Charity's Crazy Beautiful Life

A date, a date -- I finally have a date!!

No, I'm not going OUT on a date -- I finally know the date that the kids and I will be flying to Japan to join Craig, my valuable husband, their dynamic daddy, that man we've really been missing -- in that house that really needs to be unpacked. 

So...the news we've all been waiting for, (drum roll please)...

we will officially be flying to Japan on July 5th. We are so happy that we finally see "a light at the end of the tunnel"!!! We're so happy that we will soon be together again.

I also know that I can't leave it at that. Many of you have asked me questions about our move to Japan. You've emailed. Called. Left me messages on Facebook. So, I know you've got inquiring minds. Either because you love us and are concerned -- or because you're human and want to hear the drama. Whichever the case...

For the most part I've been steering clear of posting too many details and too much information about what's been going on regarding this whole move on my blog. Why? For a few reasons. Because I think that not everyone wants to hear about it and because I wonder, is it really something I should be talking about?

But the more you all ask, and the more I have to tell the story over and over , or avoid saying it over and over -- the more I realize... there's nothing wrong with telling it. There's nothing wrong with me talking about what's going on in my life. That it's my crazy life, and maybe someone can learn something from my story. That it's my beautiful life, and that over the last several months, I have learned a thing or two -- or ten, because of what's been going on. And by sharing it, maybe you can learn something from it too...

(Because the "story" is so long, I will be breaking it into a few different posts starting tomorrow -- so stay tuned.)

I miss my man...

my uniform wearing,

  

hard working,

 

handsome husband.

(Yes, a very old picture -- but one of my most favorites!!)

I miss my ball playing,

 

ball coaching,

 

fanatical fan of a man.

 

He's in Japan. I'm not. And for all the times in our ten years of marriage that we've been separated because of military orders in some way, shape, or form...we've gotten used to "dealing" with being apart. And I'd have to say, that for the most part, we handle it pretty ok. 

But there are some days when I really miss his

 

sarcasm (and his toned tan)

 

his helpfulness (and his buff biceps)

 

his goofiness (and even his weekend stubble).

I try my best in times like these, when we have to be apart, to be the strong military wife.  For our kids. For him.  And even for myself. And most days I deal with it by not talking about how much I miss him. By not browsing through pictures or reminiscing about how he's

 

an awesome father

 

an outstanding daddy,

 

and a funny family man.

Yet, other times, it is best if I spend some time remembering how much I love him because he's...

 

a good sport,

 

a great coach,

 

and a ridiculously devoted fan -- of this family.

So on days like today, when the only thing I really want is a hug from my husband...

I look back at tons of old pictures and...

  

I miss my man.

inTENtions

Howdy, y'all -- it's been a long time. And how perfect is this post that I have logged on to post several times (to get called away by phone calls, forgotten appointments, childrens questions) but to say -- I've got good intentions. Really, I do...

 

Today I'd like to share with you a reason for celebration in the Zaleski household.  TEN years ago today (yes, I intended to post this last week on the 4th...so yes, it's ten years and a week - go us!), Craig and I got married.  That's right, it's our TEN YEAR anniversary! It's so weird to think that ten years ago, when we were 19 and 23, we got married in a small town in North Dakota...amongst snow and sweaters and a few loved ones...

unsure of where the road would lead -- we believed in life, love and probably a bit of libido.  And here we are, still standing together, still believing in those three things. But today, ten years later, we believe in a few other things too.  Craig and I now believe in living intentionally.  We are now a little older, a little wiser, and quite a bit more mature -- which means that we know that we have to get up every day and make the choice to be happy in our marriage, because marriage is often times hard work. And sometimes painful. But in this last ten years, we've learned that if you make the intentional choice to be happy, even on the bad days, it's good.  Because a marriage built on intention: an intentional willingness to make the good times great and to work through the bad times so the good times are that much better, that's a marriage to be proud of!  It's taken Craig and I a while -- and many of you have witnessed us learning, and growing and figuring it out along the way -- but we have and we're proud today to say -- TEN.  How long have you ben married? "Ten years!"  Thanks for your support and love along the way!

Speaking of intentions, I wanted to let you know I'm out of my "writing funk",and I intend to be blogging alot more to fill you in along the journey of... a trip to Disney World for Christmas and a move to Japan. Stay tuned, it'll be a crazy, beautiful journey. And thanks to a digital camera, a laptop, and a renewed desire to write, I intend to share that journey with you!