As we entered into the last week of February, I remembered I have this blog I haven't touched in a few weeks. February took an unexpected turn for our family when we lost my grandma. Nana had been very sick and weak for years, being on permanent oxygen, only able to walk about 20 steps before needing a break, unable to talk on the phone for long, etc. She lived that way for many years. I can't really say that she was a fighter because she was yearning for The Lord to take her Home most of that time. She loved us, her family and closest friends, SO much, but she knew her body was failing and was ready for her glorified body in heaven.

If anything, we thought we were losing Nana in mid-December when she had a small stroke or heart attack. (I wasn't aware of how bad off she was at the time.) She spent about 7 weeks in a hospital and rehabilitation center and then was sent home (to live, not for hospice) on Saturday, February first. She passed away in my parents home, her home the last 18 years, in the wee hours of the morning Saturday, February eighth.

CJ and I were immediately ready to buy plane tickets to come home. Right when we got married, we put the cost of two same day tickets to Dallas in our savings account for this very reason. However, our parents encouraged us to do what Nana had told me to do: not come home. Nana, our little diva, told us many many many times she didn't want people making a big fuss and stopping their lives when she died---she wanted them to do that while she was still here!! (again her words) Thankfully, The Lord allowed that to happen. I had just been in Dallas for nine days and got to spend hours visiting her each day at her rehabilitation center. I was there January 21st-30th and we had a great talk on the phone Wednesday, February 5.

My mom followed all of Nana's wishes and did not have a funeral. There was a simple burial service with about 8 family members. Since I was not there my mom suggested writing something to be read a the funeral. It was hard to know what to say. What do you say when you lose the wisest person you'll ever know, your 'other mother,' and your roommate of 13 years??? Eventually this is what came out...

“Remember Lindsay, He is the ‘Father of mercies and God of all comfort.’” This was the last sentence Nana spoke to me both the last time I saw her on January 29 and the last time I spoke to her on the phone on February 5. This truth comes from 2 Corinthians 1:3.

Nana always shared with us (and whoever walked in the door) the scriptures she was currently studying. Though she had read through the Bible numerous times, she would dwell on specific verses for weeks at a time and marvel over the majesty of God and His promises. Another verse she recently shared to us on a daily basis came from Hebrews 1:14, which talks about angels being sent to minister to the heirs of salvation. During Nana’s last part of her life, she didn’t just memorize these verses but she truly experienced them as only one filled with the Holy Spirit could.

Nana has been my constant companion since she moved in with our family when I was in first grade. Countless evenings it would be just the two of us, as my parents and brother were off at sporting events or other activities. For about the first 7 years of this relationship, it was her providing for me, whether it be with physical food, companionship while I played and “performed” for her, or spiritual wisdom.

This all came full circle, as I would come home to visit from college but especially during the 15 months I lived at home after graduation. There were many nights that it was again just Nana and me, but now it was me who would set up her dinner and make sure to visit or watch TV with her for companionship. And though I am nowhere near close to her spiritual maturity, The Lord would allow me to encourage her by reading the Bible to her and having deep discussion over the different things we were learning.

But while these roles might have flipped, she never stopped being my Nana. The last day I saw her, I laid with her in her hospital bed, resting my head on her chest. She was still my Nana. No amount of physical weakness or age would ever change that.

Though while it is so hard to comprehend that she is really gone, there was at first an unexplainable peace. But as I was reminded of these two verses that had been so pressed upon her heart recently I know exactly why I have such peace. It is because there is a spirit ministering to me as a humble heir of salvation and because as second Corinthians 1:3-4 says “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercy and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble, with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.” How gracious is our Lord God to place that verse upon her heart and for her to share it, in the midst of her own physical troubles, right as we would need it most. 

We have a gracious God. 

