My journey of "singleness."

Ok... I know that I have not updated this thing in forever!!!! So much to say... First off as I am sure you all know, Matthew has been gone for about a month and a half and we have until June to go. I thought that I was going to freak out and be so sad and it would be the end of the world. Dont get me wrong I am still very sad he is not here with me. The Lord has changed me to a whole new independent woman. It is rather crazy. He is the only reason I have had strength through this. I have yet to find a job, but I have applied at literally 30 or so places... No joke. I had an interview the other day and I am just waiting for that to clear. I just have to meet with them one last time on Monday. It is for a Nanny job, full time and the pay is pretty darn good. So that is a blessing. Also I am starting on line classes to get my teaching degree and I start that in a couple of months. So I am going to be busy. I have not only changed my life without the man that I love. I have also changed my everyday living, I have decided to take upon myself a new journey called, "Weight loss!" It is NOT an easy one. My goal is to lose 30lbs and I have lost 8. Other than working out everyday, I am eating much healthier. For me that is a huge accomplishment!

Matthew is doing well. I am sure most of you have gotten some emails from him. He is still trying to get the hang of things. I suppose living on a ship with 6,000 other people cant be comfortable. When he first got to his ship he took an exam to get his next rank and he finds out how he did soon. So that will be a blessing if he gets it. He got very ill not too long after he got there, but is feeling much better! He has also decided to take on the, "Weight loss" journey. Even though he didnt need to. His first port was Japan and he said he had a blast. Today they pulled into Guam, where he will be scuba diving for the first time. So I am very excited that he gets to experience such awesome things. God has truly been good to him, keeping him safe so far.

On another note. I thought my world would crumble around me without him here. The Lord has been with us this whole time and made our marriage incredibly strong. It is kinda weird to have to be the husband and the wife while he is away, taking care of everything. Monday is our 2nd wedding anniversary and that sucks he wont be here to celebrate, but we are just so thankful for 2 wonderful years as "THE BENTONS." It is so crazy to think you can feel so close to someone without them being here everyday. Our marriage has matured so much and our love is just as deep now or even deeper as the day he left.

I miss you all dearly and really wish we could be there! We are so sad that we have missed celebrating the births of 2 beautiful babies and we'll miss celebrating Malia's birth as well! I am also terribly sad to not have small group on Friday nights. My Fridays are so boring now, it is sad. I pray for you all!
Love you guys!

Happy Valentines Day.

So it is only 10:48 here and the day has started out great. I got up at 6:30 to make orange chocolate chip pancakes, they were yummy. Then I sent Matthew off to golf. We all know that is one of his biggest passions! Then Madison, Samson and I sat down to watch some movies. We watched Hair Spray and the Notebook. I am so excited because we are going to go to this Mexican restaurant that we found in Old Town, where they make homemade tortillas. A nice simple day together. That is all that we want, before he leaves!

On another note, Matthew and I have praying and trying to figure out what I should go to school for. I have been debating for a long time between an obgyn/labor and delivery nurse and an elementary school teacher. Children are a big part of my life and passion. They always have been. I grew up in a Large family and helped raise 2 of my younger cousins and younger sister. I have worked with so many families babysitting and was a preschool teacher. I always knew that working with children would be a part of my calling. Anyway, so I have been going back and forth between the two for awhile... Well, the other day when Matthew and I got here, we were filling out some paper work and out of nowhere the lady was like, if you are ever interested in going to school, the Navy will pay up to a certain amount. I was like, "Oh, that is awesome." And then without me saying anything she said that the Navy has a new program for spouses that are interested in becoming a teacher. The program is called Spouse to Teacher and they pay for all the schooling. So that was an answer to prayer. So I am going to be going to school to be a teacher and I am so excited!

Matthew is in golf heaven right now. He found out there are a lot of awesome courses that he can play and not for very much money! He is getting ready to go back to work and says that he is looking forward to the challenges that are ahead of him, while he is out to sea. He is going to get to see so many awesome places and experience great things.

Our new journey.

We just recently moved to San Diego, CA. It is a new change, quite different from what we are used to. We both come from a little town in Illinois and to move to such a huge city, is a little scary but yet exciting. Matt is currently on leave and will be going back to work in just a short couple of weeks. The time we have had this last month has been precious, knowing we will no longer be together everyday or every few days. We are looking at this as if the glass is half full, not empty. We know this will be a growing experience, to bring us closer together and closer to Christ. We will be apart for 3 months and in that time we will not be celebrating together; our 2nd wedding anniversary, Easter and Matt's 24th Birthday. But we are looking forward to celebrating many anniversarys, birthdays and holidays after he is out of the Navy. While he is out to sea, I am going to working and going back to school!

We have yet to find a church home. We tried a church this last Sunday, it was pretty good, but we want to keep looking until we feel at home. That is going to be hard, because we know that nobody can replace our love for our home church, Seacoast. And not a soul can replace the best friends we have made along the way !! We miss you all!!!!