• Spiritual Growth

    The Wanderer’s Returning

    It’s not that I meant to wander. It’s not that I purposefully determined in my heart to stray from My First Love. It was the sinking revelation that I had made the Lord familiar – commonplace. When had His name stopped being so very precious to me? When had things that used to move me, suddenly not move me any more? When had that passion for Him become an unrecognizable flicker? Over time. Slowly, without purposed intention and devotion and priority to fuel the once passionate heart of mine, my soul slowly withered and Jesus became a familiar aspect of my life. Commonplace and taken for granted, when He is…

  • The Army Wife Chapters,  The Marriage Chapters

    2014 Highlights

    2014 has been an incredible year! By far one of my most full and favorite years – I was finally reunited with my love, I was asked to be his wife in a surprise airport proposal, we had many “catchup” dating adventures, I had so many wonderful wedding showers, we took dancing lessons, got married 7 months after getting engaged, and had a dream honeymoon in Jamaica. We’ve been to Disney, NC, Savannah, and have made so many family memories with our loved ones. We’ve moved into our first home and celebrated our first birthdays as a married couple and Christmas. 2014 has been a year for the books and…

  • The Army Wife Chapters,  The Marriage Chapters

    Reflection – Deployment, Homecoming, Proposal, Marriage

    Two years ago on July 3rd, Hawk told me he was deploying. And that was the beginning of it all. The beginning of me realizing that even though I swore I’d never fall for an Army dude, I was quickly on my way to falling in love with one and couldn’t imagine my life without him in it. And now that Army dude who told me he was leaving for a year, that Army dude who waited for my reaction before he officially asked me out, that Army dude whom I fell madly and deeply in love with will become my husband in 58 days. It’s a funny thing how…

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  • The Army Wife Chapters

    Week 30: London Recap Day 3

    Seven months. It’s been seven months since Hawk left. And I can’t help but reflect on London and our time together there. Those 4 1/2 days were really what we needed to help see us through to the end. The days pass oh so slowly, but the months seem to pass by quicker. Soon, soon he will be home again. I can’t wait for that day! Day 3 – August 30, 2013 We woke up early the next morning for another full adventurous day. Since we did the second day of the Double Decker bus tour we were able to hear the marching band as they went to march down…

  • The Army Wife Chapters

    Week 29: London Recap Day 2

    After our long awaited airport reunion, we experienced our first venture on the Tube, and located the flat in Islington, London we were sharing with another soldier family. We talked and I kept reaching over to touch his arm because I finally could. No longer were we looking through the computer screen longingly – I could finally touch his arm or grab his hand. It was something I took for granted before the deployment, but never again. We also exchanged early anniversary presents. I got him a fancy Fossil watch and he bought me a new camera to chronicle this great adventure we were on together. After talking most of…

  • The Army Wife Chapters

    Week 29: The Birthday Box

    I wanted to make Hawk’s birthday as special as it possibly could be with him being 5,550 miles away from his favorite places, his favorite things,  and his favorite people. After brainstorming a bit, the Birthday Box was born. Anyone who knows Hawk for even the slightest amount of time will learn that he lives and breaths the University of South Florida’s Bulls. It didn’t take much time to come up with the box decorations. After the box was decorated came the stuffing part! I included a Bulls Flag at his request to hang outside his “house,” since his neighbor hung a Gator’s flag up…and Hawk just couldn’t have that…

  • The Army Wife Chapters

    Week 26: London Recap Day 1

    Hawk has officially been gone for six months. I almost shake my head with amazement because I can’t believe I still functioned after Day One, and here, six months later we are thriving. It’s still hard every day. Some days it is still really, really hard, but here we are doing something that would tear many others apart. Here I am doing something I never ever thought I was capable of doing…and it’s only by the grace of God. It’s been six months since Farewell, and three weeks since London. I haven’t written about the incredible reunion yet because maybe I just liked keeping it between us, but also because…

  • Deployment,  London,  The Army Wife Chapters

    Week 23: Waiting for the Plane

    As I type this I sit in the airport waiting for my first flight. My second will take me across the ocean to see Hawk. After days and days (100+ to be exact) of counting and over five months apart, it’s a surreal moment now that it’s actually here. That this isn’t a dream that I will harshly wake up with the alarm clock. That it’s so close I can almost hug him, yet I’m still waiting. For the planes, for him to come home. This is indeed a season of wait. However, it’s also a season of blessings. Of getting to know each other on such a deep level.…

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  • The Army Wife Chapters

    Week 22: Packing & Proof

    In one short week I will finally be on my way to London to be reunited with my best friend! It is so surreal. Hawk and I have been counting down for this trip, this precious time together, for so long. Now that it is actually a reality and almost here it seems too good to be true. It seems just a dream. But the days pass, and I have not only my bag almost all packed but his as well. Last weekend we had a sweet Skype date where we raided his closet and he told me what clothes he wanted me to bring him (since he doesn’t have…

  • The Army Wife Chapters

    Week 20: Photolog – Army Girl

    I have become an Army girl. Like I’ve said before, a man in the military was always one of my turnoffs. So, sometimes the irony is overwhelming. Never in my wildest dreams did I see myself falling for an Army dude. And here I am, wearing his jacket, shirt, and hat. Never say never, my dears ; )

  • The Army Wife Chapters

    Week 19: The Difference a Year Can Make

    I’m a big journaler. This isn’t a surprise to anyone who knows me. Hawk actually handmade me a journal for my birthday last year because he knew it was something I would use and cherish – and I do.  So, it isn’t an unusual occurrence for me to randomly read some of my past journal entries. However, what is new is when I decided I wanted to read some to Hawk to reminisce about the day he asked me out. It’s comical now to reread all my thoughts and analytical wonderings and the insecurities that seemed to plague me during our “getting to know you as more than friends” on…

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