Progress!

So, I started training for the Vienna Half Marathon using a training plan made for me by my love. I think I am getting better! I can see my average minutes per mile slowly decreasing. That is very encouraging. My goal is to do the race in 2 hours, 11 minutes or less. Justin is also running the half marathon. I was very surprised when he told me he plans on running with me. He is a better runner than I am...I am slower. I told him he didn't have to do that...I would be okay.  He insisted he's going to. He wants to cross the finish line next to me.  That is damn sweet.

Speaking of love so amazing it makes people want to throw up...he and I have an important day on Monday. That will be the 2 year anniversary of when we met and had our first date at Cafe Pinot in downtown Los Angeles. We both agree it was the best date of our lives and it's just gotten better since then. 2 years of love and laughter with many more ahead of us. I am taking him to a nice place on Monday...it's my treat and it's a surprise. I am very much looking forward to it...and the rest of my life, for that matter.

He has been sick this past week. It might be the flu. So far I feel like I am coming down with something but only a little...I wake up with a sore throat and I sneeze sometimes but I don't feel full on sick and miserable. I am hoping my body fights this thing off, whatever it is. I could be imaging it but I think the running is boosting my immune system...my kids and Justin keep getting sick but I don't feel like I have which is very unusual. I usually spend the cold season miserable...and coughing.  But not this year.

So, I was cleaning out things and getting rid of junk we don't need when I came across this ugly thing:

Holy ugly item, Batman!  This must be some tasteless remnant of an ex-girlfriend...aaaaand in the trash it goes. I'm also getting rid of some hideous pink towels too...and linens.  Ah...feels good to purge this junk!

I also found the card that came with my Coach purse from my birthday last year:

 And inside:

How cute and silly is he? Ah, I love him so.

He is on his way home from LA now...he's still sick. Cannot wait to make him feel better. He recharges at home...he gets home so irritated and frowny and is soon smiling and laughing.  Happiness on that man is beautiful.  Or, as he says to me all the time, beautimus.

He makes up funny words.  :)

I cannot believe it's only been 2 years! I feel like I have known him my whole life. I have...he's the person I knew I was looking for even before I met him. And that night when we went on that date it was such a strong feeling of "There you are...I have been looking for you."

And he feels the same way.

Love is grand, people. It's the most amazing thing I have ever experienced.

Oh, he recently traded his bike for a green, tandem beach cruiser!  He thought it would be fun to ride with me. All I could think when I saw it was ENGAGEMENT PHOTOS!  When the weather gets better I am setting up a photo session...he is the most interesting man. What man does that?  What man trades a bike with which he could make money for a tandem bike so he can ride around with his lady?  My man does that.  Mine.

I feel incredibly lucky.

Only 3 more months until we get to be with Mollie in Vienna! I miss her and the kiddos...can't wait to hang out more. So looking forward to Europe with my Justin. If I mention it he breaks into a big smile. He is excited to. He misses his sister and he wants to show me everything. We're going to pop over to Italy for a few days and have an adventure on our own. The first time either of us have been to Italy! So exciting.

I'm gonna go clean things so that he doesn't have to do anything tomorrow except REST.

My poor love...I love him so much!

Happy 2013

Life has been very busy since I got back from Oregon! It was a short trip but very awesome. It did not snow but it did rain a lot...we love the rain. It's romantic and we don't get enough of it.

We had so much fun with his parents...we ate, we drank, we played games, we watched movies.  Justin surprised me with a new iPhone 5 so I was able to play Draw Something with them. He's so sweet and amazing to me! He spoils me rotten. I love it.

I've had him here since we got home...but he leaves Wednesday. Not for long but I wish he could be with me every day.  Someday...

Gonna go downstairs and snuggle with him...best part of my day...

So much to do!!

So, I leave for Oregon in 2 days.  I get to be reunited with my love and hang out with family.

I have a ton to do in the next few days...I was going to work overtime because I have a ton to do at work as well but I just don't have time. I have too much to do.

I am really looking forward to seeing my love again...I said goodbye Monday morning and I'll see him Friday night. I hate when we're apart!  It's going to be a good Christmas.

I feel so terrible for the families in Connecticut who do not get to be with their loved ones this Christmas. What a horrible nightmare that must be. I'm sick of hearing people blame gun control or autism. I'm sure there are a thousand little things that led up to that kid doing this horrible thing. He was clearly mentally ill which is NOT the same as autism. And my first reaction was "people shouldn't have easy access to guns" too but some pointed out to me that he would have just used something else. He was just sick, clearly, and it's a terrible thing that happened.  I don't want to read anything about guns or autism. I just want to read about the lives that were lost and share in the grief of their loss. And be grateful my beautiful children are safe and well...hug them close and never take them for granted.