A challenging but good reminder

February rant: February messes with me. We all know February is a 'short' month. Even though it is only 2-3 days shorter than the other 11 months, knowing that makes it seem like it is dragging the first 27 days. Somehow, my mind has convinced me that February is going to fly-by faster than the rest, as if the days are even shorter. For example, I spent the first couple hours today legitimately thinking it was February eighth, and that Valentines Day was this coming weekend.  I couldn't believe when I realized that it was ONLY February third.  ((I realize this makes absolutely no sense))

Here is a picture taking on February FIRST! Wade was in Richmond for work, so we drove down and spent the afternoon with him. We did some exploring & museum-ing and finished the evening with an AMAZING dinner and view at The Boat House.

To avoid any further February Freak outs...I'll focus on the end of January

Before we even moved to Virginia, I knew I would be headed back to Texas the last weekend of January for a dear, lifelong friend's wedding.  It was SUCH a blessing that I would be able to fly in to celebrate! The blessing increased tenfold, after CJ and I decided it was best for us to not go back to Texas during the holidays. Knowing I was going to be seeing so many of my friends and family just a month after Christmas made it totally okay.  We decided then that I should stay for longer than just the wedding weekend, so I could maximize my Texas Time. I was, of course, sad to leave my husband, but then I was ECSTATIC when CJ's schedule switched around to where he was going to be in the field (meaning not coming home at all) the week before the wedding and the first part of the week after the wedding. That meant me going to Dallas (for over a week!) would have us barely missing any extra time together. It couldn't have been more perfect!!

But then the snowpocalypse came, and the wonderful, logical, purposeful schedule was shattered.

I ended up having to move my flight to an earlier one to get out of DC before the snowstorm hit. CJ didn't even have to report to work the first 36 hours I was gone and the rest of the time was basically half days. Of the 7 nights they were supposed to spend in the field, the weather allowed them to spend only 1.  And even that 1 night was too much. A number of CJ's fellow Marines suffered from frost bite and other cold weather related injuries. 

I was so happy for CJ to get ample rest, relaxation, and VERY rare (like the first time since moving here) alone time. However, it made me miss him SO much more knowing I was missing an abundance of time with him and probably the easiest two weeks (time wise) of the whole six months....not to mention the dread I had knowing all of those nights would have to be made up- once I was back.

It was a needed yet hard reminder, that we can plan and schedule (my two favorite hobbies) all we want, but we ultimately are not in control.

The wedding weekend was INCREDIBLE, JOYFUL, LOVELY, and so jam-packed that it was the only two days I wasn't desperately missing CJ! Thank you Huffs and Haltoms for such a memorable, beautiful, uplifting weekend!

Here are some fun pictures!

At Amy's Bridal Luncheon

 High school friends at Amy and Ryan's wedding

 My wonderful parents!

Me with #HappilyHaltom!!!! She was so beautiful!!!

I made the most of my other days in Texas spending lots of quality time with my parents, Nana, sister, niece and nephew, and college friends! 

I also spent LOTS of hours working on my education class. Thankfully Snow was always there to keep me company. 

I've never been a big animal person, but I did tear up saying bye to him. He was so happy to have me back (he has slept in my room the 7 years we've had him), and I felt terrible not being able to explain to him why I was leaving again and that I wouldn't be back for a long time.

My trip was SO wonderful, but I definitely felt like I was visiting Dallas, as opposed to just coming home, which I think is a good thing. It was such a sweet moment to be reunited with CJ!  There will be lots of reunions to come and I know they will only get sweeter.

SemperFi {AlwaysFaithful}

2014: A year of stability and change

I know we are halfway done through January, but it's never too late for a new years post right?!

We are so excited, nervous, giddy, hesitant about 2014. We know a lot will be happening this year. A lot of change. A lot of new. But also a lot of stability. A lot of the same.

CJ and I are God's children. FOR ETERNITY. CJ and I are married. TILL DEATH DO US PART. The two most important things in our lives will not be going away. It's incredible how much peace being in a covenant with God and in a covenant with CJ can bring in the midst of uncertainty.

I don't think ever in my life have I been as content as I am right now. We love our new marriage, we love our new friends, we love our new church, we love our apartment (minus the bathroom), we love this area of Virginia, and we (for the most part) love the Marine Corps. None of these things are perfect by any means, but we could really care less about the imperfect parts...because the whole is so good.

