One Year.

Well... one year and a day later as of now. Yesterday James and I celebrated our one year anniversary. It was very bizarre. It's not that we did not think we would make it a year, but there has been so much that has happened in a year. James is not super big into celebrating...well in not in the way that I like celebrating. I like parties. I want to make a huge deal out of every little detail, which ultimately leads to more anxiety and stress about the actual day. But James, he is different. He likes to "celebrate" by remembering. And I actually like his way. We spent our anniversary reminiscing about the past year and where we have been and what we have experienced. It was wonderful. Let's look back on our year:

• We got married. 
• We went to St. Martin's. 
• We moved to Oklahoma. 
• Elizabeth got engaged.
• We went to Callaway- my first family reunion. 
• I studied and passed the NCLEX
• We spent everyday for 2 months together. Learning even more about each other. 
• We floated the Illinois River. 
• I started a new job. 
• Paul and Kara got married. 
• James started a new job. 
• Mary Kathryn visited.
• We flew on Christmas day- to finally see our family...it had been 6months.
• We packed up again...well someone else packed up for us.
• We moved to Georgia. 
• We found a church. 
• James started IBOLC. 
• We spent the longest we have ever been apart...since we have been married. 10 days. It was harder than I remember :)

Needless to say, it has been a crazy year.

Our anniversary day was wonderful. We decided to spend the afternoon at Flat Rock Park and enjoy a picnic. We have been to Flat Rock once before, but last time we were a little unprepared and didn't realize the vast amount of land that the park actually covered.

This time we were prepared. I packed a lunch: turkey sandwiches with peppers, goldfish, grapes, and cheese. We hiked. Well, kind of hiked. James insisted that he needed to take me hiking "for real". This place is really much more for bikers than hikers. And unfortunately this place was frequented by those who enjoyed to drink and not pick up after themselves. We found a a great spot by the lake and then we laid there for 2 hours soaking up the sun, reading, and remembering. And then left because this awesome couple decided to stand in front of us on the lake and blow smoke in our general direction.

Here are some pictures of our day:

The dead baby opossum 

James: Smile! 

Me: Wait, I want the back pack.

James: But you aren't carrying the back pack. 

Me: So?

The one who really carried the back pack. 

The Lake.

I found a big stick. 

Picnic Time! 

Later that night, the Boy and I went out to a wonderful dinner at Meritage. There was a huge party down stairs so we chose to sit up stairs on the balcony with one other couple. There was a light breeze and it felt so good outside. It was a beautiful night. We ordered drinks and a tomato and goat cheese fondue...I think I'm going to try and make this one at home. Dinner included a filet mignon for the Boy and salmon for moi. James' filet literally melted in our mouths and my salmon was delectable. We finished it off with the a turtle cheesecake...AH-mazing. 

Finally, we concluded our night at home with our first taste of our wedding cake. Surprisingly, we never actually got to taste it at the wedding because we shoved it in each others faces. Much more entertaining. Surprisingly, the cake was STILL good. It was so stinkin' good!!! 

We have had such a blessed year and we pray that we have many more to come!

I Got Your Back.

Day One of being alone. James is in the field this week and the past 2 weeks he was in garrison- which meant he came home every night! Of course I scheduled a trip for my wedding weekend that week, and was not completely able to take advantage of his time at home. Lesson learned. But tonight is different. It is a little weird. I'm going to crawl into an empty bed and wake up alone. Luckily, I have amazing friends down here to help me fill up the time between. Meredith, Fawn and I had dinner tonight. The first night is always the hardest, and it is always nice having someone to eat dinner with. So we had dinner and a bottle or two of wine. Amidst all of our chatter of our weekends, Meredith brought up an "army saying". I'm not going to get this right, but I loved it- it goes something like this- If I watch your back, and you watch my back then we won't have to worry about our own backs. Genius! Right? We discussed about how this is actually a great way to live our life, especially our married life. If we take care of one another then we will be set!

But being alone usually makes me question...because it works great in a marriage when the husband comes home every night. He would be concerned if his wife was unexpectedly not there. Or if the husband always comes home at 6:00 and then one day he doesn't without any warning. Cause for slight concern right? But who would know if I was driving back from a friends house at 10:00pm and got into a car accident? Would someone actually know if I was in the hospital? Would the doctors and nurses know to call James? Or would they try to call him and not be able to get in touch with and not know who else to call? Would they know that they actually have to call his Company Commander or the 2-11 Staff Sargent? No they wouldn't. I would be alone. Again :) I contemplated this senario a LOT while I was driving so much last week. How do people know when you aren't where you are suppose to be?

In college, my friends and I would always text each other. And we actually still do when it involves seeing each other. Just a little heads up, I'm leaving for Charlotte or Atlanta or wherever we are heading out to that weekend. But it was nice. And it made me feel safer. I like knowing. I want to know where you are, when you will be somewhere, what time you left, or if you got stuck in traffic.

So tonight, Meredith and I watched Fawn lock up the house. We told Meredith to text us when she got home, and as I was walking home, Meredith drove up behind me and said, "I"m watching you walk into your house. I got your back."

A Wedding Weekend.

This past week has been crazy. I drove 13 hours up to the outer banks to hang out with one of my best friends before she got married, only to hop in the car on Saturday to make it down to Atlantic Beach to watch my cousin get married. Did I mention that I hate driving? I do. I hate being trapped for that amount of time. And being a passenger in the car is only a smidge better. Cars and I just don't get along. Never have and never will.

This week was different though. I'd do anything and be anywhere for Shannon, so when she said Corolla, I said- I'll be there! And so I was. Luckily, Shannon and her family allowed me to come down 2 days early and spend time with them as they prepared for the big day. It was a special time for me, especially since I was not able to attend the actual wedding. 

Shannon and I first met on the couch at the Kappa Delta house. She started picking me up to go to church and our car rides too and from quickly became integrated with stories of our life and our faith. She wanted to go to Nursing School and so did I. We lived together during a summer and a semester of school. We stayed up late studying. We supported each other in nursing school. We went to mixers together. We ate dinner together- she usually cooked. We went to Africa together. We went to Maple View Ice Cream, and we would randomly go to Raleigh to hang out with her parents and to get away from Chapel Hill. We did a lot together and quickly became really close. Shannon was always encouraging me in my spiritual life and she has always been one of the people I look to when I need help. Her brother put it perfectly at her rehearsal dinner, she is always serving other people. And it is true. And I am so blessed to have been served by her. 

Now she is married. And I have a married friend! Not that it matters, but at least I'm not the only one anymore! Here is me with the beautiful bride at the rehearsal dinner.

Then I got to drive down the coast of North Carolina to Atlantic Beach to see my cousin get married. Will and Margaret. I love Will and Margaret separately and I love them together. They have been through thick and and thin and are a perfect example of what it means to love. Even though I was unable to attend their rehearsal dinner, I was able to witness their commitment to each other front row! Margaret was beautiful and Will almost had me crying when I saw the look on his face as he got his first glimpse of his bride. 

The Robinson family has always been close and it is so much fun to be able to celebrate with them. Let's just say that the Robinson's know how to party. 

I have been waiting a long time for Will and Margaret to tie the knot. It's been a year and a half since his proposal and it's been a crazy year and half at that! Well, in my life it has been crazy.

I am so glad to know have Margaret be a part of the family, officially!

First Dance.