The Election is Over....

The election has come and it has gone...we now have a new president elect. This is monumental in so many ways....so exciting in so many ways...and so frightening...you guessed it...in so many ways. The election did not go as we had hoped...but we are right with its outcome. We only pray that our president elect is the RIGHT president for US. Time will only tell...

I have SO many exciting things happening, that I don't know where to start. I guess first, we have to talk about my daughter. She is a lovely girl...she was married last January-on the coldest day of the entire winter...we had a high of about 5 above that day...brrrrrrrrrrrrr....yes it was so cold....then in March...her new hubby left for basic training at Lackland AFB in Texas. It was so hard on them...he was gone so long...and such newly weds....but they weathered through it. Their condo sold two months before he returned from training...so our daughter and their child...his name is Gizmo...moved back home with us. We had to do some MAJOR rearranging...but it was well worth it. We had a marvelous two months with our daughter that we might not have had otherwise.

September was such a whirlwind. Mike graduated from his training...and returned home. We had a picnic for him....with about 75 in attendance...then the next weekend they moved to their first duty assignment....in South Carolina. Our daughter scrimped and saved while Mike was gone...so they would have enough in savings to carry them through till she found a job. She was pretty scared...was hearing it would take 6 months or more to find a job...but today she found one...after only 4 weeks and three interviews! Way to go! It will be a drive for her...but at least she won't have snow and ice to worry with....

In July my husband and I purchased a motorhome. Now, most people would think we were totally senseless in doing this...with gas prices so high, etc. But we did this so we could take our business on the road. Our plan is to set up at street fairs, car shows, and of course military bases in about 100 mile radius of Kansas City. We have been modifing it and almost are ready to roll! Now we just mainly have the cosmetic stuff to do...paint...curtains, graphics on the outside...that sort of thing. The main constructing of the interior space is almost complete. If you are close to Kansas City and would like for us to set up at your event....send us an email...describing your event...we will see if we can make it happen!

The other major change is a complete-fresh-new website for our business...www.dyesubprints.com . We are excited as our vision has been for more than 3 years-to have an online designer-and to be able to act as a fulfillment center-helping budding artists get a start....like cafe press or zazzle. With this new website-we are now ready to offer these services! All packaged in one! Can't wait for you to visit!

Our son and his new family are doing well. The kids are adapting to their new school. How many changes they must be going through....even though the school is on post...it has to be different from what they are used to....but children adapt. I know Derek said the young girl-about age 9-had made lots of new friends and was even having a Halloween party!

My son has been suffering from headaches and back pain since leaving Iraq. It has been discovered that he has 2 bulging discs...but thankfully NO traumatic brain injury. We are waiting to hear what the plan of action is for him.

With all these changes....and the holidays quickly approaching...I have to get to work! The first 3 weeks of December are usually a blur for me...so I must be prepared!

Good luck to all of you. Stay safe...until we meet again...

Head down, eyes open, I love you.

The Presidential Race

My husband and I are watching with interest this years race for president. Our country is in a cross roads here...we have candidates who have the passion for what they want this country to become. Our goal is to decide which passion we stand behind.

On Monday, I had the honor of attending the rally in Lee's Summit, Missouri for McCain/Palin. It was a sight to behold. There were over 6,000 in attendance..and I was lucky enough to not only be inside the convention hall, but to be in the second row back. Now, this didn't come easy. I arrived at 6:15 a.m...stood in the rain and the blustery wind...for 2 hours...just to be able to get inside. But I would do it again. Not ony were the candidates inspiring...but the people who had attended were also. We came from all different areas in the community...with different jobs, schools, pay classes...but there was a united front. I realized very quickly that I was no where near the level of some of these folks when it came to believing in a candidate!

I designed a special shirt, which I will post on my webite...and had MANY great comments regarding it. However, the most important thing I did...I printed out a picture of my son, "Christmas in Baghdad" and also the design "My son is away protecting our freedom". Young and old alike wanted to hear about the life of a soldier and his family....and I was willing to give an insight to what we experience...the pride, the fear, the joy, the excitement, the loneliness..all the emotions of what a family goes through while their loved ones are away.

I find that most don't realize this. It is taken for granted. I strongly believe that "we families" need to express our feelings and what we go through....because we don't have the luxury of daily phone calls, stops by the house to see what is going on, going "shopping" or just sitting around the table with that cold glass of lemonade or a Budweiser.

I will update later about both of my children...as life for each of them is changing as they serve our country.

With that I will close....

Head down, eyes open, I love you.

Happy New Year....a bit late...!

Well, it has been some time since I have written. For that I apologize....just not enough hours in the day.

We rushed with Christmas, getting orders out just as quick as we could...and then said a big "ahhhhhhhh"....Those 3 weeks of December are just absolute killers! But who am I to complain? could be worse...no orders at all!

The New Year arrived and we went into full wedding mode! So much to do in just 19 days! We made it...I have been out of the office since January 1...so I have a pile of mail to catch up on!

We prepared decorations, prepared food for 125 guests, bought our "wedding clothes", had friends, family visit....crazy time! But in the end, it was absolutely beautiful. Our daughter made a beatiful bride and we are so proud of her...She was absolutely glowing! The wedding ceremony was in the evening, and lit by candlelight...breathtaking!

Our son did actually make it home for the wedding...we were so glad to see him...he was one of the groomsman, and looked so nice in his black suit. His sister was so pleased and relieved that he made it....she had waited to marry till he could be here...so he made it extra special for her.

I turned 50 on the 26th of January...1 week after the wedding. This is the day our son had to leave for Belgium. He made it...after his flight getting cancelled, and then booking on a different airline...and waiting at Dulles in Washington and then almost not being allowed in at London/Heathrow! What a wild time for him! The long and the short of it is HE MADE IT...safe and sound.

He had some bad news....he was denied family accompaniment...this means that his new wife and her children are not allowed to go to Belgium to be with him. Not really sure why....one of the children has some special needs...and this apparently caused the problem. We are sad about this, because he is sad. We know how much he wanted to be able to have them with him, and to be such newlyweds....is going to be very hard. We hope everything works out for him.

We still are not exactly happy about his decision to marry, but if this girl makes him happy, and they are able to make a life together...then we are happy. That is all we have ever wanted...for our children to grow up to be strong, caring individuals. We want them to find the mate that will make them happy....and for the two families to be able to "blend" together....we have this with our daughters in laws-as for our sons-we have never spoken or had any contact....I hope to eventually have this with them also.

That is about it on this end....trying to get busy again...February has been especially hard on us...our son is gone...our daughter is married, I turned 50...we both got sick with a virus and sinus infection...and just to rest up after all that had gone on. My husband has Parkinson's Disease and me with my health problems, it just takes us longer to get anything done and then to recoup after we did!

Please remember....say a prayer for a soldier tonight...keep them in your prayers...

LousMom