Weekend Retreat and a Snow Day

This weekend I went on a women's retreat with my church in Buena Vista. It was a great retreat and the scenery there was gorgeous! It totally reminded me of how amazing God is to have imagined and created so much beauty! The pictures below don't really do justice to the mountains. The snowcaps blend in with the sky. But just to give you an idea where I was ...

(This isn't me ... It's my friend, S.)

I got home Sunday just in time to catch a few of the basketball games before yoga. My teams aren't doing so well. My only comfort is knowing that I'm beating my husband!! :) While I was at yoga, it started thundering and what I assumed was rain at the time began falling on the roof of the studio. It sounded very cool (quite the appropriate background music for a yoga class). When I got out to the car, though, I noticed that it wasn't rain that I had heard, but more like sleet, which eventually became snow. The next morning, I came back from my before-school workout to a surprise message on the answering maching telling me there was no school -- we had a snow day! Hooray! The best thing was that it was only 6:00, and I was already wide awake, so I had the whole day ahead of me! I always love days off of work because I can watch the news in the morning along with "Regis and Kelly" and "The View." Very relaxing!

This work-week will definitely be a short one! Friday I am taking off to leave for Spring Break with my family in Michigan. I'm so excited! March is really flying by!

The Draft

No, I don't mean the military. I'm talking about MARCH MADNESS!!!

Ok, so I'm not a huge college basketball fan. I never watch a game during the regular season. But I always fill out a bracket to make the NCAA tournament exciting (especially after living with a man who watches ESPN 24/7). This year, I filled in my brackets as usual -- one for the "Hall Boy" pool and one for the pool at work. But I also got to do something a little different.

Tonight, one of the women I work with had a draft for a bunch of us girls at work. (I've never done anything like this before!) We all got together at her house, had drinks and appetizers, and drafted teams for the tournament along with individual players for a "fantasy team." Each of us picked 8 different teams and we get paid according to how far they advance in the tournament. For the individual picks, we earn points according to the number of points our players score throughout the tournament.

It was sooooo much fun! I can't wait to see how all of my picks do!

What a Shame ...

Today I sent out progress reports for all of my students who have D's and F's. I used to stress out about this a lot -- I think it's the "First-Born" in me coming out. I always wonder why some kids don't feel the desire or motivation to work hard to reach their potential. What a waste! I mean, I was always working as hard as I could -- never settling for a lower grade when I knew it was possible to get an A. My parents didn't pressure me, I was just intrinsically motivated (okay, maybe more like obsessive). Plus, I just thought that everyone got A's and B's, except for those token slackers who ended up with C's. (That was just my messed up perception of things, though, so if you are someone that got a C -- I don't still believe that you were necessarily a slacker!)

The thing is -- most of the grades that I give out are C's. I give out lots of B's and D's. But only a few A's. (Two, actually, out of 120 kids this quarter). I never realized how many low grades that teachers give out until I became one! Still, every once in a while I stress out about those kids who continually get D's and F's. What is their problem? Can't they just be a liiiiiitle motivated?

Anyways, today as I was addressing envelopes to send home, I had a little chance to think about each kid whose report I was mailing. Most of the addresses I almost know by heart now. The thing is -- I love these kids. I really really do. Most of the time, I am just so angry at their parents! So many of my D and F kids are totally screwed up because of their parents. I mean, seriously messed up -- sick things have happened to some of these kids. Others don't have totally tragic home lives -- just parents that don't seem to care.

Now, I hear all the time how hard it is being a parent, and I totally believe it. Believe me, I'm not arguing that parenting is easy by any means. But if you are going to have kids -- AT LEAST TAKE GOOD CARE OF THEM! Love on them, discipline them at least a little, make sure they have a pencil when they come to school, make sure they COME to school ... I mean, can parenting be THAT hard that you can't even make your child go to school? It's just such a shame! These kids whose lives are going nowhere, no matter what their teachers do!! It's just so discouraging sometimes. If I wasn't so non-confrontational, I might even give a few of these lousy parents a piece of my mind!

Instead, though, I'm resigned to just try and love on their kid for the 60 minutes I see them each day, hoping that somehow I can make up a little bit for the crappy life they have at home. What a shame ...

