~~~SEWING my way to POFQ ~ American Girl outfits & Custom Park Bags! ~~~

[cogero]

I am debating adding that instead of the breakfast I have for Christmas.

 

[dianemom2]

Me too... LOL Sorry to make you all wait to see it. My one Brother is having electrical issues (which dh hasn't looked at yet - other than to say "yup, it's electrical" <--- insert Cheryl's hitting his head with hammer yellow smiley guy here). So, I've been appliqueing on Victoria's machine - well tonight it started having issues of it's own. So, I spent a good 2 hours trying to figure out the problem. Eventually, I found that little bugger (I piece of lint) somewhere behind my bobbin case and under my feed dogs... grrr... so I pressed on, but I just couldn't finish it tonight. Sorry. I have to work a half day tomorrow, but I will finish it first thing when I get home and get the picture posted for you all.

D~

Sorry you are having trouble with two of your machines. I just took my Brother apart yesterday and found a HUGE wad of lint under the bobbin. I hope you are able to get yours all fixed up.

Hooray for lunch with Donald! You are going to have so much fun! Now you have a special place to wear your Donald outfit. I can't wait to see a picture of you and Donald!

I'll be checking back later for a picture of the newest outfit. My kids have also been anxiously to see each new outfit you create. And they don't even play with the dolls anymore.

 

[Pipperdoodle]

I just had to delurk (is that a word?) here and say that I am in awe of your talent! I just realized today that these are doll clothes, guess I should have read your countdown, huh? I'm amazed that you can do such wonderful detail at such a small scale. Do you mind me asking why you don't make children's clothes? My girls are all grown up now, I'm waiting for grands and apparently I'm going to be waiting a while. **sigh** I'm crafty, but I wish I had a craft that was actually worthwhile, like sewing. I could never be bothered to learn and now my eyes are so bad that I wouldn't even try.

Well, again, you ladies are amazing, I am dazzled by your creations.

Off to lurkdom.
Pip

 

[mommy2mrb]

on getting lunch with your Donald!!!!

 

[DMGeurts]

Wouldn't you know it - all along, it was my favorite guy giving me trouble.

Now, on to outfit #44...

D~

 

[mommy2mrb]

Love the Donald

 

[DMGeurts]

I am debating adding that instead of the breakfast I have for Christmas.

Well, I figured I couldn't lose - after all - it's Donald.

We have an extra ADR at CM that I think I am going to cancel - but I am going to wait and see. If I keep the CM, it's the last breakfast time slot on our day off. However, if we do that, we'll have to get up by 8:30, out the hotel room door by 9:30 (which I think is excessive - but they say to plan 2 hours from resort to resort)... Eat at 11:20 until 12:30 - go back to the resort and swim, then leave POFQ at 3pm to go back to the Poly for dinner.

I think that is just too much running around for our day off. And we all really wanted to hit DTD, because we've never been. That CM ADR would just throw a wrench in our whole schedule, because I really wanted to hit DTD right away in the am, maybe Wolfgang Puck Express for lunch, then back to the resort to swim. That just sounds so much nicer - and we can enjoy the boat ride to and from DTD.

Sorry you are having trouble with two of your machines. I just took my Brother apart yesterday and found a HUGE wad of lint under the bobbin. I hope you are able to get yours all fixed up.

Hooray for lunch with Donald! You are going to have so much fun! Now you have a special place to wear your Donald outfit. I can't wait to see a picture of you and Donald!

I'll be checking back later for a picture of the newest outfit. My kids have also been anxiously to see each new outfit you create. And they don't even play with the dolls anymore.

Well, Victoria's machine doesn't like to applique as it is - so I am really pushing my luck. LOL It's been appliqueing non-stop for a few weeks now.

I think I am going to have to make a second Donald outfit - since I now have 2 ADRs at TH. LOL One breakfast and one lunch.

