10 on the 10th

I haven't done this in a while, but seeing as it's the last one for a while hosted by Meredith...I thought I'd join in :)

10 Things I Really Must Do This Week

1. Declutter my blogroll (this has been bugging me for a while)
2. Finish writing my AWM article (it's due Friday)
3. Mail some Thank You's that are way overdue!
4. Finish reading "God Strong" (we're supposed to wrap up this week)
5. Wrap Mallorye's Christmas Shower gifts (the shower is Saturday)
6. Make Christmas Letter list (I'm scaling down this year...way down)
7. Write our Christmas Letter
8. Update my Dayplanner
9. Update Matt & Mal's scrapbook (really need this done by the shower)
10. Catch up Project Life (who knew taking a photo a day would be so complicated)

Ok...looking at my list, I realize I'm a little ambitious, but it's good to have a goal...right?

All Is Right In The World Again

Saturday, November 6th. The day I have been holding my breath for...the day I have been anticipating for the past year. My soldier finally came home!

Me, Blake, & Mallorye braving the very cold temps while we patiently wait for the buses to roll in. They brought four buses carrying our soldiers to the Arkansas State University Football Stadium where a crowd of nearly 500 people awaited them. The streets were lined with people waving flags and banners and yellow ribbons were tied to street signs, light poles, and doors.

Me, Melissa Brown, & Jamie Clark...a few of the Army wives that made the past year a little more fun and a whole lot more bearable. I couldn't have made it through without my support system.

Matt & Mallorye....this was Matt's first experience with deployment and I'm so glad that Mal has had him to lean on this past year.

At this point, the guys have been on Caraway for over 10 minutes...I can hear the sirens of the police that are escorting them, but I still can't see the buses. I'm holding back tears, which everyone finds amusing and getting more anxious by the second.

The First Kiss

There is nothing that can describe that feeling of having your soldiers arms around you and embracing for that long awaited first kiss. This man completes me...is a part of me...and when he's not here a huge part of me is missing. ...and yea...at this point the tears are flowing and I don't care. My soldier is home and all is right in my world.

Thank you! To everyone who prayed for my husband and my family over the past year!!

{breathing}

...finally

......I can breathe a huge sigh of relief

..I can quit sleeping with my cell phone under my pillow

.....or racing to the phone every time it rings

My soldier is back on US soil and it does this heart good!

{1037th RCC Welcome Home Ceremony at Camp Shelby, MS}

...just a few more days until the REAL Welcome Home in Arkansas with family & friends & huge hugs & sloppy kisses & of course laughter followed by crocodile tears.

{and yes, my soldier is in that sea of ACU's somewhere}

Someone's A Year Older....

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY AMAZING HUSBAND!

You are an amazing husband and father. I love that we have this word all to ourselves, well besides the people that invented it and shared it with us :) SHMILY.

I love that you're always asking about the kids and your parents and the church...everyone...we're supposed to be worrying about you, not the other way around.

You have the most incredible smile. It's probably the thing I first fell in love with and it can instantly make me feel better.

I absolutely love the way that I fit right in that nook in your arm...like it was made just for
me...I miss that spot.

I giggle when I think about you talking to yourself...quizzing me on the latest movie...& even your snoring...because they are all things that make you..you.

I love that in just a few weeks, I will get to see you and celebrate you...we don't need a birthday for that...it's been way too long since I've seen your face and heard your voice and just got to snuggle up on the couch with you.

I love you!

And I hope that even though you're in the middle of Afghanistan that you'll still find a way to celebrate and know that I'm thinking of you today....

and always!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

I LOVE YOU!

SHMILY :)

10 on the 10th

I thought I would finally jump back in with Meredith's challenge to post 10 things on the 10th of the month.


In remembrance of 9/11, I thought I would post 10 things I remember about that day;



1. I was at work when the announcement came over the radio. We all went upstairs to watch the horror on the television. It was unbelievable.


2. Shortly after the 2nd tower fell, I went to my children's school and picked them up. We went home where we watched the news coverage and sobbed in each others arms. We stayed there for 3 days while I tried to explain to our children as best I could what was going on, while we watched Quentin get his military gear together for possible mobilization as every unit was on alert.


3. I remember knowing that this event would forever change America.


4. I also remember thinking..."my husband is going to have to go to war." This was a profound thought considering he is National Guard and up to this point, they mainly took care of natural disasters, but somehow I knew. I had that feeling in the pit of my stomach.


5. I remember the eery silence of the skies as all air traffic was halted across the world.


6. Cell phones were jammed and it was hard to get through to family, but I kept trying, because I wanted them to know I loved them.


7. My Uncle Rudy was at the Pentagon & it took him 4 days to get out of DC and home to us. 4 agonizing days of worry.


8. Prayer vigils quickly popped up all over the world and our church was no different. I remember praying like I never had before for our nation that was apparently under attack. Praying for the safety of all of us, for our military, our President, for those that lost loved ones in this attack....praying desperately and fervently.


9. I remember the images from NYC that kept flashing across the television...forever seared in my mind as a reminder that America is not invincible.


10. I was forever changed that day. I have a much larger sense of patriotism and love for my country. I don't take things for granted as much. My husband is on his 2nd overseas tour because of that day & I've learned that life really does change in the blink of an eye.


What do you remember?

From The Ground Up Challenge

Becky Higgins has been offering up photo challenges this week and this one was to shoot from the ground. The perfect opportunity presented itself when we got our first rain in what seems like FOREVER! I'm sure my neighbors thought I was crazy...oh, who are we kidding...they know I'm crazy. Anyway, I had Mallorye hold an umbrella over me (& my camera) while I got down on the ground to shoot this shot in the rain.

{Rodney & Angie}

Just a few of my favorite pics from the wedding .....my friend Amy & I, shot this wedding last night...our first joint effort...these are just a few of my favorites so far....

{the dress}

{Angie....the beautiful bride}

(Angie & her dad, Jack....looking into the sunset}


{the bridesmaids}

I'm pleased. The pictures aren't perfect, and there are a ton that no one will ever see, but I learned something with every snap of the shutter and that's what it's about...learning & improving.

Stay tuned...Project Life to resume soon :)