Forest Adventure Park

Hubby and I had a little day date today - ziplining!

We headed up to the Forest Adventure Park in Onna. I know lots of people who have already done this and everyone says it's a blast! 

I made reservations for 10 on a Tuesday morning, hoping they wouldn't be busy. We found their office easy enough, signed our waivers, then followed the shuttle bus to their parking lot. The bus then took us to the actual park. We were greeted by the guides and one (who was red headed and spoke perfect English) helped us get strapped into our harnesses. He then took us to the beginning safety course. He showed us exactly how the clips work and how to properly use them, then had us go through the course once to make sure we knew what we were doing. He then sent us off on our own!

We went from one zipline to the next. Each line was over jungle and we had gorgeous views of the East China Sea. It was so much fun! We only ran into one other small group. Since there was four of them, they let us go on ahead of them.

We also crossed a net bridge

and another smaller bridge

At the end of the course, after most of the ziplines, is a small obstacle course. First thing to do is make it through the Tarzan like free fall into a net. I had heard about this and knew it was coming, so I figured I was prepared and wouldn't have any issues. Hubby did it with no problem. It took him a bit to coax me off of there. I know the look on my face screamed 'Oh, hell no! What the effing, eff, eff!'. It really is a free fall. Heights don't bother me, but the falling part does. Hubby confirmed the look on my face was absolutely hilarious. 

After that was various nets, rings, ropes, and bridges to cross to get to the final zipline. It was an absolute blast! I actually liked that we did it all ourselves. It was more fun that way than if there would have been someone on each tower hooking us up. I know that would never fly in the states, but that's half the reason why I love it here so much!

Those Sneaky Songs...Always Get Me

Isn't it funny how a melody can bring back a memory or how a specific song lyric can do so much to you?

I've been listening to old country songs on YouTube tonight. 

I've been crying almost the whole time. Mostly because my song choices are sad or sickly sweet.

I started listening to Randy Travis, because who doesn't love Look Heart, No Hands? That led me to Spirit of a Boy, Wisdom of a Man. One line in the beginning of that song has me bawling. 

She cried the day she called to say she was having his child.

I wasn't 16 though. I was 27.

Doesn't make it any easier.

Thankfully, he had the opposite reaction of what I feared. 

It took me 3 hours to stop crying and calm myself down enough to call him. I hadn't planned to tell him over the phone. I just wanted to see what he was doing later that day so I could tell him in person. He knew something was up though when I kept insisting I could tell him what I needed to later. He finally asked if I was pregnant. Birds started chirping. I didn't want to tell him on the phone. I started crying instead and that pretty much gave him his answer. 

Thankfully, it worked out for us. I never had any doubt about keeping the baby. I was divorced though and already had an almost 3 year old at that point. I really didn't want to be one of those girls. I don't mean that offensively, but does any girl really want to have kids by multiple guys? No. God truly had his hand in this. Without my darling girl, my husband would have never come to his senses and he would still be a bachelor to this day. We've ran into people here that he was stationed with years ago and they always want to meet the wife. They are amazed I exist. He was that big of a bachelor.

This wasn't easy for me to write. I'm pretty open about the fact that we did it backwards, but to people I know, friends. Little Missy was a few days shy of her first birthday when we got married. We actually got married, she got baptized, the chaplain presented us as a family, then we headed back to the house for our small reception and her first birthday party. It was a busy day. 

Songs are just something that always get me. Sometimes hubby will tell me to listen to a certain song. He won't say why, but I know it's because they say things that he doesn't always know how to express. While he was still in Afghanistan, he told me to listen to Reckless Kelly's I Still Do as we were getting off the phone. I did as soon as we hung up and it said it all.

She said, Boy why don't you love me like you used to  

You never want to hold me anymore  

And I said, Girl now don't you go start talkin' crazy 

'Cause I love you more than I ever have before
But if I don't show it lately  

It's just 'cause I'm a little bit crazy  

Don't think my days of lovin' you are through 

'Cause I still do I still do

I love that man more than anything and I thank God daily for all the shit I went though to get to this point.

Redeployment Adjustments

My husband is home. Yea for the end of this deployment!

