The things life, love and R & R bring...

The recollection of driving to the airport with my dad to pick up a family friend

The shot of cold blood that flows from my spine to my outer extremities when I realize that we’re not getting this fictitious family friend from the airport, we’re getting Bernie

The word, delayed

A six inch American Flag

Locking eyes with my husband in an empty airport

Smiling

Hugging

Seeing my dad get teary eyed as Bern hugs me

Getting into a car with him

Eating at our favorite restaurant

Hearing our dog, Jenny, whine when she saw Bernie

The way his face lit up when he saw our apartment for the first time

The way he rearranged everything (for the better)

Colorado

Grocery shopping with him

Seeing our Vacation Rental

Late nights

Skiing

Hot tubs

The thought of getting tattoos

3 hours in IKEA

Seeing the expression on people’s faces as Bern danced around with a shopping cart

Buying our first bedroom set

Bernie singing Happy Birthday to me

Lit candles

16 hours in the car with him

Picturing Bernie in Home Depot trying to figure out when power tool is the best

Watching him put together our bedroom set

Cleaning our apt

Making our apt a mess

Clothes all over the bedroom floor

Half unpacked boxes

Laundry

Potato chips and French onion dip

Spooning

Measuring out 2 tablespoons of medicine for his horrible stomach flu

Getting a military haircut

Watching 2 and a third movies together in one day

Laughing so loud the whole restaurant can hear us

Eating the same food we did on our wedding night

The joy of acting like 80 year olds with our after dinner coffee and carrot cake

Making check lists of things to do before he’s home

Buying energy drinks because we’re convinced we’ll stay up all night

The feeling of him brushing my hair behind me ear

The sickening noise of the Alarm going off screaming, “It’s time for him to leave.”

The stuffing of tissues into pockets

Driving under the speed limit on our way to the airport

The nice lady at the registration desk

The ride up the escalator

The thankfully slow moving line in front of security

Tears

Our final hug and kiss

Holding tight

Tears in stranger’s eyes

The nice officer who told Bernie I was still waving at him

Our final wave and air kiss

The words, “I love you,” that quietly echo through the empty airport

You can't get rid of me yet, Lincoln!

I don't know what it is.
Maybe it's because I woke up to my phone ringing to the ringtone that means Bernie is calling me from Skype. Or maybe it's because my roommate and I cancelled No Shave November and I finally got to shave my legs. Or maybe it's because I spent Friday and most of Saturday with my family for my little sister's birthday.  Or maybe it's because I ran to Superior street without my iPod and got some "me time" out of it.  Or maybe it's because I spent the extra $3.00 on name brand body wash. Or maybe it's because I went to Startbucks today and got my first Peppermint Mocha of the season. Or maybe it's because I know this week is going to be awesome!
I don't care what it was that has put me in such a good mood, but I'm liking it.

This week is going to be awesome! I just know it! I can feel it.
Tomorrow I have two classes and then I have my second to last day of work. 
Tuesday I have three classes with a nice break in between them to go for a long run.
Wednesday is my last day of work.  Which I am excited about.  I LOVE the people I work with, but I wasn't getting the experience I need and I frankly never liked my job, just the people.  I need more expericene in the event planning industry so I am applying at a few different places.  It'll be hard to say goodbye, but I told my boss to keep me as number 1 on their sub list.
Thursday I have two classes, lunch with my aunt, Heather and dinner with my friends.
Friday I have one class and then I'm headed to Grand Island to work two weddings.  I can't wait!  I'll be staying with Lissy and Jack again!  I love them soooo much!

Ahhh! It's going to be a great week.

Three weeks ago Bernie and I had a long talk about what our next move will be.  I was suppose to graduate this December, but because I still have to take Accounting II, I won't be able to because I'm taking Accounting I right now.  I will finish all my classes at UNL this semester and then I will take my one class at SCC next semester.  SCC goes on a quarterly schedule so class will go from December to March and then I'll walk in my graduation ceremony in May.  Anyway, so three weeks ago I had a melt down trying to figure out what I should do because starting in the middle of December, I can work full-time, I just won't have a degree until May.  Bernie told me to apply everywhere.  So I started to and after sending in my resume to a few places in Minnesota, I didn't hear anything. 
After much discussion (whenever we could talk) Bernie and I decided to stay in Lincoln until he gets his degree.  His deployment has kept him from school, obviously, and he won't graduate until (we think) May of 2013. So, Lincoln, you're stuck with me until at least May of '13. 
It was such a relief to finally figure out what we were going to do.  After decideing this though and a phone interview, I found out I got offered a job in St. Paul, Minnesota.  I was a little sad to have to decline, but I rather move into that next chapter of my life with Bernie, rather than ahead of Bernie.
When Bernie comes home after his year of deployment I want him to feel like he's home rather than starting a new school, new job, living in a new house in a new town with his new wife.
Now, I wait. I am focusing on my last full-time student semester and looking at houses with Bernie, thanks to the internet.  I am so excited for Bernie to come home!  Not too much longer and we will be half way done with this stinkin deployment!!! Can't wait!

