Going Down Memory Lane Today

I was going through some photos on our Walmart account this afternoon to order me some prints for some picture frames I had and was just transported back to some amazing times I have had.
Mostly from my wedding in Arkansas.

That day went by so beautifully fast and I am so glad we have pictures that capture so much of went on that day.
While I was looking through the pics. I realized that there were some on there I had not really looked at before! Like these:

 Oh and our decorations were so very beautiful!

Love! Everything was handmade even that flower tree :)

I am just so so glad I got the time today to remember May 15th 2010. I felt so blessed by all of our family and friends that came out to support us that day and show us love. I felt so honored to have our youth minister marry us and to have Jakes grandpa say an opening prayer over us!

Just some amazing memories I wanted to share with you guys today!

Thankyou's

I just wanted to take a moment and brag on someone right now...

The funny thing is is that I do not even know his name!

This is a completely random story and a random page out of my life but it has been on my mind:

You see, ever since Jake has been gone I have been overconcerned about the condition of our yard. I know it is silly but I do not want to be the neighbor with the overgrown grass! There have already been 3 snakes in my yard and I am scared to death that if it gets too high that it will bite Copper. So I have asked my sweet father-in-law and my dad to take turns mowing the yard.
Before Jake left, he would mow every week but he would also mow our neighbors yard as well because we knew the owner lived out of town/nursing home situation and he thought it would be ok to just keep their yard up as well.
Last week while Sarah and I were on our way to go swim, my neighbor (who owns the little house no one lived in) was outside mowing my yard! I was so so happy and said thankyou!
Well when we got back home it looked so nice. The next day Copper and I were on our way to go for a walk when I saw him outside with his wife sprucing up the flower beds. I walked over and told him how thankful I was for him mowing my yard and that I was sorry that his yard had not been mowed for awhile because my husband was away with the military. He looked at me and said, "I do not want you to worry about your yard being mowed! I will mow it for you every week!!"
Well yesterday before mine and Cops evening walk I saw him outside mowing my yard again!! I mouthed a thankyou and when I returned he had even taked the trouble to mow my fenced in back yard. He had moved all of Copper toys and everything. I just felt like crying in happiness. I was so thankful.

Little things like a yard being mowed becomes big things when your husband is away for a long time. I am so thankful for this kind man for showing such a great kindness towards me and for helping Jake out as well. I also want to say thankyou ThankYou THANKYOU to my sweet father-in-law for helping me out in all the areas I need help with. He came over yesterday while I was at work just to play and wrestle with my sweet puppy! They know I hate leaving him alone all day! Jacque and my mom come over some days and takes him outside and just comes over to make sure he is doing ok. I am so blessed!


Thankyou daddy for weed-eating my yard and mowing as well!!! It was so very nice and I feel so overwhelmingly blessed to have the family that I do who loves me and helps me!

Commit to Fit

At work, we were presented with a challenge a few weeks ago.
It is called Commit to Fit. It is a work program where the people in your organization commit to a program for 8 weeks that should lead to healthier lifestyles and life changes.

Since being back home my healthy lifestyle plummeted. I mean bad! Having a mom that cooks southern food and desserts each and every day is not good for someone trying real hard to stay on track!
I needed motivation and this program started it!
I had started my running again with my sweet cousin several weeks ago doing the C25k program. I had ran my first 5k in October but the way the race was handled really put me off or running them...(excuses, excuses I know).
But now I want to have that drive again like I did last summer in Kailua. And we are doing awesome! I really believe we could run one right now if we wanted to.

Anywase, with CtF. Each week we are presented with a week of challenges. The hardest week was def. number 1. It was a challenge to drink 96oz of water each day! I was good at drinking just 1 bottle! Man oh man has it changed everything!
The next week we had to eat smaller meals 5-6 times a day worth 200-300 calories each. It was so so easy and I never had the hunger feeling.

Well since starting this Commit to Fit challege I just feel healthier and more confident! So confident in fact that I chopped my hair completley off!
I just feel really good again and I am so happy!

Goodbye once again my dear friend, Pioneer Woman :(

Oh My Goodness It Has Been Awhile...

Hello Everyone!

It has literally been 12 months since my last blog post.
Jake has requested that I start blogging again while he is away at training so I suppose I will give it a try!

Where to start??
I will begin with new jobs and a new family :)

Jake and I have almost been back home for a year. July 5th will mark our 1 year back home and boy what a year it has been. One of the highlights of this year is my precious huband enlisting in the Air National Guard.  HE LOVES IT. Probley one of the best decisions he could have made for our family. He is currently in San Antonio for a few months for his job schooling, hence why I am doing this again.
They treat him with respect there and they are very kind to our family. We are praying for a full-time position up at the 188th security forces when he returns. It would be so perfect for him. He is such a hard worker and so passionate about his work up there.

