Home...

The unfortunate part of being particularly affectionate and attached to eachother (that is Jonathan and me) is that it doesn't lend itself to pulling out a camera and taking a lot of pictures.  Not because we're all that private but, really, we're much more occupied with living a lot of our moments than we are of capturing them on film/pixels.  Perhaps we should make room in the budget for a personal/family photographer to follow us through our precious moments...or just get a grip on life and just start clicking and flashing away.  (If someone has photos, please send and I will post.)

Good news is that I'm home and have been back at the McLean residence for about a week now.  Everybody jokingly asks me to rag on Jonathan about having to put the apartment back together after 9 months without a woman running the household...untrue, except for emptying the vacuum cleaner (which does help with its efficiency) and decreasing our "dry cleaners" budgeting envelope by taking up ironing again.  You can probably imagine but perhaps not fully comprehend the amount of gratitude I have for being home: the green grass and beautiful trees with crisp fall air, the independence of attire and schedule (at least until I go back to work), the ability and need to complete household tasks, and the chance to bask in the company of Jonathan and other family and friends we've been blessed to visit so far.

I will continue to write about things I learned while away (or because I was away), but one current and pressing lesson is about trusting in God and remembering to let anxiety and fears be his and not mine.  There are times when the weight of the transition back home and the soon-coming transition out of the Navy (no uniform, no free healthcare...) get the better of me, and fears about money, future endeavors coming nearer in time (new car, new apartment, new civilian job, possibly children) threaten to overwhelm me.  Jonathan has been so good to remind me of God's sovereignty and his goodness, even though he is facing these trials and changes with me.  One lesson Jon brought up was from one of John Hutchinson's sermons, from Luke 12:22-34 (just a few verses below to highlight):

"And he said to his disciples, "Therefore, I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat, nor about your body, what you will put on.  For life is more than food and the body more than clothing...

"And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?  If then you are not able to do as small a thing as that, why are you anxious about the rest?

"Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.  Sell your possessions, and give to the needy.  Provide yourself with moneybags that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail...For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also."

Greensboro, North Carolina

Southwards we did travel, through the great state of North Carolina. A little about my history: my first professional/college graduate/real world job was with Lincoln Financial in a professional development rotational program. They placed me in Greensboro for my first position. I was blessed to work with some wonderful people there, on the 10th floor of the Jefferson Pilot building:

It was a good place to work but it was 5 hours from my beloved Shelley. Of course that didn't keep us apart - many a weekend was spent traversing 95 from Gaithersburg, MD to Greensboro, NC. It's a long trip. Especially on July 4 weekend. But it was well worth it. It made surprises difficult but I still managed to pull a few off.

There were some enjoyable moments to the long year we spent long distance dating. We found fun places to hang out in vain attempts to stretch out the weekend hours.

So on our anniversary trip, we planned to swing by a few of our favorite Greensboro hotspots. If you ever find yourself down there, we cannot recommend these enough.

First, in the middle of the UNC Greensboro campus is the lovely hippie-magnet: Tate Street Coffee shop. Complete with homemade (excuse me, organic) art and equally creative coffee mixes that were delicious.

Apparently we were there for the 18 year anniversary. We have spent hours playing cards, sipping funky lattes, trying very hard not to laugh and point at the various clothing combinations on fellow patrons (ok that was just me, not Shelley), and listening to live music.

I also have to recommend another hippie hotspot. Also strangely decorated, this place has some delicious pizza. And an impressive beer selection. It's a chain so you may have experienced them elsewhere. Behold, Mellow Mushroom (the mushroom part may have been code for something, or just a pizza topping, I'm not sure):


Next stop: the largest private residence in America.

Day 3 (our Anniversary Trip remember?)

So I have been grossly negligent when it comes to posting those pictures from that anniversary trip we did earlier this year. I suppose I could blame the fact that the computer crashed but I really don't have an excuse. Anyway, our third day was spent half in Waynesboro and half in Williamsburg, Virginia. Some traveling thrown in too of course.