With that being said, everything mentioned above will be drastically changing not just once but most likely twice in 2014.  Assuming all goes to plan (big assumption) we should be leaving Virginia sometime in May, moving to a new place, and moving again 2-6 months after that. The obvious will be changing: apartment, church, and the people we see on a daily basis. We will of course still be married and we will of course still be apart of the Marine Corps, but we have only been married in Virginia, while at TBS, and our only (active duty) Marine Corps experience is TBS (which is apparently very different than what the rest of CJ's career will look like). In deed it will be a lot of change.

Though we are growing sad about the changes (well I am growing sad. Marines are too busy to think about next week, let alone months ahead), we are also ready, even excited, to face these changes together. We were dating and engaged while we were preparing for the move up here. While those were sweet and thrilling times, I am so thankful to go through all other changes as one.

Here are a couple pictures for rewarding your reading :)

Our New Years Eve group! We went to a great hibachi place and then back to our friends house for some drinks, desserts, games, and fun.

They had this adorable set up for  everyone to write their new years resolutions. Can you guess which one ours was? Two hints 1- CJ wrote it, so look for good handwriting 2- we did NOT write baby :)

HAPPY NEW YEARS FRIENDS AND FAMILY!!

New York, New York

CJ and I had the greatest two weeks together filled with lots of relaxation and FUN! Most of our couple friends stayed in Stafford for the holidays so we thoroughly enjoyed hanging out all together...usually we just hang out as wives since our husbands work together from dawn to dusk- and later.

We went to NYC with one of our best couple friends the weekend in between Christmas and New Years. It was an incredible time and best of all remarkably inexpensive considering it was New York at Christmastime. We took one car (about 7 hours because of HORRIBLE traffic),  brought breakfast/ snack items, and even split a hotel room in New Jersey! That is how serious we are about saving money! It was totally the way to go!

It was CJ's first time to the Big Apple, and I realized NYC is actually the city I have traveled to the most...This was my 5th trip, which really surprised me since I don't at all consider myself to be big city enthusiast. But it was nice being able to remember where all the big landmarks were in relationship to each other.

I will now take my dad's advice for this blog: more pictures, less words :)

Ellis Island 

 central park, notice ice skaters in bottom left :)

 maybe CJ's next career...

 Tiffany's windows

 love our friends, the Naves

 we met up with our other great friends, the Santos (how do I make that plural?), for dinner one night

 HELLO! 

Notice I was wearing the same clothes in all of those pictures! Those were just from ONE day of our trip! Other highlights include frolicking through all the vendors and shops in Bryant Park, Ground Zero Memorial, M&M store, lots of Subway and train rides, and delicious NY pizza and cheesecake!

We are so glad we were able to take advantage of our geographical location and make a trip to NYC. CJ will have one or two 3 day weekends this semester, but I don't think we'll be making another trip of this magnitude. There are a lot of places in Virginia I am wanting to see, and I am getting nervous we are running out of time! CJ graduates The Basic School 4 months from yesterday, so I know I'm getting ahead of myself.

It's the holiday season

So today is officially 2014, but in my typical blogging fashion, I need to recap the end of LAST YEAR!

Without any farther to do, here were some highlights of our first married Christmas season!

Our Christmas corner! CJ and I are adamant about two things: pinching every penny and not accumulating much before we move again. When my mom sent us the candy canes (from her and my dad's first Christmas together!), we did buy a 3-foot tree to display them on. We were happy to hang up our seashell ornament from our honeymoon too!

CJ's platoon at their Holiday Social, a chili cook off!

The wives of 6th platoon! It has been so neat to experience the instant, deep bonds created by being Marine wives.  I am so thankful for their friendships.  I was shocked (HA!) I didn't win the chili cook off, but a fellow Texan and AGGIE did, so that was fun!

The last week of training before break, I hosted a cookie exchange at our apartment.  It was simple and sweet, but I had a ton of fun playing hostess for the first time!

We made enough treats to make little goodie bags for each of the Marines in our hubbies' platoon.

