I feel like tomorrow brings a new chapter to this deployment.  For the last 3 months I have enjoyed the comfort and help of friends and family in Georgia while escaping the upstate New York winter.  I have to admit, it feels a little more like leaving home, than going home as we have spent so much time here this year.  .  Going back will bring many comforts of home and plenty of responsibilities to keep us busy, but it will also bring back the sting of single parenting and lonely nights.  I am so thankful for all play dates made, meals severed, baths given, kid free afternoons, games of Monopoly played and hours of conversations given to Addison, Mya and me by our family and friends.  My parents have graciously allowed us to take over their home for 7 out of the last 12 months during our move, block leave and deployment.  Many people can't believe I can stay this long at my parents house and I always say that my parents make it so easy by ignoring mess...

Have you heard the Hallmark commercial this year?  Valentine's Day is not just about "I love you," but more about "I love us." I met my Valentine over 7 years ago.  In honor of Valentine's Day, here's a look back at how it all started for us... The first time we ever spent time together was May 2004 in New York City.  I'm not sure if it takes a while for some people to know if they've found "the One," but for us, we knew right away.  It took us a few weeks to actually talk about it, but we knew from the moment we saw each other in New York that we wanted to get married.   Having lunch in Little Italy in NYC  Top of the Empire State Building Monroe Family Vacation - Ft. Walton Beach, FL - June 2004 Chad is my favorite person.  The Lord has blessed me so much by bringing Chad into my life.  I can't imagine my life without him.  He challenges me to be a better person.  Leads our family confidently under the Lord's guidance. En...