Giving Thanks!

I haven't talked to Mark for a couple of days....and it just occurred to me that today is Thanksgiving in Iraq!!!! I wonder what it is like... This isn't our first Thanksgiving apart and this isn't Mark's first Thanksgiving in Iraq, but there is something about the holidays that makes me miss him even more. I hope that his day is filled with Thanksgiving and that he is able to bless those around him with his spirit!!!! And...hopefully he is able to eat a halfway decent Thanksgiving meal.

This year for Thanksgiving, we are hosting here at my parents house. Thanksgiving traditions have changed over the years and this is the first "planned" time for my Mom to do the heavy lifting. Last year, there was a power outage at Nannies and they had to move Thanksgiving at the last minute...and if you remember from last years post...Mark and I hosted a get together at our house in Dupont. We are going to do the majority of the prep-work today to help with stress levels in the morning, but I am confident we will pull it off without a hitch.

As I am writing this post, I can't help but think about all of the things I have to be thankful for. I am thankful to be married to an amazing, self-less, loving, devoted man whom I just spent the most amazing 2 weeks with. I am thankful for my family that has so graciously let me come live with them temporarily...it has been a true blessing! I am thankful for friends...even the ones that I don't see or talk to that often. I am thankful for all of the soldiers who are fighting for us away from their families, while we enjoy the holiday from the comfort of our own home. I am thankful that I am healthy and happy! I am thankful for the US Army for providing a paycheck twice a month. I am thankful for my little dog...she always puts a smile on my face. I am thankful that I serve such a loving God, who has blessed me richly beyond what I deserve!!!!

The best 2 weeks of this year!

I don't really know how to best sum up the past two weeks. This could potentially be a really long post, because there were just so many wonderful things. The picture above is taken shortly after he got off the plane. Can you see the pure joy on my face? I'm not sure that feeling ever left over the past 15 days. I love him more than I even remembered....is that possible? Actually, I fall more in love with him every day...even when he is half way around the world.

Our first few days together were pretty low key. We stuck around the metroplex...spent time with family...and got to see a few friends. I cherish the everyday moments so much! I got to iron a few of his shirts, pack his bag, make him a glass of water and just do things that most people take for granted as every day happenings. We took a short staycation at the Gaylord in Grapevine. On Friday night, we were able to meet up with Kerm and T-Cole at a wine bar in Grapevine called Tastings. Delicious food and great wine! I highly recommend it if you live near DFW.

On Monday, we took off for Washington DC. There are so many pictures from DC, but I only posted a few on here, but maybe I will add more over the next week or so. Upon arrival on Monday, we hopped on the Old Town Trolley to cruise around the city for a quick overview and to see all the memorials. The Lincoln Memorial was our favorite, because it was so life like and huge!!! Tuesday was museum day. We had a strict schedule to adhere to...there just isn't enough time in a day to see all there is to see of museums in DC. Before hitting up the museums we went to the top of the Washington Monument. We were able to see the American History, Natural History, Air & Space and the National Archives. All of which were amazing. It was cool to see so much of how our nation began and I am not even a history buff. Wednesday was Veterans Day so we thought it would be appropriate to go to Arlington National Cemetery...and what do you know?!!! President Obama was there speaking and we were no more than 30 yards away from him. While we were there...in the 40 degree rain...we watched the changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknown. That was moving! That afternoon, we rode the Metro down to Old Town Alexandria for some seafood and then Starbucks. I must go back to that place to shop! So many cute places, but since it was so cold and rainy and I was soaked from sitting outside for 3 hours...we decided to call it a day. Thursday was our last day and we spent almost the entire day at the Holocaust Museum. This was by far my favorite museum!!! Sadly...we only had 4 days to enjoy this fantastic city and we will go back!!! We missed out on the Spy Museum and the Newseum, but we can see that next time. :)

This past weekend, after we got home from DC, we took a road trip down to San Antonio to run our first half-marathon together. This race was supposed to be run with KK, but at the last minute she decided to stay in Ft. Worth to cheer on her Alma Mater, TCU. I can't blame her...who knows the next time they will be doing as great as they are. So...it was just Mark and I. He was such a trooper! He ran every step with me and he probably could have finished at least an hour early than we did. We ran the whole way and finished and that was my goal. I can now check that box...although...I just might be signing up for more races in the future. This is a before picture.

