Corporal Platt, Your Room Is Ready Sir......

You can check-in anytime!!!!

Windows have been washed, mini blinds dusted off, curtains washed, dried, ironed & re-hung.....

Drawers cleaned out, closet organized, dusted, vacuumed, washed the floor....dust ruffle is downstairs waiting to be ironed (IT WAS DUSTY!!)I'll wait to put the fresh new sheets on until the day he is due in, I want them to be nice & crisp!!!

I was hesitant to clean Billy's room when he left for Boot Camp, it actually stayed just the way he left it MESSY for several weeks. I rushed to get it done right before leaving for Parris Island to bring him home....I did the same thing when he left for MOS and again when he went back after the Thanksgiving holiday, yes and Christmas too. This last time nearly killed me, I was so upset when he left....things weren't good here the last day he was home. I needed a few more minutes with him just to hug and squeeze and I wasn't getting it and well I had a melt down. Billy was upset, I was crying...things worked out and we got to talk but I think about that every day & it just breaks my heart.

I didn't want him to go and I tried so hard to be strong but in the end I just fell apart. I clung to him so tight right before he boarded the plane and I just stood with my face pressed to the window and cried. Billy had a window seat and watched me watching him, I blew him a kiss, he smiled back at me and he taxied on down the run way and off to Japan.

We stood there at the gate for a long time, I waited until his plane took off and just kept standing there. The airlines staff told me to take as long as I needed ~ Thank you, that meant so much not to be rushed out, I wish I knew your name so I could tell you thank you from the bottom of my heart.

A few minutes later he sent me a text message, told me not to cry, he'd be back before I knew it...and that he loved me. I still have his texts and all of his voice mail messages, silly I know.

The hardest part is watching him walk away....

Billy Platt, hurry home!!! I miss you so much....

Please keep praying for our Troops, Justin, Justin, Blake, Ryan & Mark ~ May God Bless & Protect you!!!! Please pray for those who have made the ultimate sacrifice & ask for prayers for their families!

Until tomorrow, Be Safe & God Bless!!

You're Driving Me Crazy..........

Did you ever have one of those days when your husband followed you around and chatted non-stop????? Really sweetie, I AM BUSY, BUSY, BUSY!!!! It was hot here this afternoon & I was running around trying to sort things out ~ making a bigger mess as I went & Mr. P sweet as he is was making me crazy!!!

Usually he just leaves me to my projects but today he had a million questions, another million things to show me and so many things to talk about....Oi Vey :/

I finally gave up in Billy's room at about 12:45, more tomorrow and I should be all done!!! As for the rest of our afternoon, we sat outside for a bit and talked about our plans for Billy's homecoming, it feels just like the end of Boot Camp...the closer it gets to Billy being here the more I find myself crying :/ I'm A Hot Mess & perhaps that's why I was cranky this morning (that and Remicade weekends usually aren't very fun).

We had corn on the cob, turkey burgers smothered in onions, reduced fat blue cheese, topped off with reduced fat Swiss served up on a whole wheat bun ~ CAN YOU SAY NUMMY & a nice big salad...

Mr. P has finally stopped chatting, well, only because he's napping before heading off to work...

I love him dearly and he is my rock BUT SOMETIMES ~ POW RIGHT OT THE MOON....

Until tomorrow Be Safe & God Bless....please KEEP PRAYING it really works!!!

It Rained On My Parade.....

Yes ladies it's raining here in New England, pouring actually!!! We were going to have a fire tonight & sit outside. I gathered up the chairs, Ms. B collected all of her toys and out we went. Settled in and got comfy and all of a sudden the skies opened up ~ GRRRRRR I had to collect the cushions, the toys, the blanket & run like heck!!!!

So I changed into my cozy PJs and we had a rousing game of Scrabble, Mr. P held onto the bag-o-letters so I couldn't cheat :/ NO FUN!!! Ms. B is pouting by the back door, & Mr. P is having a Margarita and smoking a cigar (I think that's why Ms. B is hiding out by the back door, she is offended by cigar smoke)

I worked all day long in Billy's room, I'm making progress...I am hoping to hear from him this weekend. His friend Brian flew out of Okinawa this morning, so did Catrina and while he has made many friends over there he was closest to these two.

21 more days and I get to squeeze the stuffing out of him!!!!

Until tomorrow, Be Safe & God Bless, please keep on praying it really works....

Memorial Day Weekend......

