The Ever-Changing Life of a Military Wife

Could It Be? MORE Good News?!?!

2011-12-08T12:20:00.000-08:00

The same week we were told about Charleston and my new job we received the BEST news of our lives...

Sweet Baby C, debuting June 2012!

Those of you who have followed our infertility journey through 3 rounds of IVF are familiar with the pain and the struggle in getting to this point. Little did we know the good news was just the beginning. To say the last few months have been a roller coaster would be an understatement. I'll explain more soon, but for now, the good news. God is so good!

"He settles the barren woman in her home as a happy mother of children. Praise the LORD."

Psalm 113:9

More Good News!

2011-11-09T06:16:00.000-08:00

The same week I find out about my awesome new job, we also found out where we will be moving next summer!

Charleston, SC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

You know what they have there?

You know how long it will take to fly home?

2 hours! (Not 24!!!!!!!!!!!)

Can you tell I'm just a little bit excited? Have you ever been to Charleston? Tell me all about it!

New Job

2011-11-06T04:38:00.000-08:00

A few weeks ago I was a little caught off guard when the local school principal called and suggested I update my application for a library job. (An application I hadn't touched since moving to Germany in 2007.) I did as she asked and was deemed "qualified" thanks to my recently completed MLS.

Side note: Did you know that you must have a Master's degree (in Library or Information Science) to be considered a librarian? Did you know that to be a school librarian you also have to have been a teacher for at least 2 years?

A few days later I had a job offer in my email. The job literally fell into my lap. Isn't that an awesome blessing? Many of my recently graduated librarian friends in the states are unable to find jobs due to budget cuts, and here I am with one handed to me on a platter. God is so good.

And you know what else? It's part time. AMAZING. This means I can still keep up with my volunteer work, Zumba, and coach cheerleading.

Now I just need to get...

Just in Time!

2011-10-29T04:08:00.000-07:00

Whew! I'm back. I know I keep saying that, but the last few months have just been so busy. A new job, new volunteer responsibilities, a trip to the states, and just general business. Luckily I made it back just in time to tell you about how Snapfish is supporting breast cancer awareness and research this year.

With an aunt and a grandmother who battled breast cancer, this cause is especially close to my heart. I hosted a Zumbathon Party in Pink, I like to participate in 5Ks and other events, and now- I can shop online!

All you have to do to support the Susan G. Komen foundation is visit Snapfish.com/PinkGives and choose from the selected products like...

And Snapfish will donate 30% of the proceeds to Susan G. Komen!

Snapfish members can also showcase their support for Breast Cancer Awareness Month by sending a note to pinkgives@snapfish.com about their involvement in the cause – whether you are participating in a local Susan G. Komen race, organizing a fundraising campaign or related party – for a chance to receive Snapfish-funded support as an official photo sponsor for their event. Snapfish will select four winners and will donate up to $1,500 to each event in product.

What are you doing to raise awareness and/or support research?

Ooops

2011-09-22T07:03:00.000-07:00

So I took a tiny blog break. Well, one I thought was tiny anyway. As I check back in today I see it has been a month. Well dang.

The trouble is I kind of got into a Turkish funk. The rose colored glasses of travel and culture shattered as I drove downtown and nearly died as a car came toward me and the driver gave me a dirty look like it was my fault he was on the wrong side of the road, twice. It appears I'm not alone. Here's an exert from an email that goes around...

"Stage 4--Apathy--Last 180 days--Nothing works here. You hate the Alley, hate Turkish food, and hate the Turkey Trots or cholera or whatever it is that constantly has you doubled over. You're sick and tired of cats, construction sites, power outages, and the name Abi. You find yourself constantly humming "God Bless America" and can't wait to run from the Patriot Express in Baltimore and kiss the tarmac. Whenever you hear a horror story about someone being locked up in Turkish jail or being extorted by the Turks you just shrug your shoulders and say, "Welcome to Turkey." You want to throat punch the new people who just got here and are in Stage 1. You start spending time sending out joke e-mails like this one. You have to be restrained by 6 SF personnel at Pass and ID when Mr. T tells you it is going to cost you $50 to DE-register your car. You realize that its not worth your sanity to try to get anything else accomplished here, so you settle on doing absolutely nothing except looking at your donut of misery and counting the seconds until you can be released to go home."

Typically feelings like this are not my style. I'm usually positive and can find something good about a situation. A few weeks ago? I was ready to throat punch everyone. (And, I wasn't even on hormones then!) This place can really get the best of you. The level of ridiculousness is beyond what you can imagine. Truly. Jordan sometimes calls it Narnia. I think that's pretty accurate. Don't expect anything to make sense, and whatever you do, don't eat the Turkish Delight.

Anyway, I think I'm moving out of the grumpy stage now. Don't get me wrong, I'm still ready to go home, but I'm at least a little more pleasant to be around. More soon...

I LOVE this stuff!

2011-08-23T23:59:00.000-07:00

Clearly a lack of grad school work now leaves me with time to get back to blogging. I know you are just so excited about that. Anyway, here is my current list of loves...
(This is not a sponsored post, just sharing my opinions.)

1. Soma Vanishing Edge Underwear
These underwear will change your life. Not even kidding. They are like the holy grail of undergarments. They don't leave a panty line (even in pants as tight as yoga pants) AND they have a gripping material inside the leg that makes sure they stay in place. No panty lines, no wedgies, pure awesomeness. Trust me on this, you won't want to wear anything else after you try them. The put VS to shame.

Courtesy of Soma.com

2. Tervis Tumblers
Hot drinks, cold drinks, to go drinks, these cups do it all. You can put them in the dishwasher. They don't sweat, even when you take them outside is 115 degree Turkish heat. The largest size has a thing bottom so it still fits in a cup holder. Drop them? No worries, they don't break. These are the best cups ever.

3. My Keurig
I'm a coffee drinker but my husband is not, hence the need for something that does not require making an entire pot. The Keurig fits that bill and does so much more! I make iced tea, hot chocolate, iced coffee, chai lattes, and all kinds of coffee. It's super easy to use and takes very little maintenance in the cleaning department. Some of my favorite K-Cups are: Island Coconut Coffee, Newman's Own Extra Bold, and Southern Sweet Iced Tea. (If you don't have a brewer and want to buy one on their website send me your email and you and I both get 2 free boxes of K-Cups!)

4. Erin Condren Life Planner
Clearly with a degree in Library Science I'm into organization (and a tad bit nerdy). Planners are on of my favorite things to buy in the organization department. In fact I often buy a few a year because I find one I like better. I'm pretty picky about my planners, I need both month and week view, note pages, birthday calendars, and easy to find pages. This planner has it all and more! It's an inch thick worth of amazingness. With tabbed months, colorful weekly pages, note pages, a zippered pouch, a pocket page for receipts, a birthday calendar, important information pages, colorful stickers, and coordinating personalized gift tags- it really is the best planner. PLUS, it's personalized, so my name is on the front. My southern self LOVES anything personalized.

5. Sweaty Bands
While teaching Zumba I am constantly battling with headbands. I either have to pin them on, and sometimes even then they don't stay, or they squeeze my head so tight I feel like my brain my leak out of my ears. Not so with Sweaty Bands. Some how these super cute things stay on your head without squeezing your brains out or using bobby pins. In fact, just this past week I ran a 7K and forgot I had on the zebra one. It didn't move an inch! Must have for anyone who works out.

6. Photo Albums
I don't have the patience for scrapbooking in the crafty sense, so these photo books are the perfect option for my travel photos. Recently Snapfish had a buy 1 get two free deal so I finally got around to scrapbooking our three years of travels from Germany. So glad to have these memories put together in super cute books!

7. This Blog Post
This post on IF etiquette is one of the best I've seen. It's honest, it's thorough, and it left me saying AMEN! after every line. I highly recommend that anyone who is dealing with IF/Loss, or is close to someone who is, check out this post.

Winner!

2011-08-23T01:20:00.000-07:00

And the winner of the $50 Snapfish credit is....

Comment Number 7....

Kelly!

Email me at bluestarblogs (at) gmail (dot) com to get your credit code (or I think you may have my personal email, you can email me there too)! Congratulations!

Reminder!

2011-08-20T07:08:00.000-07:00

Don't forget to enter the giveaway below for a $50 Snapfish gift card! So much fun back-to-schoolness going on at Snapfish! Contest closes 8/22!

Casey, M.S.

2011-08-18T02:31:00.000-07:00

IT IS FINISHED! Finally! 2 years ago I started my Master's degree in Library Science at the University of North Texas. I took my GRE and was accepted while we were in Germany, which is where I did the first year of classes (while working full time, ah!). When we moved here to Turkey I scaled back my work to part time and took 9 hours of class each semester. Well, finally the day has come- graduation!!!!!

I'm now proud to say that an M.S. follows my name. (If only I could work that in to introductions in person. People would love that I'm sure.) I'm proud of this degree though, it was a LOT of work! I'm proof it's possible to get your degree (from a real school in a program that is accredited by your professional organization) while living far away from home. I only wish I could have walked and worn my hood. I guess I'll just have to pretend.

Back to School!

2011-08-16T01:32:00.000-07:00

Can you believe the summer is behind us? This will be the 2nd year in a row I'm not going back to the classroom as a teacher, which gets me a little teary. I miss my babies. You know what else I miss? School supplies. I LOVE me some folders, a new binder, and the mega supply- a box of 96 Crayola (no Rose Arts, ew) crayons. LOVE.

If only school supplies had been as cool when I was little as what Snapfish has. Lis@ Fr@nk, look out. This stuff is so much fun.

Never get your notebook stolen again! Personalize one just for you (or your kid)! At $9.99 it's a deal!

No more forgetting homework! A personalized planner! AND, at $9.99 you get a personalized item for less than you would pay for a plain old planner at the store.

And THIS. Oh man. A personalized lunch box?! These retro cool boxes have a TON of choices for theme and totally kick paper bag butt any day. $30 bcuks for a personalized box. That's pretty good. (And a great gift idea for grandkids for the first day of school!) Frecklebox and Snapfish are partnering to bring you something awesome with this!

Check out everything Snapfish has to offer at their Back-To-School shop. I haven't yet found anything I don't like. Almost makes me want to go back to school or get a full time teaching job. Almost.

And of course, because you know Snapfish and I are buddies, they are offering a gift certificate to one of my lucky readers! $50 to spend on something fun for you! How can you enter?
- Leave a comment on this blog post telling me about your favorite item in the Snapfish Back-to-School shop.
That's it! Easy-peasy! Contest ends August 22nd!

"I Hate Her Uterus"

2011-07-29T00:14:00.001-07:00

What No One Tells You About IVF

2011-07-07T11:20:00.000-07:00

1. A positive pregnancy test does not end all your problems. While seeing that first positive was extremely exciting, the huge crash of emotions after negative tests later on was practically unbearable. Now, as we move into more rounds I am still petrified of going through that emotion again. I am petrified to pee on that stupid stick knowing that either way the result could end up negative.

2. Telling people about your IVF decision may not be the best idea. While one might logically assume that those you choose to tell would be supportive and excited, there are unimaginably more people than you could guess that feel the need to voice their objections. Morally, medically, etc., people are more apt to share with you their own thoughts than you realize. There is the opposed camp, the "just relax and it will happen" camp, and the "let me tell you about my emotions and my own bigger problems" camp. No one going through IVF should have to deal with that. If a friend reaches out to share with you and you don't agree, just smile and nod.

3. IVF (and infertility) changes your life. I could have never imagined the impact this process would have on my life, and the lives of those experiencing it with me. My Turkey BFF often expresses emotions due to her "sympathy hormones" as she goes through the process with me. Certainly she does not view pregnancy the same way now as she did a year ago. As for me, I have come to a place where I am much more aware of the trials of others. The infertility and IVF process has opened my eyes to people I interact with who may want something that others take for granted. Infertility and IVF has also given me a broader scope. Petty issues rarely bother me lately.

4. You have to come to terms with IVF. IVF is not a happy solution to an even unhappier problem. Hearing your doctor say that your only hope is through IVF causes a grief process to begin. You have to grieve the loss of having a child the way every teenager in America seems to do. You have to come to terms with the fact that even with this ginormous medical intervention, children may not be possible. You are at the last step on the baby ladder. That's pretty intense.

5. It is physically possible for you to blow up like a balloon. For awhile I considered that each shot may possibly be filled with air, or at the very least expanding liquid, directed toward my belly. As each day passed I continued to get bigger and bigger. Carrying 900 (perhaps a tiny exaggeration) eggs around is no joke. Think how bloated you get with your normal monthly cycle and multiply that by 20. Just when you think you can't get any bigger, you do. Next round, I'm taking pictures.

6. You can handle more than you ever thought. I, the girl who cries every time she gets blood drawn, can come to a place where I can give myself three shots a day and gladly offer my arm for 4-5 blood tests a week. I can take vaginal ultrasounds with the best of them, and I can avoid killing people even when pumped full of hormones. I can make it through the entire process more than once, and come out better on the other side.

The one thing I knew before and still know today? God is in control. I'm so thankful that He is watching out for us through this process, and I'm praying that I get to hop off this ride sooner rather than later.

(Adapted from an article in Stepping Stones.)

Moving Moving Moving

2011-06-30T11:14:00.000-07:00

Moving is a part of life for those of us in the military. Every 3 years or so it's time to pack up all over again and move to a new place. For military families it is most likely that these moves take place during school breaks (Christmas and Summer). It's clear that it's summer moving time around our base! We just got back from a 3 week vacation to the states and there are so many new faces. Our little street of houses is nearly full and before we left it was half empty! Anyway, moving can also be a part of life for those not affiliated with the military, although it probably happens less frequently for them. But just like us, the vast majority of American moves takes place during the summer time.

So maybe you are moving now or gearing up to move soon and you are thinking- what am I going to do with all this stuff? Is it possible to decorate a new house with this same stuff? And my electronics, where do they go? Sigh. I've asked these questions what feels like a million times. LUCKILY, this time I got to ask an expert! Lisa LaPorta, a design professional from HGTV (and a ton of other shows!), was nice enough to let me bombard her with questions about moving, decorating, and all that happens in between. (Do ignore my"special-ness." I was at the beach and had a little delay with my internet. I promise I'm not as special as I may appear.)

I know I learned a lot and I hope you do as well!

Small Blog World

2011-06-15T18:33:00.000-07:00

Here's what a friend posted on her blog today...
I took W to the Community Center for jumpy castle playtime today and was able to meet several moms who just arrived on base. It is so nice to see all of these new faces and be able to answer some of their questions about life in Turkey. One sweet lady told me that her small group in Illinois had been praying for a lady here at Incirlik. Apparently, one of the other women in the small group stumbled upon this girl's blog and saw that she and her husband were trying to start a family but were finding it difficult. After a little discussion, we quickly determined that this girl is one of my dearest friends here (that would be me!). The lady I met said that she couldn't believe it when her husband told her they were moving here-the same place as the girl she had been praying for lives.

What an amazing God! I am so thankful for all of you around the world, those who know me and those who don't, who take time to pray for us and our infertility journey. I know and believe that prayer is powerful, and I don't take for granted the power of having hundreds of people praying for us each day. Thank you for our continued support.

Making Deals

2011-06-09T06:39:00.000-07:00

It's said that grief comes in stages, but sometimes it feels more like waves. Huge powerful waves that suck you under with no hope of fighting. There you stand waiting...hoping...praying and then it hits you, wave 1, denial and isolation. You look at another negative test and think there is no way you could be going through this again. You crawl in bed and cry, sob, hyperventilate. Eventually you stand back up only to be overcome with wave 2, anger. The anger runs deep with IF. Anger with pregnant people, anger with the situation, anger at the needle that still has to go into your arm until the doctor gives the okay, anger that you have to do it all again. Anger that some people aren't "trying" and end up pregnant, anger at their little fruit pictures, anger that the Duggars can have 19 and I can't even have 1! Then you wake up feeling a little less bitter and it hits you, the bargaining wave. The begging, the pleading, the belief that you can make something happen. This is where I am today, completely overcome with the belief that I can beg my way out of infertility.

"If I was pregnant I wouldn't care if I gained weight. I would be 200 pounds and happy."
"If I was pregnant I wouldn't complain about wanting the baby out. I'd be pregnant for 10 months."
"I don't care if it's a boy or a girl, I'd be happy with anything."
"If I can have this I won't ask for anything else."

