100 in 365 Wrap-Up

Last year I created this list of things that I wanted to do while John was gone. Looking over this list, I'm pretty surprised that I got so much done. I'm disappointed with what I read, but in all fairness, I read a ton last year-- just not the books that I said that I wanted to. Go figure! My new list for 2013-14 is residing at the 100 in 365 tab, now. Check it out and see what's on my plate for a new year. Here's what I accomplished, September 2012-September 2013!

Wedding Stuff

1.       Learn how to cardas.

2.      Make centerpieces. (28/25ish) 

3.      Plan a wedding.  

4.      Go to a Bridal Expo.

5.      Find the perfect wedding gown.

6.      Research what we need to set up our house.

Reading

7.      Read the Bible in a year. 

8.      Read Louisa and Marmee.

9.      Read Bossypants.

10.  Read Les Mis.

11.  Read The Count of Monte Cristo.

12.  Read Candide.

13.  Read The Hunchback of Notre Dame.

14.  Read Up from Slavery.

15.  Read The Three Musketeers.

16.  Finally finish the Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin.

17.  Read Deliverance From Evil

18.  Read all of Geraldine Brooks’ fiction. March.  Year of Wonders. People of the Book. Caleb's Crossing.

19.  Read all of Tony Horwitz’s books. A Voyage Long and Strange. Confederates in the Attic. One for the Road. Blue Latitudes. Midnight Rising.

20.  Read This is How You Lose Her.

21.  Read the Age of Miracles. This is the kind of book I want to write. So poignant and beautifully written.

22.  Read American Sphinx.

23.  Read the new JK Rowling book. It didn't change my life, but it was certainly wonderful to read another book by JK. And it gave me hope that she'll be writing and releasing another one!

Health

24.  Run the Baltimore half-marathon. Ashley and I walked/ran it on 10-13-12!

25.  Get to my high school weight and stay there until the wedding, and preferably longer. 

26.  Run or walk another half-marathon in the spring. I ran an 8k with Ashley on 3-16-13! It's not a marathon, but I ran the WHOLE thing and it's gonna have to do!

John’s Deployment

27.  Send John a care package at least once a month. (36/12)

28.  Make John something homemade or handmade at least once a month. (12/12).

29.  Write John a letter every day he's gone. (359/360)

30.  Be at the airport when John comes home for leave.  We said hello on 01-06-13!

31.  Be at the airport when John leaves after his leave. We said goodbye one 01-23-13

32.  Be at the airport when John comes home for good.

33.  Make the cutest sign EVER for when John comes home for good.

34.  Start looking for housing for us when we know John's orders.

Learn Something New

35.  Take French lessons at JHU.  Sadly, not happening this year.

36.  Learn how to cook Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter dinner the way Mom does. Thanksgiving.

37.  Re-learn how to sew.

38.  Earn another certification this year. (Pending on program and cost...) Not happening this year.

39.  Study for the GREs (?) and/or start on application materials for MFA or PhD. programs. Not happening this year.

40.  Take a cake decorating class.

41.  Learn how to actually play pinochle.

42.  Learn a new song with Becky while she plays ukulele.

43.  Learn how to make sushi.

44.  Go to the Glass Grill and learn how to blow glass with Becky.

45.  Take a self-defense class.

46.  Learn  the Wobble.

Writing

47.  Write 6 short stories (0/6).

48.  Enter at least 2 more short story contests or submit at least 2 more short stories for publication somewhere. (1/2) 

Making Stuff

49.  Make a Christmas present for everyone in my and John's families. (10/10) (Proof here!)

50.  Make 12 new dinner recipes over the next 12 months. (1/12)

• Cajun Chicken Pasta

51.  Make homemade marshmallows.

52.  Complete two of the cross stitch wall hangings I bought for our first place together. (2/2)

53.  Make cookies for my students just for fun.

54.  Make a quilt with Mom. Worked on one, but it won't be finished by the end of this year.

55.  If it snows, build a snowman. No snow this year. Sadness.

56.  Make something for the English Department. 

57.  Try to make salted caramels. Here's the recipe!

58.  Make at least two cross stitched Santas for my Santa tree. (2/2)

59.  Cook an entirely organic meal.

60.  Find a delicious recipe for and make fried green tomatoes.

Going Places and Seeing People

61.  Visit VA Beach and Katy at least once this summer.

62.  Go to International Village in PGH this summer.

63.  Attend the church picnic.

64.  Go to as many PSU football games as possible and get a picture with Becky in uniform every time.  And the evidence is here!

