Well, we hit a small hiccup. Unfortunately, this already unwelcome deployment was extended a little bit longer. We were very excited to finally hit what we thought was the half way mark. Then, in keeping with the Marine Corps theme, the deployment got extended. Now we are eagerly awaiting the half way mark to roll around again. I've unwillingly accepted the extension. I think my husband and his team are unwillingly accepting it will be just that much longer till they are back in the United States.
School could be going better, but it could be going worse as well. I haven't done as well as I have in past semesters but honestly my mind is elsewhere. My motivation and drive with school is dwindling quickly. Only two more weeks of school and then I am free for the summer. I've gathered quite a few little craft projects for the summer. I'm very excited to get my mind off of stressful school work and preoccupy my time with something a little lighter. One project I've posted here before that has our wedding vows included. I would love to have our vows displayed somewhere in our home. Deployments make you acutely aware of each vow and how much you deeply cherish your marriage. Not to say that those who have never been through a long separation don't cherish each other. It just goes along with the saying, "you don't know what you have till it's gone."

My little bass!

Easter weekend has come and gone. For the most part it was fun, filled with things to do but it still came with that tinge of another holiday missed with my husband. The weekend itself was nice though. My brother's birthday came, along with a wonderful visit with my precious niece! It was wonderful to see how much she's grown! I can't believe she'll be turning three this summer. I still remember going to the hospital to see her and loving her tiny little features. I went fishing with my father in law and got my nails done with my mother in law. Easter service with my mom. And a full Easter dinner cooked. I successfully made prime rib for the first time ever. And this week brings me up to midterms week! After this week I will be four weeks away from a much needed school break!

I have been a terrible blogger lately. This term has proven to be more challenging that I originally thought it would be. Most of the challenge though is probably due to some lack in motivation. It feels like I've been going to school for an eternity! Also as homecoming draws closer and closer, the less and less I want to do any school work! I'm thrown off a bit about my classes. Before I started I prepared myself to have trouble in statistics and do well in microeconomics. So I'm a bit surprised it's quite the opposite. It seems I'm doing very well in my statistics class and should have no problem pulling out an A. Economics on the other hand is a different story. I am going to need to reread everything we've gone through. There is just so much to remember.
We are finally into April! I'm so happy to see Spring weather finally making it's appearance in Georgia. I love the flowers blooming, the birds coming out, the trees starting to blossom. It just looks happy outside. I can't help but to feel a little bit better when there is so much going on outside. April also means deployment is nearing it's 100 days down mark soon. I torn between being happy and annoyed. I want to be so happy we are finally getting through this deployment. I can't help but been annoyed. It seems like it's been so much longer than just 100 days since I last saw my sweet husband. I miss him dearly. I try not to worry too much but sometimes it's hard to see so many people affected by deployments. Not everyone's husband comes home. There are so many widows younger than I am. So many wives that now have husbands that are unable to walk. Life isn't fair and danger doesn't care who it hits or misses. I feel like I already got lucky that he came home last deployment! I can't wait to have him home again. I will try to err on the side of happiness though! I am very happy we will soon be on the downhill side of things. The next month will be very busy with school, Easter, my brother in law's wedding, and many fun activities!

Spring break went by so quickly! For the most part it was a good week. The only downside of spring break is the phone my husband has been calling with broke. It was slightly different circumstances, but this happened to us last deployment too. Most likely it wont be fixed. So that means the second half of this deployment is going to be quite different communication wise. The end of March is quickly approaching along with three months down!
Spring break did come with a momentous goal accomplished! I ran my first ever 5k! I ran the Fallen Heroes of Georgia 5k. It was a wonderful experience.. besides the rain! I ran it quite slow but finishing it was a great accomplishment! It was very humbling to see so many people there remembering those killed in action in Iraq or Afghanistan.

