Catching Up

I can't believe that I have not posted since September 25th! Work tends to get a wee bit busy this time of year for me! Stefan has finished playing travel soccer since I blogged last.......we had trunk or treat at church ....we even had a visit from the Fire Department. Onto November we started the month off with our craft show the first weekend and almost doubled our profits from last year yay! Stefan then was named Student of the Month of November by our town Rotary Club....for an essay he wrote about what he wanted to do when he grew up and how he planned to get there. Of course this essay was written at the end of the last school year, when he wanted to be a Marine Biologist.....now he just want to be a plain Marine. His essay was selected for the research and insight more than for the career! Needless to say we were so honored to go with him to breakfast, listen to him read his essay and answer questions from adults! We had a 25th Anniversary of Ordination Mass the Sunday before Thanksgiving, as a priest friend of mine invited me to the celebration.....then a formal gala the following Sunday, congratulations to Reverend Michale J. Kreder! Before I knew it Thanksgiving was here. I had Thanksgiving at our home.....we had a small group for my family (9) of us, but it was great. Allie spent Thanksgiving in South Carolina with Ryan....but they will be in New Jersey for Christmas.....so excited to see them it has been over four months....we are having Bill's family for Christmas Eve....everyone brings parts of the meal and the host family supplies the house, seats and drinks! It happens fast and furious everyone arrives and leaves at once.....very hectic but a nice evening......I'll be sure to keep you posted. Stefan turned 14 on December 1st....where does time go? This weekend at church we have Santa's Breakfast and then before you know it ........it will be Chrsitmas. I'll try to keep up here.......

Indian Summer

I can't help thinking that today's weather is a lot like the day Allie & Ryan got married. It is so flippin hot out.....hello it is September 25th. I am so ready for fall. Apple picking and of course apple pie making, sweaters, boots and pants! I guess it would help enjoy this beautiful weather if I wasn't having hot flashes all week long! I had a rough week at work. A good friend passed away, Rest in Peace, Dave MacDonald. I will truly miss his sense of humor, twinkling blue eyes and morning chats....always on Tuesday never on Monday. Dave suffered with cancer for over seven years and most people never knew it. It wasn't until the cancer spread to his liver that he was defeated. Stefan also had a rough week at school.....welcome to the new school year. I would love to know why teachers teach? No one, as far as I know, forces them to be teachers. When they are lucky enough to get a job and to achieve their goal of teaching, why do they turn into children haters? Why are they so mean spirited to their students? Why teach if you don't love to? Why teach kids if you don't like them? It is going to be a l.....o.....n.....g year!
Stefan has his Rite of Enrollment tonight at the 5pm Mass then it is out to dinner with my dear friend Fran and her family for her birthday. Onto 8pm fireworks at White Oak Park, then to a 1:30pm soccer game tomorrow in Union with Stefan. I need to finish my Saturday chores and go pick Stefan up at the park.

And it begins....

Did I ever mention here how much I love summer and the downtime it affords families to regroup and refresh. I do. I am in the minority .....I am not one of those moms who loves when the school year begins and the kids go back to school. I hate school and the invasion of my time with my kids. I hate the homework, the projects ( which we all know the kids don't do, the parents do ), if you have the rare child who does the project with no parental help consider yourself blessed. The running around and coordinating of the whole project issue is an intrusion in my life. Hello teachers are you listening? Projects should be done in school not at home on the weekends and nights that is my time not yours. Stefan is playing travel soccer this year which involves practices on Tuesday and Thursday. We have Religious Formation class on Monday evenings and Tae Kwon Do on Wednesday and Friday and soccer games on Sundays. Throw a full time job into the mix along with a house and a husband and presto it is one big stress ball!
My life has been reduced to emails to my husband and an occasional phone call on our cells. Sorry for the rant. It just makes me angry. I went to a homeroom parent meeting this week at Stefan's school and was told.......there is no parental involvement, they can't get volunteers, there are no tissues for the students....please send in a box, if you live less than 2 miles from school there is no bussing cough up $300 a year for subsidized bussing, there is no tape in any school in the district, there are no after school activities......are you seeing a pattern here. What exactly are our extreme property taxes paying for.....administration salaries and benefits.......and lots of excessive spending not directly enhancing the student life.....hello it's obvious isn't it? Bring it on! Did I mention eleven more months in New Jersey? North Carolina here we come!

