I want it Wednesday

I've been telling my husband I really want a Dodge...I surprised him with his Dodge Ram when he came home from his last deployment, I even got an exhaust put on it & now it has an auto-start/alarm Viper system...which he loves! We're planning on getting him a bike when he gets home from this next deployment because it will help us save on gas since he drives 45 miles one way to work. Sure we could move closer but we love it here & are "planning" on buying a home here after he returns too. So right now I drive the truck & he drives our Jetta back & forth to work. Even though I drive the truck...that's his baby...I want my own!

I really, really, really want a black Dodge Magnum

***hint, hint, my birthday is Friday, My Love***
HAHA...just kidding...I know we couldn't afford the gas back & forth in either a Magnum or a Ram...so for now I will be patient & keep dreaming of the day I will get my Magnum.

Talented Tuesday

Here my perfected "Frosted Skully". I finally finished creating the pattern for it! I'm so proud...it turned out super cute. I'm going to try to start sharing other talented & creative idea's from some of the crafty blogs I follow...there are already so many idea's I'm want to try & I will share those experiences as well.

Here is my finished piece...

Decision is made!

Well after lots of praying & lots of trying to figure out what is best for our family...whether we should move back home to Northern California or stay where we currently are while Paul is deployed to Afghanistan for 13 months, we have decided that the kiddos & I will be staying out here in Temecula. We just found out Friday that he leaves a couple months sooner than we expected but we're rollin' with the punches & I'm determined to keep a good attitude through all the pre-deployment work-ups! :o))) As easy as it would be to complain about this...I refuse too! I know I'm strong enough, my husband is strong enough & our kiddos are strong enough to get through this time in our lives...shoot dang I had a baby & recovered from a c-section with no drugs while raising our son alone for 7 months...I got this! :o))) We are very blessed with an amazing support system of friends here where we live & on Camp Pendleton & I'm also lucky I'm only 8 hours from my home town so when we're ready for a road trip we can head home for a visit! I'm really hoping to get the rest of my schooling in the works...my husband is going to start looking into transferring his GI Bill to me before he leaves so...if it's meant to be it will be. I'm looking into several different schools that are accredited to accept the GI Bill so I can make my decision. I know these next few months are going to be very trying times for our marriage & our family but I know that God will never give us more than we can handle...I do trust that with all my heart!

~Psalm 28:7~

The Lord is my strength and shield. I trust him with all my heart. He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy. I burst out in songs of thanksgiving.

Thankful Thursday - {My Husband}

I'm thankful:

He is a faithful husband. I can trust him. The years we’ve invested in your marriage thus far have not been in vain. He is always loving. He is selfless. No matter how hard his day has been, he still asks me how my day was. He is silly. He respects me. He respects us. He respects himself. He is humble. He loves & adores our children. After almost 6 years he still tells me he loves me everyday. He helps me do the laundry & dishes. We laugh together. He changes diapers, even if they are poopy. He loves being a Marine. He likes me. He isn't rude. He tells me he is proud of me. He leaves me love notes. He loves to make me happy. He is crazy about me. He isn't ashamed of himself. He lets me love him. He trusts me. He tells me I'm gorgeous. He wants me stay home with our kiddos. He never complains when money is tight. He supports me. He is strong. He believes in my dreams & aspirations. He can make me smile when I want to cry. He puts up with me when I'm moody. He gave me 2 gorgeous children. He is my best friend. He has such a big heart. He encourages my creativity. He works out with me. He watches chick-flicks with me. When I was over weight he still loved me the same. He is devoted to our family. He loves the Lord. He has such honorable character. He buys me Starbucks. He isn't perfect. He prays for our children. He asks for my opinion before making a decision. Our son has such a wonderful man to look up to. He wants to be healthy along with me. He loves to buy me diamonds. He apologizes. He loves Chipotle as much as I do. He isn't lazy. He is a proud. He has come home safely from 2 deployments. He holds me when I cry. He loves tattoos. He listens to my fears. He doesn't criticize me. He provides more than we could ever need or want. He can sing. He kisses our children. I don't have to ask if it's okay to buy clothes. We don't go to bed upset or angry. He opens my doors. He knows how to cook. He likes to hold my hand. We have the same beliefs & morals. He is laid back. For his sacrifices. He has such dedication to his Country & Corps. He prays for me. He loves me. He cooks our Thanksgiving turkey. We have a great marriage. He is so thoughtful. He asked me to marry him. For our journey together.
Just to name a few of the things about him I'm thankful for.

I love you Paul, you really are my one & only!

