WOW....it's been a while! So much has happened since I blogged last over a year and a half ago. One BIGGIE...We adopted a son. His name is William Michael "Will" and we are simply in love with him. Another BIGGIE...My husband deployed to Iraq & has been back home since Jan 2011. Our son was born while he was deployed which made life rather interesting. I was there when Will was born and took him home from the hospital. Another kicker, we lived in KS and he was born in GA. I found out we were getting him and 4 days later I left out driving to GA. One week after I arrived Will was born. One week later I left GA driving back to KS with my 7 day old son. My friend Barb flew to GA and drove back with me and wee one.

Fast Forward.....We have recently moved to VA. Larry is now stationed at the Pentagon and we live just outside DC. So far we are loving the area. Although traffic can be horrible, you just have to know how to work around it then it's not bad at all. We are enjoying having so many options of shopping and sight seeing. We've seen a lot but SO much more to see.

I'm planning to keep up with my post. I have a few new projects on the horizon and I think blogging about it will help keep me on track. Also, it's a great way to stay connected with family, friends and Army friends who are scattered about.

I'm making some life changes which I'll post about....next.

Buying the duplex

Well...before we got the apt. we were looking at homes to buy and found a duplex that we liked. It was newly remodeled and in a great neighborhood. Our house in MO was still not sold or rented so we got cold feet and passed on the duplex. The other half of the duplex was in foreclosure but was not available yet. After we got moved in the apt. and our renters got moved in I was surfing homes for sale, which I do often and love to do, and I found that the foreclosure was now on the market. I called my friend Staci who is our realtor and she got me in to see it. Larry was in meeting and couldn't go with me but I gave him the 411 on it. I told him I thought it would be a great investment and he wanted to buy site unseen. We did put in an offer without him seeing it but I insisted that he see it for himself. OK, the condition of the duplex...needed updates! The carpet was ikie, the walls were dirty, the wall had dings everywhere...etc etc etc.


SO, our offer was countered with an amount slightly over ours. We got a home inspection which gave the bank the things they would need to fix prior to closing and what was our responsibility. Of course the majority was on us.


Fast forward...closing...We closed on a Friday afternoon. Larry went back to work and I went to the house. I started removing light and socket covers and minor things like that. Saturday morning, bright and early, Larry started scraping the popcorn ceiling and I starting pulling up carpet. Larry had to be at work by 2pm on Sunday (I'll get to that later). From Sat. am to Sun. at noon we had scraped ALL the ceilings, pulled up ALL of the carpet and padding, hauled out the carpet/padding and started working on the dinged walls. Wheeeew...if you've never done remodleing...let me just say, that's a lot of work in a little time.


So, the ceilings are scraped and time for me to paint the ceilings. We took the worst of the ceiling off to leave a bit of a texture to cover imperfections. I started painting but there was a slight problem. It started to peal! Oh my goodness, what a pain! I tried to putty and prime it but it still pealed. I had a guy come in to quote replacing some exterior doors and he quoted finishing the ceilings. We jumped on it and left that up to them. They scrapped down to the sheetrock, primed and painted it. I was painting the entire house and I was just not up to doing any more.

The rest of the story tomorrow...goodnight!

Still Catching Up!

...So we prepared to move into the apartment. We went through the house and packed according to what we would 'need' and what would fit in the apartment. Going from 4,000 sq ft plus a 3 car detached garage, a storage bldg and a large barn to a 1,100 sq ft apt was a bit more than down sizing! We rented a Uhaul that Larry drove and pulled our car on a trailor. We loaded up the Mountaineer too which Molly and I drove. Well, she slept. Just east of Topeka we stopped for a potty break and when we pulled back on 70, we had a flat on the trailor! UGH! We called the Uhaul people and they sent someone with another tire...2 HOURS later! I went ahead hoping to do the walk through and be a step ahead once he got there. NOT! Our NEW apt. had mold and we had to change units. Which meant...redoing paperwork and calling the power, phone and water companies to change the address. Oh, and our mail had already been forwarded to the molded unit!!! What a pain! THEN, we were told that the apt. was under new management so some things had changed. I rented the apt. on Friday, it changed on Wed and we moved Thurs. Great timing! The new "management" and I had some words and he was just butt head. We finally unloaded the truck and guess what...our AC was not working. It was the first of July in the midwest...it was slightly hot! You know it's hot when you shower and within 5 minutes you need another shower!!! It made for a miserable nights sleep...or I should say a miserable night of tossing and turnig.