A Sad Day

Since Bill & Stefan are away camping this weekend.....I had plans to wake up early....and hit the ground running....NOT
I put NBC on to have the news playing in the background while I got ready to begin my day and heard the news anchor remember what it was like for her reporting the horrible tragic news that morning 9 years ago. And so it began.....I was glued to the TV the rest of the morning. I always listen to the names being read until I hear the three names from my hometown and then the two names of people I knew from the Port Authority and the name of a brother of someone I used to work with. The tears came out of nowhere and the pall was placed on my morning. The flowers being placed into the reflecting pool as people came up to read the names of those who perished were haunting to say the least. The pain on the faces of all those people, the tears in their eyes, the bagpipes, the violin music, the pictures and yes the American Flags blowing in the wind. When I finally went outside to begin the endless list of errands, I looked up at the sky. It was the same bright blue as the day it all happened. Since one of my things to do on my list was to go to my mom and dad's to help them with something.....I literally drove the same route that I drove that morning....as I got closer to Carteret......I felt as though it was that morning, in my minds' eye. I could still look over at the NY skyline and see those awesome towers only that morning as I got closer and closer to NY the skyline was very different. Those towers at that moment were on fire....you could see big black clouds of smoke in the air and over the skyline. When I got to work I remember thinking I should just go back home, get Stefan from nursery school, get Allie from school and hide in the safety of my home. I called Bill and he told me to stay put until things could get figured out. After all our sleepy little town was far enough from NY City and Philadelphia for our kids to be safe. That night our church had a special Mass and we went....that night there really weren't that many people there.....but in the days and weeks that followed the church was always so crowded. I remembered my sister calling from California (she is a critical care RN) and she and some of the nurses that she worked with were signed up with the government to come to NJ to work at ground zero for recovery......all too soon we realized there would be no recovery....no bodies needing to be taken care of....no need for medical care for survivors.....the phone calls waiting to hear if my Uncle Bob was on the subway below the trade center.....my cousins' husband being part of the NYC Police working at the site.....seemingly non stop.
Then I get a call from the teacher at Allie's school asking for our permission for her to be a keynote youth speaker representing Somerset County youth.....who knew there would thousands of people there hearing her relection....each holding a candle ....each remebering and listening to my daughter speak so eloquently.....we were so proud of her....and blown away how mature she seemed to be speaking up there in the sea of candles and tears. We have a picture of her with Christie Whitman right after her speech! The days and weeks following were days of terror, anger, frustration and prayers......driving to work not seeing the twin towers in the sky any longer were vivid reminders of what happened. The smell in the air....the dust in the air and yes all the stories. The news footage of families wandering around Manhattan looking for their loved one holding tight to a picture asking if anyone had seen this person. The women pregnant with babies not ever to meet thier daddy...the babies waiting for mommy to come home, the newlyweds mourning a future they will never have, the young lovers knowing thier dreams of a future were no more, the husbands, the wives, the grandparents, the sons, the daughters, the aunts, the uncles, the friends, the families, the fire fighters, the police officers everyone gone in an hour time span.
Listening to President Bush comfort the nation on TV seemed unreal. How could this have happened to the USA my great, safe country. No longer safe, secure. We were attacked by terrorists.....I couldn't even begin to understand it all.....yet it happened. There was no alarm waking me up from a bad dream, it was real. How do you tell you children they are safe, not to worry? How do you keep a four year old from asking why? How to you explain to a fourteen year old that it will be ok? How do you ever feel safe again? How long do you keep the TV off when the kids are up? How long do they catch you in tears and want to know why you are crying?
And here we are nine years later.....life goes on...people return to their routine...husbands/wives leave forgetting that important kiss goodbye, children no longer cling just a bit longer in your arms hugging you goodnight, terror and sadness are replaced by anger and revenge and sadly...people forget. Our young men and women are still in harms way,in the Middle East fighting a war that we are not wanted in. Watching my son in law, Ryan deploy to Iraq last July had to be the saddest day of my life. Watching fives buses of young men and women going off to the Middle East to defend our freedoms and to let everyone know that yes we are still America and yes we are still proud....still frightened....still angry.....but American and damn proud of it.
May our dear and mericful Lord hold all those who died on 9-11 in the palm of His hand. God Bless the USA and our troops.
Amen

