Reflecting on 2009

Wow I can't believe the end of 2009 is here, wow what a year?!?!

So I try to sit back and think about the blessings and wonderful things about this year. I think of all the time together we spend and places we went and visited.
I was going to do a month by month recap of the year but I don't know if I could think of something to say about each month so here it goes:

January: The training began for Jeremy, we knew that by the end of this year we would have to say good bye to each other but was going to make it a great year. Also, this month my nephew Parker was born, but I could not wait for the chance to meet him!
February: We had a wonderful Valentine's Day dinner. My husband suprise me with a already paid Manicure and Pedicure to get me out of the house while he made a wonderful 3 course meal. This was also after he made me breakfast in bed. A wonderful day!
March: I think we made a trip down to Florida to see the Jacksonville Zoo, I know we are 2 adults but we enjoy going to zoos and aquariums together those are our favorite places to visit.
April: We had a wonderful yard sale and sold alot of the much junk we had around the house. We took the money and went on a little get away to Tybee Island, GA. There we just relaxed and spend some time together.
May and June: These month we did not do anything exciting but was able to spend some time together and get to know each other better. We dealt with some issues during this time but it all worked out for the best.
July: Beka got to come stay with us for 3 weeks and have a WONDERFUL JULY 4th with us. She even enjoy dancing to Trace Adkins. Anyways that was great to spend time with her. Also, in July Jeremy finally got a promoted to PFC. I was so happy!
August: This month Jeremy began his really serious training for deployment. He attended Raider Focus out in the field for most of the month. He also was promoted again to SPC. Way to go again!
September: We were able to take leave and go back home to Texas and visit our love ones there. I was so excitied to finally meet my nephew Parker. The trip was wonderful and it was so nice to see everyone and even ended with some crabbing.
October: Jeremy went away for almost 4 weeks to Fort Irwin, CA for NTC training. There he learn alot more and training and almost real life Iraq situations. I missed him alot but we made it trough.
November: This month was my birthday and thanks to my husband I enjoyed. We also got to spend my birthday at Hilton Head, SC at a Marriage retreat. It was fun and a great relationship building classes. Anyways, we started the count down and knew he was leaving soon.
December: The month everything happen in, We started off the month with a trip up to Kentucky/ Tennessee to see my brother in law, Jason and his new girlfriend. On one day on the way up there we stop in Chattanooga, TN and enjoy some of the sites of the city together. Then we came home and begun to prepare for the goodbye. That day arrived fast but we did it and now we just wait for the hello again. Also this month, my husband was able to resign for another 6 years into the Army but will change jobs into something he enjoys more.

So basically that has been our year a lot of training and preparing but It was a great year together and I look forward to 2010 and hopes it brings even more joy and blessings!

Day one at the Gym

That is right, I hit the gym today. So one goal while my husband is away is get in shape, lose weight and learn to enjoy it. So, Jeremy has been gone 16 days and I still have not even started my goal. I kept making up excuses like maybe I should wait till after the holidays, start in the new year and things like that. So today or better tonight I was bored and wanted to get out of the house but had no money, so what shall I do. I know go to the gym, but really, alone. But I brave myself and did it. I was scared at first, sorry I feel like the big fat person there cause for some reason it seem like the everyone at the gym is already in shape... Does anyone else feel like that? LOL! Anyways, I did it and got over my fear of going to the gym.
So I did the treadmill and was able to do ONE mile in 27:43. I don't know if that is bad or not for me being 29 and never really run in my life. So I am proud that it was under 30 minutes. Hopefully I could do 2 miles in that time by next year. I also went to the weight room with the machines. I don't know anything about free weights but I can find things to do on the mechanics. Anyways, that is where I was beginning to doubt myself and think maybe I should just leave. But I close my eyes to do another life and I swear i could here my husband voice like he was like there telling me not to give you and that he was proud of me. After that I was feeling great to keep working out. So I did more legs, arms and crunches. Then I decide to go back to the cardio room and end with some bike. But, on my way I hear a terrible noise. Some how the fire alarm went off so everyone had to leave the building. They said we did not HAVE to leave but they close in a hour, but it will be awhile cause they have to wait till MPs and fire deptartment comes and clear the building before anyone could come back in;. So, there is no telling how much time we would have so I decide not to sit around in the freezing cold to wait. I think I had a good workout. 55 minutes was good enough for me. Now, lets see if I could do this everyday. Wish me luck!

The Year 2015

Well it is official Jeremy was sworn in yesterday again. So yes that means he resigned and agree to served 6 more years in the US Army. Yeah that sounds like a long time away but I am sure it will fly by again. I mean he has been in 2 1/2 years now. So I know the time will fly by.
Anyways, but the only way he could resign was to change his MOS (job). They have too many 63M in the army so his choices were to get out or reclass. So they gave him a list of MOS that he qualified for he had to pick one. So he reclass to 92G. What is a 92G?? A food Specialist, or basically a cook. So yeah he when he returns from Iraq he will no longer be a 63M but a 92G. I know what you must be thinking going from a Bradley Mechanic to a Cook, really!?!?! But, if you know my husband that is a good choice for him. He LOVES to cook and he has always wanted to know more and take lessons to learn more. So being a cook in the army is right up his ally. He has even thought of going to Houston Art Institute to take Culinary classes. So now if he does this he will get alot of training which would be awesome. So yeah i am excited for him, he will be doing something he ENJOYS doing. I think his experience would be better in the army.

So what does this mean for me.....it means we are probably going to get out of crazy ole' Fort Stewart. What will happen is whenever he gets back from deployment, he will check in and have to spend, I don't remember how long here checking in and then he will leave for AIT again. This time in Fort Lee, VA. So since he will be a reclass I don't think it is has strict has when they are the newbies out of basic. I don't know we will cross that bridge when we get there. I do like that this time Fort Lee is only like 7 hours away or so, so when he graduates this time I should be able to drive up there and see him. But after that we will come back here and start checking out and go wherever our (or I should say his) new orders tell us to go.
We are hoping the orders will be somewhere fun and exciting all over again. But i just keep laughting watch us in up here or some other place in GA. LOL! No, the chances of that happening is slim to none, due to his MOS now is an anywhere MOS there is no where he could no go, they need cooks everywhere. So we could end up in some werid places like Hawaii, Korea, or just a small post somewhere. Or even close to home like Fort Polk. No, he got to choice 4 places he would LIKE to go. So what places did he put?? I don't know why he chose these: but here it is: Germany, Alaska, Fort Lewis (in Washington) and Fort Campbell (in Kentucky/Tennessee border). So we shall see!

But other then that things are going good. But I need to get off here I will write later.

Prayers!

