The Weekend is ALMOST Here!

Guess what? It's Friday! Yeah! Tomorrow morning we are going to wake up & head to the horse races. David is working security there. I can't wait. Don't know what I'm gonna do there, not sure how to "bet" on a horse, but I've never been to a horse race so I'm expecting it to be lots of fun! It's always great to see our friends Alex & Yolanda. We just don't get to spend as much time with them as we'd like to. Then of course tomorrow night all the little ghosts & goblins will (hopefully) come out of the woodwork & ring my doorbell & yell Trick or Treat! This is the one time each year that I really REALLY wish I had a glass storm door, or at least glass window panes on our front door. I get so excited when the doorbell rings & so flustered, I don't pay enough attention to the cute little ones in their costumes. Then it's all over, and in my mind it's just a blur. That's the first thing I said & thought about when we moved to a subdivision (or house orchard as David likes to call it)-I'll finally have trick or treaters! When we lived in Prairie Grove we lived waaay out in the country, same thing when we lived in Missouri. We still don't have very many, but I'm hoping this year we'll have more. Now next year, NEXT year, I'll have a little grand baby. And if Hunter & his mommy & daddy still live in Fort Riley, KS, you can better believe me & David will be Trick or Treating THEM up there! Ha! But, a lot can happen in 12 months time, so we'll just have to wait & see. Happy Halloween! me

God is So GOOD!

Today when I came into work I was sitting at a zero for the week. Those of you that know me, also know that is not LIKE me. I prayed on my way to work this morning (I always pray when I'm driving). I thanked God for all my blessings, the ones that are obvious, and the ones that aren't. God knows our needs. And I put my fate in His hands & said, You know what we need Lord. Not what we just "want" but what we NEED. It's up to you. I'll do my part, but in the end, WHATEVER LORD. I trust you.


It's the cut off for the next paycheck.

By 2:45, right down to the last seconds....I ended up with 4!

Thank you Jesus!

me.

The Baby is Moving - to Kansas.....

I have avoided sitting down & actually blogging about this little piece of information for two VERY good reasons. Reason #1: We just found out 3 days ago. Reason #2: It is most definitely BREAKING MY HEART! (Well! I'm glad I got that out of my system!) I am a planner. Not really, but I like to think I am anyway. The original PLAN was as follows: Eddy graduates from AIT in Ft. Eustis, VA. He was supposed to get a 10 or 20 day leave. He would come home. Then he was to report to Ft. Riley in Kansas. He would live on base, Des would continue living with us & either go visit him up there on the weekends, or he'd come down here for the weekends. (Keep in mind, this put MY house as the central location). Des would stay here until a couple of weeks after Hunter was born. She could keep her doctor, quit her job if it became too hard for her, and have the baby right here in NWA. THAT was the plan. In my head, I pictured her going into labor, us calling Eddy telling him to get down here now, THE BABY IS COMING...us doing that crazy furious drive to the hospital in the middle of the night, you can envision my thoughts, I'm sure. Now - I have to reorganize those thoughts. Now the picture in my head is this: Des moves to Ft. Riley. She is ALL alone, (during the day at least) because Eddy is working. Des is not working, because she can't find a job because she is 7+ months pregnant & no one will hire her. She doesn't know anyone there except for Eddy, because they will not be living on base. And since they're not living on base, they/she cannot cultivate those friendships like they show on Army Wives. Let's switch states now, moving back here to Arkansas. It's 3 in the morning. I'm cuddled up beside David, (probably dreaming about the baby coming, or something crazy like work & contracts) and the phone rings, and it's Eddy...and he says "THE BABY IS COMING-YOU NEED TO GET HERE NOW!" Have I mentioned yet that it is a FIVE HOUR DRIVE to Ft. Riley Kansas? I think I'm going to need to have a bag packed & ready to go. I should do that soon, like the night that they move. Oh, and I need to figure out what to do with Boogie. And how were going to handle that at 3 o'clock in the morning. And money, did I mention money? Because it's going to take money to drive to Kansas. And buy baby presents. And food. And coffee. And a hotel. Or maybe not a hotel. Maybe we can stay at Eddy & Des's house. And sleep on the floor. I should probably bring pillows & blankets. And food. Dear Lord. Look where I'm going. See what I'm doing. Maybe I have OCD. Or ADHD. Or some chemical imbalance in my brain that makes thoughts shoot off in all sorts of different directions, like a tree, a family tree. Like the one I'm helping David work on. See! There it is again...my thoughts are going crazy!!! Back to the kids. In all honesty I totally understand where they're coming from & why they're doing this. If - God forbid - Eddy gets deployed (to oh, I don't know, AFGHANISTAN), right after the baby is born, they'll regret not spending this time they could have spent together now. I know if I had to choose between living with David, or living with my mother & father in-law, I'd choose living with my husband. Especially if I was pregnant. But - I'd choose being & living with him over any one else in the entire world. (Not to mention the uncertainty that's there about how long they actually have before he gets deployed-his sergeant said it's not IF he gets deployed, it's WHEN). In the bible it says something about when you get married, you leave your parents & join your husband/wife & become ONE. (There's also something that uses the word "cleave" I just can't remember it exactly) I just don't know if it has any advice or rules for me (as the parent that's being left), on how to cope with it all! The point is, even though I can rationalize all of this in my head, and make it make sense in my head, my HEART is not listening very well. And I KNOW what to do, GIVE IT TO GOD! One of my favorite sayings is "GOD is in charge of this mess!" And he is. And He knows our heart, and our needs, and only HE can help us. Any of us. Eddy, Des, Hunter, David, Brittni, even (or especially) ME. So again, I find myself on my knees asking for His grace. And the peace that passes understanding. And then, if only for a moment, I feel a little better - just a little! me