Well, I came out with a "B" in both of my classes. I will be happy with that! I obviously would have preferred an "A" but I am still happy. Onto statistics and economics next week. Or this week if I am feeling extra productive (and get through my massive to do list!). As a reward for our hard studious work, my mother-in-law and I went to go get our nails done. It was amazing! Somehow I went two and a half years without getting my nails done. The last time was before my wedding! I don't know what took me so long because I love having my nails look beautiful. I also got my fingers done with gel nails. I am totally happy with the results! Regular polish lasts forever on my toes and hardly ever gets chipped. Different story with my finger nails. They get chipped on the second day. The gel nails have been wonderful. They cure the nails under a light for each coat. Not only do they harden but they are dry instantly afterward so there is no awkward paying or driving afterwards! Just beautiful nails! I will be doing gel nails again!
We are fast approaching the half way mark! And it seems the weather has turned into summer. I can feel it getting hot and humid!

I am loving my husband! Even from thousands of miles away he is so amazing! He left the sweetest message in my calendar. When I flipped the page to this week it was a wonderful pick-me-up. 

I am loving that there are only a few days left in this term! At the end of this week I will officially be on spring break! I can't wait to have these classes behind me.

I am loving my beautiful orchid that finally decided to bloom.

Besides these things, this Wednesday I am reaching deep to find things to love. My patience with the military housing office is wearing very thin. Sometimes people just don't understand, if a piece of paper is in Afghanistan... that means you can't have it. It's not like I can call up my husband and have him fax it on over. He's in the middle of nowhere Afghanistan with nothing. I can assure you if they don't even have a toilet, they sure as heck don't have a fax machine. And I get to wait around my phone for him to call whenever he gets a break every few days. Calling him up with this issue is just not possible. Some people!

Finally, two months completed of this deployment! Nine weeks down!

Another great thing, only two weeks left in my current classes! There are just a few more assignments to complete per class. I absolutely can not wait! Spring break is just around the corner along with March! It has crossed my mind more than a few times to take off the second half of this semester, but I will push through. I have been planning to take off a semester when my husband returns from his deployment and I don't want to take too much time off. No matter how mushy school makes my brain feel I'm going to get through this semester. Up next, economics and statistics! Oh so much fun!

I am loving the sunny nice weather we have had the past few days!

I am LOVING that I am almost done with this term of classes! I am so happy I passed my midterms with very nice grades!

I am loving that in a little less than a week we will be two months down on this deployment!

I am loving my husband! He is just amazing. Even thousands of miles away I feel so happy, blessed, and grateful to be his wife.

I am loving that I am a strong person. I don't tell myself that often enough! I know that it is something my husband appreciates about me, so I should give it some more credit.

I am loving Pinterest! I'm so constantly torn. I actually enjoy moving around. But Pinterest makes me want to buy a house and make it our own so badly! I love all of this!

 

I almost feel as though I am neglecting my poor blog, but honestly not much has happened lately. I think time moves in slow motion while my husband is away!

I am still trudging through school work. Made it through mid-terms quite successfully! Now I just have to finish out these two classes strong.. and start my next two classes till May. The running has not been going very well due to the weather. I am not terribly interested in running in the cold and rain. It seems to be warming up a bit but I'm not so sure it isn't just the tricky Georgia weather. I got my hair cut, which I am loving! I did treat myself to a bit of shopping this past weekend. It was a nice treat! I do miss shopping with my husband though. I think I may have an anomaly of a husband! He enjoys shopping with me so we always have a good time at the mall. He enjoys treating me and I of course enjoy him telling me I look beautiful! There are a lot of things that are just more fun with your husband and best friend.

Besides all of this, in one week from today we will have finished two months of this deployment! Two long months. I am trying to be patient. And in reality I am being incredibly patient. I think going through as much separation as we have due to training and deployments proves how amazingly patient I am. Sometimes I have to give myself more credit. It isn't easy. I don't believe everyone could handle it. We are kicking deployment butt!

I'd just like to take a moment to pass on a great story. This Marine has challenge himself with 1 million push ups in one year. 1 Million Push Ups in 2012! He's raising money for the Wounded Warrior Project, a nonprofit organization dedicating to serving and empowering our country's wounded veterans. Help him out and encourage his efforts! His current goal is $10,000 but I believe he could raise much more! It's a marvelous thing to give back to our veterans who have fought so hard and paid such a heavy price for our freedom.

Link to the 1 Year, 1 Million Push ups Facebook page, where you can track his progress. And please visit Wounded Warrior Project where you can track his fund raising progress.