Can't wait to hug and smooch my soul mate!! 

My Ocean and Me

This song popped up on Pandora and totally reminded me of Justin and I since he travels so much:

“In My Arms” by Jon Foreman:

Here, my dear
This is where
We'll shake the nightmares free
I dream to hold you in my arms
I dream to hold you in my arms
To hold you in my arms
Wide awake in my arms

I think I figured it out
We need to be together
Like the shore and the sea
We are not one thing
We're drawn here together
My ocean and me

I dream to hold you in my arms
I dream to hold you in my arms
To hold you in my arms
Wide awake in my arms
Love we sleep apart
For the last time
For the last time

I dream to hold you in my arms
I dream to hold you in my arms
To hold you in my arms
Wide awake in my arms
Wide awake in my arms
Wide awake in my arms
Wide awake in my arms

Here, my dear
This is where
We'll shake the nightmares free

I dream to hold you in my arms
I dream to hold you in my arms
To hold you in my arms
Wide awake in my arms

I think I figured it out
We need to be together
Like the shore and the sea
We are not one thing
We're drawn here together
My ocean and me
I dream to hold you in my arms
I dream to hold you in my arms
To hold you in my arms
Wide awake in my arms
Love we sleep apart
For the last time
For the last time

I dream to hold you in my arms
I dream to hold you in my arms
To hold you in my arms
Wide awake in my arms
Wide awake in my arms
Wide awake in my arms
Wide awake in my arms

Lovely! I sent this to Justin and he replied "I looove you!!"

Can't wait to hold him in my arms again this weekend...and soon after we go to Oregon for holiday fun!!!!! So excited.

Melted Heart

I get him back in only a little over 24 hours!  So happy about that.  Today he sent me this email:

"I don't think you will ever really know or understand how much you mean to me....I feel so dang lucky to have you."

Swoon/melt!

I feel lucky, too, my love. Hurry home!!!

Losing Sleep

One of the things I notice about when Justin is off on a business trip is that I do not sleep very well. When he is home I sleep like a baby but when he is away falling asleep is difficult. I tend to get only 4-5 hours per night. I'm so exhausted! I couldn't run this morning...not on less than 4 hours of sleep.   I'll run after work for sure.

He just sent me an email that said:

"I already love you forever.  It feels awesome!"

I love his words.

I've been keeping really busy...only have to get through another 2 days, 2 hours and 10 minutes before I am in his arms again. Oh, and I got a photo from the couple who adopted Finn today! He looks so happy and he's getting so big! 

I think tonight might be a Motrin PM kind of night...but despite my exhaustion I am really happy. And really looking forward to Thursday!

My Justin

I took Mia on a bike ride around the neighborhood to see Christmas lights. I texted Justin to let him know what we were doing (he's en route to somewhere for work right now):

Justin: Lucky punk!!!...that sounds like so much fun right now!!
Me: It is!
Justin: I miss them! I miss my family. You guys are the best thing in my life.
Me: You are super missed. You are my life!
Justin: You are my wife! :)

I love that..."You are my wife..."

I love being his wife. It's not legal yet but what's a piece of paper? We live like married people. We share expenses (though not bank accounts because I am not a money grubbing bitch like some of his ex girlfriends), we share a home, we both care for the kids and pets, we both do chores, we take vacations...we are going to spend the rest of our lives together.

I remember how I felt when the gravity of my first marriage hit me...it was a "Oh, shit...what have I done?" kind of thing when the concept of marriage really hit me. It was not good. I was only 21 and I realized I had made a huge mistake.

When I think about spending my life with Justin I feel content...lucky...and really excited. It just feels right. Everything about him has felt correct since the first time we met. Best date ever...best first kiss ever...best brown chicken brown cow EVER...I had never felt more comfortable with another person in my life. He understands me...he sees me. I have felt like I could be myself from the very beginning...I've never had to hide anything from him. I let him see the good and the bad. And he is awesome at communicating. He can always make me laugh or at least smile.

I just asked him if growing old with me scares him...he said "not in the slightest...actually makes me want to workout more so I will be around longer."  Well, he said more than that but I won't share the rest because it's dirty...which is another thing I love about him. He is the only man who has ever been able to keep up with me...mentally or physically. It's really refreshing. I spent 8 years in a marriage that lacked any kind of chemistry and now every time is like the finale of a fireworks show. /sigh 

I love my life.