Happy Birthday Allison Suzanne

Happy Birthday to my beautiful daughter.
Today I choose to remember and hold onto some of Allie's chidhood memories.....allow me to digress for today my blogging friends!
After an extremely long labor my long awaited dream had been realized.....a baby girl! What a gift form God she has been in my life! It seems like it had been her & I forever....being a single parent.......working fulltime ......no means of supprt except a really sucky job ....when Allie was two I met Bill and our life has never been the same since! Bill & I married when Allie was seven years old and just finishing first grade....it sometimes seems like a lifetime ago!
My sweet little blonde haired, blue eyed girl.....looking like my little angel! We quickly went from Nursery School, to Kindergarten, Girl Scouts, Youth Council, People to People, Communion/Confirmation, 8th Grade Dance & Graduation, High School Graduation,Driving, Church, College, Disney and of course the Love of her Life, RYAN....Dating, Deployment, Engagement, Wedding .......Happiness
I so miss her being in my life , in my home! But we give our children wings to fly and fly they do.
Thank You God for Allie.....Thank You for the Gift of Life, through me......and Happy Birthday to my little Allie Sue Poopie Do......

Work Tomorrow

Spent almost of Labor Day "catching up" on the mail from vacation....the most time consuming was the school paperwork for Stefan's first day on FRIDAY! Way too late for them to start.
I sometimes read other people's blogs....mainly Allie's fellow bloggers....it has really helped me to understand what young military couples are thinking and struggling with and in turn helps me to understand Allie & Ryan....and their choices! I think these young men and women have it right....they live for the day....the hour...the moment.....they love passionately and with their whole heart and they have had to grow up faster than most people their age have had to. They understand how precious life is, how fleeting time is and how their world can change in a moments notice. I have been reading two blogs in particular.....one is about a young woman who is a widow she is under 25 years old and has a baby girl under a year old....who has never met her dad...he was killed in Afganistan before he had a chance to meet her. The other blogger is also a young woman also under 25 years old who had her husband come back home to her wounded. He eventually accidently overdosed on prescription drugs and of course this was directly from the war and the service he volunteered to do for our country! I pray for these young women all the time and for others like them. I thank God that Ryan came home safe in November and that Allie & Ryan were able to realize thier dream of being happily married and in each others arms and lives for ever. When life gets me down (and who hasn't been there) I think of all these young men and women still over in Iraq (50,000) remember and the thousands more in Afganistan.....along with all the spouses and children waiting for them at home and doing the best they can to hold it together until their loved ones return home......hopefully unaffected by what they saw and how they lived.
On to a more happy note....my little girl turns 23 on Wednesday....where has time gone? I remember going into labor on labor day with her.....and my life was changed forever.......Allie starts her new job tomorrow and hopefully arrived home safely from a few days away with Ryan in South Carolina.
God Bless America and Our Troops!

Vacation is over :-(

I forgot to memtion that I got to see Allie for a whole 24 hours the weekend of my dad's 88th birthday. They arrived after my sister's mother in law's funeral on Saturday afternoon and left on Sunday night. I'll take it anytime I can.
We finished out our time here going to Dollywood, Fontana Lake, whitewater rafting and a nice hike up to the ski slope by our house. We did find an intersting country inn right down the sdtreet from our house called The Swag......google it if you get a chance......the rooms start at $490 a night and it looks like our house......I told Bill that perhapw we can turn our retirement home into a Bed & Breakfast....we have the ame look, the same views and can charge less and stay open all year (the swag is only open mid April - the first week in November.
Can't wait to get home to have a manicure and pedicure! Dippy is ready for home too....she can't seem to figure out what she's doing here.
Bill never ceases to amaze me ....we had some center island stools delivered today for the kitchen and in walk the delivery guys with a dining room hutch....I'm like what is that he's like you said you wanted it when we were in the wtore getting the stools for the kitchen so I got it for you.....I love that guy....so sweet. Going out for dinner now then home to do the last loads of laundry and bed for the 11 hour drive home....wish us luck.....and Happy Labor Day Weekend!

Vacationing in North Carolina

Here we are un beautiful western NC.....we have Stef's friend Emilio here with him and Bill's old boss Pete and hus wife Shelley were here Tuesday thru Friday. We were at the Biltmore Estate ahd Gatinburg Tennessee.....sliding rock in Pisgah Forrest. Somehow (I'm not 100% sure that Emilio got a case of poison ivy here or not) it popped right out on Tuesday afternoon and we didn't even get outside here until Tuesday morning....but whatever........we plan to go to Dollywood tomorrow, I believe the boys will go whitewater rafting on Tuesday.....we plan to head back to NJ on Friday early as Stef has soccer games at 11:30 & 3:30.....The weather here is just great sunny and warm during the day and crisp and cool at night! I can't beleive that this coming weekend is Labor Day already......

