With all these two cents, I could start a piggy bank.

You know how you get engaged and then you and your fiance sit down and talk about all the details you want in your wedding. You start thinking about colors and venues and food and music and decorations, and you're so excited. Then you call your parents and they ask how the plans are coming and you tell them all of your great ideas and they're so thrilled and happy and say things like "Oh, that's such a great idea!" and "Wow, I couldn't have done it better myself" and "Whoever you think to invite is fine, we will be there, you guys will be there, that's all that matters"

No? You either? Well at least it's not just me.

Truth be told... it's not my "Family" it's *looks around* *whispers* my step mom.

Whom I love, and who really has her my best interests at heart. However, I am actually avoiding wedding planning JUST so when she calls I can say "I haven't really had time to get much more done." I'm probably overreacting since we only had the one conversation... and I know that if I said "This is important to me, and I want it done this way" she'd back off... with hurt feelings but I do want to include her, and I don't want her to think I'm completely discounting her opinions...

I JUST DO NOT WANT YOUR MOM BRINGING HAM ROLL UPS TO OUR WEDDING!

There. That felt better :)

Hello, is anyone still there?

I have been a terrible horrible blogger since the move to Tennessee. Every time I log in to see how everyone is doing, I am shocked to see I still have followers. The good thing about a blog though is it's always here... no matter what I can come on back and have a chat. It's not even that I have nothing to talk about, LOTS has happened since the last time I blogged, I guess it's just one of those things. When you stop blogging it's hard to get back into the steady flow. I'm going to make a new years resolution... I know, it's a little late, but I am commited to bringing my blog back to life! Whoo hoo!!

Keep reading though, I promise there will be lots to come! Good things, nervous breakdowns, excitement, probably some stress.. all kinds of good blog fodder :). You see... the next 9 months should be quite exciting.... Come October 16, 2010 an entire part of me will change....

*****

My last name... :)
We're ENGAGED!
As of December 13, 2009.

Talk about surprises. If that face doesn't say it then I don't know what does! We had talked about an engagement. We'd even gone to look at rings. That's why I had played out the day and scenario in my head a million times, and was sure it would happen after the holidays. Sgt. figured as much, so he made other plans.

It was a cool cloudy day in middle Tennessee. We just left church and were deciding on what to do for the day. Sgt. mentioned a trip to Arrington Vineyards might be fun since they probably had their Christmas lights up. Arrington is a beautiful winery right outside our hometown, set on rolling Tennessee hills. On the weekends you can often find people picnicking on one of the many tables or chatting around the bonfire. The minute it was mentioned I didn't give it a second thought, we had been out there on weekends before and it was something we both enjoyed so I heartily agreed.

We stopped for lunch in town before heading out and before we left Sgt. snuck to the back to call the Vineyards to make sure a certain picnic table was still available. The last time we were out there, Sgt. pointed out a picnic table at the very top of the hill. It looked out over the entire winery and he suggested that next time we should sit up there. When we got out to the vineyard we grabbed a glass of our favorite wine and trekked to the top of the hill. We took some pictures together and chatted. Then Sgt. turned the conversation to a memory of last year when we were in Vermont for Christmas. Sgt., Sgt.'s brother Marine, and I went out to Boyden Valley Winery in Cambridge, VT.

"Ya know, this is kind of turning into a tradition for us. We went to a winery last year around Christmas time."

"You're right! That's neat, I like it!"

"I think we should start a new tradition."

"Ok, what did you have in mind?"

Sgt. then slid down on one knee and said "We should celebrate every year, the day that I proposed to you. I love you more than anything and I want to spend the rest of my life with you. Will you marry me?"

So sweet and heartfelt and all I could muster was an excited

"REALLY!? Are you REALLY proposing?! REALLY!!?"

"Yes, honey, REALLY... will you please say yes?!"

"YES!"

Veterans Day

I wrote this last year sort of out of the blue for a Veterans Day blog. I hadn't planned it out, I just sat down one morning trying to say thank you, and out came a poem that I'm pretty proud of, but more importantly, others were able to connect with. I thought it appropriate to post it again, just because it still rings so true.

Today Sgt. is home, and he will be coming up to my school today to talk to my class about Veterans :). We've come so far over the last two years, and I thank God every day that he came home safe. I wish there was a way to convey how much I appreciate the man that he is... and I suppose this poem is about as close as I've ever gotten :) I hope you all enjoy.


****

He has these incredible blue eyes that change depending on what he's wearing - and I'm sure they've seen things.

His lips are delectable to kiss and never fail to spill out words that are capable of making me melt. They tell me he loves me and he misses me. They laugh with me and sometimes at me. They carry his voice, with it's southern draw and smooth depth. - they have also given orders. They speak Arabic. His lips have been thirsty and dry from time spent in a thirsty and dry place.

His ears remember to listen when I have a story to tell. They allow me to complain, or to swoon, or to chatter without protest. - But I'm sure they've heard gunshots, I'm sure they've heard mortars, and they have also listened to soldiers who are weary or tired.

His hands are strong and never fail to fit perfectly in mine. They can sweep hair out of my eyes, wipe a tear, and give some of the most amazing hugs - yet they have also held a weapon for protection.

