Book Review: "The Devil Wears Prada"

I know this is a little much -- three posts in one day -- but what the heck! I have gotten a lot of comments about my book list. So I wanted to share a little bit about the book I just finished. My friend, Annie, lent me her copy of "The Devil Wears Prada" and I just finished it yesterday. I have to say, I'm not usually one for light-hearted, somewhat silly fiction. But I LOVED this book! It was so enjoyable to sit back and listen to the main character, Andrea, rant and rave about her job and lunatic boss. It was funny and witty, and I didn't want it to end! I can't wait to see the movie this summer!

My Yoga Craze

At the end of January, my best friend and roomate from college, Ally, came to visit me. She looked AWESOME, and when I asked what she had been doing, she said yoga. Of course, as soon as she went upstairs to take a shower, I was on the internet looking for a yoga studio in my area. A week later, I was at a nearby studio, taking my first class, and LOVING it!! Jon bought me a membership for my birthday, and I have been going 4-5 times a week ever since. I keep telling him -- it's the best present he's ever gotten me!

I know this sounds completely cliche', but yoga has totally changed my life. I am stronger, more toned, more focused, more flexible (I couldn't even touch my toes prior to this!), and MUCH less stressed than I've ever been before! After years of lifting weights (even working with some fantastic trainers in college) I have decided that I will never lift again as long as I can do yoga. I have always had lots of muscle mass on my body, but my muscles were never very defined. Now I am doing something I actually enjoy, and I'm seeing results -- like you can actually see my arm muscles -- I love it! Not that I look perfect, of course, but it's so exciting when you notice a difference from where you started!

In all honesty, I had taken yoga classes before and didn't like them. I thought they were boring and just too challenging for people like me who aren't naturally very flexible. Little did I know that there were other types of yoga out there besides the popular hatha yoga. Now I practice power yoga. We practice in a heated room (@ 95 degrees) and do lots of core work, balancing, arm balances, and inversions -- like headstands, forearm stands, and handstands. It is a great workout and completely fun! The best part is when you accomplish something that you never thought you would be able to do.

Right now, I'm trying to master the forearm stand, and firefly. Of course, my instructors make both look so easy, but I have a feeling it might take a while yet before I can do them:

forearm stand

firefly

Today, I went to my first Hot Yoga class. (I know, like 95 degrees isn't hot enough!!) This is also known as Bikram Yoga, and the studio is heated to around 105 degrees. This type of yoga presented lots of new challenges -- like overcoming the feeling that I was going to pass out from being so hot!! :) I didn't like it as much as power yoga, but I think I'll try it a few more times just to mix things up a bit.

So anyways, this may all sound a bit boring to you, but it has been a passion of mine for the past three months. I really feel like it has been the positive thing in my life while Jon has been away. I look forward to class every day, and it keeps me busy so that I'm not spending every evening alone in an empty house. I would totally recommend this to anyone who is bored or burnt out with their workout routines and looking for a change. I have to warn you, though. Once you try it, you'll be hooked!

You've GOT to be kidding me ...

Who is this woman and WHAT is she thinking?? Have you ever wondered how someone can be so backward in their reasoning? This lady and her little "church" all belong in a nuthouse. Take a look ...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1G470rfJQCI&search=Shirley%20Roper

This might sound completely undemocratic of me, but why in the HELL are people allowed to protest at the funerals of soldiers anyways? 500ft away? How about 500 MILES away! I think it's completely and totally sick that people have such little respect for the families of our fallen soldiers.

I Miss You!

To My Amazing Husband: I miss you...

Thanks USA -- It's a Small World

Some of my favorite emails to read each day are the comments I get from my blog. I just find it so amazing that people actually read this thing and sometimes have something to say about it! Anyways, yesterday I got a comment from a man named Mike Hacker. The comment was to provide information about a great opportunity for military families from an organization called Thanks USA. This organization is offering 1000 scholarships of $5000 to the children and spouses of active duty members of the armed forces. How Cool! Wish I would have known that when I was still paying for my master's degree last year!

