Christmas is now a few days behind us and the new year is only a few days away. The vacation to Florida was very relaxing, and it was good to see 1/2 the family there. Britnie is enjoying her time in Colorado and won't be home for another week. This vacation could not have come at a better time. We are now entering the second half of this deployment so it's downhill from here. I had every intention on getting a Christmas letter out this year, but I ran out of time (story of my life). Here is a quick run down and update on how everyone is doing:
Patrick: He is doing well this deployment. He seems to be enjoying himself out there minus the fact that he misses home. He was finally promoted in October after months and months of loop holes that he kept getting stuck in. He appreciates all of the packages that everyone sends and the letters as well. He believe in what we are doing and knows that we are making a difference in the lives of our future friends.
Donna: This first year away from Colorado has been the best and most stressful experience I have been through. As many of you know, our house in Colorado was not able to sell and eventually after a lot of stress and heart ache it fell into forclosure. Along with the rest of the country we are feeling the pressures of the economy. We have officially been in NC for a year now, and Patrick has only been home for around 2 months of that. I never want to deal with the stress of losing a home again, especially with out my husband around. Other than that, I absolutely love this new lifestyle. I have finally gone back to school for my BS in Behavioral Science. With the online classes I am taking I will have my degree in about 14 more months. This decision was long over due and I am glad that I finally quit talking about it and did it. (After a stern "you keep talking about it so just do it" from my husband.)
Britnie: Britnie is now in 3rd grade and quite the social person. She makes friends very easily and is doing well in school. This year has been an adjustment for her after leaving her other Dad in Colorado. She has done so well with the change, and I am so proud of her. She is in her first year of Brownies and loves it. As mentioned in an earlier post, she is also doing Highland Dancing. She is spending Christmas with her Dad in Colorado and is happy she could go. Even knowing that Bianca and I were meeting the family in Florida for Disney World, she never complained and wanted to go see her Dad. It was such a relief to me that she sees what is truely important.
Bianca: Where to begin with Bianca. She is a little fire cracker. Her personality is so big and she is so funny. She is doing extremely well in school and is reading way beyond her grade level. She is also in her first year of Girl Scouts and taking Highland Dance classes. This deployment has been so much easier on her compared to the last time. It helps that she has friends who are going through the same thing and she doesn't feel alone. I am not having near the problems with her I did the first time around. She is growing up so fast and loves to tease her daddy about how many boyfriends she has.
So for now, that is the current status of everyone. Merry Christmas to everyone and Happy New Year. I hope this New Year is better than the last and that those resolutions can be kept. Thank you to everyone for your support and Prayers this last year. Keep them coming because they are still needed for us and this World. As I reflect back on this past year of an economic downfall, personal struggle, finding strength when I don't think I can do it anymore, history made with our first African American President (for better or worse), and another year apart from my husband, it may seem that the bad outweighs the good, but it doesn't. My husband and I will have our 7th aniversary this April and we are still as happy and in love as the first day we met. We have 3 wonderful kids, and even though we don't have money or material things, we know we are blessed. I could'nt ask for more.
I will end with a few final thoughts: Don't sweat the small things, forgive but do not forget, life is too short for grudges, anger, and the "what if's". Look to the future and not in the past because the past will only hold you back. Celebrate life and appreciate those around you and those who aren't around.....Oh, and thank a service member and their family. Good night.
Sunday, December 28, 2008
Merry late Christmas
Posted by Donna at 7:28 PM 0 comments
Thursday, December 18, 2008
The lack of sleep......WHY?