While many will celebrate this as the official start of summer, please take a minute to remember why we really celebrate Memorial Day.......being the mother of a United States Marine has really made me stop and think about all of those who have made the ultimate sacrifice. My heart goes out to those mothers who will never hold their sons again, know that you are always in my prayers and may you find comfort in knowing that they are now watching over you....Rest In Peace Warriors!

Let us never forget!

I Tried Something New.....

I don't like milk AT ALL!!! I never have, when I eat cereal I pour just enough to get my flakes damp ~ EEEEWWWWWW I DO NOT LIKE MILK! Soy milk bothers my tummy :( so I saw this in the market a few weeks ago & thought "what the heck" I bought the vanilla flavored one, it's only 90 calories & OOOOHHHH SOOOOO GOOD!!! It's delicious in my cereal too!!

Well we all have a long weekend coming up & I have so many thing sI need to get finished up ~ Remicade tomorrow SO I'LL BE A HOT MESS ~ GRRRRRRR!!!

I want to get to the seafood market & get some lobsters and maybe some mussels. Have you ever had mussels??? Very good, I scrub them up, put them in a pot add a can of tomatoes & garlic, some crushed red pepper, more garlic, drizzle in some olive oil & some wine and half a bottle of beer and add a packet of Sazon Seasoning by Goya & let them simmer away ~ when they open up they are ready to eat!!! WE sometimes have them over linguine, but not this weekend (have to fit in that dress you know) so we'll just scoop them into a bowl and tuck into them!! Oh my, you'll think you died and went to heaven ~ MMMMMMMMMMMMM!















See "ya'll" (I'm practicing my Southern Drawl for when we head out to North Carolina & Camp Lejeune ;> ) later on....Until tomorrow, Be Safe & God Bless ~ please PLEASE keep praying, it REALLY WORKS!!!

Feeling Hot Hot Hot.....

Last week I was wearing long sleeve tee-shirts & little cardigan sweaters to work....this week sandals & Capri pants ~ Oh Yeah!!!

It was sunny this past weekend but still a bit cool, and all of a sudden in true New England fashion THE SUMMER HEAT CAME ROLLING IN!!! It got up to 90 today, AC is running....who knows by the weekend I might be putting a log or two on the fire!! That's the thing about New England weather, very unpredictable!

My little flowers are looking beautiful, I'll take a few new pictures tomorrow. I have to get some more flowers for the back & for my whiskey barrels & a few hanging ones too. I want everything to look nice when Billy gets here!!

I'll have to be saving my pennies too, that boy can eat and he has been talking about home cooked meals every time he calls :) think he missed my cooking more than me ~ LOL!!!

Well I'm gonna scoot!!

Until tomorrow Be Safe & God Bless ~ please keep praying IT REALLY WORKS!!!

I Got Nothing.....

Yup...I "got nuttin" to say tonight....don't know what's wrong, nothing perhaps, just feeling poopie..got up, fed the dog, made a cup of coffee, straightened up, showered, off to work, worked, back in the car, headed home, fed the dog, made dinner, straightened up.....YUP, I'm stuck in a rut :/

Either that or I am feeling overwhelmed, not sure ~ we have a lot going on.

I think I need a vacation, maybe next year!!

Hopefully I'll have something more exciting to say tomorrow!

Until tomorrow, Be Safe & God Bless ~ please keep praying it REALLY WORKS!!!

Oh No Not Again.......

Every picture tells a story "don't it"????!!!!

Monday comes tooo fast & stays all day!!! Shoo shoo GO AWAY Monday, you weren't invited!

Busy weekend, makes me not like you even more MONDAY!!! On a positive note one more week down one more Monday closer to getting my hands on Billy :) ~ the weather is going to be nice too so that makes it easier to get up and get moving when Mr. Sun is shining down on you!!!

Until tomorrow, Be Safe & God Bless...PLEASE keep praying it really works!!!

I Was A Busy Bee......

I have been a busy bee all day long!!!! I straightened up my house, ran to the market, finished up the laundry, cooked dinner, did the dishes (well....I loaded the dishwasher), fixed our lunches for tomorrow, organized some things in the cellar to make room for the plastic totes that I have been storing in Billy's room!

We have a huge walk-in closet on our room that needs organizing desperately & I really have to find time to do it, you see for the past almost two years I have been using Billy's room as my "closet" I have taken over his dresser drawers. He went through his clothes before leaving for Japan, donated the things he didn't wear to the Salvation Army & the rest I sent over to him once he was settled.