Vacation begins August 23, 2010

What a busy busy time it has been! Stefan is finishing up his final couple of days of day camp. He came back last Friday from Toronto Canada. This week has been good times for him also.....H2O waterpark on Monday, Tubing down the Delaware on Tuesday, Camping overnight at Jenny Jump State Park on Wednesday and Thursday! Tomorrow is his last day of camp....where did the summer go?
We had some sad news.... however good news for our family......my sister in California Eileen, had her mother-in-law living with them since Allie & Ryan's wedding back in May. She passed away last Saturday.....95 years old. God Bless her. They are coming back east for the funeral which will be a Friday night viewing and a Saturday morning funeral! Saturday is also Dad's 88th Birthday....so she will be home with her family for all. Her oldest daughter Christy is pregnant and due in January.....I have not seen her since her wedding three years ago....it will be good to be with family. Sad way to get everyone together but when you have a big family that's the way it goes! I did the funeral liturgy for them and made a program....hopefully it will be okay....hard to plan for someone else, but happy to be able to help them out! The family gets in late tonight.....so I feel as though I helped.
I've been busy using the peaches we picked on Sunday.....yummy peach pies, yummy peach cobblers.......busy using the summer squash from the garden.....made a huge batch of Squash soup....which will be yummy for the cooler weather in the fall! Made a butternut, sage and pasta recipe last night and it was so good! Leaving work shortly....off to shop, clean the house, get my nails done, water the plants, get Dippy's pills, stop the mail......oh yeah and a wake and funeral.......
I do think I'm going to need this vacation sooner than later!

Happy Wednesday

I noticed on my counter that I have over 1,000 reads on my blog....strange two followers and over 1,000 reads? If you are reading this enjoy.....it's meant to be read.
Stefan is half way through his trip to Toronto.....we have been busy getting ready for the Somerset County 4H fair in Bridgewater happening over the course of the next three days. On Sunday Bill & Stefan went to help with the set up of the stand as the Boy Scouts are selling cheese steaks, curly fries and water/soda. It is their biggest money making event of the year.....so if you live in NJ come on over and get some food....it's way too hot to cook anyway! Last night we went to Shop Rite to purchase and pick up all the soda & water. We are bound by 4H rules to only sell name brand soda & water.....so there's no money saving on the purchase of the items for resale. I managed to work out a deal with the owner of Shop Rite to allow us to purchase all the beverages at a sale price.....so it is all good. Picking up and lugging all the product to the fair grounds was a bit of a "challenge" to say the least! It is was too hot......humid....hoping this is not a hint of how bad our winter will be! Stefan gets home on Friday night at which time he will head over to the fair grounds to help disassemble the stand, once the fair closes. Bill & I are both working the food stand tonight form 7-10PM. Just what I want to do after working all day. All for the Scouts and of course my son.....so no use in complaining.
We will be celebrating Dad's 88th birthday next Saturday.....then kayaking with friends on Sunday and off to North Carolina on Monday morning....we are taking Dippy (our golden retriever) with us this time....it should be interesting traveling for 11 hours in the car with her....but considering she sleeps all day long.....she should just (hopefully) sleep in the car too.
On a very very happy note....Allie secured a (real) job as she put it! Yay.......she starts on September 7th, we are so happy for her and proud of her. She will be a great employee and an asset to any company she works for! She is a wonderful, kind, giving and hard working young lady.
Back to work..........

Slowly getting through

I ran into at WaWa today one of the Scout Dads' who spent the first part of the week up at camp with the boys....he said some were a little homesick and all were having a really good time! YAY I do miss Stef being around the house. Holding things together at work...whatever happened to when the cats away the mice will play??? Looking forward to seeing my brother Dave this weekend, he has some meetings in Maryland on Monday & Tuesday and will fly to NJ tomorrow spend the weekend here and then head to Maryland on Sunday night. Allie is hoping to meet up with him for dinner on Monday night and hopefully I'll be able to get Allie off a carebox with him...fingers crossed!
The weather here continues to be hazy....hot.....and you guessed it humid. No break in sight.....ugh! We had a wonderful time at my Aunt Lu & Uncle Bob's 5oth Anniversary on Saturday night and dinner with Bill's cousins on Sunday night. I keep looking at things around the house thinking about what we will be taking to NC next year and what we will be leaving behind.....I know you can't leave your memories and love behind they will always be with you.
I'm slowly adjusting to Allie being a married woman and someone's wife as is she! It's not easy letting go but as they say in my work let go and let God...so that is what I am doing....always here for both my kids but letting them live their own lives. I sure do miss having them around! There's nothing in the world as sweet as peeking into your child's room and watching them peacefully sleep and kissing their forehead ....just because you can!
No word on Mom's purse from NC so I guess it's gone for good....rat ass bastards that took it ...no good will come from what they did....I truly believe in Bad Karma or is it Catholic Guilt?????
Looking forward to going to NC at the end of the month when Stef finishes Day Camp, he gets home from Boy Scout Camp on Saturday morning/afternoon and then leaves with his Day Camp for Toronto on Monday...the summer is almost over and I feel cheated this year that I didn't have a summer with him! Looking forward to being able to spend time with Bill and Stef and to reconnect as a family....if only Allie & Ryan could join us it would be PERFECT! To wish......

