Christmas in NC!

Our first Christmas as husband and wife went very well. We went home for the holiday season and we enjoyed our time at home in NC but boy are we glad to be back with our things in Kansas. I was home for ten days before Steve flew in. We loved all the times we spent with our families and friends. Sheree and Josh took us to a Carolina Panthers game on December 23rd. We had a blast! Of course I took my Christmas git from Steve. My new Nikon D3000 camera that he gave to me a month before Christmas. I am really wanting to get into photography. For anyone that knows me they know that I LOVE to take pictures.

While I was at home before Steve came to NC, fixing up our house began! We got the living room painted and completely done. The bathroom floor was put in and the walls painted. We started on the kitchen and the front bedroom was painted. Thanks to everyone who had been very committed to helping us with our house. We couldn't do it without you and y'all know who you are!!

So it is going to snow here in Kansas tomorrow. It is going to start around 8 am and last until about 7 am the ext day.. That is a long time for snow. Steve also has 24 hour duty on New Year's Eve so I will be celebrating with a few friends! My first physical therapy appointment is tomorrow also. It is more like an evaluation to see what I can and cant do with my ankle. Wish me luck as I start this long process!

Well that is really all I have to say for now. Praying that everyone has a safe and happy new year. 

Mrs. Dillard

Election day ...

Today is just like any other day. I got up and Steve and his friend Shane were playing a game in the living room trying to pass time from morning PT until 9:00 formation. I joined them but now they are gone. I figured why not come into the computer room and blog for a little while.

The doctor is writing me a prescription for a new kind of medicine because the meds that I have (oxycodene) just aren't working that well for me. I have been in a lot of pain and I am more than ready for this whole process to be done and over with.
Steve has been into making 550 paracord bracelets and key chains. He is so talented, mixing colors and making awesome patterns. He is going to sale them to anyone who wants them. They will be 5.00 for one color or 6.00 for two colors. Steve is for sure not doing it for the money. He really enjoys making these but to cover the cost of the cord, buttons and key rings, he needed to charge a little something. There are tons of colors available. There is not really a whole lot going on in our life that's new. Steve did learn how to make meatloaf last night. He is always wanting me to cook it but since I am unable right now I figured that I would go ahead and teach him. He did an excellent job.

Well with it being election day I guess its not really like any other day like I had stated earlier ... or is it? Even though I am 22 years old and this is my second presidential election to vote in, I am not sure how I feel about it. Sure people would say well its your right to vote and you need to vote. Stuff like that ... Listen to what you are saying ... You are telling me I have the right to vote. Therefore why are you telling me I have to vote. It is my choice. My husband serves in the US Army and gives me the right to be free. I do not have to vote. This year I have simply chosen not to. Don't worry though. You wont hear me complain about who the president is or what all he is doing/not doing for our country. If I decide not to vote, then I do not have the right to talk politics. No matter what! If you know me then you know that I NEVER speak politics, I have no desire to. Our political leaders do not play that big of a role to me. Sure they are important to society but The Lord is important to me soul. My leader, my ruler is the Lord and he is all I need. He has everything planned out the way that he wants it to so that is what is going to happen.
This is all my opinion just like you have yours. Just like I respect your opinion I ask that you respect mine(:

With all that said, I hope that everyone has a great rest of the day.

Love,
Shenay

Bring on the holiday season!

Well once again I have been missing in action for a while. Since we talked last I have had not only one surgery but two! I guess I should start with the first one. The first surgery went well. When they went in they didn't find any tumor but just scar tissue. Thank the Lord, we were so very happy about this. They did notice that my ankle was not in good shape at all. I was walking only on bone and my tendons and ligaments were just hanging there. I was then referred to another foot/ankle specialist which was still in Kansas City. We went to see Dr. Horton and Dr. Erb and they said right away that I needed to have surgery. Surgery number two was done on Monday Oct. 22nd. The surgery went well but this time they found some tumor in my ankle. Well actually it was under my ankle joint which explains why the first doctor did not find any of it. They did total ankle reconstruction as well. I am now in a cast up to my knee. I am so thankful for my husband during this whole process. He has been nothing but help to me. I never lift a finger. Having him around all the time is pretty awesome. He is out of work for the next few weeks just to help me out! (: We are hoping that was my last and final surgery with that ankle. I have been dealing with this thing since I was 13 years old. Isn't it time that I get a break?!

