Holding the World in a Paper Cup

Archive for July 2011

Saturday, July 23, 2011

From Virginia With Love

We feel complete again. We are soaking up our family time and feel very blessed to be here in Virginia together.

I've taken over the steering wheel around town, as Chuck is understandably content to sit in the passenger seat after his journey across the continent. While driving across said continent: #1 He's grown suspicious of my boxes labeled "keepsakes". There were quite a few of them, and I guess once you tote them from Alabama to Alaska, and back down to Virginia, it is understandable to wonder what's inside. I still didn't tell him. #2 He has determined that 97% of all the boxes he's transporting are fragile. He took special note of the box labeled "Super Duper Fragile" "Heartache if Broken". #3 He's learned that when you don't sleep for over 48 hours, your body tingles and your vision blurs. #4 When driving from Indianapolis to Louisville, traffic is like "schooling fish, with a notion of where they want to go, but no consideration. If there is a small obstacle in their way, the whole mass of 'em just work in unison to get around it. There is no prior planning, but it's like a coordinated ballet, and it makes me mad. 'Cause I'm the obstacle that they're are working around. And it's not that I mind being passed, but it's like I'm trapped. The school never stops. I didn't realize that many people existed on earth. There was one nice driver out of millions." Ya think Chuck's ever been accused of being wordy?

Since seeing my husband again I've learned:

#1 Chuck may have developed an emotional relationship with his GPS. He has jumped to defend her a few times too many. I am thinking of changing her to man mode.

#2 We. will. never. fit. in. We never have actually. No, I fit in pretty good before I met Chuck. Now, I am willing to drive around with bungy cords on my front end and packing tape on my mirror. (on 2 separate vehicles mind you) What is happening to me?

#3 Virginia is good. So far we know there are pines, magnolias, and palm trees here. Sooooo, we don't know so much yet. Oh, also we know that Busch Gardens is very, very fun but could stand a few more shade trees. I read somewhere that Virginia averaged 10 degrees cooler than Alabama in the summer. What. in. the. heck? Somebody lied. I thought we were going to have to be medevacked out of there.

#4 Beards like Chuck's are only good in theory. Chuck's beard looked like things could really be living in it. When he got into the pool, other people probably wanted to get out. That being said, I had a difficult time giving in to the idea of cutting it. Something in me wanted him to keep it. It wasn't rational.

Chuck was very relieved to have my blessing to shave the beard.

In other news.....Chuck and I have decided that we are never going to argue again. (snort) And.....we. crack. us. up! It is nice to laugh together again. We think we are hilarious.

And MOST importantly, Charley thinks that her Daddy is the "most, most, most, most, most, greatest, and genius Daddy ever" and reminds him every few minutes.

12 Comments

Tuesday, July 19, 2011

Today is the big day!

We're going to see Chuck today!

We're packed and almost ready to head to the airport. Chuck drove all night and is in West Virginia now. Hopefully, he’ll make it in time to pick us up at the airport.

He’s trying awfully hard.

Oh P.S. You know what the cherry on top of it all is?

I’ve lost 27 lbs. since I last saw him!

Please pray everyone gets where they are going safely.

Thanks ya’ll!

7 Comments

Monday, July 18, 2011

Travel Fun

I've been very, very, busy so that Charley will stay very, very busy, during our trip.

First we have a 4 hour flight (layover included) and then several days later,

we'll be trucking it 11 hours plus, back to Alabama.

Now, Charley is no stranger to road trips. In fact she's already traveled from here to California! Three solid days in the backseat of a car with two kids wasn't what I'd call fun, but we made it through without any damaged relationships or injuries.

During the trip, I learned a couple of things.

#1 Charley refuses to sleep while on the road. At all.

#2 She needs more than a few DVD's to keep her occupied.

So this trip, I wanted to give Charley little surprises along the way. She's been such a trooper through all of our adventures. She deserves some treats.

I have arranged to surprise her every hour of travel, with a little happiness.

Most everything I purchased was found either at Dollar Tree or the 97 cent bin at Wal-mart.