I hope everyone is as excited as I am for this upcoming week.  It's going to amazing!

xoxx

Is this for real?

Found this on pintrest and it really caught my attention!

http://www.joannamontgomery.com/138095/Pillow-Talk

Go to this website.  It's about pillows that light up when your long-distance lover is asleep. 

I wonder if it'd work all the way around the world...Although, Bernie and I sleep at opposite times.
Anyway, enjoy.


xoxx

Secret's out...

Secret is out; I've gained weight...

No more deneying, no more excuses, it's just fact.  But the best part is, I'm doing something about it.

I've been a runner since 8th grade...track for 3 years, cross country for 4.  The best time in my running career was my freshmen and sophomore years of high school.  I had an AMAZING coach, Coach MacElravy from Fairfield, IL.  He's the reason I made it to state.  After we moved to Nebraska, my love for running faded.  Running used to be fun for me, I loved practice and the competition, but most of all I loved being in shape and being confident at pool parties.  That all changed after high school.  I'd swim a lot and joined the University of Nebraska Swim Club, but it became so time consuming and eventually I stopped going to practices and stopped swimming.

Well...I hardly worked out and let myself go. 

Ladies, don't let yourself go.  It's just gross.  Those love handles have their own orbit around your core and the stretch marks aren't pretty either. So if there is anything you take from this post; take care of yourself.

So what is it exactly that I'm doing about this, you say?

Glad you asked.  I'm running the Lincoln Half Marathon 2012! 

I'm really excited and really motivated right now.  I'm training through the Nike+ Half Marathon Training.  I have a pair of the Nike+ shoes with the microchip sensor thingy in it that connects to my iPod and records my distance and times and pace and everything you can imagine which basically means no cheating. 
I started the program yesterday and I had to do cross training for 30 minutes...nice and easy.  It suggested swimming or swim running, but I could also bike or jump rope or any kind of cardio workout.  I decided to swim.  It was nice to get back in the water and be reminded of my love for swimming.
It's a 12 week program and 12 weeks from yesterday is CHRISTMAS EVE!!!
Today I had to run 4 miles (6.45k)  which I JUST finished! ...seriously, like I just now finished...I'm still sweating and my face is really red.
I wanted to blog this now because later when I feel like I don't have much motivation, I'll be able to look back and see that even after a 4 mile run I was feeling pretty good.

Motivation?
Yes, I'm finding most of my motivation through Bernie.  I keep thinking, Bernie is in a war zone having the worst time of his life, let's reward him with a hot wife to come home to! So I'm trying my best to get all sexy-fied.
My other motivation is my best friend, Travis.  He has played the role of my punishing trainer.  I came up with this idea of a Workout Jar (WJ).  What the WJ is used for is when I don't comeplete a workout I have to put $5 in the jar.  Every week the price goes up.  Next week, Week 2's price will go up by $1, meaning I'll have to put $6 in the jar if I don't complete a workout. Third week, $7. Fourth Weed, $8 and so on.
Also, if I eat something not heathing for me, I owe $1.  Yesterday, at work there were (the most amazing) cookies sitting out and I kind of sort of accidently ate one.  It wasn't until after I throughly enjoyed that cookie that I realized, I have to pay the WJ $1. Because Travis has been my trainer, he gets all the money everyweek.  He gets to decide where the money goes...keep it himself, give it to charity, pay for my marathon entry fee, or give it to me for completing the marathon (hint hint) but he gets to decide what happens to the mulah...but there won't be much because I'm going to complete ALL my workouts!

So...bottom line....May 6, 2012! 7am! Memorial Stadium. 50 yard line is the finish line.  Be there!

This is me. 5 years ago. I miss me...and my runner's body. (Please ignore the crazy game face)

xoxx

Can't even describe the love...post from July 14, 2011

I don't even know where to begin.

Last Wednesday, I was walking the halls of the delivery floor at the hospital with Lissy as she was connected to bags of clear medicine.  As we walked, the anticipation of being an aunt grew and grew!  Finally, the contractions got stronger and much more frequent (don't think she ever got a break).  Then it was time for pain medicine.  I hugged Lissy and John told them I love them and congratulations!
My eyes filled with tears as I left that room and slowly walked down to my car.  I drove to their house (where I've been staying this summer) and then it hit me: I get to see Bernie TOMORROW! 