Enough about my ankle .. lets talk about other things going on in our life. We love our new place. It is so nice and the community is very quiet. We really enjoy being close to post and everything in Junction City. Halloween was fun this year. We went with some of our friends and their little ones trick or treating around post. Thankfully my doctor got me a wheelchair after this last surgery so Steve was able to push me around while the kiddos did their trick or treating. I am beyond excited about decorating for Christmas. Although I know its not even Thanksgiving yet I am ready to decorate. Steve and I are so excited about our first Christmas being married. Oh and did I mention the really good news?? Steve is not getting deployed (knocks on wood while typing this) The decision gets changed all the time but we are hoping that they stick with this decision. Why send him for just a couple of months? This would mean that we get to spend our first Christmas being married together and not apart!! I am filled with joy just thinking about this. We are hoping to fly home for Christmas but we are not 100% sure yet because the cost of 2 plane tickets is outrageous. We are real big on having a savings and just taking 1,000 out of savings for us to fly home just seems so unbearable to us. We are young and just starting out and saving is a real big deal for our future. Something I will never understand is flying home for everyone's benefit and being expected to pay for it all on our own. hmmm. Thanksgiving will be different this year. My first away from home. Thankfully it is not Steve's first away from home so I will have him to help me get through it. Maybe I can convince him to go black Friday shopping and that will get my mind off being away for Thanksgiving(;  My dad's drive-thru Santa is coming up. I am really hoping that if we fly home that I will be there in time. This is honestly my favorite event to attend each year. For those of you who don't know what this drive thru Santa thing is, let me take a minute to tell you. The Oriental Shrine Club on High Point Road in Greensboro holds this event each year. They hand out treat bags with amazing items in them. Some of the items like free appetizer coupons and such the parents really like. The whole concept of this is that Santa stands outside and cars line up for Santa to talk to you and your kids through the window. Perfect chance for kids to see Santa from a short distance if they are scared of the jolly man. Anyways so that sort of sums up my dad's amazing drive thru Santa, which I more than anything hope to be at this year. Oh Steve and I did some Christmas shopping today. Then when we got home he told me that I could use my Christmas gift for one night. Even though I really wanted to, I decided not to. I can't wait to use it to come Christmas time. Its a surprise to all of you though, I'm not telling what it is(;

Today is my sister's birthday! Happy birthday, Sheree. Miss you and love you tons.

I'm pretty sure that's about all I have to say for now. I promise to TRY and blog more often. Since all I do is sit at home with a cast covering my whole leg that should not be a problem.

One more thing ... every night when Steve and I say our prayers, it just about breaks my heart to hear him pray for all of his friends over in Afghanistan and for all of their families back here in the states. He misses his guys dearly and it breaks my heart to see the pain he goes through :( So whenever you are saying a prayer please remember all of our troops fighting for your freedom. I think that you can give a minute of your time to pray for these guys and girls, after all they give their whole life for you.

With love,

Shenay C. Dillard!

Sometimes life hits all at once ...

