In the Life: An Army of 3 4

My Little Man!

2011-10-23T22:35:00.003-06:00

So here's what's been keping me so busy....

Photo Card

View the entire collection of cards.

i {heart) faces: Pet Week

2011-08-23T11:56:00.006-06:00

Eva & her Maggie Mae

Share a special moment with your favorite pet over at i {heart} faces.

i {heart} faces ~ "May Flowers" photo challenge

2011-05-17T11:35:00.004-06:00

There may not have been any April showers, but the desert still gave us a few May flowers! What kind of May flowers do you see around you?

Show us at i {heart} faces! No faces required =)

i {heart} faces ~ "Pets" photo challenge

2011-04-25T19:40:00.005-06:00

Eva's 2nd birthday was on Easter Sunday! I can't believe fast how my little is growing up.

As I was going through the MANY photos I took from her birthday party, I thought this one would be cute for this week's challenge over at i{heart}faces.

This pretty pooch's name is Marble & she belongs to a great couple of friends & neighbors of ours. Eva had just finished nibbling on the smash cake that Marble's mommy had made for her & left a few tasty crumbs for Marble to lick off of her face. What a good birthday girl!

i {heart} faces: Anything But a Face!

2011-03-01T16:07:00.005-07:00

This week's photo challenge over at i {heart} faces can't have a face in it! I guess it's a good thing I've got a little story to share with ya'll........

Miss Eva, being ever more independent, was being especially quiet the other day. Just as I went to go find out what she was getting herself into, I heard, "rrriiiiiiiiiiiipp!" Lovely. Let's hope it wasn't anything important like one of daddy's {EXPENSIVE} Theology textbooks.

Turns out, it was an old journal of mine. Okay. Let's see which day from the past few years I don't need to remember. As soon as I saw the date, I knew exactly which day it was.

December 19, 2007.

The day I lost my first baby. I had a miscarriage early that morning. I was 9 1/2 weeks pregnant. No. I guess I don't really need to remember that day after all. I mean, of course I still wonder if it was a boy or a girl. What would he/she look like? What would we have named him/her? Would he/she be protective of his/her little sister?

In less than 2 months, my Eva will be 2 years old. And sometime around August 19th, she'll have a little brother or sister to remind Mommy how she really shouldn't dwell on the past, & to just look forward to a future full of blessings to come!

Now head on over & join the fun!

Baby on the Brain

2010-12-13T22:52:00.004-07:00

Issi & I have been going back & forth about when to try for another baby. It's a really hot topic for me, since I am still struggling with the huge amount of weight that I put on from my pregnancy with Eva. A little while ago, I got serious about losing the weight & started walking with Eva for about an hour every day. I lost 15 pounds in 2 weeks! But then, life happened & we were unable to continue our daily ritual. Before I knew it, I had gained back every pound. Needless to say, it's extremely disheartening for me. I'm so angry at myself. It's extra hard for me because I was always the girl who could eat whatever she wanted & never gain an ounce. I feel like I am literally wearing a fat suit! But this is not merely vanity. I gained so much in the last trimester that I ended up with pre-eclampsia & had to be induced 2 weeks early. Hmm ~ potential life or death situation ~ you would think that would be enough for me pull it together.....

But alas, I am not getting any younger {I'll be 34 next June ~ YIKES!!} & Eva deserves to have a little brother or sister. It's gonna be tough, but I NEED to get healthy again! If you remember, we would really appreciate prayers for me to have the discipline I need to overcome this hurdle! Thanks =)

You Capture ~ Sweet

2010-12-09T12:53:00.006-07:00

Over the weekend, we joyfully made yet another 2-hour trip to beautiful Ruidoso, New Mexico! As soon as we arrived, we went downtown to visit our favorite caterer whom we have hired many times for our soldier retreats. Lynn, along with his wife Traci, runs Dreamcatcher Cafe in charming Downtown Ruidoso. We just stopped by to say our hellos & before we knew it, we were sitting in front of plates full of delicious {FREE} gourmet food! (My fillet mignon was like BUTTA!) Thank you Lord for your perfect timing!

With our bellies full, we stepped outside onto the courtyard just in time to witness the town's "Festival of Lights" in full-swing! There's truly nothing like a small-town parade, ya'll. Makes me a little homesick for Indiana. With Miss Eva getting a little tired from the evening's activities, Papa's shoulder was the perfect spot to rest a while.

{So Sweet!}

Now, to tell the truth, on this trip, we had one solitary goal in mind: Hunt for & cut down our own Christmas tree! Now, I don't mean we planned on visiting a local tree farm to make our selection from row after row of Christmas trees in "captivity." Our plan was something much more fun. Much more memorable. Something that we believed was a possibility, only in a far-away, magical time of Christmases long, long ago: Drive up the side of a mountain, trek through the wilderness & find the perfect Christmas tree to take home for our own!

{Even Sweeter!}

Armed with a hand-saw & a $5 permit we acquired from, (where else?) Wal Mart, we made our way up & down & all around until Issi spotted the perfect tree!

Kisses for a job-well-done! Can you tell this girl loves her Papa?

{Okay, I feel a cavity coming on!}

Share how you captured something sweet:

Gobble-Gobble!

2010-11-07T22:51:00.001-07:00

Trick or Treat!

2010-10-31T10:08:00.003-06:00

Meet the Poe Brothers

2010-10-26T00:16:00.002-06:00

Edgar & Allan

You Capture ~ Animals

2010-10-14T19:57:00.003-06:00

Today, Eva & I met Issi after he got off work & went for a walk around base,

where we met this brave little guy. He didn't stick around too long, though.

I hope it was his creepy companion here & not me that scared him off:

Everything really is bigger in Texas!

Now head on over to Beth's & join the fun :)

The Role of the Big Bad Wolf Will Now Be Played by 3 Little Pigs

2010-07-10T15:52:00.011-06:00

Over the 4th of July weekend, the Reyes trio took a nice little trip to White's City, NM to go CAMPING! Issi & I hadn't camped out since our honeymoon, almost 3 years ago, (in a 1-man tent, nonetheless!) so we were way past due. And it was high time that Eva got to experience the great outdoors & of course, S'mores! I wish I could have gotten at least one picture, but both Papa & I had marshmallow-covered fingers :/ Oh well, there's always next time :)

I also could have gotten a picture of some wild pigs that were sniffing around our tent in the middle of the night, but I have to admit, I was too afraid to see them for myself. Issi woke me up around 3 AM to let me know that there were a couple of the critters exploring the campground. After what the grounds-keeper that we had spoken to earlier in the day had told us about them, I wasn't about to try & draw attention to myself! He warned us not to keep food laying around; not even in our tents because the pigs would literally tear the tent apart to get to it. YIKES! After Issi told me that he spotted a couple of them outside our tent, I couldn't go back to sleep for over an hour. I know that they had to be extremely close because every time I would ask him where they were, Issi would just say, "oh, they're just walking around here & there."