Here is where we stayed:Oh, look at these lovely people:

Sheepies, and Bassett Hall (city hall):
















This is the Bruton Parish Church with a cool clock (I want one of those...the clock i mean):





















The colonials definitely believed in guns, lots of them. This is my definition of diversity:




















And of course horses, furniture shops, and other farm animals (is this Williamsburg or Lancaster?):



































Well, I hope you enjoyed this step into the past as much as we did! I'm really excited about the next stop, it's dear to my heart because I have spent a considerable amount of time there. And there are some special memories too. Next post: further south!

Since our last broadcast...

Ladies and Gents, I apologize that it has been so long since we've opened up the blog to fill you in on anything.  And so much has happened!  I will give you a quick run-down and countdown and, in the process, try to promote a few products.

Count-down first: about 5 weeks until we land on US soil!  (If you can help it, don't send anymore packages and as little mail/letters as possible because time is short and mailing is less reliable now.)

Run-down (chronological order, not order of importance)

1. Purchased Toshiba Thrive from Amazon to replace the dying computer.  Tablets take some getting-used-to, but it works wonderfully for communication back home.

2. Baby niece was born! My sister, Emily, and her husband Bryan had a beautiful and red-headed baby girl on the 18th around 3:14 am - Genevieve Helen Siwicki! Thank goodness the Steelers won the game that weekend so Genevieve didn't get laughed at in her Black & Yellow onesy while in the nursery...

3. Read The Hunger Games trilogy and recommend it.  Very intense and thought provoking, well-written with a captivating plot.  My suggestion is to just pick it up and read it without researching it and reading more about it.  The surprise makes it that much more breath-taking.  Also read Poisonwood Bible on Abbie's suggestion and The Help as suggested by my fellow nurses here...both good, thoughtful and intriguing books.

This whole time, Jonathan and Reagan have been traveling and visiting around.  You'll hear more about their adventures later.

Done promoting and reviewing.  Hunkering down, preparing for home now.  As always, thank you for your continued support and prayers!

Small vs. Big

As a small business lender at a community bank, I find myself empathetic to the anti-big business or anti-big bank sentiments that I used to tune out. No, corporations are not really people, they are corporations. By definition a corporation is a business entity created by individuals and is governed by law and the tax code. They have powers separate from the originating individuals and corporate liabilities or obligations are isolated from the founders and shareholders.

But corporations are essentially composed of people. Forget complicated structures like off-shore shell corporations that don't have a location or legitimate purpose and think of GE, GM, and P & G. Thousands of jobs, hundreds of products or services, and global reach.

And the success or failure of corporations directly impact a lot of people in very tangible ways.

But corporations are not created equal: there are big ones, small ones, and some as big as your head. Big companies don't descend from space overnight, they are grown slowly over decades (ignore Google please) and usually start as a small operation. Somewhere along the way, they sometimes lose touch with reality and the real people they serve.

This happens a lot in the banking world; for a humorous example, watch this commercial:



In the Washington Post today (yes I occasionally venture across the aisle read the Post) there was a whiny article about Capital One's impending merger with ING. If you've never heard of either, don't worry they're just big banks. But there was one good point in the article:

"What does concern me, however, is that even more of the nation’s bank deposits will be channeled to small businesses through corporate credit cards rather than through loans made by flesh-and-blood bankers. Why is that important? Simply put, because only bankers with deep understanding of industries, communities and customers can be relied on not to push cheap and easy loans during credit booms and then abruptly cut off credit lines or raise rates at the first sign of economic trouble."

I'm not sure what my point is...maybe that flesh-and-blood bankers are better than zombie bankers? Later in the article the point is made that there is such a thing as too many corporate (well, bank) consolidations and at some point it needs to stop. My thought is that the market will sort it out and that is by far preferable then an less than appealing congressman pretending he knows better.

At least bankers with blood hug their customers. Well, I really don't get hugs from bakery owners (or any business owner really...).