Okay, I have always had faith in prayers but there is always room for more faith in prayer. Last night and this morning I had a experience that just strength my testimony of prayer and everything else.
So last night (Tuesday night) I was having this sick feeling something was wrong. I was letting myself worry about Jeremy and making myself sick. I just knew something was not right and he had not called or gotten online in 4 days which is not like him, unless he was really busy. But being in Kuwait they aren't really doing missions just training. So that was not like him not to take the time to call or get online. I just knew that something was wrong so after awhile of dwelling in it. I decide to go to bed and on my way to bed, I hit the floor on my knees. After that I begin to feel better.
Well I awoke today (Wednesday) to my phone ringing. It was my hubby and he said he needed to talk to me. He explain that Sunday morning he got really sick and they sent him to the medical area and he had a SEVERE Kidney Infection. It was really bad and he said that they were talking about having to fly him out to either Germany or back here to have his Kidney taken out. Sunday night after he was seen he got a LDS chaplain to give him a blessing. So he said he was so scared what would happen. Then he said Wednesday morning (his time, which was Tuesday night my time) they decide to run some more test and make the ruling about flying him out. And the results came back that he has improved over 80%. So has of Wednesday night (his time) he is feeling okay, he says just hurting a little but nothing compare to earlier.
So thanks for everyone else that been keeping him in your prayers!!

So now he is on very lite duty. He says he can't do anything which is upsetting cause he been waiting for a PT test so he can resign. And guess what they are doing a PT test tomorrow so again he will miss out! UGH! how upsetting! But he will do!

To move or Not to Moveand I

To move or Not to Move that should be the question.... Okay, so Jeremy is in the sandbox now and I am still here living on post. So I am trying to figure out if I want to stay in our apartment here or move off post and try to save money. Choices and if you know me I can't decide so I going to make my Pro and Cons list so here I go:

Living On Post
Pros
1) No ulities bills - can run washer/dyer 24/7; sleep with lights on and my bill never goes up
2) Safe - Yes post is not any safer then off post, but it does feel safe cause you get to know your neighbors
3) Yard Work- I live downstairs and have a small yard. So Jeremy taught me how to use the weed eater to cut the grass because that is all you need and it only takes about 10 minutes to do.
4) Maintance - Yeah they are not the greatest but they are there if something happens.

Cons
1) It takes 20 minutes to get to ANYWHERE! Yes I spend 20 minutes going to Wal-Mart, my best Friend's house, church or ANY fast food places. So I spend alot of my money on gas to drive around. So yeah if I moved near my friend's house and was 5 mintues from her, I would only be 5 mintues from Wal-mart and everything else.
2) NOT HAVING A DISHWASHER - Sorry I hate not having a dishwasher!
3) It is VERY small - I am turning down right now in 2009 $1059 for a little 2/1 Apartment probably about 800 sq feet. My room is SO small that we hate it.
4) Forfeiting up all of my BAH. (BAH is the money the army pays us for housing but if you live onpost you have to give it all up)

Okay on to moving off Post
Pros
1) Living close to everything like I said before!
2) Having a dishwasher!!!!!!!!! This will Christmas to me!!!
3) Being about to save some BAH! (Like if I get BAH of $1056 and my rent is only $700 I save money)
4) Having a nicer place!

Cons
1) this is what is keeping me for doing it now - Deposits!!! It will cost me to move out of here, deposit for the place and to get electricity on. So yeah I need the money for deposits!
2) Moving! Which I am not afraid of I actually love moving and I get bored easily.
3) Having more bills like electricity and gas, trash, water, & sewer.

So there you go that are my choices and you can see why it might be hard cause the pros and cons are pretty equal and I don't have a clue what to do!

But there is always to other choices:
1) Pay the $500 to housing and just move to another bigger house on post with a dishwasher.
2) Put all my stuff in storage and go to Texas....hum!

So now I got to make a choice.......and if you know me you know I can't stand making choices epically with out Jeremy around. And if I try to ask him his answer is...."Baby, do what ever makes you happy!"
UGH! I hate that..... I want some one to TELL me what to do! LOL!

Anyways, if you got any advice I would love to hear it or tell me what you might do. Thanks!

One Week Later

Okay, well we are down one week and I am not going to start counting how many more I have left. Way to many! How am I doing? I am doing okay this week has been so crazy and busy that I have not even had the time to thing too much about missing him. I do miss him late at night and I have not been sleeping has well. But I am doing well. I think I will be better after the holidays cause that is the hard part but hey I am strong and can do it. Jeremy on the other hand is doing great I have talked to him a couple of times and he is doing Good enjoy the sites of Kuwait. So we are holding up.
Well, I have finished school now. I did GREAT in Sociology ...got a A in the class. I loved that class it was so interesting and I learned alot about the cultures and being judgemental about other cultural. So I did great in that class I mean I had to write 6 papers but every time I got 100% on them so Sociology I did excellent in! Now History that is another story......I don't know why I can read or understand history. I just don't get it out of a book epically the political part of it. But here is the catch I LOVE Historical Sites. I love going and learning about old towns, houses, forts, and lighthouses. And when I am there I absorb it all in. I want to look at everything, see it all. I love the read the signs and learn about that place but I can't read History out of a book. So anyways I did past the class with a C. I am kinda mad at myself but oh well I guess it equals out to a B average so that is good.

But, anyways, I got some things to do and get off this computer. Now i got to start my goal list and did started on it.

I am glad That is over

Sunday Morning -( December 13, 2009) A date that I will always remember. It was a cold, rainy, and foggy morning. I guess the weather knew how our emotions were going to be and made the weather the same way. LOL! It was a long morning of standing around and knowing what was coming when ever the command decide to call for formation. I think I did good. If you know me, you know I can't stand to cry around people so I normal just say bye but some time later it will hit me and that is when I actually start crying. I don't like others to see me cry. Anyways, they called them to formation and let them know they had 20 minutes to say goodbye or see you later to their families. While Jeremy was in formation I was standing on the side and I looked over at his Sergent's wife and children and his little girl (who is around 7) is crying so hard, that my heart broke for her and I let the tears fall. Same thing when Jeremy saw her crying that was when he lost it too, but before he had to actually leave we had each other laughing again and thinking positive. So that was it! And now he is gone!

So now I just put a stamp on myself has a real Army Wife going though my 1st Deployment. How am I doing? I am doing good! Sunday it never hit me cause he called me a couple of times and after we said goodbye I was busy getting ready for church and 2 hours in the nursery with 17 children will keep you so busy you don't have time to think...LOL! Monday and Tuesday I was with my friend helping her Christmas shop for her son and hanging out. Well Tuesday night I had my first "OH MY GOSH....he is GONE!" moment. I left her house and drove on post, well we always call each other when we get back on post to let them know we are almost home. Well, I picked up my phone and started dialing his number and about the time I hit call it hit me he what am I doing? he aint going to answer. And I was like what do I do now I am out of routine but I just put the phone down and drove home. So that is the only time I been like I miss him.
Yesterday morning I did get to talk to him over Facebook chat cause since he is in Kuwait they have computers for them to use. So that was nice. Right now time feels like it is going so slow and at this rate 12 months will be a lifetime but I know after the holidays it will speed up. Right now thinking about the holidays is when i know I am going to miss him, cause I will be alone for Christmas and New Years Eve. I keep telling myself Christmas is over and I am thinking of taking the tree down but New Years I dont know. It is not like we have every done anything on New Years Eve, last year we even went to bed before midnight...lol.... I thought about going home for the holidays and staying until after Caleb and Parker's birthdays, but don't really have the money right now so that is out of the question. Oh, well... I will get though it!!!