Yeah.

Alas, we survived the night & got an early start the next morning to visit Carlsbad Caverns just a few miles away in Carlsbad, NM. There's truly no other word but AMAZING to describe it! If you ever get the chance to hike 750 feet underground ~ DO IT! You will not be disappointed :)

I Heart Faces ~ PETS

2010-06-29T18:47:00.002-06:00

You Capture ~ Feet

2010-04-01T12:40:00.004-06:00

This week over at I Should Be Folding Laundry, Beth is a little too busy to host You Capture, because she just had her beautiful baby boy! What a doll :) So instead, for the next couple of weeks, her good friend Keli at Kidnapped By Suburbia (LOVE that title!) is kind enough to make sure that the fun will continue.

Early today, my Eva did something that she has NEVER done before ~ she laid down all by herself and took a nap! This is HUGE! Until now, she has needed her Mama to help her drift off into Dreamland via the "Magic Mama Milk."

From the beginning, my goal has been to nurse her until she turns a year old. Well, that's going to happen in just over 3 weeks! How time F-L-I-E-S!!

Anyway, I just couldn't resist snapping a shot of her perfect little feet while she snoozed away. These are my FAVORITE feet in the whole, wide world! And now I want to see your favorite feet. So mosey on over to Kidnapped by Suburbia and join the fun!

So, is This What Getting Old Feels Like?

2010-03-29T10:14:00.011-06:00

Well, it's been a while, but here I am. Things are heating up in El Paso ~ today's high is supposed to be around 75! I am so ready! We spent this past weekend in Ruidoso, NM. It's a nice little ski town about 2 hours north of us. But no, we didn't go skiing. And we didn't ski a couple weeks ago when were up there! Not really our thing & kinda hard to do with an 11 month old. The purpose of these little weekend getaways is that they are Single-Soldier Retreats. And since Issi is the acting Chaplain's Assistant for his unit, he gets to be a part of all the fun stuff :)

But I wouldn't exactly say that this particular trip was the most fun. For starters, we weren't planning on driving up until Saturday afternoon. But one of Issi's soldiers (a young Private who shall from hereon be referred to as the Kid) missed the vans carrying the remaining 20+ soldiers that managed to make it on time. After learning that it wasn't the Kid's fault, Issi felt bad for yelling at him and, purely out of the kindness of his heart, decided that it wouldn't kill us to drive up a day early.

So, we go on Base to pick this Kid up and there just so happens to be a monstrous sand storm going on. And I thought the wind in Iowa was bad! Eva and I waited in the Jeep while Issi ran in to his office and I just about died laughing as I watched him get chased by a giant tumbleweed all the way to the door!

Anyway, this sand storm was so bad that they shut down all of the gas pumps on Base so they wouldn't get contaminated. So we drove off base, filled up the Jeep and began our 2-hour drive to Ruidoso.

Now, I call this guy the Kid not only because that's exactly what he is, an 18 year-old kid, but because he is responsible for making Issi and I realize that we're not Spring chickens anymore. I mean, who has never heard of the Doors?!

The retreat itself was good. We had no major incidents which is always a plus since everyone is free to do whatever they want after supper Friday and Saturday night. And since a lot of the soldiers are under 21, the fact that they realize it and act accordingly is one less thing for Issi to worry about. Our Chaplain gave a couple of great presentations about how God loves us no matter what and talked about what it is to be soldier in the military today. And apparently, I missed an amazing juggler Saturday evening. More about that in a minute.

Now, I really wish I had a ton of pictures to share with you because Ruidoso is such a beautiful little town with the snow-capped mountains and all of the cute little candy shops. But alas, I have NONE to share. But I have good excuses. On the first trip, I left my camera at home. On this trip, I got food poisoning. I know ~ you're jealous, right? Thankfully, by Sunday morning, I felt pretty much back to my normal self. Good to go for the trip home. But don't worry ~ I'll have plenty more opportunities to capture Ruidoso in all it's splendor and charm. Issi is working on organizing 3 more singles retreats and another one for married couples!

I do have a couple of pictures of Eva in the hotel room in a pair of new pajamas. And I managed to get a decent shot of her 2 bottom teeth coming in! Isn't she just the cutest? And here's a shot of the yummy treats given to us by the fabulous caterer, Lynn. Such a nice guy. And a GREAT Chef!

Greetings From El Paso!

2010-02-18T11:44:00.007-07:00

Didja miss me? I sure missed all of ya'll! On several occasions, I actually found myself wondering what my favorite bloggers could be up to. Withdrawal symptoms were setting in. Well, now I'm happy to be back & ready for some serious blogging!

How am I liking El Paso? So far, I'm LOVING it! The weather has been very nice with temperatures in the 50's & 60's & not a single snowflake to be seen :) We've been going to a couple different (yet connected) chapels on base & the people are really great! I'm really starting to know my way around base (I should, as many trips as we've taken there!). Wow, it takes a lot of paperwork for a little family to join the Army for Active Duty! We're just now really getting settled in, so I haven't had much of a chance to take a lot of pictures & what-not. That's my goal for the next few days.

As a matter of fact, the other day Issi, Eva & I went for a hike up the mountain behind our apartment & I FORGOT THE CAMERA!! But I'm sure it won't be our last hike :) Although it might be a little while because, half-way down, I twisted my ankle. Not fun. For a minute, I was afraid that Issi was going to have to carry me back down. And he already had Eva on his back. And I'm still working on losing a ton of baby weight. That would have been bad. But alas, I was able to make it back down with Issi's helping hand :) Now I understand literally what it means to "climb a mountain." And it ain't easy, ya'll!

So, how did the long trip to our new home go? Glad you asked. Here's that story in pictures :)

I'll be posting more pictures of life in El Paso (hopefully) soon!

One view from our patio. More to come....... :)

Wordless Wednesday

2010-01-27T17:57:00.004-07:00

Dear Plant,

If you promise to hang on for one more week, I promise to stop neglecting you as soon as we get to Texas.

Bare Walls & Boxes Galore!

2010-01-23T22:11:00.006-07:00

Wow! It's been a while since I've given an update on what's going on. Sorry about that. My excuse? Well, the Army is a funny thing. Things change. All.The.Time! But, after much anticipation (mostly on my part) we (that's Eva & I) finally have a green light for heading on down to the Lone Star State!

