Justin's Trip to Colorado

Justin recently went to Boulder, Colorado for work for two and a half weeks and left me here in Beaumont all by my lonesome :( But it was a good opportunity for him and of course he had a great time enjoying the beautiful mountainous scenery. He went hiking in Chautaugua Park and got to attend the A&M vs Colorado football game. He also got to experience the presence of snow everywhere! I am so jealous! Sorry I don't have any pictures. You know how guys are :)

While he was gone, I started reverting back to my former days of singleness by eating cereal for supper and wearing the same clothes two days in a row haha. Fortunately I got to have some fun as well. My friend Kendall was also alone when her husband went out of town for a few days so we got to have a sleepover! - just like the good ole days when we were roomies... but this time we had Samson (her dog) to protect us.
I drove to Round Rock for a weekend to see my parents and my friends Andrea and Candace. It had been over 2 years since I had seen Candace and her 4 year old son, Tre. To Tre I said "I haven't seen you since you were 2 years old!" and he responded with "Oh. I've missed you!" So cute and sweet!

Candace's Sons Tre (4 yrs) and Kendrick (9 mo)

It was also a good time for my coworker Wanette and I to make care packages for soldiers in time for Christmas! The Dollar General and Target had everything we needed: stockings, santa hat, candles, candy, lip gloss, etc. We sent boxes to a group of weather forecasters in Afgahanistan, a National Guard unit in Iraq and a group of female Marines in Afghanistan. I had previously sent a box to the female Marines about a month ago and recently got a long letter back from one of the girls. She wrote that she was also a newly wed married for about 6 months. I was thinking about how much I missed Justin but how fortunate I was that I could expect him home in just a couple of weeks. I couldn't imagine how this girl must be coping being away from her new husband for perhaps a year or more. I realized just how much of a sacrifice she was making for my freedom and I really wanted her to know how much I appreciate her. In her box I also added a copy of "The Star of Bethlehem" dvd - a documentary investigating what the Star actually was - the lining up of three planets at a precise moment in history for God's glory. It also proves other signs that happened in the sky at certain points in the Bible - it is so interesting and will leave you in awe of our God. "The heavens declare the Glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands." Ps 119

Wanette filling her box with love

Closing the box is the hardest part

Justin is home now in time for Thanksgiving and we cannot wait to start decorating for Christmas! And hopefully I will get on the ball soon enough this year to actually send out Christmas cards...