His shoulders are firm, and they are always there to rest my arms on should I be in the mood for a piggy back ride or to lay my head on when I am tired - they've carried ruck sack after ruck sack, and have held up his IBA for long hours.

His arms can envelop me. They are my favorite. Even the markings on him encompass a memory for me, of us, and where we started - and they have also help lift and carry supplies, prepared for missions, handed out humanitarian aides, and held the Iraqi baby who made him laugh during his interview which gave me the first glimpse of his chuckle in what had been far too long.

His Legs have chased me around the room over a cupcake, and his feet have kept mine warm late at night when the covers don't help. They walk with confidence as he circles around the car to open my door... every time. - yet his legs have also worn dirty ACU's and his feet heavy boots. They have been up and going for many hours on patrol and have sustained their fair share of abuse from the daily grind of deployment, and war.

There is no one quite like him. Yet there are many like him.

Here and there, it is always him, and he will always been my hero. For all that he has sacrificed, and all he claims he hasn't, for his humble heart and tendency to want to evade any hoopla over his service, for EVERYTHING he has done to serve his country, I am so proud.

Happy Veterans Day!

What to do

Sgt. just left for work so it gives me some free time to be a computer bum. I mean, I could be a computer bum while he's here but he's just too much fun to hang out with. Since I already cleaned the apartment last night while he was in the field until midnight... I am back to my blog.

To be honest, I have been thinking about my blog a lot lately. What to do with it? It's not really that I don't have blog worthy events happening in my life... there are lots and lots of really gushy and cheesy moments throughout the day that I love bragging about. Teaching gives me an entire book full of silly stories and quotes. We even have a bad day around here from time to time! I could blog about Tennessee more and how I'm adjusting, but to be honest... there wasn't really any adjusting... I really just fell into this place so nicely and comfortably that the story is really very short. I could blog about the rain.

Did you know that it has rained here EVERY DAY for the last TWO WEEKS.... I haven't seen REAL sunshine in two weeks folks! Did you know that Texas, my old home, had 90 consecutive days without rain this year.... now there IS an adjustment.

Honestly though, the great, wonderful, and mushy moments - although happen all the time, every day - they seem either too personal, something I just want to share with him, or they seem too braggy. It's silly, but this blog for me was always an outlet. Sure I had my moments when I just talked about my day or what was going on, but the majority of it, and most of my best writing took place when either I couldn't talk to Sgt. because of the deployment, or didn't want to talk to him because we were going through rough stages.

Now that we are on a completely different level of communication, and now that every day with him just gets better and better, and now that he is the person I always run to to tell every story good or bad... I just don't need my blog like I used to. I miss some of the friendships I felt I developed through the blog, and I really WISH I had this compulsion to blog like I used to but it's not there like it used to be. I still love reading everyone's and really enjoy going back through mine to relive some of those moments or to see how far we've come, but the parts of our life that I feel deep down really are extraordinary, can never be explained the right way through writing it down, so I just don't.

So, what to do now. I have thought about closing my blog for good. I've thought about starting up a public one for our family and friends to keep up with us, since thankfully this blog is still unknown by most of the people in our life. I've even thought about trying to just blog about the silly everyday stuff. I think I would enjoy it if I could get into it. Maybe that's all I need to do, just get used to this different type of blogging now that our life isn't in a constant state of warp speed :). Because boy do I LOVE the everyday with him. The silly, normal, constant that is us and our life right now.

Awesome August

Well blogging time again around Cabin Fever huh?

August has really been a fantastic month for us! Here are some of the highlights:

-Sgt. is now officially "Air Assault" stamped after passing the 10 day course (*cough* two weeks *cough* - off on Sunday's + Travel) with flying colors :) It was shockingly our biggest separation since moving to Tennessee 6 months ago (yes, it's been that long, crazy huh?!) but we did just fine :)

-Sgt. and I also celebrated his "One year home" date and my Birthday! All from Air Assault school of course. My Birthday is the only "holiday" that we have consecutively missed together every year we've been dating. Oh well, small price to pay. I know it could be worse

-While Sgt. was away my best friend from Texas came up for a week long visit! It was a blast getting to tour Music City together, and also really wonderful to have a little piece of Texas here for a while.

-Also while Sgt. was away, I was able to do a little DIY home decorating project. Sgt. is an amazing photographer, and has a hard drive full of these pictures he's taken from all over the world just sitting there. We had a massive blank wall in our living room above the couch that was screaming for something to be done to it, but we just aren't in a position to spend hundreds of dollars on art or decor. So I picked out three of my favorites, one from Texas, one from Rome, and one from Iraq (I believe... it's a sunset) and strolled on over to Kinkos. Did you know they will print black and white copies, we're talking BIG ones, for about 3 bucks? Yep. So the biggest expense was three large frames from a local craft store. That, some photos and a little spray paint and voila! Three beautiful black and white framed pieces of art in classy deep red frames (which match our throw pillows) For about fifty bucks total. I was proud of myself :) this DIY thing is kind of cool!

-My very good friend and fellow military girlfriend Re, who I've blogged about before, jumped ship from the ranks and is now a Fiance! I am so excited for them both and can't wait to do all the girlie wedding talk with her over the next year :). He has since deployed and they're planning for a wedding when he returns.

As I'm running through my mind I think that's everything! All is fabulous around here :)