My husband’s home! Finally. He came home yesterday around 3:20 pm.  Man, it was a long day waiting for him to come in. I had clinicals yesterday morning so I had to be at the hospital at 6:45 am. Of course, it was the longest day possible because it was so slow! Nothing was happening. All the patients were fine - they didn’t need anything. Where are the needy patients when you want them??? So basically I stood around until 12:30 doing nothing except watching the clock tick.

Finally it was time to leave. I went back to Jessica’s and did a really fast change out of my scrubs into my super, hot outfit I bought. I fixed my hair and make up and was on my way. It was bright and sunny when I left Jess’s house - I was praising the Lord for the weather because the day before had been pouring!!! So as Im driving up I-5, what happens? Yep, it starts raining! Thank goodness, the parking garage is dry. So I finally get the Sea-Tac in plenty of time and his plane lands and there he is. I am finally in his arms again. It’s been since May 14 that I last hugged him.  It will be a great 18 days!

So tonight we decorated the Christmas tree. Yes, I know, it’s still early but the next two weeks  are going to be crazy for me and I want to make sure everythings done before Jeff gets home.  Plus I still have homework to do this weekend and Brandi and I are going shopping of Friday for “welcome home” outfits!!! This year I decided to do something a little different with the tree. I decided to do a color theme - Blue, white, and silver. I have to say, it’s beautiful!. On top there’s a huge bow and the “strings” are hanging down. As soon as it’s complete, I will put up a picture.

   Tomorrow is Thanksgiving - a time to be thankful for the things we have been given. I have much to be thankful for. My husband, my children, my friends, my crazy dog, believe it or not, nursing school,  but most of all my salvation. This year I am most thankful that God has saved me. I don’t deserve it and I am totally unworthy but still he loves me. And everyday I am amazed at His grace. I am so thankful that when life lets me down and things seem like they are falling apart, I can rest in His Word and know that He is there to wrap me in His arms. And when life is great and I’m having a fabulous day, I know He is celebrating with me. So on this turkey day, remember that even if you were the only person left on this earth, Jesus still would have died for you - that’s how much he loves you and me. Happy Thanksgiving!

I am so excited! We finally know when Jeff is coming home on R & R - around Dec 4 or 5!! It’s about 1 - 1 1/2 weeks earlier than we expected but I’m so thankful that he gets to come home this time. For those of you that don’t know, last time he was deployed (2003-2004) he was gone for 15 months straight and didn’t get to come home at all. It is nice that he will be home during that time because my best friends hubby will also be home at the exact same time so it will give them so “get to know each other time”. Brandi is my concert buddy and we’ve already decided that our hubbies are just going to have to get along because they’re just going to have to join on the concert circuit when they get home!

  So anyway, hopefully, I will make it through the last 2 weeks of school without losing my mind and keep my grades up. Between putting up the tree, cleaning my house, getting a welcome home outfit, and studying plus clinicals, I have a busy 2 weeks. Oh, yeah, don’t forget Thanksgiving!! But I feel so blessed. My hubby’s coming home!!

..To tell about my man.I don’t usually do these things, but I was urged…1. Who is your man? Jeff Crandall

6. Who said “I love you” first? I think it was him; sad that I don’t remember

7. Who is taller? He is8. Who sings better? Hmmm…neither one of us sing; I love to sing but I’m not sure he would say I sing very well J

9. Who is smarter? I think it depends on the topic… when it comes to history, he wins hands down – I hate history! But I know my way around a computer better than he does  and we are both pretty good when it comes to anything medical

10. Whose temper is worse? HIS!! I get my feelings hurt more often but I can get over my anger pretty quick

11. Who does the laundry? We both do.  I’m pretty picky about how I like it done. He’s gone right now so I do it all the time but when he’s home he doesn’t have any problem doing it. He just doesn’t like to fold it because he can never tell what clothes go in which pile.

