The Civil War

In case you missed it, The Man and I are Oregon Duck fans.  We love getting down to Eugene for a game.  We've only been able to make to make it down about once a year due to The Man's work schedule.  This year it was looking like we wouldn't be able to make it.  I was pretty sad.  Thankfully we were able to make it down for the Civil War.  I was super excited since this is a HUGE game!  It was my first Civil War and I'm looking forward to others in the future!

Usually when we go we go with my FIL (Father-in-Law).  He has season tickets and we buy another ticket and we all squeeze into together so we can sit together.  This time my FIL didn't go to the game with us but he let us use his tickets.  We were so thankful we didn't need to buy tickets!  It's also nice cause I like our view even though climbing up to our seats ALWAYS kills me and this time was no different.

I didn't take too many pictures..I was too into the game.  The Ducks won and get to play in the inaugural Pac-12 Championship game.  I'm looking forward to them playing in the Rose Bowl...and winning this time!

Go Ducks!

Us

Happy Thanksgiving

I hope that all of my readers

have a wonderful Thanksgiving.

I hope you have a day of

family

friends

good food

football

and 

The Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade.

and that in the midst

of the busyness

you stop 

and think

of all the blessing you have.

We are so blessed.

I'd also like to wish 

my daddy a

Happy Birthday.

He would have been 64 today.

I'm thankful that I had him

for almost 32 years.

Happy Birthday Daddy.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Thankful Thursday...

...on Wednesday.  I didn't post this last week but I have kept it up on Facebook.  So here's what I've been thankful for:

Nov. 10

Today I'm thankful for things like heat, indoor plumbing, refrigeration, dishwasher, oven, washing machine, dryer...you get the idea!

Nov. 11

Today I'm thankful for our Veterans. Thank you to those who have served! I'd especially like to thank my husband, my grandpa, Uncle P, Uncle S, my BIL, SIL and FIL for serving. I love you all!

Nov. 12

Today I'm thankful for the families of active duty, reserve and guard families. Moms, dads, sisters, brothers, aunts, uncles, cousins, wives, husbands, children and friends...they hold down the fort, worry, pray, send emails, letters, skype, wait for phone calls and send care packaged to their loved ones. The support of those at home mean so much to the ones who are away. Thank you for being there for your sailor/solider/airman!

Nov. 13

I'm thankful for the freedom to go to church to worship. I'm thankful that I have the freedom to publicly share my beliefs. This is a freedom that I don't take lightly, as it does not exist everywhere.

Nov. 14

Today I'm thankful for creation! I love how beautiful creation is and how it reminds me of my creator. I love the mountains and the ocean and the changing leaves!

Nov. 15

Tonight I'm thankful for heat on a cold night!

Nov. 16

Today I'm thankful for our jobs.

Nov. 17

Today I'm thankful that my husband has one year of sobriety. It's been an incrediable year. I'm so proud him!

Nov. 18

I'm thankful that The Man made second again!

Nov. 19

I'm thankful for Jesus, for his redeeming blood and love that never lets me go.

Nov. 20

I'm thankful for my crockpot! I love that I can have a delicious meal at the end of the day with very little effort!

Nov. 21

Today I'm thankful for an unexpected day with The Man

What are you thankful for?

Mug Cake

Sunday night I was craving a little snack.  I wanted something cakey.  So I decided to make a mug cake! I had never made on before so I googled mug cake recipes.   This one looked pretty easy so I tried it:

3 MINUTE CHOCOLATE MUG CAKE

1 Coffee Mug
4 tablespoons flour (that's plain flour, not self-rising)
4 tablespoons sugar
2 tablespoons baking cocoa
1 egg
3 tablespoons milk
3 tablespoons oil
3 tablespoons chocolate chips (optional) mini chips would be the best
Small splash of vanilla 

Add dry ingredients to mug, and mix well. 
Add the egg and mix thoroughly.
Pour in the milk and oil and mix well.
Add the chocolate chips (if using) and vanilla, and mix again.

Put your mug in the microwave and cook for 3 minutes at 1000 watts. The cake will rise over the top of the mug, but don't be alarmed!

Here are my action shots:

Step 1.  Mix the dry ingredients together:

Step 2.  Mix in the egg

Step 3. Add wet ingredients and mix well

Step 4. Add vanilla and chocolate 

I didn't take a picture of this step but I added full size chips.  I didn't measure, I just poured them in.

Step 5. Microwave.  

I didn't take a picture of this either...but I had to microwave for an extra minute.  

The finished product:

My thoughts:

It was good but a little too much for me.  I didn't finish it.  And the chips all sank to the bottom and it was super rich..too rich for me.  I'll try it again but tweak it next time.

Do you have a good mug cake recipe?  

Please share!

Waiting

~This is a scheduled post, written a couple of weeks ago~

I'm really bad at waiting sometimes.

OK, most of the time.

I'm currently waiting

for my monthly friend.

I just want to know

if I'm pregnant or not.

This wait can be so hard.

It's the unknown

and the possibilities 

that are so exciting.

Dealing with infertility is not fun.

It sucks.

