The "D" word

Deployment...yuck! Getting ready and although I hate to admit it, it's coming nearer. But the sooner they leave, the sooner they return. It's like this every time....a visit home and then they're gone. BUT I'm trying to look at this as positively as I can. 1. It's going to be shorter this time. 2. I get alone time (and everyone knows I need that!) 3. I can work out A LOT and he'll see how much better I look when he gets back 4. I'll be busy with all the projects I have going on 5. I'll be DONE with school! We have a lot going on in the next few weeks. Going back to Michigan for a visit, and then moving into our new home. It's a shame that I am going to have to get settled in the house without him, but it gives me more time to adjust and get things exactly the way I want them. I'll have little projects to keep me busy and hopefully a puppy too by then! Yes, we are going to get a puppy. So in all this sadness and anxiousness that we have going on right now, I know it'll all go by quickly. There will be lots of surprises when he returns- hopefully I will physically be in better shape, and I'll have things all ready, unpacked and organized in our new house. Which means also tending to the outside (eeeek)There's a lot ahead of me! I will miss this little noisy apartment, and the lack of skills you really need to live here. Trading it in for a quiet house really will be nice, and everything to keep me busy over the summer. Enough with the depressing "D" word, I will look at this as positively as I can!

Marriage

We aren't married yet, but living together has been a huge eye opener already. There's so much adjusting that comes with moving in with someone, but I already knew that. Living with roommates in college, there were issues as with anyone. Figuring out who does what chores, sharing responsibilities and combining different lifestyles. For the most part we live alike, but we are still getting used to each other. We are constantly learning new things about each other- how we like to keep things, our routines. It's kind of fun to learn these things about each other and I know we are nowhere near knowing everything. Ben likes the dishwasher loaded a certain way, and I like to keep the sink clear. I think sometimes we're both stubborn in our ways and we like to do things the way we like to and are used to doing them. But with marriage and living with someone, there's more adjusting and finding your new routines TOGETHER. It's been hard for me because with everything I gave up- my home, my job, routines, and then I'm facing all these new things. Most married couples move in together and face these same issues, but in addition to this I'm trying to learn a new city and find a job. I heard a quote about a month ago and it went something like this, "If life just got a little bit harder, it probably means you just leveled up." I keep repeating this to myself over and over again. Whenever I'm feeling overwhelmed I remind myself that its making me stronger and our relationship stronger. Welcome to marriage!

Moving!

It's been a long time since I've blogged, and a lot has happened since then! I have moved to Tacoma and started my life here. It was a HUGE HUGE change, one of the biggest and hardest things I have ever done. But I know that Ben and I are going to be so happy (and have been!). Thought I'd share some of the pictures that my sister and I took along the way, the long 2600 mile drive.

It was the longest car ride of my life but by far the best! We got to see so many amazing things! I will cherish these photos for my whole life. Not many people I know can say they drove across the country. I can't wait to do more!

Engaged!

So it's been a while. I put down the blog for a while because I guess I felt I didn't get anything out of it. Not gonna lie- turned to Tumblr. BUT sometimes I feel with Tumblr I can't be personal enough. I can't write out my feelings. I'm just in the mood.

It's official. I'm on my way to becoming an Army wife. Yes, we are getting married. I plan on moving out to Seattle sometime this spring hopefully and we begin our lives together. This makes us sooo happy because we can now spend more time together and grow as a couple. We know sometimes it might be hard, but we'll get through it. We've gotten through 2 years apart and 3 deployments, right?? It's going to be amazing to see him every day (except when he deploys). I feel like I can't get out there soon enough. Of course, he has some stuff to do in the meantime and so it's not really a good time for me to move right away, but I will when he's back.

