Certain In-laws

I just don't get it. I am trying to be nice and keep them all informed of what is going on with their nephew being overseas and do I get a 'Thank You' in return?? Hell no. Okay here is the thing, as you all know my husband is overseas and about twice a month I send out an email to all of our friends and family members and let them all know how he is doing. This past one I sent out I also sent his address along with it. Well.. I have had his address for awhile but back when he was in basic he gave us the wrong one and he didn't get alot of our letters until two weeks before he graduated. I didn't want something like that to happen again so I decided to send him a postcard from Florida and see if it arrived at the address he gave me. Well two days after I sent the postcard he calls me and tells me that there is a minor change in his address!! I WAS RIGHT PEOPLE!!!! He still ended up getting the post card but it did end up taking longer than expected! So anyways, I got his new address and once I got home from Florida I emailed everyone it. Well, after sending it I get emails back from our friends and my family, and some of his family too, saying 'Thank you', 'glad to hear he is doing good' yadda yadda. I am glad to get those because I know that they are receiving the emails and appreciate them. Well a certain in-law of mine never writes back. They are the ones that wanted him not to marry me and it just really pisses me off that they don't appreciate that I keep them up to date of what is going on with their nephew. I don't have to send them those emails, I didn't have to give them his address but I did/do because I know that is what Ben would want me to do. I know that I am probably blowing this all out of perspective but it just hurts knowing that when I'm trying to keep them informed about Ben they just don't care. I just don't get how people are just so darn disrespectful. IDK, maybe all of this is because there are still issues between us that have nothing to do with this post or what, I just know that if they don't start respecting me soon, then the emails about Ben are going to stop. I am not going to put up with their bullshit. I wont do it. I have too much other stuff going on then to have to worry about them.
Sorry everyone, I had to blow off a little steam!!!

Live~Laugh~Love

I think I am going to really start living by these three words. First off let me just say that I got a new phone today, the Vu, and I LOVE it!!! haha anyways..

Alot has been going on with me over the past few weeks. I got back from Florida and me and my dad still weren't getting along. There are two things that bug me about my dad, one, he is an alcoholic, two, he has an anger problem. Well the two don't mix very well. Needless to say, I moved out and am now staying with a friend until I move to IL at the end of the month. I am very thankful that Laurenn opened her home to me to stay at until I move. This is where the Live, Laugh, Love comes into play. With Laurenn we are laughing all the time, mainly because of her but you would have to know her to understand what I'm talking about, lol, and I have found that over this past week of just laughing all the time that I am much, much happier than I was living at my dads house.

The Live part comes into play by saying that no matter what happens in life you still must go on living. When Ben deployed it was really hard on me not being able to talk to him when I wanted or drive down to TN to see him but just because he is gone doesn't mean that my life, or his, has stopped. We are both doing what we can while he is deployed to make the time go by faster.

Love, well everyone needs love. We need love from our family and friends. I am very much in love with my husband and I don't know what I would do without him. I also love all my family and all my friends. I have the most amazing family and a great group of friends. I love them all!!!!

Anyways... I know this blog is not like others that I have written but for some reason today, of all days, those three little words hit me square in the face. I have always liked: Live, Laugh, Love, but they never really had a deep meaning to me as they do now. IDK, I'm weird I guess but I thought I would share.

...............................................................................

I'm sure some of you are wondering 'moving? your moving? when? where?' To fill you all in I am moving to IL with Stacey, a friend from TN who's husband is also overseas, at the end of Jan. My last day of work is the 31st and I am going to try to move that weekend. If I don't end up moving that weekend I will be moving the next weekend. We are going to be living close to Springfield, IL!! I am very excited!! Stacey has a six month old that I love to pieces and I cant wait to see her again!!! Also, Stace and I are going through the same thing with our husbands being gone, so we are going to keep each other sane while our men are gone! lol Or at least try anyways! lol

{Sophie}

As for things happening here at home.. I am enjoying spending time with my niece and nephew before I leave!!! We are having a sleep over this weekend and I am totally looking forward to it. It couldn't get here soon enough!!!!

{Brayden}

Work is going well!!! I wish I could take them all with me to IL and work up there with them but I know that can't happen!

Ben is doing really well. I talk to him about 6 or 7 times a week. It really just depends on if he has the day off or not. I sent him his first care package yesterday!!! I can't wait for him to get it!!! Im sending another one our for Valentines day at the end of the month before I leave. He says that he has been taking pics but the Internet is too slow to upload them fast enough so he is going to try to burn them onto a CD for me and mail it to me so hopefully here within the next few months I can post some pics of overseas!!! or at least him!!! I do miss him so much and it is very hard being away from him, but I just keep looking towards the future and all of our big plans that I don't let myself get down. I know that he wouldn't want me to do that! We are both independent people and know how to take care of ourselves so I know we are going to be just fine. I love you so much Ben!!!! Please stay safe and call when you can!!!! I love you!

