Yeah, I wish time would tick a little slower
Sometimes it feels like I blink and then it’s over
Better soak it in, better make it last
Live it up while we can ’cause the good times go by too fast

~Dylan Scott

Looking through some pictures of my babies, today, and it makes me wonder where all the time has gone. That first one is from when Adam was in the hospital. He had gotten a terrible infection, in his hand. He ended up having to have emergency surgery. The surgeon told us he was just hours from losing his whole hand. Adam spent days in intensive care. He came home with a port that was used to inject antibiotics directly into his system, daily, for several weeks. That was a very scary and stressful time, for everyone. The second one is Wyatt, standing inside his daddy’s boots. The third picture is sweet Mikayla, at around eight years old. Last, but not least, is our baby, Mj. We sure have made a whole lot of memories. Even the toughest times, looking back, don’t seem so bad. We’ve always managed to find reasons to smile together, no matter what’s happening around us. I’ve been so blessed to have my healthy and happy children, and to be able to give them a good childhood.

Last night, as I got undressed for my bath, Adam walked into our bathroom. He gave my naked behind a little smack, as I leaned over to adjust the water temperature. When I spun around to face him, he pulled me close, and kissed me. We had sex before my bath. Then again, inside the shower. And once more, when we went to bed.

This Thanksgiving break has been relaxing, restful, and memorable. All of the moments we’ve captured in time, through pictures and video, will soon be memories I smile back on, when I find myself looking back through them, just like the ones I shared today. We’re always making history. Everyday, we’re creating memories that we’ll treasure forever. Whether we document them with photos, or simply inside our mind, they’ll be there. I’ll remember them and wonder, where did the time go? Just as I did today.

~Seether

Today was Pj’s first birthday! It’s hard to believe it’s already been a year, since my sister became a mama.

This afternoon, I cut Adam and Justin’s hair. As usual, Jackie took pictures…

I made chili, for supper. Justin and Jackie ate with us. Jackie and I talked in the kitchen, while the boys watched “Lonesome Dove”, in the other room. They just left. We all have to get up early, tomorrow morning, so we decided to call it a night. I just made some hot cocoa, for everybody. Now we’re all doing our own things. I crafted a little bit, earlier. I’m considering running myself a nice, hot, bubble bath. Adam’s still got a lingering cough, that’s annoying him. He’s been taking decongestants and constantly sucking on cough drops. Because of his feeling less than perfect, and the meds he’s been taking, it’s been awhile since we’ve had a good fuck. I miss him. I miss his body. I miss the ease with which he can find the exact places to touch, and send me into ecstasy. I’m horny as hell. Whether he’s a part of it tonight, or not, I’m going to make certain I don’t go to sleep without getting the sweet release that a good orgasm brings.

~Niko Moon

After we cleaned everything up, we all laid around the living room, and watched a movie. Everybody else took a nap, but I wasn’t sleepy. Later, Jackie and I did a little bit of online “Black Friday” shopping. I found a few great deals on gifts for my kids. Then, Justin, Jackie, Adam, our kids, and I sat down and played a couple games of “Clue”. After that, we played Phase 10. Jackie and I picked out a music playlist, from way back when. The years from about 2005-2010 have their own playlist, for us. There’s Nickelback, SHINEDOWN, Pop Evil, and Rehab’s “Sittin’ at a Bar”, among many others. There was a lot of reminiscing, laughing, and way off key singing along. We ended up staying up way too late! It was nearly 2:00am, before we went to bed. It was another perfect Thanksgiving, though.

This morning, I woke up around 7:45am. Adam was still sleeping soundly, beside me. I decided to just lay there, and enjoy the ability to stay cozy in bed. It was almost 10:00am, when we finally got up. The kids all slept until closer to noon. We’re all spending this Friday being lazy at home. We’re going to have a family movie night, tonight. Adam’s been watching football, this afternoon. I’ve been downstairs, watching corny Christmas movies. I’m thinking of going upstairs, and changing out of the jeans I’ve got on, into my comfy cashmere leggings. It’s 50 degrees, outside, but it sure feels chilly today. I can’t seem to get warmed up.

Tomorrow, I’m planning to cut Adam and Justin’s hair, for them. They’re both looking pretty shaggy, these days. Wyatt won’t let me cut his hair. He wants to keep growing it out. I’d like to at least trim it for him, but it’s not an issue I’m willing to bicker with him over. I’ve always let my kids style their hair however they liked to. They can wear the clothes they want, so long as they’re appropriate. Although, that’s never been a problem. Mikayla was, and still is, my “girly girl”. She wore skirts and dresses, tiaras, and plenty of accessories, when she was little. In preschool, I had another little girl’s mom tell me that her daughter had come home one day, and asked her to “Please be like MiKayla’s mom. MiKayla’s mom let’s her wear dresses everyday. So, please mama, be more like MiKayla’s mom.” I thought that was the cutest (and funniest) thing! I so enjoy letting my children show me who they are. I never want them to feel they need to be a certain way, to gain my approval. I want them to have confidence and pride in being themselves. So long as they’re not endangering themselves or others, they should be free to express themselves. That’s how I think, anyway.