Prayers, prayers, and more prayers! Steve and I need lots of prayers right now. We have so much going on in our life right now. Deployment is coming up soon and of course everything is still up in the air. I went to the doctor a week ago today and found out that my tumor is back in my ankle which means that I am going to be having surgery on this Friday, the 31st. I have so many emotions going on right now. I am scared and anxious and so much more. My mom will be here on Wednesday to help Steve take care of me and to be some extra support during my surgery. The doctor is not sure how serious the surgery will end up being. Although we know it will be bad we just don't know exactly how bad. They plan on going in through the back of my ankle. If they can not get all of the PVNS out from the back then they will go through my 2 previous scars. I am thinking that them going through the back of my ankle is going to be very painful. Think about it ... each step you take the back of your ankle bends and that is where she is going to be making the incision. To top all of this off we are in the process of packing up everything. We are going to be moving soon. We will be living right outside of Fort Riley. This will be much closer for Steve to go back and forth to work and I will be much closer to the doctor. I am going to have to have intense therapy after my surgery. This will make it much easier being that close to the doctor. I love this tiny town that we live in and will be coming back here for friends and such. Steve and I have prayed and we both believe that right now moving a little closer is what we are meant to do.
I can't wait to show my mom the town that we live in now. I have so many things that I want to show her and to do ... if only I was going to be able to walk.
Steve and I realize that in life we are blessed, very blessed. We also realize that things could be so much worse than they are but all we are asking for is when you are saying your prayers to say a short one for us. For deployment, for my surgery, for moving and for my mom having a safe trip out here.

We love you all

Shenay(:

Back at it again ....

Well .... It has been a very long time since I have been on this thing. Not too much has been going on with Steve and I. Can you believe that its been 4 months since our wedding?! Steve and I are really enjoying married life and every minute that we get with each other. Steve goes back to work tomorrow. He has had the past two weeks off and boy let me tell you, its been wonderful having my hubby home!! We went to North Carolina to visit all of our family and friends. Somehow we managed to get home without anyone but my dad knowing (he had to be our ride from the airport). Steve and I got to do so much while we was at home. We would have to say that our 2 favorite things that we did while we was home was going to the races (my all time favorite thing to do as a little girl) and when we went to the lake with Chris!! We had a blast doing both of these things. The second week of Steve's vacation has been very lazy. We have watched tons of movies and done absolutely nothing.

I have started babysitting out here in Kansas. Its 3 little girls who are precious as can be. They are ages 2,4, and 5. They keep me busy but I really do enjoy it. Steve reminds me everyday that "I don't have to work" and "that I am doing all this free willingly and he is not making me work what so ever" Can you tell that he likes the whole old fashion way of the stay at home wife? (:

Steve and I are back to our bike rides and they are so relaxing(:
Here are a few things that we seen on our bike ride the other afternoon. You might get a good laugh out of this!

• A lifted corvette that was painted like an American flag. Yikes!
• A bright blue toilet on the front porch of a house
• An old punch bug that had the back cut off and was made into a pick up truck. Yep, you seen that right, a pick up truck!!!
• A house that had a "For Sale buy Owner" I guess the owner of the house was for sale??

Those are just a few things that we seen the other day. Our bike rides are for sure very entertaining and interesting to say the least.

I better get going. My husband and I are going to head upstairs and get some shut eye.


Always support your troops(:

Shenay.

Thanks for being my personal hero!!

Today is Memorial day. I woke up and said "Thank you for being my hero." Steve just kinda chuckled at me and went on with his morning. He doesn't consider himself a hero or even anything close to it. I try to tell him all the time that he means (along with all the other military) so much to so many people. He just tells me "It's what I need to do"
Does this kinda give you the slightest clue of why I married Steve. One amazing man right?

Well I haven't been on here in a long time. I actually have so much to tell you but most of it can wait until later. My husband leaves for NTC really soon, too soon actually. On the bright side I am going home to see my family and friends for the time that he is gone. We are still unsure about deployment but hopefully we can get an answer really soon.

My best friend Melanie is here in Kansas visiting with us for the week. It is so good to have a familiar face around. We had a cookout on Saturday to introduce her to some of our friends here and then yesterday we went to Pillsbury. Basically it is the closest that you will get to the beach while you are in Kansas. We are having one heck of a good time while she is here!! For those of your who don't know, Steve and I have a new hobby. We bought us 2 bicycles out here and we enjoy spending our evenings after dinner riding bikes together. As for Kansas, well I am getting pretty use to it. I have made so amazing friends since I have been here and look forward to meeting more. (Now only to dread the day that we have to say good-bye to such wonderful friends)

But for now I am going to get off here. Its time to bring this 4 day weekend to an end by laying on the couch with my husband and watch a movie with him and Melanie. I will be sure to get back on here really soon.

