Crying mess...

This week has just been one of those weeks. The kind of week when everyone and everything seems to cause me to tear up and turn into a blubbery mess. But today, finally, after about oh noon, the skies opened up and halleluja my eyes are tear free. Jarrett and I drove home on Sunday and since then I've been battling homesickness. After spending an amazing week with my family, friends, and Jarrett in my favorite place in the world, SLO, coming back to Vacaville just didn't seem right. And did I forget to mention Jarrett and I brought home a friend? Yes, well Saturday for the first time in a long time I made a decision without thinking about it thoroughly over many hours or days. Jarrett and I adopted a little puppy from Woods Humane Society and we call her Olive...Olive the Other Reindeer, the name courtesy of my mom. Jarrett and I weren't too fond of the name, but after trying to call her other ones, they just didn't seem to fit and Olive just seemed right and not to mention that she looks a lot like the cartoon dog from 'Olive the Other Reindeer.'

Olive, Olive, Olive. Where to start. She's an amazing puppy...when she's not peeing on our carpet. No, I'm kidding. She's great but I just didn't realize how tough training a puppy was going to be. If it's anything like having a kid, I can say right now that I am not having kids for a very very very long time. Well, Jarrett and I realized that our apartment is just way to small to have a puppy and we've been wanting to move on base anyways, so Jarrett finally filled out the paper work to put us on the list for on base housing. I know Jarrett has reservations about living on base, but he realizes that it will be really good for me. I will feel a lot safer living on base and not so isolated. So they say the longest we will be waiting to get on base is 3 months, so please pray that the Lord will work everything out.

In other news, Jarrett was informed today that he can't travel more than 3 hours away from base incase they call him up to deploy with short notice. We are really bummed because this obviously means that we can't go home for Christmas. I was really looking forward to going back to SLO to spend the holidays at home with family and friends, but I know the Lord will make this holiday special even if it's just the two of us. First Christmas as a married couple. Cute.

Jarrett and I are getting prepped for the holidays and boy is it fun. We went to Wal Mart today and spent a little more than we should on Christmas cd's, lights, ornaments, cards, and why the heck is a Christmas tree skirt $25? Maybe I'm cheap but that just seems silly. Tomorrow we are going to go get our tree. We haven't figured out where a tree is even going to fit in our apartment but even if it means throwing our dining room table out on the balcony for a few weeks, we are getting a tree! I'll post pics of it soon! In the mean time, here are a few pics from our time at home and Olive! Enjoy!
(Lance is Amazing)
(Holiday Tradition. Heather is crazy)
(Soaking in sun in Avila) (My attempt at baking. It had to be documented.)
(Meet Olive.)
(She's cute)(She loves her Momma. Momma's starting to love her now that she's not peeing on the carpet 6 times a day.)
(Olive is festive)
(We love being married.)

Busy Week

I seriously apologize for the lack of blog updates. The past few weeks have been very busy with lots of driving to SLO, a trip to the emergency room (I'm ok!), and lots of time spent with family and good friends. Unfortunately, I can't post pictures yet because I don't have my lap top with me but I will post some as soon as I get home.

My mom drove up to Vacaville and picked me up last Saturday so that I could come home early to see my friends that were coming home from school. Jarrett wasn't able to drive home until Wednesday afternoon. In the past few days I've spent time roaming the beautiful streets of downtown SLO with my wonderful friend Heather, which I miss so much, I went to Sundae Sunday at my Bible study leader, Tracy's house and got to catch up with a lot of the girls from my Bible study who I miss more than words can say. Tuesday night, a bunch of my high school friends got together and went to Klondikes for the all you can eat pizza night. My whole day/ week/month/year was made when I got to see my dear friend Lance. I'm particularly thankful this Thanksgiving season that I got to see Lance and give him a big/gentle hug considering what he's been through in the last year. For those of you who aren't familiar with Lance and his story, Lance who is in the army, was seriously injured on September 10 in a horrible accident in Iraq that claimed the lives of 7 of his buddies and seriously injured the rest of the guys in his platoon. Lance had many severe injuries, the worst being a broken back, but is doing well and recovering in a hospital in Georgia. I look up to Lance for more reasons than I can list but mostly for his strength, courage, and unshakeable faith in the Lord.

On Wednesday, I got to relax and breath in the sweet ocean air in Avila Beach with Heather. Going to the beach with Heather is a must do every time she comes home from school but I can't say it's the most comfortable experience. Heather who goes to school in Colorado, comes home to SLO and thinks it's like 100 degrees here compared to Colorado. So because of this, she insists that we have to lay out at the beach and attempt to tan. All of my attempts to convince her that 65 degrees is not ideal laying out conditions failed, so there I was with goose bumps and my towel rapped around me tightly, my sweatshirt zipped up to the top, with a smile on my face because although it was freezing, I wouldn't give up that time spent with Heather for the world!

Thursday was Turkey day, and my first holiday with Jarrett as a married couple. We spent most of the day with Jarrett's dads side of the family. Shout out to Grandpa Ron. And then later on we went to my house and enjoyed dessert with our good friends,the Maguires. So I feel 5 pounds heavier, and I'm sitting here pondering how I managed to eat so much. Oh well enjoying massive amounts of mashed potatos, green bean casserole, and stuffing is worth every calorie and guilty feeling.

