9 weeks down, 1 to go!

The last time I blogged was just a few weeks after Larry left and I really didn't know how I was going to make it through it. However, the time really has flown by quickly...it does seem like forever since I have seen him but in less than 1 week I will be in his arms.

Everyone who knows that he left always asks how he is doing or if they don't know they want to know why in the world he isn't with me...I usually smile and say "he turned 40 years old and decided to join the Army Reserves." Thanks to everyone who has been so supportive to me, the kids and Larry! It means alot to know you all care.

In the beginning of all this I was not for it. I was defiantly in shock, hurt, scared and a little mad. Why would he want to leave us? I thought wow, almost 4 years together and he already wants to leave us...but now I understand, it had nothing to do with us at all. There was something pulling him there, he needed to find himself and do something for himself to have the since of pride that he had succeeded in something...I fully understand since I feel the same myself at times that I have not accomplished anything important in my life except for being a mom (and sometimes I dont feel too accomplished in that one!) Through this I have realized too that he loves us very deeply...there has not been a day go by that he has not written me a letter and he makes sure I know how he feels about me, the kids and our family in everyone of them.

Im really in awe of how great he is doing in boot camp. He has been a squad leader, a platoon guide and now a squad leader again. He shot expert in the shooting drills and will earn special recognition at his graduation for that. He also has excelled in the physical training side also, running 2 miles in 13 min & 18 sec. He has had a Sargent Major (or whatever they are called) come up to him and shake his hand and tell him how much he admired him for joining at his age and doing so well. I know this has been alot harder than he thought it would be, but he hasn't let it get him down...no injuries and sometimes out lasting the younger men. The letter I got today (from last Saturday) said he was going on his last training 5 day camp in the woods and when they were done he would be a "Soldier". I can only imaging the sense of pride he is feeling for accomplishing this feat...I know Im about to burst with pride already, just wait til I see him! It will be impossible to fight back the tears of joy and pride for him!

He will have 6 more weeks after graduation in Texas for AIT, which will be training him for his specialty. By the first or second week of October he should be home with us!

Keep us all in your prayers as we travel up to Kentucky next Wednesday to see him and that we all have safe travel home. Im flying for my first time ever and a little terrified but I would run through a burning building, fly around the world and swim through alligators to see my husband so Im gonna make it!

Here is a picture of my Soldier! I will blog again when we return with pics from our trip!

This Is Harder Than I Thought!

I guess you can never really prepare yourself for things that come your way...In a way I feel so guilty for missing my husband so much. I keep thinking to myself, we are still married, he is still alive and we will be together again in 14 more weeks...but this is hard...I cant even imagine if anything happened to him.

Its been 2 weeks and at first it was ok...yes I missed him and jumped every time the phone rang but it was just like he was just gone for a few days and nothing more...plus I was extremely busy with pictures, baseball practice and tournaments, and Rhonda & I took the kids to Cocoa for a few days to use our timeshare...then after the tournament and the kids went to their dads for a week...I have been here all by myself this week! Still very busy but very lonely...I miss him more now and have cried more in the last 2 days than I did in the beginning...I know it will get easier as time goes on but Im not enjoying this at all.

I learned along time ago not to take anyone for granted from personal experiences so I never took Larry for granted or so I thought...until now he is gone and I have to do everything here by myself. Mowing and weed eating 2 yards (we help our neighbor with her yard), taking out the garbage, fixing things that need to be fixed, feeding all 16 of our animals and going to bed by yourself and it all of a sudden feels different and I cant get comfortable...needless to say I haven't slept much...but I'm sure I will finally just give out and will pass out (not literally).

I have talked to him twice for 2 minutes each... he sounds good and has wondered himself what he has gotten himself into, but he is falling into place real well. He has been training since January here at home so when he took his PT test he ran the mile in 7.39 minutes and maxed out on all the sit-ups, pull-ups and push-ups! I am so proud of him and I cant wait to see him in August march across that field on his graduation day to have accomplished something he wanted very badly. He has written almost everyday so I do look forward to checking my mail (no not email it comes good old snail mail!) and I finally got his mailing address yesterday so today I sent out all the letters I have been writing him for the past 2 weeks.

I also miss our talks...we talked about everything...he truly is my best friend. I think it would be easier if I could at least talk to him about my day and how the kids are or how he is doing, but instead I have to wait for a 2 minute phone call when they tell him he can call. I have alot going on here and some decisions to make in the next few months. I really wish I could talk to him about them to have his opinion. I have written them in the letters but its not the same.

The mind is a very powerful thing and sometimes it can get the best of you, makes you think about what could happen. I have alot of fears of when he comes home if he will be the same Larry and will he still love us like he did...I know, I know that is just crazy talk...but sometimes things just happen and you cant control them...I know first hand on that one and I cant even imagine my life without him...

