Newport News, Virginia

First, I must start out by saying that Virginia truly is gorgeous! I feel so blessed to be surrounded by God's handiwork. I have been one of those people who find beauty in EVERYTHING for my whole life! I mean EVERYTHING! When I am outside with my camera, I am struck by the sheer vastness of God's creation.
We are originally from Southern California. The Inland Empire. The dry heat is my best friend! :) I remember going to the Santa Rosa plateau and being literally struck dumb by the trees, bushes, rocks, flowers, bugs, weeds... It was hot, dry, pretty and brown, but it was still gorgeous! Josh always makes fun of me when I am so proud of the pictures I have taken when it's just nature. "Not anything really pretty like Bishop..." and "You don't even know what beauty is until you've seen Bishop" Alright, those may not be his exact words, but it might as well be.
I knew it would be greener here in Virginia. But I didn't realize how amazing it would be. I am sure people just overlook the trees EVERYWHERE! I don't. My heart swells with pride and a new understanding of how amazing God made this Earth. And it's just gone down hill from his original plans. We, humans, have torn it down, dismantled it and in it's place have put concrete, roads and buildings. And yet I am still in awe!
My favorite scenic spot so far... and please don't laugh, is a freeway on-ramp. When I leave Josh behind at Fort Eustis, I take the VA-105E. Then I veer onto the 64E towards Hampton/Norfolk. That 40 MPH zone is to die for. The trees are gorgeous. There's such a pretty curve in the road ahead. You can see the ivy climbing it's way to the tops of the thin trees. The sunlight shines down so gorgeously. It literally still takes my breath away EVERYTIME! I feel like I am in my version of Twilight right there. :) Maybe that makes me sound immature, or young. But it was a great, fast paced, well written love story that just so happened to be about vampires. **A little side note, Edward in my version was WAY hotter! :P**
Anyway, back to the matter at hand. I have only explored a little bit so far. Friday will culminate four weeks of training. That's a quarter of the way done!!!! HOOAH! I am so excited to experience more of this great country that we call The United States of America. If we do get sent to, say HAWAII (awesome dream) or GERMANY (more realistic dream, but none-the-less still a dream) I will probably drop into a coma!
Jesus, if you want to show off your creation to someone who will forever remember it. I am definitely your girl. I mean, I get excited about on ramps.

REUNION

So after only a 36.5 hour drive. We made it to South Carolina EARLY! We checked into a hotel room, and crashed in a bed (YEA!). After we woke up, my mom, my two girls, and I went to the mall. I got my nails done, bought some nice things for Josh at VS, bought the girls some quiet toys, and then proceeded to wait!

I finally got to meet my fellow Army Wives, Fiancees, GF's, and parents. We had a blast hanging on. :) We compared pictures our men sent us. We got to talk to out men! YAY!

Then we woke up early. Headed to Hilton Field and the ceremony was so short! As they came running through the smoke screen, my heart beat sped up! After the introductions, our men spread out. Once they said those words,"Meet your soldiers on the field" I flew down those stairs! I think I was probably one of the first ones there. But then I realized in the mad rush, I didn't keep track of my soldier.

Now I was second guessing where I thought he was. (While we were in the stands, our eyes CLICKED! He smiled, I smiled! It was so damn intimate!!!!) Now I slowed down, looking right to left through every soldier. They weren't allowed to move until their family found them... It seemed like forever... I was just about to go down a different aisle, when there was my man! I ran to him. Hugged him like it was our last hug ever! No tears from me! :) I was so proud of myself.

Then we headed to the stands to wait for my mom to bring the girls down to meet with their daddy! My mom was trying to show Makayla where Daddy was. She was looking all over. But once she saw his arm waving at her. Sh dropped down to her knees, covered he mouth is surprise! That is when I began to get teary eyed! That was also when Josh said, I think I am going to cry!!!!

Finally, they made it down the steps! Summer was a lil nervous. That broke my heart. Then after a minute of scrutinizing Josh, she reached out and he hugged her! :) FINALLY our family was complete! :) I wish I would have taken more pictures now, but I am so glad I relaxed and enjoyed the moment, and made ever lasting memories!