Life back to Normal?

Our Spainsh exchange student Fernando left on Tuesday afternoon. I had a very sad glance of what next summer is going to be like for my poor little man Stefan! When Stefan and Fernando hugged goodbye I thought my heart would break right in two! Stefan was so very sad to say goodbye to his amigo that he bonded with in one very short month! No idea how we are going to handle saying goodbye after 14 years for Stefan and 17 for me! yikes
Allie & Ryan have been having some serious life discussions.....decisions need to be made and change is always tough. Life is what you make it and I am sure the newlyweds will make smart choices and be happy with what they choose!
This weekend we have my Aunt & Uncle's 50th Wedding Anniversary party on Saturday night and then Stefan is off to Boy Scout Camp in PA for a week. He is home for 2 days and then he is off to Toronto with his day camp for a week! Where has the summer gone? August 21st is Poppy's 88th Birthday and after a weekend of celebrating we are off to North Carolina for some R&R....yay
The good news is that my boss is on vacation for the month of August working on the weekends only (as you may know he is a priest and I work in a church)....so some nice time to get caught up and then vacation time for me!
Stefan will be playing travel soccer in the fall with his first tournament beginning Labor Day weekend....let the fun begin.

The final stretch

It has been way too long since I last posted.....whatever happened to summers being a down time? We are in our last full week here with Fernando. Fernando leaves on Tuesday afternoon (27th) at 5PM, then Stefan leaves for a week at Boy Scout Camp on Sunday August 1st. Personally I think Fernando has had a great USA experience while we hosted him here. Since he's been here we've gone to North Carolina, Washington DC, tubing down the Delaware....this Saturday we are going to Vineland for a graduation Party and since it is pretty much on the way we are leaving early and going to Philadelphia early in the morning. Perhaps Stefan & Fernando will go kayaking in the morning on Sunday after Mass and go to Ironbound in Newark for Portugese food. Yummo! We had some great news this summer....Stefan made honor roll all A's & B's and placed into pre-Algebra in the fall. Yay. I have caught up with a lot of stuff at home and plan to do more when Stefan is away in two weeks.
Mom still has not heard any word about her lost purse.....the weather here is still God awful hot.....and life goes on.
I did have two wow moments this week.......the farm store that has been down the road from our home since we have moved to Branchburg is closing. I have so many memories of Allie walking down to the farm store for bunny food or just to hang out and talk to the owners. They have a sign on the front of their property that simply states we are closing after 17 years God Bless You!...another chunk of Allie's childhood going away. Then as I am driving in the car the song "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" comes on the radio in the car.....this was a song from a skit Allie did in daycamp when she was three years old. A friend of mine made a leopard print toga for her to wear and the counselors rolled up some of her beautiful long hair in dog bones.....so sweet and a great memory. I know Allie is fine, happy and healthy. Just some random thoughts! Stay cool if you are reading this in a climate that is hazy, hot and humid like mine is, stay cool.

Allie writes as a guest blogger

My beautiful talented daughter recently "Guest Blogged" on a fellow bloggers blog......below is what she wrote. Since my dear dad does not use the internet I copied her entry and sent it to my dad and now have posted it here for you to read. I am so very proud of Allie and I can honestly say she is beautiful inside and out!
Enjoy






Guest Blogger - My Marine and Me
Thank you Nicole for asking me to be a Guest Blogger, I only hope I can do your amazing blog justice!!! I did a couple of drafts of what I wanted to write, flipped a few topics, but I think I found what I wanted to say....


Ever since I was born the Marine Corps has been a part of my life. No I am not a military kid, my real dad is no longer even in the picture and my dad (step dad) works with computers. I am a military grandkid.

