Dear Colgate...

To Whom it May Concern:

My husband and I met when he was 12, and I was 11. We both came from military families, and ended up in WA where we grew to be very good friends. Our families were friends, we attended the same church, were both homeschooled, did camps together as campers then leaders, played music together for our youth group, and many other things. We knew each other well, and had always enjoyed each other's company.

On the night of his graduation party, I barely 18, he told me he loved me. It was a night I will never forget. In the 7 years we'd known each other, it was the first time we'd ever even hugged each other. Neither of us had ever seen anyone else. Everything about it was so new and wonderful; I still remember how he and everything around us was that night, and can picture it well. The sound of his voice, the smell of the fresh night air, the feel of his arms wrapped around me for the first time, and his scent. Unfortunately, it was also declared only two weeks before my family was to move again - separating us by 2,000 miles. Despite the distance, we still continued with our newfound relationship.

It was very difficult, to say the least. We were lucky to be able to see each other once every six months or so. Every time we finally saw each other again, I cannot even describe to you how comforting it was to be around him again, to be able to hold hands and embrace each other, to see his face again. A year went by, and he made the decision to join the U.S. Air Force. I got to travel to WA to see him again before he left for BMT (Basic Military Training). I remember the night before he left, I cried on his shoulder for a long time, unsure of the next time I'd be able to see him again. Little did I know the role that the aroma of his anti-perspirant would play in the upcoming months.

BMT usually lasts 8 weeks, but he came down with pneumonia while there, ended up in the hospital, and it took a long time for him to recover. He was there for 12 weeks. When he graduated boot camp, his family and I got to see him for four days. It was a bittersweet time, I was unable to talk to him much or touch him, but it was so amazing to see him once more. Tech school came after, and that lasted another 8 weeks. Once, during that time, I was in a store, and I glanced down and saw the deodorant I knew he wore - the Speed Stick Fresh. The original one. Not the power one. I feel a little foolish to admit it, but I reached down and took it, and smelled it. It instantly brought tears to my eyes, it was such a familiar scent, I almost felt as though he were near me again. I quickly shoved it back and vowed not to do that again.

About a week into December, tech school was over and he was assigned his first duty station to Alaska. He spent a couple weeks with his family around Christmas, and I was able to travel to join him there. He proposed the day after Christmas. I am sure you will understand just how joyful we were, absolutely exhilarated. I had never known such intense, profound happiness before in my life. The day he was to leave came far too soon, and we had to say goodbye, yet again. We were still uncertain as to when we would finally be able to get married. We went our separate ways, and tried eagerly to set a date.

Due to military obligations, and our families all being so far apart, we had to extend the wedding date an extra three months. We believe in short engagements, we had never so much as kissed one another, or even another person in both of our lives, and each of us had made a commitment a long time ago to save our first kiss (ever!) for marriage. So naturally, we wanted to be married as soon as possible. I was broken-hearted when I found out we would have to wait another 3 months. I longed to see him again, I missed him terribly. I was so SICK of being separated from him. He often sent me flowers during our engagement, and on my birthday, he sent me a little container with a note in it. As soon as I opened the container, I sat down and began to weep, because that smell that I had come to love so much, the Speed Stick Fresh (Original) scent, was wafting from the container.

We were married June 25th, 2010, in the beautiful, great Alaskan outdoors, at a bed and breakfast. I still revel in the fact sometimes that I can kiss him now. Our married lives have been so amazing. We have been married 2 and a half years, and have a 15 month old little boy who is so precious to us.

About a month ago, my dear husband told me he needed deodorant. So, on a routine shopping trip, I looked for it, the Speed Stick Fresh (Original) but could not find it. I've searched every store I can think of here, and it is nowhere to be found. I did some research and saw rumors that it had been discontinued. Is this true? Why has it been discontinued?

I actually teared up when I discovered this, and it makes me sad every time I think about it. This is the smell that I've known and loved since my husband and I first started dating. Surely you must know smell can be a very powerful thing. To me, it has been my husband's scent for as long as I can remember him, and I am very distressed to find that I may not smell it ever again. We have a stick saved but who knows how long that will last? Is there any possible way for you to bring it back? We live in a world of so much change, especially being in the military. I don't know about you, but I am not the biggest fan of change. I think we all want something constant, that we can be sure is there and that is familiar and comforting amidst all the change. For me, I just want that smell again. Please...I am begging you...bring it back.

Regards,

Erin M.

We did this. And went to a party.

Here he is, the Hero of Time!

 Come to save the Princess Zelda...

From the evil    powers of darkness. Behold! Ganondorf.

...And just 'cause he's so cute. No wonder the girls are always after him. 

Dear

I felt today as though someone in the Bible was writing to me, personally.

"And now, dear lady, I am not writing you a new command but one we have had from the beginning. I ask that we love one another. And this is love: that we walk in obedience to His commands. As you have heard from the beginning, His command is that you walk in love."

