Reception

What a beautiful DAY! This is the best picture I have seen so far- Joe right about to kiss my forehead. One of my favorite things that he does. I'll post the professional photo link as soon as we have it.

It was a whirlwind or perfection. Our wedding party was fantastic. Our parents were awesome. Our friends were great. We spent yesterday afternoon with our best man and maid of honor and my parents. We grilled and talked about the whole wedding reception in detail. Joe and I feel like we missed it! Then we spent the evening with our best friends. We are truly lucky.

I am letting my husband sleep right now while I post blogs, look at everyones pictures and remember...every little detail. Everyone says the entrance with the horses was magical...I felt like I was in a dream.

xoxo
Samantha

Creating the Navy Wife

Someone sent this to me today and I had to post.
I raise my glass to all Military wives- And an extra glass to the Navy/Sub wives out there - We're one of a kind!

Creating the Navy Wife

When the good Lord was creating Navy wives, he was into his sixth day of overtime.

An angel appeared and said, are you having a lot of trouble with this one? Whats wrong with the standard model?

The Lord replied, have you seen the specifications on, this order? She has to be completely independent, must be sponsored to get on the base and have the quality of both mother and father during cruises; be a perfect hostess to 4 or 40; run on black coffee; handle emergencies without a BUPERS manual; be able to handle the flu, birthdays and move around the world if need be on a moments notice; have a kiss that can heal anything from a child's torn valentine to her husbands weary day; have the patience of a saint when waiting for the ship to come in; and have six pairs of hands.

The angel shook her head slowly and said six pairs of hands! No way! And the Lord answering, don't worry, we'll create other navy wives to help. Besides, it's not the hands that are causing the problem; it's the heart. The heart must swell with pride in her husband, sustain the ache of separations, beat on soundly and strongly when it's too tired to do so, and be large enough to say, I understand when she really doesn't and say I love you regardless.

Lord, said the angel touching his sleeve gently, come to bed, you can finish this tomorrow.

I can't, said the Lord. I'm so close to creating some- thing unique. Already I have one that heals herself when she is sick, can feed three unexpected guests who were stuck in the area due to bad weather, and can wave goodbye to her husband from a pier or runway and fully understand that it is important to our country that he leaves.

The angel circled the model of the navy wife very slowly. It's too soft, she sighed.

But tough. Said the Lord excitedly. You cannot image what this woman can do or endure.

Can she think? Asked the angel.

Can she think! Why she can covert 1400 to 2:00 p.m.

Finally the angel bent over and gently ran her fingers across the model's cheek. There's a leak, she pronounced. I told you that you were trying to put too much into this model.

It's not a leak, said the Lord. It's a tear.

What for? Asked the angel. It's for joy sadness, pain, disappointment, loneliness, and pride! You're a genius, exclaimed the angel...the Lord looked somberly at the angel and replied I didn't put it there.

Sub bed (cont.) and YAY WEDDING

Joe is excited about the bed. He thinks that the front circles should be real fish tanks. And he wants to put lights on it. YAY fun project.

Today is a duty day for Joe- but he signs out on leave tomorrow. He goes back next Thursday.

Today is my last day of work too. I go back next Thursday.

WE are soooo excited.

AGAIN- a HUGE thank-you:

Liz, Becky, Robin and Karen. You are AMAZING girls. What would I do without you?
My Mom and Dad- You rock.
Eric- for making sure Joe's night was taken care of. And Taps.
Pete and Sue- Thank-you
Bonnie and Chris - for the "drink" offer -LOL
Herm, Bill... for helping with the trees and ice!
Kelly- for putting up with me these last few weeks. And Tap.
Jill for the caligraphy AGAIN.
SWC - advice and support.
Jeannie- advice, comfort and love.
The Laurie family
Katie at Hope and Stetson for emergency help.
Megan Butler- my favorite seamstress!
H - for taking care of the "after" music.
Shawn and BB Henderson - Offers for help and beautiful signs!


THANKS to anyone I missed... It's almost PARTY time.

Getting extra excited.
Samantha.

Shore duty project #1

We are supposed to be on shore duty- *sigh* We are deploying instead- but I have a look forward to book- and here is one of the things I'm looking forward to- Joe building this sub bed for our first child. I figure we can paint it purple and light blue if it's a girl and dark blue/lightblue if it's a boy. Maybe some fishtanks in the room. ETC.

But how stinking cute?

Oh, and Joe's home. How wonderful that is. It's crazy with this wedding reception coming. It's funny-since we're married-but we're like- we're GETTING married this weekend- YAY. We're so excited about our reception.

xoxo
Samantha

One of the Cool things about being a sub wife.

