Its hard to believe a full year has gone by...

It was a year ago that I walked into the office I worked in at DDEAMC and found out that my MEDBOARD officer had FINALLY called. I was going home. It's hard to believe that I've been back home for an entire year. And even harder to believe that my Army career ended just 1 year ago. It doesn't seem that long ago. It seems like just yesterday! I miss my DDEAMC Chaplain team, I miss my brothers and sisters in the Army, I miss the Army lifestyle.



But life is great...today its also hard to believe that my nephew is turning 2! Thats right its official...Jackson has officially entered his Wonderful 2's!!!! I love you lil man!!

"You don't choose your family. They are God's gift to you, as you are to them."~Desmond Tutu

Last night I got the honor of going and seeing my cousin Diana play soccer! What a blast!! My uncle Chuck even made a few big signs that said "D Rocks" and "Go #3" Unfortunately her team lost by 2 but it was a great game and her team really worked hard considering they only had 1 substitute and the other team had a bench full!
Great Job Hawks!! Here's some shots of Diana playing!





Thursday night game night this past week was also Addison's Welcoming Party!! She made her debut at our weekly game night and was all snuggled in with cousin Kati for a good chunk of the card playing time and snuggled up with me during dinner! Then she got hungry and went up for feeding with mommy who was resting! After that she was wide awake and ready to socialize...lol as we were all getting ready to leave! hehe Here's a few shots of Addison snuggled up with Kati and then checking out daddy when she was wide awake!

I'm a NEW Auntie!!!!

I'm loving laughter today

My brother showed me this video tonight and I about peed my pants with laughter. I hope you enjoy it as well...

for the record, yes Kandy I do feel bad for the dog, but at the same time its really funny...lol. And fyi to all of my readers I'd never allow my dog to do anything even close to that the moment Zeke starts to whimper or move his legs while dreaming I always comfortingly wake him up.

I'm lovin cousins...

I'm loving everything cousins today...from my Dinana



To my Russ bus, and baby Tommy



Nicole & Steph



Alanna & Kristin



And my Katy-did!!

I love how close I feel to all of my cousins. I never imagined I'd be this close to the Tobinson side of the family. I grew up with Nicole and Steph, I've known them forever...when I moved to IL in the 5th grade I didn't think I'd ever be close to the Tobinson side...but I am. And I wouldn't have it any other way. I love all my cousins and I thank God for them and how close we are!!

I'm lovin today

Today I'm loving the fact that old friends enjoy getting together and also feel as if I am capable of coordinating "reunion" events. I love get togethers, especially seeing friends that I haven't seen in awhile that I went to school with. I'm loving that an old friend came to me with an idea of doing yearly gatherings...with me to coordinate it.

I'm also loving that another old friend is heavily involved with Veteran's affairs. Its exactly that avenue I'm wanting to go into. And I've got the opportunity to help him in that.

I'm loving old friends today...and the things we get involved in, with them!

country music blaring, windows down, yeah it was one of those days...

I love days like today...it started off storming, that part wasn't fun cause everytime the thunder cracks Zeke feels the need to protect us from it and barks his head off until I threaten him to get into his kennel. Then he magically stops. lol. crazy mut! As the day went on the sun came out! It was kinda humid around noon when I took Zeke for a walk, but it wasn't too bad. But then this evening I got a call to meet John, Kandy, Jackson, Mom, Leslie & Kati at Ollie's for some ice cream. So I decided to take Zeke, oh it was beautiful out!! I put the windows down cranked up the music, and I sang while Zeke stuck his head out the window. What a blast! He enjoyed a scoop of vanilla in a bowl while I had a waffle cone with chocolate...YUM!

As I was leaving town Zeke and I were at a stop sign on a side street when we saw a guy walking his dog. He smiled when he saw Zeke sticking his head out the window enjoying the breeze. Thats just one of the things I love about this town. I don't know who the man was, but he smiled, and I smiled back. And we both went on with our lives.

I'm going to try to start posting daily something I enjoy. Either from the town, the state, the country, etc...just life! What did you enjoy today, what made you smile??