I have to assume this is where Hannah was as she was on the temple steps crying out to God, begging for a child. She did so with so much passion that she was thought to be drunk. I get it, I feel her heart in that moment. So unable to cope with the waves that keep crashing down on her that she has nothing left to do but plead for the child she wants but can't have.

Until the next wave...

Congrats Cap'n

2011-05-31T01:26:00.000-07:00

Last week was an exciting one...Jordan pinned on Captain! Woo hoo! As the Col. who did the ceremony said, "the rank is nice, but let's be honest, it's all about the pay raise." Admittedly, the pay raise is pretty nice. Ha ha. Although, I am also happy for Jordan as I know this rank is more fitting for the level of work he does. I'm so proud!

The Ceremony Area

As a bonus, Jordan got to pin on with 3 of his friends! So proud of all of these boys.


Waiting for Everything to Start

Col. Gives an Awesome Speech

Ripping off the Old Bars and Putting on the New Rank

Taking the Oath of Office

Friends and Wives

Look at all those Captains! Don't they look nice?

As a SUPER bonus we found out this morning (on his first official day as a Captain) that Jordan was selected to attend SOS (Captain school) in residence (which means in the classroom vs. via correspondence) this summer! This means of every eligible Capt./Lt. on base, and the very first time he could have been picked, Jordan was chosen to go to this school. That's a big deal! So very very proud!

Cats and Dogs

2011-05-10T07:04:00.000-07:00

Some of you may have seen this before, but I still wanted to share. I think it so accurately describes the thoughts of our pets. My cat in particular seems to have a lot of attitude, particularly when I do something like accidentally cut his nail too short. He lets me know exactly who runs the house and then I give him 4 treats. :)

The Dog’s Diary:
8:00 AM - Dog food! My favorite thing!
9:30 AM - A car ride! My favorite thing!
9:40 AM - A walk in the park! My favorite thing!
10:30 AM - Got rubbed and petted! My favorite thing!
12:00 PM - Milk bones! My favorite thing!
1:00 PM - Played in the yard! My favorite thing!
3:00 PM - Wagged my tail! My favorite thing!
5:00 PM - Dinner! My favorite thing!
7:00 PM - Got to play ball! My favorite thing!
8:00 PM - Wow! Watched TV with the people! My favorite thing!
11:00 PM - Sleeping on the bed! My favorite thing!

The Cat’s Diary:
Day 983 of my captivity.
My captors continue to taunt me with bizarre little dangling objects.
They dine lavishly on fresh meat, while the other inmates and I are fed hash or some sort of dry nuggets. Although I make my contempt for the rations perfectly clear, I nevertheless must eat something in order to keep up my strength.

The only thing that keeps me going is my dream of escape. In an Attempt to disgust them, I once again vomit on the carpet. Today I decapitated a mouse and dropped its headless body at their feet. I had hoped this would strike fear into their hearts, since it clearly demonstrates my capabilities. However, they merely made condescending comments about what a “good little hunter” I am. Bastards!

There was some sort of assembly of their accomplices tonight. I was placed in solitary confinement for the duration of the event. However, I could hear the noises and smell the food. I overheard that my confinement was due to the power of “allergies.” I must learn what this means, and how to use it to my advantage.

Today I was almost successful in an attempt to assassinate one of my tormentors by weaving around his feet as he was walking. I must try this again tomorrow, but at the top of the stairs.
I am convinced that the other prisoners here are flunkies and Snitches. The dog receives special privileges. He is regularly released, and seems to be more than willing to return. He is obviously retarded.

The bird must be an informant. I observe him communicate with the Guards regularly. I am certain that he reports my every move. My captors have arranged protective custody for him in an Elevated Cell, so he is safe. For now.

Happy Un-Mother's Day

2011-05-08T10:01:00.000-07:00

Well, it's Mother's Day. While I am certainly glad to be able to celebrate my awesome Mom and my mother-in-law on this day, it's not exactly my favorite holiday. Last year it had only been a few months, so this holiday didn't bother me. This year, well it's a reminder that I'm still not at the place I thought I would be when we started this journey. It's a reminder that (seemingly) all of my friends are celebrating Mother's Day. It's a reminder that I may just be the only person on Facebook that doesn't have a picture of my uterus for all to see.

So to celebrate my un-Mother's Day I have scheduled myself for a massage and I've got a stack of magazines I plan to read while laying in the sun. It's likely I'll have a glass of wine or two as well, ha! take that pregnant ladies! What will I not be doing? Going to church. I know, I know. This is a controversial topic in the infertility circle, but to tell the truth, I just don't think I can handle going to a celebration of motherhood. Maybe one day.

Serious reads:
The Invisible Disability: When Mother's Day Hurts
Mother's Day: A Cultural Crucible
A light read:
You Have a Fertility Appointment on Mother's Day

The Holy Land

2011-05-07T09:43:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago we had the chance to visit Israel with a group from the base chapel. While we have been blessed with many travel opportunities, this was so much more than travel. As cheesy as it sounds, it was life-changing. An AMAZING trip! Over the next 2 weeks I will share some photos with you from the trip. I hope you enjoy them!

Mt. Caramel, Elijah defeats the prophets of Baal.

Valley of Armageddon, where the last battle will occur.

Jordan at Megiddo. Megiddo is where the word Armageddon comes from.

The city was conquered and rebuilt 25 times. Areas uncovered here were thousands of years old!

Jordan did not want to jump. Again.

Nazareth. This billboard was in front of the church commemorating Gabriel's announcement to Mary. This was our first look into the way Islam views Christianity.

Church of the Annunciation, Nazareth

Inside the Church of the Annunciation, remains of the original church at rear.

Countries around the world donated works of art commemorating Mary. This one is from Japan.


Nazareth

And that's just day one!

Winner!!

2011-05-04T04:01:00.000-07:00

And the winner of the $60 Snapfish gift card is.....

Congrats!! Email me- bluestarblogs (at) gmail (dot) com to get your gift certificate codes!

I'm Back! (with a BONUS!)

2011-04-26T11:07:00.000-07:00

Okay, I took a little (or maybe not so little) break. I even took a Facebook break if you can imagine that, and now, I'm back! Woo hoo!

What has happened since I last posted? Let's see...

- Teaching Zumba like crazy. (Gotta work off all that hormone weight!)
- Got a call from the clinic telling me I was pregnant two weeks after I took that first test. EPIC FAIL. I cried on the phone of course. That poor airman had no idea what to say. One of my best moments for sure.
- Attempted to remain bitterness free. This is not easy.
- Went to Israel. (Ah-mazing! Pics coming!)
- Made my Mom a super cool gift on Snapfish.com (Mom, pretend like you don't see this, okay?)

Check it out! This keepsake box can be personalized with a photo of your choice. PERFECT Mother's Day gift. Mom's love this stuff!

Plus, it's SUPER easy to make. Log in, go to Products, Home Office, and Keepsake box (or just click here) and you will see a page like this one.

Snapfish automatically has your pics on the page, click one and BAM. Done. Add that to the cart and you can almost hear your mom's tears of joy. (Mom, since I know you are still reading this, I'm not using that picture for your box. Your picture will be a surprise!) It really is that simple. (I couldn't believe it, so I went back and forth several times adding it to my cart. Turns out I may have ordered 5 boxes. Don't go back and forth, take my word for it! Easy!)

Running short on time? Snapfish has some things that can be picked up at your local Wal-Mart!

· Photo books– Looking for a thoughtful gift that’s easy on your wallet and your busy life? You can create and purchase a treasured keepsake while catching up on errands at your local Walmart. HP and Walmart offers instant Photo Books in sizes ranging from 4x6 to 12x12 (product availability varies by store). Even better, Walmart is offering a price rollback now through June 30^th for great gifts at significant savings.

· Photo greeting card – Waited until the last minute to get Mom a card, but don’t want to settle for the picked-over selection at the store? Create a custom photo greeting card in-store at Walmart and watch Mom smile as she opens it.

I know, you are jealous. Your Mom wants one too, right? Guess what??????? I'm giving away a $50 Snapfish gift card to one lucky reader! SUH-WEET! You can get something for your Mom and have a little left over for something for yourself?

How do you win this $50 Snapfish gift card?

- Comment on this Blog.

- Follow this Blog.

That's it! As easy as making a Snapfish keepsake box! :)

Contest closes 4/30!!!!!

IF- 1 Casey- 0

2011-03-19T07:27:00.000-07:00

Round 1 is over and I lost. Big time. The hormones, the shots, the waiting, it wasn't enough. It also had to end with disappointment. I'll take you back to the 2WW (Two Week Wait) and try to explain.

We left the embryo transfer on a high. We transferred 2 beautiful embryos. We saw their picture, we saw them being placed, and we were told to expect good news. The odds were with us for pregnancy and we were elated. The actual wait was a different story. For a month I had been giving myself shots, taking medicine, going to appointments, I felt like I had some control. During the wait? Nothing. Sure, I was still taking plenty of hormones and stabbing myself in the belly with painful needles, but there was nothing I could do. It was all in God's hands and I had to wait. I teetered between being completely convinced I was pregnant and just knowing that it wouldn't work. "Just relax" people said. Ha! What a joke! The result of a month of pain, a year of disappointment, and thousands of dollars came down to whether or not my body would do what it was supposed to do.

I told myself to wait for a certain day. According to my calculations a home pregnancy test on this day would be able to pick up the pregnancy hormone, and although it was before my test at the clinic, at least I would have some sort of answer. So I waited and waited and waited, and when the morning came I took the test. I had taken a million before, naturally, as every IF girl has. Truly, I wasn't even sure if my body could produce a positive one. But there it was, a positive test. I was pregnant. I couldn't believe it. I ran in to tell a sleeping Jordan, it was 4:30am after all, and we were both thrilled. I shared the news with a friend and went to the clinic to get a confirmation. Thanks to the help of some very sweet friends within an hour I had the news that we were indeed pregnant. What an incredible incredible feeling. With that news I started to think about how to tell my family, due dates, twin possibilities, all of it. I finally let my mind be happy and excited about the possibility of having a baby. I shared with two more friends who were with me through the process and scheduled a test at my clinic for the following day.

As if to say, "yeah right!" that afternoon things quickly went down hill. The spotting started and so did the doubt. My google medical degree assured me it was normal, but the doubt had already crept in. The next day the doctor reassured me that it was normal and I spent the day waiting for his call with the results. 16 he said. 16. Yes, I am pregnant, but no, it doesn't look good. 30 is normal, 16 was me. Don't give up hope he said, but how could I not? A follow up test 2 days later confirmed that my levels were dropping, I had miscarried the pregnancy for a reason they do not know. Yes, it was early, but I can assure you, when you are in this position, you feel the loss like you would 3 weeks down the road.

The high, the low, we had it all. It felt as if the rug had been pulled out from under me. Why me? Why us? Why does God allow some people 19 children, and others none at all? 2 months we have to wait. 2 months and then we start again. More hormones, more waiting, and maybe more disappointment. Can I handle it? I don't know. Right now I'm just trying to wrap my head around what happened. I'm trying to embrace the suck. I'm trying to see that God has a plan for us, and while we may not understand it, it is infinitely better than our plan. But truthfully, that's hard to embrace at the moment.

For now I'm just here. Trying to get back to normal.

Need More Laughs

2011-03-04T05:49:00.000-08:00

After watching 2 seasons of Modern Family and a lot of Ganglang and Lockup (what?!? that doesn't make you laugh?!), I have realized I need some funny reading material to keep me entertained as I wait (and wait and wait and wait).

I like...

Any new ideas for me????

Egg Retrieval Can Be Funny

2011-03-01T20:26:00.000-08:00

So last week we had the egg retrieval (ER) for our first round of IVF. For weeks you take medicine to help you produce eggs, and then they take them out. Yes, it is as lovely as it seems. Especially when you have 22 eggs. Although I won't be sharing a ton of details about the process (yet?), I did want to share the ER experience with you...

The egg retrieval took place this morning, and I'm glad it's done! We went in the clinic and got started right away. Since it is time sensitive everything has to happen on the exact schedule. They put me in a beautiful gown and sexy Turkish slippers and we were off. No translator in the operating room, so I got really nervous until the Dr. came in. The anesthesiologist (who did speak English) had to try both arms, which eased my stress a lot. I did not start crying and stayed totally calm. The non-English speaking nurses did not feel compelled to pat me as I laid on a table with my legs in the air and my arms strapped down. Nope. Not at all. Cool as a cucumber. Anyway, the medicine did its job and I was out like a light. I don't remember it, but apparently when they were wheeling me out I saw Jordan and pointed at him and said, "YOU!" Oops. A little repressed anger? :)

No worries because I continued to make a fool out of myself back in the recovery area when I was talking to the non-English speaking nurse and could only remember one bad word in Turkish to communicate the feeling in my ovaries. So yes, I said "eshek" over and over while pointing at my uterus. What does that mean you ask? Donkey, of course! It was a high point. Or maybe the high point was when they offered me a bed pan and I refused and instead found myself sitting in the bathroom with one nurse holding my IV bag and one holding my arm straight. It's a tough call as to which is best. The translator came in after that and ask me if I liked the nurse. I had to explain that the donkey comment was for my uterus, and not for her. Luckily she thought it was hilarious that the white girl knew a bad word in Turkish. (Side note: That nurse loves me now! We bonded over donkey!)

And so ends my ER experience. You have to laugh at yourself at some point during this crazy process, right? Let's just hope I can look back and laugh on it all, and more importantly, that I don't have to do it again!

Here we go...

2011-02-22T21:19:00.000-08:00

Your prayers over the next few days are appreciated. Lots coming up and I'm a little nervous. If you have emailed me and have not heard back, I apologize. Hopefully next week I will be less swamped with everything and back to a routine. Thanks for your support!

The Wall

2011-02-17T10:03:00.000-08:00

There I am, sitting in the doctor's office (again) and attempting to understand why we need an additional test to prepare for IVF. It's "extra" the translator says. The nurse and the office manager contribute their two cents, in Turkish of course. All that and I still don't understand. Is there something wrong with me? What's the problem? They continue to banter back and forth, but I'm still lost, and then I hit it. The wall. I put my head in my lap and closed my eyes. It's too much. The visits, the pressure, the cost, the stress, the fear, the language barrier, all of it.

Last night I hit it again. I pouted, I kicked, I screamed. I do NOT want any more shots. I'm tired of poking myself in the arm and stomach every day with these STUPID hormones. It hurts. It sucks. My ovaries are giant. BLAH.

(Yes, I know it will be worth it. Yes, I know there are worse things in the world. Yes, I know it is elective. Shut it.)

Road Trippin'

2011-02-09T12:37:00.000-08:00

9 years ago, I mean, over Christmas, our god friends from Germany came to visit. We had a ton of fun dragging them around different local places and seeing some amazing things.

First up was Adana, the closest large city (the 4th largest in Turkey). I have been a few times, but never to the Mosque. I had only been to one mosque before, but it was NOTHING like this one!

Next stop (after a CRAZY drive and stopping for directions several times), Tarsus, the home of Paul (of Bible fame)!

Then a fun Snake Castle hike on a beautiful day...

Climbing down is harder than it looks!

And last, a trip to the Mediterranean for a castle on (and one in) the sea...

Isn’t it crazy that these things are within hours of our house? It never ceases to amaze me what we are able to see as we live overseas. In Turkey, I really enjoy how open it all is. You get access to just about eveything without most of it being roped off! Amazing.

Feeling Chilly?

2011-02-04T08:13:00.000-08:00

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The More You Know...

2011-01-25T07:23:00.000-08:00

While I don’t want my blog to become all about the “I Word,” I do want to share some things that have really helped me along the way, and some things that may help my friends/family.

For those on a similar road:

Hannah’s Prayer- A Christian organization for those dealing with infertility.

Resolve- The national infertility association.

The Couples Guide To IVF- A great book (I chose the Kindle edition) to explain the process in a positive way.

For friends/family and others who want to know more:

What is IVF?- An easy to understand explanation of the IVF process.

What NOT to say to your infertile friend- A great blog post about things that can be hurtful, and things that can be helpful, when talking with someone on the IF journey.

Some of you have asked, what can you do?

-Pray. We strongly believe in the power of prayer, and we know that God can do immeasurably more than we could ever imagine. Your prayers are appreciated.

- Be patient. While I know this is my issue and not yours, it’s one that is going to take awhile for me to process. As I have mentioned, I may not always want to talk about it. Some days, I may not want to talk about babies, pregnancy, or kids at all. I may not be able to go to your baby shower or listen to your complaints about your children. I ask that you allow me to be wherever I may be that day, and be patient with me as I try to deal with all the emotions.