Haunted Houses & Deer

Happy Monday! Yes we survived another weekend. And this past one was more eventful than usual, so I've actually got stuff to share today. Saturday morning - Nope - didn't get to sleep in. (Why is it that I talk about sleeping ALL the time?). We woke up at 6am, I fixed breakfast, then David convinced me that we just had to sign up to Ancestry.com. And we did. And for the next 8 or more hours, we researched his family tree. He's trying to get his brother Jeff involved in this too. So we invited them up for dinner Saturday night. After dinner, out of the blue, David suggested that we all pile up & go to the haunted house that's by my office. So the six of us all hopped into Diane's trusty mini-van & it was off to Bella Vista to visit the ghosts. I don't know if I mentioned that my niece & nephew are VERY young. And I was worried that this would be waay to scary for them (and me) I am NOT a fan of haunted houses. I like the IDEA of going, but I don't actually like to be scared at all. The line was unbelievable. And - it cost $12 per person. But - we were all determined to wait. And it was worth it. The bus ride alone was awesome. They have you load up on a bus & there's a big screen TV in the back, they show parts of Jeepers Creepers & sling you around in the bus. It was pretty cool. The haunted house part was too, the part I actually saw. I kept my eyes closed as much as I could. David promised that if I'd just go, he'd hold on to me the whole time. He L.I.E.D.!!! For started, there was only enough room to go through single file. And he had Thomas in front of him, leading the way. I held on to his belt loop when I could, but man-I was kinda freaked out. When it was all said & done, yes I was glad I braved it & could say that I went. Then, on the way home we were on Central St. & a deep jumped right out in front of us! I screamed "Deer" but it was too late. We hit it. Poor Diane was really upset, but David just hollered, pull over, back up, pull over. So we did & he drug it out of the road & we went home & him & Jeff went back & picked it up. I made a call to the police dept. to see what we needed to do, they had me call Arkansas Game & Fish to report it (at 2 in the morning!) and they said it was fine for the boys to keep it & clean it. Needless to say, Jeff & Diane & kids spent the night. We didn't go to bed until 5 a.m. We were all so tired, we didn't get up until after 9. But - when we did get up Jeff & I fixed biscuits & gravy, scrambled eggs & fresh fried venison back strap! Then David did his best to fix the van enough so that they could at least drive it home. All in all it was a pretty good weekend. And so far, no nightmares from the haunted house! Maybe I'm not as big of a baby as everyone thought! me

