Life moves fast...

Here I sit, on the brink of a new year wondering how quickly I got here...naturally reflecting on times long past. Yesterday I was eating Popsicles in Florida's summer heat on the curb of road with my neighbors across the street...no, wait-yesterday was Christmas morning when I was gifted my very own mountain bike!...ugh, hold on-yesterday I graduated college?...or was it the day Jeff and I crossed the threshold into our very own house?... It's amazing how the mind can take you from your earliest childhood memory through to the present in nearly an instant. Presently I feel that even the minutes currently passing are about as tangible as the stars in the sky. Fleeting and unyielding they all add up too quickly. But I suppose the sum of it all makes for the comforting atmosphere surrounding the discovery of a long lost memory. To stumble upon those from time to time is something that makes me happy. As for the times not so long past, I hold tight to lessons they've provide...

As I may have mentioned in previous posts, or not, I have made it a goal of mine to make friends. And it has been one of the best decisions I've made since we've moved. I have come to know my neighbors and some other ladies well. They are all around good people that just make me happy to be around. And then I catch myself thinking, "when will they move or not be around me anymore"? I suppose it just comes with the territory. And while I don't know how long I'll be able to see these new friends of mine on a regular basis, I find comfort in knowing that at least one or two are willing to always make the effort along with me to keep the friendship connected. Be it near or far, I do not want to not know those whom I've met that make me smile and feel the way I do. Like I said, just good good people. Through them, I have had the opportunity to be silly, creative, real, and me without feeling judged. And not that I normally feel judged with my "old friends...

Oh, where did I leave off? The summer has officially ended with Saturday marking the first day of fall. While a lot has happened in the past few months, I'm eager to dive into some holiday cheer! There are pros and cons to our plans this year; nevertheless, Jeff and I are both looking forward to the next few months. Unfortunately, we won't be making our yearly trip to WV for Christmas. However, we were able to recently visit a couple weeks ago (although the circumstances were less cheery than the holidays imply) and that was such a blessing to be around family. Of course, there's that bit of drama that comes with the territory. But I was still reluctant to leave. Especially at 4 am!! Ugh, that was rough. We went to WV to celebrate the life that Grandpa had long lived. He was such a sweet man in the few years I knew him and became such an influence in mine and Jeff's marriage. What he said was always so genuine. He NEVER let us leave without reminding us of how precious ...

The day has arrived. That inevitable day we all new was coming when the Olson clan would be leaving us. I cannot speak on behalf of many who also know them from here, but I believe all of whom I'm thinking of can agree that they will be outrageously missed. And in the back of my mind I'm also thinking: "Italy! How exciting!" (and scary) but in a good way. The things they will see and the experiences they will share as a family and as parents raising their son, I'm afraid, simply cannot compare to the lifestyle here in EAFB. I wish them all the adventure Bri can handle ;) and many more happy memories in their new home. FYI, I will do my best to keep my farewell to the Olsons blog at a minimum tear jerker level. But may I take some time to spotlight on my new friend, Bri? I have labeled her as my favorite neighbor in comparison to the other two places we've lived lol. Granted we've only been here for just over 4 months, however; Bri was one whom I can ho...

Dear 2012,     where are you going?! I am currently sitting in the month of July trying to remember how I got here so quickly. Did you know my husband and I just celebrated our 4th wedding anniversary? 4 years! Didn't we just meet yesterday? We must have married the very next day if we're already at 4 years. We took a short trip next door to Wyoming to visit Devil's Tower National Monument where we experienced a beautiful day hiking, walking, and just enjoying each others company. Very cool but I must admit we're a lot more excited about our next anniversary. We're desperately clinging to our dream of celebrating our 5th anniversary in Hawaii-so that would be the only reason I encourage you (2012) to pass by quickly. But don't misunderstand, so far we're enjoying your company. You've provided time enough in the first 6 months for us to experience many things. I wouldn't do anything differently.  I will be frank with you, 2012. I'm pretty nervo...

I got the job. Whoop dee doo. No, I'm not particularly thrilled or excited but I am thankful. I find it ironic that out of all the jobs I applied/interviewed for I ended up getting the one I least wanted. The retail rewind and do it all over again type of job. Working every Saturday and in the evenings, too. Is it too much to ask that I get a job that doesn't have me working nights and weekends? At least I have Sunday off. Anyway, I truly am thankful. I just really hope and pray this job turns out to be better than I think it will. I suppose in the mean time, I can still make money and look for a job elsewhere. So far, the job has me in "training" status. (Be aware, I am purposefully not saying the name of the job due to the fact that I am less than thrilled and it could be interpreted as a personal thing against the company-which it is not.) I simply wished to stay out of the retail world if I could've helped the situation. Lots of paper work, learn to use a regi...