- Be sensitive. The linked blog above is a great place to start with knowing what to say. One thing that I would also really appreciate is pregnancy announcements via email. This allows me to process it at my own pace. In person would be difficult for me, and on Facebook too hurtful. If you are a friend of mine, emailing me would be much preferred.

Thanks for Letting Me Share

2011-01-17T19:50:00.000-08:00

As you all now know, we have started on what we hope to be a short infertility journey. I so appreciate all the comments, emails, and Facebook messages with kind words and encouragement. What was really neat to me was seeing so many others who are going through, or have been through, a similar journey. It’s always nice to feel supported by others who understand, even if I wish none of us had to be in the situation in the first place.

As you probably don’t know, it turns out that IUI isn’t going to be a viable option for us, and IVF will be our only real chance. I have a feeling that all my life I will remember when the doctor shared the news (over the phone, in true blunt Turkish fashion) that we would be skipping right to the end. It was like a kick in the gut.

Still, part of me thinks maybe this has been a blessing. One year into the entire process and we already have a diagnosis and a plan. We have not had to try months/years of different processes, shots, and medicines leading up to IVF. We go right to something that gives us a 40% or more chance of having a child.

On the other hand, it was a mind blowing few weeks. Our lives were literally turned upside down in a matter of days. It has been a LOT to take in and process, and I’m not sure if I have comprehended it all yet. Some days it’s more than I can take, and I just want to stay in bed.

It looks like I will have to come to terms with it all in the next few weeks because the medicines will start pretty soon, and the actual procedure not too long after that. Admittedly, my hopes are up. We are hopeful that just one round of IVF will be just what we needed. At the same time, in all honesty, I am absolutely terrified that it might not work. Terrified that I might have to face the disappointment.

So that’s where we are now. I share not because I expect all of you to have the right words to say, but because it’s helpful to me to not keep it inside. If you know me in real life, I ask that you allow me to bring up this subject first. Some days I may want to talk about it, and some days not so much. Thanks again for listening.

Yee Haw!

2011-01-16T05:32:00.001-08:00

Did I mention I am in Texas? Well, you may have seen the pictures I posted of Mecca (aka Target and Chick Fil A) from my first day in God’s country, but if not, now you know! Let me share some amazingness with you…

- HD TV is incredible. Watching Real Housewives of Beverly Hills in HD is a life changing experience. Hello plastic faces!

- Target is a necessity of life. Those of us living without one should be in counseling. Do you know how many choices of hair dye they have?

- The fact that I enjoy Burger King when back in Turkey is extremely sad. There is nothing tasty about that place when comparing it to CFA, or just about anywhere else for that matter.

- Geico commercials are really funny.

- Sweet tea is the nectar of the gods.

The Good Life

2011-01-08T14:19:00.000-08:00

There's no place like home!

Here

2010-12-27T12:45:00.000-08:00

Just here. That's all I've got for now. Sorry I haven't been around much, but it's just been too much. To tell the truth, I never thought I would be here. I never thought we would be at this place. Not us, I thought, we did it all right. We went to college, we dated for 3 years, we enjoyed our time as a married couple, and then we were ready. We tried and we waited. And we waited. And waited.

People asked, almost everyday they asked. When? Why not? How many? In church the pastor talked about Hannah. A sweet sermon made to encourage us through the diagnosis of a friend made me cry uncontrollably in the front pew. A sermon that marked the second time I walked out of church.

Every month it's hard. Will it ever get easier? It's hard to read the announcements, it's hard to hear the complaints, and it's hard to deal with the disappointment again and again. It's hard to see that stupid single line. It's lonely too, people don't really want to hear about it, and when they do you can't expect them to understand. They have a cousin, they say, who blah blah blah. It's not what I want to hear. It's more than I can handle.

So here we are at this place. This place where I don't want to be. A place where we need a medical intervention to help with something that comes so simple to 16 year olds on MTV. We are labeled. We are now one of those couples. Maybe in February (with our first IUI) that will change, but for now, here we are.

Snapfish Deals for YOU!

2010-12-10T06:28:00.000-08:00

www.snapfish.com/selects

As you know, I am a HUGE Snapfish fan, and when I thought I couldn't love them anymore, I order some extra large prints. Since these photos were just taken on my point and shoot, I didn't have super high expectations for quality but I was SUPER impressed! For a very reasonable price I purchased these.... (candle holders not included)

And these...

The quality was amazing AND got 365 prints for free since I spent $10! Sweet!

Next on my list? Photo Books! I have so many travels I need to scrapbook, and Snapfish makes it super easy with their photo book choices. PLUS, right now they have a great deal! When you buy one, you get one FREE! Yesssssss!

-Go here: www.snapfish.com/regisandkelly
-Create 2 Photo Books (or 2 calendars!), Add to Cart
-Use Code: REGISANDKELLYBK (or REGISANDKELLY for calendars) by 12/17

(Disclosure: I have been selected by Snapfish to review their products at no cost to myself and share my thoughts. Opinions are all my own.)

Seven Churches

2010-12-04T04:36:00.000-08:00

Over Thanksgiving we spent four wonderful days touring the seven churches of Revelation (churches John was told to write letters to for various reasons) and other historical sites in the area. To keep it simple, this post will just be about the seven churches themselves, and later pots will cover the other sites and stories I want to share. (Just in case you needed to know every detail of my thought process.)

Here is a map of the location on the seven churches as they would have been in Biblical times. Now, of course, each location has a modern name and just ruins remain. Patmos, the island to the left, is where John actually received the vision of the book of Revelation. (See our trip to Patmos here.)

1. Our first stop was Smyrna (now Izmir) which is the second letter, found in Revelation 2:8-11 (the church that would suffer persecution).

Not much was left of the ancient Smyrna sight. It was said that Alexander the Great was the one that had the vision to bring the city to the place we visited, high above the port, giving it a natural defense system. It was neat to see the modern city from the site of the ancient city. We visited this city a few years back, but never made it up to the ruins.

2. Our next stop was Pergamum (now Bergama), which is letter 3, Revelation 2:12-17, the church that needed to repent. These ruins were really neat. We pretty much had the place to ourselves, and despite the weather, were able to see it all up close.

It was interesting to see the site of the ancient temples to gods/goddesses, and how much of a part of daily life they were. Thinking of that, and then seeing the place where early Christians (who spoke out against this beliefsystem) were martyred was very humbling. My Germany friends can go see the altar to Zeus from Pergamum in Berlin, as it was excavated by Germans and moved to the Pergamum museum there.

3. Next up Thyatira (Revelation 2:18-29, the church with the false prophetess), now Akhisar, with a very small set of ruins located in the middle of a modern city. We all wondered what else was under the apartment buildings surrounding the site.

The people of this church were working class people who allowed a prophetess (who John compares to the infamous Jezebel) to lead them into all sorts of sin. I imagine it was like it is now, where people easily get caught up in what is best for them and will help them succeed, losing site of what is right.

4. The church of Sardis (now Sart) was next on the list, found in Revelation 3:1-6. This church was known as the sleeping church, dead in it's works. These ruins have been maintained and reconstructed by an American group, and while I typically dislike such huge reconstruction, it was neat to think of this place as the grand capital it once was.

This church/town had two locations, and we were able to see them both. The upper area was for the wealthy (below) and the lower area (above) was the working class agora (shops), gymnasium, political type area. The people of this church were much like many Christians are today, dead in their faith. They believed, but lacked the fervor and works of their early days. It was routine to them, they were no long radical, sold out Christians- and God still cared greatly about them, just like he does us! Talk about convicting.

5. Philadelphia (no cheese steak!) was up next, found in Revelation 3:7-13. Philadelphia (now Alasehir) was the enduring church, persecuted by local Jews, but still believing.

This was a VERY small place in the middle of a town that we visited at the end of a very long day. I don't remember anything the guide said. I did, however, get to visit the Mosque that was across the street from this place. Our tour leader took Logan and I inside and upstairs to the women's area (none were there). She told us about the prayers, what is said during the call, and what is expected of them. I'm really glad I got to see it, especially since being allowed to visit during prayers in very rare.

6. Laodicea (the lukewarm church, Revelation 3:14-22) was our next church to visit. We visited just after a visit to the natural hot springs, located across the valley from this church, which gave a very new perspective to the "lukewarm" reference in the letter. Obviously being so close to the springs, water was a big part of the lives of these people, and the reference to lukewarm water would have been very meaningful to those people.

There was a tn of excavation still going on at many of these sites, and at this one in particular. With this site you could see all the rooms being uncovered and the plan of the town was very apparent.

7. Although it was the first letter (Revelation 2:1-7), Ephesus was our final stop of the 7 churches. Presumably this is because it is so impressive, seeing it first would make the others pail in comparison. We have been here once before (See here), but it was neat to see it again with more travels under our belt, and with the perspective of the letter in Revelation rather than Paul and Acts.

While we were visiting Ephesus, I started thinking about a picture of us from our first visit. I thought I had a green shirt on, the same one I was wearing this time. When I checked out the pictures at home, it turned out I was right. How in the world did I manage to wear the same shirt to the same place two years apart? Oops. We also visited the same carpet shop we came to last time we were there. Crazy huh?

If Jesus wrote a letter to your church, or to you, today, what do you think He would say?

Thanksgiving

2010-12-01T02:09:00.000-08:00

Here's how I spent my Thanksgiving...

More later! Tonight I start teaching my very own Zumba class for the first time. Woo hoo!

Follow-Up Thoughts

2010-11-23T23:15:00.000-08:00

Thanks for all your thoughts on my previous post! I enjoyed hearing from those on both sides of the issue. I do certainly see the reasoning behind the decision to make a sliding scale. I feel for those men/women who are serving who make less than they should. We can all agree that the military is underpaid. Here are some thoughts/clarifications...

- To me, the opinion that greater cost should not be enforced is for ALL ranks. O-6's might have kids in college to pay for, so who are we to say what they can afford? The COST should be the COST. If it cost 5/hour per child to staff and run a CDC, that should be the cost. If the party costs 10 per plate, that should be the cost.

- To go along with that, if the cost of an event is too high to allow for participation from all, something needs to change. Just like any event in the "real" world, if the cost is too high you have to fund raise to increase your budget or find ways to cut costs. Tacking on 20 dollars to every O ticket is not a fair way to handle the situation.

- My comment regarding 20 for Os and 5 for Es was for Christmas parties, not childcare.
"For instance, officers are required to pay more for holiday parties (20 for Os vs. 5 for Es), formal events, golf, child care, gifts, base activities..."

- If the argument for the increase in price is based on the fact that officers make more, then do we also distinguish between officers? My husband doesn't get flight pay, a medical bonus, a JAG bonus, etc. So should we pay less than pilots and doctors and lawyers? A Capt. makes almost double us, should we pay less than them? Do you take into account families with another working spouse? What about mil to mil enlisted couples that make more than an officer? To me, to make it right for everyone, the cost should be the cost. With all these "what-ifs" it doesn't seem like there is a fair way to go about it otherwise.

- I don't feel any sort of entitlement as an O spouse. Have you seen my house? Please. I'm fine with just about anything. I am not implying my husband deserves something or signed up for something. All I am saying is that I disagree with the principal of charging more than the cost of the item based on rank alone.

- Helping those who make less is not my issue. My sole issue is with the fact that it is forced based on rank alone when finances are a much more convoluted issue.

- As another comparison for non-military peeps, you might think of scholarships. Student A's family is not one of those families who can write a check for college. The family is supporting an aging grandmother, paying for classes for the mom to finish her degree, etc. However, based on income, Student A is disqualified from almost every scholarship. Do they not deserve the chance to go to school as well? It is expected that Student A just take out loans to pay for school since on paper, his/her parents made more than student B. (Loans they might pay back after commissioning in the military and paying more for their ball tickets! Ha!) Did they take into account anything else? Why did good grades not allow Student A the opportunity to help his/her family with the financial burden? Class/Rank should NOT be the sole determining factor!

Thank you for keeping your comments on the last post respectful. I would love to hear your follow up thoughts in the same manner. Did you talk about this with your spouse or friends? What did they have to say?

Fair or Not?

2010-11-21T10:38:00.000-08:00

(This might be a controversial topic to some. I do enjoy hearing your opinions, however, if you do choose to comment, please stick to your views, and not attacks on me or mine. Attack comments will not be posted, respectful comments will.)

In the military world there are two camps- enlisted and officer. Most of the time people (at least the ones I know) do a good job of keeping the line between the two groups respectful. There is a time for separation/respect/etc. and a time where rank should not be at the forefront. I have friends in both groups, and believe that because I personally don't wear rank, rank is not a part of my friend making/social policies. Most people feel the same way, and many people on the enlisted side (particularly my spouse friends) often feel there should be little to no difference at all. However, there are always complaints. Officer wives get the good meat at the commissary. Officers don't do any real work. Etc. Etc. Etc. Surely you have heard it, right?

What you may NOT have heard is what is made mandatory for officers. People often call for fairness with other things, but I hardly ever see a discussion of policies that require increased financial obligations from officers. (Yes, I know this may seem random, but it's been a topic of conversation around here lately.) For instance, officers are required to pay more for holiday parties (20 for Os vs. 5 for Es), formal events, golf, child care, gifts, base activities, food, club membership, and are often told to bring the most expensive items at parties.

Before you have a cow, paying/giving more is NOT my issue. My issue is that these things are REQUIRED. In my opinion, it should be something officers CHOOSE to do out of respect for the people they lead. If I have one child at the local CDC, and you have 3, should I pay more because of my husbands rank? No off base facility would do such a thing. If the Christmas party costs 10 dollars, make that the price for all. I will gladly pay the ticket and CHOOSE to sponsor several airmen to attend for free. Send out a party list of items that are needed and we will gladly CHOOSE to bring the most expensive items. However, forcing this, particularly with "extra" things like parties and sporting events, is not okay. While I would hope that most officers would choose to step up and help, they should be given the option. Their choice to commission should not come with picking up the tab for others. A Christmas party ticket that is 4x more expensive for the same food and no prizes (since we CHOOSE to give those back for airmen) kind of ruins my mood for the party. However, if I paid the same price as everyone and sponsored airmen with the extra money (which would probably cover more than my forced ticket price), I think I would be a little more holiday cheery. If you know my husband and I, you know this issue is not that we don't like to help others, in fact, it's something we love to do. However, I realize that not everyone feels the same way. I think they have the right to opt out of the increased financial obligation when it comes to all these "extras." (In case you are wondering, my husband disagrees. He believes these responsibilities are just part of the job.)

Yes, to whom much is given, much is required, but why aren't officers allowed to choose when/how to support extra events with increased financial contributions? I'd like to see those who call for more fairness take up this issue as well. Just doesn't sit right with me...

(For those non-military readers, you might equate this to taxes. Should high income earners be forced to pay 60% in taxes because they make more, or should everyone pay an equal percentage?)

Thoughts?

Family

2010-11-19T20:33:00.000-08:00

As a military family living overseas we are often away from our family for a year at a time, traveling back only when funds (and leave days) allow. We miss birthdays, holidays, weddings, and all sorts of special events. It's not easy to pick up the phone and call home when you want to, since you have to keep the 8 hour time difference in mind. When you do get to visit family, it often feels rushed since you have to squeeze everyone and everything in in a few weeks.

Luckily, God has provided us with a surrogate family here in Turkey. They know how it feels to miss family because they are in the same situation. They understand the work pressures, deployment stress, sentences spoken in acronyms, and what it feels like to make new friends every few years. Our Turkey family is even more perfect when you consider almost all the military members are around the same rank, most of us have no children, we are all about the same age, and we all attend the same church service. We love to have game nights, to travel, to have dinner, and to just hang out. There is not a week that goes by that we aren't together.

I have a feeling our Turkey family will be close for a long time...

Shopping in Turkey

2010-11-18T23:41:00.000-08:00

After 3 years of shopping (and by that I mean not really shopping) in Germany with an outrageous exchange rate and high prices, shopping in Turkey has been AMAZING. Loves it. Maybe a little too much. You already know about my rugs, but now let me share with you some other things I love love buying here in Turkey.

(In case you don't know me, this post is not meant to brag, just to share. My husband and I follow Dave Ramsey's budget planning system, so know that we aren't dropping crazy money on things. We save up and buy things we love with cash. Not sure why I felt the need to add a disclaimer, but there you go. No nasty comments.)

1. Scarves!

The scarves here are to die for. The quality is amazing, the price is great, and the designs are unique. I store mine in an over the door shoe holder. I may need another one soon!

