Jumping ahead.....Military Ball 3/3/3011

Hi Everyone!

It's been months since I've posted. I will get better......I've just been super busy with getting situated again since E's been home, weekend traveling, working, working out, socializing.......whew.

Last night was our first Military Ball together as a married couple. Here are some pictures......we had fun!


Eli getting some cake.......hah.
Me and my hubs!
Again.....love him!

Muah!

Househusband update (guest post)

So, everyone knows what a housewife is - well, I've been playing at househusband lately. Yup, I got to take a whole month off of work (Meghan got two of the four weeks off, during which we traveled) and even now, I've been "working" this past week but am only working 4-day weeks and workdays are over at around 3pm. My first off week that Meghan was working I spent cleaning up around the house, organizing, running errands to Wal-Mart and Krogers, cooking dinner and cleaning up after - yes, a genuine househusband! This past week, and continuing into my first week back at work and this weekend - I've been working on building a fence for our backyard, a 6' tall privacy/security fence both for our use and for future resalability, that I've been nailing together board by board. I'm still home more than Meghan is, which is a bit weird, but good. I have other to-do list type things to work on after the fence is complete.

Block leave was busy - we always seem to schedule more traveling than we can quite handle - but it seems so worth it, once we've recovered and stabilized at home again. For the Christmas-New Years week we road tripped! Packed the car and drove from Savannah to New Orleans, LA (Meghan's parents and extended family; 3 days), then to Memphis, TN (my grandparents and extended family, and where I grew up for 18 yrs but Meghan had never seen; 5 days), to Birmingham, AL (my sis, bro-in-law, and their newborn son Little T; 2 days), then home. Pictures to follow, I suppose... it was a long trip but good, seeing new (to me, her, or us) family members, especially Little T...

After a transition week at home (Meghan working full time that week, she sacrificed a lot for us to travel during my month off), we flew to Colorado for 10 days of family, fun, snow, snowboarding, 2nd-Honeymoon, fun! Spent time with my parents, spent time just the two of us snowboarding and staying in a little mountain town B&B, spent time with my brother and his family (wife/3 kids) who sacrificed a lot to travel from Missouri to visit us (and Momo and Papa).... what a trip! I learned to snowboard quickly, which was good/fun, my parents were/are so generous with gifts and turning a 4-day trip to Frisco into our mini-second-Honeymoon, and Meghan made friends with our niece ("twins!" with braids in their hair). I, on the other hand, got more attention/time with our nephew, so-called Two Forks. We have a lot in common, he and I...

Well, we are a little more stabilized in Savannah now, a little more into life routines and less of the traveling craziness. We are trying to be good friends, having people over for dinner and being social with work-related friends/events; trying to coax people to come visit us in Savannah (it was 65 and sunny yesterday! in January! we almost went to the beach but ran out of time). I'm finishing the fence (pictures to follow), we're talking about upcoming trips (Charlotte in 3 weeks!) and starting to lean towards a new local church commitment.

So, God is good, Meghan & I are both happy and healthy and working out what a daily/weekly routine looks like, now that I'm back from Iraq (and back at work after a month off) and she's still working almost-full-time (proud of her). We're thankful for our family and friends and God's bountiful provision for us. He is good and is the touchstone and foundation of our marriage. I have an amazing wife whom I love and am so proud of and impressed by all that she does for me/us. All of life isn't always rainbows and lollipops, but today, I am happy.

-E

My heart is pounding....

as I walk towards the field at 11:25pm on Thursday, December 9th. Just minutes earlier, I spoke with E.....on the telephone for the first time since May!!!!

I hesitantly sit down by this kid who is hyped up on rather warm-looking hot chocolate. He (or she) could not sit still.....nor was this little person's parent paying attention to the quick blows to my face. I didn't care.....my husband was finally minutes away from coming home!!! I was shivering uncontrollably but still smiled.

After watching about 10 minutes of over-dressed spouses trying to contain their wild animals (I mean children :)), the crowd was prompted to stand while the buses rode in by police escort. What a peaceful moment. My heart felt lighter knowing he was home safe. Home safe, finally. Little did I know that I still had 15 minutes of wait time before the ceremony started.

15 minutes passed.....and the music started to play. All of sudden there is out pour of around 270 soldiers flooding out of the trees from afar. Not to mention they were all in formation. I'm watching......looking for an extra tall man (love that about E!)....and my phone vibrates. It's E! "I'm on the far right- on the end." Exactly what usually happens .....I put myself in the most inconvenient spot to get to E when there is at least 500 people around. Anyways, I figured this text was sent minutes before the soldiers walked out because not one of those soldiers flinched in formation. The ceremony was a blur......all I could think about was how to get from the left side of the bleachers to the right without making a scene. Part of me wanted to run through the tight crowd before anyone noticed, part of me wanted to walk behind the bleachers quietly, and part of me wanted to scream, "move it or lose it! I'm trying to get to my honey!" Ultimately, I stayed put (and quiet I might add) until everyone was released. By that time, people were pushed so close to the soldiers anyways.......I mean, it's been a year and they expect everyone to wait. It's a torturous thing, ya know. I can say that because I was there.