Anyways, the wierdest thing is that my family is very good friends with a Mike Hacker and I'm wondering if this is the same one? I have given my blog address out to lots of people, but I don't think my mom or dad would think to send it to the Hacker family. Is it possible that he just found it by surfing the web? If so, I think that's so great! It is such a small world! And Mr. Hacker, if you're reading this, I just want you to know that I would be HONORED to add a Thanks USA link to my list of websites. I will also be sure to pass this information on to my FRG and the school district that I work in.

TomKat and Their Kitten

So I read today in the paper that Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes had their baby yesterday (named "Suri"??). And I can't seem to get it out of my mind. I know it is none of my business and I must have a pretty boring life to speculate about celebrities (I literally read People magazine cover to cover while sitting in my car as soon as I retrieve it from my mailbox each week. I know -- sad!) But anyway, more than anything, I've been wondering about Tom's other children, Connor and Isabella, whom he adopted with ex-wife Nicole Kidman. I mean seriously, what would it be like if Tom Cruise was your father, and Nicole Kidman was your mother? And who do they live with anyway? Tom or Nicole? You never hear or see anything about either of them. And every time you see Nicole, she is running around with Keith Urban, looking totally unattached to any children. Hmmmm...... I watched Primetime last weekend where Tom was being interviewed by Diane Sawyer. He sounded so genuinely excited for this baby to come. But really, how much time do you think he'll spend with it when all is said and done? Just random thoughts, of course, but the whole thing totally got me wondering ....

And for something completely ironic -- Brooke Shield's baby was born yesterday also. Wierd!

My Poker Girls

So tonight was the first weekend night in a while that I've actually had something fun to do. My friend, L, from Poker night had free tickets to the opening of a new Art Museum in Colorado Springs. The exhibit on display was centered around American music with photographs by Annie Leibovitz of famous musicians. It was very cool and the atmosphere was a little bit "Sex in the City." After walking through the exhibit, we were led into a bar area where we were served wine (for free!) and got to listen to a live jazz/blues band. I was so glad that I went. Most of our poker night group was there and we were all able to meet up for dinner beforehand. It was the perfect evening.

While we were at the Art Museum, I was talking to a friend's husbands about different places that we would consider moving if we decide to leave the Army next year. He asked me if I was okay with that -- would I be willing to leave a job that I really like? I answered yes, because I guess I always knew our stay here would be temporary. It is funny how you move to a place and have a certain mindset about it. When I moved here, I always knew that it wouldn't be forever, and so I think I've gone into everything a little bit hesitant -- my job, my friendships, getting involved in the community. My "poker night" girlfriends have always been wonderful, but I guess I always thought somehow they would be "temporary" friends, just like my house was temporary, my job is temporary, etc. But lately, I've come to realize that I really love these women. They are much more than just the girls I see once a week.

We started getting together in October of 2003 to watch "The Bachelor" every week. A different person would host each week and make a scruptious dinner for everyone. Then, we would watch the newest epsode together -- we called it our "Bachelorette Night." We made a game out of it and started voting on which girls we thought the bachelor would keep. We all brought small gifts -- like a bottle of nail polish, last week's People magazine, or a Starbuck's gift card. The person who guessed the most women correctly received all of the gifts at the end. It always helped to make things exciting! After several seasons of "The Bachelor" we just couldn't take it anymore. (It was starting to get a little bit cheesy!) So we decided to play poker instead -- Texas Hold 'Em. We still bring our little gifts and play for those instead of money. And we're totally noncompetitive -- clapping and cheering whenever someone wins a hand. Right now Tuesday nights are the best night of the week for me.

These women have supported and encouraged me through so much -- a new marraige, 2 deployments, my first years teaching, all of the times I feel "fat," -- basically anything that is going on in my life. I am so thankful for their friendships and hope that we all can keep in touch long after my time in Colorado Springs comes to an end. Who would have ever thought the Lord would bless me so much through poker?

The ABC's of Me

I saw this on Itzy Bitzy Me's Blog and had to do it. I love these things.