Also I just want to say is, that I am proud of my husband and I support him. I am not mad that he is away. He joined after 9/11 when we knew the chances of going over seas would be high... then got station at Fort Stewart... one of top (not the top) deploy able units. I am just so happy that I got him home for as long has I did. I support him and will continue to support him! I love him and miss him... But I know he is doing what he sign up to do and he is excited so I stand by and will be excited for him!

Goodbye

Goodbye

When we say Goodbye

Don't be surprise when I cry

Those are just tears of love

They are meant to be share with you

So take them with you

As a token of my love

Absorb them all as you hold me tight

And tell me it might be goodbye

But it is not forever

Sorry just a poem I wrote for my husband and wanted to put it somewhere that I would not lose it. Let me know if you like it!

Please Slow down

Time is ticking away if only I could stop the hands of time!

There is no goodbyes because goodbye is forever; it is see you later - cause he will come back.

The hours separate us, but they bring us together again!

"Dear Deployment, I hate you as much as I love him."

The reason it hurts so much to separate is because our souls are connected. ~Nicholas Sparks, The Notebook

Distance between two hearts is not an obstacle, rather a beautiful reminder of just how strong true love can be. ~Author Unknown

Goodbyes are not forever.
Goodbyes are not the end.
They simply mean I'll miss you
Until we meet again!

Where is the good in goodbye? ~Meredith Willson

Okay sorry about that but the time is here and days are going down so that was just my way of expressing how I feel about it.

Oh, yeah this site will become a Deployment journal so I hope you enjoy and feel free to bookmark and read and give encouragement and comments cause 12 month (if not longer is a long time)

Fancy Nancy

So this past weekend was my birthday getaway/ a marriage retreat though Jeremy's work. I found out this weekend is I am not a "Fancy Nancy". For yall that don't know what Fancy Nancy is, it is this cute childrens' book about a little girl that is always wanting things to be fancy and nice. For yall with little girls, I have these books!
We got to go to Hilton Head Island in South Carolina and stay at the Marriott Resort Hotel. The hotel was very nice right on the beach, even though the only thing you saw from our room was the apartments next to it. Nice hotel but with all that fancy stuff you had to PAY for internet. $13.00 for 24 hours!!! I would have rather go to Best Western and walk the block to the beach and have free internet. Yes, I bought the computer with me on a getaway. I am additied... no not really. I can't sleep at night sometimes espically in hotels so it gives me something to do when I can't sleep. That was the other thing, nice hotel does not mean nice cable. They only had like 20 channels and no TV land or Nick at Nite, or Disney Channel. That is the stuff we normally watch to go to sleep. Anyways, the food was ok. I don't like places where you can't chose what to eat and on the table is like 20 pieces of silverware. Yes I know how you do it, salad fork, dinner, dessert, soup...Yeah I know all that. I just don't like doing it! LOL! Then the food was touching. It was made to look like something on Top Chef or Hell's Kitchen. Mashed potatoes and the gravy on the bottom with the chicken laying on top of it. So you know me I had to pull it apart. Yes and I was sick of water that was all they had to drink, water or tea! So that night we left after the first meeting and went to walmart to get some snacks and coke. Then Saturday we spend all morning in class which was good. It talks about ways to communicate and 5 things for love and such like that. Then that afternoon it is what they call "date night". So knowing us we are not fancy but since it was my birthday and we were on Hilton Head we decide someplace semi-nice. We went to Carrabba's because I LOVE Italian. It was nice. Next to the Carrabba's was a minutura golf place and it looked nice and empty. So we went and played around of golf. It was nice cause we had the place all to our self. And of course we played Deal or No Deal and won Maddie a Spongebob as a gift. That was about it for our weekend.
So yeah it was nice to stay in a 5 star hotel that over looks the ocean but I am a country girl that enjoys cheap and cheaper. So overall it was a fun weekend!

Oh, what did Jeremy get me for my birthday.... Twilight Scence It game, tickets to the movie, and season 2 &4 of Reba! (I already had season 1&3).

Oh and if you have a little girl you must read "Fancy Nancy"!

Home Again

So Jeremy is back home and has been at home for about a week now but I just been so busy to stop and update on here laterly. Sorry School work is keeping me busy and my neighbor started working so I been babysitting too. BUSY as a Bee! This is a busy month but I will get though it! LOL! So Jeremy made it though NTC and enjoy it. So I just thought I would post some beautiful pictures of his trip there!


Jeremy on top of the M88

A far view of Jeremy on the M88.

The beautiful Mountains and the DUST

All Geared Up!

(sorry I could not get the picture to flip)

A Beautiful Sunrise

The living area the first week

We did IT!

YAY! We did it, we did it!
Okay I will stop singing Dora... that is the song she sings at the end when they get to where ever they were going! But we did it, or should I say I did it.
I made it though October, as I speak Jeremy is on a birdie somewhere over the US on his way back to beautiful Georgia. So, yes I made it fine here alone for a month and I have to say it was not THAT bad. Of course I missed him and I miss having someone to do the little things with. So, how did I do with my goals....lol...laugh if you will I did not succeed at ALL of them but some of them I did conquer and proud that I did.
I got my house and the car clean. Everyone keeps telling me my house looks different all clean and the fact that I did the true military wife thing and rearranged the living room. My friend told me after the fact that you are not a true army wife unless when they leave for awhile you rearranged the house. I did not lose any weight or start exercising. Oh well! I have became very crafty and I will post pictures once my hubby gets back with the camera. I did paint and make the sea shell picture frame now I just got to get a picture of us at the beach. I also bought a shadow box and took all my medals from twirling from when I was 3 to 18 and make a nice display. I even got pictures of me at different ages twirling! I am proud of it!! Yesterday I made Halloween sugar cookies but I did not have Halloween color sprinkles so I just use food coloring to make some of the dough orange for pumpkins and some dough black for witches' hat and bats and cats. Then I left some dough along and made ghosts out of it. The black cookies don't look that good though but oh well Jeremy will eat them! LOL!
So anyways yay I made it though a month and I have learn that I am independent again. I just know when he leaves for Iraq I will be okay that I can handle anything...okay maybe not Anything but I will find someone who can!!!!
Oh, and I started classes this week I did my first quiz for sociology and I got 100% I was so shocked. I have never been a good student and always said I wished I would had worry more about school work then I did about guys and band in high school. I passed everything and was A and B honor roll but I think if I would had applied my self just a little harder I could had done better. Oh well, lesson learned so this time I am trying harder to applied myself a little more!
Okay, well off to study before I got to start getting dressed to go pick him up... Later!!