My parents went through a messy divorce when I was less than a year old and to get back on her feet my Mom and I moved in with her parents, my Babci (Polish for grandmother) and Poppy. I never realized having a World War II Marine veteran was a big deal. I thought everyone had someone like my Poppy, but I guess when you're a kid you never think too much about outside your own little circle. Some of my first memories were going with my cousin Jill and my Poppy down to the VFW in Carteret NJ where we lived. We would sit on the tall bar stools, carefully guarded by all the former military guys who loved to keep us entertained, while Poppy balanced the books. I remember us drinking Diet Cokes out of cocktail straws while the guys would press JFK half dollars and $2 bills into our palms just to hear us squeal with delight at such rarities.

I remember seeing my Poppy's uniforms in the closet when we'd wear my Babci's old dresses to play dress up. We knew not to touch those, except for his cover on occasion! I would see him wear his dress blues for parades, Toys for Tots, and other special events. Sometimes he'd wear his Marine Corps League uniform, where he was a Captain, but I loved seeing him in his blues. I thought they were the coolest thing a guy could ever wear.

It was only years later I realized how truly remarkable my Poppy was. I knew he had fought in the Philippines. I knew he wanted to stay in after the war but they just didn't need them as much anymore. Shortly thereafter he met my Babci and six kids and fifteen grandkids followed. It was only as I got older that I started to hear the stories, very watered down at first but more solid as I got older.



I never imagined I almost was a Navy grandkid instead of a Marine one! My Poppy lied about his age, just 16 at the time, and went to join the Navy. He was a state champion football player who had scholarships to some amazing colleges like Brown, but he was one of thirteen children and had to help his mother. So it was go to work or go to war. He chose war. He and a buddy of his went down to the recruiting office and the Navy recruiter was out to lunch, the Marine recruiter was there. He essentially said, "Why the heck would boys like you ever want to join something like the Navy?? The Marine Corps is for you..." But my Poppy and his friend were rather terrified of this giant man and couldn't even think of a way to refuse.

Within a few months my Poppy was training at Parris Island, SC. He was in California for awhile too, but then went into the midst of WWII. He did his job well and quickly rose through the ranks. My Poppy is the youngest Sgt Major in Marine Corps history, only 19 years old. He was supposed to go even higher but when he went to become a different rank (non-enlisted) his orders literally changed in the airport and back into the field he went.

In 2006 I went to the Marine Corps Ball in NJ with my Poppy and my cousin Jill.
He was the oldest Marine in attendance that year at 84, and got the second piece of cake! I felt so honored to dance with him and listen to him sing the hymn with all the other vets in the room. My heart was so proud I thought I would burst.

Last year my Poppy was Marine of the year back home. In this article he was quoted, "It doesn't get any better than this," said Cherepon, who served in the Marine Corps during World War II. "We train not as an individual, but as a group. … If I had to do it again, I would, because [these Marines] are an exceptional group."

So, did all this mean I thought I would ever end up married to a Marine???

Of course not!

I never expected it in a million years, but I am so incredibly honored that I am. When Ryan and I met at a Saint Patrick's Day party and I found out he was a Marine I was actually a little wary, I knew of their reputation in the DC area but he quickly proved me wrong. Our second date we found our way down to the National Mall and at the WWII Memorial, my favorite for obvious reasons. Anytime I go there, I call my Poppy. I still remember Ryan's reaction when he heard my Poppy's rank, "Um... I don't think I am allowed to talk to you anymore... I am just a LCpL!" But when I made that phone call, Ryan said hi.

The first time they met they went off to talk and were gone for hours. That is now a pattern anytime the two of them are ever in the same state. I heard stories and things from my Poppy that I know never would have surfaced without Ryan's presence in my life. And I love that they can share that. When Ryan and I got married in May, my Poppy was there in his dress blues, and in the arch of swords. My wedding was truly wonderful, and with the guys all in uniform, from the groomsmen to my Poppy to my now husband, it was even better.

It all circled together in a way I never expected. I love my Poppy, I love my husband, and I will forever carry the pride I have for them in my heart. Without my Poppy I would have cracked the day Ryan left for Iraq, I called him and he calmed me down away from hysteria. Both of them have made amazing sacrifices to this world, at 22 and 87 they both have a bond deeper than anything I could have imagined between a grandfather and grandson-in-law. All because of the Corps.

Semper Fi!