It sucks 

to have that friend

show up

month

after

month

after

month.

I wonder...

What are we doing wrong?

Is there something wrong with me?

I want to be pregnant

so badly.

When I'm hoping,

I'm on the mountain top.

I'm so high,

certain that

this month

is OUR month.

When I realize that

I'm not pregnant

yet again

I'm dropped

into a pit.

Every month

it feels like
the pit gets 

deeper

and 

deeper

and

deeper.

The cycle continues...

up and down,

up and down,

up and down.  

Part of me doesn't

want to take a test.

Then I'll know
a little more

for sure.

 I don't want it

to be a no.

It could be

YES

but
what if 

it isn't?

I'll be dropped
into that pit
again...

365 Days

As of today, The Man has been sober for one year.  

I am so proud of him! 

It was this day, last year that life turned upside down.

I was in MA and I got a phone call from The Man. 

He had an ARI (alcohol related incident).

A BIG ONE.

As a result, 

we thought 

he was going to be separated 

from the Navy.

Things worked out 

and he was able to stay in.

He did get restricted to the boat

for 30 days 

and

missed my birthday.

He did make it home

in time for Christmas

(thankfully!)

He also was 

demoted a pay grade.

However,

it was worth it.

The past year hasn't always been easy

but I LOVE that

my man is sober!

He'll keep taking it

one day at a time.

I'm looking forward

many, many more

sober years!

Congrats babe.

I'm so proud of you!

I love you!

Thank You

To all those that have served in the military,

Thank you.

Your sacrifice is not unnoticed or taken for granted.

I also extend a special thank you to the Veterans in my life.

My grandfather

My Father-In-Law

My Uncle S

My Uncle P

My Brother-In-Law

My Sister-In-Law

And

My husband.

I love you!

Thankful Thursday

I have so many things to be thankful for.  Here are a few of them:

Nov. 4

I'm thankful for technology! Isn't it amazing what we can do these days? I love being able to stay in touch with family and friends even when we're far apart. I also love that I've been able to meet some amazing people though blogging and Twitter.

Nov. 5

Today I'm thankful for friends. Friends here in WA, friends in MA, friends in Viet Nam, China and everywhere else. My life has been enriched by you. Thank you

Nov. 6

I'm thankful for my furbabies:) Edgar, Allen, Molly and Joey are great companions and keep me company when The Man isn't around. They love us unconditionally and bring joy to our life.

Nov. 7

I'm thankful for books and that I love to read. My mom was always reading a book when I was growing up and that started my hunger to read. I love getting lost in a book!

Nov. 8

Today I'm thankful for answered prayer. God is good, even when he tells us no or makes us wait. His ways are so much better than my own.

Nov. 9

Today I'm thankful for beautiful flowers. The Man bought me some today just because:) I love that man a lot! Thank you babe.

My Roses from My Love

What are you thankful for this week?

Missing?

I know I haven't been writing...I'm sorry!  I'm doing well and my thoughts have been taken up with other things.  I haven't been thinking about writing at all cause my brain has been consumed with thinking about other things....good things....things I'm not sharing yet.  I'm mean, I know but I'll be able to share eventually.  Until then I have some random thoughts for you:

Thought 1:

I don't get why people are so upset that the Duggers are having another child.  We live in the USA, where we are allowed to make choices about the size of our family.  Yes, they have a lot of children. However, they aren't on welfare and the state isn't supporting them so I don't see what the big deal is.  Do I want 20 kids? NO. But they are not me and I'm not them.  I don't watch their TV show but I have seen an episode or two and the kids seem really well behaved and happy.  The kids seem exicted to have another sibling.  Also, there's something pretty incrediable about the fact that she's been pregnant 20 times (at least....maybe she miscarried and hasn't shared or has and I'm unaware).  How incrediable is the human body? 

Thought 2:

I feel like it's been colder than normal here in the PNW.  I have to admit that I'm not totally loving it.  It's not like Alaska cold or even New England cold (well, sometimes) but I just don't like to be cold.  I'm so thankful for our spaceheater that keeps me toasty warm without using up all our oil!


I thought I had more thoughts for you but I think that's it for now.

What have you been thinking lately?

What A Friend

One of my part time jobs is subbing a few hours a week at a local Christian school.  I sub for grades 5-8 and I love it.  I taught grades 6-8 in MA and I really enjoy this age.  They are just great!

When I'm there on Friday afternoon, we start off with a hymn and devotion.  They sing a different hymn everyday and so on Fridays we sing What A Friend We Have In Jesus.  I like this hymn and have sang it hundreds of times.  Today though, it hit a little close to home.  I'm a worrier and I've been worrying the past couple of days a little more than I normally do (The Man might disagree with that statement but I think it's true!)  This is what I posted on Twitter last night: So, you know when you really want something to work out one way and you think it might but then it looks like it might not so you're left hanging in limbo praying your little heart out? And it might be better if you could talk to someone but you can't really share with anyone? That's me, right now.

