I Can't Stop Holding This Treasure In My Arms

       

        So Valentine's day is nearly upon us, and it recently dawned on me that I will never have another valentine in my life, ever. It's an incredible feeling to know you've found the one, and an added perk that I never have to experience heartbreak again. My husband is the perfect match for me, which just blows my mind when think about how lucky I am to be with him.
        As a hopeless romantic, I really enjoy the act of falling in love, the first looks, words, kiss. I can fall in love with a book, or a character, or I can write some of my own. I still get butterfies when my husband looks at me in just that way, or when I remember the first time he told me he loved me. His kisses still knock me off my feet. The only difference between now and then, is I pack his lunch and fold his laundry.
        When I hear a song about a love torn apart, I can't empathize, but I can sympathize, and the beauty of it still touches me. I'm in love every day of my life, and the best part is, the object of my affections loves me just as much! My life has been so very blessed. I love you Justin.

When I saw you I fell in love, and you smiled because you knew. -The Bard

for justin.

perfect in my eyes, i see your imperfections

your smile, your laugh, your kiss, your touch

all dub me infectious

to be swayed by you, staid by you

in your arms where love is true

across the seven seas i'd follow,

through desert, moor, sea and snow

just to keep you in my sights

i beg you, darling, never go

beyond my reach, for i wouldn't know

up from down or left from right

you keep me anchored in the storming night

the life you lead takes you away

at times a year, a month, a day

never are you truly gone

in my heart your presence lives on

our adventure has hardly started

so happy our course has been charted

your the only blessing i would ever ask for

i will always love you, adore, adore

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        Whoever said being a military wife is easy, well, they were lying through their teeth. I feel disheartened at the knowledge that my life can change any minute, if a flight chief or a base commander decides to put my husband on a list. Today, we live in the desert, tomorrow, we could be in Germany. It's a very volatile life, but it is not unstable. I appreciate the copious blessings I gain from it.

      For instance, this life is a good one to live in the moment for, never taking things for granted. Perspective is a huge factor that must be accounted for when raking over the qualms of this life. It's hard for me to be away from my family and friends for so long, as I am more inclined to let people into my heart than most; it's difficult to be away from those you love so much. On the other hand, what I've given up is altogether equal to what I've gained-a life with the man I love.

       My goal here is not to complain, but to purge my mind of this tedious musing, so that reflection becomes clearer. I conside my blog my own form of a pensive, to those of you who will understand what I mean by that.

Expanding My Horizons, One Book At A Time (2011)

The Demon Girl by Penelope Fletcher. 205 pages.
Switched (Trylle Trilogy #1) by Amanda Hocking. 322 pages.
Torn (Trylle Trilogy #2) by Amanda Hocking. 332 pages.

Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins. 390 pages.

Dreamhouse Kings: House of Dark Shadows by Robert Liparulo. 304 pages.

The Luxe by Anna Godbersen. 433 pages.
Rumors by Anna Godbersen. 423 pages.
Envy by Anna Godbersen. 405 pages.
Splendor by Anna Godbersen. 391 pages.
North of Beautiful by Justina Chen Headley. 373 pages.
Dead Until Dark by Charlaine Harris. 292 pages.
Living Dead In Dallas by Charlaine Harris. 291 pages.
Club Dead by Charlaine Harris. 292 pages.
Dead To The World by Charlaine Harris. 291 pages.
Dead As A Doornail by Charlaine Harris. 295 pages.
Definitely Dead by Charlaine Harris. 324 pages.
All Together Dead by Charlaine Harris. 323 pages.
From Dead To Worse by Charlaine Harris. 303 pages.
Dead And Gone by Charlaine Harris. 312 pages.
Dead In The Family by Charlaine Harris. 311 pages.
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by JK Rowling. 384 pages.
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by JK Rowling. 433 pages.
The Keepers' Tattoo by Gill Arbuthnott. 425 pages.
The Summoning by Kelley Armstrong. 390 pages.
The Lying Game by Sara Shepard. 307 pages.
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak. 550 pages.
Impossible by Nancy Werlin. 365 pages.
Extraordinary by Nancy Werlin. 400 pages.
A Great And Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray. 416 pages.
Rebel Angels by Libba Bray. 548 pages.
The Sweet Far Thing by Libba Bray. 819 pages.
The Other Boleyn Girl by Phillipa Gregory. 752 pages.
Infinity by Sherrilyn Kenyon. 464 pages.
Invincible by Sherrilyn Kenyon. 420 pages.
Water For Elephants by Sara Gruen. 335 pages.
Beastly by Alex Flinn. 300 pages.
Getting The Girl by Susan Juby. 341 pages.
Shine by Lauren Myracle. 350 pages.
What Happened To Goodbye by Sarah Dessen. 402 pages.
Cloaked by Alex Flinn. 337 pages.
The Lost Hero by Rick Riordan. 553 pages.
The Perks Of Being A Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky. 213
Juliet by Anna Fortier. 444 pages.
Prom by Laurie Halse Anderson. 215 pages.
City Of Bones by Cassandra Clare. 485 pages.
City Of Ashes by Cassandra Clare. 453 pages.
City Of Glass by Cassandra Clare. 541 pages.
City Of Fallen Angels by Cassandra Clare. 424 pages.
Modelland by Tyra Banks. 563 pages.
The Son Of Neptune by Rick Riordan. 521 pages.

Every Day Something Reminds Me

     So let me break it down for you; I could be considered a bumpkin. I come from a small town, though it is and was bigger than I gave it credit for growing up, in Northern California. Now, I don't mean San Fransisco "Northern" California, though the town is a real treat. I'm talking further north than the state capitol and within spitting range of Oregon's southern border.

     It's a gorgeous town with magnificent green trees and the beautiful Sacramento river running through it. A large majority of those who have been raised there are a little hateful towards it. I admit I had been too. However, between the time I left my hometown, got married to my wonderful husband, and relocated to the unholy, blistering desert, I gained a great respect and love for this place. Not only is it where my family and friends flock to reconnect, but it really is where I feel happiest. It's the kind of town you raise your children in...a perfect balance of the seasons find themselves here.

     Every day I get a little sad knowing it will be months before I'm embraced by the country feel and my mom, who always smells good. I think I will always consider it base camp, and I would fight tooth and nail to raise my children in its valley and enroll them in my Alma Mater.
     It blows my mind how many wonderful, beautiful people who have stemmed from this one place, who I've allowed to scatter around the state and beyond with bits of my heart; it feels so good, though, to reunite those pieces!! God has definitly touched my hometown, and all members of my family, related or not.