Our love story: Pt 2

Read part one HERE

Sorry it has taken me awhile to write part II but I was going back and forth on how I was going to start the story.  Sounds odd doesnt it?  You think, just start the story.  Its your story.. start from where part one left off... Most of you dont know the next part of our story and after contiplating on what to say I decided to be real and honest.  I have regret over how it came to be but absouluely no regrets with the end result.  Confused yet?  Read on and allow me to explain:

Last we left off I was driving home after seeing Joe excited about what was in our future.  He was leaving for Qatar in a few weeks time and I was sad to see him go. 

(I am in no way shape or form condoning my actions but it did happen)  Couple weeks passed and Joe and I consummated our relationship. Believe it or not in the years past he and I never did anything. We had a normal, clean dating relationship. We decided to wait. That is until after I saw him again.  (this is where the regret comes into play.  I was raised better than that, I knew it was wrong but I went ahead and did it anyway. I do regret not waiting.  We had waited for so long but I lost my willpower.  I was trying to make it right in my head by saying I love Joe.  I know we will be togther forever and he's being deployed in a few weeks.)

Moving on: Whew that was a hard paragraph to write.  All those who didnt know... no judging please.

Joe left for his deployment and 4ish weeks later I was feeling weird.  Tired wasnt even the right word it was more like exhausted to the 100th degree. I could not function and working 50 hrs a week was not helping.  My heart was palpatating so I decided to go to the Dr to see what in the world was going on.  June 10, 2005 I got the call at work that changed my life.  The nurse on the other end told me that my pregnancy test came back positive.  Please excuse me while I pick myself up off the floor.  You have GOT to be kidding me.  There is no way I was pregnant.  Oh, there was a way and now I had to break the news to Joe and even worse, my parents. Dread took over my entire body. 

How would you like to recieve news that you are going to be a dad?  Well over the phone of course.  Joe called and I broke the news to him.  I wish I was able to see the shock on his face when he heard the news.   Fast forward to late August and we were married.  We knew we would eventually get married but with the current situation we decided to speed up the process.

The next few months were filled with Dr visits and we eventually welcomed Miss Ava in the winter of 2006.  She was the "end result" that I in no way shape or form regret.  She was the jewel that came out of Joe and I's actions and we couldn't have been more happy. 



And they are living happily ever after....



Enjoy your family~

Week 6

 

We just finished up week 6. As you all are reading this Joe is making a 14.5 hour plane ride overseas. He will get into Al Udeid air base in Qatar at 4pm Monday (my time) then he will wait 1-3 days there until they are ready to fly them into their destination.  His IPad is loaded with shows and movies to help the time pass quicker.  Normally when they fly overseas they are packed into the plane like sardines sitting shoulder to shoulder but this go around they got lucky and are taking a Boeing 767.  It will make for a better trip and hopefully the guys and gals will be able to rest. 

 

You all don't know this but I had the opportunity to fly to New Jersey and spend 3 days with Joe BUT that didn't happen.  What happened instead?  Sandy!  Oh Sandy.  Sandy tore up the East Coast, shut down airports and Joe was in the middle of it.  He makes a joke of it saying mother nature hates him because back in August of 2005 he was in/around the area that Katrina hit while trying to make it home for his own WEDDING.  In October of 2006 he was in Hawaii when a 6.7 and a 5.8 magnitude earthquake hit.  Moral of the story: Don't travel with Joe because natural disasters follow him. The end.

 

 

We have had a busy couple of weeks.  Halloween, trick or treating, fall festivals. Big thank you to the girls Grandma and Grandpa for keeping them overnight so I could enjoy an evening to myself.  It was a very productive day as I got 85% of my Christmas shopping completed. 

 

 

Thank you everyone for your continued thoughts and prayers. We have only scratched the surface of this deployment.  There is still a long time to go.  Even with the busy holidays approaching please don't forget about our military men and woman.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Enjoy your family~

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                                                       

Week 4

One month has come and gone.  For the most part this month has flown by.  I blinked and 4 weeks passed by.  I really really hope the remaining months pass just as quickly.  For all those wondering, Joe is doing well. He is still in the states completing a combat skills training course (CST) before he heads overseas.  He does not enjoy the food selections seeing as most nights they serve fish with rice.  He text's me nightly dinner pictures and 5 out of the 7 nights it's fish and rice.  Luckily he has a pretty awesome wife who has mailed him several goodie boxes.

