I love him with everything

As time is winding down for Steven to deploy I'm reminded everyday of how much I love him. He's asked me before what I love the most about him and most definitely it's the way he makes me laugh every day of my life! Even if he's not trying to be funny, he can still make me laugh until I cry. I think it's just the way he can look so innocent, like a little child who has really caused a great deal of mischief! I'm so thankful for these times we've been able to spend together. I can think on these for the next year while he's away and instead of crying because of his absence, I can laugh because of the wonderful memories he has given me. Here are a few pictures of the great times we've had over the past year.

I can't say I've ever had a better year in my life. And I know that when he comes back from Iraq we will have the rest of our lives to spend together with no more interruptions. It will be our dream come true! Steven, I love you and thank you for the greatest days I've ever had and I can't wait to make even more memories.

Halloween...and other things

Hello all. Time for another update from the Clark crew. This past week has been crazy at school due to nine weeks tests, Red Ribbon Week, Spirit week, Halloween, field trips, etc. Thankfully it's all over and we had a fun relaxing weekend. Steven's aunt, Robin, came up from Georgia to spend the weekend with us and see Steven before he leaves for Iraq. We enjoyed taking her to dinner, showing her around Fayetteville and Fort Bragg, and showing her our new house. I think she had a good time. I also was interested to learn more about Steven as a little boy. She said he hasn't changed much. Which is a good thing because I like him pretty well the way he is now. ;) Robin spent a lot of time with him when he was younger. Steven has always loved Robin and learned a lot from her as a child. She was able to debate politics and religion with Steven as well which is something I'm not very good at so I think he enjoyed having someone around to do those things with.

On Saturday night we went to a Navigator's Halloween party at John and Jess's. I think the best thing about it was just seeing everyone's costume. There were some creative ones no doubt. Anytime we get together with Navigator's we have a good time. It's just nice to know that you have a good bunch of people to hang out with who share your same values. There was also some good food there. And I tried firsthand making pumpkin roll. It turned out pretty good. I've had better but I'll keep trying! Someday I'll get as good as Emily Rummel. ;)


On a more solemn note, Steven's deployment is back on for the week of the 16th. Which leaves us only about 2 weeks left. I try not to think about it because when I do I just get sad and pitiful. But I also want to think about it so that I can relish the time I have with him now. I know God will keep him safe and I just pray that the time will go by quickly, or even better, the deployment will be shortened! And as of now I'm roommateless for the next year. So if anyone out there is looking for a place to live for cheap rent...come see me!:)

Here are a few pictures from the weekend. I hope you enjoy!
Sarah Palin and Dwight Shrute Doctor and Disco QueenWendy- the best female costume, and the Burger King, worst male costume. Hence the pink bunny suit!:)





Best couple goes to Dick Cheney and his hunting buddy!


Steven and Robin

Keep praying!

Just a quick one this time. Since my last blog I've felt and seen everyone's prayers. Just last Wednesday Steven came home and said his deployment got pushed back a few weeks. Now he won't be going until after Thanksgiving. Which means, if it gets pushed back just a few more weeks he won't have to go at all! How awesome is God? Thanks for all of your prayers and keep it up! :)

What's been going on?

Well, not a whole lot really if you want to know the truth. Since we got back from Indiana a few weeks ago Steven and I have been pretty much hanging around the house on the weekends, getting our work done and just enjoying each other's company. I love spending time with my husband because we have so much fun together! Last week at Bible study I was asked the question, "what's the best thing about being married?" My answer was, "It's like having your best friend around all the time." It truly is. We can make fun of each other, wrestle with each other and laugh until it hurts!

We had an FRG meeting last week where we found out Steven's deployment window was the week of November 16th. As of now that's about 4 weeks away. :/ I'm not sure if I'm just not really thinking about it or it hasn't really registered with me yet how long that time is going to be. I remember thinking through the last deployment that I never want to go through that again. And I didn't think we would have to. He was supposed to be out of the Army in October of this year but now he can't because of the stop loss. So we'll have to make it through another one. I know that God will be with me through it all and he will keep Steven safe. I was reading in my Bible the other day in Luke where Jesus says,

9 "So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened."

This got me thinking, "ask and it will be given to you". Well, what I really want to ask God for is the keep Steven home and not deploy. But can I ask for that? Is that going against God's will? So I've decided to word it like this, "Lord, I really don't want Steven to deploy but if he does please allow him to be able to minister to the men he's with and keep me close to you throughout the deployment." So I'm still asking God to let Steven stay home but if he has to go I want him to be able to work for God's kingdom.