Jarrett and I are leaving for home tomorrow. I hope everyone else had a wonderful Thanksgiving! I'm truly thankful for all the wonderful people in my life, good health, my amazing families, and of course for my better half, which Jarrett is, and for the fact that I get to have him home instead of overseas, at least for now!

To everyone in SLO...

We're coming home this weekend!!!! Yay, I'm so excited I can hardly contain myself. Yesterday, I realized that Jarrett doesn't have work on Monday because of Veteran's day, so I immediately called him up and said, "you don't have work on Monday, can we pleeeeeeeaaaaassseee go home this weekend?" and of course he couldn't say no to my pleading so he agreed that we can leave Friday right after he gets off work. I'm hoping to get on the road and arrive in SLO by 7:30 because my brother, Jimmy, got pulled up again to play on the varsity football team against SLO's all time rival, Arroyo Grande! This weekend is also the annual Straight Down golf tournament, and my parents always have a big get together, so I'm excited we will be able to go to that on Sunday.

When I go home I will also be able to meet the new addition to our family, little Spock. Our good friends up the street have this very rare cat that has these ears that lay permanently flat. Apparently these cats are very expensive and rare. This cat of theres is an indoor cat and for some reason wasn't neutered. After a quick escapade outdoors one day, it came home knocked up and soon after gave birth to some kittens. A few of the kittens have normal ears, one kitten has the flat ears, and the last kitten has ears that were half up and half down which they named Spock. My family was interested in adopting Spock before Carlos ever got sick, but when he did last week we decided to pass on bringing Spock home for fear that it would stress Carlos out. Well, Carlos unfortunately passed away last week and so when my mom got home from Modesto this weekend, my dad surprised her with little Spock. My mom was referring to Spock as a he last week and then when I called this week she was referring to Spock as a her. I got a little confused and asked, "Is it a boy or a girl?" and my silly mother responds, "I'm not really sure, I have to take her to the vet to find out." Oh goodness. Well, my mom has already spoiled this little kitty with a leopard print bed and other accessories and when I call home I can always hear Spock meowing in the backround. I just can't wait to meet him...or her.

Well, whoever is in SLO this weekend and wants to get together, call me up! Jarrett and I don't really have any plans other than soaking in the goodness of SLO....mmmm can't wait!

Birthdays, hello's, and goodbye's.

Jarrett and I have had a busy past few days, but busy is good for me considering I spend my days during the week just hanging out. My birthday was on Friday and I can say that turning 20 does make me feel a little older as I am no longer a teenager. I didn't get to spend much of my birthday with Jarrett since he had to work, so I made sure I kept myself busy. I decided to drive to Sacramento to go walk around the big mall there. After almost having a heartattack like 20 times, I finally made it there safely. I'm still getting used to the busy 4 lane freeways compared to the relatively traffic free two lane freeways back home. My gift from Jarrett was a new pair of jeans so I picked out a nice pair along with a couple t-shirts and a cute pair of shoes. I can't remember the last time I went shopping so it did feel good to treat myself to a little something. For lunch I had my favorite grilled cheese and then also some french fries and a milkshake! That night, Jarrett and I along with the Wheeler family all went to BJ's for dinner which was delicious. My birthday was good, but I was a little sad that I didn't get to celebrate with my family and continue our tradition of dinner at the Madonna Inn Coffee Shop.

Early Saturday morning, Jarrett and I packed up and drove to Modesto to my aunt's house. My mom and brother Jimmy were also driving up to meet us there. I haven't seen my family since Jarrett and I got married, which is a long time for me, so I loved that I was able to see my wonderful Momma and brother. Unfortunately, a few minutes after my mom arrived, she pulled me aside and informed me that my little Carlos had passed away from a heartattack.
I then understood why my parents had only briefly talked to me on my birthday, they didn't want me to receive the news and have it ruin my birthday. My family and I are heartbroken as Carlos was such a part of our family and going home with be a little weird without the familiar yapping and scratching at my legs to pick him up.

The rest of the weekend was great. I enjoyed a nice lunch with my mom and aunt at a beautiful vineyard/ b&b. Then later on we played "Are You Smarter Than a 5th grader?" with my cousins. Let me tell you, whoever made up the questions for that game must have been going to some expensive private school because as far as I know a 1st grader shouldn't know what the less than < and greater than > symbol means. On Sunday morning, we all went through all the boxes that were moved from my Grandma's house to my aunt's after she passed away two months ago. Jarrett and I received her old dining room table as well as a cute side table and a few other things. Last night I opened the drawer to the side table and found it full with all of her playing cards, which her favorite hobby was playing bridge, and a few trinkets of my mom's from when she was little. It was a sad moment for me, but I'm so happy that I get to have a few things of hers to help make this apartment into a home.

Well, Jarrett and I are just relaxing tonight. Jarrett's getting ready for his day tomorrow by ironing his uniform and polishing his boots.
This time change is really killing us, so I just might go to bed tonight at the same time as Jarrett. Married life is great and we are both really getting used to living together and learning eachother's little habits. Jarrett's favorite quote this week is "I love being married...I do! It's just so fun!" And it's the most wonderful feeling to hear that coming from my husband and of course I agree! Well, I hope everyone else had a wonderful weekend and thank you to everyone who sent me cards and messages, I'll be getting formal thank you's out real soon!