A long awaited visit!!

As mentioned before, Ken is off on training, and has been for the past 2-3 months. In about 3-4 days I'll be flying down to visit him for one of his graduations, and will be able to see him!! I am so excited I am hardly able to stand it! It has been really hard to have him gone... it seams we got to talk more when he was deployed! However, this time I know he is not being shot at. It makes it easier, but just in a different way. After this first graduation, he'll have to stay put for another 2months to finish his training before coming home for good. This week is just perfect in timing.... We just had an anniversary, there was veteran's day, a few birthdays are right around the corner as well as Thanksgiving. Seeing him is just what I need to get me though these last 2 months! I can't wait!

ROME & VENICE 2009

We landed in Rome on Easter Sunday, the feel in the air was simply wonderful. Ken did a out-standing job planning our month long Europe trip! We were in the ancient city 4 days before heading to Venice for a few days. We had so much fun! It was hot in Rome, and just lovely in Venice. Very different experiences in both places. The landmarks and places were amazing in Rome, but in Venice there was just fabulous shopping! I only wish we could have bought more art in Venice. Just wonderful time, go if you ever have the chance!




The above are from Venice, just beautiful. Below are Rome images.





It is just amazing how old some of these landmarks are! Mind blowing!
The pieces of art are priceless treasures!


Ken inside St. Peters Basilica, and people rubbing St. Peters foot!



Ken touching ruts from the original road in the ancient Roman Form.




Moses, can I say more?

yum... roman water!

Ken tossing a coin in the fountain, I guess this means we'll be going back!

I've got some explaining to do.....

OK, ok. I know its been a REALLY REALLY long time since I've posted. All I can say is that I am going to TRY to do better. That's all you can ask for right? Well, since my last post -- a lot has happened. Let me try and do a quick synopsis in chronological order....

1. Moved back to TN & miracles made it possible to get our apartment in order.
2. Ken came home from Afghanistan!! (& in time for my birthday!)
3. Visited Ken's family in AL, TX, & LA! What a fun time!
4. Ken was Honorably discharged from the Army... YES, now a civilian!
5. We went on a belated honeymoon/celebration trip to Europe for almost a month!
(Italy, France & the UK!- It was so much fun!!-more on that later. promise.)
6. We moved away from Tennessee for the last time- back to the Northwest.
7. We've been living in my parents basement for OVER a year....WAY, way to long.

I've been working the past year at a store in our mall, and Ken has had a few different jobs. Also the past year Ken and I have been working in the Nursery at our church.... the kids are really pretty cute! Ken and I have had fun little trips these past 15+ months- to help keep us sane. We've gone to the beach with my family, the Seattle zoo, & the Olympic National Forest to name a few.
Before Ken got out of the Army, he took the civil service test for CBP and passed. After we got settled in the basement, his background investigation started and was completed by the end of the summer. A month later he got a letter stated he was going to be hired from BP, but that he had to wait until there was an opening at the academy, and federal funding for his position. That letter came the end of September 2009- and we've been waiting ever since for him to be called up. Well, the wait is over! HE GOT CALLED UP!!! : ) So, Ken leaves in like a week & a half to go to the academy in New Mexico, where he'll be training for 5 months. After that, I will move down to join him somewhere along the southern border. Right now we're just so happy to finally be starting his career job!
I know I should have kept up the blog, but after a while I felt overwhelmed with past events I should have blogged about but didn't. It didn't help that when we moved here-- nothing was happening... nothing to blog about. So, I just kept putting it off. I have really enjoyed reading my friends blogs to keep up on how they were doing-- but felt I had nothing meaningful to say. I finally just got over my issues of wanting to post about the past and am recommitting to do better about the future. I hope you (any of my friends who have this blog saved on your sidebar) don't die of shock when you see this updated post. I hope to be better, and like I said before, I'll post some pictures of the last 15+ months. :) I hope to hear back from you all! Love ya! :)