Back From Hiatus

 

Sometimes we need a temporary break for lots of reasons. Mine was... life is beautiful, and I didn't want to share it. I wanted to keep it in a warm cocoon, just the two of us. To let the world slip away and be lost in the dream of us. 

Quite honestly, I thought I was done on here and was thinking about doing a whole new blog dedicated to my grandbabies. A few people have asked and when I shared my thoughts, I was encouraged to stay on this path, so my grands have 13 more years of my stories.

Quick update, life with my husband is a constant adventure full of laughter, love, and wit. He is still extraordinary, and I am beautifully spoiled. 

Oh my gosh, we have become such homebodies, which is wonderful. We so love to be at home! We've been in our home 1-1/2 years now and it has become such a reflection of us. We do have a new project going on now, we are finishing our basement. Going with an industrial look, I've become the project manager, as I have more free time than David does. Which kind of means, I get to do it how I want, and he goes along with my vision. Truth be told, he is such a loving husband, and would truly do anything to make me happy. I am so blessed and love him so much!

David acclimated well with the Marshalls. I just came off my best year yet with events. We have very busy schedules and make the most out of all free time we have. 

Today was a much longed for day off. After running all morning, I couldn't wait to come home and actually slow down, relax, binge watch my favorite shows, make some protein balls, and figured it was a good time to hop on here and say hello. 

We have much to catch up on. 

One Year

 

One year... wow, did one year of marriage go by quickly! 

David and I opted for Anniversary Week and found we did something special every day. For our 1st anniversary, we decided to stay home and have dinner in. Ordering the top layer of our wedding cake, inside it is chocolate chocolate chip with double toffee filling, It's so delicious and he lit up when he saw it. We LOVED our wedding cake!! At the end of our wedding, we went to the hotel and realized we were really hungry, so we dove into our wedding cake, thrilled I chose to take it with us. 

Playing the cd, complements of our DJ, transported me back in time to our magical wedding. I could close my eyes and fully remember the wonder of it all. 

Cooking dinner, listening to this music, we perused through our wedding photo album. As we sat down to eat, we held hands to pray as "A Thousand Years" began to play. It's the song I walked down the aisle to. What timing. 

We took our time eating dinner, reminiscing one year ago. After we cleaned up, I grabbed the knife to cut our cake, when David placed is hand over mind and we cut it together. At that moment, "At Last" by Etta James began to play. The song we 1st danced to. He pulled me in his arms, and we danced in the kitchen. 

Then, we played our wedding day video...

All I can say is, I was initially low-key disappointed when I waited too long and couldn't get reservations at our two favorite restaurants. Honestly, neither of them could have compared to the magic of nostalgia we shared with the air filled with the music of our wedding day, our album, our wedding video, and dancing in my husband's arms.

Happy 1st Anniversary, my Love!

xo

Take Me Out to the Ballgame

 

The day off together, summer nights, and a ballfield. 

We did a taste testing of wine at the ballpark. Our favorite choice was the Peach Lemonade Moscato. We provided our one-word description for their marketing purposes, had a blast with the staff in the tent and the woman asked if she could take a photo us by their sign. This isn't the photo, but I'm hoping I can find it online somewhere.

I'm hoping I can also find this refreshing new beverage, too!

US Marshals

 

My husband retired on Friday, June 2, 2023 and began with the US Marshals on Monday, June 5th. 

Retiring from a career is a major life change and bittersweet. Shifting and being sworn in as a US Marshal is another impressive professional accomplishment. 

He's ready for this new season and I am proud of him. 

David's Retirement Party

Congratulations and well done, my love, on a very successful career! 

We've had several conversations that going to David's retirement celebration, it felt more like going to someone else's party. How can my husband be retiring?! When you're young, I always thought of retirement when you're old and can no longer work. My husband bounds in energy, yet he has retired with 31 years, 8 months, and 28 days of service to the Sheriff's Office. 