Until next time ... remember all your troops, past and present, that have allowed you to have the freedom that you do(:

Mrs. Dillard

Steve and I on our afternoon bike ride in downtown Herington.

Kansas life vs. North Carolina life

Although I miss home, I am really enjoying getting use to being in a new state and a new town.


A few things that I have learned and some things I like about Kansas and our little town of Herington ...

• It is such a quiet town. Almost everything is closed on Sundays. You know, kinda how it use to be way back when!
• The crime rate in Herington is 3 times less than Greensboro (I have seen ONE person pulled over by a police in Herington since I have moved here).
• Everyone knows everyone. After you stop getting that "look at the new people in town" look you will fit right in.
• You can walk everywhere in the town ... going on walks to the park and such are wonderful considering I love being outside.
• The dirt roads ... although they don't get along with my silver car.
• Steve and I have made some wonderful friends and memories with those friends that will last us a lifetime.
• Army wives stick together ... when your family is 1200 miles from you, you have no other choice but to become close to friends that you make.
• I love that the schools are all in one building. The high school, middle and elementary share one building.
• The speed limit in our town is 30 mph .. or 20 depending on what part on town you are in.
• The snow barn .. it's simply amazing!
• The gas is cheaper ... at least for now. I am paying the same price for the expensive gas as my parents are paying for unleaded gas back home.
• As you pass by people in the town they always seem to wave at you. Just friendly people right?
• Since Herington is not that big, you have to find things to do on your own. Like cookouts with friends. Moments like those are like no other.
• The bowling alley ... It has 3 or 4 lanes.
• There is this place called "the spot" Its a small little hole in the wall restaurant in Herington that people go to kill time and have a simple meal. 
• The office ... It pretty much reminds me of the moose lodge. I miss that place.
• The fire trucks ... there are so old but when I see them it makes me think about old movies. You know the kind with fire trucks with really loud squalling sirens.

Yes, I could go on and on about Herington but I wont waste anymore of your time. There are some things that I want to point out that I miss about NC. There is some stuff  that KS is just missing out on.

• Texas Roadhouse & Chic-fil-a (There might be one in KS but not near us)
• Sweet Tea. Yes I make my own and a very select few places will have it. Its just not the same as back home.
• My work. All of my co-workers and all my sweet babies.
• My pup, Stubbles.
• If this list was in any certain order, Bowman Gray racing would be near the very top
• The same thing goes for the drive-in movies
• Stamey's BBQ.
• Bojangles and especially their seasoned fries
• The moose lodge. There are some in KS but not close to us.
• Ray's turkey, bacon, and Swiss. It makes my mouth water even thinking about it.
• My church ... but GOD is in KS too(:
• Liver pudding and Cheerwine. Both of these are two of my favorite things, neither of which people in KS have ever heard of.
• Non-windy weather. The wind is insane here!
• Myrtle Beach. Not being able to make random weekend beach trips with my best friend this summer is going to really make summer seem so long.
• Tarheel stuff ... I need more Carolina blue stuff in my life in KS.

Now don't get me wrong I miss my family and my friends tremendously from back home. There is other things that I miss from back home but I think you get the idea ... KS and NC are two totally different places. After being here for a few weeks now I am starting to get use to KS life, especially since my husband is by my side while I experience it all(:

Until next time,

Shenay.

Reflections on our wedding, honeymoon, and our life in Kansas so far!

Let's start with our wedding. It was perfect and Steve and I both agree that it was by far the best day of our lives. We were so blessed to have so many people come to watch us say our vows and then to go to our reception to celebrate with us. Thanks to everyone who spent our special day with us.