Yard Sales

Wow, what a deal! Once upon a time I hate to go to yard sales so bad. I thought to be "cool" you did not shop at them. I remember telling my mother.. "no, please don't stop" She never listen to me and always stopped anyways and I always refused to get out there is nothing I would EVERY need from a yard sale. Now, 15 years later....I LOVE YARD SALES! yes I said it! Anything to save a buck or two or more.
The good thing about living on a military installation is they have twice a year a post wide yard sale. Awesome it takes you hours and that is not even stopping at every house. You never know what you will find. To bad me and my friend stopped looking cause we ran out of money before we every even finished half the houses. But, I had cash of what I wanted to spend and not a penny more. Anyways I am excitied with what I got.
Here is what I got:

1. A Tall Lamp/Light - $3.00 normally $10
2. A Care for my neighbor girl that is sick - $1.00 normally $10.00
3. "Fast and the Furious 1 and 2" DVDs and DVD "The Greatest Game Every Played" (This was my gift for Jeremy) $5.00 for all 3. Normally at least $15.00
4. A wire shoe rack - $3.00 normally $10-15.
5. A Tall Black DVD shelf - $4.50 normally $15.00
6. And my steal of the Day and the one thing that I am proud to get: A Bissell Little Green with the Heat Stream. The lady said that she had only use it maybe twice still almost brand new, in the box, with all parts and instruction book. I been wanting one of these to do my couches and mattress and spots on the floor. So how much did I pay? Well lets say I went to Wal-mart after I left yard saling and they had it for $99.98. So I paid.......drum roll please.......$25.00 that was it. I feel I save alot there! Jeremy was proud of me. LOL!

So, anyways, just wanted to share my way of saving money.....yard sales! I spent a totally of $41.50 on stuff that my house needed to make it more like a home. I save at least $118.50. WOW! that is crazy. Anways, enough! Just thought I would share!

Thanks Yous

Okay I don't know why I feel like doing this but just want to say thanks to all my friends and family. I can't sleep tonight and just want to typed and have a lot on my chest. Just wanted to say I love you!

Dear Jeremy,
I love you so much. I am so proud of the sacrifices you make for this country and for me. I am so glad that you came into my life when you did. You are a wonderful husband and have enjoyed the past 7 years and look forward to many more years together. I hope we travel the world together hand and hand will fulfilled our dreams together. You are my Hero!

Dear Dad,
I just want to say, Thanks for everything you have done for us children. I love you so much. No matter how stubborn I was I really was listening. You were always there even if I did not want you around. LOL! Thanks for aways being there for me even when I did not make the best choices but you never judge just help me find my way back on the straight and narrow. Thanks Dad, you are the greatest!

Dear Marie
Thanks for joining our crazy family. I know I have only known you a couple of years but it has felt like alot longer. You have been a great addition to the family. I enjoy having you around. Thanks for always lending a ear when i need to talk you are a great listener. I enjoy having you around to talk to and know if every need to talk you are there, thanks for that!

Dear Adam,
While you was always the "little" brother you could always beat me up! While, our childhood I think we would fight alot I know I have always loved you so much and will always love you. I know we have never been closed but I am always here for you. I know when ever I have a question I can't answer I know who to call because you are so smart and always have good advice, you take after dad that is for sure. Thanks for being the "little" brother that I can look up to!

Dear Kim,
Well, thanks for joining our crazy family by marrying my brother. I know we hardly every talk but I want you to know you are my sister now and are always free to call and talk whenever you need to vent. I hope over the years to build our friendship and sisterhood and become good friends. You are wonderful wife and mother and I see how happy you make Adam, thanks for taking care of my "little" brother.

Dearest Parker,
While I have only meet you 2 weeks of your 9 months here with us, you are the greatest thing to our Haynes family. I love you so much! I wished I lived closer so I could hold and spoil you every day. Since I dont have that has you grow you will know that no matter how far away from you I am I will always be here for you....even when you are way older and can come visit! You are the cutest nephew every way. Thanks for being the happy cheerful, handsome boy and bringing happiness to me when I see your new pictures and videos.

Dear Andrea,
I know you probably won't read this but I want you to know that I love you and hope one day we can be best friends like we use to be years ago. We always fought, mainly cause you follow me around wanting to do everything I did, but I always loved that about you and when I moved out and went to college you were the person I messed the most. Your letters were my inspiration at college and still to this day I have them. I hope one day we can talk on the phone and hang out and be friends again. I am sorry for what every I have done to you but know I am here for you and always will be.

Dear My Friends
I have to many to list by name but many of you have known me for YEARS and I want to say thanks for aways being there. Some of you guys were the greatest friends in High school and who I share all my memories with from high school. Amanda W. Thanks for being a great friend for what like 16 years now. I feel like that was our lifetime. We been tough so much together and I know you are always there for me. Thanks everyone for your advice and help when ever I am down you give me great inspiration and encouragement. Keep it up!

Okay sorry for this post, I just can't sleep and had a lot on my mind and felt like writing and it helps. I hope not to offend anyone in this post but this is my post and I can write what is on my mind. If I did offend I apologize now!


Thanks Each and EveryOne of Yall!
I love Everyone! Mandy

Just Say No

Just Say No....Isn't that the saying that we are taught in Elementary school?! The only different is about drugs but I think they should say that we need to say No to other things in our life. Does anyone else out there have trouble saying "No"?? I have always had this problem espically when it comes to friends cause I always have this feeling that if I say no they dont want to be friends with me no more. I can't say No so I end up saying yes to everything and before I know it I am loading my plate with more then I can handle and before I know it I am dealing with stress and frustation that I just want to curl up in a ball and cry. Does anyone else do this? Today for example I had a really crazy day. I had a doctor appointment that took forever between the actual appointment and waiting the hour at the pharmacy to get the medicine it took almost 3 hours. Well last night my neighbor's friend ask if I would babysit today for her. Well before I finished at the hosiptal she is calling me asking where I was so I started stressing cause even though she told me 1pm she actually wanted to drop her off at 12:15. But lucky my neighbor was home and agree to watch her until I could get there. Then I had maintance come by because my glass patio doors wont slide open. So they figured out it needed new rollers well in the simple process of getting that fixed they scattered the glass. Now, a simple job was taking twice as long. Anyway, also my other neighbor, friend, from across the way called to see if I could watch her puppy while she went to a meeting. Again I could not say no. So I had my dog, my friends dog, this 18 month old girl and 2 maintance guys hammering away with this big whole in my wall from the doors being off. Crazy! Then my neighbor wants to come over and use the computer so that is fine but she brings her daughter and her dog. So now my house was a crazy zoo: 3 dogs, 2 children, 2 adults, and 2 maintance techs. I think I started pacing around my room. I was getting so stressed, if only I would have just said NO. So yeah that is my life. I do this alot say yes and then when I am in the middle of it I regret saying yes. I got to learn to say NO! No, all of you friends don't be afraid of asking me for anything now just because I wrote this cause I love to help others. Just if I say no don't be offened, cause the timing might not be good or something else is going on! Okay so am I just werid to have this problem or does anyone else??? Please share!

