Facebook.

Everyone knows the logo and the hype about facebook, but I have so struggled with this stupid "networking tool" for the last few months. The idea is to stay in touch with friends, but at what point are you just another friend to message, poke or write on their wall. If you have something to say or you really want to know how I'm doing ... call me, email me, I promise I'll respond.

My greatest struggle is status updates. AAGGHH, they really drive me crazy. People feel that they need to put everything on their status updates. Where they are, what they are doing and who they're doing it with. The world does not need to know where you are at every moment, I'm sorry, we are just not that important. And secondly, what if a status update hurts someones feelings? Sometimes the bluntness of what you're doing every moment with whomever you're doing it with can be hurtful ... why, go there?

I know this seems like a bit of a rant, and I'm sorry, but this whole situation has been driving me crazy lately. I do not mean this to hurt anyone's feelings, please know this is strictly my opinion.

Happy Friday, friends!

God Winks

At Wake Forest I was blessed with the most wonderful friends. Although I do not do a super job of communicating with all of them regularly, I still think of them often and love them for how they helped me become who I am today. 

One of those girlfriends, Jennifer Cole, whom I still adore but have not been too good at contacting lately, was my walking buddy and Tuesday night dinner friend throughout my tenure at Wake. She used to ask, "How has God winked at you today?" She simply wanted to know how I saw God that day. 

Today I thought of her after an afternoon of really missing my husband and best friend and an afternoon of knowing that my WFU best friends were together. I let Bella out only to find this: 

The sky was striped with pink and orange before finally setting a few minutes later. It's moments like this that I have noticed more in Alaska then ever before; I'm not sure if Alaska is just that much more beautiful or if I just have a greater sense of appreciation for things of beauty these days. 

God always reveals himself just when we need him. Although he's always there, sometimes it seems to be a bit more apparent than others. Tonight I am getting ready to settle into bed a bit more upbeat, a bit more thankful for friends, this afternoon and for the way God continuously shows me that I am not alone in this journey.

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and he will make your paths straight." Proverbs 3:5-6

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!