My attempt to be cutesy and pinteresty: a hot chocolate bar! ...mugs, hot cocoa, caramels, peppermint bark, marshmallows

We spent Christmas Eve and day just the two of us.  We volunteered at two Christmas Eve services as a greeter and an usher. It felt great to serve, even in the smallest way, and we really enjoyed getting to learn more about our church home through volunteering.  After church we ate my attempt at a nice Christmas Eve dinner: a ham, green bean casserole, rice, and homemade bread. My husband gave his usual praises, but let's just say I was happy it was just the two of us.  I will be trying a new ham recipe for sure! We then watched White Christmas, a tradition we'll be carrying on from my mom and Nana.

Our Christmas day was spent opening a few gifts, eating yummy pancakes and (not so) yummy leftovers, working on our 1,000 piece puzzle, and preparing for our upcoming NEW YORK CITY trip!!!

Our Christmas was simple and sweet and special (3 words that define our stage of life very well). We talked about how there is a really, really good chance we will never spend another Christmas just the two of us again.  It is amazing how perfectly content I am being with no one but CJ. It was a very blessed Christmas in deed.  I do think we both felt a twinge of Texas-sickness at different points. We were able to facetime with CJ's younger siblings on Christmas Eve, and I hated to miss the Locklear sibling/ grandkids Christmas weekend.  We are hopeful to be able to go back to Texas next Christmas, but we wouldn't have wished our first one together any different!

Up next: NYC and NYE post!!!

Final November Rewind, First December Fast Forward

Goodness Gracious. It is not good when we are 2/3s done with December, and still needing to run through November. But alas....

THANKSGIVING
I was THANKFUL we had not one but two friends graciously ask us to join them for Thanksgiving this year.  This meant I got to play it safe and only make two dishes: pumpkin pie and sweet potato casserole.  In my defense these (incredibly hospitable) friends of mine are 28, so they've had a few more years of adulthood and marriage to practice. A great time was had by all, and we even got to see a RARE Cowboys victory. The LORD was SO gracious to give us such sweet friends so quickly. It was also our two month-iversary :)

Here is a collage of our first married Thanksgiving Day!

The next day we headed to to Fort Meade, Maryland to see some our greatest friends, Ryan and Mandy DeMello.  They are an incredibly wise and purposeful couple, and we learn so much from hanging out with them and observing them.  We felt extremely honored to see them one last time before they became parents! And since I'm writing about this so late, their baby boy was born at the beginning of this week. We can't wait to go meet little Micah. What a blessing to have such close Texas friends only 90 minutes away!

we spent a LOT of time in front of their log fireplace (CJ was ecstatic about chopping the firewood out behind their house), playing games, sipping hot tea, and catching up on life. 

 We adventured to Annapolis the next morning. It is so picturesque and we cannot wait to go back!

DECEMBER
After the best November I have ever experienced (Click here or here to find out more reasons why), December was upon us! Here are some highlights of the first couple weeks.

We had our first free weekend in a long time, so we were finally able to go to the Marine Corps Museum.  It is an INCREDIBLE museum, that truly makes history come alive. We were there for a few hours, and didn't get through it all.  One highlight (pictured above) was the rifle range practice (laser powered of course).  A DOUBLE EXPERT {big deal!!!} was there to teach me form, aim, etc.  This double expert {AKA my hubby} and I were both pretty impressed with my shot.

Last week we had our first Virginia snow! I was very pleasantly surprised to see that Virginia responds to snow about the same as Texas!!! (hopefully that will hold true) There wasn't much snow or ice, but it was enough to give CJ a day and a half off and for a little snowman! Our snowday was probably my favorite day of marriage thus far.  It was an incredibly rare blessing to have so much time with him.

Last week the Marine Corps showed incredible work-life balance! CJ was home two nights in a row by 6pm!!! (his usual is between 830-930). As luck would have it though, those days I babysat until 8 pm. CJ surprised me with a full homemade dinner one night! He opened my computer, saw what Pinterest recipe I had pulled up and completed it all himself. It was such a fun treat

Again, as luck would have it, the night I didn't babysit that week, CJ had overnight duty. But it was all right because our church held an awesome women's Christmas event that night with fancy appetizers, desserts, music, and a powerful message from Jen Hatmaker.  I had not heard of her before this event, but she is fairly well known for her blog, books, etc. Turns out she's from TEXAS, hilarious, and seems extremely candid. I went with one of my closest friends and we had such a great time. 

