Snow Day!

I got up early this morning to take Aaron to work and the snow was just starting to fall. By the time I was leaving base, there was already almost an inch!

It's still snowing like crazy and i'm bundled up in my blanket blogging and watching it fall. I love it!

By the way - for those of you who may not know - I am currently staying home full time to finish our house and get it ready to sell in early March. I'll also be volunteering each week for Sanctity of Life Ministries which is a pro-life organization that assists women (and men, too!) through the process of pregnancy and raising their children. I'm looking forward to helping out however I can.

Aaron and I are getting out of the military in June and plan to move back to the Northwest! So Aaron is looking into different options for work in civil engineering (Employers...act fast! He's a catch! hint hint) and we are so thrilled to be closer to family as my sis and bro-in-law are making us an auntie and uncle for the first time in mid-March! We are excited to cuddle and spoil little Addison! Aaron's brother, Jesse, is marrying his lovely fiance, Jen, this August and they also plan to live in the NW. That means we'll be taking a trip out to Alaska for the wedding! We can't wait!

I'm a lucky wife!

I married the most amazing handy-man! For as often as I get frustrated with the seemingly endless construction in our house, we are finally about 95 percent finished! Thanks to Aaron for creating such a beautiful home for us to enjoy. Sometimes I stop and stare in amazement at what he has done and CAN DO! I feel pretty lucky because we save so much money on things like plumbing and electrical issues. I tell you what, i'm convinced my honey can do almost anything! I've asked him before, "How on earth did you know how to do that?" And he says, "I don't know, I guess I just read up on it and then did it." Uhh, wha?? That just seems foreign to me. I think it's quite a gift he has.

Some people can pick up any instrument and play it, he can pick up any tool and use it or take on any project and figure it out! Also, since he's an engineer, the guys who work for him have tons of tricks of the trade, too. So sometimes he'll just run something by them and they'll step him through it a bit. WOW. Love it! Here are a few shots of how far we've come!

Our gorgeous dining room!

Our front door molding. I love the east-coast style. Very common out here!

Our finished living room (floors and all. Finally!!) But, you'll have to excuse our mess ;)


I almost can't believe this project. Much harder than it looks and it only took him a day! I love it. Yay hubby!!

The BEST Job in the WORLD?!?

Ohhh yesssssssss.

Go here to read all about it! Aaron wants to apply. Anyone have a really good video camera to help us out with the application process?!

"Stop, Kiss and Listen"

This is the title of an article I just read in a magazine called "Woman's Day." I started getting this magazine in the mail about 4 months ago and have been baffled as to how. I never subscribed to it, never paid for and have no idea how it started coming to me! But I think it happened for a reason: God's reason.

Cole is a little boy who was diagnosed in July, 2008 with a rare cancer found in less than .2% of children. It started with a tummy ache and then took his life just 8 short weeks later.

His incredible parents started a foundation and a memorial Web page called C.O.L.E.'s Foundation (Caring Openly, Loving Eternally.) Their mission in life is to help other families walking the journey of childhood cancer. They use their Web site to share their stories and accept donations. During difficult economic times, it's tough to pay your own water bill let alone give money to support such organizations, but there is no better time.

From reading about Cole and visiting their memorial page, I am compelled to give. I encourage you all to consider giving; Maybe not to this cause, but I encourage you to pray that God open your eyes to a cause that you can financially assist to help ease the financial burden of others.

If nothing else, please visit Cole's memorial page at www.colesfoundation.com and read all about him and many, many other little babies who are fighting childhood cancer.

"All we have are relationships....Nothing else really matters." -quote from Cole's dad, Aaron Ruotsala