If i would have won

What would I do if I won the mega jack pot?If I would have won the mega millions what would I have done.
This is not a post where I am going to say I would donate it here and here. We all know I have charities I love. Today I am going to be totally selfish and tell you what I would love.
First NO MORE DEPLOYMENTS! Yes, I screamed that one. I cannot imagine having a life where the next deployment or move did not seem right around the corner.
So what would change? Well first of all my husband and I would be able to spend more time together. We would hire a travel agent to help us. I want to take my kids and travel the world. Talk about homeschooling 101. I would take someone like my friend Kim who is brilliant so she could educate us on everything we were seeing. I could see us traveling months every year together. Oh the camp outs and van rides. Okay scratch that I would definitely hire someone to drive the kids while my hero and I went in a limo.
Now onto my house, I would have the kitchen of my dreams. A kitchen with two ovens, mega fridge and a real pantry would be first on my list. I would have someone help us clean it up daily. Now onto the living parts, I would have a family room with comfy couches and a big TV and a reading corner. Then a more formal living room only it would be comfortable not fancy so when adults come over we have a place we can set without setting on legos. I would have 8 bedrooms. That seems weird, I cannot imagine 8 bedrooms. Maybe I would not want 8 bedrooms. I think 6 bedrooms. Let’s see 2 little boys, 2 little girls, 1 big boy, 1 big girl, 1 guest room and one for my hero and I to share and a good size guest room. Did I mention we would have more than 2 bathrooms? And most importantly we would have closets. Real closets with shelves that do not fall off the wall, dressers without broken drawers. I do not want a huge house or fancy features (except in my kitchen). I want a home. A home we can enjoy together. An outside area that we can play in and enjoy together, a in ground trampoline.
I would get to have morning devotions with my hero. Date nights with my hero.
What would not change? Being together, I cannot imagine anything not wanting me to spend more time with my kids and hero. I would still homeschool except I would hire a tutor to help me and oh what about a school room. It would be awesome to have a real school room. My hero would be able to teach math to my children. They may have a chance if dad teaches them math. I would still cook most of my own meals. Oh man, I could cook all day and try new foods and then just give it away with no guilt of using our grocery budget. If I saw something in a store I knew someone would like I could just buy it. Now that sounds like luxury to me.
I would want to live in the country with a lake where my hero and kids could fish.
I want enough land that my mom and mother in law could build a house. I would love to live closer to family.
How would you spend the money? What would you change or not change? Would you even play the lottery? We do not normally play the lottery? When we travel we have a habit of picking up scratch offs in different states. I do not know why but we do.
Pamela
**Speaking of winning, it is not to late to enter my Chick-fil-A give away right here.

Letters to my Hero

Dear Hero,
Oh my word you know how to give a girl a heart attack. What were you thinking calling me before the sun was up and telling me you “had an emergency”? My heart sank; I stopped breathing for a moment.
Honey, I love you but needing to know if your spare glasses are still in your dresser is NOT an emergency when you are calling from Afghanistan. A problem yes but not a emergency.
I am so glad you are okay. But, honestly if you ever call me before daylight again and pull a stunt like this it will not be enemy fire you have to worry about.
Love,
Pamela

Clothes Shopping

Clothes Shopping use to fun and exciting and did I say fun. When did clothes shopping stop being so much fun? I guess about the time my little girls do not look like toddlers and the time clothing stores started wanting our little girls to look like street walkers. It drives me batty. So this week I gave up and called a friend and said HELP. My eleven year old needs clothes and I cannot come up with anything that looks cute on her that still has a sleeve and comes to her knees. So my friend took me to a store. She is a little less conservative than I am, so I was thinking surely she would find something. My girls must have tried on a million and one things. Okay, maybe twenty and we left with a few shirts and one pair of pants and one pair of shorts. I am embarrassed to say I spent $30 on a pair of jeans for my eleven year old. I guess it is worth it since they actually fit her. So my question to you is where do you shop for little girl clothes? HELP, I looked in the misses department and they are all tank top/spaghetti strapped clothing.