{Me with my neice and nephew!!!!}

Rascal is doing good.. just being Rascal!! lol

My friend, Erica, is getting married the 26th of April so I have been helping her make invitations for her wedding and stuff!! I am so excited for her!!! I cant wait for her and Matt to get married, they pretty much are, they just need the legal part done! lol haha love ya!

One last thing.. I am having a 'See ya later' dinner on Saturday the 24th. I am going to have everyone that I love so dearly, get together so that I can see everyone one last time before I move because these next few weeks are my last weeks living in the state of MO for probably the rest of my life!!!! Me and Ben plan on staying in TN and raising our family, mostly because he will probably stay in the military but also because it is so gosh darn beautiful down there! Anyway if you would like to attend just shoot me an email or comment and let me know and Ill get you the place and time!!

I hope everyone has a great rest of the week!!! Bundle up because it is gonna get cold!!!! Love ya!

Walt Disney World

Disney World was AMAZING!!! I loved it!! I felt like such a kid again!!! I love how you can go to a place and everyone can have fun because there is something there for everyone!!! Our plane left at 6pm Christmas night and landed in Orlando at 9pm their time. We had a Disney World pass for seven days!! So the day after xmas we went to the Magic Kingdom, which was my favorite park! Then on Saturday Cheryl, my stepmom, her cousin came and took us to Sea World, not as much fun as Disney. Then on Sunday we went to Animal Kingdom, Monday was Epcot, Tuesday was the beach!!!, Wednesday was Magic Kingdom again, Thursday and Friday were Hollywood Studios!! My two favorite rides were the Tower of Terror and the Aerosmith ride which are both at Hollywood!! The weather was perfect while we were down there as well. We wore shorts or Capri's most days. The last two days it was a little chilly but nothing like here at home.

I also go to talk to Ben while I was down there! I couldn't believe that he could call me! I was so happy. I miss him so much and I really wanted him there but we both agreed that when we have kids and they are old enough to remember, we are going to take them to Disney World! I cant wait for that time to come!! (and yet at the same time I can! lol haha)

Well that's about all I'm going to post for now. Not really in the typing mood tonight! Enjoy the pics and Happy New Year everyone!

Merry Christmas!!!

Hello all! Good news.... I GOT TO TALK TO BEN LAST NIGHT (xmas eve). We talked for about 2 hours!! I needed that so much! He is doing really well. He is finally in his own room where he has built up his bed and desk and what not! They all got stockings yesterday and Bens had candy and the move "Up A Creek Without A Paddle" in it. He was excited! He looked really good last night too! I am still just glowing because I finally got to see him!!!!! Below is the email that I sent out to everyone about him:

"Merry Christmas everyone!
I got to talk to Ben last night for a good two hours!!! AND I got to see him on the web-cam!!! I loved it!! He is where he is supposed to be now that starts with a "s" (cant say specifics over the Internet or phone). He says he likes it much better there than the other place he was at that starts with a "b". He also says its warmer there as well. Its about 35 degrees in the morning and about 60 degrees during the day, where the other place was 20 degrees during the day, so

huge difference. He has finally gotten into his room. It's 8x8 so not very big but he got to built his bed so he made it up top with his TV and desk underneath the bed and his door to get out of his little room slides. Its really cool! They all got stockings this year.. Ben got candy in his and the movie "Up A Creek Without A Paddle" He was watching it last night (his morning). He is 10.5 hours ahead of us so right now it is around 8:20pm Christmas night there since it is 9:50am here. He does have Internet now so he should be able to email everyone more regularly. He will be out on missions alot so he might not. He's not quit sure yet since either today or tomorrow is his last day of processing. Other than all of that he is doing good. He looks good too (im a little bias though) lol haha just kidding. Ive attached some pictures that I took of him last night with the web-cam. There are a few of his room. One is of his bed and the other of his TV area.

I am doing good as well. Christmas is a little hard but I'll get through it. I leave for Florida today, but when I get back I am going to mail Ben some stuff so I will collect stuff from people if you like. I was going to mail him something and make sure it got there before everyone mails him something and it all comes back to us. He gave me is address last night but if we all remember what basic was like... it could be the wrong one! lol haha (don't tell him i said that, he will kill me! lol) jk.

Well I hope everyone has a Merry Christmas! I gotta finish packing and head to the airport!!!
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year."

(I was too lazy to type all that again!!) lol

I hope everyone has a Merry Christmas!! Below are pictures I took last night of Ben and his room!

{wavin bye to me last night}

{His Bed}

{The note he made me}

{ His TV area. The ladder you see goes up to his bed}

One week gone...

