2009 ~Looking Back~

What a busy year. 2009 has absolutely flown by. This year started great and is definitely going to end great as well. January through May, Mike and I finished up our junior years in college. Also during this time we found out that Mike (fiance at the time) would be deployed to Iraq in August. We quickly started planning on what we wanted to do...wait till he got back to get married or marry before he deployed. As most of you know we chose to get married 1 week before he headed off to his pre-mobilization training.

Mike and I chose to get married July 25, 2009. We had exactly three months to plan the whole wedding and I must say it went fairly smooth. The rehearsal dinner was beautiful and the wedding was of my dreams. I loved every moment of that day. After the reception, Mike and I headed on our way to Savannah, GA and then down to Palm Coast, FL the following day. We had a great time there. In Florida we went to Typhoon Lagoon Water Park, Orlando Studios, and we went parasailing. We had such a fun time together, but it was definitely too short. We decided to come home a day earlier then planned because we wanted more time for Mike to be able to pack and prepare for his deployment. On August 2, 2009 I saw my new husband off to Fort Dix, NJ. That was extremely tough but I knew the time would pass quickly, and it did. 45 days later I got to see him again before they left the country for 3 short days. Then I saw him off once again, this time for a very long time.

August through December I spent working hard a school. The semester absolutely flew by and I am very thankful for that. Today marks the 104th day away from Mike after seeing him last. Those days has gone by so fast. Mike has done amazingly well through this whole deployment. I could not be more proud of him then I am right now. Without him being so strong about everything, I really don't know what I would have done. I know God has put him there for a purpose and I know God will continue to bless him with awesome opportunities and great experiences.

Mike and I have missed our first Christmas together, his 22nd birthday, and later today...New Years. It has been tough some days but overall we have managed well especially Mike. Although we are apart, I am very thankful for this opportunity. I know that through this separation, it will only make us stronger and closer together.

So that is our very quick year in review for 2009. God has blessed us richly and I cannot to see what 2010 holds for the both of us. Some things that will be coming up next year to look forward to are: Mike's R&R in March, my NSTP training, Mike coming home from Iraq, and later me graduating from college and commissioning as a 2nd LT. Looking forward to it!

God bless,

Mike and Michelle

Beginning of Our Lives Together

As must of you know, Mike and I got married July 25 this summer and it was such a beautiful wedding.  I could not have imagined anything better.  After all the celebrations we headed to Savannah, GA then to Palm Coast, FL the next day.  On our way to Savannah about 2 hours into the trip Mike looked at me and said, " Do you have my wallet?"  I wanted to say of course I don't have your wallet but instead I just said, "No."  At first we thought each other were joking but we quickly realized that we did forget his wallet and yes I say "We."  After changing out of our wedding clothes he told me to grab his wallet out of his uniform pants before I hung them up but somehow I got distracted and forgot.  Well needless to say on the way down to GA we had to turn around.  Candace and Ray were nice enough to meet us half-way.  After we got the wallet and our nerves were settled back down we had a great time.  The next morning we headed down to Florida.  What a great time we had there.  We went to Disney's Typhoon Lagoon, went parasailing, enjoyed the beach, and went to Universal Studio's Island of Adventure.  We had a blast together.  

After getting home from the honeymoon, 3 days later I saw him off the Ft Dix where he would be doing his deployment training.  He will deploy this September.   As of right now, we are doing ok with not being together but like everything, it has its ups and downs.  Be praying for us as we go through this tough time together.

Mike and Michelle 

Snow Day

It was so great to see that much snow again.  On 1 March it started snowing pretty hard and by the end of that night we probably had about 3 inches of snow.  That night I decided that I wanted some of my mom's chili beans and so I made some for Mike and I and I did a double batch so we could freeze some.  And I must say they were delicious!  Mike wanted to make fries/chips for me and he did a good job, I actually really liked them.  After our dinner and watching House I decided I better get home (thank goodness for 4-wheel drive).  That night and the morning of 2 March was when we got so much snow, 1 foot to be exact.  I woke up around 3am and just had to look outside to see what it was doing and by that time we probably had 10 inches or more...YES!!!  It was so beautiful and bright the next morning.  Since it was Mike and I first 'real' snow together we had to play in it so I headed over to his house very very slowly the next morning.  The roads were pretty rough that morning but of course my wonderful Explorer could handle anything.  After I got to Mike's place he made us waffles and then we went to play!  It was so deep and fun to play in!  We had such a good time but I have to say I missed being home where I could sled down our hill with my family

and cousins and such.  We also built a snow-soldier and Mike made his first snow angel (wondering how one goes through there entire lives without doing something like that haha).  Oh forgot to mention SCHOOL WAS CANCELED!!  And Tuesday morning we had a two hour delay as well, it was great!  But that was our snow day.  We still have a good 3 inches of snow on the ground in most spots.  Gotta love the snow!  For more snow pics go to http://michaelandmichelle1.shutterfly.com  (email me if you dont have the password)