Kids do say the darndest things:

The Americans say:  "This is our country, okay!"
"Stand back, you fools." and
"Don't cross the line."
The Outsiders say: "Darn."
"No fair.", and "Meanies."

We receive boxes of cards from kids back in the US, classes full of little patriots who want to encourage us in our work.  This is a prime example of the joy we receive.  I thank God every day for the encouragement he gives, whether it be through my husbands many love letters and surprises, my sisters' weekly or monthly letters and cookies, my amazing care group and friends at church, through the news of so many babies being brought into this world, or through the incredible cards these sweet children write.

Thank you again, all of you, for your support, love, care, and humor.  God bless you in this time.

Exercise! Exercise!

Exercise, exercise: Mass Casualty.  I say again - exercise, exercise: Mass Casualty.

 

Dr. Menzies directing in the ER

"Mass Casualty:  Any large number of casualties produced in a relatively short period of time, usually as the result of a single incident such as a military aircraft accident, hurricane, flood, earthquake, or armed attack that exceeds local logistical support capabilities."

At our hospital, we consider this to be 5 patients at once with severe or traumatic injuries.  Since all of the nurses tend to eat dinner together (5-7 total), we like to come back from the chow hall into Casualty Receiving (ER), lay on the ER gurneys, and yell out "Mass Casualty" because there are so many of us!  Of course, its for our own amusement and that of the nurse, corpsman, and doctor working in the CasRec that night.

But we do have "real" mass casualty exercises, base-wide, in the case that all heck breaks loose and we're triaging at the door, a scene similar to the lipstick-marking of LT Evelyn Johnson (ie. Kate Beckinsdale) in Pearl Harbor.  Red = immediate (OR or ER care), yellow = delayed (inpatient), green = walking wounded (clinic patients), and black.  You can guess black; chaplains and mental health oversee the "black" category.

Included are a few pictures from my perspective as a nurse in the Casualty Receiving area.  We have a great team here, a huge range of skills and wonderful (truly) personalities. 

 

HM1 Mowry (radiology tech) with LTJG Rogers



Dr. Menzies teaching in the Trauma Bay

The girls!  (LT Maura Adams, LTJG Rachel White, me, and LTJG Sarah Rogers)





Deployment

Deploy (as per dictionary.com): 1. Military . to spread out (troops) so as to form an extended front or line. 2. to arrange in a position of readiness, or to move strategically or appropriately: to deploy a battery of new missiles.

I realize this many times each week while I work here that I have it pretty good, all things considered.  When I say "all things considered," this is what I have in mind, what I am thankful for considering those I take care of and work with:

- This is my first deployment, and probably my only deployment while on active duty in the United States Navy.  There are Army folks here who have been deployed 3-4 times...and they've only been in the Army for 4-6 years and are sometimes less than 25 years old.
- I am deployed to Kuwait, appropriately called "Camp Cupcake" in comparison to the hospitals and destinations closer to the front lines.  I am safe and the threats here are almost all "potential" and not actual, ear-deafening, duck-and-cover threats.
- While leaving a husband and puppy behind (of which I am always sad about), I am not leaving children behind and, as yet, have an extremely intact family back home which I don't have to worry about...except for those carrying pregnancies and giving birth while I'm out here!
- While cafeteria food isn't for the gourmet chef's palate, it beats MRE's by far.

What I am trying to say, essentially, is that I am thankful and in awe.  While it is always difficult to be away from my husband, away from home, and somewhat alone here in the dessert, I am surrounded by folks who have much more strife, many more worries, and much less time back home.  Please pray for our soldiers, sailors, and marines as they deploy around the world.  Pray for their well-being, for their health, for their wives, husbands, and children (and parents too, of course).  They sacrifice all of that, whether with courage and patriotism or not, for the defense of our country and the Constitution.  And sometimes they grow weary of it, just like everyone else experiences "burnout" in their regular jobs.  Pray for strength for them (and us) to carry out their missions well, and to look to the Lord for perseverance.