65.  Visit PSU on a non-football game weekend. We went while John was home on leave!

66.  Visit PSU on a non-football game weekend. Spent an awesome weekend with Becky on 2/16-18.

67.  Visit PSU on a non-football game weekend. Cheered Becky on in her directorial debut on 2/22-24.

68.  Visit PSU on a non-football game weekend. Blue and White Weekend on 4/19-21.

69.  Visit the BMA.

70.  Visit the Walter's Art Museum.

71.  Meet Ms. Eger for sushi this fall.

72.  See the Cherry Blossom Festival in DC this year. For realsies. I did it! 

73.  Hang out with Lebanon County friends at least once during the summer.

74.  Visit Vicki.

75.  Visit a cute town on the Eastern Shore.

76.  Vote in the Presidential Election.

77.  See Baltimore's Christmas celebration in Mt. Vernon, or have a viewing party and watch it on TV.

78.  Plan a sister's weekend sometime during the school year.

79.  Go to a quilt show with Mom.

80.  Attend and participate in a Holi Festival of Colors in Baltimore.

81.  Hike Mt. Nittany.

82.  Eat at Petite Louis in Roland Park.

83.  Lindsay, Vicki, and Donna at Penn State in August.

84.  Visit Lindsay.

Financial

85.  Do 77 phone interviews for TFA. This is not going to happen since I missed the first round of interviews. New goal: do at least 25 phone interviews for TFA. (24/25) (Ah, so close!)

86.  Shore up my IRA.

87.  Start a new car fund.

88.  Start an apartment/moving fund.

Miscellaneous

89.  Do some kind of nail art thingy.

90.  Do something ridiculous in my classroom (teach without talking, rap, etc.). Lesson with authentic Salem Witch Trials texts, spoke in a goofy, ye Olde Newe Englande dialect.

91.  Read in the bathtub with cookies and candles. On a school night.

92.  Spend election day doing something completely fun that has nothing to do with school.

93.  Play an April Fool's prank.

94.  Go to karaoke with my sisters.

95.  Get Baltimore crabs with my sisters. We opted for sushi.

96.  Go to an author’s book reading either at JHU or the Enoch Pratt Library. Saw Junot Diaz at UMBC on 11/7/12.

97.  Volunteer at the USO at BWI. This was something I thought I had the emotional capacity to do, but I don't think I can be a good, competent volunteer if I cry at every guy in a uniform that I see...

98.   Run the Poetry Out Loud club at my school again this year.

99.  Volunteer for a political campaign (preferably Obama’s).  Phone banked with Shannon on 11/3/12.

100.                      Do 20 random acts of kindness that are out-of-my-way—not just holding a door open, etc. (3/20)

DIY Wedding Ceremony Decorations

Warning: This post is just a cheap excuse to post pictures of our wedding. 

John and I were married in my home church, which is already very ornate, so we didn't have much to do to decorate for the ceremony. The biggest decoration project for the ceremony were pew bows. I just loved them. They were simple, elegant, and added a touch of color without being obnoxious. They took so little time to make, too. 

 You'll Need:

1 1/2 yards of netting per pew
1 yard of ribbon per pew (we used 1 1/2 inch ribbon)
1 bunch of Baby's Breath per pew
twisties or clear tape
scissors

Directions:

Pull the netting around the top of the pew so that the ends are even with each other. Bunch the netting and pull it together in the middle of the pew. Use a twisty or clear tape instead of a knot to secure the netting to itself.
Using the ribbon, tie a bow around the twisty or clear tape.
To finish the ends of the ribbon: Fold the ends of the ribbon horizontally in half and cut 1/2 inch- 1 inch  diagonal line from the outer corner of the ribbon to the end of the folded edge.
Slip the Baby's Breath into the middle of the knot. 

And here are a bunch of pictures from the ceremony so you can see these nifty pew bows in action. The photos are taken by our photographer, Andy Colwell.

Have you seen these other wedding posts?