So......finally! I seriously jump off the bleachers and dash to the other side as soon as everyone is let go. You all would be proud because I was wearing healed boots. So, another "blurry" moment was the time between looking, standing, walking, and then.......THERE HE IS, 10 yards away.....still searching for me until about 5 yards. We run to each other and embrace and......well, it was gooooooodd.

E is home!!!!! I love you E!

Extreme Home Makeover!!!

Hi everyone!
It's a few weeks until my prince returns home!!!!! In the meantime, I have some pictures to share!!!

Me and Tiffani Taylor in action!!!! Tiffani Taylor is a local artist who painted the entire mural for the 4 yr. old little girl, Caitlyn. With 4 energy drinks and 17 hours straight, it was complete.

The family! See the little girl? She was soooo cute!

Move that bus~!

Shaun White.....he surprised the 11yr. old boy from the Simpson family.

Paul! He designed Caitlyn's room.

Tiffani with Ty......Tiffani was in the house until literally 2 minutes before the bus was moved. She got a picture! So glad! This was Tiffani and I at the beginning of the day....so fresh and ready to go!!!

More pictures to come! I ended up getting to go to a secret event that EHME did after the house was finished...it was so much fun! We got lots of pictures and I also have pictures with more of the cast!

I don't know what to say.

I know I haven't blogged in quite sometime. I need to get better at this. After the wonderful encouragment from the last post, I have been at a loss for words. I miss Elijah terribly.....and the end is draggggginnngggg on. But on a better note, I got spoiled by my mother-in-law this weekend. Here are a few pictures! The awesome blue color Mrs. H decided on....

On our way to have lots of fun touring the city!

My rockin' new shoes......thank you Mrs.H!

I'm so glad she came. It was sad to see her go. Love you Mrs. H!

Humbled is me.

So many days, especially in most recent days, I think.....woe is me. I don't like to talk about how I'm having such a hard time with Elijah being gone, but it's there. I look on facebook at people who have their spouses with them everyday. I see people out on dates when I'm picking up dinner alone. I see couples sitting together in church. I think, daily, of how nice it would be to have one night with Elijah.....and all these thoughts.....it can get me down most days. Sometimes, I get so caught up in how bad I think I have it.....but really, I have it so good.

Last night, God showed me something that humbled me so much. I've been tearing up ever since....I even cry as I write. My girlfriends and I decided to go to dinner in downtown Savannah. We stopped at this place of entertainment (It's a piano restaurant)......There is two big pianos, two guys, and many different songs played on the piano for hours. After being there for about an hour, this large group of women showed up (about 15 or more). I immediately thought, deployed wives on a night out together- how cool!!! About 10 minutes into their stay, one of the entertainers stops and says...."I'm even prouder to be an American tonight. And with that, I want this big group of women down in front to come up on stage. I have something special I want to do." The 15+ women proceeded to the stage and spread out all across it, some were already crying. The entertainer says, "You are looking at a group of military widows up here." He started to play "Proud to be an American"......everyone in that place was crying/standing and the women on stage....oh, those women.....I can't imagine what they have gone through. They were singing and crying on each other's shoulders. It was hard to watch actually.

What a humbling thing to witness real-life women who have lost their spouses from war. I could see that some were so broken and some looked like they had it all together. Turns out, their husbands were all killed in Afghanistan and.......most of them had tattooed wedding bands on their hands- which was all cool to see. I starred at them the rest of the night. We actually talked to some of them and found out that they were just so happy to be surrounded by such great girlfriends (fellow widows). But these women had each other and that was such an encouragement to see the women wrap their arms around each other.....understanding what each fellow widow was going through and still find it in them to enjoy life. It made me proud of those women and thankful to be there to witness that moment. Even still, they will never get the chance to date their spouse, go to dinner, spend one night with them, or even do anything. My girlfriends and I talked about it all night.....and I'm still so humbled today. God knew I needed to see that.

Not only am I learning patience, but I am learning the beauty of contentment. That moment reminded me of my need to be content that Elijah is alive and well......and that God's got him in His hands. After all, I get to talk to my husband often and see him on Skype. It's not woe is me, it's HUMBLED IS ME.

My new addictions...

Wow, I haven't posted in quite awhile! I wanted to give you all a little update on my new addictions.....and things that are keeping me busy/focused until my other half returns. I'm so antsy for E to be home again. It's been way too long!
The Love Dare (40 days)....I'm on day 6 and learning sooo much!
Rock Climbing...my girlfriend and I got certified so we could climb as a team without an instructor. We now climb at least twice a week along with 5 day cardio/weight-lifting workouts.
McDonald's Mocha Frappes....I have to really limit myself (one per week and with no whip), but they are soooo good!
Substitute Teaching....for a private school in downtown Savannah, all grades. School starts this week!
The Marriage Builder.....great book for those who have yet to read it....I'm almost done with it.
Cooking/Baking new recipes.....my girlfriends and I cook together a lot, which has been fun!

Upcoming Events:
Sept.16-19- Momma H is coming to Sav!!
Oct.7-10- Maggie and Morgan coming in for family vacation?

Oct.22-24- Grace and Matt coming in for a wedding?

Oct. 31-Nov. 3- My parents are taking me on their anniversary trip to Los Angeles!!
Dec.- Guess who comes home?!!?!?!
My calendar is still open.....:)