Our honeymoon was lots of fun!! We drove about 5 hours to Gatlinburg and then stayed there for 3 nights. It was beautiful there. We did so much while we was there. Almost everything was half price for us since we are military. That made everything even more fun! One of our favorite things that we did while we were in Gatlinburg was the Titanic museum. Its actually in Pigeon Forge though. The Titanic was huge and there was so much to see and learn. We recommend this to anyone. There are two locations for this. One of them of course being in TN and the other in MO. These don't even start to compare to the traveling Titanic museums that you may see in your city. When we left Gatlinburg we drove for about 8 hours and got to St. Louis. We stayed at a beautiful hotel/casino (thanks to Steve's mother for giving us this as our birthday gifts) Our hotel was in walking distance of the arch which was amazing to see. The night that we spent in St. Louis, Steve took me on a horse and carriage ride. How sweet right?! The next morning we got up and started to head home. About 6 and 1/2 hours later we were finally at home!

So about Kansas and marriage ...

Well Steve and I are getting use to being married. We love it. Seeing each other everyday is amazing!! Steve went back to work on Monday and as for me I am making some wonderful friends.

We got here and got settled into our house. We have been spending lots of time with friends. We have been trying out the different things to do that are in Herington and Kansas in general. For my birthday Steve and I drove to this town that is exactly a hour from where we live. There is all kinds of things to do there and it is the closest thing here that reminds me of home. The next week we went to base and got all of my paper work done so I am an official army wife. I got my ID card so I can do stuff on post without Steve being with me. My friend Tara, cut my hair. It is so sort now but I love it!!! Last weekend we went to my first FRG meeting/cookout. It was alot of fun. Saturday was crazy because we had all of those bad storms and tornado's around us. The sirens were going off and we had to keep going to the basement all night. It was an experience for sure. I went to the zoo yesterday with one of my friends. It was fun but of course very exhausting. That's really all that's been going on in Kansas. One thing that I have learned so far is that when you are in the military you learn to become close with the people around you because they are all that you have. Having no family around is hard but making friends is really helping.

I would like to just name a few things from back home that we don't have here in Kansas that I miss dearly!!

• Bojangles & their seasoned fries
• Sweet tea (Yes, I make sweet tea but that's not really the same)
• Liver Pudding(:
• Cheerwine
• The moose lodge and Ray's turkey bacon Swiss
• Texas Roadhouse
• My work (Yes, I miss my job)
• The beach

And obviously I miss my friends and family.

I might not ever understand why Kansas doesn't have the wonderful things that the South does but for now it will have to do!

I am about to get ready and head to town. Steve and I are going to have a picnic during his lunch break today.
Always remember the men and women who fight for your freedom

Mrs. Dillard(:

happy birthday to my future hubby(:

Well tomorrow makes one week until Steve and I get married!!

 

Tonight was a much needed night. I spent the evening with my best friend. Melanie just knows me all too well. Its scary how often we complete each others sentences and how much we think alike. We went to dinner and then went shopping. Melanie and I have been inseparable since high school. Even when Melanie was on life support, I would have to say that we were inseparable. I made sure to be at the hospital twice a day to see her. Although only immediate family was allowed in I was known to the nurses as the "best friend and the girl who is getting married soon" They knew not to stop me from seeing my best friend. I am already counting down the days until Melanie comes to Kansas to see me. Until then I sure am going to miss her and her goofy butt.
2 months and 2 days until she comes out to see me(:

This picture was taken of Melanie and I at Myrtle Beach, SC. This was always a huge part of our summer each year. Just to go there and get away for a few days was what Melanie and I loved to do during the long summer days! There will be another one of these trips ... I promise(:

Tomorrow is going to be a good day. My mom, best friend, and I are getting up in the morning to do some more wedding stuff. Then later tomorrow afternoon we have my bachlorette party!! I cant wait to spend the evening with my girls. We are going to start at dinner and then see where we end up. My sister and Melanie have worked hard to put this night together and I know its going to be amazing.

The best part about tomorrow ... It is Steve's 21st birthday ...Yes, for those of you who didn't know I am marrying a younger guy(: I really wish that Steve could be here for his birthday but he will be home on Sunday!!

