All I can say is...euw

So the other week, Ken and I fell asleep on the couch. I woke up around 11 pm and turned off the tv, yawned, stretched, and noticed something crawling on the ceiling above Ken's head!! I woke him up and we got our black light. He got a broom handle and knocked it off the ceiling and this is what the evil thing looks like in black light:



Of course he got the boys involved and they decided to play with it a while before its demise...they like to tickle the evil creature's back, trying to get it to sting itself. Why oh why were these things created???

For this post, I'm grateful for black lights to be able to spot these things before they do any damage. I'm grateful for a husband and sons who will get rid of them when they are spotted. I'm grateful that we've lived in Arizona for 9 years, 7 of those years in this very house, before seeing these horrible, ugly things! And I'd be ever so grateful if I never, ever had one in my house again!

Giving thanks

Well, it's that time of year again, my absolute favorite!! I'm so glad Thanksgiving hasn't been cheapened like Christmas and become so crazy like Halloween. It's still the best holiday because it's always on a Thursday and Ken gets Friday off. Wow, a 4-day weekend, so rare!! And the food is the BEST.

So my posts this month will all include something of gratitude. Today is Veteran's Day so how could I not say something about veterans?? I have no idea what it's like to be in the military, let alone go to war. I don't know what it's like to be out there fighting for our freedom or to be willing to die for what I believe in. There are so many who do know, though. I truly thank them. From those who fought to free us from British rule in the Revolutionary War to the Civil War, World War I, World War II, the Korean "conflict", Vietnam, Desert Storm, and those who serve now and all times in between.

My dad's dad serving in the Army in the early 1930s:


My father was a Korean War vet, although not in Korea; he served on an aircraft carrier in the Mediterranean. He was on the USS Coral Sea and the USS Lake Champlain.

Deck inspection, my dad is the starred sailor:


If I had to choose a branch of the military it would be either Air Force or Navy (except I'm scare of the ocean) but I love love love the Navy!!

My father-in-law came to the United States in the mid1950s and served in the National Guard. I wish I had a picture of him in his uniform!

Our long-time family friend, Thom, served in the Navy in the 1970s. He'd come visit in his black casual uniform and my sister Linda and I just thought he was the coolest. Our friends Rob and Christina met while serving in the Army.

My nephew Will, my cousin Kelle and her husband Mel are currently serving. Mel is over in the Middle East and I hope and pray he comes home whole, healthy, and happy as he and Kelle are expecting a baby!!

Thank you so much and God bless America!!