 

While at CST they practice anything from rifle and pistol marksmanship (he was the number 3 shooter in the rifle category and the number 2 shooter in the pistol category out of 89), Combat Life Saver training where he learns how to treat casualties by starting IV's, treating leg, arm, head lacerations, inserting NPA's (Nasopharyngeal Airway's), administering chest decompression needles and applying tourniquets for arm and leg amputations, learning how to maintain conduct after capture and how to survive in a POW (Prisoner of War) situation, training with MRAP vehicles and how to survive and escape vehicle rollovers.  

  

He has also had training on how to use the radio's in the vehicles along with a cool system that allows others to see his vehicle locations and status'. He said it's pretty neat stuff that the Air Force never gets to do.  He starts Counter-IED (Improvised Explosive Device) training along with Land Navigation training. He'll finish the 30 day training up with a 3 day "pack out" to a practice FOB (Forward Operating Base) where they will combine all the training that they have received into the last 3 days.

Enjoy your family~

Week 3

Three weeks.  Holy cow.  I have made it 21 days. The girls are adjusting well.  They talk with Joe every night and most nights they are too busy for him.  They run in to say their hello's and I love you's then run off to resume playing fighting. This week has flown by.  It has been the fastest week yet which is good because this has also been the week that I have really started missing Joe.  I was trying to make it a full month before I started badly missing him but I fell a little short.  Before he left he told me that the YMCA offers free membership to the spouses of deployed members.  Even though my relationship with working out is a loathe/loathe relationship, I decided to sign up at the gym. Mom called frequently to tell me to sign up.  She knew I wouldn't do it otherwise.  Motivation.  That's my middle name.  Maybe I'll even lose a pound or 20.


Highlights of my week:

EVERYONE WAS HEALTHY!  I didn't have to pry any mouths open this week in order for anyone to take their antibiotics.  There was no bribing going on, no asking over and over to please open their mouth to take the disgusting tasting medicine.  Nothing, and it was nice. 

Back in May, for Mothers Day the girls bought be a facial GC and I finally used it this week.  It was just what I needed. 

Sunday, my mom and I took the girls to the pumpkin patch.  The girls rode their first ever camel, fed goats (or doggies as Emma called them) and rode on a hay ride.  They had a great time walking around the mazes and a not so great time posing for pictures.  I got a few good shots. 

                                                                      


Lows of my week:  My girls have been bickering and arguing a lot.  Both of them are guilty of egging the other one and just doing things that they KNOW irritates the other.  They bicker over silly things.  Ava is singing and Emma yells at her and tells her to stop over and over. Ava yells at Emma when Emma is not playing pretend the correct way or when she wants to stop playing pretend. 

Some idiot in my neighborhood must have the wrong dates on his calendar because last I heard the 4th of July was on the FOURTH OF JULY and not on October 12 and 13th. 10pm and BOOM BOOM POP POP and then BOOM BOOM Emma is awake.  And scared.  Thank you idiot neighbor.
 I dont know, maybe I'm wrong, maybe I missed the "We're moving the celebration of America's freedom" memo? 





Here's to a great week # 4






Enjoy your family~

Our love story. Pt 1

Lets go back in time shall we?
Take a little trip down memory lane. 

My 21st birthday was on a Sunday.  I was a brand new manager at the restaurant Tony Roma's.  That day was my very first solo shift and man did I feel like big stuff that morning when I was counting inventory and making the day's prep sheet.  I knew that day would be a great day but I had no idea I was about to meet my future husband. 

