Moving...

This week I've been trying to figure out the best way to get Anistyn and me to California. Between, a u haul, gas, hotels...it can be pricey. My best friend Michelle's husband had offered for the two of them to come with me to help. Shane would drive the u haul and I would drive the blazer. Then we thought about pulling the blazer on the u haul and us flying...just tossing ideas back and forth.

Yesterday I got a call from a guy that worked for a moving company. For a really great price, they'll do everything. Pick up the furniture, pack it up, drive across the country, unpack it...and anything else. There aren't any added on extras for gas or anything like that. I thought it was a great deal. Then I asked them how much it would be to for them to take the blazer with them...and its super expensive to tote a car. Which means I'll have to drive out there. I have no problem driving to Cali, and would prefer it...I hate flying! My only problem is that I don't want to drive across country alone with my daughter. So, I now have come up with a solution...drive across country with my mother!

For some it might not be a big deal...but I am excited about the trip! I love my mom and she's going to be the hardest good-bye when we leave. She's my best friend. I know we'll have a blast on the trip and maybe get a day or so of sight seeing in California before she has to leave.

Now just to finalize everything...and find a place to live. Which I hope we can soon...I'm so ready to be with my husband!

Welcome to life as an Army Wife...

So, over a week ago I married Josh.



I also married the army. Its important to Josh, and so its important to me. Honestly, listening to Josh talk about the army, and how he feels about his job, and this country has given me a new found respect for our military, and a bigger love for this country. I always said I would never date or could never marry someone in the military. I didn't think I could handle the long distance, the thought of losing my husband, or all the worrying. Josh is different from any guy I've ever met though, and I love him more than anything, so if being a military wife means I get to be Josh's wife...then bring it.



While I've been sitting around moping because I want to be with Josh (okay not sitting around all day long...I am busy...) my amazing soldier has been a busy bee. On top of PT (basically a workout, like a 5 mile run...don't worry, I've learned a little army slang) at 4 in the morning, then breakfast, class from 8-4 where he hears nothing but Persian Farsi, then dinner, study hall for 2 hours, then homework after THAT...Josh has also had to pack in all the paperwork for our move over there. And the army recquires a LOT of paperwork. When I think they're done...they want one more thing. Tomorrow I have to get the lease to my apartment, then go to my mom's work to wait for Josh to call so I can fax it to him on his lunch break. My poor husband is in need of serious sleep, but instead he's going to class tomorrow, then CQ (its a night shift) where he has to stay awake all night...just so he can finish everything up on Friday.



He constantly surprises me with how much he cares. I can't do much over here, except wait. I guess thats what I'll be doing a lot, and I'm okay with that...alright, I'm not doing flips over waiting...but I think its something I better get used to. It just plain stinks though that I'm a newlywed...and I can't be with him right now. I would say I was being selfish and Josh would say..."Its not being selfish when you love someone." Cheeseball;)



I don't know what the future army life will bring us. I'm actually excited about it for the most part. I'm excited about being married to a man that stands for something, and believes in this country. I'm excited about being a part of that. I'm excited about traveling, and meeting new people. I don't know much about army life, but I do know that sometimes it means sacrificing your own home life, so that we can all be safe. I've never had more respect for the wives and children of military men.



This is my first dose of separation, and it will definitely not be the longest separation we'll have. We'll spend the next 7 months together in California, then Josh has to go to Texas for 4 months and we can't go with him there. After we get based somewhere, Josh could get deployed...and thats a whole new set of worries there. I think the difference now is that we JUST got married. I feel like I'm in limbo. I love savoring these last few weeks with my family, but I'm also ready to be a part of my new family...Josh, me and Anistyn. I'm ready to start cooking dinner for us, decorating, waking up in our own home...I'm even ready to start doing Josh's laundry. And in the meantime...I'm waiting. Waiting for the army to give us the go ahead. It could be worse and I know that. Right now there are men fighting for our country and their wives are sitting at home worrying about them. I don't know how I'll be when if that time comes for me.

Right now though, I'm just proud of Josh for putting in all the effort because he wants us over there just as bad as I do. He's losing sleep, and everyday I hear his voice I hear all the stress. I just can't wait to give him a hug, or be right there with him through everything. We only had a week together, but when we're together...we're just happy. Having him around just calms my nerves. Guess it better...we have to deal with each other for awhile:)

Story of Josh and Tara...

