One Down!

The Lord Himself goes before you and will be with you;

He will never leave you nor forsake you.

Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.

(Deuteronomy 31:8)

One month down!! Who-hoo... but wow, the drama and problems that can come about in just a month. I feel like every time I think I am doing okay, then WAM! I am hit with some out of control drama that I didn't even see coming. From dealing with people just trying to cause trouble, to dealing with unknown issues with people who are supposed to be good friends to the fuel pump going out on my car... it has been a long month!

But, with each "issue" there have been other reminders of things and friends to be thankful for. BW has done *fairly* well with communicating; writing emails is not something he enjoys, but he is putting forth an effort and for that I am thankful. Plus, there were a couple days he spent off the boat and I have never been so happy to hear my phone ring at 3am!! =) It's amazing the joy and sadness all at once a single phone call can bring, but wow am I thankful for it!

Each weekend I have been getting together with my new "Bluffton family" which consists of the wives' of some of the guys in the squadron who all live within 5-10min of me. They are amazing girls and I am so so so thankful to have them and so happy about the friendships that are growing between all of us.

This past weekend Alicia came back out to visit, which is always a great time. I love spending girl time with her and just enjoying whatever we are doing. We had a great time enjoying stadium food at the Sandgnats game, relaxed and did nothing on a rainy day, spent the next day at the pool and then hosted a little dinner party for the Bluffton girls... the weekend went too fast, but we will have more time together soon.

As I am excited to have one month down I have started to look forward to the month of September... what a fun time it will be! I will spend about a week in Ohio starting Thursday and cannot wait to go to the opening Ohio State football game! Celebrating Cody's birthday, there is no way he is 5yrs old already... and just spending time with my friends and family. Then I will come back and work a couple days. Have a fun night with the wives' club planned for the next Saturday -- along with college football every Saturday now too!!! Have signed up for more overtime the next week, so will possibly work 5 nights... some girl time on the weekend. A few more days of work, then off to Texas for a friend's wedding weekend which I am so excited about! A couple more days of work and then it will be October... another month down!!! I might be able to do this... =)

I have been reminded that with each drama situation that I have faced, I am not alone. Not only do I have friends and family who support me and are here for me, but God will never leave me and will always be a source of joy... as long as I turn to Him and lean on Him.

Keep the Days Moving

I don't think I have ever been so excited for summer to be over. Not that I want summer to end, but as it does that means the days are going by and I am that much closer to BW coming home! Plus, things that we have enjoyed doing together just are not as much fun to do alone. I love some "me time" but... I think I have met my quota for awhile! Plus, once summer ends that means it is FOOTBALL SEASON!!! Actually I have been able to stay pretty busy the past couple weeks since he left... work is booming which is great for me picking up plenty of overtime and working extra not only brings in extra $$ (retail therapy, anyone??) but it also makes the days go by much faster... eat, work, sleep, repeat. The weekends are then filled with time with Layla and the girls.

I spent a weekend on the beach in Jacksonville with Amanda.

Always enjoy my time with Beth.

Have had dinner with the other "Bluffton" girls, and am so thankful to have all of them!

And Layla and I are both enjoying our new bike lead which allows us to take bike rides together... good exercise for me (when I get to pedal) and great exercise for her as she runs her little heart out!

The days are going by... I wouldn't complain if they went a little faster, but I am enjoying the time that I have. I know he is doing things he has been trained to do and has been looking forward to actually putting into practice. And, I am so proud of him. But, as the days go by I am counting down to when he will be back home with me so we can start having fun together again!

I love you and miss you Skeeter.

Actually Underway

So, yes BW left last week... but not really. The squadron went out to San Diego and had just a little more training to do before actually pulling out. So, the boat pulled back into SD this week (Wed) and the guys were all off the boat until Friday morning... when it actually pulled out and is now on its way

somewhere to do something important.

As thankful as I am for those last few days to talk to him and have him back... it meant the good-bye's all over again.

I hate good-bye's. Period. Always have. I can remember hiding behind the couch as a little girl when my aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents whoever had come to visit would be leaving so I would not have to tell them bye. I remember crying every time they left. I cried (almost) every time I left one of my travel assignments. I cried every time I left BW during our visits while we lived apart.

So, to have to say good-bye again sucked.

And this time... I know it was for real.

