Waking up to the news that dozens of American soldiers were killed in a helicopter crash in Afghanistan was a bit of a shock to the system..
As a soldier and as a military spouse, events like this really hit close to home. I think about how their families will open their doors today to a Chaplain, and their lives will never be the same. It brings to mind the fear of it happening to us.. Hubby served in Iraq, and it was a constant fear that one day he would be injured or killed. I will admit that for a selfish second, I thanked the Lord that Hubby is not deploying this year and that it wasn't him.
My heart breaks, absolutely shatters, for the loved ones who are affected by today's tragedy. I cannot even put into words the deep sorrow that I feel for them.. I pray that the Lord gives them strength and peace as they build their lives one moment at a time. May their sacrifice never be forgotten..
Showing posts with label Army. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Army. Show all posts
The Army's Got Boats!
That's right folks! Who would've thought, right?
Well, until I went through my Transportation Officer course, I had no idea either! And now, I get to spend every day working for one of the most unique and important transportation units in the entire Army! Whoot Whoot!
This summer we are continuing our work with a humanitarian mission in Alaska. Just wanted to share with you some pictures of our vessel all loaded up with the equipment we are taking up there to help a village be relocated.
{click to zoom!}
That's a lot of stuff, right?! Lets see.. a few forklifts, a bulldozer.. a few containers..
I think the boat is under there somewhere!
{click to zoom!}
This type of vessel is called a Landing Craft Utility 2000 or "LCU 2000."
This particular one is called the LCU 2025 Malvern Hill. It's the 25th of the series.
And my soldiers are rockin' it out all the way to Alaska!
Memorial Day: We will always remember.
Soldiers, Sailors, Marines, Airmen, and their families make sacrifices everyday to help protect our country. Whether it is going on a patrol in a remote village, or raising children as a sometimes-single parent, they persevere so that you can carry on your normal day to day. Please take a moment to remember the reason behind the holiday as you celebrate.
I especially want to take a moment to honor those who gave their all,
who have been a personal influence on my life:
CPT James Blackshire
January 5, 1945
PFC Bryan Spry
Iraq, February 13, 2004
SFC Clint Ferrin
Iraq, March 13, 2004
SGT Daniel Londono
Iraq, March 13, 2004
PFC Joel Brattain
Iraq, March 13, 2004
PFC Sonny Soto
July 2, 2006
SPC Jeremy Woods
August 27, 2010
You will never be forgotten.
Learning to Ride!
This week, I got the opportunity to take the Basic Motorcycle Safety Course!
As a Soldier, I have to take this in order to ride a motorcycle.. and Washington State recognizes it so I wont have to take a test at the licensing office! {bonus!} And my unit paid for it! {extra bonus!}
The first day was beautiful outside as we learned braking, turning, and shifting skills.
I basically fell in love with riding!
Unfortunately, the second day was much, much wetter!!
We did some tight turns, quick stops, swerving and obstacles the second day!
Followed by a test of course {booo!} which I passed {yay!}
Even with being soaking wet, and freezing cold, I still think it's pretty awesome.. who knows maybe I'll convince hubby to get me a bike of my own ;)
Check this one off of the bucket list!
Another trip to Alaska!
Hello friends!
This week I ventured to Anchorage, Alaska for one last planning meeting for my big trip this summer! We sate down with all the units participating and worked out the last details for our humanitarian mission.
It wasn't all work though.. I found a great Sushi restaurant called Sushi & Sushi, which I highly recommend if you're ever in the area. When we drove up we had some doubts, because the outside looks like a super shady strip mall, but when you walk inside it's like bam! Really nice. I meant to take pictures of the food, but it was so good I totally forgot until after. Yum!
I found some amazing wooden carvings at a local shop. There were so many to choose from!
I have been thinking about getting a totem pole every time I have been up here during the mission planning process. Many of them are very expensive, and I have a hard time spending too much on curios.
But, with this possibly being my last time in Anchorage, I decided that if I was going to get one, I needed to go ahead and bite the bullet.
This hand carved whale has a new home on our travel shelves! It ended up being a bit larger than most of the totem poles they offer, and a lower price, and made in Alaska. You would be surprised how many they sell that are made in China. And that kinda defeats the purpose of buying local crafts.
