So I am here in Texas reviewing the last 8 weeks of my life. It’s possible several of my family and friends think that I have been kind of distant and I suppose that would be a correct assumption. But here’s a confession for you: these last couple of months have been painful and difficult. To hear Tim’s name made me ache. To hear questions of how he was was to say the least painful. Not that I was upset with the questions or thought they were wrong, that is not what I am saying. But every question that had his name in it pushed my mind to think of him and thinking of him was to say the least brutal.

Tim has done wonderful. He is one of the best in his group and he has made me incredible proud. He says of the experience that he has both loved and hated boot camp. He has made friends, which is no surprise and has told others of his beliefs even getting one of his new friends to meet with the missionaries at church. I am not surprised-I’m just proud.

This week Tim graduates and we are so excited. We have had limited contact-on Sundays we get a 10-15 phone call, but we are excited to be reunited. I flew in today, Monday. More than likely it will be Thursday before I see him, but there is the slimmest of chances that we may get to see each other on Tuesday and Wednesday. Why did I come so early? To sit in a hotel room and wait for the call of my husband that may or may not come? Actually yes that is exactly why I came so early. I’m sure some find it silly-but I do not care. These past few weeks have been a deep pit of depression, loneliness and work problems that have left me sleepless, anxious, angry, worried and depressed. Now I am sleeping about 5 min (not even that) from Tim’s base. I love being this close even if we are not together yet-I can wait.

For those wondering, we do not yet know where we will be stationed. We should be getting that info sometime in mid-July. The next phase of Tim’s career will start next Monday when he starts school. But this is an improvement as Tim will be able to call people at night after school. His communication will be more frequent with everyone. He loves and misses you all, as do I.

Love and Blessings,

Jess

Sea Life

There is me exploring and below is an eel that both creeped me out and facinated me.

A starfish just relaxing. I have never seen one that color before.

I still feel bad about about him/her. He was hiding and all I could see were his legs (tenticles?) but I snapped a picture anyway. My flash was on. I think it spooked him because he moved. Then I look to my left where there is a sign that says this "Please do not use flash photograhy it upsets me." Ummm oops.

Timmy getting to explore and another darling starfish.

........There is the rescue turtle. I loved her. She was injured by a boat in Georgia. Her shell was damaged and she could not swim very well. So she was fed ex'd (with her trainer) to Az where she has been on the mend every since. She is doing good and they have mended her shell enough that she can swim!

It was such a fun day. One of the last outings we had before Tim left. I miss him so much. I never realized how much I really love being a wife until he left. The cooking, the picking up after him and the bugging him to do things for me (because that define the word wife...I kid...I kid). Which honestly required little bugging as Tim was always helping around the house because he pretty much rocks at being a husband. It's hard right now but I suppose there is some lesson to be learned. Stubborn me it seems the only way I learn is through hard lessons.

Love and Blessings,

Jess

Thankful Times

The very left is a picture of my family-in law. Great people and friends. This is my friend Scott and his dog Willoughby.

The photo with the little girl is my oldest brother Justin and my niece Emerson....his wife is one of my best friends...sadly she hides from the camera so I could not get a picture on here. The two young cuties are Craig and Stephanie. Craig always give me such amazing advice and always tells me he is proud of me. Stephanie is the sweetest person you will ever meet and always make you feel like she really is happy to see you.

These two studs are Gabi and Katie-my besties from another mother. I love these two beauties and miss hanging out with them so much!!!

So I've been wallowing and let's be honest as fun as it's been I'm trying to move past that. It's been a lot of things...Tim being gone, Tim's grandpa passing away and just generally being sad. Today I got to talk with a friend who helped me see things more clearly and I've decided for the rest of the month to post things I am thankful for on my facebook as a reminder of how blessed I truly am. I make no promises that I won't wallow again in the foreseeable future....but right now I'm good.

Today I am thankful for friends. Though they are spread out across the US I am thankful that they are only a phone call or IM away.

Love and Blessings to all,

Jess

These are Scotts kids and this picture just makes me happy.

11 Question

1. Write eleven random things about yourself.

2. Answer the eleven questions given.

3. Write eleven new questions.

4. Tag someone else.

11 Random Things:

1. I had braces for almost 3 years and still have weird teeth.

2. I have a serious fear of crickets.

3. Next to Tim my grandmother knows me best and next to Tim she is my favorite person in the world.

4. I am super sad that Tim is leaving for 4 months. ( A lot sadder than I act.)

5. I slept with a panda bear named Mr. Penguin until Tim and I got married.

6. I am the middle child. I am number 3.

7. People back in KY think that I am loud and outgoing and people here in AZ think that I am quiet and shy. The truth is I am loud and outgoing around people that I have known for a really long time. I am quiet when around new, strange, difficult or large groups of people. I am not shy-I just have nothing to say. :)

8. As evidence from number 7 I am not a people person-although I wish I was.

9. I love games like this.

10. I adore my dogs and may in fact treat them as my babies.

11. I love having my hair played with.

1. What is your dream vacation? Feel free to be specific. I am not sure why but I have always wanted to go to Ireland. My grandmother's family is from Ireland so maybe my desire to go stems from some ancesteral call. I hear it's beautiful, green and without snakes. My kind of place.

