“ How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, who bring glad tidings of good things!

Saturday, May 26, 2012

Reunited

Welcoming my husband home after 4 1/2 months!
With my husband's return from army basic and airborne training my life is slowly going back to normal.  I love having him back home.  
It's funny how now that he is back it seems like he was never really gone....almost! :)  Those days of depression, sadness, loneliness, and the world creeping by seem a distant dream.

I have to say I was sooo happy to finally get to see Justin in his ACU's (Army Combat Uniform/camo) when he graduated Airborne!  I've decided this is my favorite uniform. The dress blues are nice, but only reflect ceremonies and formalities of the military. The ACU's reflect the battles and danger these men will see and the sacrifice them make for our freedom.  Also I must admit...my husband looks darn sexy in his ACU's too! :) 

Pics from his Airborne Graduation:



So now that I have him back...I am putting him to work! :) 
Today our plan is to get lots of yard work done.  
Tomorrow we plan on going to the beach with friends!
And on Monday...I think we will sit back, grill, and remember those who have died for our freedom which to to often take for granted. 

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend, and take a little time out to honor and remember those who have sacrificed themselves for our country and freedom, and the their families that remain. 

Happy Memorial Weekend.

~ Elle

Tuesday, May 15, 2012

Daybed Delights!

My husband isn't even home yet and I've already got a list of things for him to build for me! Haha!
I am so glad I've got a talented handy husband!
The first project we want to work on together is designing/building an outdoor daybed for our patio!
I can't decide if I want it to hang or sit on the floor though....such dilemmas! 
Here are a few of the photos I have as inspiration!

Hanging Daybeds:

I love this rope concept!


 

Loving the frame this comfy cushion sits on!


This one makes me think "tropical getaway"!


The perfect place to read a book or take a nap!

Seriously, why would you not want to chill here?
 

Stationary Daybeds:

While the hanging are awesome, I do love these looks as well.



 I like the simple frame and crossbeams on sides.

This would be nice in an espresso color with cream cushions.
 

 I also like the old rustic look of this wood.

 *sighs* I think I would be in Heaven on this canopied bed!

A simple and modern bench-turned-bed.

So hopefully in a few weeks I will have the finished result and a pic of me chilling or taking a nap on my dream patio daybed!

~ Elle

I Survived

 I've made it!

 
As most of you are quite aware I have been rather negligent in my blogging lately!  I have been a tad preoccupied getting my house ready for my husband's homecoming after almost 5 months!!  I can not begin to tell you how I have longed for this moment all year!  I will be heading out tomorrow to attend his Airborne Graduation, and then he will be COMING BACK HOME WITH ME!!!


 Soon I will be able to give him back his ring which I have been wearing on a necklace the entire time he has been gone.

I was horribly upset when I realized I left the charm back at the hotel in GA the last time I visited him. I had taken it off so he could wear his wedding ring over the weekend. :( 

I just want to say a huge THANK YOU to all of you who have left encouraging words and advice for me throughout these last months as I had to deal with being cut off from my husband for so long.  You helped me feel not quite so alone! 



Thursday, May 3, 2012

Graduation Day Finally Arrived

Those of you who have been following me...not only know that my husband, Justin, has been at Army Basic Training since January...but are probably tired of hearing how much I miss him!

I have GOOD NEWS! 
It is ALMOST over!  He is coming home soon!


All my pining away, long blogs of self reflection, moping, sadness, etc. is about to end! Well, at least for now!

Last weekend I went back to Fort Benning, GA to visit Justin for his Basic Training Graduation! 
The first day started with a  
Turning Blue Ceremony.
This is where he is awarded his Infantry blue cord, representing he has graduated.  Each soldier asks someone special to put it on them.   It is an honor to be asked.


How he asked me:
 "There is only one person I want putting the blue cord on my arm. You have been with me through a lot and supported me going into the infantry so you will be the one and only one who puts the blue cord around my shoulder!"


 The Blue Cord represents the Infantry. 
As they say, "God loves the Infantry. That's why he made the sky blue!"


I only had time to give him a quick hug, hand him back his ring, and sit back down so the ceremony could continue! Below, he is the one closest to the brick pillar.

Justin with his battle buddy, Gunnar, below. 
 

I was so thankful to have my In-laws with me for much needed moral support! My fabulous m-i-l, Kim, is with me below!
 

Of course Justin always has to have his game face on, but I got a tiny glint in his eyes this time! :)
 

After Turning Blue Ceremony, Justin got a weekend pass so we took him out for steak! 


It was not easy returning him to base at the end of the day. It felt so wrong saying goodbye again.


Graduation Day
Graduation day was a lot more difficult. 
I was horribly under the weather due to a bad cough and sinus cold.
It was all I could do to stay focused throughout the graduation ceremony. 
The weather was overcast and chilly...nothing like the rest of the weekend. 

 This is the closest we saw them during the graduation ceremony. Not close enough to distinguish which one he was!

After the ceremony felt like a scene from a movie!  
By the time I got out of the bleachers and in front of the Infantry Museum where the soldiers were allowed to take pictures with their families, Justin was already running down the road to where they were loading buses for Airborne holding. He called me and told me he couldn't wait for me, because he was not allowed to miss the bus! So I am practically running/walking to where all the soldiers are going to get their bags by the buses!  
I am searching frantically trying to find Justin amidst hundreds of soldiers all dressed identically, praying I make it to him before he gets on the bus! 

Can you imagine my dilemma and stress?
Now technically we thought he would be getting on the bus just to go report to Airborne holding, and then released for a weekend pass, but it wasn't a definite, so I had to find him to say goodbye just in case I didn't see him again!

Thankfully I found him standing by his bags, waiting for me! We had about 5 minutes to say I love you's and goodbye. 
This is about the only picture we had time for!

 We said our goodbye, with the hope we would see each other in just an hour or two.  It was a few hours later I was told he might not get a weekend pass...and I cried....a lot. 

Thankfully my prayers were answered and Justin was released that evening around 8pm. 
I would have more pictures for you of us going out, but I was so sick, that I wasn't really in picture mode!  But it was still wonderful to spend the weekend with him! 

Here he is in his dress uniform! 
I am so proud of my Infantryman!

 

Now he is in Airborne School, and I will see him jumping into his graduation in 2 weeks! 
And then bringing him home with me! *sighs*

~ Elle