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How I feel.

Zach, my sweetheart and love is leaving for bootcamp this Monday, January 9th. He will be going to Camp Pendleton for 13 weeks, and then on to more training. Recently he decided that he wanted to go active duty, signing a 5 year active duty contract. As people have heard this they constantly ask me how I feel about this, being his woman and all, so here goes:

I love Zach. He is:
bull-headed, bald-headed, strong, motivated, understanding, respectful, compassionate, passionate, self-realized, hardworking, persistent, consistent, humorous, curious, smart, family centered, caring... and many many other things. (Why yes, I do think he is the bee's knees. He is after all my boyfriend.)

Among all these attributes I love most his self realization and understanding. He knows what he wants in life, he knows how to get what he wants in life (even if it takes him time), and he has an understanding between him and God. Zach is one of the few people I know who understands fully who he is and the potential he has in himself... or at least he is getting there.

Part of Zach fulfilling his potential is him joining the Marines. not only does it provide a great service to this country and people in need, but it also provides his future family, our future family, the opportunity to survive in a slowly worsening world. Most importantly Zach wants to do this. I support him, I love him, and I am very proud of him. Yes, the time away will be hard. Even after 3 years of dating I cringe at the thought of being away from him for more than a week, but we are both strong. We can do this. I can do this. He can do this.

I cannot wait to see how the next few years play out. Zach will have so many opportunities in the Marines, I will have so many opportunities as a Marine Wife, and an X-ray tech. Deployments will be tough, but he has provided us both a way to continue schooling, and eventually begin a family from the roots up, based on both our sweat and tears. He is following the footsteps of the older generations the labor of love towards their families. Being a Marine may harden him in some aspects, but for the most part he will return to me the same smart-ass he left.

I look forward to seeing him in his blues (maybe even getting married to me in those blues!) I also look forward to the stories of courage, hope, faith, and patriotism that will be shared with me, and our children. Before now, now and, In 3 months I will say I am so proud of Zach. My Marine Man.

September Goals

I have a couple goals for September that I need to write down:

1. Create a good schedule and follow it. Including doing homework, laundry, and a work out/eating schedule.

2. Start loosing weight again. Goal: weigh 145-150 by the time Zach is out of boot (around the end of March.) I am starting it now. I am going to watch my calories, and begin running again. If it's unsuccessful I will probably do the HCG again over Jan-Mar. The Forciea women and I have made it a competition. The first 2 to loose the given amount of weight, to reach there goal weight will be taken out to dinner and bought a new outfit. Woot woot! I would like to win this! We will have to see though cause I'm swamped with school.

For now thats all :D

Anatomy and other such classes.

Officially 3 weeks into school. It's fun but crazy busy. I work about 20 hours a week at the Computer Science Labs, and I am taking a full schedule. Soooo tiiiiirrrrrreeddd. Anatomy has me studying a lot, and my other classes I put in a little bit here and there. It's not so bad. Just a lot to take in.

Zach is officially becoming a Marine. He got his medical waivers and swore in the middle of August. He is now a poole waiting to ship to boot. His official date to go to boot is January 3rd (Yay! He will be here for the holidays!) but, there is always a chance he will get sent in October. :( I'm going to miss him, but the idea is no longer foreign and he is doing what he wants to do. Which makes me extremely happy.

My mother is due in December, for all of you who don't know. It's going to be interesting to be the oldest of 14. We really need to get family pictures done soon. Very soon. Everyone is growing up so fast. Another year is beginning to come to a close and so much has happened. Crazy life.

I like my new apartment. I live at the Branbury with my best friend Megan. It's nice, I'm just not home a lot to enjoy it. We have a pool there, which makes weekends a blast, and a bathroom to ourselves, which makes the getting ready easy.

now, if you will excuse me I need to get back to studying anatomy!

Update: Summer Vacation

So much has happened over this summer:

-Philly: Wonderful time with family, philly cheese stakes, kissing under the "love" sign. Seeing Independence hall, going to movies, and a wonderful wedding reception.

-DC with Zach: Walking the entirety of the mall. Eating a snack on the lawn of the Lincoln Memorial, seeing amazing things at the museums, seeing art, considering napping on the statues park lawn, and finally a memorable view of everything from capitol hill.

-LBI, New Jersey: sleeping in until 11, an early morning walk on the beach, outdoor

showers, rook, uh well, and stupid until 2 in the morning. So much food, such a beautiful lighthouse, and some wonderful time with Zach just watching the sun, the clouds, and the waves.

Going back east was amazing, I'm so sad that it's already over. My favorite part, other than the alone time with Zach, was spending time with the family at dinners. The stories were wonderful, the food was wonderful, the company was best.