The Trouble With Barnes and Noble

I LOOOOOVVVVEEE going to Barnes and Noble! There is nothing like being surrounded by thousands of new books! But each time I walk in there, I'm presented with a distressing dilemma -- which book to buy! I don't like to buy more than one at a time usually, because one of my favorite things is finishing one book and going back to the bookstore to find another one. (I know that my husband is reading this right now and thinking, "I can't believe that I married such a bookworm!") Today I settled on Oprah's newest pick: Night by Elie Weisel. It is a nonfiction book about a man's experience in concentration camps. I'm already about halfway through it. But since I had to leave some others behind, I decided to start a list of books that I want to read next...

Books I Want to Read

The Plot Against America by Philip Roth

The Known World by Edward P. Jones

Forever by Pete Hamill

Vanishing Acts by Jodi Picoult

Wicked by Gregory Maguire

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

The Devil Wears Prada by Lauren Weisberger

The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls

A Rose for the Crown by Anne Easter Smith


And in case you are a reader like me, I thought I'd also share some of the books that I've really loved!

Books I've Loved

The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown

Angels and Demons by Dan Brown

Plain Truth by Jodi Picoult

The Pact by Jodi Picoult

My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult

The Other Boleyn Girl by Philippa Gregory

The Pilot's Wife by Anita Shreve

Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers

The "Mark of the Lion" Series by Francine Rivers

The Red Tent by Anita Diamant

Cane River by Lalita Tademy

The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver

A Perfect Weekend

So after a few kind of lousy, lonely weekends, this one was perfect!

On Friday night I went out with two of Jon's good friends from West Point, Dan ... aka "Danimal," and Barry. Dan was Jon's roomate for two years and became a great friend to both of us. He actually bought the townhome right across from ours and rented a room out to Barry, so they were also our neighbors for two years before Dan left for Korea and Barry left for a second tour to Iraq. Both just returned and it was so great to catch up with them! To be honest, I was a little nervous to go out with them without Jon, but they were just so fantastic and we had great conversation!

Saturday was the most relaxing day I've had in a LOOOONG time. Despite my ambitious "to do" list, my booty hardly left the couch all day except to go the bathroom! I literally rolled out of bed and into some sweats, layed on the couch, and finished watching the final season of Felicity. Then I fooled around with my iPod, took a long bubble bath, and made a quick trip to Target for a new bathroom scale (I didn't like what our old one was saying!) I ended the day all cozied up in bed, watching "Blue Collar Comedy Tour Rides Again." If you have never seen the Blue Collar Comedy DVD's you are TOTALLY missing out! They are hilarious. On Wednesday night at Bible Study, we talked about how we run ourselves ragged trying to stay busy, and how perpetual activity is not God's will for our lives. That is so right! A day of total rest is exactly what I needed to feel refreshed and ready to start my next week!

I also got to talk to Jon on Saturday. We had a great conversation! I am still on cloud nine from it! Anyone who has been through a long distance relationship can tell you that not every phone conversation is as wonderful as you would like it to be. There are so many expectations associated with talking to the one you love on the phone -- especially when it's only once or twice a week! But this one was just perfect. I just love the man that I married. He is such a good husband to me! I know I've said it before, but I'm just so proud to be his wife!! To think that I used to sit in front of him in math class in 6th grade -- he was such an immature little twerp! But he's grown into such a responsible, honorable, and loving man! (I hope I'm not making any of you nauseous -- but it's just how I feel!)

So anyways -- back to the weekend. Today was actually a bit more productive than yesterday, but not by much. I got up early, worked out, and went to church. After church I stopped at one of my FAVORITE places -- Barnes and Noble!! Sometimes there is no better place to be than in a big comfy chair, with a latte and a bunch of new books. On my way home it started to snow. I got my hopes up for like two seconds that we wouldn't have school tomorrow, but alas, nothing stuck. I made my way to yoga class, which is always a great way to start the week, and then got home just in time for a good cry with "Extreme Home Makeover."

My cup runneth over ...

No More Complaints

I will never complain again about doing my grocery shopping at the Commissary.

I just got home from Walmart ... UGGGHHH!!

Other than the occasional dash into the corner grocery for something I desperately need, I never buy our groceries anywhere except for the commissary. Everywhere else is just too dang expensive. I have been known to complain sometimes about the poor quality of the commissary's produce, the long lines, and the NARROW aisles. However, today I had to stop at Walmart after school to look for a fake nose ring, which is totally wierd in itself -- I have to dress up like a rock star tomorrow for school (who knows -- maybe I'll even post a few pictures). So anyway -- I thought that instead of making another trip to the store, I would just buy my groceries there. What a zoo!