For the past few weeks, I've been packing & packing & P-A-C-K-I-N-G!! All the while, hoping & praying that I wouldn't get a call from Issi saying that he would be deployed soon & that I shouldn't bother moving down to Texas. And all the while, having a VERY mobile (almost) 9 month old hanging onto my pant-leg! Thankfully, a few good friends have been more than eager to let me pawn her off on them in order to get some things done around here :)

Now for the great news: Issi will be coming back on the 1st of February so he can help with the move. YAY!!! I was able to get a CHEAP ticket online but the only catch is that he will be flying in to Omaha, Nebraska, which is about 2 1/2 hours away. Oh well. Better than paying almost THREE TIMES MORE for Des Moines International!

So We will pick up a U-Haul trailer when we get back to Des Moines & then we'll have to get it weighed, along with the Jeep. Then, we'll have to weigh everything again after everything is all loaded up. {Do you see why I'm so happy to have Issi to help?} The Army will reimburse us up to a certain weight or something like that.

Anyway, that's where we are now. I'm (planning on) taking lots of pictures on our trip down there. If you think about it, please say a prayer for us in hopes that Eva will tolerate the 18+ hours (not including stops) of driving that are ahead of us. {Maybe NOW you can really understand how happy I am that Issi is able to help!} Our Pastor's wife is going to keep an eye out for a portable DVD player on craigslist to help keep her occupied.

i heart faces: We are Family

2010-01-17T23:06:00.004-07:00

This week at i {heart} faces, the theme is "We are Family!" This photo was taken last summer in Iowa during a hike in the woods. I love how Eva is holding on to her Papa's thumb :) In just a couple of weeks, we'll be hiking in the Franklin Mountains in El Paso, TX!

Wanna show off YOUR family? Go here for the rules, & here to view other entries.

Now Here's an Interesting Discovery....

2010-01-01T23:31:00.005-07:00

I never knew desert life could offer so many different kinds of pets!

Well I knew about the rattlesnakes & had my suspicions about the scorpions but COME ON!

Random Dozen

2009-12-27T22:12:00.006-07:00

1. Do you find it gross to share drinks with family? Friends?

Not with immediate family & VERY close friends.

2. What have you learned this year?

While Issi was gone for training, I learned that if I lost an arm, I'd still be able to do pretty much ANYTHING!

3. When do you dismantle the Christmas decorations?

New Year's Day

4. Something you wish to accomplish before the end of 2009 is:

Eat or give away all of the left-over Christmas ham!

5. How do you feel about winter (after Christmas)?

I'm ALWAYS ready for Spring after Christmas is over! This winter, I'll {almost} get my wish when we move to the desert!

6. Have you participated in after-Christmas sales?

I went to Target to get a "Baby's first Christmas" ornament for half-off, but they were out! I'll just get one off Ebay :)

7. Do you have plans for New Year's Eve?

We've talked about putting together an "Ugly Sweater" party, but don't know if it will happen.

8. Is there anything special awaiting you in January?

Moving to El Paso, TX!

9. If your life this year was a movie, what category or genre would it be?

After having our first baby & going Active Duty Army, definitely D-R-A-M-A!

10. How much time per day do you spend blogging?

If I'm not posting, maybe an hour or so. If I'm writing a post? Could be all day after being distracted at least 978 times!

11. Who runs your household?

Definitely me! I honestly don't think my husband could function properly if something happened to me :)

12.Share one hope/dream for 2010.

That I will get to know my way around our new home in Texas & that I'll make some good friends before my husband gets deployed.

Not Exactly the Homecoming I Had Hoped For

2009-12-19T22:13:00.004-07:00

But I suppose it's better than no homecoming at all!

At 5:45 pm Friday night, I was sitting in front of Des Moines International Airport with butterflies in my belly! It was the strangest thing. I actually felt like I had when Issi & I first started dating (if you can call it that). Again, I PROMISE that one of these days I will tell the detailed tale of how I became Mrs. Israel Reyes, but not tonight. I'm tired & should be going to bed, but I haven't given an update on my soldier's return home so, here it is. The good & the bad.

One good, great, wonderful, blissful thing that occurred since Issi came home is that Eva slept through the night for the first time since he left on November 7th! **Que the Hallelujah chorus!** I'm not sure if it's the newly purchased humidifier or the fact that Papa is home. Maybe it's both. It doesn't matter. Mama got a full 6 hours sleep & felt like a brand new woman!

Now, the bad. Issi woke up this morning, ate a bowl of cereal, took a couple sips of freshly-brewed coffee & started shivering so bad his teeth were actually chattering. He spent most of the day in bed, buried in warm blankets, two sweatshirts, warm socks & a sock-hat just trying to get warm. When he finally started to get warm, we found that it was most likely due to the fact that he was running a fever. Eva doesn't care if Papa doesn't feel good. She hasn't seen him in six weeks & that's a lot of playtime to catch up with! Just like a good soldier, he toughed it out as best as he could. He even changed a diaper or two.

Bedtime (for the both of them) was 9:15. Meanwhile, the specially-made-just-for-Issi pecan pie is wasting away on the kitchen counter. I'm not gonna eat it. I tried to give it to Issi's brother, Andy, the human garbage disposal, only to be informed that he's "not really the pecan pie type." Figures.

Anyway, I hope that Issi gets rid of whatever this is that he's got because he'll be leaving in just two short weeks on January 3rd for Fort Bliss in El Paso, TX. And I have concluded after much prayer & contemplation that Eva & I will join him after he gets things squared away out there. Originally, we had decided that Eva & I would stay here in Iowa because he would be deployed to Afghanistan anyway. The fact is: we have no idea when that might be & it would really be pointless to keep ourselves separated from each other for longer than necessary! Fort Bliss is bigger than the state of Rhode Island, so surely I can find a handful of good Christian friends while I'm there who will have a better understanding of what I'm going through because they'll be going through it right along with me. That's what I'm praying for anyway.

In the meantime, the anticipation of moving to the desert & leaving cold, rough Iowa winter behind invokes the afore-mentioned butterflies to flutter wildly at the thought of "starting over again." Scary & exciting at the same time :)

2009-12-14T23:29:00.003-07:00

1. Gingerbread: For or against? Discuss.
I don't think I've ever actually eaten gingerbread. I like the looks of gingerbread men, but I don't think I would eat one. I don't really care for the taste of ginger after taking ginger tablets for morning-sickness while I was pregnant.

