And so it begins

So this has been a long week. Hardly any sleep, little to eat, long hours at work, turned in a paper late, really behind on homework, car still isn't fixed correctly, and Traveler (our Beagle) decides to somehow get hurt so he is now on medicine the next two weeks. Thank goodness it is Friday! 

So now that he has left, I actually have something to write about.

Monday John left for MEPS and Tuesday was driven down to Georgia to being the process. Tuesday at work was hard, especially after I received a yummy Edible Arrangement. The bouquet included 20 chocolate covered strawberries. My love was thinking of me. :-D

So I have to admit I have been spoiled this week (and not just with chocolate covered strawberries). John and I texted back and forth Tuesday so I talked to him just like any other day for the most part. Wednesday and Thursday night we spoke for about a half hour before it was lights out. And today....about three times with texts in between. :-D Oh how I will miss the sound of his voice. He was sweet enough to have someone take a picture of his and send it to me. He looks wonderful in his ABUs. 

Honestly thought, hearing his voice has made me feel better and better each day. He begins basic officially Tuesday and I know that from that point on speaking with him will be rare. 

While this time apart will be hard for us and as much as I hate to be away from him, I am so proud of him and so proud to be his wife. I know I am only following in the steps of many military wives who would have a million stories to tell about their own military experience. This is going to be an amazing journey for us and I can't wait to see what is in store. 

Two more days

So time is getting closer. Monday I will be dropping John off at his Hotel in Beckley and saying goodbye.

I realize that is isn't goodbye. I will see him 4th of July weekend, which right now seems forever away. It is going to be hard to go without talking to him when I have a rough day or just being with him in the evenings. Hopefully school and work will consume as much of my life as I think it will.

Obviously I will make it through. I'm not the first person to go through this and I won't be the last. I look forward to what it ahead when he finishes. Plus, with deployments telling him goodbye is going to become a part of our lives.

If anyone has an advice or tips please share.

Trip pictures

So I am finally getting around to putting up some pictures from our trip three weeks ago. What an amazing weekend!

Our wonderful cabin, which came with a hot tub. :-)

John zipping through the air. 

What we take for granted

This week I have had something heavy on my heart. Like I mentioned, a co-worker of my mom's lost her husband in the coal mining blast in West Virginia. Jason was 25 and Amanda 28. They had been together for 10 years, 10 YEARS, and married less than two. My heart breaks for her. It makes me realize the things we take for granted in life.

In 10 days I won't be able to sleep next to my husband, call him when I have a bad day at work, or go to the movies with him. But I know that I will see him in July for his graduation and that after all this is over we will be together again.  Deployments may be another story. 

A co-worker of mine has had a long pregnancy. She found out around Thanksgiving that her little boy had a heart condition. Kathy has worked and fought and spread the word about the condition. She even got Governor Manchin to recognize it. Jacob is almost two weeks now and he is such the little fighter. His first surgery went well and he is making excellent progress. 

I hope you take the time to think about what you have. Cherish your baby's smile and forget the argument you had with your spouse. I hope for myself that I remember what I have and be thankful. It can be gone in an instant. 

Thankful for my life

I live in West Virginia, which is big on coal mining. My grandfather was a coal miner and it the life for so many others in this state.

Yesterday afternoon there was an explosion at one of the mines killing 20 miners. One of which was the husband of someone who works with my mom. That was the first thing I checked this morning and I can't get it off my mind. They are a young couple and got married the same year John and I did. Such as sad situation.

http://www.dailymail.com/News/statenews/201004060065

It is times like this we need to be thankful for what and who we have in our lives. While everything may not go like we think, there is a reason for this. We just have to remember that the love we have in our lives can go away at any minute.

Once John has completed his training and starts to deploy, I realize he will be putting his life on the line every day. Miners go everyday with the risk of explosions and what not. I pray that I am never get the phone call, but I realize it could happen.

I am thankful for my life, my AMAZING husband, my family. Please take time today to be thankful for those in your life.

Being Adventurous

So we are in the final month before John leaves for basic April 20th. I have finished my first graduate class and started my second, Brand Equity Management. Between work and school it is amazing I can still have somewhat of a life.

This past weekend John and I went away and it was AMAZING! Our last weekend with just the two of us before he leaves. We rented a cabin at Cabins at Pinehaven right outside of Beckley, WV, and it was nicer than I thought it was going to be. The cabin includes a small kitchen and hot tub. Perfect for just the two of us.

Saturday we went zip lining at Ace Advanture Center. Zip lining is basically hooking yourself to a cable and swinging yourself to another tree. Keep in mind I'm not the adventurous type and really dislike roller coasters, so this was something out of the ordinary for me. The longest line was 350 feet, which also went really fast.If you too are scared of roller coasters, this one is not recommended. I enjoyed myself and while I did get scared on a few (because you basically made yourself drop) it wasn't too bad. I may try it again.

Once we finished zip lining we went Wine Tasting at Daniel's Vineyards. For $3 we tasted about nine wines, not including the red wines we passed on. We ended up purchasing a desert wine, Blackberry, which is their most popular.

The weather was beautiful all weekend. Sunshine and at least 70. PERFECT! All in all is was a wonderful weekend, and a much needed getaway. I am amazed everyday how much I love him. I can't wait to find out what is in store for us.

Pictures to come soon.

Getting closer

So we are now down to about a month and a half before John leaves for basic. I'm not nervous for him, but excited. I know this is what he truly wants to do and look forward to all the opporunties that are about to come our way.

I started my Masters eight weeks ago and only have one more left. Hard to believe that my first class is almost complete. I know the time he is gone will pass by and before we know it we will be stationed and starting our new life together.

I think about where we will be and what we will be doing this time next year. We will have our own home and hopefully planning an adventure. Although, I have already been told there is a good chance he will deploy. As an officer it was suggested to him that he may want to volunteer for deployment. This will give him a chance to learn and learn to listen to others about decisions. This will make him a better officer.

With all this change I have been looking into starting my own event planning business. I tend to be a very organized person and loved planning my wedding. I always want to help others plan their events as well. More to come on this later once I put together more of a plan.

Have a great day!