Although you get at least an extra two feet of aisle space, it's totally not worth it. The prices (although probably low for the civilian world) are still more expensive than the commissary. Shoppers don't have any aisle ettiquette -- no one seems to understand the flow of traffic. The lines are SOOOOO LONG, there is nowhere to park, ... basically I just really didn't like it. :)

So from now on, no more complaints about our dear little commissary.

While I'm Being Sappy ...

Ok, so as long as I'm being so sentimental -- I wanted to share this poem that I found in Chicken Soup for the Military Wife's Soul. Not everything in it relates to us at this point in our lives. But I thought it was so beautiful and poignant. It's written by a woman named Donna Porter...

You Didn't Tell Me

You told me about the long shifts, the days and nights.

You told me about the commanders and their lovely wives.

You told me about the chain of command, and how I would live by it.

But you didn't tell me how proud of you I would be.

You told me about the temporary duty and the many moves.

You told me about the overseas tours.

You told me about payday and how we would stretch the dollar.

You didn't tell me abou the honor I would feel.

You told me about the wives' clubs and family support.

You told me about Tricare.

You told me about base housing, and how no two are alike.

You didn't tell me that at the start of "God Bless the USA" I would shed not one, but many tears.

You told me about how Christmas would be in Germany.

You told me about the commissary and PX.

You told me we would need many sets of curtains.

You didn't tell me how our children would look up to you, and want to be like Dad.

You told me about the hard times and how we would have many.

You told me abou the stress of being a military spouse.

You told me sometimes I would be a single parent, and that in spirit you would be with me.

But you didn't tell me that when I saw your uniform in the laundry, I would swell with respect.

You didn't tell me how much of a part the military would play in our lives and how I would never want it any other way!

Sappy Saturday

So -- today I started crying in Starbucks. How TOTALLY embarrassing! It was a beautiful day and it's been a great week. I sat in a table by the window, with my nonfat caffe' mocha (which I've become a little addicted to over the past few weeks), feeling the warm sun on my skin and looking out at the gorgeous mountains while I did my bible study. Maybe I was just tired, I don't know. But the tears just started coming.

I just kept thinking about how much I wished that Jon was here. Then I started thinking about how the reason I'm living here right now is to be with Jon -- and he's not even here. Now don't get me wrong -- I would follow this man to the ends of the earth. He is the love of my life. And it's not like I don't appreciate the beauty of this state and all that it has to offer. But what I would give to be living around family right now -- people that I love and who love me!!! I mean, the only reason that I'm still here while Jon is gone is because I have a job with 120 kids counting on me everyday.

Then I started thinking about the different ways our life could be changing in the next year. Some of you know that we are waiting to hear about a career change for Jon within the Army. Ultimately, this will determine whether or not we will stay in the Army. Now, until this year, I've been pretty gung-ho about being a "lifer." But now, everyday it seems that I go back and forth. One day I really want Jon to be able to take advantage of this opportunity -- I know it's something he really wants and he would be really good at. And it would be a new adventure for us. Plus we would have the security of the Army. And we still have so many things we want to do in the Army -- places we want to go -- things we want to experience. Then the next day I wonder if this is the life I really want for the next 16 years. Do I really want to be apart from my husband for probably half of that time? Will it be worth it? Do I want to voluntarily be a "single mom" once kids come and Jon is deployed? My comfort comes in knowing that the LORD already has things planned for us. He knows what's best for us and He'll make whatever that is happen -- despite all my worrying.

So after a short drive home and a few more tears, I decided it was time to stop feeling sorry for myself. And I did what every neurotic women does when they're feeling a little down -- cleaned my house! Then I lighted my tart burner and popped in a Macintosh Peach candle -- there's no better scent to cheer you up -- and watched the next DVD in season 4 of "Felicity." What a totally Sappy Saturday!

My First Welcome Home

During the past few weeks, Fort Carson has been busy welcoming soldiers from the 3rd ACR home from their 2nd year-long deployment in Iraq. I am so excited for these families! My best friend Katie will be welcoming her husband home this weekend (FINALLY!! -- Yeah Katie!), and many of my students have parents coming back also. I was going to save this post until right before I welcomed Jon home for the second time, but in light of all of these happy reunions, I thought now would be a good time to reminisce about my first welcome home ceremony!

