Strawberry Fields Forever

I admit that I can be out there sometimes, but there are moments that move me in a way I cannot put into words...and I think there is meaning behind those times.  Last weekend, when I was in Nashville, my mom had told me about feeling a certain buyer's remorse when she moved...and how in looking for a sign she was in the right place, she found wild strawberries growing in her backyard...It was like a message she was home. My grandpa had strawberry patches growing in his garden for as far back as I can remember.  One of my fondest memories of him is going into his backyard and picking strawberries or blueberries to eat.  So when my mom told me that, I thought it was cool...But it wasn't until I made my own discovery while mowing (or weedeating) my backyard yesterday that it became real...  Yep, you guessed it!  They weren't there last year...or the last time I mowed even.  To say I got chills would be an understatement.  I guess Grandpa is watching over us, too...

Back to Norfolk...

She's a TN girl, what can I say?

And here we have my mom's neighbors "pet"

(not pictured, the bow and arrow)

I'm so happy I'm on my way to the water park!

Woohoo!

Pouty butt Portas (post-water park, pre-nap!)

"Grammy, can we plant flowers in your yard?"

Cousinly Love

I tried to post while I was at my mom's, and I was not very successful!  Now we are home and I've uploaded some of my many photos...I thought I would share a few of my favorites.  We had an amazing time, as always.  Alana has shed many tears since boarding the plane yesterday.  She loves her Grammy more than anything!  (And the feeling is very much reciprocated I am told!)  We also got to hang with Uncle Jonny and Aunt Lindsay and Alana's favorite (and only) cousin.  My mom's new house is "rad" and I am already trying to figure out when we can go back!   Today it's back to the swing of things with school.   I start my "Math for Health Professionals" class tonight.  More deets to come on that, when I have them!  I hope everyone's Memorial Day weekend was as memorable as mine!

Petty Officer Portas!!!

This is an amazing week in the Portas household...Full of GREAT news!  Yesterday, I finished my first class at MCI and today, Justin found out he made petty officer!!!  I am in Nashville, so when he called to tell me I literally said "shut up" about 10 times before I believed it...Not that I don't believe in Justin, just that I can't take all this good news at once :)  I am so incredibly proud of Justin.  He might shrug it off like it's no big deal, but IT IS!  

I love you, Petty Office Portas!

Priceless!

    480 Hot Tamales...$5.28

     600 Index Cards...$4.79                      

    Making a 97 in my Chemistry Class...

                       PRICELESS!!!

I have now officially completed my first pre-nursing class!  And not only did I FINISH it, but I did well!  I got a 97 on my final exam tonight, as well as a 97 for my final average!  One down, a bunch more to go!  But at least now I know I'm on the right track and I can do anything I put my mind to...Thank you for all the prayers and encouragement...I'm actually home in time to watch the American Idol finale tonight (go Cookie)...and I will be up bright and early, or as I like to refer to it at the butt crack of dawn, to go to Nashville to visit my momma.  I'm SO excited I can hardly contain myself...about all of it!!!

I can't believe it!

It's almost here...the end of my chemistry class, that is!  I can't believe it!  We have exam #4 today and then have to do our presentations.  I am doing mine on Lupus, a disease that my Grandpa had.  I am quite possibly the worst public speaker ever.  The good thing is that there are only 7 other people in my class...The bad thing is, it doesn't make a difference.  So my dad is a pastor, who gets up and preaches every Sunday with such ease.  My mom is a nurse, but one who teaches...and she has no problem standing up in front of complete strangers and gracefully getting the point across.  (If she does, she is really good at faking it!)  And don't forget my brother, who can get up on stage in front of a bajillion people and rock out on his many instruments...What in the world happened to me?  Did I get skipped over in this gene department?  It's ok...At least it will be over after tonight.  Then all I will have to stress about is the final on Wednesday!!!  Just kidding, I'm not stressing...I'm looking forward to it...because then it WILL be over!  And then Alana and I are hopping on a plane to Nashville for a few days!

Wish me luck.  Tell me to break a leg.  Something!

Zoo days are here!

I woke up yesterday to the sun shining, no blinding me, through my window...My first thought was what can we do OUTside today?  The second thought to cross my mind was the zoo.  And of course, the next logical step was to text Angie at 8 a.m. to see if she wanted to join in the fun!  And she did!  It was a fun day...We went to the zoo and then to the mall...It just doesn't get much better than that, does it?  I was on a hunt for some shorts or some sort of summer wear, but came home with stuff for Justin and Alana instead :)  Funny how that works!  Alana said her favorite parts of the day were feeding the goat, seeing the piglets and the porcupine!  I thought I'd share some of our highlights with you as I venture off to start my busy week!

