just around the corner

Today marks the 3 week mark that Jason has been gone. Boy, do I miss him. I haven't actually talked to him in 2 full weeks. I've gotten a couple random texts and a couple letters, but no voice. This weekend is the start of the next busy 7 weeks ahead. Saturday is a baby shower I am throwing for my dear friend, next weekend we are having a "Daughters of the King" night with our junior high and high school girls from church, the following Friday we leave for Nebraska. Paige and I will be staying for 3 weeks! I am so excited to get to spend some extra time with my siblings! I leave Nebraska April 3 and fly to Denver to my sister in law's house then we are driving home to AZ then 8 days later we are flying to Georgia to see Jason graduate!!! I am really looking forward to the time passing quickly. I am excited for all of it, but most of all, I want to see Jason. Thank you for your continued prayers for our family. They have sure helped! April is just around the corner! :)

gettin' gRoovy

Getting back into the groove of everyday life is a little rough. This week felt a little more normal, but the nights are still hard...not just for me but for Paige as well. I made her a blanket out of Army material and she snuggles up with that every night along with her hand-sized Army guy that she calls "daddy". She is slowly adjusting to him being gone and constantly reminds me that "daddy is at his new job. he's in Georgia". It's so sweet. 7 1/2 weeks cannot come fast enough! :) I decided to make Paige a graduation outfit out of pink camo. She loves it!
We have gotten 3 letters so far and he said there are more on the way! I am so thankful he is writing! :) It has really begun to fill the gap in our day to day talking. I am really really looking forward to being able to just pick up the phone and call him...whenever I want!

Paige and I have been so blessed to have amazing family and friends nearby. They have really supported us through all of this and it is so comforting!

We would love continued prayer for our family as we go through the next 5 months and for Jason's safety. He has really amazed me with the boldness he has shown to other men in his unit...witnessing to them. When the guys get angry about stuff, Jason quickly reminds them that getting angry is not going to fix it! I am so proud of him! We are so thankful that God has given us this opportunity to spread His word and so proud that Jason is taking it and sharing! God is SO good!

the first week

Well, we are approaching the one week mark. It's been a long week...lots of tears (from me and Paige). We are still trying to get into a groove without daddy. Just feel a little lost without him home. I have been very fortunate to have Jason's sister here from Colorado and she has stayed with me. She has helped so much! Her hubby is in the Army as well, so she's been through all of this. I never knew I could miss him this much in such a short time! We are so used to texting and talking every day and now...nothing. It has been 2 1/2 days since we have talked. I pray all day long for his safety (and a phone call to reassure that). God has been so good to us and I am surrounded by special friends and wonderful family! I have begun the clearing out process and I am going through stuff and packing things we don't use or need. I get excited to think about being with Jason again and knowing that at the end of these 20 weeks, we will be moving together! I pack some stuff and it clears my mind...sometimes I cry, but I know that God is there to comfort me and I feel his embrace. Thank you, Lord.

the hardest thing...

Saying good-bye is never easy. I never knew it could be this hard. Watching Jason say good-bye to Paige and telling her "he was going to bring her a star" was so hard to watch. (Paige refers to the Army logo as "daddy's new star") We were so glad to be able to spend a little extra time with him when they changed his flight plan. When we said good-bye, we knew it wasn't forever, but in the 11 years we have been together, this is the longest we have been apart. I know that he will work hard to earn his phonecalls and I have already started writing letters. Coming back home was harder than I every anticipated. Seeing his boots by the door that he had worn just a few days before and his pillow just as he'd left it was the hardest thing to deal with. Being home for over 9 hours, I can't seem to really get myself together. I know this time will go fast (or I pray it will), but it doesn't stop the ache. I am SO proud of Jason and all that he is going to accomplish and I am praying for him and our family daily. I am more in love with him than I have ever been and I am so lucky to be married to such a wonderful man! I thank God each and every day for our marriage. I want to thank everyone who has been praying for us. We have definately felt them!

The Final DayZ

Wow! I cannot believe that the time is SO close for Jason to leave. We have enjoyed this week off together and have cherished the time as a family. We are so thankful for all of God's provisions during this time in our lives. While Jason is gone, I have decided that I am going to get myself into sewing. I have planned several projects to hopefully make the 9 weeks go by as quickly as possible. I pray that Paige will be able to adjust to all of these new changes and can be at ease with all of the family that is still here. I am SO thankful for my family and my dear friends that have been so supportive during this time. I know that it is going to be one of the hardest things we will have to endure, but I know that with my Savior and Friend, our family will make it through and He will comfort me when I'm down. Please keep our family in your prayers during this time and we will keep everyone posted!

couNt dowN

Well, we are in the final weeks before Jason heads to Basic Training. We have been getting things in order for the time he is away. We have been so blessed to have great friends and family around for support, which makes leaving for Jason a little bit "easier". God has given us both a peace about the separation and we pray it goes quickly. We thank all of you who have been praying for us and this new adventure and we are looking forward to what God has in store for our family and wherever He takes us, we will follow!

Well, it's official. We are in the Army! Jason reports for Basic Combat Training February 1, 2010! He is going to Ft. Benning, Georgia for 9 weeks and then goes to Ft. Sill, Oklahoma for his job training for another 10 weeks. July 1 he will be finished and we will report to our first duty station (which we don't know yet). We are very excited for this exciting change! God has opened all of the doors for all of this and we are so thankful! Please keep us in your prayers as we go through these next several months and I will keep you all updated! Thank you!

meRRy ChRistMas

Where has 2009 gone? I can't believe that it is already Christmas again! What a year we have had! We are so thankful for our families and friends. God has richly blessed us each and every year! Looking forward to see where we will be this time in 2010!

SepTemBer To oCtoBer

These last several weeks have been actually, pretty boring! Our lives are pretty mundane this time of year! Our weeks consist of church on Sunday, Bible study on Sunday night, young families group on Mondays, AWANA on Wednesdays and Friday nights with friends.

The past several weeks, Jason has been very seriously considering joining the U.S. Army! He is in the beginning stages - lots of testing and physical screenings. As scary as it seems, we are very excited! We have completely put it in God's hands and if it His will, the right doors will open! Please be praying for our family with many decisions to be made and especially for Jason who is going to be under alot of stress! I am SO proud of him! He is so determined to provide for our family and future!

Jason's brother in law is in the Army as well and at the end of the month his sister is moving to Colorado Springs to be with her husband! Paige and I will be going along to help her move! This month has been devoted to spending time with her and Dylan, her son who is Paige's age, before they leave!


Well, that being our only exciting news, there isn't much to report! :) Here are some pics from the last weeks!

Paige & Dylan - 2 years old

2 years old (already)

Summer and 2!

This summer has been a very big summer for us! We have been keeping cool in the pool! Paige took 3 weeks of swimming lessons and our local pool! We did the parent/tot class to get her used to being in the water without touching! :) She was amazing! She loves going under the water! My dad came with us a few times and she would "dive" under water and get balls from him and various other things! Her favorite thing to do is jump in the pool, climb out, and jump in again. We did lots of that.
Along with swimming lessons, Paige decided she wanted to go potty in the big potty! That was about a month ago and now we are totally in big girl panties (except at night, of course)! It has been quite an experience!
July 31, Paige got her very first haircut! It was mainly a trim, but a haircut nonetheless! :)
August 1, we celebrated Paige's 2nd birthday with a big party! (I know, I know, she's only 2) It was so much fun! We had a small pool party and lots of people over for a BBQ and cake and ice cream and, or course, presents!