Pass the time

Watching sunsets from my front door.

Volleyball (I ref...no gimps aloud!)

Staff BBQ's

Seeing it took 3 hours to post today...I'll sign off for now!

p.s. Mom, mom, mom...the care package made my day. Loose tea?!? You think of everything!

These are a few of my Favorite things....

My friendship with Mohamed.

A Kenyan who joined the Marines & now is gearing up for his

second run for the Kenyan Parliament.

Learning to Knit (another Christmas suprise!), pilates videos & Trader Joe's Teas.

My Holga camera with it's polaroid base.

I can't tell you how much I LOVE this piece of plastic!

A new calendar made by Emily. I can't get enough of my nephew...

Vegetable Curry ala DFAC

The simple things keep me sane. While the work is meaningful, time is going A LOT slower. I need to send a shout out to Morgan~ your family Christmas letter is on my wall at work. Thank you! I LOVE seeing your family grow! And Emily, those calendars....you couldn't of done anything sweeter. Thank you!


Ankle update: I'm off the crutches, but walking very, very, very slowly. The pain is suprising. Anyone who has a recovery trick...lay it on me. I'm willing to try anything that will help this heal faster.


Lastly, a funny side note. Max has a 'new' haircut (BY ACCIDENT!) Apparently the groomer decided to shave him like an actual poodle. THE HORROR! His sub-mommy Kirsti & Lambsons have started calling him Minimus. All while counting the days until his curls return!! THANK YOU Jeanne for the update!!

Sending my love!

It's been an interesting few weeks

So much to say!

Move complete from Victory to Liberty. Not much to that though...more moving from Ballwin to Chesterfield, or Sandy to Holiday!

Big news: The sprained ankle that's kept me on crutches for the last week! Walking home from the gym, I rolled my ankle in a pothole. Sorry folks, un-fabulous injury...but the result is a grapefruit sized ankle, swollen on BOTH sides (how does that happen?!), and stupid painful. The bases here are not handicap friendly, but I'm hobbling through with loads of offered help & smirky stares. Ah, fun.

Second big news: My first dentist appointment overseas. Very, um, different. For those with weak stomachs...lets just say, mostly no gloves, assistant in house slippers, lack of any kind of sanitary precausions, dentist with BO & bad breath who was sleeping on the couch when I came in, and lastly: No numbing stuff for the first 15 min. A simple filling replacement took an hour and a half. Dad- really, I may have beaten your Coast Guard wisdom tooth experience...

All and all things are good. VERY differnt this time. Easy hours, no stress & a day off. What could be better??

I think of you all often. Please keep me updated & I'll do the same!

Love you All!!

The clean side of the room:

The work in progess side...fridge in process of being scrubbed, laundry, extra bed-turned coat rack and, of course, my faithful crutches !

Back in the Sandbox

Well, I'm back!

New Contract.
New-to-me CHU.
New Co-workers.

Due to the most ridiculously slow internet, I'll only be posting on Sundays when I can sneak on during the slower traffic time.

Photos soon to come!

If you have the itch to write me a letter, my address is:

Mary Southerland (OSS)
TF 134 J3 Programs
APO, AE 09342

Hope this finds you all happy & Healthy...

LOVE YA'LL!!

Date a Tanner

Trevor's poor date...
You get fooled to come in for 'just a moment'

Then you get cornered!

Do you see Trev's face?!? SO classic.


She survived!

But only after meeting Grandpa & Grandma & Earl & Peter &&&&&

Merry Christmas!!

First, wonderful blogger will not let me move the order of the photos...Grrrr. SO, pardon the random order!

I am a woman of few words...so I will let the photos show our family's
Christmas in Utah.

However, I need to send special loves to Mom, Dad & David in Korea: I LOVE you & miss you all horribly. There's not a moment that I didn't have you all in my heart. Emily did a fabulous job doing gathering my 'Santa' gifts...thank you.

Joe, Emily & Noah: I'm glad we followed a few holiday traditions together! Cookies, movies & Zoo Lights..Christmas 'musts' for me! Emily, your shopping skills amaze me. THANK YOU for being 'Santa's' helper! Give loves to my Max and kisses for Nephew!

Merry Christmas to all my friends in Iraq!
I'm blessed to have met you all & share some life changing experiences.
Thank you. Thank you & God bless your families.

Christmas 2008:

3 of 5!

Holiday Kisses

Christmas Naps...my favorite kind

I love Bob...even if he is a Boston fan!

Beautiful Laurisa & Kathy

Christmas PJs, Fab Slippers (Thank you parents & Emily!)
& Grandma's decorating magic!

Frosting sugar cookies in St Louis

World's biggest Eagle Fan.
(AKA Thabo)

Amber with beautiful, new Gavin

Happy Peter!

Vanna Alison!

Love these boys

Enough said.
(I already miss him)

Perfect.

Home Sweet Home

Home & Happy & Lovin my rash-covered nephew!