Reading and Cleaning

Why is it that when I was in High school I loved to read, but since 2000 and now I never care to read again. I just never could fall into a book. Then last year I heard about Twilight. I say a bunch of my friends having count downs on their blogs and everyone on facebook was talking about it. So after I saw a preview for the movie and read my sister-in-law blog about how she hates reading but read them all really fast. So that was it I went to the library but guess what it was checked out and the list was way long. So, I went to wal-mart and broke down and just bought it. I began reading, reading everywhere. Every time I walked out of the house it was in my hand and nothing around the house got done. I read it in a week, dieing for the next one. So within a month I read them all and fell in love with them. So I thought it was cool to read. Now, for the past year I been saying I wanted to read but could never find anything to enjoy reading, I tried this and that and just could not get into anything. Well now a year later I started reading a series of book from high school by Anita Stantsfield. Then a couple of days ago and I got a army wife book so I checked it out also. So, now I am reading 2 books... I keep asking my self when did I turn for not enjoying reading to wanting to read 2 books at once. I guess that is not a bad thing.
Cleaning now... since Jeremy left I got my house clean but now any time any little thing is dirty my whole house is dirty. I guess that is a good thing...lol. I dont know I just keep finding more stuff to clean. I mean the other day I clean out the extra room or has jeremy calls it the army room because it is where we keep all his extra gear and stuff, but technially it isour extra room if anyone comes to stay. But anyways, I took a box of stuff to the the outside little shed we have and found Halloween decorations so I decorated for halloween outside. I did not have anything for inside but oh well.
But anyways, I have kinda forgot about the "list". I have clean my house over and over. Still have not gotten to the car hopeful this weekend or next week it will be pretty so I can go do that. No, I have not done any crafts project. I am getting this organized though so when he leaves for the deployment I will be able to find everything I need then and do more crafts...
So, other news Jeremy is fine doing great. We are pretty much half way though this time for now apart. It feels like forever but it only been 2 weeks. I got toget used to this feeling. I know I will do okay.
Well the dyer stopped so I got to go switch laundry later.

Looking UP

Yay.... Jeremy has been gone about no even a week yet, but I thought I would let you know how it is going and what is up.
I am still alive and making it. Jeremy is doing fine I do talk to him almost every day right now. It sinks because T-Mobile don't pick up coverage there at Fort Irwin but he got a friend that is kind enough to let him borrow his phone now and then. But yeah it is enjoying it, he says it is beautiful at times but then when they get a dust strom it is not so pretty. Tomorrow is the last day I will be able to talk to him, due to Friday morning they head out to the "box" where they train just as if they were in Iraq. He wont be able to call me after that until the come back from the box on the 25th. That is going to be my hard time but I will be okay. Espically since now I got used to him calling me everyday. Oh, well I got to get use to don't I?
Well, so how am i doing? Okay I had one day the other day...where i just wanted to lay in the bed and cry cause I heard more bad news but hey it is all good. So how are my goals going?
Well, here is the update
1) Clean my house - well I got my house mainly clean, everything is caught up like laundry, dishes but I still have not touch the extra/army room or the detail work.
2) AFAP - Tomorrow is the last day of it. I have really enjoyed it. It was fun and very informational. Can't wait for next year.
3) Walking or Gym....... This has not started at all. Part is because AFAP going on and it has been raining, but I got plans to go walking tomorrow with my neighbor and we want to do it EVERYDAY!
4) Since 3 has not starting ... nothing has happen here other then I been drinking alot more water.
5)Car--- I have not touch it.....
6, 7, 8) The crafts projects I havenot started I wanted to get 1 and 5 done first. So they will be later in the month.
9) HERE IS THE GOOD NEWS!!!
I was so upset when I found out there is no way I can get a loan before the class actually starts so I can get books. Jeremy happen to call when I was having that panic about what to do so I can afford to buy books until the loan comes in. He had a great plan and a great advice. The plan was to sell the Wii and everything we had with it. While, I hated to do that cause I like having one, he said getting the books were in the long run more importatnt then some game system that is never played. It has been 4 months since we last played it and most of the games we decide we did not like anyways. I mean for you people with the Wii Fit and can use it to lose weight....I am proud of you because sorry it did not work for me. I guess mainly because I wanted to beat Jeremy's scores so I learned ways to cheat the system... Jeremy never did figure out how I can do more push ups then him....lol! So, I finally got it sold today and now I have the money for school and will start online classes on the 26th. YAY me!
Well that is all for now.... I will keep you posted!

Forts and lighthouses

So, this actually happen before my last blog but I was just now getting around to putting pictures on the computer to blog about it.
So last weekend for the weekend we decided to spend some time together and do something things right here around Savannah that we have not been able to do. So our plans were to hit Fort Pulaski, Tybee Island Lighthouse, Old Fort Jackson and Fort McCallister. But the rain kept us from the last fort.

Fort Pulaski
So Friday we got up and went to breakfast at Denny's and then went straight to Fort Pulaski. This was a fort that was used during the civil war. It also has a lot of neat history also about being used as an underground railroad. Also in the parade field was one of the first organize baseball being played in the America. If you want more information you can google it...sorry I don't want to sit and typed it all out...sorry! But the moral of the story is they lost the battle to the union (the north) because they surrender because the Union had cannons that was destroying their walls and if one cannon hit one wall just right it would have hit the magazine room (where they would stored the black powder and stuff) and if that would had happen it would had kills lots of people so they surrender. So the battle only lasted 30 hours.
So here are some pictures ...

The outside of it

Walking to the entrance

Jeremy and a Cannon

This is the battery

Also they had a trail that took you to look at a very old lighthouse Cockspur Lighthouse

Tybee Island Lighthouse

So the next thing on the list was the Tybee Island Lighthouse. I have seen it from the outside but have aways wanted to go up in it. That was a very long climb! It was 178 steps up it.That might not sound like that much but in this little tower with no AC so it was very stuffy cause the couple of windows there was was only cracked a little bit. But, once you get to the top it was very well worth the trip to the top. This is Georgia's tallest lighthouse. So here are some pictures!

Here is a view of the lighthouse from the bottom.

This is us at the top with the AtlanticOcean behind us.

A view of the ocean from up there.

(the water does not look that blue when you there on the beach)

This is the view looking back toward the island... you can see the marsh in the back.

Me in front of the lighthouse and on the right you can see the innkeepers house.
I am standing on the battery across the street.

Old Fort Jackson

Okay our next place of interested was Old Fort Jackson in Savannah right on the Savannah River. We did not know any history about this place but thought we might have well checked it out. There is not much history because it was built when Robert E. Lee declared to build lots of forts to help fight the union and this one was built to keep the union from being able to get into Savannah, which was a strong city at the time. But, after the union got property of Fort Pulaski, they decide to run and abandon the fort. So they dumped the amino and everything into the river and march to South Carolina. The fort was not really every completely finished. but it was still cool to go there. So here are some pictures from there.

A view from a far of the entrance.

The main entrance and the draw bridge

Looking from the top down onto the parade field.

Guards Room.

Magazine Room. (Storage Room)

Well there is an little update. I only showed a couple of pictures, but the places were so beautiful you should see the whole album. Check it out here it is http://www.facebook.com/album.php?page=2&aid=112676&l=5958f143c2&id=762033116

Check it out.

See you later!

