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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.