Okay, I ended up being a lot more detailed than I originally intended, and there are a few more events I could write about, but I will save them for a "holiday parties" post. Again, praise GOD from whom ALL blessings flow.  We miss are Texas friends and family so much, but Stafford, Virginia definitely feels like home too.  

Transitioning back to present day....CJ has ONE more day of training left until he has TWO WEEKS OFF!!!!!!!!! OH MY GOODNESS. It was a hard decision, but we are not going back to Texas this year. Plane tickets to Dallas (and then either flying again to Kingsville or stealing a car and driving 8 hours) were way too expensive, and it is 30 hours to get from here to Kingsville! That would have us in the car for six 10-hour days, and would not give CJ the rest he terribly needs.  This is our first Christmas to spend together (dating or married), and it will be as simple as can be. We could not be more excited.

MERRY CHRISTMAS WEEK and SemperFi

November Rewind: Part 2: Besties in DC!

Honestly, getting to do a post about this is what finally made me come back to the blog!

One of my dearest, bestest friends and her husband (who is also one of our other dearest, bestest friends) came to visit us two weekends ago! We had this trip planned before CJ and I even moved to Virginia.  It was the only way we could cope with saying goodbye...

Since we scheduled the trip so far in advance, we didn't know what CJ would have going on that weekend.  Turns out they came on the heels of Rifle Range weeks, him spending 2 nights in the freezing cold, and a 6-mile ruck march (I know 6 miles doesn't sound like a lot, but soon I'll do a post explaining what a ruck march is). I was worried about him enduring a full, windy day of DC exploration, but alas I underestimated his strength and how much he loves our friends. He was completely good to go, and it was me complaining about my feet hurting by the end of the night.

Here are some highlights of our day!

~Picked them up at their hotel with lots of squealing and hugs

~brunch at a hipster place in Georgetown

walked around national mall

~spent FOUR HOURS in the National Air and Space Museum 

walked down the reflection pool

quite a hike to the Lincoln Memorial

 made it to honest Abe

super fun "birthday dinner"

....and that was just Saturday!!

We spent Sunday in Stafford, showing them glimpses of our new life here. We went to our church, drove around and showed off the base, had some girl/guy time, and hung out at our apartment! Sunday was definitely the most surreal part of the weekend. Were our best friends from TEXAS really seeing our new life and home in VIRGINIA?! Yes, they were...and we loved it!!!

Monday CJ had to go back to work, but I got to have one more day with our friends! I impressed myself by train-ing to DC, then two metros to meet up with them. Let me be honest though, the second I got to the Metro Station, a man working there could tell I was completely lost, and gave me step by step directions :)...but I still did it!

We spent the majority of Monday in the NEWSeum.  Definitely, my favorite museum I've ever been to.  It has THOUSANDS of in depth stories. If you know me well, you know I am an information absorber, so I was completely enthralled.  With it being the 50th anniversary of JFK's assassination, there were two special exhibits devoted to Camelot and events surrounding the assassination and aftermath.  I learned more about that tragedy at the Newseum than I ever thought about learning in Dallas.

We also spent some time touring Ford's Theatre, learning about Lincoln's presidency and that assassination. It is an undeniable reality that the vast majority of stories and history we learned about that day revolved around man's wickedness...

Evening came and our time together had to come to an end.  We didn't get a long, drawn out good bye because we were afraid I was about to miss my train back to Stafford.  That was probably for the best because we weren't able to get all sad and emotional.

Later that night though, CJ and I both felt our first batch of homesickness.  It is easy to get plugged into our new life here, and put everything and everyone in Texas in the back of our minds.  Spending time with them was a tad bittersweet because we were reminded of all the people we love and all the time we aren't able to spend with them (I say them, but I really mean y'all who are reading this!)

It was a GREAT thing Thanksgiving was just a few days later because we were overwhelmed with love and joy and thankfulness. That will be my next post and the last November Rewind!