I love my husband more than anything and I'm so glad he is home. It feels like he was never gone. We've gotten back into the normal routine without any major problems. Except the fact that he is messing up my routine!! I know, I know. It's really not that bad. We talked about this a while ago and I flat out told him I was going to have a hard time getting used to having to take another person's opinion into account. I'm so used to doing what I want to do. Normally what I want to do involves the kids, but I say get in the car and we go. Now, I have to ask what he wants to do, then wait for him so we can all leave. Not a big deal, but when you aren't used to that, it's a big deal. The kids and I had made adventures of our weekends the past 7 months by finding new parks and exploring the island. When I want to do something, I want to do it. I don't want to wait 3 hours for someone else. I am also not a big fan of sitting around on the weekends. Lets do something! Anything! Take the kids to the park, drive around aimlessly, go to the beach, whatever! This really isn't anything new though. He wants to relax on the weekends after working long hours all week and I want to have family time, outside the house. We are working on finding a happy medium on this.

Let's see...what else did he annoy me about today? He dried a shirt that I told him not to, he filled the tub in the kitchen sink up with water and let the dishes sit over night (I know, but it annoys me. It's not like it's pots and pans soaking, it's plates and cups, then I just have to empty the tub when I wash dishes and all the dishes fall out and it just annoys me), and he left his clothes on the floor when he undressed for bed.

I know. What am I complaining about? This is stuff he has always done. It's never really bothered me before. I just have to get used to the work of an extra person. Yes, I'll have to do laundry more often. Yes, I'll have to empty tobacco spit bottles. Yes, I'll actually have to cook (I'm excited to have someone to cook for who'll appreciate it. The kids are happy with chicken nuggets).

It's not always an easy adjustment when they return from a deployment. He and I talked about this in advance though and thankfully, we both realize our issues. I didn't however tell him any of these things were annoying me (besides the leaving the house/family time thing. He knows about that one). It's petty and not worth it. I'll get over it soon enough and get used to it. I'd much rather hug it out to get over my annoyance than to throw it in his face. Yea for being able to hug him!

My Husband's View - Military Spouse Appreciation Day

For Military Spouse Appreciation Day, instead of me writing about how great us spouses are, I asked hubby to write a little something. I thought it would be nice to have the guy's point of view telling us how wonderful we are instead of us doing it ourselves (conceited much?).

Surprisingly, he agreed. I thought he was going to write a little something about this deployment, but he went way above and beyond my expectations. My husband isn't a big feelings kind of guy, so this is that much more special to me. You'll get what I mean.