12. Who takes out the garbage? That would be my 15 year old son, or my 11 year old daughter!

13. Who sleeps on the right side of the bed? He does

14. Who pays the bills? I do, but I hate it. Actually, it’s a love hate thing. I hate it because I want him to do it so I don’t have to but I love it because it’s a control thing. (sad, I know)

15. Who is better with the computer? Depends on what we’re doing. If it has anything to do with Microsoft Office, him; he uses it for work all the time and I still have a hard time using ppt. and excel. Now, give me a blog or myspace, and he doesn’t hold a candle to me!!

16. Who mows the lawn? HIM, I hate yard work. Actually again, him and my son

17. Who cooks dinner? Both. Jeff loves to grill but since we live in WA. State, we don’t get to grill for about 9 months out of the year. So you have to get creative inside with the menu.

18. Who drives when you are together? Most of the time, I do. Again, it’s a control thing (maybe I should work on that!) he actually prefers me to drive, I think he hates dealing with the traffic and I really don’t mind it to much

19. Who pays when you go out? Whoever remembered their wallet. (that can be a toss up!)20. Who is most stubborn? Both it just depends on the issue

21. Who is the first to admit when they are wrong? I think we’ve both gotten pretty good at saying I’m sorry.

22. Whose parents do you see the most? Neither anymore. Most of them live on the East coast so we don’t see any but it would probably be my mom.

23. Who kissed who first? He kissed me first – many moons agoJ

24. Who asked who out? I think he asked me out – back in high school but I honestly can’t remember

25. Who proposed? He did – sort of. He basically said, so I guess we’re getting married? Pretty lame!

26. Who is more sensitive? me – I get my feelings hurt easy.

27. Who has more friends? We have about the same. Being in the military it’s hard to make close friends but in the last year, the Lord has blessed me with several wonderful friends.

28. Who has more siblings? Neither, we are both only children

29. Who wears the pants in the family? Neither, we bother lead together. We always make the decisions togetherOkay, if you read this whole thing, consider yourself tagged! leave a comment and I will come and read your answers on your blog

it’s done. i’ve finally found my church. it’s taken a few months but yesterday i finally went to church with sonnie, a friend of mine from school. she goes to christian faith center, which is where i’ll be going from now on.  it was so amazing! i was excited all week and when i walked in it was like the Lord was saying, “this is where you need to be”.  it’s a big church but i’m ok with that. and my girls LOVED it! they said it’s the best church they’ve been to yet!  So, of course I had to call brandi and bring her to church with me last night.

   Israel and New Breed were performing last night so she brought the girls over to my house and they stayed with Kayci and we drove up north and went to dinner and then to church. WOW! those guys are AWESOME!! I’d never really heard any of their music but I was blown away!! What an amazing night of worship! It was what I needed and I think it was what Brandi needed. We hadn’t seen each other in probably 2 weeks so it was good to have some girl time! & what better place to do that than church!

   So on Wed. Brandi and I are going to see Aaron Shust in concert and I’m expecting that to be amazing too. But for now, I must go study. *sigh*….

So, this is my attempt at journaling. I hate writing but I don’t mind typing so I thought maybe this would work as an outlet for my random thoughts. Of course, I don’t really need another excuse to be on the computer, seeing as how I already find any reason to be on myspace but since I’m on the computer all the time for school anyway, what does it hurt?? A little bit about me: I’m a Christian, first and foremost so if that is a problem, so be it; my husband is in the army and is currently deployed so I do like to vent from time to time about the govt. and how much I currently hate them; but on a good note, he is coming home on R & R in Dec, so I’m very excited about that!!!! I’m also a mother of 3 great kids ages 15, 11, & 7; I am in Nursing school - again, much venting - and, last but not least, I love Christian Concerts!!!!! In fact I’ve been to 8 this year. Right now I would have to say my favorite artists to see in concert are Phil Wickham & Kutless - I have seen them both 3 times this year and I will be going to see Phil Wickham again Dec. 1. Anyway, that’s just a small snapshot of my life. Stop by from time to time to see if anything interesting is happening! oh, yeah, i don’t usually capitalize when i type so i hope it doesn’t bother anyone and if it does, i’m sorry, i just hate taking the time to do it.

Sammi