Homeschool Mother's Journal

In my life this week…sickness, sickness and more sickness. Monday was Hope, Tuesday was Grace, Wednesday was Michael, Thursday was me and today Faith is not feeling good.
In our homeschool this week…my daughter learned about soil. I thought it was neat because Michael is studying soil for Boy scouts
Helpful homeschooling tips or advice to share… do not be afraid to take a day off; do not be afraid to work on a Saturday. This is why we homeschool.
I am inspired by…friends who keep sharing Christ love even through hard times. Who are open and honest about how they feel.
Places we’re going and people we’re seeing…my son has a Camporee this weekend through boyscouts. I have not seen him this excitement in a long time
My favorite thing this week was… watching my son help my daughter with her science. I love how it makes him feel.
What’s working/not working for us…we have drifted from our schedule this year and I need to get back to being strict with the younger ones on keeping a time line. Otherwise a child can take hours to do one lesson.
Questions/thoughts I have…how do you handle it when a child is falling because they are not trying.
Things I’m working on…cleaning out closets. I have one down and four more to go. I am hoping to work on it this weekend. I need to get rid of a bunch of things they are not wearing.
I’m reading…Warrior Sons, how to pray for your son. I hope that is the name.
I’m cooking…I made chicken courdon blue. It was amazing. I will be sharing it this week.
I’m grateful for…friends who will bring over ice and toilet paper when I am sick.
I’m praying for…my sons weekend. I pray he has a great weekend and has fun and meets new friends.
A photo, video, link, or quote to share…


**Did you know I was giving away free Chick-fil-A? I am right here.

Feeling Beachie

1. I loved _chicken and mash potatoes___as a kid and still do.
2. I drive_a suburban and act like I am driving a bus when I try to park it. ___
3. I am currently reading _Warrior boys, how to pray for your son.___
4. I wish I could instantly have a body just like _can’t think of one person. I do not want to be too skinny (been anorexic, did not work) been way over weight (do not currently like it). I want to be a skinnier healthier me. Okay, I love Julia Roberts, I love her hair in all her movies, I love her smile but her body, I have never looked that closely. __
****Did you know I am giving away Chick-fil-A? I am right here free Chick-fil-A
Pamela

5 Question Friday

1. What giveaway would you like to do on your blog? A second honeymoon for a couple, but I would want to review it first. Or a kitchen aid mixer. Because mine is way too small and I need to review it for someone. I would also love to have/giveaway a new blog layout. When I had my made over it was amazing and made me feel so good. I would love to be able to do that for someone else.

2. If you had to choose between natural artistic ability and natural athletic ability, which would it be? Artistic of course, I could do fun things for friends and for my house. Not the outdoorsy type so unless they have indoor sports I am not interested. I did buy zumba for my house. I just cannot get the dancing down. So am not coordinated.

3. Do you ditch the coat the minute it becomes "spring" or are you a holdout for more cool temps? We have a rule in my house, I only have to wear a coat when it is I am pregnant or there is snow on the ground. I cannot stand being bundled up. Okay, really that all changed a couple of years ago when my body temperature dropped to 96 on a normal day. I could be covered up in blankets when it is 100 degrees now.

4. What would you do if you won the mega millions lotto of 1/2 billion dollars? By a large farm and build three beautiful homes. One for us, one for my mom and one for my MIL, then I would hire a maid, six tutors and a part time nanny. I would travel the world with my children. And most importantly my hero would NEVER deploy again. That is something I could not imagine.

5. You are at a hotel by yourself...what do you do? Walk around naked without anyone saying “mommy, you are not wearing pants”. I would take a long shower, I would order food and read a good book, light some candles and not be worried. I would blog my life away. Ooh how I dream of a day to lay in a fancy bed. Ooh what if that room had a hot tub in the room. I do not know whose question this was but now I will be dreaming about this for days.
***Side note: did you know I am giving away Chick-fil-A? You can enter right here.
Pamela

Letters to my Hero

Dear Hero,
Your children are a mess, a real mess. I wish you could see what goes on in this house.
Let’s see first I woke up this morning and picked up the sitter at 6:30 to go to the doctor for that lovely yearly exam (except it has been seven years). I took Michael with me. I arrived and they told me I did not have a appointment. I told them oh yes I do. It took three different clinics but they finally fit me in. I said who in their right mind would come in for this without an appointment. The doctor was so nice and did not give me a hard time for not using birth control. That was a major change.
I came home and we got everyone ready for the running program. We were driving down the road and Grace started up chucking. You know how I feel about it. Well apparently Hope is a lot like me because she was worse than me. She was practically climbing to the top of the car trying to get away from her. She kept screaming “she’s still doing it, mom she is still doing it”. As if I should punish Grace. We made it home and she continued until 11pm. But last night we layed in bed snuggling and chatting. She told me that you are closer to heaven than me because you are older. Then she continues to tell me how beautiful heaven is going to be and about the streets of gold. It was kind of fun to stay up talking with her.
Just when I thought she was asleep and we were okay she jumped up and upchucked again. Then when she was done she told me she was glad I was getting a new cell phone case because mine now had upchuck on it. Oh Rob I need you home.
I love you,
Pamela

Don’t forget about my amazing chick-fil-a giveaway going on right now.