No opposable thumbs, but she can skype.

Do you see the laptop at her paws?

For those of you who didn't know, Jon and I have a dog.  She's a Blenheim-colored Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, now about a year old, whose name is Reagan Liberty Reimer.  I apologize for not yet introducing her, partly because she isn't with us on most of our adventures; those bed and breakfasts aren't always pet-friendly, and neither are hours of driving for a road trip.

The idea of having a dog started off about last March, and part of the concept behind it was to have a companion at home for me on my days off and for Jonathan, if and when I got deployed.  And here we are (the when, not the if)...and Reagan is Jon's miniature furry follower for all things at home.  We are so thankful for her, and thankful for all of our family and friends who help us take care of her (when Jon needs a break or has to travel) and invite Jonathan and Reagan over for company. 

Dogs aren't necessarily man's best friend...that's the role I play.  However, she's a blessing to us, and we are so very thankful for God's creation of furry little creatures without opposable thumbs.

Baby of the Family

Shelley is the baby of her family (the youngest of her siblings) and therefore pictures of her exist. Unlike me who suffered through a childhood fraught with photographic neglect. Yes, it is a fact that there are more pictures of my sisters then there are of me.

Now of course the Mitchells have posted more pictures of Adeline then have ever been taken of me in my whole life.

Anyway, my point is there are some wonderful moments with Shelley and our niece:

One of the most important moments...

Other than being with my husband for the first time in 5 months, the second thing I had been looking forward to the most was meeting my baby niece, Adeline, who was born on the exact day that I landed "boots on ground" in Kuwait (February 22nd). 

Charles and Charissa were kind enough to bring her down to our place before we even left for the beach.  They walked in the door, said hello, and handed her off to me for the long-awaited and hugely important moment of meeting my niece.  It was wonderful, and I look forward to her wonderfulness for the next many many years.  All the pictures are with everybody else holding her because, strangely enough, you can't hold a baby and take a picture at the same time (or you shouldn't try too hard). 

My personal favorite

Butterflies

Butterflies are one of the smallest yet most beautiful things in creation.  Jonathan took me to the butterfly garden within Brookgreen Gardens in South Carolina, and we also saw lots of them in the gardens of Hillwood.

If you've never heard of Hillwood Estate, Museum, and Gardens, it's the last home/mansion of Marjorie Merriweather Post (Marjorie Merriweather Post Close Hutton Davies May), the heiress of the Post cereal fortune.  She was a funny lady, very popular, living and partying among the Vanderbilts and other wealthy families of the day.  She also married...4 times, the last when she was 71, and she managed to divorce him before she died.  And her daughters, all three, were married at least 3 times each.  Just an interesting bunch of facts. 

Despite the dismal family tree, the estate is beautiful and peaceful, and situated in north east DC, somewhere behind all of the ambassadors' houses.  We didn't know such a treasure existed so close!

An Entertainment Oops.

We've all done it, if not more than once.  Everybody wants to go see a certain movie, so you join in on the hype (even if not enthusiastically) and go as a big group to the big show, partly to see the movie but also to join in on the sense of camaraderie.  And then you realize you've made a poor entertainment choice when you can't stop cringing or being appalled that anyone would be so bold as to put such crude material on the movie screen.

Perhaps I'm old school, naive, or my sense of etiquette and decorum haven't been updated since I was ten, but I was quite upset at myself for sitting the entire way through Bridesmaids.

Some of you are saying "you should've known" after seeing the poster or realizing what else the producers had made.  I can't make an excuse for myself; the trailer looked relatively humorous.  If you've already realized this is going to be a small rant on society and a bit of a movie review, you can skip reading if you'd like because you won't miss much.  But if you're curious, here are a few tid-bits on this disaster.