My Marine Wife

by My Husband

I met my wife in Missouri. I am a Southern California man that had no time for a woman in my life and I was full of myself. I had horrible experiences with women. I always wanted the ones I couldn’t have and didn’t want anything to do with the ones who wanted me. I did not know it at the time that she would be the one for me.
    It started out typically with little courtship. We would get together from time to time to keep loneliness at bay. Both not wanting to much drama in each other’s life, but needing the little things a man and woman could provide each other. Then one day as I pulled into a gas station to fill my truck up with diesel, I got the phone call that would change our lives and introduce something to me that would change my ways. “I am pregnant”!  I am sure of this, that the good Lord was laughing his ass off when he chose this moment in my life, to change it.
    At first I was still hesitant of committing to her even though I knew that I could not break the solemn vow I had for myself a long time ago. My vow was simple. If I ever was going to have a child with a woman, then I would be with her no matter what because I did not want the child to experience the things I have experienced in my life without a father. That was until May of 1994 when I finally had a father in my life. I still had doubts in my mind about this. I was scared to say the least. Were my days out on the range done?  Was I destined to be miserable and settle for a life because of my vow? Because of my own fears, I am sure that I put my wife through unnecessary stresses during her pregnancy.
    After my daughter was born all of my fears went away. I was consumed with my new life and the excitement it brought. I guess it took for me to knock someone up to overcome my insecurities and be the man that I always wanted to be. I know that sounds terrible, but it is true. I remembered that my mother had told me that I need to sure that my partner would be my best friend. Kara was. She is the opposite of me, creating a perfect balance for our family. The rest they say is history.
    We moved to Okinawa from Missouri and that was enough to put undue stress taking my wife away from all she has ever known. She would no longer be able to talk her friends and family whenever she wanted. She would have to sacrifice everything that she had for the sake of our family. If you are not military, you will never understand that. I don’t think I am greater than you, just plainly pointing out a fact. There were difficulties in adjusting to not only a new duty station, but a new country. But my wife always found the positive in everything. Of course she had her moments, but she always came out with a smile of every situation.
    My wife had been married before to an Army soldier. She had a little experience with the military life, but the Army is nothing like the Marine Corps, as she soon learned. I had warned her that I was the type of Marine that would answer Uncle Sam’s call without even blinking an eye. I know that family is more important than the Corps, but if I am going to call myself a Marine, then I must earn the title each and every day.  That means deploying with my Marines, and leaving my family. If I was to call myself a husband and father, I must set the example for my family to emulate. If I do not, then I cannot look them in their eyes. So off I went to Afghanistan. This would be my first deployment as a husband and father, and her first with someone that actually would be truly be put in harm’s way.
    During this deployment she has had more than her share of things not going the way they are supposed to go. I am sure you all are aware of them from this blog. I would read her blog from time to time to find out what was going in her world when I would come back inside the wire. I would get so pissed off at things that would happen to her and I felt that I was responsible for putting her in those situations. She would say that she is not worried and that I shouldn’t either. I know she would say that so I could keep the right frame of mind to do what I do. But I knew in her voice that she was a one legged person in ass kicking contest. Of course my demon seed was not helping. (I am referring to my daughter who is 3 years old and is the source of all my collective sins) She broke this, and lost that. Again, I was feeling empathetic towards her frequent visits with Murphy’s Law.
    My deployment is almost over and my eyes water to the thought of holding my wife and kids. But I will fight it back because I am NOT home yet. Kara is my HERO, and I could not have done this without her unquestioned strength, and courage she has displayed time and time again. She is my best friend and she takes care of me like no other could. I am pretty much impossible to deal with and I know it. She knows that I will never change, and that alone makes her my HERO!
    I know that she has lost sleep, wept overwhelming tears, and questioned why she is doing all this by herself overseas, while her husband gets to play in the dirt with his weapons. I am amazed at her strength, her loyalty, and love for this family! I don’t think that I know how to explain it on a document, or whether or not it does her justice. So I will plagiarize the shit out of this poem that sums up my appreciation for her and tells it better than I ever could.

The Marine wife~
---- Author Unknown

The good Lord was creating a model for Marine wives and was into His sixth day of overtime when an angel appeared. She said, "Lord, you seem to be having a lot of trouble with this one. What's wrong with the standard model?"
The Lord replied, "Have you seen the specs on this order. She has to be completely independent, possess the qualities of both a father and mother, be a perfect hostess to four or forty with an hour's notice, run on black coffee, handle every emergency imaginable without a manual, be able to carry on cheerfully, even if she is pregnant and has the flu, and she must be willing to move to a new location ten times in seventeen years. And, oh yes, she must have six pairs of hands!"
The angel shook her head, "Six pairs of hands? No way.
“The Lord continued, “Don’t worry, I will make other Marine wives to help her. And I will give her an unusually strong heart so it can swell with pride in her husband's achievements, sustain the pain of separations, beat soundly when it is overworked and tired, and be large enough to say, 'I understand' when she doesn't and say 'I love you', regardless."
"Lord," said the angel, touching his arm gently. "Go to bed and get some rest. You can finish this tomorrow."
"I can't stop now," said the Lord. "I am so close to creating something unique. Already this model heals herself when she is sick, can put up six unexpected guests for the weekend, wave good-bye to her husband from a pier, a runway or a depot, and understand why it's important that he leave."
The angel circled the model of the Marine wife, looked at it closely and sighed, "It looks fine, but it's too soft."
"She might look soft," replied the Lord. "But she has the strength of a lion. You would not believe what she can endure."
Finally the angel bent over and ran her finger across the cheek of the Lord's creation. "There's a leak," she announced. "Something is wrong with the construction. I am not surprised that it has cracked. You are trying to put too much into this model."
The Lord appeared offended at the angel's lack of confidence."What you see is not a leak," He said. "It's a tear." "A tear?" What is it there for?" asked the angel.
The Lord replied, "It's for joy, sadness, pain, disappointment, loneliness, pride and a dedication to all the values that she and her husband hold dear."
"You are a genius!" exclaimed the angel.
The Lord looked puzzled and replied, "I didn't put it there."

