Road Rage- Military Santa- Cup of Joe

Day 5:

We let an angry driver in front of us. She was pretty grouchy, but Timmy's Shoes hoped that something as simple as letting her through when we were stuck in bumper to bumper traffic at least made her commute home a little more tolerable. No thank you was needed, but she didn't offer one up either. Bah' Humbug!

Day 6:
We left a beautiful poinsettia on a strangers front porch, along with a Christmas card. We sincerely hope that no one tripped over it in the morning. They also had a military Santa in their front yard which made this good deed tip over on the awesomeness scale! It's hard to see because we pretty much jetted when we made the drop.

Day 7:
Timmy's Shoes purchased a coffee for the person in line behind us in the drive through.

The best prize life has to offer is not a chance to work hard and be something in the community. It is the perfume of God that resides within you.

Little Tree For Little Bears

Every year, my parents buy a beautiful tree and then we (kids and grandkids) go over to decorate together. We make jokes, drink eggnog, all that fun family stuff.

This will be our first Christmas away from my brother, and my brothers first Christmas away from his mama bear and baby bears.

Since Timmy is unable to be here physically, Timmy's shoes thought that it would be a really nice, albeit unconventional, idea to send them a little tree to decorate in his honor. I think it was really sweet too. Who knew that Timmy's Shoes had such a good sole?

Day 3:
Teeny Little Tree Surprise for Mama Bear and Baby Bears.

 Day 4:

Picked up litter outside. No one likes litter bugs.

 

 

 

When there is life and mankind, a person will live striving for good deeds, liberty and a bright life, and wish that goodness and justice will reign in the world.
Islom Karimov

Chin Up, Buttercup

This deployment has been especially tough, being as it is my brothers first. I think that even if it was his 5th it would still be difficult.

This Thanksgiving was a rough one. Mom was so sad, you could see it in her eyeball (I was on the right side of her, so that's the only one that was visible to me).

We tried our best to cheer her up, but that hole in her heart is so difficult to fill, that nothing is adequate. 

Cheer up mom. Timmy will be home before you know it.

Day 2:

Timmy's shoes sent mom a dozen delectable chocolate covered strawberries with a really sweet card that's sure to start the waterworks. I asked him why he was doing this, and he said, "Just because." *Disclaimer-These will be delivered on Thursday, so everyone shut your pie holes for a few days. K?!

For even in dreams a good deed is not lost. 

Pedro Calderon de la Barca 

Good Deeds

In honor of my brother and Christmas, Timmy's shoes have decided to pay it forward. I walked in on him donating to feedingamerica.org. He donated $10.00, that's 80 meals for one family!

The reason Timmy's shoes have decided to do this is because good deeds are infectious. We spend too much time complaining about the things that we don't have and don't need that we forget how good life can be.

The thing about doing good is that no act of kindness is too small and it doesn't require extravagance or a fortune. It could be as simple as baking cookies for a neighbor or a 2 dollar hot meal from a fast food joint for a stranger.

Be grateful for all people and all things because we only have one life to live and we sure as hell better leave this place in better shape than the day we arrived.



Day: 1

Timmy's Shoes donating. http://help.feedingamerica.org/site/PageServer?pagename=GiveAMeal

Even after all this time,
the sun never says to the earth, “You owe me!”
Look what happens with a love like that,
it lights up the whole sky.
-Hafez

The Little Cowboy That Could

Happy Birthday to my brother. It's a travesty that he has to be far away from his family and friends today--well any day, but I sincerely wish that he could be here with us.

Life would be perfect if hard times had fast forward buttons and good and memorable times had pause buttons..

Today, I want to share a story with you that is ingrained in my mind. I am terrified of dogs. I own two of my own and I LOVE animals, but I turn into a nervous mess around unfamiliar dogs. I know that you're probably wondering what this has to do with my brother, but I'll get to that point soon enough.

When I was a child, I was fearless, most children are. The only time I ever really saw true terror was when my mom was angry, she could put fear into God, that woman *shudder* (LOVE YOU MOM!). I remember my mom had bought me this pair of jeans, if it's one jean is it still a pair? Any who, they had really beautifully embellished satin flowers on one pocket and I had BEGGED my mom to buy them for me. We were really poor then, so it was a big deal when my mom finally made the purchase. Of course, the day I finally got them, I wanted to wear them outside while I roller bladed around our complex. One of our neighbors had this mean looking black dog, but I never played with or messed with him. On this particular day, he was outside with his owner, Holly (she was a freshman in high school).

Since Holly was outside with said demon dog, I didn't pay any attention and continued about my way, just rollerblading. As I rolled around and around, I noticed the dog started giving me these crazy eyes looks.  Unfortunately for me I didn't take heed of the warning signs, IE: the crazy eyes and gnarling face. As I made my last round the dog lunged at me and started attacking me. He had me at the knee and even as I was screaming and crying for help, that heifer Holly ignored me, and calmly walked inside as her dog ripped into my knee and completely ruined my new pants.........and my knee!