That night I could not sleep for the life of me. My excitement lasted until about 3 am and FINALLY I had fallen asleep.  I woke up at 5:30-realizing I slept in a little, grabbed everything I needed and drove to the airport. As I'm getting my boarding pass I get a text from John telling me that Jackson Hunter was born weighing 7 pounds!  He was born at 5:10am!

I met up with a few of the Army wives at the airport as we prepared ourselves for the flight to Dallas.  We drank a Jack and Coke in honor of my new nephew Jack.

Now known as an "inside joke," when we got off the plane in Dallas, us wives had to stand on the ramp and wait for our carry ons.  As we waitied, we welcomed everyone off the plane with a nice greeting: "Welcome to Texas!  Everything is bigger here!"  Most passangers rolled their eyes at us, but some said thank you and some just laughed.  It was a lot of fun!

Finally, Kecia and Addi and I waited and waited and they even changed planes on us, but we made it to Killeen airport and got to see Mr. Spofford.  He greeted me with a big hug and said, "I'm sorry, Molly, but Bernie couldn't make it to the airport.  You'll have to meet him at the base."  I was still very excited--just not too excited for the feeling of walking into an armpit as I walked out of the airport to find my rental car. 
I gave a soldier a ride to the fort and he told me everything I needed to know about the fort, the people, the rules, how I need to watch out for free roaming cattle and things like that.  He told me where to drop him off and I had about a block more to go until I'd see Bernie.  I parked the car, walked into a room and waited...and waited.

And waited.

Really I waited for about 3 minutes, but it felt like 3 hours.  I could see a man in a green shirt getting closer to the doors and immediately, I knew that it was Bernie.  I ran to the door and basically tackled and scared him.  He had to get a shot in the arm before he left and finally he was checked out and all mine.

All mine.

Sorry, Bern.

It's been over a week and when I started this blog, I told Bernie I'd post something at least once a week.  Sorry, babe.

A lot has been going on a work so I've been busy there.  I went home for Father's Day last week and hung out with the fam for a little bit.  I also got to see my G'ma and G'pa May for a quick visit!  It was nice to be home!

AND I get to go home for a little bit on Sunday for Lissy's Baby shower in Fremont.  She'll be pregnant for a little under 2 weeks yet.  Then Little Man will finally come home!  Name hasn't been picked out yet so I just call him Little Man, as if it's his name! I'm so excited I get to be an AUNT!

Lissy's co-workers threw her a little baby shower on Wednesday this week! It was cool to meet the people she works with everyday.  They also got her this cake!

Sorry, I don't know how to rotate it on here.  It changed automaticaly!

While I was in Fremont, we had these CRAZY WINDS that came out of nowhere. Lots of trees were down and they declared it an F1 tornado.

I have some more messages from the bottle.  2 actually because I didn't post last weeks nor this weeks.  Here they are:

xoxx

Message in a bottle

Remember when Bernie's aunts and uncles through a wedding shower for us and I mentioned how I got a wine bottle that everyone wrote a message to me and I get to open one a week for every week Bernie's gone?  Well I haven't opened up my two yet!

This bottle is filled (cram packed) with messages from Bernie's family little messages to me as he's away.

The first message read:

Now I can only assume that this is from Bernie.  :)  What a sweetie!  

Thanks, babe. I love you too!

Here is my second message:

It reads, "Challange of the Week- Design a geocaching adventure for you and Bernie the summer he gets back.  Send the plans to (e-mail address) and I'll leave a surprise there for you!

Awww...Thank you, Amy!  Looks like I'll plan a geocaching adventure for Bernie.  I'll plan one out this week and then I'll set everything out before Bernie gets back next year!  Thanks, Amy!

Wow! I feel so loved.  I'm so excited to read all the other ones.  Can't wait until next week when I open my next one....hopefully I don't have to break the bottle.

xoxx

Who needs hooters?

"Who needs Hooters when you've got Balz?"  ha ha!  This is the tagline to a sports bar in town called "Balz."  The owner of  Balz Sports Bar is also the owner of Balz Banquet and Reception Hall-which is where I work now as an intern for the Event Coordinator! It gets a little confusing having Balz Bar and Balz Reception Hall, but after awhile, you get used to it.

I had two weddings on Saturday that went really well! One at the reception hall and one at a close by venue! I love my boss and I'm excited to go to work everyday.  I do a variety of things from tying a sash on a chair cover to using club soda to get the red wine out of the brides dress (true story.)  I had so much fun and I can't wait for the three weddings this weekend!