I on the other hand have worked a few jobs already while being back home. I worked at MDO at my church through the school year and fell in love with some beautiful children!
I have also signed on to be the wedding director at FBC and have helped with several weddings this past year. I LOVE IT!
I have also worked at UAFS for a semester as a guitar instructor with the Academy of the Arts program. Loved being involved with the school and loved teaching those willing to learn but unfortunatley that seemed to be 1 out 10 so....
I have also recently started working at UAFS in the SAO department and work each day.

Wow...that is a number of jobs not including working up at the Butcher Block 2 days a week before starting my new job at UAFS.




Also, we expanded our family this past December and welcomed home the most beautiful creature God could have ever created for us:

He is basically the most wonderful dog ever: His name is Copper.
He is perfect.
He is a little ornery.
He is 7 months old.
Weighs >60lbs
Likes to eat every plant in a 10 mile radius.
Completley and utterly beautiful.
Likes having his teeth brushed and hair combed.
LOVES Cornerstone Vet!!!
Likes to ride in the front of Jake's truck.
LOVES LOVES LOVES water.
Likes to eat little birds, flies, and frogs.
Loves to walk around the pasture with his daddy.
Loves sleeping beside me with the fan on full blast.
Enjoys his bathtime.
Enjoys our walks.
Loves seeing his friend, Chief, over at Lolly and Pop's house.
Loves jumping on people ( trying to fix that....)
Loves swimming in ponds, creeks, ditches, mud holes, and swimming pools.
Loves chewing on anything.
Loves his Iams and
Most importantly loves his momma ;)

Ok, I could go on and on about this sweet creature but I guess I will stop for now.

Another new family addition in our household is little Forrest!!!
He is my nephew! Sarah and Brent found out they were having a baby in Febuary. We went on a family cruise right afterwards. What a celebration!

 This is her the week after we found out!

This is her now...still as beautiful as ever.

She is due October 3rd. Which is so perfect :)

She is in her second trimester and is sick everyday.

I have decided this baby will probley look just like me and will be with me always because he's practically my child as well ;)

They just bought their first house and it is so perfect for them!

We are so excited to welcome little Forrest (isn't that a perfect name) into our family! I cannot wait to hold him every single day and love on him always.



So there you have it! A basic overview of 2 new areas in our life!
I hope to blog more often...am def. not promising anything but I will try!

We're Back!

Hey everyone!
Sorry I haven't posted in such a long time. We have been back for 2 weeks and it has been a whirlwind! We have already moved into our house (seeing as how we weren't expecting to move into the house till August sometime) and have been to Dallas and back with our truck.
We are enjoying our vacation time but it is going by way too fast! We haven't had just one day to sit and relax really or go somewhere to camp or 'explore' but things should be slowing down pretty soon.

As far as jogging as been, I have been about 5 times with Sarah and have been trying to motivate myself to get back into the habit! We average 2.5 miles now and she is doing so well! Today we did the Greenwood trail and it was so beautiful. Jake goes with us also and he is such a great motivator to the both of us.

I might as well let ya'll know about our little puppy we were going to bring into our family this week. I had been in contact with the breeder since March. It has been a wonderful and anxious 4 months of waiting and planning to be able to meet Copper. I know this may seem silly to you all but Jake and I had already fell in love with him.
Monday I had called the breeder 5 times and left some voice mails because we were going to come out to the farm this week and meet him but I could never reach her. I had been to TJ Max and bought some items for him and already painted 'his' room in our house. Tuesday was our move in day with the movers and that morning the breeder called me with the most devastating news. She said that the puppies didn't make it. She was very upset and kept apologizing and I kept saying it was alright, I mean what else was I going to say? After we got off the phone I just balled. I knew I looked silly but it hurt so much to know that our little puppy that we already fell in love with hadn't made it. The vet said that it had just been to hot for the little ones.
I know it wasn't our little Copper and one day we will bring Copper home but it still hurts me even right now as I type this I just want to crawl into bed and cry. I know when I tell people it is just really awkward because they just look and me and think it's 'just a dog' but really, it wasn't. Not to me.  This morning on the trail, Sarah and I ran by an older golden and my arms just started to hurt from wanting to just drop down and hold it.
Please don't think I'm pathetic...I'm just so devastated...

Anywase, after that happened I have been just up and down this week. I know God had a plan for our little family but right now it just hurts so much.

