Welcome to the world little one...

39 weeks, and 4 days later, we finally met you!  Olivia Maeve, you are everything we wanted, dreamed of, hoped for, prayed for, and loved.

She graced us with her roar to the world on January 15th!

Merry Christmas!!

Merry Christmas from our family to yours.  Praying for all those who have to sacrifice these holidays with working. From service men and women, to doctors and nurses, to police and firemen.  Thank you for standing the watch.

My Heart is Full

I had an incredible week this week.  One of those weeks where you are able to catch up with old friends, new friends, and family.  It was just plain fun.

I was fortunate enough to see many friends this week. From high school buds to fellow ILLINI, to Navy peeps. My heart is full from the conversations, pictures of growing babies, new jobs,new houses, and living life.  

Take a look at this article.  It just made my heart happy.  I am always a sucker for spending time with people, especially when they stop by Chicago.  No matter how brief of a trip, I try to make it like home, and make the most of the trip for them.  So if we are friends, and you live far away, and you stop by Chicago for a visit, I promise I will do everything I can to make time for you!!  

When Close Friends Live Far Away

Happy Thanksgiving!

This photo says it all.  I am always fortunate that when I am either at work, or at home, I am with "family".  I am looking forward to sharing today as our first holiday together as husband and wife.  Forever grateful to those who stand the watch.

Memorial Day

This is one of America's most solemn holidays.  Not just a day off.  Just a day to unwind, but also a day to remember those that gave all. 

I have lost some Sailors and Marines.  Some to the war, some to training, some to suicide, some to cancer...the list goes on.  Whenever I start to feel sorry for myself, or just get down, I think of them.  Think of the sacrifices they made.  Remember them.

This Memorial Day is especially solemn, as we remember a dear friend who left this earth far too soon.  I hope that when I return to Chicago, I can run the Soldier Field 10 miler each year in his honor.

If you know of anyone who is interested in donating to his children's college fund, the link is here: http://www.youcaring.com/tuition-fundraiser/captain-reid-nannen-memorial-children-s-fund/146125

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Thankful

A lot has happened in the last two weeks, and the one word that keeps coming to mind is thankful.

I am thankful for my friends.  I met an amazing group of people at University of Illinois, and throughout my Naval career thus far.  These are people that I can pick up the phone at any time, and they are there for me.  They can watch basketball with me, drink with me, pray with me, cry with me-you name it.

I am thankful that I  met my friend Reid, and his wife Sarah in college.  I am also so happy that we have a great group of people that will help Sarah through this great loss.  We love you!

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Today

Today has been a helluva day.  Between my dog breaking her collar and almost running away, to her then proceeding to throw up six times this morning, to work being just plain awful...I am just "done" with today.

One of my friends posted this on my FB page this morning.  It brought a smile to my face. 

Makes me realize that no matter how bad your day can suck, there are always people to bring you up when you are down.  Some of those people are family, some are friends, some are strangers...and above all, God.

More Chicago Christmas!!

So I hope everyone enjoyed that last post.  I am so excited to get married in 2014!

The day after the proposal, I made breakfast and we hung out at home, until we met friends out for dinner.

We made phone calls to family and friends, but kept the proposal a secret from our friends whom we were visiting with that evening.

Having wine with my bff, and grabbing dinner and drinks at Piccolo Sogno made for a great evening celebrating with friends!

Celebrating with my girls!

Piccolo Sogno.  Celebrating!

What Inspires You..

I have had a pretty rough week at work.  I think I have rolled with the punches quite well.  At least that is what my Captain said.  His opinion is the one that matters.

I have had a lot of kinks in plans, but I have overcome many of the issues.  Nothing multiple 70+  hour work weeks can't fix.

Yesterday was especially terrible.  Everything that could go wrong, did go wrong.  Most of my support staff were not in the game.  This made me go into overdrive.  I was spent by 4pm.  Just dog tired.

Then one of my Chiefs asked me to re-enlist him yesterday.  I said of course.  I was honored to.  He has been such a blessing for me since I reported onboard, showing me the ropes.

I was his re-enlisting officer.  Normally I would administer the Oath Of Enlistment, but he had a different idea.  I asked him what his plan was...and I was smiling ear to ear after he told me.

We gathered at the 5 inch gun mount, which is the gun he is responsible for.  His wife and kids met us out there for the ceremony.  I was introduced to his beautiful family: wife, two daughters, and two sons.  Then he told me that his kids wanted to swear him in.  They each had a few lines of the Oath, and took turns re-enlisting their dad. It was a sight to behold.  They were dressed in patriotic attire, and were so happy to be there, supporting their dad.

This made all the negative energy, bad things, etc from the day just disappear.  It was nice to see what inspires my Chief to come to work, and excel on a daily basis.  It also made me realize what I have to be thankful for, and what inspires me.  My family, my guy, my friends, and my Sailors inspire me every day.  If it wasn't for all of those folks, I couldn't do what I do each and every day.  It also made me miss my guy that much more.  He has been in Europe for over a week.  It is tough not being able to see how his day was, but I guess it is just preparing me for the next year.

