Lets hold on to what we got...

As part of our Christmas present, my parents bought theater tickets for my sister, brother, his girlfriend, and I. Today we headed into the city and saw "Jersey Boys", a story about the Four Seasons.

I enjoyed it so much. I never realized how many fun hits they released such as "Walk Like a Man", "Big Girls Don't Cry", "Let's Hold On to What We Got", and so many more.

While talking about plays, I began listing the ones I have seen and noticed I have been to quite a few such as Hairspray, Tony & Tina's Wedding, Phantom of the Opera, Wicked, Lion King...I never thought I would consider myself a theater person, but I actually LOVE going to see Broadway shows. Hopefully I can catch a few more this year.

Marley & Me

So as Dakota curled up in my lap on the couch as she does every night, I finished the final pages of Marley & Me, of course with tears in my eyes.

It was an easy read and call me crazy, I pictured the characters in this story looking somewhat like Owen Wilson and Jennifer Anniston. Now, I can finally go see the movie. I loved the book and felt he truly wrote down what every dog owner feels. Someone I know read the book and did not like it. I could not help but tie it to the fact she never owned a dog.

I find it funny before I decided to even finish the book on this Saturday night, I wanted to write about Dakota and Daisy due to a question my brother brought up on Christmas Eve.

"If you HAD to give up one of them, which one would you give up?". I finally understood my mom, when faced with a difficult decision, would say, "It's like picking a favorite child".

I told him without hesitation, neither one. And he replied with exaggeration on the word, "HAD" and again, I said no thanks.

I love how Dakota curls up with me every night no matter where I lay or her fierce bark when she feels our environment might be threatened. I love how Daisy can honestly lick your hand, face, leg, whatever, for hours straight or how she sleeps on her back with all four paws in the air. Is that comfortable?

Sure, Dakota sometimes annoys me with how much she wants to cuddle where she bats my hand when I try to type or read and Daisy really does live in her own world from time to time, but the good definitely out weighs the bad. And not to mention, they might be two of the biggest reasons I thrive during deployment.

Attempting to keep up with my book club idea, I found a list of questions online. Three really intrigued me to think and at last, type away....

Is the story of "life and love" primarily between John and his dog, or was Marley just a sidekick in a story about John and his family? Were you surprised by how much non-dog related content the book contained? Did you enjoy the parts about John's family or did you wish he would just get on to another dog story?

I really felt if Grogan slipped away from the Marley theme, even for one chapter, the story would be lost. Do not get me wrong, I know the man loved his family more than anything, but he wanted to portray his love for the "World's Worst Dog".

Is this only a book for pet lovers or would people without pets like it too?

This question stumps me. Any non-dogowner out there who absolutely loved this book? I guess those I spoke with, who do not own a dog, really did not get the book hype.

Why do you think Marley & Me topped the bestsellers list after it was released?

Oh, how easy! John Grogan only reinforces crazy dog owners, like myself, really do exist :)



Any thoughts?

Two Weeks Down!

I came running down the stairs this morning to find my parents eating breakfast and like a little kid, I said, "Guess what, guess what?". They of course replied with a confused, "What?". I then said with great enthusiasm, "Only 50 more weeks to go! I made it 2 weeks already!". They shook their heads at me and smiled.

Hey, the glass is always half-full, right?

This past week:

• Still eagerly reading Marley & Me and hope to be done by the end of the weekend
• Started eliptical training this week, which will turn into running very soon
• Attended the church that I grew up with and went to school at for 8 years while home
• CHOPPED 7 inches off my hair!
• Care package safely arrived to him with cookies still tasting delicous
• Survived Christmas :)

I enjoyed a wonderful Christmas with both my family and his family and received amazing gifts.

In the past 2 weeks, I have also found comfort in my daily emails to him. I label the subject of all of my emails with the number of days until he returns. Today will read 351. I keep an index card in my purse at all times and write down my daily happenings as they occur, otherwise I am afraid I will forget something at the end of the night when I finally sit down to type.