So today is the start of my sleepless 40 hour adventure. Why you ask?.....let me tell you. Britnie's flight leaves for Colorado tomarrow morning at 6:30am which means we need to be at the airport at 4:30am. Considering the airport is 2.5 hours away that means we need to leave our house between 2 and 2:30am to ensure we get there on time. I have decided instead of risking the chance of not waking up to my 5 alarms I am going to pull an "all-nighter". I struggle waking up to my alarms on a normal day yet alone at 2:00 in the morning. Bianca's and my train for Florida leaves at 10:30pm tomarrow night from Raleigh as well so instead of spending another 5 hours driving that day we are going to stay in Raleigh and find some things to do. My intentions were to go back to bed after the kids went to school today and sleep until they got home, but SUPRISE! I couldn't go back to sleep. Here it is at 2:35pm and I am wide awake. The airport has a USO so Bianca and I might try to catch some zzz's after Britnie's flight leaves. It wouldn't be the first time I slept in an airport. So awake at 7:30am today, no sleep until 10:30pm tomarrow. Yep, that's 40hrs. Wish me luck!
Posted by Donna at 2:27 PM 0 comments
Saturday, December 6, 2008
Highland Dancing
Posted by Donna at 6:25 PM 0 comments
Monday, November 17, 2008
The Holidays Are Coming
With the Holidays around the corner I am finding the nights getting harder and harder. With Patrick away it is hard to carry on the Holiday Cheer. These last few nights I have been in bed unable to sleep, thinking about how badly I want him home. But I know he isn't here, he has a job to do. I always tell people having him deployed through the Holiday season is both a blessing and a curse. It is a blessing because not only is he helping others around the world, but it makes those couple of months fly by. We are still able to celebrate Christmas for the true reason of the Holiday. It is a curse for obvious reasons, wanting him home to celebrate with us. Bianca has been more vocal these last few days about how much she misses Daddy. I feel her pain, but i'm sure the hug and reassurance that I miss him too does not make her feel any better. Both girls listen to their Daddy Bear (a build-a-bear with a message from Pat) daily which does make them feel a little better. I often fight back tears because I need to remain strong. I have made a wonderful new friend out here, which is helping her and I both through this time. We often joke about our husbands annoying little habits, and the way they pick on us. (It's funny how much those two are alike.) As much peace as it brings to have her, it doesn't heal the loneliness of my heart. His side of the bed is always made, his clothes hang in the closet, and I sleep with my cell phone by my head. I keep a pair of his shoes out in the middle of the floor to remind me how he always leaves them. I am grateful for every call I get, every IM chat time, and email he sends. Often I think of the many wars before now when the wives left at home rarely received a letter. As depressing as this post is, I am very grateful for everything in my life. I have an AMAZING husband who is my best friend, and 2 beautiful girls that drive me crazy, but I love them dearly. So let's all try not to get wrapped up in the stresses of the Holidays, and remember that there are many families out there who will not see that special someone until they go to heaven. Be thankful for what you do have, instead of greedy for what you don't.
Posted by Donna at 9:21 PM 0 comments
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Quick Update
As many of you know by now, these last few weeks have been very eventful. We have moved onto Base Housing and were placed in one of the old houses, this means we get to move again before Patrick returns from deployment into a brand new one. The same week we were moved I started my classes to earn my Bachelors Degree in Behavioral Science. I love the online courses so far. The classes are 5 weeks long which means I am already 1/2 through my first class. In about 15 months I will have my degree. YAY!!!!
The kids have adjusted well to the recent move and are only upset that they had to leave their school. I wish I could have kept them there, but unfortunately when you don't have the connections we did in Colorado it just isn't possible. They are in Girl Scouts with Troops from their old school so they still get to see some of their friends on a weekly basis. (When it comes time for cookies you know who to order from.)
Patrick is doing well from what he says. The busy schedule, and lack of sleep does not seem to be too hard on him yet. We do have more frequent communication this deployment, so that makes life easier to get through the days. He really enjoys his new job in the Marine Corps and I am sooooo proud of him. He truely is making a difference in the lives of every single American. He was finally promoted in October which is what the picture is.
Stay tuned, more to come.......
Posted by Donna at 9:22 AM 1 comments
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
WELCOME!
So we finally have our own family blog. I will try and keep this updated as it seems this is the thing to do. Over the next week or so I will get it filled in with information and updates on everyone.
Posted by Donna at 9:38 PM 0 comments