The Military Spouse

She is a woman who never plans anything, rolls with punches well, smiles excessively, has a rough exterior and a loving center. Someone who can take an idea and run with it, and also be ok when it falls apart due to a midnight phone call. Someone who loves people, but is perfectly fine on their own. Usually managing life together from multiple countries, and likes a pet to keep them company, this is of course before being a single mother half the year (if she has kids). Its a tough job, and they do not get nearly enough thanks, so this is my thanks to all the other military spouses who hopefully keep their sanity much better than I.

I have a tendancy to lose it. Sometimes I cry randomly, yell over nothing, or sleep all day lacking the motivation to get out of bed. But you should thank Greggles, for he puts up with all of it with minimal complaining and usually a smile on his face. Oh I love my wonderful husband for loving me and being so understanding. Its not the easiest thing in the world moving 1300 miles away from Mommy and Daddy. I would say friends, but there are very few left there that I even care to keep in touch with, so mostly its the family aspect. But you know what, it makes us a stronger couple. When I have a problem, I talk to Greg. He cheers me up, buys me a bigmac, and life goes on. It truly can be a perfectly wonderful life.

Lately I've been focusing on school and keeping the house clean. You'd think it'd be easy only being the two of us. I blame the cats. They must tear through here every night because for some reason it never stays picked up. I quit my job. Yup. I haven't told anyone but the people that I work with, but it was making me unbelievably miserable and I could not stand it. Right now I'm going to finish my semester and start another one. If I get this one done by Nov 1st, I will possibly try and find another job. It depends though. I only have so many hours a day with Greg so many days out of the year, and I hate not being able to spend that time together when he is actually here in Abilene. I know people will say "wow must be nice to be able to stay home." All it is, is budgeting. And I am a master budgeter. Even without my pathetic income, we should have 3 credit cards paid off by January. BEFORE he even deploys again. Which means for the next deployment there will be lots of money going into savings, and money going towards our car. Once the car is paid off... well then we'll basically owe nothing aside from student loans. And lets face it, student loans will always be there. Hopefully not but I think we're a few more deployments away from paying those off.

So thanks for everyone who taught me about the "Snowball effect" of paying off debt. You have helped us trememdously. We also just got a gym membership. One nice and close to home, where its mostly women, not meatheads. A place I actually like going, and I may even start to enjoy working out. Who knows. This is in an effort to carry out the goals we've set for ourselves recently. Mine is to read at least one chapter a day, drink 6 glasses of water a day, and do yoga 6 days a week. Gregs are to study for a half hour every day (either loadmaster stuff or for staff sergeant) to go to the gym 6 days a week, and to eat breakfast every morning. For everyday I complete my goals, I get a star, he gets a stick giraffe. 10 *s = A big mac! Talk about motivation. I cant have any until I get 10 stars, so you can garuntee that every 10 days I want my big mac. :)

Thats about all thats going on right now. Lots of love to all the family we're missing!

Like Someone Took a Brush and Painted Their Hearts

The wedding was more beautiful than I could have ever hoped it could be. The ceremony was simple and heartfelt, and everyone did a wonderful job. The reception was fun, easy, and dancing together for the first real time was a feeling I cant even begin to describe. I loved every minute of that day.

Being home was nice, but its nice to get back to Texas as well. Time to look for a new place to live, finish up some schoolwork and get ready for the next deployment. I know there will be lots of challanges in life, but I also know we'll be just fine. I'm super excited for all thats to come~

Selfish

So I haven't written since Greg finally got home because I feel like being selfish and spending all of my time demanding attention from him. Those of you who have ever seen him play call of duty know that I will talk non stop the entire time he's playing. I dont know why I do it, its just like this switch that goes on. I think its more of a game for me to see if he can pay attention to me and the game at the same time.

Anyways, last weekend we went to Dallas for 5 days. On Friday we drove to Dallas only to discover Greg left his wallet at home, and we had to drive all the way back to Abilene, and then back to Dallas. This was in hurricane rain, with multiple accidents along the way. We spent 10 hours in the car. We met up with one of his old Buddies, Dmitri Sokgobezon, and spent the evening eating pizza and listening to them all tell their war stories.