I just had to delurk (is that a word?) here and say that I am in awe of your talent! I just realized today that these are doll clothes, guess I should have read your countdown, huh? I'm amazed that you can do such wonderful detail at such a small scale. Do you mind me asking why you don't make children's clothes? My girls are all grown up now, I'm waiting for grands and apparently I'm going to be waiting a while. **sigh** I'm crafty, but I wish I had a craft that was actually worthwhile, like sewing. I could never be bothered to learn and now my eyes are so bad that I wouldn't even try.

Well, again, you ladies are amazing, I am dazzled by your creations.

Off to lurkdom.
Pip

Wait, wait... don't go back to lurkdom!!! Come back out and play!

Welcome, and thank you. Well, I really don't like making children's clothes... OK - maybe that's a lie. I like making children's clothes, but I have no children that want to wear the clothes that I make. Although youngest dd told me the other day that she wants a Goofy outfit for our trip. That should be loads of fun to make!

So, what kinds of crafts do you do? I am pretty sure that lots of them are worthwhile.

For instance... I used to do cake decorating - then I got sick of the mess. I used to scrapbook - then I got sick of the mess. I used to do some flower arangements - then I got sick of the mess. Wait - there's a theme here... Now I sew, and I try to clean as I go - so I don't get sick of the mess.

Anyways - you just have to find something you love... I didn't love all my previous hobbies like I do with sewing.

on getting lunch with your Donald!!!!

WHOOT!!! You should plan another trip to WDW so you can do lunch with Donald - it's as good of an excuse as any.

D~

 

[DMGeurts]

Oooh - I almost forgot...

One of the guys I work with knows that I love all things Disney... so he brought in the October 1971 issue of Life Magazine... where they did a spread on the opening of WDW. He let me bring home the copy so that I could scan it... I know it's not the best picture ever, because it's 4 different scans photoshopped together - but it's so much fun to look at.

Cool, huh?

D~

 

[mphalens]

Wouldn't you know it - all along, it was my favorite guy giving me trouble.

Now, on to outfit #44...

D~

LOVE Donald!!!!

Well, I figured I couldn't lose - after all - it's Donald.

We have an extra ADR at CM that I think I am going to cancel - but I am going to wait and see. If I keep the CM, it's the last breakfast time slot on our day off. However, if we do that, we'll have to get up by 8:30, out the hotel room door by 9:30 (which I think is excessive - but they say to plan 2 hours from resort to resort)... Eat at 11:20 until 12:30 - go back to the resort and swim, then leave POFQ at 3pm to go back to the Poly for dinner.

I think that is just too much running around for our day off. And we all really wanted to hit DTD, because we've never been. That CM ADR would just throw a wrench in our whole schedule, because I really wanted to hit DTD right away in the am, maybe Wolfgang Puck Express for lunch, then back to the resort to swim. That just sounds so much nicer - and we can enjoy the boat ride to and from DTD.



Well, Victoria's machine doesn't like to applique as it is - so I am really pushing my luck. LOL It's been appliqueing non-stop for a few weeks now.

I think I am going to have to make a second Donald outfit - since I now have 2 ADRs at TH. LOL One breakfast and one lunch.



Wait, wait... don't go back to lurkdom!!! Come back out and play!

Welcome, and thank you. Well, I really don't like making children's clothes... OK - maybe that's a lie. I like making children's clothes, but I have no children that want to wear the clothes that I make. Although youngest dd told me the other day that she wants a Goofy outfit for our trip. That should be loads of fun to make!

So, what kinds of crafts do you do? I am pretty sure that lots of them are worthwhile.

For instance... I used to do cake decorating - then I got sick of the mess. I used to scrapbook - then I got sick of the mess. I used to do some flower arangements - then I got sick of the mess. Wait - there's a theme here... Now I sew, and I try to clean as I go - so I don't get sick of the mess.

Anyways - you just have to find something you love... I didn't love all my previous hobbies like I do with sewing.