Well I told Jeremy goodbye tonight, or better yet I just said "see you later". Yeah it is just give or take 30 days but still it is time away. But this is also a training period for what is to come. Lets not talk about that...lol... Anyways, yes I support my husband and what he is willing to do for our country. I will stand by his side at all time and will handle time away from one another the best I can. So, I told him over and over, I am fine and will be fine, and he must keep his mind on the mission, but still being a guy I know he will still worry some. So, anyways, while he is gone what should I do with my self. I know, how about if i keep my self from staring at the clock and calendar and counting the days down. So, I made a list of my goals (or missions) that I want to do by the time he comes home around November 1st.
So, I thought I would share on here, so that way they are in writing cause they say if you write them down you have a better chance of accomplishing them. So here I go....in 30 days can I do the following??!!

1. Clean my house - Not just clean it....I mean really clean it, behind the ice box, oven, and even the extra bedroom
2. Attending the AFAP conference here at Fort Stewart for 3 days. We will see how that goes....LOL!
3. Start going walking everyday, or maybe swimming at the gym....I don't know I like walking better...lol.... may water aerobic??!!??! I got till tomorrow to decide...
4. Along with number 3 but to lose 20 lbs. Can I do it??? Lets hope so!!
5. Clean out the car...really clean it out...I mean do my own detail job...LOL!
6. Oh, yesterday I got a picture frame from Micheal's to paint and decorate for a picture of us.
7. Going to attempt to make a candy corn cake. I want to carve it and decorate it to look like a candy corn. The only problem is I can't do it till he is coming home cause I don't like cake so I don't every eat the cake so he better get home....LOL!
8. Get back into scrapbooking! I still love it just have not had the room or the time to do it... Now I do and am excited to start it.
9. Last but not least, I have plans to start school on October 26. So hopefully everything will work out. I got 2 classes paid for but still trying to figure out how to get the money for the books. I thought I would get approved for financial aide but I guess the government says a private in the army and don't have kids make too much money. Sorry for going off there for a minute. I will figure it out!

So, there you have it! Is it too much for me to do in 30 some odd days?! I hope not and have faith I will get it all done. I will keep you posted on my updates. Okay so more later!

Babysitting

Sorry I just want to vent for a minute. I love children and will babysit for anyone any time. Espically when I have know your child for almost 2 years. But when you come to my house and ask me to baby sit in an hour for just a hour or 2 keep to your plan. Yes you said you were leaving at 730 but did not leave till 8:15 so I thinking 10:30 at the latest. Then you text me to tell me you got another plan and will be home at 11:00pm. And it is not like this is emergancy, you just turn 21 and want to drink in public whenever possiable. Now, I am sittin ghere with your child still awake (cause you said she can stay up till she falls asleep) at 12:17 am and you have not answer any of my texts. UGH!
Sorry, I love children but just because you had a child at 19 and now want to enjoy drinking crap don't mean you leave your child at home always with the babysitter. This stuff drives me crazy cause I have tried for a child for 7 years and i sit here and watch how a mother and father find other things to fouce on other then there child. It hurts me and makes me realized how unfair life is. Don't go jumping anyone to call CPS, cause they do nothing to harm the girl, they do love her but the mother is 21 now so every weekend it is party time. yes, it is good that the mother finds a good babysitter or the dad stays home to watch her but still wrong in my eyes.
Okay sorry for going on and on I am just sitting here at 12:20 am and wondering if this mother is eVery coming back. I had things to do tonight.
Just for everyone else: If I every babysit for you try to stick to the time you tell me, yes I understand things happen but 2 hours of babysitting turning into 5 hours is taking it too far. I just fell I am being used.
Okay I will shut up!

Got Crabs?

Okay we are back home in Georgia now. The trip back home was a lot better. Taking 2 days to make it made it alot more enjoyable.
Well, our last day before we left Texas, we went crabbing with my Dad and Marie. I was not sure at all about this crabbing thing. Crabs have pinchers and that will hurt if they get me. So I agree to go but just thought I would watch and take pictures. Well after a while I decide that hey it don't look to bad just pull the rope up slowly and then while the crab is on the chicken tied to the rope just take you net and get it...lol. So, I did eventually get into it. And I have to say it was Fun!
Well, we caught about 18 big ones that we kept. Marie clean and cooked them. I did try a piece of the crab and just did not like it. It was just to much fishy taste for me. Anyways, Jeremy enjoyed it though. That is just up his alley, werid foods.

Well, here are some pictures!
Here is the view of the marsh that we went to.

Jeremy crabbing

Me and My Dad Crabbing (Jeremy took this one when I did not see)

One of our BIG crabs...The thing looks mean huh?!

THis is the finished product. A bunch of crabs and legs. Yummy!

Had a great time in Texas and Can't wait to head back. I love Texas! Glad to see all the family and friends that I was able to see in a short time. Hopefully next time I will be able to see everyone else. I also hopes that it won't be another year and half until I head back to Texas!

Ghost and Genealogy

Yes I said that this post is title Ghost and Genealogy because on the same night both things happen. While in Texas we made a night trip to Roganville, TX. Now, don't try to google it because it is not even a town anymore. It is nothing but a bunch of dirt roads and the main road has a black top but the bridges are still wooden, one lane. This is where my dad grew up and my family history is all connected to this area.
So, this night started with Marie's Brother, sister-in-law, newphew and his finance wanted to go see something haunting. If you know my Dad, he is a pro at making you so scared. He has spend years scaring the youth of Buna, TX with his spooky stories at camping trips or just around the house.
Okay the house that my dad lived in, in Roganville, is haunted. Everyone in his family agrees and they even had a name for the ghost. I forgot what he told me that they called it. But, that is beside the point. Anyways, well this house is now empty and just sitting out in the woods and 2 years ago he took my sister and some of her friends out there to try to scared them so he thought sure while not let go. In 2005 when Rita hit the area he did know that the carport had fallen but that was the last time he saw it. The house was destored big time. Teenagers has written all over the walls and trashed it big time. But the carport is still down. Also, we had trouble finding it because after we got out of the truck... the weeds were taller then us and the house. So we wonder around until someone's flashlight finally hit a window.
So here is a picture from outside that house.

Okay, so after that: we went to the Witch's Grave. There is a 2 graves in a old little fence way out in the middle of the woods. It is called the witch's grave because everyone believed that she was a witch. She was a widow and was know not to come out of the house during the day just at night and wore nothing but black. So her and her daughter are bury here in the middle of the woods which use to be here land. There is also a house near by that is aboned. We did not go to it cause everyone was tried and it was late. So anyways, here are some pictures from it.
This is the sign that is there:

Here is a view of the 2 plots.

This is the daughter:

p>
This is the Mother (AKA: the witch, Roxie)

_____________________________________________________

Genealogy

Now you must be wondering how that plays into this.
Okay our second stop was at Friendship Church and Cementary. Yes, cemetary at night can be scary but for me it was education. There is alot of family history here. Here is the sign if you want to read the history. Joseph Andrew Jackson and Rebecca Sheffield are my great-great-great or something like that grandparents. They are the ones that donated this land to be used for a church and cementary in 1899. Read if you want.

