Ahhh if I ever get the hang of this.

Alright its always forever in between my posts. But one of my goals for this year is to stop complaining. So... Its been a rough start to the year, Gregs been gone a lot and we have a few issues we're still trying to work out with work trips. But we got to talk about some of them today, and I feel like a giant weight has been lifted of my shoulders so I'm happy again! Woop! This semester is going really well. I was invited into Phi Theta Kappa, an honors society, so I'm getting some more information and looking into it, but thats how well I'm doing with my classes which makes me happy and should hopefully make the parents proud (and they don't even have to help pay for it this time!) This week will be a little crazy, huge paper due, an exam, and lots and lots of homework, but Friday we're going to Bed and Breakfast so I'm determined to finish it all before the weekend because I really dont want to have to bring my laptop and do homework while we're down there. So the bed and breakfast. I am so excited. I've been dying to go here since we moved to Texas. They do elopements, and I wanted so badly to go down there and get married (the first time we did it anyway-haha) but we didn't have the money. It's sad really because it was like $700 for a two day stay (mini honeymoon) the ceremony, a romantic dinner, and they take photos and make a cd for you, the whole shebang. And cake and sparkling cider for 2! So I really wanted to get married there, however, we went to the JP instead, which was still awesome, I mean I still got to marry my best friend but now we are finally going down there for the weekend. They have trails, and a firepit, and our own hot tub and our own cabin. I'm very excited. I plan on bringing scrabble, a deck of cards, and lots of pjs cuz all I wanna do is snuggle! No computers, no cell phones, no nothing. Just Gwen and Greg time since we haven't had much of that so far this year. I feel like we're always running around somewhere, but sometimes its just what you gotta do! I know we could lock ourselves in our house for the weekend and save some money, but its not the same as going away to the middle of nowhere for the weekend. Lots of love from the vast nothingness land of Texas!

Changes

Well I will probably never get the swing of things and keep up with this regularly but lifes been pretty good lately. I started a 24 day challenge yesterday and so far its alright. Ha ha. Its from Advocare, it starts with a 10 day cleanse, and then a 14 day toning period. The fiber drinks are awful, but I'm doing it for me. I'm tired of not feeling my best so here we go. Been to the gym everyday except Sat and Sun this week, and tonight, but you need to rest your body for optimum results, so we're going with 3 days on 3 days off. Cardio all 3 days, and workouts switching between back and shoulders, arms and chest, and legs. My legs are still killing me from Monday so cardio has been rough but manageable. So Tuesday I weighed in at 173 pounds. I'm not happy with the number or the look of my body but I'm hoping to see awesome results in the next month. I'm doing the 24 day challenge to jumpstart the weightloss so I can see results and stay motivated. I'm going to weigh myself again at the end of the 10 days just to see what the cleanse does for me. I've been drinking 6-10 glasses of water a day and even with that improvement I'm happy. I know that 2012 probably wont be any easier than 2011. Already they love sending Greg away, but I'm dealing alright. Sounds like we have another deployment coming up this Summer to a place I'm not happy about but I'm preparing myself now to hopefully deal with the stress alright when it comes. I'm hoping to take a few classes and a few trips, and maybe even make it out to see my lovely sister and her beautiful baby boy. There's so much change coming. We're paying off our credit cards (again) with our tax returns, and keeping a little for ourselves, hopefully to reward myself for sticking to my resolution. Personally I've been a bit stressed lately. 15 credits this semester, which doesn't sound bad but already my workload is piling up and I'm trying to take it one chapter at a time. I'm also dealing with all my closest friends in Abilene leaving in the next 6 months. Some not so far, and will be an ocean and a very expensive plane ticket away. Again, trying to stay positive. Its just hard meeting the perfect people to be your best friends and saying goodbye. I don't want to be alone down here again, but I know I can make friends I just need to get out and do it. So heres to 2012 and hopefully good changes, and taking all the swings life throws at me and making them home runs <3

Wow.. Snow?

So it has really been too long since I've taken the time to write but so much happens all the time. I know I'm great at writing when Greg is away, and not so much at writing when he's home? He is back, been home about a month and it has been awesome. We ha d a wonderful thanksgiving with good friends, and great weekends, and a lot of time spent just about us. Its been good. So 3 of my 4 finals are over and I have to say I am pretty happy with my semester. 3 As and 1 B. Dad would call me a slacker for my B but it was an excell class and I hate it. :) I did the best I could make myself do. hahha. Actually I was shooting for a C, but apparently I am smarter than I know. <3 that! We're really hoping to get to come home for Christmas. I've been counting on it, only to find out that there really is a chance we wont be able to come. It would be sad, but we've spent Christmas alone before, it would not be the end of the world. It actually snowed down here last night! And stayed all day/night and now everything is frozen and covered in Ice. So I'm secretely hoping that Greg would be sent home and wont have to fly today, but we shall see. The news is hilarious! "OH MY GOODNESS EVERYONE IT IS VERY COLD OUTSIDE AND THE WINDCHILL MAKES IT FEEL LIKE ITS.... wait for it.... 10 DEGREES! ONLY 10 DEGREES" Ahhh Texans. They dont know cold, but I wont lie, I dont either anymore! Happy Holidays to everyone, lots of love, I'll have my christmas cards out this week! Love!

Wishes

I've been having a rough week. Why:

Statistics on our first 2 years married.
11 of 24 months have been spent apart.
7 of the 11 have been in the first 10 months of this year.


Now I know I have become a strong person, but even a strong person breaks down and hits a wall now and again. This is my day. I left Greg this morning and drove the 8 hours back home, and have been crying off and on since. Its not easy, its never easy. I know I posted those statistics, but at the same time that doesn't meant that I feel like unless you can beat that you have no reason to complain or to cry. Unless you aren't a military spouse, then I kinda judge you if you whine to me about being apart for a weekend. So anyways, saying goodbye sucks. Saying goodbye half awake really sucks.