Saturday we went to the Warped Tour. We got to listen to a lot of new bands, a few of which we decided we were going to go home and look up some more (they dont get to play very long). We also got to see some big ones, Motion City Soundtrack, Andrew W.K., etc. It was a very fun but very tiring day. We ended Saturday at the melting pot eating the most amazing dinner I've had in quite awhile. We decided to spoil ourselves and go all out and get their ultimate romance package. It included a dozen roses and the vase, two champagne glasses, a bottle of champagne, a 4 course fondue dinner, and they scattered rose petals all over our table complete with candles, a private booth, and they even took our picture at the end of the night. It was probably one of the best days we had in a long time.

Sunday we went to the Dallas Zoo. Idk why but the zoo is our thing. Something about the animals and seeing little kids so excited lets us relax, goof off and just have a good time. Sunday night we went to the Galleria mall. It has an indoor ice rink, 4 floors, and I discovered a 5 guys. My favorite burger place in the entire world! I was soooo excited!!!! Then we spent the evening in the hotel just relaxing.

Monday was intense. We decided to trade in my little beat up cavalier and get a new 2008 Chevy Equinox. We got a great deal on it, its name is Lexie, and its the best car in the entire world and I am way excited to drive it to Wisconsin on Tuesday! :) Monday night we stayed at a 5 star hotel in Downtown Dallas called Hotel Za Za. We had a lovely picnic on our balcony complete with wine Greg brought home from Greece, cheese, crackers, meat, some veggies. We played some jazz music and danced a bit, and had a really wonderful time not even going anywhere. I wish we could have more nights like that together.

Tuesday was the best though, we got to go to 6 flags. Rollercoasters, got a charicature done of the two of us, which will most likely be displayed at the wedding reception. And we got to drive home in our new car! It was the most amazing weekend ever!

Since then Greg is back to work, stressed as usual. But last Monday he got a promotion! We found out on Thursday that he got BTZ (below the zone - its was happens when an airman does really well and gets to pin on Senior Airman 6 months early!) and he was pinning it on Monday, July 12th. My baby is no longer an A1C. A little sad cuz now our cake topper is wrong, but thats ok, he's really happy about it. Who doesn't love a raise?

I think thats all for now, now its just packing and making sure we have everything we need for the wedding. Lots of love to all! I cant wait to see you soon!

Accomplishments

It has been 1608 hours since Gregory left and my list of accomplishments is piling up. I can figure out what is wrong with my car and either fix it or find someone who can. I have built a desk and a dresser. Kept track of all our finances, with both of us spending money thousands of miles apart, that is a real feat. I've finished the wedding plans, ordered almost everything we need, made programs, all the wedding flowers are put together thanks to me! No help at all! Ribbons and everything! I've made numerous decorations for the house, had surgery, kept my job, and managed to stay sane. I gotta say, who ever said a woman needed a man by her side? I'm just happy to have a man in my life who loves me as much as I love him. We adore each other and its wonderful. Even if we are thousands of miles apart, and return dates get pushed back a week and a half, we're both strong enough to handle it. I love my hubbins. :)

I cant wait to come home!!

Home Stretch

As I get ready for a hectic week ahead of semi annual and all its intensity, I'm taking a minute to pause, smile, breathe, and really be happy. Greg will be leaving Afganistan in the next few days, and I must say I am so relieved. The attacks on the base have been heating up, and with that every day I worry a little more. Its hard being apart. Very hard, but it will all be over soon.

Next Saturday I pick up one of Greg's co workers girlfriends, and also a good friend of mine at the airport and then its just a matter of hours and days until they return home to both of us. Until then however, I have roughly 40 hours to put in. I know all you people with real jobs, 40 hours is nothing, but this little girl usually works between 8 and 12. So yes, a big week for me.

We have some exciting trips coming up! No specific dates set yet since they're based on when Greg makes it back, but i'm excited. I'm hoping to go to Dallas for a 2 day trip, see the zoo, go to 6 flags, and stay in a nice hotel. Maybe even see the aquarium too. Then a few days later we're heading to San Antonio and going to stay at Lackland, AFB. 6 Flags again (we got season passes for Greg deploying for free, might as well take advantage!) Then Sea World we also get in free for being Military, The riverwalk, and hopefully the Warped Tour since neither me or Greg has ever gone to one.