Here is a picture of the church on the outside. What is different about this church is that it is open 24 hours a day. When Joseph gave the community the land one of the causes was that the church had to be open for people to go to at all times. So i was able to go in.
Here is the outside of it.

Now, here is a view of the inside. Notice the beautiful old wood pews and floor. Remember the time 1899. I don't know if that is when this church was actually built.

Okay, so here is the picture of Joseph Andrew Jackson Sheffield and Rebecca Sheffield that was hanging in the church. Very old picture!

Now, this is the piano that my Great Grandma Lena played for years. My dad even has a video that was taken with the very old 8mm film that shows her playing the piano probably in the 60s or some time around then. Sad that there is no sound but that is how it was back then. It is just amazing that her piano is somewhere safe. They had pictures of her hanging in the church too.

Now, just for kicks, here is pictures of the old school that is from when Roganville used to be a town. There is also a picture of an old bus stop.

On the Road

Well, I thought I would blog that we made it to wonderful Texas. It was a very long trip was it was good. Lucky we were so blessed to have good weather on the trip. We were scared because when we were packing the car it began lighting all across the sky, then while we were locking up the house it began pouring raining. So we said a prayer and by the time we stopped for gas and snacks and went to Jeremy's unit to sign out he had stopped raining. Then from then on we never saw another lighting strike or any more rain. It is amazing that the Lord listens and answers our questions. I am thankful for that.

Well, here are some things I learned from the trip:

1) I will never try to leave for an 16 hours trip at midnight. It does not matter if you slept the day before, you are still going to be tired.
2) 909 Miles is WAY to far to go in one day. We will always take 2 days from now on. The last 8 hours was really hard. So we are leaving a day earlier to take 2 days to get back.
3) I can't sleep in a car. We keep trading off drivers but when it was my turn to sleep I was never able to actually sleep. Jeremy would be asleep in 10 minutes after I got behind the wheel.
4) Outside of Baton Rouge, LA there is an long bridge that goes over a marsh area. Well, at the beginning of it is a really cool rest stop. They had a little 4 minute video with talking animal dolls about the animals in the marsh. It was nice to be out of the car for awhile.
5) Louisiana is a very boring and long state to go straight though on I-10.


So, here are some of our pictures from our trip here. I will post posting some more of here and then when we head back. Enjoy!

Jeremy and Sweet Pea at the Mississippi Sign!

The tunnel you go though in Mobile, Alabama


The Alabama Sign.

Us at the Alabama Sign Rest Stop. We were just in the parking lot not in front of the sign.

7 Wonderful Years

Okay, today was our Anniversary and it kinda slip by. We went out to eat for it then so today it was just a day trying to get things done around the house. I mean today we had people working on our AC for hours and then working on the ceiling and walls to cover the holes back up.

So now I decide to sit down and make this video and write this out for Jeremy.

I just want to say Happy 7th Anniversary. I could not believe that it has been 7 years, time is flying by. LOL! Anyways, It has been great years, yeah we have had our rough times but with faith things always worked out. I am so blessed. We have been many places and been able to do many things and I wished to be able to see more places together with the many years we have together. I love you Jeremy and am so happy withyou.

Happy Anniversary!
PS) The song is a Disney song, but if you know us we love Disney and this song fits up.

Hard at Work

Okay so now that I feel like a big goof ball. I never realized that my laptop had a place just to stick the memory card. Now I feel stupid but anyways here are the pictures I promised. Also a video of him at work.



This is a picture of the convoy he was in.

Jeremy He looks tired because they were just wrestling around

This is the Iraq city that they train in. Pretty cool!


Okay this is a before and the next one is after.

This is the Humvee stuck in the sand. Yes, all the way to the door.

I could not belive how far the tires were up to sand.

Now this is the picture after Jeremy pulled the Humvee out of the sand.



Okay this is the video of Jeremy pulling the Humvee out of the sand.
That is Jeremy that you see in the vehicle.

Stepping Up the Ladder

Well, I guess I have not updated laterly. Jeremy finally got home from the field for good now. Jeremy took the camera out to the field to take some pictures of him at work, but when he got back home the camera would not work. So they are on the memory card, I just need a way to put them on the computer, so once I figure that out they will be posted. I did get another cheap camera off Craigslist. I can't figure out how to get the pictures off the card using this camera. But, I will figure it out.

Anyways, on better news today Jeremy was official pinned (or velcro) as a Specialist in his unit. He is now an E-4 just one step higher. Now, the next thing is Segrent which will take a while to get. He got to get the points and then go in front of the board so we have a long way to go, but he plans on starting to work on it. So Jeremy is excited. His SGTs and other guys congratulated him in their "army" ways. They made him get down and do push-ups and then dumped about three 5 gallon buckets on him. Wow, Guys, what can I say?! At least they took his cell phone out of his pocket.

Oh, and other words the leave was approved so we are leaving August 30 at midnight for Buna, Texas and have to be back to check in by Midnight on September 13. So Texas here we come!

Every Thing is falling Apart

Okay so this post might be a little negative but I am kinda in a sour mood right now.... That might be because I am sitting here alone at 2:00 am in the morning sweating so bad that I cant sleep. So now you know why I am sour let me back up and beginning at the beginning.

Okay, This is to family and friends in Texas, we change the dates on going home. This is all still if it gets approved. But right now we will leave GA at midnight on August 30 and will stayed there the 11 or 12 of September. It is a 14th hour drive or so, so we are going to try to make it down there in one day but we are thinking of taking 2 days to come back due to we know we will be tired from visiting families in the area. I hope to see everyone... I know we are going to Buna Ward that Sunday but we got to get his family into the time frame too. Kim and Adam... That Friday we will be down. (September 4) Jeremy has made plans with his, mom, and Grandpa to go to the PNG game. Sorry, I have no reason or nor do I want to go to a PNG game. LOL! Sorry any PNG fans out there. So I think he will spent alot of the day with his mom and grandparents. So my question Adam and Kim I might come and spend some time with yall if you dont mind why he spents time with them that evening.....Just let me know if you mind!

