A Gut-Wrenchingly Happy Moment. . .

As we released the kids from class today for the last time this year, of course all of the staff is following behind them, yelling at them to get off campus amidst crying, hugging girls (I really don't get this. . . they are going to see each other on mySpace tonight, and at the mall tomorrow.)

I report to my duty station out in the parking lot (I got stuck guarding our cars from water balloons. Really. What exactly am I supposed to do about it?)

I see a man walking up in military cammies. I asked him if I could help him, and he said he was there to pick up his daughter. So I left him and went about shoo-ing kids and yelling at loiterers.

When the girl came out of the building and caught sight of him, she ran to him and jumped into his arms, at which time the realization hit us: he had just come home, and she was not expecting him. As 3 other teachers and myself looked on, goosebumps on our arms and tears in our eyes, he swung her around and just held her. We then saw mom, about 30 feet away, sitting in the car, tears in her own eyes, letting them have their moment. One teacher took pictures with her phone.

When he put her down after what seemed like forever, we walked over to talk to him. He has been in Iraq for the last year. One of our teachers hugged him herself. :) All I could do was stand there, listen, fight the giant lump in my throat, and then thank him when he was finished telling us his brief story before collecting his daughter and joining his wife in the car.

I know that image will stay with me for the rest of my life. I know so many people who are serving or whom have served to protect our freedoms, and there is no thank you big enough that the rest of us can offer up.

It brings to mind the saying: "Only two people have died for you: Jesus, and the American Soldier. One died for your soul, the other for your freedom."

Thank you all so much.

I'm a loser. . .

So, at the request of one of my two loyal followers, it is time to update my blog! I apologize for how long it has been, and I apologize for the length of this entry. A lot has gone on since January!

First, the conclusion of the washer saga. After the third wash tub arrived and was installed, we discovered a hairline crack. In other words, a crack so small we couldn't see it before installing it. How did we find the crack, you ask? Well, we found it when I walked into the kitchen after running a load and found myself up to my ankles in water.

So we called Home Warranty again, and they sent out a totally different company, and God bless this sweet man, he took one look at the washer and said, "Those are crap. I'm just going to tell them it can't be repaired."

And so we are now the home to a brand new Maytag washer. The funny thing is that it was the only option we were given that was not the same brand as the old washer, and it is Crimson. Goes well with our blue dryer. We are nothing if we aren't patriotic. (Well, I guess we are pretty funny, too. But that's about it. Funny and Patriotic.)

I finished my grad work last week, and I graduate on Saturday. (If they don't cancel it due to the flu outbreak. Damn Miss Piggy and her kissing all over people.) I have some issues over my grades in a couple of my final classes, but deep down, I don't really give a flying flip, because I am FINISHED!!!! Somebody slap the fire out of me if I ever talk about going back to school again. So I am soon to be a Master of Education in Instructional Design and Technology. (I'll explain that later. That's a blog post all it's own.)

And the final news is that I'm pregnant! 12 weeks today, to be exact. (Although I'm pretty sure all two of you knew that.) So far things are off to a much better start than last time. We heard a heartbeat at 9 weeks. So I'm sure most of my future posts will consist of updates about that.

I do believe it is time for a nap. I'm playing hooky today, and I plan to enjoy every minute of it. Until next time!

Peace,
Leslie