A challenging but good reminder

February rant: February messes with me. We all know February is a 'short' month. Even though it is only 2-3 days shorter than the other 11 months, knowing that makes it seem like it is dragging the first 27 days. Somehow, my mind has convinced me that February is going to fly-by faster than the rest, as if the days are even shorter. For example, I spent the first couple hours today legitimately thinking it was February eighth, and that Valentines Day was this coming weekend.  I couldn't believe when I realized that it was ONLY February third.  ((I realize this makes absolutely no sense))

Here is a picture taking on February FIRST! Wade was in Richmond for work, so we drove down and spent the afternoon with him. We did some exploring & museum-ing and finished the evening with an AMAZING dinner and view at The Boat House.

To avoid any further February Freak outs...I'll focus on the end of January

Before we even moved to Virginia, I knew I would be headed back to Texas the last weekend of January for a dear, lifelong friend's wedding.  It was SUCH a blessing that I would be able to fly in to celebrate! The blessing increased tenfold, after CJ and I decided it was best for us to not go back to Texas during the holidays. Knowing I was going to be seeing so many of my friends and family just a month after Christmas made it totally okay.  We decided then that I should stay for longer than just the wedding weekend, so I could maximize my Texas Time. I was, of course, sad to leave my husband, but then I was ECSTATIC when CJ's schedule switched around to where he was going to be in the field (meaning not coming home at all) the week before the wedding and the first part of the week after the wedding. That meant me going to Dallas (for over a week!) would have us barely missing any extra time together. It couldn't have been more perfect!!

But then the snowpocalypse came, and the wonderful, logical, purposeful schedule was shattered.

I ended up having to move my flight to an earlier one to get out of DC before the snowstorm hit. CJ didn't even have to report to work the first 36 hours I was gone and the rest of the time was basically half days. Of the 7 nights they were supposed to spend in the field, the weather allowed them to spend only 1.  And even that 1 night was too much. A number of CJ's fellow Marines suffered from frost bite and other cold weather related injuries. 

I was so happy for CJ to get ample rest, relaxation, and VERY rare (like the first time since moving here) alone time. However, it made me miss him SO much more knowing I was missing an abundance of time with him and probably the easiest two weeks (time wise) of the whole six months....not to mention the dread I had knowing all of those nights would have to be made up- once I was back.

It was a needed yet hard reminder, that we can plan and schedule (my two favorite hobbies) all we want, but we ultimately are not in control.

The wedding weekend was INCREDIBLE, JOYFUL, LOVELY, and so jam-packed that it was the only two days I wasn't desperately missing CJ! Thank you Huffs and Haltoms for such a memorable, beautiful, uplifting weekend!

Here are some fun pictures!

At Amy's Bridal Luncheon

 High school friends at Amy and Ryan's wedding

 My wonderful parents!

Me with #HappilyHaltom!!!! She was so beautiful!!!

I made the most of my other days in Texas spending lots of quality time with my parents, Nana, sister, niece and nephew, and college friends! 

I also spent LOTS of hours working on my education class. Thankfully Snow was always there to keep me company. 

I've never been a big animal person, but I did tear up saying bye to him. He was so happy to have me back (he has slept in my room the 7 years we've had him), and I felt terrible not being able to explain to him why I was leaving again and that I wouldn't be back for a long time.

My trip was SO wonderful, but I definitely felt like I was visiting Dallas, as opposed to just coming home, which I think is a good thing. It was such a sweet moment to be reunited with CJ!  There will be lots of reunions to come and I know they will only get sweeter.

SemperFi {AlwaysFaithful}