My quiz
Topic: Me!

Ya know, there are tons of emails floating around in regards to information about the sender.  However, I like this little quiz due to the fact that I made it up and these are specific things about me :)  So. . .should you read this and not be on MySpace or Facebook, take it and see.

And don't be a weiner and not put your name. . .that's just WRONG! :) 

Jason
We got word yesterday that my brother-in-law Jason is now in Iraq. He arrived on Thursday after spending a couple of weeks in Kuwait. I'm not sure what his job will be there as they keep getting changed and I'm not sure when I'll talk to him next, but I do know that his leaving has had a tremendous impact on my sister and our family.

I received this in an email today and wanted to share it. Found the timing remarkable, but it's a great tribute and gives you something to think about. Regardless of your thoughts on the war, there are men and women over seas right now. One of them is Jason. A man, a son, a brother, a husband, a father, a teacher, an artist, a United States citizen. You can pray for them. Each and every one. And they truly appreciate it.

D.R.Y.
Topic: Me!

As I read through old blogs tonight, I realized that it had been awhile since I'd blogged myself.  Then it hit me. I used to be witty. I used to be sarcastic. I used to be. . .dare I say funny??  At least entertaining to myself. However it seems that I've been sucked dry of my quick humor.  Where did it go? Have you seen it?  If you do. . .please send it back. I really need it. Maybe I shall post a reward for found said humor.  At least tell it that I miss it and promise to use it more often and not take it for granted.

Maybe a bribe of chocolate would work???  Always works for me

The infamous "Oh Oh" song!
Topic: Pruitt
Remember when I mentioned Pru's love for Rob Thomas' "Lonely No More" song?? Well. . .ladies and gentlemen. . .I give you Mr. Pruitt singing the chorus. Please ignore the brief interruption where he shows me Easton's car (you'll hear him say E's car) and also ignore the fact that he is sitting on the potty. . .he sings best there LOL

My epiphany
Topic: Me!
As I watched Pruitt run around this morning, I coughed and sputtered, but realized I felt better today than I did yesterday.  Then this thought hit me. . . .Sickness is not something that you get because there's germs or because you don't take adequate care of yourself.  Sickness is God's way of reminding you how good life was before you got sick and to not take it for granted.

Ok. . .so it may have *something* to do with germs, but still. . .when you've felt bad for a few days and finally feel better, you feel invinceable don't you!?!?

Woo!!!!!!!!!!
Topic: Banjo Pickin'
I sit here still totally blown away. Last Thursday, at my banjo lesson, I received the music to Foggy Mountain Breakdown. Pretty simple song really, but I'm nowhere near up to speed on it. And when I get new music or want a boost of banjo energy, I usually go to Youtube to search for good bluegrass. I've seen homemade videos, self-made videos and even Andy Griffith! LOL But THIS one blew me away. . .and Steve Martin. . .loved him before, love him even more now!!!

Tatee

Today, as Carly and Easton went to spend Family Day in Guthrie, one of our local news channels was there to film it.  Granted, Jason has been in two news stories: one in May when he painted a downtown mural for Oklahoma's Centennial and again in June, when he first got word that he'd be going to Iraq. 

Today he reported, his flight for Texas leaves tomorrow morning.  All prayers and good thoughts appreciated.  And I wanted to share the link to his video.  You can see him, my sister and my nephew, Easton, doing what he learned from my boys LOL  And the last voice you hear in the piece is my sister. . .she did so well!!!  Check it out here.  God be with all of the soldiers. 

Today and tomorrow

Today is October 24, 2007.  Today is also my 9th wedding anniversary.  Nine years.  N.I.N.E. Y.E.A.R.S.  I cannot believe it's been nine years.  All of the things that have gone on and all of the changes in our lives that have occurred in the nine years.  It's amazing.  Truly amazing.