Once settled, we liked the apt. It was new and clean. Our building was quiet as there were only 4 units occupied in our building at that time. That all changed which I will talk about later.

About the time we were moving I got a call from someone interested in our house in MO. They wanted to lease it for 2 years and then purchase it. They have someone in their home doing the same thing so they need to sell before buying our house and property.

For you folks who are just joining my blog, Aunt Carol is Larry's aunt who has taken me in as her own. So aunt Carol met us at the house in MO for clean up day, well dayS. We cleaned top to bottom getting it ready for the renters. There is NO way we could have done it without her!

Then the movers came. They packed up our household goods and headed to KS. We now have a 10X30 storage bldg here FULL.

Next chapter...how we went from our apt to our house in 3 months. Moving twice in 3 months...we are nuts!!!

Trying to catch up!

I know, I know, I know...I'm Waaay behind! My husband, my mother, my Aunt Jean and my sister-in-law Pat...and many more have reminded me that I have not updated my blog in quiet sometime. SO much has happened and changed...I'll 'try' to catch you up.....

We have a family in our house in MO who are doing a lease/purchase. It's not want we wanted... but better than what we had. The plan is that they will purchase the house within 2 years. (pros and cons...the sooner the better)

For a while, Larry was at Ft. Riley and I was at the house in Warrensburg. He came home on weekends, I went to Riley or we were simply apart. We were SO tired of being in hotel after hotel...sometimes for a few days at the time and sometimes a week (plus) at a time. A friend of his had an apartment and offered him a place to sleep...on an air mattress. Funny, yet sad. Larry had an air mattress in the living room and his friend had an air mattress in a bedroom. Nothing else... I sent a frying pan and a glass dish...his friend had a rice cooker and they called it "home". For Army guys...that's more than enough.

We did this from November to June and we both said...ENOUGH! We were sick of driving back and forth, sick of hotels, sick of being apart and sick of paying rent for a space for an air mattress and sick of...well, did I say being apart??? Yeah, being apart!

We decided to get an apartment and call it done! I went out on a search and decided on Quinton Point, a new apartment complex in JC. First floor and Molly friendly. They had a "Move in Special" and boom...it was ours!

To be continued..........

Our Ponds Last Days...Fish Too

The state is doing some road changes in front of our house and they have purchased the right of way which included 1/2 of our pond. Therefore, the pond will be filled in. The pond is to the left of our driveway as you turn in. Today was the big day! They slowly broke the dam for the water to begin slowly draining into a ditch. It's supposed to take several days for it to be totally drained. Each day they will take the dam down a little more. The ground was already very wet due to a crack in the dam and with all the rain and snow we've had makes for a muddy mess! Ick! So we are trying to find a buyer for our house with a pile of mud as you drive into the driveway...lovely! I'm hoping that when the water gets very low we can scoop some of the fish out and find them a new pond to call home. So here are some pics of the mess!

Our Story..Leaving NC

Larry had to fly from Charlotte, NC back to MO on Saturday. Once we were ready to leave for the airport Larry came to get my bags for me. I was finishing up packing my things and Larry sat on the end of my bed. He turned me around and pulled me to him for a great big hug. He was squeezing me and I was giggling…then he leaned back, pulled me with him… and the top of my foot hit the bed frame and my foot was cut. Ha, you thought that was going to be a rated X story didn’t you? Shame on you! Hahaha! Anyway, my foot had a deep gash in it and it bled a lot! OUCH! It hurt but I laughed. Larry felt horrible. Once I assured him I was fine he started to laugh too. He said, “Well, I’ve branded you and now you mine!” It took FOREVER for that thing to heal!

