I am thrilled I received TWO letters in the mail today!!! Shane is doing so well, can hardly believe that's the same person that left here weeks ago!! I am just happy, happy!! He loves chapel....says its AMAZING!!! He has made three close friends and feels like they have a real brotherhood going on in the unit. Shane has a woman T.I. and says its her first flight... so its been pretty laid back. Alot less yelling since he arrived. Had a penicillin shot in the hiney and it still hurts. He's been issued his M16 so he is lovin life. And he had to throw in... HE LOOKS HOT IN HIS UNIFORM!!! LOL. Gotta love him!!! He ended his letter with Love You Much!!! Your one and only son :) I tell ya this kid is different already!!! All in all everything he wrote was very positive which in turn makes me happier. Hope it continues!! August 21st cant come fast enough.

I listed July Santa yesterday on ebay. Whoohoo...love Santa's!! Nothing else much new.. sewing around about 9 dolls and will stuff maybe tomorrow. I have to pack for my trip to CA on friday so don't know how much sewing I will get done. I have one doll I need to at least get ready to dress for MISS POSSUM( lol)

OH the mail came today... and there sat this envelope. I thought YES I got the letter Shane said he wrote. But then I started to think... I sent him with the small envelopes and this was a bulk mail stamped envelope. He called friday and said he wrote me a letter there is no way it could be here already. Yeah.. It isn't the letter I was waiting for but all his graduation information. A little let down but yet its nice to see the handwriting. Also my postcard finally arrived to let me know he arrived... A BIT LATE 2 1/2 weeks later...OH well I am still happy and will just wait again tomorrow for that letter to arrive!
All in all things are getting better for me. I still go into his room just to take in his cologne, or look out the front window to see his car parked out there. My laundry has been cut more than in half, and what is cooking these days ? So I should be happy... BUT I MISS HIM!!!
I have managed to get two dolls listed on ebay and tonight hopefully I will update the WSOAPP shoppe. Esmeranda and Gretchen are the first of my Fall/Halloween dolls. I really don't enjoy that season so won't do too many things related to Halloween. Christmas is my favorite time of year and love anything to do with it. Very soon Santa's will be creeping on the listings... Hmm let's see the last time I read moms blog she still has her Christmas countdown going... something like 172 days left!!! Where the heck has 2009 gone? Cross your fingers my time waiting for graduation goes by fast... Stay tuned for updates hopefully tomorrow... LETTER, LETTER, LETTER!!! PLEASE!!!!

Happy Fourth of July!!! The meaning of this day takes a different turn when you have a loved one that is joining the military. The thoughts of those that have given the ultimate sacrifice that we can be a Free country. I take great pride today to honor those that serve and have given their lives so that I can do what I please, worship as I please and speak my mind. Thank you to those in our military!! As I write this I of course take great pride in my son in Air Force BMT!!! I heard from Shane last night and as you might expect I was on cloud nine!! He sounded great!! He said its a mind game. Our conversation was short only about 4 minutes long. He is doing well and in good spirits. Has made some really good friends and finally wrote me a short letter he said. So til the next time I hear from him, I write a letter everyday and he loves getting mail!!! I am so proud!!!
So today we will work here at the house and then off to the bay to watch the fireworks the firefighters and the City of Coos Bay put on. Steve will have a barbecue down at his work... In the meantime Steve is outside sanding the front door!!! YES finally we may get this ugly door done and painted!!! ( okay it may not get done he just told me his hand is numb and he may have to quit) Figures,,, it will probably be finished by me... Of course the detailed sanding will be left up to me to get done..and of course the painting of the door. That may be a few weeks before I can get to it I dunno!!!
I am sewing today while he sands at the door.... I hope to have a doll ready to list on ebay and then I have a few special projects to get done. All in all a busy weekend no doubt. Hope everyone has a safe and wonderful holiday weekend... Prayers for Brian as he is in treatment again and GOD BLESS AMERICA!!!!

Days go Bye..... I can't tell you how sad it is to have my son gone as I dont have the words to express it. At 7 am on Saturday morning I got the phone call I was waiting for. I have never moved so fast out of bed with pen and paper in my hand!!! Shane was on the other end to tell me he made it to San Antonio and read off his address. We said we loved each other and he said he was fine. He sounded tired to me and I can only imagine the kid that loved to sleep in til noon is tired!! Reveille plays at 4:45 in the morning and they have a mere 15 minutes to shower, shave and be downstairs for physical conditioning. OH MY is all I can say!! Shane is no early riser!! The day ends with Taps at 9pm. lights out. As you might imagine I am thrilled to have an address now. At least a part of me feels I'm talking to him even if its days before he ever receives the letters. I write everyday .. I'm told its great for their morale and helps them stay connected to loved ones. So with each day I countdown to graduation... I CAN'T WAIT!!!

