Catchin' Up and G.I. Who?

Hello, F.O.T.E.'s! My, my, but it's been a while since I had the chance to post! Let me tell you the nutshell version:
After our "Wunnerful, wunnerful" dinner out with The Ram, he actually got to come home for a night, to gather his gear for mobilization. (He had been at "pre-mobilization" up to that point...I know, it's confusing...:-) After one night here, The Flock and I (sounds like a musical, eh?) took him up to Town Four-Hours-Away for his Mobilization Ceremony and the actual getting-on-the-bus. The first "night" in the hotel started at 2 a.m. when we arrived. We had wanted to leave here that night at 6 p.m. to arrive there at 10. BUT, we kept finding things that had to go, so The Ram would have to partially unpack, repack, reposition, etc. You know, packing those Army things is scientifically formulated, and, No, you can't just throw stuff in there any old way. If you leave Item X out, you've got to unpack down to where Item X's home is in the duffel. LOL So, anyway, we left much later than we meant to. We did make good time, though, as little bladders were sleeping. :-)
The next day, Carnival organized our hotel room, completely unpacking our suitcase and giving everything a home. I was so impressed. I don't generally use those drawers in hotel rooms--I imagine all sorts of unsavory things that could have been in there. But Carnival pointed out that I had brought the Lysol spray (ok, I know you're laughing at me) and that we could spray the drawers well before she put the clothes there. I had no reasonable argument against that AND I want to strongly encourage any little sprout of Organization that pops up, so I let her. You know what? It was soooo nice to have everyone's clothing separated out. Really helped in getting ready in the mornings...much better than digging through a suitcase full of 5 people's clothing. (You're still laughing.)
We enjoyed the evenings with The Ram there at Town Four-Hours-Away. We didn't expect to get to see him much, but we did have the nights with him. It was great. The Flock and I ate breakfast and lunch in the hotel room, then we all went out for dinner each night. Extravagant, yes, but well worth it.
The Ram's Mobilization Ceremony and the bus departure were emotional, but meaningful. Most of the tears had already been shed and it was very buoying to be surrounded with so many well-wishers. The Ram's parents had come to see him off, and it was great to be with them.
We returned home in the middle of the week and are attempting to re-organize life into some sort of routine. We were running errands yesterday, and when 3 p.m. rolled around, I panicked for a minute, thinking, "We've got to get home and get supper started!" Then I remembered The Ram wouldn't be coming at 4:30 and there was no need to rush home. Felt strange.
Now for "G.I. Who?"...During The Ram's packing, he came across a stack of B.D.U's ( some would call them "fatigues" or "cammies"). He carefully packed in each one until...HUH? There was one with someone else's name tape on it. I had just picked them all up from the cleaners and obviously a mistake had been made. We imagined Soldier X coming across a jacket with The Ram's name on it and his doing the same double take we did. So, we set the B.D.U. aside for me to return to the cleaners when we got home. So, I took it back yesterday. The clerk (who'd been somewhat rude with me when I dropped the uniforms off last week) was very apologetic and quick to "make things right." The Ram borrowed a line from Winnie the Pooh and said she was a "more humble Tigger." Soldier X was happy to get his jacket back, I'm sure. :-)
Well, I must close for now. Many, many things are screaming for attention. Keep us in your prayers and I'll pray for you, too.
Y'all keep your wool dry!
The Ewe

Wunnerful, Wunnerful

Hello F.O.T.E.s!
Had to tell you about a wonderful surprise we had last night. The dear Ram called about suppertime and invited us to come kidnap him for a while. So, we did! We went to eat at a local pizza place. It was sooo nice to get to have a meal with him. Everyone was all wags and licks. So much so that when I went to pay, the manager asked if he and I had just gotten married! She said we acted like newlyweds. (I wondered where she thought the 4 children all piled on him had come from. LOL ) Anyway, I had taken a few pictures of The Ram and Flock at the table, but when I explained to the manager that we had been apart for training and he was about to deploy, she insisted on having a little photo shoot there in the restaurant. A waitress took pictures of all of us so that I would get to be in the shot.
It's funny--that's the second time in a month that someone said we acted like newlyweds. The Ram pointed out that one doesn't get 4 children by being disagreeable. :-)
We had a giggle at dinner last night, provided by a rare source: The Ram. I had been concerned about a spot in Tiny Tot's mouth, near where his new upper teeth are trying to come in. The Ram looked in T.T.'s mouth and announced, "That's just where his teeth are exploding." !!!!!!
When I realized he'd meant "erupting," *I* exploded...with laughter. What a raucous bunch we were last night...and *all* without alcohol! LOL
Each moment with The Ram is so precious to us. All of you need to hug your honey today, alright? And if your honey's not there, find someone who *needs a hug* to give one.
Well, gotta run. Lambies are getting restless...
Y'all keep your wool dry,
The Ewe

