Mid-Life Transitions

As I approach what I feel to be a pending mid-life crisis - I'm also facing some major life transitioning - so what better way to do it than self documented selfies of my travels???  Here are some for the first half of my travels...

Peace Out 307 BSB - I'm signing out and driving away!  I can't say no more UA's, no more MRT, no more EO trainings...because I'm sure I'll still have all of those ridiculous things at my final destination - but at least not for a few months - so celebrate freedom WOOT WOOT

 Made it to Florida - it's a whole new world down there.  I don't think I've drive down there ever again - but I'm glad I did.  Booms came to see me and explore the mountains last year, so it was my turn to drive south to explore the beach and Florida art/street fairs.  BEAUTIFUL weather, but they did try to advertise "Farm Fresh Corn on the Cob."  Even Booms knows that "knee high by the fourth of July" means there isn't corn ready by early April...Frozen corn is not Farm Fresh - come on Florida!

 On to Alabama - hung out with family and a few friends.  Alabama surprised me with green beauty of trees and landscape...but everything else was about as I expected.  Call me rude, but those southern accents still make me giggle like a little school girl too!

TENNESSEE and the Great Smoky Mountains take my breath every time.  Mom and I tried to explore on my move to the East, but crazy thick fog set in and we couldn't see much.  This time, I bet my dear friend, Ben.  There was fog but not as dense.  However, as we were hiking on the Appalachian Trail - we got caught in a crazy hard rain.  Oh well, cut it short and went into Knoxville - turns out, it's a cool town - and another street/art fair to check out.  If you find yourself in Knoxville: try Tomato Head, great local restaurant!  I had a local brew: Tiny Bomb (purely for the fun name and associating it with my size) that was yummy and their vegetarian quesadilla (sp?) was unique but amazing!

 Too much driving...so OVER it...but so far yet to go...

 DETOUR: John Wayne's Birthplace, how could I not?  Both of my grandfather's would be proud of this...even though those signs were deceiving.  Turns out it was 60+ miles out of the way.  Heck, after 3000 miles, does 60 really even matter??  Probably not...

This is the horizon of the Midwest I've been craving to see or longing after.  Aaaahhhh, breath in the clean air and smell the freshly plowed fields.

Favorite place on Earth: BADLANDS.  No picture can ever do it justice, but it's the best you can get without actually standing there and taking it all in...






And: On the road again....pray for safe travels and mitigation of any stage in life crisis :)

A year later...

Time sure flies when you're having...fun...?

The past year has been full of a lot of everything - and yes, fun was included in that - along with stress and work and busyness.  It's hard to believe that I've been in NC for a year and a half - and now I'm just days away from moving once again.  Hopefully it'll be my last move in quite a while.  I've done a lot of traveling while here - trying to make the most of being on the East Coast.  I don't plan to ever move back here, so I want to enjoy it while I can.  It's included going to the mountains and the beach...

Most importantly, Crabtree is a big thing around here - haven't really figured out why but I had to go see as much as I could before I don't leave here anymore.  I've had some great adventures with great friends and here are the findings:

We have a whole lake and a trail system!!!

Crabtree Valley Mall - the traffic was terrible and mom snagged a pic while at the red light

A whole separate trail system that follows Crabtree Creek!

Crabtree Falls - beautiful!

Adios, North Carolina - thanks for the good pics, the good friends and the good experiences!

Catch Up

It has been a whirlwind the last couple months filled with training, hectic/busy/stressful work, surgery and swimming.  I'm happy to report that all is going well now, thankfully, and here is a quick re-cap of some highlights:

My development has lots of little ponds that has attracted many waterfowl - many geese and ducks have called it home to raise their little ones.  It has been so fun watching them grow!  One day I took my fancy camera to get some close -ups, others I just snapped with my phone from the car.

A few weeks ago I had a tonsillectomy - which the medical world says is a pretty serious/significant surgery for anyone over 18 and the recovery worsens the older you get.  I often forget that I'm nearly 30 - age doesn't really matter to me and I still have clothes from over 10 years ago...so if my clothes hold up that well, why wouldn't my body.  Well, praise the Lord, my surgery went well but, EESH, the recovery was BRUTAL.  I can't begin to describe the pain.  I HAD great plans to take my medication, be drugged and happy and lay out by the pool...that DID NOT happen!  I took my meds, but they only brushed the pain, leaving me in no shape to go lay out in the sun comfortable.  I do not know what I would have done without my mom.  She graciously flew down here to take care of her little girl - and that she did.  Poor thing, wasted her Mother's Day caring for me, when it should have been the other way around.  I did surprise her with a delivery though - and much to my surprise, she had never even gotten Edible Arrangements before - so it was a fun experience for her.  She felt bad because mom wanted to share, but eating anything other than jello and Mr. Freezie's was not anywhere on my list of things to do.  As the days passed and it was time to bring mother dearest to the airport, I was starting to feel better, so we took a relaxing lap around the paddle boat pond, so she did get to do something fun here in NC...just not near as much what I'd like to show her of the area, but something nonetheless.

