Sunday at the Beach

Karen was still here visiting on Sunday, and she really wanted to go to the beach in the sunlight. So, after taking her to church with me, we came back home, grabbed some lunch and headed out. She was all smiles as we drove back to Okaloosa Island. The kids had requested that we go back to where the playgrounds are, and Karen didn't care as long as it had the Gulf and sand.

The waves were really big in Sunday. Well, big for the Gulf of Mexico, anyway.

And, there were jellyfish all over the beaches
We didn't care though. We still got in. Kylie mostly just wanted to run around and be silly.
But, Kaedyn had brought his boogie board and was excited to ride those big waves. What can I say? Like father, like son. My husband loves to surf, so Kaedyn has picked up the hobby, but scaled more to his size.

After swimming, we all showered and got dressed to go eat at Floyd's. Kaedyn was anxious to show Karen how to eat crablegs and I wanted shrimp.

Here is Kylie and Kaedyn waiting outside to be seated.

After dinner, the kids and I went to the boardwalk playground and Karen went on a photo shoot. She loves Kenny Chesney, so this sign caught her eye. If you have ever heard this song, you know what I am talking about!

We had tons of fun at the beach, doing the tourist thing, but it was sad not having Daddy with us. We miss him a lot, especially when we do fun things without him. We took the time to let him know though: Also, Baby, just in case you forgot or need a reminder:
and I want the whole world to know, so I wrote it in the sand for you.

After our day at the beach, I reflected a bit on my life as a military wife. I guess hearing Karen talk about how lucky I am to live here really made me stop and think about how I got here and how great I really do have it. Some days I guess we all feel down about our lives or are tempted to pitty ourselves, but, despite all that, I have decided that I am the most blessed, not lucky, woman I know. I have an amazing husband who has taught me how to stand up for what is right. He defends our country and will tell anyone who asks that he believes that our troops need to be in Iraq and Afghanistan. He has done convoy duty where he is outside the wire (off the secure base) and in the towns daily, and he has seen the goodness in some of the locals. He believes that these people need and want our help, and he believes that we should see this war through to the very end for the sake of those innocent people. I am so blessed to have a man that has such amazing values. He is also the greatest daddy and husband. He would do anything for us and he makes sure that not a day passes without him telling us how special we are to him. Not only does he tell us, but he shows us every chance he gets. I know that some may think I have it rough because my husband has to go away a lot, but that is simply not true. I have it GREAT! I miss my husband TONS when he leaves, but I have a responsibilty greater than any other I know: to support him and to take care of our kids to the best of my ability while he is gone. You see, I have to be mom and dad, so I have to bring my A game. I have the greatest life, and I wouldn't change it for the world. I spend my days of the deployment talking lots about Daddy so my kids never feel far from him and finding new ways to send my love overseas to Rob. I cry some nights, but mostly, I feel proud that my husband is an airman in the United States Air Force, so that makes me smile!

Bottom line: my husband has to be strong and stand up tall, therefore, so will I. My husband has taught me how and I am so thankful for that. That's what gets me through. Well, that and his love, of course.

I love you Baby, for the life you have given to us and for the things you have taught me and our kids. You have truly blessed my life and I pray everyday that I have blessed yours too.

I AM YOUR BIGGEST SUPPORTER, AND YOU ARE MY HERO!