen in a while.

The only unpleasant thing about the movie was the family behind us, where every single one of them (including the baby!) coughed loudly throughout the movie and sometimes in unison. (If I had had any cough drops or hard candy in my purse, I would have pushed them on this can’t-stop-coughing family. Also, I vigorously washed my hands after the movie in irrational hopes that it might keep me from getting sick.)

But coughing aside, it was a great movie.

Veterans' Day

Today I give thanks for all those men and women who have served our country. When I think of veterans, I think of my grandfathers, my parents, my husband, my uncles, and my cousins. (Yes, I come from a large military family :) I also think of all those that I will never get to see or thank who have sacrificed so much for me and every other American. As I reflected about this day, I remembered a column that Ben Stein wrote that really touched me. He says better than I can about service and what is important in life. These are a few of my favorite quotes from the column. [The entire column can be found here.] Enjoy! Ben Stein: “I no longer think Hollywood stars are terribly important. They are uniformly pleasant, friendly people, and they treat me better than I deserve to be treated. But a man or woman who makes a huge wage for memorizing lines and reciting them in front of a camera is no longer my idea of a shining star we should all look up to.” “Real stars are not riding around in the backs of limousines or in Porsches or getting trained in yoga or Pilates and eating only raw fruit while they have Vietnamese girls do their nails. They can be interesting, nice people, but they are not heroes to me any longer. A real star is the soldier of the 4th Infantry Division who poked his head into a hole on a farm near Tikrit, Iraq. He could have been met by a bomb or a hail of AK-47 bullets. Instead, he faced an abject Saddam Hussein and the gratitude of all of the decent people of the world. A real star is the U.S. soldier who was sent to disarm a bomb next to a road north of Baghdad. He approached it, and the bomb went off and killed him. A real star, the kind who haunts my memory night and day, is the U.S. soldier in Baghdad who saw a little girl playing with a piece of unexploded ordnance on a street near where he was guarding a station. He pushed her aside and threw himself on it just as it exploded. He left a family desolate in California and a little girl alive in Baghdad.” “There are plenty of other stars in the American firmament. The policemen and women who go off on patrol in South Central and have no idea if they will return alive. The orderlies and paramedics who bring in people who have been in terrible accidents and prepare them for surgery. The teachers and nurses who throw their whole spirits into caring for autistic children. The kind men and women who work in hospices and in cancer wards. Think of each and every fireman who was running up the stairs at the World Trade Center as the towers began to collapse. Now you have my idea of a real hero.” “I came to realize that life lived to help others is the only one that matters and that it is my duty, in return for the lavish life God has devolved upon me, to help others He has placed in my path. This is my highest and best use as a human.” Happy Veterans’ Day to all!

Deployment Care Package

My best friend here said goodbye to her husband just a few days ago, as he left for his deployment. She seems to be hanging in there, but I know that these first few days will be especially tough for her. So, I did the only thing I know to do in times like these: I made a deployment care package. Except this one is not going overseas. I made one just for her. (Although we will send her husband some care packages as well, as soon as we get his address.)

I call it a deployment survival kit. It includes: some nail polish, chocolate (of course!), a chick flick, popcorn, some mini bottles of wine, tissues, and stationery.

I’m not sure if this will make her feel better, but it was a nice chance for me to spoil a great friend. And is there ever not a good reason to buy chocolate?

Finally

Husband and I recently took a picture that’s been 5 years in the making. In almost every unit that we’ve been in, they let families/couples take pictures in front of the jet for Christmas cards or family photos. And every year since we’ve known each other, there’s been some reason why we couldn’t have our picture taken. One year we found out about it after the fact, a couple years Husband was away for training, and last year I was out of town for work. Every year when we’d get Christmas cards from other military friends smiling in their token picture in front of the jet, I was so envious. Finally, this year we got our picture! I know Husband wasn’t excited about it, since it involved three things that normally don’t appeal to him: 1) smiling (nicely) for photos, 2) going into work on a day off, and 3) being the focus of attention. He was a good sport about it, though. I’m not sure how the pictures turned out, but I’m certain I know who had the biggest smile in the picture.

Sweet Souvenir

My friend just got back from her trip to Germany, and she brought me the best souvenir.

How did she know I love that chocolate? Maybe it’s because when she asked me if I wanted anything from Germany before she left, I blurted out, “Milka chocolate!” Then, the polite side of my brain kicked in, and I added, “But you don’t have to get me anything, of course.” But, of course, she got it for me anyway. And the picture is not completely accurate because she actually brought me back 2 chocolate bars. I’ll give you one guess who ate the first one. (Hint: It’s not Husband.) I’m rationing this second one.