WHOOT!!! You should plan another trip to WDW so you can do lunch with Donald - it's as good of an excuse as any.

D~

Okay - you DEFINITELY need to cancel CM and go to DTD!!! HOW HOW HOW have you never been to DTD? Until we switched to CBR for the pirate rooms we were totally staying at SSR just for its proximity to DTD!!! LOVE DTD!!! You DEFINITELY need to follow your plan for DTD!!!!

And Yay! For LUNCH with Donald too!!!

And oh! do I hear you on the cake decorating and scrapbooking . . . I cannot let the same thing happen with sewing!!!

Oooh - I almost forgot...

One of the guys I work with knows that I love all things Disney... so he brought in the October 1971 issue of Life Magazine... where they did a spread on the opening of WDW. He let me bring home the copy so that I could scan it... I know it's not the best picture ever, because it's 4 different scans photoshopped together - but it's so much fun to look at.

Cool, huh?

D~

Very cool

 

[VBAndrea]

Wouldn't you know it - all along, it was my favorite guy giving me trouble.

Now, on to outfit #44...

D~

Sew Cute!

I did very little sewing today, but I washed a lot of fabric!

 

[mommy2mrb]

Well, I figured I couldn't lose - after all - it's Donald.

We have an extra ADR at CM that I think I am going to cancel - but I am going to wait and see. If I keep the CM, it's the last breakfast time slot on our day off. However, if we do that, we'll have to get up by 8:30, out the hotel room door by 9:30 (which I think is excessive - but they say to plan 2 hours from resort to resort)... Eat at 11:20 until 12:30 - go back to the resort and swim, then leave POFQ at 3pm to go back to the Poly for dinner.

I think that is just too much running around for our day off. And we all really wanted to hit DTD, because we've never been. That CM ADR would just throw a wrench in our whole schedule, because I really wanted to hit DTD right away in the am, maybe Wolfgang Puck Express for lunch, then back to the resort to swim. That just sounds so much nicer - and we can enjoy the boat ride to and from DTD.



Well, Victoria's machine doesn't like to applique as it is - so I am really pushing my luck. LOL It's been appliqueing non-stop for a few weeks now.

I think I am going to have to make a second Donald outfit - since I now have 2 ADRs at TH. LOL One breakfast and one lunch.



Wait, wait... don't go back to lurkdom!!! Come back out and play!

Welcome, and thank you. Well, I really don't like making children's clothes... OK - maybe that's a lie. I like making children's clothes, but I have no children that want to wear the clothes that I make. Although youngest dd told me the other day that she wants a Goofy outfit for our trip. That should be loads of fun to make!

So, what kinds of crafts do you do? I am pretty sure that lots of them are worthwhile.

For instance... I used to do cake decorating - then I got sick of the mess. I used to scrapbook - then I got sick of the mess. I used to do some flower arangements - then I got sick of the mess. Wait - there's a theme here... Now I sew, and I try to clean as I go - so I don't get sick of the mess.

Anyways - you just have to find something you love... I didn't love all my previous hobbies like I do with sewing.



WHOOT!!! You should plan another trip to WDW so you can do lunch with Donald - it's as good of an excuse as any.

D~

you should cancel CM, you would be spending over half your day with hopping around!
I think you do need a second donald outfit too, what would he say if you showed up wearing the same outfit

well I do have another WDW trip in the works.....Thanksgiving 2013!! a bunch of the DIS scrapbookers are planning a big trip together can't swing it until then, have other trips in the works too to other places before then!

Oooh - I almost forgot...

One of the guys I work with knows that I love all things Disney... so he brought in the October 1971 issue of Life Magazine... where they did a spread on the opening of WDW. He let me bring home the copy so that I could scan it... I know it's not the best picture ever, because it's 4 different scans photoshopped together - but it's so much fun to look at.

Cool, huh?

D~

that is so cool, great to see it how it was!

