Happy New Year!

Just wanted to say Happy New Year!!!!

I'm believing this year to be a year of moving forward. Jon and I have accomplished so much in 2008 that we're believing it to all pay off in 2009.

Tonight before the ball dropped, Karla asked everyone what they were looking forward to in 2009.... the first thing(s) that came to mind were Jon coming home and my graduation from nursing school.... she asked if there was anything else, and honestly, there isn't! I'm just going to be thankful that i'll actually get to live a "normal" life with my husband. We have so many things planned for this year and it's so nice to say that none of it will revolve around my 5 day a week school schedule!!! I will be starting my career as a nurse and Jon will be hitting his 5 year mark in the Air Force this year! [[By the way, I had an official job offer from my hospital yesterday!!! You are now looking at the newest Pediatric and Med/Surg Nurse to the North Okaloosa Medical Center staff!!!!---I know, pediatrics i'm not super thrilled about, but i'll be floating to the med/surg floors so i'm getting the best of both worlds and the experience with all age groups!]] I know that this past year has had its share of trials, but Jon and I know in our hearts that with all we (as a couple) have been through recently, we can tackle anything that comes our way. This deployment has made us so much stronger as a couple that there isn't anything we can't make it through....(that and because we have God on our side!!!) Speaking of which.... i wanted to thank everyone that has been there for us during these past 4 months.... I know for me, it's been one of the hardest things i've had to deal with.. it's been emotionally draining and i'll be so happy when I can finally say this is all over! As hard as it's been it has been a great experience for Jon and for his career. He's learned and gained so much from this deployment that I know it'll pay off for him. It's been a growing and a learning experience for both of us....anyway... thank you for the emails and phone calls that have been sent my way. I've appreciated them so much. It was always a comfort to open my inbox and see and sweet hello from family and friends. [[and thanks for the Christmas cards and gifts too!!!!!! I have them all under our tree for us to open when Jon gets home!]] So thank you for thinking of us over these past 4 months, and for being there for us/me during this time too. We don't know what we would've do without our friends and family.

We are believing this year to be a year of moving forward and a year of great adventures!

Another Christmas Story

First, let me take the time to introduce the amazing people in this picture....

• In the Red... Stephanie's wonderful mother that we'll be referring to as "Grandma" for this story
• and the little face looking up at me in this picture is Stephanie's little niece Makayla.

While everyone was busy opening gifts, Stephanie disappeared for a few minutes, only to return with this wonderful antique looking tea serving cart for her mother! It was absolutely gorgeous and her mom was so excited about it! While everyone was ooohing and awwwing at the cart little Makayla goes and stands by her grandma's side and politely asks (on video tape...)

"Grandma, when you pass away can I have the cart???"

All we could do was laugh while grandma lovingly replied, "yes honey, you can."

PRICELESS!

Christmas

Today I went to Stephanies house for lunch. Her family is so amazing and I felt so at home there. Then I headed to work!!!! Long, crazy night... but I absolutely love my nurses. They are so good to me! I don't know what I would've done this Christmas without them!

me and stephanie at her house!!!

keep in mind these last pictures were taken after a very very long night of sick, poopy patients!!!

my amazing nurses!!!! (dennis wont take a serious picture for nothin!)

my attempt at a picture of me and stephanie!

Merry Christmas

Just wanted to wish everyone a Merry Christmas!!!!

Regrets

Well folks, it's that time of year... the holidays are upon us and just as I predicted, I wish I were going home for the holidays. I told myself that I would be ok, that I didn't need to go home this Christmas, but now more than ever, I am wishing I would've gone home. Knowing that all my family will be gathering in a couple days and celebrating together, makes me wish I could be apart of it. Instead i'll be home during the day, and working in the evening. Christmas day i've been invited over to a friends house, (a nurse I work with) which I appreciate so much, but nothing beats being with family. I chose not to go home because at the time when I made the decision, plane tickets were about $800... so I commited to working over the holidays... now, tickets are less than $400. But now that i've told the hospital i'd work... i'd feel terrible for not going in. On some level I want to say "forget work, they haven't done anything for me, and aren't doing anything for me when I graduate!" but I know that's not the right mindset to have... even if deep down, that's really how I feel. So I dont know. Even if I did go home now, it would only be for a few days. I've commited to a lot of hours this holiday season, and it would be unprofessional of me to call in. But for all my friends and family back home... I miss you terribly, and would like nothing more than to be with you this week. Hopefully I see you all soon!

O' Christmas Tree

I finally put up our Christmas tree last night. The pictures really don't do it justice but you get the idea. I thought it looked good for it being my first tree to decorate with a theme. I'm going to leave it up until Jon gets home so we can celebrate! (he comes home soon!!!)

Countdown

I can't even begin to explain how long i've waited to post this blog!

Time is slowly but surely winding down, but it doesn't seem to be going by fast enough! Now that I know he'll be home soon the days just seem to drag! But deep down I know i'll be picking him up at the airport soon! I'm trying to keep myself busy this last month so that the month goes by fast. I have school all this week except for Friday, when I plan to fly out to St. Louis to go see my mama! I have to be back for work on Christmas Eve and Christmas day, and then I work a bitmore before I go back to school on January 5th. Once I start back to school, I just have to tell myself that my family will be coming into town the next week for my graduation, and then soon after that, i'll be picking jon up!!!!!! So I really do have a lot going on, I'm just hoping that this last month goes by the fastest!!! The holidays are going to be difficult, i'm not gunna lie... but I have my patients at work to keep my mind off being alone. I have our little Christmas tree up (i'll take pictures later) with all our presents for our family under it! I'll be keeping the tree up until Jon gets home so that we can celebrate and open our gifts together!!!! Anyway! We already have lots planned for this coming year, I can hardly wait!!!!