How We Spent Less Than $70 on Our Save the Dates
The Easiest DIY Wedding Invites Ever!
How I Was Flashmobbed at Our Wedding
My Maids of (Dis)Honor
Pearl-Studded Wedding Rice Bags
DIY Personalized Bridesmaids Dress Hangers
My Etsy Wedding Jewelry Picks

There's No Place Like Home

John's homecoming story is long, which is one of the reasons I've been having such a hard time putting it into words. It began on Friday, May 30, when I drove to John's hometown for his side of the family's bridal shower.

Originally, the shower had been planned for Saturday, June 1 but of course, the Navy found the one day in a radius of three weeks that wasn't wide open on my schedule and plunked John's homecoming in the middle of it. John's sisters and mom had been able to quickly rearrange the party for the day before,  in the evening. So many people graciously changed their schedule and travel plans to make sure that I'd be able to drive the seven hours to greet John at the airport on Saturday afternoon.

During the bridal shower, I received a text from one of John's coworkers' wives, Ashley, who I've become good friends with over the past two years. She kept me in the loop throughout the deployment since I wasn't part of the FRG (Family Readiness Group). The plane had been delayed for five hours, so instead of an afternoon homecoming, it would be in the evening.

After a year, a few hours more probably doesn't seem like a big deal, but it took the wind out of my sails a little.  Even so, it was a blessing-- instead of waking up at 5 AM, I'd be able to sleep in and leave a bit later in the morning.

On Saturday morning, I drove from John's hometown to where he's stationed. After one stop for gas and McDonald's, sitting in traffic at least half a dozen times for half a dozen reasons, and about 9 hours of nerves and excitement while driving, I made it to Ashley's apartment, picked her up, and drove to the bed and breakfast to check in. While I got ready, Ashley checked her phone for updates from the FRG leader. Our boys weren't supposed to be in until 9:30 PM. It was 5-- we were good.

We decided to go to dinner to kill time-- after all, until we got off the base, we figured it would be at least 10 PM, if not later. During dinner, Ashley checked her phone repeatedly. When she ran to the restroom, she handed it to me instructing me to pick up any number that rang. Nothing.

After dinner, we decided to head back to Ashley's apartment to dump my car and drive onto the base with her stickers, when we received a phone call from the FRG leader.

"Where are you? They're here!" I could hear the woman on the other end of the phone.

Ashley grabbed my arm as I was driving, and stammered back, "They're coming in at 9:30!"

When Ashley got off the phone, she explained that the FRG leader had sent her an email that she hadn't gotten. As she said that, her phone dinged and-- of course-- the email downloaded.  Everyone else in the FRG had been waiting at the airport for three hours because they had received phone calls.

It felt like someone had stolen something from me. As I zig-zagged between cars and tried to decipher the muddled directions we had received, I could feel myself panicking, growing more furious by the minute, and tearing up. After 360 days of deployment, if John was standing in the parking lot of the terminal like a kid who missed the school bus... I didn't know what I would do with myself.

With a second phone call a few minutes later, we found out that the unit was still in customs-- we had about thirty minutes, and we could make it to the terminal before if we pushed it. And a chief would meet us at one of the gates to escort my car-- which has no credentials-- on base.

We missed the unmarked gate to the base and ended up at one of the main ones. When we pulled up to the window, the MP looked at our IDs and--miraculously-- let us onto base with directions for how to get to the terminal.

Of course, the road to the terminal was long, windy, and seemed at places, to be leading us in the wrong direction. Once we got to the parking lot, we ditched the car in the first open spot we found and sprinted into the airport.

The airport was very small, so security was right inside the door, as were all of the families waiting-- perhaps 50-60 people. We threw our shoes and bags into the X-ray machine and walked through the metal detector. I didn't make eye contact with anyone. I just wanted to get John and leave. I was insanely angry.

Is there anything more frustrating than waiting on the other side of opaque, frosted windows? I couldn't stop shaking-- partly from Ashley's and my near-miss, partly from excitement, partly from nerves, and partly from our break-neck drive to the base. I fiddled with my phone while we waited, texting family and friends as best as I could with hands that didn't want to do things in an orderly fashion.

A few times, the automatic doors that led to customs opened, and the collective breathing of 50 people caught on a corner of hope. And then, the disappointment of nothing behind those doors filtered through the crowd and people began their small talk again.

And then, suddenly, there he was. It sounds so cliche and smarmy, but I will never forget those first moments. Everything else afterwards is a little fuzzy-- it seems like it all happened at once. But that moment, John suddenly appearing from behind another sailor and turning the corner into the lobby of the airport, is the clearest.

