Funniest Commercial Ever!

I suddenly have the urge to buy Old Spice.

Then and Now

Almost eleven months ago I saw this jar as half full

Now I see it as a handful of Skittles

One Skittle a day for 365 days seemed an unimaginable feat

Now I can totally imagine making Jason eat the last year old, stale Skittle

Loneliness, anxiety, insecurity, and sadness

Accomplishment, anticipation, confidence, and excitment

My world has turned up-side down

I'm a lot stronger than I thought I was. And I will totally survive the next 51 days.

So I leave you with this one final thought...this is what I've been missing...

Quick Update

Just wanted to let everyone know that Jason made it safely back to Iraq and finally got to sleep in a bed last night. Mr. J you're my hero!!!

48 hours again

48 hours from now Jason should be back at FOB Delta thousands of miles away from his loved ones. I kissed him goodbye, and maybe shed a tear or two, earlier today and he should hopefully be somewhere over the Atlantic ocean at this point.

I was told by Mom-in-law that this goodbye would be by far more difficult that the first goodbye, but honestly it hasn't been that bad so far. We had almost three weeks together and Jason will be done with his deployment and back home before April 15. We have less than two months to be apart from each other...and since we've both already survived a ten month seperation, two months feels like a piece of cake. At least that's what I'm telling myself.

Our time together wasn't exactly what we had planned for. It was going to be Jason and Natti hiding away in our little house for two weeks and reconnecting with each other. But sometimes God has a different plan in mind. We ended up in New Orleans to say goodbye and celebrate the life of Jason's grandfather, Paw Paw. It's never easy to say goodbye to someone who's been so instrumental in your life, but it was definitely a blessing that Jason was state side so that he could pay his respects. Paw Paw was a wonderful man.

I thought having Jason back home would be a weird adjustment after so many months, but honestly if felt like he never left. I actually think Jason being home was more weird for him...he was taking a "vacation" but he was home...kind of like going home to mom and dad's after being away at college for a year. We both enjoyed our time together despite the tragedy.

Thanks for everyone's thoughts and prayers. I know a lot of people have been praying and keeping Jason in their thoughts on this deployment. I know he appreciates it, and I certainly do as well.

I absolutely have to mention two things from Jason's time home...The Saint's won the superbowl! I have never seen Jason hug a man so tightly and for so long as he did with Kevin when the Saint's made that interception. Seriously they were jumping up and down hugging each other...it was slightly disturbing. And Jason was accepted to graduate school at NKU. Great news because our five year plan is coming to fruition...bad news because that mean's we're immediately broke. But God will provide!

57 days and counting!

48 Hours

In less than 48 hours I should be tackling Jason to the ground. I got the e-mail this evening that he made it safely into Kuwait, and he should make it into Cincinnati by Tuesday evening. Much preparation for Jason's arrival has gone on these past several days. Thanks to Anna's help the house has been cleaned from top to bottom, and I can honestly say that my legs will be shaved for the first time in ten months. When I stop and think about the fact that I'm finally going to see my husband again I start to hyperventilate a little. What's the only thing that could put a damper on my excitment? The Saints are going to the superbowl. Jason is going to be absolutely impossible these next two weeks waiting in anticipation for the big game. My only recourse will be to throw on a Saints jersey and helmet and run around the house yelling, "who dat" to get his attention. LOL I'm mostly joking. I'm beyond excited to see my husband again, ten months is a long freaking time.

I know, I know

I know what you're going to say. I've already heard it from my good friend, my boss, my mother in law, and my husband. And all I have to say in response is it's all Amanda's fault. I would like everyone to meet the newest member of the family. This is Mimi the pug...



If you've been reading this blog for any length of time then you already know that, yes, this is dog number four. I know that I'm crazy, that my husband is away at war, that my house is small, that my backyard is a swamp, and that four dogs officially puts me in the 'crazy dog lady' catagory. But look at this pitiful little face



So Wednesday I get a phone call from Amanda telling me that a lady at church has an old, blind pug that she and her husband had been fostering. They were looking for a good home for this little girl. So by Thursday I was over there meeting little Mimi and by Saturday Mimi was the newest member of the family. She's probably around 11 years old, has horrible cataracts so she's can't she a thing, and spent the majority of her life completely neglected and hidden away from humans and other animals. How can you say no to a poor doggie that needs your help. I couldn't.

She's incredibly quiet and doesn't make nearly the amount of pug noises that Gus makes. She's very calm and walks everywhere slowly and with her head down so she doesn't hurt herself when she runs into things. She has absolutley horrible, stinky farts, and terrible dog breath, but I'm thinking that might just be a pug thing because Gus does too. It will be an adjustment period I'm sure. She gets a little snippy when dogs come to smell her and she starts to feel uncomfortable. But I think just a little time with my pack and she'll fit right in. Welcome to the family Mimi, I promise to spoil you rotton and fatten you up.

Snow Puppy!

Jason and I call Edgar our snow puppy. For obvious reasons. He's clearly part husky with super fluffly fur that just screams give me some snow.



He becomes very excited when it's cold, and over-joyed when there's snow on the ground



He tries to bury himself in the snow, rolling around in it, sometimes sliding down the hill in our backyard in an attempt to get as much cold wet stuff under his fur as possible.




And he always comes in the house with a pile of snow sitting on top of his nose. The only thing I truly enjoy about winter is seeing Mr. Edgar so very happy.

We miss you Jason...Edgar needs someone to throw snowballs so he can chase them down and eat them.

Two tiny little weeks!