2. Furniture

We decided it was finally time to get rid of our Target amazing-ness, so we took some photos and ideas to a local furniture store. In fact, I tore out a page from a P0ttery B@rn catalog and took it in and then gave my ideas for changes. 6 weeks later I had my custom made furniture delivered to my house. Two end tables, coffee table, and TV stand all for less than the price of the PB TV stand.

3. Framing

Getting things framed in Germany was out of control. Because of that, we had a pile of things I wanted to put on the wall that just sat around because paying $100/frame wasn't going to happen. Luckily I live in Turkey now!!! So, I took in some photos I took in Dublin (thanks Snapfish for the great prints!), a print from the Van Gogh museum, and a papyrus from Egypt. All framed in a week for $80. Ludicrous!

4. Malls

The malls here, while more expensive than the small stores, kick Germany's butt! I found two stores I really like- LC Waikiki and Stradivarius. The one above is in Mersin, a coastal resort type town. We went there on Veteran's Day with a group from the base. When it was time to leave I got a little teary. It was so fun! I got a really cute faux leather jacket for 50 Lira! I got headbands for 15 Lira! I want to go back right now!

Christmas!!

2010-11-16T21:40:00.000-08:00

Since we will be traveling for Thanksgiving, my sweet sweet husband gave me the go ahead to decorate for Christmas early! It doesn't take long since I don't do figurines. (Anyone else hate figurines? I detest them!) So in a few hours (with Logan's help) the house was finished. (And by house I mean, living room.)

While listening to Pandora and decorating I realized- I haven't ordered Christmas cards yet! Luckily, Snapfish has two great deals for me (and you!).
- Through 11/30, use 4VETERANS to get 10% off your holiday cards, and even better, give 20% to Mission: Able, a non-profit that supports wounded veterans.

- Through 11/20, use code 2010MY365 to get 365 free prints with a $10 purchase. 365 FREE prints people! That's way better than 50 free holiday cards!

Here are my possibilities:

What do you think? Which one if your favorite?

Veteran's Day

2010-11-11T05:27:00.000-08:00

"As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them." -John Fitzgerald Kennedy

As you spend your holiday, please remember those military men and women serving around the world who have put their words into actions. Those men and women who serve no matter the administration, serve no matter the fight, and serve with passion regardless of popular opinion, they serve for YOU. So this Veteran's Day put YOUR words into actions. Make "I Support the Troops" more than catchy slogan on the back of your mini van.

"This nation will remain the land of the free only so long as it is the home of the brave." -Elmer Davis

Blog Design

2010-11-10T12:00:00.000-08:00

Some super patient people have recently had their blogs made over by the worlds slowest, yet nicest, blog designer. Check them out!

Thankful

2010-11-09T08:17:00.000-08:00

In this season of Thanksgiving I am trying to be more aware of things in my life that are God's blessings and the many reasons I have to be thankful. It's easy not to be aware of these things and, admittedly, I have done a good job focusing on the things in my life that are not going my way (oh, and also how every time I walk out my door it smells like flaming crap, thanks Turkey, thanks). So, to help remind me of what I should focus on, here is my list...

- I am thankful for my amazing husband. He is patient beyond belief and so much nicer than I will ever be. He has been by my side as we have struggled with a trying situation. Plus, he's pretty cute.

- Turkey. Yes, I said it. I really do like this place. Today I wore a skirt and tank top. No snow boots this November! I like the exchange rate. I like the weather. I like the travel. I even like the base.

- Friends. I have been blessed with wonderful friends. Germany friends, Turkey friends, blog friends, Texas friends. Many of them have also been there for me the past few months, and I am so thankful for their support.

- Not getting what I want. Honestly, it's a struggle. I've been pretty blessed to get the things I want most of the time. Jobs, friends, scholarships, whatever- it's been easy to come by. Lately, not so much. So, I'm learning, and I'm always thankful for God teaching me new things and making me a better person, even when it hurts.

And now for the deep stuff...
- People Magazine. Because I'm on a budget, I mean love to save (ha!), I have never had a subscription to People magazine. However, my sweet friend Sarah does. Did you know People offers their issues free to subscribers on IPads? Guess who has an IPad? Me! And guess who Sarah let's use her log in to get the issues? ME! YES!

- Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. After the disaster that was Real Housewives D.C., Beverly Hills is a very welcomed break from my hours of homework. Can their faces be pulled any tighter? I think not. Is there any chance Camille is not hooking up with the tennis pro? Magic 8 ball says, not likely.

What are YOU thankful for?

Shopping Tips

2010-11-04T06:07:00.000-07:00

As some of you know, my husband and I follow the Dave Ramsey plan. (In fact, as I type the husband is teaching a Dave Ramsey Financial Peace class in our living room.) This means we take on no debt, are smart with our money, but we still live fairly well. So yes, even with all that traveling we have been able to buy a house and remain debt free (other than a mortgage). The plan works!

Does that mean I don't shop? Heck no! I shop all the time! BUT, I shop smart! Here are some tips to help stretch your ~~tiny military~~ paycheck:

- Ebates.com- This site gives you cash back for things you are already going to buy. It's GREAT for Christmas shopping and monthly shopping in general. Sometimes they have coupon codes too. Just click on the link from the ebates site and shop. That's it! I've gotten several checks from them already!

- Ruelala.com- I don't know about you guys, but I can't afford Lily P, Citizens, and the rest without this site!I have found some good deals here, but they don't happen every day. If you are patient, you can find some great stuff. (And if you are lucky enough to live in a place where you can have an IPhone, you can even shop on there!)

- Retailmenot.com- ALWAYS look here before you buy something online! They have a ton of coupon codes. I never buy anything without a code from here (or email). Even free shipping helps!

- Facebook- Look up your favorite store, product, brand, or etsy seller. They will usually have Facebook only coupons and codes available to those that "like" their page. This is a GREAT way to find deals!

- Email Lists- If you haven't already, be sure to go to your favorite stores website and sign up for their email list. I get coupons at least weekly for Gap, Old Navy, Amazon, JCrew, Ann Taylor, etc. Another great way to make sure you don't pay full price!

- Groupon.com- Sign up for a city near you (or near home if you are overseas like me) and get links to AMAZING deals. One day it was $25 off $50 at Gap!

And here are some great deals to know about:

Magazines.com has a $10 subscription special to Real Simple (my fave!!!) until 11/6.
Snapfish.com is offering 10% off holiday cards (and 20% proceeds to paralyzed vets) until 11/30 with the code 4VETERANS
Jcrew.com has 25% off $150 or more until 11/6 with the code FALLSALE
Gap.com has free shipping on orders over $50 (GAPSHIP50) and 15% off your purchase (11/4 only, GAPSAVENOW)

(Yes, I will earn credit on some of the links if you decide to sign up. HOWEVER, please know that I am sharing these with you because they are things I honestly use and deals I would want to know about! Snapfish has given me credit as part of their Snapfish Selects programs, but I was already a Snapfish user to begin with. Please know you can trust what you see here! :) )

Germany vs. Turkey

2010-11-02T10:05:00.000-07:00

For both of you that were wondering, I'm alive! Life just buried me for a bit, but hopefully I can get back to normal now. I read an article on Kelly Ripa, and she said she does it all by not sleeping. Duh. Guess I know what I have to do! I digress....

Some days is still blows my mind that I have lived on 3 continents in the last 4 years. Some days I am very grateful, and some days I miss home. However, as any mil spouse will tell you, it's all about blooming where you are planted. There are some things we LOVE about Turkey and some things we LOVED about Germany, so which one wins when you stack 'em up? Let's see!

The Base
Germany: Ramstein is like an overseas base Mecca. We had a Chilis, a Macaroni Grill, and a GIANT BX. We had 3 Subways. 3! Flights were hard to catch, but were direct to the east coast. Things were open until 9 or 10 every day of the week.
Turkey: We have a BX. And a Commissary. And a Bowling Alley. I can ride my bike around the entire place without getting winded (the base, not the BX, I could sprint around that!). Things close super early and aren't open every day. Nothing is 24 hours, not even the Shopette. 0 Subways. 0 Chilis.
Germany: 1 Turkey: 0

The Neighborhood
Germany: We had a cute German house off base. Most of our neighbors were nice, one was a drug dealer. We had a giant sign attached to our baby blue house. Doner guy was just a few doors down. Sidewalk has to be kept clean or the Germans give you the stink eye.
Turkey: While our house may not be so fancy, everyone has the same one, so no need to apologize for its craptastic-ness. Our gardener takes care to keep us in regs. for our yard, trash, sidewalk, etc. Our neighbors are our age and don't sell drugs. None of our friends live more than a 5 minute walk away.
Germany: 1 Turkey: 1

Travel
Germany: 20 countries in 3 years. Easy to drive anywhere. Trains are great. Enough said.
Turkey: I can't go off base by myself. Many places require a base planned trip to travel to. Plenty of beautiful things to see, amazing Biblical sites, and history galore. Most require a flight and a tour guide or group.
Germany: 2 Turkey:1

Food
Germany: Pork, pork, and pork. (Did I mention I don't eat pork?)
Turkey: Spicy food, chicken, everything made with a stick of butter. Dinner only costs about 8 bucks a person and includes just about as much as you can eat. Fresh produce is cheap and easy to come by. Many of my favorite places deliver right to my house. Mmmmm. (Did I mention my pants are tight?)
Germany: 2 Turkey:2

People
Germany: While sometimes abrasive, Germans were generally welcoming and patient. They were helpful, friendly, and generous with beer. :) They understood personal space and proper volume levels. They drove with courtesy.
Turkey: Turks are all in my space. I have a bubble and it has been invaded since we got in line at Turkish Airlines in the German airport. Haggling is a necessary evil. Driving is a life threatening ordeal. They are very nice, very friendly, and hospitable to a level you wouldn't believe! None of the things I said is done maliciously. However, many times, particularly around base, there are some that have ulterior motives for this niceness.
Germany: 3 Turkey: 2

Shopping
Germany: With a lot of time you can find some great things, shoes in particular. However, European style is VERY different than mine, so it could be hard to find clothes. With the Euro exchange rate things were really expensive, even at places like H&M.
Turkey: When you can find quality items, the price can't be beat! Rugs, furniture, jewelry, scarves- beautiful things at very very pretty prices. Clothes take a little more effort, but you can get custom made items within days. I have even purchased things at the outdoor markets and they have held up well. The style is still different, but the prices make it easier to find something you like!
Germany: 3 Turkey: 3

Dang. A tie. I didn't plan it, I swear. Ask me again at the end of our time here and maybe I will have a different result, but for now, I have to admit, Turkey is pretty great.

And the winner is...

2010-10-17T11:50:00.000-07:00

The winner of the $50 Snapfish giveaway is...
Cole

Congrats Cole! Please contact me for your $50 gift card!

If you didn't win, check back here often for new Snapfish giveaways and info. And please, if you can, support Breast Cancer awareness and treatment by purchasing Pink Gives items.

In the Footsteps of the Disciples

2010-10-13T10:46:00.000-07:00

(Don't forget to enter my Snapfish giveaway below! It's $50 dollars to print pictures, make scrapbooks, order Christmas cards, or anything else you want! Who wouldn't want that?)

This past weekend the power was scheduled to be turned off on base for around 12 hours. No storm, just turning the power off. A lovely reminder that we do in fact live in the Middle East, right? Anyway, the base does a great job of providing things to do during that time (free movies, grilling steaks, etc.). The chapel planned a trip to Antioch for the day, with service being held in St. Peter's church. Sign us up!

So down we go to Antioch, which is about 15 minutes from Syria. Don't worry, I had my eagle eyes out! First, we visited Titus' tunnel. To tell you the truth, I have no idea why it is significant. I think our tour guide had ADD, and he jumped around so much I have no clue about most of what we saw! Oh well.

Then it was on to St. Peter's church. This church was the place where the term "Christian" was first used. We had our service in the place where Peter, Barnabas, and Paul shared the gospel. Acts (11:25-27) documents its founding. Isn't that incredible? The town of Antioch (where St. Luke was born) is below the church.

Then it was my second favorite part, walking around the town. We were able to see an Orthodox church and a Catholic church. I really liked just seeing the town.

Not the best trip ever, but very neat to see Biblical places. It make the historical sites we saw in Europe look modern!

Think Pink Giveaway

2010-10-11T00:18:00.000-07:00

Last Saturday I accomplished a huge goal of mine, running a 5K! I set out with a goal of finishing without walking, and I did it. Turns out, I did even better than that, I finished in 30 minutes (exactly!)! I know it's not the best time (one guy finished in 17 minutes!), but I feel like for my very first 5K I did pretty well. I'm very grateful for my runner friends (like marathon running and crazy stuff like that) who volunteered to run slow with me and encouraged me every step of the way.

Even more importantly, this 5K was for a cause I care deeply about! This 5K was our bases' run for Breast Cancer Awareness. I was proud to run in honor of my grandmother (a breast and stomach cancer survivor) and my great aunt (a breast cancer survivor). I hope that this run, the materials that were handed out, and the words from a fellow spouse survivor helped to make people more aware of the disease and early detection.

With over 200,000 new cases of breast cancer in women in the US this year, it's so important that we continue to support reserach and advocacy. One company that is proud to support the cause is Snapfish. Their Pink Gives campaign is donating 30% of proceeds from all specially designed products in their Pink Gives store to BreastCancer.Org. And while they are giving all that away, they even give you free address labels when you spend $10 or more! You support a great cause and get cute stuff!

One thing I love is that Snapfish really takes this cause personally. To them, it is more than an advertising campaign. It's about supporting the women in their office that have battled the disease, and the women everywhere who continue to fight. They know that many of us have watched family members battle the disease, and they want a cure as much as we do! As if it couldn't get any better- they are even offering a giveaway!!

Do you want a $50 Snapfish gift card?

If so...

- Visit the Pink Gives Snapfish Store and tell me what you would purchase for one entry.

- For an additional entry, please share your story in a separate comment! Tell me how breast cancer has affected you, your family, or someone you know.

- For a third entry, follow my blog! (Yes, I'm bribing you.) Leave a comment to let me know if you already follow or you have just started.

(Remember to leave a separate comment for each so you get credit for all your entries!)

One winner will be chosen this Friday, October 15, 2010.

Bonus Alert!

Snapfish is really trying to get the word out, so they are offering you other chances to win great stuff! If you tweet, Facebook, or blog about the Pink Gives campaign, you are entered to win an HP Mini AND a $30 gift card! Last year they donated $20,000. This year, let's make it more!

* Full Disclosure: I am a Snapfish Select blogger. I have received credit for giveaways, product reviews, and special feature usage. However, I was already a Snapfish user and the opinions are all my own! I would never agree to something I wouldn't fully recommend to a friend.

Turkey Bloggers

2010-10-04T23:29:00.000-07:00

So I have discovered that there are lots of fellow bloggers here! Most of them do a better job keeping up with Turkey info and posts than I do, but all of them have something cool to share. (And most of them don't talk about having a blog, so I have totally stalked them. My apologies.) So, in case you are interested, check out these blogs for more about life in the 'Lik.

Life in the...
Incirlikin' Good
Turkey Nuggets
Keeping up with the Joneses

Any more of you out there that I am missing?

Me? Cook? Are You Sure?!

2010-10-03T04:27:00.000-07:00

Somehow since moving to Turkey I have started to cook. Not all the time of course, but certainly more than before. In case you don't know, this is pretty unusual. Shocking actually. From never cooking to being someone who people ask for recipes is pretty crazy! So, to mark this momentous occasion, I am sharing two of my recent favorites with you!

This first one is a crowd favorite. I have made it at least once a week for the past few months, and it never gets old. Even if you think you might not like it, you should try it out!

Pineapple Salsa

(serves two)

1 jalapeno

1 bunch cilantro

2 green onions

2-3 cloves garlic

1 tsp sea salt

1 can crushed pineapple

Cut cilantro and onions into small pieces (using scissors like this pair is easiest), chop or press garlic, chop jalapeno (remove the seeds!), and combine in a bowl. Add salt. Drain pineapple and set aside, and pineapple pieces to mixture. Add pineapple juice as needed if salsa is dry. That's it!

*As a side note, did you know you can get a chemical burn from jalapenos? My 10th time making this wonderful salsa I burned the tips of my fingers so severely it lasted more than 24 hours. I had to soak them in pepto bismol! It was HORRIBLE. Moral of the story, wear gloves.

