We will not Forget!

I think we all can agree that September 11, 2001 changed all of our lives.

At the time, We were living in our first house in Columbia, SC.  Jon and I had graduated from Carolina four months earlier and Jon had received his commission as a 2LT in the U.S Army the same weekend.  We were young and excited about our future and planning our first Army move. (naive I know! actually excited about a military move!)

On the morning of September 11th, Jon and I had a disagreement.  I was in a tiff about helping him get his uniform ready for that day.  Jon left for work, I was frustrated and we weren't speaking to each other.  It was probably one of the first fights we had where we left home mad.  Later that morning as I was getting ready for work and eating breakfast I was watching the coverage of the attacks on tv.  At the time everyone was still confused as to what was going on as NBC was covering the first plane hitting the tower.  Then, I watched,  as most people did,  as the second plane hit the south tower.  After the initial shock, passed I immediately thought of Jon and the fight we had earlier.  How silly, selfish and childish I had been.  Things were definitely being put into perspective.

In the hours, days and weeks ahead, as a new Army wife, I wondered and feared what our future would hold.  We knew we would still be moving to Ft Knox for Jon's initial training but what would happen after that?  Well, we moved to KY and then to Ft Hood, Texas.  Jon deployed to Iraq and I worked as an EMT for Scott and White Hospital.  Later, we would move several more times and Jon would deploy to Iraq again.  We have lost dear friends and been separated many times over the last 10 years.

On September 11th, I think it is safe to say that we lost our innocence and how we viewed our safety and security as a country.  We also have seen a great strength and resiliency from our nation, First Responders, Soldiers and the Families of those lost in the wake of the attacks.  As a military Family, the concept of "plan for war but pray for peace" became very real to us.  I think we are more patriotic today, we value the time we are given because quite frankly we don't know what or when things will change again.

To borrow a quote from my friend:
God bless this country, those that were lost, and those who continue to fight
~Liz Harrison

Adoption Web Profile

Here is the link to our adoption profile on the Bethany Christian Services website. We want to thank everyone for their support during the initial steps of this journey! We are really excited that we are now approved as a waiting family. Now we wait for birthparents to look at our profile and decide if they want to meet us. Then if things go well we will be matched with a birth family.

This has been a very exciting and at times overwhelming journey so far. It is awesome to see God's had in the entire process though! God is Good!

Here's the link:

Jon and Sally's Web Profile
Blessings!
Sally (Jon and Maggie too)

Thoughts on being 60 pounds lighter!

So lately I have been aware of several things that I have not experienced in a long time.  Since I have lost weight I have realized several changes in my routine, new interactions and new milestones.  There are several milestones that I have achieved PRIOR to losing so much weight those are running and completing 4 half marathons and a full marathon (all done when I was over 200 pounds!)

Some of my new thoughts, realizations and accomplishments are:

-I am 'Fit' not Fat
-I am strong
-I now have better form on my bike
-I totally think my surfing would be better if we were in Hawaii maybe we need to take a trip to test this)
-No more unwarranted and obvious comments about my size by my patients
-I have the confidence to try new things
-I cross my legs more
-I can now fit into specialty clothing like North Face and other regular size athletic apparel
-Having someone ask you for advice regarding triathlon rules on your first race
-Completing a Tri
-Placing 3rd in my age group at my first Triathlon
-I love shopping the Clearance rack!
-I love the feeling when clothes fit you surprisingly better than you expect
-I love getting up early to workout (even on the weekends)
-The joy of fitting in regular size knee high boots!!!
-Not recognizing myself in pictures
-Horizontal stripe shirts are in and now I can wear them
-I have a sassy new haircut!
-I'm enjoying new recipes
-I'm being adventurous and trying new fish and seafood dishes
-The joy of setting a PR on the run portion of the Triathlon
-My minute mile time has improved by 2:30 minutes since my marathon training

 After the Chattahoochee Challenge Sprint Tri

 We tackled a 47 mile bike race at Warner Robbins AFB

 Wearing Talbots clothes! (Thanks Mom and Dad!)

$8 clearance jeans!

I still have a way to go to reach my ideal weight goal but regardless of how long it takes me to get there, I know that I will have many more milestones along the way!

Memorial Day--our Fallen Soldiers

As we celebrate Memorial Day, I have been bothered and down right angry at the general population's and media's understanding of the day.  Memorial Day is to honor our Fallen Soldiers, those who paid the Ultimate Sacrifice.  Although I always understood the meaning of the Holiday, (Jon and I used to cut school  to attend local Memorial Day ceremonies while we were in high school), but it did not hit home (personally) for me until 2003 when our good friend Leif Nott was killed in Iraq.  Since then we have known so many more Soldier's who have Sacrificed so much.  In fact our country has lost close to 6,000 promising young men and women in the last 10 years. So now each Memorial Day is a special remembrance day for us in the Chavous household.

