He's Home at Last!

5 months...
151 days...
3,624 hours...
217, 440 minutes...
13,046, 400 seconds...

Then time stood still when I saw Bill for the first time after all those months, days, hours, minutes, and seconds! I am so happy he is back home with me! It's always hard to believe how slow some of the days feel while he's overseas, but to wait (im)patiently as they make their way home is worth every single slow night and day. Through this deployment, I've learned how strong of a woman I can be. Last time I lived with my family for the year Bill was deployed, so I had company and lived in a basement. This time, I was in Florida with family in Tennessee and Bill's family in Arizona, so I only friends to rely on day to day to help pass the time. I successfully took care of the inside and outside of our house, took care of Jack, and cooked countless single-serve meals! I am looking forward to having Bill around again, so I have someone else to cook for every evening! It's the little things in life...

I want to say thanks to the many thoughts and prayers from all our friends and family through the last 5 months. We are loved by so many!

I decorated our house with American flags and a Welcome Home! banner! I thought I did a good job :)

We were waiting patiently after discovering that his last flight from Atlanta was delayed about 40 minutes... so we decided to take some pictures to pass the time.

And then all of a sudden (cause I had just checked the flight tracker and it said they were in flight) there he was!!! I handed my camera off quickly and loved the hug and kiss!

So happy!!!

Home at last!!

Jack sure was happy to see Bill! I was able to take a video of him seeing Bill for the first time, and it was so sweet to see the pure happiness and love a dog has for his owner! We see so many of these videos, but they truly are some of the sweetest moments.

Happy 3rd Anniversary!

Today is our 3rd Anniversary!! It's hard to believe how fast those three years have already gone by! Tonight I looked back at our wedding video, and it feels like it was just yesterday! I love all the emotions that the days brings, even now! This is a different anniversary because Bill is still in Afghanistan. He was unable to make it back in time to celebrate today, but he will be home soon. We have been through so many adventures as Mr. and Mrs. Right after our wedding, Bill started training for his first deployment- this took us to Albuquerque, him to New Jersey, and then Destin for training. After he deployed, I moved back to TN. We had R and R in Hawaii, and when he came home, we were in Cheyenne. That summer we bought our house in Florida and finally enjoyed living as a married couple! In between all of that we have been working and having fun traveling! So, here's to our next year of marriage! I can't wait to see what it is going to bring us!

2012 | A Year in Review

Top 12 of 2012 (in no particular order)

1. Bill and I celebrated our first New Year's as husband and wife- yes, two years after we had been married.
2. Enjoyed the full benefits of living in Florida (beach, weather, and lots of visitors!)
3. I finished my very first year of teaching and couldn't believe how fast it went by! Also, started my second year at the same school and am truly loving the profession!
4. Enjoyed making new friends and seeing old friends- both near and far away!
5. I visited Seattle for the first time and enjoyed meeting our friends' little boy!
6. We experienced our first Billy Bowlegs Pirate Festival.... truly an interesting experience!
7. Found out Bill would be deploying to Afghanistan for a 4-6 month deployment at the end of August and have anxiously been awaiting his return, now THIS YEAR!
8. Took a few trips to Tennessee, Minneapolis, Seattle, and Tennessee again! We are looking forward to 2013 trips to Phoenix, California, and an unknown vacation spot!
9. Bill and I celebrated our 2nd year of marriage, where does the time go!?
10. Bought a new Toyota PriusV, the first car we have bought together- a car that will we will grow into in the new few years!
11. I celebrated my 27th birthday, while Bill celebrated his 30th birthday!
12. Loved every minute with our dog, Jack, who never fails to make us laugh!

2012 was a fast year, but we enjoyed every minute of it! We have lots to look forward to in the coming year, and we can't wait to experience our 3rd year of marriage!

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UT vs Kentucky = WIN!!

The Saturday after Thanksgiving is always the Tennessee vs. Kentucky game! I was so excited to head to TN for the holiday and get to go to the game in Knoxville! I hadn't been to a game since 2010 when Bill was in Iraq, so I was so excited to get back into Neyland stadium. Since we haven't had a great season, the stadium wasn't nearly full, but the atmosphere is just so much fun!

The top 10 fun things to do while at a UT Football game:

 1. Taking Bill to Neyland Stadium for the 1st time (sorta)

 2. Walking down towards the newly renovated stadium!

 3. Standing on the checkerboard!!

 4. Visiting General Neyland at the base of the stadium!

 5. Cheering for the Vols as they are running out of the T!

 6. Spending the day cheering with family! 

 7. Knowing that boys will always be boys :)

 8. Keeping warm under a blanket that is older than me with a mean Volunteer on it!

 8. Posing with one of the biggest stadiums in the background!

10. and finally... singing Rocky Top at the top of your lungs!! 

Thanksgiving Break!

This year I was lucky to have the entire week of Thanksgiving off of school! So in regular fashion, since Bill isn't in the US, I headed to my parent's house in Knoxville!! I always love a reason to go to TN and stay at home! My parent's house hasn't changed much since I "moved" out and then back, and then out again... haha! except for a few things here and there! I love the feeling of walking in the house you grew up in, it's just a nice comforting feeling! So I went to Knoxville with no plans other than to see family and friends! And that's exactly what I did!

On Thanksgiving Day, we headed to Shelbyville, TN, where my parents met and where most of my mom's side of the family still lives. It had been a year since I'd been to middle TN to see my family there! I couldn't believe how long it had been, so I really enjoyed seeing all my cousins, aunts and uncles, and grandmom!

I also really enjoyed EATING! We had a 27 lb turkey, dressing, sweet potatoes, brussel sprouts, cranberries, corn, green beans, and a few other food items! On top of that we had a chocolate pie and a pumpkin pie, both of which I enjoyed a slice of! :)

Overall, Thanksgiving was a time that I reflected on all that I am thankful for! I am thankful I have such a loving husband, family, and friends, a successful job, a wonderful house, a dog who thinks I'm the entire world, and amazing people who believe in me.

Enjoy the pictures from the week!

Jack being... Jack!

It's just such a hard life haha He really just wanted me to get the camera out of his face so he could sleep! What a mess! Enjoy!