 

[lovesdumbo]

Wouldn't you know it - all along, it was my favorite guy giving me trouble.

Now, on to outfit #44...

D~

LOVE Donald!

We have an extra ADR at CM that I think I am going to cancel - but I am going to wait and see. If I keep the CM, it's the last breakfast time slot on our day off. However, if we do that, we'll have to get up by 8:30, out the hotel room door by 9:30 (which I think is excessive - but they say to plan 2 hours from resort to resort)... Eat at 11:20 until 12:30 - go back to the resort and swim, then leave POFQ at 3pm to go back to the Poly for dinner.

I think that is just too much running around for our day off. And we all really wanted to hit DTD, because we've never been. That CM ADR would just throw a wrench in our whole schedule, because I really wanted to hit DTD right away in the am, maybe Wolfgang Puck Express for lunch, then back to the resort to swim. That just sounds so much nicer - and we can enjoy the boat ride to and from DTD.

Although youngest dd told me the other day that she wants a Goofy outfit for our trip. That should be loads of fun to make!

I would skip CM. It is OK but not great-you'll enjoy TH breakfast so much more. I also really enjoy Wolfgang Puck Express which would be a great use of your QS dining credits!

Can't wait to see what you come up for your DD.

 

[DMGeurts]

LOVE Donald!!!!

Thank you.

Okay - you DEFINITELY need to cancel CM and go to DTD!!! HOW HOW HOW have you never been to DTD? Until we switched to CBR for the pirate rooms we were totally staying at SSR just for its proximity to DTD!!! LOVE DTD!!! You DEFINITELY need to follow your plan for DTD!!!!

THank you for helping me think it through. I just couldn't help but think about how relaxing or relaxing day wouldn't be, if I kept the adr at CM.

And oh! do I hear you on the cake decorating and scrapbooking . . . I cannot let the same thing happen with sewing!!!

I am so glad someone can relate to me... I thought I was insane because I just couldn't choose a hobby.

Sew Cute!

I did very little sewing today, but I washed a lot of fabric!

Thank you. Hey - washing fabric is important too... can't sew if your fabric isn't clean.

you should cancel CM, you would be spending over half your day with hopping around!

Thank you... this is what I needed to hear.

I think you do need a second donald outfit too, what would he say if you showed up wearing the same outfit

I might make another Donald t-shirt for the occasion. Wear it with my cutest denim shorts that I am determined to get into.

well I do have another WDW trip in the works.....Thanksgiving 2013!! a bunch of the DIS scrapbookers are planning a big trip together can't swing it until then, have other trips in the works too to other places before then!

Our big family trip is supposed to be in Oct of 2013 - but I have a feeling that DH won't want to go - so the girls and I will be doing that one solo too.

LOVE Donald!

THanks!

I would skip CM. It is OK but not great-you'll enjoy TH breakfast so much more. I also really enjoy Wolfgang Puck Express which would be a great use of your QS dining credits!

Can't wait to see what you come up for your DD.

Thanks for your opinion. Everyone says that WPE is an excellent choice for a CS meal.

OK, so I've always wanted to do CM - so I am really glad that you all are saying to skip it. It will be something to look forward to for the next trip - if we can even squeeze it in... we might just want to do all the same restaurants again. LOL

D~

 

[aboveH20]

Wouldn't you know it - all along, it was my favorite guy giving me trouble.

Now, on to outfit #44...

D~

Ooooooooooooooooooooooo . . .

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh . . .

(sung to the tune of the oooooos and ahhhhhhhhs you hear at the fireworks.)

 

[dianemom2]

Wouldn't you know it - all along, it was my favorite guy giving me trouble.

Now, on to outfit #44...

D~

So cute! I am really enjoying seeing all of your AG dresses!