Hunting Indians & Loving Fall Weather

Friday is here again - yeah. And fall is definitely in the air. I love love love the fall colors, trees, the way it feels outside, yep, fall is for sure my favorite time of year. Until next season, and then WINTER will be my favorite, then spring, you get the picture. But today - TODAY it is cold, there's a rainy-drizzly kind of stuff falling, the trees are BEAUTIFUL, and the work week is almost over! Hallelujah! I haven't blogged this week because at home in the evening's we've been busy. David is trying to track down his people. Like how/where/when they came to America. Since he's not working, I've told you he's bored stiff. So he got the idea to start tracing his history. And boy have we been surprised by some things. Like for example: All his life he's been told he is Indian. That his dad's mom was full blood, which makes his dad 1/2, which makes him 1/4 ...which in turn, would make Eddy & Brittni 1/8! (Is that right? I'm not sure if I really know how to figure this Indian thing, but it made sense to me). Anyway, he's gone back - waaay back. To like Scotland, Ireland & Germany. Guess what? NO INDIAN! The internet is an amazing tool, isn't it? His dad is NOT very happy that all the stories he's told & been told in his life about his great grandpa being a big Indian chief isn't panning out. But - fear not. He's/we are not done yet. We are NOT giving up searching for Indians & such deeper in the family tree. Only God knows what we'll find out next. I'll keep ya posted. But for now, I guess I have a phone call or two to make. My kids think they're Indian too! HA! me

To blog, or not to blog...

That is the question I keep asking myself. Again, it seems like I should have oh so much to say, but alas, I do not. I normally do a "recap" of our weekend on Monday, but with a sick puppy at home, there was not much to recap. We basically stayed at home & watched Boogie to make sure she didn't try to jump up on anything or tear out her stitches. Saturday morning, David had breakfast with Mr. Dick & Joe to discuss their new business "ARS" which stands for: Alternators, Radiators & Starters! Cute huh? Mostly, they discussed how they wouldn't be opening until sometime after November 1st. (Hello, Duck season starts 11/22/09 & he/we plan to spend at least 10 days down in Stuttgart). And yes, the vet said Boogie will be 100% by then & ready to hunt for the very first time. They also discussed a trip to Arizona (I think) to pick up some equipment. I know SO little about what's actually going on. In the meantime, poor David is bored to death! I went home for lunch & he'd fixed us hot dogs, so I had lunch with him & after hearing him say "I'm so bored" for the 20th time, I took him to the laundry room & taught him how to use the mysterious washer & dryer. (We'll see how that goes, we've been married 22 years, he doesn't do laundry-so far anyway). I feel sorry for him being laid off & at home ALL the time, it just HAS to get old. On a much more positive note: Hunter Lee is growing SO much inside his mommy's tummy. We're trying to get a baby shower planned for Des on November 14. So much to do with the holidays, a baby & everything else coming up. But somehow, we'll manage to get it all done, the important parts at least. We always do! me

She's NOT "Just A Dog"

While we were at the emergency animal hospital last night, David found this poem framed on the wall of the waiting area. He asked me to see if the receptionist would make him a copy of it. She did, and since it touched his heart & hit so close to home, and because we'd heard the phrase "she's just a dog" several times today, I wanted to put in on my blog. Here goes:

"Just a Dog"