I started college this week, again. After graduating over 2 years ago I have decided to return. Muhahaha! Actually, school may be the one who has the last laugh. My first and only class of the semester is Anatomy and Physiology with lab... In effort to make a career for myself, I've decided to go for radiology. Before I apply for the program at the local hospital; however, I need to complete a few prerequisites that weren't otherwise covered under my business degree. And that's okay. Over the next year I'll have time to really focus on my studies and hopefully get enough volunteering hours under my belt so that I may become a more desirable candidate for the program. Yes, I am in competition so-to-speak. :/ And so it starts with A & P I w/ lab. The first day of class was basically all terminology. I find it all very interesting and look forward to that stuff. But yesterday was the other side of things-chemistry. However general that overview was considered ...

So, we get to the dealership where this truck is located. The one that is said to meet basically all of Jeff's criteria. The salesman whom Jeff had been speaking with over the last week was consistent with how Jeff had described him: No pressure, down-to-earth, comfortable to talk with. I may have never been in the spot where it comes down to making a deal, but we've met our fair share of less than desirable, pushy car sales people. And this guy was a breath of fresh air. Never once did we get the feeling he was a game player (he may have been but he never advanced it in our direction). So onward we go... Because the salesman and Jeff had already briefly discussed numbers when Jeff decided to put a hold on the truck, we weren't surprised or offended when the salesman asked to run an appraisal on our car so he could start generating the trade-in offer (assuming we wanted to pursue the truck). We swapped keys and he left us for a good 10-15 minutes so we could look over the...

This past weekend Jeff and I traveled to Minnesota. Here's the story:   We set out at approximately 10pm on Thursday after a late dinner at Firehouse Brewing Co. They seriously have the best soup! Anyway, Jeff squeezed in a good couple hours of sleep before we left since he had also worked this same day we left. I, of course; did not as I was too, well, what was I? Ready?...yes, I was simply ready to hit the road and be there. Usually I tend to be more anxious/excited/stressed or something along those lines when it comes to bigger plans such as the ones we made for the weekend. The plan in whole was to get our Volvo repaired and trade it in for a truck Jeff found in the area that same day. That sounds a little silly but it'll make more sense in a minute.  Jeff has been searching for a truck for quite sometime-as in about 2 years. Failing to find anything in Florida worth our time, we were content to stick with our little Volvo sedan while we settled in South Dako...

Today I woke up feeling weird. Ever have those days? You can't pin point what it is, you just know you don't feel quite like yourself. I imagine it's just all the little things adding up again. For one, Jeff and I are looking in to trading in the car for a truck. I hope the one we're going after works out. It's a very practical and affordable choice if the salesman will continue to be cool about everything. He seems to be the only one who has given us the opportunity to talk about seriously buying. Given that any vehicle we've found worth pursuing is in another state, the salespeople dislike that they can't see our trade-in and pretty much shut the door. Anyway, whatever will be will be. At the least, we have to drive to another state for the nearest Volvo dealership to get said trade-in fixed. A relatively minor repair (covered under warranty thankfully) but it has to be completed at the dealership. As I'm looking on the bright side I realize it's ...

Wow. Really? I'm unfortunately having a heck of a time lately. This morning I woke up to dreary, rainy weather. My day is quickly following suit. In addition to needing to fix the car which requires service at the dealer for coverage under warranty and the nearest one being 7ish hours away which, of course, is closed for the holiday weekend. (yes, that is one sentence) I checked my e-mail and had one from my soon-to-be anatomy professor informing me that my lab will be from 9-12 on Wednesdays instead of 1-4. I had already been contacted earlier in he week about which schedule would better suit my preference and I chose the lab later in the day. Apparently offering the choice was like giving a gift Indian-style. My next email was from a job opportunity I had been contacted about (mentioned in an earlier blog). I had simply wanted to keep in touch and re-express my interest considering I hadn't heard anything for some time. The r...

I continue to notice that a lot of "IFs" come up. Jeff and I will have conversations about his job that consist of "If this happens, then that could happen", or "If I do this, we could move here", and "depending on this, this or that could happen". Get the picture? ;) I'm constantly reminding myself not to be a "what if?" thinker. That can be dangerous and I'm not a fan of the anxiety that comes with it.  However, some of the "what ifs?" are an inevitable reality of the future. The reality for us is: we are stationed at a "highly deployable" (bomber) base. This base takes turns with Dyess AFB in Texas at deploying in 6 1/2 month intervals. Jeff has to complete his CDCs before he can deploy-which means he may or may not deploy as early as January 2013. Yeah, inevitable realities do kind of suck don't they? Yet, they are unsurprising... So, "if" he were to get deployed within the next y...

I am an Air Force wife. Wow. Sometimes that fact is still surreal for me. It's been over a year since Jeff and I made the decision together for him to enter military life. And now here we are living it! Of course, "here" wound up being in South Dakota, lol! And we're quite enjoying the change of scenery. It really is like a new beginning to an extent. (Don't worry you Florida friends and family-we still love you.) It has come with it's fair share of trials and stressors. I can only assume that is normal no matter where we move to. Upon arriving to our first base, it was my intention to be involved in whatever I may consider a good influence. So, my first effort at putting words into actions was to meet our neighbor. It's sort of funny what motivated me to go over and say hi. We had let Honey out in the back yard and their dog sparked a quick interest in possibly making a new canine friend. So much so that he proceeded to dig under the fence into the nex...