Just when I thought I was about to meet my maker this little boy in a diaper, cowboy boots, and a cowboy hat struts over and kicks the crap out of this dog over and over all the while saying "get away from my sister, stupid dog." My little brother had come to my rescue. The very little brother that I hated dragging around in his little red radio flyer wagon came to save me, and not only that, but tried to drag me back home. I don't really remember what happened after that, I just remember that my brother was there when no one else was. That is kind of how I have always felt about him to this day.
He's always there. He doesn't have to say or do anything, but he's there, if that makes sense..Always trying to save the day.

To my little cowboy...thank you and Happy Birthday. *P.S. That was my Public Enemy stage. Don't judge.

WWP

Sunday was my big run. I did surprisingly well.
I don't think I have ran that long or hard in years, I just kept telling my legs to man up in hopes that they wouldn't give up on me.

I was soaked from my head down to my toes. It was amazing, but the aftermath was terrible. I forget that I'm not a spring chicken anymore. Parts of my body were swollen and sore that I wasn't even aware existed. YOUCH. I am 100% sure that I could at least run a half marathon now.
I'd have to train more consistently of course.

I still haven't been able to talk to my brother about my run yet, though I'm sure he'd be really proud of me. Realistically he'd probably say something smart like he could run faster than me and better than me if he hopped on one leg, which is probably true. He's so ripped, I can't wait until he's old and has a pot belly.

During this run I thought of many things, mostly him, and all the ways we tormented each other as kids, but how deeply we have always loved each other too. I'm fairly certain had it not been for Celine Dion's "Because you loved me", my brother would still be pissed off at me. He would hole himself up in his room and I would sing this song to him by the door (my way of saying I was sorry, of course) and then he'd open the door and we'd embrace. I think I made him mad on purpose just so I could have him hold me in his arms. I miss him. I miss him so much.

When my heart got ripped out and stomped on by my first boyfriend my brother was right by my side. He'd slept in my room with me until I felt better and he would hold me until I was done crying. He really has always been my hero. When he joined the military he only solidified that.

Thanks mom, for the best brothers a girl could ask for.
Also, thanks for the sweet matching 90's track suits--thooper thweet!

The Greatest Casualty Is Being Forgotten

It's been such a long time since I've posted last. I've meant to keep up with this blog, but I have been running around like a chicken with it's head cut off. Chickens still run once beheaded, you know.

I decided to stop counting the days until my brother comes home because it always just makes me so sick to my stomach. It's like a dream sequence in a horror movie when you see a door at the end of the hallway and you almost reach it, but then the hallway extends and the door is a million miles away. Well, that's how I feel. I'm just taking it day by day trying to make it through.

I still get my niece every weekend, which is so nice because she and Cash love each other so much. I love having a piece of my brother here with me, it makes my heart long a little less.

I have signed up for an 8K run (5 miles) benefiting the Wounded Warrior Project. I am so nervous I could throw up. For the average person 5 miles is a lot, I'm totally making that up right now to make myself feel better because I'm not as physically prepared as I should be.

I figure though, if my brother can manage living in a different country far away from home and his family, the least I can do is run in honor of him and all the military service members who have suffered an injury, visible and some not so visible--as well as those who sadly lost their lives. This charity is so near and dear to my heart, it doesn't get nearly enough publicity. The money raised goes to an extremely important cause. To learn more, go to their website and check it out. http://www.woundedwarriorproject.org/ 

Well..I have got to run. I'm an avid procrastinator, therefore, I must get my music list ready for my run walk crawl. Wish me luck!

SUPPORT OUR TROOPS!

The Tale of Zombie Night--Chalk Art and The Great Outdoors

Day 9 & 10


Ask anyone, my obsession with zombies is ridiculous, borderline obsessive. Now should there be a real zombie apocalypse, I may just eat my words. I'm rubbing off on the kids I think, which is either really good or really bad. My brother AND his shoes think I'm nuts, and they're probably right. Timmy's Shoes joined us for zombie night. Yeah, we turned out all the lights, busted out some glow sticks and played in the dark, after Timmy's Shoes squished my zombie slippers. Below are the pictures from Zombie Night.

The next morning, we went out to play. Timmy's Shoes played with chalk. See the complaint he left on our sidewalk with the annoyed face? They're just like my brother.

B drew Timmy's Shoes a body.

They climbed a tree, the kids and I tried too and failed. I blame the slippery bark.

They hid from me with Cash.

They stole Cash's bike. The kids chased them and finally caught up. Timmy's Shoes are proving to be very mischievous.

Timmy's Shoes, we love you.

Until next Zombie Night!

Cheers.

