Week Numero Quatro

"How are you doing?" seems to be the question of the summer.  My answer is pretty much always the same, it's just that sometimes its a lie and sometimes its not.  Sometimes I really am great, but sometimes I'm afraid somebody is going to notice the massive amounts of make up I am wearing to cover up my red blotchy face from crying.  But those kind of days aren't every day, or even every other day.  Once a week is about normal.  On the bright side, if I keep that up, only 6 more days of wearing WAY too much make up:).

I have been so blessed by friends and family while Landon is away.  People have offered their help in so many ways.  I have practically had to turn people down who are begging to mow my yard!  Nights seem to be the hardest, but I have been invited for dinner several times from friends in my Home Group, dinner and a movie with a 2 sweet ladies I know from work, girls night, Home Group fellowships, and more.  God has been so good.

Only 6 more weeks to go!

Happy Birthday Landon

Today for Landon's birthday, I wanted nothing more than to spend it with him, but since that wasn't possible, I tried to do things that he would enjoy doing.

First, I went to our favorite breakfast place, Old West.  That is the one thing he did ask me to do for his birthday.  I was more than happy to honor his wishes.


Then I paid bills, which is not something that he would enjoy doing, it's just something that he normally does.

Later in the afternoon, I posted on his Batallion's FB page that it was his birthday, so his Commanding Sergeant commented and said that maybe he should start the birthday calls on this one, but it might cause Landon some pushups.  I obviously didn't really care about him doing pushups, so I was super excited to hear his voice!  Ten minutes later, his CSM called me and told me that Landon was doing pushups and I could say hi to him while he put the phone up to his ear.  Landon said, "Hi babe, I love you, and thanks for the pushups."  I hope it was as worth it to him as it was to me to hear his voice.  :)

I ended the day at Rooster's, Landon's favorite burger joint ordering his favorite meal.


I enjoyed my day celebrating Landon, well as much as I could without him actually being here.  I'm so thankful he was born 25 years ago:)

Week 3

Only 7 weeks from tomorrow until I get to see Landon.  7 more of these weekly blogs.  7 more times of going to church without him.  7 more times to take out the trash.  7 more episodes of Extreme Makeover Weight loss Edition.  I can do this.

Maddie and I

The majority of the week was spent at my parents house hanging out with my youngest sister, Maddie. We had a lot of fun playing doodle jump, watching Army Wives, and just talking.  I loved getting to hang out with all of my family, but it was really good to hang out with her.  It's really never just the 2 of us around, so it was kind of a first for us and very fun!

I only had one mini-meltdown this week.  I got home from visiting my family on Friday, and while I had been gone, it rained almost 2 inches.  Naturally, my yard was extremely overgrown.  While I don't mind mowing, I have never used the weed eater before.  That was always Landon's job to do the edging and weed eating.  I told him before he left that he needed to show me how to use it, and the day I was taking him to the airport, I said, "You never showed me how to use the weed eater."  So Sunday morning, I woke up and decided to get the yard work done early before it got too hot.  I mowed first, only because I knew for sure how to do that.  I then ventured over to the weed eater and tried several times to start it, but it just wouldn't budge.  I came inside, and tried to find youtube videos on my specific weed eater (kind of lame, yes), but couldn't find anything.  I decided to go out and try one more time, couldn't get it to start, and started walking into the house and kicked the car with my ankle.  Usually when I hurt myself, it just magnifies my frustration, so of course, I started crying, ha.  I finally decided that was just something I would let Landon's dad do for me.  He told me he would come by sometime later this week to help with it.

Monday morning I woke up, and was determined to figure out this stupid machine.  I still might want Landon's dad to come do it for me, but I just wanted to know that I could do it myself.  Naturally, the first time I pulled the cord, it started.  Now I have a funky looking yard and 2 VERY sore arms/shoulders to prove that I can use a weed eater.

My friend Natalie

Today I was very blessed to hang out with a few very sweet friends, one laying out by the pool, and another couple for dinner.  Things do get lonely here by myself all day, but I know that I really am not alone, and I'm so thankful for the friendships that God has placed in my life for such a time as this.






Oh and I got to talk to my AWESOME friend Kinzie on the phone tonight, so I felt like I needed to make a shout out to her too:)  (Are you happy now??)

Favorite Little Guys

  These are my favorite 3 little guys, my nephews.  They mean the world to me.  They are rambunctious, loud, energetic, and oh so lovable!

China Cabinet

I bought this china cabinet on craigslist almost a year ago thinking, "I have re-done several pieces of furniture for myself, let's see if somebody else would like what I do too while I make a little money in the process!" Well a year went by and the poor thing sat in the garage (in my husband's parking space). I always had an excuse for not working on it "I hate priming! It's too hot. It's too cold. I'm too tired. etc..." But when my husband finally offered his help, I knew it was time to get busy! It only took 3 coats of paint, 3 trips to Home Depot, 1 trip to Hobby Lobby, 1 genius husband who fixed the magnetic latch so my new pretty knobs would fit, and 4 days. When it was completely finished, I asked my husband if he would bring it in the house so I could stage it a little and take the pictures with better lighting and make it look like it belongs in a home (now I just may be convinced it might belong in MY home). I'm very pleased with the outcome!  


