Merry Christmas 2018 and Happy New Year from the Streams!!

PVT STREAM!!

She's Home!!

Whut?

Sometimes my husband asks me the most profound questions. Questions that leave me contemplating in stunned silence. Like this morning when he asked me, "Do you know the login and password for Sarah's checking account?"

I Miss Her!!

I checked at the bank today to see if any funds had been withdrawn from Sarah's account to buy her ticket home. She must have already purchased it and her photo package. Yes indeedy. She was overdrawn. Mr. Favorite Bank Teller waived the fees. God bless us everyone. 
11days

Call Trump

I had this conversation with myself this morning.
Me "If I don't get a call from my soldier Sarah this weekend I'm gonna....."
Also me "Yeah....you're gonna what. What are you gonna do??!!"

Lola vs the Tree Skirt

YESSSSSSSSSS!!

Yes Please

Sarah said she would be home December 21st!!

I'm Second

I heard my husband say, "Our relationship is growing stronger day by day." Awwwwwww. 
I turned around to see him telling that to Lola. Our cat.

Kick Some Ass Sarah Stream!!

She's gone.  Along with my heart.

See You Soon Sarah!

Thoughts from Sarah

So I leave for basic training for the National Guard tomorrow. Am I scared? Terrified. Am I nervous? Extremely. Do I think i can do it? Yes. I joined the National Guard about two months ago and I never thought that this day would come where I would leave my family, friends, pets, church, and most importantly good food. But I am doing this for a reason. I am doing this to become an American soldier and defend my country. Basic is going to be difficult and there will be times where I will want to quit but I can’t. Everyone else at basic will be going through the same thing and we are a team so I must stay confident and push through. This wasn’t suppose to be a huge essay or anything about my thoughts but I guess it is now. All I want to ask is for prayer. Please pray that I stay calm and push through. Please pray that I remember what the end goal is and what an amazing thing that I am doing. Please pray for my family and friends. Please pray that the Lord will accompany me on my journey and that he will help me through it. Finally, please pray that I will be strong, physically and mentally. Thank you!!

MN Nice

My daughter took a bus up to Duluth to see some friends. 2 hours to get there and 2 hours to sit and wait for another bus to get her to the UMD campus. She just texted that the bus driver didn't want her to wait so he brought her to UMD. THANK YOU from Sarah's mom!!

Good Morning!

Ugh!

3rd Street on Halloween in My Town USA is pretty amazing! Almost every house is decorated, homeowners and their yards are decked out and hundreds of dollars of candy purchased. 
Two young men with masks on ran into my daughter and I and one said, "Hey you used to be my teacher!!" I asked him his name and asked him to take his mask off. The friend yelled out his name but he refused to show his face. So I did the math.
"Yes Jake I was one of your teachers but that makes you around 35 years old out on Halloween night trick or treating." 
"Yeah. See ya Mrs. Stream."
And THAT was the creepiest thing that happened last night.

My Youngest

When asked about trick or treating Tim said he has one more year left.

Come Onnnn!

I wrote chili down on my dinner menu and grocery list for this Saturday. And forget to buy every single ingredient to make chili. 
After grocery shopping on Mondays I spend the rest of the week grocery shopping for all of the things I forget on Monday. 
Living the dream at 53. So far, so fun.

53!! How Can That Be??

Beautiful!!

Stained glass made with love by Kristi Noser.  And given to Patrick for Christmas.

Sniffles

Tim "Mom, some girl gave me her allergies at school yesterday." 
Mom "That's not how allergies work, buddy."

My Boat

So weird when your boat makes it into a Nicholas Sparks movie before you do.

Feel Better?

In my neverending effort to make you feel better about yourself, I offer this. At the Biblical Counseling conference I attended last week I walked into the men's room twice. Only two times!

Sworn In!

MN National Guard!!  Next up.  Basic Training!!

SYATP

Mom "Tim, it is See You at the Pole day today. You can stand at the flag pole and pray."
Tim "For the veterinarians?" 
Mom "Sure. Pray for the vets. And the teachers and your friends and your school."

It Doesn't?

My Get Food Go Home uniform today. Made it bearable.
A man was staring at me in Aldi.(with no s) Was he "objectifying" me?? No. He read my shirt and told me he liked it. We had a good laugh. 
PS I will be wearing it this week as I head back to all of the stores for the things I forgot to remember.

IMHO

The We Don't Want Anyone to Feel Bad movement has done more damage than feeling bad ever could.

Texting

Conversation with Nathan which ended in sweet silence.

[9/11/18 12:33 PM] Me: ☺️

[9/11/18 1:57 PM] Nathan: Mom it is weird when you use emojis

[9/11/18 1:57 PM] Me: Ok. ☺️

[9/11/18 1:58 PM] Me: When you tell me something is weird you know I will just do it more.

1st Day!!

 9th and 7th grades!!

6 years ago.
My baby boys going into 3rd and 1st!!

Baking

I made chocolate chip cookies last week. My husband got home from work and I began telling him about my day and then talking about the cookies. 
Carla "This one doesn't have enough chocolate chips. This one has too many. This cookie broke in half."
Patrick said, "Uh babe? Does every cookie have a story?"
Carla "Yes."