Chick-fil-A Give away

Have you heard of Chick-fil-A's new game? It is called The Old School Fun blog app. It is a neat way to play old school games. And who does not love Chick-fill-A?
Why would you love this APP, well let me tell you. First there is the Fun Activities! Spin the wheel to get an endless amount of Old School Fun and games for the entire family! You’re just a spin away from creating awesome family memories! And The Old School Fun Quiz! Are you a disco-dynamo or the bomb dot com? Take the throwback quiz to reminisce about the pop culture icons of your era!
My family loves Chick-fil-A and I love that they are working hard to make there meals healthier. Have you seen the kids meals? How would you like to win a pack of THREE kids meals from Chick-Fil-A? I know I would love it. It is easy, I am giving away THREE kids meals right here. You have three chances to win them.
You can:
*take the Old School Fun quiz and post your results in my comments.
*share your favorite old school activities from the blog app!
*Pin the activities to your blog via Pinterest
This contest will end on Wednesday April 4th, sometime after bedtime.
Pamela

Miscellany Monday

This weekend I had a friend come over. We spent the entire time outside. My children taught me so much. They taught me that playing in the dog igloo is so much fun. They get in and roll around the back yard. I was not too disgusted because the dog does not use it.
My friend Lindsie tried to teach the girls to do cart wheels. It was so funny to watch. Sadly, I promised her I would not put the video of her upside down on line.
I love my backyard. My dream would be to have a mega play ground in my back yard. The kids love being out there.
I knew the little kids like to climb the tree, the only one that is low enough to climb. I will say I was shocked to see that Jason and Grace now swing out of the tree.
Pamela

How to stay close when your spouse is away

I waiting patiently for my husband to get a address so I can start sending him mail. In the meantime I will get my cards ready. I have 50 ready to go. I try to keep a stash of cards by the front door. Ready to go into the mail box. That way as the kids can throw a letter in with my card or a school paper. Plus they get to run to the mailbox everyday.
My thought for the day is: Come on Army, I need a address to send my husband cards and letters. It makes him feel special and it makes me feel like I am helping him.
Pamela

Letter to my Hero

Dear Hero,
Oh what a marvelous day! First I talked to you and it was quiet in the background. How amazing to be able to really talk. Then I talked to your mom and told her we decided the girls could go to summer camp with her. I think she was thrilled.
I made my favorite brownie/banana and peanut butter dessert for church. I also made four trays of meatballs for meatball subs. I am starving thinking about it.
A couple of other great things happened. I woke up to an encouraging message from a friend. Then I got flowers today. All the package said was from another Army spouse. No idea who they are from. I am not even allowing myself to guess.
I love you babe,
Pamela

Homeschool Mother's Journal

In my life this week…It has been super busy, trying to get all the registrations for summer camp.
In our homeschool this week…my daughter learned to carry a number in math, the thing is I did not teach her. She just did it. I am so proud, now if she would just have her reading take off like that.
Helpful homeschooling tips or advice to share…Don’t give up. Take time to work on conflicts and relationships. Sometimes I get wrapped up in the teaching of subjects and forget about the teaching of hearts.
I am inspired by…my hero who has slept in a tent with 400 other soldiers for the last month. So that I am free to homeschool, free to worship.
Places we’re going and people we’re seeing…I am seeing my friend who lives across town. So funny that she lives 45 minutes apart and yet I never get to see her.
My favorite thing this week was…getting my new envelope system in the mail. I love using our envelope system and can now enjoy it with something really pretty
What’s working/not working for us…reading with my 9 year bright and early in the morning and then sending her outside for an hour with the little kids before asking her to do more school.
Questions/thoughts I have…what is going on with this weather? Will it stay this warm? I do not mind if it does but I would like to be able to pack up winter clothes.
Things I’m working on…Actually in the last week I installed curtain rods and a new bathroom door knob. I felt like I could conquer the world.
I’m reading…honestly I am not reading anything. I need a new book.
I’m cooking…a kazillion

(is that a word), cookies and muffins for a friend.
I’m grateful for…the secret people in my life that sent me flowers last week. Flowers I cannot seem to get rid of.
I’m praying for…a friend who has been told she is losing a baby. It is breaking my heart for her. I remember being told we have lost a baby and I hate it for her.
A photo, video, link, or quote to share…



Pamela

Feeling Beachie

1. I love _when someone calls just __ when I need a pick me up
2. No matter how hard I try, I just can’t _convince myself that sweating is okay, I think it is nasty__
3. _Having my children sleep with me or even my puppy,__ makes me feel all warm and fuzzy. I love feeling there little bodies snuggled up to me at night.
4. I can’t resist a sale on _food, with 8 hungry mouths it can go fast. Last week we bought 14 CASES of cereal and 20 CASES of vegetables. _______.

