Rumors, Rumors, Rumors!!!

I never thought that I would love rumors. Usually they are mean and hurtful, but these I like. What are they about you are wondering?! Well, the rumors have begun for Travis's homecoming date!! I know they are just rumors. Trust me, I am staying prepared for them to completely change. After all that would be the Marine Corps. But rumors mean that the time is getting closer. The dates that are being thrown around are even better than we originally thought. And this is what is really exciting. I just can't wait for Travis to come home. Life just isn't the same with out him here. And his homecoming promises to be absolutely wonderful. So I am keeping my fingers crossed that these rumors have some sort of truth to them.

I am so ready for 2009!!!!

75 degree December

Yes, you read the heading right! It is a nice comfortable 75 degrees here in Tennessee. Can you believe it. It is the end of December and it feels like it should be April. I know that it doesn't get to terribly cold here on the south, but still it is usually a little cold. I usually have to wear a coat this time of year. But not today, I am more than comfortable in my short sleeves. And of course it the windows are all open. That part I do like. Helps ALOT with the energy bill. I wish I had gotten pictures of how bright and sunny it is today. Gorgeous!

I forgot....

..... yesterday, Christmas Eve, marked Travis having been gone for 5 months. I haven't talked to him in over 2 weeks. I did get an email from him wishing us all a Merry Christmas. So at least we know he is ok. But still keep him in your parents as hopefully this deployments end is with in reach!

Christmas 2008

Well, what a last 2 days it has been! Christmas this year was much different then in years past. The obvious differences were that there was no Travis, Brandi, Kyle, or Zach. I have to admit it was alot harder than I thought it was going to be. But we still managed to have some good times as well.

Christmas Eve started out with my brother (who spent the night here for 2 nights) and I getting up and packing up mine and Dewy's stuff so that we could go to my parents house and spend the night. We got there pretty early in the day and hung out till it was time to go to my grandparents house to celebrate with them. We had a wonderful dinner followed by a wonderful service at the church's annual Christmas Eve service. I always love going to it. We all went back to the house and opened presents. Once we were all done opening them, some one had the great idea to play Aggravation! This game lasted for over 2 hours!!! And even then it only ended because we all quit! But it was a fun night. But me, Kyle, dad, and mom all went back to there house to go to bed.

This morning started with my brother coming and waking me up at 5 AM! It is tradition to get up and open all the presents that "Santa" left us. Which was even different this year. I got lots of wonderful presents. My parents got me and Travis our very own GPS. It is going to be great for our trip to Disney next year. After we were done, at 7:30. Me and Dewy went and took a nap. We got up at around 10 or so, and packed up and came home. We had unloaded all our stuff from the car and I got ready to go to my Granny's house to celebrate. I went to there house and had a good time visiting and opening presents. I got great presents there to.

Now I am home and Dewy is sleeping on the couch. I have put away most of the presents and are getting ready to hang a couple of things.

This Christmas all in all was a good Christmas. But it was just not the same with out the rest of the family. And it is especially weird to look and see Travis's presents still by the tree. I miss him so much, and can't wait for him to come home and get to open all his presents. And I can't wait to see Brandi, Kyle, and Zach next month!!! I miss them all so much to.

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas!!

Open to the Public

Ok, so as you can tell I have official made my blog public again. I don't know if this is the best idea I have ever had or the worse. But I guess we will see. I originally did it to protect me and Travis from his parents and their ever snooping noses, but I think we are past that now. If not I will put it back on private and you all with of course be invited to read and share with us. So just pray that this doesn't come back and bite me in the butt. Because trust me you will all know about it if it does. But all in all I feel good about it. So just keep us in your prayers as we wait and see.

Merry Christmas!!!

A Smiling Face

Just thought you all would like to see the latest picture of Travis. Know you all can see that is doing well. If you look close you can see his pictures and the other stuff that we have all sent him. Keep praying for him and the rest of Delta Company. They are almost ready to come home, but they have more to do before they can come home.

Toys for Tots

The last 2 Wednesday's I have helped with the annual Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots. It was so much fun. The first Wednesday we did nothing but take people's applications so that they could get toys. It isn't hard to qualify for the toys, all you have to do is bring the appropriate paper work. Which come to think of it even if you didn't you still got toys! That is what is so great about this program. As long as you aren't driving up in a Lexus or something like that you will get toys! That day we started at 7 am and didn't end until about 7 pm. We took over 2000 applications. And each application usually had more than one child on it. That is a lot of children.

