Life Update (in Numbers)

The Pilot's grad date got bumped up TWO weeks. We're moving early :)

We are # SEVENTY-ONE on the housing wait-list. Our future home could look a little something like this in TEN to TWELVE months.

Today is our EIGHT month anniversary.

The whole "move process" with the Army has moved on-line. It's a mess. The website tells you to go to the office, the office tells you to go to the website. It's a zoo. There is a HUGE to-do list before you move (I love lists -- The Army has not created a to-do list for the process, so I have created one for us -- but, why is there no list? Everyone has to follow this process... I'll stop before I cannot control myself) After several terrible, horrible, no-good, very bad visits, The Pilot complained.

Somehow everyone in the Transpo office knew. Doesn't help that The Pilot's name is on his handsome uni. So, knowing we complained... The employees were either really nice or really rude. One sweet lady did not know what to do, and asked her co-worker what time the Alaska office would be open (FOUR hour time difference). Her co-worker responded "I know who's asking, and I am not helping." Really? Is this Mean Girls? It gets better...

The Pilot and I are pretty positive this pleasant person goes to our church. I think it will go something like this Sunday morning... "Oh, Hi! You work in the Transpo office, don't you?" She'll respond with a yes. "We thought we recognized you. We are The McDonald's, and we're moving to Alaska. Small world seeing you here." I hope that a fiery conviction falls upon her and we'll let the Big Man take it from there.

I may have gained FIVE pounds from this wonderful dip:

• 2 Packs of Cream Cheese, softened (Use reduced fat if you only want to gain THREE pounds)
• 1 cup Swiss Cheese, grated
• 1 cup mayo (again, you can use light)
• 1 lb bacon, cooked and crumbled (turkey bacon could work, but let's be honest... there is no good substitute for the real thing)
• 1 bunch of green onions

Mix ALL ingredients together in oven safe bowl. Cover with foil. Bake for 45 mins at 375*

Happy Memorial Day!

Happy Memorial Day!

Memorial Day is celebrated with BBQs, pool parties, and beer. As it should be. Most people are just pumped that it is a day off from work/school. Yes, it's something to look forward to! But, there is so much more to Memorial Day.

In church, we watched a short slide show. A marine with his dog, Bruno, on foot patrol. A black and white picture that showed a horse drawn carriage, carrying a casket covered in a flag. Another was just a soldier doing his job, in Iraq. After the slides were done, our pastor asked a few families to stand up. The marine with the dog, was the brother of a member in our church. The other two were husbands. Two women were brave enough to stand in the honor of their fallen husbands. Widowed by war, these women stood up with their children and so much grace and strength.

I lost it. I could not keep myself together. The pastor asked who else had lost a direct family member, a few more hands went up. Then he asked who had lost a good friend, I mean... over half of our church raised their hands. It is strange to be so close to the situation. It is strange knowing that The Pilot's deployment is on the horizon. I can say with full confidence I am so proud of him and could not imagine him serving God or his country in any other way.

Thank you to our military! It is these guys who give us the right to go to church. The freedom to vote. A life without dress codes and curfews. Couldn't be more thankful!

As for the blog delay... My computer got a virus, had to mail it back to Dallas. Long week. Won't happen again. Also, less posts about army life... Ok, maybe not.

Are these tacky? I mean, unbearably tacky. When it's -30* outside, fashion is not a factor. Even if it's that cold, I do not want to look like butch. I've been on the snow shoe hunt and these babies seem to be the most practical. "Practical" is a word The Pilot has been using a lot in my Arctic shopping research. I show him the cutest rain boots, seen below, because of course I need these when the snow turns to slush... I guess they're not as "practical" as I thought. I even tried to pull the patriotic factor. Failed.

I have been traveling for the past week, and it is so nice to be HOME! It's weird calling Alabama home when I haven't lived here long and I'm leaving faster than I came. I walked in to find flowers, a clean house and dog, and dinner on the table. The Pilot is the best (he also left a note and signed Riley's name in a paw print)!

I'm finding it hard to be micro manager as an Army wife. I do not like unpredictability. We still don't have the RFO, meaning we can't start the move process. Can't get on the 6 - 12 month housing wait list. Can't do most things we need to. What can I do? Get a physical. Why do I need a physical and a girl dr appt? The Monster even needs a physical. We can't get the checklists until we get the RFO -- driving me crazy!

I am really struggling on what to do with my job... I feel like if I keep my job in the Big D, I won't give AK a fair chance and I'll move back when The Pilot is deployed. Work has said it is an option. Money is not an issue (although we're pretty big savers). If I am going to be holding down the fort in AK, I want to do something I truly love and enjoy, not just something to keep me busy. Lots of praying to do!

Army Life

This whole Army wife thing is starting to become more real... A roller coaster does not even begin to describe it. I feel as if many people have huge misconceptions of of what this whole Army life thing is about, so I thought I would post about it!

No, we don't hear reveille every morning. We live too close to a Blackhawk "parking lot" if you will. I hear helicopters flying from about 5 am to 11 pm. You get a special ID, by special I mean ugly. You use your ID to get on post or to buy anything on post. There is a special sticker on cars to indicate military... If you don't have one, you'll have to pull over and get your car searched. Everything is tax free! The speed limits are ridiculously slow. You do NOT want to get pulled over by an MP. Pat wears the same uniform every day, he somehow makes it look handsome.

If there is a group of guys all in uniform, it's hard to pick out your husband. They all blend. Words can't describe the feeling when The Pilot and I are walking together and someone salutes him! People are saluting this goofball? Absolutely. I'm so proud of him though, it never gets old.

Two of The Pilot's classmates have passed away in the past month. Sure does put things in perspective -- it's easy to forget where The Pilot is headed, but these moments make it more real. It makes my heart stop every time I have to read, "Be thou at peace, (insert soldier's name here)." -- How West Point phrases it lightly.

Army life is army life! I wouldn't have it any other way. Something tells me this won't be my only post about it.

Army Vocab-
Commissary: Grocery Store
MP: Military Police