The Greatest Compliment

My mother-in-law sent me an email yesterday. It said:
"This is that article that I told you about. I thought of you when I read it.
I want you to know that I consider you my hero also,  not just my son. You have sacrificed and been strong thru this deployment, while in a strange country with no family to help. Even during the rough times you have shown courage and grace. I truly admire you and I love you."

My father-in-law is retired Air Force. He was deployed to Iraq a few years ago, so she totally gets it. Could I have a better mother-in-law though?

I couldn't find the article on line, so I typed it up for you.

Soldiering On
by Jessie Knadler

The Other Day, my husband and I were engaged in a video chat, tethered across 7,000 miles of ocean, sand, and war by a computer screen, having one of those quotidian domestic chats that make up a marriage. "So, how are things on the home front?" Jake asked. My husband is a captain in the Army Reserve. He is currently serving his third deployment, this time to Afghanistan, while I stay home on our eight-acre chicken farm in rural Virginia, raising our 16-month-old daughter.
Answering Jake's question honestly requires some conversational pole-vaulting: Enduring his deployment while I'm on a farm with no family around pretty much sucks, but the last thing I want to do is invite pity.
Because one thing I've learned since becoming a military wife (to be honest, I didn't think that's what I was becoming when I married Jake six years ago, but that's what happens when your husband is a member of an all-volunteer army stretched way too thin) is that no one wants to hear about what it's like lugging a wriggling toddler down to the mobile chicken house only to discover some of the hens are eating their own eggs again. No one wants the play-by-play of trying to quickly build a fire in the outdoor wood furnace when it's 20 degrees while praying my daughter isn't electrocuting herself unattended in the house. And nobody particularly cares about the dread I experience having to bring the car in for repairs, not because it means losing my wheels but because it means having to remove the car seat, a task that, for me, induces soul-crushing madness.
Nobody wants to hear about my First World problems, in other words. And by "nobody" I think I'm actually referring to my husband. Jake is that rare subset of the human species who is equal parts G.I. Joe, Superman, and Woody from Toy Story - a strong "grin and bear it" sort of guy who also regularly writes touching letters to our mothers and grandmothers back home. Complaining is just not part of his genetic make-up, even as he endures distinctly Third World problems like roadside bombs and eating the equivalent of prison food.
This is why I meant to respond to his question with "Everything is fine, babe!" Except the months of single parenting and lonely nights playing Words with Friends on my iPhone must have gotten to me, because instead of what came out was a laundry list of everything that's been wearing me down: the bills, the isolation, our daughter's incessant cold, the broken car, the firewood, the feeling that I'm imposing on friends when I ask for help, and how many times can one mother unload the Diaper Genie?
Eventually, Jake cut in. "Well, what would you like me to do about it?" he asked. An innocent question, except the months of raw emotions caused me to interpret it as, "Well, what do you want me to do about it?!?!" I was both offended at the implication that my problems were unworthy of a sympathetic ear from my own husband and chastened for burdening him - a soldier fighting in Afghanistan! - with my petty gripes. The two clashing emotions left me feeling somewhere in the middle - numb.
As the months since Jake left creep toward a year, I'm reminded there's little glory in holding down the home front. All the honor goes to the soldiers, as it should. But sometimes, I wish I was the one who got deployed. At least in Afghanistan there's the adrenaline rush of being a foreign land trying to win hearts and minds, whereas my sacrifices are comparatively lame: paying bills, farm chores, cleaning up all the vomit ever spewed by this child. You know, the tedious stuff that makes up a family and a home. I'm sure this is something military spouses through history have experienced: claiming "everything is fine" in letters to their soldiers. The difference now, in 2012, is that I have the privilege of being able to talk to my husband every day over Google Chat. But that also means the challenge of saying "everything is fine" is a daily one.