His celebration was the "Thin Blue Line" theme, with two joined, magnificent charcuterie tables, and an exceptional dinner everyone was WOW'd over and spoke about all night. I did a plated double entree dinner, Asiago Chicken, Braised Beef with light Gravy, Cavatappi Carbonara, and Roasted Vegetable Medley. Our salad incorporated watermelon (David's favorite) and fresh blueberries to complement the TBL theme, topped with our new Champagne dressing. Guests expressions when the food was brought to the table brought me the exact satisfaction I was going for, and everyone raved all night how fabulous dinner was. 

The charcuterie tables were done by Taylour. She loves doing this and asked if she could help, so I tasked her with the table listing what I wanted to see on it and rose-shaped appetizers. She practiced and nailed it!! 

I began the program with a video custom made for him talking about being in law enforcement, the Training Center, and Michelle answering the phone telling the caller David is reading to blind children. That was what he always told her to tell his callers. Taylour & Brooke began by sharing David's many roles and professional achievements, then Captain (Rich) was the main guest speaker. Working with David throughout their career together and dear friends, there is nobody better than him. In closing, I had my sister-in-law, the Sheriff, came up to share final words. Their tribute to David was beautiful, honoring, and well-deserved. I could feel David squeeze my hand; I knew he was fighting tears. 

But wait... there's more! I had a special surprise for him before we closed this portion of the evening. Being shipped from the Eastcoast of the United States, is the Best Seller with White Glove Delivery... his massage chair. [It arrived and it is amazing!]

The DJ playing 80's rock and a variety of music, family and friends mingled, ate, drank, and celebrated. 

The room looked fabulous, every detail coming together beautifully. 

What a blessing it is to have a successful career. Every speech shared a common theme, he has touched thousands of lives throughout his career and made a difference. He is a legend at Training, he is admired, valued, and respected. Colleagues coming out of the woodwork, phone calls, wishing him well. 

To retire with such a legacy, to retire with good health, and to retire with the ability to do whatever he wants, he is a blessed man.

Happy Retirement, husband.

 

June 2, 2023

 

"There's My Morning Glory!"

 

Every morning I wake up and come downstairs, my husband greets me with a warm and enthusiastic, "There's my morning glory!" I confess, I don't often feel like a morning glory before a cup of coffee!

He is bounding with energy and happiness when he wakes up, usually around 4:00 a.m. and goes downstairs to stretch and workout. Me, I'm more of a 5:45 a.m. girl every day. It's our morning routine. 

Next week my husband retires from the Sheriff's Office. What a milestone in life and what a fantastic career he has had!! He's retiring from the Sheriff's Office and hired on with the US Marshals. 

Preparations are underway for his retirement celebration.

He is admired, loved, and respected by so many in his profession. These last couple of weeks have been bittersweet. So many conversations, emotions, and reflection. 

Plans are in place, good thing his wife is an Events Director! I've got a few surprises for him.

If I am a morning glory, he is truly the sun that shines on everyone. 

"You Looked Stunning Today"

 

My husband always lavishly loves me and showers me with words how beautiful I am even when I have no makeup on, glasses, a sloppy knot on top of my head, or a favorite worst outfit. Prior to dating, being caught like that would have been a certain death. Oh, how easily that changed!

He genuinely doesn't care and he genuinely makes me feel beautiful when I'm at my worst. 

About 8-9 years ago I found an outfit I fell in love with, but it was a bit too tight. I bought it anyway. I wore it once a couple years later, probably still a bit too tight, then back into the closet it went.

Since January, I've been doing intermittent fasting, Keto, and strength training. I don't remember when I weighed what I weigh now, last. I have a couple favorite outfits, I've held onto for many years and they all fit beautifully.

All this to say, that one outfit I bought when it was too small, looks great! I wore it a couple days ago and my husband told me several times how beautiful I looked and he asked me to twirl. Doesn't every girl dream of that?!. 

It was later that night in bed, when he whispered, "You looked stunning today..." I smiled and loved that he was still thinking about me in it.