I just hope I am this optimistic in the next coming months.  I need more moments like yesterday.  Those are the great ones.

Memorial Day

Today is a day to give thanks to the men and women who have gone before us.

I remembered Memorial Day as a kid.  I was usually at a Knights of Columbus annual convention with my parents, whether it was Chicago or Saint Louis.  A weekend full of mass, INDY 500, swimming pools, and BBQ.

Today, as an adult, I remember my shipmates who have gone before me.

LCDR Chris Williams
ENS Jeremy Drag
CSCS Lee Allen
MM2 Hercules

I served proudly with these 4 men.  These 4, among many others, is why I do what I do every day.  Why I hold my Sailors to a high standard, why I work on weekends and holidays.

So today, if someone asks what Memorial Day really means, think of these 4, and other great men like LT Michael Murphy, 1st LT Travis Manion, and LT Brendan Looney.  Every time I ever complain at work, I think back of the sacrifices these officers made.  My grievances then seem so minute compared to the bigger picture.

God Bless my friends deployed today, so that I can be safe tonight.

Weekend Recap

I had an amazing weekend with one of my best friends from Chicago.  So glad she came to visit!  

Zoomas, O-Club, walks around Newport, shopping, Alex and Ani, lobster sightings, Black Pearl clam chowder, Wine tasting and tour, Rhumbline, Easter mass, White Horse brunch, Easter dinner.  

Bowen's Wharf.  Thames St. 

Newport Vineyards

Tasting after the tour

Meghan and Megan

Easter!

I was so happy to have had such a wonderful weekend after such a stressful week.  Nothing beats spending a holiday with friends, especially friends that have become like family!

Plenty To Be Thankful For-Thanksgiving Traditions

You can read about Thanksgiving traditions I have had in the past .here .   Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday.  It is truly about everyone, giving thanks, and spending time together.  I usually spend Thanksgiving with the Navy, but the past 3 years, I spent it with my family.  This year, I will spend it with my guy and his family.  I may visit my family, too..but I still have to figure that out!  I know next year I will be far far away...so it makes this Thanksgiving that much more special! 

As kids, I would help my mom make her world famous stuffing, while dad cleaned the house, made the pies, and entertained grandma, and my aunts and uncles.  My brothers would come in the back door of the house, dragging mud everywhere from their annual "mud football" game at the park a few blocks away.  My sister usually had to work the night before, so we would have to drag her out of bed eventually to eat with us.  Football, amazing food (especially the German food from my Aunt), and family time.  After dinner, my brothers and sisters friends usually came over for a bit, and we would play board games before they went bar hopping.    

Now I just have to get through class on Wednesday, and get myself in gear for a flight back home!

November

I love this month.  Things that remind me of fall are:

• Yankee candles in autumn leaves and pumpkin
• Long walks watching the leaves change
• Hoodie weather!
• Making apple and pumpkin pies
• Family
• Thanksgiving

This month I get to travel a bit, see some great friends and spend time with the family.  I get to meet my new niece for the first time, too!  I am excited about new adventures, and learning more in school. 

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What do you love about November?

Thanksgiving Memories

So many memories surrounding Thanksgiving!  When I was a kid, it was a day spent going to Church in the morning with my dad.  Then I would come home, and help my mom make her homemade stuffing before our guests came over.  We would always have my grandma, and one great aunt and one great uncle come over for the holidays.  These were some serious holidays.  Full of great smells, great people, amazing stories.  After dinner was gobbled down, dessert was had, the guests left. Then my parents, siblings and I would play board games.  Trivial Pursuit was the game of choice. 

As an adult, Thanksgiving changed a bit.  While I was in college, I spent Thanksgiving at home sporadically.  I had to work that day my Sophomore year.  I was in NROTC at the time, and we had to work the Illinois/Northwestern game.  My mom came to Champaign for the game, so I got her some awesome seats.  She sat in the first row in the end zone, right near the cheerleaders.  It made her day.  After the game, my Commanding Officer and his wife cooked all the midshipmen who worked the game, and their families, dinner. 

I think this holiday has meant much more to me since I have been in the Navy.  I remember each holiday vividly. 
2004-I spent the day onboard USS Iwo Jima.  My boss and I helped the cooks onboard, especially with the dishes.
2005-Same as above.
2006-Spent it onboard the ship, but we were coming back from our deployment to the Gulf.  It was such a normal day, but a great day spent with my shipmates.  I have a lot of funny stories from that day!
2007-Was home for 2 weeks in the middle of deployment (again), so I spent the day with Misty, Brian, Jerry, and Joe. 
2008-2010-Had the holiday in Chicago with my middle brother and his family
2011-Will be spending the day with my guy and his family. 

I don't remember any holiday as vividly as this one.  Maybe it is because of the meaning of Thanksgiving, or perhaps because of the amazing food?  Either way, I am thankful for so much in my life, and I can't wait for this Thanksgiving.  I haven't been in Chicago since the first week of August, and it will feel so good to be home!

Previous posts about Thanksgiving!