Oh don't mind me...

I'm just dusting a few cobb webs from this poor forgotten blog of mine. But proof I still exist is this pic from Valentines day, showing off my new Origami Owl locket. Hubby did so good ;) 

You see, I went back to school in October and as if that wasn't enough... We PCS'ed in mid November where we made 2 stops along the way, one in Arizona and one in Tennessee, prolonging my arrival to Louisiana for 2 months. Got pregnant (unplanned) also in October, but lost the baby on Christmas day (wasn't sure I was going to put that in here but I guess I just did) Then when we arrived here in the swamp lands of Louisiana, I had no Internet for some days, Then after that I was unpacking (still unpacking) selling off our unused items because we had downsized for living space (goodbye baby crap taking up an entire spare bedroom) redecorating (PAH! decorating for the first time ever) and well....Now here I am again! I was rather busy. I thought about my blog often and even checked in on some of my favorite reads but the main reason I took a blogger hiatus was because of all the baby posts!!! Y'all were killing me with all that! My mind was saying I wasn't ready for another baby (little did I know I was pregnant with a baby) but my heart said "yes" each time I saw a new cute mama belly post or baby update. Sheesh! I couldn't keep a clear head like that. I hope you understand ;)  

Glad to be back!!!

I hope everyone is doing fabulous in this new year, reaching for goals and dreams, sipping on chocolate air and seeing nothing but the brightest rainbows in your future!!    

Back To The Lands Of Heat And Humidity.

So, we're moving again...

And not even to somewhere remotely awesome. Sigh. I've been dragging my feet on posting about this. You know. Because I might have been thinking, I'll wake up one morning and, it'll all be a dream? Yeah right... I hate it, because this goes against my usually positive self, but I fight a dreaded state of being at least once a week from this and I probably ask the hubby once a week if there isn't ANNNNNNY way we can get out of these orders. Sigh. But alas, we have orders in hand and so. We're moving. I know nothing about Louisiana, other than Duck Dynasty hails from it's swampy, hot, humid depths. WHICH, does give the state a bit of appeal :)  

I can't even think about how much I LOVE our current duty station, town, house and surroundings without being heart broken. We hadn't been in our new home more then 2 days when R got the news. I mean, seventy percent of our boxes remained packed still and we barely had the cable turned on! Any plans I had to Pinterest DIY projects for our new home? Gone. Talk about total buzz kill for nesting and unpacking. Sheesh.  

But, contrary to what I've said above, I've actually made 90 percent peace with the move...Even though I've come across like I'm upset and whining, my hearts just not in the whole "woe is me mode" anymore. That is until I talk with others who are going to places like Hawaii and Germany, ha! But honestly, we've had a few months to be sad, upset, dreadful and sad again so I'm over it. Most days. I think back on our first year in Washington and remember how unhappy I was with a lot of things here too. Obviously that has changed, as I've adapted, gave it a chance and made the unfamiliar, familiar. The same will happen at Ft. Polk too. I know it. 

 This move does mean good things for R's career though. He'll most likely pick up his E-8 as well as be non-deployable for the time we're there. Hello relief! Especially with this whole Syria business unraveling. I'm also happy, because this means I'll be a lot closer to my family. Still a 12 hour drive, but so much more do-able then the many miles apart we are, currently. There isn't anything around us at Polk, really, but if we're willing to drive 1-4 hours we can be in places like New Orleans, Houston, Lake Charles and Baton Rouge. I've always wanted to visit New Orleans and I hear Lake Charles is pretty neat so I can get excited for some road tripping and sight seeing! 

Those three years will be pretty quiet for us, it sounds like too. R will be home a lot (so we hear) and be working sham-tastic hours. So we're looking forward to just focusing on our little family, maybe consider adding to our family (no excitement from family just yet because we are still torn on this) as well as buckle down and knock out some serious undergrad credits. I've managed to find a few good groups on Facebook already which have been so helpful. I have to say, I've been blown away with the women on those pages! They seem so real, genuine, very low drama and very eager to meet new friends. I haven't really come cross that a lot in our other two duty stations. It could be the lack of going on's that makes everyone approachable and friendly, but either way, I don't care! R and I are horrible about making friends and staying connected, so Polk seems perfectly receptive for us to work on that. 

