A rollercoaster week

Tuesday, December 29, 2009

Last week was emotional for me! James went to the hospital for the scheduled back surgery on Monday. Things didn't go exactly according to plan as he ended up having to go into surgery twice and stay a few days longer than initially planned. During this time I was miserable! I hated that I could not be there by his side to reassure him, comfort him, and keep him company. The phone calls and messages just didn't seem like enough. I shed more than a few tears knowing that his discharge date was delayed and he may not be home in time for Christmas. This was more than I could handle, because really NO ONE deserves to be alone or stuck in a hospital on Christmas.

In the midst of all of this THE package arrived in MN from France (and with 2 days to spare). We set a "date" of opening gifts together on Skype on Christmas Eve. This didn't happen as he was told he would spend another day in the hospital. He suggested I go ahead and open my gifts anyways to which I replied, "UH NO, I am waiting for you to be home!"

So the BEST Christmas present I got from France this year was him arriving home on Christmas afternoon. It was SO great to see his face again while talking with him. Six days was just WAY too long! We opened gifts together and it was fantastic to see the smile on his face!! I had sent him a few different gifts but the main gift was a watch. Not just any watch but a watch that has two watches built into one; Dual time zones, one set to France time and one set to Central Standard time in the US!! He loved it, which brought me GREAT joy!!

I was SPOILED and received perfume and a necklace. Both of which are wonderful! The necklace is a representation of James' heart. So now his heart is as close to mine as it can be until I get to France.

Just in case Santa hasn't hit the Caribbean yet, I have one more Christmas wish...that this is the ONLY Christmas I have to spend apart from James!!!

P.S. 41 days!!

The excitement of Christmas

Tuesday, December 22, 2009

Santa's elves finally arrived on my behalf in France this last week. The package of gifts that I had mailed to James arrived safely. I tease him that I think the French mail system includes frequent stops at the bakery for goodies and coffee since it seems to take FOREVER for things to get there. In reality, it takes about a week, give or take a few days. But let's be real here folks, I am a tapped out when it comes to waiting for things. Waiting to see him in person, waiting to give him a hug, to have a conversation that does not include skype...the list is ENDLESS.  So if I am fresh out of my "waiting skills" I think I have good reason.

In true little kid fashion I told him he could open a gift early. So while he sits at the hospital awaiting surgery in the morning he is wearing a MN Vikings Jersey. That makes me smile! If I can be so excited to see him open gifts from this far away, imagine the joy of being able to do that in person? It will be A-mazing! If the elves stationed in France are on schedule, I will have a package to open on Christmas as well. I can't wait to see what he chose for my gift. I am sure that whatever it is, it will be perfect. So in the mix of all of the holiday festivities, I will be spending some time on skype opening gifts with James for our first Christmas together. Unless of course I can figure out how to jump in Santa's sleigh and be in France on Christmas morning; I hear he has a weak spot for cookies and milk!

PS 48 Days

I know, can you believe it?

Monday, December 14, 2009

Over the years of being single I often encountered THE question that went something like this..."Are you dating anyone?" or "Do you have a boyfriend?" To which I would reply "no." On many occasions this was followed up with "really, you don't, why not?" Gee, I don't know, haven't found anyone fabulous enough to spend my time with!!!" So after one too many conversations of this sort, a dear friend Jen and I were talking about how exactly do you respond to these questions. The fantastic response that we came up with goes like this "Do you have a boyfriend?--No.--You don't?--I know!!! Can you believe IT?!" You see, you are just as shocked as them, that someone hasn't realized how amazing and fabulous you are and swept you off your feet yet. This seems like the BEST possible response and worked for me for months.

Then as James entered back into my life, Jen stated that I will no longer have a use for "our phrase" to which I was pretty excited about. As James and I have started building our relationship and when I am sharing our story with others I often get responses of awe and amazement. Most people say things like "it's a fairy tale and every girls dream!" So now when these comments get made I can still respond with "I know!! Can you believe it?!

So to all the single ladies I highly recommended using the phrase. Because seriously, being single does not mean that there is something wrong with you, but the exact opposite. You are waiting to find "the one" that you want to talk to for hours and are excited to see every chance you get. No need to settle for anything less because when the perfect one appears you will be able to say "I know! Can you believe it?!"

p.s. 56 days to Paris

So much to be thankful for

Saturday, December 5, 2009

As the holiday season is upon us I find myself looking at things a little differently from last year. It is so much fun to have someone to share the holiday season with. On Thanksgiving I felt especially thankful to have James in my life. I would have loved to share the day with him and we talked about how great it will be for him to experience a real American Thanksgiving some day. He was quick to point out that while he is excited to do that, he is not likely going to join me and the crew for "black friday" shopping the day after.

I have enjoyed shopping for a "lover" as well as the girls over the last few weeks. As most of my friends and family can attest I take gift giving very seriously! I really enjoy finding the "perfect" gift for each person and while gift cards are a great gift, I just can't seem to allow myself to not succeed in my treasure hunting for the perfect item, big or small. During the hustle and bustle of getting the cards ready and Christmas decorations out, it has been much appreciated that those close to me have talked about what it will be like to have James and his girls with us in the future celebration of holidays. "Just think, next year the picture of you on the Christmas card will not be alone; you can use one of your pictures from your time in France with James." Or the conversation about Christmas stockings with my Mom and her acknowledging how many stocking she currently has and that she will need to be sure to have 3 more ready for the future Christmas season. These things have been a great balance to my thoughts of having to spend the holidays physically apart from each other.

Just today I had a conversation with James that I want him to open his present from me when I can see him. So that means coordinating the time zones and holiday gatherings to have a moment of Christmas together on Skype. He jokes that he may be too excited to wait for Christmas if the package arrives early he will want to open the gift. All I could think was, "I can't even look to see if he untaped the package and re-taped it again," and "I have to see his face when he opens the gift!" That moment is the best part. I really think I accomplished my goal of "the perfect gift" when I came up with his idea. Now if only Christmas would hurry up and get here so I can talk to him about it and not have to keep it a secret!! Oh and the bonus that on Christmas we will only have 44 days left in the countdown.

P.S. 65 days to Paris