Thank you, Mom, for my literacy!!

I don't know why I asked this question in my Comm Arts class today...maybe because we are back from Christmas break, and I wanted to see where I needed to start again, but I innocently asked, "How many of you got a book for Christmas this year?"  No one raised their hand...hhhmmm...okay..."How many of you asked your parents for a book?"  Not a hand.  I don't know why I am so astonished, but I am...I'm amazed that kids don't ask and parents don't think to give books as gifts!!  Buying books and reading them are so much a part of my life, I don't know what I'd do if I didn't have them! Last year my mom bought Maddy the full Puppy Place series for Christmas...and this year she bought Mads seven new books!!

I grew up in a family that embraced reading of anything!  LOL...I once got in trouble in junior high for bringing an "inappropriate" book to school..thank you Sidney Sheldon!  And I believe I read my first Harlequin in fourth grade.  But my mom's theory was she didn't care what my sister and I read as long as we read!  Every summer my mom would take Juliana and me to a used bookstore and let us get ANYTHING we wanted!!  I remember carrying out FOUR trash bags full of books one summer...and after we read those, she'd let us trade for more.

Reading is something I believe my sister and I took for granted growing up.  My mother used to always tell us that reading was a struggle for her as a child (Dyslexia...what is that?)...and she wanted to make sure we never struggled like she did. And I love her for that! Granted, growing up in a time where there was only two or three tv stations and static radio didn't HURT (haha)...but it really was a matter of my mom making reading important for the family!

If you were to ask me today who the bigger influence was regarding my desire to read--school or home--I would tell you without a doubt...HOME!       

I AM a Military Wife!

I AM a Military Wife!


The heartache hits around every corner,

The loneliness stretches for miles;

I desperately need to touch your sweet face,

And be graced with one of your smiles.

…..I am a Military wife!



The days are filled with everyday duties,

Like errands, the kids, the house;

But at night I lie in bed all alone,

And wish I could just hold my spouse.

….I am a Military wife!



Myriad memories that Daddy is missing,

I try vainly to capture them all;

The walks in the park and bedtime, too,

But the effort just seems so small.

….I am a Military wife!



I know what you do is important,

But that doesn’t alleviate my fears;

The impending call to head into battle,

Your sacrifice of blood, sweat, and tears.

…I am a Military wife!



So forgive me if sometimes I rage and cry,

Most nights I am really strong;

It’s just that I miss my lover’s embrace,

So please don’t be gone too long.

…I am a Military wife!



--For Angel Utt by Jenna Buhman

I cannot WAIT until I save the world!!!

Recently my cooking has come under attack. The only defense I will give is this:  I can't wait for the day when either aliens or terrorists try to take over....then, yes, THEN, Jenna will be able to come in and SAVE THE DAY!!

How you ask?  Well, as most of you know, I had the unfortunate incident with the pork chops years ago--you know, continually poisoning myself for a period of a month and a half, the doctor stating that he never witnessed a person live through such a thing, BLAH, BLAH.....but here's my point:  The day will come when my cooking will SAVE THE WORLD!!

See, if we are overtaken by "unsavories," all the government has to do is offer me as a "sacrifice" or "cook"...I can be the person that cooks and tests the food to make sure the "head leader" is not being poisoned.  I can poison myself--as evidenced by the fact I am still alive--and give the "bad guy" the food, too.  I will be strong and healthy; he will slowly perish....and I will not be looked at as a person of interest because I am spry and healthy!!

SOOOO...for all you HATERS out there dissin' my cooking ability....I can't wait for the day when you have to hoist me on your shoulders and PRAISE ME for saving your sorry butt!!  LOL....  :-)

More than My Size!

Nearly everyone that knows me knows that I have steadily lost weight over the past few years.  MAJOR weight--not those last pesky few pounds people usually complain about.  Well, today for the first time in FOREVER I went into Old Navy to try on jeans.  I had ABSOLUTELY no idea what size I was, because I've been SO screwed up over "size" that I usually stuck with what I knew. 

As most of you can probably attest to, it seems my "size" is supposed to be a reflection of who I am on the outside.  To that I say--Bullshit.  I can honestly say that the things I love about myself have NOTHING to do with my size.  I love how smart I am....I love how educated I have become...I love how EASILY I laugh and laugh and laugh (haha)...I love that I have a passion for others...and myriad other things!  But as I gather all that confidence around me and head out into the world, it is easily torn to shreds when I think about my outside shell.  So today I went into the store feeling pretty good.  I grabbed a size I thought would "play it safe"....and to my utter DISBELIEF, they were sooooo big I could slide them up and not unbotton them! 

So I go back out and got a size I hadn't seen since HIGH SCHOOL (haha)...and PUT THEM ON!  So TONS of things flood through my mind.....1.) Do they look okay?  2.) WHO THE HELL CARES it's a size I haven't seen in AGES!! LOL....then I suddenly think, "Oh, my gosh, I've become the thing I HATE!"  It's so important for me to like WHO I am, without it being all encompassing of the "SIZE" I am! 

So my caution to myself is this:  Do NOT get caught up in the outside and let your inside go!  Remember, you are more than a size!!

Going to Live Forever!

I'm going out tomorrow night, which I am excited about!  My first thought this morning:  "How can I lose 10 pounds in my ass???"  I put on the dress I'm going to wear (because 9 out of 10 days I wear one)....and I twirl around with the mirror in my hand, stopping on my backside.  And instead of thinking, "Wow, in cultures where big butts are considered AWESOME, I'd be considered a GODDESS with this ass," I think, "Back to the gym this afternoon to see if I can't improve it within the next 24 hours!"  So I tread (AGAIN) to the gym this afternoon, knowing deep down no miracle is going to come my way.  BUT I WAS WRONG!  While bicycling my hiney off (I WISH)....I came across an article that said if you were a woman that carried your weight in your butt and thighs, you are better off than women that carry weight in their stomach.  It seems fat in your butt (THANK YOU GOD) is actually considered good and has health benefits! LOL...Well, I don't know about you, but it looks like my happy ass is living until I'm 120!!!   :-)