In addition to all of the things that have made their way to his room I am now storing Bridal Shower gifts, Nikky's wedding dress, my dress, shoes, the list goes on & on!

I knew he would be coming home eventually but now the pressure is on to get his room in order, problem is I just keep making a BIGGER MESS!!! Lord give me strength :/ ~ well I'm off to "organize" some more!



Until tomorrow, Be Safe & God Bless ~ please keep praying for our Troops, especially Justin, Justin, Ryan, Blake & Mark, it really works!!

Our Day At The Water Park.....

We had a busy day yesterday ~ but SO FUN!!!! Every bone in my body is crying, I missed Mr. P & Ms. B terribly last night & couldn't wait to give them both a GREAT BIG HUG when I got in this afternoon!!! Ms. B got to have a nice piece of grilled chicken with her dinner tonight!!

This is Katelin "The Fish" & yesterday was HER DAY!!!



She stripped off her clothes and jumped into her bathing suit before we had all filed into the room to unpack! She was just toooo excited!



Putting on her goggles, ready to hit the pool!!



Peeping out of the pool ~ just checking on us, making sure we weren't having any fun without her ~ LOL!!!



Katelin & Auntie Barbara....coming down the tube, I went down on the other side & the tube was pitch black...I was screaming my guts out!!! But it was FUN!!!









We laughed the entire time we were there...and this little sweetie was just SO HAPPY. Thanks Barbara, Karen (that's Katelin's mommy, she made me promise I wouldn't put her picture up ;> ) & Katelin!!! I had the best time ~ Cheers!!

Heading To The Water Park.......

Well, after a few cancelled dates our Girls Night Away is finally here!!! We'll be heading out tomorrow morning, Barb, Karen, Little Katelin & me off to Coco Key Water Park. I picked up the snickysnacks for our little get away & I have my camera battery charging so I can get lots of pictures!

Mr. P is on dog duty, he gets to babysit my little brat Ms. B. Maybe they'll go out for a swim...then again, maybe they will sit in front of the boob-tube all day long and snooze!!!

I'm not sure if I'll get a cahnce to blog tomorrow, know that I'll be thinking of each & every one of you! I'll catch up with all of you when I get in on Saturday!

Until then, Be Safe & God Bless...please keep praying it really works!!!

June 19th........June 19th!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This morning I got a call from this sweet fella,



he was calling with some pretty big news when all of a sudden...this sweet dear friend beeped in.....



well, I couldn't ask Billy to hold because I was crying too hard, he finally got his orders. His flight date is June 19th, it was moved up from the tentative date of June 28th!!! Not only that but his PDS was changed, he'll be here on the East Coast, Camp Lejeune ~ OOH-RAH!!!

We had a quick conversation and then I hurried up and called Ms. Cindy back, we were shouting & laughing....she had seen Billy's status and knows that can't always get on facebook during my work day SO SHE CALLED TO GIVE ME THE NEWS TOO ~ I felt doubly blessed!!!!! That's where her Justin is stationed, so they will seek each other out once they are both settled, why, BECAUSE WE SAID SO :)

Then I called Mr. P, he was way ahead of me. Billy called home first and told his dad he couldn't tell me because he wanted too....then a call to the Bride, she was getting ready to call me because she saw his post on facebook :) I was the last to know!!!! Oh I have been smiling ALL DAY LONG!

My heart is so happy, to have him coming home and then to be on the same side of the world as us is just toooo much, I feel so blessed!

I think I'll plan a road trip or two or three or four or five OR OR OR!!!!!

Until tomorrow, Be Safe & God Bless ~ please continue to pray for our Marines & Military! Justin, Justin, Mark, Ryan, Blake & Billy you are all in my prayers and my heart!

Check List.....

So much planning SO LITTLE TIME!!!! Today Nikky & I spent most of the day in constant contact via e-mail "chatting" about her flowers, Krissi's flowers, Mike's boutonniere, the MOB the MOG the dads, the best man....yadayadayada you get it! We picked out a few really pretty different bouquets for Nikky & will probably have the florist do a smaller version of Nikky's bouquet for Krissi. She's e-mailing everything off to the florist tonight!

Nikky is starting to get stressed a bit, my poor sweet girl :/ I assured her that the day will come off without a hitch and that she will most definitely be the most stunning bride EVER!