I'm at work
Anna is at Eastern Point hoping to see them.
Kelly is on the pier waiting for them to come in.

We're all text messaging. You can feel the high emotions and pure joy through the text messages. The butterflies are in full swing in my tummy and I'm not even able to be there.

It's just all very exciting.
Sometimes- these moments make the whole leaving/being gone thing WORTH it. Or at least a little better.

So close to being in Joeys arms. My favorite thing.
*sigh*
xoxox
Samantha

100.....

100 things you might not know about me.

1. I don't have any tattoos and never plan on getting any. I've never liked them on the opposite sex either. Although Joe talks about getting dolphins(sub world)or his wife and daughters names- And either would be OK with me.
2. I really love been married. I love signing my new last name. When my new SS card came in this week... I had a big grin on my face. I'm not so fond of my new initials SLL-but...hey, can't win them all!
3. I love a good bargain. It's hard for me to buy something that isn't on sale/that I don't have a coupon for.
4. I am a hopeless romantic.
5. I really know nothing about makeup...even though I grew up in the beauty industry. I can barely put on blush correctly. My husband thinks this is great.
6. I love laffy taffy. And truffles. I don't buy either.
7. I wish I lived more green. But I don't know a lot about it.
8. I LOVE getting dressed up and going out to nice places. I would rather do that once a month then go to Applebees/TGI Fridays every week.
9. My ALL TIME favorite movie is Man on Fire. I still cry and I've seen it over 10 times.
10. I am consistently re-evaluating my life - financially and emotionally.
11. When I was younger...I wanted to be a teacher. That's what I went to college for. Lucky for me they have you in the classroom 2nd year. Phew! I knew after my first day this wasn't the gig for me. Funny, I ended up in a classroom anyway.
12. I don't LOVE shopping like most women. I love a good walk with my husband. A good chat. A good book. Not a good stroll in the mall.
13. Purple is my FAVORITE color. I hate PINK. My baby shower invites will say. Purple only- if I am giving birth to a girl.
14. I always wanted to have three kids. Joe wants 1. We are compromising at 2. I'm hoping the second round is twins- so I get my way. :) We'll see what life has in store for us!
15. I am horrible at math. Failed Alger bra in HS. And then Geometry.
16. I am passionate to a fault.
17. I love cold cases. Anything on TV that is actual detective work/stories. I LOVE THEM. Could watch for hours.
18. I don't have any trust issues. It's nice.
19. I REALLY wish I could relax a little more. I worry about everything. Mostly things way in the future. I've recently started getting nose bleeds from this instead of just insomnia. *sigh*
20. I live my life with no regrets. Everything I've experienced has gotten me to where I am today. I am thankful for that.
21. I feel like if you can't pay for it with a check- you shouldn't buy it. I hate debt. Even car debt. I have it figured out to the penny what we pay on Joe's truck in interest every day ( 1.82 ) THAT bugs me.
22. I think I will love being pregnant. I think Joe may not love me being pregnant. And I know myself enough to admit that.
23. I don't really like the dark. I get scared. This is why we have a gun. So if there are any prospective robbers/rapists reading this. I will blow your head off.
24. I have a huge problem with people who talk down to me. It's the way they say it- not so much what they are saying. I refuse to speak/hang out with those people when those occurrences happen.
25. I love traveling and want to see so much more of the world.
26. I feel like there is never enough time.
27. I want to go to Disney with Joe before we have kids. And then I want to go when the kids are extra young. I know this is silly-they won't remember it...but a wise person once told me(When I said, what a waste!) I didn't go for them. I went so that my husband and I could see and capture the looks on their faces.
28. One of my favorite things in the world is to curl up next to Joe and read. While he is reading.
29. I didn't settle. And I could of. I'm so proud of myself.
30. Marriage is not a fairy tale...And there is no prince charming- but there are butterflies every day- and I never thought Prince Charming was that cute anyway.
31. I find religion to be cult-like. I don't judge people who take part in it- It's just not for me. I don't believe in any kind of god. See below.
32. I watched my dad die. See above.
33. I can be very very cold. I can close myself off to something and just be done. It's how I cope.
