Scrapbook Fundraiser! January 3rd.

PLEASE HELP US SPREAD THE WORD!!! You can buy tickets at the door. Just email warriors_at_home@yahoo.com to give us a headcount and we'll hold your ticket. This is our last scrapbook day before they come home, so come and crop those Christmas photos while supporting our troops!

We got a shed;)

Unfortunately it flew in from my neighbors yard around 4:30am this morning. Kylie took this pic through her bedroom window before we left for church. Sounded like metal trash cans banging on the ground...quite the rude awakening! All of the things that were in the shed stayed put in her yard. lol. We were lucky that our tree kept it from slamming into our garage.

Christmas Morning

Ruby red slippers...

...THAT is what I forgot to pack! Oy. Our power went out Friday morning and came back on finally tonight after dark. (When I came to check on the cats around lunchtime today it was 40 degrees inside our house). I appreciate the Brinkers and Starrs for taking us in (and for those of you that offered). I was watching a "memorable moments in 2008" show tonight and saw the homes sliding off the cliffs, forest fires ravaging houses, floods, tornados...and 4 days of living like a gypsy didn't seem so bad. I'm thankful to have good friends and family that take care of me but I must admit...there is no place like home.

What do the Ross kids do with no electricity?

Play with hot candle wax and read of course.

Oh, the weather outside is frightful...

Big ice storm Thursday night. It's Saturday night, and the power is still out in my neighborhood. I'm at Heather's tonight to get warm and take showers (and get an Internet fix). Hopefully our power will be restored soon!

The words to "Taps"

The words are:

Day is done.

Gone the sun.

From the lakes

From the hills.

From the sky.

All is well.

Safely rest.

God is nigh.

Fading light.

Dims the sight.

And a star.

Gems the sky.

Gleaming bright.

From afar.

Drawing nigh.

Falls the night.

Thanks and praise.

For our days.

Neath the sun

Neath the stars.

Neath the sky.
As we go.

This we know.

God is nigh.

You Know Your Soldier Is Deployed When...

1. You sleep with your cell phone on your pillow.

2. You use an entire bottle of his cologne so you can smell him around you.

3. You get nervous every time the phone rings or you hear a knock at the door.

4. The shoes he left in the middle of the floor are now oddly comforting.

5. The postal clerk knows you by name.

6. You buy beef jerky every time you go to the grocery store.

7.You check your email every 5 minutes including in the middle of the night.

8. You have enough priority boxes, packing tape and customs forms for his entire unit.

9.You have a ton of friends with deployed soldiers who you've never actually met because they're all online.

10.You don't just tie a yellow ribbon around a tree outside, you tie one around your heart

"Army Wife" by Dana L. Self

This is for the young women that are waking up at 6 a.m. every morning, laying out clothes and packing three lunches for those small precious children that they have been left alone to care for. This is for the pregnant Army wife wondering if her husband will make it home in time to watch their miracle happen. This is for the childless Army wife, living in a town or on a base alone where she is a complete stranger to her surroundings. This is for the women that feel like a third leg when they go out with their friends and their husbands. This is for the Army wife that canceled all her plans to wait by the phone, and even though the phone broke up and cut off every time you spoke to him, you waited anyway. This is a pledge to the women that cry themselves to sleep in an empty bed. This is to recognize the woman that felt like she was dying inside when he said he had to go, but smiled for him anyway. This is for those of you that are faithfully in that long line at the post office once a month, handling 2 large boxes and 2 small children like a pro. This is for that woman that decided to remodel the house to pass time, and then realized that she had no idea what she was doing and sighed and wished she had a little help. This is for all the lonely nights, all the one-person dinners, and all of the wondering thoughts because you haven't heard from him in days. This is for the sad Army wives, the angry Army wives, and the strong Army wives. A toast to you for falling apart, and putting yourselves back together. Because a pay check isn't enough, a body pillow in your bed is no consolation, and a web cam can never compare. This is for all of you no matter how easy or hard this was for you. Our soldiers are brave, they are heroes, but so are we. So the next time someone tells you that they would never marry an Army guy, don't bother explaining to them that you can't control who you fall in love with. Just think of this and nod your head, know that you are the stronger woman. Hold your heads up high, hang that flag in your front yard, stick 100 magnets on your car, and then give yourself a pat on the back. Be proud to be the woman that you are, be proud to be an Army wife.

New pics! (hover your mouse over pics for details)

Bah Humbug

Can we just fast forward thru Christmas this year? I don't want to go there. I'm too busy, and sick, and sad to mess with it. How is THAT for pathetic? I seem to be stuck in a pity party that I can't find my way out of. Ugh. The songs are so depressing to me this year. The Ross clan loves Christmas. It's about giving, and family, and lots and lots of food. All of that will still be here this year. But Robert won't. And I hate the thought of watching the kids go through it without him. I know, I have to do it for them. I have to go to the tree farm and cut down a tree. And drag boxes of glittery junk out of the garage attic. And play the songs that are so sad to me. I know that I'm lucky to have family here, and good friends, and healthy kids....I know, I know. This phase will pass and I'll be embarrassed to have written this. But for now, I'm going thru the motions.