Snapshot

Right now at Fort Ewe:
Tiny Tot is half asleep on my lap...no shirt on...He can nearly crawl these days...
Carnival is watching a show on PBS
Lovable is watching a show on PBS
Musical is watching a show on PBS
Yes, they're all watching a show on PBS...Even though the d.v.d. player upstairs is repeating the music of a disc they put on but didn't watch an hour ago.
Georgina continues to look larger...is it kittens or extra fur for winter?
The Ewe is tired out from errand running. We visited some thrift shops today in search of larger, warmer clothes for the Lambies. Stopped to take a picture of a favorite view on the way home. I plan to get a pic from that spot every season The Ram is gone, to share with him.
Have received a couple text messages from The Ram on my cell phone.
I'm looking forward to bed tonight...
ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ


Quote of the Day: Women shouldn't have children after 35. Thirty-five children should be enough for anyone.

Chit Chat

Hello, Friends of The Ewe!
I've received several kind emails, wondering how The Flock is doing without The Ram here now. I can report that spirits are high and things are going great. We speak with The Ram frequently and have even gotten to see him a time or two. Email is working, as well.
We spent this past weekend going up to the Family Readiness Group meeting. It was great to have faces to put with the names I've been seeing on paper for the past few months. The Ram's parents went also, providing much-appreciated logistic support. :-) They ran herd so that I could attend the meeting. Tiny Tot has decided that he's definitely a "man's man" and spent most of his time with Grandpa. Grandma attended the briefings with me, which I also supremely appreciated.
We did return to a most unwelcome sight. Our poor kitty (Carnival's) was dead...run over by a car. We're left only with one cat now--Georgina, whom you may have read about in a previous issue of The Ewe's Gnus. There are hushed rumors abounding about the possibilities of some "Georgettes" on the way. With our loss of two cats in (what?) two months, we'd actually welcome some little felines around here. (What am I saying?! LOL) We'll know soon, I'm sure.
I wanted to tell you about a funny our Lovable provided a few weeks ago...Are you familiar with the credit card commercial on t.v. these days? The one where someone lacking social skills blurts out a really boneheaded comment, then the other person begins to get upset, then Person 1 diffuses all ill feelings with one phrase? Well...
The Ram and I were having quite a time getting the Lambies to settle in for bed. So, we decided the "divide and conquer" route might work. I took Lovable into the Girls' room and tried to begin praying with her. She was soooo wiggly. "Be still, Lovable." "OK" (wiggle, wiggle) REPEAT She could tell The Ewe was about to "have enough." My brows knitted and I opened my mouth to "be angry to her" (as Musical calls fussing at someone)...when Lovable blurted out loudly, "THANK YOU?" LOL Somehow, I managed to suppress my howling laughter long enough to pray with her, tuck her in and walk into my bedroom, where The Ram and I enjoyed a good belly laugh. Sigh. Cheap entertainment, eh?
Well, The Ewe must run. It's time to feed the Lambs. Hope all you F.O.T.E.s out there have a wonderful evening.
Y'all keep your wool dry,
The Ewe

Quote of the Day: "A merry heart does good, like a medicine."