First, I have a theory for you.  I was told this movie was a female version of "The Hangover" (a male-oriented comedy), only "worse."  It is a show in how females can out-do males in their masculine-type humor.  Why do they feel this is necessary?  It's like the female cop being the toughest and meanest on the squad.  It's about women trying to show-up men on things, be it humor or line of work, that usually have a male stereotype.  This movie went OVER the top to prove itself in its male-worthy disgustingness.

(Side-note, not all males enjoy male-humor.  Please know I don't mean to stereotype all men as the types who like bodily fluid, sex, and drinking (etc.) centered entertainment.)

Second, I dislike most movies on marriage and weddings because of the cultural implications that marriage weighs you down, is boring, and should be avoided until age 35+, once you've had all of the affairs and adventures you were sure you needed prior to imprisonment.  I will admit this movie doesn't go into the marriage aspect that much, for which I am thankful. 

Third, as my one friend who agreed that the movie was terrible complained of, the main character was a wreck.  There are people you feel for when they're a wreck, those who are out of luck or times have turned or are just struggling.  Then there are the people who can't get themselves onto their feet because they sit in a mud puddle, (by choice) and feel badly enough about themselves to make everyone around them have a miserable time at it as well.  And she's the heroine!  I guess I should quit my job (or try to get fired), go back to my parents, and make rude comments about how my car problems are some one else's fault, and I can be the wonderwoman of an entertainment plot!

I want to warn you that Bridesmaids is an over-the-top disgusting, morally agonizing "entertainment oops" of mine that you should avoid, even if you had the inkling to see just for fun.  Not even as a rental, not even if it's free.  And the hardest part is that many of my female counterparts out here...they said they couldn't stop laughing and thought "it was the best movie they'd ever seen."  I don't understand.  Your choices in entertainment do somewhat define you, or at least shape and inform you.  Remember that when you sit down to watch the next flick in your Netflix line-up.

Lessons Learned

I'm back!  I was stopped in the airport, in uniform, by a kind older gentleman who said hello and followed that with the question of "Are you coming back from R & R?"  A bit surprised that someone would recognize that being a reason for travel, I nodded politely and his response was "Yep, you have that look."  What is that look?  Perhaps the look of sadness and bewilderment, having left home and embarking on a long 24 hours of travel.  Or perhaps I looked so refreshed after my vacation...

It was relaxing and absolutely wonderful.  Jon and I will share tidbits of that with pictures over the next few weeks, so look for that.  And as with our anniversary trip posts, these ones may be delayed and out of order as well.  Our apologies, but our brains function without concern for chronology.

So, back to the title, "lessons learned."  It's a term used for debriefing (whoa, military term) after one has gone through training or an event.  This event, travel with the Army.  Please enjoy and, if you're in the Army, laugh with me and don't take it personally.

Lesson #1, a joke: What sound do you hear when an Army person is either dressing or undressing?  Velcro.

If you've seen the dessert uniforms, you will know that almost every pocket and closure is secured with velcro.

Lesson #2, a second joke: Why do you refrain from giving an Army person something, say a bus or plane ticket, too far in advance?  Because they lose it easily.  And why do they lose it?  They have too many pockets in their uniforms.  While waiting in line, I decided to evaluate the Army uniforms pockets: 8 pockets in the PANTS alone (a pair for each ankle, buttock, waist, and hip) and another 6 in the blouse, not including the countless "pen" pockets.  Incredible.  Our uniforms are not nearly so useful.

And lastly, Lesson #3: Travel pillows look ridiculous, but are absolutely necessary when traveling solo.

Not mine...mine is hunting-orange and velour.

On the flight there, I was leaned on by an enormous Army fellow who really should've had one to prevent the leaning.  It helps you stay upright, rather than get too comfortable with the soldier on either side, and for ladies with buns, it tucks right underneath and keeps the bun intact while sleeping.  It isn't perfect, but it is necessary when you don't have a spouse you can lean on, literally.

Anyhow, enough silliness.  Jonathan and I had great adventures while on leave.  Praise the Lord, he was able to take off the whole two weeks to be with me.  I couldn't do my job without his support and love.  