I am so tired and stressed. Excuse me for being blunt but this is true. I have WAY too much time to think lately. About everything! And it's starting to take it's toll. Most of what stresses me out is probably trivial at best. But I just can't get a grip lately.  Mom visited this past weekend and it was truly a pleasure to spend time with her getting to see the South Dakota sights, and it honestly was nice to have my mind occupied with other more fun things. Unfortunately, it can't last forever. And that's okay because life isn't a vacation (no matter how much we want it to be). But when I say it's back to the mundane for now, that's really how it seems.  While talking with my mom and Jeff, I've expressed (probably to often) how hopelessly lost I feel when it comes to figuring out my career path. Or even just making a decision on where to point my  interests. And to be even more brutally honest, I've all but given up on what God wants me to d...

As many of you know, earlier than originally planned; I have decided to get a head start on the hunt. Job hunt-that is. I'm not a fan of it to be honest but it certainly gets me thinking. Today I've been thinking about the benefits of not having a job. I'm trying to always look on the brighter side. Here is the list I have come up with: Disclaimer: I do not miss my old job, but I do miss my little Publix family. You are all an amazing group of people and don't you dare lose touch with me!  I get to eat dinner with my hubby EVERY night. Heck, I even have the time to make a decent attempt at cooking it! I have time to play with Honey everyday and spoil her even more rotten. I do not have to sell lottery to pathetic-addicted-to-gambling fools!  I do not have to go to work wondering what the next scammer of the day will bring to my counter. I do not have to wear make up. (Not that I wear a lot anyway but I like this fact) I do not have to wear an uncomfortable, fun...

We have been in South Dakota for 28 days! In the beginning, it felt like a really long vacation. We didn't have much of a choice other than to take it one day at a time. We spent A LOT of that time getting to know the area, being the newbies and generally just enjoying the atmosphere of somewhere we've never experienced before. Now that we've settled in I find that everyday has me taking care of another responsibility in our lives. I'm serious when I say it really does feel like an endless check list. From big things to small things, I simply can't find myself in a position to successfully claim that "I'm all done". Of course, there are many things we have accomplished and I'm glad to be done with them (like getting the internet hooked up and dealing with in processing stuff), for those of you who are already aware of the minor battles we've dealt with... But the responsibilities aren't just here, they also remain in Florida. While I'm...

Many people fear the unknown. Or more specifically; what they will encounter on their way to the unknown. I have discovered and decided as recent events of my life unfold, (while the Air Force brings us surprises along the way), that I am certainly NOT defining myself as one who is easily squeamish toward these new things. I am a welcomer! I am definitely a planner, no doubt. I love being organized, compartmentalizing the tasks before me, and knowing at least what the potential outcome could be. However, I know now that God uses these traits of mine to create a better experience for my husband and I (and Honey, our dog). I used to just think I would never learn to "let go, and lot God."   But I don't think I ever fully understood that phrase. It doesn't mean you simply stop being who you are, and what you like to do. Instead, you allow God to take your quirks/talents; whatever the case may be, and turn them into tools He can use. For me, it has enabled me to distingu...

Oh my it has been quite some time since my last blog. I believe it was February something when I last updated you all. Here we go: The biggest thing would be that Jeff is finally done with tech school! He finished in late February and was very glad to be through with Texas. He said it was far too windy. But he made some good friends while there. I had the pleasure of meeting one of his fellow airmen and his wife. Jeff and I drove down to Tampa (on my birthday I recall) and met them at the MacDill AFB. Once we all had our travel arrangements prepared, the four of us went out for lunch. I truly enjoyed spending time with these people I had never met before. I found myself reluctant to be moving in opposite directions of the country. I would've loved to continue onto a closer friendship with them. In the following weeks, Jeff was involved in the recruiter's assistance program Monday through Friday while I worked on my last couple weeks at Publix. Why my "last" you mig...

I've decided to try blogging. I'm not certain I'll keep up with it, but I'll give it a shot. Before I begin on my current thoughts, allow me to bring you up to speed on my life in the past 3-4 months, starting in November 2011. November 1st marked the first day of my husband's Air Force Career. (Gasp!) But not to fear. It's been a long time coming, especially since we spent a whole year thinking and praying over his enlistment before any action towards it was taken place. And so, on that final day of departure, as we drove to Jacksonville, Fl to drop him off, I found myself peaceful. Sure I was going to miss him during boot camp, what wife wouldn't? But the drive was beautiful and the day was promising. As I sat there in the passenger's seat, I reflected on the years behind us and looked forward to the adventure ahead. It was one of those moments where life caught up with you. Already 3 years of marriage and a billion silly moments later, and here we wer...