So glad he's home!

YAY! HE'S HOME! :) This was the first night that came home from LeJeune - the doggers have their "Welcome Home Daddy!" shirts on that I had made for them! He loved it! :) I love this picture - he looks so happy and a peace ... finally back where he belongs!

The last three weeks have been great having Daniel back in the states! He has been back and forth between Camp LeJeune... so we have only had the weekends together. But by Wednesday he will be home for good! We are definitely looking forward to having every evening together - and not just the weekends.

We have had a couple of great weekends! Of course, we have been to Yokoso's many times ... he had to get his Japanese fix that he was missing for 6 months. We have been taking time to enjoy the little things in life - and really putting each other first - which has been great! Last weekend - he surprised me with a hammock when I got home from work on Friday! I have really been wanting us to get a hammock for the backyard. We really enjoyed that last weekend ... napping on the hammock in the beautiful Charleston weather! Overall, the last few couple of weekends have been awesome. I know that our time together is only going to get better once we are together all the time!

Here are some pictures that we've taken since he's been home!

This was at a birthday party for our friends' twin girls! First time we'd ice skated together in a while ... we didn't last too long :)
This was on Topsail Beach near Camp LeJeune - I spent a few days up there with him the first week he was home - and we walked the beach together one afternoon! :)

This was what the house looked like! The first one was from the CRAZY snow that we got the weekend that he came home! That was Saturday morning - with almost 6 inches on the ground! The second picture is what it looked like when we got home from LeJeune... the next day!! Not a single trace of snow ... but we were both surprised with balloons from a family friend! THANK YOU MS. SHERRI! :) He loved it - and I did, too! :)

I can't believe that we are already back together and life is picking right back up where we left off! It's amazing to look back and see how much God has done for us over the past year. THANK YOU FOR ALL OF YOUR PRAYERS AND SUPPORT! We would have never made it without the support and encouragement that you have all given us! We are so excited to be back together - and can't wait to see where life takes us next! We love you all!

FINALLY HOME!

He's finally here! This is one of my favorite pictures ... out of tons of pictures that we got (and video) :) When the buses pulled up - I didn't know which one he was on - and then the first Marine stepped off of the front bus - and I went CRAZY! It was MY HERO! I screamed and ran to him, threw my sign and jumped on him (as you can see!) :) It was the BEST moment of our lives!

I will post more pictures and hopefully the video later! I am SOOOOOOOOOOOO thankful that my hubby is back where he belongs and can not wait to see where this journey takes us next! Thank you so much for your support and most of all for your prayers - they brought Him home! Keep him in your prayers as he adjusts to being back - and we get used to him being in LeJeune again for a little while! Words can not express the happiness that we have felt since 10:30 Sunday morning - God is SO good!

HEADING TO MY HUBBY!

Well - today is FINALLY here! After 6 months of a deployment and 6 inches of snow (ok maybe 4 or 5 ... but literally there is snow in the LowCountry!) ... I am leaving today to head to LeJeune for Daniel's homecoming! My stomach is in knots and I feel so anxious inside. I have been looking forward to this for so long now - and I can't believe that it is REALLY going to happen!

This week has been a rollercoaster! After Daniel was delayed because of the weather in Baltimore ... we had a random snow storm come through the Charleston area. I never DREAMED of looking out my window and seeing snow everywhere ... it's so beautiful! It started snowing last night somewhere around 5-6ish ... and when I woke up around 6 it had finally quit snowing! There is about 4 1/2 inches here ... and the best part of it is that when I woke up, someone had come through the neighborhood and plowed the roads AND our driveways for us! What a blessing! I am hoping and praying that when I get on the road in the next few hours to head to NC ... that there aren't any crazy drivers or closed roads that will keep me from getting there! Just pray for safety for me as I head that way this morning - I don't care if it takes me all day to get there - just as long as I get there safely!

Daniel should be on a plane either heading toward Germany or already heading toward Baltimore. I haven't heard from him to know exactly where they are - but they are definitely in route for the US! I can't believe it - and can't imagine the excitement that he is feeling! It will feel so good to finally step foot on US soil again!

Please continue to pray for Daniel's safety while he travels as we are within HOURS of him finally being here! Pray for the Lord to give us all safe travels as we make our way to NC to welcome our Marines home! I can't wait to post pictures of the homecoming .. and the SNOW! :)

Plans have changed ...