2. Where is the best place you've ever gone out to eat, and what did you get? This rinky dink looking place called Salsa has amazing Mexican food. Each time I am only brave enough to get the steak quesadilia, but each time it's just as awesome.

3. What would you do if you had the whole day to yourself (no kids, no work, no
obligations)? I would be very lonely!! I would love to spend the day with Tim doing whatever, hanging out, television, games, cleaning, talking, reading. Boring I know, but I would rather be doing anything as long as I am with Tim than something amazing without him.

4. What is your favorite book and/or movie? Fav book right now is The Hunger Games. But my favorite book of all time hands down Little Women or Anne of Green Gables. Favorite movie?? Sherlock Holmes A Game or Shadows and the Harry Potter Trilagy.

5. If you could pick any sport to be a professional in what would it be? I used to swim in middle school and loved it. I wish that I still did that.

6. What did you have for breakfast this morning? I do not eat breakfast. I ate pasta at noon.

7. Do you prefer staying up late or getting up early, why? I love being up late and sleeping in. I don't know the world is quiter and calmer at night. Plus night time is the time that Tim and I get to hang out. It's always been a pleasant time rather than the hustle and bustle of the morning.

8. When you were a kid what did you want to be when you grew up? Depends on the age. For most of my elementary school years I wanted to work with dolphins and that translated to being a marine biologist. Up until my senior year of high school I wanted to teach high school history. I am going to school for social work, but I would give anything to be a stay at home mom.

9. Favorite dessert? I enjoy gummy bears or pumpkin pie.

10. Favorite holiday, and why? My anniversary. I love being married-I love celebrating marriage.

11. Favorite thing to watch on tv? FRIENDS!!!!! Or The Office.\

Feel free to play or not play.

1. What is your biggest fear?

2. What is the best day of your life?

3. Favorite birthday? Why?

4. Dog, Cat, or Skunk? Why?

5. If you could live anywhere where would it be and why?

6. Favorite season?
7. Favorite person?

8. If you could have dinner with 3 people who would they be and why?

9. Favorite age and why?

10. Do you like travel and where is the coolest place you have been?

11. What book/movie character is most like you?

Kentucky Vacation

The picture on the left is Tim skipping rocks and the one underneath is Tim holding a fossil he found.

So the picture on the far left is me loving the lake and then Tim looking all handsome. That is my friend Gabi looking at our friend Katie's beautiful baby.

We finally got to go home!!!! Last month Tim and I took a quick trip back to Kentucky and it was so much fun!!! Robert was sweet enough to take us the airport early Saturday morning. We landed in Nashville about 3:30 and then rented a car and drove to Kentucky. It was a 2 and half hour drive but it was not bad since we switched up on driving and it really is just beautiful country. We spent the next couple of days spending time with my grandmother (who adores Timmy), seeing my mother and spending Tim with my friends and people I haven't seen in a while. How I miss my friends!!!! It was so pretty there. I loved the weather and I loved the trip. We said our final goodbye's on Wednesday and went back to Nashville. Eddie was kind enough to pick us up at 9:30 that night and took us to Will and Anja's house. Those to were awesome enough to watch our little dogs for the five days we were gone. Boy was I happy to see them and they were so happy to see us and come home. I am grateful for the time spent with my family and am grateful to be home.

Tim leaves in 3 weeks and I am quite sad about it.

Love and Blessings,

Tim and Jess

Febuary Love

I love Febuary! I always have, even the times where I did not have a significant other. To me Valentine's Day is not just a day for those with someone, but a time to celebrate love in all its varied forms.
I have been thinking a lot lately about trying to be more grateful something I learned from my friend Shara's blog. So this month I am thankful for the following:


Tim
Chauncey and Dwight
Rain (we have had a little)
Employment
Vacations with the husband back home (hurry up Feb 25!!!!)
Family
Cold Weather
Valentine’s Day
Friends (girls night out)
Sister-in-laws who make fabulous dinners
Cuddling
An affordable apartment (not in the ghetto)
A car that runs
Books
My health
Movie night with Tim
Soda ( I know it’s bad for me…lots of
calories..blah..blah..blah)
Chocolate
Life and everything that comes with it.

I can honestly say that I am pretty happy. This coming weekend we are going to Kentucky and I could not be more excited!!! It has been almost a YEAR since I have seen my grandma and friends. Gah!!! I cannot wait. Well I am off to be with the husband.

Love and Blessings to all,
Jess

My 23 birthday

It's official I love my odd numbered birthdays-they are so much better than the even ones!!! I had a wonderful birthday eve celebration on Saturday the 14. Tim and I used a gift card to go to an awesome restaurant and then we went and fed the ducks at the park. After that we came home and finished up our Harry Potter movie marathon and had ice cream. The day was perfect.