I also really love the quirky decorations on the street. This blue moose caught my eye...
I also got to get a look at the Captain Cook statue this time...
I found out that I'll be spending about a month in the remote town of Bethel, Alaska this summer in support of our humanitarian mission in the area. So it looks like I'll get to see the midnight sun this year! This trip, the sun started setting around 10:00pm!
This week I ventured to Anchorage, Alaska for one last planning meeting for my big trip this summer! We sate down with all the units participating and worked out the last details for our humanitarian mission.
It wasn't all work though.. I found a great Sushi restaurant called Sushi & Sushi, which I highly recommend if you're ever in the area. When we drove up we had some doubts, because the outside looks like a super shady strip mall, but when you walk inside it's like bam! Really nice. I meant to take pictures of the food, but it was so good I totally forgot until after. Yum!
I found some amazing wooden carvings at a local shop. There were so many to choose from!
I have been thinking about getting a totem pole every time I have been up here during the mission planning process. Many of them are very expensive, and I have a hard time spending too much on curios.
But, with this possibly being my last time in Anchorage, I decided that if I was going to get one, I needed to go ahead and bite the bullet.
This hand carved whale has a new home on our travel shelves! It ended up being a bit larger than most of the totem poles they offer, and a lower price, and made in Alaska. You would be surprised how many they sell that are made in China. And that kinda defeats the purpose of buying local crafts.
I also really love the quirky decorations on the street. This blue moose caught my eye...
I also got to get a look at the Captain Cook statue this time...
I found out that I'll be spending about a month in the remote town of Bethel, Alaska this summer in support of our humanitarian mission in the area. So it looks like I'll get to see the midnight sun this year! This trip, the sun started setting around 10:00pm!
And of course one of the best parts of staying in a swanky hotel on the Army's dime is... room service! Ok, just kidding, the cake was on my dime, but it was delivered! whoot whoot!
Two Pairs of Boots
There are two pairs of Army boots by our door. One is his, and one is mine. It is a comforting sight.. our day is over and we are here with each other in our calm and boring life.
When hubby is away, the empty spot where his boots should be reminds me that its just me for now. A reminder that we both have times when our life of service can take us away from each other.
I found this in my wanderings today and thought I would share it with you.. As a soldier, I have been taught the Soldiers Creed that embodies the values and ethics that I follow as a soldier. Here is what is called the Army Wife Creed.. a creed that expresses the unique pride and love that comes with loving someone who puts their life on the line to serve our country.
I am the wife of an American Soldier.
I am a supporter of the United States Army – an encouragement for the protectors of the greatest nation on earth.
Because I am proud of my husband and the uniform that he wears, I will always act in ways creditable to him, the military service and the nation they are sworn to guard.
I am proud of my husband. I will do all that I can to protect and provide for my family in his absence.
I will be loyal to my husband and to the vows that we made as we entered the covenant of marriage.
I will do my full part to carry on the values and goals we have set apart for our family and I will continue to instruct our children in the same manner.
As a soldier’s wife, I realize that I play a vital role in my husband’s decision to become a member of a time-honored profession – that I am doing my share to keep alive the principles of freedom for which my country stands.
No matter what situation I am in, I will never do anything, for pleasure, profit, or personal safety, which will disgrace my husband, his uniform or our country.
I will use every means I have to encourage my husband to be the best soldier that he can be.
I am proud of my husband, my country and its flag.
I will fly the flag and will always remember the sacrifices made by my husband and by generations of men and women that have served our beloved country.
I will try to make my husband proud of the manner in which I accept his decision to defend my freedom and the freedom of all American citizens.
I am the wife of an American Soldier.
When hubby is away, the empty spot where his boots should be reminds me that its just me for now. A reminder that we both have times when our life of service can take us away from each other.
I found this in my wanderings today and thought I would share it with you.. As a soldier, I have been taught the Soldiers Creed that embodies the values and ethics that I follow as a soldier. Here is what is called the Army Wife Creed.. a creed that expresses the unique pride and love that comes with loving someone who puts their life on the line to serve our country.