I finally was able to finish dressing one of the many naked doll bodies I've been talking about for weeks. Santa Sam was listed today on ebay
It has taken me some time to sit and think about something besides my sadness... so there is hope for me at the end of the tunnel!! Each day is a little easier and my hopes are to get these dolls dressed here!! One of Shane's biggest concerns was how I would deal with him leaving and he wouldn't want me sad and crying all the time. So I am trying!!! Alot of praying and well wishes from family and wonderful email friends.. I thank you all it means alot. ;)

Well he is gone.... and I will tell you I am the saddest I think I have been in so many years... I guess you don't realize what you have until its gone. All the times he may have upset me or stressed me out, all the laundry etc. Id take it all back in a heartbeat. I try to be strong and I find myself talking to God alot,,,but all it takes is seeing something that reminds me of him, or going in his room and the smell of his cologne in there and I'm a wreck!! I just miss him so much!!
Yesterday morning we met at MEPS... he was sworn in and signed on the dotted line. Then we sat, he ate lunch and they called them all in for travel briefings. There were about 10 of them... About a half hour later they came out of the room.. and out the front door. Shane hugged me tight, told me he loved me and that was it.... he was gone. Some were on one flight and then others on another... He was to arrive in San Antonio at 10:16 BUT there was a bad thunderstorm in Denver where they had to land midway and they ended up in Colorado Springs for the night. Finally this morning at 7 am I had a call from him that they were boarding the plane to Fort Worth, Texas and then on a flight to San Antonio. All finally went as planned and the last text I received from him at 1:55 my time said "I'm sooo torn up physically". That was the last text... I think stress and things really were taking their tole on the three of them. He was really worried that they were all a day behind and would get really yelled at for being late... even though it was due to weather.... So now I sit here alone tonight and just have to learn to deal with what is. I probably wont be much good to anyone for a few days... Don't worry about me I am going to be fine. Its just going to take some time to be alone and deal with it all. I am looking forward to the phone call I hear might be Sunday to tell me his address to write him at. I also know it will probably be about 38 seconds and he will be under stress to do it and get it all out correctly. I just pray things go okay for him and he stays strong.... I will be back to normal before long...

Yep I'm having a pity party and having it alone!! I just gotta write before things drive me nuts.... Have you ever been asked to do something for someone, not just asked but hounded to do something over and over?? To the point you say alright already and just get it done and over with?? BUT... when someone is supposed to do something for you.... its like pulling teeth to get anything in return? You can work your butt off for someone or others and what do you get in return?? I tell ya... the last few months I have been in this position more than once. I guess you can say I start to feel taken advantage of. In my everyday life and in my business.. it truly can be heart wrenching at times. I wont elaborate but there have been a few things that have just sat in my stomach and now they have soured horribly to the breaking point. With Shane leaving tomorrow I think Ive reached a breaking point!!!
I did manage to list an angel yesterday. Other dolls still lay naked on the table. High hopes today to take my mind off of everything going on and hopefully sew, but truthfully, I'm not my chipper self... my stomach is in knots and I am depressed.. its me for now and probably for days to come. I'll be fine in a few days...but for now this pity party is mine.....

Another beautiful day here?? Cloudy but supposed to warm up. Yesterday was Shane's 20th birthday. Hard to believe its been 20 years!! Kids just grow up too fast! What happened to the days when I was young and Christmas and summer vacations took so long to arrive? Now I blink and they are back!! Or finding out what day bootcamp starts and we had months... now we are counting days!! Life is just moving oh too fast!!!

I have managed to finish a few dolls. Abigail and Ameritina were listed yesterday on ebay. Just plugging away here!! Many naked doll bodies and two scrub tops I need to get working on. Maybe once Shane is off to bootcamp I can focus on my sewing more to take my mind off of things. At least I can hope!


Hey Mom... No I cant take anymore cats!! Five indoors is too many!! Yours are just adorable though... Id be so loving on that little Siamese!!!I am thinking you need to get it fixed and its mom!!!
Another day... gotta get busy and work on something here!! Hope everyone has a wonderful day!!!