I remember it like it was yesterday. The timing of Jon's return home couldn't have been better! He arrived on a Friday night -- my last day of work before Spring Break began! I am so thankful that I had to work all of that day. I would have been a mess otherwise! We only had a half-day with our students and I can remember sitting outside and talking to my friends from work while we waited for them to get on the bus to go home. Each of my friends gave a little bit of advice and helped to calm my nerves! During his first time over there, Jon wasn't able to leave for R and R, so I literally hadn't set eyes on him for a year!!

I'd had my dress laid out for days and my poster ready to go. My "Bachelor" friends (the women I watched "The Bachelor" each week with) gathered at Katie's house for a glass of wine, then drove with me to the special events center on post (it's basically just a big gym). They came for a few reasons I think -- to support me, to experience a welcome home ceremony, and to take pictures!!

We arrived around 6:00, since we heard that the soldiers would be coming around 7:00. I was meeting another Army wife there, Lana, whose husband was also arriving home. However, once we arrived, we were informed that the men wouldn't be coming until closer to 9:00. We had prime seats, and didn't want to give them up, so we decided to stay and made the time pass by reading the latest issues of People Magazine and US Weekly. I think I must have gone to the bathroom to check my hair at least 13 times in those three hours! It felt like an eternity!! The only other time I have felt so anxious was during the three hours before I walked down the aisle at my wedding!

While we waited, we continued to get updates on where the guys were -- landing at the nearby air force base, on their way to Fort Carson, inside the gates, etc... Finally, we were informed that the guys were waiting just outside the doors!! In the meantime, Jon and the other soldiers were being told not to expect much of a welcome home (boy were they surprised!!!).

What seemed like hours later, the doors of the gym opened just as Toby Kieth's "Courtesy of the Red, White, and Blue" began playing. The jam-packed special events center went CRAZY!!! Actually, that is a total understatement.

I can't even give justice to the feelings that I had while the guys paraded into the gym. I have NEVER before experienced such an intense sense of pride or love. These feelings were completely overwhelming -- the best I've ever experienced! I held up my sign, screaming my lungs out, while tears streamed down my face. My Jonny Angel was finally home!

Or was he??? All of those soldiers looked identical in their DCUs and big kevlars (their helmets)! For the life of me, I couldn't find Jon! After the national anthem and a few words from various commanders, the men were dismissed and families literally poured out from the stands! I still couldn't find my Jon!! Luckily, he had spotted me right off the bat, so he was able to find me!

My eyes are open just to make sure I'm not dreaming!!

All I can remember from that moment is how he looked just the same as always. He felt and smelled the same as always. This really was my husband!! After lots of hugs and kisses, we left the gym and made our way home. I think CaliValley Girl says it best:

"after the whole hoopla, you get home, sit on the sofa and chit chat about the most normal things, and realize that nothing has changed. It was like he never left."

I will never forget that evening -- probably the longest hours of my life! But the feelings of love and pride I felt for my husband at the end made the entire year apart worth it. I already can't wait for the next one!

Projects

Yeah!! I'm feeling so much better since my last post. Just when I said that I needed a new project to keep me busy, I got one! One of my friends from poker night was trying to get rid of her double bed because they were getting a new one. We only had a twin in our guest room and have always wanted something bigger, so I told her I'd take it. The best part was that it was free and I got a chance to do a tiny bit of redecorating! Well, several dollars and an entire weekend of shopping later, I got our new guest bed finished for now.

Doing this totally brought back memories of last time Jon was deployed. We had just bought our townhome and it was newly built. It was like a blank slate. All of our walls were white. We had no window coverings and barely any furniture. That year I kept SO busy decorating until my heart was content!

Jon also gave me a project to work on. He needed a new fleece blanket, so I was happy to put that together for him!

I was stunned today by the funeral procession for one of Colorado Springs' police officers that was killed this past week. As I sat in my car on the way to yoga, I noticed that the traffic was MUCH heavier than usual -- gradually slowing to a standstill. Then I started to see a few police cars flying by with their lights going. At first I wondered what was going on -- terrible traffic and then all of these police cars -- I thought there must have been a horrible accident. But then the police cars didn't stop. And I noticed that people were out on the streets everywhere watching. Then I remembered they were having the funeral for the policeman that was killed. You might think that I'm exaggerating -- but there had to be at least 300 police cars that went by like that with their lights on in parade fashion. I was very moved and sat in my car praying for the spouse he left behind.

