Two years

It's been two years today.  Two years since Stephen lost his best friend, his battle buddy, his brother.  PFC Conrado Javier was KIA in Afghanistan in 2010 during their first deployment.  Javi was a sweetheart he was a little quiet and shy at first but when he got used to you or was around his friends he was hilarious and always making jokes.  His favorite thing to say was "That's badass!" you heard it All.The.Time. lol he wasn't only my husband's friend I considered us good friend's as well.  He always helped my husband and I when we would argue or have a misunderstanding he knew how Stephen was being affected by the way and he always took the time to make sure I knew that he loved me and just told me to hang in there for him.  He was a light to everyone he knew.  I was able to attend his funeral in his hometown in CA in January of the following year.  It was by far the hardest funeral I've ever been to.  I was very glad though to speak to his mother and hug her and just be with her for a few moments though we couldn't understand each other very well *she speaks Spanish I speak English* but the language difference didn't matter we didn't need words we just knew and we just held onto each other for awhile and we cried together.  It was beautiful ceremony I think about 500 people were there.  The graveside service was just as moving, I can't hear Taps without crying now.  My husband won't ever forget, he won't ever stop talking about him or thinking about him and I'm glad.  He was an important part of his life much more important than I can understand and sometimes I don't think wives can ever really fathom how important that one friend can be to them during a deployment like they went through.  And that's ok I'm just so glad they had each other as long as they did.  

Please if you're reading this today please send a prayer up for Javi's family this day cannot be an easy one for them no matter how much time has passed.  Thank you.

RIP Javier

My Pen Pal...♥

So I am SUPER late with this!  But better late than never right?  Or even Fashionably Late?  Take your pick!  About a month ago I was over at Amira's blog Shades of Gray *which is amazing and adorable and any other complimentary words you can think of!* and she was having a penpal match up!  I love writing, I love making friends, but since I don't have facebook, and live in the middle of nowhere...well a penpal just sounded awesome!

And what do you know...I got an awesome penpal!  Her name is Elizabeth, and she is simply Lovely!  A navy wife with a hilarious blog!  How could I resist?  I am emberassed to admit how bad I've been about writing her but we've both sent at least one thing!  Better than nothing?  I think so, and besides it's quality not quantity.  I just wanted to do my first 'follow up' post and tell Amira what an awesome idea, and tell Elizabeth how glad I am to be her penpal and hope that we can get to know each other a lot better!  So far I've only been able to send letters but am working on a little package for her *Elizabeth if you're reading this forget that you read that* but she is super awesome and creative and giving and just all around thoughtful!  And she sent me this...

Some awesome candy! *not much left my husband has been bogarting it*, two amazingly scented body cleansers, and a sweet letter on the prettiest paper! Even the package she sent all this is was cute...*in case you were wondering I pretty much felt like the worst person ever for only sending a letter and not even on pretty paper!*

So yeah, my penpal is super thoughtful!  And creative, OH... did I already mention that she has an Absolutely Hilarious Blog? or a really great Etsy Shop?

♥...Because she does.  Click either of the above links and see for yourself...♥ 

♥...And of course don't forget to check out Amira's blog for a little everyday piece of Wonderful!...♥

So to sum it all up Elizabeth, Thank you!  And I promise to be a better penpal, I also hope that we can really get to know each other and become better friends I could really use a friend and you seem like such an awesome person!

And Amira thank you for having such a great idea and having such a sweet blog!

 

My big dream for 2012

...well one of them anyway lol!

  Last year in around september I went to my first women's retreat with my church.  We went to a place called Jenness Park Christian Camp at first I was not happy about going in a moment of weakness while surrounded by the little old church ladies I had signed myself and my mother up *if I was going down I was taking her with me* on  the way up to the park I was pretty much pouting lol no internet, no tv, no phones, the cell reception is worse than bad, no wifi, and there was 1 payphone in the whole camp.  And I had to be there for THREE DAYS! 

This was probably one of the best times in my entire life, it was amazing having no cantact but with the women at the campe, no electronic distractions, the food was wonderful, the scenery was AMAZING.  They had awesome classes to attend, devotions, singing, it was great!  Most of the time though I would go off and find a quiet place to journal, reflect, or just pray.  My headphones were abandoned the second day!  The sounds of nature and God's creations were much more beautiful and melodic than any song on itunes could EVER be!

Here are a few pictures of the park! 

