Speaking of Blooming Where We Are Planted...

OK...so admittedly, this posting is mostly for Cliff who is so far from his home...so unless you really like looking at pictures of other people's plants, you can just skim over this one.



Some of you (the 8 people who follow this blog) may remember this picture of our cement bunker, taken right after we moved in. It seems that the yard maintenance people (or "lawn ninjas" as they are so affectionately referred to around these parts) have a tradition of hacking everything down between tenants. I suppose it's easier...but I still don't get it. We were left with a blank, uninspiring slate.

We were also still a little shell-shocked from putting in SO much expense and labor into the landscaping of our former home (Ahh...nothing like sodding by the glow of worklights at midnight because you have to return the equipment by morning...and the 130 degree heat has been killing the sod rolls as you sweat. Good times!) so we were not really wanting to dive into another landscape project just yet. Enter Andrew. Andrew is a landscaping genius, complete with horticulture degree. He is the grown son of friends of ours, living the single life in Okinawa while his parents are stationed here. I told him what I wanted (in my limited knowledge, using lots of hand gestures and such technical terms as "hard to kill", "pretty", "flowery" and "not orange") and he made it unfold effortlessly before my eyes. Now my yard makes my heart smile. I'm so excited to watch these plants actually grow and bloom. He was worth every penny...and a bargain, at that. You are welcome to join me as I take Cliff on a tour.

So, sweetie, without further adieu...here's what your per diem money bought you:



I know the colors are very chick-like...but you like chicks...right?



This is the front stoop. These dragon pots are gorgeous. I hope we get to take them with us, but they are pretty heavy...so maybe not.



Remember that view of the A/C spewing moldy fungus? Out of sight, out of mind.



Heading up the front walk to the door. These geraniums are blooming today, but these pics are almost a week old.



Turning the corner to the side door.



Can I tell you how much I love this rubber tree, with all it's wisdom and crawling vines? I've never considered myself a tree-hugger...but I just might start with this one. Maybe not...there'd probably be a snake with my luck.



Along the back windows (and wishful thinking!).
He put in a soaker hose under the mulch, too...but we haven't needed it yet because there is plenty of rain.



LOVE these colors!



This is on the back patio under the big window. It was all overgrown with ivy. This is much neater looking, don't you think?



This is the side door step. It's an herb garden. I LOVE it and I'm using it already. Can't wait to make you something with fresh basil...or maybe some of those edible flowers...

Dining Out (Top Secret)

Last Friday I was able to attend Cliff's unit Dining Out. The Marine Corps is full of traditions and protocol, and so is this event. You have your Marine Corps birthday ball every November, and then there's the Mess Night, the Dining In and the Dining Out. There are many similarities to the last 3, but the biggest difference is that the Dining Out includes spouses/significant others.

Cameras are not allowed into the ceremony (Although since I was sans husband, who were they going to fine for such an infraction?) so I only have a few shots from before and after. The fining portion is the most fun...with people throwing around all kinds of accusations (using a strict protocol...sort of like how you have to answer Jeopardy clues in the form of a question) and the President of the Mess doling out fines accordingly. Certain people are exempt, however (the head table, Mr. Vice and spouses/guests...but they can always fine a service member for the infraction of a spouse/guest).

While I was getting ready, it occurred to me that if Cliff was here, I'd have to sit at the stodgy head table with him...but since there was another Chaplain subbing...I got to sit with the other ladies that came stag. We behaved ourselves reasonably well...but had a great time.

The Sgt. Major's wife was gone, too...so he was my date...

well, for the 10 seconds that it took to snap this photo, anyway.


Some more shots of the beautiful people:



















One of my partners in crime for the evening.

Can't wait for the ball in November...I've missed the Marine Corps ball as we've been with the Navy the past 3 years. If you are ever invited to one, GO! They are so much fun!

Flashback Friday...Having a Ball!

Talk about a trip down memory lane...


(Thanks, Dad...for the photo touch up job!)

I was getting ready for the Dining Out and thinking about my sweetie pie and how much I love getting dressed up to go out with him. This is our first Marine Corps ball back in 1991...we'd only been married a few months. It's one of my very favorite pictures.