This past weekend I had more fun that I thought I would seeing that it was my first weekend without Ben. Central Bank's Christmas Party was this weekend and all I have to say is that I was feeling mighty fine that night! ;) Some interesting things ended up happening that night but we won't go into detail. They were quit funny though! lol haha.

Anyways, tomorrow makes one week since I said "See ya lata" to Ben. I must say though that the time has gone pretty fast. I am trying to keep myself busy and with being away from home for 2.5 weeks I had alot to do when I got back. Plus I am leaving Christmas Day to go to Disney World!!!!! I'm so excited! I can't wait!

I got to talk to Ben today on the phone for the first time!! I was so glad to hear his voice. I am missing him so much but knowing that he is okay and safe makes me feel ten times better. I can't give details of what's going on with him for his safety but he is doing fine. He says it's hard being away from me for our first Christmas has a married couple but when he gets back it will be that much better. We talked online for the first few nights he was gone and then we would email but until he gets into his room and gets Internet I probably won't get to talk to him again (that should only be a few more days though). I am still just so happy that he called.

It's weird too now that Ben is deployed because I don't take anything for granted like I used too. I mean I never really took spending time with him for granted but how I look at everything is different. I cherish every moment I get on the phone or Internet with him. I will drop whatever I am doing to talk to him. It is hard seeing other couples together and so happy because Ben isn't with me right now but I know that our love is much stronger because we have to go through this. I just really don't like it when people complain because they don't get to see their gf/bf/wife/husband that much when they either live with them or live in the same town as them. I just wish I could trade them places for one week so they could see just how lucky they really are. Oh well I guess.

Well I'm going to end this. Ill post again after I get back from Disney World!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to everyone. (enjoy the pics from the party)

They Changed Their Minds Again

{Our Name Thingy!}

Well... Ben didn't leave on Friday night. They told him Tuesday about leaving on Friday night and then on Wednesday when he went to work they told him that he is now leaving the 16th real early in the morning again. I am thanking God that he answered my prayers and letting me have a few more days with my husband. So while I have been down here we have gone to Nashville twice now, once with Dustin and Stacey, and last night with my step mom, Cheryl, her boyfriend, Jack, and Ben's dad, Wally. We had alot of fun. We went and ate at the Rainforest Cafe inside the Opry Mills Mall and then after that we went to the Opryland Hotel to look at their Christmas lights. It is so pretty in there. If I could have gotten married in there I would have done it in a heartbeat! If you ever go to Nashville, I HIGHLY recommend going and looking around the inside of this hotel. After that we drove downtown. Cheryl and Jack stopped and got something to drink and Me, Ben, and Wally drove around so Wally could see where B.B. Kings is and all the famous bars and the Hall of Fame, then we drove back home. Nashville is a really neat place. But it can end up being like Jeff City after you have been there too many times except for the fact that there is way more clubs and things to do in downtown Nashville compared to Jefferson City. lol

{Me in Ben's bullet proof vest}

So here we are, Sunday afternoon, I'm writing this and Ben and his dad are playing the Xbox. Tomorrow is Ben's last day here and tonight is our last night together since we are going to stay up tomorrow night since he has to be to base so early. I'm not quite sure how I'm going to take all of this. It is going to be so hard, but I have a friend, Amanda, whose husband, Rich, has already been over for a month and when I talked to her last she said that it does get easier with time and she was sounding a whole lot better than I thought she would, so I'm looking up to her and hopefully I will be the same way. I am just going to keep myself busy and make the time fly by.

{Ben and Libby}

Well.. that's all I really have to say for now. Enjoy the pictures from our night out on the town and our time down here together! Happy Holidays!!!

{Me and Ben at Rainforest Cafe}

{Ben and his dad}

{Me and My Step mom, Cheryl}

The Army

Well.. what can I say? It's the United States Army. We were told, and have it on paper that Ben was supposed to be deploying the 14th of December to go overseas. Well, this morning we get a phone call and got told that his flight was pushed up to the 13th and that it's really early in the morning. ( I cant give specific dates, times, or locations for his safety). I broke down right then and there and just started bawling. I know that he has to go over but it is just not fair that they take a whole day and a half away from us the week of his deployment. I think that if they are going to do this kind of stuff once it is on paper it should be final. I mean we had made plans for family to come down and everything and now it is all messed up. IDK. I know the whole Army life and that you should never take anything they say seriously until last minute because they change their mind all the time and when you get your hopes up for something it always comes crashing down in front of you.
I just can't believe that he is leaving in a few days. I know that everything is going to be okay and he is going to come back home to me but it still sucks knowing that I won't get to lay next to him in bed, snuggle with him, give him kisses or hugs or anything for a whole year. It is really depressing but I have some big plans for while he is gone. Our neighbor down here is going overseas as well so me and his wife, Stacey, and their daughter, Libby, are going to be living together in IL, where they are from, while our husbands are gone. Also for my 21st bday I plan on jumping out of a plane and then the day after that one of my really really good friends gets married, then its my birthday, then my nephews one year birthday party, then Ben will get to come home for 15 days for mid tour and during those 15 days we will hopefully get to celebrate our one year wedding anniversary. Also while he is gone I am going to learn how to cook alot better, like gourmet meals and what not. I watch the Food network channel all the time and I love it! I graduate college this Friday so I wont have that to keep me busy so I thought this would be a good thing to keep me busy with! Also I will have Stacey and Libby to keep my company as well!
Well I'm done rambling for now. Please, again, keep Ben in your prayers and all of our other soldiers that are already over and are going over to fight for our country! God Bless and Happy Holidays!