Valentine's Day

What a great Valentine's Day it has been.  First off, my Dad gave me the sweetest card and necklace.  I hope he doesn't mind me writing this but oh well...inside the card Dad had written "PS: I might not be the only man in your heart anymore but remember I was the first, haha"  Well let me explain this a little more.  When I was little, Dad would always ask me who the only man in my heart was and I would always respond with, "you are."  Well I opened the jewelry box that he had given me and inside was a locket that said, "Always in my heart."  So precious, I loved it.  Thanks Dad!

Now to today.  Mike decided that he wanted to take us out to The Melting Pot which I have never been to.  I had such a good time there.  First they bring out a cheese dip 

of your choice so we got the Artichoke dip, then they bring out a salad of your choice, then for the main entree they bring out vegetables, steak, pork, chicken, shrimp, and lobster tails, and finally for dessert they bring out the type of chocolate you choose and the following things to dip in it, graham cracker and oreo covered marshmallows, cheesecake, strawberries, bananas, pound cake, rice crispy treats, and brownies.

 

 We had such a good time fonduing everything.  Everything was so delicious.  After dinner he decided since he didn't get me a stuffed animal for Valentine's that he 

wanted to take me to Build a bear workshop. So off we went to build a bear, or in my case I got a puppy.  Cute!  After that we headed home to relax and play some Wii games with his parents.  I am so thankful I got to spend our first Valentine's Day together.  What a blessing Mike has been in my life!  

Well thats it for now.  Hope you had a Happy Valentine's Day!!! 

Assist, Protect, Defend!

It's official, Mike will be deploying to Iraq come this June. We were hoping that he would be able to contract with the ROTC so he could stay here and finish up school, but God has a different plan for our lives. We got word today that his UMR will lock 2April and the earliest he could had contracted was in the Fall. While waiting for this news I asked Mike several times what he thought about it all and each time he said, "If they allow me to stay behind to contract in ROTC then that is God's will for my life. If not, then God's will is for me to go to Iraq." Simple but well said.

Today when we found out I cannot lie, I was terribly upset because of course I want to keep him close to me. But as I was crying Mike called me and told me this, "Michelle, as I was driving to school earlier I kept asking God to show me a sign or give me something to let me know it was going to be ok, but I didn't hear or see anything. So I asked God to open up my heart so I could hear him speak to me. Then I heard Him, he said, 'Mike, what have you told Michelle this whole time while you were waiting to find out this news? This is my plan for your life, I need you to go overseas. Also, I want you to be prepared. Start reading and studying my word so you will be prepared.' " When Mike told me this I knew those words could have only came from God. I know that God has our futures in His hands and I have a peace knowing that.

Even though this might throw off some wedding plans and things, God has bigger plans for us. Pray for us as we prepare for this adventure ahead. The deployment should only be 1 year, which is a lot better then the regular Army standard of 15 months.

My prayer is that God will equip Mike to not only be a great MP but that God will work through his life while he is there to win others to Christ. Thanks for reading and thanks for the prayers in advance!

~Michelle and Mike

Just Another Day

Well today we had a two hour delay for school but this didn't affect me or Mike since I don't have classes and he didn't have any until 11:25pm. We did get lots of ice last night and some this morning which caused my power to go out around 9pm last night. But thank goodness it is back on now. Today was yet another uneventful day, which could be a good thing or could be...boring. :)

A couple things I learned today is that health insurance is overrated. That is the only thing that seems to be really causing any issues for Mike and I to get married on time as of right now. But knowing us two, we will have it figured out soon enough.

Another thing I learned is sometimes you just need to let go and let God. You (as in myself) can't fix everything. But being someone of a perfectionist, I like doing it all myself, that way I know its done right...but even I cant do it all as good as God can.

But anyways...that was today in a nut shell. Thanks for reading!

~Michelle

Trying It Out

So this is my first time ever "blogging" so I am just trying this out to see how I like it. I am pretty sure I am going to like this a lot with me about to be in the military and my fiance already in. But we will see how it goes! Thanks for reading!



~Michelle