The Art of Marriage Ops App and Giveaway

Last week, I posted the Art of Marriage Ops App. 

About the app:

"We believe that marriage is the most important commitment that a man and woman can make. When this bond is threatened by divorce, we know that it often takes outside forces to keep love alive.

The Art of Marriage Ops campaign was created for this very reason. Since 2001, military divorces have increased by 42 percent. We believe we can help and feel it’s our duty to fight for the marriages of those who fight for us.

Designed to raise awareness about the challenges that military families face when returning home, The Art of Marriage Ops campaign does much more. It equips military couples with The Art of Marriage DVD series. This proven program has shown to both strengthen marriages and prevent divorce by providing simple, effective insights for helping couples to cultivate a healthy and happy relationship."

Funny thing is, hubby and I talked about this last night. Last time he deployed, he was single. He didn't have to worry about a wife and kids when he returned. I don't think he had major problems, but it still can't be an easy transition.

I don't know how it will be from his end. I talk to him enough that I can get a feel for how he is and he seems fine. I haven't had any worries about him. I know how I am though. I tend to think my way is the right way. I already know I'll get annoyed when he comes in and messes up the order and routine of the house. I try to keep the kids busy every weekend too. I find new places for us to go and things to see. Hubby won't want to do that. He likes to relax on the weekends. I'm going to have to reacclimate myself to staying home more on the weekends. Most of this is normal things that a lot of people go though, so I'm not too worried. 

This app and the corresponding website, want to help couples work through the problems that arise after deployment. The site offers ideas, resources, and counseling information.

Giveaway!

A $20 Applebee's giftcard is being given away that can be used for a date night with your spouse (or girlfriend/boyfriend).

To enter:

Check out the app and/or the site.

Leave a comment with your date ideas or how you and your spouse worked out problems after deployment.

Make sure to leave your email address in the comment!

Giveaway ends March 18 at midnight CST.

The Art of Marriage Ops App

Time Mangement as a Single Mom

Do you have those days where you are crazy busy, all day long, but you don't ever really do anything? Or maybe it's not just a day, it's your whole life. I am always so busy. I don't recall being this busy when I actually worked full time. Before moving here, I always worked. I never had a problem keeping up with everything. Now, it seems it's always something.

There was one day last week I had nothing going on. I was busy all week. Normally, I volunteer 2 days a week. Sometimes 3 days, but that is maybe once a month. I'm only there for 6 hours since I have to get Little Man from the bus at 3:30. No big deal, right? Last week, I did my normal volunteer stuff 2 days, one day was spent running errands, one day was a pedicure and lunch with a friend, so that leaves the one day for getting stuff done around the house. I had to go to the commissary, but that's maybe 2 hours total out of my day. Then I got a phone call to do a brief for the office. I don't mind doing it (and I didn't have to, but no one else was available) but it messed my whole day up. I hurried up and got ready, ran to the commissary, came home, unloaded groceries, changed clothes and left to drop Little Missy off at a friends. I got to base and realized I didn't have my ID on me. I had 30 minutes to get to the brief at this point. I turned around and drove home to get it. I was 20 minutes late for the brief. My friend ended up meeting me there to watch Little Missy. I went in, but I was so late that they moved on to the next person. They said I could do it if there was time.  I waited for 15 minutes before I finally left. I had to get home to get Little Man off the bus. Needless to say, I got nothing done that I had planned to do. 

One would think (and most probably do think) that you would have all the time in the world to get stuff done if you are home all day. That is hardly true. I feel like all I do is run errands. Little Man started soccer this week, which just adds to it all. I already have stuff overlapping and I'm trying to figure out how to get him to practice on time. I've always been pretty efficient, but I seriously think it's way harder to do all this while you aren't working. When you work, it's easy to put stuff off on your spouse. If you have appointments, you can take the whole day off to do them and leave the kids in daycare. I used to schedule all my routine doctor and dentist appointments in the same day, so it was easy to take a day or an afternoon off. Super easy to get everything done then. I worry what will happen when I do go back to work. I run all of hubby's errands for him. He's going to hate having to do it all himself!

