What a weekend!

So this was a totally awesome weekend! (yes, my 80's roots are showing!) Friday we had our Awana campout on the church property. Kate and I did not "camp out" as that is a first reserved for her Daddy. Plus, I am a bit "spoiled" as many like to remind me, and my idea of camping out is a motel 6 with shifting wallpaper! LOL Saturday we had soccer and soccer pictures. Kate played very well and earned the Most Effort star for the game.

Saturday afternoon/evening our church went to see Fireproof! This moving is AMAZING!! I encourage anyone and everyone to go see it! It is produced and written by the same people that made Facing the Giants! The acting and filming are much better in this one. The story is applicable to everyone, not just married couples. I went solo (obviously) and it was very moving and touching! Can't wait for Mike to see it too! Loved it! Had a great dinner out with friends after. I came home so my Alabama lovin babysitter could go home to watch the game. I should have stayed out! The Dawgs got a good ol' fashioned butt whoopin! OUCH!

Sunday I had to teach children's church. Let me just say to parents of 3rd & 4th graders, I am praying for you. Also, please don't allow your children to have 1/2 a bottle of syrup on his/her pancakes before church Sunday am. That should be reserved for Saturday mornings only! A nice bowl of oatmeal or some scrambled eggs would better prepare them for Children's Church! I, on the other hand, should have had a large cup of coffee with extra espresso! OMG! The really ironic part- the lesson was on learning to Obey. Yup, not much comprehension took place this day! We then drove to Mableton for Nathan's party. It was so good to see family but I totally forgot how much I hate Atlanta drivers! We then came home just in time for the town meeting at church. TCC Joe has been found and will preach next Sunday! Praise God!

Back to the busy routine that is our life at the moment! We have lots of wedding activities for Kym & JC, soccer, ballet, and such. God is truly good. I can not thank Him enough for our blessings! Mike will be home in just a few short weeks! Love ya'll!

13 on Thursday

13 Random Thoughts running through my head! (Scary, I know!)

1. I can't wait until Mike gets home!
2. I hope that JC & Kym's wedding is amazing next weekend!
3. I am happy that we have found TCC Joe!
4. Kate is truly amazing and wonderful.
5. I love sleeping with the windows open but my neighbors talk too loud late on their porch.
6. I LOVE my new job! God has truly provided an awesome opportunity for me there.
7. I need to get Kate's birthday party invites out tomorrow.
8. I need to finish laundry.
9. Why do dogs always bark incessantly at night when you have to get up at an awful early hour the next day?
10. Is it okay that I only cut my front yard today before it got dark?
11. I still can't believe I hit the pole at Walmart. Anyone know a good body shop that would have pity on me and fix my car- cheap!
12. I hate that I missed the fair this year. It just wouldn't be the same going without Mike.
13. I can't wait until Mike comes home!

Enjoy! What are you thinking about?

Time flies!

As the month of September comes to an end, I am amazed how fast this year seems to be going by. Anytime I am out and mention that I am glad that Sept is almost over, people comment on how fast the year has gone by. I am so grateful to God that this is generally true. Mike has been gone for all but two weeks of 2008 and I am thankful that we are close to welcoming him home. Has anyone noticed how when you are a kid that time moves so slow? Especially during the school year? It always seemed that time was just creeping by. Then summer vacation would arrive and it would go by pretty fast and then back to work with school. Now that I am an adult, time really does move fast. KH will be 5 on October 11! I can not believe that my baby girl is going to be 5! This time with her is moving entirely too fast but thankfully so this year. Her daddy is almost home and we can't wait! Please keep us in your prayers these last few weeks. God is faithful and in control! Praise Him!

Kate's Birthday Party

I want to formally invite anyone who would like to attend to Kate's birthday party. It will be on Oct 11, 2008 at the Creative Discovery Museum. Just shoot me an email or comment and let me know if you will be able to come! I am trying to surround her with people who love her since her daddy will be missing her birthday this year. Please don't feel obligated to bring a gift, this kid has too much stuff already! We just want to hang out and have fun! Hope to see you there!