I am the wife of an American Soldier.
I am a supporter of the United States Army – an encouragement for the protectors of the greatest nation on earth.
Because I am proud of my husband and the uniform that he wears, I will always act in ways creditable to him, the military service and the nation they are sworn to guard.
I am proud of my husband. I will do all that I can to protect and provide for my family in his absence.
I will be loyal to my husband and to the vows that we made as we entered the covenant of marriage.
I will do my full part to carry on the values and goals we have set apart for our family and I will continue to instruct our children in the same manner.
As a soldier’s wife, I realize that I play a vital role in my husband’s decision to become a member of a time-honored profession – that I am doing my share to keep alive the principles of freedom for which my country stands.
No matter what situation I am in, I will never do anything, for pleasure, profit, or personal safety, which will disgrace my husband, his uniform or our country.
I will use every means I have to encourage my husband to be the best soldier that he can be.
I am proud of my husband, my country and its flag.
I will fly the flag and will always remember the sacrifices made by my husband and by generations of men and women that have served our beloved country.
I will try to make my husband proud of the manner in which I accept his decision to defend my freedom and the freedom of all American citizens.
I am the wife of an American Soldier.
Spouse, Sponsor or Both?
There are few times that irritate crap out of me more than when people make spouse/sponsor assumptions in the military community.
One example is when I go shopping on post and I am not in uniform.
Especially at the Clothing & Sales.
When the (sassy ethnic hippie chick) sales person patronizingly says, "Oh here dear, I can help you find your husband's size..."
Lady, I've been wearing the uniform for SIX YEARS I think I can find the size.
Of course, what I really said was "Thank you, but I am fine."
Perhaps I am a bit grouchy today.
Perhaps that is because hubby is yet again in the field.
And his squad leader didn't tell him until this morning (because hubby was on staff duty last week.. as if cellular telephones do not make passing information very easy) to pack his ruck.
I hope your week has started in a better place than mine.
The Army & Finances
This has been a very stressful week as a dual military couple.
The growing concern over a government shutdown kept us on pins and needles all of the past week, and the apprehension of what may come continues to haunt us.
Those who have been through this before are assuring me that even with a government shut down, we would receive our pay- eventually.
At first, I didn't think that a government shutdown would effect us. I mean, they can't just not pay the troops, right? But then my maintenance officer pulled me to the side on Thursday morning and asked me if I had checked my LES. "Well, no because it's always been the same before and I didn't expect my promotion check until next month... why?" They are only paying us half on the fifteenth was his reply.
Whoa.
Hubby and I just moved into a house, and had to pay double bills for last month due to moving before our lease was up. The car broke down on Wednesday and hasn't been fixed yet. The fridge is getting empty, and the bank accounts equally so. This is not good.
I have a detachment of soldiers within my unit that are currently deployed and their families are depending on those paychecks to make it day to day. This is not good.
We have battle assembly this weekend and I have sixty soldiers depending on those battle assembly paychecks to make it through their bills. We bought groceries to cook for all of those soldiers all weekend.. This is not good.
Thursday and Friday at work was a whirlwind of reactive planning for what could happen if the government had shut down at the end of the day on Friday. We activated the alert roster- twice. The One Star General of my command canceled all battle assemblies for the weekend. We returned what food we could to the grocery store that had been purchased for the troops. We paid everyone we could before the deadline hit. We had conference calls to discuss the furloughing of our civilian employees, and how their absence would impact the work of those soldiers who would pick up where they left off. It was a long two days.
In the end, the government did not shut down. Yet.
Coincidentally, Hubby and I had talked about our budget and goals last Tuesday during my Birthday dinner. So we know where we want to get. But if our checks were cut like that, we, like so many other military families, would be hurt.
How would the government shutdown effect your life?
The growing concern over a government shutdown kept us on pins and needles all of the past week, and the apprehension of what may come continues to haunt us.
Those who have been through this before are assuring me that even with a government shut down, we would receive our pay- eventually.