Here was one of the weddings on June 4th that I decorated and set up



I got to Skype with Bernie for the first time tonight! It was so exciting to see his face and basically talk to him face to face!  He got to see Jenny (of dog) too!

Apparently he was excited to see me too! Look at that smile! tee hee!

Thanks to Geoff Florom for letting him use his computer. Bern doesn't have a web cam, but he says he'll buy one tomorrow!

xoxx

Woofta!

The last couple days were really crazy with all the events taking place over Memorial Day weekend!  Finally my one year calander countdown starts and I'm ready for a new and exciting (and fast) year! 

One thing Bernie asked me to do while he is overseas is to make a scrapbook of everything I have do this year.  I'm really excited about it, however I have never scrapbooked before so this should be interesting. I made the cover to it yesterday and titled the 12 x 12 book, "My Crazy Amazing Beautiful Wonderful Year" I can't wait for events to take place so I have pictures, quotes, and random items to fill my book with.

Tomorrow I start my new internship and I am SUPER UBER excited! I'll be the event coordinator intern at a reception hall.  I start at 9 tomorrow morning- I better get used to getting up early :s

We had a crazy windy storm last night and a few tornadoes touched down further down the interstate.  I haven't heard anything about damage yet, but I sure do pray that all families are safe.  Because of the storm I think I should probably go on outside and tidy up the twigs and branches hanging around from the 90 mile hour winds.

Happy Tuesday

xoxx

I made the paper

Nicola brothers head to Afghanistan

After watching their family grow in recent months the Ben and Jan Nicola family will see their sons Bernie and John head overseas as part of the Army National Guard.

These last couple years have been a whirlwind for the Ben and Jan Nicola family.

Over a 19-month span that began with son John's marriage to Lissy Fauss on Oct. 3, 2009, all three of their children were married: Amy to Micky Jennings in November 2010, and Bernie to Molly Colgan this past April.

Then came the news that John and Lissy are expecting a child this summer.

And on Friday, the Fremont couple said goodbye to their two sons, both members of a Grand Island-based Army National Guard unit leaving on a year-long Afghanistan mission.

"We've known for a year that they were going to go," Jan Nicola said. "That's why Bernie got married so soon. They wanted to be married before he left."

Approximately 70 soldiers assigned to the CH-47 Chinook Helicopter unit will participate in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Primarily members of Company B, 2-135th General Support Aviation Battalion, the unit will be responsible for an array of medium-lift missions, including aerial movement of troops, supplies and equipment.

It will be the first overseas mission for Staff Sgt. John and Spec. Bernie Nicola.

John, the oldest of the three Nicola children, is a flight engineer and trains other flight engineers on the big Chinooks.

He was considering joining the Army when the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001 happened. A month later he signed up, and he did his boot camp between his junior and senior years at Archbishop Bergan High School.
Bernie followed his big brother's boot steps a few years later and has been in the Guard for about three years. He is a Chinook mechanic.
"It was something I kind of always wanted to do," Bernie said. "Also my brother made it look like a lot of fun."

The educational benefits were appealing, too, he said. He is a student at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and put his senior year on hold for the Afghanistan trip. Eventually he wants to be a high school science teacher.

A recent newlywed and now headed for his first time in a combat zone, Bernie said his emotions run the gamut.

"I'm sure it will be quite the experience," he said. "Not a lot of people get to experience anything like this, it will be interesting I suppose. Mainly I'm just looking forward to coming back to (Molly). It's going to be kind of rough over there for a year."

The first stop for the unit will be Fort Hood, Texas. Soldiers are scheduled for a four-day pass before leaving Texas for Afghanistan, and John hopes that window  will allow him to be home for the birth of his son.

"They're going to try to get me home for the birth," he said.
"There's some excitement to it," John said. "It kind of stinks to leave for a year, but it's our job, it's what we train to do. You train for 10 years and it's time to go do the real thing now.
"I hope I can make them proud while I'm gone. It will be exciting to come home and have a 1-year-old kid," he said.

Ben and Jan are no strangers to having a child overseas. Their daughter, working on her doctorate at Creighton University, has been a volunteer at a handicapped children's orphanage in the Dominican Republic, and was a volunteer at El Salvador. Her children have always been generous in their service, Jan said.

"We've always been very strong in our faith and go to God first in all things," she said. "Putting God first might have inspired them, and to realize what they've been given so to give back to others."

But going on a service trip is not the same as going into combat, she said.

"I tear up," she said. "When Amy went overseas I worried about her, but the boys are going into a battle zone, so that's scary."

