I miss my husband...

And, that pretty much sums it up! We started dating in July 2003 and until this deployment, the longest we spent apart since we started dating was 10 days. I realize that a 120 day deployment is nothing in the grand scheme of things, but we just miss him a lot. He's my best friend and we are a good team...he's all the good things I am not, and vice versa. The girls miss him a lot, too. We've had a meltdown or 2 as a result, usually after failed attempts at Skyping! :( This being Christmas week, I know I will miss him even more than usual (Who will help me think of funny names to put on all the gift tags! ha!). He is VERY hands on/very involved/very close to the girls, he helps in all areas of home and the girls. I have heard so many women talk about how their husband doesn't do this or that at home or with their kids, and I can't even imagine. He and the girls have special things that they do together every day. They miss that a lot, too. We are so lucky to have him and we just miss him.

He was able to send us a few pictures this week! That's his Christmas Card above! haha!

And, the girls LOVE this one of him with this little Santa! :) (By the way, he told me I could share these photos. I know we have lots of family worried about him and missing him. So, as you can see, he's doing good! :)
We have had one heck of a time lately. The girls and I were in a car accident last Saturday. It was the single scariest moment of my life (It bumped Abby's birth, in which we both had a close call with death, to 2nd!...). I was heading into work to do a couple of make-up lessons, I went to park in front of my work. I pulled across the street to pull up in front of the building , and a truck hit us on Liv's side, just behind her door. The air bags deployed on her and that whole side of the car. Like I said, scared me so bad. When I realized everyone was okay, I just couldn't help the emotions. I cried for like 2 hours. All through the police coming, all through getting us home, etc. I just couldn't stop the 'what ifs' from running through my mind. I mean, if the hit would have been six inches over, it would have hit square into Liv! And, the child did not have a scratch on her, didn't even make a peep during the accident. It was a miracle. I am certain we have guardian angels watching over us. (Maybe Liv isn't such a little devil after all...ha! ;) Anyways, the guy that hit us was so nice, the cop was so nice, no tickets were issued, we were all just so glad everyone was okay. The cop even said there are accidents there all the time because the parallel parking along the street causes so many blind spots, but I just felt SO bad. And, I didn't have the slightest of ideas of where to begin with sorting through insurance issues, who to call, what to do...and the guy and the cop were both so sweet and helpful. Talk about feeling TOTALLY alone. :( And, of course we can't just get in a wreck...the guy was test driving the truck he was driving! REALLY!? Only us, right!? ha! But, like I said, everyone is okay but now we are dealing with what will happen to the car. It's been over a week and we still don't know if it will be totaled or repaired, I'm driving Scott's old car that he drives back and forth to work, we have a ton of traveling coming up for Christmas...BUT, we will make do. We have the truck, too, if we need it.

Long story short, I haven't exactly been in the Christmas 'spirit' but I am getting there. This week should help...between Christmas programs, celebrations/parties, goodies to bake, finished up my shopping, etc. I know we will have a wonderful Christmas. And...one lovely gesture refreshed my Christmas spirit today...my sweet cousin and her 4 (soon to be FIVE!! and, I think my house is crazy-ha!) beautiful daughters sent us a package of Shari's Berries chocolate covered strawberries. I am just floored and so grateful that someone thought of us, and send us a thoughtful treat with a sweet note...totally unsuspecting. It was the sweetest thing, brought tears to my eyes. I told Scott it truly made my Holiday season! And, they are soooooo GOOD! So, I feel like I need to pay it forward, and I fully intend to! :)

Thanks, Bobbie, Kelly, Taylor, Grace, Lilly and Emmy Kate!
I am really hoping to get the blog caught up this week. Scott is wanting to see pictures of Abby's birthday party, and we have figured out that the blog might be the easiest way to get bulk amounts of photos to him. Hope everyone is having a super weekend! :)