Sweet Home...Colorado

I have been living in Colorado for the past 2 weeks (with one more to go) doing lovely AF things. It was an unexpected trip - I found out 6 days before I left! But my adventures here have been super fun. Not only do I get to do cool things at work, but I get to be a tornado survivor!

Last Saturday, I went to lunch with my grandparents friends and while we were at lunch, they noticed a funnel cloud (see above)...this eventually turned into a tornado and destroyed a mall - even flipping over a car! Since then, almost every day here has rained and thundered and lightninged. Some days the sun decides to say Hi and then super-big rainbows come out (see above).

Another HUGE perk of this gig is that Buckley AFB has no billeting (lodging) and no chow hall (foods) sooooo I get to stay in this really nice Marriott and drive a cool car. Usually people on these trips don't get a car and have to rely on other people to take them places, but not me! I went to the outlet mall and bought way too much things, and today I am going to walk around downtown Denver! Just 5 more days until I come home...which I am glad because I am starting to miss Hank...

~Stephanie

Summertime...

Woohoo! School is out! Only two more super lazy semesters left - I could graduate in December, but why try to hard? I decided to break up my last year of college into easy semester #1 and even easier semester #2.

I got a phone call today from my AF peeps about this PDT opportunity. Basically it's an expense paid vacation where you get to do AF stuff. The best part (besides perfectly placed between now and when I see Brad) is that I don't have to wear ANY uniforms! Is it weird that I haven't been active duty yet, but I am excited about not wearing uniforms?

Brad and I got our very first wedding gift the other day...it is a vacuum! I have always loved vacuuming, but I have broken the last few we have had so my momma got us one as an early present. She even got the 5 year warranty because of my bad karma...






And the finished product......













You can bet that I now have a fabulous dirt/dog hair-free carpet!

~ Stephanie

Update on Life...

School is about to end (next week!) and I am so glad to have all of my papers finished. I am even more happy that ROTC is done for the semester - minus the PFA at 0600 tomorrow. I have about 1.5 semesters left, so I was really excited to learn I can be a part time student during my last semester. I am getting a little senioritis, but I hate to admit that college was not all that difficult. I guess I didn't really know what to expect, but I feel like I breezed through. Maybe grad school will be more of a challenge...

The wedding is super close - only about 4 months left. Everything is basically set. I have the church, the reception site, florist, baker, and all of the other fancy details just about done. I need to get my wedding dress fitted (still 2 sizes too big) and do the seating chart, program, book hotels, and book the limo. I am getting pretty excited for one of the best days of my life.

Speaking of weddings...both of my sisters in law decided to have shotgun weddings during the same year as me (I wont mention that I have been planning mine for over a year and a half). Chenelle was married in April and Taryn is planning a wedding in July. Unfortunately, Brad and I have decided that we will not be able to make Taryn's wedding. It falls during a bad time for us in the summer, and Brad just cannot afford to take that much time off. He still needs to take leave for our wedding! I will be going to Georgia to see Brad for about 2 weeks during the summer - and that's it until our wedding on September 5th.

Before I stop writing I do need to tell the world about this book Brad sent me!! It's about all of these church signs photographed around America. Brad knows I LOOOVVVEEE church signs -- mostly the funny ones. So he found a book full of them and sent it to me as a surprise!! I am so excited!

...:: I LOVE BRAD ::...

Busy Busy Busy

We have had a TON of things going on lately. Brad and I flew to Georgia last weekend for his oldest sister Chenelle's wedding. The weather cleared up in time and the whole family was there. It was a small and pretty wedding. It made me excited and motivated for my wedding!

Brad was welcomed back to Ft. Gordon with a room change and a roommate - which is the worstest thing EVER. Luckily super nice Gayler gave him his room and now he has a sweet pad, fully equipped with lots of closets and two man-cliners (sofas). I on the other hand had to fly back to Cali solo, which always sucks. Two-ish months until I see my baby again...

