Technology books

After just reading my very first ebook, I will never complain about carrying books again.

As convenient as it is to have any book I could want at the touch of a button, something inside of me longs for those things a screen can't give me.

The smell. There's just something about that mildly inky, paper smell of a new book or the earthy must of an old one. It's captivating. Why has no one made this an air freshener scent, yet?

Being able to pick it up and see how far along I've come and how far I have left to go. You know, having the weight of someone's thoughts in my hand and all that metaphorical hullabaloo.

The bookmarks. Maybe this is simply nostalgia? I mean, who doesn't want a Lisa Frank kitten jumping over rainbow to mark the spot of your latest murder-mystery?

Seeing bookshelves full of my adventures and lessons and knowing that I can revisit them whenever I want.

I could never find it inside of me to purchase an E reader. I understand it's not my thing...and I'm okay with that.

Oh, Christmas Tree

Speaking of tradtions, I was finally able to put up our 5th Annual Orange and Blue Christmas Tree. (Go Gators!)

Also, as per tradition, I did the tree myself. I wish I had a better reasoning other than I have a serious problem when it comes to decorating the tree. Some might call it neuroses. Adam used to help me but whenever I would see him put two orange ornaments next to each other, my eye would start twitching. I never said anything but I always went behind him and fixed it. I mean, honestly! Two orange ornaments...side by side?! Adam didn't notice at first but after a while he wised up. I still wanted him to help decorate but his complete lack of color balance led to the current solution: Adam sits in the same room watching tv or playing video games while I adorn the tree. This has been working for years.

It feels so much more like Christmas now that our tree is up. It makes me happy.

Untitled Christmastime

"Oh, there's no place like home for the holidays..."

I always get nostalgic around this time of year. I was raised in a very close knit family that took pride in getting together. There was always a full house with aunts and uncles, grandparents and cousins...all milling about doing a thousand different things. We played and laughed and occasionally fought but overall, I wouldn't go back and change a thing. These are the mostly wonderful memories of my young childhood...and thank God for that.

Sadly, things have changed over time and it makes me yearn for this togetherness I'll never get again. People have grown and relationships have become stressed due to a variety of events, most of all...distance. For the past 5-6 years, we haven't really had a place to call home. For us, "home" is where the Navy sends us. So naturally, holidays can be a little tough. Not feeling like you really "belong" anywhere is lonely. Of course, it's not always easy or practical or even possible to visit family for major holidays. Truthfully, it has become more of a chore to visit our hometown than the joyous vacation it should be. It ends up making both Adam and me sad, angry, frustrated, irritated, and/or hurt.

So instead, we're often forced to improvise. Thankfully, we will always be surrounded with other friends in the same situation...friends that will provide warmth, laughter, company, and delicious food. As grateful as I am for my friends-turned-family, there's still a void that needs to be filled.

This is why I couldn't be more thankful for the amazing man that I married. More than anyone, he has been there for me at every turn in the road. He is strong and supportive and will always be my shining light on my darkest days. He reminds me of the positive things. We might not have a full house but we are happy and healthy. We are starting our own traditions to pass down eventually. No matter what, we will always have each other.

I'm going to go do things that make me happy like decorate our tree, listen to Christmas music really loud and maybe bake some cookies.

How I know I'm not ready for Kids: Reason #24

The girls and I met up tonight and drew names for secret santa. We had to Facetime the two out of town ladies but everything worked out. It's so nice to have such a solid network of friends even if we are split up over three states. A few of the in - town girls even hung out late and drank hot chocolate while we watched Elf and then caught the tail end of Carrie Underwood's horrible acting her The Sound of Music special.

I came home late and tired from being up all day and went to lie down in bed. Just as I snuggled in and got comfortable, I heard Luca vomiting up his dinner. After I forced myself to get up and clean his mess, I returned to bed thinking, "Well, thank God it wasn't IN the bed." Piper, who is typically not one to be outstaged, makes it her personal mission to enforce Murphey's law. Yep...she too decided to vomit her dinner all over my comforter.

I know this is God slowly preparing me for the hells of parenting. Adam is on duty, I'm exhausted and yet, I'm cleaning and doing laundry after midnight. I honestly have no idea how parents do it with such grace and poise.

Luckily my pups aren't seriously sick and are safe and sound, asleep, like the rotten brats they are, in the bed.

Maybe now I can get some rest...