At first I was fascinated by the wreckage...I'd never actually seen anything like it before, and I just wanted to take pictures of everything...typical me.   But the more times I went in, the more unnerving it became. The more it sunk in that this is it, the house is really gone.   By the final time I went inside, I just wanted to get in and out as quickly as possible, because it just felt so ominous inside.

  Before I left though, I had to take a few moments to look around and just take it all in one more time.  I stood in the kitchen and saw it as it was before, with my family there. My grandmother at the stove, my grandpa at the kitchen table.  Myself as a child, using a stepladder as a chair and eating my dinner off of the pull-out cutting board because there wasn't room at the table.  

  And even the big yard outside, which still looks the same,  but I knew I wouldn't likely get to visit again. I could see my brothers and I as children playing with our cousins,  games like "Beat each other up" and "Man Hunt."     



  And of course, I will always remember my grandparents waving goodbye from the porch door or the big picture window, as they did every time we'd leave after a visit.

  I had to take it all in one more time, and say goodbye. Its so sad to think that I won't ever get to visit the house again.  Part of me kind of felt like it would always be there for me.   And if its hard for me, I can only imagine how difficult it is for my mom and my grandpa, who spent so much of their lives there.





  You never think that this sort of thing could happen to you, or to your family, but it can. It does.

 And because I don't want to leave this on such a sad note, I thought I would close with a couple photos of some happier times at the house.  :)






     I will miss this old house, but it will stand untouched in my memories and dreams. 

A couple of nights ago my grandfather's home was destroyed in a fire.  The house has been in our family for 50 years. My mother grew up in it.  I have so many fond memories from that house. It's really hard to believe that its gone now.

My mom has been living with my grandfather, taking care of him because he suffers from dementia and needs constant supervision and care.  Thank god everyone got out unharmed. The house was a total loss though, their car too.

I'm so upset for my mom. She has been through so much these last few years, I really thought the worst would be behind her...but now this.

One of the difficult parts about being married to somebody in the military is that it often takes you far away from your family and friends.  Its hard for anyone at any particular time, but you feel the distance the most in times of tragedy, of course.  I want so much to be there for my mom right now.  To help her any way I can, and just to be there for support, a shoulder to cry on.  There's only so much one can do when you live across the country.

I did start a gofundme for them.  They could use all the help they can get right now...they lost everything in the fire. They're in a hotel right now trying to figure out where to go from here, but they need money for lodging and food and other things.  This is the link if you'd like to help: http://www.gofundme.com/k1p0qg
Really, anything is appreciated, no amount is too small.  And if you can't help, at least say a prayer for them!

Thank you.

Ariel,
After being obsessed with Mickey Mouse Clubhouse for the last year and a half or so, yesterday you have suddenly decided you would rather watch Bubble Guppies. I only had two episodes of it recorded, but you'd still rather watch those two episodes over and over rather than watch a new Mickey Mouse episode.  Not that I'm complaining, after all I have seen all of the Mickey Mouse episodes dozens of times now,  and its nice to get a little break. I think the Hot Dog song has been stuck in my head for a year straight now.

You also have a new Bubble Guppies doll that we got for you a few days ago (before you stopped watching Mickey), and it hasn't left your hands for more than a few minutes since you've gotten it.

I can't help wondering if perhaps you and Mickey had a fight that I missed.  When I mention his name, you shout "No!" and hide your face behind your hands.  But you don't seem to mind me talking about Minnie.  Whatever he did, I'm sure he didn't mean it and that he's very sorry.

I just thought it was funny how quickly you changed your mind about something you've loved for so long.   But...maybe tomorrow you'll want Mickey Mouse again. I kind of hope so.  You have way too many Mickey Mouse toys, clothing, and room decor to be giving him up completely.

Not to mention I've been dying to see your reaction to meeting your pal Mickey Mouse in person at Disney World!

I'm not good with blogs. I've started a few in the past, and they always end up petering out. I just don't seem to keep up with them.  But here I am again...starting yet another!

What is this one about?  Well, its the new year. I don't really bother with making resolutions usually, nobody ever keeps them, but this year I really want to put my mind to making my home feel more like...well, home!  First I should probably mention that I'm a military wife, so no home ever ends up being home for too long.  We're new to Las Vegas now,  been here for about 6 months and honestly, I don't like it. It doesn't feel like it will ever feel like home here, but I realize that I'm stuck here and I may as well try to make the best of it!

I live on base.  I don't know if you've ever seen base housing before, but its pretty basic and boring.  White walls, ugly white tile floor that always looks dirty. And this one is tiny. Like, really tiny.  Two bedrooms and very small living space.   So despite having only been here for a few months, my house is a disaster because I have no place to put anything!

I was just letting the mess take over and being depressed about it...but then I started checking out pinterest and blogs and have gotten so many ideas for organizing and for diy projects. I've got so many ideas floating around in my head now that I want to try!  So I'm hoping I can spend this year working on all that. Hence the start of this blog, where I can share my progress (hopefully there will be some!) and projects with anyone who cares to see it.  You will get to see photos of the mess that is my house right now, and hopefully photos of it looking much better later!  Though...I do have a toddler (and a husband!) so I'm probably doomed to always have a messy home. But hopefully I can make my small space work a little better for me and make it feel more like home...until its time to move on again.

I may post other stuff too. About raising my wild toddler, or rants about military life.

Or maybe I won't post much of anything, as usually ends up being the case. We shall see. ;)

A photo of my family, taken by Canico Studios.