Both brothers said they are glad to be deploying together, but aren't sure how often they will see each other.
Neither knows yet exactly where they will be based, but John flies with his crew, so even if they're at separate locations, he may be able to pop in on his brother from time to time.
"Hopefully we'll be able to be stationed at the same FOB (forward operating base)," John said.

"It would be nice to have a face of family while I'm gone overseas," he said.

I made a couple edits to this article because Berne and John's mom said a few things she wasn't suppose to.

It's exciting to be in the paper, however I was upset when I read that Bernie and I only got married because of this mission and so quickly.  

Bernie and I have been best friends for six years and have been dating for 4 of those years.  Less than 3 and a half years of dating, Bern proposed.  Our engagement was almost 8 months long-which is very average. There is a small benefit for being married in the Army when overseas, however that benefit is worth nothing compared to the long time away from my husband and DEFINITELY not worth rushing a marriage over.

Less than a week after Bern popped the questions, (which he did so wonderfully) We had to decided- Are we getting married in two years or are we getting married in 8 months?  Bern replied with, "I put a ring on your finger for a reason, I want to marry you." 

 There is a quote that reminds me of what Bernie really meant and it goes like this.

"When you realize you want to spend the rest of your life with somebody, you want the rest of your life to start as soon as possible" It's from the movie, When Harry Met Sally.

xoxx

Oh the places we'll go...

Bernie has asked me when I thought I'd like him to come back for his two weeks of R&R. I told him that it was completely up to him and that I really didn't want to know.

I don't want to know because if he picks a date to come home and I get my heart set on it, and get my hopes up and when he is nowhere to be seen because the Army changings things all the time, I'll be bummed out. Plus, I love surprises!

We recently learned that it can be easier on both the family and the service member to have the service member not go home, but to meet up somewhere.  I was confused at first when I heard this, but it makes sense.  When a service member comes home, it's a time of great joy, however the short time home means that the family and the service member have to start the whole process of saying good bye and readapting all over again.  Of course, no matter where they meet, that'll have to say good bye sometime.  But, it's easier to meet somewhere, where both parties have never been.  I learned that family members catch themselves after the service member leaves home to finish his/her tour saying things like, "He sat in that chair yesterday." or other really sad statements.  This is depressing and I don't like it.
After reading up on this, Bernie and I decided that 1. he's not going to tell me when his r & r is and 2. Where we will be going.

After this conversation with him, he told me to get my passport ordered.  I'm so excited!!!  I wonder where we'll meet up and where we'll go...

xoxx

Little something, something

My mom sent this to me.  My parents live there in Fremont.

http://fremonttribune.com/news/local/article_2a597552-7666-11e0-8409-001cc4c03286.html

Zooming

Today was weird.

I'm in this stubborn funk and I can't find the energy to shake it.

Bern and I have been cleaning house all day and packing everything up in boxes and moving them to the storage unit.  We just got the keys to our storage unit yesterday.  We've decided to lock everything up for the year Bern is deployed.  I took all the paintings and pictures down, wrapped some bubble wrap around them and taped up the box. I caught my heart feeling like it was sinking towards my stomach after every box I taped up, but after I took pictures down, it was hard to fight the tears. It's sad to have to pack everything up.  Bernie, who seems to always be in a good mood, keeps mentioning how excited it's going to be when he comes home and how we'll open up the packed boxes as if it's Christmas.  Gotta love his optimism.

By the time I drove to work, I was on the verge of tears.  No clue why.  The girls I work with said hi and I had a ten second bawling fit. After that I was fine.  Happy to be at work and ready to start the shift.  Why am I like this? What's wrong with me?

I've decided to stop being so zoomed in on my life right now. I keep thinking about what's going on tonight, tomorrow morning and maybe I think as far as the weekend, but I don't look any further because I know D-Day is right around that corner I refuse to peek around.  In reality, I need to shake this ugly funk I'm in and zoom out. 
I need to start looking at the bigger picture.  Bernie's deployment is a year. Just a year.  Not 7, not 5, not 3, but 1. One year.  Bern and I plan on living to be somewhere in our 80's (at least) before we pass, so one year out of the next 60 I'm going to live, is soo small. So small. It's time to zoom out and look at the bigger picture.  This year I have so much going on.
Here's the game plan:

May 14-Bernie and John's going away party
May - move to Grand Island
May- Bernie leaves :(
June 1- Start internship at the reception hall in Grand Island
July- Baby Nicola (John and Lissy's) is born!
July- Go to Texas to say a final farewell to Bern before going to Afghanistan
July- One of my best friends, Stephanie gets married!
August- Move back to Lincoln/Start my LAST semester of school
August- Another one of my best friends, Jenna, gets married!
December- Graduate
January- Get a real job
May- Run a half marathon with my mom
May- Bernie comes home :)

This year is going to fly by! I'm really excited for all the activities the rest of this year and the begininning of 2012 hold. 