Three weeks after surgery, I am all recovered and feeling great.  Tonsil-less, those are no longer a bother, and now I just need to work on getting my endurance back up to where I had it.  I did finish my swimming challenge Thursday - went and swam laps today and they gave me this.  Been there, done that, got the shirt!

Coolest Nephews Ever!

Sweet, little N, can you see him?  He's hiding...
and maybe telling us what he thinks about
this whole Camo thing...

So I guess this is my big reveal of my 2nd nephew.  I have yet to meet him - but I'm already obsessed.  Grandpa (my father) has loved corrupting them with L's LOVE for camo...it's "papa's shirt." : )  I also love spoiling them, and the newest thing was these adorable babiator sunglasses - how could I NOT get them for the boys???  L is a very active 2 year old and doesn't sit still for very long, so I give my mom props for catching these quick pics before he was gone and onto the next thing:

Proud Grandpa and L is so excited he can barely

control himself!

He thinks he's pretty stinking awesome.
And he's right.

Pretty much the coolest (less than) 3 month
old I've ever seen.

A Little Lost

Nothing else seems to fully ignite the spark of loneliness like the death of a loved one.  Yes, there are scattered moments throughout one's week, month or year where loneliness may present; you know, those times where "it'd just be nice" to have someone to share an experience or to just BE with.  Those moments to me, thankfully, are typically rare and fleeting.  but then life happens.  Every moment we live we are one moment closer to death.  that may sound morbid, but it's true and we all know it.  And as depressing as it may be, I've accepted that with an open mind, heart and outstretched arms ----- for myself.  I am ready for the day my time in this world is up; where I can re-unite with my Savior, Redeemer and Father.  I am excited for the moment to come, when I will spend eternity with Jesus Christ and I can forever show Him my appreciation for being my sacrifice.
So why is it that I'm so torn and so NOT excited for my loved ones.  When really challenged, the faithful spirit inside of me is - but even then it's battling with my physical being that is sorrow stricken with loss, grief, doubt and abandonment.  I can be in a room with one person, or with multitudes of people and feel completely alone.  While I care and love the people I'm with - especially the brothers and sisters in Christ that I have been blessed with, my heart aches.  These people will never KNOW me how THEY knew me.  They can never LOVE me how THEY loved me.  Every person in our lives knows, loves, supports, understands and accepts us in THEIR unique way and because of that I'm left haunted with a depth of loneliness that aches to my core.
I am so very lucky to have experienced the love, embrace, friendship and pride of people gone before me.  I am eternally grateful for that.  What hurts is THAT love, embrace, friendship and pride will never be experienced again.  It's a memory that no one can replace.
I can take a sigh of relief knowing that these loved ones will no longer experience pain, sadness, cold, or sickness.  I hope and pray that I really will be united with them again in Heaven. I want them to see the love I still have for them and the passion that burns in my soul.  I want to make them proud of the person I am, and am yet to become.  I yearn for the knowledge and validation that I am who they prayed I would become as a young woman.
Relationships are a tough thing.  Always, no matter the way, they always end prematurely. We're never ready for it and we're always left with a void that is irreplaceable.
I know that God is with me and because of that I'm never alone.  That does give me peace - - but it doesn't mean that I don't long for one more talk, hug, or "I love you" from a loved one passed on.
I am so grateful for the time I had with my maternal grandparents, my paternal grandfather, my uncle and many dear friends.  I look back and appreciate the individual closeness I was able to share with each.  I just wish I could accept, understand and move on from the giant hole that each one leaves.  I do rejoice for the ones who had accepted the Lord.  Yet, I also worry and pray for those whom I'm uncertain of.  Only God knows.  He also knows the pain I'm feeling.  We aren't promised days without pain, hurt or tears.  We are promised a salvation from that.  So, I'm not mad at God.  I just wait for the day that these earthly holes can be filled.  We aren't meant to be alone.  Losing someone can scare us from getting close to others.  It does for me.  But I find joy that even with holes in my heart and ongoing love for others - there is always room for more of both.  I am able to fully recognize the eternal blessing I've been given of family, friends and mentors with those I've had, those I still have and those that are yet to come.