Home to HAZY, HUMID & HOT NJ

I arrived from the airport this afternoon around 4pm. My good friend Fran picked up my mom & dad, Stefan & I from the airport......after taking mom & dad home we were on our way back to Branchburg! Stefan needed a friend fix so he went to a friends house to swim for a few hours.....mine as well enjoy the swimming this is the weather for it! This gave me some time to water the flowers and vegetable gardens and run water into the pool.......when the weather gets really hot like this the sun evaporates the water too! Dippy has not left my side since I got home she is too cute....I guess she missed me! So let's see a recap of the trip.....when we arrived on Friday Bill & Fernando met us at the airport and we went to our favorite NC barbeque place. 12 Bones......poor Fernando was (I'm guessing) suffering the ill effects of an 8 hour flight from Spain and then 11 hours in the car to get to NC. The poor guy was green. We hung out at the house and then went into Waynesville for dinner. We all turned in early. On Saturday we took a ride on the Blue Ridge Parkway (for those of you that don't know) I have a very big fear of heights. Let's just say I spent a great deal of time with my head down not looking out the car window. I did get out of the car to take pictures at overlook points and the view was truly God's best work. Mountains as far as you can see and over 6,000 feet up in them! We then went to a town called Cherokee which is an Indian Reservation with a casino......we had dinner and them went to an outdoor theater to see a show about the Cherokee Indians and their struggles. It was also my mom's 85th birthday and what better a way to celebrate than to enjoy our beautiful USA? On Sunday morning we went to St. Margaret of Scotland Church on the mountain top. I was really looking forward to sharing the mass at this church with my mom and dad and they were not disappointed! We then went out to breakfast and Bill took Stefan and Fernando sky diving....they had a blast! In the afternoon we had our realtor who worked with us for the last 2 years come over for a barbeque. She came with her husband and 80 year old mother. It was our first time "entertaining" in our home and it was a great afternoon. Later in the evening Bill took Stefan & Fernando down into the valley to see the fireworks and I stayed home with mom & dad and watched them on TV. On Monday we went to Sliding Rock...which is a natural area in Pisagh National Forest that you can literally sit down on rocks and slide into a natural mountain fed pool of very cold water someone told us the water was 48 degrees! Then onto Biltmore Estate we toured the largest private home in North America and it is truly impressive to say the least. After touring the estate we went to the Biltmore Winery and of course shopped. The down side of the day was that my poor mom "left" her purse at the winery.......I won't say anymore as of tonight we still have not heard anything that it has been located. Once we got home and she realized that her purse was not with her the Estate was already closed and the phone # was obviously just an information # offsite from the Estate. Once Bill took us to the airport he went back to the Estate to at least talk to guest relations and to perhaps talk to someone at lost and found with no luck...and the winery was not open yet. So if you are reading this please say a prayer to St. Anthony (my lost & found buddy) that some kind hearted person found mom's purse and will get it back to her. She is truly heartbroken and embarassed. Getting mom through security with no ID was a whole story in itself.......but we got her through. Thankfully this happened in North Carolina and not New Jersey at Newark airport.....we's still be sitting there I'm sure! You know it's kind of funny....the more I go to our home in North Carolina the more I want to go back...............work & camp tomorrow! Looking forward to it believe it or not!

Fernando arrived ....his luggage did not!

Ok so you're in a foreign country .......you don't have a great command of the language and everyone in your travel group gets their luggage off the carousel except YOU! Poor guy.....he seems to be very nervous to be with us.....I know I would be....and quiet.....I can talk to anyone about anything .....so in a few days I will be able to have him talking up a storm like my two kids do! The airlines said his luggage should arrive today so fingers crossed. Car service arrives 6AM Friday morning and then the true fun begins. Happy Independence Day everyone! Be safe and try to relax and enjoy your freedoms....some wonderful young people have fought and continue to fight for it....so be thankful and enjoy!

Fernando arrives tomorrow night

Our exchange student from Spain arrives tomorrow night at 7PM. They are still deperately searching for home for 4 teens still not placed. School is finally over and Stefan started day camp. I was greeted with Stefan's report card on Friday in the mail and drum roll........FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER STEFAN MADE HONOR ROLL.....I hear the clapping! We are so proud of him! He is so happy at day camp and has a great time doing a Teen Travel program. He told me that after the first day his arms hurt when he got home from hugging everone. He is such a sweet little man...love him. Allie continues working at her day camp. Speaking of Allie my dear friend Ann Marie and her husband Rob gave us the video they took of the wedding....really really nice.....in the beginning the dubbed in Josh Groban singing the Prayer it so nice of course I cried when I watched it! Thanks Ann Marie and Rob you are the best! Bill and I are anxiously awaiting our trip to North Carolina on Friday! Bill & Fernando will be driving down together and Stefan, my parents and I will fly down on Friday morning. It will be good to get away for some down time. The next weekend we are going down to Washington DC with the boys. That leaves us the next two weekends to do some more American things with our visitor from Spain. Perhaps tubing down the Delaware in Pennsylvania and maybe Philadelphia along with a stop at Dave & Busters for some classic American fast food and video games? We'll figure it out! The weather here in NJ continues to be hazy, hot and very humid. When you go outside it is like someone opened an oven door.....really gross! Onto Tae Kwon Do with Stefan.