So there's this stuff that's going on and I really want to talk about it but I can't.  So it turns over and over in my head.  I worry about it. I know it doesn't help at all but I can't seem to help myself.  I've been praying but not enough.  I haven't been leaving it with Jesus.  I've been giving it to him and then snatching it back so I can continue to worry.  I've been forfeiting peace and been discouraged because I haven't been praying and leaving my issues with God like I should.  These lyrics were a great reminder of what I need to.  I'm working on it.  And when I have an answer, I'll be sharing, I promise!

1. What a friend we have in Jesus,
   All our sins and griefs to bear!
   What a privilege to carry
   Everything to God in prayer!
   Oh, what peace we often forfeit,
   Oh, what needless pain we bear,
   All because we do not carry
   Everything to God in prayer!
2. Have we trials and temptations?
   Is there trouble anywhere?
   We should never be discouraged—
   Take it to the Lord in prayer.
   Can we find a friend so faithful,
   Who will all our sorrows share?
   Jesus knows our every weakness;
   Take it to the Lord in prayer.

Thankful Thursday

I love November.  There's just something about this month that I love.  It might have to do with Thanksgiving, which is one of my favorite holidays.  I love from Thanksgiving to Christmas because it is always full of family, food, laughter and good times.  


I like to look at November as a month of thanks.  Remembering the blessings we have and being thankful for them is a great way to keep our perspective grounded.  It's a lot harder for me to want stuff when I'm focused and thankful for the things I do have.


So every Thursday this month I'm going to share some things I'm thankful for.  I'm sharing daily on my personal Facebook page things that I'm thankful for and I may just copy and paste.


Nov. 1.  I'm thankful for The Man. He's not perfect but is the perfect husband for me and I love him more than I can say. He works hard to provide for us and takes wonderful care of me. Thank you for all you do baby!

Nov. 2.  I'm thankful for my mom:) She's loved me unconditionally and been one of my biggest cheerleaders for almost 32 years. I can't imagine life without her (and glad I don't have too!) Thanks mom for all you do:) I'm so glad you were able to come visit! I love you!

Nov. 3.  I'm so thankful for our house.  I'm thankful that God provides money for our monthly mortgage payment, to heat it, keep the lights on and for the upkeep!  I love coming home to such a welcoming place! 

What are you thankful for this week?

Bones

I love the TV show Bones.  I love watching it on Netflix.  I'll admit that I've never seen an episode on it's regular day and time but that may change for the next season!  It starts tomorrow (or later today, depending on when you're reading this!)  I'm looking forward to seeing what happens between Booth and Bones!

So in honor of the start of a new season (and the fact that I'm starting at the beginning of the series again), I give you the complete Bones Theme song.  Enjoy!

What's your favorite TV show?

I'm linking up with Goodnight Moon.

Weird

I had a weird experience last night that I'm going to share with you.  If you're on Twitter than you might have heard about it.  If you're not, here's what happened:

Around 6:40ish, there was a knock on the french doors in our bedroom.  I only heard it cause I was in there.  I opened the door and a teenage girl in army fatigues says "Trick or Treat!"  I just kinda looked at her while holding on to Joey to keep him from looking at her.  I didn't have any lights on and I hadn't bought any candy since we didn't have anyone come by last year.  I told her that I didn't buy any but to wait a sec.  I had some chocolate wrapped in zombie and Frankenstein wrappers so I gave her a few.  She said thank you and put them in her pocket.  She didn't even have a bag!  She turned around and headed down our unfinished steps and headed down our driveway.  I watched her walk down and turn left and head up the road, skipping the house next door.  They didn't have any lights on but then, neither did we.  Granted from the road you could see that people were home at our house and you can't see that about our neighbor but still, it felt weird.  I wonder if she was checking our house out?  When you go out Trick or Treating, don't you usually bring a bad to collect your booty in?  Or am I just old and out of the loop?

I probably wouldn't have thought twice about it except that a couple of weeks ago I was awakened by Molly growling.  She only growls when something is wrong.  All of a sudden there were headlights shining through my curtains and into our bedroom.  There was a truck in the driveway turning around.  Joey then started making soft barking noises too.  There are two things that bothered me about this: 

1. Our driveway is long and curves around our house.  Why would you drive up someone's driveway to turn around in during the middle of the night?  I watch people turn around at the bottom of our driveway all the time during the day.  Who drives all the way up a driveway, especially when you can't see the end when you're at the beginning?

2. It was 1:30 am.  Of course, DH wasn't home that night as he had duty.  The first think I did was call and leave a message and let him know what happened.  I then laid awake for about a half an hour and fell asleep clutching my phone.

I might be overreacting but it just felt weird.  I do want to say thank you to all of you that expressed concern, especially since The Man wasn't home.  My mom was home with me along with Molly and Joey.  I normally don't mind being home along.  I feel very safe at our house.  And yes, I always keep my doors and windows locked when I'm home alone.  I can even watch Law & Order (all versions), CSI, Bones and the like and it doesn't freak me out.  The pups make me feel safe too.  Molly has alerted me to random people at our house 9 times out of 10.  The Man and I also think that they would both attack in order to protect us, Molly, especially.  She can be very protective of us.  

Do you think this was/is weird?

Did I overreact?

What would you have done?