I made a slide show today with some of my favorite pictures of Jordan. Yes, I was missing him a lot. Sunday was our day. I can't wait to have him home...

One day at a time...

Two weeks have passed since Jordan left and I feel like it has flown by. It's been a whirlwind of emotion and everyday that passes I feel a little stronger and more confident. I've been extremely busy at work and with friends as well. Even though Jordan isn''t here I am trying to make my life as full as possible. So far I have been extremely successful. Through this I'm determined to thrive, not merely survive. I took my first trip to Santa Barbara this past weekend and it was amazing. Later this month I will be going with friends to Santa Monica and will also visit friends stationed at 29 Palms. I'm taking a class next weekend where I'll learn to make chocolate truffles. This weekend I'm painting a few rooms in our house and hiking at Torrey Pines Nature Reserve. I experienced my first earthquake this week as well. It was minor but scary just the same. I hope to fill my life with wonderful experiences during these seven months and support my husband the best I can from so far away. We've been fortunate and have been able to speak every couple of nights through the web cam. Being able to see him and hear his voice keeps me going. It reminds me that I still have a best friend out there and that he'll be back soon. I'm looking foward to so much with him. We have plans for things we want to do when he gets back and I'm making a list of places I want to take him. Out of all those things though, what I want most is to hold my husbands hand or give him a hug. Its amazing and beautiful how the little things become such big things.

Beautiful Santa Barbara:

Hiking at Torrey Pines:

Saying Goodbye...

The day we thought about and planned ( and I thruthfully dreaded) for so long finally arrived this past week. Jordan left for Iraq this Wednesday morning for seven months. Sometimes I find myself thinking he is going to walk through the door any minute. Other times I find myself trying to wrap my mind around living apart from someone who since high school has been my best friend and sweetheart. Its been difficult, and a true test of my personal strength and my faith in God. However, I am finding out new things about myself every day. I have already discovered that I am a great deal stronger than I ever thought I could be. I've also realized that the things I miss the most about him are things some married couples take for granted or find mundane. I miss just knowing that at the end of the day I will get to see his face. I miss hearing about his day at work while I cook him dinner. I miss watching TV with him at the end of a long day. Simple, unfabulous moments that were and still are everything to me.

I'm starting this blog so that our family and friends (most of which are far from us) can stay updated with what is going on in our lives. I hope to write fairly often and I will send out an e-mail when there are new posts. I will also try to include pictures.

I want to let everyone know that I am doing fine. I am working at a job that I absolutely love, I am sorrounded by amazing friends, I have a wonderful church home and am constantly busy. Nothing can replace Jordan in my life but there are things that can make it easier not having him here. I have been blessed to have those things and am confident that we will come out of this stronger as individuals and as a couple. Most importantly however, I truly believe this will bring us closer in our relationship with God. That alone makes everything worth it.