HEY! How are you? I have been so wrapped up in my own stuff, I have not written you in what seems like maybe a year!!

How is the babe? Sorry I have not kept up. I have been quite self focused for a long time.

Thanks for your encouragement through my trials. I appreciate it.

foundareason

bump

Thanks to my friend Dobie, I saw this!
ITs so weird that you postes this, I was just thinking about you a few days ago and wondering how you were!

Things here are going just fine. Hubby was sent to Guantanamo Bay, though, so I'm doing the single mommy thing. Our oldest tried to enlist inthe Navy, but he injured himself at bootcamp and they are sending him home in the next couple of weeks. Not sure why its taking so long to send him home, though, since we found out over a week ago. They say he has to have surgery on his wrist and such. He was really upset, but I think he has decided to focus on college and marrying his girlfriend (who I love, thank God).
My 12 year old is acting up because we moved from Virginia Beach to Kentucky, so we would be near family while hubby was away for 14 months. She does not understand this at all and now I am enemy number one. She allowed her grades to drop so much that she will be repeating 7th grade next year. I'm pretty much disgusted with her spoiled brat princess routine. She lost her computer, her television, her phone provelidges... next I am going after her camera
and the mascara she is allowed to wear. She turns 13 in just a few weeks but she thinks she is 30.
The light of my life is little Logan though. Can you believe he is 22 months already? I still recall being up with you at night, overdue, leaving messages to try to help you with your situation. He is so much fun. Temper tantrums started a week ago, but I can't help but fight back laughter. His little kicking feet just gives me the giggles. He is way ahead of the pack physically, but he doesn't say any words and he's a little guy (lower 25 percentile). He is enjoying his time with Grandma and Grandpa, but if he sees a picture of Daddy, he makes little sad grunting noises, like he knows he should be here, but doesn't understand why the picture makes him sad. His favorite shows are Barney and Jacks Big Music Show (they are the only things I let him watch).

Life is good here. Not perfect, but so much better than 3.5 years ago. My parents have finally accepted our lives as Noachides and have even made an effort to learn a little more about Judaism, though they still get all defensive sometimes. It gives me hope and a renewed interest in becoming a Jew By Choice in a few years. I have a lot more studying to do (not to mention learning Hebrew). My mother actually wants to help me find a Jewish community, but I have tried to explain to her that I don't believe there is one here...the closest synogagues I know of are in Nashville or Paducah, both of which are over an hour away. I can go to Fort Campbell, though, for Shabbot services if I wished. I am considering it.

I see in your sig that you are dovorced now. I missed that part of your journey and I am sorry. How are you doing? Work going well? Make any other major changes in your life?

Its so good to hear from you.

That reminds me, Mojo. If the injury prevents him from enlisting again, make sure he applies for disability with the VA.

I didn't think of that, Dobie, we will check into it.

bumpity bump!

Did you ever read "The Stand" by King???

Mojo - thanks for the reply. Yes - happily divorced (it is best in my case). I feel great. I have a great time with my kids. My 13 YO is the kind you get if you are REALLY, REALLY lucky and blessed. She is fabulous. I wll pray for your near-teen.

No major changes. I tried Plan A for too long, but I can see a benefit to my kids knowing we were divorced for a year before we de-cohabited.

I am preparing myself for the next love. It is a test in patience - for there have been a couple of women that I find interesting - but I must wait until God tells me I am ready. (part of that will be financial stability).

Work is a Godsend, as it has flexed with my needs.

I will write more later - gotta work.....

Good to hear from you.

far

LOL- that is actually my favorite book of all time!

FAR- I forgot to tell you the biggest change in my life... I laughed at myself this morning when I realized it. Dobie probably wondered why I hadn't!

I had gastric bypass last July 28th. Since then I have lost 80 pounds and have just 44 pounds more to go before I reach my goal of 115 pounds. Let's say hubby is ecstatic but no more than I am. I am finally feeling like myself again and I look forward to each day. I am weightlifting again and walk daily at the YMCA here. People are starting to recognize me there, which is a nice feeling.

Hubby isn't going to get back to visit until September or October. I am hoping to lose another 20 by then, which would put me at 140 pounds. When we married I weighed 167 pounds, so I weigh less than when we married 14.5 years ago. IT ROCKS. I'm very happy and look forward to surprising him again this year.

I was gonna tell on you...if you didn't come back and tell yourself, Mojo! <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

I'm super proud of you...and for you.

Lori

(((Lori)))
bumpity for FAR.

Mojo - that is so cool!! We had a worship leader in church yesterday that many did not recognize, except for his voice. He lost 165 lbs. A full human!

He looks and feels great.

I am very excited for you. It is interesting the effect that "surface" appearances have on our self esteem. I drove an old 86 ford pickup until it literally died this February. It was rusty, the paint was peeling off, it had primer on parts of it. It was a neat project vehicle, but not a good primary transport vehicle, which it was for me.
I found an old but still very good looking Infiniti on craigslist. I had not considered myself lacking in self confidence, but the boost that driving a "decent" car had on my self esteem has felt very nice.

I presume that weight and size issues are kinda the same, but a nice car is likely only a drop in the bucket, in comparison. I would assume.

It is exciting that you are on this trek. Good for you! What an exciting time.

I want to ask about the Judaism thing, but it is likely documented here somewhere. I am curious if you are converting from Christianity, or developing a first spiritual awakening.

Keep running, girl! Congrats again on the new baby. WOW - TWO FREAKING YEARS!!!!! HOLY COW!!!! That is amazing.

Good to hear from you.

far

FAR,
I was sent to a Southern Baptist church growing up and conisdered myself such until I was 17. I was then a monotheist pagan for about ten years, when I took a History of Christianity course at the university and decided to learn more about the Hebrews. I met some Orthodox Jews and they told me about the path of the righteous gentile, Bnei Noach, also known as Noachides, and its been about six years or so since we started incorporating 'Judaism Lite' (LOL) into our home. Many times I have wanted to convert, but didn't want to do it alone and my husband was resistant at first. He later admitted he just didn;t want to give up the secular celebration of Christmas, so we call it Yule and celebrate Hanukah along with his tree. His mother passed on a few years ago and the Xmas tree has a powerful meaning to him and I will not take that from him. So we put the Hannukah gifts each night under the tree and they open them on Yule.

I took some 'time off' a bit in the last 22 months to make sure I was doing this for the right reasons (I had been worried I was trying to choose a religion that would at least be acceptable to my parents). Time off meaning more introspection and reading and making sure I was headed where my heart was leading me. Having these types of conversations with others in my situation and the ones I;ve had with my mother (even though she still finds it a bit weird, I guess)... I have concluded that my relationship with Hashem is sound and exactly where I am supposed to be. An Orthodox friend just checked in on me a few months ago and was pleased I was still living as a Noachide. He knows I've had some struggle with it, but I usually contact him with my questions.
I am going to learn Hebrew this year while hubby is away. I'm scared to death I won't be able to!

Oh - I think you will learn it just fine.

Good luck in that.

Thanks for the synopsis. Interesting - the folks we meet here on the world wide web. Lots of neat people.

God bless your journey, Mojo. Have fun!

far