 January 2014, we'll be in our new state of residence and hopefully, pleasantly surprised and happy! Feel free to offer up any input if you've ever visited or lived in Louisiana or was ever stationed at Polk! Or well wishes and general "your going to love it" comments work too ;)

P.S If you love my photoshop skills here, let me know and I'll give you the awesome free template I found of the map. I dissected it quite a bit, for this post, but it comes with so much; originally an "Oh The Places We've Lived" template. Being military, I KNOW I'll be using it again and again. Let me know!      

A cloud of change and BABY FEVER!

The husband and I have officially went from--roommate status to married couple status, YAY! R is no longer a drill sergeant, currently in school finishing up his E-7 promotion & getting ready for this PCS coming up oh so fast! I have only FIVE short weeks of work left and then it's off to Tennessee to visit family one more time before there's a bajillion states between them and I---For those who didn't know, we are currently stationed at Ft. Benning so visiting family isn't as road painful as it will be once we move.

Leaving here is going to be bitter sweet! This has been my home for almost 3 years and the place where R and I first met! We have A LOT of good memories here as well as some of our favorite eatery's, parks and hangouts...I'm excited for the change in scenery and life style as well as climate, haha, but now we have a very BIG new town to navigate to make home. Also moving 2 large dogs and a cat could be interesting when this is the only home they've known.


In bigger news, I've thankfully hit a mile stone I never thought I'd reach---Used to be that I had to have change and that next place, but being married has somehow changed that...I'm thinking more long term now---Wanting a house of my own. Wanting to buy furniture that will stay in the same living room until I decide it needs to go...I am even getting BABY FEVER! However R and I are not in the right place to be trying those pipes...Or maybe we are? He's deploying next spring *insert sad face here* By the time we reach Washington he'll be leaving in 7-8 months for a year...We have discussed the baby thing and I think we've settled on a time frame but keeping that hush hush for now:)

I'm really excited for the unexpected switch. I used to think I was defective; a natural born gypsy. Definitely someone who would never be settled. The first time I heard Zac Brown's song, Colder Weather I cried because it fit all too well. I figured life would always be about rambling for me---But turns out people just need time to mature and grow--Thinking long term finally feels wonderful and there is definitely a sense of peace I have found in that...

I'd be excited that it's Thursday if I had this weekend off, but I don't--However, I can be excited for all of you who do! Happy Thursday everyone!

You Are Missed Gramma!

I cannot believe that June is just around the corner and that in seven short weeks I will be saying goodbye to my job! I figured the month of May would drag by like sludge, but apparently I was wrong because here we are in the last weeks--

I know that my attention was else where in early May; Some of you on my Facebook page would have heard, but my grandmother passed away a few weeks ago at 86 years old. She lead a very strong life, down to the end, and accomplished the things that meant most to her. She wanted to out live her husband so she could take care of him. Check. And stay out of a nursing home. Check Check! I think I got my bull dog personality from her, ha! She took care of her husband until his death in December 2009 and she passed into God's hands while sleeping in her bed May 3, 2011. I was very lucky to attend her funeral 800 miles away in the hills of Pennsylvania with the rest of my family. She was such a wonderful women and will be greatly missed by me and many others--

During this, I also had a charity event going on for a local abused shelter for Mothers Day. I paired my new business as a Mary Kay consultant with sponsors (local businesses/ family and friends) to bring the Mothers of Hope Harbour joy and appreciation during a darker time of their lives. This took up a lot of time on top of working 12 hour days but it was so worth it and felt wonderful to be apart of! In addition, I was pulling ladies together to throw my first 2 Mary Kay parties and planning a birthday party for my sister---

Next week I have a day devoted solely to the MOVE and getting questions answered. However I'm hoping one of you might be able to answer this one. We are wanting to fly our cat to Washington instead of drive him out there; ONLY because of his inability to be indoors for long periods of time without being SUPER annoying, lol...Our only problem is he'll be there long before we arrive to pick him up. Is there anyone who offers a service for this? Such as picking him up for us? Or does the airport board them until you claim your animal?

