So much so much.....

May 2011 Daisy

I know it seems I have neglected my blog, but really I have been around just have not shared much due to so much happening at once all with its own attachment of emotions. Yesterday I got a scare, thankfully it dwindled down to just a worry but it just made me realize the real sacrifice those in uniform make and those of us who support the ones in uniform. Peaks of stressed emotions like that just makes all the beautiful moments in our lives really worth having even if its as simple as watching everything green up for the summer or watching your kids walk across the podium to receive their academic award for the year despite all that has also been thrown in front of them.

For those of you wondering no Bo is not home yet and we really do not know when he will be coming home. Their replacements got pushed back and so until they step foot on their base to replace them we are still in limbo. But unfortunately life doesn't wait and the boys and I have celebrated events and holidays without him.

May 18, 2011 was 18yrs of marriage for Bo and I. This one even if he is not around felt more meaningful than the last years. I think its because the true form of love, patience, communication, trust and values were tested this year and has persevered to show us what is important in our lives and how we are reminded that it is hard work in every level that gets us to that point, its not luck, its not given, its earned.

I have so much to share but do not want to ramble throughout this so I will share in the best way I can, visually. :)

So here we go...

Another season of track for Nick.

Mother's Day with the boys.

18yrs together:
May 18, 1993 wedding at our courhouse.

4 months later at our church.

Meeting up with lifelong friends for a baby shower

My first finished journal girl for my The Goddess and Poet portrait class from Suzi Blu.

2010-2011 CHHS Academic Awards-you have to have a 92% along with a GPA of 3.5 or higher to receive an award.

Jared. 3.9 GPA with all honors classes and AP Biology

Nick with a 3.8 with all honors classes and AP US History, AP Chemistry and Pre-Calculus

I hope you all have a great Memorial Day weekend! Stay safe and have fun!

Gifts from Bo, New Work, Happy Mother's Day

Yellow flowers in Afghanistan picture by Bo. :)

There is a Sunday market that happens on the base that Bo has been to only twice. The first time was just to see what was around and take pictures and I have an entry on that right here http://abigailscreativejourney.blogspot.com/2011/01/bazaar.html. The second time was to look for some gifts that he can carry home to me. His base doesn't have an American Post Office and at this point I really do not want him going out of area just to figure out how to mail something to me. Not worth it in my eyes. So when he went to the market he kept a look out for small things he can just bring home to me.

I woke up to an email with him excited of his finds.

First was a beautiful handmade bag. I told you he always looks for elephants for me. LOL! He knows how I love hand made things and color so when I saw this I knew, he really knows me well. :)



The second find was what he was so proud of. You all know how I love texture in my art and I have been working on different projects with images being stamped on my paperclay projects. Well Bo found these printing blocks. Here is what he wrote. "The biggest find were these block prints, since you are all in the paper clay stuff with the impressions, I thought these were a huge find, so I bought you 3 of them....The guy said they are about 200 years old, and they were used for imprinting ink onto fabric, such as dresses, blankets, and other textiles....I figured you could use them in your artwork....What is cooler than knowing your stencil patterns come from something like that."











I am so excited. I have an old printing block similar that I bought from an antique store here and just love the designs on it but the grooves in it are not as deep as the ones above. It is such a great find and what a neat thing to keep even if I didn't use it in any of my art. :)
Even if I am happy these are coming home to me, I will be even happier and will have the best gift of all when I hear the news that he is coming home. Things have changed and now its all up in the air but I am praying within the next month or so I can finally see an end in sight. Cross fingers.

In our news here at home, we have been busy with testing, AP testing, track meets until late at night, yard work when we are given one of our few sunny days. We are averaging around high 60's right now and just taking care of the everyday busyness of life. So when I have a moment to spare or a time to escape into my little studio downstairs I set up for painting, I steal away.

Here is my 2nd fearless painting for Abstract Adventures. My mind was so busy that day and I had to quiet down the chatter. Glad I did. :)













Then I put some paint on a leaf collage project I am working on. It is not finished yet. I do multiple projects at a time. :)

The first days of the project:

With paint added

I am hoping that with a weekend of no sports events that as a present from my kids I will have some free time to work on more of my projects. :)


I am blessed to have a wonderful caring, strong and artistic mother that has instilled value and morals in me and always told me to never let anyone turn me into someone I am not. She always gave us kids the freedom to be who we really are even through criticism of others. Thank you Mom!



I am also proud to be a mother to two handsome young men who have been my inspiration to life, who opened up the world to me through their growth, and who have been the best teenage boys anyone can ask for mostly through this deployment and all the other events that have been thrown at us this year.



And of course I cannot leave out that I am a happy furkid Mom to Kaiah. :)Here she is chilling out while I was painting. She was watching the rain fall out the patio doors.

I want to wish all the Mother's out there a Happy Mother's Day.