I weaved around a few people and, clutching my homecoming poster, I ended up in front of John. I said something inane like, "Did you read the sign?"

"It's upside down, but I think I've got the general idea," he said, smiling as widely as he possibly could.

"Sorry," I said and didn't even bother to flip it around. And then we were hugging and kissing, (I'll admit, I was shaking and doing this weird cry-laughing that must have seemed creepy) and-- again, at the risk of sounding cliche and smarmy-- no one else and nothing else mattered.

After a hugging like we'd never get to hug each other again, we picked our way through other happy couples and families, found John's bags, and headed outside to wait for Ashley and her husband..

This is what the end of deployment  feels like: It feels like an immeasurable weight has evaporated and suddenly you're light and can move again. It makes you want to skip. And jump. And smile as far as your mouth will let you. It feels like freedom.

The Sign of the (Happiest) Times!

John's been home for a week and two days! (I'm sorry if you feel like I've been holding out on you.) We traveled every single day for a week, with the exception of Friday. It was a whirlwind, and I promise I will share everything!

But I can't help savoring every moment. This week, I'm going to detail the pre-homecoming, homecoming, and post-homecoming (and everything in between) festivities. Let's start at the beginning: the homecoming sign!

I had made up my mind at the beginning of the deployment that I wanted to make a sign for John's homecoming. (It's even on my 100 in 365!) I was very superstitious about making the sign-- I didn't want a sign laying around for a month if the date was pushed back. Probably not the smartest move, but I waited until three days before the homecoming date to begin working on it.

It was tough to come up with the message for the sign. I thought up variations of welcome home messages-- funny (a parody of "Call Me, Maybe" lyrics), cute, sappy, patriotic. Finally, I completely ran out of time (and space on the poster) and settled on what is probably the most "me": the two most important running counts I've kept all year.

I'm a perfectionist and it was vitally important for this poster to be the most perfect poster ever. Knowing I didn't have time to hand-letter the poster perfectly-- and accepting that I'm not the most artistic person-- I decided to use cut-outs instead. I didn't like the pre-cut ones at WalMart, so I tried making them on my own.

If you need to make a poster, I'd strongly suggest you take a look and check out this very easy tutorial on how to make perfect letters. Printing and cutting them expedited the process immensely.

You'll Need:

• Microsoft Word
• colored cardstock (I bought Michaels generic pack) 
• a printer
• a scissors or Exacto blade

Directions:

Depending on your printer, you may have to change your paper settings accordingly. My printer did not need to be adjusted.

I used two-sided Elmer's photo tape to secure the letters to the poster board. It was way less messy and way more expedient than glue and it looked way more professional than tape doughnuts. (Even after a 4 hour drive and then a 9 hour drive, excited hugging, and dropping it on the ground, the letters didn't peel or fall off.)

I don't have a full-body photo of me holding the sign, but I do have the one below. (It was taken five or so minutes after John landed, so it's inestimably better than just a photo of boring, old me!)

5 Things I'm Glad I Did During Deployment

It is very difficult for me to look at this past year and find good from John's deployment. I'm a very optimistic person, but this deployment has infuriated me for political reasons as well as personal ones. Acknowledging positive outcomes from this year actually feels a little like a betrayal to those feelings and myself. However, when I look back at the last year, there are a lot of things I did that I ended up being really happy about. I collected the top five for you.

I'm glad that during this deployment, I...

1. ...wrote 365 letters to John. Well, okay. I don't have 365 letters written... yet. But I certainly will by the time this deployment is history. I wrote John a letter every day (and on the days that I missed, I wrote make-up letters), starting with the first day he was gone. It's romantic, maybe a little indulgent and goofy, and something we're both going to treasure throughout our lives. If you're going to do this, I'd suggest numbering the envelopes so they can be read in order. It also helps if the letters get lost-- at least one time, one of the letters I sent John had a nice, sunny, half-year vacation in Cuba before finally making it to Afghanistan. 

2. ...liked John's command's Facebook page. This is so simple, but was (and continues to be) so meaningful. John's command mainly posts articles and albums of happenings on base, so it's a great way to get news that would most likely not be reported on anywhere else. Seeing a photo of John show up randomly in my newsfeed (even if it's just part of his ear or the back of his head) gives me butterflies, and has been one of the best randomly occurring surprises in this deployment. I really started missing seeing John as a person with more than just a chest, neck, and head about three months into the deployment. Skype is a miracle of modern technology, but there is something awesome about seeing him standing somewhere, or running a 5K on base, or participating in a ceremony. And, of course, there's the added bonus of sharing the photos on Facebook and being generally obnoxious about how amazing John is.