Looks like the snow has gotten the best of us! :( Daniel was supposed to be leaving tonight to finish his trip home! The plane that they were flying home on was stuck in Baltimore because of all of the snow! So ... they pushed his flight back to late Friday night (our time) ... and he will be getting to Baltimore around 7pm or so Saturday night ... then taking a bus to LeJeune! Hopefully by early Sunday morning - I will be in his arms! I really hope that they do not push this date back again - I'm hoping that the weather will hold off and he can make it home by Sunday! What a great Valentine's Day! :)

Please continue to pray for safe travels -- even though I would have LOVED to have him home on Friday -- I am thankful that his trip will be much safer this way! Thanks again for all of your prayers ... he's almost made it HOME! Just a few more days -- I can make it! :)

Made it out of Afghanistan!

Just a quick update on Dano - heard from him this afternoon and he is officially out of Afghanistan! He will be in Kyrgyzstan through Thursday morning (Wednesday night our time) and will start the rest of his journey then! He is very thankful for all of the prayers for safe travels and looking forward to stepping onto US soil for the first time in Baltimore! Please continue to pray this week that they will have a safe trip home - I'll post again when I know more! YAY it's finally here!

Heading home!

Well - Daniel has started his journey home! :) He left about 30 minutes ago from Camp Leatherneck on a bus and will be leaving Afghanistan about 2:30 am (our time). As long as everything stays on schedule - he will be in Kyrgyzstan sometime tomorrow afternoon and then leave from there Wednesday night and fly home! He was in such good spirits today when I talked to him - and very excited to start his trip home to me!

It's hard to believe that he is on his way home - I know that he has to be so excited and anxious! Things around the house are all ready and I could not be more excited for my hero to get here!

He tested out yesterday for his black belt and GOT IT! :) He said that today the officers that he has worked with were making a huge deal about him getting his black belt - because it's SUCH an accomplishment! It's hard to believe that he has accomplished that since he started all of this training - I know that he is super proud of himself! He said that one of the Majors took him around and told everyone that he was the newest black belt and had everyone shake his hand today! I told him that he has a lot to be proud of ... I could not be more proud of him, I know that much! He said he bought his belt and wore it today - and was really proud to be able to wear it and tell people that he earned it from his hard work! Definitely something else for us to celebrate when he gets home! :)

Well - I will be updating y'all this week as he gets closer and closer to the US! If all goes as planned- he will be landing in Baltimore sometime Thursday evening and heading to LeJeune on a bus for an early morning arrival on Friday! :) YAY!

Thank you so much for your prayers and support - Please pray for safe travels for the Marines as they start their journey home ... and pray that there are no weather/mechanical delays -- I'm ready to have my hubby home! :)

ONE WEEK TO GO!

I can not believe that after all of this time and all of the craziness over the last 6 months -- we are finally down to ONE MORE WEEK! This deployment has truly been a blessing and opened our eyes to everything that we take for granted! We are so blessed and so thankful for everything that we have and everyone that is in our lives ... Thank you for your prayers and support -- we know that the prayers have gotten us through! Without prayer and our strength from the Lord -- we would not have made it through this deployment as easily as we have!

This time next week -- I am going to be going NUTS! I can't even believe that ONE WEEK from tonight I will be in LeJeune ... within HOURS of seeing my hubby! I am getting last minute things ready and touched up for Dano's homecoming -- and could not be more excited for him to come home and be where he belongs again! Even though he has to stay in LeJeune through the beginning of April, having him home on the weekends will be amazing! Just having him in the same country will feel so much better!

We are both so anxious to see each other -- it's been about 4 weeks since we have seen each other on Skype -- we decided to wait it out until homecoming for the last stretch of time! We are about to burst with excitement! I know that we are both going to look so different to each other -- especially him! I know he's lost weight and toned up from MCMAP and I can't wait to see the difference in him!

Can't wait to post pictures of homecoming and share our excitement with each of you! It seems like everytime I talk to someone -- they tell me someone else that has been keeping up with this blog throughout the deployment. If you have been keeping up and praying for Daniel ... THANK YOU! We will never be able to thank you all enough for that support! Look forward to sharing our joy and excitement from homecoming with you SOON! :)

Another belt for Dano!

Just a little update on Dano! He called late Friday night and said that he passed his next belt! He is now a brown belt ... and is working on black belt now! I am so proud of him and his accomplishments since he's been gone! He's worked so hard at MCMAP -- and it's really paying off. He was really proud of himself when he called -- and I was, too! :)

Seems like the date is still set ... not in stone of course ... but nothing has changed yet! Please pray for safety as they travel home and for the trip to be as smooth as possible (no delays for weather or anything else!) I can't believe that two weeks from today - I will have my hubby here with me and we'll be getting ready to head to church :) SO exciting!