I'm trying to remember tonight what it was like to be the girl in this picture. When I joined the Navy at 18, I considered myself so mature, such a woman of the world, charting my own course...smug in the fact that I broke the "Molly Mormon" stereotype and busted out of Smalltown, Utah. I had WAY bigger plans than playing the role of starving-student-turned-baby-machine. I was going to see the world, have a career, make a difference. None of this "housewife" stuff! In my grand plan, I wouldn't consider getting married younger than 25 (and that was pushing it)...ONLY if I was done with my nursing degree and had a great job and met THE dream guy by then. We'd maybe, eventually have 2 children...both boys (because I didn't think I could handle girl drama).

So who could know that at 21 (I can still feel myself gagging) I would meet and marry THEE one that I never dared dream even existed. (I'm actually still pinching myself.) And who could have known that I would long for and embrace ALL these things I ran from. Married young...CHECK. Starving student (3 years and $35,000 in student loans for grad school) CHECK. Baby-machine (4 kids in 6 years) CHECK. The majority of my married life spent as a "housewife"...CHECK. "Molly Mormon"...well, you can't have it all...but I find SO much joy in being "Carrie Mormon"...so, CHECK.

The funny thing is, when I think about MY plan, the one I so carefully and skillfully laid out at 18...knowing what I know now, most of it seems SO empty. Sure, doing things backward (by society's standards) has been rough. It was tight going from 2 small to 1 small income...it was hard having to take classes online while welcoming baby #4 into our home, with Cliff working full time and going to school every night. At 18, the thought of doing those things made me dry-heave...and I have to admit, even when I was going through them, most of the time I failed to see the humor or feel the joy. But now, looking back over 18 years, I am SO grateful that Someone had a bigger plan for me than I could possibly have dreamed. I wouldn't trade any of it. Not one stretch-mark, stretched-budget or research-paper-all-nighter.

What I wouldn't give right now to be having an at-home-date, with gourmet cocoa and ER after the kids are all tucked in...because that's all we could afford to spend in time or money. I know these months will pass and I'll have my "date" back again. I'm so grateful to be able to look forward to that. There will be many balls and other ocassions to dress up and follow protocol...but I don't think anything will ever top the excitement of long ago...hearing that garage door break the silence of sleeping children, cocoa ready (whip cream not too melty...just enough cinnamon), ER theme starting, looking over at my sweetie next to me...weary from another day of working, driving, schooling, and more driving...thinking I am the luckiest girl on the planet.

18 years later...and still having a ball!

Scoutey & Me

Isn't he a beautiful boy?



We had the honor of babysitting Scout over Spring break while his family went to Bali. He is a big, dopey, sweetie-pie of a puppy. We are used to a ten year old grandma dog...so it took some adjustments to get back in step with a 3 year old.



The introduction to Charlotte went pretty well. She's not one to get excited or back down, which seemed to confuse Scout a bit. He barked at her stillness as if to tell me, "It's broke...make it run so I can chase it!"



Double tricks, double treats



He's a happy boy...he's got his ball, and a pretty girl to pet him...and by the way, doesn't he go great with my furniture? Now I'm totally aware that Brownie clashes with it and I'm feeling ripped off. Thanks a lot! Next time I'm in the market for a dog...it's all about the color palette!



"What's for dinner?" Just like one of my kids!

We had a great time. Dog-sitting is sort of like grandparenting. (If you like dogs...or kids for that matter, I suppose!) Anyway, we get to spoil him...teach him to climb on the furniture, feed him bacon and give him belly rubs on demand...and then send him home!




The End!

Jerusalem Dinner

Since 2002, our family has participated in many of the activities from a book called "A Christ-Centered Easter" by Janet and Joe Hales from Deseret Book. There are many options listed, and we don't do all of them every year, but we pick several each year. Since the first time, though, it was clear that we would always do the Jerusalem dinner. Our kids love it. We don't serve the same foods every year, but we always sit on the floor, and each year we acquire a few more varied items to help make the meal look more authentic.

Here's the feast:






After a long time preparing and waiting, we are finally ready to eat!



First, everyone listens as mom reads about the symbols of the Passover meal as we pass them around...