At first, I didn't think that a government shutdown would effect us. I mean, they can't just not pay the troops, right? But then my maintenance officer pulled me to the side on Thursday morning and asked me if I had checked my LES. "Well, no because it's always been the same before and I didn't expect my promotion check until next month... why?" They are only paying us half on the fifteenth was his reply.
Whoa.
Hubby and I just moved into a house, and had to pay double bills for last month due to moving before our lease was up. The car broke down on Wednesday and hasn't been fixed yet. The fridge is getting empty, and the bank accounts equally so. This is not good.
I have a detachment of soldiers within my unit that are currently deployed and their families are depending on those paychecks to make it day to day. This is not good.
We have battle assembly this weekend and I have sixty soldiers depending on those battle assembly paychecks to make it through their bills. We bought groceries to cook for all of those soldiers all weekend.. This is not good.
Thursday and Friday at work was a whirlwind of reactive planning for what could happen if the government had shut down at the end of the day on Friday. We activated the alert roster- twice. The One Star General of my command canceled all battle assemblies for the weekend. We returned what food we could to the grocery store that had been purchased for the troops. We paid everyone we could before the deadline hit. We had conference calls to discuss the furloughing of our civilian employees, and how their absence would impact the work of those soldiers who would pick up where they left off. It was a long two days.
In the end, the government did not shut down. Yet.
Coincidentally, Hubby and I had talked about our budget and goals last Tuesday during my Birthday dinner. So we know where we want to get. But if our checks were cut like that, we, like so many other military families, would be hurt.
How would the government shutdown effect your life?
Welcome Home Dinner
Hey Everybody! Hubby came home from the field after three weeks on Friday night, and to celebrate I made my go-to yummy dinner of steak, oven roasted potatoes and green beans.
First off, I made a pilgrimage to our favorite grocery store Tacoma Boys (an additional 30 minute drive out of the way. In rush hour traffic.). They have the most amazing meat and produce selection. Ever.
So I picked up what we needed (still haven't broken the shop-each-day cycle, but that should be done today!) and it looked so yummy already!
The potatoes are prepped with extra virgin olive oil and seasoned salt and put in a pyrex pan.
The green beans are prepped with extra virgin olive oil, salt, and pepper.
Next up is seasoning the steaks. Use a ziplock back and add olive oil, pepper, salt, and thyme. I have no idea what the measurements are... but more thyme than pepper.... And I let it sit and get all yummy until hubby came home. Probably a couple hours.. The Army doesn't really have a set time of sending him home. Patience is key.
First off, I made a pilgrimage to our favorite grocery store Tacoma Boys (an additional 30 minute drive out of the way. In rush hour traffic.). They have the most amazing meat and produce selection. Ever.
So I picked up what we needed (still haven't broken the shop-each-day cycle, but that should be done today!) and it looked so yummy already!
Next I got the veggies all cleaned up and prepped, ready to go!
The potatoes are prepped with extra virgin olive oil and seasoned salt and put in a pyrex pan.
The green beans are prepped with extra virgin olive oil, salt, and pepper.
Next up is seasoning the steaks. Use a ziplock back and add olive oil, pepper, salt, and thyme. I have no idea what the measurements are... but more thyme than pepper.... And I let it sit and get all yummy until hubby came home. Probably a couple hours.. The Army doesn't really have a set time of sending him home. Patience is key.
Once the steaks are marinated, and you've got about 45 minutes to show time, heat your oven to 350*. Once it's all warmed up, pop the potatoes in for 35-45 minutes. You probably want to stir them at least once halfway through so they don't stick to the pan too much.
(i hate those black dots.. ruins the pictures lol)
Once the potatoes are about halfway done, I start on the green beans and the steaks. Both get a saucepan prepped with olive oil and heated to med-low heat. But the green beans get a little water at the bottom of the pan too so it's kind of a combo of sauteing and steaming. The steaks need just a little bit of oil to keep them from browning too much. Usually Hubby grills the steaks, but he was pretty worn out so I cooked them on the stove instead.
Sidenote: I love the stainless steel cookware that we got for a wedding present, but I definitely have not mastered cooking the protein portion of the meal in them. I always end up burning it. Hence, the crappy pan for the steaks..
The green beans, on the other hand, turned out fabulous!