2. Is it important to you to always stay (live) close to family?
Um. I'm an Army wife. I don't have a choice right now. In a perfect world, we would live right in between southern Indiana (where my parents are) & northern Ohio (where his parents are). But that would only be so they could see their grandkid(s) grow up.

3. Which holiday pretend character do you wish really existed?
Rudolph!
4. Which holiday movie best represents how you feel about Christmas or life?

"A Christmas Story" is the movie I HAVE to see every year! It always makes me remember what Christmas was like when I was a child. Having that "young spirit" in turn, helps me to keep that "renewed" feeling of knowing that Christ is my Savior!
5. Is there a particular Christmas song that you're enjoying now? Any that you're tired of?
"I'll be Home for Christmas" -- just from my husband's perspective because (Lord willing) he'll be home for Christmas!!
6. What is your favorite way to remember those less fortunate at Christmastime?

Toys for Tots
7. Does it upset you to see "Xmas" instead of Christmas? How about "Happy Holidays" etc., instead of "Merry Christmas?"
Seeing "Xmas" upsets me with every fiber of my being & it gets worse every year. What kind of Christian would I be if it didn't bother me? Any time someone says "happy holidays" to me, I respond with "Merry Christmas, God bless you!"

8. How many Christmas programs are you attending this month?
Just one ~ I'm surprising my husband with tickets to the Trans-Siberian Orchestra! shhhhhh!

9. Are you dreaming of a white Christmas? Any chance of that dream becoming a reality?
HAHAHA!!! We just got 15 inches a week ago, so YEAH.

10. Tell me about a Christmas present you received as a child. Pics are always nice.
11. How many Christmas parties are you attending this month?

I'm sorry to say, but I'm really trying to avoid them this year. I don't need the empty calories! I'm really tired of of this baby fat that won't go away!
12. How do you keep yourself centered on the significance of Christmas?

Knowing the fact that Christmas is a celebration of the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ!

i {heart} faces: Pets Only!

2009-12-13T23:54:00.007-07:00

This week at i {heart} faces it's all about the furry-faced family members! This is Maggie Mae in one of her most favorite napping spots. She'll love having it back in less than a week!

Show off your favorite furry-faced family member at i {heart} faces.

When Life Hands You Lemons, Make Hot Cocoa

2009-12-10T21:41:00.011-07:00

Then sit back & watch everybody wonder how you did it! :)

So if you read my previous post, you know that we got a little snow over here. You also may have caught on that I don't really care too much for the white stuff, because I kept my blinds closed so I could go on pretending that it was still July & 89 degrees outside.

Now, being the curious creature that I am, what do you think was the first thing I wanted to do when I woke up the morning after our little snowstorm? Have I mentioned that I don't really care much for snow? And I live in (but am not from) Iowa? The good Lord sure does know how to keep a girl humble.

But it's all good ~ I just found the most brilliant website that mankind will ever know! It's simply called The Purple Store! Oh, why couldn't I have found you sooner?! Now I can get comfy & cozy-up with a nice hot cup of cocoa :)

That turns PURPLE!

And to ensure that my purple hot cocoa will turn out just perfect:

And since Eva isn't quite big enough yet for hot cocoa,

she'll need something to cuddle up with:

And when Papa gets home, he could use some nice,

comfy jammies to lounge around in:

Too much?

Sunscreen! I Need More Sunscreen!

2009-12-08T20:11:00.006-07:00

Anybody from Iowa reading this right now is thinking, "okay. The woman has finally lost her mind!" Yes, I am painfully aware that we have 15+ inches of snow coming down on us even as we speak! All of my blinds are closed tight just so I can pretend it's not really happening. I've actually started to think that there might be something wrong with me. On Facebook today, practically all of my fellow Iowan friends were just giddy over the situation. To each his own . . . .

The reason I (may or may not) need sunscreen is because today we FINALLY learned that Issi will be stationed in Fort Bliss, Texas. Where exactly is that? It's mostly in El Paso, which is on the western-most tip of Texas. Fort Bliss is also partly in New Mexico & shares a border with Mexico. With 1.1 million acres, it is bigger than the state of Rhode Island and, being established in 1848, is one of the oldest Army posts in the US.

So when are we leaving? Well, that's the sixty four thousand dollar question. And the million dollar question is, "will Eva & I stay here or go there?" That is yet to be decided because many soldiers at Fort Bliss are among the 30,000 lucky winners of a round-trip ticket to Afghanistan. We have no idea how long it might be until we learn if Issi will be one of them.

Also, Issi has to pass a PT (Physical Training - Sit-ups/Push-ups/Run) test before he can go anywhere. This means that, if he fails, he will have to stay in Oklahoma until he can pass it. He will be able to take it twice a week if need-be. Now, I blame myself for his past inability to pass his PT tests. You see, I love to cook! And Issi loves to eat. Before we got married, he used to run every day. Two-and-a-half years later, not so much. And the running part is what is getting him. Can't they just give him that extra minute?

So what does this mean? This means that we need prayers. Please pray that he will pass his PT test so he can at least be home for Eva's first Christmas & we aren't out $200 for his already purchased plane tickets! That is all I ask for, all I hope for. For now, we will just take things one day at a time.

Sleeping Beauty

2009-12-06T22:28:00.005-07:00

This week over at i heart faces, it's all about "Sweet Dreams."

Here's my beautiful girl at around 2 months sleeping peacefully, without a fuss. Ah, those were the days . . . .

Join the fun! Head on over to i heart faces & show us your favorite snoozer :)

You Capture ~ your happy story

2009-12-04T23:21:00.004-07:00

Well, it's been a little while since I participated but, this week over at I Should Be Folding Laundry, they want to know what makes us happy :)

This is my most favorite picture I've ever taken

(so far) of my Eva. Every time I look at it,

I can't help but smile & marvel at how I could

have ever made something so beautiful

A friend & fellow blogger, Melissa introduced me to

PaperBackSwap.com. If you love to read & find

yourself with a huge stack of books that you just don't

want anymore, you can trade them for something you

want or just something you want to read.

Intrigued? If you are, I would love you forever if

you would credit me for the referral

(FaerieKeeper) =-)

It means SO MUCH to know that my husband

appreciates me. Even if it's just packing

leftovers for him to take to work.

And last, but certainly not least: Sometimes I wait

all day to see this . . . .

I'd love to know your happy story!

You're Not Going Out Looking Like That, Are You?

2009-12-02T12:06:00.004-07:00

Okay. Issi has this t-shirt. It is his FAVORITE t-shirt. He LOVES to wear it. In public. Anywhere. Everywhere. To the store. To work. To the gym. I'm pretty sure he's even worn it to an evening church service or two.