** Substitute pineapple for tomatoes for a yummy tomato salsa!

Pumpkin Bread and Cinnamon Honey Butter

(Two Loaves)

Bread (altered from here):

3 cups flour

1 tsp ground cloves

2 tsp ground cinnamon

1 tsp ground nutmeg

1/2 tsp salt

1 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp baking powder

1 1/2 cups sugar

1 cup butter, softened

3 eggs

1 can pumpkin (16 oz)

1 cup chopped pecans

Butter:

1 stick butter at room temperature

1/2 cup honey

1 tsp cinnamon

Heat oven to 350*, grease pans if not using silicone (my favorite).

Mix flour, cloves, cinnamon, salt, nutmeg, baking soda, and baking powder. Set aside.

In another bowl mix sugar, half-melted butter, and eggs with a stand mixer or hand mixer until fluffy.

Add pumpkin. Mix.

In thirds fold in flour/spice mixture, mix well before adding next third.

Add pecans.

Fill 2 medium loaf pans. Bake for about 1 hour.

Butter: Place room temperature butter in a bowl. Add honey (I softened mine in the microwave) and cinnamon. Use hand mixer to cream. Try to resist eating entire bowl.

*You may want to make 2 bowls of butter. It's pretty amazing.

**If taking this to a party, pre-slice the loaves so you can leave slices at home without people knowing. Then you can eat them for breakfast the next day with coffee. Mmmm.

Let me know if you make these. I promise you won't be disappointed!

AF Gala 2010

2010-09-29T04:21:00.000-07:00

This past weekend, Jordan and I attended our bases version of the AF Ball. It's pretty much just like it, but calling it a "gala" instead means they don't have to do a sit down meal or even seated tables. The good news is, you still get to dress up! The even better news? Getting your hair done here costs $10. Not even kidding. Maybe I should have them do my hair every day...

Here are the neighborhood girls getting ready to go. This of course, is before we realized a little problem. We had 7 people, and only one wanted to be DD. How is that going to work with an SUV that holds 5? Two in the back, naturally! Somehow they ended up with purses and drinks too...

At the Gala we hung out in the officer's bar. The club is combined, but the bars are separate, in theory. It's not a snobby thing, I think it's nice. Both enlisted and officer sides can enjoy a drink without worrying about who's watching. Anyway, that's where we hung out. There was a retired General who spoke, but he was in the main room, so I'm not sure what he said. I am sure that the poor girl that sang the anthem before that wanted to die. See, she sang the Turkish anthem and did well. Then the Star Spangled Banner, well, she forgot the words. So she started over. And forgot them again. That's what I call a bad night!

Then it was on to the main room once the band started playing. Even Jordan got out there and danced with me! We had a great time! After the band was done we moved to the DJ room. I have no pictures of that, and this is a good thing. I'm pretty sure I busted out some moves that I usually don't. Ha!

At the Gala I found out about an AF phenomena I had never heard of. Party sleeves! Have you heard of these? When the boys take their Mess Dress jackets off, you have fun sleeves and/or something fun on the back. Our friend Brandon has Florida sleeves, but the base commander had the best ones. Cha cha sleeves!! Who knows how he fit those in his jacket, but they were awesome. He even brought maracas! So, now Jordan wants some Texas sleeves, but I'm not finding any fabric with Texas flags. Let me know if you find some!

So that's the Gala! What a fun night!

Cappadocia

2010-09-22T10:42:00.000-07:00

Last month we went on a fun weekend trip to Cappadocia along with 2 other couples who live on our street. We were very lucky to find other young couples around the same rank with no children. We all hang out multiple times a week and love taking trips!

Cappadocia is a famous area of Turkey because of the rock formations left after years of erosion. Driving to the area was like going to another country! The temperatures were much cooler and the terrain was vastly different! Our first stop was an underground city. This city was used as a hiding place for Christians when foreign armies were invading the area. They had more than 10 levels of living quarters, kitchens, schools, and ventilation shafts to make it through the invasion. To think they built these places in the 7th century was incredible! Some places were a tight fit to get through. I guess they were tiny people!

After crouching through the underground city it was off to a few photo stops and lunch!

Next it was time for some down time at the hotel. The pool overlooked some of these rock formations and the it was great! Well, except for the lady next to us that needed some landscaping in a BIG way (yes, I have pictures. no, I will not share them.)

The next day it was off to Goreme Open Air Museum to see some beautiful churches carved into the rocks by the early Christians. They started carving these in the 4th century. Many of the frescoes from the 10th and 11th centuries still remain. People from this area were mentioned in Acts 2. It still blows my mind to think we live in a place with this much history! I also loved how even back then they made an effort to decorate their places of worship. I enjoyed seeing the difference between the first frescoes and the later ones.

Our last stop was a carpet shop. I didn't even buy anything! You should be proud! I did get some nice pictures though...

Bye Cappadocia! See you again soon!

Questions, questions

2010-09-19T10:18:00.000-07:00

~~9 years ago~~ I was tagged by Cole to answer 8 questions. So, finally, here we go!

1. Team Edward or Team Jacob?

Is this really a question? Are there actual people who would pick pasty white Edward? If so, I must say it is highly unlikely they have read Bella's birth scene in Breaking Dawn. So, I go with Jacob. ESPECIALLY movie Jacob. HOT.

2. Who's your hero?

I don't know if I have a "hero" per say, but I have certainly been blessed with some great influences. My parents, of course, who have been married almost 35 years. They taught me about patience, love, and having a relationship with God. Which leads me to the ultimate example of Christ. Who more should I strive to be like than Him?! A distant second Biblical example that I seek to emulate is James. He tells the truth in love and pushes people to be better. And then, on a totally unrelated note, Laura Bush. A cute Texas librarian! I just want to squeeze her!

3. If you could be an animal, what would it be?

I would NOT be a dog. Dogs eat babies. True story.

4. What TV show's season premier are you most looking forward to?

GLEE! Oh man I can't wait! Over here we have the lovely AFN so we don't get premiers until spring, so I will watch Glee and a few other shows online. But Glee is one I will watch first thing the day after it airs. I love that show!

5. What's your favorite book of all time?

Asking a librarian to choose a book is like asking a parent to choose a favorite child! (Side note: I'm my parents favorite, in case you were wondering.) I'd have to say one of my very favorite recent reads is The Double Bind by Chris Bohjalian. Loved it! Currently I am reading Room by Emma Donoghue, and I'm enjoying it!

6. If you had to give up a sense (sight, hearing, taste, etc), what would it be?

Smell. I live in Turkey. Yup.

7. What's your favorite holiday?

My birthday of course! No need for big plans and fake smiles. On your birthday you get to do what you want!

8. What's your dream job?

Librarian, of course. I absolutely can't wait to be in the library, and at the same time, I am scared to death. I should finish up my degree by next summer, so we will see!

Thanks for the questions, Cole. That was fun!

I'm Alive!

2010-09-12T04:00:00.000-07:00

Since I last posted a year ago so much has happened! Our HHG came (yeah!!!!!) and luckily it went well. No broken things other than the stuff I dropped while unpacking. A few days later we went to Cappadocia, and two days after that I left for Germany. Whew! Now I'm home and getting back into a routine. So, while I catch up on everything, here is a video of our house with our stuff. Please ignore the annoying voice.

House Tour Take 2 from Casey Clark on Vimeo.

Updates

2010-08-25T06:26:00.000-07:00

Ah, so much has been happening in this crazy hot place. Let's see...

- I talked with the librarian at the base school. Not only is she excited about having me as an intern, but she went to the same school I am going to! Three years ago she went through the same program I am working on. What are the odds?!

- This weekend we are going to Capadoccia. YEAH! I can't wait to see this place.

- Today we get the rest of our things. 3 months after we packed out. I cannot WAIT to sleep in my bed again! Now, if only I could fit it all in the house!

- Grad school starts this week. Why did I take 9 hours again?

- I need movies to add to my NetFlix queue. Suggestions?

- Our little house is coming right along. The roses are growing and the grass is coming back. Have I mentioned I love having a gardener? Yes, yes I do.

And kitty likes them too...

OCD Strikes Again

2010-08-23T11:11:00.000-07:00

So as if it wasn't enough that I spent all of last week organizing the children's section on the base library into categories (hello dream project!), I then came home and organized the tiny bit of clothes I have at the house.

Before I left Germany one of my friends gave me the best gift ever. Ever. She gave me a container (love love love) full of white hangers (love love love). What? You don't think that is the best gift ever? Clearly you do not have OCD. The massive amount of hangers in this container means that my closet can now have a singular type of hanger. My quality of life has improved immensely.

So, now to add to my sorting of clothes by color and style, I have all white hangers for my tiny closets. Now I just need a shoe rack and a bar extender....

And in other, totally unrelated, news, I went to the farmers' market on Sunday and there was this man. In a lettuce hat.

That is all.

Randomness

2010-08-10T23:03:00.000-07:00

Here is a bunch of random updates for your enjoyment (or for you to ignore, either way)...

- Turns out most of our things are still in Germany. Did you read that? Still. In. GERMANY. 2 months later. Sigh. That's the story I'm given anyway. For all I know, maybe it's here...

- Our unaccompanied baggage has been sitting on the flight line for 4 weeks because someone wrote the wrong name on the paperwork. No joke. Finally complained to the right person (not anyone in the military) who went to the right official and offered the right thing. Magically it was released in 5 minutes. No joke. This entire PCS process has been incredibly wacky.

- In order to make myself feel better, more rugs have been purchased. 5 rugs in 5 weeks is a good rate I do believe. Jordan says I have to calm down now. Here are the latest additions...

- MyCAA has been conquered. I win! I have decided to take advantage of this last chance for me to get classes paid for, and I will be taking 9 hours this fall. Then my scholarships (Which, dear commenter I will not name, I got due to my extensive community service, including being on the BOARD of my spouses clubs, which I wrote thank you notes for. Thank you very much.) will be held until spring, where I will take 7 hours. That leaves just one class in the summer and I am done! No debt! Sah-weet!

- Two websites you need to know about:
Jennifer's Voice- A childhood friend of mine who was kidnapped 20 years ago yesterday. She survived a rape and attempted murder and has been working to find her attacker since. Last year he was arrested and brought to Texas. Sadly he committed suicide before he could be sentenced. She is amazingly strong and wrote a beautiful post about finding her voice despite what has happened.

My Military Concierge- If you live (or are moving) overseas this is an AWESOME site. You can find info, reviews, and great articles about all things overseas. The best restaurants on the economy, stores that ship to APOs, great weekend getaways, the best hairdressers. Basically, all the info you want, written by other mil spouses, in one place. No need for trial and error. If you live overseas, you can add your own reviews.

- Commenter Tara who was moving questions, can you email me? I'd love to help but your email is not attached with your profile. Gracias!

And that's all I've got for now!

Back in the Game

2010-08-03T21:24:00.000-07:00

So, instead of sitting around and whining about my stuff (which they still have yet to even locate), I decided it's time to start back with the workouts. Due to limited food options I am already cooking (yes, me, cooking- I almost fainted myself) at home more and eating out less. Now I just have to add in the exercise, so here is the plan...

Monday- Zumba (Zumba here is a good workout, but not traditional dancy Zumba. I miss dancy Zumba.)
Tuesday- Couch25K
Wednesday- Zumba
Thursday- Couch25K
Thursday- Weights
Friday- Couch25K
Saturday and Sunday- Couch2Bed :)

You can find info about Couch25K by clicking here. Basically, it gives you 8 weeks of workouts to scaffold you up to running a 5K. I figure all the runners I have seen look pretty fit, so I can give it a try. Of course, I'd rather not run, particularly in 105 degree heat (with a heat index of 120), but I tried on a bathing suit, and this booty needs to get moving!

Here's the playlist I enjoyed on my run yesterday...
Boom Boom Pow by Black Eyed Peas
Party in the USA by Miley Cyrus
Evacuate the Dancefloor by Cascada
Gossip Folks by Missy Elliott
I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles) by The Proclaimers
She Wolf by Shakira
See You Again by Miley (apparently I was having a Miley day...)
Defying Gravity by Glee Cast
Don't Stop Believing by Glee Cast

I know Jane and Mrs. Jetplane started Couch25K this week as well. Anyone else want to join?

Updates Just for You

2010-07-31T07:00:00.000-07:00

- Our things will most likely not be here for another month. The irony is a part of it is held up due to a mistake on the part of Jordan's old squadron. Thanks guys! (WAIT- I don't think I told you guys! We did get one crate. Guess what it was? All my teaching stuff! Not a single other item. Ah, Turkey.)

- We start Turkish language classes Tuesday. I can already count to five. Phonetically- beer, icky, ooch, dirt, besh. It still feels silly to say :)

- I have signed up to be on the board of the spouses club here. Yeah! I will be the welfare chair, which fits well with my OCD personality.

- Zumba starts back up this week! Yeah! I'm excited to go back to Europe to get certified in September. I think being a Zumba teacher will be so fun!

- As a thank you to all 500+ of you for reading even when my posts are boring and commenting even when I don't comment back, look for a giveaway this week!

- Need a blog makeover? My waiting list is open. Current turnaround time is less than a week! Makeovers start at just $30, and a portion of the proceeds go to military charities (Usually USO or WWP). Email me- bluestarblogs (at) gmail (dot) com for more info! Here is my latest design...

Getting Better

2010-07-27T22:08:00.000-07:00

First, thank you to all of you who responded to my post about MyCAA. Whether you agreed or not, MOST of you were able to state your case civilly. Thank you for sticking to the issues and sharing your thoughts. I am interested to see what happens with the program in the coming months.

In other news, I am continuing to adjust to life in Turkey. The constant sunshine is a welcome change, and we have been able to take 2 fun day trips. We still don't have our things. Wait, I take that back, we do have one crate, which contained only my teaching things. Lovely. Some of our baggage has been here almost 3 weeks and has yet to clear customs. Our car is waiting on the same thing. Luckily our trips to Adana and Kizkalesi have made me feel better.

Last weekend we went into the closest big town. (They even have a mall- with a Gap!) We took the Turkish bus (Dolmus, pronounced dole-moosh), which is more like a van, into town and did some walking around.

Yummy meat market. J said it was pretty gross.

One of the oldest Mosques in Turkey.

The big Mosque in town. Isn't it beautiful? I can't wait to go inside!

This past weekend we went on a boat trip on the Mediterranean. We started in a town about 1.5 hrs away, and stopped in little coves along the coast. It was really fun! If you come visit, we will take you on one of these!

Our cute boat for the day.

Jumped off the top of the boat and enjoyed a swim.

Glad I ordered the chicken!

Last stop, back in Kizkalesi (aka Castle in the Sea, appropriately)

Legend has it that this castle was built for the daughter of the owner of the castle on land. He was told his daughter would die from a snake bite, so he put her in the middle of the water. Too bad a snake was in a food delivery that came. She was bitten and died. So they say...

Inside the castle. The mosaic tiles are still there!

Us on the castle wall. The tan is coming back!

So that's what has been happening with us. If only we could get our things...

Testy Thursday- MyCAA

2010-07-22T09:47:00.000-07:00

As you may have seen in a previous post on paying for school, MyCAA is/was a program for military spouses looking for portable careers. I applied to this program, submitted my career plan, and started receiving funding. In the spring they halted new applicants until the program could be restructured, but still paid for those of us already in the program.

Now, it looks like the program is changing in a BIG way. The available funding is decreasing by $2,000, now offering only $4,000 with a cap of 2K per year. They are also limiting the eligibility to spouses of junior enlisted and officers, and limiting the programs funded to Associate's degrees and certifications. In my (not so) humble opinion, to enforce these new regulations on those already approved for funding is unfair, and the changes themselves are altogether unfortunate.

First, the program was designed to help spouses obtain careers (not vocations) that could be continued despite frequent moves with our service members. With the unemployment rate at an all time high, job competition is fierce. As mil spouses we already have a strike against us when applying for positions since the employer knows it is likely that we will move in the new future. Our resumes are cut into 2-3 year chunks of experience, and our positions are not always similar in nature, leading to a jumble of jobs to present to a prospective employer. And now you are telling us all we need to compete in the market is an Associate's degree or a certification? If your purpose is truly to help mil spouses be competitive, than we should be encouraged to seek the higher education necessary to compete in today's economy.

Second, many of us have been counting on this funding to finish our current course of study. While I personally have been lucky enough to have scholarship funding the last few semesters, I have planned for MyCAA to cover the last year of my studies. Even as an employed teacher married to a service member, paying for school is difficult, and the funding was the only thing that made it possible (no, I don't qualify for any federal aid, and we plan to use the GI Bill for our children). You have approved myself (and many others) for funding, and now, with a 3 month window of warning, you are taking it away. What about the Major's wife who needs to reenter the work force after having children? Is she not worthy of receiving funding just as much as I am? Those already approved for career plans should be able to finish out the remainder of their funding before being removed from the program.