Drunk Picasso, The Dance Machine

Days 7 & 8


We woke up, had breakfast, and then made lunch--mini turkey corn dogs. Timmy's Shoes almost got booted from the step ladder that B and Cash were using to "help", when all they really did was make a ginormous mess and gave Timmy's shoes the sneezies. It was hilarious.

They took some time to paint masterpieces aka making another huge mess. Timmy's Shoes are very distinguished, they swore up and down that their art would be worth millions someday.

After we cleaned up, the kids needed some time outside. When stepping outside in Texas, during the summer, it's like a skin bbq. Seriously. HOT. Timmy's Shoes are dark, so they wussed out after a short run next to the kids.

They all got a nice little tan, but decided after a vote, that we'd head back inside to play Just Dance on the Wii. It was like an episode of So, You Think You Can Dance in my living room. Timmy's Shoes are really competitive.

We went out for some goodies for my brothers box we are going to send. On the drive home I heard whispering.. Timmy's Shoes were coming up with a scheme with the kids, but no one would tell me what was going on. The only thing I knew was Timmy's Shoes asked if I could make a pit stop at Walgreens. I turned around and this is what I saw.

The kids still stayed mum about what what happening because they are loyal to their uncles shoes. Extremely confused, I went inside, and lo and behold...Timmy's Shoes were wearing a disguise to buy booze! What the what?!!???!?!?!?!?

I don't know who was more shocked..Timmy's Shoes or the Walgreens lady.

Thanks for the wine Timmy! You taught your shoes well.

My Dada's Shoes!

Each day that passes my heart yearns greater for my baby brother, but I keep on going. Saturday I had my hands full with 3 kids. Hurry home brother, my hair is getting grey by the minute!


Day 6


My sweet Maddie girl (niece) came over for a visit. I love it when she comes, even though she and Cash have a love/annoy relationship.

Timmy's Shoes were especially excited, Maddie's little feet belong to him. As soon as she saw them she said "My dada's shoesss!!!!" Timmy's shoes took the kids outside to play in the sprinkler.

 In all their excitement, they fell in the cactus, which my husband so graciously removed so that the kiddos wouldn't fall in and get hurt. Pulling those prickly things out of Timmy's soles was no fun.

 They smiled on lovingly at the kids.

Being drained from the sun and sad that Maddie had to say goodbye, Timmy's shoes had a drink with my hubby. They got a little tipsy. They sang Vicente Fernandez all night, until eventually they passed out.

Your Daily Cry:

Happy Fathers day brother. We all miss you, especially Maddie.

The Wanderer

Things aren't getting easier, but I'm still pushing through. My grandma says not to waste anymore time crying because there is no sense in it. She said that we just have to pray that he is being watched over. I wish I could be as brave as her.

Day 5

Timmy's shoes were exhausted from their travel, therefore, they took some time off.

We had quite a day today.

We started out by having a picnic under a big ol' tree. Cash shared his nuggs and apple juice. If Cash shares his apple juice with ANYONE that's some pretty serious love.

We took a drive to feed the ducks and geese. Cash said he liked them but freaked out when those vultures started swarming. Timmy's shoes stood their ground though in spite of those freakishly large birds. 

They stuck their feet out the window to feel that hot Texas air on their tips.

They have a bladder the size of a pea so we had to make a pit stop by a fire hydrant. I swear, Timmy's shoes are worse than the kids.

Finally, we stopped at a historic marker, which Timmy's Shoes didn't even bother to read.

They are sleeping now, snug at the foot of our bed. It was a looooooooong hot day. We miss you brother.

Until next time.

Cheers!

Popcorn and Conveyor Belts

Today wasn't as terrible as I thought it may be. I did cry, twice. Cash mentioned wanting to go to the movies, although me and my husband were both so drained, we took him anyway.

Here's how our day went in a nutshell

Day 2

Timmy's Shoes took a nap with Cash and his Uncle Timmy Army Man doll that the kid takes EVERYWHERE now.

See Timmy's Shoes snooze away with Cash. Cash kept stealing the covers.

We stood on a planter and used Timmy's Shoes military discount for our movie tickets shamelessly, and just for inquiring minds, yes it worked.

We watched Madagascar 3 and ate popcorn.

Then, my seat got stolen..

We stopped at Target before heading home much to the dismay of the Target employees who were cleaning up to close shop.
Timmy's Shoes rode in the basket with Cash, and refused to get underneath the basket or inside the basket because they are not "a bag of dog food"--their words.

They rode the conveyor belt, and in case you're wondering, there was no charge for the ride.

We walked out of the store when Timmy's Shoes kicked the tire of a car that parked entirely too close. We aren't replacing the tire.

It was a good night. Not really productive, but fun. We also all got to say hello to my brother via Skype, before we hit the hay. That was the highlight of my day.

Let's see what adventures await Timmy's Shoes tomorrow.

Cheers!