34. When I was younger.. I would lose myself in a relationship and forget that I could stand on my own. Now I am more independent then I ever dreamed of.
35. I want to learn how to snowboard. Joe and I plan to get this out of the way next winter.
36. I am very confortational. I tell it like it is. This limits my friend circle- Some people can't take it. I wish everyone would do that. It's so annoying to try to guess. I'm not a mind reader.
37. I am a HUGE list maker. Joe hates this.
38. I do not get jealous. Joe does.
39. I love coming home to Joe. He always is holding a cup of tea or glass of wine.
40. I sing in my car all the time. I never sing in the shower.
41. I don't nap very well. I wish I could.
42. I only stop thinking on the back of the Harley and on Vacation. It's a curse.
43. I am scared of Doctors and Dentists. When I have to go, I get rashes to this day the night before.
44. I would never pay for a magi zine subscription.
45. I really want a whirl pool tub in our master bathroom.
46. I have never not written a Thank-you card.
47. I wish I could cook better. My mom is a really good cook. We're Italian.
48. I hate wearing hats. I hate Joe in hats.
49. I play World of War Craft. I love it. Joe and I love to play together. When we are away from each other. We bring our headsets and play together.
50. Most oils make me breakout.
51. Beauty and the Beast is my favorite Disney movie.
52. The chore I hate doing the most is cleaning the sinks in the bathroom.
53. My middle name is Leigh.
54. I hate roses. I like Gerber daisies or star gazer lilies
55. I do NOT have a green thumb. I try though.
56. I hate peppermint ice cream of any kind.
57. I really want to see Europe before I hit 30.
58. I get home sick easy.
59. I am not a good test taker. My husband is an excellent test taker.
60. I am very hard on myself.
61. Getting flowers for no reason makes me smile.
62. It's the little things that mean the most to me.
63. I will have my own business before I am 30. We already have most of the details worked out.
64. Once I become set on something in my head, it is extremely difficult for me to let it go. My husband is worse then me.
65. I love scrap booking. I have A LOT of supplies for it.
66. I've come to realize that the term "friend" should be applied loosely.
67. I've learned who really matters in my life and that most of the others are just fillers during various periods of my life.
68. I tend to be bossy. This is because I think I have the best way. If I think someone else does- I will shut up.
69. My eyes are blue.
70. When I am trying to lose weight. I won't eat between 8pm at night and 10AM in the morning. I also cut down to one cup of coffee.
71. I never smoked.
72. I can be complicated at times.
73. I like that Joe worries about me sometimes. It makes me feel safe and taken care of.
74. I love Country music. I also love ROCK.
75. I don't like poetry.
76. Some day I will drive a candy red BMW convertible.
77. I am very judgemental. I try to work on this.
78. I loved being an only child. I never wished for siblings.
79. I really love coffee.
80. Coffee is my favorite kind of ice cream. It was my Dad's too.
81. I like to workout in groups. Working out alone is hard for me.
82. I would really like to finish my MBA some day.
83. I would like to learn another language with Joe before we start trying to have children. We have decided that we will start Spanish when he gets home from deployment.
84. I have high expectations of everything- and that often times ruins my experience.
85. I have perfect vision.
86. I sleep naked. Joe makes me because he does.
87. I get car sick in the backseat.
88. I love having a schedule.
89. I love hand holding. I am glad Joe is not scared of a little PDA.
90. I like pet nicknames. Joe calls me monkey, muffin, bub and goofy. I call him button and bubby.
91. I can't listen to music while I am trying to accomplish anything. It's too distracting for me.
92. I hate when people talk about " the secret " - I think it's a load of crap.
93. I love little kid things - like going to the circus, Disney on ice..etc.
94. I have a secret that no one knows but Joe and I.
95. I am one of those people who think - Screw me once, shame on you - Screw me twice- shame on me. I tend to hold grudges and not make up with people who have wronged me.
96. I have tiny stretch marks on my upper legs. I have no idea why. I've been the same size forever.
97. I wish my nail bed wasn't so flat and that they grew nicer.
98. I like grapes after they have been in the freezer.
99. I think it's cute when Joe mentions our future kids. He talks about it more then me and that makes me content.
100. At the end of my day- I want to be in Joe's arms always. That makes me smile.