Why would this bother me? I completely understand how just about everyone has a favorite "something" they like to wear that they've had since Lord-knows-when. Perhaps something that provides comfort when one isn't feeling well. Or maybe something that one likes to sleep in.

I'm guilty of it myself. I have a t-shirt that my Grandma Eva gave me when I was 13 that is worn so thin you can almost see through it. It is huge & shapeless & faded & has a little bit of rust-colored paint on it from painting the front deck of my parents' house when I was about 16.

Wow.

I just realized that I've had this little gem for exactly half my life.

Anyway....

Back to the question of why my HUSBAND'S old t-shirt should bother me as much as it does.

First of all: HIS t-shirt is in MUCH worse shape than mine is! It has over a dozen holes in it, ranging from the size of a BB to about the size of a nickel. It's especially ratty around the collar. The "iron-on"-style designs on both the front & back are horribly cracked & peeling. It looks like it was wadded up & had bleach thrown on it because he left it outside for almost a year, so it was faded by the sun. Yes. That's right. A year, people. Way before I met him, during his bachelor days. *shudder*

Herein lies the problem. He's not a bachelor any more. He can't do this to me. He wears this shirt IN PUBLIC. Where there are PEOPLE. With EYES. You would certainly never catch me wearing my old t-shirt out in public unless I was running out of my burning house in the middle of the night!

But now I have an even BIGGER problem with it. I've been pretty busy with trying to keep up with an infant who is very quickly becoming "not-so-much-an-infant-anymore." Some things are being neglected around the house. Like the laundry.

Running out of things to wear, I had no choice but to rummage through Issi's closet. I just needed something sjust for wearing around the house. There it was. The dreaded embarrassment of a t-shirt, so adored by my husband whom I love so dearly. Why on EARTH did he not take this ugly thing with him to training?

Taking it off the hanger, I just stood there, staring at it. How many times have I asked him to just "get rid of that thing already!"? I've even tried enticing him with a new one to replace it. What is he, seven?

Just then, the strangest thing happened. It came out of nowhere. It all happened so fast, I couldn't stop it. I looked down. And I was wearing it!

big dramatic *gasp*

How did this happen? I refuse to be sucked in by this ugly, yet very comfy shirt. Who cares if it makes me smile every time I look down at because it makes me think of my husband & all of his crazy?wonderful little quirks that make him...him. Well, I can't find anything else to wear, so I'll just change it after I do a load of laundry.

That was almost a week ago. I've since gotten caught up on laundry, but I've worn it several times. Around the house.

And once to take out the garbage.

In PUBLIC!

Don't tell Issi.

I'm wearing it right now.

But With the Sweet, Comes the Sour.....

2009-11-22T23:35:00.004-07:00

Home "Sweet" Home

Issi will be home on December 18th! YAY!! Home for Christmas! That's EVERYTHING on my "wish list" :) He has found a "good-enough-for-the-time-he's-there" church & he says that all 30 or 40 people have been very welcoming ;) The Pastor has even offered to drive Issi almost an hour & a half to the airport when he gets to come home next month. What a blessing. I do wish that someone had invited him for Thanksgiving. The thought of my beloved spending a day that should be filled with family & friends with neither makes my heart *a c h e* & it takes a little bit of joy out of my plans to spend the day with our wonderful church family. So I guess I lied before. I wish Eva & I could go see him. Actually, I should probably get used to things like that.

And now comes the sour......

From the looks of things, he will be deployed to Afghanistan in February.

We will (hopefully) know in a couple of weeks where he (we) will be stationed. I'm not even going to list the most probable locations here for fear that I will somehow "jinx it." Silly, I know but, coming to grips with the REALITY that everything we've expected is slowly taking form has been sobering enough. "Saying out loud" things that everyone who loves us already knows is just something that I just frankly don't feel like "dealing" with right now.

Don't get me wrong. I do so appreciate everyone praying for us & for their concern of our well-being. It is all that I can ask for, that you all keep praying for my little family.

We Are So Blessed

2009-11-15T21:52:00.011-07:00

A beautiful family (if I do say so myself), great friends, being surrounded by God's beauty ~ what more could we ask for? Maybe a little Chinese food? Hey, you work up an appetite strolling through the woods on a gorgeous Fall day ;)

Sarah, what can I say? You continue to impress me. Especially with your ability to get REAL smiles out of my goof-ball husband! Thank you m'lady:)

And I'm so glad you were able to get some great photos of your Josefine with our Eva! In the least, we'll have a perfect selling point for them to become pen-pals later on :)

2009-11-10T09:32:00.007-07:00

My very first "Random Dozen" entry! Here goes:

1. What was the last song you listened to? Row, row, row your boat....

2. Have you ever had “buyer’s remorse” over anything? Every single GI-NOR-MOUS chocolate muffin I bought while I was pregnant with my daughter!! It's been six months & I'm STILL trying to deal with the aftermath!

3. What is something in your life that you are thankful for now that you didn’t think you would be at the time of the event? (Something that seemed ill-timed, inconvenient or hurtful which turned out to be a good thing) A few years before I met my husband, I thought I had found "the one." When it didn't work out, I was devastated.

4. Do you watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade every year? If so, do you have a favorite float or balloon? Yes! I love to see the high school marching bands :)

5. Share a quote, scripture, poem or lyric which has been an inspiration to you lately. Call me nostalgic, I don't know, but since hubby left for training with the Army, I have thought about the Psalm I read at our wedding. Psalm 32. Particularly verse 10, which reminds me of my own struggle before wholly accepting Christ as my Savior.

"Many are the woes of the wicked, but the Lord's unfailing love surrounds the man who trusts in Him." ~ Psalm 32:10

6. This is meant to be a fun question, and this is a G-rated blog, but please share a “guilty pleasure,” something that you enjoy that’s probably not the most edifying, time-worthy or healthy thing you could be indulging in. Did I mention--G rating? Horror movies! Good, bad, cheesy, gory ~ just can't get enough!

7. What Thanksgiving food are you looking forward to? Whatever my host so graciously offers :)

8. What is your favorite book to read to children, or what was your favorite childhood book? Charlotte's Web

9. Do you collect anything? These days, mostly just my thoughts as I tend to get distracted very easily :/

10. Gift bags or wrapping paper? Gift bags ~ Love 'em!

11. Share an after-school memory from when you were younger. What was your routine like on an average day? My mother was very "June Cleaver"-ish. When I would get home from school, she would be making supper & I would sit at the bar & tell her about my day.