Sunday I am going to church as usual. It is sad because I have to say good-bye to a wonderful church family. I have been going to this church since I was a newborn baby. I have been an employee of my church since January 2009. After church they are giving me a "going away" party which will be nice to personally say good-bye to everyone in my church family. After my party I will have a little while to get ready and then its off to the airport to pick up my man!!!! (:
Later on Sunday night, we are going out for Steve's birthday.

Its going to be so nice to spend the week with Steve before our wedding. He can finally see what kind of planning I have been doing for the past 6 months!

Well until next time ...
Don't forget about the people fighting for your freedom.

Shenay

11 days. 6 hours. (:

Steve and I get married in 11 days. I can't believe that in 11 days I will be Mrs. Dillard. Doesn't that just sound good? I think so! I think I am ready for this whole Army wife thing. I am already learning so much about it. Things with the Army change all the time and I think that is probably the biggest thing for me to remember. It is the government and they can do whatever they want to.


Today I am going to spend the day with my mom. We have tons of wedding stuff to get done. We have to order my cake (which I am very excited about) We also have to go finish getting the items for the center pieces. I swear these center pieces will be the death of me. It is kinda hard to find stuff to make 26 of the same thing for all 26 tables! Oh and one of the biggest things on our agenda is that we have to find my mom a dress. Yes, it's 11 days before I say "I do" and the mother of the bride does not have a dress!! Tonight I am going out to dinner with some wonderful friends. I am really going to miss these people when I move. Later this week I get to babysit (more like watch) an amazing little girl. I have seen her grow up and she is just wonderful to be around. It will be wonderful to stop with the wedding conversations and play games and stuff with miss Lexi(: Then comes the weekend. My bachlorette party is this Saturday night. I am so excited about it. Its going to be good to go out with the girls who matter the most to me.


Steve comes home in 5 days and 8 hours. oh my goodness!! I am so ready to see the love of my life. We are so use to being apart, we are just so thrilled to know that we will be together for good once he comes home in 5 days!


We have our honeymoon plans all figured out. We are staying in a hotel here in Greensboro for the night of the wedding. Which is booked and all ready to go. We will be leaving that Sunday and heading to Tennessee. We will be there until Thursday or so and then we will take the 8.5 hour drive to St. Louis. We will be in St. Louis on my birthday. How many people can say they spent their birthday at the arch? I am pretty excited about that. Then once we get home (in Kansas) we will have like 9 days together before Steve has to return to work. We are both very thankful that he is getting so long off work and getting paid for every single day of his vacation!


Until next time.
We love y'all(:

Shenay.

Welcome Home ...

I think that the smile on Steve's face tells you all that you need to know. This picture was taken when we seen each other for the first time when he came home from basic training. Those were some of the longest months of my life. Although I got many letters and one phone call weekly, it was still very hard to be apart from the love of my life. We fell in love when this distance got the best of us. We realized that we were meant to be together forever.  
I miss Steve very much. He is at a special training class right now, and he is very ready to be home. I keep telling him that when he gets through with this it will be time for our wedding. Speaking of our wedding, I have so much to get done. Thankfully Steve's mother and my mother are behind us 100% to get this wedding planned. There are a few things that I am worried about. I still can't decide on a cake, I need someone to video my wedding, we have to finalize our honeymoon plans (more like make them, then finalize them), I need to pick out center pieces and the list goes on and on. I know it will all fall in place but its starting to be crunch time and I am starting to worry (even more).

Army wives is starting their new season tonight so with that said I must get off here and enjoy the next two hours. I have been waiting for this day since the end of last season!!

Until next time, don't forget about the people fighting for your freedom.
Love, soon to be Mrs. Dillard

Home from Iraq ... November 2010!

I have to say that these pictures are some of my favorite of Steve and I. These are pictures from his "welcome home ceremony" when he came back from Iraq on November 8, 2010. No amount of words could ever explain how much I miss Steve when he is gone. Maybe from these pictures, you can get a small idea of our love for each other.

One of those nights.