3. ...connected with others online.
I don't live near John's base, which puts me very far away from large groups of people going through deployment too. I also don't come from a military family, so everything military has been completely new. Especially at the beginning of the deployment, I found it really helpful to connect with other people a few different ways online.

First of all, I started this blog-- and it's been awesome meeting people from all walks of life. It might be a little dorky, but I'm glad that I chronicled the last year this way.

There's also a thriving community of military significant others on Twitter. Many of them choose to be anonymous, but I've gained a lot from the friendships I've forged with people who are not "anons." While some people have found that there's a lot of online "drama," I've found a lot of support and kindness.

Finally, I found a lot wonderful online resources that were very helpful in figuring out what the heck to expect and how other people cope with so much uncertainty. I hesitate to list anyone here for fear of missing a blog (and if I missed you, I am so sorry!), but if you are looking specifically for deployment help, these blogs and websites are fantastic (and their authors are, too):

NextGen MilSpouse (An online magazine that is down-to-earth and covers a wide range of topics relating to military life.)
Dear Deployment
SassBritches (Formerly Deployment Problems and the Military Life)
Hurry Up & Wait
Love From Home
Army Wife Housewife (Formerly Army Wife & Co.)

4. ...bought two 16 GB SD cards. 
Costco had an amazing deal on SD cards a week or so after John deployed. I bought two and used them to videotape things that I know John wanted to see--  the Blue Band's pregame and halftimes, the reception of one of his best friend's weddings, driving through his hometown, a thunderstorm, and a lot of dorky commentary by yours truly. You get the idea. I sent it to him at the halfway mark and he said he watched the entire card in one sitting. Do this. You will not regret it.

5. ...checked off items on my 100 in 365 list . Most likely, I won't get through my entire list by the time that August rolls around, but I've done an awful lot on it. There's just something about checking things off a list that makes things more manageable and more exciting. (I know, I know: I'm a geek.)

Check on my on-going What I Learned From Deployment series:

• The Best Five Things People Said During Deployment
• Five Things Better Left Unsaid During Deployment

#52: Part One

I love cross stitching. But I'm exceptionally fussy. I almost exclusively stitch Mill Hill kits. They are stylish and interesting-- not the 1980's block lettering samplers that make me shudder!

I've found it very difficult to find the time to cross stitch items for myself. Every time I go shopping, I always find myself picking up designs that I want to make and give to people I love.  My goal, this year, was to stitch at least two wall hangings for decorating our house. 

I started stitching this one with every intention to keep it for us. The color palette fit the colors I am hoping to use in our first apartment. I love the message and the beading accents. It took me about half a year to finish because halfway through finishing it up, I undertook my massive Christmas ornament project. (Did you miss it? Check all of the ornaments I cross stitched here.) 

This year, Maryland became a marriage equality state, so two of my friends were able to marry. The fight between opponents and proponents of marriage equality is contentious all over our country, so when I thought of a gift for them, I knew I wanted to give them this cross stitch wishing them peace.

Even though it's in their house... I'm still going to count it towards #52 in my 100 in 365. All's fair in love and cross stitch, right?

This Post Should Be in Parseltongue

This is my very, very last care package post! (Yes, I got goosebumps typing that!)

John and I are big nerds when it comes to many things (I'm sure you haven't figured that out at all over the past year), but none more than everything and anything having to do with Harry Potter. Last year, we visited The Wonderful Wizarding World of Harry Potter, tried on robes in the gift shops, and drank butterbeer. The year before, we we went to the final Harry Potter movie with a bunch of friends... and wands.

Here it is... the last (and definitely nerdiest) care package for this deployment!

Contents: 

• From Hufflepuff-- Hufflepuffs (Snickerdoodles)
• From Ravenclaw-- a copy of Men's Health (Because Ravenclaws pursue knowledge... even if it's the knowledge of abs and mixing cocktails.)
• From Slytherin-- Basilisk Eggs (mint chocolate chip cookies tinted with green dye)
• From  Gryffindor-- The Sword of Gryffindor (a plastic knife for the Harris Teeter tapanade and homemade Wheat Thins)
• 3 edible Snitches (DIY to follow tomorrow!)

