Wife of a Sailor has changed this to a monthly thing. Instead of being every Friday, it will be the first Friday of every month! So look forward to it! And don’t forget to check out all the other amazing MilSpouses! Here.

1. What is your favorite winter memory?

Being snowed in at a cabin in Gatlinburg with my husband for our anniversary during his R&R. It was amazing. We were in a beautiful cabin together and had beautiful views of snow covered mountains. Gorgeous!

2. What is your current favorite TV show?

Once Upon A Time! I’ve always loved fairy tales and this show just adds to all my favorite stories. It’s awesome!

3. What was your favorite thing that happened in January?

Well, we went back to Gatlinburg again (3rd time in a year!) to celebrate our anniversary and attend a marriage retreat. GORGEOUS resort. We had a blast!

4. What is the best sound in the world to you?

The sound of my husband sleeping peacefully next to me. After going through a year long deployment, I savor every moment with him. (Even when he bugs me!!)

5. What is the biggest lesson you have learned as a MilSpouse (or significant other)?

Hurry Up And Wait! I’ve learned that I can’t make solid plans for anything because SOMETHING ALWAYS CHANGES!!! My family is always asking me if we can do stuff weeks or months down the road and I tell them, I won’t know until a few days before!

This past weekend we got to go to an amazing resort in Gatlinburg! Yes, this was the 3rd trip we’ve taken there in the past year. But we love Gatlinburg!

We went for the Strong Bonds Marriage Retreat. We had SO much fun! For the retreat, we went through the 5 Love Languages book and videos. I really enjoyed that. We learned a lot about each other and us together. We also got to watch some videos from Mark Gungor. He is HILARIOUS! I want to see the rest of the videos!

The resort we stayed at was like a giant log cabin community! Gorgeous. I thought we would be staying in a normal hotel room, since the Army was paying for it. (The last retreat we went to, we had a room with two double beds! Not the best for a marriage retreat!) We were pleasantly surprised! We had a one bedroom suite! There was a living room/kitchenette, a bedroom with a KING size bed, and an amazing bathroom with a huge shower and a washer/dryer combo, as in ONE MACHINE! It was pretty impressive.

We also had the chance to do some more letterboxing! All in all it was a fantastic weekend!

We didn’t take too many pictures this trip, but here are the ones we did take! Enjoy!

This past Monday, my sweetheart and I celebrated our 2 year wedding anniversary. It was a wonderful day! We planned a day full of letterboxing!

We started out by planting 3 letterboxes. We have done a series called Tour of Clarksville and we added one box to that series and then a bonus box! I’m quite proud of both of these. (I carve all the stamps we use) Then we headed to Hopkinsville to plant the first letterbox in the town! (that we know of) We planted this one at a really cool park called Round Stone Literary Park. We just had to take pictures!

Matthew had to try to pull the sword out of the stone. Hehe.

The Round Table. It was HUGE! This picture doesn’t really do it justice.

We had fun.

After that we headed to Paducah where we tried to find several letterboxes, but it was getting dark and we were unsuccessful. But we still had fun!

When I had been planning out trip out I saw how close Illinois was to Paducah. So I insisted that we go, just so I could add another state to my list of states I’ve been to! After doing our circles (which we do on EVERY trip!) we ended up in Metropolis Illinois. It is the “home” of Superman! They even have a celebration every year! We are planning on going back for that!

After we left Metropolis, we headed back to Paducah and had dinner at Texas Roadhouse. It was yummy. Then we headed home and spent the night watching a movie and relaxing. It was a fantastic day!

Stay tuned for pictures from our trip to Gatlinburg, which we are on right now! We are attending the Strong Bonds Marriage Retreat that the Army does. We’re having a blast! Well, I gotta go so we can go find some more letterboxes!

I have always loved anything formal. It comes down to the whole Cinderella – Gone With The Wind – Princess thing. What girl doesn’t want to dress up and feel like a princess?! Since I never had a prom I just assumed my wedding would be the only time I could dress up that formal. Well, I’m getting another chance!

We found out yesterday that sometime this spring/early summer there is going to be an Army Ball that my husband’s unit is going to! I’m so excited! Even my husband hasn’t been to an Army Ball. So now I’m looking up dresses and etiquette on military formals. Granted the formal etiquette isn’t nearly as strict as it used to be, I’m a southern girl. I want to be my best!

My husband just asked me if I was done looking at dresses, since we’re getting ready for our date night. I laughed and said “I’ll be looking at dresses for months!” I apologize in advance for the multitude of mentions about dresses, military formals, etiquette, etc that are sure to be on my blog for the next few months! To say I’m excited is a bit of an understatement.

If you or anyone you know has had any experience with military formals, I’d love to know more!

