Visiting Teaching Rocks!!

Can I just say how much I absolutely love visiting teaching!! Last night I went to two sisters in my ward. They both really intimidated me at church and at activities for some reason. When I found out that they were the ones I am supposed to go visit teach I was not too excited. They both have kids, and it just seemed like they didn't care to be friendly to me because I was some stupid young girl. I really wanted to go visiting teaching to get to know more ladies in the ward, so I just called them to set up an appointment....now after knowing them...I LOVE THEM BOTH!! Wow they are great women and it turns out I have so much in common with both of them on different levels. I relate to one, because she is kind of shy to new people, and worries about what others think of her. I am totally that way!! She was so much fun to talk to. Then the second sister I go to is shy at first too, but her husband is in the military. So I feel like naturally we have a lot to talk about. I stayed at each house for about hour. Time went by so fast, and I can honestly say how happy I was on my way home. I never really liked to go visiting teaching in my college wards, because I was always hanging out with anyway so I didn't see the need. I understand more the importance of visiting teaching now. I honestly feel like I am supposed to go see these sisters. Not only for them, but for MEEEEEE. I am so excited to go see them again next month!

January Leave

Jared's leave days for R&R were January 4th - 19th. I wasn't quite sure what time he was getting in on the 4th, so I just made sure I had the whole day off, and that the house was clean for him. It was two full days of not hearing from him, so I knew at any moment he would call from the airport telling me his flight was in. Then finally about 8:30am he calls telling me he is just getting on the plane from Dallas to Colorado Springs.... I was so excited, twitterpaited, nervous, anxious..etc (you get the point, kind of freaking out). It was so hard to imagine that after 7+ long months of not seeing my husband, that I was actually going to be able to hold him again. The picture below is of all us Army wives waiting patiently to reunite with our husbands again. This was taken only about 30 seconds before we saw all the guys coming down the hallway.

My heart just dropped when I first saw Jared. All I could do was run towards him and put my arms around his neck. We just held each other for a minute, neither of us wanting to let go. The physical feel of holding him again, was all I ever longed for doing. At that moment, I had no other worries in the world. We both couldn't stop smiling, and we couldn't wait to spend every minute together for the next 15 days. I had to mentally take note to myself, that I only had two weeks with him. I had to make sure that I didn't get too attached to the idea that I finally had him home.

Our first night out, (of course) was Texas Roadhouse! Jared got the 20 oz steak, and I only got the 8 oz. He couldn't even finish his, because of how small his stomache really was. They really don't eat that much meat over there. Either because of missions all the time, or because of the fact the food is gross. You can only eat so many MRE's in a deployment. That is why Jared is so grateful for the food everyone sends to him at his COP.

We had such a great time with all our family in Utah. Everyone was so anxious to see Jared, and I know he was really looking forward to see all his neices and nephews again. The top picture is of us on our 1 year anniversary. We were just waiting to go out to dinner with my mom and dad, and Auntie Jo and Uncle Ted. We went to Chili's in Harrisville. While we were eating dinner, my mom went and told our waitress that it was our 1 year anniversary. She then came back and surprised us with a big chocolate cake to share. She was so cute! The second and third pictures are with Aiden. We both love that kid to death. We talked with Kris before we came home, and Jared wanted to surprise Aiden. So Kristen and Nate didn't tell Aiden that Uncle Jared was coming home. You should have seen him when he saw Jared. It was so cute!! The fourth picture is of Jared and his three cousins. We had a family party on Greg's side of the family, and of course he had to go and lay across them. We miss seeing Jacey, Shawny, and Whitney! There have been a few babies born since Jared first left. Paizlee Ray is one of those cute babies. I was so excited to see her in the army outfit I gave to her a few months ago. She looks just like Royce!! It was hilarious to watch her and Jared though. There is just something about his voice that she did NOT like. She cried everytime Jared looked at her and spoke. I hope she grows out of that though haha!

Titan and Tundra LOVED having Jared home. It actually made me really mad of how well behaved they were both being. The boys immediately recognized him as the alpha leader, and they obeyed whatever command Jared gave them. It was ridiculous really. The boys traveled really well when we made the trip back to Utah. They would every so often poke their big heads up in the front by us, or out the back window. They love the view and all the fresh air.

One of our fun date nights we did was go to the Nuggets-Jazz basketball game. We found out the tickets were really cheap at $7 a person. The seats were really high up, but we never really care about that. Unfortunately, the Nuggets lost to the Jazz. It was kind of a boring game, but it is just about the experience of going. 

Since Jared was home, I had him doing all sorts of honey do's for me. I really don't mind keeping the house up, doing repairs, taking care of the vehicles, etc...but there are some things that I just can't lift myself. We ended up moving our computer downstairs in the living room. I hate having to go upstairs every time I want to get on the computer. I like having it in an open area. Then we bought another bookshelf. Jared did a great job putting it together for me.

It was finally time for me to say goodbye for the last time...ever. We are now good at saying goodbye. You have to say it quick without thinking about it. The longer we drag goodbye out the more I cry.  For me, the goodbye process has been easier every time we have to do it. I am so grateful for the amazing two weeks I had with Jared. I feel like I blinked and the days were over. I felt like we just picked up where we last left off last May. Now we only have 3-4 more months to go until we get to see each other again. I hope time really flies by. I can't wait until the FINAL homecoming of 1-67!

I love you babe!!

Deployment Summary 2012

Merry Christmas from Afghanistan!

Months, weeks, now DAYS!

I can't even believe that after 7 months of Jared being away, we finally get to be together in less than a week. Is this week dragging on? YES! I knew that it would, but I feel as if the days are just slowly creaping by. I still have a long to-do list to finish before he comes home next Monday. I need to finish painting the stairs, grocery shopping, deep clean the house, clean out the car, and then get my hair cut and colored.

Since I knew that Jared was coming home shortly after Christmas, I decided to just stay in Colorado Springs for the holidays. Like I have said before, "Holidays apart are not fun, but they are manageable". I felt really lonely for Christmas this year, even though I spent it with other Army wives and co-workers. There is something to say about how much your husband and family really means. I have really taken for granted how much my family means to me. It didn't help the fact that they are all together right now! I love both sides of our family!!

Dear Soldier

Ok I died laughing when I first read this. Shelley, is one of the army wives I hang out with, and her son's class was writing thank you letters to deployed soldiers for Veteran's Day. This is a letter that one of the boys wrote...

"Dear soldier, or marine, or something? Thank you to protect our country. This note is from Soaring Eagles Elementary, but if you guys don't fight the germans our country will be destroyed by now. here's a picture of my family and I go Call of duty modern wherefare 3!!!!!"

Sincerly,

Your Name

...apparently our soldiers are fighting the Germans...