12. True story: Once, in a job interview, I was asked this question and told there would be no clarifying; I simply had to answer the question: “When you’re fishing, do you feel for the fish?” So what about you? When you're fishing, do you feel for the fish?? Never really thought about it before but, no.

Ornament Exchange

2009-11-08T21:18:00.001-07:00

This sounds like a lot of fun!

Who's with me? :)

Setting Our Sights a Little Higher

2009-11-06T09:27:00.004-07:00

Papa & his girl.

After a long day/night of traveling, Issi finally made it to Ft Sill, OK just before midnight last night.

We spent a couple of hours with him at the airport yesterday while he was waiting to board. I really hate goodbyes. Long goodbyes are even worse. But alas, I knew this day was coming & I have a six month old to take care of so, no time for a pity-party.

I got home from the airport yesterday just in time for an update on a breaking news story (which was actually the first I got to hear about it) of the shootings at Ft. Hood, TX. My initial reaction was, "Great! It's bad enough having to think about my husband putting his life in danger every day 'over there,' but now I have to worry about it happening on our own soil!"

The truth of the matter is that everything is in God's control. Now matter what, where, when, who or how. Knowing that my husband loves the Lord & serves Him well is very comforting. So, if I ever have to deal with something like this first-hand, at least I know where Issi's headed & that I WILL see him again!

In the meantime, I will be praying for strength & comfort in the Lord as we embark on this new journey of life in the Army.

You Like Me! You Really Like Me!

2009-11-02T21:59:00.006-07:00

Wow, I feel very honored to humbly accept this "Best Blog Award" from my good friend & sister in Christ, Sarah. All I have to do now is pass it on to fifteen fellow bloggers. This task proved to be MUCH harder than I first anticipated! I love so many great blogs. But I have come up with an eclectic list of the ones that stand out (at least in my opinion) for many different reasons.

*To accept this award, post it in your sidebar & pass it on!

Here goes. In absolutely no particular order:

The Dialogue ~ This Australian Chatterbox knows how to keep her readers wanting more! I especially love her sense of humor :)

Grains of Sand. ~ This family will make your heart ache as they strive to lead the lost to the Lord in South Africa.

Cool, Calm & Collected ~ This lady is truly inspiring! Her faith & love for our Lord Jesus has only been strengthened further by the loss of her soldier.

Captured Photography ~ My beloved friend & sister in Christ, this chick has some major, God-given talent!

HomeSpun Threads ~ This Southern gal really knows how to make any occasion special & fun!

Musings of the Sixties ~ Retirement hasn't slowed this woman down! I always look forward to seeing StillMary's "You Capture" entries. Plus, she has twin sons that have made careers in the Army!

Down Abbie's Road ~ So creative & down-right real! She truly sees the beauty in everything!

Bakerella ~ Red Velvet Cake Balls. Seriously. I can feel my butt getting bigger just looking at all of her tasty creations!

ArmyWifeToddlerMom ~ Honestly hilarious & hilariously honest!

A Southern Daydreamer Reads ~ I just love reading. And I love the idea that Susan has to allow fellow bookworms to share what they're reading.

Our Letters to You ~ A great place for military families!

not all those who wander are lost ~ Another proud Army wife just trying to make the best of things & having as much fun as she can whenever possible!

{life with} Cutie Face ~ For your daily dose of adorable, visit The Monkey's Mama!

The Eclectic Reader ~ In fact, very eclectic reader! Just like me :)

Delectable Dining ~ Simple & delicious recipes!

Enjoy!

It's Good to be Back!

2009-10-31T11:56:00.007-06:00

Well, where to start? First of all, I'm happy to report that after 3 days, a half-dozen phone calls & some MAJOR withdrawal, our internet is back up! For anyone in central Iowa or anywhere else where Quest is a local internet service provider ~ FIND ANOTHER PROVIDER!! 'Nuff said.

Oh, I have to tell you that I LOVE my husband! Not just for all of the obvious reasons, but because this past Mother's Day (which was Eva's original due date) he got me a spa package that includes 4 sessions; 1 pedicure, 1 hair cut/style, 1 facial & 1 sugar scrub! And on Wednesday, I spent about an hour of pure bliss, getting pampered to the max (80's flashback?) at JUVA day spa! (By the way ~ I love this place! Every product they use is all-natural & smells so yummy!) It was the first time I ever had a facial & it was soooo relaxing! It made me realize that I really should take just a little time out for myself every once in a while. It's hard to accept that it's okay. I've been focused on my little one for six months now & I've not really allowed myself to have "me time." Gonna have to work on that. Not that we can afford for me to visit the spa on a regular basis, but you know what I mean ;)

Issi was able to speak to our beloved church family on Wednesday night. He did a very good job on his "mini-sermon," which I was able to hear (some of) from the infant nursery, thanks to the intercom. I did step out for the last 5-10 minutes, just in time for the hard part ~ talking about leaving Iowa.

It's so funny to think back about when I first arrived here in Iowa just over two years ago. Let's just say that first impressions really DON'T mean a thing! I will miss it here. As hard as it is for me to believe that those words can so naturally roll out of my mouth, the gravity of that statement weighs even heavier on my heart. But I just keep looking to the Lord & believing that it is His will.

In the meantime, there are only a few short days until Issi leaves for Oklahoma. 7 1/2 weeks is a L O N G time. Please pray that he will do well in his training & also for strength in the Lord for the both of us! :)

Like a kid on Christmas Eve!

2009-10-24T21:08:00.003-06:00

That's exactly how I'm feeling tonight! Our little family spent some time today with our friends Sarah & Jim getting family pictures taken! Let me tell you friends; this chick has talent! Curious? Go here & see for yourself. I CAN'T WAIT to see how they turned out. Now, mind you, I'm not exactly thrilled to see myself as I'm still struggling to lose this baby weight even after six months! Unless she graciously grants my request to Photoshop me skinny ;-D Oh, who am I kidding? She doesn't have THAT kind of time! After all, she has her own beautiful little baby girl Josefine to look after.

Born nine weeks apart, it has been really fun seeing her Josefine & my Eva become fast friends! During our shoot today, Sarah just couldn't resist (& I loved watching) getting some shots of these two little buddies. Well, she has just given us a little taste of what she got!

Oh, I can just see the visions of tiny little fingers & big brown eyes that will be dancing in my head tonight!

The Honeymoon is Over....

2009-10-20T22:36:00.006-06:00

When I agreed to marry my husband, I knew exactly what I was getting into. He was in the National Guard & that meant that I would have to adjust to a slightly different routine now & again.