Random fact: 4 years ago, tonight, Bern asked me to be his girlfriend.

xoxx

kissing longer

A lot has happened since I last wrote.  I apologize- I know that I haven't been blogging much since all the pre-wedding activities.
Oh how time flies.
This deployment has started taking it's toll on me.  I find myself at the most random times gasping for a quick breath to fill my lungs as if I forgot how to breath.  I know how much Bern hates to see me stressed, or cry, and in all honesty I think I've been pretty strong.  I have the most amazing friends and family to turn to for support.  
 Yes, I'd get teary eyed when I'd think, "This time next year, Bernie STILL won't be back," or when deployment got brought up in casual conversation. But while making my monthly trip to WalMart for a that-time-of-the-month box of tampons, we walked into the Garden Center.  For those of you who don't know, the Garden Center is my favorite thing about WalMart. Absolute favorite. We walked past the flowers and I said, "Oh, Bern can we get some flowers to plant in the  yard....just to freshen things up?" He'd smile and say something cute, but never really gave me a Yes or No. Finally, we were in the BBQ tools area and I informed him that we'd probably need one of those grate things that hold veggies on the grill and he said, "Babe, I'm leaving in 3 weeks, do you think we really need that?" 
"Well...I'm just ready to start my life with you."  I said.  
And BOOM! 
Tears started flowing for I knew that there wouldn't be the cute first starter home, no hours upon hours spent in front of the paint swatches trying to find the perfect color for our bedroom.  No need to go through the rug aisle to find the cutest welcome mat for our front door.  No unwrapping wedding gifts and trying to rearrange the kitchen so all the new cookie sheets, pots and pans could fit. 
Keep in mind, I did mention that it was that time of the month, so of course my hormones were a mess.
For the longest time, when I'd think about Bernie's deployment, I thought, "Well, there is still plenty of time left...I still have yet to get married."  Then we got married. I'd find another excuse like, "Well, we still have yet to come back from our honeymoon."  We made it home with no delayed flights.  "Well, I'm still in school."  Finals got over last week. "Well, we still have our Mother's Days picnic." That was yesterday.
Now, I see that all the things that those experiences of being a new wife, that I felt I got cheated out of, are what we KNEW was going to happen.  Everything is going according to plan.
When we got engaged, we knew we'd get married in 2 years or 7 months.  We  chose a 7 month engagement.  We planned this.  Shockingly, everything has been going according to plan.  I can't be feeling sorry for myself. This is what we wanted.



I don't have long until he leaves and I am not about to take any second for granted.  I'm going to hold him longer, kiss him sweeter, and laugh harder than I have ever before.


xoxx

WE'RE MARRIED!!!!

I know, I know, it's been AGAIN a long time since I last posted on this blog.  SOOO much has happened...for one, WE GOT MARRIED!  It was a beautiful day and the honeymoon was AMAZING!!!

Right now, I'm in a library cramming for finals next week!  Once, I finish with finals I PROMISE to be more on my game with this blog!

xoxx

:s

Woke up this morning with a nasty cough and the chills and weird aches and a horrible headache.  I hope everyone is using PLENTY of hand sanitizer!
The weather today was BEAUTIFUL! I hope a lot of you in eastern Nebraska got to enjoy it :)
Today I finally got an estimated number of the attendees at our wedding! We're looking at 260 wonderful people!  I cannot wait!
I also can't wait until next week is over. It's spring break, but I work 40 hours (which is fine, I love to work) But Thursday night BERNIE COMES HOME from AT!!!  I get to talk to him almost everyday, but it still sucks having him away, especially when he was so good at making me feel better when I am sick.
Anyway, I have a paper I need to be working on and then it's probably for the best if I get some sleep...

