Did I mention it's COLD!?!?

yes, my cheeks are purple!!

I went to the site yesterday for Extreme Home Makeover to volunteer. It was around 36 degrees when I got there and the wind was howling! (it was 21 when we left). I was layered up though and had on my ski pants, thank goodness for those, the only thing that was really cold was my face and it was covered most of the time...the wind was brutal. We got on the bus under the Kemah bridge and got bussed over to the build. It was amazing, so much going on, so many people scurrying around, heavy equipment beeping, trucks in and out. Craziness, but such a feeling of community. When we got off the bus, the team heading out was clapping, cheering and high-fiving all of us, it got us pumped up! We got put to work immediately building a walkway from one block thru a horse pasture and to the other, stopping across from the house, or I should say at this point, the site where the house will be. It was already gone when I got there... We laid 2X4's for about 200 yards, then 8 foot plywood on top then connected them all together. My arms are sore from carrying plywood! Luckily my hubby sent me with some leather work gloves, they saved the day! It took us, about 30 of us, about 2 hours to do this. It was freezing, but when we got moving it was bearable. We were walking back to the warming tent and I was clapping my hands to keep them warm and one of the guys from the construction company in a golf cart asked if my hands were cold and gave me hand warmers to put in my gloves! How cool! It really helped for a bit. We were fed a warm dinner and had plenty of coffee and went back to work. We laid a floor in the VIP tent, more plywood, for another hour then we were done. The walk back to the bus stop was about 1/4 mile, but it seemed longer! We hooped and hollered at every truck waiting to deliver stuff, we had horns honking all down the street...bet the neighbors love this!! Actually they have all been great I hear, especially the one across the street with a huge tent in their front yard!! All in all it was great, next week should be warmer and more fun stuff to do.... hopefully I can get out there and get more pics!

Stay Warm!

It's EXTREMELY cold!!

Well, it's on it's way to freezing as I type. The "arctic blast" is on its way! Sounds like a Dairy Queen treat, doesn't it?? :) Just great for this weather to be coming in here now as we have Extreme Makeover: Home Edition in town!

Ty and the gang, just rolled in this am and surprised the Beach Family that they are getting a new house, and boy do they need one! The article is there if you click on their name, it was from last year after Ike. It is just across the Kemah Bridge from me, so I hope to be out there and taking lots of pics to scrapbook! The Pep Rally was held at our church as we are a sponsor and they are doing all of the interviews there also... I might need to run up there and get something.... I think I left my bible.... hee-hee.... I'm hoping to run into Ty or Paulie...The show will air in March and this is the biggest house they will have ever built for the show! You can keep up with the progress on Blu's website! Stay warm and say a prayer for the Subs, Trades and volunteers out there working in this weather!!

kris

Happy New Year, almost....

Well, yes I know it's been a while! So much has been going on, it's been nuts. Last post I mentioned I was working again, yes I am, but now at a different job than then. Wait, lemme back up, that last post was the day before Halloween, and Trey was sick. Got him on TamiFlu and he seemed to get well pretty quick except he missed Halloween altogether. He slept thru the doorbell ringing, dogs barking and kids hollering for candy. No trick or treating for him this year.
Then it was time for my birthday again... they keep coming closer and closer together! Guess that's better than the alternative! ;) After that I got another job. The one I had was at a private day school and it was good, but I'm not cut out to be a teacher and I had a class of 3 year olds on Tuesdays and a class of 4 year olds on Thursdays. I was ready to pull my hair out on those days! Bless teachers hearts! SO.... I got another job, my dream job... at a scrapbooking store!! I am working at the Scrapbook Junkie and love it! Come see me if you're in the area! The days fly by and it's fun to help people get into the hobby! Then it's time for Thanksgiving, one of my favorite holidays! We had the usual fare with the family! Good times and good eats! Next is the hustle and bustle of Christmas, but the Grinch in me came out.... I had no extra money to spend this year.... but it worked out, lighter than in the past, but everyone was happy. Just glad to get this year over with and pray 2010 is better, it has to be, hopefully it can't be any worse....

We did have a Christmas miracle in our family this year though! Nick's cousin has been sick for a while with a bad heart. In and out of the hospital numerous times. The doctors would think they got it fixed then he'd go down again. Finally put him on UNOS for a heart. Not really sure how long he was on the list, but Nick and I were heading out to shop for Trey on Thursday the 17th of December, and his mom called to tell us they were on stand-by, meaning, be ready they may have a heart for him. Then around 2:30 they told them to head to the hospital, it was a match and after a few more tests, they may do surgery that night! When it happens, it happens fast! Sure enough, in the wee hours of the morning of the 18th, he got a new heart! Last time we saw him, he looked pretty bad, and had a backpack and port line for medication that he had to have 24/7. So it couldn't have come at a better time. He came through surgery with flying colors, and was in CICU for a few days, then to a regular room for a day or two then home for Christmas!
If that isn't a miracle, I don't know what is! One week almost to the day, home with a new heart!
He was given the greatest gift this year, from a stranger! We are so grateful and his family has their husband and dad back! We have said many prayers during this for the donor family and the doctors and they have all been answered!

Our Christmas was crazy as usual! 4 get togethers and lots of food and whew, I'm in a food coma... so much junk, sweets and food non stop! Tonight I'm making a real dinner and will try to stay away from the leftovers!

No work until Wednesday, so hope to get this pit cleaned up and all that laundry done! No rest for the weary!

Hope you all have a Happy New Year!

kris

I'm still around!

I can't believe it's been so long since I posted! I haven't been up to too much except working again! EWWWW!! But it's a must do in this economy! I forgot how tired I am in the evening when I work, how messy my house stays, how big the pile of laundry gets, how I don't have my days to grocery shop, visit my grandparents, or have lunch with my girls, I could go on and on, but I digress. Anyhoo... I have missed checking in on the blogs I keep up with, (or used to) and just playing away the day away on the net. I am still scrapping when I can, but those times are few and far between too! Well, this is a short and sweet post, I have a sicky kiddo today and need to go check on him! Check y'all later!

KRIS

Another Anniversary

It has been a year since our lives changed overnight. In some ways it's hard to believe it's been that long, in others it seems like yesterday. This time last year we were headed to Mom and Dad's to hunker down. It was hardly blowing but the water had already risen at home. It wouldn't be but hours until the nation's third costliest storm hit us head on. To remind you of what we went through, read my post from last year about seeing hell. Since then have we seen former presidents raising money or movie stars on our behalf begging the rest of the country for help, have we even seen much help from our own government? Some who needed living arrangements are still fighting with FEMA, but where are all the trailers?? In Louisiana.... for Pete's sake! I'm going to rename this storm and it's victims, (one of which I am, though I hate that word), The Forgotten Ones. We had to fight with FEMA for 3 months to help, then after 3 months they said we no longer qualify. We pay a mortgage for a place that is still condemned, and we pay rent. Thanks FEMA, said with all the sarcasm I can muster. I'm trying to be happy because we all lived through it, we have a home and our health, but sometimes I wonder...anyway, this is one anniversary that can quietly slink off into the night and I won't care. I'm going to go to sleep tonight not worried, sick to my stomach or scared and not hearing the roar of hell. I'm looking forward to tomorrow for it's a new day!

kris

Where were you?

Do you remember where you were on this day 8 years ago? I remember it as clearly as I remember where I was when President Reagan was shot, when Challenger exploded and when we lost the space shuttle Columbia. Things like this stick in your mind always. It's a good thing... we should remember who was lost, who the heroes were and always lift up the families whose lives are forever changed in a split second. Never again will 9/11 be just another date.

with reflection,

kris