However, I know this sounds terrible, but I started to compare the way they handled this hero's death with the way they handle the death of the soldiers that are posted here. This man's death has been all over the news and radio. It has been SUCH a huge deal. They even said on the news tonight that watching this procession was like watching a funeral procession for a president. However, when a soldier dies here, he is barely mentioned. It really kind of infuriated me. Not that this policeman didn't deserve such a grand goodbye. I just feel like every hero that works to serve and protect us deserves something like this. Especially our soldiers who are put in harm's way every day of their deployment. Of course -- I might be a little biased ...

Three Month Slump

I have so enjoyed reading others' blogs lately. Some people are such great writers and are able to voice their thoughts and opinions so elegantly through words. If you haven't visited "Learning to Live" or "Trying to Grok" yet, you really should. I found them linked to a friend's blog and I've been reading them ever since. I will never be able to express myself as clearly as these women, but I'll do my best!

Since I said goodbye to little sis this past weekend, I've been going through a major slump! Time seemed to be going by so fast at first, but this last month has just DRAGGED on! (And it's the shortest month of the year!) As of next Tuesday, Jon will have been gone for 3 months. Now I can look at this one of two ways: If I'm feeling optimistic, I concentrate on the fact that we are already 1/4 of the way through this deployment. If I'm feeling like a Negative Nancy (which I have been lately!) I remember that we've still got 9 months to go -- an eternity! I could get pregnant and give birth to a baby in that amount of time!!

For some reason, the first deployment was just easier than this one. I was able to spend the first four months of it with my family before I moved out to Colorado Springs to start my teaching job. Once I got here, I was blessed by the friendship of an amazing little group of Army wives -- my Fort Carson Family! (I will tell you more about these beautiful women later -- I think I'll start crying if I do right now!) Needless to say, each one of them has moved during the past year, and I am the only one left until Miss Sally gets back from her extended stay with her parents.

Earlier this week, I searched through Jon's side of the closet trying to find his smell in some of his clothes, but it's all gone. So I came up with a fabulous idea. I took one of his undershirts and used it to cover one of my pillows like a pillowcase. Of course, the whole point was to snuggle with something that smelled like him, so my plan was to spray the shirt with his cologne -- but I couldn't find it anywhere! So I got desperate. There was an extra stick of his Old Spice underneath the bathroom sink, so I just wiped that all over the shirt. I know, I know -- kind of wierd -- but it smells just like him! I love it!

So maybe I just need a new project to occupy my thoughts, a new book to read, or a fun trip to plan. In any case, I think it's time for a little attitude adjustment.

Thanks for listening to me whine. I promise not to make a habit of it. :)

A Day with My Sister!

I haven't posted anything in a few weeks for a few reasons. First of all, I've been SOOO busy! Secondly, nothing has happened! Ok, so I know that sounds totally contradictory. Maybe I should just say, nothing INTERESTING has happened. Who knew that everyday in the real world would be mostly the same as the last one! Get up, work out, shower, go to work, keep working or go to yoga, stop at Starbucks on the way home to do my Bible study lesson, come home, eat dinner, sleep, get up, work out, shower ...

I finally had a little bit of excitement this weekend, though! My little sister, Lauren, and her boyfriend Daniel came to visit me for a day! Lauren recently decided to move from Sacramento, where she was working for Whirlpool, to Atlanta, where I'm sure she'll find another great job. More importantly, though, she will get to live near Daniel and her friends from UGA! I'm so happy for her! Anyways, she and Daniel stopped in Colorado Springs while they were driving across the country. What a treat for me!

The two of them arrived late Friday night, so we just ordered a pizza, visited, and watched a movie. The next day was so cold!! It was only about 6 degrees outside, so we had to stay in all day, but we had so much fun spending time together! We watched movies, played scattegories, then went to a movie and out to a local brewery for dinner. Early Sunday morning they had to leave, even though I begged them to stay for just one more day! The two of them are such great company -- so laid back and fun to be with. All I could think about the whole time they were here was how great it would be to live closer to them! As of right now, they are still on their way to Atlanta. I miss them already!

Lauren and Daniel (aren't they so cute!!)

I've Been Tagged!!

I was tagged!! Okay, so before I start, I just have to tell a teeny tiny story. When I was taking composition in high school, we had to keep a journal that we wrote in every day. This journal didn't really tell so much about what was going on in our lives. It was basically just a collection of things that told who we were. That's what this reminds me of ...