Oh yes I was talking about being a strong person. I can handle just about anything. That isnt to say that we dont ever have any problems. We do. We're less public about them than most. There are few people anymore who I will honestly talk about my problems with, because I've seen enough wives/girlfriends/fiances throw big fights in public and it makes everyone around you miserable. You can fight, just dont tell everyone about every fight all the time. Heres my next piece of advice, talk to each other. You will not fix anything if you only talk to other people and not your spouse/boyfriend/fiance. The reason me and Greg work is because we talk to each other about all our issues. We talk it out, we figure out a solution, it doesnt always fix things the first time but by talking you have an active process on whats going on.

I've had boyfriends/husbands/fiances tell me that they're girls look up to me. They look at me and think that they can do it too. This gives me mixed feelings. I'm not being conceited when I say this but not everyone is me. I am ok with moving across the country, moving around, not always being able to go home. I miss home, but I dont miss it so much that I cant stand being anywhere else. SO basically I'm saying not everyone is me. So dont think just because I'm still here after 2 years and we're going strong (with minor mishaps) that you can do it. Because as statistics of military marriages show, chances are you cant. Be honest with yourself. It is not an easy life. I'm glad people look up to me and use me as an example, but seriously, not everyone is cut out for this, and even I have bad days.

I wish I could change things. I wish there was a way to make it so those statistics weren't so bad. Our "honeymoon phase" we've never had one. It keeps getting interrupted. This tempo will kill me. Its not all deployments either. I just wish there was a way to start something that would go up the chain and make people think. A way to get them to keep track of who they're sending where and when and take families into account. Its horrible because if I was pregnant, they would do all they could to keep Greg home more from everything, but because we're just married and not "newlyweds" anymore, it feels like no one cares. I have news for you, we will always be newlyweds if this tempo stays the way it is. So dear military, Please give me my husband for awhile.

<3 Gwen

School and Other Things

So I'm very bad at this whole blogging thing. So, two weeks ago I went and saw Greg in Little Rock. These are the things we did:

This is me at the top of Pinnacle Mountain. Took over an hour to climb up (with some breaks for mental stability.) Its 1115 ft. high and it was a ton of fun and super terrifying!

Heres Greg at the top!

The view :-D

This is the Old Mill, it was featured in Gone with the wind and it was an awesome park!! Great place for wedding or engagement photos for sure!

The only pic we took of us the whole weekend. Oops :)

Gregs a master photographer :)

Missing everyone back home!

I stink at this

So I'm no good at writing in this thing regularly, but since I'm sitting at school with 40 minutes until my first class starts I figure what the heck right?

We've been busy. Going home, getting ready for school for both of us, mentally preparing to be apart for 2-3 months again, getting Maddi fixed on Thursday, and trying to somehow find time in there to spend by ourselves, and keep up with friends, I'm frazzled. I'm exhausted, Gregs exhausted and we may or may not be getting sick with whatever horrible thing my mom has. We both have what now seem like colds that I'm really hoping dont get worse, but if I keep up with not sleeping ever I'm sure it will get worse.

I have everything written down, planner filled out and pretests already taken for my online classes. Greg had things to do today and couldn't give me a ride to school so I snagged a ride with a buddy but she had to be here 2 hours earlier than me so this is me getting crap done and trying not to fall asleep and miss my first class completely. Its very awkward here. All the preppy little girls dressed up and make uped talking about all the people they see here from high school. I feel to old to be here. I'm hoping they wont be in any of my classes. I dont think I could stand listening to them talk anymore. Oh well at least I know I have one buddy here, even if we wont be in any of the same classes.

Oh and I forgot my phone today so I cant even text my hubby to keep myself occupied. Which was good until I ran out of work to do because I didn't bring any textbooks with me. Poo. I could've really finished all week 1 assignments by now. Oh well. I just saw a girl with pink hair.

Aside from school there really isn't much going on in our lives. I mean the last few days have felt hectic but its been mostly cramming in buddy time with getting everything ready for Greg to leave, but hey, you need friends. And you definitely always need an hour of sunlight and pool time to keep happy. So kudos to me, on taking yesterday to relax. But I seriously cant wait to go home and nap. :-D

Because I'm a Rockstar After 10pm

The past two nights I've done this. First Sunday night I figured out what I wanted to do with my life. Eventually I will be a Radiology Technician. First I need to take some classes, so I figure I might as well get a degree with that since the advisor for the Rad Tech program said having an associates really gives you a leg up. So I applied to Cisco to be a Medical Assistant. I'll get all the classes I need and a Degree. Classes start Aug 26th? Super excited just gotta figure out everything that needs to get done between now and then. Financial Aid, Placement Tests, Student Loans, and how to get into that program. Super duper excited.

Monday night. I switched our car insurance to USAA. Progressive should be lowering my amount for staying with them for 2 years, and instead it went up $15. I know its just $15, but money is tight sometimes. So I quoted USAA. $20 cheaper. Nice. So I filled out the necessary stuff and sent in our current insurance card and it will start Aug 7th. While I was on their website I noticed a little refinance your auto loan as low as 3.24%! Well being a couple who pays 16% interest on a car loan, I was like, hey it cant hurt to see what it would be. Well it lowered our percent from 16, down to 4.99. Our monthly payment from $450, to $300. So Greg woke up this morning to find out all I had done while he slept peacefully during the night and he was super happy. I am the best wifey ever. (Well I'd be the best ever if I had managed to make him lunch too. hahah) Happy days when saving money!