Still here

Sorry it has been so long since I last posted. Here is a quick run down of what's been going on....

I'll start by back tracking from my last post. Last April I got the change to go to Florida with my in-laws for Spring Break. At the time, Ross was stationed at Camp Blanding in Starke, Florida so he was able to come down to Orlando and spend a few days with us. We had a beautiful hotel room at a newly built resort. We spent a couple days by the pool and a day at Disney World's Magic Kingdom. That was my first trip to Disney and I LOVED it! I felt like a little kid watching Mickey and his friends go by. Mostly, I loved experiencing it with Ross.

On the way back from Florida, I got a phone call from my mom stating that my Grandma Hart wasn't doing well and that she might pass away before I got home. Talk about a long car ride. I knew there was nothing I could do, but being in the car hundreds of miles away from my family was not where I wanted to be when my Grandma passed away. I prayed the whole way home that Grandma's passing would be peaceful and quick. Thankfully, I was able to get home before my Grandma passed away. Like I said, there was nothing I could do, but I just wanted to be in the comfort of home when it happened. Thankfully, Grandma is in Heaven now where she can look down and know exactly who we are.

Summer was a whirlwind of fun with friends, days at the lake, and vacation. I was fortunate enough to be invited back to South Carolina to vacation with my Uncle, Aunt, and Cousins. It was a week full of gorgeous weather, good food, and wonderful memories. We went dress shopping for Allison's wedding and attended an engagement party for Brad and Allison. I am blessed to have gotten to be apart of those festivities.

August brought the start of school and Ross being in the same state as me again! WHOO HOO!! He is currently working in Indianapolis until the end of October. Since he has been down there we have gotten to spend about every other weekend together doing fun things. We went to the Indy Zoo one weekend, a pre-season Colts game that same weekend, and a regular season Colts game this past weekend. Life as a Colts fan is tough right now with Peyton Manning out, but we're sticking by our team.

That brings me to September - I'm currently in my 6th week of school and things are going well. The transition to two different schools has been tough, I won't lie, but it's been good. I am meeting some wonderful new friends and building my confidence with these new students.

Stay tuned, I will have a big post in a couple weeks..... no, I'm NOT pregnant.

Until then.....

365 days later....

Today, May 4th, marks one year since Ross left. In some ways this has been a quick year, but in others, it has slowly crept by as if mocking me for the time that has passed. I have had many good days, and many bad days, but regardless, I have survived.

365 days ago, I wasn't sure I would ever get to this point and to be completely truthful, I wouldn't have without my amazing family and incredible friends! When Ross first left, my friends were great about keeping me busy and my mind occupied. Now, the things we did then are weekly regular activities. When we don't do them, it feels like an "off" day. They truly are amazing people and I am incredibly blessed!!

Here's to being on the downward slope!!!!!!

You Have A Little Mud On Your Face....

This picture was taken, then given to Ross. He took a picture of it with his phone and emailed it to me. Now, I'm sharing it with all of you. Can you tell he means business??

Request

I have a prayer request.

I have an awesome friend who was just diagnosed with Lymphoma. She refers to it as her "new friend, Lymphoma." She goes to the oncologist next week to learn more about what stage she's in and to determine a plan of attack to eradicate this so-called "friend" of hers. She is the awesome mother of two beautiful children and a wife, as well as an outstanding school counselor. Please pray for her as she begins this journey she did not sign up to take. Her faith is incredible and she has a whole team of people praying for her -- but a few more wouldn't hurt.

He's Bigger Than Me

God is...

...all powerful.

...forgiving.

...loyal.

...benevolent.

...faithful.

...ever present.

...almighty.

...dedicated.

...compassionate.

...lasting.

...sincere.

...omnipotent.

...patient.

...gracious.

...bigger than me... and I am SO thankful!

Oh, The Places I Will Go....

2011 edition starts in a mere two weeks!

On a "last minute" whim, I decided to go to Florida for my spring break. I'm headed down to Orlando to spend four days with Ross and two additional days with my in-laws. Not knowing when I would see Ross again was just TOO much. I'm really looking forward to seeing him... and 80+ degree weather!!!

My other up coming adventure will take me back to South Carolina this summer. I'm looking forward to a week in the sun and sand with my Aunt and Uncle. I truly am blessed!!!

I'll update with Florida pictures once I get back, if not before!!! Until then, I'm going to enjoy the warmer weather we are finally getting here!!!

If it's not one thing, it's another...

That's the way I have felt lately. First I got sick, I'm talking really sick. I don't remember the last time I was so sick for so long. Then, because of being sick and coughing/sneezing/blowing all the time, my back started bothering me. Four weeks later and it's still bothering me. I went to the chiropractor on Tuesday and feel slightly better, but not nearly 100%. Bummer.

