Greatest Gift

For any new readers or those who don't know, my hubby and I got married 4 months before he left for Iraq. We were actually planning a beautiful wedding for that May but plans changed and he ended up having to deploy 9 months earlier than we anticipated. 

When he left, he mentioned something about writing in a journal to me while he was gone. I never got letters, but I held on to the fact that I would have something tangible from him with his thoughts and stories when he returned. 

Well, since the first "traditional" anniversary gift is paper, how perfect was it that I received this gift on our anniversary this year... (He was in Iraq for the first anniversary.)

The gift was wrapped in a hand woven scarf.

Inside the scarf was a beautiful hand-carved camel leather journal.

The detail of each individually carved design is enough to take my breath away.

The photos don't do it justice.

This is the inside flap.

......And if a hand-woven scarf filled with a hand-crafted/carved camel leather journal wasn't enough,... There's more...

Each page is hand pressed with flowers. You can see every detail of the press on each page. 

And of course, the pages are filled with love letters, stories, and memories that my husband wrote for me. I will forever hold a precious, beautiful gift that encapsulates the 15 months we spent apart. 

M.I.A.

I have been missing in action this week, obviously. Between food poisoning, driving to Ohio, Thanksgiving, and then being a bridesmaid in my friend's wedding things have been crazy! I will be back to post about one of the best gifts I have ever received later today!

Please don't stare

I woke up unable to move without feeling like my stomach may explode. The feeling did not go away. In fact, it got worse. I will spare you the details but eventually I decided that I NEEDED some Gingerale and Pepto-Bismol or I would not get better. I muscled up enough energy to get in the car and drive up the road to Walgreens. I felt like my body was turning green. I grabbed the extra extra extra strong Pepto-Bismol and some Canada Dry Gingerale. 

Now obviously I look like crap, feel like crap, and I'm holding two items that are meant to help your stomach. I stand get in line and the cashier just stares at me. She was helping other customers but for whatever reason she JUST STARED. And stared and stared. Did I have a big blob of something on my face? Did I look so incredibly awful that it was necessary for someone to stare? 

People get sick. And they go to the store to get remedies. When she finished ringing me up, she proceeded to stare and tell me that I should come back to buy batteries. It was the most awkward moment I had experienced with a cashier. Okay I take that back. There was one that was probably equally awkward that is too embarrassing to share here; for her of course. ;) 

Oh yes, a MEME

Thanks to Pamela over at The Dayton Time for giving me something to write about! It seems many people are struggling with that these days. With holidays approaching, weather getting crazy, friends having babies or getting married,... life is getting crazy for all! 

Check out the Rules and such on the left.

Seven Random/Weird Facts about me.

1. I don't smile with my teeth, never have. (But I hope to once the braces come off in January!!! Can I get smilingwithteeth lessons?)

2. I like really cheesy, unintelligent movies, like the ones they play on the Family Channel. I can't help it. My brain works really hard all the time and when I sit in front of the television, I do not want my brain to have to work.

3. I LOVE horseback riding and used to show in fairs when I was younger. Pretty sure I started when I was 3. Most people don't know that about me. 

4. I wish I could live in the middle of nowhere on a mountain far away. Did you get the part where I want to be away from everything? I love the woods and open land and nature. Suburbia is getting old. 

5. Details, details, details. I love details. A lot of people think that's weird, but its just me.

6. If I don't wash my hair, I'm likely to have a bad day. I just start feeling really gross and it puts me in a bad mood. 

7. I can drink 5 or 6 shots of espresso (one shot equals one cup of coffee) and fall fast asleep. I need at least 7 or 8 to keep me up. Oh the things you learn while working at Starbucks!

Now on to the tagees, tag-ees, taggees??? I like making up words, okay?

1. Mrs. SSgt over at Married to the Military

2. Stephanie at Hot From the Furnace

3. Michelle from Anna Engaged

4. Allyssa with Dynamics of Chaos

5. Laurel at Laurel Plum Online

And I'm totally being a rebel and only tagging 5 people.

Enjoy!

2 years

My husband and I have been married 2 years as of today! It's been 2 incredible years of growth and learning, good times and bad. Just like anything really... In that 2 years I have spent about 9 months total with him. Between 15 months of separation with the deployment, we have missed out on the "first year of marriage" and all that comes with that. Most people say the first year is the hardest. For us that was true but for different reasons. 15 months of being apart can really do some damage and also strengthen relationships. We learned early on to be open and honest and not take each other for granted. Sure we're not perfect but I wouldn't change what we went through and where we are now. God has truly blessed us. 

My husband is one of the most, if not the most, thoughtful people I know. He cooked me a fabulous dinner tonight, a man that did not know how to fry an egg until a few months ago. Bourbon Marinaded Pork, Glazed Carrots, and Slow Cooked Garlic Mashed Potatoes! Mmmmm!

He also presented me with the most incredible gift I have ever received. I will tell you about it later! 

Myspace - A little over the top?

Myspace ads are starting to get a little too personal for me and it makes me uncomfortable. I understand that they are probably getting paid big bucks for those advertisements but do they need to sell their user's soul?

I was clicking through Myspace earlier when I noticed a VERY LARGE advertisement that said "Overweight at (insert age here) ? Click here." Yes because since you already know my age and probably way more info about me than you should, I should tell you whether or not I'm overweight? And you're really going to help me if I am?

(Steps off high horse)

Needless to say as much as Facebook annoys me sometimes, I'm quickly switching my loyalties. Myspace will soon be the social network of the past... in my humble opinion. 

* Note: My Myspace is set to private... so much for privacy!

 

The Circle of Life and the Bubba Keg

Wake up. Shower. Throw on some clothes. Take out the dogs. Work. Go home. Take out the Dogs. Clean. Spend 2.5 minutes with my husband. Sleep. Wake up... and it begins again.

That seems to be the cycle lately and it is quickly getting old. Not to mention the drama that has magically popped up around every corner. Thank God for the Bubba Keg.

You better believe that thing is filled with coffee, a little milk, and a tbsp of brown sugar (which really is way better than white sugar by the way). 6 cups of warm goodness that gets me through my morning. 

This is actually my husband's. He "needed" the big one and I totally made fun of him for it. I don't even think he knows that I've taken it hostage this week. Let's just keep that between you and me, k? ;)