And they're OFF.....

Joe and I enjoyed quite a bit of skype time in Gib. He had already been there in 2004 and had no interest in going out and seeing much. This worked out well for me who had a lot of interest in talking to him.

Christmas was difficult. I know it's just a day-but it was difficult to not be able to share it with him. His stocking is still hung up in our living room waiting for him to plow through it when he gets home.

I'm ready for him to be home. I wasn't always ready for him to get back here either. I had my own agendas and things I had planned to complete during deployment. But I'm ready now. My heart aches for him all day. Just to touch him. To cuddle. To feel loved. It's not easy to keep the home fires burning. To plan our BBT trip* to Rome this Spring. To giggle. To laugh. To hear him yell..where is my liddle monkey? Or...when I try to wake him up...to hear him say- liddle monkeys should be sleeping. Just to laugh again. To truly be happy.

Whew!
Lots of love to all the wives who tend to the fires- It's exhausting.

Almost done! Almost done!
Whew!
Samantha:)
BBT trip = Before Baby Trip

The little monkey~

I opened Joe's Christmas gift to me that he left with my parents this evening!
It said - To my little monkey ( that's me )

What do you think?

Gibraltar

Here's my baby in Gibraltar. The top picture is my holiday kisses!

He's eating with a military family there on Christmas. I hate that we are apart but SO glad he's with family!

Happy Christmas EVE!

xoxo
LaCouture family

Best ornament of '08

Some friends of mine over at the submarinewivesclub.org (who clearly had the same thoughts on the election as Joe and I) found this ornament to proudly hang on their Christmas Tree. I find it quite amusing and wanted to share.


Got to skype with hubby today. I'll post pictures tomorrow!

xoxo
Samantha

Toooooo much snow!

One of the last pieces of advice I got from Joe before he left- Don't worry about the snow baby- It almost never snows in December.

Thanks Joe. Great advice.

I did find the shovel in the garage behind like twenty million things. I do have amazing neighbors-who plowed out the driveway. I only had to worry about the walkway and the roof(the last flat roof we are trying to save until the Spring). Shoveling a roof- not so fun. A bit scary too!

Last night I opened another card from Joe. I have two left now. I should have more-but sometimes I can't help myself and open more then I should in one week. Anyway-it was super cute and labeled "funny" rather then "mushy" so I will share:

Everytime my mind wanders....it keeps bumping into YOU! Everytime I see something that reminds me of you..I think about bring home and how much I miss you and how much I want to be with you. It's the little things that make me home sick like wanting to cook a meal or go for a ride... oh and the bumping thing...while we're bumping we should do some (ok, I have to censor the end...but you get the drift)-haha!

Quick shout out to Stephanie and Becky for helping me cut out submarines for hours last evening. Yep! True meaning of friendship is now extended to ... people who help you move AND cut out submarines with you.

xoxo
Samantha

December Cal. Square!

This is Joe's last calendar square of the trip! It was one of my favorite ones!

Not a whole lot going on. Joe was in Turkey the last few days. It was great to hear his voice. He's getting to visit some great places on this trip. I'm really missing normal things- like time together in the morning and stuff like that.

Gosh, winter is depressing!

Mid-December!

Well.. We're chugging along-YAY!

December is okay... I guess!

It's been very rainy! I could do without the rain-but I guess it's better then snow! or ice...or hail...I'm trying to look on the bright side!

The Family Support Group Holiday party was last night. It was nicely done. We had some great baskets for raffle and a fun candle exchange! It was great to see everyone and do a little celebrating. It's always great to feel the support and energy of the other wives/significant others going through the exact same thing as you! I still think that they only TRULY understand your feelings/emotions. Steph came after for a snack and some Grey's Anatomy. Good times!

I still give the holidays without the hubby two thumbs down but... I can do this... I can do this... we can DO this!

xoxox
Samantha

The Joy Of Being

The Joy Of Being
Celebrating The In-Between Times

I have no idea why it won't post normally. When I copy it- It has all these spaces. Sorry! But it is a must read!

While celebrations are intended to honor life’s more momentous occasions, much
of real life tends to happen during the in-between times. While moving from one
moment in time to the next is seldom considered a significant occurrence, it is
during those in-between times that we are most in tune with life’s most
profound, albeit simple joys. Between birth and death, triumph and sorrow,
beginnings and endings, we enjoy innumerable experiences that often happen
unnoticed. These times are just as worthy of celebration.

The in-between times are seldom about landmark moments. How you choose to
celebrate them or which moments you choose to celebrate is up to you. You may
want to celebrate the simple facts that you are alive and that every day is a
chance to spend time with the people you care about or do the work that you
love. Then again, when you look at the good that exists in your life, many
reasons for celebrating the in-between times may become clear: a cup of your
favorite tea, a beautiful sunrise, a good book, and the smell of fresh air can
be reasons for celebration.

Celebrating the in-between times can be as easy as paying special attention to
them when they do happen, rather than taking them for granted. It’s your focus
of attention that can turn an in-between time into a celebration. You can also
pay homage to the in-between times by slowing down and allowing yourself time to
look around and allow your heart and mind to take in all of your life’s wonders.
Far too often, we can let those simple moments of awe pass us by. The in-between
times are when life happens to us between the pauses that we take to honor our
milestones occasions. Without the in-between times, there would be no big
moments to celebrate.

MIC inspiration

Just got back from an amazing weekend with some of the worlds most inspirational people. Even though we all see each other two times a year..It's still such a pleasure to be in everyones company.

Making-It-Count(My job) has training on the fall and spring programs that we present in High Schools. You have to go to the training to certify on the programs every year. I certified on both(yay!) and am pumped to start my semester off. The trainings(although long and at times stressful) are such a big motivater for upcoming speaking engagements but mostly just for life in general.

It's truly great to be surrounded by such amazing people all weekend.

Toasting to all the MIC speakers who are making a difference in High Schools across the country on a daily basis.

Feeling involved and inspired,

xoxo-Samantha

December is here!

December is here.....

Which normally means all sorts of great things like Christmas lights, warm fires, decorating our Christmas tree, the Quaker Hill tree lightings, stockings, A Christmas Carol in Providence... I could go on- but really, why depress myself further.

This year it just means Christmas cards(which I have already sent) for me. I can't even enjoy the lights people are putting up- I'm too sad that Joe's not here to enjoy them too.

December does mean MIC training for this upcoming speaker semester is THIS weekend. I'm psyched! I hate training/certification -because I get so nervous/stressed out- but I am hoping that the cheerful, uplifting best motivational speakers in the country ( who will all be there ) can lift my spirits this weekend or at least get my mind off of my own misery. Hoping to reconnect with some old friends that I missed at the last training/certification weekend (which only had 9 veteran speakers at-lucky for me my buddy Cortez was there!) because I was at the 2nd training due to a wedding that I was in.

Happy December (sort of)
Samantha