2 John 1:4-6

Frankly, I have been struggling a lot the past few days. I have not been walking in love, especially toward my own family. Micah has been so very difficult to deal with this past week, and it is incredibly hard to keep from getting angry and losing all patience with him. I've even ended up allowing myself to get far more easily frustrated with Scott, something that doesn't happen too often. I feel so filthy inside. Because I am. I am lazy, self-seeking, impatient, and easily angered. And a lot more than that, but I'll stop there before I'm deemed an unrepentant sister in Christ and cast out. ;)

Devotional time has not been a priority at all this week, ironically, because I am so gross. I was afraid I'd be faking it, not wanting to do it. But I felt inwardly prompted today to turn toward Him, and so I picked up His Word again. Just because I didn't want to spend much time in it still, I decided to pick one of the shortest books of the Bible I could think of, and this is what I got. Conviction, and suddenly, a lot more interest in God again. Isn't it amazing how He does that?

What really struck me about these words, is how gentle and kind they are. Dear lady. A gentle reprieve to obey.

I am still dear to Him, despite how ugly I am inside.

Random Fact #8

One of the best ways to torture an unfortunate perfectionist such as myself? Force said person to paint a decidedly circular design on very stretchy fabric.

Family Fun with Viruses

You know what they say, "The family that pukes together, stays together." Or something like that. This means our fate is sealed, because we have definitely lived up to it.

It started night before last, Micah began getting sick soon after he was put to bed. I stayed the night in his room, dozing off, scrambling up to help my poor little dude to a bowl, wiping him off, holding him, then putting him back to sleep. We were so relieved yesterday that he appeared much better, though he's still not himself yet. I was so excited to be able to sleep in my own bed again, and get a good night's rest.

But it was not to be. For shortly after we'd turned in, my stomach prompted me to sprint to the bathroom and have a wretched, miserable night that turned into a wretched, miserable, early morning, that turned into a no less wretched, miserable, late morning. We finally decided to just go to the ER and get some meds. Don't judge. I was feeling desperate. I lost track of how many times I got sick.

We went to the Army hospital on post, and waited for two hours to be admitted. The entire time, I fiercely clutched the special bag they'd given me, frequently running to the bathroom, and just about using the bag several times while overhearing some of the patient conversations with the receptionist.

FINALLY, as glorious medication flowed through my veins - making me feel human again - Scott carefully set our sleeping toddler on my lap, ran to the sink, and his technicolor adventure began. After the doctor prescribed both of us this wonderful medicine, we drove to Safeway to get the prescription filled, and pick up various clear liquids to last us the next 24 hours. We decided that I should go since Scott hadn't had any medication yet, and I had. As soon as I stepped inside, the smell of Starbucks wafted to my nose, almost causing me to empty the few contents of my stomach. It took half an hour for the prescription to be filled, and I must have looked a sight, sitting pitifully next to my cart, willing myself to not be sick, and planning my fastest route to the bathroom. I had to use it once, but at least the incident prompted the pharmacy to go a little faster.

And now we are home, Scott curled up on the couch, feeling like death. I sit beside him, slowly sipping on water and Gatorade, and ward off Micah's playful attacks on his Dad.

Please pray we get through this illness quickly, so we can get back to normal life. And so we can do other, more pleasant things to "stay together." :)

Take TWO!

 After the last post, I've been popping my head outside at night to see if there's a light show going on again. I was so glad I did, they were very bright last night! I am posting several of the best shots here, the composition is not very good because I was pretty much shooting blindly, I could hardly see anything through my viewfinder. That being said, I feel like these turned out MUCH better than last time. Enjoy! :) 

In my very own backyard!

I received a text last night as Scott and I were watching new episodes of The Office that made me jump up, scramble to the back door, and almost walk right out onto the wet, chilly deck, with only my socks. This is what we saw...

This really isn't the greatest picture, but it was exciting that we could see the Aurora from our backyard! I'm so hoping that SOMETIME within the next three months before we move, I can get a few actually good shots. We'll see!

We Like Waste

This happens at every snack time. Maybe he's testing out the theory that the first bite is always best?

A Merry *blow sniffle cough* Christmas to You

You know those days you wake up and feel absolutely wretched? This is one of those days. I had to drag myself out of bed somehow to take care of Micah, and I've just planted myself on my couch and refuse to move, even with the little guy climbing all over me like I'm a human jungle gym. I miss the days when I was allowed to stay in bed when I felt like I was hit by a bus. Even in this pounding head, swollen throat, dazed stupor though (lovely picture, eh?), at least I can still say motherhood is so worth it all.

On a COMPLETELY different note, it snowed on Sunday. It melted pretty quickly, but yesterday I caved in and started getting my Christmas music fix while doing housework. Every year I forget just how great some of these songs are. I thoroughly enjoyed it. And so I leave you with this. :)



Now excuse me while I lay here and don't move for the rest of the day. Or at least until it's naptime.