Love me some shootin'!

Today, I think I added some spunk to an already exciting and wonderful marriage: I shot a gun for the first time ever! 

What is character?

In our house, recently, we've been having a problem with a little person lying to us about things--silly things, not significant enough to cause major damage, but important enough to cause concern for the root of the problem.  We are laboriously trying to instill in her (oh, she'd be mortified that I am sharing this with you, but maybe when she's in her teens and reads this, she'll appreciate that it was a teachable moment) the values of honesty and trust, but for some reason I can't seem to see the reason or cause of the lying.  Maybe I can't see the forest for the trees, but this has been a tough parenting lesson for me.

So far, we have survived

The first two weeks of school are completed, and the Bishop family has survived!  Yea!  Ella seems to like her teacher, Mrs. Bates, and Brennan thankfully has the same Kindergarten teacher that Ella had, Mrs. Granger with her assistant, Mrs. Fry--teaching together for 18 years! (Yes, Brennan picked out this outfit--he was adamant about wearing a tie to school.  I talked him out of the sport jacket and convinced him to wear a dapper pair of jeans rather than dress pants.  He loves fashion. Hmmm....)  Dan stayed home last Tuesday which helped my aimlessness significantly.  We went on an afternoon date with lunch and a movie!  Really cool!

Since that first day, I have gone into school several times to help the little ones get through the lunch line (a very daunting experience if you don't know what you are doing) and to help out Brennan's teachers--with 28 students, many of whom have never seen the inside of a classroom or preschool, much less know their own name, these wonderful women are overwhelmed by what needs to be done everyday.  I am also now an official substitute for Prince William County, but I will only be working at our home school and one other in the neighborhood.  I will also help out at the kids' preschool as a sub, because they have a hard time finding people to help.  So, I'm sure that life will fill up with busyness, and I won't be feeling aimless.

It's a bit silly, I know, to have been so completely obsessed and anxious about school starting, especially when we had an earthquake, flooding, and economic disasters all at the same time (Friday, Sept. 9th was even cancelled due to flooding in our area).  But, I admit that I was.  I guess I just take my job very seriously!  When I completely believe in something, I become very passionate about it--many of you have seen me this way about education, lia sophia, the Coast Guard (Semper Paratus!), etc.  Momming (like teaching, driving--you know what I mean) is a calling and a passion of mine.  And I won't apologize for being so overwhelmed and outspoken about it.  I hope that's okay with you. 

Thanks for reading!
Anne ;)

So long . . .

The title could suggest so many different things.  If you're a Looney Tunes fan, you might think it means goodbye.  If you're tired of the way things are going in your life, it could mean that what you're going through is taking too much time.  If you're a mother with young children, this may decscribe your day.  If your husband or wife is deployed, this could feel like the time until you're reunited.  For me, it means a lot at this moment.  First, it's been so long since I've posted on my blog, that I think many of my readers have left.  Second, my journey of motherhood, so far, has seemed so long as I tried to raise and teach 2 small but wonderful children how to be decent, loving, smart and good people.  Third, the time since last night has dragged on while my little girl has been at her first sleepover party--at a boy's house (I promise to explain that.).  And, in several months, we'll probably be saying so long to Northern Virginia for a place yet unknown.

Feet Touching the Floor

After a morning of green pancakes and buttoning green shirts, I will forever remember this St. Patrick's Day as the one where I realized that my children have grown up right before my eyes...but I just wasn't looking.

Thanks!

All is right with the world again!
Dan made it out of surgery with flying colors!  Dr. Nagda was very nice and professional, and even a little cool!  He took pictures throughout the surgery and showed them to me afterward--it was like looking inside a chicken breast.  I had no idea what I was seeing, but he seemed to think it was awesome that these metal anchors and sutures that repaired Dan's tear in his shoulder tendon fixed everything.  So, I think it's awesome, too!

He has this huge black sling contraption to keep his arm stabilized, and he basically can't do anything with only his left arm.  So here I am, the helper, trying so hard not to hover while still being available for anything Dan needs.  It's very bizarre to be in this position, only for the fact that I haven't had to "help" him like this almost ever.  There was that one time when we were dating that he got either food poisoning or a 24 hour bug that was so bad, he had to stay overnight because he was too sick to drive the half hour home.  But other than that, he is the rock.  But I can be granite, too, so I will do my best as he recovers!

He is resting comfortably on the couch with our 5 year-old, so I am headed to the bus stop to get our older child.  Thanks for all of your thoughts and prayers--they helped him get through without any complications.
Pictures to come later.
Thanks for reading!!

At the Hospital

So here I am, sitting in the Blue Waiting Room as my husband gets a nerve block to make his right arm and shoulder completely numb.  We are in limbo as he goes in to have his shoulder repaired by a competent, so Dan says, surgeon.  It's a bit surreal, knowing that my seemingly healthy spouse will be almost unconscious the next time I see him.  I am very much up to the task of being his nurse and helpmate.  What disturbs me is not being able to prepare for what the next couple of hours will create.  I should be used to this, I guess, from our continually mobile military life, but preparing for the unknown is pointless.  This is what that life has taught me. 
I have been turning to God all week, all morning, as my wonderful, handsome, loving, caring and strong husband is in His hands.  I can only pray for Him to give the surgeon the knowledge and strength to make the right incisions, the right sutures, and the most detailed and skillful hands imaginable today as he works on the love of my life.  If you are reading this, I ask you to take a moment, close your eyes and ask God the same thing for me. 
I really appreciate it.
Thanks for reading!

Snow day under the lid

Good Tuesday Morning, Readers!
It is a snow day here in Northern Virginia.  The kids have off from school due to ice/snow accumulation (For you northerners, go ahead and laugh.  But we don't have the staff to help with the mess it creates here in Vergeeneeyah!) so we are all in our pajamas.  I am currently listening to the screams and yells of sibling rivalry along with the hum of the TV.  Oh, and did I mention that it's only 8 am? 

Standing

I figured that, as with any undertaking, I need a goal...a mission statement of sorts.  I really like my fellow bloggers because they stand for something.  Actually, they stand for many things. And so do I....

Update on Tramp

Have you ever watched those Animal Cops show on Animal Planet?  Ella is addicted to them and has recently gotten me hooked.  Well, I have to say that Prince William Animal Control Officers are great, and I truly appreciate what they do around here to keep animals safe.

Tramp

I looked at the calendar today and was thrilled to see that, aside from taking the kids to school and the usual daily routine, I had nothing planned!  "Ha, ha, ha!"  says God.  "That's what she thinks!  I have other plans for her today."    (Don't stop reading just because I mentioned Him in this post--you'll see why in a minute!)  Right now I am waiting for Animal Control....

It's time to take the cover off

Hello, wonderful Readers!
Thanks for sticking with me and not unsubscribing to my posts.  I know they have been few and far between.  However, I had a bit of an epiphany today that has led me to this post and to future posts.