Rosemary Bread

Last week, I went to a get-together with some ladies, and my friend brought the most delicious rosemary bread. She said that it was a cinch to make in her bread machine. I could not get this bread out of my head. (No, I did not intend to make that rhyme.) But really, I couldn’t stop thinking about how good it was. Husband had to work last weekend, and I figured that what better way to spend my time than by making some rosemary bread. I found a recipe online, and it turned out to be a winner! I had only used our bread machine once before, but this recipe convinced me that I need to use it more often. In fact, no less than 24 hours after I made the first batch, I made a second. (I feel the need to explain that we gave some away, although I easily could have pigged out on the whole thing myself.) Here is the rosemary bread recipe from allrecipes.com. And in case you can’t access the link: Ingredients: 1 (.25 ounce) package active dry yeast 2 cups bread flour 1 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon white sugar 1 teaspoon butter, softened 17 tablespoons warm water 1 tablespoon dried rosemary, crushed 2 teaspoons minced garlic Directions: 1. Place ingredients in the pan of the bread machine in the order recommended by the manufacturer. Select cycle; press Start. I love that there is only one step to the recipe – easy! We are already thinking about which type of bread we’ll make next. Does anyone have any favorite bread recipes?

Top Gun 2?

Husband recently told me that he heard there’s going to be a sequel to Top Gun. The more details he told me he heard, the more far-fetched it sounded, and I didn’t believe him. He assured me he wasn’t joking.

Well, I checked the internet, and it turns out that there really is a sequel in the works.

Even though the movie is really nothing like real military life, it’s a classic that we love anyway. We have not one, but two copies of it, since we each had our own copy before we got married. (Although I think that at some point we might have given one away.)

And yes, we like to quote some of the memorable lines:

- “You don’t have time to think up there. If you think, you’re dead.”

- “Yeeha, Jester’s dead!”

- “Talk to me, Goose.” [True fact: Sometimes when one of Husband’s pilot friends calls, he answers the phone like that as a joke.]

And, of course:

- “I feel the need…the need for speed.”

Will the sequel (if it gets made) be as good as the original? Probably not.

Will we still see the movie anyway? Definitely yes.

Gifts for Dinner

Both Husband and I have very generous families. We happened to get two thoughtful care packages recently from family for Halloween. And great (family) minds think alike because they both sent us yummy goodies. Happily, we are eating something from both care packages tonight for dinner. For the main course, I’m using the pasta from one care package to make a yummy Greek pasta salad. The pasta is in the shape of leaves and pumpkins (very fall-ish). I’ll add some fresh tomatoes, cucumbers, green peppers, topped with cheese and an oil and vinegar salad dressing (and maybe some crumbled bacon). For dessert, we’ll be snacking on these cute gummies that are in the shape of jetplanes! It's such a neat gift idea, and I had no idea they even existed. They are almost too cute to eat. (Notice I said “almost” because, truthfully, it took a lot of willpower for me to have not devoured them by now.) Thanks again to our families for our sweet care packages!

How About Them Apples

We’ve had a fun, low-key long weekend. We didn’t have any big plans – we watched a couple movies and mostly relaxed. We also made these: I can’t remember the last time I made caramel apples. I forgot how messy they are to make, but I also forgot how good they are. It’s really starting to feel like fall. (Maybe not outside, but at least in the kitchen.) P.S. Do you pronounce it care-a-mel or car-mul? I think I alternate, but I feel like I'm saying it wrong either way.

Visit Recap

My parents were able to spend the last couple days visiting us. They were on their way to a reunion with their military friends, and they were able to stop here along the way. As always, the visit went way too fast. Here are my thoughts on the visit…. 1) I realized that I don’t dust anymore unless we’re having guests or having someone over for dinner. I probably should be embarrassed by this fact, but I’m not. 2) I forgot how much fun it is to be a tourist in your own town. 3) Even small towns have some fun things to do, like eating ice cream cones at a local shop. 4) Only in a military family would it not be strange to be exchanging (but not yet unwrapping) Christmas gifts with family in early October when we have the chance to see them. 5) Having family visit is the perfect excuse to make a ridiculous amount of food for meals. (I should have had my parents sign a waiver that we are not responsible for any weight they might have gained on the brief visit.) 6) My dad and my husband are so much alike that it’s eerie sometimes. 7) My mom and I are so much alike that it’s eerie sometimes. 8) I’m excited and already starting to plan for our Thanksgiving and Christmas family visitors.

