Birthday Weekend!

So over the weekend I turned a fabulous 19! I filled my weekend with both family and friends. Had chipotle with my mother, the inlaws made me dinner, I had ice cream cake and played Clue with my dad, and last but certainly not least saw Twilight with my buddies from school!

 Got my cartilage pierced!

 My best friend and I with our Twilight cups!

Okay I'm going to be a big girl right now and talk about how much I loved Twilight. I'm a sucker for that franchise. In case you were wondering I'm an Edward fan. He is just the epitome of a lovely romantic man. Anyway at the end of the movie when they roll credits but show video clips of each character..I don't know if I was crying because of the saga coming to a close or because the song playing was the one I walked down the aisle to... watching the movie in general made me miss my husband so much. I doubt he would have willingly seen the movie with me but he would have seen it regardless. I just miss him in general. 

Another year older and I would say I'm wiser. I am very happy with my life but if you would asked me last year at my surprise 18th birthday party if I'd be married within the next year I would have thought you were crazy for even asking such a thing. I have grown up so much within one year and I'm proud of myself for it. Everyday I learn the value of family. I learn who my real friends are and I learn more about myself. I am slowly but surely becoming the wife my husband deserves and am anticipating and planning for the family I want someday. I'm making decisions to better my life in the future. I'm becoming a strong individual and am also learning to be a little more independent. 

I'm excited for the years to come and glad I have a place to share them.

Featured in the paper

My husband and I were featured in the newspaper the day of his ceremony! 

A gorgeous picture of me & my brother was plastered on the front of the paper. I swear Jacob is such a smart kid. He was probably thinking to himself "How can I get this guy to take a picture of me?" As the soldiers were leaving the gym he flashes a peace sign to the train that was walking right in front of our seats. Of coarse the newspaper had to get a picture of him..and subsequently me because I was holding him.
The writer also quoted the both of us: 

"Charleigh Clark of Columbus, who was holding her little brother, Jacob, 3, during the ceremony said so many thoughts were racing through her mind since her husband is among the troops making the deployment."I am really proud of him," she said. "I am scared and I am happy. I am already counting down the days for him to come home."Her husband, Pfc. Kendall Clark, embraced her in a long hug and kiss following the ceremony."This is my first deployment," he said. "I am ready to do what needs to be done so I can get back home." "

See the full story here.

Deployment

Today I said goodbye to my best friend, or "see ya later". Actually we didn't say either of those things. I have been putting off even thinking about this deployment for so long that when I woke up today I felt like it was a regular day. When I arrived at the venue where the Call to Duty Ceremony was held I realized this was not a regular day. While waiting for my family I started to do something thinking and I realized after today I wouldn't see Kendall for a long time. I was in and out of bouts of crying when my family met up with me. We walked into the building and I felt like everything was pretty much a blur. I didn't try to look anyone in the eye, I just wanted to get to my seat.

 The ceremony was alright. I calmed down quite a bit. After the ceremony I was approached by some local journalists who had snapped a picture of me and my little brother.

Then Kendall came back in for some last minute family time. I let everyone else have him before I latched on to him for dear life.

I was blubbering like a baby...

He didn't cry though. He assured me that he would come home and that he loves me with all of his heart. I nodded and sobbed and told him I love him too. It seemed like I had all of two minutes with him before he had to leave for formation and shortly after climb onto a bus.

My family asked me if I wanted to walk toward the buses to see him off, I replied "no". I was a mess and didn't want him to see me that way, after some prodding I reluctantly agreed. As soon as I saw him I could tell he had been crying and my knees buckled. I fell forward onto my knees and cried harder. I felt like screaming. I was physically feeling pain that could only be attributed to the fact that I did not want him to leave. It's a scary feeling. I felt a great pit in my stomach. The buses drove away and my crying eventually subsided. I still feel tears welling up, I'm hoping this goes away soon.

So now it's 11:55, he has called me to tell me that he has made it to his barracks and that he loves and misses me already. My eyes hurt from the sting of so many tears and my heart is heavy. Though I am strong I am feeling very weak. I'm embarrassed that I could not be strong for him and for how I cried. I'll see him for Christmas and after that it's a long nine months until he is home from deployment. Friends, hold your loved ones close, it is truly a terrible feeling when they have to leave you.