I am trying to sell this piece of furniture.  If you are interested, please let me know.

His voice

Friday was my last day with my family for the week.  I had such a wonderful time hanging out with my sisters, brother, nephews, and parents.  They are all such a huge blessing in my life.

Two of my sisters volunteered to drive me to the airport to catch my flight.  On our way there, my phone rang.  The area code was 803, from Columbia, SC.  I immediately told my sister to pull over so I wouldn't lose service, and answered my phone.  It was my dear, sweet husband.  I can not even describe the excitement I felt when I heard his voice.  I knew he might get a phone call on Father's Day, but his platoon did so well on a test that they let them call early.  I was completely giddy the rest of the drive to the airport.  Also, because I had been gone for over a week, I had 7 letters in my mailbox waiting for me from Landon as well.  Friday was like Christmas X100,000,000!

Week 2 Down

Keeping myself busy seems to help me from going insane.  Since my mom came to town, we stayed busy the whole time she was here.  We painted my laundry room an awesome minty green, watched lots of Army Wives, ran errands, and just spent some quality mom/daughter time.

On Thursday we drove to Amarillo so that I could go with one of my best friends to some friends' wedding in Colorado.  It was great to see friends from college and catch up.  Hard to believe I have been out of college for 3 years now.  

Friday was a hard day though.  Landon's battalion has a Facebook page and there are volunteers who post pictures of each company.  A lot of people on the page had posted that Thursday they had received their first letter from their warrior.  Because I left Denton Thursday morning, I wasn't able to get the mail that day, and I wouldn't be back until the following Friday.  I was just sick about it.  Then, on Friday, pictures were really starting to be posted on the FB page, but none were of his company.  Again, I was so anxious to hear from him or see that he is doing ok that I felt sick to my stomach, and finally broke down.  It was a hard day, but I think I just needed to get out my frustration.  On Saturday during the wedding, my mom texted me and said that Landon had sent a letter to their house knowing that I would be there the following week.  It absolutely made my day knowing that even with all that Landon is going through, he was thoughtful enough to send the letter to my parents. 

Landon seems to be enjoying his time there.  Some people were posting on Facebook that they had heard from their son/daughter and were exhausted, discouraged, and ready to quit.  I guess that was one of the reasons I was so anxious to hear from Landon.  I just wanted to know that he was ok.  In his letter though, he said, "I can't believe I'm getting paid to shoot rifles, throw grenades, eat 3 meals a day, and workout for 2 hours a day with 2 personal trainers."  He sounds like he is in his element, and that could not make me more happy.  I can't imagine the misery I would feel if I knew he was miserable too.

It's nice that he was already bald so it's not hard to spot it.  

This morning I woke up, and pictures from Landon's company had finally been posted.  I was ELATED! I do have to say that he looks dang good in uniform.  I'm a proud Army Wife:)

I'm so thankful for the time that I am getting to spend with my family this week.  It really does make time go by faster!  Only 57 more days until I get to see my honey!

1 Week Down

Landon left a week ago today.  Only 64 days until I get to see him.  A lot of people have said to me, "It's going to go by so fast!"  While I know that they are trying to be comforting, that is one of the least comforting things I want to hear because right now, it doesn't feel that way and I miss him more than ever.  It's been kind of a crazy week with him leaving and finishing up my second year of teaching.  I'm going to try to keep up with my blog every week, more for me in hopes that the next 9 weeks will go by fast.  64 days sounds like a long time, but only 9 blogs doesn't sound too bad.

Tuesday was a hard day.  We woke up early so he could eat at Old West one last time and then headed to the office he was supposed to be at.  Someone from the National Guard had to drive him to the airport, but I followed and was even given a pass to hang out with him in the airport until his flight left at 2:00.  As time drew closer to 2:00, both of our stomachs began to turn.  Right before Landon boarded, he told me "You know that feeling you get when you are about to go down a roller coaster?  That's what I feel right now."
For the first couple of days that he was gone, he still had his cell phone because he was just doing paperwork and getting his uniform.  His actual training did not start until Friday.  On Friday afternoon, he called me and gave me his address, told me he loved me, and hung up.  It was literally a 30 second call, and I haven't heard from him since then.
Since then, I have written him every day and his battalion also has a Facebook site, so between those two things, I somewhat still feel connected to his world right now.
My sweet mom decided to come down on Sunday after church and spend the week with me as well.  I have a couple home improvement projects that I want to get done this summer, and she came to help.
I'm also thankful for my sweet friend Amie who has checked on me often, gone to dinner, and invited me to do Painting With a Twist just in the few days that Landon has been gone!

I know the Lord is going to work in both mine and Landon's hearts this summer.  Over the last few months, I have been asking God to rekindle my desire for Him.  I want to truly understand that I am desperate for Him.  Landon used to always jokingly say, "Don't ever pray for patience if you don't want to be tested, because God will allow opportunities to arise to help you work on being patient."  I feel that's what this summer is going to be for me, a test of my trust in Him.  I have been praying that I would have that deep understanding and desperation for my Father, and this summer, the one person that I cling to is gone, and Christ is the only one who is going to be able to comfort me and sustain me like I need.