In Loving Memory. Cohen.

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toys running the streets and day 8. a photo that makes you angry/sad.

ok..back on track.  It was the Summer Solstice weekend here in AK and if you have ever been in Alaska you know that Summer Solstice=tons of fun!  Our days & nights were jammed packed full of activities, one of them being a 10k!  I am so proud of myself for completing the 6.2 miles and for actually running 6 of those 6.2 miles!  This was my very first 10k and I absolutely LOVED it!  Greg and I have already decided to try our first 1/2 marathon in August..training mode has taken over!  Here in our town of Alaska the Midnight Sun 10k Run is a sight to be seen!  Some people dress up in costumes to celebrate the 24-hours of sunlight and of course, I participated.  I'm not exactly one to let fun times slip by...
10,000 points to whoever can guess what we were? :) 

pre-race:

post-race:

We seriously felt like celebrities the entire race {and no, I ran in pink tennis shoes, not the pink heels}!  Kids, and adults, went bananas for us!  I've never taken so many pictures for people in my life..it only confirms that I was wrong to not trust my gut and audition for Tinkerbell at Disney World the summer I graduated from college!  And because I just love my husband & his hilarious ways, I have to show you guys this pic!

It takes one creative man to figure out how to wear cowboy boots AND run a 10k!  Nice work, babe!

So..speaking of running/working-out/in-shape{ness}.  Here's my day 8 pics:

Angry: because I don't look like this anymore.

Sad: because I did it the complete wrong way.

But ya know what?  I'm happy now.  That's more than I can say for myself back then.  Both these pics were taken when I was a Senior in College ('07) and honestly, I was a tad-bit crazy brained about working out.  I woke up, worked out, went to class, went for a long run, went to work, worked out, attended my group x classes, then went to dance practice, and usually ate a hot dog {no bun} for dinner. No joke. Too much on the body?  Absolutely.  I saw the gym as an opportunity to relieve stress and so I smothered myself in it.  Sure, I would love to look like this again, and by training the proper way I hope to obtain my goal.  First stop, 5k on the 4th of July! 

day 7. a photo that makes you happy.

experiencing life with him by my side.

This was as we were leaving our wedding reception..happy, excited, giddy...

It feels as if we are constantly waving goodbye.  Either to our family & friends{moving to far away places}, to each other {deployments, training, etc}, or to our new friends at each Army destination {PCS}.  But I think what makes me happy about waving goodbye, a normally sad event...is knowing that I'm following the life God has laid out for me.  And that life is being a wife to that handsome man by my side.

day 6. tickles my fancy.

Since today is all about tickling my fancy, here's what REALLY hit home with me today.

My husband just finished up a training class last night for the Army and earned a new badge.  {so proud of you babe!}  This class was one of the toughest things Greg has encountered in a very long time...only approximately 30 passed and the class started with near 70 students.  I can't even begin to tell you how many hours my poor husband spent with his nose in the books during the past 3 weeks.  Literally, the extent of our conversations went something like this:

Me: Welcome home

Greg: Thanks baby.

[a few hours later]

Me: I love you, here's your dinner.

Greg: Thanks Shan..I love you too.

[a few hours later]

Me: Going to bed now..I love you.

Greg: I love you too..sweet dreams.

repeat next day.

And that's it.  For three weeks, I saw my husband physically at night, but mentally, he was checked out..and for good reason.  Finally, when he arrived back to our house Tuesday night at 11pm, sweaty, hungry, dirty, dusty, sun-burnt, and drained..all of his hardwork had officially paid off! :)  I don't know if me or him was more excited for that moment!  Where am I going with all this??

Well, yesterday, my husband had a much deserved day off!  We slept in...lounged on the couch, he got to take a nap (which I can't remember the last time he did) while I went to lunch with my girlfriends {love them!}, we went around town & even bought our first vegetable plant, came home to cook dinner together, went for a fabulous walk beside the river on post, cleaned our house, put lampshades on, shredded some files, caught up on DVR shows, and fell asleep side by side.

My day was jammed packed FULL of little moments.  Ya know, those moments where you pinch yourself because you can't really believe this is real life.  The moments where you have the biggest smile slapped across your face and you can't get it off.  The moments where you are absolutely 100% positive that this is where you are supposed to be and who you are supposed to be with.  Just the two of us...

Moving on, Greg and I both know that we are going to be parents. one day. Lord-willing. Unlike Carrie & Big...SATC reference ;)..we don't want it just be the two of us, forever.  Rather it be by having a biological child or by adoption, our family will grow..and we both sooooo look forward to that day when God blesses us with the gift of a child.  Isn't it that we are always eager and anxious for the next stage in life?  Maybe it's finding Mr. Right, Graduating from college, Marrying Mr. Right, Having your first child, retiring & traveling with Mr. Right...the next stage in life seems way more appealing than where we are now.  I've always lived like this, and when I look back on my past memories [high school, college, our wedding] I wish I would have embraced them more and appreciated them for the awesome moments they were.

All of my little moments I've had with my husband recently have made me appreciate the here and now.  God has us here for a very specific reason and it feels great to just enjoy it...today.  And that, my friends, tickles my fancy.

day 5. favorite quote(s).

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."
                  -Jeremiah 29:11


"Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart."
                  -Psalm 37:4

day 4. favorite book(s).

no surprises here. addiction.

this book is AMAZING.

and this book is fabulous, the movie absolutely STINKS.  I honestly wish I would have never gone to see it...

And for a fav. children's book {which I cannot wait to read to our child(ren) one day}

day 3. favorite tv show(s).

Love the Army Wives show on Lifetime. Sure, some of it is complete and total ridiculousness, however, I'm still hooked.  And as sad as it may be, some of my non-military friends enjoy the show and get a tiny little glimpse into my life.

If you come into my house and flip on the TV..there about a 99.9% chance it will be on HGTV.  My favorite channel of all time!  I am obsessed with home decor and home buying/selling...Greg and I have always had a lifetime goal to flip a house one day & we make such a great team!  He's the handyman and I'm the one with design & style knowledge! :) Here's a couple of my favorites:

Again, love anything related to dance and this show never disappoints.

And last, but certainly not least, this is my favorite duo!  If I ever got the chance to meet Stacy London I think my life would be complete! {but hopefully not because I got put on the show!}