2 weeks and counting...

Well I had s good Thanksgiving for the most part. It is my favorite holiday because of all the good food and not everyone is so greedy with presents like they are for Christmas. Me and Ben did the whole Black Friday thing and went to Walmart at 4am and got our first Christmas tree for $25 and a 6 piece luggage set for only $44! We were pretty excited! We then went to Kohl's and I got a few things to decorate our house with for when Ben gets back from Afghanistan.
Speaking of Afghanistan Ben deploys in a little over two weeks. For the most part I have been telling myself that the time is aways away and it will come slowly. Not quite sure who I was trying to kid. Now that Thanksgiving is over the time seems to just keep going and going and going like the energizer battery. I wish those batteries would die so that time would slow down just a little bit. It is just weird to think that for Christmas, our first Christmas together since we have been married, he won't be here. I gave him his present last night and I could tell that it touched him deeply. Thank you to all of those who helped make it as special as it is. He said that when he was looking at it he couldn't believe that he was actually going over. I guess the book reminded him that he really is going. He keeps telling himself that he is only going to be gone for a few weeks. I hope that it only feels like a couple of weeks but I know that is not going to be the case. I did tell him last night though, that a few things he could focus on while is was over is that when he gets back we can get a new puppy like he wants and start a family. I know that will help him over there, it will help me while I'm here waiting for him. I have never done anything this hard in my life and I'm not looking forward to it either. But I know that we can do it. We are both strong people and our love for each other is even stronger. Just like I told him.. I could not ask God for a better best friend and I am glad that he had a part in me and Ben falling in love. I am honored to be Ben's wife and even more honored to be an American Soldier's wife! I could not be more proud of him for what he is doing. He is my number one hero and will always be.
Well I guess I'll quit rambling on for now. I will keep everyone updated on how he is doing over there and what all is going on. I am leaving on Wednesday (12-3-08) to go down to TN and spend two weeks with him before he leaves. Please keep Ben in your prayers this holiday season and for the whole time he is over there. I will be praying everyday for him to be safe and come home soon! I love you Ben!

Busy Busy Busy!!!

I feel like my head has been spinning for two weeks straight now. With everything going on with finishing up school and Ben deploying I don't have time to do anything else! I am almost done with school though! Only two more weeks left and Im done for the rest of my life!! I cannot wait! I was a little hesitant about coming back for this fall semester knowing the Ben was going to be deploying as soon as I was done or even before. I almost stayed down in TN to spend time with him but we both agreed that it made more since and it was the smarter choice for me to come back up to MO and finish my college education. I am so glad that we decided that! Im not saying it hasnt been hard but it has def. been worth it! Now with his deployment.. that's a different story. We were told that it would be around the 16th of December then it got pushed up to the 1st of December. Now we finally have it in writting that he is leaving Sunday December 14th. :( Not really a day I am looking forward to but it is something that most of us Army Wives have to go through. That is the vow we took when we married our solider! I must say thought that I would not trade this life for anything! I love my life!
Ben does get to come home for Thanksgiving! He will be home Wednesday and leaves on Sunday! Im super excited! We are celebrating our Christmas while he is here! I leave the 3rd of December to go down to TN until the 16th to see him off and finish packing all of our stuff down there. I'll come back to work on the 17th to get my mind off of everything and that next weekend (the 20th) is the Central Bank Xmas party and Im def going to that to have some fun! Christmas day im leaving to go to Florida to see Mickey and Minni for a whole week! Im excited! I wish Ben could go but in honor of him I am designing a shirt to wear while I am down there that has a prayer on the back of it for him with our picture and then on the front it says "Half of my heart is in Afghanistan" with the same heart that is on the back on the front just with his picture in it!
Well I think im done rambling on for now! Have a Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Braylon Von

My cousin Erica gave birth to her third child yesterday morning! Braylen Von was welcomed into the world at 8:28am yesterday!!! I went and saw him today and he is just the cutest little

thing!! He has a big brother and a big sister waiting for him to come home and play! My cousin and the baby are both doing good. Hopefully she gets to go home tomorrow!

Well I just wanted to say Congrats to my cousin and post some pics of the cutie!!