Recent Homicide

I didn't sleep very well last night.  In the almost five years we've lived in this neighborhood, I have never felt unsafe.  In fact, I have always felt so comfortable coming and going from our house that it never occurred to me that anything bad would ever happen so close to home.  Even after my mother-in-law experienced the worst kind of terror from a break-in of her own, I still felt relatively safe in my own home.  However, I think that has all changed for me.  The other night, an 83-year old woman was killed in her home just near the entrance to our subdivision.  The person who committed this awful crime is still out there...

After discussing the incident with Jimmy, he mentioned learning about some other small car thefts in the back part of the neighborhood during the last homeowner's meeting.  I guess when you don't know your neighbors and, in turn, don't talk to your neighbors, how would you ever learn of such things?  I'm glad we are slowly getting to know our neighbors now and that we can all keep a look out for unusual behavior.

I'm just feeling sick about it all.  Jimmy assures me that no one is immune to this sort of thing, no matter where you live.  Even the "nice" parts have their fair share of break-ins.  He also says that most homicides are done by people who know the victim.  However, in this case, I'm thinking this woman was being watched by no one she knew because of her age and very poor health condition - an easy robbery.  But, based on her poor health condition, why did he have to kill her?  What kind of threat did this poor woman pose?  

I have two beautiful daughters and one pending fetus due to arrive in January.  I already do everything in my power to keep them safe.  Do we really need a new fear hanging over our heads like this?  I sure hope this case is resolved immediately.  I doubt whatever the outcome is will make me feel all that much better, but perhaps it will provide me a little closure and maybe some peace.  Truth be told, I'm really just hoping it's not gang related!  I'm also hoping Jimmy will forget that he said he wants me to learn how to shoot a gun!  

WRAL Article

Vacation Time

We had a wonderful time on Sunday checking out the David's new digs (totally gorgeous) and celebrating Jed's first birthday.  We get to watch him grow through their blog, but it's always a treat to see him in person!  He is beyond cute and that wild hair is so dreamy, at least I think that's what the ladies will say when he's older...  much much much older!

We also got to meet the David's old neighbor, Teddie, who occasionally reads this here blog!  It's fun to learn our readership is up by one, especially since there must be only 5 readers total :)  So, since I've been absent from this here blog for a long time, this one's for you, Teddie!

We got back from our annual Sunset Beach vacation on Saturday.  It was a much needed vacation, although Jimmy and I are now thinking we need another vacation from the vacation! Both girls were well behaved, especially after Grandma Judy arrived on Monday... she was our morning time buffer so we could sleep in some.  I guess she could have locked her door, but something tells me nothing would have stopped Katie from entering that room at 6 AM, pulling back the curtains and saying, "Get up, Grandma!  Sunshine's up!  Put your glasses on! Time for breaksast!"

We had several good beach days.  We read our books.  We went to the Fort Fisher Aquarium. We rode bikes on the island.  We ate ice cream.  I slaughtered Jimmy at miniature golf, since our real game was rained out.  We played some other games like Bananagrams (or as Katie calls it, "letters") and Mad Libs...  who knew Judy would get such uncontrollable giggles after hearing "a tongue in-anus pirate buccaneer."  (I contributed the 'part of the body' word 'anus.')

Here are some pictures from our trip:

Lost

I have had a hell of a month...  Uh, no, things have been pretty awful since the new year...  I take that back, turning 31 last July may have been the start of a lot of crappy things (for me), except for having perfect little Maglestein Josephine, of course!

Illnesses, lots of loss (way too much loss!), and other personal struggles...  It's like there is a black cloud hovering over my head.  I understand that concept of the Law of Attraction, but it seems like even when I'm trying to be positive, the negative prevails.

I really haven't wanted to write in the blog for a while.  In fact, I still don't.  So this will be short.

My dad died on April 13, four days shy of his 72nd birthday.  We buried him on this birthday. Yesterday was the one month anniversary of his passing.  How did I handle it?  A panic attack at 3:45 am.  

The church I call myself a member of turned me down on Mother's Day, after the 9:30 AM mass, for a June baptism for Maggie because I don't attend regularly.  I was severely offended by the manner in which I was received, and I am now struggling with the emotions that surround this alienation from a church - of all things.

Now is when I need church the most.  

I'm feeling a little lost.

Hooray for Maggie!

Maggie decided she wanted to do something special to celebrate her 5 month birthday.  What better way to celebrate than by rolling over for the first time so Mommy, Daddy, and Katie could all see!  She actually did the rolling yesterday, Sunday, March 1, in the evening, but I didn't catch it on video until today. She's such a champ at it now!  It only took one or two times for her to get the hang of it.

She's growing too fast and we can hardly stand it!  Her socks are even getting too small!  Make it stop!