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.
It is not rude, 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.
~I Corinthians 13:4-8~

Military Spouses

I just registered at http://www.milspouse.com/. I've just started reading some of the online articles & I'm so excited about this site! They have so much that I can tell is going to be very helpful for myself for my families next deployment & our everyday military life in general. I just wanted to share the site for all the military spouses who feel they could use a little more encouragement & support...especially while their husband's are deployed! Hope you all enjoy the site as much as I do! :o)))

Here is a little Daily Tip they have on the site...to spark your interest...

Keep the mystery alive.
Glue a picture of yourself to a jigsaw puzzle and cut it out in the shape of the pieces or have one made on a photo website. Send him a piece or two each day. He'll love the anticipation of putting you all together!

Right?! How fantastic is that!

Support Our Troops!!!

Please support this Care Package Project. This was one of my husband's fellow Marines & friend that they lost in Iraq in April 2006. His mother, Bobbie sent care packages to her son, Lcpl. Palmisano, while he served in Iraq. After his death, she decided to remember her son by sending as many care packages as possible to troops overseas.

If you have a facebook, please become a fan of this group & spread the word!

May you always Rest in Peace Lcpl. Palmisano


My husband memorial tattoo

Here it is...

The Leukemia Support Hawk Rawker! I've got several to make...I'll be busy for awhile!

May he always Rest In Peace

There aren't enough words to express how much my heart hurts for the Porto family. Not only have we lost a brave Marine but he was a husband & father, & a fantastic one at that by the words used to describe her husband...

"He joined the Corps because he was looking for meaning and purpose in his life and because he felt a calling to be a United States Marine. And he was a DAMN good Marine, an AMAZING husband, and even from miles and miles away, a WONDERFUL father."
(A Little Pink in a World of Camo)

My greatest respect & gratitude to Cpl Porto, his wife & family. Thank you for all you've done to support such a man who is willing to lay his life down for other. His sacrifice will never be forgotten. All my prayers & support...God Bless them all!

Rachel, I've loved reading your blog about the Marine Wife & family you guys are. I will be praying for you & Ariana. I know we've never met but if there is anything I can do to help, I would be honored to. I pray God always keeps you in everything you do. You are a Marine Wife worth looking up to! God Bless you Rachel & Ariana.

In Honor of Nolan

This Hawk Rawker was made in honor of Nolan who is currently fighting A.L.L. Please follow along, support & continue to pray for Nolan & his family.

WWW.WELOVENOLAN.COM

If you would like to place an order for the Hawk Rawker pictured above, please feel free to contact me at skullstitches@hotmail.com. Please keep in mind this one was made for Nolan, for all others (unless ordered for another Leukemia patient) I will be attaching a crochet orange ribbon on the left side. All proceeds received will be donated to the Sandvos family. The Hawk Rawker is specifically created by myself for Leukemia Awareness. I will be adding different types of my handmade skully's for Leukemia Awareness. I will post pictures & offer them as soon as I've finished them.

Although my son has not been diagnosed with Leukemia, he has been going through a lot of tests & blood work ups himself since being diagnosed with Obstructive Sleep Apnea in November of 2009 & needing surgery to have his tonsils & adenoids removed because of the blockage they are creating by how enlarged they have become (& not due to an infection), just this morning he had 13.5 ML's of blood taken for a platelet function test. Along with my husband, I know how very emotional, very demanding of time, energy & patience & stressful it can be at times when having a child with special medical needs. This is something that I feel very strongly in my heart about supporting, Nolan & all of those still tenaciously fighting their battle. I am very honored & would love if you would support these amazing individuals & their families along with me & my family! :o)))

Etsy

I've gotten sooo many orders just by word of mouth that I will no longer be listing my handmade creations on Etsy. I really like the personal relationships that I have with my customers & by them telling their friends how much they love what I do, it creates a connection that I really enjoy with friends, family & people I have yet to get to know who love my skully's, booties & afghans as much as I do. With all my sons medical needs & another artistic venture that I'm pursing I really don't want to lose the unique connections that I make with those I crochet for by having too much on my plate. :o))) I currently have 10 orders to fulfill & have already send out so many without Etsy so I've found it somewhat useless for myself. I absolutely love Etsy & everything it offers but it's just not for me, I tried it & it's really not the type of business I enjoy or want to continue to pursue. I'm so grateful that God's opened so many doors for me through all of this & I know this is just the beginning to my crocheting adventures ahead! Thank you to all of you who have ordered already & to all those in the future, if it weren't for you I wouldn't be able to do something I truly love...crocheting & making others smile!!!

Support Nolan!

St. BaldRick's Foundation

Saturday, March 13th 2010 join team We Love Nolan & please make a donation, even if it's only $5.00, every dollar counts!!!

If you are on Facebook you can Become a Fan of St. BaldRick's Foundation HERE and help spread the word!