Dreary Day!

Happy Fathers Day to all the dads out here. What a rainy dreary day today! I worked in Mystic- It was pretty slow due to the weather. I called my step dad this morning to wish him a Happy Fathers Day- He had planned to go on the Harley today but I'm not sure that will happen!

Wedding reception planning is coming along. My mom has been an amazing help-which has been great since I have been working so much and finishing up different things for deployment. It's amazing how time consuming a bunch of little projects can be.

I miss Joe.
In spirit of that...Here are some other reasons that I love living with Joe and being married to him:

- The pillows smell like him when he's gone.
- I spray his cologne all over all his white t-shirts and wear them to bed. It's kind of sexy when you think about it. ( or when he thinks about it )
- I got all these sexy little numbers at my shower to which I yelled ( in front of family ) ...wow everyone is helping me get laid. ( LOL, opps... Samantha...some tact please ) But, It's true!
- He writes in emails that he misses me- but will have to settle to our dream dates. This is when we both dream we are in the same place. It works in theory.
- He leaves me notes on the fridge. Things I forget like the answering machine code. Those kinds of things. He makes sure I am OK...in his own ways. It's comforting.
- He found and hired someone to cut our lawn. I think of him every time I pull in and it's cut. He doesn't want me to have to worry all the time about every little thing (even though I usually do )
- He signs emails....stop working so hard. That makes me laugh. I love him.
- He now has changed nicknames and mostly uses: monkey, goofy, muffin or little bub. I find this nicknames wonderful. I guess when we have kids- they might go away. I'll just be Sammmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm. But- they are here for now.
- He wrote me an email to tell me ( in response to me telling him we got two of something )that we shouldn't take it back...we should put it in our hope chest for the kids on the way. I responded- there are no kids on the way and we don't have a hope chest. He thinks we should get going on both of those things. I think he might be crazy. Crazy but I love him.
- He likes/uses the crazy soap I put by the sink and in the bathrooms. It foams. It's from Bath and Body Works. He should get an award.

Oh. I miss him.

And lastly:

:) My nicknames for Joey: bubby, button and pickle. He lets me call them these names - even in public ( although not to loud! ) and he doesn't flinch or seem to mind. He's a good husband.

xoxo- Samantha

Everday

Everyday is a get ready for deployment day. I finished up a lot of projects these last few weeks while Joe has been gone. I still have a few more. I finally made a calendar of when things have to be done by so that I can be totally organized and get them all finished up. Some of the stuff I picked to do was time consuming- but still very fun. I know he'll enjoy them during deployment.

I live in reality- which helps me. I'm not sad. I will be strong.....

And then I read Anna Hawfield's deployment poem
Oh, the tears.

Nice work Anna.

By night I fall asleep against your heart
Tucked to your side, the solace of embrace
My only refuge in these transient times
Our life together an embodiment
Of universal principles of change
Connecting and dividing, like a cell
We shift between reunions and goodbyes
The elemental cycle of our days

The gift of separation, a rare wealth
Of solitude within companionship—
A double-edged sword, this chance to breathe
Asphyxiates our interwoven plans
As we accept with courage and good faith
A future penned by far removed commands
Adrift in tossing seas, a cell divides
Surrendering to birth our separate lives

Tonight I sleep in shelter of your arms
Tomorrow looms with bleak and lonely nights
When distance will invite our disconnect
And I must find my way by other stars
An organism cradled by the tides
A phosphorescent glimmer in the sea
That gathers and divides us, with its palms
Upturned to lift us or to cast us loose

Awake I lie across your beating heart
In darkness memorize your sleeping breath
Our life together built of absences
Yet forged in hope of future permanence
With hope I dream of years against your skin
With prayer I send you out beneath the waves
My anchor not our constance but our change
My love the beacon that will guide you home

Bridal Shower

My mom and best friends did a WONDERFUL job with my bridal shower yesterday. It came out so nice. Everything was perfect and the food was WONDERFUL. Anyway, here is a picture of my favorite people.

Thank-you to everyone who made that day so special. It meant the world to me. I have already heard back from Joe and he says Thank-you too. And a special thank-you (from him) for the pink boxes ;)

With the Wedding Celebration getting closer ( LESS THEN THREE WEEKS )- there is so much to do! One day at a time though and it will all get done. Phew!

Can't wait for Joe to get home. I piled the shower gifts against our big window so that he can pad through them himself when he gets back!

Love,
Samantha

Time flying.... sort of

Ah... it's so crazy. All the things to do. Working a 2nd job isn't making it any easier. I did get a chance to talk to Joe on the phone and see him on our web cams this past weekend. He had pulled into port for a few days. It was great to hear his voice and run a bunch of things by him.

I'm so excited that the shower is on Sunday. My girls are really doing an amazing job with everything under such short notice. My parents have also been very supportive and wonderful. I can't explain to everyone how much this has all meant to me. Thank-you Mom, Alicia, Becky, Karen, Robin and Liz!

I'm very busy figuring out table arrangements and getting my bridesmaids gifts finished. All things Joe is secretly happy not to be dealing with ( I'm sure ). Although he might trade that for being underway right before a deployment.

We started getting very generous shower gifts(from people who couldn't attend) and wedding gifts(from people who can't attend) in the mail this week. It's very exciting but a little sad. I wish Joe was home to open then with. I can't wait for him either because I have to get Thank-You cards out since my mother is throwing a 2nd shower right before the wedding, I don't want to save them to do all at once. Phew! Anyway, all the gifts have been wonderful. The Lauries got me designer Miss Me jeans that I had been wanting from the store for my shower. I thought that was so sweet. I really am so lucky to have such wonderful/thoughtful people around!

Can't wait for my husband( I still believe I will never tire of the title)
to come home!

xoxoxo
Samantha