So anyways about my house. Tuesday night Jeremy was making something in the kitchen and he opened the silverware drawer to find the tray filled with water.... Asking me why water was in the drawer so I jumped off the couch and run to the kitchen about this time we find out that the counter is covered in water. So we start looking to see if a cup or something leak but nothing. Then I looked up to see water running down the cabinet doors. Great. So I get on a chair and sure enough the wall above the cabinet is damp and the ceiling. So this is 9:00 pm so I have to call emergancy maintanice. Of course we though it was the upstairs neighbor's water heater might have busted or leak, and they have been gone a week. So they go get the MPs to go up there and found no sign of water, so now it is in the ceiling between my ceiling and my upstairs neighbor's floor. So he saids he stop the leak and he will send someone back Wednesday to make sure it was good and seal up the holes that he had to drill in the wall. Well, later that night I notice more water but it was too late to call now so I put a towel down. Jeremy got up and put another towel down. When he called to ask me the number for maintanice I work up to that towel soaked and water all over the floor. So we called and they came out. The guy spend forever trying to get it patch. Even the suprivers came out to see what was taking so long. So 5 hours later they said they got it patch to stop leaking but will have to get a plumber to come look at it. Well, I did not know a plumber was coming by this morning so I was not home so then he came by at 5:30 and just looked at the hole in the ceiling and said he will talk to maintance tomorrow and see what they did and what will happen. They might have to shut the water off. GREAT! So I will see tomorrow how that goes. Well, I dropped my husband back off today to head back off to the field.
I guess that is when everything goes wrong so I have to deal with it. Well my AC has not been working too well but I did not want to complain anyone knows me I hate to complain or ask for help, Well tonight a storm hit and the lights went off for maybe 30 seconds to an minute. Well since then I just notice I kept getting hotter and hotter so I got up and looked sure enough it is 80 degrees in here. And if anyone knows me knows I hate it above 65 in my house. So I can't sleep in this weather.....UGH!

Okay enough complain onto another subject. I been talking about Jeremy and resigning. Well, yesturday Jeremy happen to be in the battalion and walked past the resignment person and he stopped Jeremy to let him know a couple of other issues with his resignment other then waiting till October. First is he has to take and past anothe PT test. No big deal there Last time he was injury when they had one so he missed out so it has been awhile. The second problem is kinda a big problem is his MOS is too full. So that means they are not resigning people with his MOS, so if he wants to stay in the Army he has to chose a new MOS that they are taking. Well, he has been thinking of changing his MOS anyways, so I guess this is his answers to prayers. Anyone who knows my husband knows he LOVES to cook and has always wanted to go to culitary school. When he orginialy thought about the army he wanted to be a cook but his recuirted talked him out of it. Well, now he has been thinking about honestly doing it. He could get so much education in culitary arts and even take culitary school while in the army. So that might be what he switches too. Just more to think about.

Well I really need to try to get some sleep even in this heat! Hopefully tomorrow my day will get better. Please hope it does!

I'm Going Home,

Back to the Place where I belong

Sorry for the singing! Anyways, yes it is true! For everyone that was wondering....we are coming back to TEXAS to visit! Finally, it has been a year and half since we have been there. We did not have plans to go till November or December but thanks to the Army moving dates if we want to go before he deploys we have to go in August.

So the dates right now we are given is August 23 to September 13. We have not decide how long we are going to stay in Texas but when we find out more information we will let you know. So, this will be Jeremy's last trip before he deploys because now they have moved the dates up and say they wont see Christmas. So After this leave he has 2 weeks then leaves for 3 or 4 weeks for NTC training in California and then when he gets back from that it will basically be waiting for the actually deployment. So if we want leave we have to take it now. I just wished we would have known a little before now to save more money. Anyways we will make it work.

Well, since Jeremy probably wont be here for Christmas, my plans right now is after he leaves I will go to Texas for Christmas, New Year's, Parker's Birthday and Caleb's Birthday( Amanda's Boy). And then I will probably head back to GA. I will be back and forth...LOL!

So, anyways I am exitied. I get to go in the summer still and try out my dad's new pool. Yeah, Adam and Kim yall have to bring Parker down and I can go swimming with him! I can't wait to see my nephew finally!!!

So more details to come! We are trying to figure out who to see when, but it will be alot of his family due to I will go back to Texas after he leaves anyway. LOL!

Well, that is all I have to say for now!

Battalion's Birthday Celebration

Okay so today was Jeremy's Battalion (69 Armor) 69th Birthday. So to celebrate the day they did a family day with live firing. It was boring just because it was not plan out to well. I got the email and it explain family day with family chances to shoot, vehicles rides, kids activities and so much more. Sounds good, but half of that was not there. Okay so I had to be at the battalion at 0800 (haha 8:00 am) to catch the bus since it was out on the actual range so the tanks can fire. So Jeremy was told last night that he could not ride with me on the bus, so i kinda did not want to go alone but all well. Anyways Jeremy had to be there the same time as me so we parked by the battalion but there was no one there, so I walked with J over to his company. Yeah there were family members standing around with their soldier so that was good. That is when Jeremy found out that if you do have family then you have to ride the bus with them....so YAY! So anyways the buses did not leave till about 8:40am so it was alot of sitting around, boring! So when we get there after about a 30 minute ride on a buses. Now, that bought back the memories!!
So we got there and walked around for awhile. They had all the vehicles that are use in this battalion on display. The kids can climb in them and all that fun stuff. Jeremy's M88 was out there, he had to drive it out there the day before. There is a picture below of that. Anyways, so they announced that they were going to start the program soon and for everyone to come and have a seat on the benches. So of course we did, 30 minutes later the show never started. I was debating getting up and walking around because it was noon and the sun was straight above with hardly any clouds and there were NO shade at this range at all. People were sitting under the benches just trying to get some shade. The Bradley and Abram practice shooting but it was so boring sitting there. Then the guy (sorry don't remember the rank and name) came out and said "We will be starting in 5 minutes". HAHA! After another 15 minutes he comes back and says, "We will be starting in 2 minutes". At this point I looked at Jeremy and ask him jokey, "Army does alot of things different, are minutes longer then 60 seconds?". Finally the show started, it was cool. They even cut the cake with the sword. Again it was cool. Then they had the food I was expecting just normal hamburgers and hot dogs but they had that plus ribs and chicken and it was good!! Then they let family shoot the guns but I did not do it there was a long line and my ears were already hurting cause I did not put in my ear plugs during the show so I did not want to shot anything.
So anyways here is some cool army things!

Bradley doing donuts! I thought it was cool to see tanks doing donuts!

These are Snipers in there Gorilla Suites. There really worked!
They laid down in that field and I could not see them at all.

This is a Bradley shooting.

Here is an A1 Abram going though the mud!

This is Jeremy's M88. I can't believe he actually drives this thing!
It is basically a tow truck.
No, he is not in the picture, he was with me
so it is his SGT and the other recover guys showing the kids the vehicle.

Now here are the videos:
Warning they get kinda loud but picture what I went though...LOL!
Also, epically on the first one sorry about the shaking but every time it shoot I could not help but jump no matter how hard I tried not too.. LOL!

1st) This is the Abram (A1) shooting stand still. This one is really loud cause we are so close!
You hear Jeremy say it but notice you see the flame before you hear the bloom. Also, I tried to let you see how far it shoots on the last shot but could not see.


2nd) This is a video of the Abram in offense position. That means it is shooting while not stopping.


3rd) This video was cut short because my camera batteries died but here is what is going on. The snipers killed their target and was leaving the area so they set off a smoke bomb (the purple smoke) so they would not be seen while leaving and then the Bradley comes up to take over. They use the smoke to hide as they get out of the Bradley. What is going on is there is another Bradley on the left (you cant see) and then about 10 gunners in between. The two Bradley go up and shot when it is clear the gunners jump out and make a line in between them and shot then when clear they move up another 100 feet or so with the Bradley next to them. Kinda cool I wished I would have gotten it all on tape! Sorry!