Pamela

5 Question Friday

1. If you were free to just hop in the car and drive, where would you go? Or, if you could hop a plane and go anywhere, where? I would jump in plane and visit my hero. I would bring him fresh sheets and a clean pillow. I would love to see what he is doing, what he is eating. I actually dream about visiting and how I would be treated.

2. What's your most recently read favorite book? He heard Hannah, I wrote about it. It was an amazing book.

3. What's your favorite Spring Break memory? My favorite memory was planting our garden last year, digging in the dirt in the cool weather. I was expecting a HUGE garden. We bought so much stuff that I just knew it would take up half of yard. It was honestly half the size of our smallest garden.

4. What do you put in your child's Easter basket? Or, for those w/o kids, what was put in your childhood basket? We stopped doing Easter baskets several years ago. We do give the kids a gift. We were given a gift and so we do give them a gift.

5. Do you get a summer haircut? I do not; I have had the same hair forever. I do keep the boys hair cut really short. I love fresh haircuts. I love seeing everyone fresh out of the salon with no dead ends.
Pamela

Stray cat

This cute cat has been on my porch off and on for weeks. I feel so bad for it because it looks like it is not healthy. My neighbor in the subdivision, said she has fed the cat too. It drives me batty because he is super friendly. I think he has been with a family. I just do not understand why people leave there animals behind. My cat really likes this cat. But there is no way this family needs anything else to take care of.
So what do you advice for my family to do with this cute little cat that needs a home?
Pamela

What's your song

I love this song, it speaks to me. It is playing as I type this and my son just asked me how many times I am going to listen to it because we listen to it all the time.

Pamela

Letter to my Hero

Dear Hero,
Grace just called for me; she wanted me to pray with her and Jason. She said they have a hard time praying for daddy. She said Jason prays you will be home tomorrow and does not understand it will be a long time. She said when they prayed last night her nose tingled and then she cried. She said she could not pray for you without crying. So I prayed with them. Jason prayed you would be home safe tomorrow. Grace prayed that when you got home we had a safe move (I guess they have heard us talking about wanting to move). She said it would be hard to move with everyone and we needed help. I love these children and their hearts.
AWANA went well tonight. I miss being in a class but it is nice to be able to set and chat with Lindsie. Tonight was so funny because James was overly jealous. If another baby was near me he would try to move them out of the way. When he got in my arms he took both of my hands and wrapped them around him so I could not move them.
We have been listening to the kid’s music in the car. It is so funny hearing how all the kids sing it differently. Every now and then James would scream YES SIR, I have to giggle.
I love you babe and cannot wait to talk to you again.
Love,
Pamela

Thankful Thursday

I am so thankful today. I have had an amazing week. This week I am so thankful for my son’s boy scout troop. This past Saturday they came to my home and chopped wood and raked leaves and chopped and stacked more wood. They did this for my husband who is deployed. They did it for me. They did it out of kindness. They did it without grumbling. They did it because that is what scouts do. I am so grateful that my son is part of a troop that steps up when there is a need.
Thank you Troop 941.
Pamela

Wordless Wednesday

Sometimes we just need some throw a fit and sometimes we just need to sleep.
Pamela

Tackle it Tuesday

This is what needs tackled at my house. The closets in this house are scary and bad all at the same time. In this bedroom three boys share a closet. I guess the closet decided it had had enough.
I would not mind so much if my hero was home but he is not. So my question is what do you need to tackle this week?
Pamela

Letter to my Hero

Dear hero,
We had a good day. I lost it with the rental property management but they got it figured out.
The kids had a great day. Hope and Grace did well in school. I mean better than normal. I got laundry put away. I also found a couple boys to get the back yard in shape. I am excited to get it done and be able to enjoy the yard. I think I made it sound like more work than it is. I just know I do not want to stack the wood but I want us in a good starting spot for summer.
Today I was snappy with you on the phone and I am so sorry. I have got to get better about walking outside when you call.
Okay, this is going to sound crazy but the phone just rang. It was someone from scouts. She said instead of her boys getting paid to come and do yard work the troop is going to come over on Saturday and do yard work for us. I was and am in tears.
I had so much to say but right now I am going to head to bed. I cannot even think I am so in awe with thankfulness and amazed at others generosity.
I love you,
Pamela