New Book

Lucky for me, I happened to be in the library earlier this week, and they happened to have a copy of the new book by Nicholas Sparks, Safe Haven, that I’d been dying to read.

The story is a little darker than his usual ones, but it was very suspenseful. And, of course, it wouldn’t be a Nicholas Sparks book without romance in the story.

And I think my actions speak for how good this book was…

…I stayed up late reading it, while usually no book (no matter how good it is) comes between me and my sleep.

…I read the entire thing in less than 24 hours.

...I kept thinking about the story, even after I finished the book.

So, yes, I definitely enjoyed this book!

Cowboy Chili

My parents have been raving about a dish that my sister-in-law made for them once called “Cowboy Chili.” Luckily, my mom got and e-mailed me the recipe. I made it one night for dinner a couple weeks ago, and both Husband and I loved it. I made another batch for a church potluck this weekend. If the leftovers (or lack thereof) are any indication, then I think it was a hit. Below is my modified variation of the recipe. The great thing about it is that you can add whatever else you like or have on hand. The secret is the baked beans because their sweet sauce adds a nice flavor to the dish.

Cowboy Chili

1 lb ground sausage (I used Jimmy Dean original) 1 lb ground turkey (or ground beef) 1 medium onion, diced 1 large green pepper, diced 2 cans baked beans (I used Bush’s original beans. One can was 28oz and the other was 16oz) 1 can (15 oz) red kidney beans 5 or 6 strips of bacon, cooked and crumbled

Brown the ground meat on the stove, and drain. Saute the green pepper and onion in a separate pan. Drain and rinse the kidney beans in a strainer. Add the meat, green peppers, onions, drained kidney beans, crumbled bacon, and the baked beans to a large pot on the stove on medium heat for about 15 minutes, or until warm enough to your liking. Serve and enjoy! A couple of notes:

- If I make this just for Husband and me, I use only 1 lb ground sausage. I threw in the ground turkey this time because I wanted to make a larger batch for the potluck. Also, if it’s just for us, I use the smaller cans of the baked beans. - The original recipe called for sliced kielbasa, which would be tasty as well. - You can throw in any other type of beans you like – pinto, black, or northern beans would probably taste just as good.

Enjoy!

As the World Turns

I found myself with an unusual item on my to-do list last Friday. Underneath the list of normal chores (laundry, grocery shopping), I wrote “As the World Turns.” I had talked to my grandma the day before, and she lamented how her soap (or her “story,” as she calls it) was having its final episode on Friday and she wouldn’t be able to watch it. She said, “I’ve been watching this show for over 50 years and I won’t get to see how it ends!” She already had an event planned with family on Friday, and she thought it would be silly to cancel because of a TV show. So I added it to my to-do list, and I watched it for her. Well, truthfully, I was working at home that afternoon, so I got to see only bits and pieces of it. I had never seen the show before, so I had no idea what the characters’ names were, or what was going on. But I tried my best to memorize what was happening. I finally got the chance to talk to my grandma today. I’m sure if anyone overheard our conversation, they would have laughed. I’d try to tell her something that happened – something like, “there was this girl that got engaged” – and she’d ask a question that I could not answer. “Was it Katie?” she asked. “I have no idea,” I’d reply. Our conversation continued like that. I tried to at least describe the characters – “you know, the dark-haired girl” – and that helped a bit. Finally, I think I’ve managed to convince her to go to my aunt’s house (who lives near her) and watch the full episode on cbs.com. I hate that she’s invested so much time in the show never to see the ending. (And my poor recap definitely doesn’t count.) And for proof that the world – and TV – still turns, I already gave her a recap of another show she likes: Dancing with the Stars. Thankfully, I already know all the characters on that show.

Pocket Change

When we first moved into our house, my parents gave us a large glass jar to keep spare change. Over the course of our two and a half years in this house, we've accumulated quite the stash of change. We finally decided to cash it in this weekend, but we made it into a game. We'd each guess how much total money was in the jar, and the person who was the closest would get to choose the restaurant where we would spend (part of) the money for lunch.

The piles of coins included one Sacagawea dollar coin, one fifty-cent piece, and a dime that was so dark it looked like a penny. I guessed it would be $26, while Husband’s guess was $32. But, happily, we were both way off. The final tally was around $60. Husband won because he was the closest. We enjoyed a delicious lunch at the place of his choosing: Quiznos. We hadn’t been there in a while, and I had forgotten how tasty their sandwiches are.

