One phone call makes all the difference

The past few weeks have been really tough for me. I am still adjusting to being home alone with Jack pretty much all of the time. My mom lives right down the street but it is not the same as having Jon here. Being a military wife is a solitary life - I know that most of you will say that I should have known what I was getting myself into when I married Jon. I will say that I did know what I was getting myself into when we got married but until you experience a deployment, especially one during war time, you don't fully understand what military wives and families go through.

The last time I spoke with Jon on the phone was 2 days before he left for Kuwait. He called to wish Jack a happy birthday and to talk to all of my family for the 4th of July. That was until Sunday morning. I was cooking breakfast and the house telephone rang. I looked at the caller id and it was the privacy director so I answered thinking it was my sister from work. To my surprise it was Jon telling me to answer the phone. He was able to get a good internet signal and he and his bunkmate are sharing the cost of Skype. I talked to him for almost 20 minutes before we both had to go for the fear of him losing his connection in the middle of our call. He said that the internet service in Kuwait is horrible - it comes and goes. It was so good to hear his voice and it made my day much better. I haven't heard from him since but that is okay.

In the past 2 months, my relationship with Christ has become a lot stronger. I am praying daily that He keep Jon and his unit safe and to bring them ALL home. I have also started reading the Word on an almost daily basis and the Lord shows me new things everyday. I can feel the Lord's hand over Jack and I during this time that Jon is away. I have just had this on my mind for the past few days.

Please pray for one of my closest friends, Jessica. Her grandfather passed away Thursday afternoon at age 86. He was a WWII pilot and a God-loving, God-fearing man. This has been really hard on her because her grandparents pratically raised her. She has moved to North Carolina to try and have a relationship with her mom. Her mom left when Jessica was just a baby. Things are not going well in North Carolina and she wants to come home. Pray that God will show her what direction He wants her life to go in. Pray that I will be a good friend and have the strength and courage to just be her friend and that God will give me the words to say to her.

Here are a few of the pictures we had taken for Jack's birthday. Enjoy!

A change

So I made a few changes to my blog. Jon is finally in Kuwait. He said that it took them about 30 hours to get there. They had a 9 hour layover in Shannon, Ireland. He said it was beautiful. We miss him very much.

Chicago, 4th of July and a birthday

OK so I had a whole post typed out about Chicago and Jack magically hit the delete button and the whole thing disappeared. This is going to be an all encompassing post about Chicago, the 4th and Jack's 2nd birthday.

Chicago -

We had such a great time and the weather was beautiful. As you read, I left at 5:25 Friday morning. I left my house around 2:30 in the morning so that I could park, get to the airport and check in. By the time I made it to the Delta terminal it was about 3:30 am and there were already people waiting to check in. The terminals for self check in didn't open until 4:10. So we sat and waited. Once I checked in I made my way to security and then to my gate. Of course the day before Michael Jackson died so that is all that was on the TVs - I proceeded to put my ipod in my ears and patiently wait to board the plane. The flight to Atlanta was short and uneventful. Once in Atlanta, I saw the sunrise, got some breakfast and watched an episode of Bones (still more Michael Jackson on the TVs). The flight to Chicago was longer - watched more Bones. Jon met me at the airport - we were so excited to see each other. He had to wear his uniform b/c he has no civilan clothes (they are all in Iraq). We took the train to downtown and then walked over the Michigan Avenue bridge and then to our hotel. When we checked into the hotel, the guy working the front desk upgraded our room b/c Jon was in his uniform. The room was great! Once we got into the room I took a nap (a much deserved nap). For the rest of the day we just walked around downtown Chicago and the Magnificant Mile. On Saturday, we got up and went to the Sears Tower, Shedd Aquarium and the Navy Pier. The only thing that Jon wanted to do the whole time we were there was to go see Transformers 2 - so we went. On Sunday, we went and took the tour of Wrigley Field. It is the second oldest field still being used today. It was built in 1914. I was like a kid in a candy store b/c I am a HUGE history nerd and I LOVE the Cubs. It was so neat to see everything - the bleachers, visitors club house, press box and especially the field. That night we went to have a last dinner together at Weber Grill - man was the food amazing! Monday we had to get up early so I could make it to the airport on time. I was doing great until we got to the airport and I got all checked in. I cried for like 10 minutes and so did Jon. It was the hardest thing that I ever had to do. Once I left Chicago I was anxious to get home so that I could see Jack. I really missed him the whole time I was gone.

Here are some pictures-


Atlanta Sunrise


View from our hotel - Sears Tower


The Field Museum and Soldier Field


Corner of Waveland and Sheffield - best place to catch homerun baseballs


Statue of Mr. Cub - Ernie Banks


The scoreboard - it is still operated by hand


The beautiful ivy on the outfield brick wall


The famous red Cubs marqee

4th of July -

We spent all of the past weekend with my family and had a great time. My aunt and uncle and cousins came over from Pensacola for the weekend. We spent almost 2 days in a swimming pool somewhere. We ate more food than people are supposed to eat at one time - let's just say we ate so much that I wasn't hungry again until dinner on Sunday.

Yesterday was Jack's second birthday. I can't believe that he is 2 already. On Friday morning I took him to have pictures taken for his birthday and so we could send Jon once he got overseas. Jon leaves late tonight for Kuwait. It's really real now. I hope that everyone had a great 4th and has a great rest of the week.