Off we went to the airport. Neither of us wanted to leave each other. We were enjoying our time together and just did NOT want it to end. Anyway, we were in line to get his ticket and the guy at the counter was super nice. He was asking Larry Army question and asked where he flew in from and where he was going. You probably won’t believe this because to get through security and to the gate you have to have a boarding pass. Larry fudged the truth a little and I got to go with him to the gate. I had to go through security of course. I guess you’re wondering what he told them. He said that he had been temp. deployed to Korea and only had 24 hours with his fiancé and would just love to have some extra time with me. I tease him about “stretching the truth”. He said he was just looking into the future. So I went with him to the gate and his flight was delayed which gave us more time together. I’m sure most travelers were upset but we were happy about it.

It was time for him to board and for us to say goodbye. We hugged and hugged and hugged some more. I cried all the way to the car. I was happy for the short time we had together but sad that it was over. Then again…it was just beginning.

He called me before I got to my car. We talked until the plane was closing the door.

Once I hung up with him I started making the list of calls to let everyone know that I was alive and well and on my way back home. Of course I answered many questions and told the story of our time together over and over. Amy reminded me that I had said I would now my true feelings once I saw him and she wanted to know the verdict. You all know the answer already IF you read yesterday’s blog. Back to the phone calls, everyone was glad to hear my voice and relieved to know they did not have to send out a search party.

It was a great time and we were both looking forward to our next visit!

Our Story...Charlotte, NC

This is a long one…….

Picture it…Gainesville, GA Friday April 1, 2005…

I woke up so excited! This is probably a shocker but I didn’t even put make up on, just threw on sweats and left. My plan was to arrive at the hotel early to shower and get ready before picking Larry up at the airport.

It was pouring rain! The 3 ½ hour drive took a little longer due to the weather. I was in a great mood and the drive did not bother me in the least. Of course my phone rang most of the way. Let’s see if I can recall everyone I talked to on the phone; Momma, Aunt Jean, Tim, Amy, Sandra, Susan, Cher, Christy, Connie and Rebecca. I think that’s all but I can’t promise.

Larry had booked our rooms already so I just had to check in. Of course I let Momma and Tim know that I had arrived. Also I let Amy know who was to pass the word along to some others. I talked to Christy for a while and then got in the shower. I took my time and got dressed. I was so glad…I had a great hair day even though it was raining! That’s a big deal for a girl!!!

Ok, it was time to leave for the airport. I was a little nervous but good nervous. I called Amy when I left the hotel. My tummy was a little upset (if you know me well you will know that is not unusual for me!) So I stopped at the drugstore for some meds then off to the airport. I found the gate Larry would be arriving at. I was standing beside an escalator with my back leaned against a large post. Every second seemed like a minute. Finally people started coming through the opening. I could not stop smiling. I had a silly grin permanently etched on my face. I had turned my head away from the door for just a second and when I turned back there he was. He was walking around a post and looked like he was going to turn the other way but then he turned and walked toward me. When he got almost to me he said, “I was going to act like I didn’t see you but I just couldn’t”. When he got to me he let go of his suitcase, gave me a peck on the lips and hugged me tight. He pulled back looking at me and said, “Oh my God, you are gorgeous. Your pictures do you no justice”. Of course that made me smile even bigger. He told me to show him the way to the car, took my hand and we started walking. We walked about 15 ft. and he stopped, let go of his suitcase, turned to me, framed my face with his hands and said, “I can’t wait any longer”…and he kissed me! Right there in the middle of the airport with people walking around us. I will NEVER forget that moment. It was my “movie moment”. Sweet and Romantic! At that moment, I just knew. I didn’t know how things would develop and what would happen with us but I knew that this was something special and so was he.

We made our way to my car and we kissed again before we opened the trunk! Ha! Larry is going to be embarrassed when he reads this part but…he was funny and sweet in the car. As I drove, he held my and would put his hand on the back of my neck and over and over again he would tell me how beautiful he thought I was and how blessed he was to have met me. (And other stuff) So we arrived at the hotel and he got checked in and changed clothes and we went to dinner at Olive Garden. We talked and talked and talked. I excused myself to go to the bathroom and I called Amy. I told her that I was alive and fine…no shovels or axes. Of course if you know Amy you know she wanted to ask me questions but I told her that we would talk later and I just wanted to let her know I was ok because I knew she would call me until I answered. HA! The dinner and the company were awesome.

We went back to the hotel and we talked and talked and talked some more! Actually, we talked ALL NIGHT!

What a great day! I met my Prince.
Stay Tuned………..