I know a lot of this is because hubby is gone. I was talking to a friend about this today and she feels the exact same way. I'm slightly jealous of her though. She volunteers with me, but her kids are in daycare 5 days a week. On the days she doesn't work, she has a silent house. That is heaven to me! Her husband is gone too, so we just vent to each other. She truly is a blessing though. She helped me get hubby's van to the mechanic and back home the other day. I don't know how I would have done it otherwise! 

Anyone else feel like they are always busy, but don't ever do anything?

It's My Anniversary

Today is our wedding anniversary.

I would say happy anniversary, 

but it doesn't feel like it's anything special.

We tried to skype last night and his internet 

cut out in the middle of my story.

I waited around for almost an hour and he never came back online.

We'll try it again tonight.

Without him here though, it just feels like another day.

I was thinking that he wasn't here for our anniversary last year either, but after a quick blog check, he was.

He did get me a present, but I've had it for a couple weeks.

That wonderful man got me a Kindle Fire!

I already had a kindle and I guess he thought I needed an upgrade.

I don't know, but I like it!

He sent me a link to a new wedding ring that he wants.

He lost is original one not long after we got married and we ended up buying a $16 replacement from a mall kiosk. 

It's doing the job, but he has always wanted an Irish claddaugh design on his ring.

He sent me a link to one he wants, so it'll be waiting here for him when he gets back.

 

A friend whose husband is also gone, has her anniversary tomorrow.

We were going to take each other out this past weekend, but we didn't have babysitters, so we ordered pizza and watched movies with the kids.

Hubby should be around next year though, so he can go all out like he did last year!

Song Link Up!

It's Thursday and time for another song link-up!

Head over to Goodnight Moon to link your song.

She posted about their wedding anniversary this weekend, 

so I have to post about mine too.

Our anniversary is Monday.

We don't really have a song,

but I've declared this to be our song.

If you know us, the first few lines of the song sums it up

(and we totally love Stoney Larue).

I remember when I met you, big city boy small town blues
This town seems so small to me well I was used to the blvd
When I saw you I fell so hard now I never want to leave
Girl I’m here forever

When hubby got stationed at Ft. Leonard Wood, he hated it.

He's from California.

He hated the midwest and it made it harder that there isn't much to do at FLW.

He had that attitude when we met. 

I'm a small town girl from the midwest. 

We come from two totally different worlds, but it worked.

Weddings

Since we moved off base and into town, we no longer have a lot of TV channels. I really don't care for the most part, but some days I want to watch mindless TV. That usually meant I was watching TLC.

Say Yes to the Dress is one of those shows that I can watch for hours at a time. The girl in me loves it. Shopping for a wedding gown. Who wouldn't love it? My first wedding was a quick to do affair and I didn't have a dress. I went gown shopping with my sister and a part of me wanted that big wedding after watching her try on dresses. I was divorced by this time and had nothing in the future even hinting at a wedding. I don't recall ever dreaming about my wedding when I was younger. Some women say that all young girls dream of the day, but I never did. When hubby and I made plans to get married, he wanted to do a big affair. He thought I deserved it. We never set a date though and only really did it when we did because his parents were flying into town. My family was close, so it was easy to set a date up with the chaplain and get it done. I didn't have a typical wedding gown, I bought a dress at a local bridal shop, but it was more of a formal dress. I told hubby at the time that I could always re-wear it to a ball if I was in a pinch.

The frugal side of me hates Say Yes to the Dress. I can not fathom paying what some of these women pay for dresses. I can understand that when you find that perfect gown, you have to have it. But, why pay that much? These girls bring their daddy's along and pay over $10 grand for a gown. Crazy. Then it seems like the ones who have a budget and want to stay under $3,000 are pretty much told they won't be able to find much. I realize it's a high end store and stocked with designer wedding gowns. It's the experience. If I lived around NYC, it would be a fun weekend to go to Kleinfelds to try gowns on with my sister. Only thing is I would be scared I would completely fall in love with something I couldn't' afford. Simply Bridal is a site that sells gorgeous dresses at reasonable prices. I still sometimes want the big wedding, it's rare, but it does cross my mind. I browse wedding dress sites. These are my two favorites from their site (they are both under $400!)

