Care Packages Aren't Only for Those Away!

I got a surprise in the mail this week, and it completely made my week! Although my mom regularly sends me fun pick-me-ups, that always make me smile, this surprise was from Tyler!! He ordered a postage label online, got a flat rate box from the Post Office at the embassy and sent a sweet surprise my way.

When I got the box, I loved that he had written on the customs card. When you ship something internationally, even if it is to an APO/DPO, you have to have a customs form on the package describing the weight, contents, sender and recipient.

There is the customs label with his signature ... oh how I've come to love that chicken scratch!

Below are the contents of my surprise, halfway package: a postcard, a letter, toboggan, mug and scarf. Tyler is a very thoughtful person, especially when it comes to gifts. He knows how much I love scarfs, and it just so happens that baby alpaca, the luxury in Peru, is so, so soft!! Handwritten letters always warm my heart. And who in Alaska can't use another tobaggan?!

Although I do not get to travel the world as much as Tyler has gotten to recently, I do appreciate his thoughtfulness in the gifts that he brings home! I get to treasure the luxuries of foreign countries in the things and pictures he acquires along the way. Many of his gifts have stories and experiences behind them that I hope to cherish for years to come.

Thanks for my surprise, babe; happy halfway!

Time is Moving Quickly!!

Friday marked the beginning of a new month!! Another month flipped in the calendar, another few weeks to scratch off as complete in this deployment and one less first of the month standing between now and Tyler's return. Although it seems like the current speed of time would be the most wonderful thing ever, it is honestly a bit bittersweet.

There are so many things I want to have finished/checked off before Tyler's return, and as time dwindles down it only seems to be speeding up. And, if you know anything about me, you know that I think entirely too far into the future. I am working on enjoying the here and now, but sometimes that is much easier said then done for me. That said, I am looking at January, February and March; time that Tyler will most likely be home and I am already praying that time will slow down for those months. I pray that we can soak up that time together, for we do not know when we'll be apart again.

One thing we have learned, but not yet fully mastered, in our short time in the Army and as a married couple, is that we must take full advantage of our time together. I am looking forward to Saturday morning waffles and ACC basketball, a Sunday morning Starbucks and church-ride companion, the alarm going off for PT and my husband walking through the door for dinner again. I look forward to walking Bella, going out to dinner and watching NCIS on Tuesdays before bed together. All of these things that seem mundane, normal and ordinary have become parts of our life that I crave when apart.

But for now, we will continue to grow and enjoy our time apart, pray for safety, happiness and a safe return in a few short months and keep chipping away at my beloved "to-do" list!

Happy Monday, friends!

Snow!

Yes, you read that correctly .. snow! Sunday it snowed here in Alaska. When I called to tell my parents, Daddy informed me that Mama was at the lake ... in the sun!! I promptly told him that he could have kept that to himself! Although snow means the promise of winter, and Tyler coming home, I'm not quite sure I'm ready. Two very important points I keep reminding myself of are that: first, snow brightens things up and secondly, snow warms up cool winter days. I know that seems strange, but there is something about the snow as insulation, that makes the winter cold a bit more bearable.

Snow-capped mountains in the distance.

Happy Wednesday dear friends!

New Venture Part II

As mentioned a few weeks ago, I have begun a new venture with two great friends. We are creating a book about what it means and feels like to be an Army wife. The three of us have such different Army backgrounds and experiences, but our combined knowledge and passion for the service is driving this venture.

To begin our writing venture, we started a blog. Last week we introduced ourselves individually, and then finished the week with a post about how we are became friends. I have already posted for tomorrow morning, so hop on over and check it out! New blog to bookmark.

Be sure to leave a note that you visited!

Game Day!

Football season is in full swing ... week three has kicked off, and Wake has it's first (and probably only) televised game in Alaska tonight! Needless to say, the Van Zandt household is pretty excited to see our favorite team play live tonight, and at a decent hour, too!

College football runs through our blood. We love the sport, the tailgating, the rivalries and the passion that the players have for their game. Unless you are raised to know and understand the excitement, rivalries and history of this beloved season, it may seem a little crazy at times! College football is not something that you just "pick up" and begin liking, it is something that you are raised with, an annual season that many count down for.

You see, football, in the South particularly, is not just a game ... it is an event. We plan our weekends around kickoff. Our outfits show our true school spirit, and the tailgates always have good food and ice cold drinks complete with huggers (koozies) adorned with your favorite mascot, saying or team. My how I miss this part of the Fall season, but don't worry, we celebrate and relish in what games we do get to watch up here!

Go Deacs!!

Fall

Over the past few years I have come to love fall more and more. Fall means pumpkins, cooler temperatures, changing leaves, the start of the holiday season and football. Unfortunately, fall is a very short season in Alaska, but it has one unique characteristic ... darkness begins again. Although Alaskan falls do not bring football, red and orange leaves or pumpkin patches, the fall brings about sunsets, darkness and yellow leaves to walk through in brisk, cool temperatures. I do appreciate the short fall season here, and I look forward to the smell of pumpkin, crisp mornings and a decent sunrise and sunset ... at least for a few weeks!

And just because I can .... I chose to include pictures of my rose bushes! One of my rose bushes is still blooming! I have learned to prune every few weeks to have continuous blooms. I know it is silly, and not very "fally," but just because I can ... here are a few pictures of my blooming roses!

September 11

September 11, 2001 is a day that many of us will never forget. I began thinking about it tonight as I was washing my face and just slowing down for the night. I thought about what my life was like on September 10, 2001, and I couldn't remember. September 10 was a Monday, and I'm sure it was super hot. I was a sophomore in high school and I'm willing to bet that I just went through the Monday routine of life. And then ... it was Tuesday, September 11 and as I was walking into my safe, normal routine of a high school day my world was beginning to turn upside down.

My pre-calculus teacher was offering extra credit if your parent came to class, so, my dad was coming to school. I remember walking down the math hall and he was chatting it up with the teachers about what was happening in New York. We turned on the TVs, and that was class for the remainder of the day. This particular Tuesday was an early release day so Mom picked me up at 1 and we were glued to the news after getting home.

I sit and think of what that day meant for the people of New York, DC and Pennsylvania, but then I thought about what that day meant for me. You see, I didn't know that there was a boy two hours down the road that would one day become my husband. I didn't know that that particular boy become more passionate about his country and our freedom on that day. I didn't know that I would one day be serving alongside him to defend this nation that we love.

So many lives changed on that day, whether we knew it then or not. I am grateful for the men and women who served on 9/11, grateful for the unity and grace in our country on that day and those immediately after, grateful for those men and women who serve humbly day-in and day-out to protect our normal, everyday routine.

Please take a moment to say a prayer for those who paid the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom, those who were killed on that day and their sweet families who are left behind.

God Bless America

Running

My all-time favorite tennis shoe!

Running has not always been my thing, and I wouldn't really say its "My thing" quite yet. I ran one season of Cross Country to get in shape for soccer, and during other off seasons I would begin running and then quickly find something else. Well, in an effort to lose a few pounds before Tyler gets home and to get my heart healthy, I have started running again. First of all ... I can run a lot farther than I anticipated being able to run. Secondly, I have actually enjoyed it. (I can't believe I verbalized that, but I do!)

Bella and I have run 3x a week for the past two weeks. We trek along different paths and sidewalks, always with earphones in and a leashed Bella two steps ahead of me. I was a bit nervous about how she would do at a slightly, very slightly!, new pace, but she is doing quite well.

I know that I'm only two weeks into it, but I have enjoyed it. Help encourage me or tell me of your latest and greatest efforts and how you're doing! I'd love to cheer for you!