The kitty cats are doing alright. Still bratty as always! I dont know what else to write about for now so Love to all~

Memorial Day

Memorial Day has never meant more than it did this year, knowing that there are days set apart out of the year especially for military members, a day to sit back and appreciate years of sacrifice that they have gone through, and their families, and I feel lucky. Lucky that I can count on a phone call at least every week, instead of waiting for letters, lucky that there is such thing as the internet, and though he doesn't have constant access, I can look forward to hearing from him now and again that way as well. People talk about the sacrifice that families make, and a few have even said thank you to me, and I feel I dont deserve it. Im just a spoiled girl who's husband has only been gone 5 weeks, not near as long as army families or even the other guys from our own squadron that are deployed, so I appreciate the thanks, but really I haven't learned the definition of sacrifice quite yet. I know it'll come, but for now, thank the service members.

I had a wonderful weekend, even without Greg. That actually took me by surprise a bit. Yesterday I called up the few people I know from here and had them all meet me down at our apartment complex pool and we spent the day getting burned and talking and laughing and swimming. Saturday night I spent with good friends out at Chilli's, and today, I worked this morning and spent the whole evening with some more people from around the town. It truly was a relaxing weekend and made me wish I had started calling people sooner when I felt lonely. Friends really can make all the difference.

My goals for this week are to try and get my next test done in my class (Contemporary Business) clean the apartment (haven't done that in quite awhile..) and finish the few loose ends I have left for wedding stuff. Mostly just labeling what is what and packing things up, shipping my dress to my mom, etc..

I am so excited to be home again! Swim and fish in the pond with the family for the first time. Camping with Greg's family, the wedding, seeing friends I haven't seen in ages, enjoying the "cool" Wisconsin weather. Anything is colder than TX.

I am at a point in life where I am really really happy. I have a wonderful husband, we have goals as a couple, I have my own things to work on, I have a decent job, we have health insurance, and we dont have to struggle very often. Even though I still find things to stress out about, they are usually able to be fixed with minimal effort and time. I wouldn't trade my life for anything in the whole world.

Sucess!

My to do list is dwindling by mass amounts everyday! It feels so wonderful to actually get things done. I'm over halfway done with my first semester in the accounting program. Mostly thanks go Gregory keeping me up waiting all night, I spend my time waiting working on classwork. Its actually a great system. I managed to finish another class last night!

As far as the wedding goes, I only have 3 things left! Well to order anyway. Just need to get Greg's outfit, groomsmen gifts (already have them picked out!) And I need to find the perfect toasting glasses for me and him. I've got the schedule drawn up and printed out, emailed, etc. Found the Limo today, got the hotel rooms booked a few days ago. It just feels so refreshing to actually get things done.

I've also been working on making some concrete goals lately. Short term and long term goals. I want to have an emergency savings fund set up by July 2011, and also all of our credit cards paid off by then as well, which actually we're halfway done already, but we'll see where we stand after the wedding. I'd also like to start a CD (certificate of deposit) as a future kid fund in the next 6 months.

Long term goals are more fun. I'd like to have my associates in Accounting by December of 2012. I'd like to have my Bachelors in Business Administration by December of 2014. Around the same time, I'd like to have my first child, and have a second and last one by 27. I want to own a cafe someday before 45. I'd also really like to try and run a marathon in my life, and hopefully Greg would take on that goal with me. I know running is hard on me, but thats kinda why I really want to do it. I want to prove that just because I have scoliosis doesn't mean I can't run. Running will make my body stronger and hopefully make the simple things not as frustrating. If it doesn't happen though, I wouldn't be incredibly heart broken over that one.

I'd really like to find more opportunities to volunteer in my spare time. It always feels good to give back, and give someone else help when they really need it. There have been plenty of people in my life who have helped me out when i've needed it the most.

I'd like to thank all the support I have in Texas and back home. Without all of you I would be a complete wreck all the time. Thank you for helping keep my mind off Greg being gone and helping me focus on the upsides of life. <3