Happy Anniversary To My Husband

I know I just posted about Scott a few weeks ago during the Marine Corps birthday.....but here I go again. We just celebrated our 8th anniversary this past Sunday the 7th. I woke up that morning and before I got to see Scott and wish him a happy anniversary, Delana walked in the room and right away I could not help but squeeze her and tell her "happy anniversary." I had the strong impression to wish everyone in our little family happy anniversary. It dawned on me that we were celebrating our family's anniversary. More than just an anniversary of husband and wife. It was actually the day our family was established, December 7th, 2000 in San Diego California at the LDS Temple.

What did we do for our Anniversary, it was on Sunday, and we both worked all day Saturday, so not much. We did go out for dinner as a family Monday night, which was very very nice. What did we get each other? Some of the best gifts ever this year. Scott bore his testimony of his faith at church on Sunday. The best gift ever!!! I was so grateful to hear his testimony and it reminded me of why I fell in love with him in the first place. This post is my gift. I did actually get him a gift, but it has not come in the mail yet. I ordered him a 20x24 canvas poster of a recent picture of our family. He has been begging for over a year for a new family photo. He said it looked as if Delana did not exist around our house according to the walls. The poster has not come yet, but I was asked on Sunday to write up a bio about Scott for a cooking class that he will be teaching at a local Single Adult Conference.

Here is the bio I submitted. Happy Anniversary honey:

Scott Zabel, born and raised in Boise, Idaho, got his start in cooking at Wendy's of all places, when he was 15 years old. He loved working in the food industry and got his second job as a short order cook at a restaurant called Shari's. One day he was driving by a military recruiting office and he decided to pull over and he walked in. He joined the Marine Corps in April 1999. When the Marine Corps asked what field he was interested in, he said cooking. I am sure they laughed, not many people ask to go into the cooking field in the military. It is usually something people get "stuck" with. Scott went to cooks school in Fort Lee rigth out of basic training (boot camp). He gradutaed first in his class with the highest marks of all of the new Marines. His first duty station and chow or mess hall was in Yuma, Arizona. He was self motivated and earned the title of "Oorah Motivater!" He was motivated enough to go out to the local community classes and take some culinary art classes in the evening. He discovered there that he loved baking. His love for baking lead him to take the Wilton cake decorating classes at Michael's. His baking skills and cake decorating skills stood out and he was put in charge of the bake shop. He loves cooking and being in the kitchen but he had dreams outside of a base chow hall. He had dreams of someday in his millitary career working as a private enlisted aide to the Generals. He wanted to cook for the Commandant of the Marine Corps. This sounded like a dream that he would eventually work his way up to late in his military career. In January 2003 he was called to fight in a war that had not even begun yet and did not have even have a name yet. He spent 8 months in Kuwait and Iraq supporting the troops in Operation Iraqi Freedom. When he returned he needed to be transferred out of Yuma and onto his second duty station. He had a Gunnery Sergeant, Gunny Myers, that had left Yuma to go to Washington DC to be an enlisted aide. There was an opening in the Enlisted Aide Field and this Gunny remembered how hard working and motivated Scott was. He ignored Scott's young age and the fact of his short military career and experience, and gave him a chance. He called him up and said there was an opening and that he should try for it. The other leaders at the chow hall all agreed that though Scott was young, he was ready. Scott was accepted in 2004 and got a position working at the Pentagon where his main duty was to poor coffee for the Commandant of the Marine Corps. After a few months of pouring coffee Scott was asked to work on a team of four chefs and aides to the Commandant, General Mike Hagee. Scott then earned another title and nick name, "Junior." He was one of the youngest Marines in the enlisted aide field. The list of Generals the scott has cooked for include the following, Commandant General Mike Hagee (2004-2005), Chairman of the Joint Chief of Staff, General Peter Pace (2005-2007), the current Commandant of the Marine Corps, General James T. Conway(2007 to present). Scott enjoys the education opportunities that he has received while serving in the Marine Corps. He returned to cook school in Fort Lee a few years ago to attend a NCO Cook School and he graduated top of his class again. He has had the privildge of taking a few courses at the Culinary Art Institute of America in New York. He looks forward to more years of experience. He is proud to be a Marine but his favorite role in life is that of husband and father to two very beautiful little girls, ages 6 and 2. He is a wonderful missionary and example to all those he serves with and serves for. He seems to stand out and shine and excel at all things he sets out to do and accomplish. He is living his dream job because of his self motivation and dedication to service.

Happy Anniversary Scott. I Love You.