I guess Im just venting or feeling sorry for myself, tomorrow is a new day and hopefully I will be over it or at least not crying about it...Please keep our family in your prayers...

Short & Sweet (Kinda)

Since it has been a while since I posted a blog. I thought I would give a quick update. I really would like to blog more often but it seems to be hard for me to do these days.

Chey is finally better. We figured out the problem and have it all flushed out so to speak! We got through the FCAT week and she has went to school 2 weeks straight without missing a day! She still cries most mornings but we are working through it. I guess I spoke too soon about her doing so well with the changing schools thing...

Brant is in full swing at baseball. I will have to post some pics soon of that. The team is coming together and they all play so well together. He got sick again this week, with the flu this time. He is better today and went back to school. Lets see we have been to the doctors office a total of 7 times in the last month between Chey & Brant.

We got 2 little Lion head Rabbits. They are so cute and fuzzy (will post pics another time of those adorable little baby bunnies). Larry & Brant planted our first ever garden (I need to take pics of that). The kids got lots of ribbons from the Southeastern Youth Fair with all their 4-h projects and 4 of them are for photography, where do that get that interest from?

I managed to get a full week at the Court House in last week, but this week I subbed at the Elementary School 3 times so I only made it there twice this week. My supervisor at the Court House is ok with me subbing since that is the agreement we made when I started working there. It gives me a good oppurtunity to see which career I would like to pursue. However I really think that I want to be a Professional Photographer when I grow up!

I subbed once for PE and I loved that. I hope they call me more to fill that spot! It has been a very eye opening experience for me to sub, but I really like it. Still been busy with my photography. Im taking lots of pics at the ball field for a special project for our team. Also, I have been asked to do a Mother Daughter Banquet in May to take pictures for everyone. Im really looking forward to that!

Larry's job is OK and hopefully the layoffs have stopped for a while. In the meantime while all this is going on he has decided to go into the Army Reserves. We are waiting for his blood work to come back to make sure he can go. If everything comes back fine he may be leaving in May for 4 months. He has to go through basic training and AIT. Then he will come back home and go once a month and 2 weeks out of the year.

I will be honest and say I was not for this in the beginning. Who wants their spouse to leave them for 4 months??? But the more we have talked and prayed I think it may be for the best for our future. He has dreams and I want him to follow them. He supports every dream I have, no matter how far fetched it may be sometimes or how short lived it is. Ill update more on this subject when I know more about what is going on.

That is about it for now...I'm off to lay in my cozy bed for some much needed R&R and catch up on my Days of Our Lives DVR!!! Have a great weekend everyone!

Taking A Minute To Blog

Busy can not even come close to how our life has been lately. Sometimes I think I should just forgo sleeping just to get things done. It seems lately we always have somewhere to go or something to do. Our days, nights and weekends have suddenly become over flowing with commitments. However with that said I don't think we would trade it for the world except to maybe have just one day to do nothing. So here is just a little update on us!

Cheyenne has still been sick, she went to school 2 days in 2 weeks. After the bronchitis she got gastritis in her stomach which caused her stomach to hurt and she couldnt eat or barely drink. We went to the doctor 4 times in the 2 weeks. She went to school today but she says her stomach still hurts. Hopefully she will be completely over it soon.

Brant came down with strep throat last Wednesday, so Thursday I took them both to the doctor. She has made a killing off my kids in the last 2 weeks! I had to enlist some help from my mom and sister Mandi to help watch them so I wouldn't have to take off all those days at work since I have only been there 3 weeks.

Work is getting easier to understand and the days go by quickly. I still have a to-do list at home a mile long but I have managed to keep the laundry done and cook dinner, maybe nothing else is getting done but when I get the kids well, all this mountain of back homework done, my taxes and getting the kids projects ready for the Southeaster Youth Fair. I will have time to clean this house!

Larry's job is still touchy and he is nearing a decision on his little adventure he wants to take. It will affect us all but I feel a little better that it will be for the best for us. I have decided to stand behind him because he stands behind any adventure I want to take on!

Speaking of adventure...My photography seems to be coming along great! I'm so excited and happy that everyone I have done pictures for love them and have referred me to their friends and family! I got a new camera 2 weeks ago...Its a Sony A350 DSLR, it takes great pics. I'm still learning the settings and doing lots of practicing but the ones Ive taken so far have been great! I have a wedding to do in April and maybe another one after that! If you know of anyone wanting photos taken please send them my way or direct them to my photography blog to check out my work. I will try to update with my latest pics soon!

One more thing, if anyone is interested in antiques! We will be having a Yard Sale at my Step grandfathers house on February 28th. There is so much stuff there and some of it is really old! So if your into antiques or just yard sales come look around, we have found lots of treasures in the attic including furniture, mirrors, old books, pictures, lighters, lamps, radios...we pretty much have anything you could want! Email me if you want directions.

Well I gotta run to tackle another to-do before I get the kids off the bus!