Forget Man's Best Friend....

Bella is my kids' best friend! I've snapped some fun pictures lately, and thought I'd blog them. What I find most interesting is that this dog, whom we know nothing of her life with her previous owner, has totally incorporated herself into our lives. She acts like she's been here forever. And my kids act the same way. She's nuzzled her way into Matthew's bed at night, which I find hilarious. It's so funny to walk in and see either Matthew or Bella piled up on top of the other one on the bottom bunk, not a care in the world. And I came home from work the other day to a new decision that Annah has made; "Mommy, Bella my best friend!" So much for ME being her best friend! She hasn't forgotten and changed her mind either!

Even Jonathan, who can be the most contrary child you've ever met, loves Bella. Yesterday afternoon, she was trying, unsuccessfully, to get Jonathan to throw the ball to her. After 3 or 4 times of me telling her to get down off the couch and leave Jonathan alone, Jonathan looked at her and said, "Bellatrix! Stop it!" To which she gave him a quick glance and went about her business. But pretty soon, I noticed that she was cuddled up with him and sleeping contently and soundly with her little master. She's so much fun!

Off to save the world

Well, not exactly...but he is gone to train to save it! Austin left early this morning for Alpena, Michigan, for a training course they have there. (Did I mention that it's about 20 degrees there and the forecast is for snow??? Ha!) The kids handled it pretty well...they're not used to Daddy being gone, but they managed okay. I'm sure that in the next couple of days, it will hit them that he's gone, but right now they're dealing with it as well as possible.

I've missed being military. There's something special about knowing you belong to a military family...I can't exactly put it into words, but being on base this morning, and the few times we've been there since Austin enlisted again, has been pretty neat. And as a little sidenote, let me tell you, the man looks good in a uniform! I've always kind of had a thing for men in uniform, but dang...he's just hot! I sure hope the next couple of weeks go by pretty quickly...I'm missing him already!

Sheer panic!

I have determined that 5 minutes is equal to eternity when you can't find your four year old child. Yesterday's events nearly caused a stroke in this mom!

We'd been playing outside/working in the yard all afternoon, and so we decided to go inside and get cleaned up before going to Scouts. I got the kids bathed and dressed, and then left Jonathan playing in the family room while I helped Matthew spike his hair. When I came back, Jonathan wasn't in anywhere to be seen. I asked Austin where Jonathan was, and he said that he was in the front room. After a quick check, I realized he wasn't there, and started to look for him. I called him over and over, and he never answered. So I figured that maybe he'd gotten outside and was playing on the trampoline or the swingset. Nope...not there.

By this point, panic is starting to set in. I went back in and started looking under beds and in closets. I sent Matthew to the neighbor's house to ask her to look. The neighborhood boys, who were riding bikes in the street, started helping us look for him. Jonathan's name was heard all over the neightborhood, being called by various people. Austin started walking through the woods around the house looking for him. And all I could think about was the creek that runs in front of our house, that pools deeply in a couple of places. And I prayed.

I guess I turned to go look there, when out of the corner of my eye, I saw a little head pop up in the front of Austin's new car. Yep...there he was. I opened the door, and heard, "I just wanted to get a Yoohoo!" And on the floor beside him was an empty Yoohoo box, and the rest of the Yoohoo's that Austin left there after going to the gym yesterday.

Talk about sheer panic. And then answered prayers.

Family memo

"Due to the continued rise in gasoline prices, which are currently averaging $3.45/gallon in Milledgeville, the local branch of Lewis Inc. has been forced to down size it's transportation fleet. This unfortunate downsizing of the transportation fleet only effects the Daddy Department, which can no longer support the 2000 Jeep Grand Cherokee that currently averages 20mpg (aka "Daddy's Jeep"). Effective immediately, Daddy's Jeep will be replaced by a brand new 2008 Toyota Yaris, perported to receive an average of 36mpg. The 2008 Toyota Yaris is presently being dubbed "Daddy's new car". All further mundane daily travel necessary to conduct business and/or pleasure related events will be conducted in Daddy's new car. The other half of the local branch transportation fleet will remain available for use on a more limited basis. Events requiring transportation of all members of the local branch and/or their guests (up to 7 passengers) will serve as a valid excuse for operation of the 2003 Chrysler Town and Country (currently known as "Mommy's Van"). This change is to remain in effect until further notice."

Um....yeah. Austin's way of letting everyone we have a new car!

I just want to go!

Jonathan makes me laugh. We had to go to Robins Air Force Base on Friday to get our ID cards and such, and it turned out to be a really long day. Like most things in the military, the paperwork part didn't go very smoothly. We waited for hours! Jonathan and Annah eventually had enough, and Jonathan informed me that he was ready to go. "I want to weave now."