In fact, since Charley is with me practically 24/7, she came along while I picked the things out!

I made her close her eyes in the Dollar Tree. She hung on to my skirt and trailed behind me while I searched for little goodies that would keep her busy. It was the only way. In my defense, I only rammed her into a rack ONCE and it only hurt a little. Poor little obedient thing.

Next up, I included something I can totally get into myself!

ROAD TRIP BINGO!

I have to give every bit of the credit for these babies to Oopsey Daisy.

I printed them right off her site! For free!

I had them laminated at Office Max and the bingo stampers came from the Dollar Tree.

This next activity will keep her busy and fill her belly.

The idea came from Kara's Creative Place.

Kara created the M&M guessing game, and I switched up the wording a little to incorporate Skittles in another game, since that is Charley's favorite candy.

Kara's Creative Place helped me out again with this sticker/picture idea.

She'll use the stickers and crayons to create different scenes on paper.

Now this idea stemmed from this plastic ladybug.

At first I didn't know how I'd turn the bug into an actual activity, but it was only a dollar and really cute, so I bought it anyway. Later, I decided to create a blank book so that Charley could write a story inspired from the bug! I am looking forward to seeing what she comes up with.

I wrapped them all up separately and on the back of each package, I made a note

of what was inside, so that I could choose the right prize for the right time.

Then I decided Charley might get all sneaky and try to use her brain to sound the words out,

so I put a sticker over each note. I can still access it, and she knows she's not allowed to peek.

So, we've got about 4 hours of flight time and 11 hours of drive time ahead of us, and.....

22 packages.

I know. I'm crazy.

CRAZY fun!

And also a little mentally imbalanced too.

11 Comments

Sunday, July 17, 2011

Preparing for Chuck

I feel safe posting these images because Chuck is kinda too busy to read my blog right now.

Apparently, driving across 2 countries is pretty time consuming.

Because Charley loves to decorate SO much, Big Mama helped us tape streamers to her ceiling, and her cabinets, and her chairs, and most every door frame, about 11 days early.

Not only are Charley and I looking forward to reuniting with Chuck ourselves;

we're excited about bringing the boy home to his mama.

We are prepared.

4 Comments

America!

He's crossed the border, he's crossed the border!

He's in North Dakota!

3 Comments

Saturday, July 16, 2011

Keeping up with Daddy

This afternoon, Chuck was nearly in Saskatchewan!

We would appreciate your prayers for safe travels!

4 Comments

Friday, July 15, 2011

Trucking it through Canada!

Yesterday's Progress

There are great expanses of the Yukon Territory where cell phone use is not an option. I have to force myself to "not worry" when I am unable to talk with Chuck as frequently as we would like. Yesterday passed without a call. That evening, the pyscho ex-girlfriend side of me (she was buried deep, deep, down) remembered that I could track him down by looking up his credit card charges online! So I did! But, the only problem was, there were no charges. Soooo, in a bit of a nervous rush, I ran to the car in the rain and lightning to get my credit card, mumbling prayers all the while. Then I called the credit card company directly. According to the customer service rep, the charges hadn't posted online yet because they were pending. (And oh boy, were there some pending charges piling up.) Whew. Chuck was on his way and making good time. At that time, he was in Coal River. He was 935 miles in.

Today's Progress

Chuck was able to call with an update earlier in the day and man oh man, he is a determined traveler. After leaving Delta Junction at the end of a work day on Wednesday, July 13th, he's already enjoying gravy and fries in Dawson Creek! So far, he's accumulated 1388 miles on his $800.00 new set of tires! Keep 'em hot Chuck!!

To put it into perspective:

The US is approximately 1780 miles wide at its widest north-south point.

(North Dakota to Brownsville, TX)

Chuck's traveled 1388 thus far.

4 Comments

I wonder...

