Georgia bound!

Some big news that feels worthy of a blog post.. It is official, Ben and I will be relocating to the great state of Georgia before the start of next year! We have no definite dates yet but everything is in the works. I can't even believe I will be living on the other side of the country, let alone the South. The last place I ever thought I would end up. Life is funny like that! I am beyond excited for the adventure but am mostly excited to be closer to Ben's side of the family! Now if I could only bring mine along with me... that would be a PERFECT set up!

Ben is doing well and I promise to post a better update soon! It is getting late and I am exhausted after a very long day at work. 

xo

Happy New Years!

Is anyone else a bit shocked with the fact that 2009 is already here? 2008 flew by so incredibly quickly! What an amazing year it was. So many exciting changes and incredibly memorable, life changing, events. Becoming a Mrs. was without a doubt the highlight of this past year. In four short months we will celebrate our FIRST anniversary! Sadly we won't be able to spend it together. It will be special none the less I am sure. 

I am excited to see what 2009 brings, there are SO many exciting opportunities both work and non-work related. I decided that this year I was actually, for the first time, going to make a New Years Resolution. Something I find very silly typically but this year it actually feels right. My goal for this year is not so much a New Year resolution it is a New "LIFE" resolution. It is to work on my relationship with The Lord. I struggle with questioning of Him and the reasons why things happen the way they do. I also struggle because I sometimes feel that I, very foolishly, know what is TRULY best for me. I need to learn to accept and embrace. It is hard for me to feel worthy of unconditional love at times and I think opening myself up to that will better me not only as an individual but as a wife, a friend, a daughter, a sister and most importantly a child of God. I hunger for the improvement in our relationship and am more than ready to do the work! 

In other Ham family news, Ben is spending the next month-ish down in Georgia for Jump Master school. He arrived there yesterday and begins classes tomorrow. He has been studying like champ and is going to do fantastic, I am sure! I am a bit saddened that we are missing out on block-leave as it happens to run during his training. I am excited for time off this summer though, we are thinking about possibly treating ourselves to an Alaskan Cruise! Our time together this last year has felt limited and having a week to be just us would be refreshing and much needed. 

I am filling my time with work, a bit of a headache as of late but given the state of the economy I feel blessed to be employed! I am planning to start training classes with Duke in February. He is such a smart dog and oh so sweet but he fails to realize just how big and strong he is! He practically pulled my arm out of its socket the other day. I can't believe he is 7 months old and weighs in at an impressive 78lbs. I am looking into my options for school right now but so much depends on re-enlistment stuff. I am mapping out plans given the two situations that seem most probable right now and am fully excited about both. 

After years, literally, of debating what path is right for me I feel that I am being called to education, particularly with elementary aged children. How ironic that I originally started with that goal. I feel that I am so prepared to finish school now. I hunger for it and I know that I am going to kick some major booty when I get going. 

I am off to walk the dog in the freezing cold and then start some dinner. I hope this year is off to a great start for everyone!

Elf the Hams!

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Gearing Up for Christmas

It truly feels like the Holidays are upon us! We had our first snow of the year. It began snowing last night but to my disappointment when I woke up this morning there was nothing but a light dusting on the ground. Around noon it began to snow again and by 2 p.m. it was starting to stick. I took Duke out to play in the snow for the first time and, to my complete shock, he was totally uninterested. He went about his doggy business as usual. Go figure the dog who can play with a pistachio shell for an hour could care less about the snow. 

Ben has finished his first week of training in Kentucky and I am counting down the days until he is home. I have a very special date night planned for him when he gets home, I will post pictures from our date. I feel SO blessed to have him home for the Holidays. Shortly after the first of the year we will both be heading to Georgia, Ben for work and myself for fun! I can not WAIT to spend more time with my Parents-in-Law, my beautiful Sisters-in-Law and ALL of my new nieces and nephews.  

Well this is short tonight but I am trying to get in the habit of posting here! Off to brave the cold for a walk with Duke. Hope everyone had a wonderful weekend.