Miscellany Monday

This week I had all my laundry caught up and put away.
This week I had a yellow ribbon put on my nail. As a reminder of my hero, not that I need a reminder but I love it. I do not have any magnets or bumper stickers on my vehicle.
My cat has a new friend. This cat tries to come in every time my cat does. I feel bad because it seems like a good cat.
My dog totally acted like a psycho dog who was going to eat someone when I took her for her first play date.
My hero is going to get me an address this week so I can mail him packages or I am going to fly to Afghanistan and build my own post office. I wonder how I could convince the Army to let me do that.
I love my life, I love my kids, I love my hero and I love the peace I have had recently.
This week I started watching Parenthood. I know, I know I am late to the ball game. I just happen to click on it one night (Netflix) and now I am addicted.
Pamela

Military Monday

This week I was setting on my front porch talking on the phone when the Fed Ex lady showed up. I thought she was delivering something else. Then she looked at me and said someone is getting pretty flowers. I was shocked. So I opened the package while still holding the phone and cried as I read this:
I do not have a clue who they are from. I cried, who would do such a sweet thing for me. If you sent me flowers please know that they are beautiful several days later. They are setting on my kitchen table so that I can constantly see them. And you picked out a great vase because it is square and I do not have any square vases.
Thank you,
Pamela

I have lost my mind

Okay, I am seriously losing my mind. A couple of days ago I got a message from a friend saying she was moving to Huntsville. Could I suggest a good church and……
I got so excited; I am going to have a friend close by, a friend I really like, a friend with two little boys. A friend I have a lot in common with.
So this morning I go to church and ask around about good churches. We go to a small church on post and I know she would want a bigger off post church. Write everything down.
So tonight she writes on facebook that she is moving. I write back that I am so excited and cannot believe that we will be able to have dinner together soon. In my head I have made a hundred and one plans.
Then she drops the bomb. She said “Pam, are you moving back to Huntsville?” WHAT, you said you were moving to Huntsville not Fayetteville. I was in tears, tears that she would not be moving to my town, tears that I am so silly to read it wrong.
So sadly my friend is not moving to Fayetteville and will not be close to me. She is moving to Huntsville. They will love her and she will love Huntsville. As for me, I am going to go to bed early. Maybe I need rest or maybe I need more friends to move to Fayetteville.
Signed,
One crazy military wife

5 Question Friday

1. Will you run to the store or to pick up a kid looking a mess? I just texted a friend yesterday saying that I wanted Grace to change shirts so we could go to the playground and get dirty (her shirt had a dirty spot). Yet it seems like every Wednesday night we get to church and someone is missing a sock or has on a dirty shirt.

2. Do you finish a book if it's boring or you don't like it? Hmm, if I am told it is good then I will. It is like I am looking for the good part. But, saying that I do have several books that I have only read a couple of pages on.

3. Beach or mountain vacations? I would say Mountains with a pool. Some place the kids can run and play. Someplace we can shoot guns and make smores. But a pool to keep the kids busy when they get bored. So how about a mountain get away with a lake and a pool. Oh and fast food restaurants close so I do not have to cook.

4. What thing/event says "winter will end and spring is right around the corner" to you? Turning on my AC, no wait I would turn my AC on in the winter if I got to warm. Mowing the grass tells me winter is over. Don’t laugh, but shaving my legs means winter is over because really who is going to see them in the winter when my hero is away.

5. Would you prefer couples or family vacation? So hard, to answer and this was my question. I love time alone with my hero. But I love going away with my hero. Time away from the house with no dishes to do. Just relaxing and being together.
Pamela

Our Pets

Any animal in my house must be tough. They must be willing to have Hope love them and dress them up. I am sure our dog will be dressed up in all her clothes as soon as she is out of puppy stage.

Modest Clothing

It is so hard to find clothes for my 11 year old. My tween wants to dress modestly. The problem is when we go shopping all the clothes are short and sleeveless. I was able to find a couple of dresses for the girls and a couple of shirts in the adult section. I personally think the dresses are a little short. I am going to buy some leggings to go with them.
So my question to you dear blog readers is this: Where do you buy modest clothes that do not look like adult clothes and how did my girls learn to pose for pictures like this?
signed,
a desperate mother