Luke's wife

I see so often that when a couple has children, all of a sudden, their children define their marriage.  Chrystal becomes Elijah's mom, not Luke's wife.  I know there is a love and committment that comes with having children, but what if we had that same thought towards our spouse? 
My last blog before Eli comes will be about my husband, not about my coming baby.  (But I love you, my boy!)
Luke has been so amazing throughout this whole pregnancy.  He has been at every possible appointment, has let me be moody, has made me feel beautiful and taken care of me.  The amazing thing is that he's always been like this!  I'm so spoiled.  I'll admit it.  He pulls around the car for me, opens doors for me, helps around the house, cracks me up, and just makes me feel so loved.  He unknowingly challenges me all of the time to be a better spouse, just by being such a wonderful spouse to me. 
He didn't have the best example as to what a husband should be growing up, but he has broken so many generational "traditions" in the way he treats me.  Our children will know what it is to be a godly man, husband and father, and I am so thankful for that.
Soon our lives will change in so many ways.  New career, new baby...a new life.  I thank God that he's the one that will be beside me through it all.

Rocky Mountain High

BIG questions answered recently!  Not only do we know that Luke will be in Armor for 3 years then move over to Military Intelligence for the rest of his career.  We also know that his schooling will be in Kentucky, start next January and finish next May.  After that?????
Well, we found out today, WE'LL BE COMING BACK TO COLORADO!!!
YAY!  That means that we'll be able to look for houses,

Caleb and Elijah really will be best friends,

AND we'll get to go to Megan's wedding! 

Does that mean we'll scale the Peak again?  Well...give me a few years for that...

I was looking forward to being assigned a new place, but I'm as equally excited to hear we'll be coming back home for just a little while longer!

On A Serious Note

Isn't family amazing?  You meet so many people throughout your life who are wonderful and become like an adopted family, but nothing quite does it for me like my true family does.
My grandpa's brother, Duple passed away over the weekend.  He had been sick with cancer for a few years.  It's times like these that really make the distance between Colorado & Illinois seem insurmountable.  I love living in Colorado and have no regrets about moving here, but it's not the short drive to go see them that I used to be spoiled with. 
I think of Elijah and hate the fact that he won't get to know his cousins/grandparents the way that I know mine.  My cousins are my best friends, my grandparents are my role models, and I can sit and talk to my aunts for hours at a time. 
I was talking to my grandma on the phone last week and she said that my grandpa had kicked her in the shin during the night.  She asked him why he did this and he replied,"I had a dream that I was kicking a snake!"  If you know my grandparents, you're laughing right now.  These are the stories that I miss!
I do look forward/dread to the time that Luke is in Kentucky (January).  I will be separated from my husband, but I'll be able to spend some time with family and let Elijah get to know them, if even just for four months. 
I thought posting some quotes might be a fun way to share some sentiments on family.  I hope you enjoy them!  I'd say you can apply them to the blood & adoptive families in your life (because yes, I appreciate both).

Quotes:
Call it a clan, call it a network, call it a tribe, call it a family: Whatever you call it, whoever you are, you need one.

-- Jane Howard

In every conceivable manner, the family is link to our past, bridge to our future.

-- Alex Haley

In family life, love is the oil that eases friction, the cement that binds closer together, and the music that brings harmony.

-- Eva Burrows

Other things may change us, but we start and end with the family.

-- Anthony Brandt