A is for your age: 26
B is for the book you're currently reading: The Devil Wears Prada
C is for career: Teacher
D is for your future dog: A Jack Russell named "Ace" (We totally need a yard first!)
E is for essential items to bring to a party: Wine
F is for your favorite song at the moment: "Held" by Natalie Grant
G is for your favorite game: Mancala
H is for your favorite holiday: Christmas
I is for the instrument you play: Piano and Flute
J is for jam or jelly you like: Radtke Farms Strawberry Peach Jam from home
K is for kids: Can't wait to have 'em
L is for last movie you watched: Far and Away
M is for your major in college: Elementary Education
N is for the name of your first crush: Pat Williams in 3rd Grade
O is for overnight hospital stays: Hopefully my first won't be until I have babies!
P is for phobias: I am always scared that someone is going to break into my house while I'm sleeping.
Q is for quote you like: Isaiah 40:31 "For those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not grow faint."
R is for the relationship you've had that's lasted the longest: My Handsome Husband -- almost 10 years!
S is for how you found out Santa wasn't real: I started to recognize my mom's handwriting on the gift tags.
T is for tasty desserts: Dump Cake or No-Bake Cookies
U is for underwear: I'm totally not saying -- what if one of my students read this?
V is for vegetables you love: corn on the cob grown on the farm down the street from where I grew up.
W is for weekend plans: Dinner and a photography exhibit at the Art Museum on Sat, and an Easter cookout on Sun
X is for x-rays you've had: my wrist in middle school
Y is for year you graduated from high school: 1998
Z is for Zodiac sign: Aquarius

Movies

I spent lots of time this past weekend watching movies -- one of my favorite things to do. I started on Friday night by putting on comfy clothes, fuzzy slippers, and relaxing on the couch underneath my heating blanket. I had an itch to watch Pearl Harbor, which is always so great! I always fast forward through the war stuff and just watch the love story part. I never can decide who I want Evelyn to end up with -- Ben Affleck or Josh Hartnett -- they are both so dreamy in that movie!

Last weekend, I rented Love Comes Softly from the video store. I totally loved it. I grew up watching Little House on the Prairie (my friend, Ally, is ALWAYS teasing me about this.) The Love Comes Sofly trilogy is very similar to this. It's about a woman whose husband dies just after they leave the wagon train and claim their land. Since it's close to winter, and no wagon trains will be leaving to take her back East, a Christian widower offers her a marraige of convenience -- to live with him until Spring and take care of his daughter. I don't want to write anything else about it, just in case anyone wants to watch it. But I really really enjoyed it -- it was just a good, wholesome, feel-good movie. My husband probably wouldn't have liked it one bit -- which is really the only good thing about him being gone -- I can watch as many chick flicks as my heart desires! Anyway, Love Comes Softly is a trilogy. I rented the last two parts of the trilogy this weekend -- Love's Enduring Promise and Love's Long Journey. Both were good, but not as great as the first.

On Saturday, I watched Supersize Me. I'm still not sure how I feel about this movie. Obviously, it was gross watching this guy eat McDonald's three times a day, knowing that his health was deteriorating so quickly. However, I have talked to some people that say they will never again eat fast food after watching that movie. I don't think I'm going to give up fast food for the rest of my life, but it definitely reaffirms my decision to stop at Panera instead of McDonald's after church on Sundays. Do I think that fast food is killing our nation by causing obesity ? -- not really. People choose what kind of restaurants they want to eat at along with how much they'll eat. A person who stops by a fast food restaurant once every week or so is not going to get fat just because of that one meal.

On the other hand -- there was a large segment of the movie that talked about school lunches. This part I totally agreed with! Working in a middle school, I see what my kids eat and it is TOTAL JUNK!! When I was in school, we could pick one of two regular menu choices, or salad bar -- that's it! Nowadays, my students can choose from two regular menu choices, salad, a deli sandwich, fries, burgers, pizza, breadsticks, chips, ice cream bars, sugary drinks -- it is mostly CRAP!! Almost every student in there eats cheese breadsticks and a candy bar for their lunch everyday. Yikes!

