Ryan and Marley's visit

Ryan and Marley Stevens came out this way on vacation. They were able to stop and stay with me for a night. We had a good time touring Savannah and hanging out. It was good times and it was great to catch up with them. I just wish Jake could have been there too.

Creatures of the South

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So some mornings you let your dog outside to find this creature digging in your yard! Mystery solved. I wondered what was making holes in the front yard. Ah the wonders of the south. This is the second time I have seen one of these up close. Last week I saw one in the back of my house by the big trees and forest area. It wasn't really scared of me or Ally. It just kept digging and looking for food. What do armadillo's eat? I think they are the south's opossum equivalent.

June

A month has come and gone and I haven't posted anything. June was a good month. Work keeps me busy and I love it. Melissa and I have been having a good time together. We recently joined the Pooler YMCA. The classes have been fun and kick our butt too. It is nice to have each other for motivation to go in the morning. Usually it is me getting up and sending Ally in to wake her up. Also I threaten to sing the "good morning" song; which I learned from her. It goes something like this, "good morning, good morning it is time to rise and shine,"and repeats until the person gets out of bed.

I am looking forward to coming home to Oregon in mid July. The sound of warm days without humidity and cool nights sounds oh so good. Right now in the south it is definately very hot and humid.

I am doing well without Jake, but I do miss him like crazy. I feel God is strengthening us individually and together through this time apart. God has blessed us both with a joyful attitude about this deployment and we pray that continues. Thanks for all of the prayer for us and for Jake's safety.

This photo is taken in front of the downtown Starbucks yesterday, we went and saw Melissa at work.

Zoe's trip to Georgia

Zoe came to visit last week. We had a great time catching up. We went to a couple different beaches, shopped and enjoyed the warm southern sun. I am very blessed by her friendship. I'm ready for more visitors...look at all the fun you could have. :)

Photo's 1.) Beaufort, SC 2.) Hunting Island, SC 3.) Savannah, GA historic riverfront

Garden

This is a photo of our new garden in the back yard. My parents help us build it while they were visiting. The south is like a green house during the spring and summer so everything does very well. I have tomatoes, basil, parsley, and rosemary as well as flowers.

Lawn mowing adventure

I had an adventure mowing the lawn this weekend. I haven't mown the lawn since we moved here (or really since I was younger and my parents had a riding lawn mower) because Jake always did it so....I did it Sunday. It was due because Ally was having a hard time finding her ball and the grass was seeding aswell. First I couldn't get it started so the neighbor kid came and started it for me. (Not a kid but a "teen", he was bigger than me.) Then I didn't stop because I was afraid that I couldn't get it started again. So I realized that it is a lot of work, and today I am sore. Also my dad and Jake gave me a few tips over the phone like using the choke to start it (the choke makes it easier to start) and it is easy to start again once it has been running for a while. This experience definitely made me appreciate all that Jake did around here, and I will be so excited to have him back in 14 months and 3 weeks (ish)!

I am also posting a photo of my fresh mowed lawn and our little garden.

Jake off for his army adventure...

Jake, Ally and I before Jake deployed. Ally and I are now on our own. My sister Melissa will be moving out here to live with me while Jake is deployed next week. I am looking forward to having her here with me. It sure is quiet around here. I am hanging in there, it is one of the hardest things I have ever gone through. Thanks for all of the prayers and I know God will give us strength to get through this.