November Goals

I like to make goals. It makes me feel like I constantly have something to look forward to or work for, which I also feel is good for sanity. I am kind of a last minute person. I wait until something has to be done before actually getting around to it. For example, I have a paper due tonight. Have I started it? No. So to keep me from getting too disappointed I don't put expiration dates on my goals. Each month I'll post my goals. They might be the same, maybe be new? But when I accomplish them I'll also be sure to post that as well.

1. Ask for help more often

2. WORK!

3. Keep on working through this mess of a semester

4. Make a side-dish for Thanksgiving (for all of the dinners I go to)

5. Don't let deployment make me shut down

6. Keep blogging and try to nail down a schedule of days to post

7. Figure out the transfer process for school

8. Try really hard to get to the gym

9. Watch what I'm eating--it's getting out of hand

10. Set up a budget and stick to it.

So, not too exciting, not too difficult, blah blah. Set some goals for your November!

Our weekend

Over the weekend hubs and I had his battalion ball! Over the summer I had gotten a dress from a local dress stores sidewalk sale for 69.00! It was a steal and I tucked it away especially for the ball. It's odd to think that I had thought Kendall was going to propose at the ball, when little did I know we'd already be married! I had an old friend do my hair. It was just a bunch of curls pinned up. Originally we had left some of the curls dangling down, but I eventually pinned those up as well. I probably won't get my hair done for the next ball. I felt a little silly with my hair all done up. I felt slightly awkward because I didn't know a lot of people at the ball but I met some and had a blast with Kendall. 

We had some fun taking goofy pictures on the ride home...

Our car still says "just married" on the back... haha

For veterans day we were going to go to Applebee's so he could get a free meal but opted out when we found out how long the wait was. We decided to go to our favorite place instead.. Frisch's Big Boy! Kendall got a cheeseburger like he always gets and I also got a cheeseburger. I had sweet potato fries, him regular. We both also got the salad bar and shared a hot fudge cake. Mmmm. Kendall was still in his ACUs from the day. Our waitress brought over our check and informed us that someone had paid for our meal! 

We have no idea who the Good Samaritan was. An older couple stopped by our table before they left and thanked Kendall for his service and the woman looked at me and said "I also want to thank you." I just smiled, but I really wanted to tell her that I don't do anything! I haven't and most likely won't risk my life for my country! All I do is love a soldier, and that's not hard.

How was your weekend?

Mr & Mrs Clark!

Okay I've had a longer than expected hiatus. Trying to get everything together and finalized before deployment has had me and hubby quite busy. But, as promised I have posted wedding photos. Let me give you the low down of our low budget, rustic, intimate wedding... if you have any questions feel free to ask!

  Kendall and I were both in jeans and a white top, due to chilly weather we had to layer a little bit. The wedding was held at my great-aunts house. Her stonework patio in the backyard was just big enough to hold our 45-50ish guests comfortably. My aunt even had a pergola that was in the backyard which Kendall and I stood under for our ceremony. We had folding chairs donated to us from family and friends. A lot of our decor was made! My family saved all of their jars from everything they used. We used jars just about everywhere we could. 

 My little brother was our ring bearer, we found a box from The Flower Factory and stained and painted K+C in a heart on the top. He was very excited to be our ring bearer, he says "ring bear" though. He anxiously walked back and forth from my dad to us the whole service. I think he was just as nervous as Kendall and I!

 Our officiator was actually my high school choir director! He became ordained on a whim and I took full advantage of his services! I'm very glad that the person who made us man and wife was someone I knew very well. Kendall and I both also wore Vans, mine were mint green! 

 I had seen this sign on pinterest and knew I wanted it at my wedding. Kendall is very close with my family as I am with his, I think this was one of those staples we needed for our ceremony!

Overall we had a really fantastic time. I have more pictures but I only put up my favourites. Our photographer was Kendall's younger brother. We did have a small reception with food, and cake. This wedding would not have been possible without our families help. I've been away at school and Kendall has been gone for pre-deployment training, our families pulled everything together for us. The wedding came together pretty perfectly. We were both extremely nervous. Both of my parents bawled, and his mother also shed some tears. It was fantastic to share the time with our families. I am so glad to be married to such a wonderful man. 

Now to take a few weeks off before planning the "vow renewal"... (a lot of our decor will be reused)