The Results Are In

It has been an eventful 2009 for us thus far! Ben's unit has been busy going into and out of the field. For those of us who aren't in the Army, this usually means kicking it off with an all-nighter paratroop jump & mission, and then heading out somewhere in the woods to set up Army "camp" for a couple of weeks. From my understanding Ben works in the Aid Station Tent and sleeps outside on the ground - even when it is freezing. The different parts of the unit work together to complete different missions and training. That is about the extent of what I know goes on!

While he was out in the field this month, we got some crazy wonderful news ... Our first little Schaefer-baby is going to come into the world and bless our lives about 2 years sooner than we expected! While not originally our timing, we are convinced that God's timing is far better. This news changes a few things for us, and has us really thinking about our near future. Through it, God is also teaching us (especially me) some valuable lessons. Who am I to tell God when I want kids and how many? He knows us better than we know ourselves, thank goodness. He is in control, and we can trust Him with our lives.

How am I feeling? Well pretty much as soon as those 2 lines turned blue the morning (aka. all day) sickness dropped like the A-Bomb. Pardon my language but morning sickness is a b****. Although it is getting more and more under control, I am looking forward to the 2nd trimester...I have high hopes that I'll enjoy feeling energetic and great!

We have some photos to post (because that's the best part of a blog!) but for some reason our little camera won't import today....we'll get them up soon :)

As always we'd love to hear from you so drop us a line anytime!!

Snow Day !!!! (hence the massive photo update)

My handsome husband in his new Army Issued Oakley's.

Check out some of the photos from Taylor's photo session!

Mrs. Clause in her new pj's.

My little brother Carson!!! We're so proud of his passion & accomplishments in golf!

We did a photo session with Myles, our beautiful nephew.

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I can't believe "Ben's Birthday Buns" was our last post! It has obviously been a while since we jumped back on the blog wagon. But today is a SNOW DAY for us! We woke up this morning to a text message telling Ben that Ft. Bragg is shut down for the day. My classes are canceled due to "hazardous conditions", and my CPR class is also being rescheduled. It is gorgeous outside! Although we know most of you have spent the last few months in ridiculously cold weather, we've never experienced this since living here in North Carolina, last week we could get away with a light sweater.

Enjoy this photo update...we had an amazing Christmas & New Years spent with family. And we just got back from a weekend in the Blue Ridge Mountains of NC. It was a marriage retreat put on by the Army, how cool is that? It was shockingly cold at the top of that "mountain". We even went skiing one day! (For all you RD people it was comparable to Canyon Ski Hill :)

Last Post about Ben's Birthday Buns

They are hot!

Entry #1 unveiled

The Finished Product

VitaMix Entry #1 cont

Chelsa and I were looking for something fun to do on my birthday and we decided Cinnamon Rolls were the best bet. Here are some more pictures of the fun.




Abracadabra!

VitaMix Entry #1

It's all about the presentation. And that's what I went for in this first entry.

The recipe
The ingredients
The machine
The roll
And the roll

VitaMix off

We, Ben and Chelsa, would like to invite you (Matt and Johnni, Lyle and Deb, Jeff and Care, Shane and Jen, Kenny and Christine and anyone else who is up to the challenge) to the challenge of the year! The VITAMIX off. If you don't know what I'm talking about go ahead and visit this site. Allow me to divulge into the VitaMix; the VitaMix, according to it's website, is the world's most durable, reliable and innovative appliance. According to a few friends of mine, "It's the coolest thing since, well, sliced bagels. Maybe that's because it makes bagels...and anything else you can possibly imagine" (emphasis mine).
Some lesser mortals may call it a blender, but those of us, "on a higher playing field," no the VitaMix for what it truly is... a lifestyle.
So quit with the juicer, ice cream maker, and bread machine and buy a VitaMix to join in the fun. This is an investment (Ross and Amber, Brad and Mollie, Brian and Kate)...something to go into the asset column of your budget doc.
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Now for the challenge.
Chelsa and I have been inspired to go above and beyond our normal smoothies and loaves of bread to bring you the 2008/2009 VitaMix off Challenge.

All you need to do is simply use your VitaMix to whip up a snack, drink, ice cream - or whatever, and post it to your blog. (you may email us your experience for us to post on our blog if you don't have a FREE blog through blogger.com)
Enter this challenge as often as you like, all we ask is for creativity and pictures to document the fun. Enter solo or with your significant other.

Read the following sentences really fast. (as if it's an infomercial)
Prizes and more info regarding the specifics of the challenge to follow. Cannot be purchased in stores. This is a limited time offer. Enjoy.

Our Long Weekend In Charles Town

Matt took these great photos of Ben and me.


Above. There really are alligators in there!


Above: Our Cypress Gardens Narrator :) It was surreal paddling around the wetland (aka.swamp with alligators) where Noah takes Allie out in the little boat with all the birds, and then it starts to POUR down rain on them....



Above: Pieces of broken glass/pottery found in the slaves' homes - they help tell the story of how they lived.


Above: Remember that scene, in The Notebook, where Noah & Allie are canoing in the pond after the Sunday Brunch with her family? That was filmed here!


Above: This is the outside of Allie's summer home in The Notebook. The Sunday Brunch was filmed in its backyard...


We missed the once-a-year war re-enactment out at the Boone Plantation by a hair!



Nice patrol caps :)


And we finished the trip off with an evening of fondue :) Thanks Matt & Johnni!


We had a pretty incredible Veteran's Day 4-day! It was so nice to meet up with Matt & Johnni down in Charleston, SC. It was great weather, food, fondue, friends, wine, and photography! What a beautiful coastal city...and so much history! We could definitely use another trip there to learn so much more.

We did a lot of walking down town - a lot of amazing historic mansions & cobblestone streets (aka. amazing portrait location!). We went out to the Boone Plantation & Cypress Gardens (both locations for scenes in The Notebook!). There are way too many great images to work on and post, but hopefully you enjoy this bunch! Also, I put up some more on my Sacred Moments Blog.

Autumn in North Carolina

I have never seen cotton fields before! For the past few weeks, I have enjoyed looking at these fields every Thursday on my drive to the Harnett Campus. I have posted more photos of them on my Sacred Moments blog! I think they are beautiful!

The price I filled up my tank for today! A mile up the road it was 2.17!

My handsome man oh-so-eager to be my softbox assistant!





Oh my goodness, these images do not do it justice!!!! I love my commute back and forth to class each week, because it gets me out of the city limits and into the country where the autumn colours just amaze me!!! Apart from a few rainy days, the weather is wonderful. These photos were taken at a park on post.

Ben and I are having a really good Autumn here. We enjoyed a short day trip to Wilmington/Wrightsville Beach last weekend. Check out Sacred Moments for some of the SHiNE Magazine photos from that shoot. We love that area and seem to only ever get a few hours when we are there! One of these days we'll spend a weekend. Although someone just told me that NC has a lot of alligators - to include the river in Wilmington..yikes! Kind of freaks me out...Apart from a few road trips here and there (more yummy ones to come!) we are keeping busy with work and school. We have a lot to be thankful for.

Okay, and every single day we have been watching the price of gas fall. When you are paying $4/gal during the summer, this price feels pretty darn good. A full tank is less than $30 for me right now. What a fun game these oil field companies play with us!