I wonder if Chuck will feel comfortable wearing that beard with 105 degree heat indexes. I wonder where the degree symbol is on the keyboard. I wonder if it will be easy to make friends in Virginia. I wonder if we'll be able to find a home we can settle into. I wonder how Moon Pie will like the school. I wonder if she'll be able to get into a good one. I wonder if Virginians have a different southern accent than us? I wonder if it will it be alright if I deepen my southern accent to a more Scarlet O'Hara style and start pronouncing Virginia the way I believe a southern belle should? I wonder, will Moon Pie want to spend all of her time in Williamsburg pushing a wooden hoop with a stick in the dirt? Hmmmm, I pose some good questions.

4 Comments

Wednesday, July 13, 2011

The Plan

o Chuck drives from Alaska to Virginia
o Charley and I fly over to meet him in Virginia

o Kiss, hug, love, jump, squeal, say prayers of thanks

o House hunt and play

o Return to Alabama for a couple of weeks of

reunion and leisure before work begins again.

11 Comments

Tuesday, July 12, 2011

A Place to Land

We are moving to Virginia. Chuck landed what we believe will be a great job working at Fort Eustis, which is less than 30 minutes south of Williamsburg. We've been praying about this move for a long time now, and believe God's hands are all in this.

We feel good about Virginia. Actually, the more we find out about Virginia, the more we think it is a state perfectly suited for us. It's southern. It's green. There is water all around in many different forms. There is plenty of opportunity for outdoor recreation. It comes with a seemingly endless list of things to do with kids. It is full of history. In the summer, it's typically a little cooler than what we are used to in Alabama. There is snow in the winter, but lots less than what we are used to Alaska. It is similar to Etowah County, Alabama, in that there are populated areas, but you don't have to go too far before you find room to breath.

I am going to miss home, but the thing is, what's an 11 hour drive compared to 6 twelve hour days? Not much. Just a wee little drop in the bucket. I know driving back and forth won't be anything to scoff at, and I know plane tickets won't always come cheap, but really, all you have to do is look at a map to see how where we're going, is like an entire country closer than where we've been.

It's amazing what a move to Alaska can do for your perspective.

Suddenly, the prospect of moving out of state is an idea that

doesn't leave me huffing into a paper bag.

Chuck: How does Virginia sound?

Me: Virginia? Ok. Let's move to Virginia! Sounds good.

Also, being away from your husband, your dad, for 4 months and 13 days, does a world of good for putting things into perspective. It actually pains me to think of how much Charley's grown during the time we've been away from her daddy. I don't like to think of it and rarely do. Knowing that we can be together again, makes the location seem a whole lot less significant. Now, I'm sure if he'd of said, "How does Yemen sound?" I'd be singing a different tune.

Before I first learned that moving to Virginia was a real possibility, I'd probably only said the word, "Virginia" 12 times in my entire life. I knew very little about the state. Although, when Charley was a baby we tagged along with Chuck on a work trip to Virginia, but time spent sight seeing was limited. The trip stuck with us though, as Charley, who loves hotels, confused Virginia for the name of the building where we were staying. She also added an "s" to the word and for several years "Virginias", was mentioned often. She even built a "Virginias" with the bubbles in her bath once. Huh. Kinda seems like foreshadowing now.

In later years, Charley somehow acquired the thought that Virginia was a lot like Africa and that wild animals roam there. I think I've cleared up the confusion, though I think on some deep level she refuses to let go of the idea that she might run into a lion or an elephant. At Busch Gardens perhaps? No?

9 Comments

Monday, July 11, 2011

Coming Home

The time has come. On July 15th, Chuck will leave beautiful Alaska behind, and head south. I am so relieved. This move has been in the works a loooonnnnnggggg time. God has really tested our patience with this arrangement, but I trust that His timing is perfect. I am so thankful. I'll post more details soon!

5 Comments

Sunday, July 10, 2011

Featured!

Leave Comment »

Mama Reworks It: Dog Collars

Get yourself one little child.

Give her a power tool.

And watch your fingers.

I love that name. June. I put it on my list. And when my boy says, "Mama where'd I get my name?" I'll say, "Son, you got your name from a used belt I picked up at the thrift store and then turned into a dog collar. Now get."

I shortened the belt with wire snips.

The photos above were taken 1 year ago.

The photos below were taken 1 week ago.