My time as an active duty army wife is quickly coming to an end. This is my last year! My husband is set to retire in November 2012. Now I’ve only been an army wife for 2 years. And half of that my husband was deployed while I lived an hour away from post. So now I want to get as much experience as I can this year while we still live close to post.

My FRG (Family Readiness Group for you civilians!) hardly did anything during deployment, even though we had more wives! We wanted to have get togethers and events. Even though I lived an hour away I wanted to be involved. However, we did nothing. I only went to one of the TWO Battalion FRG meetings during the whole year. Our unit’s FRG never had a meeting. It was very disappointing.

A couple of weeks ago we had a unit Christmas party. It was the first one the unit has had since my husband has been here. They announced that the FRG is going to start doing more things soon. I’m so excited!! Maybe now I can be more involved. (At least until we move!)

I also joined the Enlisted Spouses’ Club. We have one event per month. Last month was a holiday party, the month before was a pottery painting party. This month is a wine tasting at our local winery! I’m excited about that! We also make a home cooked meal once a month for the Fisher House on post, which is where families of wounded soldiers can stay while their soldiers are in the hospital. We also help out the Officers Spouses’ Club every once in a while. Last month I got to volunteer for their Tour of Homes. It was amazing!!

So that is one of my goals for this year. Call me Super Army Wife! HOOAH!

Last year was incredibly hard on me. It was my first married Christmas and my husband was halfway around the world. I was extremely emotional. It wasn’t a very happy Christmas for me.

This year my wonderful husband is home! I am so thrilled for that. I’m happy that he’s home safe and that we get to spend the holidays together.

This Christmas is still going to be very difficult for me though. It will be the first Christmas without my grandparents. It will be so different. I have spent almost every Christmas in my life with my grandparents. I honestly don’t know how to have Christmas without them.

I really want to be happy for Christmas. My husband is home. We’ll have two of my stepdaughters here with us. And my aunt is coming down here for Christmas. I have so much to be happy about! But I’m also missing a huge part of my life.

Love getting to know my fellow military spouses! Feel free to go check out the other spouses! Click here!

1. One of my New Year’s resolutions is to get healthier! I need to lose weight, but I need to be healthier.

2. One thing I’d like to happen next year is to get pregnant. My lifelong desire is to be a mommy.

3. One thing I’m looking forward to next year is moving back to Nashville! My husband is retiring in less than a year and we will get to move home! So happy.

4. One change I’d like to see next year is my husband and I doing more for our lives. I want us to spend more quality time together. I want us to work towards our goals together.

5. My plans for NYE include probably sitting at home with my 2 stepdaughters. Hubby has to work that night.

Friday Friday Friday! I hope everyone has had a wonderful week and will have a wonderful weekend! I’ve got a busy day so I’ll keep this short! Enjoy!

1. If I could be on any reality TV show, I’d want to be on either American Idol or Big Brother. I know, huge difference. Oh well!

2. This past Thanksgiving was the first without my grandparents. It was hard, but we did ok.

3. I’m looking forward to December because I get to spend my first Christmas married with my husband. I’m so happy.

4. One thing I’d like to accomplish this month is actually get our apartment clean and keep it that way!

5. To me, winter is a magical time. I love the cold weather because you can snuggle with your loved ones. I love all the decorations for Christmas. It really is my favorite time of year!

My dad has been admitted to the hospital for the 3rd time in three weeks. So much for breaking the cycle! All I know as of right now is that his heart rate was high, his platelet count is extremely high, and something else was high. (Not sure what) He could be there for a few days. Please pray that the doctors can figure out what is wrong soon so my parents can go home. They’ve had a rough month!

I will post updates. Hope everyone else is doing good! Husband and I move next week. There WILL be pictures!

I decided to make today my Thankful Thursday. I’m so thankful for SITS and the opportunity to be their featured blogger on Monday. It was AWESOME!! I got lots of comment love and met some new blogging friends. YAY!

I’m thankful that my best friend is coming to see me tomorrow! Her baby shower is on Saturday but she’s coming down early just to hang out with me for a little while. She’s amazing.

I’m thankful for my husband. He cleaned up the living room and dining room (and even a little in the kitchen and my office!) tonight while my stepdaughter and I were at my parents’ house and shopping for baby shower supplies. He’s the BEST!

I’m thankful that my stepdaughter has been here this summer. I missed her so much this past year! She’s pretty awesome and has been a HUGE help to me today! I’m gonna miss her when she goes back home.

I’m extremely thankful for my parents. They raised me right and I am a MUCH better person because of them. They love me unconditionally, support me, and always give me sound advice. I also learned from their example. I praise God for them!

I’m especially thankful that my God is always present and never forsakes me. He provides for me, comforts me, and loves me no matter what. I am His and He is mine!