Leaving, on a jet plane!

PACKED!

Tonight is the start of a long trip home for "rest and recuperation" leave.  Not that I wanted to be gone on a long deployment, but once you get beyond a certain number of days, the military figures it should let you home to see your family, and I agree with that sentiment.

It was suggested by a fellow Navy person that I think of R&R just as a vacation, just like taking regular leave to go on a trip, not as "going home" because, at the end of it, I have to come back, which is basically like coming back to work.  That being said, I will try to train my mind as such, and I think Jonathan is helping me with that by planning all kinds of adventures and trips so its more like vacation than just hanging out at home (though I'd be perfectly content doing that, as well).  You'll see the results of that planning throughout the rest of the month, I am sure.

The interesting part of traveling is having to do it in uniform.  If you've ever worn a uniform in a public place, you understand the amount of stares and gaped jaws that are directed at you.  And then there is the public gratitude, which takes a lot of getting used to when my view is that what I do here is my job.  So to those people who thank service members in the airport and serve us by praying for, writing to, encouraging, and volunteering with organizations that support us, thank you so much.

Please continue to pray for us during this time, that both Jonathan and I would be able to rest and relax, that we would find rest in the Lord, that we would meditate on his word and be filled anew every day we are together.  Pray also that we would be given the strength and the grace to continue handling this length of time, to continue caring for one another even when we are having trouble ourselves.  Thank you for continuing to look out for us, family and friends, and supporting us through this deployment.  I realize it more every day, that God is good and does good.  We are so very blessed!

So I have a small confession to make, which seems appropriate for 12:15 am. Some of you may already know this about me, but I have a weakness for medium quality science fiction shows. I also enjoy fantasy stuff, like Lord of the Rings (the highest quality in the genre). Lately I've been watching the Legend of the Seeker. The premise and plot can be cheesy at times, but there are several underlying themes, some of which are almost biblical. This series is based on a book by Terry Goodkind (which I have not read, so if any purists are reading this cut me a break).

The medieval settings in which these worlds take place are typical: pastural landscapes, helpless village-folk, endless bad guys in scary uniforms (often faceless), and a few heroes who are always immensely outnumbered and unrealistically attractive. Ok, hobbits are not exactly the most attractive heroes, but stick with me. Think of Orlando Bloom and Cate Blanchett.

But one thing I really enjoy about these shows is the way in which they extrapolate intangible human problems and make them palpable. Frodo's ring overpowers him and corrupts him absolutely, in the same way that sin slowly leads to death (James 1:15). In the Seeker, the hero Richard Cypher must conquer rage, lust, and greed on a daily basis or his life and the very fate of his world are at stake! In reality these evils, these sins do have incredibly serious consequences but we often gloss over them in our skin-deep lives. Granted, a whole village of innocent people may not die because of our sin, but we do have to take it much more seriously than we usually do. Ignoring or glossing over the way sin erodes our conscience, distances us from our Creator, and harms our earthly relationships is about as useless as a rabbit thinking that sitting still is an effective ruse against my Cavalier.

Ok I'll stop pontificating with poor metaphors. More anniversary trip pictures on the way!

It's not even December.

The yearly Navy vs. Army academy football game comes the first weekend in December each year.  However, for all other days of the year, the Army and Navy co-exist on many bases and  in many countries around the world without a problem.  Usually.

I decided to pick up running while I've got the time and gym accessibility out here.  I've been practicing, and by that I mean working on my speed and distance with fairly consistent commitment.  With that, I try to jump on every 5k race they hold here.  It is NOT for the t-shirts, because as I've found out with one washing, they fall apart like stale cookies crumble.  Anyhow, I ran a 5k this last Saturday for Armed Forces Day.  Nearing the end of the race, to join with the "Armed Forces" theme, some short Army kid decided to encourage his battle buddy (the Navy's "shipmate", the Air Force's "wingman") to finish the 5k by saying loudly to him but in my general direction: "Are you gonna let a Navy female beat you?" 