Unfortunately, the food was so amazing smelling and delicious that I totally forgot to get a picture of the finished product! Jeeze! But it must have been good, because it sent Hubby into a food coma!
Do you have a favorite "welcome home" meal that you make?
How did you celebrate your most recent reunion?
Alaskan Adventures
I was once again in Alaska this week for a conference about the Alaska IRT mission for work. The mountains were amazing on the flight up! I only caught the last little bit of them since I slept most of the flight...
Then my nookColor died a little bit, and I almost cried... but B&N took care of me and replaced it without a problem. I <3 them. At least for now..
We got the chance to walk around downtown Anchorage for a bit and found some ice sculptures.
and a moose! Not a real one this time, but still pretty cool.
It was freezing cold up there! Luckily I found a cute and quirky hat to keep my ears warm for the week!
Then my nookColor died a little bit, and I almost cried... but B&N took care of me and replaced it without a problem. I <3 them. At least for now..
The conference went well, and we got a lot of the details sorted out about the big mission coming up this summer. There is so much to do and it's going to be here before we know it!
I actually stayed awake during most of the plane trip home, and got to see the mountains again!
Settling In
This weekend was such a whirlwind! This is the first time that Jeremiah and I have moved together. I moved out of the first Washington apartment after he left for Iraq, and moved into our townhouse before he got home from Iraq.
Friday we had a "packing party" with our amazing friends Jamie & Greg. They are packing ninjas! I honestly do not know how I would have gotten everything done without them this weekend! We had some vino and attacked the townhouse for hours. I'm glad that we had a good time doing it, even though it's the first of the bad parts of moving.
One big plus of him being home: big strong Army men to move all of the boxes from one side of the universe to the other. Jeremiah pulled together some buddies and the whole townhouse was moved in a jiffy!
The new house was a hustle and bustle of activity all day yesterday! The truck was unloaded so quickly with five guys unloading and two of us ladies directing traffic. We even had some neighbors come by to say hello and welcome us! Scott and Rebecca seem super sweet and I'm excited to be moving to a true neighborhood. This town is such a huge improvement over the old one! There are running trails through the woods and a cute little downtown area. It reminds me a little bit of my hometown!
Right now we are working on unpacking and getting everything put into it's place. There's a lot to do! We are hoping to have a BBQ at the end of March and have everyone over!
Friday we had a "packing party" with our amazing friends Jamie & Greg. They are packing ninjas! I honestly do not know how I would have gotten everything done without them this weekend! We had some vino and attacked the townhouse for hours. I'm glad that we had a good time doing it, even though it's the first of the bad parts of moving.
One big plus of him being home: big strong Army men to move all of the boxes from one side of the universe to the other. Jeremiah pulled together some buddies and the whole townhouse was moved in a jiffy!
The new house was a hustle and bustle of activity all day yesterday! The truck was unloaded so quickly with five guys unloading and two of us ladies directing traffic. We even had some neighbors come by to say hello and welcome us! Scott and Rebecca seem super sweet and I'm excited to be moving to a true neighborhood. This town is such a huge improvement over the old one! There are running trails through the woods and a cute little downtown area. It reminds me a little bit of my hometown!
Right now we are working on unpacking and getting everything put into it's place. There's a lot to do! We are hoping to have a BBQ at the end of March and have everyone over!
The Moose is Loose!
Greetings from Alaska! That's right, it's the beginning of our 2011 Innovative Readiness Training (IRT) in Alaska! IRT is a program coordinated through the Pentagon that allows reservists to gain real life experience using our military specialties to accomplish community improvement projects. This is really critical for reserve troops, because we only drill 24 days (one weekend a month) a year! I don't think I blogged about it last year, so here's the scoop:
There is a village in Alaska named Newtok that is in danger of being swept away by the Ninglick River within the next five years. So the Alaskan government reached out to the military to find a relocation solution. So, for the past two years, and the next three, the Marine Engineers, Navy Corpsman, Air Force Pilots, and the Army Watercraft are banding together to help the village relocate to a safer location. Th Army watercraft is being used to transport the equipment and materials from Tacoma, WA to Bethel, AK with onward movement to Mertarvik, the new village. Then the Marine Engineers are using it to build a road, a shelter, and an airstrip! The Air Force is providing support with UH-60 Blackhawk Helicopters for the transportation of troops. The Navy is manning several smaller boats to go between Mertarvik and Newtok, as well as providing dental and medical support to the military personnel on site. So many pieces are fitting together to help a community!