I think I am going to go and get these blue jeans off, so I can get comfortable, and snuggle myself in for our movie night.

I’ve got the green bean casserole in the oven. Jackie’s mashed potatoes are in the crockpot, staying warm. I’m fixing to start the macaroni and cheese, make the stuffing, and then put the rolls in the oven. Then, it’s time to eat this deliciousness. Happy Thanksgiving!

Jackie came over, this morning. We ran to the store and got some drinks, for the holiday week into the weekend. I’ve been getting my house cleaned up. It’s much harder to keep up, when I’ve got all the little people here. I steamed eggs, yesterday. Now I’ve got to make them into deviled eggs. I’m also fixing to start making our cheesecakes. Adam went into work, but he’s on his way home now. Traffic is backed up like crazy, as would be expected on this holiday eve. I’m wearing “the” sweater. My mustard yellow sweater, that I wouldn’t put back on for several weeks last year, because I had gotten into trouble twice while wearing it. Jackie asked me earlier, “Isn’t that your trouble sweater?” I laughed, and told her, “Yes, but I haven’t been in any kind of trouble in a good long while now!”

I need to go get busy baking, but I’ve got a good streak going, on posting here. I wanted to put something on here, for today. I know it’s been rather boring, but my behind appreciates the mundane normalcy, that has been my life. It’s going to be a fun few days, hanging out with my people. ❤️

Y’all, I found a goldmine, this morning! I searched for “kids songs”, on my TV. This is where I discovered Snoop Dogg has a whole collection of children’s songs, animated with cartoon characters.

Needless to say, the kids and I all enjoyed this!

I’m steaming eggs, for the deviled eggs we’ll be having on Thanksgiving. Tomorrow, I’ll make the cheesecakes. It’s rainy and cool, outside. I’m just trying to keep these little ones entertained. They’ve all been pretty good, so far, this morning. I got them a few new toys. I found a block shape sorter, and I got a big box of wooden building blocks. They’re having fun with those. My kids will be out of school, tomorrow through the weekend. Adam works tomorrow, but is off for Thanksgiving. I think he’s working Friday, too. Maybe not, though?

I don’t have much else to write, yet. If that changes, I’ll write more this evening. I’m doing a good job of writing something, everyday. Even though there hasn’t been a whole lot going on.

If I could tell the world just one thing
It would be that we’re all ok
And not to worry ’cause worry is wasteful
And useless in times like these
I won’t be made useless
Won’t be idle with despair
Will gather myself around my faith
For light does the darkness most fear

My hands are small, I know
But they’re not yours, they are my own

And I am never broken

We are never broken

In the end only kindness matters

We are God’s eyes
[We are] God’s hands

~Jewel

I was looking through some of my draft posts, that I’ve either never published, or didn’t finish. I saw this one, from August, when we visited Adam’s family in Kansas. These pictures make me smile, so I wanted to share them, even if they’re from a few months ago, now. We’re planning to go visit his family again, in January. The weather there is guaranteed to be cold as hell, and windy, that time of year. We won’t be able to do any outside activities, but I’m sure we’ll find plenty of fun things to do.

Jackie and I posted on our local social networking group, to invite anyone who didn’t have family to celebrate Thanksgiving with, to our house. Years ago, before I had Adam, I spent Thanksgiving in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Both my brother, and Mikayla’s father were there at the Naval base. Another local Virginia Beach family invited sailors who couldn’t go home, to their Thanksgiving dinner. That family was so incredibly welcoming and generous! I would love to be able to pay that forward, and do the same for people with no place to go. I told Jackie about how special that Thanksgiving was, to me, and how I’d love to do that here. Since I don’t use social media, Jackie made a post for me. So far, we have at least one young man who plans to be here. He’s only 20 years old. He’s stationed at the Army base, not far from us. He’s from Florida, but can’t go home to celebrate with his own family. We are going to have plenty of food, so I’m hoping that we can find a few more folks, like this guy, to invite to share our Thanksgiving meal with us. I can’t begin to solve the world’s problems. I do want to take the opportunities to do some good, when and where I can, though.

On another topic, there’s been a very public divorce happening, with someone known in the conservative commentator world. Adam is much more “conservative”, than I am. I consider myself to be more libertarian, politically. In my personal life, I definitely live conservatively, in general. All this to say, even my right leaning husband was disgusted with a home security video that was made public, last year, featuring this couple. The wife was very pregnant, and the husband appeared to be mistreating her. He wouldn’t allow her to leave. He raised his voice, and said some vaguely threatening things to her. It wasn’t outright “abusive”, but most everyone who’s seen it feels the husband was mistreating his wife, at least in that moment. Adam has never yelled at me. He’s never forced me to go, or stay, anywhere. He never threatens me, unless it’s with a spanking, which I’ve clearly consented to. All of the online commentators, suggesting it’s the wife’s fault for not being a “good Christian conservative wife” to her husband, drive me crazy! If you want a wife who treats you with honor and respect, you must also treat her the way God instructed. Wives, submit yourselves to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them. ~Colossians 3:18-25 Marriage isn’t always easy. I don’t always feel like submitting to my husband. He doesn’t always feel like loving me. The Bible describes exactly what LOVE is,

1 Corinthians 13:4-8

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.

