Christmas Season

No, I didn't get up at some unGodly hour to go Christmas shopping nor was I camped outside of Target or Kohls or some store for a week and half to get some special item! I was sound asleep in my nice warm bed.

I love this time of year. No, not for all the presents I will receive - yes, that is very nice but that is not why this is my most favorite time of the year. I love all the pretty decorations, the excitement in the air, the beautiful colors - the tinsel, the flickering lights, the trees, the Christmas music - I love it all! Everyone forgets all their problems, everyone forgets to be nasty, everyone is nice for a couple of weeks! Don't you sometimes wish Christmas would last all year long! Not the gift-giving, but the Spirit of Christmas.

PLEASE don't forget WHY we are celebrating Christmas! And please don't forget our military and their families this Christmas either. Who would have thought I would be one of them! God Bless our troops! And let me be the first to wish you a Merry Christmas!

19 days

19 days until he leaves. Only 19 days - two weeks and 5 days, that is it. There were days when he would get on my nerves and I wanted to send him to my nearest relative permanently! Then, of course, there were those days when I couldn't hold him close enough! Now, all I have is 19 days.

We talked to the Recruiter yesterday about what happens when we go to Columbus, OH. That is where he gets sworn in, gets his physical, and in the morning he boards a plane to go to Boot Camp. I keep thinking I can't do this. I can't say Good-bye. Because then it all changes. It will never be like this again and I don't want this to end. But it must. As my husband says, it is time to kick the baby bird out of the nest.

So I must make the most of these 19 days. Because it is time for baby bird to spread his wings.

Letter to Opie

When I was in my late teens or early twenties, I was like most young girls my age, I was concerned about my weight. I also grew up in the era of Twiggy and pencil-thin models - pretty much like today, I guess. There were many fad diets then - some good and many bad. Anyway, I started dieting to lose weight. The diet got out of control and I became anoxeric. Fortunately, I was able to realize what was going on and sought help, though I was told by several doctors that because of what I had "done to my body" I would never have children. So I resigned myself to the fact that I would never marry, never have children and would work at Procter & Gamble until I retired.

WELL, God had other plans for me. He introduced me to a wonderful man - your father.

As for the doctors, they were wrong!! Because here you are!

Your very first halloween you were a bumblebee. The second Halloween you were a cow (I guess I couldn't find a goat costume!). Hmmmm - a sign from God. Who would think that 14 years later we would be raising bees and goats!!

Soon, you were old enough to go to school. You were ready to go!! Your backpack was almost bigger than you. You got out of the car and you won't let me walk you to the school because you were a "grown up" now. I cried then as I will when you walk to the bus to go to Boot Camp but this time you will be a man - but no backpack.

In school, you tried all the various sports, football, baseball, and swimming, but none of them really interested you. Your real love (next to your Mom!) was your quad.

And this is why I am prematurely gray!

But, somehow, you survived all of this. Must have had a Guardian Angel hanging desperately to your shirt! You graduated from High School and I cried again (Moms do that alot!)

You came into my life when all the "experts" said you weren't "possible". You changed my life for the better and I thank you for all the joy and love you have given me. I am so proud of the man that you have become. And now in a few short weeks, you will leave to join the Navy to see the world and pursue your dreams. I talked to God and He told me that He will watch over you and I believed Him.

Love always,

Mom
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Oh Say Can You See . . .

Apparently not!! I think it is time for "someone" to go to the "Doggie Beauty Shop"! Of course, it doesn't help that it is raining and the rain is messing with your "do"! Time to get out the ribbons and put the topnot into a pony tail!!

The Countdown Begins

We are getting into the "countdown" mode now. 33 days and counting. And now I cry at the drop of a hat. According to the Navy for Moms website this is quite normal for a soon-to-be Navy Mom. Of course, my husband thinks I am nuts. What do men know!

So I got out my sewing machine and am cleaning up my sewing room. I am back to making soap, too. Keep busy they tell me, keep busy. Don't worry, I have more than enough for that!!

So if I seem out of sorts, please bear with me. I am in totally uncharted territory and I am trying to find my way.

Post Elections

Anyone glad the elections are FINALLY over??? Do I hear an Ahem?

I got more calls from Governor Kasick, Sarah Palin and even President Obama called me!! Boy, I must be important! No, they were just recorded messages. And the TV ads were getting annoying, too!! Regarding the TV ads, PLEASE don't tell me how bad the other guy is . . . tell me WHAT YOU ARE GOING TO DO!!! I know all about the faults, affairs, etc. of every candidate, but I have no clue what issues they are running on. How sad is that!! I've heard every false claim about the issues . . . i.e., if we vote "yes" on issue 2, our houses will be robbed or burned down, our children won't be taught, blah, blah, blah . . . Thank you Lord for November 9 so we won't have to listen to all this silliness again until the next election.

I am thankful that we do have the freedom of choice and are allowed to vote, but I could do without all the mud-slinging and false advertising. Maybe we should pass a law that the candidates aren't allowed to advertise - what a great law that would be!! No TV ads, no yard signs, no mailings. What do you think???

Preservatives

For some reason, this always seems to be a hot issue when discussing my lotion, so I thought I would address this here once and for all.

A question I am almost always asked about my lotion is do I use a preservative and if I do what type of preservative do I use? I know exactly what they are asking . . . do I use a preservative containing parabens. Before I answer that question, let me explain . . .

A product (i.e. lotion) that contains water must contain a preservative. (This excludes soap because soap is cured.)
The only way for a person to get around the requirement of a preservative is to make a small batch of lotion for your own use, store it in the refrigerator, and use it within 2 weeks. Can you imagine every time you wanted to use your lotion having to go to the refrigerator - how inconvenient that would be!!

Parabens developed a bad name in 2004 when they were suggested to be linked to the retaining of estrogen in the tissues of the human body. Parabens have since, time and time again, been proven safe. The amount of parabens required to cause any trouble is so enormous and the media, once again, has been having a field day.

So, to answer the million dollar question. Yes, my preservative does contain parabens. A batch of lotion which will make 5 bottles of lotion takes 1 teaspoon (yes, one teaspoon) of preservative. So each bottle of lotion contains only 1/5 of a teaspoon of preservative. I don't think you have much to worry about. Below, I am posting a few articles about the parabens.

http://www.cosmeticscop.com/parabens-are-they-really-a-problem.aspx

http://www.cosmeticsinfo.org/HBI/9/