Being a military wife, it seems that alot of couples go the cheap, easy route. A lot of times it's because of money, but just as many times it's because of time. He has to be somewhere so a wedding has to be done ASAP. I have no regrets on our wedding. Our families and friends who lived in the area were there. The kids participated and we had great pictures taken by a friend who is an amateur photographer (the picture on the top of the page is from my wedding). Afterwards, everyone went back to our house. We barbequed and had a small wedding cake for dessert. It doesn't get much better in my opinion.

How did you get married? Did the military play a part in your decisions?

Our First Anniversary

Weird as it sounds, our first anniversary is on Sunday. 

We kinda did things out of order. Little Missy will be 2 on Thursday. 

We had a small wedding at a chapel 

at Ft. Leonard Wood. 

Both our parents were there, as was my sister and her husband, and our friends who lived in the area. 

It was small, but perfect. 

I wouldn't have changed a thing. 

Except the fact that I bought my wedding gown 2 days prior. It was dress #3. It needed to be altered around the boobs. I look at pictures now and it bothers me.

For our anniversary, hubby made us reservations here: 

He didn't plan for us to spend the night

or to have a nice dinner.

Oh no,

we had seaweed wraps and massages!!!

Oh yes, it was wonderful!

This hotel was awesome! 

I want to go back and stay the night

Check this place out here.

In the little bit I saw, there was 3 restaurants, a nail 

salon, 2 different spas, a clothing store, an indoor 

and outdoor pool, a tourist shop, and 

little stands to do crafty stuff.

But, back to the spa....

I had my seaweed wrap first. Wearing only the 

lovely paper undies they provided, 

I got into this thing. 

You laid down in it and the lid closed, 

leaving only your head exposed.

The steam then hit your body.

I was slathered in this warm, seaweed goo. Awesomeness!!

I was in that thing for a half hour.

She then helped me wash it all off in a quick shower

and off to the half hour massage!

Hubby had the same thing done. 

I think he's hooked now.

I would have been happy with dinner out, but he went way above and beyond!

3 Years Ago....

Three years ago (this month!), I met a man. I didn't think too much of him at the time. I was a single mom and had been by myself pretty much since little man was born. I wasn't big on the whole going out thing, so I didn't really date or have an opportunity to meet guys. Actually, I hadn't gone on an actual date since my divorce.

I was working for a loan company at the time. We did a lot of military loans. This guy's paperwork came through and I didn't think much of it. He was just transferring a loan to our office from a different state. The guys I worked with liked to give the applications from single guys to me. I guess they thought they were helping. All that morning, one of my co-workers kept telling me that I needed some relations, if you get my drift. He thought it would put me in a better mood. My co-workers then decided that this guy would be the one. They had decided before he came in to sign his paperwork that he would be my soul mate. I'm not even sure if I believe in soul mates. I laughed them off, but then he showed up. He was hot. Seriously hot. Their suggestions suddenly had appeal. He came right in, shook my hand, flirted with me through his paperwork, and left. As soon as he left, my co-workers said I should call him because he would have 'relations' with me. I said heck no! I wasn't about to call someone about that! As we are having this conversation, the phone rang. I answered it and it was the guy. He asked me for my phone number. I'm crazy signaling to my co-workers that it's him. Good timing on his part. Funny thing was that I knew a crazy lot about him from all that paperwork you fill out when getting a loan. I probably would have said no if he had horrible credit or was paying child support on ten kids.

A couple weeks later, he took me on a date. I had a nice enough time, but I honestly thought he was an asshole. He wasn't to me, but I told my sister that he had 'assholish tendencies'. Well, that asshole is now my husband. I sent the guys I had worked with a wedding announcement. I wrote a long note on the back, since they called it and said he was my soul mate. Who would have thought?

The past three years have been crazy, but it's all been worth it!