We have an extra ADR at CM that I think I am going to cancel - but I am going to wait and see. If I keep the CM, it's the last breakfast time slot on our day off. However, if we do that, we'll have to get up by 8:30, out the hotel room door by 9:30 (which I think is excessive - but they say to plan 2 hours from resort to resort)... Eat at 11:20 until 12:30 - go back to the resort and swim, then leave POFQ at 3pm to go back to the Poly for dinner.

I think that is just too much running around for our day off. And we all really wanted to hit DTD, because we've never been. That CM ADR would just throw a wrench in our whole schedule, because I really wanted to hit DTD right away in the am, maybe Wolfgang Puck Express for lunch, then back to the resort to swim. That just sounds so much nicer - and we can enjoy the boat ride to and from DTD.


I think I am going to have to make a second Donald outfit - since I now have 2 ADRs at TH. LOL One breakfast and one lunch.

Welcome, and thank you. Well, I really don't like making children's clothes... OK - maybe that's a lie. I like making children's clothes, but I have no children that want to wear the clothes that I make. Although youngest dd told me the other day that she wants a Goofy outfit for our trip. That should be loads of fun to make!


D~

I think you should skip CM and do DTD. It is a better way to spend your day off. If it takes you 2 hours to get from resort to resort then by the time you get back from CM it will be time to leave for your reservations at Poly. We've never eaten at Wolfgang Pucks but it sounds great. My hubby loves that Earl of Sandwich place and the kids love the ice cream place. It is fun to walk around the different stores and see all the Disney stuff.

I can't wait to see your second Donald outfit and your Goofy outfit for your dd. Your girls are about the same ages as my two. Mine told me that they wouldn't wear anything I make anymore either. I am glad that I have a little 4 year old niece to dress up plus a couple of little nephews too. My SIL is usually grateful that I make so many cute things for her two little ones. From time to time she will give me a Walmart or Joanns gift card to help with some of the costs.

 

[clhemsath]

Donald looks GREAT! You are SEWING right along. I am planning two felizesesese (I can never remember how to make z's plural ) to start this weekend and I really need to figure out how to make that pattern doll size. And I hope your sewing machine gets repaired soon. Nothing is worse that being ready to sew and the machine not coorporating!

 

[DMGeurts]

Ooooooooooooooooooooooo . . .

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh . . .

(sung to the tune of the oooooos and ahhhhhhhhs you hear at the fireworks.)

LOL

So cute! I am really enjoying seeing all of your AG dresses!

Thank you.

I think you should skip CM and do DTD. It is a better way to spend your day off. If it takes you 2 hours to get from resort to resort then by the time you get back from CM it will be time to leave for your reservations at Poly. We've never eaten at Wolfgang Pucks but it sounds great. My hubby loves that Earl of Sandwich place and the kids love the ice cream place. It is fun to walk around the different stores and see all the Disney stuff.

Oooh - can we use our snack credits at DTD at Goofy Candy Co? Even if we can't we are still going - NUM!

I can't wait to see your second Donald outfit and your Goofy outfit for your dd. Your girls are about the same ages as my two. Mine told me that they wouldn't wear anything I make anymore either. I am glad that I have a little 4 year old niece to dress up plus a couple of little nephews too. My SIL is usually grateful that I make so many cute things for her two little ones. From time to time she will give me a Walmart or Joanns gift card to help with some of the costs.

It will be a while before I get to make anything for us for the trip - must finish this challenge first. But I do have quite a few fun ideas in my head for us.

That is really awesome that you have nieces and nephews to dress up, and even better that you get gift cards to help offset the cost. I bet they love what you make for them.

Donald looks GREAT! You are SEWING right along. I am planning two felizesesese (I can never remember how to make z's plural ) to start this weekend and I really need to figure out how to make that pattern doll size. And I hope your sewing machine gets repaired soon. Nothing is worse that being ready to sew and the machine not coorporating!

LOL about Felizes. I have the same issue. I can't wait to see the felizes that you make. My machine is all better - it just doesn't like to applique - although it is getting better.