I think about all the stuff we have a head of us- house hunting, the wedding, babies. Yes, babies eventually and we want several! It's so exciting and so much to think about! We'd like to try and get a house before he leaves again so that I can settle in and personalize it, keeping me busy while he's away but we'll see. We hope to get married before he leaves. Of course, my parents don't like the idea because they think we should have a nice long engagement, time to prepare and plan. I'm thinking that he's going to deploy and I'm going to be in a new place, a new state all the way across the country and no real ties to him. Not that being married will make things easier, but it will, for me. For me, I'll be able to go on post, I'd have health insurance, get any support I need from the military. Plus if we do buy a house or if we're in the middle of doing so, I can help out when he leaves. If we're not married, that won't happen.

Then there's there girls. I look forward to being there, around others going through what I am. It's kinda difficult being here where no one really realizes what we're going through. At least with them we all can relate and support each other.

Overall, I'm just lucky to have him. I love him so much and can't wait to be with him forever!

Just a little bit longer

I think I need to be a little more patient with people. Ok a lot more patient. Things are just stressing me out lately and I need to stay positive. I can do that, can't I?

We all go through our bad days and I definitely had one yesterday. Its hard to go through every day with a smile on your face, that can get tiring. But we got through it. Quote from Ben, "Ohh we're having one of THESE days, are we?" Yes, Ben we were. Adrian is having a pity party. Can't be perfect though, can I?

I spent some time reading a blog of a Navy wife I found. Her writing is so inspirational, it made me feel better. It made me want to wipe that frown off and suck it up! I'm not the only one going through this, after all. There are many others missing their boyfriends and husbands. But the key is...when it gets tough, you can't give up. Things will never work out if you just walk out whenever they get that way. There will always be hard times and there will be good times too, but you have to stick out through all of them. It will be worth it in the end! It's what relationships are all about....working through everything together.

I would NEVER give up on Ben. When we first starting dating, I told him I was in it. And I'm standing up to that commitment. I know much better than to give up when things get hard. That would mean I wasn't in it to begin with! Just a little bit longer and I will be able to see him again. Keeping busy until then and writing LOTS of emails. So thankful for emails!!

Washington Trip

I realized that I never blogged about my last trip to Washington!! Because I just bought my ticket for my next trip, I thought it would be the perfect opportunity. I had such a great time and I hope to have more fun adventures.

 This is a picture of Washington's coast on the Pacific. I believe this was taken somewhere around Ruby Beach. It was so beautiful!!

 Here is Ben standing by a tree in the Hoh Rain Forest. The hall of moss was gorgeous!! I'm so glad we both love being outdoors.

 Here we are at La Push! This was beach 3, probably the least popular of the three but still pretty. Some nice girls took our picture in return for taking theirs.

 We took a 2 day trip to Oregon! Ben signed out of work on leave and we decided to go for the night to Portland. It was a little less than 3 hours away and was so fun!! We had a great time exploring the city and it was so unique! I wish I had taken more pictures of Portland.

 I actually took this picture in the car on the way back to Tacoma from Portland. Mt. Hood was amazing and you could see it for a lot of the trip. It was clear enough that day that we could actually see Mt. Hood, Mt. Rainier and Mt. St. Helen's all at once! With the weather the way it is in the Pacific Northwest, it's not very often you get to see it.

Lastly, a picture of Ben's backyard. I was insanely jealous when I saw this view, the last day I was there. Yes, I went a whole week of being in Tacoma and not seeing it. Because it was cloudy! The few clear days in Washington definitely make up for all of the cloudy ones. I hope one day this is my back yard as well. Amazing!!

I cannot wait to go back. There's still so much more that I want to see. February 8th hurry up!!!

Llamas Llamas...or maybe Alpacas?

So I finally found my own Llama. Errr Alpaca. The kind I wanted was actually a ton of money. It made me sad, but then I found this web site, Alpacaconnection.com and they had the perfect one. He's small and furry. Can't wait to get him in the mail. Mine will be darker brown I think.

Which brings me to my next point. A new blog!! I'm going to add another blog, this one will be based on the adventures of this alpaca....yet to be named. It's just something fun I wanna do. He's small enough to fit in my purse and I'll take pictures of him wherever I can. This will be a more fun way of documenting things that I'm doing without making it too boring. I'm going to keep this blog up though. Hope he gets here soon!