Do you ever have bad nights, where you can't fall asleep no matter how hard you try? It might have had something to do with my heels beating duke or something to do with the fact that the love of my life is 1200 miles away. (I think it is a little of both). When Steve and I have nights like this, we are both ready to say the army is not for us. Although we really know that we are meant to be an army family. The feeling of being alone from the one you love is very hard. I can't wait for these next few weeks so that Steve and I will be together forever!!! God has plans for everyone. There is a reason Steve and I have been separated due to the army for a few years now. We are strong and we both know that we have made it these past few years that we know we will make it the next few weeks. <3

So your wondering how the beach is? Well Melanie and I are having a great time. It's so good to get away from reality for a little while. Our weekend had consisted of the hot tub, lazy river, indoor pools, shopping, and of course the unc/duke game. We are just making memories and enjoying every second of it. A few more places to shop at this morning and then we will be heading home!

Until next time ... Don't forget the people fighting for your freedom!!
Love, Shenay

We get married this month(:

Well ... Steve and I get married this month!! Both of us are very excited and it can't get here fast enough. Steve has been staying out our house. He said it is very different without me there with him. Of course it is ... He has to wash his own clothes, cook his own food, and make his own bed(: just kidding! I am ready to be in Kansas doing all these things for him. What can I say? I love him! It is nice to be home for a little while. Altough I do miss my house and all my stuff (and of course my soldier).

In the meantime, my best girlfriend, Melanie and I are going to the beach for one more time before I say "I do" Once Melanie and I come home from the beach I will have a few more days of work (which I'm very sad about)and then it's going to be busy busy busy with last minute wedding plans.

Counting down the days until I marry the love of my life(:
Until next time, don't forget about the people fighting for your freedom.
Love, Shenay!

Does your husband fight for your freedom?

On March 31st I will walk down the aisle to marry my best friend, my hero, my love. He is a United States soldier. He fights so people like you can be free. Steve and I met back in high school. He was a sophomore and I was a junior (yes, I'm the older one). A few months later we were re-connected through a mutual friend. I thought my birthday was ruined ... all because Steve was there. I couldnt stand the thought of being anymore than friends with Steve. Steve chased me and chased me and finally after being best friends for a while we decided to make it official. Yes, I gave in to him!! We have been inseparable ever since. Well I should define inseparable because in our relationship this has a whole different meaning. We love each other. We miss each other every second that we are apart but we have to be seperated due to the army. I can't count the sleepless nights all because of missing Steve. I have to say that I have spent many days crying all day long because Steve was leaving that day. This is something that no matter what, you never ever get use to. Ray (Steve's father) somehow can always get me smiling right when Steve leaves us and then my long countdowns start over. Should I mention that I am known for these countdowns? The long dreaded good-byes is what I dread the most but the amazing hellos make the dreadful good-byes well worth the wait. In case you missed my point, Steve and I have a love that is like no other but neither of us would trade it for a "normal" relationship.
 We got engaged on Oct. 7, 2011 and picked out our special day right away. Our wedding date is one week after Steve's birthday and one week before my birthday. In about a month I will be able to call Herington Kansas home (even though all my stuff is already there). Steve is active duty and is stationed at Fort Riley Kansas. He is a combat engineer. I have alot to learn about being an army wife but hopefully with the help of a few others I will soon know a thing or two about it.

So what is the middle of the US like your wondering? Well let me fill you in on this little town that we will be living in. - there is one high school, one middle school, and one elementary school ... They are all in the same building. - there is 2 "restaurants". They are dairy queen and pizza hut. - there is 1 mail lady. She walks the whole town to deliver your mail. - everything closes at 8 or 9 if your lucky. - there is 1 gas station (it only sales regular gas, my car takes the expensive junk so it looks like I better fill up before I go home. - the trash guys only grab the bags out of your cans so you better make sure it is all in bags. - the high school football coach owns the local bar ... This says a whole lot. - & the dollar general will become your best friend!

Although I'm very sad to be leaving North Carolina and everyone that I know, I am very excited to start my life in Kansas, meet new friends and be the best wife to Steve that I can possibly be.

Until next time, don't forget about the people fighting for your freedom.
 Love, Shenay.