It is not a muzzle!!

This is not a muzzle, it is called a gentle leader. It is to help prevent the dog from pulling. If you see a dog wearing this, don't be afraid because it has nothing to do with the dog being viscous. This will not prevent a dog from biting a person!

This is by far one of the best inventions ever. Because Duke is so strong it is almost impossible for me to walk him without this. And because Duke is so STUBBORN, he still can pull me, but I just have more control.

Duke absolutely hates the gentle leader and usually hides in a corner when he sees me bring it out. While on our walks or runs he attempts several times to get it off, but is not successful. I feel bad about putting it on sometimes, but even though he hates having it on, his tail wags like crazy the entire time we are walking or running.

I am hoping that the older Duke gets, he will put 2 and 2 together and figure out that if he stops pulling he will not have to wear it. But that will probably take awhile especially because he is so stubborn.
Until that happens though he will continue to have to wear this because I don't want to end up with another broken arm from walking a dog! And Duke needs to be exercised to keep him out of trouble!

Grace in Small Things

#1. A busy week at work! Love that because the week just flies by and that brings me one week closer to Joey coming home! We are now under the 50 day mark-Yippee!

#2. Talking to Joey at his brigade via video conference. It was so great to see him, but very diffcult to say good-bye!

#3. We are now in May and I can finally say that Joey will be home next month!! Can't wait!!!!!!!!

#4. Cutting the grass with Duke. He is my little helper and it tires him out because he is running all around! Here is a picture of his paws all grass stained!


#5. Getting up 3 times to run before work! I had a super busy week and was exhausted by the the time Friday came, but very proud of myself for pushing myself to get up!

#6. Thursday night T.V. I love that night and then the next day is Friday!

#7. Going to the Chiropractor. My neck does not feel as tense anymore.

You never know what path life may take you on.....

When I was a little girl, I used to imagine what life for me would be like when I grew up. And I think like most little girls, I used to dream about what it would be like to fall in love and marry that one person that you just absolutely cannot live without! Then the older I got I wondered if that dream would really come true and if there really was that one guy out there for me.

Well at age 25 little did I know that my soul mate would be a guy I happened to be pretty good friends with for awhile. Joey and I met on a church retreat back when I was 17 years old. Little did I know that when I met him, he would be the man of my dreams and the man I marry. I remember having a crush on him then and several other times during our friendship, but never acted on it. I was way to shy. But New Years Eve 2007 was the magical night that we became Joey and Melissa. It just happened, looking back I see now that things were building before that night, but just never wanted to admit it.

Now after being married to him for almost a year and half, looking back at that night still gives me butterflies. I wish I could bottle up that moment forever so that it never fades. That night to me was one of the most perfect nights I have ever had.

What brings this up is that today I got to see Joey for the first time since he has left for Iraq. They offer this video telephone conference to families to help them stay in touch when one is deployed. Well I took full advantage of it this morning. I woke up at 4:30 a.m. just a bundle of nerves just like I was when Joey and I first started dating.

Obviously, things are much different now, we are married but our marriage is not the typical marriage you imagine having when you are a little girl. In the entire three and half years we have been together, we have also been apart quite bit. We of course hate it, but the one positive that being apart brings is that we really end up appreciating each other and what we have. At times in our relationship I know I have taken things for granted. And it wasn't until we were apart for the first time for a good amount of time did I realize this. Now the saying, "you don't know what you have until it's gone," really hits home.

Well this morning, as I waited until it was time for me to leave to go to our meeting, I was just a bundle full of nerves. I was excited, nervous, insecure, and had a stomach full of butterflies at the thought of getting to see him. And when I first saw him he took my breath away and I just started to cry. I knew I missed him without having to see him, but seeing him just made me realize just how much I miss him. It was so great to see him and once my nerves calmed, we had a great 30 minutes. And just like that new years night I wanted to bottle up this moment too.

As I have finally started to adapt to Joey being gone, I have found a routine and so far it is working to help pass my days until he comes back home to me. But, as great as it was to see him, it was also very hard. Seeing him just made me miss him even more if that is possible. And as my morning went on, I could feel myself deflating. It was almost like I was back to ground zero again, trying to figure out how to go on without him here with me. And honestly, today I did not do a very good job of staying strong, today I hid. Until tonight I just got sick of myself and decided that I was not being fair to Duke. So as hard as it was, I got myself out of my P.J's put on some workout cloths and took Duke to this school by our house to play fetch in the huge field. It felt great because he was just so excited, which made me realize why I have to be strong because not only does Joey need me, but so does Duke. Everyday is a struggle and this is by far one of the hardest things I have ever done, but I will keep on fighting. Because everyday that passes is one day closer to Joey returning home.

So back to being a little girl and dreaming of the man I would marry someday and the life we would live. I can honestly say I never imagined I would be living the life I am, but Joey is just the man I hoped and dreamed I would marry someday. Now this next month and half needs just just hurry on by so I can get the man of my dreams back home where he belongs!

My little sister is ENGAGED!!

So after dating Brandon for almost 4 years, Katy got engaged this past Sunday! As we were all kinda of expecting it to happen, I still am in shock. The reason being is she is my baby sister and I remember the day she was born and now she is engaged to be married! Feels like not to long ago I was riding my bike around the neighborhood passing out pink gum cigars announcing her arrival. And now I am announcing her engagement!