Daily cuteness, Part 1,325,498

Ok, I admit...My car is cute!  But nothing is cuter than these two!  My friend, Angie, (the amazing cook) watched Alana for me on Tuesday while I spent the day running around the world to get the car.  I can't say enough thank yous!  She emailed me these pictures that she took of Alana and her son (Jalen) playing that day.  Just wanted to share them :)

The newest addition to the Portas Family!

Yes!  The unthinkable has finally happened...We got another car yesterday!  It was a really dramatic experience, but we managed to become the proud owners of this VW Beetle as of yesterday afternoon...She doesn't have a name yet, so we will be glad to take suggestions! 

I Heart George Dubya

I will talk about God and religion all day, but I tend to steer clear of getting too deep into politics...For more reasons than one.  Most of the time it's over my head.  I don't know a lot about government and the goings on in the world (because I've heard ignorance is bliss), but I do know that Mr. President is also my husband's Mr. Bossman, whom might I add I waited in a long line to vote for!  The point is, George W. gets a lot of crap (pardon my french) for everything from the way he talks to the way he is handling the situation overseas.  I would like to think that anyone in his position would realize what a difficult one it is...SO all that being said :)  I went to my financial aid appointment before class last night, and much to my surprise my counselor told me she had good news.  This is typically unexpected!  She continued to tell me that George W. approved a bill increasing the amount of federal student loans allowed each year.  Maybe this means squat to you, but for me it means I no longer have a "shortfall" of $3100 that I have to come up with between now and September!  WOOHOO!  We're all clear for takeoff.  Oh, and I got a 92 on Exam 3...ONE point again :)  But hey, I shall not complain!  

I'm off to start an early day!  SUPER early!  I hope to be back later on to blog with more exciting news :)

Happy Muddah's Day!

                                                        (this is my adapter)
To all you moms out there, Happy Mother's Day!  To all of you that aren't moms, find someone who is a mom and hug them.  We deserve it, trust me :)  This has been a busy week, and there have been tons of things I wanted to blog about, but I haven't had the time or "endergy" (as Alana calls it) to do it!  First of all, yesterday Alana kept telling me she had a surprise for me, and mumbling on about not being able to look...which is a daily thing, so I honestly didn't think much about it.  I just kept telling her "oh, ok...I won't look"...but then she told me she couldn't give it to me yet, because it wasn't "Happy Muddah's Day yet".  Then she proceeded to tell me not to look in the white box by the treadmill.  We seriously have to work on this girl's secret keeping abilities :)  It makes me smile just thinking about it, though.  So a little while later, Justin came downstairs and she rushed over to whisper in his ear and ask if she could go ahead and give me my surprise.  He said ok, and she "endergetically" went and got my surprise...She made me the sweetest card.  When I asked her about the snowman on it, she said it was a girl and her name was Rapunzel (note the long hair)...and I asked about the juggling snowballs and never got a completely definite answer...but it was SO cute.  And Justin, you are so great for helping her make it.  Alana is smart, but I know she didn't know it was Happy Muddah's Day on her own haha.  (By the way, Justin did the writing on the front of the car and Alana did the entire inside...it might be hard to differentiate--bahahahahaha).  

Ok, so there's more big news in the works.  I know most of you who speak to me on a regular basis already know...and those of you who don't, you will know soon enough.  I'm afraid to jinx anything.  Just be prepared for a blog about good, good things.  Things I have been wishing for and needing and blogging a lot about, hint hint.

Alana got her very first haircut Friday...In an attempt to upload and edit the video of this uber cute experience...my adapter decided to come apart at the seams.  So...you will wait on that one.  It will assuredly be worth the wait!  She also got a manicure...and let me tell you!  Those neon green nails are something you DON'T want to miss out on!  

Off to shower and (what's that?) go to Angie's for dinner???  Wowza, I guess it pays when people read your blog that you don't know read your blog...and you say nice things about them...and they invite you back.  MMmmmm.  

Peace, love and muddahs. xo

(I'm doing it.  So sue me)

I bring you...Macie Faith Bradford!