On top of that, Ross didn't get to come home at the end of February as originally planned. Unfortunately, his military orders changed and he ended up going straight to Florida. - If I have learned one thing during this deployment it's that the only certainty about military life is that the plan will change. He's now in Florida in the middle of NOWHERE! I had planned on going down there for spring break, but after figuring out that the closest hotel is 30ish miles away and Ross works long days, we decided with fligt, hotel costs, food, etc. it would be a lot to spend for me to essentially spend a week by myself. Again... bummer. I know it is out of his control, but for the first time since he left, I don't know when I will get to see him again. Talk about a concept hard to grasp! Thankfully we get to talk daily!

Next comes school... We had an impromptu staff meeting this week where our principal told us the corporation has to cut $2 million dollars out of the budget. Our corporation currently has 1,000 less students than we had 15 years ago, but we're still operating the same number of buildings that we were 15 years ago. We're all smart enough to figure out what that means.... a building will close. More exactly, an ELEMENTARY building will close. No official decision has been made but speculation is that it will be our building for various reasons. Great... where will I go? What will I do? Another huge bummer.

Then comes taxes.... Last year we had to pay Uncle Sam quite a large chunck of money. I dropped off our tax stuff yesterday and looks like again, we'll owe Uncle Sam. Bummer.

I have been trying so hard to stay positive, but sometimes it feels like everything around me is pushing me down (and kicking me while I'm there). I know, and believe, God will never give me anything I cannot handle, but sometimes I sure wish He didn't trust me so much.

Thankfully, I now have a summer trip to look forward to! Here's to things looking up!

LONG overdue....

I'm finally updating the blog from Thanksgiving and Christmas! It has been a whirwind couple months.

For Thanksgiving, Bill, Ryan, and I loaded into the Hoppus van after school and drove the 14+ hours through the night down to Mississippi. Marti left the morning before we did, as Southwest Allen County did not have school that day.

It was a long, but smooth drive through the night and arrived Thanksgiving Day around 7am. I went up to Ross and my hotel room and took a much needed nap while Ross drive his dad and brother over to where they were staying.

We spent Thursday through Sunday (early morning) in Mississippi with Ross. It was a nice visit. Much colder than when I was there in October, but still a great time. We did manage to get to the beach for a walk Thansgiving afternoon. That was nice! Not a usualy Thanksgiving Day activity!

Below are some pictures from Thanksgiving weekend!

One of the C130 Hurricand Hunters stationed at Keesler AFB -- a HUGE plane!


This is where Ross lives!


Just hanging out at Biloxi Beach.


The BEST BBQ place E.V.E.R!!!!


Leaving our mark at The Shed. -- There is writing ALL over the walls!


Having fun at Stennis Space Center!





Five weeks after I was in Mississippi visiting Ross, he was able to come home for 12 days! I was a fantastic 12 days! Fenway was so excited to have him home! I'll try to post the video of Fenway's greeting later.

While Ross was here, we didn't spend a lot of time at home. There were so many people who wanted to see Ross and whom Ross wanted to see. We spent a lot of time with family and several days with friends. We took three days and went to the Detroit area to visit Ross's college friends. That was a lot of fun!

Ross gets to come back home at the end of February. Hopefully this tine we will be less busy!

More to come...

Two days in....

The rundown...
I'm trying to start this new year with a new kick. I have been unhappy with myself for a while and decided now is the time. I have had too many days of "I'll start tomorrow."

So that brings me to today... two days into this (I have to start somewhere)...
So far I'm feeling great! My motivation to eat well is still high and I went running last night for the first time in WAY too long. I can definitely tell my stamina is gone, but hopefully before long I will be back up to the 4-ish miles I was doing this summer. My long term running goal, I would say, is to be able to run a 5K in under 30 minutes. No date set or even in sight yet, but it's a long term goal for myself.

My biggest goal is feeling better about the way I look before my friend, Brooke's wedding in October. This past summer a group of friends and I went and spent a day on Lake James. My biggest memory of that day is being extremely self conscious about the way I look. I definitely do not want to relive that experience when we are supposed to be having a great time in Mexico! My mind could easily tell me, "you don't have to start working out now, October is a long ways off." And that's true, but I know myself well enough to know if I do not get into a groove now, I will continue my past pattern of "I'll start tomorrow," and then tomorrow rarely comes. I have no excuse for not working out. I'm dressed for it daily when I go to school! All I need to do is alter my route home! How hard is that?!?!?!

So... for tonight...
My plan is to go running right away after school. Then go home, possible update the blog from Thanksgiving and Christmas (I know, I know... LONG overdue!) and meet the crew at B Dubs where my dinner will be a nice salad and a tall glass of water.

For the first time in a long time, I am not weighing myself daily. Instead, I am waiting until Monday evening to assess the progress.

Here's to a happier me!!!!!