Besides all of that we are happy to be home and are excited to see where God is taking us.
Hopefully talk with ya'll again soon.
Sorry this was a depressing/random post!

Motivation where did you go!?

Ugh. You guys I have no motivation! Its been over a week since my last run....
and it really was such a good run 2.5 miles! Plus 2 on the bike and another mile walked.

It has just been so hectic and stress-filled.
Jake and I have been going walking every other night instead because he is borrowing an awesome bike so he rides while I walk beside him. We walked to this super nice park and then to the beach one night and just listened to the waves. It was pitch black and really serene. I am really going to miss that smell and sound.

I leave a week from today!!
7 more days in Hawaii!! I am so ready to leave tho. We will be spending the 4th of July with the Pantlings. They are having a cookout and there will be a show on the Harbor. It will be wonderful.

I am sitting here watching Aubree and Linus on Skype and listening to all the different military members here at Starbucks. There are men from Australia and Canada in front of me and I am enjoying there accents.

Jake and I got our truck sent off! Whew, one more thing that is marked off. Excitingly tho, that was the second to last thing that was to be marked off....

We are borrowing a truck from the Pantlings so we are able to still go around the towns and enjoy our last week.

I better go, just thought I would do a little update. It is getting a little distracting in here so I'm not sure how this post is sounding. Sorry! I was never good with distracting environments ;)

MIA

Ok guys Im sorry I have been missing in action on the blog! Our internet decided to stop working about 3 weeks ago so we had to go ahead and cancel it.

ALOT has been going on!

First of all, we are all moved out of our house. THERE IS NOTHING in that house. We moved out everything on Monday and literally have a matress, little couch, and carboard boxes leftover from the movers as furniture. No tv, internet, and rarely phone usage because I don't want to use data.
Its super nice when Jake is home but I get so bored when he is gone. I am spending the afternoon watching Aubree cook on Skype at the Starbucks on base so I could do a little socializing and a blog update.

The move went by fast but it was super stressful. I have a lovely huge fever blister on my face to help remind me of those couple of days. Finally got our motorcycle shipped as well. We were planning on staying up at the Pantlings to save some money on BAH (housing allowance) and to take care of jake (the lab) but the people here who manage our rent would have feed us over $2300 for moving early.....
yes....corrupt people...not to mention all the other fees they are already charging us for not notifying them early. Because being in the military we have all of our information on anything weeks ahead of schedual *sarcasm*.
It has kind of left a bitter taste in my mouth about this island and leaving now isn't so sad.

However, Jake and I spent a night being tourist the other night out in Waikiki and the whole evening I was savoring every moment. I love how Jake and I fall in love more and more each day and those butterflies still flutter around in my stomach when I spend time with him :)

We drove down to the strip and walked around Waikiki. Started out going to a little tea house and sampled some teas and ended up buying some AMAZING little teas! We then saw that we were in around the time the Farmers Market is open so we walked through the market and tasted some pastries...mmmm
Next we walked to the beach and sat at the park till dinner time. Went to our special chinese place called Noodles for dinner afterwards. We have gone their with my family each time they were in and went there the very first time I came over. It is in the Hilton Village and just holds some sweet memories. We then went and sat out by the pool (where I spent my first evening here visiting with Jake 3 years ago!) and listened to the outdoor band for a couple of hours. It was the most beautiful night! We walked along and took some pictures of us wading in the lagoon and watched the sunset. We went and walked throught Fort Derassy park and looked though the Hale Koa hotel and just had the most wonderful evening.
We hardly go over to the tourist side of the island because it costs so much over there but I'm so glad we went.

I have been keeping up with my running. Not so much this week. I went Sunday morning and did real good. I am averaging about 2-2.5 miles straight with no stops but walk another mile and ride the bike a couple of miles sometimes. We've mostly been walking this week because of everything going on.

I need more motivation! Hopefully when things settle down. Its hard to cook healthy without any staples in the house let alone any kitchen appliances!
Sandwhiches and soup is on the menu for the next 2 weeks!

Yes, 2 weeks from today I will be boarding a plane out of here.
Wow. Didn't I just write a post about it being 3 more months in this place?
We almost got the truck ready for shipment so that is just another little step closer to home!

Jake suprised me and rented a boat for this Saturday so we are going boating!! I'm super excited because I've always seen the marina full of boats and sailboats coming and going from the base but we just never went. So Jake secretly took a Hawaiin boating class to get his liscence and asked me out on a date :)

It seems like i'm rambling...sorry! My mind is just a whirlwind.
I better go, theres alot of people in here so i'm getting distracted! haha ...how can people do homework in a public place like this???
sorry random thought

SEE YA"LL SOON!