Blessings

Wow! It sure has been a busy month! That's a good and bad thing I guess haha. I've been so busy with school, and working that it has made October just FLY on by. 

Only a little over two more months until Sky is home!! It's honestly gone by so fast. I never, ever, EVER would've imagined a year going by this fast. At the beginning of deployment and into summer it just druggggg on. But come August, its crazy how quick time has gone by. Talking to him almost everyday lately sure has helped a lot! He's doing really well, just getting through day by day until January. He's worked SO much lately, so he hasn't gotten much sleep, but it is making time go by fast at least. I just can't wait to welcome the entire 303rd company home in a couple months :)

This month I got a new job at a gymnastics complex here near school. It has ages 12 months - 18 years participating. I actually applied for a front desk position, and at the time of my application they weren't hiring. A couple weeks after my application, I received a call and they wanted to interview me that day. Turns out they needed a gymnastics teacher for the little 3-4 year olds and the 12-18 month kiddos! I was completely shocked, seeing as how I haven't had any gymnastics experience, that they wanted me for that. They offered me the position that day too! Its run off lesson plans, therefore experience wasn't necessary. I've been training for about 2 weeks now, and tonight I taught my first class by myself to the 3-4 year olds. It. was. AWESOME! I absolutely love it. They have so much fun, and so do I! I taught them the "itsy bitsy spider" at the beginning, and they were just laughing the entire time singing with me :) This is a job I will hopefully be able to keep while I finish up at GV in the next couple years, and honestly, I couldn't be more blessed to have gotten it! 

School is almost done for the semester! Only 5 1/2 weeks left until final exam week :) once again...time has just FLOWN by! I can't WAIT for the Holidays. December is my one of my favorite months for sure. I love Christmas. Over the years I've really grown to just love the family aspect of it along with the decorations and love that comes with that season. I absolutely LOVE going to church on Christmas Eve too.  It sure is so close!  The best gift of the holiday season would be to have Sky back home though. His mom is waiting to do Christmas with their family until he is back though, which is going to be perfect. 

Tory & Jessi came up a couple weekends ago for the Homecoming football game :) We love visitors!

Last time I went home I got to spend the entire weekend with the family, carving/decorating pumpkins. We had so much fun. 

Love my roomies (Trait's not pictured) <3

There's Light at the End of the Tunnel

Well, it's finally October! YAY! This means Halloween, apple cider, corn mazes...all sorts of fun. Most importantly though (well to me at least ;]) is that it's one more month checked off of my countdown until Sky gets home! It has been 7 months since he has been in Michigan...and a long 7 months at that.

Some of these months have gone by really quickly, while others drug on for what seemed like forever. Throughout this time my faith has really pushed me to keep going everyday. I'm not a perfect person by any means and I would never claim to be. I make mistakes just like everyone else, but I really owe it to the big man for everything in life. I have an amazing family, wonderful friends and the best, most loving guy I could ever ask for in my life...all due with God's help. This deployment has really strengthened my faith all around. I've developed the habit to take time every night before I fall asleep to pray. I believe that God has shown me more than ever since Sky has been gone that I can get through anything, no matter how hard the situation may be. There is always light at the end of the tunnel, no matter how long the tunnel is.

Since Sky left, things haven't all been easy. I had to overcome the scary fact that he was going to war to fight for our country and was going to be put in danger everyday and to continue positive. But, all I can do is support him no matter what and pray that God watches over him and the men he is with. This summer was really rough too. Things were a lot different during than last summer. It was the first summer back from college and all of my friends were working or busy including myself. I had a full time job that I hated some days and loved others, but was blessed to have for the time it lasted. Unfortunately though, I was getting thrown through the ringer over and over again there with no stability what so ever. I had a major foot surgery done and was on crutches and in a boot until the middle of July, and thankfully was able to continue work despite my circumstances. Right after I got my boot off some unexpected issues happened with my job and I was no longer working there. I made so many wonderful friends over the summer from that job, and I wouldn't take back a day if I had the choice despite the end results. I was welcomed very easily by every man in that shop and I was so lucky to develop the relationships that I did with everyone there. Then, come the middle of July, my grandpa was in the hospital with major heart issues. This was his second time being critical in the hospital, and I thank God everyday that he is alive and gaining strength right now. The rest of the summer seemed like it went by really slow after everything in July. I learned the values of friendship, love, honesty and betrayal more than I would've ever imagined I could at the age of 19 just from just one summer. 

Those times were probably the hardest its been since Sky has been deployed. I wasn't able to talk to the one person who I feel knows me better than I know myself most of the time. When he was home, he was ALWAYS there when I was sad, moody, and even when I just needed to cry. At this point of the deployment, we weren't able to communicate for about a month. This was the longest month of my life. Not having him there was really, really difficult, but I overcame this with a smile on my face, staying strong for him. I knew that if I broke down, he would too and I wouldn't allow that to happen. I knew he'd want me to be smiling no matter what, so I made that conscious effort to do that. 

As these months go by, I continue to have obstacles thrown my way, but I can't let down now. I figure it's God testing my strength throughout this deployment. I can't believe that Sky will be home in a couple months though, it is CRAZY how fast this time has gone. This past weekend Jessi and I spent Saturday with his mom watching movies, shopping and looking through old baby pictures! Oh my did I have so much fun!! We were talking about his homecoming the entire day and it made me SO happy just talking about it! 

It's truly amazing how much support I've had through this. I never feel alone at any minute, knowing that I have my family, his family and all of my friends out there's support and prayers. I couldn't do it without everyone, so thank you all so much for being there for me through the good times and bad.

I can't WAIT for him to come back and get another motorcycle! <3 <3 <3

LOVE her so much! I couldn't ask for a better best friend. She's been through this entire thing with me with full support. Thanks, Court <3

Jessi & I have grown closer than ever the past 4 months & I couldn't be more lucky as a sister.