9...8...7...6 Down Memory Lane

Nine...
Our story only began when we said "I DO" Shortly after we married, Joel and I moved away to Germany for three years. It was so sweet and thoughtful of Joel to want to set up house before I arrived in country. It was a requirement before I joined him that we had housing either on or off post. We spent several weeks apart until finally something came available. Joel was so excited that he had found our place and was able to bring me over. It was a cute and quaint little place in the middle of a city called Weiden. We were within walking distance of the shopping "centrum" (city center), where there were sidewalk cafes, shopping, and the most divine restaurants...sounds romantic huh? Well, it was and it captured my heart and my most favorite memories of living in Germany!





Eight...
While we are down memory lane in Germany, I will share a specific moment in time where I believe Joel and I went from being young and selfish to looking into our future together. I remember this conversation like it was yesterday. Joel and I had been in Germany a little over a year when the thought of starting a family came into mind. We were sitting at one of our most favorite restaurants called Delanos; a very yummy Italian restaurant. We were sitting in the back over a candle lit dinner. We were talking about how much we enjoyed living overseas and how we enjoyed traveling to see the many beautiful places Europe had to offer. Then, out of no where, I said "sweetie, I want a baby." The conversation came to dead stop and his face I believe turned sheet white. "You want what," he said. "A baby, you know..." It took some convincing on my part, but he finally came around to the idea of having a little one added into the mix. While this is one of the many conversations that I remember vividly, it didn't quite happend then and there, and well...I was ok with that!



Seven...
Joel has been so sweet to show his affection through diamonds....lol!! HAHAHAHA or just falling into my spell of ppppplllleeeeeaaaasssseeee sweetie:) He has fallen hard many times into my spell, but the one that meant the most is when he bought me my first piece of jewelry. This piece of jewelry was the first ever that I would actually wear and not take off. We had been together for about two months and he wanted to get me something special for Christmas. Well at this time it was Thanksgiving and you know how all the good deals are...lol! All joking aside, Joel went off by himself and found me this precious little heart diamond necklace. It was small, but so very beautiful. He couldn't wait to buy it, so he showed my mom (the diamond expert) and with her stamp of approval, he bought it. We didn't even get out of the mall before he showed it to me and while I was shocked, I was full of bliss! To this day, I hardly take this necklace off. I constantly get commented on my necklace and everytime I smile and say "It was the first my sweetie ever bought for me!"

Six...
This is not the first deployment Joel and I have been through...it's our second! But this memory comes from our first deployment together. Joel got word that he would be leaving for Afghanistan right after we hit our two year mark in Germany. I was beside myself and began to eat through my emotions...literally. I had gain some weight...ok a lot in fact and sort of lost my stylish figure my hubby had grown to love. So after he left for Afghanistan I stopped the madness and went on my journey of losing the weight. I had lost so much by the time he came home for his two weeks of R&R that he hardly recognized me.

I decided I would meet him at the gate to surprise him and at the time I would have no clue that he'd walk right by me. He stopped after a few feet of passing and turned around with amazement...the look was classic. He at that moment gave me the look he had for many years before. A kid in a candy store almost he walked quickly up to me and told me how beautiful I looked...awww that was a moment and one I will cherish forever!!



Stay tuned for more of the coutdown!!