4 Jobs you have had in your life
1. My first job was the summer before my junior year in college. I worked in the bag room at one of the country clubs at home. This basically involved helping people get ready to golf and then cleaning their clubs when they were finished. Oh yeah -- and I had to drive the cart that picks up all the balls on the driving range. It was great target practice for the members!
2. Waitress
3. 7th Grade Math Teacher
4. Basketball and Volleyball Coach

4 Movies you would watch over and over (I LOOOOVE MOVIES!!!)
1. The Sound of Music
2. Gone With The Wind
3. Anne of Green Gables
4. It's a tie!! Grease, The Notebook

4 Places you have been on vacation
1. Florida
2. Honolulu (Okay, so I'm not sure if this counts. I was really there to play volleyball when I was at TCU, but we did have a little vacation time ...)
3. On an Eastern Carribbean Cruise (St. Thomas, St. Maarten, St. Lucia, Antigua, Barbados)
4. I haven't been anywhere else!!!

4 Favorite Foods
1. Nachos
2. Ice Cream
3. Mashed Potatos and Gravy
4. Soup

4 Websites you visit daily
1. USAA
2. Hotmail for email
3. Expedia.com (I have dreams of traveling!)
4. Fandango.com

4 Places you would rather be right now
1. Michigan with my mom, dad, and Eric (my brother)
2. Barcelona with my sister, Katherine
3. Sacramento with my sister, Lauren
4. On a tropical beach with Jon and some frozen margaritas!!

4 People I Tag...I don't have any other friends with blogs, so I don't have anyone to tag yet! :)

Reflection on Life as an Army Wife

Yesterday morning, the women's ministry team at my church put on a Valentine's Tea. It was great to spend the morning talking with old friends and making new ones. However, something that one woman said to me started to make me think.

I was talking to this lady that I hadn't met before, and we were in the process of introducing ourselves and getting to know each other a little bit. It soon came up that my husband was in the military and deployed to Iraq. The woman's first question was how long he would be gone. I proceeded to answer like I always do -- "I'm not quite sure -- probably a year at the most," and she proceeded to comment (like most do) "I could never do that. I don't know how you do it." Now, when people say this to me, I always respond in the same way -- "Yes, you could do it. If you were really put in the situation where something like this happened -- you could do it and you would get through it." But then she said, "No I couldn't. I love my husband. I actually like living with him way too much to send him away like that."

Okay, so in this woman's defense, I'm sure she didn't mean anything by her comment, but it really made me kind of upset. The fact that I can go on living when my husband is away doesn't mean that I don't love him. In fact, I love him very very much. I am not afraid to step aside while he leaves to serve our country. I know that there are worse things in life than a deployment. And even though life in the military is certainly difficult at times, at this point in my life, I love being an Army wife. I thought I would share with you some reasons why:

1. Welcome Home Ceremonies
2. Love letters from the field
3. The incredible bond I have with other Army wives -- just because we are going through the same thing
4. Free Health Care -- I can go to the doctor, walk right across the hall to pick up my prescription, and never have to pay a thing
5. Cheap groceries
6. Wive's Coffees
7. Knowing we won't be in the same place, doing the same things forever
8. Having a husband who comes home from work happy
9. Being able to see my handsome husband all dressed up in his dress blues (WOW!!)
10. Hail and Farewells
11. Learning about the Army -- it's lingo, posts, policies, history
12. Getting saluted sometimes when I drive through the gate on post.
13. The enormous sense of pride I have for my husband.

So these were just a few of the things I thought of when I was driving home from the tea yesterday. I also thought about how lucky I am to have a God that gives me strength and hope. When I first married Jon, my second cousin, Stephanie, sent me the Army Wives' Prayer. What a blessing:

"Dear Lord,

Give me greatness of heart to see, the difference between duty and his love for me.

Give me understanding that I may know, when duty calls him he must go.

Give me a task to do each day, to fill the time when he's away.

And Lord, when he's in a foreign land, keep him safe in your loving hand.

And Lord, when duty is in the field, please protect him and be his shield.

And Lord, when deployment is so long, please stay with me and keep me strong.

Amen."

Our Anniversaries

It may sound a bit funny -- but at the age of 26 I have already been married 3 times -- TO THE SAME MAN!! My husband, Jon, and I started dating in 1996, when I was just 16. In December of 2001, Jon asked me to marry him and we began planning our wedding for June 21, 2003. Everything was going according to plan. The following January(2003), I sent out about 150 carefully made "save the date" cards to friends and family. Since then, I have learned that there is no such thing as "saving the date" when you are in the army.