Since the race last weekend we have been back in DFW hanging out. On Tuesday, we celebrated our 2 year wedding anniversary. Thank you big Army for somehow allowing that to work out. We had a really special night out! We ate at Texas de Brazil. (The place we ate on our engagement night.) After dinner we spent the rest of the night reminiscing on how far our relationship has come from our first date...and then spent the night at the Worthington...just like our wedding night. Downtown Ft. Worth holds a lot of special memories for us and we always love to go back...especially for special dates!

Today was the bitter in the bittersweet! :( I never like the leaving part, but it is necessary to get this little deployment done. Next time we see each other we get to stay together for a long time...hopefully! He has only been gone 9 hours and my heart already longs for him and I miss him soooo much. Even Daisy girl misses her daddy. Only 8 months left....We can do it!!!!

Not enough exclamation points!!!!!

I don't think I can type the amount of exclamation points to show my excitement for tomorrow!!!!!!!!! Yes....you read right! Tomorrow is the day to be reunited with my husband!!!!!!! I know that it is only for 14 days, but it is going to be AWESOME!!!!!!!! So, don't be expecting any posts for the next 2 weeks....my laptop and I are taking a break! :) My life is wonderful.....I am so blessed!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

How do you measure a year?

I feel like I can never come up with enough ways to measure Mark's year long deployment. Have you heard that song from Rent? In daylights, in sunsets, in midnights, in cups of coffee...in inches, in miles, in laughter and strife...

Here is how I measure a year...

In car payments (12)

In paychecks (24)

In weeks (52)

In pedicures (approx. 10)

In hair cuts (4)

Anyway...the time just keeps on ticking. Sometimes faster than other times. Last week was super busy...I taught dance, baked 3 cakes, baked and decorated 81 cookies, subbed at Ditto and completed all the other craft fair tasks that my Mom asked me to do. The craft fair was a huge success!!!! I am a proud owner of some new jewelry, a shirt and a beautiful cross for my wall.

This week has been more low key, but it is still going quickly. I don't have any cakes or sub jobs lined up yet, but somehow, I am sure I will fill my days. Mark has R&R coming up in less than 2 weeks now! How exciting is that!!!!!!! Before I say this...please know that I am more than thrilled to get 14 days with Mark. It is better than 0, but it is somewhat bittersweet. I'm in my little routine...dance, sleep, eat, dance, eat, sleep, sub, bake, shop...and then I get to have Mark in person for 14 days and then somehow I have to go back to the day to day stuff. 2 weeks just isn't long enough!!!!!! I wish that his leave could be later in the year to split up the time more evenly, but I will take what I can get....happily!

We now have our DC trip planned and booked!!!!!! Can't wait!!!! Who knows...maybe this year our Christmas card pic will be in front of the White House? Also, Mark will be home for our 2nd Anniversary! We are going to stay at the Worthington, which is where we stayed on our wedding night...pretty cool!!!! And lastly, he is going to join in on the 1/2 Marathon fun! I'm sure that the 2 weeks will go way to fast, but they will be packed with fun and love and awesome memories.

1 day...2 cakes

21st Birthday cake

Baby Shower Cake

50th Birthday CAke

The truth about food

Last night, I had the opportunity to go on a grocery store tour with my bootcamp trainer's wife. (She is also a trainer.) I want to share just a few of the many things I learned. I thought that I knew a lot about eating healthy, but I learned so much. This wasn't a tour of the actual store...I do know where milk is and where bread is...but I didn't know that chickens and cow are fed contaminated chickens and cows that were not suitable for human consumption. Let me break it down...the cow/chicken has cancer or whatever else...it isn't suitable to eat...so they chop it up and feed it to cows(that are vegetarians) and chickens (that eat grain)...then eventually we eat them! Ok...I have a problem with this! That is just down right gross! So...if you shop at Super Target buy Laura's lean beef. These cows were fed grass! If you don't shop at Super Target...look for beef that is grass fed.

Here are a few other random tips:

1. Don't eat things your Great Grandmother wouldn't recognize (chemicals in processed food)

2. Don't eat things with more than 5g of sugar/serving

3. Eat lots of fruits/veggies (organic if it has a thin skin)

4. Eat ALL organic dairy products

5. Look for deli meats that are nitrate/nitrite free

6. Buy products made with whole wheat (100%) Red flag: Enriched/Bleached Flour! It is not whole wheat!

7. Shop the perimeter of the store...avoid processed foods

8. No coke! EVER! EVEN DIET!!!!! (This is a tough one)

This was definitely an eye opening experience! Lots more to learn...so she recommended I read the Eat Clean Diet book. I am a rule follower, so I am going to give this a try.