So flippin' excited!

I AM SO FLIPPIN EXCITED!

My parents are coming to see ME!!! I'm the only one in the states.  My parents and my sister live in Japan so I am so disconnected.  The last time I saw my family was October 2009 when my baby niece was born! It's been a little while, I'd say.  The last time my family came to the states to visit me on my turf was graduation from college May 2007. 

They are coming to see me in March so that they can meet Dave's parents!  I know I should be nervous but I'm not. I can't wait! I think they will love his family!!! One step closer to me getting married to my love! <3

What a Military Spouse Knows

A beautiful tribute of how strong a MilGirl surviving deployment can be...

What a Military Spouse Knows

If you've already seen this, sorry for the repeat, but it's worth a read!

Deployment survivors, what do YOU know?

Lucky Girl

Happy Valentine's Day! :)

I feel like the luckiest girl in the world. I look at my left hand every day and marvel how proud I am to wear the ring that Dave proposed with.  Proud might sound like an odd word to use about my ring but here's why I use it... Dave knew what was important when choosing my ring.  I look down at it every single time and know that he worked HARD to give me something I will wear for the rest of my life. I make no qualms about the fact that I have high standards (for my life, my love and what I do).  I knew that he was the one, in part, because he knows how to delight me.

(love you, dave!)

I am such a lucky girl. I have a guy who is so incredibly thoughtful. I would tell you that he got me a watch but that doesn't sound thoughtful.  But it is, because there's a story to go with the watch... that's for another time. Card writing is a huge part of my life. I appreciate hand written cards and I make sure I send out hand written letters/cards when warranted.  I knew that Dave was the one, in part once again, because he is an incredible card writer.  He makes me feel so important and cared for.

(thanks dave!)

I feel lucky that I get to marry this guy in a mere 7 months. Let me tell you, I'm not THERE yet. I haven't gotten to the part where I imagine myself walking down the grassy aisle yet.  I've thought through our vows and how true they are for us (which in itself is amazing that we wrote them together), and how much fun I plan to have (wink wink blog loves).  He is so good to me and I can't wait to celebrate in a big fat way.

(and he got me flowers)

Normally, I'm not a romantic.  Normally, I don't say stuff like this. But I think that kindness and thoughtfulness warrants public praise (and this is the most public it gets for me...). I feel truly blessed and honored to start my adult life with this kind-hearted, well meaning, good-card-writing gentleman.

Winner of Delight!

CONTRATS, Erin of Deployment Diaries, who said this about what delights her...

"New Orleans delights me... Just thinking about the next time I will be able to go back fills my stomach with butterflies of excitment. There is just something about it that infects your soul. The music, the food, the people, the art, the river... I could go on and on. Not only do I love the city itself, but it's where I fell in love with my husband. Actually, I'm pretty sure it's why we fell in love and of course I would enjoy telling everyone all about it!"

Just reading that makes me want to visit New Orleans!  Erin's husband is deployed to Afghanistan right now but she is surviving this deployment like a true champ.  She just started her blog but go to her blog and show your support! Please join me in welcoming her to the bloggy world!

You win a free canvas from ZaZa Gallery! Contact me for more info!

GIVEAWAY!!

Don't forget to enter my Delight GIVEAWAY that closes soon! 

Tell me what truly delights you.  I'll be reading your stories so make 'em delightful :)

Lonely on V-day isn't an excuse!

Before I dive into my story, I want to hop over and submit your entry for my DELIGHT GIVEAWAY.  The quality of your answer counts. It won't be a random drawing... Because I'm looking for what DELIGHTS you. So give me a delightful answer :) if you want to resubmit an answer, you can do that too!

Onward and upward!
Today, on my way to classes, I was listening to the Kane Show on 99.5 and there was a girl who had called in with a dilemma. This is her situation. She has been dating a Marine for 4 years. Two months after they met he decided to enlist in the Marine Corps.  He went to boot camp and then was deployed soon thereafter.  Her question/dilemma is that he's always been gone and this year will be her third year alone.  Cue the drumroll... she's met somebody and thinks she could care about this new guy. But she doesn't want to cheat on the Marine.  So what should she do?

Well, the girl is stuck between a giant rock and a hard place.  Kane (who is fairly liberal, I'd argue, but a gentleman, most of the time) was FUMING. He was getting all worked up about how this Marine would feel. "He's fighting for our country!!" he kept saying.

I've never called a radio station to try to get through. I didn't get through but these are the things I would have said if I were on the line with them and this girl...
1) You are so disgraceful. Deployment isn't for everybody.  It sucks to have to wait for somebody to come back. But you're not even WORRIED about him or his safety.  You are worried about being LONELY. 
2) You said he's not coming home for a while... most likely his deployment is for 7 months.  Maybe you should have thought of breaking up with him the little time that he was home? Or were you too excited to have your Marine home and flaunt him around?
3) If you break up with him now, while he's away, think of all the damage that could do?
4) If you break up with him now, it's just like cheating. Except you got a free pass for a clear conscience. Stupid selfish (blank).


Thoughts?

All Dressed Up: I want WARM!

Although I love fall, I really like warm, mild weather. The kind of weather you could wear pants and a cute top... So, in hopes that my outfit would ward off the freezing rain that is supposed to be upon us... I'm all dressed up!

Tada...

I know... what a face! 

But I want WARM! please? 

Top: Limited

Pants: Banana Republic outlet

Shoes: Payless Shoesource

Necklace: Sultry (lia sophia)

Bracelet: Party Favor (lia sophia)

 Guest appearance by Lexi!

I got silly and "got in the kitchen," and put on my cute Apron!

The photographer guest appearances!

Love you!!

Proud

I was "dating" (skype dates, texts at all hours) an enlisted Marine while he was on the other side of the world. Honestly, I thought the military thing was sexy but very overrated.  I didn't know that "going to war" was called a deployment.  I didn't know that most of our enlisted troops in their 4 year contract gets deployed once if not twice or thrice.  I didn't know that the military wouldn't want to hear about my schedule conflicts with his duties.  Or the fact that I would have to be so far away from my love for a long time. I didn't know that I could be so in love with somebody that I would look past all the "military hurdles" to be with him.  I didn't know that in the process of being in love with this man, I would also fall in love with the Marine Corps and the military community.  I didn't know that I would get choked up every time I hear a news segment on TV about our troops going their job or when I think about the war memorials in DC. I didn't know I would be so proud.

I knew that Dave wanted to go farther and become an officer.  I knew that he wanted to go back to school.  I knew that he is brilliant and insanely knowledgeable and well read about so many topics.  So it made sense that he would want to go this route.  I knew he has a burning passion for leadership and achieving excellence.  I knew he'd want to make sacrifices to get there.  I knew he'd work hard to achieve the things he needed to be in excellent standing.

As he finishes the final touches of the insanely long process of applying to become a "candidate" in Officer Candidate School, I am again struck by the same sense of pride.  Pride that is only described by a physical reaction in my body.  It triggers tears but not because I'm thinking of deployments.  I'm proud that he wants to sign up for this again...that he wants to join the ranks of the best leaders and fighters in the world. And this time around, I get to be standing, right next to him as he embarks on this journey.