It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.

Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.

It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away

Does that definition of love seem like it’s always going to be easy? We’re human. We all fall short! I guess that’s why I get so annoyed with all of the finger pointing and assumptions I’ve been seeing lately. Everyone I’ve seen and heard suggesting that he wouldn’t have treated her that way, had she done all of her “wifely duties”, refuse to acknowledge the ways in which he was failing to meet the expectations of a husband. This isn’t about picking sides. It’s simply an observation I’ve made, about how utterly blind people can be to such obvious things, when they’re so busy defending an agenda. It isn’t necessarily an easy thing, considering the “other side”, but the absolute bias, we can all have, truly does create such division. Surely we can say something is wrong, when it’s clearly not right, without that meaning there is no possible wrongs happening on the “other side”? None of us are 100% right, always. Can’t we just acknowledge that truth?! Anyway, I’ll end this little observation now.

~Nate Smith

Although I’m very aware of the chaos going on all around us, I have to say, my own little world has been beautiful. I truly have nothing to complain about.

Last night, we all decided to watch some Christmas movies. We started with “The Grinch”. We all love the one with Jim Carrey, as the Grinch. Then, we put on “The Polar Express”. Those are both Adam’s favorites.

It was a great night, though!

We didn’t make it to church, today. Adam and I both have headaches, and still congested. We decided to stay home, one more Sunday. Everybody’s just lounging around. I’ve been sitting downstairs, while Gary guards the place from mice, for me. I’ve done some online Christmas shopping. We have a tradition I started years and years ago. On Christmas Eve, we open one gift. It’s always new pajamas. Everyone who’s here, gets some. My sister, her husband, and Pj will be staying with us. Justin and Jackie, too. So, I’ve already gotten the pajamas for Adam, our kids, my sister and her little family, Justin, Jackie, and myself. I also picked up some warm fuzzy socks, for all the girls. I even found a pair for Pj! It’s so much fun, to me, finding things for the people I love.

On Friday, I was texting with Adam. We were talking about something someone had said. I wrote to him, “Some people 🙄”. That lead to this exchange, between Adam and I.

I really haven’t done a thing worth a sore behind, in a good while. I’m actually pretty proud of that.

I think I’m going to make us some potato soup, for supper. Today seems like a perfect soup day. It’s sunny, but cool. Well, my watch says it’s 61 degrees out, but it sure feels cool! I cut our heat on, this morning. Our house was only 63 degrees, inside. I’ve been able to set it at 70 degrees, in the mornings, without any conflict from Adam. This summer, we agreed on a compromise. I agreed to turn our AC down to 65, at night. Adam agreed I could turn the heat up to 70, in the mornings. I usually turn it down to 68, a few hours after everybody’s up. Then, at night, I turn it down to 60. I’m grateful we have such an efficient system, at our house. We can have the house warmed up from 60 to 70, in like 10 minutes. We never have crazy high utility bills. Still, I think Adam and I both want to be reasonable, and avoid using more energy than necessary. We do have higher light bills, this time of year. Between it getting dark so early, and all our Christmas lights, it’s always more expensive. Adam doesn’t complain, though. I’ve been pleasantly surprised with his willingness to get into the Christmas spirit with me, this season!

I crafted a couple of new things, this weekend.

I’m also working on something, for Jackie. I need to go vacuum the floors, clean the bathrooms on the main floor, and do some laundry. I’ve enjoyed this very lazy Sunday morning, but I suppose it’s about time to get busy.

~Paul McCartney

I’m literally finding a little pause in my night to write here. It’s been a busy day with little ones. We made some reindeer, with their handprints for antlers.

Justin and Jackie came over. We all sat and talked and laughed. Jackie and I weren’t ready for the night to end, so she talked the boys into watching a movie.

I literally have nothing else to write…but I promised myself I’d write everyday. So, this is my day.

~Todd Herfindal

Last night, as I sat downstairs, enjoying my cocoa and movie playing on TV, something happened. I saw two mice run past, on the floor!

I placed some of the sticky traps, that our pest control place leaves for us, all around. Also, I’ve got a little friend down here with me, tonight. I’m hoping Gary will help to get them suckers out of here.

Wyatt had a construction competition, today. He got second place! He won a whole bunch of tools. He was so proud 😊

Adam is starting to feel much better. I’m so anxious for everyone to be feeling well, again. My voice is also slowly improving.

It was beautiful outside, today. 75 degrees and sunny. Looking into the forecast, however, it appears Thanksgiving day will be cold. The high is only 44 degrees.

I was looking back at photos, from this time last year, earlier. It’s incredible how much my babies have grown! They’ve changed so much. The changes just one year can bring, never cease to amaze me. It’s been a real good year, though. I find myself appreciating a whole lot, lately. I’m grateful for everything this past year has brought to me and my family.