The power of a note!

We of course are trying to get David ready to go. Tonite for what ever reason seems hard. I was folding clothes and realized I will probably not fold anymore of his clothes for quite ahwhile. The tears started to come... David gave me a looong hug and we shared a moment of sadness. God always knows what we need though. I asked David to pull the cards from his deployment parties. People had used one card for giving us there addresses and emails. The other they wrote notes of encouragement. David had not read them till tonite. They moved us to tears and also to embrace Christ! Many of you gave us verses of encouragement and your words were beyond precious. David and I were reminded that God is GOOD ALL THE TIME. He has a plan that we can not even fathom. I also realized how important written words are, the power a small note can have. When was the last time you actually wrote a hand written note, I'm not saying Facebook is bad but think how much it means to actually get a letter not just a Facebook message... The last one I got was from my sweet mother. My whole day was brightened and my heart lifted by that card. Facebook, email and such can never replace the warmth and feeling that comes in a hand written note! So maybe today you could pick someone in your life that means a lot to you and you could write them a note... Not a Facebook message but a real note so get a card and a stamp and do it!

Never underestimate the power of a note!

I promise as soon as I have an address for David I will get it to you all. I want him to be flooded with fan mail that it will make his unit jealous at how loved he is!

Signing off!

The Wife

270 Gifts!

This Christmas for David and I of course is some what bittersweet. We loved having the time together, but it aslo reminded us that he leaves soon. I am sooo blessed, David is so very precious and thoughtful. He really put a lot of time and thought in to his gift this year.

So Christmas morning came and I found a very oddly shaped gift. I opened it and it was a basket filled with envelopes. 270 to be exact. Each envelope represents a day he and I will be apart (from when he actually steps foot in Kuwait. So they work as a countdown to him being home. 

He called it; "270 things I love about You" 

Each envelope has 1 thing he loves about me, a note from him, and either a devotional or scripture or funny cartoon and also told me a few of the envelopes have gift cards to some of my favorite places. 

He enclosed a puzzle piece in each envelope as well. The puzzle is a picture of our favorite photo together. So each day I will get a puzzle piece and over the year I will be able to piece it all togther. The last piece is hidden in the house and we will put the last piece in when he gets home. This gift brought tears to my eyes and goosebumps to my arms! How precious and thoughtful. He told me he had been working on this gift for the past 6 months.

I am so thankful for David and the way he loves me! I truly can't imagine a better man for me. God's love for me is overwhelming and I still can't believe that he chose me for David!!

Signing off!

The Wife

Eucharisteo

Many of you got our Christmas Card, but thought I would share this again!

Merry Christmas!!

This Christmas David and I are celebrating an amazing and blessed year! Most of all we are celebrating an endless season of Eucharisteo a sinlge Greek word split into 3 seperate words that all work together. 

Eucharisteo-Thanksgiving

Charis-Grace 

Chara-JOY

David and I choose to go into this new year with those three words!

Thanksgiving~Grace~Joy

During this Christmas season let us be THANKFUL and remember the GRACE of our Saviour and the JOY of our Salvation!!!

Signing off!

The Wife

Deployment Party # 2

Back in November we had another deployment party fot David. This time it was in Greemsboro, so all our friends and family could wish him well. My amazing friends and Bosses helped getting the food catered! It was delicious! My dear friend Joe Parker from JP's cupcakery donated his famous cupcakes! They were a huge HIT!! How can I forget, My mother made her famous chocolate chip cookies, they are amazing! If you have had them you probably would agree! They are David's favorite cookies. What a precious time with family and friends. David and I can't express how much we appreciate all of you who came and the outpouring of love from each person that came. I know that it was an encouragement to David. Please be in prayer for him as his world is about to be turned upside down. Please also pray as to how God will use him to further His kingdom. 

Thank you Rebecca Setzer for capturing the evening so once again I could just be the wife and not the photogrpher!

Signing off!

The Wife

Deployment Party # 1

So Sunday October 16, we had a Deployment party with our Family and Friends in the Statesville area.
David's cousin Toni was so sweet to capture the day! Which was nice because it meant my camera could stay in it's bag! It was such a blessing to see the outpouring of love. Everyone brought food and desserts. You can see it in the picture, we started a scrap book for David with all things deployment. We had everyone write notes and scripture or prayers for him. David and I covet your prayers during this season of life. I know that absence makes the heart grow fonder but like most things it is easier said then done!