Even though I am still kinda in a state of shock, I am so VERY happy for the two of them! Katy couldn't of found a better man to become her husband! Even though I have thought of Brandon as part of our family already, its nice to make it official.

Congratulations to you both! Can't wait to share in this very special experience with you guys! Enjoy every moment of it, even the planning, because it goes by way to fast!

We love you both!

My fingers are crossed...

Along with lots of praying, I am keeping my fingers crossed that the news of Joey coming home earlier then August will actually happen. The news is that the last flight to leave Iraq is July 1st. So I am praying, hoping, wishing, and keeping my fingers crossed that this will happen.

But I am also being careful not to get my hopes up to high because I can't forget that I am dealing with the army and anything can change! Nothing is set in stone when it comes to the military!

But I will continue to pray and keep my fingers crossed!

And

We will see what happens.................

Letter to a military spouse

While I have never had the pleasure of meeting you or your husband, I felt the need to write you and express a very deep feeling that I have in my heart.

I, as a person, am not brave. I do not tackle things head on, as I hate confrontation. I will travel 100 miles out of my way just to avoid a conflict. I am an American woman that has no idea what is going on in the military other than what I hear on the news.

I have never had to let go of someone so that they could go fight for people that they didn't know, people that sometimes do not appreciate or understand what they are fighting for.

I have never had a sleepless night of worry because of a report that another bomb has exploded and I still haven't heard from my husband.

I have never had to wait for months on end to hold the one that I loved so.

I have never had to tell my children that daddy wasn't coming home tonight because he was so far away fighting for something that they aren't yet old enough to understand.

I have never had to hold my head high and suppress the tears as I hear that it will be at least another six months of separation before my loved one gets to come home.

I have never had to deal with a holiday away from the one that I thought I would share every day of my life with.

And I have never had to feel the panic rising in my heart at the sound of a ringing phone or knock at the door for fear that it is the news that everyone is terrified of getting.

For the reasons listed above, I can not tell you that I understand how you feel. I can not tell you that you must be strong. I can not say that you shouldn't be angry, because you "knew what you were getting into when you married a military man". I can not say these things because I have never had to walk in your shoes.

What I can say for certain is that because of your unselfish acts of bravery and your husbands willingness to stand up for those who see him as "just another soldier" - - I will never have to walk in your shoes.

I do understand that as a military wife you are expected to uphold a certain amount of control, but I never understood how you could do it, until now. I have figured out that you are not like other women. You are of a special breed. You have a strength within you that holds life together in the darkest of hours, a strength of which I will never possess. The faith you have is what makes you stand out in a crowd; it makes you glow with emotion and swell with pride at the mention of The United States of America.

You are a special lady, a wonderful partner and a glorious American.

I have more respect for your husband than I could ever tell you, but until recently I never thought much about those that the soldier leaves at home during deployment.

Until this moment I could never put into words exactly what America meant to me.

Until this moment, I had no real reason to.... Until I heard of you.

Your husband and his military family hold this nation close, safe from those who wish to hurt us...but you and those like you are the backbone of the American family. You keep the wheels in motion and the hearts alive while most would just break completely down. Military families make this nation what it is today.

You give us all hope and you emit a warming light at the end of a long dark tunnel.

Because of you and your family...I am able to be me. I am able to have my family. I am able to walk free in this great land. Because of you and your family, I can look ahead to the future with the knowledge that life is going to be okay. Because of you and your family, I can awake to a new day, everyday.

I realize that you are a stronger person than I will ever be because of these things and I just wanted to take the time today to say thank you to you and your family for allowing me that freedom.

I will never be able to repay this debt to you, as it is unmatchable. However, I hope that you know that no matter where you are...what you are doing...what has happened today...or what will happen tomorrow...Your husband will NEVER be "just another soldier" to me.... And you, dear sweet lady, will never be forgotten.

You are all in my prayer's everyday and I pray that God will bring you back together with your loved one safely.

May God Bless You!

(Author Unknown)

Grace in Small Things

So I have Raina and Sarah to thank for giving me this idea. I love reading about the small things in life that help them get through each day and week. Right now with Joey being gone I tend to find myself being more negative then usual. I am hoping this will help me focus more on the positive things going on our lives.

1. Joey~ I am so grateful to have in my life. He is a hero and I am so incredibly blessed to not only have him as my husband but as my best friend as well!

2. I love coming home everyday to Duke. I am so grateful that I don't have to come home to an empty house every night. Instead I come home to a very energetic dog who no matter what is always happy to see me! He gives me something to do and gets me out of the house even when I would rather just hide in bed all day. He has no idea how much he is loved and just how important he is to us. Can't imagine life without him.

3. Our families~who are far away but are constantly checking in with me making sure I am okay. I look forward to their phone calls everyday even when they are really short. Having their support means the world to me!

4. My weekly cards from Joey's mom just letting me know that they are thinking and praying for me. Love them!

5. Work~I am so grateful that I am able to go to work everyday and stay busy. Not only do I get to work with amazing kids, but I have made such great friends who have helped me in more ways then they will ever know!

6. Waking up or coming home to an email from Joey! During the week this is our only form of communication because our schedules are so different with the time change. It usually makes my day. I don't think he even realizes just how important those emails are to me, even when they are super short, all that matters is that I have heard from him!

I have lots to be thank-full for, even during a time like this when Joey and are separated. It definitely sucks that he is not here, but we are getting through it together by staying strong for each other and with lots of support from our families and friends.