Ready for Drill one weekend a month? Check. Ready for being alone for two weeks out of the year (which BOTH years has fallen right smack dab in the middle of my birthday) for Annual Training? Check. Ready for the POSSIBILITY of deployment overseas? Check.

Well, in just over two weeks, & for two months thereafter, my husband will be ten hours away, training for his new MOS. (Meaning his new "job" for any non-military readers.) Oh, yeah; & I'm gonna have to learn a whole new language! The ARMY language, where EVERYTHING is turned into an acronym.

Until now, I've joked about how I'll finally have a clean house every day & how I can watch all the scary movies I want (he hates 'em!) and how I'll be able to come & go as I please. Right now we only have one vehicle because my brother-in-law needed a car, so we gave him our little Nissan & Issi needs the Jeep (my baby) to drive to work. Oh, how I've missed her!

But now that the hour glass is running out, reality is setting in. Going Active Duty is indeed the best decision for our little family right now. But the truth of the matter is that Iowa has become home. This is going to be harder than I thought.

Not only are we leaving our home, our friends & the most awesome church family on the planet, but we are in fact, starting a whole new life.

I realize now that being a National Guard Wife was just a dress rehearsal for the big show. We have never lived more than fifteen minutes away from the base, so he was always home on Drill weekends. When he was gone during A.T., I would just drive 8 hours to my parents & stay for a week or so.

When I say that the honeymoon is over, I don't mean with my husband. I mean that things are about to get very real, very fast.

We still won't know for a while where the Army is going to send us. It could be Kentucky. It could be Italy. It could be anywhere in between. What if we get send to Italy &, two months after getting there he's sent to Afghanistan? Or Iraq?

I really need to re-wire my brain here & put a big piece of it on stand-by. Ready for being alone for at least a year at a time? Check. Ready for being alone with a baby for at least a year at a time? Check, check. Ready for being alone for at least a year at a time with a baby in a foreign country? Check, check & check. And this is just the tip of the iceberg, my friends.

The most important thing I need to remember is that, wherever we are, I know that I will have the good Lord watching over the three of us & (hopefully) friends & family will remember us in prayer every now & again. Everything else is out of my control, so I guess I'll just have to let go & let God....

i ❤ faces: Pink Week

2009-10-19T10:40:00.008-06:00

This week at i ❤ faces they are raising awareness for breast cancer!

The bond that I have formed with my almost 6 month old (I can't believe that!) daughter is so strong!

Nursing her has been such a blessing to me. I can't imagine not being able to!

Wouldn't it be wonderful if they found a cure before she's old enough to have to worry about

breast cancer?!? I pray that the Lord would make it so!

See how others are celebrating Pink Week!

Giveaway ~ Cake Wrecks

2009-10-16T22:33:00.001-06:00

Okay, if you remember last week (I think) I was talking about wanting to try my hand at making cakes. There's this HILARIOUS book that Five Hens is giving away called Cake Wrecks: When Professional Cakes Go Hilariously Wrong!

Let me tell ya; you can't make this stuff up!

Go see for yourself!

You Capture ~ Still Life

2009-10-15T11:00:00.002-06:00

This is an O L D doll that belonged to my Grandma (Eva's namesake) when she was a small child. It is from the 1930's & was given to me when I was a child, sometime in the 1980's. It used to be kept inside a plastic bag & hung on my bedroom wall while I was growing up & after I moved out on my own. When I got married, I took it out of the plastic bag & wrapped it inside a flannel pillowcase so it wouldn't get damaged in the move & that is where it has remained to this day. I REALLY need to get a display case for it! It is one of my most cherished possessions & I wish to pass it down to Eva someday, so that she may hopefully pass it down to her own daughter.

See how others captured still life!

i ❤ faces: Excited!

2009-10-11T23:29:00.002-06:00

My husband, the college graduate!

See what got others excited!

Here's My Card . . .

2009-10-11T15:13:00.003-06:00

So I've been meaning to get some business cards made up with all of my Avon info on them. Well, I think I might just hold off for a little while longer because Energizer Bunny's Mommy is offering a chance to win a set of 250 business cards from UPrinting .com! If you're in need of business cards, you can't pass this up!

i ❤ faces: My Favorite Things

2009-10-09T13:22:00.006-06:00

*my little family* ~ *smiles in the morning* ~ *the cutest little baby face* ~ *baby toes* ~ *my husband succeeding* ~ *all things Tolkien* ~ *(2-in-1) ivy & the color purple* ~ *(2-in-1) chocolate & cake* ~ *our Jeep* ~ *Bobo* ~ *Chloe* ~ *Maggie Mae* ~ *castles* ~ *so fresh & so clean* ~ *did I mention baby toes?* ~ *wrought iron gates*

Tell us your story at

Let 'em Eat Cake!

2009-10-09T10:58:00.006-06:00

Lately I've been trying to think of ways that I could earn a little extra spending $$. Since we still have no idea where the Army will be sending us, it would have to be an "in-demand" pretty much all over the world! Now, Avon is sold & manufactured in EVERY country in the world, so it's a good chance that most people have at least heard of it! Becoming an Avon Sales Rep has been fun, but I would like to try something a little more creative. I found a website that showcases one of my favorite things . . . . CAKE! Whether it's a wedding, a baby shower, retirement party, everybody wants a cake! But, let me tell you; if I decide to pursue this little endeavor, I'm sure it will be a L-O-N-G time before I can compete with these uber-talented folks! Which is why I need a jump-start. Energizer Bunny's Mommy is having a really fun giveaway! How fun would these little guys be for a baby shower!

Enter now for YOUR chance to win!

You Capture ~ Red

2009-10-08T17:10:00.006-06:00

Mmmm, I LOVE raspberries! We finally made a trip to The Berry Patch to get some & boy were they good!

This is a framed print that (used to) play music when you wind the clown's nose. It belonged to my husband when he was a child & he used to spend hours, yes HOURS playing with it. Because of which, now it will only play a couple bars before it poops out. It is now proudly displayed in Eva's room.
Since I captured hubby's beloved clown, I thought it would be fitting to capture something that I love from my childhood. This rocking chair was given to me by my Grandpa, who passed away when I was still pretty young, so I don't remember him that well. But I will always cherish this little rocker! I have been thinking about painting it purple (my favorite color) for Eva. We'll see . . . .
And finally, hubby's National Guard hat that will be but a novelty in less than one month! Going Active Duty has been a tough decision, as Iowa had really started to grow on us :) It will be hard to leave our church mostly & the friends we have made here but, right now, it is the best choice for our little family.
See how others captured Red.