I found a free printable for "Owl Post" and I used it for the box's address label.

I printed out full-page crests of each house and used strips of colored paper to create the background. This was a medium flat rate box, so 8 x 11 card stock fit perfectly, horizontally; all I had to do was cut the strips! Short cuts are awesome!

And there you go-- the last care package post from me! Woah. 

Cherry Blossoms and #72

Things that are exciting: checking another item off my 100 in 365 list. And yesterday, I did just that!

Despite living in Baltimore for almost five full years and really wanting to go, I had never been to the Cherry Blossom Festival. It's too easy to put these things off until "next year." 

And even this year, even with the list, I didn't commit to going until a few minutes before my dad and I jumped in the car and headed down to the nearest Metro station.

It was a great day-- we saw parts of the Cherry Blossom parade, walked around the rim of the Tidal Basin, saw a ton of tired, cranky kids and annoyed parents, tried to figure out why some people decided to dress as sexy anime characters (what?), and ate street food sitting on a curb. The best thing though, was that I got to spend some quality one-on-one time with Dad. Sappy, maybe, but true.

SITS Day!

Hi! I am thrilled to be the SITS Girls' featured blogger today! I absolutely love the friendships that I've cultivated through SITS (you know who you are!). If you are a blogger and haven't checked out this extraordinary community, you really should! You won't be disappointed!

A special welcome to any SITS-tahs who are in the house! Please let me know you've dropped by! I'd love to link up and  stay in touch with you through Facebook, Twitter, and/or Pinterest! 

I started Jo, My Gosh! last August as a way to catalog and cope with my fiance's year-long deployment to Afghanistan. (Today's Deployment Day 296! And we're still going strong!) 

Since so many people have the same reaction when they find out that John is currently serving a tour in Afghanistan--"We're still over there? I thought everyone was coming home!"-- I think it's important to write about what deployment is like for us. And--I'm not going to sugar-coat it-- it can be frustrating, frightening, and tiring.

But this blog isn't just about the military or just about deployment. And it's not just about the negative stuff that has happened this year. There have been a many wonderful things that have transpired, too!

Here's what you can expect from Jo, My Gosh! I share the care packages that I send to John (and my college-going sister, Becky). You can regularly find posts about recipes and crafts that I've tried and loved. I also frequently document my quest to complete a list of 100 goals and activities in 365 days. (Learning how to blow glass and make sushi is still on the list... but plans to do both are in the works!) As a side note, if you have your own bucket list (or whatever you happen to call it), be sure to link up with my Carpe Diem Directory!  With a wedding that's coming up in just 106 days (but who's counting?) I'm excited to post more wedding ideas, tips, and DIY adventures, too! 

Life is what you make it-- and I'm trying to make it amazing and memorable! Browse around, get comfy, and join me for the ride!

#26 Eats It!

It's been a bit of time since I last posted about a checked off item on my 100 in 365 list. I've crossed off quite a few-- books, mostly. I went to a bridal show (more about that later), and I ran an 8k. 

Yes. 

I ran an 8k. Let me put some more emphasis on that. I  ran an 8k. You might remember that my friend Ashley and I walked the Baltimore Half-Marathon in October when I was able to cross off #24 from my list.  (There's some photographic evidence to the right if you need it! Look at how short my hair was in October!) 

Afterwards, we both realized that we liked it so much, we wanted to try to actually run it.  We didn't think we had enough time to train for a full-fledged half-marathon since both of our guys were coming home for R&R at different times over the winter. But an 8k? That sounded do-able! 

I have to confess, my "training" for the run wasn't very disciplined. I let myself make excuses way too often because I was just being lazy or grumpy or sad. Or all three. 

When I finished, my time wasn't at all what I'd ever want it to be. There were fourth graders who were passing us like it was their job. It started raining the minute we finished-- by the time we got to the car we were drenched and shivering-- and I hobbled around like an old lady for the next day-and-a-half. 

But. 

I ran an 8k. I didn't give up. It's the furthest I've ever run consecutively, without stopping or wussing out in my entire life. And that is pretty exciting.

You are Cordially Invited...

...to join...

I started my 100 in 365 two months after John left on his deployment. As I looked at the year from the beginning of the deployment, it seemed like a giant, empty hole. While I'm not done with it yet, it has helped me stay focused on the things that I really want to get done while John is away.

