Journey in the Jeep

Chad and I are in our second year of marriage, and have had our share of bad luck. You've read most of the interesting things that have happened to us, but we have managed to keep a few things under the bus. Now that we are able to look back and laugh, I suppose it's time we share one of them.

When we first arrived in Germany, we didn't have a car right away. About two weeks into our new life we purchased a new Jeep from the dealership on base. Of course we had no way to go and pick up the Jeep, so we rented a BMW for the day. The BMW had a navigation system built in, so it was easy to find the German office that we needed to pick up our new vehicle from.

After a long wait and finally being able to pick up our new car, we stopped at the McDonalds right down the road before heading back to our hotel. We decided that Chad would drive the BMW back, and I would drive the Jeep and follow him, because he knew where he was going. But of course, things just don't flow evenly for us. So I pulled up behind Chad just in time to watch him speed out into the busy street, and disappear among the other cars.

He was GONE. Trying not to panic, I kept going down the main road hoping to come across something I recognized. Forty minutes later, I realized I was screwed. I had just let my panic mode settle in, when I saw a sign that said "hauptbahnhof". LUCKILY we had lived on the economy long enough to recognize that word. It meant "train station".

Thankfully being with out a car for the first few weeks led us to seek other means of tra

nsportation, and I knew how to get home by train. So I parked the car and purchased my ticket. While I was waiting for the train to show up I was silently plotting ways to either kill, or seriously injure my husband.

Finally I made it to my stop, and walked the mile back to our hotel. Of course when I got there, there was no sign of Chad and Dylan. I basically ripped the room apart looking for Chads cell phone number, he had just got the phone days before and I didn't know his number yet. Once I found it, I dialed the number and heard the panic in his voice as he answered it, "Taylor where are you?! Are you ok?!". My response is just a tad too inappropriate for this blog so I will just leave it up to your imaginations. Turns out he was still waiting at that McDonalds for me to show up again. He saw that I couldn't get out right after him, and turned back around to wait for me to come back. Of course. However I couldn't have found my way back if my life had depended on it anyways. Needless to say that was a silent couple of days for Chad.

We now live just up the street from that McDonalds, and every time we pass it we just can't help but be reminded of that day, and how picking up our new car was a far less exciting day than it should have been.

Valentines Day

Ohh Valentines day. A day when flowers and chocolate are three times their normal price, when men all around are fighting over that last red rose or stuffed bear, when women are patiently waiting by the door, practicing their excited face in the mirror and all dressed up just in case someone comes in with a bouquet of flowers.

Yes, we should be loving our partners every day, not just on Valentines day. But who is to say that we don't? I'm tired of listening to people protest and complain about a day that's about something so amazing! So what if Walmart and flower shops are making extra money one day a year? Everyone needs to just take a chill pill, and spring for that five dollar box of candy.


Girls be trippin. No matter how many times they say don't bring me anything because Valentines day is stupid, you know there is going to be an argument later if someone doesn't bring that woman some flowers, because her best friend got 24 red roses.

Just like in high school when they passed out the candy grahams and every girl would be on the edge of her seat waiting for her name to be called. And everyone secretly hated the girl who got like 7 of them from different secret admirers. That was a big deal.

Lucky for my husband he did good this year, complete with a bottle of wine to dull the sound of everyone else shouting "Love sucks!". Go Chad.

Return to Germany

January 12, 2012 : The return of my amazing husband from his first deployment!

In our final two weeks that we were stateside, we had a ton of things planned. Chad and I went to San Diego, California for a few days and spent some time on the beach. We also went to a few historic places and did a lot of shopping and walking around. On our final night we celebrated with some wine on the rooftop of our hotel with a view of the city.

Dylan's been so excited to have daddy home!! They caught up on all their playing, and it feels good to have everything back to normal again.

  After saying goodbye, 2 long plane rides, 1 lost bag, and a couple days of jetlagg, we are all settled back into our home in Germany. Chad went back to work today, so Dylan and I get to catch up on our one on one time. Now its time to plan his second birthday party! Only 3 weeks to go.

Thanks to all of our family and friends who made our first deployment that much easier! We are lucky to have such amazing people on both sides. And good luck to all the troops who are still out there, keeping our country alive.