"You want to weave? How about leave?" I asked him, stressing the L that he'd said wrong. "Yes, I want to weave," he responded.

"No, it's Leave. Say Leave," I said. He shot back at me, "Weave."

"No, say La La La La La. Llllllll," I prompted. He replied, "I not say Wa Wa Wa Wa Wa! I want to.....I just want to go!"

He got me. That boy thinks outside the box. Now how could I correct that?

A kid and their dog

I never expected to go to work yesterday and come home with a dog, but that's exactly what I did. Dang my soft heart!

I had to turn my patrol car in for service yesterday, and when I went to pick it up, the Animal Control officer was out walking some of the "pound puppies". One in particular stood out to me...she was hilarious, bouncing around like a small pup, only she was a big dog. The AC guy called her Sweetie. Sweetie came over to me and proceeded to jump up and down on me, and give me all kinds of attention. I mentioned how cute she was, and that's when he told me that she could me mine.

Okay, now wait a minute. I know he just wants to find someone to take this dog off his hands...but my gosh she was cute. He told me that she was dropped off at the local Animal Rescue Foundation, but they couldn't take her because they were full. So they called the pound (AKA Animal Control) to come get her. She was due to be "put down"....a kind way of saying they were going to kill her. The AC guy obviously connected with her, because he took her off the truck going to doggie heaven, and kept her around. But he couldn't keep doing that...geez, they get tons of dogs every week. So I took her home. I like to say that I saved her from being put down, but who knows if he really would have done it. Then again, who knows if she would have taken the ride tomorrow. Oh well...it's a moot point, since she now resides at our house - what might soon be comparable to Old MacDonald's farm, with now four dogs, three cats, and a rabbit.

Matthew was overjoyed. Of course, his enthusiasm lasted about five minutes, then he was ready to go skateboard. Jonathan was too busy trying to ride the friendly pup to say much, but Annah was terrified. Until the newly renamed Bella (short for Bellatrix LaStrange, straight off of Harry Potter!) began giving her doggie kisses and nuzzling her. Then she was excited to hold Bella's leash and let the almost 50 pound dog drag her all over the yard.

After coming home from skateboarding, Matthew was ready to play with Bella. They played together for about an hour before it was time for him to come in. He says it's going to be his new job to get up a little earlier every morning and go feed her and play with her before he gets on the bus. I'm all for that....I really want them to be close. Every child needs a dog to play with.

Jonathan is excited that our home is becoming an animal haven. He told me this morning, in a fun conversation, "We have lots of animals! We have four dogs!" I agreed with him, and I believe we discussed the other beasts we have roaming around. Then, in a very mellow way, as only he could, Jonathan said, "I want a camel." I laughed, and told him that I didn't they we'd be allowed to have a camel. He thought for a moment, and asked, "What about a cow and a horse?" Again, I laughed and said we probably couldn't have those either. I believe that, "Aw man," was his disappointed reply!

We really are considering getting some chickens though, and maybe a goat. Yep....the Lewis family had a farm....ee i ee i oohh!

Classical music rocks

Some fun "classical" music moments....just because, as a mom, I agree!

Boy in blue!

It's strange imagining Austin in a blue military uniform, rather than a green one. He's been "Go Army" for as long as I can remember. Maybe not enlisted the whole time, but definately supportive and even anxious to go back. Yesterday, however, he enlisted in the Air Force. Actually the Air National Guard. I'm so proud of him; we've been knocking this around for months (or years, actually) and finally made a decision recently - together. He enters as a Staff Sergeant with a commitment of six years ahead of him, with eight years already under his belt towards retirement. How could we give that up? I guess we're in it for the long haul. And if that makes Austin happy, it makes me happy.

The best day ever....

Have you ever seen the episode of Spongebob Squarepants where he's enjoying his "best day ever?" I love that one, and I don't even really like Spongebob. (Just in case you haven't, click on the title of this post and go to Youtube to hear Spongebob's Best Day Ever song.) Anyway, when I think back on our day at the temple, I find myself thinking of that song, because it truly was the best day ever.

There were a lot of obstacles that got in our way....but we perservered and made it. The look in my wonderful husband's eyes as we looked at each other across the alter was indescribable, but even if I can't put it into words, I can still see it in my mind clearly. And when our children were brought into the room, to be sealed to us for time and eternity....my heart was completely full.

I didn't know what to fully expect going to the temple...but I have to say that it wasn't scary or even that foreign to me. It was just a feeling of knowing we were doing the right thing. And I'm very thankful for that.

Time AND Eternity. Now I have it all.