Thankful this Thanksgiving day...

I just got off the phone with my soldier. That is something to be thankful for...

They had a Thanksgiving lunch served by the commander and drill sergeant. They were able to watch some of the parade and they didn't have to rush to eat and they were able to sit around and talk. They have the rest of the day off...

They are starting the second phase of basic soon... Only 21 more days and he will be here for Christmas. We talked for about 14 minutes today. He was going to hang up with me and call his parents! They will be so happy to hear from him.

Nanny and I got up here to Brenda's a little after 9 last night and we stayed up until 2 (Georgia time) this morning talking.

We had lunch and now we are sitting here talking! Not sure what we will do the rest of the day, hope everyone is having a happy Thanksgiving!

Packed and ready to go...

I dropped all of my bags off at Nanny's this morning so they don't have to sit in my car all day... So as soon as I get off work we will be heading to Georgia.

Pray for a safe trip for us and pray that I don't get us lost because this is the first time I have actually drive myself up there!!! (Normally my mom drives)

Keep Zach in your prayers too as he spends Thanksgiving at Fort Benning... Hopefully they will cook them a Thanksgiving dinner... and maybe even let them call home!

I will try to update from Brenda's over the weekend!

22 days and Zach will be home for Christmas!

A great weekend...

I have already posted about my great day on Saturday! It was so great to hear from Zach AND to get a letter from him!

On Sunday we had our Thanksgiving dinner at church... It was fabulous and it was so great to see everyone!

Around 8:45 last night I was packing to go to Georgia this week my phone started ringing and I looked at it saw it was from the 706 area code (which is where Fort Benning is). I started to panic because Zach had told me before that lights out was at 9 which is 8 Alabama time. So for someone to be calling from Fort Benning after 9 was a little scary, so I answered and it was my wonderful husband. Apparently lights out isn't at 9 anymore... We only got to talk for 2 minutes but it was great to hear his voice. I didn't cry last night though!

I am so proud of him. He is a wonderful man and will serve our country to the best of his ability! I love him more than anything in this world and I am truly blessed to be his wife!

Only 24 more days and he will be home for Christmas!

Please keep me and Nanny in your prayers as we travel to Georgia on Wednesday! Also please keep my friend Kydie in your prayers, she is having a c-section today and her beautiful baby girl will be brought into the world sometime after 12:30! Just keep praying for Zach and me as we go through this time of separation... it is really hard on both of us.

Thanks for all of the support over the last few weeks... your comments have meant so much to me and they help to get me through each day!!!

God Bless Fort Benning Day

Today is apparently "God Bless Fort Benning Day"! And I LOVE this day!!! Zach and his fellow boot campers are off base celebrating "God Bless Fort Benning Day". You may be asking, "How do you know this?" Well I talked to my soldier a little while ago on the phone! They were allowed to call home for FREE (no phone card needed)!!! I was so happy to hear his voice. I asked him if he thought he would be able to call tomorrow and he said maybe, because Sunday is their normal day to call home! I hope he can!

I also got a letter today... He said that they had their first "ruck sack march" the next day (which was the 20th, Thursday) and they spent the night in the woods. The letter was not long but I am thankful for anything!!!

Keep him in your prayers and keep me in your prayers too! Only 26 more days and he will be home for Christmas!!!

One year ago...

One year ago today I got the worst phone call of my life...

It was from my dermatologist's office and I was shocked to hear my doctor on the other end... (they usually make their nurses do the dirty work but my docotor knew how scared I was so she wanted to call me her self) The words I heard her speak hit me like a ton of bricks. "Kristen you have melanoma in situ"... I heard the word melanoma and I lost it. When I finally calmed down Shelley explained to me exactly what melanoma in situ is... It is indeed melanoma but a non-invasive melanoma. She informed me that I would need surgery to make sure they got it all and she told me they had a spot open for the next morning (Wednesday, the day before Thanksgiving). I was at work when I got the call so I pulled it together, thanked Shelley for everything and for calling me herself and went to my supervisor's office to tell her that I would be out of the office the next day for surgery. I will skip the unpleasant details that surround that and fast forward to the next day. I had my whole family with me almost. My mom, Karmen, Zach, and Mrs. Kathy (Zach's mom)... I was taken back to the surgery area of my dermatologists office where I was promptly given a Valium and prepped for surgery. I was awake for the whole thing (numbed with local anesthesia)... I ended up with about 16 stitches and a 3 1/2 inch scar above my left boob. The coming weeks were hard, I could not use my left arm until my stitches were removed in mid-December. So clothing myself was hard and bathing myself was hard, washing my own hair was impossible. Zach helped me bathe and clothe myself and Karmen graciously washed and dried my hair for me...