I should be telling you today about my new AFSC (job that I will be doing), but I guess headquarters is spending extra special time on my choices and hasn't released any selections yet. Hopefully I will know by Friday - I will keep you updated. In good news, the state budget does not allow for state schools to have as many classes offered to students (which seems bad on the surface) but is a GREAT reason for me not to take summer school!! First (and last) summer of nothing to do!!

Hanky-Panky had his first doggie obedience lesson today. Lets just say he's that kid in the class that always bothers the other kids and sometimes pees. I hated that kid too. Needless to say he has some work to do, er...I have some work to do.

~Stephanie

The New Place

Oh so busy! We finally moved into our downgraded apartment (from a 2 Bed/2 Bath to a 1 Bed/1 Bath) and thanks to some killer work by Stephanie, have got the place looking spectacular. She did all the handy work and put up shelves and hung stuff on the walls while I emptied out the old place and brought over more stuff for her to organize. One entire weekend of moving later, *WAH-LAH!* we've got a very cozy new dwelling place that more than suits us for the next year or so until Stephanie goes active duty next June.

I'll be heading out to my sister Chenelle's wedding in Georgia this week, and immediately after will check in from leave and start working in Augusta again. Leave was very fun and I didn't want it to end, but I gotta pay the bills somehow. I'll be back in California for my wedding in September, and can't wait to see you all again. Hopefully in the next few days we can get pictures up of the new place. Until then, take care.

-Brad

"It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord,
and to sing praises unto thy name, O most high:
To shew forth thy lovingkindness in the morning,
and thy faithfulness every night."
— Psalms 92.1-2

My Boys! Hank has adjusted well to his new home. He has three new outfits for the chilly morning pee walks (security hoodie, Raiders jersey - for brad, Giants jersey - for me) We are moving to our new apartment tomorrow, the one that I posted about awhile ago. Busy busy day...better get some sleep!

Hank Lord

Today, we adopted a 7 month old boy named Hank. He is super cute and cuddly and (my favorite) doesn't bark! He is a beagle mix of something and was the best one at the ARF (Animal Rescue Foundation). He hasn't peed or pooped in the house yet (major points for him...) and his personality fits us well. They make potential parents take surveys to "Meet Your Match" <-- I can't make this stuff up - and we needed a dog who was "purple" or mellow. Hank was listed as a couch potato, so he most def was a "match". Seriously, it's like e-harmony of the canine community. We are taking him to Ontario, Ca this weekend for our marriage conference so he can get some good doggy socializing in.

Loves

Fourthmeal

This is the "before" shot of Brad attempting to put together our new bed. I should probably give background info to this story...Brad and I bought a new mattress on Saturday and it was delivered yesterday. HOWEVER, no one informed me how freakin' tall this stupid thing would be once the box spring was under it. It literally is level with the window sill. Unacceptable. I begged and whined for Brad to get us a new bed to fit the new mattress so I wouldn't have to use the stupid box spring ever again. Thus, a trip to Ikea was made, Brad built, and we ate fourthmeal.

Here you can witness this in action. Brad is becoming a man before your eyes. But wait...it gets better.

TA-DA!! Our new super fab bed made by my own Hubs. He is so awesome. So awesome, that when I told him I was hungry...drove 17 miles to Newark, just for Taco Bell.

And after all of that. He slept.

Welcome Home!

Today we had Brad's welcome home party. It was fun to have ALL of his family and many friends attend. It was at our apartment's clubhouse, which worked out awesome. We are probably going to have my bridal shower there. Anyways, I so thankful Brad is home safe, and even more thankful that he is in Cali with me!

~Stephanie

My Mission

Today I had an AF assignment to develop your personal mission statement. I thought, really? Those stupid sayings that every 0-4 and above makes us memorize? But once I starting listing my goals, my role models,etc. It became my own. It is important to convey your beliefs to your people. They know where you stand, and know how to be followers. I wanted a mission statement that can give back to those who will be my subordinates. And one that shows I have their interests at heart when I make decisions. Without followers, leaders aren't worth jack. Where would Britney Spears be without fans? So I drafted my mission statement:

"My mission is to be an educated, competent leader who provides opportunities for success and development for those working around me"

I feel inspired by myself, hehe. I hope I get a good grade...