One of the servers on shift that morning had a friend (Joe) come in to sit in her section and eat lunch.  I was walking around the restaurant doing my manager duties of discounting appetizer coupons, talking to customers making sure their lunch was good and monitoring just how many smoke breaks the servers actually took in one shift.  There was this tiny staircase that was right by the section that Joe was sitting.  I walked up the staircase and made my way to the host stand.  I remember seeing a guy look up at me and stare but I didn't think anything of it.  Some time later his friend, my server, walked up to me and told me that her friend asked if I was single and he thought I was very pretty.  I walked up to his table and we said our hello's.  Nothing more was really said because I did have a boyfriend at the time.  He respected the fact that I had a boyfriend but just wanted to introduce himself. 

Fast forward 9-12ish months later and I was boyfriendless.  I started getting to know Joe better after several friend group get-togethers.  He was hot on my tail.  He was all about doing whatever he had to do to date me.  At the time, I was into the 'bad boy' thing and the way Joe was ended up annoying me instead of wooing me.  I thought he called too much.  I thought he was too clingy.  I liked him as a friend but nothing romantic.  Slowly but surely... he did start to woo me and we eventually started dating.  On our first date we went to the OSU/OU baseball game with his dad AND his grandpa.  Roooomantic, let me tell ya.  We dated for awhile and  then we broke up.  Then we dated, and broke up.  That went on for about three years.  Finally after I grew up a little and once he 'let me go' I realized how much I loved him and needed him in my life.  One night I was sitting home alone and I had to see him.  I drove all the way downtown and went to the bar (GASP) that he was bartending. I've never been a big talker when it comes to feelings so I thought if I couldn't tell him how I felt about him maybe I could at least show him that I loved and cared about him by out of the blue showing up at his place of employment.  There I sat at the end of the bar watching him work.  I still remember that he was wearing a Napoleon Dynamite VOTE FOR PEDRO t-shirt.  He was on the other end of the bar getting a drink order when I saw a lady selling single stem roses throughout the bar.  She walked up to Joe then walked up to me, handed me a rose and said "its from the bartender down there" as she was pointing in Joe's direction.  I looked at Joe and he winked at me. "He still loves me" I thought and my heart started racing.  It was at that moment when I knew we would be together forever.  I knew I would marry him. 

Once it was time to leave Joe walked me to my car, gave me a big hug and kissed my forehead.  I drove home on cloud 9 and excited for my future with him.


To be continued...





Enjoy your family~

Week 1

One week down and let me tell you that I'm surviving.  We have been able to talk to daddy each night and he even took part in the girls bedtime reading one evening via video chat.  Looking at my girls I see strong beautiful little ladies.  I notice that they are trying harder to obey me, play nicer and have patience with one another.  It's amazing how I need them around.  I don't want to be away from them.  I need their noise.  I need their hugs.  I need their constant chattering.  They give me strength and I don't see myself being away from them any time soon.  We are a package deal.  The three musketeers.  Sure, there will be days that I will need a break but for right now they are sticking with me.  They are my constant and I am theirs.  

The highlights of my week:  Being supported by my amazing parents, aunt and uncle and my sister and brother-in-law.  I got many many texts from extended family and it meant the world to me.  Friends called and extended their offer to help in any way that I may need. 

Talking to Joe each evening was also a highlight.  It was nice to see him and talk about his day. 

Ordering and receiving our "Elf on the Shelf" and seeing my girls reaction when they opened the box.  We are looking forward to the holidays to see just where Si the elf will show up.  Yes, his name is Si as in Uncle Si off of duck dynasty.  (side note: that is the funniest show ever... guilty pleasure for sure)

Watching the OSU game.  It was somewhat comforting and left me with a sense of normalcy that I'm used to.  It made me feel closer to Joe in a weird way.  I was able to text him updates and believe it or not it was a good game that kept my attention even though I know nothing about football. 


The lows of my week:  The obvious: Leaving Joe.

Listening to Ava cry after going to bed Sunday night because she missed her dad.

Taking Ava to the doctor Friday only to find out that she has Strep throat.  (Poor A has had a bad week)


Here's to week # 2.  I know it will be a good week. 







Enjoy your family~

He left on a jet plane...