We will never be able to thank you enough for your prayers for Daniel over the past several months ... We know that the Lord brought through this deployment for a reason - and we are so much stronger as a couple and in the Lord because of it!

**Update on my grandfather: Pap seems to be doing better than he was last week - anything is possible with prayer! They took him off of the morphine so he has been more alert and more himself. We are looking forward to heading up there to visit him in 3 weeks ... please just pray for peace and strength for all of us during this time! Thank you so much!

2 weeks to go!

Two week countdown officially started today! Two weeks from now - I will be sitting in LeJeune ... trying to fall asleep so that I can wake up to get my HUBBY! :) I can't believe that it's finally here! We are both so excited and so ready for these two weeks to fly by so we can be together again! It's been so fun getting everything ready for homecoming ... signs, the house, the dogs ... and trying to find an outfit! That's been the tough part .. :)

Although we are VERY excited about Daniel's homecoming -- we are having a very hard time right now ... my grandfather in MD was diagnosed with stage four cancer and is really having a hard time with pain ... we know that the Lord has a reason for everything -- and that if He brings us TO it ... He will bring us THROUGH it! I have been trying to stay strong until Daniel is home to comfort me. It's been a tough couple of weeks trying to balance the excitement and emotions that go with Daniel coming home along with the emotions and heartbreak for my grandparents. Please keep us in your prayers as we all face these next few weeks - it will be an exciting time for us as we welcome home our hero -- but also a very hard time as we prepare for what is next. I love my Pap more than anything in this world -- and I'm praying for peace, comfort, and strength for him and my family over these next few months ...

Thank you for your prayers for Daniel ... and for prayers for my family ... The Lord has His hand on us and is walking with us every step of the way.

"One day at a time ... "

23 days and counting :)

Well -- it's hard to believe but we have a little over three weeks before Dano is home! :) Words can't even begin to describe how excited we are ... when we talk all we can do is talk about how great it is going to be and dream about the excitement that lies ahead of us! We both just get overwhelmed with emotions ... even just talking on the phone ... so I can only imagine what it will be like that day! He has been super busy and doing great -- especially since he has started his MCMAP training. He is doing a great job with that -- I am super proud! He is starting a course tomorrow as an instructor ... so he feels important now! Ha Ha! :)

I am slowly but surely getting things ready for his return. It's been so fun getting everything ready and pretty for him! I can't wait to have him here again -- and feel "normal" :)

Please keep us in your prayers as we both adjust to his homecoming! We are beyond excited but it will definitely be an adjustment for both of us. Almost like getting married and learning how to live together all over again.... haha! When I look back over everything that has happened since September 2008, when we got the letter telling us he was recalled, it is amazing to see how God has worked! He has blessed us in more ways than we could ever imagine ... and I know that there are only more blessings to come! I am so thankful that we have faced this together -- we are closer now than we have ever been ... and I know that we both appreciate even the littlest things after being apart from each other! I am so thankful that the Lord has kept him safe and sound while he has been gone -- and that we have been able to talk as much as we have! We are so blessed!

Thank you so much for praying for us, encouraging us, and supporting us through this deployment. It won't be long now ... and I will posting HOMECOMING pictures! :) YAY!

Honor Grad! :)

Just a quick update on Dano... he found out today that he was the honor grad for the last MCMAP course that he took! :) The instructor told him that he made 120% improvement from where he was when they started the course. I could not be more proud of him! Now, he'll start training for his brown belt. I can't wait to see the results from all this body hardening... haha! :)

One month from today I will be sitting in LeJeune counting down the hours until he gets there! I can't believe that we are FINALLY this close... there are times when it seems like he's been gone forever and then times that I can't believe that it's really almost over... I know he has to be SO excited to get out of that place and get back home! I can't imagine how awesome it is going to be! :)

Counting down the days!

A month from today... Daniel will be boarding a plane to head back to the states! :) We could not be more excited... it's finally time for HOMECOMING! It looks like things are set for February 12th ... just in time for Valentine's Day! I have started getting things together and ready for homecoming... which is making me even MORE excited! It's really here! :) I am so thankful for the blessings in disguise throughout this deployment. It's amazing to see God's hand in everything that has happened over the past year of our lives. We are so excited about what is coming next... just ready to dive in head first!

