99 Posts to the Blog in my Head, 99 posts to blog

I've had all these blog posts running around in my head for 25 days.

That's how long we've been home. Home in Texas.

I don't even know where to start.

So I'm just going to start and hope it doesn't get all crazy rambling.

Starting sometime in May, I began to try to capture things around me. From then until we were driving home June 1st I tried to make note (and take photos) of things we passed on the road I would likely not see again. I don't know why I would travel back to Kansas, and even if I did I don't know that I would notice things that I noticed daily (or frequently) while living there.

Here are some of those sights...

Miles and miles of farmland.

It's the Wheat State!

Entering I-70 from Exit 303 (returning from Manhattan) meant greeting the Combat Aviation Brigade aircraft fleet parked on the airfield.

Crazy Kansas weather made for really incredible sky sights.

Signs along I-70, and other KS highways letting you know: Every Kansas Farmer feeds 128 people...AND YOU!

How Much?

I've been thinking a lot lately.

About stuff. No, literally, stuff. Stuff and space.

We are moving again. From Kansas to Texas. We are two people and a cat.

And while I already had a lot of our things packed in large Rubbermaid-type containers, it took all day long, 9a-5p for 3 people (and about 4 hours in 2 more "heavy lifters" were added) to put all of our stuff in a truck. To be completely honest, they were VERY thorough. Every saucer, plate, cup, drawer of misc, framed photo, knick knack, etc., had to be wrapped in paper and boxed. Even the totes I had packed had to be wrapped in brown paper. Still. Looking at it all lined up on the sidewalk made me think...hoard much?! (Photo represents about 1/4 of what would eventually be carried out)

And I'm not a hoarder!

I am somewhere between keeping every card I've ever received and tossing everything not absolutely necessary. I think it's "normal".

But what's normal?

Yes, it is probably not necessary to keep this cup. But it's a memory of a Superbowl party with my fantasy football league. I found these on sale and bought one for everyone! I so loved them. Pretty sure the guys thought they were silly, but I didn't and don't care. :)

Anyway, that's not what I was going to say. What I was going to say was...How much is actually necessary? How much time do we waste on the stuff?

As I watched the movers load box after box after box of glassware, clothes, scrapbooks (there are never too many of those), I thought...Do I really want to unpack all this, only to repack in a year when Stephen retires from the Army and we move again to wherever his new job is?

Do I want to spend a couple of months getting the house all "set up" and then start putting it away?

That got me thinking about houses. Told you, been thinking a lot...

We went to visit the boyhood home of Dwight D. Eisenhower and his 5 brothers (6, but one died in infancy), mom, dad and for several years, grandfather. That's 9 people. NINE. In this house:

The two inside photos are of either side of the "living room" ALL members of the family would gather for Bible reading and family time. Guessing they sat on the floor and on one another's laps! The doorway into the other room was closed as that room was the most formal room and reserved for special occasions.

And this is how we are living right now. I think I'd like a little more than this. Furniture at least!

When You Don't Have To Work Monday

I left work on my last day thinking I would go home and have a quiet weekend at home basking in the fact that I didn't have to work on Monday.

Then my mom called to tell me that she was going to Memphis to see my Lett Lett (great aunt) who is 94 and not expected to live a lot longer. She just was updating me on the situation.  She had no expectations that I would jump in the car and drive 10 hours to Memphis.

But why wouldn't I?  What is the point of not working if you aren't using those days to experience life?  I wasn't sure what was going to happen Friday night, so while waiting on a call back I packed.  I finally talked to my mom again Saturday morning at 6:30 and was in the car driving out by 7:36.

Stephen and Kitty waving  goodbye

It was a fantastic drive.  I drove straight there, and it took me 9 hrs 26 minutes to drive 598 miles. I'd have taken more photos, but it's tough to do from a moving car, and I didn't want to pull over EVERY time there was a photo op.  Here are some that I did catch:

Flint Hills of Kansas - Just starting out

Long road ahead

Road Food

Sun Roof Sky

Some kind of water in MO

Convenience Store Chain

Amish Wagon in Bakersville

Still going....

Houston. In Texas County. Missouri

Pulled off on the side of the road to get these 3 pictures.  There was a farmers market going on and a family had stopped to take a picture by the mill. That's the only reason I even saw the cool mill and bridge and marker with information.  Snapped 3 pics and was on my way! 

Ahhhh, Memphis

Southern Hospitality!

I wish I had some photos in the hospital, but there weren't really any appropriate times so I just have those memories.  It was a little bit difficult, my Lett Lett is pretty miserable and so ready to go to heaven.  I wouldn't trade that time with her to hold her hand and kiss her forehead and tell her I would see her again one day for anything. She was completely aware of who was there, who was who and what was going on.  There were times when she saw extra people in the room, too.  Ladies in white dresses. Sometimes red. Embroidery on their skirts. We hope she is able to go with them soon.

While we were in Memphis, mom and I went by my grandparents graves.

aka Mimi and Papa

After a couple days in Memphis, I headed for an overnight at my parents house in Flippin, Arkansas.  Having spent a night in the hospital, it was good to break up the return, get a good night's sleep and have a great visit with them.  Couple things I saw between Memphis and their house, and the next day driving home:

CREEPY Raven bird statue
in Ravenden, AR 

The scenery was amazing.  

Park by the Norfolk Lake

Me and Kabbage

Kabbage, Dad, Me.  It's fuzzy because we were laughing so much! :)

Tree "at the end of the road" where people
go to use their cell phone if they can't get
reception at their house! 

That car was irritated and letting the van know he'd like to pass
 on the left!

Back to the Flint Hills

That's one buggy windshield.

Gorgeous Welcome Home sky 

Bugalicious.

Yep.  Stuff happens when you don't have to work on Monday!

Holy cow.  Last post was December 2011.  Pitiful!  I guess I just go in fits and spurts with the blogging.  And I'm okay with that.  It's one of many things I would like to "have done" but I don't always like to "DO".

Also, it looks as though Blogger has a new look! hhmmm...interesting.

OK, so a quick update:
We are still set to move to Fort Hood.  The official report date is July 10, with the option to report up to 60 days early.  In order to be a nice guy, Stephen is staying with the company until his replacement returns from school and we plan to drive out June 1st.  I am officially unemployed as of last Friday. (See next post for what I've been doing since then) and he has 12 working days left.

So, my days will be spent packing, organizing, purging, planning and waiting (not so patiently) to get out of this mid American wind tunnel!  We've had some good times in KS, but I am so excited to get home to Texas and be near my people!