Thank you to all of you that came out and contributed to the Statesville Party!

Signing off the Wife!

Father's Day!

My Hero! Seriously there are not enough words to describe how much I love and respect this man. He has taught me so much about a "fathers Love" and the picture of the way a man is to love. I am married to an amazing guy... but that is only because of the high bar and example he set. The way he loves my Mom and loves the Lord is well.. simply amazing. He is humble, kind, and gracious. He has a way of loving people and loving the unlovely, abandoned, and lost. Thinking of my dad and the Godly man he is brings tears to my eyes. I do not take his love forgranted, so many sweet young women are growing up without Dads or Dad's that know how to love them. He has played major roles in so many lives showing them that there are good, pure, and honerable men. I know God uses him in mighty ways and through his actions I know he is showing the "love of our Heavenly Father." I know God will say to him, "well done my good and faithful servant!" So on this Father's day I want everyone to know that I am so blessed to have this man as my Father!!




Below are the lyrics to the song I danced to at my wedding with my precious Father!


Three feet tall and full of questions
You must have thought I was the smartest man alive
I didn't always have the answers
To every little how and where and why

Like Daddy, why's the sky so blue today?
Does Jesus really hear me when I pray?
When I grow up, will I be just like you?
Will I be tall and strong and brave?

CHORUS(1):
There is no power on earth like your fathers' love
So big and so strong as your father's love
A promise that's sacred, a promise from heaven above
No matter where you go... always know
You can depend on your father's love

Especially when it's cold, especially when you're lonely
When your little heart is lost trying to find it's way
I know the world is always changing
But, remember, that some things never change

And even when my life on earth is through
There will still be a part of me in you
'Cause some things are forever
Nothing's ever gonna take my love from you

CHORUS(2):
There is no power on earth like your father's love
So big and so strong as your father's love
A promise that's sacred, a promise from heaven above
Did I hug enough, did I care enough
When you most needed me,
Was I there enough
Enough to make you feel the power of
Your father's love

Bob Carlisle

Home Again!

Well David got in at 11:32 pm!! YAY!! It was amazing to see him! How fabulous that I get butterflies even after 4 years and 4 months of wedded bliss. Being married to David has been one of God's Greatest blessings to me in my life! Him being away made me realize even more how much I love, adore, and cherish David. To be able to see him in person and hug him was the absolute highlight of my last two weeks.

I wish I could say he got to sleep in and relax... but we hit the ground running! We had both sets of our parents here for fathers day. We were going to just do pizza, but David really wanted to show off his mad grilling skills. Se we surprised them and had the following menu!

Appetizers
Bruschetta on French Baguettes garnished with fresh Romano  Cheese
Grilled Scallops Marinated in Raspberry Vinaigrette

Main Course
Grilled Citrus Basil Glazed Salmon
Grilled French Green Beans with Special Seasonings
Roasted Red Garlic Potatoes
Fresh Fruit Salad

Dessert!
Turtle Cupcakes And Devils Food Garnished with a Strawberry!

YUM!

Bot the sets of parents loved it and were pleasantly surprised.

We also got to go see our friends Madeline and Paul McClain's new baby girl, Vivienne Ava, and she is beautiful. I had the honor of doing Vivienne's first official Photo Shoot! There is something amazingly sweet about capturing New Parents and their sweet new additions!

The Halls! We heart this family sooo much. We met them at AMF Bowling lanes and had a fun, laughter filled time! It is always good to get together with them and even better, we had a coupon!! 1.49 games! You gotta love technology! I looked up coupons for bowling on the way there, and found this! and how cool they honored it from my phone!! 

So quite a busy day for us but sooo fun! Ending the day with popcorn and a movie with my seet hubby!

Signing off!

The Wife

Great Things Often Happen!

Hello all,

 Well as my 2 week tour is nearing its end, I must say that it has been eventful. I  have met some great folks here at the shipyard as well as in Code 106, Environmental group which is where I supported  and worked. My Boss has been great and treated me like family, and she has been a pleasure to work for. Today she awarded me with a PDQ award that resulted in an I-pod / I-phone docking station shown in the photo. I am going to gift it to my loving wife. .