Once upon a time in a faraway land there was a gorgeous young lady and a dashing young man...

Okay, maybe it wasn't a faraway land. And maybe I was really just an awkward 14 year old girl going through a weird growth spurt. But in Mrs. Byce's chorus class...Josh was there.

8th grade was a year I'll always remember, for a few reasons. One being my amazing chorus teacher Mrs. Byce. Many people joined her chorus class because of the cruise we would be taking at the end of the year...(Josh...). I was with Mrs. Byce for three years because I loved singing and I adored that woman. She made music fun, and lively, and made you believe in yourself...because she did.

The other reason of course...is Josh. Josh was a bit of a rebel back in that day. The quiet skateboarder. We didn't run in the same circle, but were always friendly. I had a nice little boyfriend when we left for the cruise at the end of the school year. I was so excited to be with friends and hello...I was on a cruise!

I don't remember how Josh and I got to flirting. But on the cruise we caught each other's eye and after an afternoon of playing footsie in the hottub together...I wanted him to be my boyfriend. So major in 8th grade. So, as soon as I got back home I broke up with my then boyfriend...and moved on to Josh. We had plans to get married one day and live on the beach. Then the school year came to an end and both of us moved away, him to Rome, GA and me to Hiram, Ga.

Years pass and then out of nowhere I'm 19 and going to dinner with my then boyfriend. We're in Douglasville and decide to eat at Ruby Tuesdays. As we were leaving who should I run into...Josh. We had an exchange of "OH MY GOSH! HOW ARE YOU'S" when I finally left. I totally got reamed out by my then boyfriend for "checking him out."

So yet again, more years go by. I have a baby and am doing fine in my single mother world. Then myspace and facebook became popular and guess who is one of the first people to get in touch with me...Josh. We exchange e-mails for awhile until one day we decide to hang out while I'm in Georgia visiting friends. He took me to eat, and to a frat party...wow. We had a great time together, but I guess the timing was off. I actually gave him a chance with me...but he had just ended a relationship and I didn't want to be a rebound girlfriend.

So for the next two years I get an endless amount of phone calls, letters, e-mails, and text messages from Josh. I don't consider myself dumb by any means, but I have to look back and think "What was I thinking?" The only explanation I can come up with is that when you're used to dealing with guys that play games...you really don't know what to think about the good ones. Josh was always calling to check on me and Ani, and I didn't realize what was going on. I knew he regretted us not being together, but I never knew how much he really wanted to be with me.

Then, a few months ago, I had a crappy weekend. I was down, and Josh sent me a text out of nowhere. So I straight up asked him what his deal was. And he told me...that he had never gotten over me. Finally, something clicked in my head. Here was a guy that thought I was worth waiting for. A guy who never gave up hope on me. He let me live my life and get through whatever I needed to get through, until I was ready to be with him. And I was finally ready. All my heartbreaks and bad times...and he was there.

Its like God picked Josh up and threw him in my face. I had prayed for someone like him, but I didn't really think he existed. He's so perfect for me. So right away, I just knew it was right. We knew we wanted to get married. We figured the whole time he was doing classes in California, we could plan a big wedding for May, when he graduated. But, long distance is really no fun. So with a month left, we decided to get married in September when Josh was on leave. That way Anistyn and I could be with him in California. It might have shocked some people, but for our friends and family that REALLY know us...its just like us to do something like this.

The funny thing is...we'll be living by the beach, and married. Just like we wanted when we were 14. Isn't life funny?

Blogging Newbie

I'm new to this blogging thing so here goes...

I decided to start blogging because I will soon be far away from my friends and family. I figured this was a great way to keep everyone in the loop with everything going on in my life. So...my life.

This past Tuesday was the best day of my life. In a small church, with very few people I married the man of my dreams. I could write a whole blog...or a million really, about him...and I'm sure I'll do that eventually. Not write a million of course...but some;)

This whole week has been hectic and there are a million things to blog about...a new life, a new family, a wedding, a honeymoon, and a new husband! But its late and its been an emotional evening since dropping Josh off at the airport. So for now, I'll just say that I look forward to my blogging...and I hope people look forward to reading!