Allison earns a Wilbur Award!

Allison is doing very well in reading. Along with 3 other students in her class, Allison received a Wilbur Award for her constant improvement in reading! We are proud of you Allison!

Diet Time!

I started a diet. My goal is to loose 15 pounds. I work out every day in my living room for 1 hour to a DVD while my baby girl naps. I don't drink nearly as much Coke-Cola as I have. Instead I drink a lot more water!! I also replaced Coke-Cola with Coke ZERO! I bought A LOT of water bottles! Every time I was thirsty before, I would just go to the fridge and open a Coke. It was easy and fast. I thought I would buy bottled water and keep it in my fridge as opposed to drinking water from the tap. This way all I would have to do is grab the water from the fridge and go. (Notice Moriah smiling at the camera while eating her lunch!)

I also bought some tea to give the water some flavor (zero calories too) My favorite is the Lipton packs! Today I am going to replenish my water supply and teas.

This past week was my first week on the diet. I am only weighing myself on Saturdays. The first week of my diet I lost 5 pounds! I am now 145 lbs! Just 10 more pounds to go! Maybe once I loose the 10 pounds I may decide to loose just 5 more and get back down to 130 lbs. 130 will be my limit! I am still super motivated. Even after 1 week!

New TV and Surprise!

Philip bought a new TV and entertainment console. I am trying to sell our old TV console on a local website. Now Philip is on a mission to find a surround system. None of this stuff interests me, but he is so excited about it all.

Philip and I went shopping at the PX a few days ago. I was practically begging Philip to let me buy a new candle. He wouldn't let me. I even tried to sneak it into the basket (I use to sneak stuff all the time in my Dad's shopping baskets when I was lots younger), but Philip caught it before we got to the register! Philip always gives me grief when I buy candles. "You have more than enough candles! There is one in EVERY room of our house...",Philip always says. Well yesterday Philip came home with a nice surprise for me. I was SURPRISED that he would actually buy a candle! He also bought me a Quick Scent candle AND refills! Philip even bought a decoration for the candle! Maybe deep down Philip likes candles just as much as I do! When we get back to the states maybe he will have fun shopping with me at the Yankee candle store in the mall?! Actually I can see him now...pulling my arm and telling me, "Oh No Denise! Keep walking" I love him!

Valentine's Day 2011

Valentine's Day Presents for our loves!

Joslyn was given a pair of new shoes and a sparkly case for her itouch, along with some jewlery!

For Valentines Day Allison was given a Moon Sand Bakery and a wii game along with some jewelry too!

I gave Philip a big coin case to display all of military coins!

We gave Moriah a Winniew the Pooh and piglet stuffed animal!

Philip gave me chocolates and this beautiful bracelet!

We went downtown to eat at a little donner shop for dinner. We had a nice Valentine's Day celebrating our love for one another!

Allison in the Spelling Bee

Allison was selected as one of 3 contestants to represent the 4th grade in the Schweinfurt Elementary School Spelling Bee of 2011! Allison practiced, practiced and practiced her spelling words. She studied the spelling words from 1st grade to 8th grade. On January 25th Allison was nervous and excited! The day of the Spelling Bee was finally here! I was able to attend the Spelling Bee, but Philip had to stay home with Moriah. The Spelling Bee judges asked that younger siblings not attend because complete silence was needed during the contest. Allison's first word was clearance . She misspelled it :(  After the first round the contestants who misspleed words were asked to step off the stage. I gave Allison a HUGE, LONG hug and told her how proud I was of all she learned over the weeks. She studied a lot! Allison and I stayed and watched the rest of the Spelling Bee together. Good job Allison! We are sooo proud of you!!