Have a great night,

QM3 Cloer

breakdown

well as you can tell from the title of this post that well... It finally hit me last nite as I was bout to go to bed as to how much I missed David, and how much I will miss him when he deploys. (Yes I cried my eyes out for a little bit) Ug... So 1. I can't wait for him to get home on Friday! 2. I am going to cherish these next few months we have for now and try to plan some special stuff do he will have great memories to take with him. 

This is what David left hidden for me in a few different spots for while he is gone. He is so sweet and precious to have done this, and let me to tell you the cards were PRECIOUS!

Signing off!

The Wife

I Heart My Camera!

All pictures downloaded from the weekend! I should have plenty to keep me busy until David gets Home!

Double Booked

So YES I am missing David, but I had quite a day and it kept my mind off the fact that David is not here.

Today was an amazing day! I get double and sometimes triple booked for photo sessions but not generally for weddings. Shot By Cloer had the privelage to do 2 weddings today. One word for both "AMAZING." Both couples were absolutely Beautiful! Can I just say I love My Job! Getting to capture people in the moments that mean the most to them is such an honor. I also get to shoot with a super talented lady, Rebecca Setzer. She and I have known each other for years!! We have a blast together! This is a cute shot she got today when we were checking light and a fun one of me in action!

Signing off!
The Wife

Sightseeing in Seattle -Part 1

All,
So today I spent my time walking around Seattle checking out the city. The temperature was about 68 degrees, windy and cloudy. I met some folks on the ferry that were from St.Louis and they were also on vacation and suggested places to see while I was in Seattle. So I visited the Pikes Peak Market, and stopped in to see the folks that toss the fish from counter to counter, that was unique to see a 30 pound salmon get tossed and caught in a paper wrapper.

I had lunch at the Lowells, right there in the market, it claimed that they had the best Fish & Chips they were just ok
Will post more tomorrow wifi is running slow and my connection is weak.

Have a good night

Skype

So David and I made it through week one.

It was a great week!
And David and talked on the phone and on Skype. Talking on the phone reminded me of when we first started our relationship. How fun how God brought us together.

The view from here...

A little bit of the week in review...

Sylva and I have found a passion for running

I lost 4.5 pounds

Loving the New LifeStyle Change

Had Photo Shoots

Got a little taste of what it will be like in 2012

Well tomorrow is going to be a little nuts!

I have not 1 but 2 weddings to shoot tomorrow!

So Signing off!

The Wife

New lifestyle

So on Monday I started a New Diet, But I hate to call it that... so lets say it is a life style change! I am now 2 days with no Soda and by the end of today 3 days! Woohoo! I am running 1.5 miles in the morning and evening (with Sylva of course, and BTW show LOVES our runs), strength & ab training at nite, and drinking tons of water! It's great when you get see immediate results! I  am down 2.5 lbs! YAY me!!

I am using this great phone app called "My Fitness Pal" It tracks everything from your calorie intake, exercise etc... You can download it to your phone or do it online at www.myfitnesspal.com

You should check it out! It is flippin amazing!

Have a great Wednesday!
Signing off,

The Wife

1st Tuesday of two

Hello all,

Today is the first Tuesday of my two week trip, and tuesday's back home for me and Lindsay is typically movie night. So having said Lindsay packed several gifts for me to open during my trip and todays gift was Junior Mints which is a must have when watching any movie. Thanks Lindsay, Love you

Motivated 06/06/2011

6:30 am I hit the ground running literally. My Sweet beagle/lab mix Sylva and I went for a 1.5 mile run this morning. Sylva has a tendency to get bored in the backyard (yes she has plenty of safe toys) and she likes to DIG. I mean ankle breaking holes LOL. So I looked up things we could do to help bring this to stop or lessen it. One things was to make sure they are getting enough exercise. So a run in the morning and a run at nite it is. I need the exercise too so this is a good fix.

I also started a food and exercise journal so I can track my progress. At the end of July I want to run in the Bel Cher 5k in Asheville. So I thought tracking myr progress would be fun. It's always fun to see where you began.