HAPPY FRIDAY everyone!!!! I actually have an entire weekend off this week so it really IS a happy Friday:)

Calling all my military ladies!!!

Here is a question for my military gals---

On post living vs. off post living??? Time is flying right now and in 3 short months we will be pcs'ing 3,000 miles from here to Ft. Lewis Washington...My husband and I have been doing a lot of talking about whether to look for housing in near by towns or simply try on post housing, seeing as he will be deploying 6-7 months after we arrive...I am really on the fence about it! I will definitely be moving to Phoenix, AZ after his departure so I could see the no contract thing being a plus to living on post. However, I would love some opinions on the pros and cons if you could!

Thanks Ladies!

I Would Rather An Edible Donut, Please And Thank You!

Jiminy!!! I can't believe that my last post was on February 14th---Oops!

Well I'm still loving the Scion. We made it back from vacation as two much happier, relaxed people and I have since canceled the Battle Of The Abs event on Facebook. Laziness Work got in the way of every ones training...Excuses excuses, I know!

The past month I have been REALLY trying not to stress over our PCS this summer...There was two possible scenarios, one of which we would not get an answer on until it was down to the wire. As in one week until we're to move, wire... R submitted his packet for warrant officer, in hopes that he would be accepted. So instead of us PCS'ing out west in July, we would be taking a mini road trip 2 hrs. from here, further south...He was denied today; due to a non progressive cataracts that he was given a waiver for. I'm so sad and frustrated for him right now---This was the only reason he re-enlisted. R's only guess, as to why they didn't accept the waiver, is because of the draw down in the military accepting new soldiers...Apparently there are more pilots then there are aircraft's right now...It makes sense, but it still sucks...I have one last hope that maybe his denied application isn't indefinite and maybe just temporary...We shall see.

So it looks like we will be going west come late July! This will be my first PCS with the military so I am a bit nervous. I'm also nervous because R will be in school until, basically, the day we are to head out, ahh! I can handle this; I'm a big girl!

What I AM having a hard time with is the big "D" as some of you put it...I'll be getting my very own donut of misery come next spring, yay! *note my sarcasm* This will be my first deployment as his wife---which being married to him for 3 years, by that time, makes me a very luck women that I haven't had to share him more. I do realize this! However, him being a Drill Sgt. for the past 2 years hasn't exactly placed him in my bed every night...Most of the time our day looks like this---I come home late from work (11:00 pm'ish) he's snoring in the room while his alarm is set for 3:45 a.m---He wakes at 3:45 a.m and I am sleeping sound beside him...Like ships passing in the wind most days...

I am tossing around the idea of moving to Arizona during the deployment because R's folks and sister live there. I have more then completely befuddled my siblings over this decision, as to why I wouldn't be returning home to Tennessee, and my answer is this: I want to feel that R is near and I can do that by being in the one place he called home for 20 years; by being around the people that knows him best! I'm NOT one of these girls who will pack up all of his things until he returns. No! I WANT to see remnants of him being there, his stuff lying around the house...All of my siblings back home have families of their own now as well...Children and husbands to take care of...Their lives do not revolve around the military nor do they really understand it...I know that my family would be empathetic on the days where I am feeling scared or worried but I don't feel they would really understand what I will be going through...Arizona makes sense for these reasons...

I also would LOVE the opportunity to spend more time with R's side of the family! I am close to my own family so it feels unnatural to have family that I do not know quite as well...R's folks and sister rock as good, down to earth, just great and supportive people so I'm looking forward to having that close by as I navigate my first real deployment with R.

Goodness!!! The rain is coming down hard and the puppies are whining so I guess this means I should stop typing and baby them...ha ha! Thank you for your listening ear ladies...I'm not usually this whiny and emotional on here, so please excuse that... I know A LOT of you can appreciate what I'm talking about because you've been through it or are currently going through it, so its comforting to talk about it with you all---I heart my readers!

Goodnight Blog--