I'm truly saddened that the powers that be have made this decision, and I hope as more outrage is expressed, the plan is altered to meet the needs of spouses, and not just the needs of a budget. It seems as if our government is spending billions on other handout programs while cutting a program that enables spouses of those who serve to find employment.

What are your thoughts?

The Truth According To Casey

2010-07-21T09:47:00.000-07:00

Here are things I have learned in the last week:

1. The Turkish way is half-ass while being very nice. Get used to it.

2. One can never have too many carpets.

My new rugs! Woo hoo!

3. Everyone on base will know me and all my business, maybe even before I will.

4. It is HOT!

5. Military wives make fast friends.

6. Not having a job is AWESOME. Anyone who tells you it sucks to take naps and go to the pool is a liar.

7. Coupons can save you lots of money, particularly if you have extra time (see above).

8. Having a gardener is super cool. Especially one that comes every day.

9. It is possible to get used to hearing the call to prayer 5 times a day.

10. Uniform purses, dogs, hugs, old people, and homeschool get on my nerves no matter what country I live in. (Sorry Mallory, Don't Hate Me!)

And as a bonus, one more of the new haircut since Sarah thinks my other pic was bad...

The House

2010-07-16T05:08:00.000-07:00

Here are some new videos to keep you entertained while you wait for an update about this lovely place :) Still waiting on our stuff to get in, and trying to get settled. At least we have internet now. Yeah! While you watch these, keep in mind that this was by far the best house we saw, and has carpet down that we added. Yes, this is "nice" compared to how we started. Also, there will be no saying, "that's what she said" at any point while you watch. And yes, I know I talk about the borrowed furniture 100 times, it's the PTHD (post traumatic house disorder).

Blog Design

2010-07-11T01:57:00.000-07:00

So in the midst of the craziness of the last few months a few VERY patient people have been waiting on me to finish their blog designs. I finished Stefanie's (at Household Sapper) yesterday and I loved it. She has some great information about Army life over there, so for those of you who speak that language, check it out! :) (Don't worry Jen and Jane, you are next!)

As for me, I'm still trying to get settled. Thank you guys so much for your encouraging words. Thank you for letting me throw a fit and not be all sunshine and roses. Sometimes you just needs friends that listen and don't tell you positive stuff to try and make you feel better. Sometimes you just want someone to say, "Wow, that totally sucks."

Anyway, I haven't seen my house in 3 days, and that's a good thing. We get the keys tomorrow and I will try to do some cleaning before they come lay carpet down. I found someone out in the alley to do wall to wall carpet, and I'm hoping that makes things a little better. I will also apply to paint the house, although it might take 2 years to get approved.

I have found a few good things the gym, library, and beauty shop all seem to be great. I got a manicure and pedicure for $20 yesterday, which is about 1/4 of the price of the same thing in Germany. I can get a (very good) blowout for $11. THAT is what I call a positive. I've also had several friends of friends Facebook me and offer to hang out, which is very nice. One wife took me around base and the alley on Friday, and I was very thankful for that. The other good news is that it looks like the Zumba teacher here is leaving in December, and they will need a replacement. I'm signing up for a certification class in Belgium in September so that means a trip to Germany to see friends and a fun job. Yeah!

And now for some more pictures...

The newer nicer housing, which we will not be in...

The neighborhood we are in...

The BX and Food Court...

Sarah and I before we moved (She's SUPER fun and NOT a loser!)..

And the new hair cut...

That's all for now. Pics of the lovely house tomorrow!

The New Place

2010-07-09T10:24:00.000-07:00

Let me start off by saying I am not (typically) a negative Nancy. I try to find the positives, tend to be optimistic even when I shouldn't be, and enjoy finding solutions to problems or process issues. This post does not fit with that description. You have been warned.

We made it to Turkey at 4am on Wednesday. (After a flight in which I was elbowed and kicked by a tubby Turkish/German kid for 4 hours and touched by people I didn't know. I HAVE A BUBBLE!) Since I wasn't on the NATO orders, we had a bit of a hassle getting me in the country, but they let me stay. Luckily someone from J's work was there to pick us up, and we headed to the base. Our hotel room was already set up and stocked with food. Little did I know that would be the only bright spot to my day. Let me give you the short version of what happened next-

- Lots of paperwork. Passport taken for 6 weeks. Lots of fees to pay.
- Found out there are less than 15 CGOs on base, friend prospects in same situation will be low.
- Sun came out, saw the village, not so hot.
- Looked like rain all day. Realized it's just pollution.
- Asked lots of people how the liked the base, got the answer, "Uhhhh. Well..."
- Went to BX. Can see everything in BX from front door. Everything.
- Went to housing. Before we looked at houses we were told that dead bugs were a positive sign, mold happens, and too bad so sad.
- Looked at house. Cried. Could (and still can't) believe the AF would allow families to live in this condition.
- Was told by Airmen driving us around, "I didn't realize officer housing was this bad." Punched him in the arm.
- Looked at 3 more places, picked the one with the least amount of roaches. No joke.

(I will add inside pics later, but this is the outside of a house like ours. Our part will be just the side. Where it gets taller is another house. You will just have to trust me when I say the inside will make you sick.)

- Signed up for $80/month internet.
- Cried and cried and cried about my house, missing my friends, missing my family, and pretty much everything.

Let's just say that this move isn't as easy as I thought it would be...

Living Out of Boxes

2010-07-02T14:35:00.000-07:00

We are now out of our house. Tear. After 3 years it really did feel like our house. For us, it was the first one we considered ours, as the first place we lived was a tiny apartment for a year before J commissioned. But THIS place, this place we painted, we decorated, we had people over- it was ours. I loved seeing the castle from our top balcony, I loved seeing my cat sitting in the window when I drove up, and I loved our town. (Excuse the oldness of the pics.)

One person I won't miss is the Doner man and his scary come-ons and rubby hand shakes. Oh wait, I'm moving to the land of doner! Oh crap!

Tomorrow we are squeezing in one more trip. Only 5 more wake-ups in Germany. Tear.

Thanks for sticking with me through my once a week boring posts. Can't wait to post more from Turkey. I'll do my best to be more interesting. :)

Goodbye to Europe!

2010-06-23T12:02:00.000-07:00

As our time in Europe comes to an end, I want to look back at the amazing places we have been able to see. I don't in anyway mean this as a bragging thing, but rather as a chance for me to look back on the last 3 years. If you are moving here- start it off right! Try to get into the habit of going somewhere every month and you won't regret it in the end. Our goal was 20 countries, and we met it! (And, in case you are curious, we met it while accumulating no debt, purchasing a house in the states, and saving a lot. Thanks Dave Ramsey!) We have loved our time in Europe, and traveling is one of the main reasons why!

Where have we been?

Germany: Berlin, Rothenburg, Fussen Castles, Rhine Castles, Mosel Castles, Krov, Koblenz, Heidelberg
Italy: Rome, Florence, Pisa, Lucca, Sienna, Venice, Cinque Terre, Sicily, Sardinia
France: Paris, Starsbourg, Metz, Forbach, Nice, Villa Franche
Spain: Barcelona, Mallorca
Ireland: County Kerry, Dublin, Wicklow Mountains
Egypt: Luxor, Aswan, Abu Simbel, Philae, Kom Ombo, Edfu
Greece: Mykonos, Patmos, Santorini
Belgium, Netherlands, Poland, Switzerland, Austria, Croatia, Slovenia, Portugal, England, Turkey, Monaco, Vatican City, Luxembourg

And in case you want to know...
My Favorite City: Paris
My Favorite Place: Santorini
My Favorite Trip: Egypt

J's Favorite City: Rome
J's Favorite Place: Santorini
J's Favorite Trip: Greece/Turkey Costa Cruise

Are you going one of these places? Want more info on what we did and where we stayed? Just let me know! I hope everyone enjoys Europe as much as we have. Hard to believe we only have 2 weeks left!

Not So Great

2010-06-14T01:40:00.000-07:00

I had many plans to post about my new gadget, smelly movers, and our time in Germany, but things have been turned upside down.

Yesterday we woke up to an email about my husband's Grandmother back in Texas. She had a sudden and massive stroke, and was on life support. Of course, we began doing anything and everything to get ourselves home. 3 hours later we had a Red Cross case number and were at the PAX terminal on base waiting for a flight. Since my husband works in the APS, they took very good care of us. His commander met us to sign paperwork and everyone pitched in to get it done quickly. 10 hours later we were in Charleston.

His grandmother was removed from life support while we were flying, and while we knew it would happen, it certainly doesn't make it any easier to hear. Losing a grandparent is tough, especially when it is out of the blue.

So now we are in Charleston (and I'm up at 4am, thanks jet lag) waiting to fly to Houston. With any luck we will make our quick connection in Atlanta and be in Texas by this evening.

We have been truly blessed throughout this process, from our sweet Air Force family to God's provisions allowing us to be ready and have all arrangements done in 2 hours.

Now, we are ready to be with family. Please pray for us and my husband's family as we deal with the loss.

The Easy Life

2010-06-07T05:31:00.000-07:00

After 3 years (and 20 countries, more on that later) of busy traveling, we were looking forward to a weekend of relaxing, especially since the husband was gone for a month and the movers were coming the day after we got back! We looked up cheap tickets (Ry@n Air of course) and saw that we could visit Portugal for next to nothing. Add that to a Rick Steves (our fave guidebooks, politics not included) recommendation of Salema, a small fishing village on the coast, and we were off!

The town really was tiny. It only took 10 minutes to walk from end to end, and by the 2nd day, we knew everyone! No ATMs and only one internet place that was open whenever they felt like it. We were disconnected from the world and it was NICE! We stayed in the house on the right with the pink balcony. At 35 euros a night for a room with an ocean view, Portugal was so much less expensive than other places we have been! It didn't take us long to change into our suits and head to the beach...

The beach was perfect, very clean and quiet. The water was like an ice bath, so we didn't get in, but we enjoyed our time in the sun. We spent the next day doing the same thing. Trying to catch up on all the sun we have missed living in Germany! Of course we did have to stop and eat...

Me with no make up and a lovely sunglass tan line.

Mmmm. Sangria.

We spent some time walking around the town and enjoying being together with nothing on our to-do lists!

We even saw the fisherman bringing in their catch of the day in clay pots. The octopus go in the pots thinking it is a shelter, then the fisherman pull them up and use bleach to extract them. Once they bring them in you can go an buy one. All you need is a plastic bag to take it home. Ew!

On our last full day we headed into the larger town of Lagos (on the way back to the airport) and signed up for a boat tour of the grottos along the coast. We found the boat and waited for other people, but none came! We had a private tour (with Sangria!) for just 15 euro. Amazing. It was just perfect!

It was a wonderful trip. It was pretty hard to come back knowing the (smelly) movers were coming the next day. Overall, I highly recommend Portugal (Algarve region) for a nice relaxing trip. I came back with a magnet AND a tan, how can you beat that?

Back From the Dead...

2010-06-06T09:49:00.000-07:00

So in the last week I have...
- Packed out our HHG (household goods, aka all our stuff)
- Shipped our car
- Finished a 3 week grad class (with an A!)
- Gone to Portugal
- Eaten out every single day

I have not...
- Blogged
- Done blog designs
- Accomplished anything on my to do list

So before I post all about this...

Let me finally announce the winner of the US or Military flag! The winner is....
Stephanie!!!
Congrats Stephanie! Email me your address and your final flag choice and your prize will be on its way!

Now it's time to get busy on some designs for some VERY patient people!

Fly Your Flag

2010-05-26T04:38:00.000-07:00

With Memorial Day just around the corner (Can it be almost June already?!), it is important that we take time to remember all of those who have given the ultimate sacrifice. Just last week a soldier from this area was killed in Afghanistan, and the community has really been affected. As military wives, we get it, we see the lasting effects on the lives of those in our community, as well as those who have lost a loved one long ago. No one is ever fully prepared for that knock at the door.

To honor our Veterans, and the country they gave their lives for, what better way than by flying an American flag? What, you don't have one? We'll that's not okay! Want to win one? Here's what you need to do...

- Comment telling me how you plan to show your American pride for Memorial Day for one entry.
- Follow for two entries.
- Blog or add to your sidebar for three. (Leave a link please!)
- Leave SEPARATE comments telling me which one(s) you have done.
- Check back on Memorial Day to see if you won!

The winner will be able to choose an American flag or a military flag from CVS flags, and it will be delivered right to your house. Plus, with CVS flags you know that the flag you are flying is made in the US! No "Made in China" sticker on your flag!

Good luck!

Moving Along...

2010-05-22T21:45:00.000-07:00

Well, I must have talked to the right people at some point because things finally got started, and now it's full steam ahead. The husband is still TDY, but lucky for him he purchased some presents for me from J Crew and Target, which should help me hit him a little softer for being gone during all this fun.

I have our plane tickets reserved, billeting on both sides, movers scheduled, phone/internet/elec shut off scheduled, cat appointment made, housing application sent, post office box acquired, and all sorts of other stuff. Of course it is all organized neatly in a binder, which I highly recommend.

So now the house is a complete disaster as I get things pre-packed for the movers who come in a week! (Yes, I clean before my cleaning lady comes as well. Stop judging.) I figure doing a little more work on this end helps it to be easier moving into the new place, and personally I'd rather have it easier on the other side. Trying to learna new culture, meet new friends, and adjust to a new place is enough to handle on its own.

Here are some things I do to get ready for the movers as we PCS...

-All linens are washed and placed into large ziploc bags so they are clean upon arrival. Throwing in a dryer sheet helps them stay nice and fresh.
-Anything not going with the movers (and the cat) is placed in a room with the door closed so it doesn't get packed by accident!
-I photograph all items worth over 100 dollars to prove the condition they were in pre-move.
-I write down any item that might walk away, such as DVD titles, electronic serial numbers, etc.
-All items needed to put together furniture go in a small clear box, and are put in with linens. I mark this box so it can be opened first at the new house.
-I seperate all my pro gear into same colored containers so there is no need to unpack it at the new place until I get a job. (Did you know spouses get a pro gear allowance?)
- I print labels (or get some from Vistaprint) that have our address on them, as well as labels to show what room the items should go in on arrival.
- I drink a lot of wine.

Please don't tell me about all the stuff you don't have to stress about with your wonderful DITY move and how you have you stuff right away without waiting 2 months. I will kick you in the shin.

---
As a side note, I apologize for not being a good commenter or blog designer lately. I promise I am still reading and working, but with all this, working full time, interning, and taking an intense 3 week class, I'm barely keeping my head above water. I can't wait until June 11th!

Dependency

2010-05-14T09:40:00.000-07:00

–noun, plural -cies.

1. the state of being dependent; dependence.

Don't you love being a dependent? Yeah, it's real fun. Well, to tell the truth, most of the time I don't mind it. As long as things get done, I don't notice it. HOWEVER, when it comes to getting the sticky stuff done, it really sucks being the "dependent."

Am I dependent? Are we dependent? Let's see, we handle deployments, TDYs, last minute schedule changes, single parenting, lonely nights, remote tours, countless moves, and still manage to set up a home, find friends, contribute to our families, and help our husband's with their careers. I highly doubt if most non-mil wives I know could handle all the craziness that comes with being a "dependent."

And yet, while I (we) am able to accomplish all of that (and still wear cute shoes), I am obviously not capable of setting up things for our move by myself. My husband has to email permission (since a POA isn't enough) for me to do anything. What is with that? Is he my Dad? I try to set up appointments and make plans, but it takes an active duty member with the right number of stripes or a pretty set of wings to get things pushed through. Heck, even at the auto skills shop it took Jordan coming in for them to start using car terminology. Obviously, to the base my identity and function level is dependent on my husband. I simply exist.

So why is it that we (as mil wives) are capable of much, yet in the eyes of the military are capable of handling nothing alone?

I may be a "dependent", but I am certainly not dependent.

And the winner is...

2010-05-12T13:10:00.000-07:00

Sarah! Congrats Sarah, as entry 10, you win a copy of Susan Wiggs' The Ocean Between Us!

Email me your address within 24 hours so we can get the book on it's way to you! (bluestarblogs (at) gmail (dot) com)

(Thanks for being patient. Apparently by "the winner will be drawn Monday" I meant Wednesday. We FINALLY got orders and now with the husband TDY it's up to me to get it all done! Yeah!)