xoxx

Ramble

It's been weird with Bernie gone and at Annual Training.  He's in Hastings and we don't really get to talk much. I haven't seem him since the 28th of February. He's sick too! Close quarters are a sure way to get him sick :s
Sundays will always be the worst without him.  I don't know why, but Sundays were always "our day." We had the best conversations, we would make supper together, we'd watch movies, play games...all the best times were on Sundays.  Secretly, I just wish Sundays would get over so I don't have think about him being gone, but then I wish they lasted longer so I didn't have to start back up with a Monday.
This weekend I went to Manhattan to see my sister, Laura.  Her best friend from work, Kellie is married to soldier who just got back from Iraq yesterday.  It was cool to meet them.  I asked Kellie what the hardest thing about deployment was and she said that the best advice she could give me is to always stay busy.  It's best to plan ahead and you'll always have something to look forward to.  My sister said that one time her and Andy were going to Applebees to get some appetizers and have a couple beers.  Kellie called Laura to see what she was up to Laura invited to come and right away Kellie said, "Yeah, sure I'll meet you there."  It was nice to hear that because when I think about Bernie's deployment, I worry that I'll be the third wheel when hanging out with couples, but this made me realize there is no shame in playing the 3rd wheel.  Obviously, give couples space, but it was nice to know that it's okay to go out with your friends, even when it's just the two of them.
I can't believe Bernie and I will be getting married in less than 4 weeks now! Ahh! By the end of this week I want 90% of the wedding stuff done.  There really isn't too much more to do.  A lot of shopping for gifts yet, but that's the fun part!
Bernie is getting really excited about the wedding too. I forgot to mention that Bernie sprained his left ankle.  He was playing football with the guys last week at their first day of AT and he jumped and came down on it wrong.  Poor thing.  He was only on crutches for about 3 and half days, and now I've been told he has a nice limp. :)  Feel better, babe.
Tonight was the first night I watched "Coming Home" on Lifetime.  It's a tearjerker, so if you're looking for a good cry, it's a good one to watch.  I've been wanting to buy the first 4 seasons of Army Wives, but can never find them in stores.  I should look online.
Anyway, I'm just rambling now.  Day lights savings time is going to kick my butt in the morning.
Good night

xoxx

Jenny

Again, I'm not posting every week.  Sorry, Bern

So much has happened this past month.  Bernie and I went to Kansas City and saw my sister and brother-in-law a few weekends ago and it was soo much fun!  We got back on Sunday and I had to work and then class and then I had to work again from 4-11pm on Monday.  I said good bye to Bernie Monday afternoon and he went to Fremont to pick up our puppy, Jenny.  His parents were watching her while we were out of town.  Jenny was my Christmas present in 2009 (even though I got her early in October of 2009) She's part Beagle part German Shorthair.  It's weird to think, but her mom was a 75 pound German Shorthair and her dad was a 20 pound Beagle. 

Anyway, Bernie went to Fremont and met his parents at a restaurant for dinner.  When they got back to his parents house Jenny ran up to Bernie with her tail in her legs and then she walked over to the trees and started hacking up something. Then, he noticed that she was throwing up blood and lots of it.  They rushed her to the Vet and they gave her Vitamin K to clot the blood and gave her a relaxer so the Vet could run a scope in her mouth to see why she was throwing up so much blood.  Turns out all the blood was in her lungs!

Vet told Bernie to keep her in her kennel for the next 48 hours.

He brought her to Lincoln and when I got off work I met them both at my apartment.  

Jenny looked miserable!

She was throwing up blood all the time. I decided to sleep on the floor next to her kennel and helped calm her down when she got hysterical with a coughing fit.  If I petted her, she relaxed a little.  4:30 in the morning rolls around and Bernie got up to go to Grand Island, he had to work at 7am.  We tried to figure out if Jenny should stay with me or if she should go to GI with him. We decided she should go to GI because she's not use to city life and when she hears weird noises she normally barks and barking is the last thing we wanted her doing.  At 7, I got a text from Bern saying that he didn't think she was going to make it.  She wasn't getting out of her kennel when he opened the door, she wouldn't eat or drink and when he carried her outside to go potty she just shivered.

I had four classes on Tuesday and I decided to go to the first class and skip the other 3.  I e-mailed all my professors and got out of class and drove to GI.  Bernie didn't want me to come because he was sure she was dying and he didn't want me to see. I reassured him that we need to take her to the Vet in GI and see what they say and I want to be there if he had to make the BIG decision on whether or not we'd have to put her down.

I got to John and Lissy's house and ran down to Bernie's room and walked into the scariest thing I've ever seen.  Bern was crying, Jenny was whimpering and blood was all over her kennel.  We called the Vet immediately and brought her in to town.  They were so wonderful and quick.  The Vet and Vet Tech told her vitals and got heating pads to raise her temp because she was sooo cold from all the blood loss.  They hooked her up to oxygen and an IV and told us to grab a bit to eat.  We left, went to Qdoba, but we weren't hungry. Our stomachs were in knots and Bernie is terrible at this, but he plays the "what if" game in his head. "What if she doesn't make it?" "What if it's going to cost too much?"  

