“Just keep swimming, just keep swimming…”

Pat and I have almost made it through 2 months apart – only about 6.5 more to go! Pat is busy back home getting our apartment settled and preparing for visitors to come into town. I am busy finding ways to fill my day as we wait to get to our next destination; Afghanistan. I hope everyone is doing well back home!

Valentine’s Day

Well, 2010 marked another Valentine’s Day spent apart. However, Pat was sweet enough to send me flowers while I’m here at Ft. Lewis! We plan to have a big celebration next year after our greatest celebration of all – our wedding!

Moving Day

Moving Day has begun! Pat picked-up the keys to our new place back in Carlsbad and has started packing-up and moving out of our old place in Del Mar. I’ll post more pictures once it’s furnished 🙂

Staying strong…’Army strong’

Well, I finally made it to Ft. Lewis this week after a few delayed and cancelled flights due to weather. Training is going well – I’ve met a lot of great new people and have reunited with old friends. Back on the home front, Pat has been able to reunite with old friends as they come into town and is preparing to move into our new home this weekend. As I mentioned in a previous post, we are moving back to the townhouse complex that Pat lived in before he left for his second deployment. It’s 3 units down from his old place and will bring back a lot of great memories for us. I can’t wait to come home and see the new place!

Pat and I are still able to talk and text when I’m not in training which is always comforting. We’re both excited that this experience has finally begun and that each day brings me one day closer to coming home to him and getting ready for our wedding 🙂

Starting a tradition

Pat and I were lucky enough to receive the first place setting of our fine china from his parents. Unfortunately, it arrived after I left California, but the pictures will have to tide me over until I come home. We want to keep the ‘Irish tradition’ going and decided on a lovely set from Waterford. I can’t wait to use them for the first time! Thanks Mike and Rita!

“I cannot live, I can’t breathe, unless you do this with me…”

Pat and I officially said goodbye (for the next 8 months at least) in the early hours of Sunday morning. As always, Pat found a way to make me laugh and smile through the tears. Pat made his way up to Carlsbad after dropping me off to complete his first marathon! I am so proud that he accomplished this amazing feat, and now he can finally complete the Triple Crown – a goal of his since he moved to California.

The past two days have been rough for me, but Pat continues to remain ‘my rock’ from the opposite coast 🙂 I am the luckiest girl in the world!

“Home is wherever I’m with you…”

Well, the time has come for Pat and I to once again say goodbye for a few months. As upset as we were that my training was pushed back, it gave us another week to spend together. We’ve spent this week just relaxing with each other and trying to stay dry during this San Diego rain storm.

We accomplished one major task this week – we found our next ‘home’! We are moving back to the same apartment complex that Pat lived in before his last deployment. Laguna Glenn is where our relationship really began and we can’t wait to create new memories when I return 🙂

“The best is yet to come…”

Here they are, our engagement photos! Please visit our site to look and/or purchase photos: http://www.pictage.com/783546

Preview

Our photographer sent us the link to his blog – here is a sneak peek at our engagement pictures; we love them so far!

http://www.lenoce.net/2010/01/san-diego-photographer-lajolla-engagement-photos/

Engagement Photos

We just wrapped up an afternoon engagement photo session followed by a lovely dinner at The Melting Pot. We had our photo session down in La Jolla Cove and can’t wait to see how they turn out! The Melting Pot has a special place in our hearts – I took Pat there for dinner in Dupont Circle when he came to visit me in D.C. after his deployment to Iraq. It was deeeeelicious! We’ll let you know when our pictures are ready for viewing!