Coree dips her parsley in the salt water before eating it.



Ritual foods of the Passover. Clockwise from bottom left: Haroset (fruit and nut mixture, symbolizes building materials used by Israelite slaves to build Egyptian cities), Maror (romaine lettuce symbolizes the initial sweetness of their welcome to Egypt, but the bitter aftertaste represents their enslavement), Zeroa (lamb bone, symbolic of the Paschal lamb sacrificed for the initial Passover), Karpas (parsley dipped in salt water symbolizes the Israelites new life of freedom), Beitzah (roasted egg symbolizes the roasted offering given at the temple before its destruction), 3 Matzot (form of unleavened bread that represents Israel's abrupt escape from Egypt). These are very brief descriptions...I would recommend reading more about the because there is a lot more detail.

Some closeups:



Lamb and Barley. Yum!! Recipe is in the book.



Lentil soup. Soup-er Dooper! Recipe is also in the book. We make it some years (like this time) but we have also purchased lentil soup some years. It's Troy's fave.



Homemade Hummus. This isn't on the list...but they do point out that the list is not all inclusive, so it could possibly be authentic to the time. I don't know...but I DO know it's nummy and goes great with the other foods, so we include it.



Brownie kept inching closer and closer.



Olives, dried fruits and nuts



Grapes...of course!



This is the Haroset from the Passover foods. It is SO good. It's chopped apples, almonds, pecans, dried apricots and dates, with some grape juice mixed in...and finely shaved cinnamon stick to represent the straw in the brick mixture.



Like our authentic Welch's bottle? We're still looking for a better container...same with the honey bear (we need Grandpa Jim to replenish our honey in the comb supply for next year!) and the Corelle mugs. It shouldn't be hard to find something better (and cheap) over here.

It's funny that we started this tradition while Cliff was on deployment, and he was deployed the first 3 Easters that we did this...so when he was finally home, it was like he was a guest at our dinner. It was fun to show him what we do. It was sad not having him here this year, but at the same time, it was familiar to us.

The first year, we did this on Saturday, and had a regular Easter dinner on Sunday...but this actually took over our Easter dinner. Who really likes ham, anyway? This is something we look forward to all year, and I'm thrilled to have found such a worthwhile tradition that stuck!

Happy Easter!

Easter is such a special day...and such an emotional one for me, especially when Cliff is gone. I am so grateful for the incomprehensible gift of the atonement of our Savior. I am humbled to tears every time I think on it...and although it is our gift every day, I love this day when so many of us are focused on Him.

Although we have made the move to focus more on the Atonement and Resurrection during Easter, and less on the candy, baskets, clothing, etc...we have not abandoned those things either...because they are still fun. I'm sure we are not perfect in our balance, but I do think that those things are a little blip on our Easter radar compared to the focus on our Savior.

So far today we have:

*Gone to church early this morning (it is "General Conference Sunday" for the Japanese ward...so they needed the building during our regularly scheduled time for their rebroadcast) and sang in the choir.

*Had our yummy Resurrection rolls for breakfast (I used my regular roll recipe, wrapped each piece around a marshmallow...dipped in butter, rolled in cinnamon and sugar. The marshmallow melts in the oven...viola! empty roll to symbolize the empty tomb and the joy of the resurrection!). One of the many ideas from the "A Christ Centered Easter" book that we love so much.









*Did our Easter basket hunt...good times! Luckily the kids are old enough that I can do this whenever we have time, instead of having to be prepared in the AM....except I do have to field the constant, "When are we doing baskets?" questions!

Hiding Places:










Found:









Inspecting the Loot:







Patrick opts to read, neglecting this basket full of candy. Shocker!


Troy, also reading...knowledge junkies! Coree...Jelly Bean junkie!


This gecko looks JUST like one we found in the house yesterday!

*Mom took a much needed nap. Only a couple hours sleep due to wrapping dough around marshmallows and preparing Easter baskets...not to mention the early morning choir practice! OK...so it wasn't totally those things...it didn't help that I was singing karaoke when I should have been preparing so I could get to bed!

Next we will be doing our Jerusalem dinner...details to come in another post. Stay tuned.

He is Risen!

Happy Easter!