From time to time, people tell me, "lighten up, it's just a dog," or "that's a lot of money for just a dog." They don't understand the distance traveled, the time spent, or the costs involved for "just a dog." Some of my proudest moments have come about with "just a dog." Many hours have passed and my only company was "just a dog", but I did not once feel slighted. Some of my saddest moments have been brought about by "just a dog" and in those days of darkness, the gentle touch of "just a dog" gave me comfort and reason to overcome the day. If you too, think it's "just a dog," then you will probably understand phrases like "just a friend," just a sunrise," or "just a promise." "Just a dog" brings into my life the very essence of friendship, trust and pure unbridled joy. "Just a dog" brings out the compassion and patience that make me a better person. Because of "just a dog" I will rise early, take long walks and look longingly to the future. So for me and folks like me, it's not "just a dog" but an embodiment of all the hopes and dreams of the future, the fond memories of the past, and the pure joy of the moment. "Just a dog" brings out what's good in me and diverts my thoughts away from myself and the worries of the day. I hope that someday they can understand that it's not "just a dog" but the thing that gives me humanity and keeps me from being "just a man." So the next time you hear the phrase "just a dog", just smile, because they don't understand.

Surgery For Boogie The Duckdog

We've had a scary couple of days at the Allen household. Wednesday when David picked me up from work, he said Boogie wasn't feeling well & that she'd been throwing up all day. I didn't think much about it, went home, cooked dinner - she seemed okay to me. Until - she started getting sick. And KEPT getting sick. I'm a firm believer that you can find out any & every thing on the trusty Internet, so I fired up our computer at home & started doing searches. 2 1/2 hours later, I'd diagnosed that she had heart failure, liver cancer, brain cancer, stomach ulcers, OR she just had a virus, you name it, I found it on the internet. NOTE TO SELF: When you're worried about a family member or pet that is sick, do not, I repeat, DO NOT do random searches on the internet about their symptoms. It will only make YOU sick in the process. By Thursday morning, I was on the phone with the Vet at 7:30 am. Our appointment was for 9. By 10:30, we were kissing Boogie goodbye & telling her she'd be just fine, as she was on her way in to SURGERY! Dr. Halbert did an X-Ray & thought she'd swallowed something. As it turns out, no she didn't. But she did have the beginnings of something I can't pronounce, let alone spell & it was a good thing we let them do the surgery after all. We had to pick her up at 6 last night & transport her to the emergency animal hospital in Springdale where they kept her over night to administer pain meds & antibiotics in her IV & just basically keep a good close watch on her. Our vet called at 11pm last night to let us know she'd called the hospital to get a report on Boogie & she was doing okay. 4:30 this morning? We're up drinking coffee & getting dressed to head BACK to Springdale by 6am, to pick Boogie back up & take her back to our vets to spend the day. I feel like a shuttle service/ambulance for canines! Really, I'm just kidding. The sweetest thing I've seen in a long time happened this morning when Boogie looked up at David & he said How's my girl? and she just leaned into him & her tail was wagging like crazy! She has total trust in that man & her world revolves completely around him & him alone. Later in the truck I told him that, and also, that whether he believed it or not, I felt the same way about him. He just smiled. Hopefully all goes well with her today & we can take her home tonite & take care of her ourselves. Right now, I'm running on zero to little sleep, and feel like a zombie, so that's about it - for now. me

Not So Much

There's not been much to blog about the past few days - never thought I'd say THAT when I decided to start blogging! But alas, it has happened. I could tell you that I had practically the ENTIRE weekend to myself, David didn't get home until about 3pm on Sunday afternoon. I could tell you that my plan all week long was to SLEEP IN on Saturday & Sunday - no matter what - but I didn't. Why is it that on weekdays, when I HAVE to get up early & go to work, all I want to do is sleep? But on the weekends, when I could sleep in, I don't/cant? At 5:30 Sat a.m. I woke up. I laid in bed trying so hard to go back to sleep, but at 5:45 I just gave up! I got out of bed, made a pot of coffee, and cleaned out all sorts of weird things! Like, the linen closest, my bathroom cabinets, the pantry, spare bedroom-everything I could get my hands on! And I got it all finished. I made a big pot of home made stew. I watched TV - A LOT of TV. That night, I went to bed & watched more TV. I didn't sleep so well. I woke up at 6 a.m. Sunday morning. I didn't have anything to do, because I'd done everything already! I went grocery shopping. I came home. I watched TV - again! I was SO glad when David got home. 5 days IS too long to be gone. Let's see, since then - well, Brittni got a promotion at work & a raise - she's now the Asst. Manager at the Rogers Subway. Way to go Pudge! Congrats! Desiree flew back in from Virginia & her visit with Eddy. She got back in town yesterday afternoon. I think they had a good time, but I know that the reality of having a baby & being a daddy is starting to hit Eddy - finally - it's about time! That's about it really. It's just been go to work, go home, fix dinner, clean up, shower, go to bed, get up...well you get the picture. But, since my whole reasoning for starting a blog was to document the Allen's life (or lack there of)...here it is in a nutshell. Until next time....me

At Last....