The day has come.  The day has gone.  The day was hard.  Extremely, extremely hard.  I didn't want to let go of him when it was time for the final hug.  I wanted to hang on for hours and hours but I knew I couldn't.  I wanted to sneak him out of the airport and return home with him.  I am proud and honored to be his wife.  Deployments are hard but there is also a sense of strength I feel with each passing day.  The feeling of 'I can do this.  I will do this.  I am doing this. I am proud of myself.' Right now I'm taking it day by day.

 

Thank you everyone for all their prayers and support during this time.  The car ride back from the airport was pretty raw.  There I was in the front seat crying, Ava was in the back seat crying and Emma was patting Ava's shoulder trying to comfort her.  Once I made it to a place I could safely pull over, I stopped the car, opened Ava's door, bent down and gave her a big long hug.  We spent the afternoon at my parents and besides the breakdown I had in my mom and dad's arms, I didn't cry the rest of the day.  I could feel everyone's prayers over me and it was comforting. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Joe will still be in the US for a few weeks for some training before he heads overseas.  We are able to video chat with him each night before the girls go to bed.  It's making it a smoother transition for my girls.  Thank you again for everyone's continued thought and prayers.  I truly appreciate it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Enjoy your family~



                                                                                 

I do.

Dear Joe,


This is your deer in the headlight look.  We were enjoying our rehearsal dinner the night before we were to be married.  I wish I had a way to read your mind that night but looking at this photo I think I may know what you were thinking.  This was the night when you realized that you weren't just marrying me, but also my entire family.  :) 

                                                                   
8:30pm I walked down the isle to marry you.  I was nervous walking down the isle mainly because I didn't like all the attention on me and everyone looking at me.  Once I reached you and took your hand, my nerves calmed.  From that moment on you have always protected me.

 

I love you with my entire heart.  You are in my blood, you are in my being, you are part of me. 

Happy #7 honey! Here's to many, many, many, many, many.......... more!!!
















Enjoy your family~

Seven reasons after seven years

                                                                    

Some people are blessed with a strong marriage from the get-go.  Some people meet, fall in love, get married and live happily ever after.  To those "some people" I say congratulations.  What a blessing to be apart of such a strong union early on in your marriage. 

In the beginning Joe and I did not fall under that category.  We fell under the "I love you but we need to work on some things" category.  Year 1 was great.  Years 2-4 were filled with a lot of tears, stress and they were hard and challenging but we stuck through it and thank God we did because year 5 & 6 have been fantastic.  We are coming up on year 7 in just a couple weeks and I can't wait to see what is in store for us.  We are stronger than ever as a couple and stronger than ever as a family unit.  Through our trials we realized what was important to us, we realized that WE were important to each other.  I realized that I needed him and he needed me. We grew stronger together spiritually, physically, emotionally.  Most couples would have thrown in the towel but that was not an option for us.  We battled back and we won.  He is everything to me and he is worth fighting for.  Every year that passes I am thankful that he is in my life.  I am happy to say that without a doubt year #6 has been our best yet.  We finally hit our groove.  We get it.  When I am weak, he lifts me up.  When he is weak, I lift him up.  We, wait for it... Communicate better!  Whoa, news flash... we must have missed the communication chapter in the married life for dummies book early on.  I look forward to our 10-20-50 year anniversary.  I can't wait to grow old and crusty with him.  :) 

If you are struggling in your marriage don't feel bad.  Stop trying to keep up or impress people.  Stop being jealous of Mr. and Mrs. So-in-so who seem to have it all together and just focus on your spouse and your life together, things will fall into place.  Keep God in your relationship, keep your husband/wife 1st after God and the rest will fall into place... Guaranteed. 
I read a quote somewhere that says "A successful marriage requires falling in love many times, always with the same person" I love that quote. 

In honor of our lucky #7 anniversary coming up here are seven reasons I love him.

                                                             

1.  He works hard to provide for his family so I can live out my dream of being able to stay home with my children.

2.   He is faithful

3.  He starts my morning coffee for me everyday.

4.  He comes home from work and pulls out oatmeal creme pies or gummy worms from his pocket to give to me.  (some of my favorites)

5. He has grown and continues to grow in the Lord

6. He loves his girls (all three of us)

7. He would rather be home with us than be anywhere else