D~

 

[DMGeurts]

I wasn't going to add this to my PTR, but since Judy was interested in hearing, I will add it. I will try to keep it short though, because it really has nothing to do with Disney.

It was the summer of 2004, the girls were 5 & 6. Josh came home from drill and said he was being deployed to Iraq. He had said this several times over the course of a few years, and something always happened that kept his unit home. I figured this would be the same - it wasn't.

Josh and I were married in 1997:

The following spring, Allison came:

And then the spring after that, Victoria came:

Those first years with the girls were just a blur. I know that with out pictures, I wouldn't remember a thing.

But through it all - Josh was my best friend and my rock. He took care of us, and loved his girls like no other.

So, when he started training for Iraq, I was devistated. I kept telling myself that Uncle Sam would change his mind, and didn't really need Josh over there. As his deployment date got closer, and the training got more intense - my grief overwhelmed me. I was so scared that he'd never come home. It was terrifying.

The girls helping Josh pack:

The girls and I found a stuffed dog, that looked like our dog (Rufus) - we named him "Rufus Jr." - we purchased him a collar, and attached a mini scrapbook to it. The mini scrapbook included a picture of each of us, with a hand written note from each of us. THe last page included a blade of grass from our yard, a leaf from a tree, and a lock of each of our hair.

The first page reads:
Hi! My name is Rufus jr. I am here to protect you and keep you company on your journey. When you are missing your family, know that they chose me to go in their place and to comfort you when they can't. Each one of them smothered me with hugs and kisses to pass along to you when you need them most. Please take good care of me, and know that your girls love you. Love, Rufus Jr." . Josh carried Rufus Jr. through out Iraq and he now resides on my nightstand.

Josh's last weekend in MN... We had to spend at the armory - doing paperwork. We spent as much time together as we could, it's so hard trying to enjoy every moment, and lock it away in your memory, knowing that could be the end.

The day he left for training in Kansas (he wouldn't be home again), we were staying at a hotel in Hudson, WI - with many other soldiers from his unit. All of their families seemed to be just fine, but not me. My grief was so intense, I could barely stand up. To this day, I only vaguely remember the specifics - I was in a world of my own. Honestly, I don't even know how I drove the girls 3 hours home.

When Josh left MN for the last time and headed for Kansas, he did not have a hard date for deployment, but we knew it would be soon.

Thanksgiving weekend 2004, I drove the 3 hours up to Josh's Dad and Step-mother's home in Fargo with the girls. On Thanksgiving day, Josh called and said the soldiers were going into quarentine, they would ship sometime in the next 24 hours. I felt like I was inside some sort of prision. I had to hold back most of my grief, because his family expected me to be strong for the girls - but inside, I was a total wreck. In a way, I was thankful for them that weekend, because his family kept me from tuning out the world and made me focus on something other than Josh.

Josh's brother, Victoria, Josh's dad, Josh's step-mom, Allison and I - Thanksgiving weekend 2004:

I spent the next days and weeks, praying every moment of every day. I prayed for everything... That God would bring Josh home to me alive, that Got would make each day shorter than the last, that God would give me the strength to make it through that day, that Josh would call... The list goes on - I've never prayed so hard in my life, before or since.

Josh had a horrible mission in Iraq. He's a computer guy - so you'd immediately think they'd put him in a tent somewhere on a base. No. They gave Josh a new MOS for this deployment - He became part of a Heavy Equiptment Tranport unit... which means, he drove millions of miles on every Iraqi road imaginable - some of them not even considered roads - every day. From base to base. I was lucky to hear from him once a week, and all the time inbetween calls - I imagined the worst.

The girls and I did everything together. We were constantly going here, going there - in a total and complete effort to make time go faster. I was never with out my phone, the days I missed a call from Josh were the worst.

Our 7th Anniversary came and went. The girls and I went to the restaurant that Josh proposed to me at.