All my Love.

After quite a long break...

I am back to the world of blogging. I started this blog a few months ago and then life became quite busy. I neglected it for some time but I am going to make an effort to keep this a bit up to date. 

I can hardly even believe December is already here and Christmas is just around the corner. I am beyond excited to spend my FIRST Christmas with Ben! Last year we were on opposite sides of the country, but this year it will be so special to be together in our home. Our Christmas decorations are maybe 2/3 of the way finished but have been placed on temporary hold until Ben returns home from training in Kentucky. We had so much fun picking out our first tree and putting up our Christmas lights. Ben strung the lights on the tree like a pro and helped me figure out the best way to hook up multiple extension cords without starting an accidental bonfire, gotta love having such a Handy-Man for a Husband! 

This past year has been an incredible start of a journey. On April 1st I married the man that I always dreamt I would find, yet never thought existed. I thank God daily for Ben, how lucky we are to have each other.  Less than a week later my new Husband was sent to defend our freedom. What a honeymoon huh?  I was immediately thrown into an entirely new world. I was welcomed by so many wonderful, strong, inspirational women with open arms. Some who have truly touched my life and will remain ingrained in my heart forever. Christy Hazen, Sarah Murray, Cori Kirk, Jennifer Hartung, Aniela Finch, Alexis Newville, and Windy Barker are truly angels disguised as Ranger Wives. The nights of Bagel Bites with Mimosas, watching Troop Beverly Hills, adventures in Seattle, Friday Night Dinners and Sunday Evening Bible Studies will never be forgotten. 

Ben and I grew so strong during our first real time apart. Seeing him step safely off a bus on a hot summer day was the second best feeling in the world, first was marrying him, of course. We spent two fantastic weeks together without the interruption of work, a rarity around here! We went on "adventures" all over Washington. We went whale watching in the San Juans, hiked and went on a guided trail ride around Mount Saint Helens, spent lots of time playing with our new puppy Duke on the beautiful yet cold beaches of Washington and went to see a lot of movies, Ben had some catching up to do! How nearly half a year has passed since that day I am not quite sure. 

This time of year is a great time to reflect and count blessing, this year I am feeling especially blessed. My thoughts and prayers are with so many this time of year as well. Deployed soldiers and their families always on my mind. How hard it must be to spend the Holidays so far from those who you love. Those who are mourning the loss of a loved one and those enduring sickness or injury. Despite the state of the world I think if we all take a second to look around The Lord's many blessings become apparent. 

Welcome!

Hello All!

I was inspired by my beautiful Sister-in-Law Tabitha to start blogging. I figured with family all over the country it would be a great way for people to keep in touch.

The next time around when Ben is deployed it will be a great way for people stay up to speed with what is going on in his life. With his communication so limited it is hard for him to keep in touch with as many people as he wishes he was able to. I will be able to post messages from Ben for everyone to read!

Right now I am just working on getting everything in place for when Ben gets home. I, of course, put everything off until the last minute. I am glad I decided to do so because it is keeping my days filled to the brim, it helps them pass at a nice quick pace. I have a big huge surprise for Ben when he gets home, not only is he coming home to a new home, there is going to be an ADORABLE 8 week old Chocolate Lab puppy! I have done a ton of research and really feel that I found a great dog, after the disaster of Bella I was very wary of getting a new dog but Ben talks about it constantly and, has mentioned about a zillion times how much he would love to have a Chocolate Lab.  I am pretty sure that I have Ben totally fooled. He thinks we are waiting to get a puppy from a litter that will be born about a month after he gets home.  

I will post some pictures of the new puppy once Ben meets him. I am going to pick him up tomorrow afternoon. The breeder is awesome and gave us a discount as a "Thank You" to Ben. It was very touching. 

Anyways, that is pretty much the scoop from Lacey. I hope you all find a way to come visit, we have plenty of room! 

God Bless!