Shoes!

So, I started my job last week and it is totally amazing! Praise God again for giving me this job! I LOVE IT!! Well, we don't have many dress code requirements, they just ask us to look professional and put together when we go out to represent the Museum. However, we are required to wear closed toe shoes! UGH!! I think this is the only drawback I have found so far. I did not realize that since I usually just stay home and wear sandles or flip flops, that my foot has changed. I can not seem to find a comfortable pair of closed toe shoes. I wore a really cute brown pair I had last week and got 2 blisters, one on each foot! UGH! Now this week, I tried another pair and the toe box hurts my toe joints. UGH! This too will pass, but I guess it is a great excuse to buy some new shoes!! Love that!

My amazing husband!

I have shared before how amazing my husband is and now I have proof! Below, I have pasted the blog that he wrote on his myspace page. Saturday marked the 15th anniversary since Mike joined the Marine Corps. I am so lucky! I know that the next 5 years are going to go by so fast and then we will finally retire! I am so proud of Mike!


15 YEARS DOWN Current mood: anxious
Well I hope that this finds everyone healthy. It is hard to believe that it has been 15 years since I walked onto the yellow footprints at MCRD San Diego. It has been a great 15 years I have made a lot of friends that I will never forget. It has also brought me a beautiful wife and a loving daughter. I can honestly say that I would not change anything about my last 15 years. I just hope and pray that the next 5 are as blessed and happy up until my retirement. I just want to take the time to thank all of the people in my life that have been with me on the journey. I also want thank my wife Annissa and my daughter Kate for being the light of my life and keeping me grounded. Without them I don't think I would be where I am at in my life. No scratch that i know i would not be where I am at in my life. I love you all and hope to see as many freinds as I can when I get back.

Relationships, new beginnings,and more!

As I go through each day, God finds amazing ways to remind me how blessed I am. On Tuesday, while suffering through a horrible head cold, I received a phone call from the Creative Discovery Museum offering me a position in the Education department. I am now an Outreach Educator at the Creative Discovery Museum in Chattanooga. God is so faithful and when we put our trust in Him and wait on His timing, the rewards are amazing! This job is going to be so perfect for me and my family. I will be going into schools and presenting preplanned lessons every week. Check out www.cdmfun.org , the museum's website, to see what we are all about. I am so excited and thankful for this opportunity that God has given me.

As I reflect on God's goodness and gifts, I can not miss the opportunity to reflect on the wonderful relationships that he has given me. First, my parents. Talk about amazing! They rearranged their schedules on Friday to drive to Rossville so they could have lunch with Kate at her school. We then spent the morning at the museum and just hanging out. They stayed and went with us to Kate's soccer game on Saturday. They also helped me out around the house with the "hunny do" list which is temporarily the "daddy do" list in Mike's absence. I can not express how their selfless example over the years has helped shaped my life. I only pray to be half the parent that they are. I love my parents!

I am so blessed to have the best daughter in the entire world. I know that all parents feel this way, but I am serious! Kate is truly amazing and so sweet. While suffering the dreaded head cold stuff that is floating around Chattanooga this week, she took such good care of me. Every afternoon she came over to the sofa where I was confined to, unable to breathe with a terrible headache, and put her head next to mine. She then kissed my cheek and said "I hope you feel better, Mama." The sincerity and love in her voice and eyes was so amazingly touching. She was so good hanging out in the house with me this week and never complained if we couldn't do something we would usually do due to me being sick. She has that inate ability to care for others and sympathize with their situation. I pray that this world does not force that out of her. I will do my best to nurture that gift and help her grow it as she grows. If our world needs more of something, it is definitly compassion!

Mike is truly the most amazing husband and I am so honored and grateful to be his wife. I am amazed at how well he knows and meets my needs even from a zillion miles away. We have such a short time until our reunion and I pray that time moves quickly the next few months. I know it is a cliche, but he does complete me.

I have great friends here in town and online. I would not be able to make it through this lifestyle without you all! Thanks for being so wonderful and supportive! I love you all!