Best of all, we have enough to treat ourselves to at least a couple more weekends of lunches, all courtesy of the leftover change from our pockets.

Vacation on My Mind

Recently Husband has gotten a new schedule at work, and I’m loving it. He was working some pretty insane hours before, but now he’s home at a more decent time. I’m convinced that dinner tastes better when you can eat it before you’re just 30 minutes away from bedtime. However, when Husband told me about his new schedule, he also mentioned one word that made me giddy: vacation. We didn’t think that he’d be able to get the time off of work to go on a vacation. Now it looks like we might be able to sneak away for a few days this fall. And before the word “vacation” barely escaped his lips, I had already run to the computer, researching vacation spots and checking airline ticket prices. (Side note: Have you ever checked out Trip Advisor? I recently re-discovered their website, and I’m addicted to reading all the reviews that vacationers have posted.) The first night I was so excited that I couldn’t sleep. I’ve had a few days to get used to the idea now, but I still can’t help but smile every time I think about it. We’re still working out the details, and we haven’t booked anything yet. But we might soon, as my philosophy is, “Let’s make our plans before the military changes its mind!”

Weekend Date Night

If there was any doubt that Husband and I are fast approaching the “old married couple” category, I think that our “date night” on Saturday night confirmed it. We wanted to do something, but we weren’t sure what to do. Husband asked if I wanted to go out for ice cream, but I declined, saying that I didn’t feel like it. (There must have been something wrong with me.) But then I offhandedly suggested, “Want to go out and buy some candy?” (Ok, I was back to normal after all.) He agreed, saying that it was a great idea. So we did. We went to Wal-Mart and browsed around the candy aisle, settling on a bag of pretzel M&Ms (for me) and a bag of Reese’s Pieces (for Husband). We looked around the DVD section and then leafed through some magazines. We bought our candy and left. As we strolled to the car, we agreed that it was a surprisingly fun little outing. Then, we spent the rest of the time conversing about whether it’s pronounced “Ree-sez pee-sez” or “Ree-seez pee-seez.” We haven’t decided yet. Maybe we'll figure it out on our next date night, unless we decide instead to go out and play bingo with the rest of our kind.

The Nameless Neighbor

I’ve slowly gotten to know the new neighbors next door. I first met them after they just arrived when I brought them some cookies. I made sure I left a note with our name and phone number so they could call if they had any questions. The lady called this weekend and left a message about a question she had, and when I called her back, we had a nice chat. She seems like a sweet lady. I found out that she is also a military wife, so we laughed about the mishaps of moving. We even decided that we’ll have to get lunch sometime. There’s only one problem. I have no idea what her name is. I know what her last name is from the caller ID, but it shows only her husband’s first name. Husband and I have even replayed her phone message, straining to hear what her name is, but the message is a little garbled and we’re still not sure. It’s silly because I know most people would just tell me to ask her politely, “What was your name again?” But, for some reason, I just feel bad and I can’t. Husband’s strategy is hoping that he runs into her outside and he can ask her, since he hasn’t officially met her yet. I’m pretty sure I’ll find out the name soon enough. Until then, she’ll be the nice lady next door, and I’ll be the clueless girl frantically trying to figure it out.

Labor Day Weekend

I had a great Labor Day weekend. The best part was getting to spend a lot of time with family, including my parents, my grandma, aunts/uncles, and 2 of the cutest kids I know.

It also did not hurt that this was the gorgeous view behind my uncle’s house. I never get tired of seeing sunflowers!

But still, it’s great to be back home, and I’m already looking forward to this coming weekend with Husband.

Review: The Book Thief

I just finished the book, The Book Thief by Markus Zusak, last night. It was so haunting and tragic, yet I couldn’t stop reading it and I really loved it. The book is about a young girl growing up in Germany during WWII. In some ways, she reminded me a little of Anne Frank, although instead of being a Jewish girl who is in hiding, she is a German girl whose family is hiding a Jewish man. The book contrasts some incredibly tragic circumstances with moments of kindness. I knew when I first started reading it that my dad would enjoy this book. Luckily, I’m taking a trip this weekend to see family, and I’ll be able to give it to him in person. [A note to military readers: You can actually get this book for free (and yes, to keep) through Military One Source.] Next up: I’m planning to read The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.

In fact, I have my copy ready to read on the plane. I’m normally not interested in mysteries, but I’ve heard so much about this book that I’m willing to give it a shot.

What are you reading?