I am so excited to get to work more with this project this year. It seems like as soon as I am able to finish one mission, the next has already started! Never a dull moment at my work it seems.
So this week, I went to Anchorage to attend the Initial Planning Conference with the rest of the units that are involved. We were able to work through a lot of the plan and really make sure that as the project expands each year we work together to get everything done. The Permafrost in Alaska really limits how much we can get done every year, so we only have the summer to work.
Oh, and I saw my first Moose!
There is a village in Alaska named Newtok that is in danger of being swept away by the Ninglick River within the next five years. So the Alaskan government reached out to the military to find a relocation solution. So, for the past two years, and the next three, the Marine Engineers, Navy Corpsman, Air Force Pilots, and the Army Watercraft are banding together to help the village relocate to a safer location. Th Army watercraft is being used to transport the equipment and materials from Tacoma, WA to Bethel, AK with onward movement to Mertarvik, the new village. Then the Marine Engineers are using it to build a road, a shelter, and an airstrip! The Air Force is providing support with UH-60 Blackhawk Helicopters for the transportation of troops. The Navy is manning several smaller boats to go between Mertarvik and Newtok, as well as providing dental and medical support to the military personnel on site. So many pieces are fitting together to help a community!
I am so excited to get to work more with this project this year. It seems like as soon as I am able to finish one mission, the next has already started! Never a dull moment at my work it seems.
So this week, I went to Anchorage to attend the Initial Planning Conference with the rest of the units that are involved. We were able to work through a lot of the plan and really make sure that as the project expands each year we work together to get everything done. The Permafrost in Alaska really limits how much we can get done every year, so we only have the summer to work.
Oh, and I saw my first Moose!
Promotions!
Yesterday morning we celebrated the promotion of CPL Miravalle to SGT! He as always been a leader no matter what rank or position he was in and has had this coming a long time! He was pinned by CW2 Caraska, our Vessel Master and Detachment 1 Commander.
Congratulations SGT Miravalle!
It's an Army Kind of Halloween!
The holiday season is officially upon us with the passing of Halloween. This year I was away from home for some Army training (again) and spent it celebrating with my Army Family.
My soldiers are gearing up for their deployment and training hard in California. I decided to surprise them with Pizza, Cake and Soda after a long day of training. It was great getting to see them relax and enjoy themselves. They are working so hard!
My soldiers are gearing up for their deployment and training hard in California. I decided to surprise them with Pizza, Cake and Soda after a long day of training. It was great getting to see them relax and enjoy themselves. They are working so hard!
California!
Yesterday morning I woke up at 3:15 and started my journey to Ft Hunter Ligget, CA to assist my unit in their train up for the upcoming deployment. It was a long day of travel, unloading conexes, storing weapons, signing for barracks, linen and MRE's and issuing the same to the soldiers.
Today was like the flipside of a coin. We did PT early this morning as a group and then spent the day exploring the area. The soldiers have already been doing missions for over a week, so it was good to give them some MWR time.
Here are some pictures from our adventures:
Today was like the flipside of a coin. We did PT early this morning as a group and then spent the day exploring the area. The soldiers have already been doing missions for over a week, so it was good to give them some MWR time.
Here are some pictures from our adventures:
I'm a Commander now!
"Leadership in a democratic army means firmness, not harshness; understanding, not weakness; justice, not license; humaneness, not intolerance; generosity, not selfishness; pride, not egotism." - General of the Army Omar N. Bradley
What a Week!
Oh wow! This week has been so long! It has been mostly filled with work. A lot of things that were up in the air at work have all been sorted out, so not me and my detachment commander can move forward with plans for our deploying crew. There were plenty of staff meetings and conference calls too keep my work days filled up.