Marriage Monday

 A few weeks ago I had a very, very depressing week. Philip was coming home from work and going straight to the bedroom and completely ignoring the family. Philip had absolutely no interaction with the family. I would walk by the bedroom and the door was always closed. I didn't even want to be in this house. I tried to go on like normal. The girls never questioned Philips behavior so I never talked about it with them. I wasn't eating, I deeply missed being with my Mom and Dad, and didn't have energy or the motivation to do much of anything around this house. On Wednesday morning I was going back and forth in my mind of weather or not I should or wanted to go to bible study. I had not read the chapter or done my homework. My group was designated to bring an Italian dish and I had not prepared one. My friend called me and asked if I would take her daughter to bible study and drop her off in the nursery. I agreed and that meant I would have to go now to the study. I stopped at the shopett and bought donuts to share with the group (that had nothing to do with an Italian dish) I went to my study and I usually participate and give my opinions and or thoughts about what we studied the week before. This time I was just quiet and didn't feel like participating. I just listened to the other women comments. After the study had ended my group facilitator came up to me and asked if everything was okay. I wanted to burst out in tears when she asked me that question. I felt a HUGE lump in my throat. I tried my hardest to put a smile on my face and say with a clear non-shaken voice, "My husband just needs lots of prayer. I put my prayer request in the Prayer Request Book". I had succeeded. I didn't want to break down in front of her a cry. I didn't want her to know how emotionally drained and hurt I was. I picked up Moriah from the nursery and very slowly walked to my car. I knew Philip was home and still in bed asleep. I didn't want to be around him. I didn't want to be in my house. I just wanted 1pm to come along and was hoping he would go to work after the lunch hour. If I could just find things to do until 1pm then I would not have to see him or be around him. I took Moriah to eat at the food court. She began to get fussy and I knew she was tired, but I didn't want to go home yet. Just 1 more hour and it would be 1pm. I went to mail a box to my friend. It had been sitting in the car ready to be mailed for weeks. I then went to go check the mail at the CMR. While I was checking the mail I received a text message from Philip, "We have a marriage counseling appointment at 1pm." I thought, "He must have made this appointment because someone told him it was mandatory", "Maybe he is doing this just to get it in his medical record", "Why is he telling me 1 hour before the appointment". "When did he make this appointment"...Then I began to think, "I don't want to go to marriage counseling especially if it is mandatory for his records." Maybe I will just ignore his text, go home after 1pm and miss the appointment completely". I decided I would go, whatever the reason behind the appointment. I wanted Philip to hear AGAIN that his actions and lack thereof were hurting me, draining me, soaking up all my motivation, stressing me out. I had not communicated with him or he with me in days! I text Philip back and told him I would be home in 5 minutes. I was going to sit in the car and wait with Moriah until he came out to the car. I didn't want to be in the house with him. Just being in the house depressed me. I was surprised when Philip came walking out of our building as I pulled into our parking spot. He got into the car and after a few seconds I asked him why we were going to marriage counseling. He replied with, "We need it".  When we checked in and sat down with the counselor the first question he asked me was how was I feeling and I broke out in tears....
That evening Philip came home from work and sat down on the couch with me. He interacted with all 3 girls and I. That evening was wonderful! My spirit was lifted and I was hopeful. I was happy again.
It's been a few weeks since this and Philip is doing a lot better (I am too) He is eating dinner at the table with us every evening, washing dishes and/or giving Moriah a bath. This weekend we went to the Alps in Garmish, Germany. We had a wonderful weekend. Philip seemed so relaxed and calm. Because of this I was calm and relaxed as well. Over the last few weeks I think I need to work on myself and my attitude and my reactions. I need to have more patience and need to work on other traits in my personality. I think if I work on changing somethings within myself I will begin to see changes in Philip as well. It's so hard at times But with God's help I know it can be done.

Halloween 2010!

Holloween fell on Sunday this year. The girls and I went to church and bible class. We went to eat lunch at the food court and did a little shopping at the PX. At about 5pm the girls began getting into their costumes. Allison was a Candy Corn girl again this year. She wore the same costume from 2 years ago. Joslyn was a Disco Girl. She too wore the same costume from a few years ago. The costumes were a little tighter and shorter then they were a few years ago, but the girls didn't seem to mind. Moriah was an Angel. She was cute (as always!) Trick-or-treating began at 6pm in our neighborhood. Joslyn went trick-or-treating with her friends. Philip and I took Moriah and Allison trick-or-treating for about 30-45 minutes. WE all went to the Chapel for the Harvest Fest. Allison and Moriah had a lot of fun jumping in the bounce houses. Allison played a few games and we all had hotdogs with chips. Lots of fun for everyone!