it's been over a year since i've last written on here. time sure does fly. i don't know a lot of what has happened in the past year but rich got home from iraq 4-19-08; we celebrated our 1 year anniversary 4-28-08; rich eas'd from the marines 8-25-08 and we moved from nc to mo. that in a nut shell brings us up to date lol. rich had a job out here that we moved here for. after 2 months of working there, they fired him. after moving our life and changing everything, they fired him. i still don't think i'll ever understand it but he wasn't happy at that job anyway so i guess in the end, everything worked out for the best. he got a security job and started 12-26-08. he likes it enough to keep it but he's still actively looking for a new job. we're both going to school and working. he works the night shift so it's been hard to see each other but i love him so much and we try to make time for each other every day, even if it's only a few minutes.

life has been interesting as of late...i've gotten good news and news that has shocked me to my core. i've been happy and sad, healthy and sick, energetic and tired...it's been a mix-mash of everything. the good news, which is exciting for me but kind of sad too, is that i'm going with REACH to tx for the mission trip this summer. it's great b/c i'm so excited about it but already sad to spend the week away from rich. he's sad he can't come with but i suggested to him that it might be a good week for him to go see his family then. i'm sad i won't be able to go with him but financially, we're so tight right now it's about the only time it'll work out for both of us. the new that has shocked me is about a friend whose husband left her. that's all i'm going to say about it but some people know what i'm talking about and those who don't, don't really need to know the details. all i can say is she definitely needs a lot of prayer right now. it kills me to know that someone so close to me has to go through this. ever since my aunt was cheated on, it's always something i've worried about in my own relationships. thankfully, i think i've found a keeper, but i'm sure that's what my aunt thought during their 28 years of marriage too. it's so crazy to think about someone my age having to deal w/ this; someone i love and care for; someone who's friendship has meant so much to me over so many years; someone who know has to live with something i can never even imagine what it would be like. if she reads this, know i'm praying for you and love you and am always here for you.

so, back to the year in review...rich's homecoming was amazing. most definitely one of the happiest days of my life to date. i still get teary-eyed and all excited whenever i look at the pictures. it was a long day that i thought would never come because his flight had gotten canceled b/c of the weather in iraq and then he ended up landing in nc 5 hours early and no one knew their flight was coming in and it was a big mess but i finally saw him...and it was an amazing sight for sore eyes. i remember standing outside the car and seeing him step off the bus and just being totally frozen in place until he was right in front of me. and even then it was like a dream and i was watching it all happen, not actually taking place in it myself. we spent our first anniversary together after a long day at work for me. he was totally romantic and got a bed and breakfast for the night. it was so nice to get away from our full house and just have some time alone. he went on terminal leave in july and we did some traveling and packing and moving. it was an exciting time and a really sad time for me. it was exciting b/c it was a big change for us but so sad b/c i was leaving my friends in nc. it's nice here in mo but i still really really miss nc. i would love to go back and visit but know rich would never want to go back to lejeune lol.

ok, so that was a lot of mumbo-jumbo that a lot of people probably don't care about but just thought i'd write again. i'll try to keep things up to date.

well although this isn't rich, it's about his unit and i'm very excited about it and wanted to share it w/ anyone and everyone i could!

hope everyone is doing well. God bless!!

well, since i probably won't be online again until i'm in NC (yay!!!) i just wanted to write and wish everyone a happy thanksgiving! i hope you all have a wonderful day and get to spend sometime with the one's you're thankful for.

i leave for NC on friday sometime and will be there sometime saturday. i'm not sure if we're driving through the night again or not but i will be home before too late on saturday. i can't wait to see everyone down there again!! i've missed you all so much! have a wonderful holiday and God bless!!