Happy Thanksgiving!

It is that time of year again when everyone reflects on what they are grateful for. This year has been an interesting one for me. With Meric deployed sometimes it is hard to be thankful. When things go wrong with the trailer (and unfortunately they have) it is hard to be thankful. Despite that, I am thankful.

Meric's 9 month deployment has been hard. I miss him. I am very thankful for Skype and our ability to see each other when we talk everyday. Even though I am thankful for Skype, I am so tired of being on Skype every day. I look forward to being able to talk to my husband and have him be in the same room. I am excited to have my best friend back. With that being said having to talk once a day through the computer has made Meric and I work on communicating better. Our relationship had to adapt to the situation, and when he comes home we will have to adapt again. After 8 years of marraige I am grateful for the opportunities we have to strengthen our relationship.

Also with Meric not here to rely on, I have had to handle things on my own. I have done and had to deal with things I never thought I would. Usually I am a homebody and Meric is the social one. Without Meric here I have had to be social and I have become good friends with a lot of my neighbors. I have always wanted to get into shape and relied on Meric to motivate me and plan our workouts. Now I have to motivate myself and I have done well (though it is still hard to keep it up). I have really had to grow beyond my comfort zone these last 9 months.

I am also thankful for family. I have had a lot of visitors while Meric has been gone. I am especially thankful for Kelli who has stayed with me the entire time. I don't think I would have handled this deployment as well without her. She makes me food, taught me to swim and keeps me from falling apart sometimes. Also with a 12 year age gap between us  it has been a great opportunity to get to know Kelli as an adult and not just a little girl.

Another thing I am very thankful for is the campground I live in. I have "neighbors" I have gotten to know and that have treated Kelli and I like family. There is always something going on and fun things to look forward to. And the owners are the best people I have ever met. Anytime I have a problem or need anything they are right there to help. They really have gone above and beyond to make me feel at home and to take care of me while Meric is away.

I am most thankful that next week I should have my husband back. I am beyond excited to have him back. I am grateful and definitely prefer to have Meric home but I am thankful for the opportunity I had to grow.

Meric won't be home for Thanksgiving so I am delaying the feast until he is able to participate. This year Kelli and I are making ham, mashed potatoes, rolls and pies. We are going to enjoy our last few day before everything changes.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

The Fall of Kentucky

I have lived in Kentucky for 1 1/2 years and I love it! One of my most favorite things about Kentucky is its beautiful landscapes. Often times I find myself in awe of my surroundings. The fall is a particularly beautiful time. Recently I was inspired to try and capture some of that beauty in pictures. Here are a few of the many pictures I have taken. (The top 3 photos were taken at the campground where I live.)