Here I am, one year later, cancer free!!! And I am SO thankful for that!!!

On another note, I got a letter from Zach today! He said that he is losing a lot of weight and getting used to the schedule there. Only 28 more days and he will be in my arms again!!!

Have a fabulous evening!!!

29 days!

Zach will be home for Christmas in 29 days!!!

I got a letter from Zach today. He said that they have issued their rifles and that they already know how to take them apart, clean them, and put them back together... He said that he hasn't had much sleep, hopefully when he comes home for Christmas he can catch up on that... I miss him SO much. I am not sure if he has gotten any of my letters yet. I hope he gets them soon if he hasn't already gotten them.

In other news: Nanny and I are going to Georgia next week to spend Thanksgiving with Brenda and Jimmy! I am so excited! We are leaving Wednesday after I get off work! This will be our first time to stay at their new house!

Zach didn't get to call Sunday. I am praying that he gets to call this Sunday! I will be spending Sunday afternoon at Zach's parents house again in hopes that he calls... I want them to be able to talk to him too.

In my letter he said that he was sorry for crying on the phone, he was tired and they had been yelled at all day and he misses being home and he was just happy to hear my "sweet voice"... He asked if I had been feeding his fish, which is at our house. I have been... not my top priority but alas the fish is still alive and kicking, I mean swimming... He is ready to come home for Christmas and I am ready for him to come home too (29 days!)

Please continue to pray for us! We really appreciate your prayers!

It's here...

The letter I have been waiting for has arrived. Zach's address is finally in my possession!!!

We found out that he can be picked up for Christmas break on December 19th at 8:00am... and he doesn't have to be back until January 6th and 9:00pm!

We also got all of the other important dates and stuff...

Sorry for the short post, I am actually tired tonight so I am heading off to bed!

Stolen...

I stole this from Karmen's blog...

8 things I am passionate about:

1. My Husband

2. My Family

3. My Niece

4. Photography

5. Reading

6. Skin cancer awareness

7. My friends

8. SLEEP

8 words or phrases that I use the most:

1. Cool beans!

2. I love you!

3. Turn it off... usually to Zach listening to talk radio

4. I hear peanut! (when I hear Ava outside my room)

5. FYI

6. That stinks... a nicer way to say that sucks

7. Roll Tide!

8. What is your manner word? (to Ava when she asks for something)

8 things I want to do before I die:

1. remodel a house

2. be debt free

3. have babies

4. travel

5. retire early

6. be a professional photographer

7. be the best wife, mother, friend, daughter, aunt, and sister that I can be

8. sell my current house

8 things I need right now:

1. for my husband to be home with me

2. wash some clothes

3. clean my room

4. a phone call from my husband

5. start my Christmas shopping

6. finish my Christmas shopping

7. to change clothes

8. the days to go by faster

8 places I want to visit:

1. DisneyWorld

2. Paris

3. New York

4. Las Vegas...again!

5. Washington D.C.

6. Germany

7. Italy

8. Gulf Shores...again!

8 favorite restaurants:

1. Outback Steakhouse

2. Olive Garden

3. Applebee's

4. anything Mexican

5. FireBirds

6. Stix

7. Cracker Barrell

8. Panera Bread

8 TV shows I watch:

1. LOST

2. Jon and Kate Plus 8

3. Tori and Dean

4. 17 Kids and Counting

5. Big Brother

6. Bizarre Foods with Andrew Zimmern on the Travel Channel

7. Good Eats

8. The Military Channel with Zach

8th picture in the 8th folder

Boot Camp has started...

Boot camp has started for Zach and guess who got to call today??? My Private!!! I was SHOCKED when I saw the number from Fort Benning show up on my cell phone! I quickly answered and I was so happy to hear his voice. He started crying (don't ever tell him I told you guys he cried, but it takes a strong man to cry in front of other men), my first thought was that something was wrong so I asked him and he said nothing he said that he just missed me... so then I lost it. I had to step away from my desk and go to the back... We pulled it together and he said they officially started boot camp last night and that he should be able to call home again on Sunday. Everyone has been telling me that he wouldn't be able to call home for a few weeks after he started boot camp but I am so excited that he MAY be able to call. I am going to his parents house to hang out after church on Sunday in hopes that he gets to call, that way they can talk to him too...

He said that he mailed me his address so I will have it soon! WOOHOO!!!! I think that is part of why he was crying today. He is lonely and he can send letters and stuff but no one is writing him yet because we don't have his address... As soon as I get it I will start mailing him stuff!!!

Please keep us in your prayers as this is hard on all of us! We are such a close family!

Zach comes home for Christmas in 34 days!!!

(See new post below.)

The big announcement...

The news you have all been waiting for...

Erika and Lee are having a little BOY!!! Congratulations!