You Capture ~ The Feeling of Fall

2009-10-03T16:16:00.009-06:00

I guess because I first began knitting about this time last year, it makes me think of Fall. For the last few months I have not been able to bring myself to pull out my knitting. Now that it's getting cooler, I've been itching to pick it up again! I'm a little rusty so this is my "practice project."

I think I'm ready to start a project that Sarah was kind enough to give me WAY before Eva was born! It will be a baby blanket in the most GORGEOUS colors. I can't wait until it's done! Only the good Lord knows how long it will take me :)

See how others captured The Feeling of Fall.

You're Gonna Love This One . . . .

2009-10-02T13:59:00.005-06:00

Okay, so I have a new Avon recruit ~ very exciting! After deciding with her when would be the best time to meet with myself & Sue (District Sales Manager) to get her started, I sit myself down to email Sue on the details. "You can pick me up between 1 & 1:30 on Friday."

Fast forward to Friday. Picture me running around like a chicken with my head cut off; trying to get a load of laundry done so I actually have something to wear . . . . feed Eva . . . . put her down for a nap . . . . jump in the shower . . . . nurse Eva . . . . try to make myself look presentable . . . . grab the car seat, her sweater . . . . nurse her again to "top-off her tank" . . . . and wait for Sue . . . . and wait . . . . and wait . . . . and wait . . . . and, "wait a minute, something must be wrong."

So I give her a call & she has ABSOLUTELY NO IDEA what I'm talking about! That can't be! I sent her an email 3 days ago with all of the pertinent information, including specific instruction that we had to be out of there by 3:00 so she could pick up her kids from school!

Oh, wait . . . . oh no . . . . oh , NO! . . . . I actually SENT that email, didn't I???

Nope. Must have gotten distracted (wonder how that happened;) and forgot to send it!

Gotta love that "Mommy Brain!"

Mama's Got a Brand New Blog!

2009-09-29T17:19:00.003-06:00

Since I wanted my purple shamrock blog to be geared more towards the entire little Reyes family, but I ALWAYS have something to talk about when it comes to little Miss Eva, I felt compelled to give the little lady her very own blog! So, I am pleased to present to you: Memories & Milestones of Eva Marlene!

It's Official!

2009-09-17T22:46:00.002-06:00

For all your beauty needs, follow me :)

Avon Calling.....

2009-09-17T14:38:00.004-06:00

I just spent the last hour with a District Sales Manager from Avon! That's right ~ I'm gonna be an Avon Lady ;) I am super excited! I will be getting my online account & everything set up (hopefully) tonight. YAY!!! (Further details to be posted in the near future....)

Never Forget

2009-09-11T14:33:00.002-06:00

New Mother's Survival Kit

2009-09-10T11:52:00.008-06:00

This was a really fun gift I received when my church threw a baby shower for little Eva. I just love it! Very encouraging :)

The card inside reads:

"New Mother's Survival Kit"

HERSHEY HUGS & KISSES

For you and the baby both because you both deserve them.

CLOCK

To remind you that time will pass by too quickly. ENJOY EACH MOMENT!

MARBLES
To replace the ones you will lose.

RUBBER BANDS

To remind you that flexibility is key.

LIFESAVER

To save you from one of those days.

TISSUE

To dry those tears (the baby's and yours).

LOLLIPOP

To lick all your problems.

ERASER

To remind you that every mom makes mistakes.

PUZZLE PIECE

Because you are an important piece in your child's journey through life.

Autumn is in the air......

2009-09-02T14:10:00.005-06:00

Yesterday evening, Issi & I took Eva out for a little stroll around the neighborhood. I FINALLY got to put her HAND-KNIT sweater on her! Okay, I didn't knit it, but it was lovingly made by a wonderful lady in our church, Mrs. Egeland. I'm not anywhere near ready to tackle a project that requires more than a regular knit stitch! (Sorry Sarah ~ I haven't been too productive on the ol' baby blanket. But I haven't given up! Just on hiatus ;)
Anyhoo, I was so excited to have her wearing her beautiful little sweater that I actually remembered to grab the camera! (Okay, I remembered after we had already started walking, but we were still in the driveway so....hey, at least I remembered this time!)
So the leaves haven't really started to change much yet, but you can feel it, smell it, almost taste it in the air. Fall is coming! Now, don't get me wrong. Iowa is actually starting to grow on me. But, oh how I miss this beautiful season in Southern Indiana. The colors are so rich and vibrant, ranging from lime green to crimson red. Around this time of year, I always start to feel a little sad & (maybe a tad) homesick for my Hoosier homeland. You see, the Autumn season here in Iowa pretty much means that the leaves will turn brown & fall off within a couple weeks because it's so windy! Why can't it be as pretty here as it is where I spent my whole life up until a couple years ago when my husband dragged me away to this place where, not only is Fall too short but, Winter is too long!
As I was about to voice my dissatisfaction with the upcoming season change, something caught my eye. It was a bunch of yellow wildflowers. I looked all around. They were everywhere! I looked beyond the yellow flowers & saw this plethera of beauty in all different colors, shapes, textures, sizes.
Before I knew it, I was picking them all! By the time we got home, the whole bottom compartment of Eva's stroller was overflowing.
Thank you, Lord for shutting my mouth & opening my eyes!

"God will yet fill your mouth with laughter and your lips with shouts of joy." (Job 8:21)

We've come a long way, baby!

2009-08-31T14:34:00.011-06:00

Well, here I am. Two years married with no deployments (praise the Lord!) and the most beautiful 4 month old girl these eyes have ever seen. It's hard to believe that just a few short years ago, I was content with the thought of becoming the "crazy cat lady" ツ Oh how the Lord does bless!
I didn't meet my husband until the very same day that I turned the big 3-0. I might bore you with the details some other time but, let's just say that six weeks later we were saying "I do." By the way ~ I don't recommend planning a wedding (even a "simple" one) in 3 weeks!!
Just about everybody we knew told us we were nuts. We didn't care. We knew it wouldn't be easy. We knew the Army would make it even harder. We knew we'd have to work a lot harder than couples who had known each other a million years before they finally tied the knot. We knew there would be times when we wouldn't be each others' favorite people. Besides, we had already talked about everything there was to talk about as far as being husband & wife was concerned so, "tell us something we don't know!"
And here we are. Over two years have gone by & we're both still breathing! It's been fun. It's been challenging. It's been one crazy roller-coaster after another. And through it all, we have tried to keep Christ in the center of our marriage. It can be tough at times, but isn't that how it's supposed to be?