Not Just Another Mil Spouse Book

2010-05-07T14:34:00.000-07:00

Did you know today is military spouse appreciation day? (And it was teacher appreciation week!) I hope my fellow mil spouses out there are feeling appreciated. My husband said to me tonight, "Get off your butt and cook dinner. How's that for spouse appreciation. Boo ya!" I only wish I was kidding you. Of course he got a kick in the shin for that one. He's lucky that was so out of character that I laughed. He's also lucky he is going TDY tomorrow. Punk. :)

Anyway, I feel lucky that today I get to share an awesome mil spouse book with you guys. I was recently sent a copy of The Ocean Between Us by Susan Wiggs to check out. You know I love to read, and this book was no different! I have read another by the same author before and really enjoyed it, so I was excited to read her take on the craziness that is a military marriage. If you haven't read a Wiggs book yet, or if you like mil fiction, you should check it out. It's a page turner, I promise!

As a bonus I was also able to do an interview with Susan to find out even more about her and why she wrote this book. As a future librarian, you know I totally geeked out about this. Here's how it went. Please notice how calm, cool, and collected I manage to be...

CC: In Home Before Dark you pulled me in with your story in the Texas Hill Country, and with The Ocean Between Us, you clearly illustrated the sacrifices of a military wife. What do you do to make the stories and characters so authentic? How do you immerse yourself in the topics?

SW: I am endlessly fascinated by people and places. Everyone’s life seems so much more interesting than mine! This probably makes me tune in to people’s emotions and issues, finding the most dramatic way to weave them into fiction. This usually means making things sharper and more extreme than they might be in real life—and the resolution in fiction tends to be less ambiguous. I also read tons of self-help books. The good ones bring up real human issues, and show positive solutions for resolving them.

CC: I see you have lived all around the world. How has that changed you as a person and a writer?

SW: I was never tied by deep roots to a particular community, so it probably made ties with family and friends more important. I also missed all the TV shows of the 1970s while overseas—I suspect I’m better off for it! My lack of roots might be one reason I really play up the nostalgia angle in some of my books, particularly the Lakeshore books, set in a small, tight-knit community.

CC: Do you have a favorite travel destination for writing inspiration?

SW: Um, my patio? Seriously, I am incredibly lucky to live in one of the most gorgeous, dramatic spots on earth. The water and mountain views are incredibly inspirational to me. Here are some shots of an aircraft carrier passing by—no wonder I loved my Navy family in THE OCEAN BETWEEN US! http://picasaweb.google.com/JayandSusanWiggs/CarrierJohnStennisPassingBy#

CC: How were you first inspired to write about the complex world of military marriages?

SW: I was inspired by a writer friend, Geri Krotow, who is a beloved author for Harlequin. What readers might not know about her is that she is a graduate of the US Naval Academy at Annapolis, a former intelligence officer, and currently a Navy officer’s wife. She was generous enough to open her world to me when she was stationed on Whidbey in Washington, and later, Naples. My characters are purely fiction, but I tried to ground them in the world I explored through Geri.

CC: You have written more than 40 novels, spanning a number of different genres. Do you have a favorite genre to write? Do you have a favorite novel that you have written?

SW: Yikes, that’s like asking which chocolate in the Godiva box is my favorite! I have to be in love with a book because it dominates my work life for six months to a year. Each one demands a high level of passion from the writer. That said, The Ocean Between Us is definitely a favorite because of amazing people I met while writing that book—Navy wives, officers, sailors, pilots—everyone was so welcoming and helpful.

CC: I see you are a former teacher from Texas who loves to travel, take pictures, and loves to read. It seems as if we have a lot in common! Do you ever miss teaching? Do you ever miss Texas? (Please notice how I didn't beg her to be BFFs here. Totally calm, cool, and collected)

SW: I miss both. Teaching is one of the most demanding, creative and under-appreciated professions there is. And Texas—I miss the friends I made there, so long ago. And Tex-Mex food. Who wouldn’t miss that?

CC: Is there anything else my fellow military wives and I should know about you and/or your novels?

SW: Just that I have the greatest respect for them and their sacrifices on behalf of our country. I hope I did them justice in The Ocean Between Us. And I’m sorry about getting the commissary and dispensary mixed up.

CC: Thank you for the opportunity to preview your new paperback release of The Ocean Between Us. I look forward to downloading The Story of Us (the prequel to The Ocean Between Us) very soon!

How cool was that? Okay, well I thought it was cool. You should too! You know what else is cool???

You can win a copy of The Ocean Between Us! No kidding! Then you will probably want to beg Susan to be BFFs too, but remember, I was first. So, if you want to win...

1. Comment with the title of your fave book for 1.

2. Follow for 2. (Make sure to let me know you follow!)

That's all! Incomplete entries won't be counted, so make sure you follow the rules. Also, if you do win, you have to contact me within 24 hours. The winner will be chosen Monday, May 10th.

Full Disclosure: I received a copy of the book to read. And a bajillion dollars. Okay, maybe not the last part.

In-Between

2010-05-02T13:15:00.000-07:00

So you come to the point where you are no longer here...

But you aren't quite here...

What is there? How do you manage to be fashionable without looking like a 12 year old or an old lady? Well, I suppose there is J. Crew, but, I don't know about you guys, but that's not in my budget. Ann Taylor and Gap are typical favorites, but I must say I was recently pleasantly surprised by one store I have over looked in the past...

Guess where all those are from? Talbots! No kidding! With a much more affordable price tag than J. Crew (but with the same quality), Talbots is actually a new favorite. Their fall preview was just as cute. (See their blog for pics.)

Are you as surprised as I am?

Eventually..

2010-04-27T04:37:00.000-07:00

So I promise to eventually get back to regular posting and emailing. I'm hoping to turn in my last big paper today. Then I have a few weeks of chilling before a crazy three week course, and then a break for the summer. I can't wait!

Basically right now my life it consumed with PCS stuff (of course the husband would be going TDY during the pack out and car shipment), grad school, and work. I'm so ready for a break! One break that is happening soon is our last vacation from Europe. In May we are heading to Portugal and I can't wait! How cool will that be? 4 days of hanging out on the beach and it's gonna be nice! Then it's back to craziness for a bit. Oh well. Am I even making sense? Probably not.

I posted our Florence pics 9 years ago but forgot about blogging the rest of the trip. We also went to Siena (a favorite), Lucca, and Pisa. Here are some pics...

Town Square in Siena

Cathedral (Duomo) in Siena

View from the top.

(There will be no pics of me from Siena as I was forced to wear denim on denim due to the cold. There is no way I will share that atrocity with others.)

Cathedral in Lucca- Beauitful outside, odd inside

Pisa Duomo and Baptistery

Luckily Jordan was able to help hold things in place.

Bye Pisa!

Italy was beautiful as always. I'm glad we got to see as much as we did.

Thanks for being patient with my non-blogging!

PCS Medical Check

2010-04-21T12:16:00.000-07:00

Perhaps I shouldn't have laughed when they told my husband he had to get a shot, because after that, they told me I had to get 2.

Tetanus shots make me want to cut my arm off.

That is all.

Florence

2010-04-19T12:36:00.000-07:00

Last Saturday we hopped a RyanAir flight to Florence. (RA, if you don't already know, is the super cheap and super crazy way to fly within Europe. While I don't enjoy everything about it, I do like that it is cheap enough to make more trips possible.) We met some friends there that we have traveled with before, took the long route to our hotel, and rushed over to take a bike tour.

But first we stopped at a sandwich shop crowded with Italians. (That's always a good sign, right?) Turns out for 5 euro you can get a yummy sandwich and a glass of wine. Love!

Then we toured around the city. Not the best city for biking, but we saw a lot.

See how warm that day looks? Me in my dress with no jacket and everything! The next day, not so much. It was rainy and FREEZING. All I brought was sandals, 1 jean jacket, and dresses. I was forced to buy some new clothes and shoes to ward off frostbite. So sad. :)

And of course there was a ton of eating! At one pizza place the guy has 3 pizza choices for the day. We got there 1 minutes before it opened to get in line for a table, sat where he told us, and waited to order. Of course, Jordan had to try to order something not on his (spoken) menu. I thought we were gonna get kicked out. He was just like the soup nazi from Seinfeld!

Then there was a little more sightseeing (including David, but of course no pics of that!)...

All in all, a fun time in Florence with friends!

Next it was off to Sienna!

I'm Back!

2010-04-14T23:35:00.000-07:00

And I have good news...
The tower didn't fall down on my watch!

More later...

Drowning

2010-04-08T12:16:00.000-07:00

(No I haven't gone on vacation yet. Soon. Very soon.)

Some days I honestly feel like I am drowning. Working full time, 6 hours of grad school, and trying to have a life- some days it's just too much. I can't wait until I can focus on school, and not the kind with psycho parents. I can't wait until I can actually enjoy evenings at home with my husband instead of falling asleep as soon as I finish dinner. I can't wait until I don't have to post discussion posts about dumb stuff with people who have no idea about life outside of their bubble. I can't wait until I can relax. Ugh.

Why did I ever let you guys talk me into working and going to school at the same time? ;)

I need a vacation!

Weekend Trips

2010-03-31T09:15:00.000-07:00

Did I mention we went out of town the weekend before last? Well, we did. We went to Rothenburg. For me, this was visit number 4. For Jordan, the first. It was nice. Same as the last 3 times...

Then this past weekend we went to a place neither of us had ever been, the castles! You know the ones you think of when you think of Germany? Like this...

And this...

And maybe even this, but probably with all the spring flowers we didn't see...

We enjoyed our time together.

We REALLY enjoyed the views and the whole trip in general!

Things we learned...
1. Ludwig was totally gay and in love with the composer Wagner.
2. Paying 70 euro for a tank of gas when the Esso machine goes down really sucks.
3. Everyone in Germany (except us) likes to ski.
4. We are totally blessed to live in a place that lets us take weekend trips like this.
5. When they won't let you take pictures and you try to get a sneaky one, it will turn out like this...

Next weekend it's off to Tuscany!

Moovin' Monday Final Week

2010-03-29T12:00:00.000-07:00

Remember...
1. No fast food!
2. Workout at least 3 times!
3. Link up!
See our past entries here.

Well, it's finally here. The final week! Although, it's not like I stuck with it and this week I get to do something different. My plan is to try to stick to the same routine for the next few months.

This week I did fairly well, but not great. I worked out 3x, and ate fast food twice. I didn't make good choices either, Dr. Peppers, large fries, you know, the works. Blah. I'll blame it on PMS and laziness.

This week I'm back on the wagon...
Monday- Tacos
Tuesday- Zumba, Protein Shake
Wednesday- Uh, I'll be honest, Burger King.
Thursday- Cardio, Zumba, Protein Shake
Friday- Cardio Shopping :), Chicken
Saturday- 30 Day Shred, Spaghetti
Sunday- No More Trouble Zones, ?

As you can see we eat the same thing every week. I need a chef.

And now the fun stuff...new clothes! I ordered some work out pants from Target and they are GREAT!!!

They are the best pants ever. Wonderful length, perfect thickness, just right rise on the hips. Love love love! Plus, they come in petite and tall. Get some!

And now, you know what time it is...

Ah, Kindergarten

2010-03-24T05:17:00.000-07:00

- "Sometimes you are scary like this. You know, like when you make your face wrinkly and your eyes go like this? Yeah, sometimes you are mad and scary."

- "When I went to a sleep over I had a whole can of soda. I didn't even need to go to the bathroom that night though, cause God holded by bladder."

- I was teaching a lesson on the good Samaritan last week and trying to relate it to how we can be a good neighbor to others. I used the example of a person on the street asking for money. To which one of my students replies, "Oh yeah. I've seen them on my game Vice City. Them and those girls that walk."

- On Monday, I pointed out a mistake a student made on a paper, to which she replies, "What the?!"

- Yesterday I was cleaning up bubbles on the students' tests today and found a booklet with 2 pages stuck together...with a booger.

- And today...

Ah, Kindergarten never fails to entertain.

Moovin' Monday Week 4

2010-03-22T12:26:00.000-07:00

Remember...
1. No fast food!
2. Workout at least 3 times!
3. Link up!
See our past entries here.

Sorry for the delay. Work was a little nuts. I kind of flipped a lid when some things weren't taken care of. So I went to tan to make it better (I know. Skin cancer is bad, but German winters are worse.) and then I took a nap. Moving on...

Well, I finally have some good news! I am VERY proud of myself for last week. I will say that I did have Burger King, but only once. And listen to this- I got a SMALL fry and a SMALL DIET COKE. (In case you would like to judge, I usually get a king size fry and dr. pepper. There. Judge away.) Plus, I worked out 4 times! I even woke up at 5:30 to work out. But only once, cause it sucked. I am also proud to say I am down about 5 lbs! Bonus! Does that tell you how much BK I was eating?

Alright, for the 5 of you left with me, here is my plan for this week...
Monday- Tacos
Tuesday- Zumba, Protein Shake
Wednesday- Chicken
Thursday- Zumba, Protein Shake
Friday- Spaghetti
Saturday- Jog, Eating Out in Bavaria
Sunday- Jillian's Super Psycho No More Trouble Zones, I Have No Clue

We are traveling again this weekend, so I will try to make good choices. We are going to pack sandwiches for Saturday's lunch so we don't eat fast food on the way!

What about you? Plans? Are you still sticking with it? Not too much longer! You can do it!

---
As a side note, in order to make this post longer and entertain those who could care less about food, can I be real with you? I know I may not be the quickest email person, but I do get back to you. While I may moderate comments, I do publish all of them that are not spam or full of name calling. WHY IN THE WORLD would another military spouse delete my comments asking for info for my PCS? And even delete the ones where I just say hello? If you lived somewhere that another blogger is moving, wouldn't you help them out? I know I would, and I do. Refusing to acknowledge someone exists is outright rude, and really shows that there are those spouses out there that give the rest of us a bad reputation. If you don't have time to answer, tell me that, but don't be a total ninny about it. Whatever.

Questions and Answers

2010-03-21T04:19:00.000-07:00

What do you eat for lunches everyday? What kind of protein shakes are you eating for dinner?
For lunch I usually have some type of Smart Ones meal, a salty snack (like organic pretzels) and a sweet snack (like sugar free pudding). Lunch has always been easy for me, dinner, well, not so much. The protein shakes after work outs are something the husband says builds lean muscle. If I am still hungry after one, I usually eat some other protein-y snack. Don't worry, I eat!

My husband and I took a Med. Cruise for our honeymoon...and Turkey was one of our favorites! Ephesus is amazing...be sure to visit there...amazing!
Already been! It is amazing, you are so right!

I have never tried the coke/wine combo but I will be next week. Did you say cherry coke or regular coke?
Regular coke and red wine. Yum! Other good combos- lemonade and beer, coke and beer, cherry coke and beer. Pretty much the Germans will drink anything involving wine or beer.

Are all overseas assignments 2 years for AF?
No, accompanied remote assignments, which is what we will be doing, are 2 years. These are places like Turkey, Korea, and the Azores. Overseas assignments for officers are typically 3 years. If you are Enlisted, I think you can stay up to 7 in one place!

Can you get an address at your new duty station before you move and MPS all of the liquids you don't use? Why use all your stuff before you move?
Yes, I can certainly mail and/or ship all of this. The idea is not to get rid of it before I move, just to try to drop some extra weight. So, instead of buying new products (which I do way too much), I am trying to use only what I have and use up what I can. No need to carry so much with us if I can use it first!

I'm an Army wife who just moved to Germany, and I would love to see more about you did for storage, etc.
Great idea! I will work on a post about just that! Thanks!

---
Have any more questions? Let me know or email me!

Enjoy the rest of your weekend...

Why?

2010-03-18T13:05:00.000-07:00

A fellow mil-spouse, a blogger, a Moovin' Monday buddy, and an all around great gal has lost her husband this week in Afghanistan. If you haven't already, will you please go offer your words of support? We all dread the knock on the door, and Mrs. P was one of the unlucky few to receive it. Let's let her know she is not alone...

A Little Pink in a World of Camo

Moovin' Monday Week 3

2010-03-15T08:20:00.000-07:00

Remember...
1. No fast food!
2. Workout at least 3 times!
3. Link up!
See our past entries here.

Sorry I'm late getting to it this week. I had a doctors appointment this morning (Surprise! I have a deviated septum. Oh joy!) and errands to do until now. So, while dinner is cookin' in the crockpot (Thanks Jane for the yummy recipe!) I will post Moovin' Monday!