G.O.M. and The Nice Tan Van

There once was a Nice Tan Van. It belonged to a Nice Family with four Lovely Children, who would never have spilled soda or water or juice in the floor and certainly never have drawn a picture of a little girl on the back of the seat in front of them. The Lovely Children never complained about sitting in the very back and they definitely would never argue with the others while riding in the Nice Tan Van. The four children were dearly, dearly loved.
One day, the Nice Tan Van caught a bug. It coughed and sputtered, but never quit running, such a loyal van it was. The Nice Family took the van to a mechanic. Several days later, the mechanic called the Daddy to pick up the van. When Daddy drove the van, it still coughed and sputtered. Mommy made a mad face. This had happened many times. Daddy tried to take the Nice Van to another mechanic, but the mechanic never showed up at his garage. What happened to that nice mechanic?
Finally, Daddy asked a Friendly Man at work to recommend a mechanic. The Friendly Man told Daddy where to take the Nice Van, but he told Daddy that the mechanic didn't have a phone. He also told Daddy that the mechanic only worked Monday through Wednesday. And only between the hours of 6:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. Daddy tried and tried to take the Nice Van to the mechanic, but he kept missing him. Each time Daddy would drive to the garage, the man wasn't there. Finally, Daddy went to the garage and the mechanic was there.
Daddy noticed that the garage was very, very clean--no oil stains anywhere. He also noticed that there were no other automobiles at the garage. (Mommy had noticed before then that the garage was in a rather deserted, dark, rough-looking part of town, but Mommy didn't say anything--she didn't want to be negative.) When Daddy went into the Very Tidy Garage, he found a very old mechanic. The mechanic seemed annoyed that Daddy had brought him a van to look at. Daddy noticed that the Grumpy Old Mechanic had very clean fingernails. Daddy felt a bit nervous. G.O.M. told Daddy that he went home at 3:30 each day. He told Daddy that he'd have the nice tan van ready at 3:00. When Daddy said, "Goodbye!" the G.O.M. just said, "Hmph." Daddy said the mechanic didn't seem very happy.
When Daddy returned to the garage that afternoon, the G.O.M. told him that the nice tan van wasn't ready. He told Daddy to come back the next day. So, the next day, at 3:25 p.m., Daddy went back to the Very Tidy Garage. The G.O.M. was not there!! The doors were locked, and the Nice Tan Van was locked behind a chainlink, barbed wire fence. Daddy made a mad face.
The next day, Daddy went back to the Very Tidy Garage. The G.O.M. was there. Daddy paid him for fixing the Nice Tan Van and told him, "Goodbye!" The Grumpy Old Mechanic just said, "Hmph."
Daddy took the Nice Tan Van back to Mommy and when she drove it, she smiled. The Nice Tan Van no longer coughed or sputtered! Hurray! It was fixed.
Mommy and Daddy decided that they would use the Grumpy Old Mechanic again.
The Moral of the Story: In the Land of Poor Service, the Grumpy Old Mechanic is King.

The Departure

vb
Well, Friends,The Ram has left. He slipped out in the middle of the night, kissing us all as we lay in bed. The tears were pretty much all gone by that point--it was the day before that we cried buckets. We spent his last day with us for a while running errands. My, did we run! A neat thing happened on the way home...It had been raining/drizzling all day, but on the way home the sun burst through, shining bright amidst all the clouds and misting rain. I looked all around, knowing there had to be a rainbow. I finally found it--a double rainbow--the brightest I've seen. We "oohed and ahhhed" and the Ram stopped the van for me to take a picture. You may think it's corny, but I kinda took that as a nod my way from God, a reminder of His presence and promise. A few nights before, on our way home from visiting relatives I was the only one awake (yes, *I* was driving ;-). I was just talking to God, pouring out my concerns and He whispered back, "Do you trust Me to be your husband for a while?" Whoa. "Yes, Lord." Though awfully sad to be away from my wonderful husband (The Ram), I'm excited to see how the Lord takes care of us. This will be quite an adventure, an OFG--Opportunity For Growth. Pray for us.Anyway, once we got home from all our running, The Ram made us all omelets. YUM! He had planned to make them for breakfast, but we just didn't have time. After our dinner of omelets, he began packing his bags. Carnival rolled shirts for him and we scouted out all his gear. The whole thing was very surreal. It reminded me of the night before our wedding--that "I'm sure this isn't *really* happening" feeling. But, it happened. We woke up as usual, the Lambies and I, and went on with our routine. The Ram called a couple times--a luxury that will not be possible in about a month. I got an email a while ago. The weather matches our mood around here today--damp and cloudy, but not overly unpleasant. I'm taking comfort in the rain...life goes on. The trees are still getting more vivid each day. Fall is my favorite season.Carnival has lunch ready, so The Ewe's going to sign off for now...I have so much to share from the last week, just no time right now to do it. Remind me to tell you about the G.O.M. (Grumpy Old Mechanic) sometime...Y'all keep your wool dry,The Ewe

I'm Tired, are Ewe?

Hi, Friends of the Ewe,
My wool's dragging this morning. Two of the four Lambies woke up sick last night--one after the other. First, Musical barked me awake with a frighteningly realistic impression of a seal. We finally got her settled back to sleep and me in my bed, when Lovable came padding into my room saying her ear hurt. I felt her, and she had fever. Got her settled in, and me back to bed--almost asleep...then... SPLATTERY--we all know what *that* was. Yup. Lovable threw up (emphasis on the "ewww"). So, at 3 a.m., the Ewe was mopping up the path to the bathroom, trying not to gag. You'd think after 4 children, the gag reflex and jumpy tummy would have left. Nope. Still have to fight it. At 5:30 (my usual wake up time) the sweet Ram came in and said to stay in bed and get some sleep. He's so sweet. He had to go to work, even though he'd been up with me tending the Lambs. So, 4 hours of sleep is going to have to be enough this time. :-) You know, even with all that, I feel so blessed to be here. I think I've got the most rewarding career in the world.
Well, I need to go. It's 9 a.m. and no one's had breakfast yet...gotta get busy
Y'all keep your wool dry,
The Ewe