So Day one Success! No new holes and old holes are not bigger! Yay Sylva! And Yay ME!!
I think she may be a little worn out! Such a sweet girl! She so far is loving our runs together

Well it's time for this runner to go to bed... hmmm hopefully the Hubby will skype me soon.... Yaaawwwwn because this girl is sleepy. And 6 am will come early for me and Sylva.

Signing Off 

The Wife

Seattle Bound

Hello all.

So Saturday I got the first exposure to a 6hr flight aross the country to Washington State. Attached are some photos from 30K feet of the mountain ranges of Washington State as we were flying over.

The next photo is my kit for getting through a 6hr flight:
The Hobbit (cant wait to see the film in Dec 2012)
I-Phone
and a cold drink (relax its just coke....really...just coke)

I want to thank my wife for packing my bags with 2 weeks of wrapped gifts to open each day of my trip. Lindsay you are an awesome wife.

I cannot go into much detail about my duties here as I am in a classifed area, but I am doing some really cool stuff, and thats all I saying.

Thats all for now.
God bless you all,
QM3 Cloer

Sunday June 5, 2011

So I had to drag myself out of my wonderful bed this morning and my heart and flesh battled as to whether I should go to church or not. Well my heart won out and I drove myslef to Reynolada Church. David and I have been visiting there for about 2 months, and we love it. So this Sunday I was sooo glad that I went, amazing! Pastor Alan talked about how Grace and Truth have to go together. The thing that resounded with me was this...

"If you only have truth but no grace you will end up hurting somebody"

Which is so TRUE. They do have to go hand in hand.

Today David has Oreintation for the facility he is working with. He is 3 hours behind our time here, so his day has rreally just begun. He can't have his phone... sad... so I won't hear from him to late tonite when he gets done.

Have a shoot at 12:30 so signing off

The Wife

Friday 06/03/2011

FRIDAY!!

I love fridays generally, but todays is bittersweet. I packed David up so I can see him off bright and early Saturday Morning, and off to Seattle he will go. We did have a nice last evening together though. I wrapped up and hid away in his suitcase 14 little surprises for each day he is gone. Then we went off to see X-men the first class. (IT WAS GREAT by the way) We got home a "lil" late to say the least, so a little last minute things (like a haircut) and we hit the hay!

BEEP BEEP BEEP! 4:45 am came very early! But David got to the airport on time! I kissed him goodbye and headed to my G-mom's (aka Grandma) house to crash for a few hours. I love my Saturdays with David but obviously we are apart so I did the next best thing! After visiting with G-mom's for a few I headed to my sister-in-laws house to pick up my neice Hailee & Hannah. I was taking the girls for a few hours so Mere could get some stuff done. So we went to Toys and Company, and then as you can see below took them to pet a sweet little baby chihuahua. Hannah called him a her and a sweet tiny baby.

I was not lacking any entertainment with these two! We ate lunch at MiMi's house and did sidewalk chalk. 

The rest of the afternoon consisted of me running to Target, coldstone with my BFF (hah) Stacey, and a Wedding Consult and mini engagement session. So althought David is gone right no... I am not lacking anything to do.

When I got home I got a surprise from the hubby! A sweet sweet card and Papa J's Gift card! 

AND tonite I got to Skype with David and all the dogs said there hellos to their Daddy!

Signing Off! 

The Wife

June 1, 2011

Hi Friends & Family!

So David & I are doing quite well and thoroughly enjoying Married Life, yes even after 4 years! Being married to your best friend certainly has it's advantages! Spending each day together is an amazing gift that I do not take for granted! We found out this past December that David had made the infamous "LIST" which we know as you are 99.9% getting deployed! And sure enough he has gotten orders and will be departing in December. So I know what your thinking, yes I can handle and yes I can make it! And so can he! God has started such an amazing work in us and I know He will use this time to strengthen us and well if we can do this we can do anything!

Sidebar: Every year David has to do 2 weeks for the navy of some kind of work or training. This year he is heading to Seattle to help with some environmental stuff. I figure this will be a good time for me to get a feel for him being gone. So Stewie, Snapple, & Sylva and I will do our best to get along with out him. Of course we will Skype with David and talk on the phone. How cool that this day in age we can see each other even if we are miles apart. Skype I am sure will be very near and dear to me once he actually ships out.

We hope that this blog will keep you updated on how we are doing whether we are close or apart!

The Wife,
Lindsay