So sorry this post didn't really have much of a point. I just wanted to share a little of what's been going on with me. I'm going to leave you with some pictures we took through Steven's FRG. A professional took them and we really like them! What do you think?

Family time

What a great weekend I just had!!! First of all, for those of you who have not heard yet, I'm an aunt! Landon Matthew Hahn was born on Thursday afternoon at 4:27 pm. Steven and I had plans to go to Indiana over the weekend so we made a side trip to Fort Bellvoir, Virginia to see Matt and Alicia at the hospital. They were super excited and Steven and I were so glad we could meet our nephew (especially before any other family members)! He is a cute little boy and the mother is doing fine. I can't wait to spoil him like any good aunt would do.:)

After we got to Ft. Bellvoir we stopped in the hospital around 8:30, stayed for 2 hours, then went back to the hotel room because we left at 5:00 the next morning. So even though it was a short trip it was well worth it!

When we were in Wakarusa we were able to celebrate my grandfather's 90th birthday! I'm so glad I was able to be there and celebrate with him. This was also the last time Steven would see my family before he deploys in November. So there were a lot of reasons to go up north and I'm very happy that we were able to do it.

ZuZu dancing at my grandpa's birthday party

It was nice just to spend some time with my family. I won't be going back for Thanksgiving so I won't see them again until Christmas. At that time I'll be able to spend more time with my nephew, actually get to visit with Matt and Alicia, and spend good quality time with my family. It seems that I don't realize how much I miss my family until I visit them again. So I don't know if it's a good thing or bad thing but I'm glad I can spend time with them. I guess when you are away from them you realize how much they mean to you. I think that if I lived in Indiana I wouldn't appreciate them as much and all they do for me so I'm happy I can see what a blessing they really are!

Wonderful husband!

My husband is wonderful! Would you like to know why? Here's the story...

It was Wednesdsay evening, Steven did not have to work that day and he had been cutting up a tree that fell in our yard all day. He also went to Lowe's to get more stones for our landscaping. This happened all while I was at work. So when I get home after school he was still hard at work. When I got home I took a shower and started making dinner. He tells me that a guy from work is coming over to pick up something. I ask him who this guy is, he tells me I don't know him. Then I ask him what he's getting, he says stuff. Okay then, nevermind. So I start dinner and in the middle of it I stop to dry my hair. As I'm walking out of my room I see a big trailer that has been backed up to our front door. I think to myself "What is this guy getting? Our furniture?" But on the side of the trailer are the words JML Music. What did my husband do? The man is standing in the back of trailer and asks me how I'm doing. I say "...fine..." and then he uncovers a piano!!! Yes, a piano!!! My husband went and bought me a piano! What a surprise! He then tells me to go to the cupboard above the washer and in there were flowers and a card. I open the card and inside he wrote the sweetest things. He told me that he wanted to get me something special because I am such a selfless person and never ask for anything. He knew I had been wanting one so he just went and bought it. How wonderful is my husband? It's a really nice piano, a Wurlitzer that is about 5 years old. When he told me how much he spent on it I'm glad he did it without me. Because I probably wouldn't have bought it but I'm glad I have it now. So thank you Steven for the wonderful gift. I'm so blessed to have someone as wonderful as you! And thank you God for blessing me with a great husband who fulfills my needs and makes me happy.

Piano?

Here I sit, supposedly working on lesson plans for next week but not really wanting to. So what better to do than blog to my wonderful friends?

I'm in need of a piano or keyboard. Here's why. I was just standing in the hall after school talking to our music teacher about nothing really. She brought up how she had a nightmare about our principal being upset with her because she hadn't chosen a Christmas program yet for this year. After we all got a good laugh at that she was saying how it's so hard to put on a Christmas program when she's trying to play the piano and direct at the same time. Then she looks at me and says, "You can play the piano right?" I look at her and say "Um, yeah, not extremely well but I can play." So she asked me if I would play for the school Christmas program. After I thought about it for a few seconds I decided it would be fun. I'd like to tune up my piano playing skills. The only problem with this endeavor is that I don't have a piano or keyboard! I could just stay after school everyday and practice but that would get old real quick. So I'm now in the market of buying a piano. Unless someone has a keyboard they're not using. Then I'd be cool with that. I've always wanted to have a nice upright piano though so if I can't find a keyboard we'll go for a piano. Steven already said it would be okay with him since he just bought a new deer rifle. He spends money worse than a girl! But we figure with all the extra money we'll be making during his deployment we can use it to spend on things that will last and we'll use.

So here's my last request. If you or anyone you know has a keyboard I would appreciate borrowing it for a few months. I'm going to Indiana the first weekend of October so if any of my Hoosier friends have an extra one lying around I could borrow it and bring it back at Christmas time.:)