Do what makes you happy

Yesterday, Larry and I went on a shopping spree!  Thursday is our 15th wedding anniversary and of course, Friday is Valentine's Day so we did our shopping together.  That way you get what you really want, right? 

Larry's birthday is the 24th, too, and I already knew I wanted to get him a new watch.  We found a beautiful gold Seiko at Belk.  On sale, too!



We started out getting haircuts and he got his beard trimmed.  His very first time in a salon!  I got a few layers cut into my hair.  Not too much of a change.  Just enough to not make me cuss when I'm trying to fix my hair.  During the week, it's fine since I wear a ponytail to work but on the weekends, I wear it down and it was starting to really make me talk ugly.  I have extremely fine hair and it will not hold a style to save its hide.  Never has, except for that period in my life that I completely lost my everlovin' mind and got a perm every three months.  We probably shouldn't go there, though.  The girl who cut my hair yesterday did her job and sold me some foamy gel to go along with my new haircut.  Some stuff called Blow It Up.  Absolutely fitting for how I feel when I try to fix my hair.  Blow. It. Slap. UP.  :)  It's good stuff, though!  I love it!!  

We each got some new church clothes and a couple of shirts a piece and Larry got some jeans and a belt.  And an absolutely beautiful aqua blue paisley tie.  I just fell in love with that thing the moment I saw it.  And when I held it up to him and saw how it made his eyes just pop, he had to have it.  He bucked a little when he saw the price tag, but it was on sale!  Plus 20% off!  Plus it makes your eyes pop!  He couldn't say no to that.  Or me.  :)

I got some Clinique Happy for my Valentine's present and since Belk was having their Clinique bonus time, I got that, too.  My anniversary present was a pair of Skecher's GoWalk shoes that I've been wanting ever since Brian, Ami and I went to Stone Mountain in October and stopped at Tanger Outlet on the way for a bathroom break.  Ami and I saw those shoes in the window at the Skechers store and we both said how comfortable they looked.  And they are!  They're like not even having shoes on at all.  And y'all know how I like that.  I put them on right then in the store and wore them the rest of the day.  

We picked up a few more albums, too.  We're getting quite a collection!  Larry had hundreds of albums when he was younger but lost them all so we're trying to replace some of them.  No way can we get them all back but the ones we can get, we're going to get.  We got Carole King's Tapestry.  One of my favorites.  We have it on CD but there's something about that crackly vinyl sound.  A CD cannot compare with that.  Larry told me that he bought this album as a soldier boy in Germany in 1971 and it was one that was lost to him.  Well, now it's found.

When we got back out to the truck with all of our purchases, Larry found a little blue card under the windshield wiper and on it was written, "Do what makes you happy".  We thought that was so appropriate because that was exactly what we were doing!  We were spending the day together.  A day that was still way out of our reach this time a year ago.  We looked around and the car behind us had a card as well.  What a sweet, thoughtful gesture somebody made!  We were both so touched by that.  It's behind a magnet on our refrigerator right now.

We had such a great day!  And today, Larry felt the Holy Spirit tugging at him at church and he made the decision to join our church!  I went down to the altar with him and when our pastor introduced us to the congregation, he told them, "If you get to know this couple, you will find that they are a delight."  How sweet that was.  Everyone came around and shook our hands and welcomed Larry to the church family.  

Right now, I can hear the power saw out in the backyard.  Larry's building a work bench for his shop.  

Another wonderful weekend. 

How'd you spend your weekend?

What a weekend!  Yesterday, Ami, Brian and I went to Atlanta to visit the grave of an old friend of ours, old friend for her, old kid I babysat for me.  Today is Wayne's birthday.  He would have been 37.  He was a deputy in Cherokee County and ten years ago, he was killed answering a call, doing what he did best, trying to help somebody.  He was a sweet kid who would do anything in the world for you.  What's so sad and the hardest to deal with, though, is that call was a false alarm.  We'd never been to his grave so Ami picked this weekend to go, to celebrate the day he was given to us.  After we got some help finding his grave (Crest Lawn is huge!!), we sat there a little while and talked and remembered him.  I think my most vivid memory of Wayne is how he would not go to bed when I told him to.  His little brother, Matt, would fall asleep on the sofa and I would move him to his bed but Wayne wanted to stay up and talk to me.  He would "just ten more minutes!" me until his parents drove up in the yard and then he would run to bed.  I babysat them for $2 an hour.  I'd give anything to have just one Saturday night back.