On Saturday night, I went to the movies to see Take the Lead. I hadn't been dying to see this or anything, I just wanted to get out of the house (and also have some of that fantastic movie popcorn). I was pleasantly surprised. It is the one with Antonio Banderas teaching kids balroom dancing during their detention. It was pretty entertaining and the crowd was really into it. I was glad that I went to see it.

So despite all the fun I had watching all these movies, I feel like it was a totally unproductive weekend! So next weekend, I've got to have some sort of project to keep me busy and make me feel like I actually accomplished something. I'm thinking of possibly starting my first quilt -- but I'm a little intimidated. I'll let you know what I decide ...

Spring Break

Isn't it amazing how God plans things? The day after receiving the bad news about Jon's orders, I was leaving to fly home to Michigan for Spring Break. He must have known that I would need a little cheering up!

I had been looking forward to Spring Break for a loooong time! As great as it would have been to go somewhere warm, like Mexico or Florida, going home to chilly Michigan was perfect for me! My little, sister, Lauren, flew in the same day as me and my dad picked us up from the airport. This blog will be way too long if I expand on every thing I did. So here are some of the highlights from my trip:

• Watching March Madness and talking a little trash to my 17 year old brother, Eric (See picture below).
• Going shopping at the outlet mall in Michigan City with my mom, my sister, and my mother-in-law.
• Going to church with my family.
• Spending time with my grandparents and my aunts in South Bend.
• Trying to teach my sister yoga in our living room.
• Going out to a fancy restaurant with my in-laws (they always spoil me rotten!)
• Getting to see my friend, Bethany, and her very very cute little boy, "Mr. G"! Bethany was one of my VERY good friends at Fort Carson before they moved. (See picture below)
• Shopping with my mom and sister.
• Going to "The Second City" with my family right before we left. It's an improv club in Chicago -- VERY funny!
• Getting a "Makeover" with my sister. (a.k.a. highlights) (See Before and After shots below).

Here are some photos:

This is a typical shot of my little brother, who usually wants nothing to do with his annoying sisters.

Eric and Lauren

Me and "Mr. G"

THE MAKEOVER

BEFORE: Lauren and I looking pretty ragged.

AFTER: Happy and blonde again!

What Does "WAIT" Mean?

Wow! It's been a while since my last entry. Lots has happened in the past two weeks!

I remember the four-month marker during the last deployment. I think that was right around the time my friend, Katie, and I read in the newspaper that our boys would be gone for a full year! Ouch! It was summertime and after reading the news, Katie and I just sat on the couch -- a little depressed, but assuring one another that we could do this and we'd be there for each other. We did, and we were, and everything turned out just fine.

This deployment's four-month marker was very similar! Let me back up a little. My husband received orders a few weeks ago to attend Special Forces selection. We had been looking forward to this for a while -- since he left in November, actually. For Jon it meant that he would get to try out for something he REALLY wants to do. For me, it meant that my husband would be coming home. For both of us, it meant a possible move this summer to a new post. Although I know better than to get my hopes up when the Army is making decisions about your life -- I did! However, to our disappointment, we found out a little over a week ago that Jon's unit refuses to release him and his orders are being delayed until October. Needless to say, I was very sad!

Over the past few months we have really been praying hard about this -- asking God to make clear what is the best thing for our future. I was certain that a "YES" would mean we were supposed to stay in the Army and a "NO" would mean it was time for us to move on. But what does "WAIT" mean?? I'll have to keep praying on that one. A few weeks ago at the retreat, I attended a workshop on listening to God. Hopefully, I can be a good listener. But just in case, God, could you make things loud and clear??

Despite the disappointment, it has been really exciting to consider some other options that we hadn't thought of before. My head is literally spinning and I am a little bit confused about everything! My husband has been fabulous throughout this -- very encouraging even though he's probably the one who could use the most encouragement. Jon has had a GREAT attitude -- I'm so proud of him! I have to admit that I was very angry with the Army in the beginning. But it's hard to stay mad at them when I know that they really aren't the ones in control -- God is.

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!