I've noticed that other blogs have similar lists. If you've got one, no matter what you call it--  a bucket list, a 10 in 12, a 101 in 1001, a 25 before 25, or something else-- link it up, slap the button on your page, and be part of a directory that's full of optimism, adventure, and awesomeness! Head on over now!

Today, I'm linking up with Simply Summer and Walking in the Light for a Wednesday Facebook page hop. Link your Facebook page, hop around, and join us!

Hop Rules:
1. Don't forget to follow 1-3
2. Remember to link up with your Facebook Page, NOT your blog!
3. Try and visit some fellow Facebook pages and leave facebook love!
4. Have fun and hopefully make some new friends!!

If you are interested in co-hosting with us, please email summer@simply-summer.com



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R&R Stands for Ridiculous & Rad!

Here's the post I've been dying to write and post, but just couldn't bring myself to write it and admit that John's leave has come and gone. Lame, right? I know. But as I was flipping through pictures that are now more than a month and a half old, I couldn't help but smile and feel absolutely, over-the-moon happy. Somehow we managed to fit so much awesome into 15 days that it pained me to have to choose between photos. (So you'll just have to look at a lot of photos of food and us. Sorry.)

Food

If you know anything about me by now, you know that I love food. So does John. (This is most likely the largest reason why we're perfect for each other.)

While he was home, John grilled out, we ate sushi (twice!), ate piping hot, tiny doughnuts in the car while snow swirled around us outside, and John got the Reuben sandwich he had been lusting after for the previous seven months. That doesn't even include the two Christmas dinners we had at each of our folks' houses, the Thanksgiving dinner John's mom made, or homemade treats we chomped down.

 Wedding

One of our gigantic goals was to make sure that we did as much wedding stuff as we possibly could. We (hold onto your hat) found and bought wedding rings, tasted and chose our cake and icing, met with the wedding coordinator at our venue and figured out most of the reception's big details, met with our pastor and figured out most of the ceremony's details, picked out invitations, got John fitted for a tux, and took two dance lessons. And that doesn't even include Steven. We did battle with an over-zealous wedding registry consultant who held us hostage at Bed, Bath, and Beyond. (Steven didn't let us hold the beepy remotey thing! The horrors we endured!) Eventually, we found our way to Macy's where they gave us chocolate and the beepy remotey thing. And yeah, we picked out china. That was pretty darn cool.  (And that crazed look in my eye? That's what happens when you spend three hours in Bed, Bath, and Beyond and only register seven items. Because you're not allowed to touch the beepy remotey thing. Yes. Seven. Items.) 

Adventures

And we definitely, definitely, definitely did our part to try to make up for the year John had been and would be missing. I have too many favorite memories to label them as such. 

We went to see the symphony. We saw Les Mis. We had one of the best dinners of my life (I didn't even know cornbread croutons exist! They do and they are delicious. Delicious.)  We traveled to Penn State to see one of my sisters, enjoy a day at our alma mater, and finish up our engagement photos (and knocked off #65 on my 100 in 365).  We went to a spa and got pedicures. We went shopping-- it is remarkable how exciting Kohl's and American Eagle can be when you're with someone you haven't been with for a long time! 

We enjoyed hanging out with both sides of our families-- from watching movies to playing charades and dominoes to going to a school board meeting to talking late into the night.

And, our friends surprised John. We lured (that's the only word that works in this instance) him to a breakfast place under the false pretense that he and I were going to spend a whole day together. When we walked into the restaurant, about ten of John's closest friends from college were there. He wasn't expecting to see them during leave, and he definitely wasn't expecting to see them all together.We spent almost the entire day hanging out-- going to a really need conservatory and a craft brewery and restaurant. But the best part was getting to see all of them joking, laughing, and smiling together. I really need to devote an entire post to it: it was one of the coolest things ever.  I say that without any hyperbole.

And then, too soon it was time for John to go back for another [insert number of months here]. I already wrote about that, but if you missed it (and want to read a thoroughly sad, weepy post, you can check it out here).

I cannot wait for John to come home.  The fifteen days of leave were the longest span of time we've been together consecutively (unless you count four years of college and we don't). I can't wait to marry my up-for-anything, even-gets-pedicures-with-me buddy and spend my life with him. I can't imagine anything better!

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