So these are just a few, another cool thing is verses are etched and written on EVERYTHING in the camp!  The word is all over the place!  It's wonderful!  My goal this year (or dream depending on how you look at it) is to get a group of women/girls together to have our own little women's retreat we could all just get a regular cabin, split the price, and have our own little workshops and crafts!  Everyone (or anyone who wanted) could give their testimonies about how they found the Lord, a time when they really felt close to God, anything!  We could talk about things we have trouble with, things we need to work on, ways that we've grown in the Lord!  It could be a chance to make friends, learn about ourselves, each other, and most importantly to grow in the Lord and surround ourselves with positive christian influences and principals for a couple days!  I'd love it if it could be a Military Girl group, wives, girlfriends, mothers, fiances, past AND present!  But I would love it just as much if it wasn't made of military girls but I feel thats something women with military spouses or finaces or boyfriends (sons, nephews, etc.) need a safe and strong Christian influence and support system!

 

 

Have you ever been on a women's retreat?  What did you like or dislike about it?  Do you feel the need for a stronger Christian influence in your life?  Do you feel a need for more like-minded friends with the same Christian principals?

Pen-Pals!

♥...Pen-Pals...♥

Amira at Shade's of gray and I'm dumb so I couldn't put the TOTALLY cute pen-pal button that she had on her blog onto mine :( but I put the link to the post so I figure that's better than nothing right?!  Anyway I was reading around and saw that she's matching people up with pen-pals...I REALLY want a pen-pal!  I Love writing letters!  It's so nice!  And it's also really nice to have someone to 'talk' to, and the older I've gotten and since I've been married 'good' friends have been few and far between.  I guess I'm just wanting to make a solid connection with someone!  Maybe (hopefully) someone in the same place I am in life, married, has had some military experience lol, and Christian would be an absolute blessing! ...If anyone reading my blog is interested in having my as a pen-pal Please let me know!  I'd love it!  Hoping a get one soon! 

Have you ever had a pen-pal?

RIP Conrado Javier

 

At this time of year when we are supposed to be celebrating the birth of our savior, the birth of the man who died on the cross for our sins, is actually when we tend to forget him the most. We forget to thank him every day for what he did for us. And that made me think that we forget to say something so simple like 'thank you' for something so extraordinary! But we remember everything on our Christmas lists?! And then I thought of other things we forget to say thank you for things that we don't even realize, things like another young man's sacrifice that maybe you don't know about, and I know he didn't get the thank you's he deserved but I'm hoping this year his family will not only get those them but also the prayers for strength and peace that I'm sure they need. Today marks the one year anniversary of the death of PFC Conrado Javier

 

 

Javi was killed by an IED near Kandahar Afghanistan last year while serving in operation enduring freedom on this day December 19th. I'm hoping that maybe this year while you're preparing food and gifts, worrying about family celebrations and those last minute details you could take the time to not only thank the Lord for the sacrifice that he made for us but also for the sacrifice that Javier and thousands of other young men like him have made for you and your family, so you can enjoy the things you are now and even so you can experience the holiday stresses you are now. Maybe you could take the time to say a quick prayer for his family, who lost their son, and brother, to all the men like my husband who lost a friend. And for the girl he was going to marry as soon as deployment was over. I cannot imagine what they're going through this year. And I hope you'll join me in praying for them, praying that they are able to remember the good times with Javi and reflect on what an amazing person he was, what a good soldier he was, and I hope someday they are able to understand all the lives he touched in his short 19 years. So just remember all the men and women still serving, and the ones who have made the ultimate sacrifice, and all the families that are touched by their work and their absence. Remember all the people who aren't able to be with their loved ones this year and the ones that unfortunately will never be able to spend it with them ever again. And most importantly remember to say a praise of thanks to God for giving the world his only son. Just remember to say 'Thank you' two very small and simple that are so easy to say and can mean so much.

This started out as a way for me to get a prayer chain going for Javi's family but now I'm hoping you'll read this and maybe you'll remember to thank the Lord for his sacrifice, he died so you could be free from sin.

And No other gift could ever compare to that

"For God So Loved The World That He Gave His Only Begotten Son and Whosoever believeth in him shall not perish but have ever lasting life"

- John 3:16

God Bless you and Merry Christmas!

Please ignor the total gangster-ness of the below video...the message really got to me on the day we found out about Javi and it's been a favorite ever since.

...and to end it on a happy note below is a picture of my husband and Javi before deployment...

please keep in mind my husband doesn't usually look quite that creepy...he was super duper drunk (which is why he's wearing the hot wheels shirt I got him hahah!)