countdown

Feeling a little anxious tonight. I haven't heard from him, nor has he responded to any of my emails, which might be a good thing...he might be on his way back already! praying and praying for a safe return for him and his unit, that the homecoming will be sweet for us and all the families who have strongly survived this deployment, and that our time together will be a great blessing for the two weeks I am there.

"there is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear."

relying on the Lord's strength to get me through this week until I can see him again. Loving him and missing him with all my heart.

After 10 years...

Just heard the news from President Obama, that Osama Bin Laden is dead.

My heart is so proud of our military troops and CIA who have worked so hard for this moment.

Still praying that God will continue to guide, protect, and lead our country and that we will follow Him.

God bless America.

Quick

About to head to bed since I have to wake up early tomorrow for church practice, but wanted to write a few notes before I sleep:

- Went with my cousin Linda to get her bridesmaid's dress altered today. Then, went with her to La Jolla to meet up with Ryan and enjoyed the lovely SD weather as we ate at George's by the Cove...(beautiful beautiful beautiful restaurant with a great view of the ocean)

- Got a confirmation from the restaurant at the Hilton Bayfront hotel (the hotel that Caleb and I will be staying in for our wedding night), and he said that he has managed to get us the beautiful private dining room for the family breakfast the day after the wedding! How cool is that? The room has an $800 minimum to reserve it, but after talking with the manager, he said it would be okay for us to use it since no one has reserved it yet...for free! After talking to Caleb and Sharon, we all decided this would be the best place to have the family breakfast, as the price is reasonable, plus the setting couldn't be better...AND parking is complimentary as well!

-got a chance to talk to Caleb today. He's coming home soon....and yet it still feels like an eternity to me! He told me he got an award and that he'll be promoted to 1st Lieutenant when he comes back from the deployment. SO proud of him and all that he has done to get to where he is. Praying for a safe return for him and his unit and that there won't be too many delays along the way.

- i TRIED to pack today, but didn't get far. I just ended up putting all my books in a box, and then stopped there. =) I had to rummage through all the letters and receipts that I've kept and clean up my work station, that that in itself took almost 3 hours! Sorting out mail, re-reading everything to see what needs to be kept and what needs to be shredded sure takes a lot of work. AND I'm doing it for both me and Caleb, since his mail has been coming to my house during the deployment. There's still a lot of sorting to do, and I need to buy a nice file cabinet to put all our important documents in, medical records, tax records, car records, etc...

- The person who was supposed to do my make-up for the wedding cancelled...hmmph. So, I'm in search for a make-up artist now. I'm tempted to just do it myself, but I don't know....we'll see what happens.

- I have a walk through with my coordinator, the dj, and the on-site coordinator on Tuesday. We'll walk through the ceremony and reception site and I'll let them know where I want things set up. I'll be heading to my bridal shop straight after to try on my dress. SO excited to try it on after the alterations!

ok, those are all the important notes I wanted to write about.

good night!

XOXO,

Nancy

It starts...

The beginning of the end officially starts tomorrow. I'm eagerly starting a new chapter in my life. I'm happy, but sad. Excited and nervous. I'm a little bit of everything!

Tomorrow officially marks my last day of work. I turned my letter of resignation to my boss today. I asked if there'll be any 'formal' procedures we need to do, but he said there'll be an informal exit interview with just the two of us...and some tissues. I'm so blessed that I have had such a great boss to work with these past three years. Howard definitely sets the bar high as a boss who all not only respect, but also like as a person. I told him that it's easy to respect your boss, but it's not easy to 'like' your boss...and he has always been such a friendly, patient, inspiring boss, day in and day out. I'll miss working with him and the rest of my co-workers who I consider my work family. They will be throwing me a good-bye party tomorrow. Pizza, sandwiches, ice-cream, fruit and veggies, and I'm bringing my mom's famous 4-layered jello for dessert as well. Training has gone fairly well, and I'm finally learning the concept of "letting go" and moving on.

I got a chance to talk to Sharon today! I talked to her while I was supervising my replacement. HA! The great thing about this week has actually been not working! I've been so busy trying to train the new NMR tech and also talking to my co-workers about my life and where God is taking me. It's definitely bittersweet though! Hopefully I make it through tomorrow with dry eyes!

I cancelled my dress fitting last Tuesday and rescheduled for next Tuesday. I went to the hospital on Monday because I had severe...SEVERE...stomach pains on Monday. SO severe that I didn't even go in to work, even though it was my last week! The doctor's seem to not know what it could be (since stomach pains could be caused by so many factors), and asked if I wanted a cat scan. Since I'm not sure what my new insurance covers, I decided to skip the cat scan this time around. I experienced the same pain about 4 months ago, and also had to go to the hospital during that time. Looking at my calendar, it's pretty clear that the pain starts when my period starts. Because of this, my uncle suggested I see an OB-GYN to make sure my uterus is okay as the position of the uterus can cause pain during my cycle, and also to test if I have endometriosis. I'm still reading up on the causes and effects of endometriosis, but until I get tested, I won't know. I made an appointment with the OB-GYN, but the next available appointment that I can go to is June 3rd. Not the best date, as I'm scared I'll go through the pain again next month, but at least I'll still get checked out to see what the issue is. Praying that everything is and will be okay...

