Just thinking....

I might not be cut out to be a blogger. For one thing, I don't post very often. I also usually get halfway through a post and then get bored and save it for later. And since I have a million unfinished posts that I have yet to finish, later really means never.

I do have an explanation though. I hate using this word anymore since it seems to be the only one that has summed up my life, but I've been busy. We've been busy. Oh my goodness there is so much to catch up on in the blog and I just couldn't possibly do it all justice. So I won't try.

But, if you were the least bit interested, here's a quick list:
1. Grad school thesis project = 180 hours of research, training, blogging, collaborating, evaluating, and website creation complete!
2. Adam's first grad school classes have begun.
3. I finished a successful year at the brand new school and was really pleased with test scores overall. Preparing to teach second grade next year-so excited!
4. Adam's good friend got married in Charleston and as a groomsman, a trip south ensued.
5. Gabriel graduated from high school! (Also trip-worthy)
6. Outer Banks with college friends!

We're home for two weeks of cleaning and grad school work (and seeing friends) before we head up to White Sulphur Springs for an Officer's Christian Fellowship retreat for a week. After that, I'll be submitting my final portfolio to graduate and school will start. Adam will be going to VA Beach for training, then California before becoming the Forward Air Controller for the 22nd MEU which he will deploy with again next year.

Life is full and life is grand. We are very happy.

More things you only see in Jacksonville....

http://www.jdnews.com/news/class-79265-bodycopyrag-motorcycle.html

Read it. Then try to figure out the conversation that occurred between the pair before getting on the motorcycle.

"You know what would be a great idea?!...."

Just a normal day in Eastern North Carolina...

My friend Michelle and I have had numerous conversations about the things we see here in the southeastern parts of North Carolina. It started one day when she saw a man burning trash on the side of 24 (one of the major highways in Jacksonville). She thought for a moment "What is he doing?! On the side of the road?!", but then remembered where she was. It is just not out of place here. You get used to things like that. You begin to remain unphased.

I remember our first few days here in Jacksonville, coming from Oceanside, CA. We entered a parking lot to see a very pregnant teen smoking. I was shocked. Welcome to Jacksonville I guess. But again, you get used to things like that.

So it seems fitting to share our Saturday with you, a typical NC day: (I'm giving you fair warning now and apologizing in advance. If you are intrigued, read on....)

We went to the beach with some friends. Returning to the car in the parking lot, we began to overhear a conversation between the people parked next to us. Apparently the girl desperately needed to relieve her bowels. Instead of walking the 1/4 mile to the nearest public restroom, or having her significant other drive the 30 seconds it would take to get to the restroom, she decided a good idea would be to squat down in front of the car in the middle of the parking lot and go. Number 2. Not kidding.

Slightly unphased, we traveled to Food Lion to pick up some things for dinner. Leaving the second parking lot of the day, a woman backed into our friends car. Minor bumper damage, thankfully. So as we stood outside the car waiting for them to work things out, we witnessed two other events simultaneously. A girl, whips around the corner into a parking space practically running over our friends. She gets out of her car and drops her cigarette on the ground by our friends feet. She bends over, derriere high in the air, and tries not to disturb them as she picks it up. She walks away towards the store and proceeds to put the cigarette back in her mouth. I think "Ewww....", but laugh it off. Of course, this is when we notice the 7-ish year old boy drop his trousers and begin peeing in the middle of the parking lot. Not just peeing, but standing tall and proud, facing everyone, arching his back as to get a good, high arc in the stream. Not another person in the whole parking lot even flinched. Most things don't shock me anymore, but this was just too much for one day. I couldn't help but share.

I think I've also learned to spend less time in parking lots here.

Dinner

Tonight I asked Adam to take care of dinner. He, of course, ordered pizza. I love that man.

Update List

In the form of a list, things that are happening with us:
1. Adam finished his first grad class!
2. I am still in grad school. Three years, two cross country moves, five jobs, one deployment. I will finish this year.
3. Gardening. Beautiful purple Creeping Phlox blooming, next my Hydrangea (I hope!). Leafy lettuce, fragrant herbs. Not everything is in pots yet. I want to figure out a better way to dry and store herbs for the off season. I am currently obsessed with flowers. Vegetables will still be grown this season (duh!), but I'm trying my hand at flowers.
4. Work.
5. Work.
6. Work.
7. Long walks enjoying this weather.
8. Trips to Pender Pines for plants.
9. Trips to Wilmington for Buffalo Wild Wings (our favorite) and unsuccesfully renting a tux for a wedding.
10. 43 more days of school! 9 weeks. Yay!
11. 5 more weeks till End of Grade tests! Boooo!
12. Lots of flying, studying, and preparing for briefs for Adam. New qualifications coming up.
13. It's bug season again. This time Adam is home. No cups over dead bugs this year. (I can handle nature outside, but I do NOT like nature inside my house.)
14. Maybe I'll download the pictures on both cameras soon since I have many to share.

Hands Down, Best Husband EVER.

If I had to rate my husband, out of five stars he'd get six. On a scale of 1 to 10, he's 100. He gets 3 thumbs up. He is just, hands down, the best husband EVER. This has been the most interesting, exciting, difficult, surprising, and wonderful four years of my life. I just don't know exactly how to put it all in words, but as I hear the helicopters flying overhead, knowing my husband is flying one of them tonight, pride just fills my heart and makes it all worth it. Each day I am reminded of how patient and kind and loving Adam is. When I met him, it was as if my heart had finally found a home. Last year, when he was deployed I felt like a nomad with no home wandering for months just waiting for a place to finally rest my head. And though he is gone at times, I have never doubted for a moment his love for me. I am so blessed that God has given me this man to love me and teach me and show me how much He loves me. Here's to many more!

Has It Really Been Over A Month?

Oh my goodness has the time flown by since my last post. The list has been finished and many, many, many more lists have been made, crossed off, thrown away, or misplaced.

Adam has been plugging away at the squadron, flying, studying, and learning his new job in the S-4 shop. He's also been busy every night working on his first grad class through American Military University. There is nothing planned for the squadron at the present moment, which I know is frustrating for the pilots, but perfectly ok with me for now.

I've been planning and teaching away while also working on one of my last grad school classes. (I just have to finish this year.) Our county just went through district re-accreditation and, of course, Stateside was one of the schools visited. Everyone prepared their rooms, their lessons, and their bulletin boards for the visit. The school was shining and spotless, everyone had put up their student's best work, and we were ready to show off all the awesome things we do at our school on a daily basis anyway. It was wonderful and exhausting, but totally worth it for the shining report the county recieved. You can check it out here: http://www.jdnews.com/news/school-73244-first-achievements.html

Now we are into a cold and rainy March and I am so ready for Spring Break.