I love being able to come home to Jeremiah every night. We have a relatively boring little life together, but that is what I love about it. I know I can walk in the door, take off my boots, and relax with my one and only! I actually did try some new recipes this week so I am branching out in the kitchen. I made Spaghetti Squash for the first time and it was super yummy. If you haven't made it before, then definitely try it because it is very easy to make and delicious!
On Thursday I went to a Change of Command ceremony for Jeremiah's Battalion. It was totally bizarre to be there in uniform, but I was coming right from work and then going right back. Some of the guys recognized me from the dining in last weekend and came up to talk before the ceremony started. Jeremiah was already in formation, so I didn't get to see him right away.
After the ceremony Jeremiah and I got to go to lunch together, which never happens so I was excited! We are hardly ever in uniform at the same time, so I had to make sure to get a picture :) Jeremiah does have a goofy kind of smile on his face though hehe
I am supposed to work all weekend, but right now I am trapped at home sick. I am hoping that it will pass soon enough and I can get back to taking care of business.
I love being able to come home to Jeremiah every night. We have a relatively boring little life together, but that is what I love about it. I know I can walk in the door, take off my boots, and relax with my one and only! I actually did try some new recipes this week so I am branching out in the kitchen. I made Spaghetti Squash for the first time and it was super yummy. If you haven't made it before, then definitely try it because it is very easy to make and delicious!
On Thursday I went to a Change of Command ceremony for Jeremiah's Battalion. It was totally bizarre to be there in uniform, but I was coming right from work and then going right back. Some of the guys recognized me from the dining in last weekend and came up to talk before the ceremony started. Jeremiah was already in formation, so I didn't get to see him right away.
I am supposed to work all weekend, but right now I am trapped at home sick. I am hoping that it will pass soon enough and I can get back to taking care of business.
Eye Opener
Last night was the Tomahawk Military Ball and everyone came out in style! It was an interesting evening with dinner, drinks, speeches, and plenty of camaraderie. I met some great spouses and really had a great time spending some time all dolled up with Jeremiah. He looked so handsome in uniform!
I did, however, have an eye opening experience as this was our first big social event as a dual military couple. I learned a lot through this situation and lets just say that although I know what the right answer is, it doesn't mean that that is how it works within his platoon/company/battalion/brigade but hey, no unit is perfect, right? Adapt and overcome!
Our Purposal Story
Deployments are just a fact of life when both of us are in the Army, but it certainly doesn't make it any easier. Jeremiah deployed in August 2009 with C Co, 1/23 INF out of Ft Lewis for Iraq.. I don't think either of us really expected our lives to become so intertwined while we were thousands of miles away from each other. But despite the distance, and perhaps as a benefit, our long distance relationship is probably the best thing that could have happened at the time.
Whether it was through email, instant messaging or phone calls, we tried to talk every day. I ended up going to Transportation Officer school while he was deployed so it was rough getting time together to talk. Our schedules were almost completely opposite, and it wasn't unusual for me to get a phone call from him at 3:00am when I had to be up for PT at 4:45am.
We did get lucky that his R&R was scheduled for February. Any sooner and I would have still been in officer school, and any later and I wouldn't have been able to make the trip to New York to see him. He made it to the states three days before I graduated from officer school.. I didn't even stop to change out of uniform after the graduation ceremony before I hit the road! The irony that after being apart for six months, I was the one that was running across the parking lot in my ACU's to hold him in my arms!
For Valentine's day, Jeremiah told me to dress warm and that it was a surprise where we were going. He took me to Niagara Falls, NY to see one of the wonders of the world. Everything was beautiful: covered with crisp, white snow, and the ice crystals dripping from the trees. We managed to walk right in front of a tour group, so we could hear the guide and as we were exploring the area near the Bridal Veil Falls, the tour guide offered to take pictures. I got Jeremiah to hand me the camera and I handed the camera to the tour guide and by the time I turned around to pose with Jeremiah, he was down on one knee, with a beautiful ring, purposing! I was blown away! (and of course said YES!)
Turns out that Jeremiah had even called my dad, from IRAQ to ask for my hand in marriage! We spent the rest of the day calling family and friends to spread the good news!
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