North Carolina has been getting terrible weather. 62 tornadoes hit the state last week? (or a couple weeks ago), and now the state is also in danger of a major hurricane. AY! YI! YI! I hope everything clears up by the time I visit in a couple weeks!!!

Hanging out with my cousin tonight...exercising and getting in shape for the big day!

I have one more week to teach my kids before the big recital on May 7th. SO proud of how far they have all come along. It is so rewarding to be a teacher when you sit back and see the progress that each of your student has made and how much they have practiced to get to where they are. I'm excited for the recital day...and hopefully I"ll be able to share a video of them playing!

Will update soon!

Two blog posts in a week...not too bad!!! =)

El fin!

Time flies when you're planning a wedding...

Wow. It's been so long since I've written a post.

So much has happened, I honestly can't even begin to recap everything. It's been a hectic 8 months, with wedding plans, Caleb's deployment, and now, planning my move to NC.

Caleb deployed in last October and it's been an emotional roller coaster. I've learned a lot about myself, my strengths, my weaknesses, and how, no matter what life throws at me, that God is always faithful and will never leave my side. I have definitely learned to lean on him, depend on Him, and he has never failed me, even though I've failed him with my questions, doubts, fears, and worries. He is awesome, and He has gotten me to this point of the deployment, and I am so thankful for his grace and mercy. Caleb will be returning in just several weeks and again, I'm feeling all these different emotions, but I am so excited to see him again and to FINALLY start our lives together as one. It's been 2 and a half years, and it's amazing to see how much our relationship has strengthened through all of the tests and trials we have been through. I am so excited to be his bride and walk down the aisle to marry him, to spend a whole week in Jamaica, and to start our lives in NC. I know that there's going to be a lot of changes, but I'm welcoming the good and bad with open arms, knowing that I have my prince charming by my side through it all.

Wedding planning can be summed up in one word: UGH.

I am DONE with wedding stuff. I am literally drained from picking a cake (3 tier or 4 tier...maybe a 5 tier?), dealing with DJ's, picking out flower arrangements, bargaining each different company for a good price...going back and forth on everything, and the most stressful STRESSFUL thing about the wedding plans has definitely been the wedding invitations. I took on the project of doing all the wedding invitations myself, seeing that we would save almost $800. It's been stressful. and I can't even begin to explain all the chaos that has erupted because of it. Am I glad that I saved us big bucks? YES. was it worth it.....not sure. HA! It definitely would have been easier to just buy them online, but I do have a sense of pride in the invitations I've made. But, I'll definitely pass on making wedding invitations ever again. I'm moving on...!

Work: This week is my last week of work. I'm currently training my replacement, and I have mixed emotions as well. It's a bittersweet feeling for me. I love the fact that I won't work, but I'm definitely sad that I won't be working with my company anymore, and that I won't be teaching my wonderful students anymore as well. I'll miss so much about San Diego when I leave, but then again, I'm excited to move forward in the next chapter of my life with Caleb. again...it's bittersweet, but sweet nonetheless.

We just had my bachelorette party in Las Vegas last weekend. I won't go too much in detail about this...=) But, I behaved very well overall. It was so much fun with all my girls, and I can't wait to go back...this time with Caleb!

Just wanted to post a short post today...hopefully this will get the ball rolling for me to continue writing in here.

It's Easter Sunday, and I just have to say I am so grateful that I have a Savior who DIED for my sins, past present and future, and that he loves me unconditionally and has reserved a place for me in paradise. He is wonderful. and He is RISEN.

I have my dress fitting on Tuesday. A little nervous, but very excited overall. I'll be bringing my mom with me this time. It's the first time that I'll try on the dress with all the alterations done...so we'll see how it fits.

I still need to work on my vows, make a seating chart (still waiting on RSVPs), make escort cards or a bulletin board for guests, wedding programs, OOT bags, find hair and makeup artists, and that's all I can think of as of now. My next big project is cleaning out my room and begin to pack for my move to NC. CRAZY! I'll start with all my DVD's and videos, then move on to shoes and clothes.

I'll be going to NC on May 14th, just in time for Caleb's homecoming. Praying that he will get there on time, and there won't be a long delay when he's travelling home. Praying for safety, a great reunion, and a great time getting to know each other again and being comfortable around each other.

Okay, that's all for now.

2 More Days

I'm leaving to NC in two more days! I'm super excited. Time seems to pass by so slowly right before I have to leave. I'll be Caleb's date for Mess Night, and I'm borrowing my cousin's long black dress that is so so so beautiful! I tried it on last night after she dropped it off, and it fit perfectly! I can't wait to wear it for Caleb! =)

Caleb and I prayed following the A.C.T.S. model and it just really helped me draw nearer to God with him, together. It was a blessing and I always love praying with him and putting God first in our relationship. I think it took us a total of about an hour to get through the whole prayer, which we had to break up in two parts since we had an inkling each letter was going to take a while!