Wisconsin:

The drive: a 2 day drive, that had everyone not so happy by the end. Walkie talkie names, Nebraska bandit mom, "S*** hole" Wyoming, and souvenirs galore. Alphabet games, direction readings, and a very mosquito infested area on the way. My favorite memory was walking with Harley, we did the honking motion to a truck and he honked for us! It made me very happy.

Family reunion: Awesome day. Picture taking, picture sharing, volleyball, trampoline jumping, ping pong playing, roasted pig, and beer. My favorite was watching Peggy and Amy sharing pictures, Dani came close to tears, and everyone was amazed at the family resemblance. I also enjoyed directing the family picture. It was crazy.

Wisconsin: We went to the Michigan lake beach, played, threw rocks, and Harley couldn't get enough. Ciara cried when we saw what looked like the Ocean. It was beautiful. Made me miss the real beach back east. We also went to downtown Milwaukee, to the HUGE library, awesome museum (I loved the live butterfly exhibit), and just seeing the sites of the area. We also went to a baseball game, which the Brewers won! and to the Zoo, which we didn't even see all of it after a very long, but fun day. Favorite memory: being in the museum, we were walking through the fertility statues and Allison looked at me and told me to stay away from them...seeing as my mother has already had 13 of us. he he.

The 4th at Marys: We had delicious food, and swam all afternoon in the little pool. Harley would not get out of the pool, even after almost 2 hours. Decidedly he is a little fish. Talked, played beanbag toss, and shared more pictures. Towards the end Dave and Ralph started stick ice down peoples shirts and pants. It was war. Awkward moment: Coming out of the house, I saw (what I thought was) Zach, and went to give him a hug and kiss. As I slide my arm around him and leaned in to kiss him I realized it was Uncle Shawn. He just looked at my brilliantly red face and started laughing. Whoopppsss.... Everyone got a good laugh out of it.

Date night!: Zach and I decided to have an us night. :D We went to the cheesecake factory, then to B&N before Green Lantern. The theater we went too was kinda creepy, it was nice and all but there was basically no one there. Entertaining moment: as I went to get the seat for our movie Zach gasped and went slightly white and said "I will be right back" and ran. Turned out the hat (Green Bay Packer hat) he had just bought, after falling in love with it (he is SO picky when it comes to hats) was at the restaurant. He had forgotten it. He got it back much to his relief and my laughter.

I loved Wisconsin, I would be lying to say it was all peachy, but time will erase the not so fun details and leave the best ones around. :D

So there. I finally wrote a little bit more about the trip. Not much in comparison to the book I could write, but something.

Now on to school stuff. Ugh...

Its...

The little things.

him kissing and nipping my fingers.

it's his trust in me.

that look that says it all.

that mischievous smile when I know he is being naughty.

when he cuddles next to me and just smiles at me.

the fact that after saying "I love you" a million and one times, he is willing to say it to me again with perfect honesty.

I love my man. It's been a good day.

I love...

My families-Vances and Forcieas: All my brothers are getting older, and a 14th child is on the way in December. I love the way Ephraim talks, and Elijah is finally getting used to me. I love the Forciea family, I may not always be ballsy enough to speak my mind, but I've learned a thing or two. I love my (psuedo) Nieces and Nephews. I've especially gotten close with Harley and Hayden. I love them so. Whenever I am over at there house I get hugs and kisses!

My sweetheart- Zach and I: Not all fun and games but through the tough times we have learned so much. Even after 2 and a half years of dating he has my heart. I've learned patience, humor, acceptance, love, and gotten tough skin. He, well he has gotten a (itty bitty bitty :P) bit nicer, he has learned patience, how to wrestle a girl (among many other things) and he knows how to make me happy. We can now actually argue with each other! I may not be good at the whole "space" thing, but slowly I'm getting better at just having me time. My art and photography really help that. I'm not too excited he is leaving in October but hey, I love him.

My friends-Lisa, Megan, Manda, Dani and Lindsey. I guess this falls under family of sorts. Lisa--My crazy ass lover girl. We have corresponding tattoos, a love for the crazy side, and a need to occasionally read a hot romance novel. Megan--Ex- and soon to be again roomie. The better side of me, the one who helps me socialize, and watches super scary (or dumb) movies with me. Manda-- My theater geeker. The one who always brings Christ into the picture when I forget the importance. Dani-- Sisters (psuedo-in-law) with a whole lot in common. Crazy-movie-quoting-awesomeness, a like for not-so-good-music, and a wit that stings if your not careful. Lindsey the other sis, who loves to poke, and prod me. But is always on the lookout for how to help, and what to buy for birthdays. Plus she is great at finding recipes.

I love the people in my life. They make me happy, they make me want to be better, they drive me nuts.

<3 <3 <3