On our way to Atlanta, we stopped off in Forsyth and shopped at two thrift shops.  I went with my heart set on some record albums, some blue and white plates and some vintage bedding.  I got all that and more!  We went to Circle of Care and Family Thrift Store.  This is Circle of Care.  Yeah, I know.  We were overwhelmed.  There is so much to look at!!  I ended up getting two sheets and nine pillowcases for $8.50, two beautiful blue and white plates for $10, a pretty blue and white saucer for 39 cents (YES!!  39 cents.  Because it had a tiny chip you can hardly see.  I don't mind chips.  I think a chip in a dish (or cup or flower pot) just shows that dish had a life.  It has lived and has a story.) and 22 albums for $3.70!!  And a whole bunch of other stuff.  Here's a pic of my buggy.  :)

 

  
I got this gorgeous fall painting at Family Thrift Store for $10.  I love it!!  I joked on Facebook that it's hanging over our sofa right now and I'm trying to figure out a way to jump in it.  Do you blame me??

We had lunch at The Prime Palate and it was so delicious that it was borderline ridiculous.  I had a pork chop (and later fried chicken!), mac & cheese, cheesy potatoes, black-eyed peas, butter beans, green beans, cornbread and blueberry cobbler for dessert.  I was full as a tick when we left and sooooo miserable.  But it was a good miserable. :)

I talked to Larry this morning and he went to Wild Adventures yesterday!  And rode everything out there.  Including the 180 foot bungee jump.  I cannot tell y'all how many times I said to him, "you are SO crazy!" while he was telling me about it.  I lost count.  He had a blast, though!  He loved all the roller coasters and the fast-upside-down-take-your-breath nonsense of it all.  I'm kinda glad he went on and did all that 'cause this girl ain't crazy.  :) 

We're just about to the two-thirds mark.  October 8th, we'll have three months left!  Things have not gone the way we thought they would or hoped they might but that's all right.  One of our favorite scriptures is Romans 8:28.  God works all things together for the good of those who love Him.  God will work this for our good, too.  I don't believe God brings us to a trial without having something great waiting for us on the other side of it.  He has proven this to me over and over.  While this is indeed a trial, our something great starts January 8th and I cannot wait!!

I went to Willie's funeral this afternoon.  I don't even want to call it a funeral, though, because it was like no funeral I've ever been to.  It was a going home celebration!!  A celebration of Willie's life given for him by the lives that he touched.  That church was packed.  Standing-room only.  Full of family, friends, coworkers and classmates.  I was amazed from the beginning all the way to the end.  From the beautiful white horse-drawn carriage that brought Willie to the church, to the gun salute and the playing of "Taps", to the music, the memories, the tears, the laughter, the praise dance that had me sitting there with my mouth hanging open, to the breathtaking dove release at the end.  A wonderful, loving send-off.  I've never seen anything like it.  I'm so happy I went and was a part of that.

I've had a busy, busy weekend!  Now I think I'll follow Tabbie Hoffman's lead and take a nap.  :)

Willie

When I went back to school in January to finish up the electronics program for my co-op requirement, I had to go on swing shift at work and one of the first guys to take me under his wing was Willie Whitehead.  Willie had been at the base for many years and was a master electrician.  He knew everything about everything and could just tell you what was wrong with something without looking at it.  I saw him many times just walk up to that plane, turn a few things with his wrench and walk away, saying, "there you go".  In addition to the experience and wisdom he brought to our crew, he also made a mean pot of coffee.  He kept our coffee going round-the-clock in the break room and when you work second shift, you need your coffee.  

Willie had this big toothy grin that just lit up the room.  He had contagious laughter and a crazy sense of humor.  He loved bananas.  He also smoked like a chimney in winter.

