Life is Full of Surprises...

It really has been a long time since I've updated this blog.  For the record, while K was deployed, I kept a seperate, private blog, solely to give myself permission to be honest without fear of judgement.  But I'm back now--as is K!  He returned home from the desert on October 28, 2011--exactly 5 days after our 1st wedding anniversary.  Needless to say, it was the best anniversary gift I could have ever asked for!

So what, you may ask, has been happening in the Gazaryan family since my last post in April of 2011?  To truly convey it all would be impossible, but below are some highlights (and pictures!)

This was my sweet family before K left:

Look how teeny tiny Meshka was!  Hard to believe she was only about 5 months old in this picture.
Here is what she looks like now:

She's definately not a puppy anymore!  Thankfully, she's done growing (tipping the scales at 55 pounds) and now that we have her food allergies under control, she is thriving and full of mischief as always!

In November 2011, I was finally blessed with an incredible job!  It was a long and oftentimes discouraging road to get there, but I honestly believe that it helps me be even more appreciative of this amazing career I have now.  I am working full-time at a Consulting company and get to things that I am good at on a daily basis!  It is a low-stress, high-paced work environment, which is exactly what I need.  Few people can say that they love going to work every single day and even now, 8 months into it, I wake up every morning excited to go to work!  What a blessing!!

My incredible husband and I had a wonderful holiday season together, and we were fortunate to get to see lots of family during that time.  K didn't have to go TDY until January, and even then, they were short times away.  The highlight of our winter was a four-legged addition that we brough home February 10th. 

Notice any similarities?

This sweet boy was left at the local Humane Society.  He is Meshka's twin brother (from the same litter) and his family could no longer afford to care for him.  A friend of mine who works at the shelter called me and said that, while it was hard to believe, a litter-mate of Meshka's had been dropped off and needed a home.  K told me no, but I convinced him to at least go and take a look at the dog, just because I was curious what his temperment was like.
We ended bringing the dog home.  We dubbed him Volk, which means wolfe in Russian and the minute he met his sister, it was if they had never been apart.  These two turkeys are inseperable--in good times and in bad! Volk is much calmer than his sister (might have something to do with how hefty he is! he was 86 pounds when we brought him home, he's now down to 75 pounds and could probably still stand to lose a few more) and he is our "hunk of love" who just wants to snuggle all day long.  We love our two fur babies and are so thankful that God gave us a second one to love.

In May, K and I took our long-awaited honeymoon.  Because K deployed so soon after we were married, and once he returned home, I had recently started a new job, we had to wait a year and a half from our wedding day to take our trip together.  We traveled to Punta Cana, Dominican Republic which is in the Caribbean area for a week and a half.  It was the best trip of our lives!

 This was the absolutely stunning beach that we spent the majority of our days at--so incredibly beautiful!

 The same beach at sunset--you can tell what time of day it is by the amount of seaweed on the beach.  Every morning, resort staff would rake it up, so the mornings, the beach was solid white!

 K and I getting ready to go swimming.

 Isn't he just the handsomest man in the world? I am so incredibly blessed!

More views of the beach.  It was hard to leave paradise!

So, in essence, what I have learned in the last year is that life is full of surprises.  I learned a lot about myself during K's deplyoment and was faced with many surprises, both good and bad, throughout that time.  Volk came into our lives unexpectedly but has completed our sweet family in ways I could have never imagined.  I found a job that I never expected and am so blessed to be in a career I love.

And one really big surprise:

It was apparently a VERY good honeymoon.

Baby will be joining us in Janary.  I am currently 8 weeks 5 days along, so really just starting this journey, which is a whole new blog for a whole different day, but this surprise, while unexpected and turning our world upside down, is such an incredible blessing that we can't wait to see what all we have in store.

Life truly is full of surprises, and I am learning to embrace each and every one!