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Happy Birthday Marines

Birthday Cake Scott made in November 2005

(Boot Camp 1999)

November 10, 1775 is the birth date of the United States Marine Corps. So I want to wish every Marine out there Happy Birthday. I remember 8 years ago when I attended my first Marine Corps Ball. I had known that the ball existed prior to that, after all I was raised in a Yuma, Az close to a base. I knew several people that attended the ball every year, but I never understood the history behind the ball until I attended one in the year 2000. Scott and I were engaged. He wanted to take me to the ball. He was a young Lance Corporal (E-3). I was just excited to go and get to dress up and get to see him in his uniform. When we got to the ball everyone started wishing each other happy birthday. When I first heard someone tell Scott happy birthday I was very puzzled. For a split second I felt bad that I did not know his birthday. "I thought, how could I be marrying a man when I don't even know when his birthday is." But then Scott told the other Marine happy birthday. And I soon caught on. The ball is a birthday party to celebrate the Marine Corps. I even started a tradition of getting him a birthday present every year to give to him when we went to a ball. But I have fallen out of the tradition and really need to get back into it. If you ever have a chance to attend a ball you should go. Marines are allowed to bring guest, so if you know a Marine that attends a ball you should ask them if you can go as their guest. The last ball Scott and I attended was three years ago. I have missed it so much. I want to make it a goal to go next year. It is always hard for us to go because Scott is usually busy making a cake for the Commandant's Ball. I am going to make him take me next year.

I had to run to the store really really late Saturday and I saw a young Marine and his date at the store. They must have just come from a ball. I wished him happy birthday and gave him a sturdy Oo-rah as I walked by. I even got a little teary eyed as I did it and when he wished me happy birthday back. So if you run into a Marine, in or out of uniform today. Wish them happy birthday. The Marine Corps has so much pride. I love it!!!!! I love my husband for the service he gives our country. So I may not have bought my husband a birthday present this year, but hopefully he will read this post and know I love him

Happy Birthday....OO-RAH!! Semper-fi!

Semper Fidelis is Latin for "Always faithful." Best known to Americans as the motto of the United States Marine Corps (often "Semper Fi" (IPA: sɛm pər ˈfаɪ) for short)

cook school 1999-can you find Scott? Front row 2nd one from the right.

Marine Corps Ball November 2000

I am so proud to be married to a Marine-December 2000

Cake Scott made in November 2002

The day Scott left for Kuwait/Iraq in Feb 2003. The war had not even started and did not even have a name yet. The picture below is his him saying good bye to Maelee at age 11 months...not walking and not talking.

Scott and a donkey and his gun in Iraq

Scott's Homecoming September 2003. Came home to a 19 month old walking and talking daughter and a very happy wife that was so glad to have her husband home safe.

This was the last picture we had taken at a ball. We have only been to one other since this picture was taken but we do not have any pictures from that evening.

Scott working his dream job...Enlisted Aide to The Generals. Above he is pictured with General Haggee in 2005 with a cake he helped to make for the Commandant's Ball. Below is Scott at his re-enlistment for his third and current enlistment. He was re-enlisted by General Peter Pace in April 2006. Scott will hit his 10 year mark in the Marine Corps this April. Time goes by so fast.

Scott goes to the White House

Scott was at the White House today. The President was presenting the Stanley Cup to the Red Wings. The Commandants Aides were invited. I love these pictures because I don't get to see him in uniform very often. He goes to work on a daily basis in just black slacks and a polo shirt. I married a Marine because I liked the uniforms they wear. I also married a Marine so he would take me to the Marine Corps Ball and that has not happened in years!

Scott Meets The President

My husband, Scott (Staff Sergeant Zabel), works for the Commandant of the Marine Corps, General Conway. He does the cooking and cleaning on a team of four personal aides. He has been in this field (Enlisted Aides to The Generals) for almost five years. This is the third General he has worked for. First General Hagee and then General Peter Pace, and now General Conway. While working in this field he has met some important people. Friday he met The President of The United States, President Bush. The president attend the parade at 8th and I in Washington DC. Scott works at this parades every Friday during the summer. Friday was the final parade of the season. The President came out for the event. For the past 6 days Scott will just blurt out of nowhere, "I met the president." We will be just eating dinner and it will come out of his mouth. Or we will be sitting around and he will say it. It is funny.

In Love With a Boy

I love this boy so much! I call him a boy and not a man because that is what he is and I love him for it. He is my boy because I robbed the cradle and he is three years younger than me. So when we got married he was only 20. As my mother said when I told her we wanted to get married, "but he is just a baby." Maelee thinks it is so wierd that he is younger. It is funny that at 6 she has a concept of age. When we were flying home from AZ, just me and the girs (scott did not make it this trip), there was a really nice woman helping us on the plane. Her and Maelee were talking and she started telling that woman that her mommy is very old. "My mom is 31. She is very old." The funnier part is what she said next, "and my dad is very young. He is only 22." I hushed her up really fast and explained to the woman that he really was not that young, younger than me, but not 22 years old. By then the woman was laughing and I think she was trying to figure out who to believe. Scott gives me hard time about my age. He laughs at the fact that I am in my 30's now. He will be there soon, and when I tell him that he reminds me that I will still be closer to 40 then he is. I am sure this will go in forever....we will be talking about it into our 50's and 60's and 70's and hopefully longer.

This week I emailed him my link to my blog. He had never seen it before. He is not home much these days so I figured this may be the best way for him to know what goes on around here. When I asked him if he read it he said, "I was supposed to read it?" He did let me know he atleast looked at the pics. But honey if you are reading this, I LOVE YOU and all of your boyish charm. (who wouldn't love a boy with lips like his)