Merry Christmas, Everyone!!

It's that magical time of year again! Christmas!!  I know you all have a million and one things to do today, so I'll make this blog post short. :) 

When I was younger, my Christmas was all about me. What presents I'd get, what part in the Christmas pageant I was going to get, what Santa was going to bring me. Now that I'm older I realize that besides the obvious reason for the season, the birth of Jesus Christ our Lord & Savior, Christmas is about giving. God gave us his only son. I think my favorite part of Christmas so far this year was buying awesome presents for my family and husband. As I was buying said presents, I got to thinking about those who will not have all that they wish for this year. Deployed soldiers and their spouses and families that only asked Santa to bring them their loved one home safe and sound, orphans, or any other situation that pulls anyone away from their family. My heart breaks for them and my Christmas wish is that those people will get some kind of Christmas blessing, maybe even a miracle. I think I will start a tradition that as a Christmas present to myself, I will pick a charity to give to each year.

I'm so very thankful that Andrew was given not just the weekend, but 5 days (that started off on Tuesday) off for Christmas. This is our first Christmas together as husband and wife, it is also my first Christmas away from family and loved ones. We will be spending Christmas morning with each other, then for dinner we are going to my friend's house for dinner. This particular friend, Sarah, is the girl who I spent most of Andrew's deployment with. As her husband was deployed as well, we have a pretty awesome bond because of it all. I don't know what I would've done with out her. I'm pretty excited that even though I'm not with my actual family on Christmas, I'll still be with some kind of family. :).

Though Andrew and I cannot be home for the holidays this year, know that all of you are in our hearts, thoughts, and prayers this Christmas season. We will try to call all of you guys on on Christmas. Be expecting a phone call from a crazy number with 12 digits! ;)

A very merry and blessed Christmas to you all. 

A Birthday Tribute to Dad.

Hello, Family! 

     I'm sorry I've gotten away from this blog for a while as there hasn't been much to report.  I promise I'll write a longer blog after Christmas. I wanted to take this time to write a quick post saying happy birthday to my daddy. :)

Daddy, 

     Thank you for always being there for me.  Thank you for putting up with me through all of my crazy antics, temper tantrums, and stubbornness growing up.  Thank you for your patience.  Thank you for catching me when I stumbled along the way.  You've always stood by me with a firm, but loving hand.  Thank you for taking me to all those FSU games and making me one of the biggest 'Nole fans-- Second only to you, of course.  Thank you for being such an amazing role model in my life.  Thank you for showing me what a great marriage is, what a great person of God is, and what a great parent is (among many other things). Thank you for taking me to those Father-Daughter dances for Girl Scouts.  Thank you for taking care of me when I was sick, had the hives, and all those ear infections.  Thank you for giving me the gift of Faith.  Thank you for all the time, hard work, and money you put in to give me the world.  Thank you for all the laughter and giggles we've shared (mostly at Vanna White's expense).  Thank you for all the popcorn and peanut butter and jelly sandwich lunches you used to make for Veronica and I.  Thank you for the gift of Italian culture.... the real stuff, not this Jersey Shore nonsense.  Thank you taking me to see the world.  Thank you for teaching me the importance of family and to trust God.  Thank you for the gift of music.  Thank you for the strength you give me, whether you know you give it to me or not. Most importantly, thank you for all the love.  You are the coolest dad on the face of this planet and I will always be a Daddy's girl.  You promised (or as you say, "threatened") me that you'd live to be 100 years old and then some, so here's to many more years of happiness, health, and blessings. Happy Birthday, Daddy. I miss you and love you beyond words. I hope you have an awesome birthday.  See you soon. 

Hugs and kisses.

Love always and forever, 

Your Little Girl.