Since we have moved back to the States and the land of commercials, I have noticed that my precious little Syd's wanter has been stuck in the on position.  Of course Steven is no better I told him about a hand held leaf blower that is also a vacuum.  He said we need the vacuum attachment for the riding mower.  It broke my heart to tell him we didn't have a riding mower.  Chase has every gaming system out there not to mention a cell phone and anything else a 13 year old boy could want.  Okay I know what you are thinking what about me.  Well of course I am the perfect one in this family and only get what is needed.  What do I need you ask?  EVERYTHING!!!! And because of this need for every new thing that comes on the market I decided to go back to work.  I got my real estate license and set out to make beaucoup bucks. 

I put my baby in day care.  Paid my son to watch her when I had to work in the evenings and on weekends.  I was tired and cranky and unplugged from my family.  Syd was learning all kinds of wonderful new things at the day care.  And Chase was being a surrogate parent because mom was too busy with work.  So for all of this how much money was I bringing home...Zip, zilch, nuttin.

Well I am that girl that a gentle nudge from God just doesn't seem to work so he pulled out the big guns.  Every sermon at church, every whine from my daughter, and every sad look from my son was telling me I needed to be at home.  I ignored it.  Thank God for that one friend that will tell you like it is.  I called her and was telling her the whole awful story when she said Melissa have you prayed about it.  Well know I already know that God's will for me is to stay home and raise my children.  To wich she replied if you know you are outside of God's will why are you still there.  I love her for just telling me like it is.  So I have returned home to be a wife and mother.  The only problem is we still want every new thing.

This is where our little social experiment comes in.  Steven and I have decided that for the next 6 months we will only spend money on necessities.  We all define our own necessities so please no snide remarks.  We will not be eating out,  since we couldn't cancel our cable or cell phones ( under 2 year contracts) we have set them to the cheapest plans, no more just running to the store for a candy bar, pop, movie, ect.  TV is set to 1 hour a week each, Chase and Steven will take their lunches, np more shopping for entertainment and the biggey.....cigarettes are not a necessity.  We hope that this experiment will show us how much God truly does provide for us, bring our family closer together, and bring us closer to God.  I can't wait to see how this all plays out.

Look out Missouri we are coming home. That's right we got orders and will be moving to Whiteman Air Force Base in Knob Noster Missouri (go ahead say it out loud it's fun ) this summer. We will be 4 1/2 hours from home and close enough to visit dear friends in the other parts of the country. I think Chase is going to be in for a massive culture shock. Knob Noster is a teaming metropolis of 2300 people. It doesn't even have a walmart (gasp).


The church across from our first house in Schonenberg-Kubelberg





Wow I can't believe it has already been 4 years. The time has gone by so fast and now it is almost time to say goodbye to Europe. We have been so blessed while here. We have met incredible friends that we will say "until we see you again" to. We have seen beautiful places and eaten incredible food. Learned new ways to live and new ways not to live. Chase has learned a new language. Syd will learn about a whole new world when we get to the States. And I learned how to ski in the Alps sort of. Steven has already traveled the world so I'm not sure what he learned. Maybe how to be a single parent when I go on a weekend with the girls. But I think most of all we have learned how much we love The United States. I can't wait to get home and hug my family, eat at Arby's, shop at walmart, and be able to read all the road signs.

Porta Nigra Trier Germany

So it's that time again. Syd turned 3 this year and I don't know where the time goes. She is so grown up now or at least thinks she is. In the last year she has become so girly. So I enlisted the help of my dear friend Brandi to throw her a Princess Party. We had tea (pink lemonade) and cake (made by my other great friend Judy) in a room fit for a princess. Cinderella came to the party aka Brandi and the girls had a great time. So what did I contribute to this party??!! Well I did the hardest part..... the evite!! ;-) We are so blessed to have wonderful friends who do so much for us. This was a day Syd will never forget.

Okay so I was supposed to be cleaning my house for the 16 women that are coming tomorrow to play bunco. For those of you who know me well this won't come as a shock but I found an excuse not to clean ( surprise, surprise, surprise). I was feeling creative and this is what I came up with. Let me know what you think.

So it has been a while since I have posted to this blog. Since the last posting Steven has come home from deployment, Syd has turned three and Chase is becoming a fabulous young man. Here are some Pictures of the last year.

Our little princess at halloween

Looks just like Gigi

Steven suprised me with a vow renewal for our 6th anniversary

Could they be any more beautiful??