I'm eagerly and anxiously awaiting the results of a Honeymoon contest I entered us in. I submitted a story of us and some pictures and we find out who the top 5 finalists are next week. The winner will win a trip to one of the many Sandals resorts...and it would definitely be a huge blessing if we won. Here's the entry I submitted of our story:

The Feeling's Mutual

"The feeling's mutual." Three little words that started the beginning of our forever. Dropping me off after our first date (almost two years ago!), Caleb shared his heartfelt feelings for me, in which I responded, "The feeling's mutual." Since then, TFM has always been our phrase, one that carries so much meaning, one that reminds us of the love that captured us from the start, and the love that carries us through each day, despite our 3,000 mile separation! Although our lives have constant changes, our love has been the only constant. Because my fiance is in the Marine Corps, we've been enduring (with great joy!) a coast-to-coast relationship for over a year, fueling our love with sweet text and Facebook messages, phone calls, and of course, Skype dates! Always looking forward to each other's visits, one of my trips to North Carolina this past February ended with a ring on my finger, a huge smile on my face, and a joyous "YES!" It's absolutely amazing how much our love continues to grow, even after 2 years of dating, and yes, we're proud to admit that we're head over heels, bent over backwards, spinning on top of our heads, falling on our knees, madly and crazy in love with each other! Caleb will soon deploy to Afghanistan, and we both are eagerly looking forward to when he returns so that we can finally proclaim our vows of love in front of our family and friends and continue in this endless love story that really does seem too good to be true! I call him my hero, and he calls me his better half. What we've learned most from the long distance relationship, is to appreciate the little things: holding hands in the car, eating dinner together, resting my head on his shoulder while we're watching a movie, and most importantly, just being together. We don't take our love for granted, but recognize it as our greatest blessing in life. I believe in us and I believe in him, and I know that he's worth the wait. The feeling will always be mutual. "

Anyway, I'm praying we''ll be one of the top 5 finalists! The chances are super slim as there were thousands of entries posted already. BUT, there's always hope! So, we'll see...we'll see.

K, that's about it...I'll try to update later on.

TFM.

One more week!!!

Dear Blogspot,

I am so utterly terrible in keeping my promise of writing each day. Please forgive me. Ok, let's move on. =)

SO, where do I begin! It's been a MONTH since I've written in here and I have so many things to update. Bullet points, you are my hero. Let's begin.

- To update the status of my previous blog....I have found THE most perfect engagement dress(es) for our engagement shoot! Our shoot will be on September 23, 2010 at 4:30pm. We will have it in Downtown San Diego, walking around the Gaslamp District, the Harbor, and another "AWESOME PLACE" that I can't share right now, since I want it to be a surprise! I'm so excited because I have found the cutest 50's style dress that will match perfectly with Caleb's Alphas. He's going to look so handsome and I just can't wait to see how the pictures will turn out. My other dress is different...it's sweet, romantic, and ethereal. Yes, ethereal. I love it! Now, we have to find Caleb's outfit to match mine...=)

- 2 weeks ago, I went to Folsom, CA, for a Hillis' family reunion celebrating Caleb's grandparents' 60th anniversary. I don't even know how to describe how awesome the weekend was. Despite the heat (it was unbearable for me), it was perfect. I had a blast getting to know his family better, meeting new faces, and participating in family traditions. The weekend consisted of SO many fun activities: Breakfast every morning at Aunt Joan's, fun in the sun at Folsom Lake, professional pictures with the entire family at a nearby park, great dinners, game night (Caleb: "how does rubbing arm hair translate to Harry Larry and Will Ferrel!"), the talent show, a day of relaxation, 1 hour slideshow and video dedicated to the G-parents, breakfast at Mimi's, church day and all of us singing a hymn at the very end, and finally, a Party with family and friends to celebrate the big 60 after church! So many memories, so much fun, so many tears (by me) when I had to leave, but SO worth it! I love Caleb's family so very much and can't wait to see all of them next year at the wedding!

- I'll be seeing Caleb next week, YES! NEXT WEEK, in North Carolina. I'll be his date for Mess Night (a Military traditional dinner). His Unit invited family to be able to join, so I'm definitely looking forward to being escorted in by my handsome Lieutenant. I can't believe I'm getting married! Yes, we'll also be signing our marriage license there as we have both decided it will be better to be married while he is deployed. I love him so much and I just can't wait to be his wife!

- We have our venues for our wedding! We'll have our ceremony at the North Chapel in Liberty Station, Point Loma, and the reception is only minutes away (WALKING DISTANCE) at the McMillin Event Center. We'll be meeting with our caterer when Caleb visits in September to do our food tasting, so we are looking forward to that! We pretty much have the major stuff conquered...just have to work on the details!

Ok, well, I'll leave it at that for now. Still lots on my mind, but I'll share later...;) hopefully, sooner than a month!

Adios.


TFM
SHMILY