Thursday, August 23, 2012

Starting back to blog...again!

So, I got an email from Dad recently saying that the blog was "lacking" and needed updating.  Here's my attempt to update.  We'll see how frequently I can keep this up.

A lot has happened in the 2+ months since I last blogged.  Mike settled back into life in the US and began working in VA.  We managed to be together, going back and forth between NC and VA, and realized that a rental house would soon be in our future.  

I, Miriam, also co-led a pretty big project at our church in NC in July.  We partnered with New Directions International and packed over 302,000 meals in 2 days with the help of over 1,300 volunteers.  It was amazing to see such a huge response and the body of Christ working together to prepare meals for hungry children in Kenya.  These meals will not only feed their physical hunger but they will receive the Gospel as well to feed their spiritual hunger.


Since our house is still on the market, we decided to rent in VA and began that process of looking.  After a few weeks, yes weeks! (rentals go quickly up there), of searching, we finally came upon one that allowed 2 dogs (huge deal!) and was in a decent area and we signed on it.  In less than two short weeks, we moved in. 

We're now somewhat settled in our house in VA, although I am actually in our NC house as I type this!  We are getting used to the area and the house and think it will be a good fit for at least the next 12 months.  As I said, we still have our house on the market and are hoping to finishing up moving everything out this weekend.  It has been nice in a way to have time to pack and move and not go right away.  I think it helps the leaving process too...not "ripping the band-aid off" right away.

Another thing that has kept us going these past few months too is finding out that we will be having an addition to our family in early March 2013!  We are finally ending the 1st trimester which is bringing about much needed relief of some early symptoms.  We are super excited, as are both of our families!  And, word is quickly getting out now.  

I'm sure there will be more to come...stay tuned!

Sunday, June 17, 2012

Coming home!

Like I mentioned in my previous post, Mike came home on Tuesday. After a grueling 14 hour flight to DC, customs/immigration, and then another hour flight to RDU, he finally was home!

Mike's mom volunteers at the USO and was able to escort me through security to the gate so I was there when Mike got off the plane. We also had a few friends waiting for him at the Meet & Greet as well.

I have seen stories and movies of when a loved one returns from war and all the emotions that comes with that. I finally was able to partake in that homecoming and be "that" wife! And let me say, it was fun! I can't say that I heard the music playing in the background or that time stood still but it was a sweet time!

We have had a good week of relaxing, eating at favorite places, hanging out with friends, going to the lake, and just being together and being home. It was a long time apart but we are sure glad to be together again!

We are so thankful for our friends and family who supported us and encouraged us through it all and know it was an easier 7 months because of them!

Finally back!

Finally back for a few things...

The BLOG! It's been a while since I have posted...7 months actually.

The husband! He was overseas working and supporting the military for those 7 months and is finally back! We had a fun reunion week after meeting at the airport in Tuesday. (another blog post to come on that!)

The house sell/hunting! Now that the husband is back, we are really trying to push our current house in NC to sell so we can move to the DC area permanently.

Wednesday, November 9, 2011

What we've been up to lately...

Building bonfires on a cool night with friends...


Attempting to take Christmas card photos...






Picking apples with friends...





Eating at Hard Times on a day of hard times...




Enjoying some snuggle time with Blue...




Waiting for the Metro to take us into the City...





Stopping at Chinatown for the afternoon...





Visiting the National Museum of Crime and Punishment with discounted tickets we scored from Living Social...






And, of course, hitting up a yogurt shop for an afternoon snack...


one of our favorite flavors, Pomegranate, with fresh blueberries...

Tuesday, October 18, 2011

Blue's first day at camp

I have been looking into some other options for the dogs when we travel, mainly for Blue. He is the one who handles changes a little better and loves to run and play...Polly, not so much! It is probably better for her to stay with familiar friends and family so she has a more enjoyable time.

One of those options that I found is a day camp/overnight camp in town. They require an interview day where the dog can try out the camp and they can see if it would be a good fit. So, today was Blue's interview. I dropped him off around 9:30 and picked him up around 3:30.

When I picked him up, I was given a certificate that he passed the interview process and is welcome anytime...whew! :)






And, he had a report card that told me how he did today and what all he did. Funny that one thing they said was that he was a little shy around the other dogs at first and enjoyed watching all of the activity going on. Of course, they agreed that he was super sweet.






We got home and Polly gave him the smell-down. I'm pretty sure her sniffer was in OVER-load! They both quickly settled down and as you can see, they missed each other a lot!


Sunday, October 16, 2011

6 years ago today...

Mike and I came home from church and received some of the hardest news a family will ever hear...Mark, Mike's brother, had been killed in Iraq the day before. We were torn, devastated, and saddened! But the family was determined that his death would not be in vain. His memory would live on...he would have a legacy!





Today, that legacy continues through wrestling clinics and camps and Peru missions made possible through the Sgt. Mark P. Adams Foundation. I'm so thankful that he isn't just a number...but that his life counted! I am also thankful that he had a personal relationship with Jesus and that he is in Heaven now.

If today was YOUR last day, what kind of legacy would YOU leave?
And, do YOU know where YOU would spend eternity?

Monday, October 3, 2011

Just call us Goldi locks...

So, we had a little visitor at the cabin...




These are the claw marks from when the Mama Bear climbed UP our porch to get our trash can.




COMING UP OUR PORCH TO THE DOOR... uh...