Before he deployed, I created a contact list through my email of his parents, siblings, grandparents, friends, aunts, uncles, old football coaches, classmates, etc. I sent 2 emails already updating everyone on his address and overall process and will continue to do so in the next 12 months. The responses I received warm my heart. His family and friends have completely rallied behind me for his deployment.

Lately I found support in the most unusual places and that is not a bad thing and only reinforces how blessed I truly am with the people in my life.

Tradition

I am half way through our first Christmas apart in 9 years...

Tonight I definitely missed the butterflies from him pulling into my driveway every year and trying to rush me out the door to make our annual Chinese dinner with his grandparents and parents. We always dressed up so nicely and I couldn't wait for him to see me all dressed up and I couldn't wait to see him!

No Chinese dinner this year. He is gone and his grandfather is sick.

I missed sitting next to him on the couch as we plowed through our gifts from my parents. I miss him analayzing every one of my gifts and attempting to put it together, before he even finishes unwrapping all of his.

This year, my little brother's first girlfriend joined us.

Christmas morning at his house has been my ultimate favorite where we spend hours opening gifts and laughing at anything and everything.

This year because both of his siblings have serious relationships and must attempt the daunting task of splitting time, everyone must be on the road early tomorrow morning, we opened gifts tonight.

Before all of the festivities, I came close to throwing myself a pity party, before I realized some traditions fade, but I should enjoy the ones that stay.

My mom, sister, and I went for our annual mani and pedi on Christmas Eve and just gossiped about all the good stuff happening in our and everyone elses lives.

I made it half-way through my first Christmas without him in 9 years because of my crazy family, his sweet, funny family, and my beautiful puppies.

I know some traditions will go away, but as cliche as it may sound, the love in my family room and his living room tonight will never, ever fade.

Face pounce

Oh Daisy Mae, how you love to pounce faces and provide an endless supply of kisses. Now granted, I am use to this every morning. Around 8am, I cover my entire face because I know what is about to happen. No reason in particular, just to give some loving.

Tonight, I walked into my parents room to say good-night after a 6 hour drive back home and sure enough Daisy came flying through the door, onto the bed and headed straight for my dad.

He laughed and laughed as she tried to dig her way underneath the covers to his face. It really made my heart smile.

And of course Grandma let them take a few things from their stockings early. So my girls enjoyed themselves tonight.

I am not enjoying the concept of 10 degrees, solid ice, and of course no fenced in backyard. We are definitely heading over to his parent's house tomorrow with their beautiful, huge backyard surrounded by white fencing.

Week One

As I pulled the garbage can to the curb this morning, I suddenly remembered doing it the day he left, exactly a week ago. And in my glass half full moment, time kind of flew by...

Even though I am only 7 days into my goal list, I feel I did accomplish a few things:

• Care package full of a few TV shows on DVDs, Christmas cookies from Megan's' wonderful cookie exchange party tonight, card, gum, power bars, and his favorite hat, is ready to be sent out tomorrow morning, December 20th.
• I am really enjoying "Marley & Me" and might have found a book club here in Clarksville!
• His mom and sister joined me at Church on Sunday and I attended their Wednesday' Advent Service. The pastor's wife actually introduced herself and we chatted for a good 20 minutes.

Another goal I did not mention, but I intend to throw myself into in the next year, is stopping Daisy from jumping on people when they walk into the door...so annoying! I blame this bad habit solely on him.

My week consisted of a few lunches with some pretty amazing women. God has truly blessed me with a wonderful support system here where I am actually excited to hang out and get to know them bettter in the next 12 months.

Baking & Lyrics

Something about baking cookies to a fresh batch of new music you uploaded on your I-pod...

I download Kenny Chesney's "The Woman With You". I finally listend closely to the words and I love, love, love the lyrics.

She said the girl I was with the business degree probally wouldn't recognize me.
I was going around the bank.
I was going to run them out.
Now all I want to run is a bubble bath.
Back then you know I had this plan.
Before all of this reality set in.
Here comes life boy ready or not.
Hey I wanted it all and thats what I got.

Just when it feels like I can't make it through.
She said it sure is nice to just be the woman with you