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.