The Best is Yet To Be!!

"As a new year begins and we try to benefit from a proper view of what has gone before, I plead with you not to dwell on days now gone nor to yearn vainly for yesterdays, however good those yesterdays may have been. The past is to be learned from but not lived in. We look back to claim the embers from glowing experiences but not the ashes. And when we have learned what we need to learn and have brought with us the best that we have experienced, then we look ahead and remember that faith is always pointed toward the future. Faith always has to do with blessings and truths and events that will yet be efficacious in our lives."
Elder Jeffrey R. Holland
Jan Ensign 2010

Yep..It's one of those days

I swore I was not that girl and that it would never be me. I'm better than that. I'm stronger then that. I will keep my brave face on and continue to help everyone else and be happy while I do it, in spite of the pain my heart is going through. But I guess everyone is entitled to a day of wallowing right? Not me. Or so I thought. I am not here to complain by anymeans. I hate complainers and I have no right to complain about anything. Anyone who really knows Shayne and I knows that we are Best Friends, Soul Mates, Eternal Companions. We do everything together and share all of our secrets with each other. We love to stay up in bed laughing the night away..who cares how late it is or what time we have to wake up in the morning? We love doing spontaneous things, we love long car trips together, especially if we have great music that we can turn up and sing at the top of our lungs to. Who cares how we sound?! We love dancing together no matter how silly we look, thumbs up and all! ;) We love just being together even if we are both sitting on the couch reading a book. Bottome line, we are together. Like it or not, we are a package deal and that's how it will always be. And then I suddenly realized he has been gone nearly 8 months and it has been way too long since we have had the chance to enjoy any of those things. It hurts. Bad. Don't get me wrong, I am proud of my Soldier and grateful for the blessings, the friends and the opportunities we would not have had otherwise that being in the Military has brought us. But this time that we have been apart has made me realize how much we have missed out on. How much he has missed, especially his little boy growing. Has it been worth it? I am not trying to offend anyone, but we are not lifers. We can't be. We are not cut out for this being apart business. We knew that the first Summer he left for training. I don't want to just get used to my Sweetheart being gone because that is part of life. I need him all the time. Is that too much to ask? I don't care if we have to go to living the poor life. It would be worth it to have him home all the time. I can hardly contain my excitement about him coming home for a visit in a couple weeks, but I can't help thinking that it is only for 15 days and it is gonna go by fast. I know I sound like a whiner but I know he feels the same way. We are supposed to be together and do things together all the time and I can't wait until the day he is 100% mine again. I just miss him. That's all.

Let The Count Down Begin!!

I feel like I have a whole months worth of stuff to catch up on when in reality it's only about 2 weeks!! We finally came home from Bozeman and immediately got started decorating and preparing for Christmas!!! We broke down and bought an artificial tree that took way too long to put together! I'm not the pro yet like my Mom and sisters! Payson and I had a good time decorating it! He would cheer after each time he put another ornament on the tree!
One Sunday morning before church he noticed one had fallen off and quickly had to replace it!
We had the pleasure of having Ashley come up and spend Christmas with us! We had so much fun with her and can't wait for her to come back!!

Payson's first present was from Gramma Jen and Grampa Terry. We had to remind him there were lots more presents to open!!

Santa brought us cereal with our stockings and Payson was trying to sneak off with Mommy's!

This is just a random cute picture that Ash snapped of Payson! I can't get enough of this kid!!

We had alot of fun decorating cookies..even after Payson dumped out all of the sprinkles!

He really liked the frosting!

After hula hooping on the Wii Fit at the Gappmayer's we took a little trip to Manitou and found this giant Hula hoop! Ya...I still got it!

Payson even took a turn on the Wii!

It had snowed the day Ashley came to town so of course we had to go sledding!! Payson preferred to just play in it rather than sled!

Payson thought this was less scary than flying down the hill.

I swear it was fun!

Ashley and Payson's turn!!

Ashley and I decided it would be fun to go out at almost midnight and build a snowman...well the wind was blowing and it was freezing and all we got was a big hump!! All the snow is melted but that sweet hump is still in my yard!!

Thesme are a few random pics that I did not include in my last post! While we were in Bozeman we got to go to Em's first Basketball game as a Lady Hawk!!

Payson didn't want to wait for us to dish him some ice cream...Think I could sell this to Wilcoxen's to use as advertising?!?

And of course super exciting news....We got to see SETH AND JAYNE over break!! It had been a year and a half since we have seen them and it was SO GREAT to be with them again and be able to finally meet Ollie. t was just like old times being together again and I cannot wait for it to happen again! We are so blessed to have such amazing friends!

OH and I cut off all of my hair!

Payson and I were just doing a little dancing while we decorated!!

And the best news of all is SHAYNE COMES HOME THIS MONTH!!! I have waited 7 months to say that. Well he is only coming home for his mid tour leave but at least we get to see him for a bit!!! The countdown has begun and he should be home on the 25th!!! Thanks again to everyone for all of the wonderful Christmas gifts and for helping these last months fly by!!