I must admit to an epic fail on my eating this week. I made it 3 weeks without fast food. This is huge. I did well until this weekend. I chose a salad at Chilis on Friday, but then chichen tenders and fries Saturday, and...... McDonalds Sunday. I know, I know. I suck. Kick me in the shin. Twice. Other than that I worked out 3 times, but not 4 like I wanted to.

You know how they say when you stop eating soemthing like fast food you won't like it anymore when you do eat it? They lie. Those french fries were stinking amazing. Moving on.

This week it's back on the horse...

Monday- 30 Day Shred, Tortilla Soup
Tuesday- Snacks at Book Club
Wednesday- 30 Day Shred, Leftovers
Thursday- Zumba, Protein Shake
Friday- 30 Day Shred, Chicken
Saturday- Lots of walking on a day trip, Pizza (Don't judge. Different zip code. Doesn't count.)
Sunday- No More Trouble Zones, Tacos

So what about you? Did you do amazing this week or did you fall off the wagon? We were missing some peeps last week. Did you drop out after week 1?

Don't forget to link up, but make sure to link to your post about Movvin' Monday. No post? I'll have to remove your link. Sorry. :(

Starting the Process

2010-03-13T08:45:00.000-08:00

About a month or so ago, knowing we were heading into a PCS this summer, I started getting ready. One of my biggest projects has been getting rid of excess weight (and not just the kind in my thighs). On a particularly thoughtful day, I came to realize I have too many clothes. Is it possible? Oh yes, it is. We have no closets (epic fail Germany, epic fail) so we have shrunks and garment racks to replace them. Of the five we have, I fill up four. And a dresser. Oops.

So the plan was/is, wear it all. I am forcing myself to wear every item in my winter wardrobe (and will repeat for the warmer weather items should it ever stop snowing). If I REALLY don't want to wear it, it has to go. Simple as that. If I won't wear it when I am making myself, chances are I shouldn't have it.

I have been pretty good with it, repeating a top only once. I kind of feel like this junior high drama teacher I had, not wearing the same thing twice.

So far I have worn all this...
(Please keep in mind these are winter tops only. Imagine shrunks and drawers just like this for pants and skirts, and summer shirts. Sigh.)

But still need to wear this...

And I have tossed this (plus a bag of things given to a friend's daughter)...

Oh yeah, and I'm also working on using up all of this...

But that's gonna be a long process.

So, what do you do to get ready for a move?

Speaking of Moving...

2010-03-10T11:25:00.000-08:00

WE GOT OUR ASSIGNMENT! (Those of you that are Facebook friends, act surprised, okay?)

It looks like you will have to put up with my travel stories a little longer because we are headed to....

Turkey!!!!!

The good news?

- I am already used to all things living overseas. For example: AFN, not using pennies, Burger King only, humming transformers, 2 kinds of currency, not speaking the language, smelly people, etc.

- We will get to travel more. Less than an hour away from the Med. coast? Yes, I'll have that. Other places to see? More of Greece, Istanbul, Jordan, etc.

- No more dang snow!

- Jobs are hard to find. (Yes, this is a good thing. Ha!)

- They have a real live Starbucks on base.

- I can say I have lived on 3 continents in the last 5 years.

- I'll get to go with my parents on a cruise (yes, again) to visit the places Paul traveled.

- SHOPPING! Oh, heaven. Fake purses, cheap rugs, lots of jewelry, piles of pashminas. Loves.

- Our closest big city looks like this...

The bad news?

- Our neighbors will be Syria, Iraq, Iran, and Georgia. Uh, not so friendly.

- Jordan has to deploy. Boo.

- We have to live on base. (Maybe this will be good?)

- Still no Target or Chick Fil A.

- Have to make new friends and find things to do.

Anyway, we move this summer and will be there for 2 years. Can't wait!

Moovin Monday Week 2

2010-03-08T04:27:00.000-08:00

So I'm moovin kind of slow today, but at least I'm moovin, right?

If you are just joining us, Moovin' March is my way to shake off the winter blues (and the winter pounds). It's been a long snowy winter and it's time to get moovin' again! (You know, so we don't look like cows. Albino cows.) So, what do you have to do?

1. Say no to fast food.
2. Say yes to exercise (3x a week or more).
3. Grab a button, link up, and check in!
That's it!

So last week I continued to do well with my eating. No fast food! (This makes 2 weeks!) I also went to my Zumba classes. However, I am sad to say that I only managed to get in 2 workouts. My problem is when I work and workout I am tried ALL WEEK LONG! I can't seem to find energy. Most people say working out helps, but it makes me more tired! Ideas? Please help!

This week, the plan is to get in 4 workouts to make up for my suckage last week. My dinners and workouts this week will be...
Monday- 30 Day Shred, Chicken
Tuesday- Zumba, Protein Shake
Wednesday- Tacos
Thursday- Zumba, Protein Shake
Friday- Pasta
Saturday- Weights and Cardio, Salad
Sunday- Baked Potato
I am also going to try using a food journal. (Thanks to whoever linked this last week. It's great!)

Alright, now it's your turn! How did you do last week? What is your plan for this week? Link it up!

Ooo La La!

2010-03-08T01:15:00.000-08:00

Check out my interview at Candace's lovely site...

The Down Side

2010-03-03T03:58:00.000-08:00

I love teaching. Love it. Yes, even when the kids drive me nuts. Yes, even when the hours are long. I love being able to say that I made a difference in the lives of at least 38 children. I take pride in the fact that I have taught them how to read and write, a skill that will last them a lifetime.

However, there is a downside to all that fun. Any guesses? If you said parents, you would be right! As a disclaimer, some parents are wonderful. I still keep in touch with parents from four years ago, and I have had wonderful experiences with parents so great I hope to one day be like them. But there is always one. At least.

This year I happen to have a particularly challenging time. Honestly, I don't know what one could hope to gain by LAUGHING when their students says they got in trouble at school. Do you really think that laughing when they cheat is beneficial to anyone? And getting in my face in front of your children? Really? I mean, if you want to fight this battle, by all means, let's go. I (a TRAINED professional) am trying to do what is best for your kid and their future. You, on the other hand, are doing what is most convenient for you. I don't get it. I really don't. I can only recommend you getting services so many times before I scream. Seriously. Your child is going to get teased because you are too lazy to help. Does that sit well with you?

Anyway, thank you to all parents out there who make an effort to support and work with the teachers of your children. To those of you who make it your mission to be a thorn in the side of the school, listen up:

You will get a reputation. Everyone in the school will know you and will dread having your kids. Is that what you want?

If it is, maybe you should just consider homeschool. That way you will always like the teacher.

Moovin' Monday Week 1

2010-02-28T12:41:00.000-08:00

Alright, well, here it goes, my first Moovin' Monday! Remember the plan is to say no to fast food and yes to working out for the month of March. Technically, this is my 2nd week, but I will post it as week 1 for continuity's sake. (I will say, "real" week 1 went really well for me. I did 3 workouts and had no fast food! Yeah for me!)

My Plan for Week One-
Monday- Grilled Chicken for Dinner
Tuesday- Zumba class, Protein Shake for dinner
Wednesday- 30 Day Shred, Salad for dinner
Thursday- Zumba class, Protein Shake for dinner
Friday- Pasta for dinner
Saturday- Walk/Jog, Tortilla Soup for dinner
Sunday- Tortilla Soup leftovers

So I have my meals and workouts planned. No room for naps or fast food! This past Saturday I went to a Zumba trial class at the base gym. It was so much fun! I can't wait to keep going. It was a great cardio/abs/arm workout. I will try to add in weights another day since I won't get those there.

Suggestion of the Week: Do you have a pedometer? I do! I know when I wear it and really think about getting my 10,000 steps in I notice myself thinking about moving more. If you don't already have one, there is a great idea for you to try!

Now it's your turn! Grab the button, post your plan, and link up with us! Can't wait to see what your plan is for week one!

Attention!

2010-02-28T01:01:00.000-08:00

Family of 4 On The Move-
I got your message regarding blog design, but I have no email for you, and for some reason I am unable to comment on your blog. Email me- bluestarblogs at gmail dot com

Thanks!

PS- Thanks to all who signed up for Get Moovin' March! Our first Moovin' Monday post will be our plan for week 1. What days are you planning to work out? What meals are you going to make so you can avoid fast food? What are your goals for the month? Let us know! When you post don't forget to include the button, then come to my blog to link up (McLinky will be up tomorrow.) so we can all see what you are planning! Thanks again!

30 Day Challenge

2010-02-26T23:31:00.000-08:00

So somehow all my pants shrank this winter. Over the course of this sunless, super cold, very snowy winter, my pants became much smaller. Did it have something to do with me curing my SAD (seasonal affective disorder) with Burger King? Maybe. Whatever.

Side note: Yes, I am aware of how gross BK actually is, and in fact, in the states I NEVER at there. But desperate food times call for desperate measures. When you have no other choices, you do things you thought you never would. IE- Eat BK twice a week and enjoy it.

So starting from last Sunday until April (technically more than 30 days, I know) there will be no fast food. Not a single day. There will also be exercise, at least 3-4 days a week. So far, I have made it a week, and I am very proud of myself. I have been doing the 30 Day Shred and trying to eat better for dinner (my other meals have always been healthy). Today I'm trying out a Zumba class that sounds like fun.

All that being said, I need your help! Keep me accountable. Check in and ask me how its going. Yell at me if I mess up. Tell me I am a big heifer cow! (Before you send me a nasty email, I know I am not actually a heifer. I know that I am not fat. It's a joke. Calm down.) I figure it will go better with support. Which gives me an idea... (Literally, just now, mid post.)

Who wants to join me? We can call it Get Moovin' (You know, cause I'm a heifer) March! Each Monday we can post for Moovin' Monday and say how we did for the week. Then at the end of the month, we can see what the results are!

Here's the skinny:

1. Put the button on your blog or in your posts.

2. Commit to cutting out fast food for the month.

3. Commit to exercising in some form 3+ days a week.

4. Post your progress each Monday and link up on my blog.

Easy enough? Comment on this post to join me in shaking the winter pounds. (Starting Monday, you will link up with a MckLinky instead!) Don't make me do this alone!!

Book Review: One Thousand White Women

2010-02-22T10:31:00.000-08:00

Admittedly, I am a sucker for historical fiction. It is easily my most favorite genre (with speculative fiction being my least), and I was excited to read this book for my next book club meeting.

One Thousand White Women by Jim Fergus is the fictional account of 1,000 brides being sent to live in the west at the request of the great Cheyenne Indian chief Little Wolf in exchange for an equal number of horses. The idea was that the generation created from the union of these brides and their Indian husbands would lead to assimilated tribes and an era of peace between the two cultures. The government recruited the women for this top secret program from prisons, insane asylums, and other areas looked down upon by mainstream society. One of these women was May Dodd, a lady from a well to do family that had been committed for her continued promiscuity. She has fallen in love with a lower class man, moved in with him, and had his children, all without being married. In an attempt to escape the dreadful asylum life, May signed up for the program. Along with the other women, the brides were then taken across the country to meet their new husbands. You can imagine what difficulty these brides faced as they attempted to assimilate into the new culture, and what shock they had as the American government threatened to attack tribes who refused to camp on reservations.

The premise of the novel is so different from anything else I have read, and I was easily sucked in to the story line. I found myself looking forward to reading more each night, wanting to know what happened to May and her friends as they lived among the savages.

While reading through some negative Amazon reviews, it seems that those who didn't enjoy the book failed to remember that it is a work of fiction, and therefore, historical accuracy is not the key element. Honestly, I think they probably just make themselves feel better by bashing any popular work, claiming that those of us in feeble minded womens' book clubs should only read classics. Whatever.

Anyway, if you enjoy historical fiction, I think you will enjoy this story from the times of the gold rush. I found it to be a great read! Have any of you read it? What did you think?

Foggy London Town

2010-02-18T08:17:00.000-08:00

So this past weekend we got to add another country to our list (I think we are at 19 for our time here!) by heading to London! We have friends from our current base that now are stationed in the city so our trip was also a fun reunion/visit.

Since we had a 6am Ryan Air flight from Frankfurt Hahn, we stayed at a nearby hotel the night before. I HIGHLY recommend this to anyone with an early flight. We stayed at Land Hotel, and we also saw a nice place (with a restaurant that was very yummy!) called My Place. It's worth not having not drive early, plus, it includes your breakfast and your parking! Okay, on to the trip...

Since we were flying back Monday morning we only had 2 days, so we had to pack as much in as we could. We didn't even get to see all we had planned on, so we will just have to go back! After riding the tube to our friends' flat, we headed back out to the Tower of London.

It was crazy to think about all the people that lived there or were held there as prisoners. We even saw the house that was built for Anne Boleyn as a wedding gift. Too bad it took longer to build than she was able to stick around. They have a great tour that runs every hour and gives you a good overview. After the tour, you can go see the crown jewels, a very cool bonus stop. (FYI- The offer student and military discounts at most sites in London. Be sure to ask!)

Outer Walls

Cute little Yomen guy. These are the "keepers" of the tower that also give the tours. They have to have at least 22 years of military service to do this job.

Anne Boleyn's Wedding House

After the tour we headed over to see Wicked. I love musicals, and surprising, Jordan does too! Wicked was amazing, of course. Although I must say that I enjoyed the first half more than the second. I think it was the male lead that made me not like the second half. He was the understudy and was kind of a tool. Overall though, it was wonderful!

Inside the theater.

(And no, I am not wearing a beret. It's a head wrap thingy that is cute. It was COLD!)

After the show it was off to Harrod's (Amazing!) and then to the Texas Embassy. Our friends met us there and we had some surprisingly yummy Tex-Mex.

The next day we hit up Starbucks (4 times in 3 days!) and headed out to our Fat Tire Bike tour. We have done lots of bike tours, and this one was high up on our list of favorites. Our guide was informative and friendly. (Much unlike our tool of a guide in Barcelona.)

Jordan's Bike- Victoria Beckham

Kensington Palace (Dianna lived here.)

Buckingham Palace

Trafalgar Square

Westminster Abbey

Good 'ole Ben (The bell, that is.)

London Eye

Parliament

From the park. (I forget which park.)

After the bike tour it was time for Valentine's dinner with our friends. Our last three Valentine's Days have been out of the country in awesome cities (Paris, Venice, London). I am a lucky girl! After a very yummy pub dinner, it was on to a pub for drinks. This was a Gordon Ramsey pub. I had some yummy winter Pimms. Here we are outside the pub with our friends...

And then it was back to Germany. Bye London!

And we're back!

2010-02-16T01:50:00.000-08:00

We made it back safe and sound yesterday. What did we find? Snow, snow, and more snow. Dang groundhog. More on London later...

The Ever-Changing Life of a Military Wife

Could It Be? MORE Good News?!?!

More Good News!

New Job

Just in Time!

Ooops

I LOVE this stuff!

Winner!

Reminder!

Casey, M.S.

Back to School!

"I Hate Her Uterus"

What No One Tells You About IVF

Moving Moving Moving

Small Blog World

Making Deals

Congrats Cap'n

Cats and Dogs

Happy Un-Mother's Day

The Holy Land

Winner!!

I'm Back! (with a BONUS!)

IF- 1 Casey- 0

Need More Laughs

Egg Retrieval Can Be Funny

Here we go...

The Wall

Road Trippin'

Feeling Chilly?

The More You Know...

Thanks for Letting Me Share

Yee Haw!

The Good Life

Here

Snapfish Deals for YOU!

Seven Churches

Thanksgiving

Follow-Up Thoughts

Fair or Not?

Family

Shopping in Turkey

Christmas!!

Veteran's Day

Blog Design

Thankful

Shopping Tips

Germany vs. Turkey

And the winner is...

In the Footsteps of the Disciples

Think Pink Giveaway

Turkey Bloggers

Me? Cook? Are You Sure?!

AF Gala 2010

Cappadocia

Questions, questions

I'm Alive!

Updates

OCD Strikes Again

Randomness

Back in the Game

Updates Just for You

Getting Better

Testy Thursday- MyCAA

The Truth According To Casey

The House

Blog Design

The New Place

Living Out of Boxes

Goodbye to Europe!

Not So Great

The Easy Life

Back From the Dead...

Fly Your Flag

Moving Along...

Dependency

de·pend·en·cy [dih-pen-duhn-see]

And the winner is...

Not Just Another Mil Spouse Book

In-Between

Eventually..