At last it's Friday! It couldn't come soon enough. I remember someone telling me (waaay back when I was in my 20's) that I was "wishing my life away". It was said after I'd stated yet again, "I wish it was Friday!" I think of that ALL THE TIME - as I'm wishing my life away still! And honestly, I don't know why I'm so excited that it's Friday afternoon & my work day is almost over. It's 3:00 & here I am still at my desk. I haven't worked this late on a Friday, since summer hours began here at work in June! And- it. is. killing. me.! But, no worries, I'll make it I'm sure, at least til 3:30 or 4:00 ha! Not much to blog about with David being gone. We did have a semi-eventful night last night. Brittni came over to keep her mom company. We were watching a marathon of "House" when the electric went off. Glad Britt was there to keep me company. I scare myself easier than I like to admit. It finally came on about 10:30 Yeah! Anyhoo, for now that's about all I've got to say. Amazing, isn't it? me

When LIFE Gets In The Way

So, I've been wanting to blog all about our little five day mini vacation in Stuttgart, the Wings Over The Prairie Festival (it's the Duck Dog Challenge event we entered Boogie in), all the wonderful fun we had while we were gone, etc. BUT - somehow, somewhere, LIFE managed to get in my way. David & I got back Sunday afternoon from our trip. I somehow managed to do ALL our laundry down at his Dad's BEFORE we got home, so when we got home I simply had to unpack & put everything up. Which I actually DID! :) We ordered pizza so I didn't have to cook, and relaxed & unwound. Then Monday it was off to work for me. (David has been laid off yet again, so he got to make another wonderful trip to the unemployment office). Then on Tuesday night, around 10:30 our phone rang. Anyone who knows us knows that we go to bed at our house EARLY - like 9pm. And we're usually sound asleep by 10. (It's just a bi-product of getting up at 5 a.m. every morning) So I knew that a ringing phone at that hour was bad news. It was his dad, calling to tell us Aunt Jessie passed away. Uncle Bob, her husband, died in August. It was very unexpected, and hard on all of us, but I think she just couldn't live without him. So with all the business that must be done when a loved one dies, and all the "drama" that seems to surround such an occasion in Stuttgart, poor David ended up asking me to throw some clothes in a bag while he loaded up the kennel & Boogie, and at midnight after many many phone calls, he headed out on the five hour drive down to the farm. I feel like I should be down there helping them make arrangements (Big David is the only one left, her children were notified, but will not be making the trip), but alas, I have to stay here & work. I took Dez to the airport yesterday, she's flying to Virginia to spend 4-5 days with Eddy! 7 months pregnant - yikes!!! So I am alone! ALL ALONE! But please don't feel too sorry for me, I love having control of the remote, watching all the silly girl stuff I want to on TV, and having hot dogs for dinner because I don't have to cook for anyone. I don't love: missing my walks with David each evening, sleeping alone, waking up alone, having no one to drink coffee with in the morning, or come home to in the evenings & tell about my day. But, I'll make the sacrifice. Big David could not handle everything alone down there. AND - it's only for a little while, I'll survive. I also have big plans to really clean the entire house, vacuum, dust, bathrooms, all that good stuff that drives me crazy not to do, IF I somehow manage a few hours home alone. With all this yucky rain coming down, and the forecast calling for rain for the next 100 years (or few days), I may just curl up on the couch & watch TV. Who knows, I might even get caught up on my blog, and post pictures & videos of our trip! We'll see. me

Macks' Prairie Wings