What would you do?  Most Navy people asked if I ramped it up and kicked some Army black shorts; however, I made the decision not to.  Having done a long distance run the day before and considering the unforgiving Kuwaiti sun already rising to 90 degrees by 6 am, I decided my pride wasn't worth a bodily beat-down.  It is amusing, though, how a swishing ponytail will stir up pride in men who realize a girl is about to take away some small bit of their dignity, especially in front of their battle buddies.

I am so thankful to have a husband who is delightfully non-competitive, who is happier doing something with and beside me rather than speeding ahead of me, whether it be reading, playing Scrabble, or anything at all. 

Day 2: Monticello

So catch up with us on our first anniversary trip: the first night was spent in Harpers Ferry, WV. The next morning we left for Monticello, home of Thomas Jefferson. Our favorite part were the tiered gardens. We highly recommend visiting in the spring, summer or fall when the scenery is more alive if you will. Enjoy the pictures!
Next stop: sleepy town of Waynesboro. Not much to do there except visit a lovely bed and breakfast!

Of note and rather unfortunately, the United States and its historical societies never own the entire property, and people are picky what you take pictures of, so no indoor pictures.  Bummer, but a delightful experience and exercise in the genious of Thomas Jefferson.

Made for Each Other

It took a few glances for people to understand that I wasn't putting names on these two camels.  I thought about it, but these two weren't meant as children's toys, however silly they may look.  And now one is in DC with Jonathan, and one is here with me.  I thought long and hard whether I should put on them what our wedding rings say: "My Love" and "My Beloved" (from Song of Songs) and decided that was too much and too private for me to put on a public sheet being passed around for orders.  But that's what I really meant to say with these silly camels.

The book Jonathan and I are reading, "What did you expect?" by Paul Tripp, relates marriage to gardening, in that when you see a beautiful garden, the correct assumption is that there is a lot of hard work that goes in to making it look so vibrant.  The gardening involves both clearing the ground at the start, weeding out the harmful and ugly plants, and planting the desired plants in place of those weeds...and weeding, and watering, and planting, etc.  This is the way we're trying to view our marriage.  As easy as it may be to say "well, we're far apart so it's hard to grow close" or in other cases "well, we'll have more time when we're both done with school" or "once we're through the infant stage, we'll try harder at our romance," we honestly desire to see our marriage and love for one another grow and are trying to leave behind any excuse we'd like to (and would in many ways be justified to) make.  So please pray for us and our marriage, and we will be lifting up those marriages around us at the same time.  God is good, and he is good all the time.

Explanation: the camels are sewn from the material of the uniform that I wear to work here.  Of note, this same material may be seen on various non-US military organizations because it is the old Vietnam era style, as I have been told.  This is what the Navy gives its people when they send us to work with the Army.  Hooah.

Side note: Yes, Adeline has her own similar camel.  See the adorable Niece Adeline with her sweet baby rolls and giggly smiles where Charles and Charissa post most of their pictorial memories for all of us enjoy.

1st Day, 1st Year

So one of our thoughts behind this blog was to share our anniversary photos with everyone. In case you didn't know, we did a whirlwind tour of the Virginia and North Carolina countryside. With a few other states thrown in.

While we don't necessarily need reasoning behind a romantic getaway, our reasons for this type of trip were the following: 1) We like bed and breakfast inns, 2) there are alot of relatively local destinations that we had not visited, 3) after a cruise honeymoon, we needed something a little more low key.

Our first stop was Harpers Ferry, WV. As you can tell by the pictures, the most exciting thing in the town was our inn. Granted it was January, so nothing was open, but it's still a pretty sleepy town.

Our accommodations consisted of a remodeled first level of a barn, believe it or not. There was a little counter, a fridge, a stone-tiled bathroom, and way too many decorations. Besides the stink bugs, the B&B was quite lovely. And as you can see, they liked Coke memorabilia and silly puns.

.