Christmas came, and Christamas went. Josh sent the girls the softest blankets from Iraq, to wrap them up and keep them warm (they still have these blankets on their beds to this day). And we all came down with the worst stomach flu in history. It was officially the worst Christmas ever... we were all throwing up, I couldn't take care of the girls being sick because I was so sick, and Josh was in Iraq.

Allison lost her first tooth:

Easter came, and Easter went. THe girls and I, again, drove to Fargo to be with Josh's family.

Josh's deployment was about half over, and still no news about when he would get R&R.

Josh was always sending the girls and I gifts from Iraq...

The girls' birthdays came and went...
Allison turned 7 and Victoria turned 6:

My birthday came and went...

 

[mommy2mrb]

D~ yes you can used your snack credits at Goofy's candy...just look for the little square box that will indicate what qualifies for the credits on all snack, usually anything under $4.00 works!

 

[DMGeurts]

Finally, Josh called and said he would be home for R&R in July.

He called a few weeks later, telling me he was in Texas - on his way home. I cried, I cried all the time then. He would fly into Minneapolis the following morning, and then board a puddle jumper into the St. Cloud airport. I was so excited. I couldn't sleep, I couldn't eat, I couldn't breathe.

The next morning, I had brought the girls to the summer daycare program at school. I went home, and sat outside on my swing, talking to my bff on the phone... Josh would land in a few hours. She said "what are you waiting for, get in your van and get down to the Cities"... There was no way I could make his flight in time - I still had to shower - but I *could* make it, if I hurried. So, I showered, dressed, ran out the door, drove 2 and a half hours through traffic... the whole time, my bff was on the phone with me, monitoring his flight from work. His flight landed just as I got to the ticket counter - the line was so long and I was going to miss him. I didn't know what to do. I saw that there wasn't a line for first class, so I ran over there with my military ID, and they created at ticket for me... I got into the security line, and made it through security... I ran the whole way to Josh's gate - just as I got there, I was watching the soldiers coming off the plane. I was so worried I had missed him - he could be anywhere in that airport - after all, he had no idea I was coming. And then, there he was... I caught a glimpse of him, and stepped behind a nearby pillar - my heart was beating so fast, I waited for him to get close - and I stepped out so he could see me. It was just like the movies - he picked me up and hugged and kissed me at the same time. And my world was right again - if only for a few moments. We drove the 2 and a half hours home, talking the whole way - straight to get the girls.

It was the most amazing 2 weeks of our lives. We lived every single moment as if it was our last. In the back of my mind was always this little nugget of impending doom - because I knew Josh wouldn't be mine forever, and I knew I would have to send him back. For the first time in 9 months, I actually slept - because I knew Josh was safe beside me.

We spent all our days together, enjoying every possible moment.

We went to the lake:

We visited his Dad and Step-mom in Fargo:

We went to a Twins game:

Josh spent time with the girls:

We cuddled on the couch watching movies:

As the days started ticking off, I held on tighter and tighter - trying to commit every single moment to memory - the way he smelled, the way he laughed, the way he held me tight when I was sleeping.

And then it was over.

The morning we had to take Josh to the airport, the morning I had been dreading for 2 weeks was finally here. It was too short. Too painful.

We took a few pictures:

And then he was gone again. I was back to doing it all on my own - so lonely. Praying even harder than before. The girls and I started counting down again, this time until the end.

Summer was winding down...

School was starting...

Halloween came and went:

And the snow started falling again:

And then I got a phone call from Josh... He was on his last mission. I prayed hard, harder than I had prayed thus far... Please God - bring him home to me... And he did.

Thanksgiving day 2005, Josh landed in the United States. 364 days after he had left. I had so much to be thankful for that day - but the relief and stress that drained out of my body was immense.

He still had a week of reintigration to get through, before he could even come back to MN. And then we had 4 days of meetings and ceremonies to get through before he could come home. But he was safe, and I could breathe and sleep again.

All of my pictures from that day still need to be scanned... But here's one meesly blog, if you want to read about it:
http://legalectric.org/weblog/192/