So, while we all get busy, please take time to thank God for the gifts in your life that he has given you. Also, take time to tell those people how special they make your life! Love you!

I'm a soccer mom!

Today was Kate's first soccer game for this year. Last year she played Rec ball and it was much different. All of the kids last year had no clue what to do except for one or two who had previously played. This year in the Upward league, they have practice every week and are actually learning plays and the rules of soccer. These kids are so cute. I really love the fact that they are learning scripture and have devotions both at practice and during the games. She is playing so much more and seems to love it. So, it is official, I am now a soccer mom! Go Owls!!

RIP Dorky

Today is a sad day in the Hackney Household. We lost a beloved family member, Dorky. He was Kate's beta fish that she and her daddy bought before he left. Dorky is now in the big ocean in the sky with his creator. I found him this morning and really should have made a trip to Walmart's fish section. Did I? No, I waited until Kate came home and showed her Dorky lying in state in his bowl. She was very upset and cried, hard. We then had to bury Dorky in the front yard and said a few nice words. More tears, some dirt, and now Dorky lies in his final resting place. When asked, Kate does want to get another fish. I was hoping she would want to wait until Daddy comes home to get one with Daddy, no such luck. So, we are off to Walmart looking for another Beta fish.

Let's have a moment of silence for Dorky Hackney.

Thursday 13

Here are my 13 random thoughts:

1. I can't wait for Mike to come home! Only about 2 more months
2. I am the luckiest mom in the world. Kate is truly amazing!
3. I am the luckiest daughter in the world. My parents' are awesome!
4. I am nervous but excited about a new job.
5. I love my church!
6. I am lonely even when sitting in a room of people.
7. I can't believe that it is only 3 1/2 weeks until Kym and JC's wedding.
8. I need to work out more.
9. I am proud that I am able to take care of my yard all alone.
10. I am sad that a friend let me down today.
11. I am sad that I feel like I let down a friend.
12. I am excited about the election and really pray that America wakes up and makes the best choice.
13. Did I mention that I can't wait for Mike to come home?

Your turn!

Disappointed

I am so disappointed today. I trusted a friend with some sensitive information. This person promised me that what was said was just between us. I found out today that was not the case. After I shared this information with this person, I realized that I might have made a mistake. I thought I could trust this person so that I could share with them. It just hurts because I feel like I was betrayed. I have a flaw and that is that I have always been too trusting. I hate that I now feel like I have to be guarded around this person with what I say. I will continue to pray for my friend, but at least now I know that I have to watch my back. I hate this feeling. I feel like I betrayed someone else while just going to my friend for advice. I feel like I am back in high school and it stinks!

Jobs, friends, and a holiday

God is good and has a funny way of revealing things to me at times. I had my third interview at the Creative Discovery Museum in Chattanooga. I felt like things went very well and they will let me know something next week. This really sounds like such an amazing opportunity for me to use my teaching skills and passions while earning some extra money. I am very grateful for this opportunity. So, now we wait!

I have been so blessed to have truly amazing friends in my life over the years. I am so thankful that even with my nomadic lifestyle, my friends are still there for me when I need them. I am on a major downhill slide in this deployment cycle and we would not have made it without our friends. You know who you are!

The holiday weekend was good! Kate and I went to mom and dad's for the weekend. It is so great to be able to let Kate spend time with her grandparents on a pretty regular basis. It is not the same as living in the same town, but we are so thankful to be this close. We had a great dinner out Friday night at Bugaboo Creek with the whole family (minus Mike.) I am so thankful for my family. I was worried that when Patrick bought his house that we would not see each other as much. However, that was not the case this weekend. We spent a lot of time together watching football, hanging out, and going to Stone Mountain. It was truly awesome.

I don't have any photos from the weekend, unfortunately. I just wanted to give a quick update on life at the Hackney Household. We are officially down to less than 2 months and we are excited! Please continue to pray for Mike, his Marines, and us during this deployment.

God bless and have a great week!