This time he isn't out for a week or a month and then coming home....

this time the countdown REALLY does start!

So now I am back to work... back to spending time with the girls... back to thinking of him and knowing how proud I am and being reminded daily of how much I love him.

And, now I get to look forward to this!

A New Day... Another Week

It has been a week since BW left. It sucked... but I am doing okay. I am back into a routine with work and making sure my weekends and days off stay busy. Had lots of fun this past weekend in Jacksonville on the beach and just relaxing and catching up on some much need rest. Working this week and looking forward to this weekend when I will be spending time with lots of the girls from the wives' club. Should be lots of fun... usually is =)

Still thinking of him and missing him.

Lots.

But, am doing okay...

And loving the anticipation for when he will

COME HOME

that is already building up.

Lots! =)

I love you, Skeeter.
I am so proud of you.

Fly Safe

Brian left yesterday.

Kinda

The squadron is in San Diego

The Carrier will pull out tomorrow

They will do some last minute qualifications

Back in San Diego for a couple days

Then

They will be underway.

The countdown starts.

I miss you, babe.

But I am so proud of you.

I know time will fly...

I am ready for it to get going though =(

All my love <3

It's the Little Things...

Sometimes it catches me off guard

How much I miss my mom.

I mean, its not like I don't think about her

Daily

And still wish she was with me...

But sometimes it just hits me

When I want to call and tell her

The littlest, silliest things.

Like this morning...

So, I will just remember

And know that she would have laughed along with me

And wish (again) that

I could make that one call that

I just can't.

I Love you, Momma

Final Countdown

With the big D-day looming ahead of us... BW and I have continued to keep all non-working days/hours packed full of fun activities and great times together. Which leads to why it has been so long since I have posted anything (that and I just got my computer back this past weekend so I need to work on getting some photos uploaded).
I will try to give a quick run-down of our latest adventures in Bluffton since we came home from our vacation...

• we both worked 3 days/nights the week after we got back... I guess it was nice to "ease" back into the regular schedule (for BW anyway)
• Farewell party for one of the guys' in the squadron at our community center. It was super fun to be together again with our squadron "family" and especially for me to see all the girls again! With the boys home we all go our separate ways and as much as I love having him home, I do miss the girl time we have when they are gone. We will miss the couple who is moving on, but wish them lots of luck and happiness! We had a blast that night at their party.
• Fourth of July... celebrated at another couple's community center with the squadron "Bluffton" friends as well as other friends. Boys and fireworks... wow, probably a bad combo! But, we had a great time, and no one was burnt!
• Lots of time spent in the sun either at our lazy river.. ahh, my favorite place!!! Or at Hilton Head Beach. Sushi dinner, pretty much a weekend tradition! We both had 5 days off over the holiday weekend so it was fun to spend it together.
• Again, back to work for the week
• Friday night we had dinner (sushi, of course) and went out in Hilton Head with a couple of the guys from the squadron
• Saturday test drove a couple cars -- BW is actually looking at maybe laying the Tahoe to rest... man I wish he would!! That evening we went to the local seafood store and bought some shrimp and craw fish to take home for dinner. WOW! I have a new favorite!!! This was my first experience with craw fish (BW had had them in New Orleans one time before) and I L.O.V.E. them!!! Plus, it is always so much fun to have the guys come over and cook up some seafood and sit out on the patio and enjoy the weather and food. We went that night and saw the 80s cover band that the boys' are in love with, always a good time.
• Sunday was a nice relaxing day... some time at the lazy river, an afternoon nap for me =) a bike ride with BW, Layla and I (which, just FYI means I pedaled my little heart out and BW just sat on his bike holding Layla's leash as she runs). Dinner with BW and the roommate... overall a great day!
• and now it is back to work again

We have been able to re-organize some things at the house to help with putting away more of my things. And we are now looking forward to another weekend (maybe even to include... more craw fish and sushi =) yum!) at the end of this long work week to spend together.. I know there are probably 150,387 things that will need to be done to "get ready" but I am looking forward to just being together. Everything else will fall into place.... which means, I will take care of it later =)

Our emotions are both running a little crazy... stress not only from the big day looming over us, but we both have stress from work things as well. We are adjusting... and doing the best that, I think, can be expected. I will try to get some pictures uploaded... we will see if I can find that kind of time =) Have a great week!