Bernie and I noticed that we do a really good job at balancing each other out, when we had doubts about her making it I'd cheer him up and when I was down about Jenny, he'd cheer me up.  He kept telling me how he was glad I came.

We went back to the Vet and they said they need to keep her over night and maybe even a second night.  I spent the night in GI and left in the morning. They ended up keeping her for 4 days and 3 nights and told Bernie he could come pick her up Friday so he did and brought her to Lincoln.  It took her about a week of sleeping, but now she's back to 100% She's looking really good and back to her ole self.  :)

xoxx

m.

Happy Valentine's Day!

I hope all of you had a great V-day!

I sure did!

Bernie sent me a gorgeous arrangement of roses and lilies and some really cute purple flower.  I love it!

Wedding plans are coming along.  I have a lot of family members willing to help and I'm sooo thankful for that!  It's great to have such a wonderful family and of course friends too!
I got this super cute Valentine in the mail today from a wonderful friend, Talia!  (Thanks Tal, love you)  She lives in Fargo and I CAN'T wait to see her at the wedding!  Also, got a cute Valentine from my sissy, Laura and her husband, Body.  Now, he's real name is Andy, but I've been calling him Body for a long time and the reason for this is if you type "Andy" in your T9 texting, it comes up as "Body"  So, it stuck and I call him "Body."  Same thing happened to my friend Brian...I call him Asian.  And Jordan, my roommate, well I call her George, but in T9 she's actually Korean.
This weekend, I'll go visit Laura and Body in Manhatty!  Can't wait!
Bern is taking me to Kansas City to "Get away" for a weekend.  No wedding planning, no work, no school, just us and my sister and Body.
This coming weekend is the 2nd to last time I'll hang out with Bernie until the week of the wedding.  I'll see him from Thursday til Monday! Woot woot!  And then I'll see him on the 25th (but he might be having his Bachelor Party then) and then the 26th for Thanksgiving!  And then he has Annual Training all of March.  Hopefully, I'll still be able to talk to him on the phone in March.
And...yup...you read me right! Thanksgiving!  That's what I said! Thanksgiving! Yummy, delicious, turkey and mashed potatoes and cranberry sauce and warm dinner rolls...February 26th is Thanksgiving for the Nicola Family!
We're celebrating it in February because we won't be able to with John (Bil) and Bernie in November.
Man, I sure do give out nicknames.  John, whom I call Bil, is going to be my Brother-in-law.  Get it? Brother-in-law, B-I-L, Bil!  I kind of got into the habit of calling him Bil just recently.  I'm excited to get ANOTHER older brother!
Anyway, I have an Ethics test to be studying for so I'm going to read just a little bit more before I head off to bed.
Good night and Happy Heart Day!

xoxx

...and so it beings...

FINALLY!  Bernie and I had our second meeting with the priest that is marrying us!

We met with the ceremony wedding coordinator this morning and then with Father Matya.  Seems like everything is coming more into a reality.  After talking about it for awhile with a couple of friends, it just sort of really sank in..."AHHH!!! I'm getting MARRIED!!"

After today's meetings, my mind has just been popping with new ideas and new things I want to do or add into the wedding ceremony or reception.  Everything is finally coming together.

Bernie left Lincoln today to go back to Grand Island.  He enjoys his time here, but I'm sure he's getting sick of the commute.  It's really only an hour and a half drive, but after awhile, it adds up.  Next weekend, he has Drill so I'll be going to him.  I love G.I. so it's going to be a good time.  Even though, Bernie will be gone most of the day, I'll be job searching for my 400 hour internship I have to complete this summer.  Maybe I'll work on some more wedding things with Lissy.

I'm excited about this summer!  I'll be living in Grand Island with Lissy.  The boys (John and Bernie) will have left for training in Texas. (They'll be there from May until the end of July and then they'll be off to Afghanistan) 

Bernie and I were just going over our "4 year plan."  It's really not your typical newly wed lifestyle, but it's...us.     Even though this isn't 4 years, it's the beginning. Our timeline is kinda like this:
April 9-WE GET MARRIED!
April 11-Leave for HONEYMOON!
May 7ish- We move to Grand Island.
End of May- Bernie and John deploy :(
*Live in Grand Island with Lissy and Baby all summer
Mid Aug- I begin my last college semester!
December- I graduate and get "real" job :)
January-Begin new apartment search!
May- BERNIE COMES BACK!!!!!!
SUMMER- Spent going on a vacation as NEWLY WEDS
Mid Aug- Bernie starts school again...Ba ha ha
*I'll be working and he'll be studying until he graduates!

Ahh...how exciting it is to become Mrs. Nicola...

xoxx