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!

Making a List

Things to do before leaving Alabama:

*Bama Jam 2010: Huge red neck concert in the peanut fields of LA, lower Alabama. Kenny Chesney. Miranda Lambert. Dierks Bentley. Zac Brown Band. Stoney Larue, just to name a few.
*Visit Cupcakes Y'all (sweet southern cupcake bakery so much better than Sprinkles) and Milky Moo's (local ice cream parlor with mind blowing flavors) as often as possible.
*Go to the beach before swimsuit weather is non-existent.
*Wear my flip-flops, sleeveless shirts, and sun dresses and shorts every possible moment.
*Drive-in movie.

Warming Up to the Idea

Alaska. Still blowing my mind. The Pilot and I have been able to talk more about our upcoming Alaskan Adventure, and we're warming up to the idea (not literally). We'll make the most out of it! God wants us there for a reason and we need to find peace in that...

I've been Arctic shopping for snow boots, that can stand weather up to -40*, thick jackets that will make me sweat like a hooker in church, flannel and waffle shirts... Retail Therapy? Yes, please. The Pilot is going to have to get used to seeing me look as fluffy as the Michelin Man.

The Pilot passed his check ride, which called for a celebration! (I'll use any reason to celebrate, which calls for dessert and fat kid food). This is THE BEST dessert I've ever made, and that is a bold statement. I have to share this recipe for homemade Crème brûlée. So simple and incredible.

1 3/4 cups of half and half or light cream

5 egg yolks

1/3 cup of sugar

1 tsp vanilla

1/8 tsp salt

1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon

1/4 cup of sugar

• Preheat oven to 325*. In a small sauce-pan, heat the half and half over med-low heat just until it bubbles. Remove from heat and set aside.
• Combine egg yolks, the 1/3 cup of sugar, vanilla, cinnamon and salt in a bowl and stir until combined. Slowly whisk the heated half and half into the egg mixture.
• Place custard dishes/ramekins into a rectangular baking dish. Divide the custard mix evenly among the dishes (I used 4 7oz bowls). Place the baking dish on the oven rack. Pour boiling water into the baking dish until it reaches half way up the ramekins (I used our tea kettle - easy pour).
• Bake for 30 to 40 minutes, until you can stick a knife in the middle and it comes out clean. When they are done, I would suggest removing the little bowls from the water one at a time... Much more safe than pulling out the baking dish w/ hot water. Let the ramekins cool off and then place them in the fridge for 1 to 8 hours.
• In a skillet, heat the remaining 1/4 c of sugar until it begins to melt over med-high heat. No need to use a spoon, just shake the skillet by the handle. The sugar will slowly begin to melt, should not take longer than 5 mins. It will become a golden brown liquid.
• Drizzle the melted sugar over your little ramekins (it will harden) and enjoy the best darn, easy dessert you'll ever have!
• Suggestions (1) wait for the water to cool in the oven before trying to remove the baking dish (2) don't worry if the sugar hardens on your spoon or in the skillet. soak it in water and it will dissolve

*Army Vocab

Check Ride: Helicopter test. Involves a verbal portion and then the flying, tricky stuff.

An Alaskan Adventure.

Well, we found out our post. Pat and I were sitting on the couch when we got the call.

Fort Wainwright, Alaska. Shocked, to say the least. Was Alaska in our top 3? No. Top 9? Nope. Alaska was a distant thought that we did not think was a possibility. Now, it is not a definite until we receive the RFO.The Pilot and I are filled with mixed emotions which we can barely verbalize just. We are so excited to start a new journey, we know that God's plan is bigger than what we could've planned and we know we'll make the most out of what comes our way.
I am still overwhelmed, not sure what to think. Some of the concerns -- 24 hours later...

(1) How in the $*@#$ am I supposed to shovel snow when The Pilot is gone?

(2) We think we can only take one car and that one car does not have 4-wheel drive.

(3) I HATE wearing socks, layers, and warm clothing.

(4) I'll have to get a new job.

(5) Monster needs to learn how to "mush" like sled dogs...

(6) Does Alaska have Mexican food?

(7) Can you eat ice cream when it's that cold outside?

(8) I think UGGs are awful. When girls wear them in Texas, I want to kick their shins. But when they are practical and essential to daily life, will I cave into pressure? Maybe, because I like the bombers.

My biggest fear is not wanting to leave the house when it is -80* degrees outside and The Pilot is deployed. I've never had to drive on snow/ice. Being in AK alone scares me.

I've had a song in my head for weeks now, and I am thinking God put it there for a purpose.

"It may not be the way I would have chosen, when you lead me through a world that's not my home. But you never said it would be easy, You only said I'd never go alone."

*Army Vocab

RFO: Request for orders. We're waiting on these bad boys to make the move official.

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

Life in LA (Lower Alabama)

First blog post. Pressure. I feel the best way to start this lovely adventure is to summarize how we got here and where we're going!

I met the man of my dreams on 07/07/07, the luckiest day of my life. A year after, I graduated from Baylor, he graduated from West Point. I got a job in the big D, he started flight school. Another year went by and long story, short: We got married and became Lieutenant and Mrs. McDonald.

The Pilot and I have been married for about SIX months now! We've been very busy since the day we said, "I do." To sum it up, I packed up and moved to Alabama the day after the wedding. I was able to keep my HR job from Dallas and work from home with Riley "The Monster" McDonald. She is quite the handful...

The Pilot is in flight school at Fort Rucker, which is a small town far from civilization. Here is The Pilot in his uniform, so handsome.
We were so blessed to have great newly-wed time when I got down here, before The Pilot started helicopter training. We have found a wonderful church and have an amazing group of friends. Here is the Kiowa: The Pilot's other wife.
Right now, our schedule consists of going to bed at 8:30 for the Pilot's 4 am wake up. He then gets dressed and goes to work. We won't talk about what time I get up... The best part of working from home? A 30-step commute and business casual translates into a t-shirt and Nike shorts.

We are looking forward to moving in August, just not sure where yet!