Daniel tested for his next belt today and got it with 100% accuracy! :) They are announcing the honor grad tomorrow... so we are crossing our fingers! :) I am very proud of him for his accomplishments... he said that he is amazed at the progress that he's made over the last month or so! He will now start training for his brown belt... and will test for that before they leave!

He sent a bunch of his pictures through e-mail this week since we are winding down with time... that way we have them backed up in more than one place! I can't wait to hear all of the stories behind the pictures and just listen to him talk about everything that he took part in... I could not be more proud of him and more proud to be the wife of a Marine :)

Please continue to pray for the Lord to provide safety for Daniel throughout the next few weeks... I know that the time is going to fly by and he'll be back where he belongs before we know it! :) Thank you SO much for your prayers and encouragement... please pray for guidance as we take a step toward the next chapter of our lives together! Only one month to go! :)

February Homecoming!

Well... it seems to be pretty official! It looks like we are set for a February homecoming! Daniel said that word hasn't changed and everyone has been talking about it... he even e-mailed me a deployment countdown that he was sent that counts down even to the seconds until he's home! :) He was so excited about it... and words can't even describe how it made me feel to see it!! It seems like this is really winding down and coming to an end... I CAN'T BELIEVE WE ARE THIS CLOSE TO BEING TOGETHER AGAIN! :)

Dano is doing great... still working hard on MCMAP... going to get his Brown Belt this weekend so he's super excited about that! Staying busy and trying to get back to bed as soon as he can at night so another day is gone! :) He has tons of plans and can't stop talking about everything we are going to do together when he gets home... he said he's mostly excited about just sitting on the couch and staring at me... haha! I know this whole deployment has slowed him down and made him appreciate the simplest things in life... I can't wait to have him home!

We could NOT be more excited about this next chapter of our lives... we know the Lord put this in our path to bring us closer to each other and to Him... and we would do it all over again! It has been such a blessing for our marriage and I can't wait to take off into the next part of our adventure together! I will post more details on homecoming when we get them... but it looks like my hero will be home for Valentine's Day! :) YAY!

HAPPY NEW YEAR! :)

It's finally here... 2010! I can't believe that we are on the downhill slope of this whole thing! We are counting down and could not be more excited! Looks like we are planning for a February homecoming! Daniel is waiting to hear a few more details before it's official... but it is looking pretty promising! :)

The last two weeks have been crazy! After my last day of work on the 18th, two of the most wonderful people we know were married downtown... and in the craziness of the rain... I dropped my phone in a puddle of water and lost EVERYTHING! So if I haven't been in touch ... that's why! :) The wedding was beautiful and everything turned out just perfect! Only thing that would have made it better would have been if Dano could have been there... but my stand in date (my mom) was a pretty good date :) I made it to my grandparents safely on the 20th! It was nice to spend over a week with my grandparents and family... and SNOW! :) Boogee and Fifi really weren't sure what to think of it all... they were too cute in their snow jackets trying to make it through the snow without sinking!

I just came home yesterday... and although I had a wonderful time visiting... there is nothing like being in your own bed! Being busy and gone helped time without Dano to go by faster - so that helped. Before I left I got my early Christmas presents from him so that made it easier, too! :) He sent me a stereo for my IPod, some new UGG boots, and a beautiful diamond ring! He couldn't have done better! He also got his goodies from home and his mini-Christmas tree... so he has seemed to be a little more upbeat than I had expected! :) We are going to have the rest of our Christmas when he gets home... tree and all! :) Hopefully in early February! :)

He made it back safe and sound to Leatherneck and I have been able to hear from him everyday since he made it back! It's so comforting just to hear his voice ... even if it is just for a minute! Things there are starting to wind down a little... He started up his Marine Corps Martial Arts Progam last week. He was already a Gray belt... and will have his Brown belt by the time he comes home! He'll only have one more belt to go... so he's really excited about that! He said that his body is sore but he can already tell a difference! They train for two hours a day so that has helped his time to go by quickly! I'm so proud and excited to see my buff Marine :)

Other than that, we are just counting down the days and starting to make plans for a vacation and things to do when he gets home! We are looking forward to cramming as much in as we can ... which is typical with Daniel! :) Not much longer before he's back home and we're on the GO again! :)

Thank you for all of your thoughts and prayers! We are stronger now than we have ever been... and we give all the credit and glory to the Lord! He has seen us through so much this past year.. and we know that He will continue to provide and bless us in 2010!

Hope you all had a VERY merry Christmas and wish you a VERY blessed New Year!