Today was distribution day! Today all the families got to come and pick up all their toys. You would expect this to be a really good day. To be able to help some one give their child a good Christmas. And for the most part it was. There were just a few things that could have gone better. One lady was mad because I couldn't find her application she got all mad and was hitting her husband. He kept telling her to stop so I kind of wondered if we were going to have to call the cops. But luckily one of the Marines that was there and in charge got her to calm down and realize that it wasn't that big of a deal she was still going to get toys.

Then not even an hour later. The ware house we are in in packed with people. When all of the sudden an older lady falls and starts seizing. I was the first one to get to her and know what to do. So needless to say we had to call the paramedics and send her to the hospital. While I was taking care of her, the Marines cleared the building. But then it decided to start pouring, and I do mean pouring, on the hundred or so people having to stand outside. But finally the paramedics got her off to the hospital, and everyone could come back in.

Well, this all happened early in the morning so the rest of the day went by with out any more big problems. Until the last 10 minutes! I am exhausted and my friend Whitney who is 33 weeks pregnant is exhausted, we are ready to go home. Then this guy walks in. He asks if he can sign up to get some toys. I asked if he had an application. He told me no, so I told him like I had told everyone else that day who didn't have an application, that we couldn't give him toys. Well he got mad, really mad. And he wasn't taking NO for an answer. At this point I am getting a little nervous. Because this guys is getting madder with every time I say no. But that is all I can say. And of course all the Marines are in the back cleaning up so it is just me and the pregnant lady. So she asks me if I want her to go get some one. Of course I said yes. So the guy in charge comes out, and tells the guy no, just like I did. And he turned around a left. Can you believe it! I am not intimidating. I have to admit I was kind of offended. I want to be that intimidating. Oh well.

As you can tell it was an interesting 2 days. But I had so much fun. And wouldn't have changed it for the world. It was nice to help people this Christmas.

The light at the end of the tunnel!

I think I am beginning to see it!

The light at the end of the tunnel, that I have been looking for for the last 8 months. The light that says this deployment is over. Yes, my optimism has settled in, and even might be taking over! It has been a rough year for us, but I am finally seeing the end.

It is still a ways away when you really think about it. There is so much to do to get ready. The holiday's have been rough as well, but they are almost over as well. WOW! I sound like such a scrooge when I say that, but I just can't help it. My family has been absolutely amazing through this entire thing, and I appreciate it more than they will ever know. But having my husband home once again will be the best thing in the world.

I am sure most of you are wondering what brought all of this on. I am not actually sure myself. I just know that in the last few days I have come to realize that there are things that I am going to have to start doing soon to prepare for him coming home. I know that you are probably thinking "what is there that she could possibly do over 2 months in advance"! Well, you would be surprised! But I can't tell you it is a surprise.

I am just so excited to be able to think that it is almost all over! But I my worrisome side is also showing it's ugly side. This last year it has been hard. Every time things seem to be going good, something bad happens. So I have to admit that even with this new found joy, I am just waiting for that bad something to happen. But I guess I am prepared for it, which will hopefully help! But I am learning my own strength to manage to get through the bad so I can handle anything! (I hope!).

MERRY CHRISTMAS

Is it only me?

I was sitting here looking at every one's blog when I realized that I am really the only one who hasn't posted anything about Christmas. No pretty background or countdown. Which we all know is my big thing. I love counting down to things that are a big deal. But I honestly don't know what has gotten to me this year.

Even though my blog is not decorated, I have decorated the house! I actually did it a couple of weeks ago. But by decorating I do mean, the tiny 2 foot tree, and the nativity scene. Oh, and the wreath on our front door that my parents bought us. I was very bummed when I got out the decorations and I saw that I really didn't have any! I guess that is what I get for being a newlywed! I made Travis promise that we would have a big tree next year, and that we would make this apartment really feel all warm. But this is probably better since I plan on leaving all the decorations up so that me and Travis can celebrate when he comes home.

Well, that is really all I have today, but I will try to post pictures of my rinky dinky tree and few other decorations that we have some other time.

P.S. Congratulations Brandi and Kyle and of course Zach!