Our Story...The Night Before...

Exactly 4 years ago tonight, I was packing a bag getting ready to leave the next morning to meet Michael in Charlotte. (Reminder, he was flying in from Korea and tried to get his lay over in Atl. But no such luck.) I was super excited. I was asked over and over, “Are you nervous?” Hmmm, I really wasn’t. I knew that when I woke the next day that might change but at that moment, I was just excited.

I talked to my Momma earlier that day and she was a little more nervous than she was when I first told her that I would be meeting Larry. She reassured me that she trust my judgment but as a Mom, she could not help but worry a little.

With him being in Korea at this point, I had not had contact with him via email or phone in over 24 hours due to the time difference and him preparing to leave. Amy, Sandra, Susan and Christy-not at the same time- asked me, “Are you sure he will show up? How can you be sure he will be there?” My answer was that I just know. Don’t get me wrong, they were not ‘against’ us meeting, just curious and concerned.

As I said in an earlier blog, they were teasing me about not wanting to find me wrapped in plastic and stuffed in my trunk. Amy kept saying you call me after you pick him up at the airport…and at dinner…and before you go to sleep…and in the morning…etc. I said ok, I have barely 24 hours with him…no calls. Then I agreed to call a couple times…maybe. Ha!

As I’ve said before, by that point Larry and I had talked more hours than I can count and we were getting so close. I was asked by my friends if I was starting to love him. I already knew that there was something different about our relationship. I just felt that we were truly friends and I knew that he was a special person. We were great friends and I had a different feeling inside. I felt that I was falling in love with him. I know I know, you are wondering how we could fall in love over the phone. Well, when you have prayed and trusted God to send the perfect person and you have spent time just talking, nothing but talking and getting to know each other, you just get the feeling that there is something there. I told Amy that I could not say that I was “In Love” with him but I knew in my heart that I would know the moment I saw him if I loved him and if he was “The One”. NOT that I needed to see what he looked like in person but that I would just get “That Feeling” and I would know it in my knower.

So, I prayed again before going to bed. I asked God to let both of us know if this was the right thing. To let us each have peace and not have doubt. Why was I asking for God to give us such strong feelings just approximately 6 weeks into this relationship? Well, both he and I had been through a lot in our past. Those who know me well know that I went through more than my share of trials, struggles and abuse. Neither of us wanted to walk down that road again and I didn’t think that God wanted that for us either. We are instructed in the Bible to ASK…so I did.

Little did I know when I said Amen and fell asleep that the next day I would meet my Prince.

A Day In Parr World

Well you’ve heard me say time and time again that life with the Parr’s is never boring or simple. On Friday afternoon around 4:30 Larry got word that he may be leaving for North Dakota on Sat. morning to work for FEMA due to the flooding. Then around 5:30 or so, it was a done deal. This was 100% out of the blue! So he hurried around to get his cold weather gear which was stored at a friend’s house. On Sat morning he went to post for a briefing and then to the air field to leave. Due to the snow and ice the flight was delayed until Sun. morning. After a long day of briefings and waiting Larry went back to his apartment. He had to be at the air field at 5am Sun. He left sometime around 7am on a Schnook headed to ND. He arrived safely and headed straight into yet another briefing. Late in the evening he was settled in his shared room. When we talked tonight he was drained. We were discussing how all this happen and how fast it happened. It was like…you might be going…you are going…snap and you’re in ND!

So there is just another example of how things work in our world. Never a dull moment! Actually, we would both love to have some dull moments!

I've not put an updated pic of Anderson on the blog in a whild so here is a pic of my nephew Anderson...well not nephew by blood but by the love in my heart. Is he not just a cutie?! He's 4 months old now and I can't wait for him to get back to KS so I can see him and get some Anderson sugar!

Have a great week!
kdp

Congrats Dawn & PJ

Dawn & PJ found out that their first born will be a BOY! Congratulations! (She wanted a boy!)

Dawn emailed me 4 possible names for the baby and I've put in my 2 cents. I hope he has Dawn's sweetness and of course I hope he looks like PJ...You know I Love me some PJ! (Don't think that was mean...it's an inside joke!)

Dawn was just a wee little thing when I met her and it's hard to believe she will be a Mom at the end of the summer!

Love you both!