Part of my training that I had to complete was ops checks in Cell 6, where Willie was assigned.  Every single time Willie saw me in the cockpit, he would yell up at me, "Get down from there!" and just laugh and laugh.  He said I was going to get hurt and had no business up there.  It became our little private joke and I got to the point where I would just yell, "NO!" down at him before he had a chance to yell up at me.  That always made him laugh.  Willie fussed at me for cleaning the break room, too.  He said the guys wouldn't appreciate it or keep it clean and that I was wasting my time.  I'd tell him, "Yeah, but Willie, it's filthy and I can't stand it."  He'd just shake his head at me. 

Willie got sick this spring.  He didn't know what it was but he suspected his heart.  He went to the doctor who put him in the hospital for tests.  After countless tests and many uncertain days, it was discovered that Willie had stage four lung cancer.

He never returned to work.  He did, however, attend our Wingman Day fish fry Labor Day Friday and I am so thankful that I got to see him and talk to him and hug him and tell him how much we missed him at work.  He had lost so much weight and he was weak as a kitten but that smile was exactly the same.  He hugged me back and told me he was glad to see me. 

Willie passed away last week.  Just precious few months after he was sitting at his table in the break room eating his banana without a care in the world.  I'm sad.  I miss him.  I miss his grin, I miss his laughter, I miss his fussing at me, I miss his white hair.  

Willie, I know you're in heaven now but I wish I could tell you to "get down from there!" and come back to us.  But you're in a place where there is no cancer, no pain.  Only peace, love and laughter.  And I know our F-15's are even more beautiful from up there.

You can't beat a swap meet!

We went on a class field trip today!  Nope, we are not too old for that.  Apparently.  :)  Mr. Leland came up with the BEST idea for us to go to the Auto Fest and Swap Meet at the Perry fairgrounds today to look for old CB radios and just old radios in general.  It is our Communications class, after all.  Have I mentioned how awesome Mr. Leland is???

We had a blast!  We got there at noon and stayed until 2:30 or so.  I took lots of pictures!  There were old cars, old collectibles, old car parts and, oh yeah, funnel cakes.

Here are Christy and Tasha with their little boys, Jacob and Quick.

 Andy found the first CB radio!

And I found an old wooden Coke crate!

And this!  I want an old Coke machine cooler to use as a freezer for my back porch (when I get a back porch.)  This one was $850 as is.  It would've taken another $5,000 to restore it, I'm sure.  I joked that we're gonna have to get past the furloughs before we make a commitment like that.  Ha!

Here's Mr. Leland checking out the electrical stuff.  Of course.  :)  And Andy on the phone.  He's got a baby girl due any. minute.  Gotta stay connected!

We all loved this find!  Real, honest-to-God metal Tonka trucks.  Ahhhhh, those were the good old days.

I just loved this HUGE Gulf gas sign!

The cars were amazing!

And so were the sausages!  

I got mine with onions, peppers and lots of mustard.  Yum!!

We're everywhere!  We're everywhere!  :)

This car had a "Panty Dropper" sticker on the hood.  What the what?

We just had the best time!  The weather was perfect and the company was even better.  AND I got sunburned!  It felt great after all that cold wind we've had lately.  So I don't mind at all being a little pink.  It is my favorite color, after all.

See y'all later

Today was my last day at work.  I thought it would be easier since Fridays are kinda slow and the entire staff's not there.

Nope.  No easier.

I know in my heart that this job at the base is what I've been working for, what I've been studying for, keeping my GPA at 4.0 for, what I've been hanging in there for.  I don't know if anyone else ever picked for the co-op took TWENTY months to get there but that's how long it took me and I believe that it's because it was God's plan and would only happen in His time.  I'd been working at Lifeguard Pediatrics for a year before I started the electronics program at Middle Georgia and that job made it possible for me to go to school at night.  I got off work every day at 5:00 and I was in class by 6:00 on the nights that I had class.  It worked.

My coworkers supported me through it all.  They kept up with all the tests, always asking me how I did and praising me for my 94's and 96's when I thought less than a 100 was unacceptable.  They listened to all the crazy stories I had to tell, like the night I pulled my toenail off in class during a test and the time I wired a circuit backwards and blew up a chip.  They supported me through everything even though they knew that someday, I might use my education to leave them.