Tomorrow. . .tomorrow is October 25, 2007.  I posted back in June about when the orders came.  Well. . .time has gone on since then and things have changed.  There's been trainings and interviews and debriefings and ceremonies.  Tomorrow he goes.  He reports tomorrow morning for two months in Texas, then he's going to the desert.  He'll be stationed in Iraq.  We're scared and anxious and worried and proud.  Such a wild flood of emotions.  I know that tonight, I'll say goodbye and hug him, wish him luck and tell him we've been praying and will continue to pray.  We'll promise him that we'll keep an eye on Carly and E.  We will tell him how we will support him. . .his troops. . .the cause.  I'm sure somewhere in there I'll make a smart-butted comment to break the tension of goodbye, but I'll try to remain strong for all of them.  So I ask you, please keep Jason and his troops in your prayers as they report tomorrow morning.  Please keep the family of all those deployed in your prayers also as they, too, are sacrificing for our great country.  I love you Tatee and I'll talk to you soon.  Be safe and don't bend over!! LOL

**And I've just gotten a phone call that he has been in a car accident. . .I don't know more than that. . .however I do know he didn't need this :(**

The latest Cale-isms
Topic: Momma's Lover Dover

Cale's had a few doozies lately so I thought that I would share them here.

One morning, as Cale's primary division director opened the door to the car to let him exit, he said, "Good morning Mrs. Close."  She kindly replied, "Good morning Cale.  How are you?"  His answer. . ."I'm good.  I think I'm going to kiss a girl today."  I drove off. . .acting like I'd NEVER heard this admission or premeditated PDA.

In church on Sunday morning, Cale was being good and quiet.  During the Lord's supper prayer, I saw him fold his hands, bow his head and close his eyes.  After the "Amen," Cale leaned over to me and said, "Momma. . .I prayed a different pray."  This statement alone caused me to take a deep breath so as not to disrupt service.  Then I raised my eyebrows in a questioning manner so he'd finish his statement. . .and he did.  "I asked God to tell you to not tell me what to do anymore."  At this point, I almost erupted in laughter, but I just patted him and said gently, "We'll see if God answers THAT prayer."

Then Cale had a classic "Leave It To Beaver" moment.  He hadn't been feeling well, and my dad decided to call and check on him one morning as we were headed to school.  When I hung up and told Cale, his response was, "Odie was worried about me?"  I answered yes and Cale said, ever so politely, "Gee whiz mom.  That's awful nice of Odie to call and check on me."  I had to double check to make sure we weren't in black and white!

And last, but certainly not least, Cale's manners have definitely improved since school started up again.  He's even polite when in trouble.  He was sent to time out for doing something he wasn't supposed to and then back-talking.  I believe his exact statement that compiled his troubles was, "No!  I am NOT doing this.  It's ridiculous."  Upon hearing of his sentence to his stool, he looked at Chris and called him STUPID.  Chris said, "Alright.  That's fine,  now you get two time-outs.  Now go."  Cale's reply??  "Yes sir." 

Pru, Cale & Hershey's
Topic: Weirdness

Lots of little things to talk about today!!

First off, momma's kisser boy Pru Pru.  This child is now 2 (yeah. . .I'm late. . .he turned 2 Aug 8 LOL) but he can count to 11 and his vocabularly is amazing.  I'm sure it's the vocab of a "normal" 2 year old, but considering the fact that Cale took so long to speak, we are floored by Pruitt's talking!

Pru also loves music!  This excites me a ton!  His favorite songs right now are Buster Poindexter's Hot Hot Hot, Rob Thomas' Lonely No More and Nickelback's This is how You Remind Me.  Interesting selections for a 2 year old huh?

Now to Cale. . .he is fully into school and is finding his place at his new school.  This child LOVES his new school!!  He thinks it's awesome!!!!  And he's doing so well!!  Since school has started, we've seen a total change in his behavior and attitude at home.  His manners have improved and we are definitely feeling good about our decisions for this year.

Wondering why Hershey's is there too?  I'll tell ya!!  My weakness is chocolate, and mainly chocolate ice cream with chocolate syrup.  I can't let it go!!  And now Hershey's has made my life even BETTER!  I grew up with the top to the syrup bottle being a "pull" top thing, and then you'd have to keep up with the clear plastic cover that ends up smushing any syrup left up there, into the top of the top. . .are you confused yet?? LOL  Well, Hershey's has developed a new FLIP TOP for the syrup!  WOOHOO!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sad when that's what I'm excited about huh??