That same January, I made my first trip out to Colorado Springs to visit Jon and help him move into the new townhome we had bought. My trip was supposed to last for ten days, just enough time to celebrate my birthday before I traveled back to Michigan. The day after I arrived, Jon received orders to deploy to Iraq. Although we didn't know at the time that he would be gone for an entire year, we figured that he probably wouldn't be back in time to make our June wedding. So, on my 23rd birthday, I got the best present in the whole world -- a husband!

Even though it was just three years ago, I only remember bits and pieces from that day. I remember Jon calling me from work in the morning and telling me that he would pick me up on his lunch break at 11:00. We were going to get married!! We were both a little nervous on the way to the courthouse, but very excited! I had not a doubt in my mind that this was who I wanted to spend the rest of my life with. It felt like I had been in love with him forever! We ended up at the El Paso County Clerk's office, where we paid $10 for a marraige liscence and certificate at the same time. The ceremony basically consisted of us swearing that we were who we said we were and that we were not being forced into this marraige -- not terribly romantic! And Jon was able to kiss his bride while the clerk went to make a copy for us.

Our Wedding Day -- January 28, 2003

Needless to say, even though we were "legal," we still didn't quite feel married. I mean, we hadn't said any vows or anything like that. Plus, our parents missed out on the most special day of our lives! Later that weekend, both sets of parents came to Colorado Springs to say goodbye to Jon, and we organized a little ceremony so that we could say our vows to each other and in front of our parents. My parents had surprised us with a night at the Broadmoor (a SUUUUPER fancy resort here in the Springs) and we decided to hold our little event in front of the fireplace in one of the sitting rooms. Jon's best friend and roommate from West Point, Dan, "officiated" for us. This one was definitely a bit more romantic. We had our ceremony, took some pictures, and then had everyone up to our room for champagne and wedding cake (which I made myself -- thank goodness for those cake decorating classes from Michael's!!).

Our Second Wedding Day -- February 1, 2003

So by now we felt officially married, but we didn't want to give up that big wedding that we had planned at home! (I know I know -- ALRIGHT ALREADY -- right?) Well, I wouldn't give up our third wedding day for anything in the world. By the time this one came around, Jon and I had been married for about a year and a half. We weren't nervous for the ceremony at the church, just excited to be able to celebrate our marriage with all of our loved ones! What an amazing feeling to walk down the aisle in my wedding dress and watch Jon's face! And then to stand up there and look out at all of the people who were there to love us and support us. It was completely overwhelming. I know it sounds incredibly cliche', but this we absolutely the best day of my life.Our Third Wedding Day -- June 5, 2004

In honor of our third anniversary, I just want to say that after three years of marriage and many months apart, my love for Jon continues to grow and grow. I am so blessed to be married to a man so full of integrity, honor, and tenderness. I am so proud of him that sometimes my heart feels like it is going to burst. I would marry him another three times if I could.

A Weekend With The Girls

Lindsay, Ally, Jill, and Rachel 1-20-06

This is my first blog, so although I'm not really sure what I'm doing, I'll give it a shot.

I was so fortunate to be able to spend this past weekend with two of my very best friends from college. Ally, Lindsay, and I played volleyball together at Texas Christian University. Ally is now a salesperson in Fort Worth and Lindsay is a graphic designer in Denver. I was so blessed by their visit. It is so amazing that an entire year can go by without seeing them, yet we are able to pick up right where we left off -- laughing, sharing stories and advice, and of course -- eating a little junk food. Ally came in on Friday and our first stop was Montagues -- the most adorable little tea house (I guess that's what you would call it) filled with beautiful old tea cups and tea pots and lots of antique furniture. We ate lunch there and caught up a little before Lindsay joined us at our house. We spent the rest of the afternoon catching up and reminiscing before meeting another one of our old teammates, Jill, for dinner. Jill is 2 years older than us and always so wise and full of advice.

Rachel, Ally, and Lindsay after Fondue and Margaritas

The girls wanted a nice relaxing weekend, so we spent the day on Saturday watching chick flicks and then going to see one -- "Tristan and Isolde," which I highly recommend! We finished the evening with cheese and chocolate fondue at my place. It was a perfect day and a perfect weekend! It was so hard saying goodbye today. Not only because my house feels lonely and quiet, but because it is so nice to be around friends who know me so well. I already can't wait to see them again!