Catching Up

Ok so it has been way too long since I posted.....Happy first day of summer! Yay! I don't know if Stefan or I are more happy that the school year has come to an end! We had a great weekend. I had the family over to celebrate father's day. What could be better than sitting by the pool, swimming, sunning and drinking pina coladas with family and friends? I went to Westfield on Saturday with my Mom to be an extra in my cousin Greg's video soon to be on you tube for his single Jersey Country. It really was fun. Good luck in realizing your dream Greg~
Still packing up Allie's stuff from her room. Sixteen years of stuff is way too much to pack up alone. The flood of memories kept rushing in .....all the memories are jam packed into boxes. Bill & I (okay Bill) made a last minute decision to have an exchange student live with us for the month of July. His name is Fernando he is 17 years old and comes to us from Spain! This is his third time abroad....in 2008 he was in Ireland and in 2009 he was in England.....and now his wonderlust brings him to New Jersey! I hope he bonds well with Stefan and Stefan is able to converse better in Spanish with him living with us.......I will definately keep you posted how this whole thing goes! Onky two more weeks until we go to our home in North Carolina so excited to have my mom & dad see our home and to celebrate mom's 85th birthday. Then on the weekend of July 10th & 11th we are going to go to Washington DC ....to show Fernando the capitol of our country and to see Allie & Ryan! YAY.....hopefully drop off some wedding gifts she has at the house and some more of her memory boxes! Since Stefan is having single sessions at school this week......I need to sign off now and go home to be a mom. Glad Monday is over. BTW please offer up a prayer today for Fr. Tom's brother Michael who is having kidney surgery for a cancerous kidney. His name is Michael Serafin, a great guy who has his dad living with him and two of his nieces. Amen

Thank God it's Thursday (-:

As of Memorial Day our office started "Summer Hours" YAY At least now I have an opportunity to get the laundry, housework and gardening done and still feel like I have a weekend. Stefan is going camping this weekend with the Boy Scouts to Dutch Spring (scuba/snorkeling/swimming park which really an abandoned strip mine) and Bill is not doing this trip with Stefan. This makes Stefan and me happy. As much as Bill tries to go on Stefan's scouting trips he can't possibly make them all. The reasons are many but leaving work early on Fridays really puts him behind at work and he pays the price for it all week. We finished painting Stefan's mancave aka Allie's old room on Monday and have a few minor things to do before he officially moves in and makes it his own. The weekend looks to be hot, hazy and humid...typically NJ! Work has been really crazy lately. We have a funeral and wedding on Saturday and two Confirmation masses on Sunday with 90 young adults getting confirmed. On top of this Fr. Tom called me today to tell me that his brother Michael is in the hospital with a grapefruit sized tumor on one of his kidneys....some people just can't get a break....he has his father and his two nieces living with him and his wife....so they already have a full plate....prayers please. I also found out that my cousin had a second miscarriage....so sad. There are so many people out there who want babies....heartbreaking to think that babies have become expendible. Prayers again please. Starting to look forward to the July 4th weekend Stefan and I are flying down to our home in North Carolina with my parents for the holiday. My mom is turning 85 on July 3rd and my dad will be 88 on August 9th and I really want them to see the house while they are both healthy enough to make the trip. There might be some more surprises in store for them when they get there. Hope it all works out.

Memorial Day

As I said before why do people wish each other a Happy Memorial Day......I'm not difficult but it is not a happy day.....After watching Ryan deploy in July and seeing the person who returned....knowing the terror Allie felt at home....and to think Ryan was one of the lucky ones. I remember growing up and watching the Memorial Day Parade on my Aunt Ethel's front porch. Seeing my dads' eyes well up with tears and not quite understanding why......years later I fully get it. Yes we should be able to relax, barbeque and have the company of friends and family.....BUT NOT before we remember that the freedoms we have and the ones we enjoy are there because someone fought for our right to be able to enjoy them. God Bless America and our military! And for all for fought the fight and have fallen....may they rest in peace through the mercy of God! Amen