Half my heart...

I will start with letting you all know that I was able to cross off one item on my list already (fist pump...yesssss)!! We had a wonderful New Year's Eve with Julie (Hazel) and Peter. We went to Old Sac, watched some fireworks, and ate some decent Cajun food. We have all been to New Orleans and know what the real thing is so we were disappointed a tad bit and the service was indeed slow (reviews did not lie). I will have to say that the highlight of the night was when we returned home to watch the "dog video". Before we left Peter thought it would be interesting to see what the dogs did when no humans were around soooooo we taped them!! Yes, we actually recorded their every move. Now seriously, you would be lying if you said that you have never wanted to tape your furry friends. We were anticipating all sorts of cool things and exciting adventures they might have had while we were gone. He was able to record over two hours of footage!! Guess what we saw..........NOTHING COOL :-/ Needless to say, we were slightly disappointed. However, this was the first time Jasper stayed at home alone without going into his kennel and he did great. We have deemed Sully a great dog sitter!! I will loan him out for a small fee.

On a more serious note, I just dropped Dave off at the base so he could begin another adventure. This is our second deployment and just one of many times I have had to say bye to him as he left to go to work. These are some of my hardest moments and I do my best to be OK because I know it makes him sad to see me cry. I also have to realize that where he is going is far worse than what I have to endure while he is gone. Sully doesn't get it but he will realize soon that his daddy will not sleep in the big bed (which actually means that he gets to take his place). I haven't let Sully in on the secret yet but in due time he will be snuggling with me. I will actually have to change the comforter to allow this to happen because we just got a new bed set and I am not about to let it get Sull-i-fied!!

For those of you who know me, you know that I am fairly independent and enjoy working/teaching and keeping busy. I am not one of those military wives who depressingly counts the days down until she can be reunited to her one and only true love. I am a wife who continues to live her life, supports her husbands choices, and knows how hard he has worked to get to this place in his life. I also desperately try to understand his need to fulfill something in his heart to serve his country. I understand what it feels like to have found your passion and I understand that to be truly happy in life you must follow this passion. Mine is teaching, his is serving his country.

I am so very proud to be married to someone who has such drive and so proud to be the wife waiting at home patiently for his safe return. I am supportive of his journey but I am scared shitless. I know a lot of you are with me on this so let us all pray for him and his team and ask God to keep them safe and protected at all times, to give them steady hands, please ask that our countries leaders are supportive and informed and that they are returned quickly to their families. Thankfully, he will be state-side for another month and will hopefully get to see pictures and maybe some video of his new niece, as soon as she blesses us with her presence. But I am serious when I ask for prayers and if you do not pray to God but have other means of communication please express our concerns. Please tell your church families and friends to do the same. His job is not a walk in the park and we are very concerned for his safety this time around. I will keep you all posted to the best of my ability! Thank you always for your love and support!

New Years Eve Plans?!

Anyone doing anything extravagant for New Years?

I did say I wanted to do something fun so here are the rough plans...

First, we will get Dave packed up and ready for FL/Afghanistan. Most of his gear has already been shipped to his destination but he will have to take the last of his camo-gear that he was recently issued. He also got issued some hiking boots that he is spraying with something to keep them from getting ruined in the weather, I think?

Next, we will put some frames up on the wall (Dave will) so I don't have to do it by myself. Although I am a math teacher my wall hanging skills are not so mathematically perfect!

We will head to Sacramento to hang out with the Nhem family for a bit, secretly hoping Julie will have baby Hazel while we are visiting. We will then all head to Old Sac for a night of excitement!! I made reservations at Cafe New Orleans!! It didn't get great reviews but I was interested in the Jerk Chicken and the fried appetizers AND the fact that I have eaten at too many Mexican restaurants lately.

After our lovely dinner, we will hang around to see the fireworks (now looking more closely at the site, we may actually miss these because they start at 9:00 and I am pretty sure, according to the reviews, that we won't be out of the restaurant in time to actually view these)! Old Sac has been doing this for the past 11 years so we are excited to join in the festivities. Hopefully, we can make it to midnight?!