Our Memories in Marriage

Well, it's the end of the year and I'm looking forward to the new one. Each month that passes brings me closer to seeing John again. It's been quite an interesting year! John moved to the West side of the country in January and we got to spend almost a weekend a month together for the first half of the year. We got married on June 13th and got to spend a week together in the Seattle area for our "mini-moon". The first week after the wedding was very humbling. Seeing John so devoted to taking care of me was awesome. I knew of course that he was willing to take care of me, but his enthusiasm made me feel so precious. Our honeymoon was also wonderful. It was strange to take a vacation without any of my family, but John is my family now. After being together for five years I get to say that.
Saying goodbye to John in August was very difficult. I was so used to getting to see him often that the first two weeks after he was gone were heart crushing. I made some goals to keep me busy until school started and once classes began at the end of August the time started to fly by. I had a big course-load, but I managed to get all A's again this semester. I spent the Holidays with my family, and I'm here at my brother's townhouse with his girlfriend and my sister to celebrate the New Year. I wish John could be here, because I know he would love all the games we are going to play tonight.
Last year John and I spent our first New Year's Eve together. We spent the evening having an Indiana Jones movie marathon. I hope that by the time we are ready to ring in the year 2011 that John and I can celebrate together again.

Merry Christmas to our friends and family! I have been thinking about John all day and wishing he could be here so we could spend our first Christmas as a married couple together. I miss him so much.


We took this last year when he was home for the holidays.

Last month I began searching for an ornament to commemorate the year that we would have our first Christmas as a married couple. Searching online produced a lot of results with ornaments saying "Our first Christmas together", but we've already spent Christmases together, just not married, and sadly, we will not be spending this Christmas together. I found other ornaments that were of brides and grooms with the wedding date and even cakes or other wedding related things, but I was looking for a more timeless ornament.

Finally, I happened upon this ornament. It had both reindeer & greenery, and could be personalized!

It arrived in the mail today:


It has our names and our wedding date on it.


It was a lot more glittery than I was expecting, but that is fine.

I hope that everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving! This Thanksgiving I learned how to make a few new dishes: fruit stuffing, vegetarian gravy, and ratatouille penne bake. Now that it is over I have a fridge full of leftovers and Christmas on my mind. I will be mailing John's Christmas presents on Monday to ensure that it arrives before Christmas even if the postal office is swamped with packages. My sister and I have already pulled out our Christmas decorations and have decked the house in our assorted garlands, lights, and figurines.

I have to say that these are my favorite of my decorations and ornaments:


This angel I got a few years ago. I love the gold detailing on the dress.


Here is a close up.


This ornament I got in 2007 and put a photo of John and me in it that was taken on his leave during his first deployment.


This deer I just got this year, it has the sweetest face!


When I pulled out the sheet to use at the backdrop for the photos my cat Dmitri decided he had to be a part of the action! He loves Christmas, he likes to pretend to chew on fake trees, it's the strangest thing.

My general theme for holiday decorating is gold, trees, and "realistic" (not cartoony) reindeer.