In other news, Brad is on his way to the airport RIGHT NOW! As I am typing, he is sitting in a Checkered Cab going to the airport. WOOHOO!

- Stephanie

Number 34...

I was just reminded of reason number 34 why I'm not re-enlisting in my beloved corps. I've got a list that I keep track of in my head that consists of about 426 things which seems to grow daily as I near the end of my contract. If you want to know more, mark down this day and ask me again on October 25th and I'll try to explain Marine Corps logic to you the best I can. I'll tell you right now though, it's mind boggling how these things work sometimes.

-Brad

Movin' On Up

Today Brad and I gave the 30 days notice that we are moving. Okay - we're really only moving apartments within the same complex. I'm super excited about our new humble abode. The floor plan is the one shown above. Fireplace, garage, balcony...livin' large. We will be moving in on April 3rd and here's the best part. Not only will Brad be there to help, but my FARAWAY GRANDPARENTS are coming too! It will be quite a family affair. Toodles.

Got Milk?

Had to share this:


see funny english mistakes

Aaaaaand, we're back!

New place, new name, new blog. I decided to hijack Stephanie's blog, formerly "Memoirs of a Blonde Geisha", and turn it into something beautiful. I give you: The LORD's blog! I can't stress to you the kind of wonderful, supportive, beautiful, ambitious, hard-working, intelligent and all around amazing significant other I have. So I won't even try. Now let's get down to the nitty-gritty...

God: We are both devout Christians who put God first in our relationship so that our marriage is able to be built on a solid foundation. At the end of each blog I vow to put a "bible verse of the blog" just for you! You can go ahead and put that in your pocket and take it home with you.

Politics: Steph and myself are lifelong members of the GOP. That's "God's Only Party". Now being that I am Active Duty I fall under certain rules and regulations when voicing my opinion (which I can get into at a later date) so the REALLY good stuff might not show up until after October 25th this year. Steph will have to start shutting up soon enough too. I have a feeling this task will be a challeging one (just kidding babe!).

Football: Although Stephanie isn't really into it, I am a big fan of the Oakland Raiders, University of Southern California Trojans, and San Jose State Univeristy Spartans (<---that's where Steph goes). At some point starting in July or August of this year, we'll get more into this. Trust me.

That's the base of the topics we will cover for an undetermined amount of time. Those that read my last blog on my now deceased Myspace page know the kind of wild ride your in for. Okay, maybe it wasn't that extreme. But I'm sure if you stick with it, you'll start to understand more of the inner workings of this relationship, life and friendship. Or you might be distracted by more important things, like tv...or going outside for fresh air...or cereal. Hope to entertain you soon enough!

-Brad

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ephesians 5:15-16

"Be very careful, then, how you live--not as unwise, but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil".

Ode to Bradley

I think I should mention in a public forum how thoughtful Brad is...today he randomly decided to make my blog into an "ours" blog - something I have wanted to do for awhile but haven't had time. I am sooo excited to share our happy times and sad times with our friends. Thanks to the hubs for taking the intiative. That's not all he's done recently (maybe he's starting to sense the warm Cali air and it's getting to his head...) either way, here's a things-that-Brad-has-done-that-made-me-happy list:

- Made our blog!

- Drove 5 hours (both ways!) to take me to the bible study in Virginia when we were in North Carolina, just because I really really wanted to go back

- Paid my credit card bill...it made me happy :)

- Fixed my taxes that I royally screwed up

- Helped me pick my AF job

- Made travel arrangements for "A Weekend to Remember"

- I saved the best for last...

While in Alabama, I had to do an un-Godly amount of AF work. While I was at the computer center, he took ALL of our luggage (read: my luggage) and not only brought it upstairs (when he could have been doing lots of other stuff) after driving all day in the massive rainstorm (italicized because it really was massive) and organized and unpacked all of my stuff...yes - i'm one of those people. When I came up to the room, it was perfectly set up just how I would have done it. I almost cried.

I am sure I forgot some stuff...but Brad always forgives my shortcomings and has really made a huge effort to start our marriage off strong.

I LOVE YOU, BRAD.