Hello, my friends!

Man, it has been WAY too long and I can't believe how much I've neglected you.  You deserved better.  we've spent many hours and miles together in the past - so it's about time we reconnect...

I don't know if I've actually even been rollerblading since before my deployment.  When I lived in Olivia Farms back in Kansas I know I did at least a few times - but that's been well over a year ago - how sad!  Back in Lennox, I couldn't even guess how many miles I've put on these wheels - the best investment I ever made.  Thank you, once again, Scheels!  They hold up well and get my butt in gear (literally).  It was so sunny and nice today and I couldn't stand not being out and about.  However, my shins have been in a lot of pain, so I didn't want to put more strain on them by running.  I had no idea how rollerblading would feel on them, and there was only one way to find out!

It was amazing!  1) I didn't fall 2) Perfect way to explore the development and neighborhoods while working out and 3) A good downhill coast will build up just enough wind to cool you off

There are a lot of roads and streets I haven't been on in my development so I thought this would be a good way to investigate.  Of course all the dead ends that I discovered were also at the bottom of a hill...which meant a strenuous uphill roll - but hey, I wanted a workout too...so I guess it was just what I asked for (just not at the moment).  Also, they didn't hurt my shins while out rolling around.  I feel the pain now - but I did before rollerblading, so this may be my #1 way to keep up my lower body fitness, especially while running isn't an option.  It's always good to reconnect, particularly with a healthy past.  Here's to being healthy in the sun - cheers!

Eenie Meenie Minie Mo

You know it's a good day when the toughest decision of the day is what suit to wear.  And no, I don't mean a dress suit.  Thank goodness I don't have to wear that...my camo is just fine.  Yes, I mean swim suit.  I used to live in these and putting them on almost feels like a second skin.  I just love the smell of the chlorine that the fabric holds - it takes me back.
One of the biggest perks I've found here at Ft. Bragg is the pool hours.  It was nearly impossible to get to the pool even semi-regularly when I was at Ft. Riley.  The hours here are much more manageable - including weekends and holidays, it's amazing! 
Before leaving for Ft. Polk, I officially became a certified lifeguard (AGAIN).  I'm not really sure why, but I always regretted letting my certification lapse, so I took advantage of the opportunity.  Now I should get out of the Army and go be a full-time, lifer lifeguard on the beaches of San Diego.  Oh man, tan and sun-bleach blonde year round... : )
Since returning from JRTC, I've been working out a schedule of when I can regularly get my swim on.  Something that's helping spark the motivation (to drive to post on weekends - ugh, or to get up at 0430 - double ugh) is there is a fun swim challenge post is putting on.  You have to swim the distance of the North Carolina section of the Appalachian Trail by June 2nd.  That's 3,438 laps, or 95.5 miles!  That's right, I'm putting it on here so I'm declaring to the world that I'm doing it.  The challenge started in January and then I couldn't get to post with the recent snow "storms" so I'm a little behind the curve, however, with the amount of laps I got in since getting home, I need to do 30 laps a day (just under a mile) to complete it by the June deadline.  Part of me is worried about it, but if I swim a minimum of a mile at a time, I'll have some laps to spare for when I'm not able to make it to the pool.
Even when I'm so tired and don't want to go, it's been great.  One of the awesome bonuses of the pool here is right in the hallway by the door is a sauna.  I haven't really indulged myself in the use of saunas before - but man oh man it's glorious.  Here are the benefits I've found to use the sauna after swimming:
1. Because I'm already wet from swimming, no one can see how sweaty I got when I walk back to the locker room
2. It allows some time for my goggle rings/bruises to somewhat disappear
3. It's a faux nap.  I love the heat and warmth.  It's a great way to catch my breath, rest and relax.  I could fall asleep in there (although I won't) but I like to think of it as a nap before going to work in the morning or having to take on the half hour drive back home.
4. And it's always nice to talk to a nice looking man that may be getting his sweat on too ; )

Well, I have this challenge to complete so that's motivating, but I'm also announcing it the world - so now I HAVE to be held accountable!  I already swam today, but I'm gonna pack soon for tomorrow morning.  Gotta get my swim on!