it's almost 2200 and no husband.

It's almost the weekend, and boy is it needed. Good news, I found a dress for the Ball. Horrible news, John is not home. It's almost ten here and he is still waiting to be secured on base. Which means it will be at least another thirty minutes. Tough night, but the Shrimp Tacos are smelling good and waiting for that husband.

spouse orientation

I had planned on writing this yesterday (Tuesday) evening, BUT John got home at 1730! It was wonderful to have him home before dark. We went for a run, made pizza dough for a Country Pie, made the Country Pie (John thought of it as a piece of art), ate the Country Pie, chatted with both sets of parents, watched a movie, and were still in bed by 2300.

Yesterday was Spouse Orientation, which was very informative. The best part was John was there with me for the whole six hours! We learned all about Tricare and all our free healthcare that comes with it. The Chaplain did a mini marriage counseling that was thoroughly entertaining. The wives broke away from the husbands for an informative Q&A time with past TBS wives. We ate lunch at the chow hall-much like school cafeteria food, but decent nonetheless. Met a Marine who leads a married's Bible study that we are excited to attend on Sunday evenings! Such a great Tuesday. And it did not stop there.

Though I have not been formally offered the job, I had a promising interview yesterday at Aquia Christian School. It is about a seven minute walk from our apartment. It is primarily a daycare for infants to five year olds, but more of a preschool for the three year olds and older. It would be a nice little job and does not require a car. Not sure how ready I am to start working again. More to come on that in the following weeks.

a little bummed

John was moved to a new platoon yesterday. The reason being they want to keep the platoons somewhat equal (as far as race and specialty are concerned). He was pretty bummed. The two weeks of meeting new friends has now started over. And Monday starts Phase One of TBS (We are out of Zero week!). Which means the classroom will get more intense and tests will start flowing from his ears. He amazes me daily.

As for me, new platoon means new wives to meet. I have been quite the social butterfly this week. My "group" of two wives has now multiplied to six. It has been great to get to know these amazing gals.  We are both developing new friendships and are still lovin' everything VA has to offer and as much fun as it has been to hang out with all these new friends who are in the same boat, I am thrilled to have a weekend with John.

my cRaFTy side returns

I had taken an unannounced and unexpected sabbatical from my crafty lifestyle (I haven’t even OPENED my scrapbooking bin since 2009 summer), but am happy to report that as of today I am back in action.  I have started to dream out, draw out, create, build, and make a quilt. Now this is will not be your typical, elaborate quilt most are use to. Instead this is a t-shirt quilt—a quilt of my collection of high school football games, high school clubs, college volunteer programs, college clubs, and mission trip 

t-shirts.

Now that the hard work of the “template” is finished,

it is only a matter of weeks before I will be ready to start sewing. We don’t exactly have a sewing machine as of yet. The plan is to do all of the preparations—the measuring and cutting, and then worry about finding one at a garage sale or thrift store. Which ultimately means we may have an office of squared t-shirts for quite some time… John is yet to learn of all that this quilt will entail.

Speaking of John…he has started week two of TBS (although I believe it’s still a “zero” week). Today I actually got to spend some time with him while the sun was still up—he called and asked Ashley and I to meet him and Mann at the DEERS office for new IDs around 1400. It was quite the treat. We accomplished that and now have our insurance squared away as well. Other than that his week will consist of hearing tests, written tests, PT tests, swim tests, class as usual and other various assignments, tests, and activities. Makes me feel a little guilty that my week will consist of cutting squares...

Feels Like Home To Me...

We successfully made it to Virginia! I love it thus far. Love the tall, skinny trees. Love the cool air and sunny skies. Love the grocery store down the street. Love all the stores only 3 miles away. Love saving money at the commissary. Love spending 2+ hours cooking for John each evening. 

Love our "backyard" 

We are blessed to live by another TBS couple who just recently got married-The Mann's. And when I say live by, I literally mean they are about 100 yards away from us. They have been wonderful. Lt. Mann and John (err.. Lt. Lynch) ride together to school everyday and are thankfully in the same Platoon. And Mrs. Mann (Ashley) and I get together to swap recipe's, watch chick flicks, walk to the grocery store, browse Target, spend hours in the commissary, etc while the men are at school. 

Our first "TBS Spouse event" is in two weeks, which is where we will be able to meet the other married couples going through TBS right now. John's current schedule calls for longer days than nursing ever did! He is up and out of the house by 0500, and returns to me between 2000 and 2100 (that's military time folks!) They say the schedule gets better in the next few weeks, so we are both looking forward to that. 

This is my first day back on the blog, which I guess goes to show I have been keeping pretty busy. Speaking of busy, it's 1925, which means time to start dinner! 

more pictures to come on Facebook soon! 

We're MOVING!

We will arrive in Virginia on October 6th--after hauling our car behind a 16 foot moving truck. That's right ... we are moving ourselves. More to come once we arrive.