Here...then gone again

The summer has flown by! I can't say that I'm upset by that because really I'm just ready for the end of November to be here.

The end of July was spent in Chocowinity and Emerald Isle, NC with my family. It was so good to see everyone and most especially all of my favorite kiddos. They are just growing too fast.

The greatest news I received all summer though was that Sim would be able to come home for one week of leave in the beginning of August. It was by far the best week of the summer and of course went by TOO fast.

Below are a million pictures documenting his visit:

The temperature on Sim's first day back in Texas!

We went to a fish fry and cookout at our friend's house, The Ramirez's. Below is Sim with two of his coworkers/bosses, Alfonso & Homar.

Erica & I

Sim & I

Monday we toured the Nolan Ryan Museum in Alvin, Texas (The home town of Nolan Ryan)

Me & Nolan

Sim with his Nolan Ryan signed baseball

Homemade Lasagna dinner (I had so much lasagna leftover it is still in my freezer!)

Sim enjoying being home on his couch!

Astros game Vs. The Mets

Sim enjoying the game

Cooking on his Barbecue

Great Margarita Mix (made in Galveston!)

Our yummy Margaritas!

Sim's HUGE plate of food...think he was hungry?

Pool Day!

Sim enjoying the pool and a beverage

We went to the Wildlife park near our house on Saturday (another very hot day) to feed the animals and had a blast!

Heading out to dinner his last night

We spent some time discussing our plans for our upcoming cruise in January too! We're SO excited to be spending a whole week sailing the Caribbean together. It will be our second honeymoon/grad school & deployment are over celebration! We'll be on the Royal Caribbean Voyager of the Seas and will travel to Mexico, The Cayman Islands and Jamaica. Our first time to all three places- can't wait!

Independence Day!

Happy 4th of July!! Today also marks 9 weeks since Sim left. A milestone of sorts in that this is officially the longest we have ever been apart from each other. Not really a milestone that I was hoping to achieve but this is the way the Lord has directed our lives so...here we are!

 I spent July 4th keeping busy with some good friends and some of the Coast Guard families from Sim's unit. I went on a brunch boat cruise with my friend Sabrina out into Galveston Bay and then spent the evening BBQing and watching fireworks at a fellow Coastie family's house. I also lit off my very first Roman Candle! I grew up terrified of those things... I mean who in their right mind would actually want to hold a firework as it is going off? Oh my goodness! It was the biggest rush! 

The pictures below are from the brunch cruise and of my friend Ashton and her daughter with sparklers.

June just flew by! Which I have to admit I am happy about! I was able to escape home to VA for what I think was the shortest weekend ever but it was SO worth it. I was able to see my beautiful niece Alexandra for the very first time! It was so nice to see family and spend the weekend in scenic Virginia. I think Sim and I have it mixed up coming home every year for Christmas. Virginia is MUCH more beautiful and welcoming in the summertime!! Below are photos from the baptism and the Orioles vs. Met's game in Camden Yards (Alexandra's FIRST baseball game and Met's game!)

The end of June I traveled to my FAVORITE Texas city for a work conference. If you've ever asked me about Texas...you have probably figured out that, while Sim and I are really enjoying our time here, we do miss some of the gorgeous beaches and scenery that we were so lucky to be surrounded by in Florida. Southeast Texas is very flat, very brown, and very humid. Austin, Texas on the other hand is in the "Hill Country" of Texas and is surrounded by lakes, rivers and rolling hills....beautiful! So I was very happy to get a trip out to the Hill Country compliments of UTMB.

We took the opportunity to explore the State Capital building which I had seen from the outside before but never been inside. WOW! Everything truly is bigger in Texas. This building is not only huge but it is built up on a large hill with a maze of offices and hallways underground. I walked the halls observing the names and faces of every Texas Governor since James Pinckney Henerson took office in 1846. What a beautiful historic building!

In the midst of all of this traveling I have been swamped with my summer school. Whoever thought that taking two classes in the nine-week semester was a good idea is crazy! (Oh wait...that was me!) Seriously though I am trying very hard to stay focused on the fact that in 5 more weeks I'll have 6 more credit hours under my belt and only ONE MORE CLASS until I graduate!!   

Beautiful Florida

Memorial Day weekend was spent with my friend Lesley in one of my favorite places in the United States....Fort Lauderdale, Florida. When I heard I had the opportunity to go back to Florida I knew I couldn't pass it up. I arrived at the airport about an hour before Lesley did so I took the opportunity to jump into the rental car and drive down through my old "stomping grounds". It's hard to believe that I only spent 15 months of my life there because I feel like I have so many memories. It was the first place I lived on my own after graduating college, it was the place Sim had to adjust to Coast Guard life, and it was the place I lived as I planned our wedding and eventually returned to with my husband to live in our first "home" together. Not to mention that we lived 1 mile from one of the country's most beautiful coastlines!

Well here is the best part...the photos!

As Sim put it..."One month down...and it was a long one!"

Well today is officially on month down on this deployment! 31 days. Sometimes I feel like it was yesterday he left and I feel empowered by how I have been handling this deployment. Other times I feel overcome in sadness in just how long I have to wait until I can see him again. I am a little frustrated that "our life" is on hold while we are separated. I love him and I love spending time with him and making memories together. Right now....it's just not possible and to be honest...it sucks. What I have tried to focus on is the fact that "my life" and "his life" are not on hold during this time apart. We have to keep on going and trying our best to enjoy our life and our experiences until we're together again.

"Distance never separates two hearts that really care, for our memories span the miles and in seconds we are there. But whenever I start feeling sad, because I miss you, I remind myself how lucky I am to have someone so special to miss."

On today, June 2nd 2010, I recognize the fact that for one month I have come home to an empty house, tended to our household needs alone, and gone to bed with his empty spot beside me. I miss him so much. I can almost close my eyes and imagine three years ago this very day and how much fun we had together sharing our wonderful and magical wedding day. God has blessed us SO much and I cherish our family and friends who have been there for us throughout our entire relationship and especially during this deployment.
Thank you so much to those of you whose kind words and thoughts mean SO much and to my amazing husband who is sacrificing by serving his country today...thank you as well.

I love you and Happy Anniversary!

What's for dinner?

So apparently Cheerios is not a healthy dinner option. And suprisingly it's not just because they are Chocolate Cheerios (which by the way if you have not tried...you MUST! Simply delicious!) So I figured it's been a few weeks since Sim left and it was about time that I finally get around to cooking a real dinner for myself. Don't get me wrong. I LOVE cooking for my husband. It's when it's just me eating that it seems a bit fruitless to get out all of the dishes and dirty so many pots and pans. Hence the Cheerios!

Well right before Sim left we had our last "date night" and went to Carrabbas. While we were killing time waiting for our table we did some window shopping and I stumbled across a marked down cook book that I had been eyeing on Amazon.com for a few months. Sim insisted on buying it (love him!) and THAT is where tonight's dinner inspiration comes from!

Hungry Girl is a series of cook books filled with quick, easy, and healthy recipes written by Lisa Lillien. On tonights menu is one of Lisa's easy "Foil-pack recipes". I wrapped a big piece of Salmon in the foil-pack along with a hearty helping of what has to be my favorite salsa of all time. (Italian Rose Fresh Salsa)

and stuck it in the oven at 375 degrees for 15 minutes!

Then I warmed and a can of corn and a can of black beans with a little lemon juice.

15 minutes later....Voila! I peeled open the foil to find a steaming juicy cooked fish ready to eat!  Plus I now have leftovers for lunch tomorrow at work! ;)

Now what to make for dinner tomorrow.....