On Veteran's Day

Yesterday, on our drive home from the Bay area, someone thanked Colton for his service as a Veteran. This struck me as especially unusual given that, until recently, my mental image of Veterans included little more than the handsome grey men who tell the most excellent stories and join each other for dances at the VFW hall. The fact that Colton, my young, able bodied, extra handsome husband, is a veteran is still a little surreal. Right now Cole is curled up at the other end of the couch while Conway sleeps on the floor beside us. We just brewed a fresh pot of coffee and we're settling in for evening. Our life is simple and I wouldn't have it any other way (though I'll admit we've been enjoying an adventurous whirlwind of travel this Fall). It was a long year but I'm so, so incredibly grateful and blessed and thankful to say that all is right in the world again.

Here are a few little snapshots of Colton's return from Afghanistan. Many thanks to our new friends, Mathieu Photo, for capturing this sweet moment for us.

We're the fortunate ones. My heart is heavy and goes out to the men and women who have given everything and to the families who ache for their return. I wish there was a way to take all your pain away but all I can say is Thank You. Thankyouthankyouthankyouthankyouthankyou.

Life Together

I’m ready - so, so ready - for this to be our life again. For days full of nothingness. For evenings getting sand between our toes. For no longer falling asleep alone. For hearing his voice across the room instead of across the muffled phone connection. For having someone to grab a drink with on a Tuesday night. Also a Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday night. For being in love with the man beside me instead of the man on the other side of the world. I’m so ready.

Come home to me soon, handsome boy. It's time to live life together again.

The Canyon Estate

After a six month introduction to Real Estate, four unsuccessful offers on homes, and what seems like a million house tours, Colton and I are officially homeowners! It's all still a bit wild to me...

Also wild is the fact that Colton has never actually seen this house he now owns. Ever. While our home search began long before Colton deployed, it wasn't until one Saturday morning in March that I made an offer on one handsome little 1942 home on Canyon Drive.

With an extra large dose of character for turning 70 this year, we've appropriately named our first home The Canyon Estate. Canyon, because he sits right on Canyon Drive, and Estate because...well...I'm actually not entirely sure why we're calling it the estate. He's just a little guy.

And since I know you're dying to see photos, I'll leave you with these pictures of my favorite, and completely unexpected, part of the home - the original 1942 blueprints to the house.