The cake is all set, trolley is booked, I'm taking care of the centerpieces...what else what else what else.......I'm sure we'll get it all done ~ it's only May 18th we have plenty of time ~ YIKES!!!

Then we have to pack it and transport it and set it up and and and!!!! I cannot wait, I really can't, to see the end result, my baby girl walk down the aisle on her dad's arm...and to become a Mrs. oh no, it's just too much for this momma to take, pass the Bounty please! Do you think I'd look silly carrying a roll of paper towels on the Big Day???? I think I might need them ~ LOL

Until tomorrow, Be Safe & God Bless! Please keep up the prayers for our "guys", they really work & they are so close to coming home so please pray for their safety!

A Day At The Range......

Starring, Mr. P, his friend Gene & some cute little feathered friends!


Mr. P (left) & Gene (right), Mr. P has always hunted with a compound bow for as long as I can remember. When Billy left for boot camp Mr. P was lost in his days not having him here at home so he started to go out regularly to the rifle range where he met Mr. Gene. Gene shoots a re-curve bow & got Mr. P hooked, he even gave him one of his very first bows that he couldn't shoot anymore. They go out every day rain, sun, heat, cold...heck they were out there all winter long with a propane heater to warm their hands, CRAZY GUYS!

Since they have been regulars there EVERY DAY for the last two years they have made a few friends....this is Buddy, he waits up by the gate for them to drive in (they keep corn & bread in the back of their cars/trucks) Buddy chases them down the lane way!










He gets a few handfuls from Gene & then scurries off to pester Mr. P. Once he's had his fill he sits and watches, sometimes he hops up on the table where they keep their quivers and bows and rummages through their stuff trying to pull the arrows out. They think he likes the feathers!

The momma & papa geese were regulars for quite a while and then one day she stopped coming around looking for a handout, that is until her little babies hatched....Just look at how sweet they are. She walks them over to the edge of the pond, the papa goose stands behind them and waits until they all hop in one after the other and then they swim over to where Mr. P & Gene are waiting with the bread. They aren't shy at all and the momma is pretty friendly :)



















And that's how Mr. P passes the day (unless I have a project for him ~ hehe)!

Until tomorrow, Be Safe & God Bless....please continue to pray for Justin, Justin, Blake, Ryan, Mark, Billy and all of our men & women!!!

Rest In Peace Marine.....

Yesterday was the funeral of Sargent John Gerber, USMC. You may remember from my post of a few days ago that Billy would be flying out to Guam to take part in honoring this noble Marine.

While we haven't had a chance to speak Billy yet (he flew back into Okinawa very late Sunday Okinawa time) we were lucky to have been notified by his friend Brian's mom that they had found pictures from the funeral, Mr. P found a few too....I'd like to share them with all of you.

Watching over their fellow Marine, the Marines held watch over Sgt. Gerber all through the night. The Marine at the head of the casket is Brian, Billy's friend.


Carrying a fellow Marine to his resting place.



Preparing the flag.



Sgt. Gerber's wife receiving the flag that covered his coffin.


Taps....


The Rifle Party, the Marine in the second row, directly in front of the camera is Billy. I am in awe of this picture and of our son.


Farewell Marine, may you rest in peace.......


Semper Fi Sargent Gerber, thank you for your service to our country ~ You now stand guard at Heaven's Gates with so many Marine Warriors that have gone on before you!

A Little of This & A Little of That.......

Up early, yes I got my fill of the "Housewives" LOL! Cleaned my house and then it was off to the Rheumatologist for a round of hip injections :/ three in my right hip ~ next Friday we do the left....ugggggghhhhh! I wanted to throw myself down on the floor!



But, I didn't NO TIME FOR THAT!!!!! After my appointment I hobbled out to my car and sped off to David's Bridal to pickup my dress!!!! Yahooooo, it's in and it's BEAUTIFUL!!! Then it was off to DSW, what's that you ask....a GIANT SHOE STORE!! Oh my, can we say "wedges & flats & pumps OH MY" I was in shoe heaven & just couldn't leave with out taking these cuties home with me....



Then off to Bed Bath & Beyond, can't tell you what I did there because a certain daughter of mine is registered there and well, she'll go peeping at her registry. I'll be going back every week until her shower.....get everything & anything I can for that sweet princess of ours :)

So that was my day in a nutshell or should I say slingback ~ LOL!!!

Hope you had a great day!

Until tomorrow, Be Safe & God Bless....keep praying it really works!!!!