As we spend the day attending BBQs or going to the beach, and I am not chastising those who enjoy the great weather or a chance to get together with friends, I ask that you do so with Perspective that there are Families that will never enjoy a BBQ or a day at the beach with their loved one.  Please remember those who Sacrificed for our freedoms.

I leave you with a ceremony that is included at military formals and functions as a way to honor our  Fallen Soldiers.  I think that it is appropriate to use this ceremony during anytime you want to remember and honor the Fallen on special occasions.  It is certainly appropriate on Memorial Day to honor them and we have used this at several Memorial Day picnics.

I am forever grateful to Leif and the thousands of other Servicemen and women who Sacrificed everything for my Freedom.  Special prayers of peace for their Families this day and everyday.

It is the Fallen Soldier's Table:

Members of the Mess, as you entered the hall tonight, you may have noticed the small table, set for one, in a place of honor. This table is our way of symbolizing the fact that members of our profession of arms are missing from our midst…
They are unable to eat with us this evening, so we remember them for their ultimate sacrifice and their dedication to a grateful nation…
This table, set for one is a small symbol of the frailty of one Soldier alone against his oppressors and the singular life given in defense of our Nation. .

The tablecloth is black, symbolizing the darkness and mourning we felt as our brothers fell in battle…

The tablecloth is white, symbolizing the purity of their intentions to respond to their country’s call to arms…

The single rose in the vase reminds us of the families and loved ones of our Comrades-in-Arms who keep their memories alive lest we forget…


The red ribbon tied so prominently on the vase, is a reminder of the blood shed to protect the liberty so loved by our country…


A slice of lemon is on the bread plate, to remind us of their bitter fate…


The spilled salt on the bread plate is symbolic of the families’ tears as they learned of their loved ones fate…


The white candle symbolizes the purity of those comrades who fought for our nation…


The glass is inverted; they cannot toast with us this night…


The chair is empty; he is not here…


Remember, all of you who served with them and called them comrade, who depended upon their might and aid, and relied upon them, for surely they have not forgotten you.

It is our hope this night, that with pride and honor, they will hear us as we toast their ultimate sacrifice to their Country’s call to arms.”

Members of the Mess, I propose a toast to our fallen comrades”
All: (Silence)

Big Family news!!!!

So I guess it is time to officially announce our big plans.  Jon and I are in the process of adopting a newborn!  We are super excited and I must say a little overwhelmed with all the paperwork that we are in the process of completing.  We have been discussing adoption for several years and now feel that God is calling us to start the actual process.  It is really exciting to see how smoothly things are going and we are constantly seeing reminders of affirmation that we are meant to adopt.  God is so Good!

We are in the Home Study process right now.  We go to classes once a week to discuss specific situations regarding domestic adoption.  In addition to our classes we have a couple more visits with our social worker and we are completing lots of paperwork!  I have dubbed this time as "The Great Paperwork Chase!"  I must admit that I will be glad when we are done with the document gathering stage!

We hope to be approved from our Home Study around May.  After that we will be among other prospective adoptive parents that can/will be viewed by birthmothers creating an adoption plan.

A few things:  Please pray for us as we continue on this awesome journey!  Specifically pray for us as we complete paperwork and meetings over the next few weeks.  Pray that we will start to adjust our lives to the possibility of a new addition, as there won't be a physical change to my body that will prepare me/us for  changes in sleep patterns and lifestyles.  PLEASE pray for expectant birthparents that are making extremely difficult decisions!  Adoption is such a loving and selfless act by the birthparents but it is such a difficult decision.  Please pray that birthparents with have wisdom, comfort and peace as they are making decisions.

Well that is about all for now!  We are super excited and wanted to share.  Would love to hear your thoughts and adoption stories!

An attempt on sharing my thoughts

For a while now I have been contemplating creating a blog in order to share my latest thoughts and the happenings of our family.  Then reality would set in and I would tell myself that although it was a good intention, I would probably lose interest or what not.  Well I have made the commitment to start blogging, however I will post as the mood hits me or if I have important news to share.  I am not promising a regular routine of posts.

I chose the name "Sally's Snapshots (& Thoughts) because of my love of photography and perhaps my blog will be a "mental snapshot" of who I am.

Happy Reading!