Ok, so really I had nothing to do with bringing her into the world.  I am simply bringing you pictures of the little miracle.  Macie Faith was born at 5:20 last night, weighing 5 lbs, 11 oz and all of 18.1 inches long.  I got to go see them last night and hold her.  Alana was actually a little smaller than that (like 5 oz) when she was born, but it's hard for me to remember.  The delivery went smoothly...She didn't end up having to have a c-section, and her labor lasted for literally like 15 minutes.  I told Felicia how lucky she is!  But then I took into consideration all that she's been through in the past 2 months, and I decided SHE's the one that's hardcore :)  Thank you a million times to all the people who have prayed for the Bradfords these past weeks.  

On a sad note, I spent the day with Natalia and Lucas...THAT was not sad, but the fact that it was because they are moving back to FL this weekend IS sad.  I am thankful that I have such an amazing friend...The Navy does bring SOME good into people's lives :)  I have enjoyed each and every minute of knowing Natalia, and I know that yesterday won't be our last adventure together.  I love you, girl.  Thank you for being a friend :)

And then...last but certainly not least...my lovely friend, Angie made us enchiladas for dinner.  They were OUT of this world!  Yum!  She could honestly open up a restaurant!  So thanks, Angie!

Time to go learn my molecular formulas for my quiz tonight!  My final is 2 weeks from today!  Woohoo!

Because I know you care...

I got a 92 on my exam tonight.  One stinkin' point away from being an A!  At least it's over with...I was really stressing about this one.  The picture is random, yes...just to show how hardcore I am and all.  :)

New week, new backpack...

This picture is to show you how much of my chemistry book we have covered already...The top half is what we've already finished...In TWO weeks!!!  Today I will take my second exam.  I am so not looking forward to it and should totally be studying, rather than posting a blog about it :)  Friday's quiz was not so grand, but even so, my average for the class so far (including poopy grade) is a 99.4!  So there's not too much room for improvement.  The bad news is there is a lot of room for it to go down haha.  And today we are also starting the organic chemistry section of our book, which I'm told is the worst.  Lots to look forward to, huh?  Just kidding.  I also bought a backpack...I had to break down and do it, because not only do I have to carry the heavy book--I have to do it up and down 3 flights of stairs.  Some genius thought it would be funny to make a rule that the students at our school are not allowed to take the elevators.  I think it's one step away from abuse, don't you?  Again, just kidding.  I still haven't figured out what that's all about, though.  My weekend was good...not too eventful, but sometimes that's good in itself.  I am hoping that I will have happy baby news (with regards to the Bradfords) later on today!  It's about time they have that little girl already!  Off to the world of alkanes and alkenes.  Alkynes.  Whatever.

When life hands you lemons...

Squirt the juice into that mean person's eye?  Is that how it goes?  I feel like as christians, we are attacked daily by the world...whether it's the temptation to do something we know we shouldn't, or the frustration we feel towards the person we know we are to love...The past couple of days I have realized even more how much satan WANTS us to suffer.  When things are going awry, there he is to remind us of it.  It seems like the better we are doing, the harder he hits.  In a way, I hate to give satan that much power, but you know what I mean.  He likes to kick us when we are down.  My last 2 weeks have been truly amazing!  I honestly thought I would have to force myself to school each night and the transition would be a rough one.  I can thankfully say that is not the case!  I have enjoyed getting back into the "real world" and dusting off the few brain cells I have left to do something purposeful.  (By the way, I feel motherhood is purposeful, so don't take that the wrong way)...The transition has been overall an easy one (for me at least, haha).  I got a huge bomb dropped on me yesterday when the school in which we had planned on enrolling Alana told me it was closing its doors for good, effective in June.  Suddenly, my search for a car was pushed to the back burner in lieu of a search for the perfect school.  I took a deep breath when I hung up the phone and reminded myself that EVERYTHING happens for a reason.  God knew this would happen.  It was all part of His plan.  All that being said, I've visited 3 preschools in the past 24 hours...one of which I think might be "the one".  It's so hard for me to make the decision, though...it will (in a way) break my heart to send Alana to school anywhere :)  Just because that proves that she is indeed growing up.  There are so many things that have happened in the past 2 days, that I feel are God's way of seeing if I'm up for the challenge.  I'm here.  I'm stepping up to the plate.  And I know that with Him on my side, NOTHING can stop me.  Excuse me while I go sip on some lemonade :)