In fact, it was our nurse, Lisa Prince, who first told me about the electronics program.  She had a friend who went through it and got a job at Robins Air Force Base.  We played Bunco one night and I talked to that friend and she urged me to do it, to jump in with both feet and give it my best shot.

So I did.  Twenty-three months later, here I am, about to start my own job at Robins.  It feels surreal to be here.

Yesterday, they had a party for me.  A beautiful cake and lots of goodies.  Today, we had more goodies.  Here are a few pictures!

 

Dr. P's delicious brown-sugar crust brownies that she made just for me!

 

Lisa P. slicing up her yumm-o ham and pickle roll-ups!

Shannon made these yummy little smoky links in her crock pot!

 

Our resident chef, baker, knitter, coffee bean roaster and awesome little nurse, Michelle, brought homemade ricotta cheese and toast with olive oil and honey this morning for breakfast!

Michelle also made me this adorable little felted mushroom!

I just love it so much!!!

 

Dr. Patrenos gave me these beautiful handmade silver earrings that I just adore!

 

And this little feller was from Angela.  Her good luck one-eyed frog.

I was so touched when she gave him to me.

I don't like goodbyes and I refused to tell them all "bye" this week.  Just "see y'all later".  I was with them 16 days shy of three years.  A lot longer than I planned to be when I was hired.  Just goes to show you what YOU know when God is working.  The Lord led me to these good, decent, honest, baby-loving people for a purpose.  To teach me, to free me, to befriend me, to love me.  They acted as lifeguards for me at a time when I needed one.  I will miss them all terribly. 

I'm excited about my new job and I know I'll meet new people and experience new things but I'll take my years at Lifeguard with me and if anybody ever needs a good pediatrician, I'll tell them I know exactly where they can find two of the very best.  And the staff's not half bad either.

Wow

That's all I can say about this day.  My 44th birthday.  I had the most beautiful, thoughtful, delicious, fun birthday today!!!  The girls I work with are just incredible.  I don't know how else to describe them.  They love me and they show me.  I'm truly blessed. 

Here are some pictures from my awesome, sweet day!!!

Pretty flowers that Lisa got me!!

Big bag of Skittles that Lisa gave me so

I wouldn't have to buy any for my movie

(Cars 2) today after work!!  Ha!

Playing peek-a-boo with my beautiful balloon, also from Lisa

Yummy Mexican dip that Lisa made,

one of two things today that was South Beach friendly!!  :)

Awesome lumpia that Niki made!  I've never had these before. 

They were beef and cabbage spring rolls and they were delicious!!!

Good Lord.  These brownies Dr. Patrenos made. 

Heaven with a brown sugar crust on top!

Incredible artichoke dip that Cheryl was so sweet

to make and bring to me on her day off!

I ate waaaaaaay too much of this stuff!!

But it was SB friendly and it IS my birthday so there.

This was my birthday cake.

A cappuccino fudge cheesecake that

Michelle made for me.

That girl likes being a nurse but

I believe she has missed her calling.

This cheesecake was unbelievable!!

Just look at it!!

The crust was crunchy and fudgey and awesome.

Beautiful sweet surprise flowers that

I got just before lunch from my mama and daddy!!

A bouquet full of daisies.  My favorite.  Thanks, Mommy!!

Cutie little watch Dr. P gave me!!

I love it!!

Perfect sign for my peaceful kitchen.

Lisa P left this for me. 

She's on vacation at the beach

 this week and missed my party

but she didn't miss my birthday.

So sweet.

These people are amazing.  We're a family and if I had to spend my birthday away from my birth family, I can't think of another group of folks I'd rather be with.  We had a blast today!!!  They gave me huge, very generous gift cards to Kohl's and Old Navy.  Dr. Niebaum gave me a Kohl's gift card, too, and I'm fixin' to go get some new clothes and stuff!! 

I'll probably need bigger ones after this day.  Ha!!  It was such a fabulous day.  I also got 100+ Happy Birthday wishes on Facebook!!!  

And my precious sister wrote a beautiful blog today in honor of my birthday.  

I'm a blessed and lucky girl to have so many people love me and want the happiest of birthdays for me. 

Y'all got your wish.  It was.