Radiant as a shiny new button in San Antonio

Well, like I said, I'm finally posting pictures! Yay follow through!

Jeremy was in the band during BASIC and so he played the tuba. Such a stud. Although, it was pretty toasty outside, and carrying around that huge thing could not have been easy all the time.  He always stayed in formation and rocked it out though. 

This picture is of me in my new sweatshirt, I had had a hard day in Denver one day, and the library was closed (how dare they) and so I went shopping, and for the first time in a VERY long time, I bought myself something just because I wanted to and because it was cute. I love the saying, and that's how I try to live my life, not to mention I sing all the time, in the shower, doing the dishes, cleaning.  I like it.  It feels me. I wear it all the time...I should probably wash it. :-)

In Texas mom and I got there on Tuesday and went to go visit my Uncle Clair.  He was a great host, and we had a really nice time.  He has a really nice apartment and it was good to catch up after all this time (8 years possibly, I know, I'm slacking)

 

This was the first day I was able to see Jeremy.  He was wearing his ABU's and I was so proud. I also wore the dress I got with Aunt Holly in Denver, I'm in love, although I can't take long strides because then my legs are a-showing ;-)  But pairing it with the scarf and the boots made it perfect.

The other nice thing about Lackland besides seeing my kick butt hubby was that I was able to see both sides of my family, both sets of parents came, his and mine, and we were able to spend a lot of time just hanging out and talking.  That hasn't happened in a long time due to the distance between the two families (geography wise, the moms talk often I guess).  But it was cool that the parents were able to go off and have a good time when Jeremy and I needed some alone time, and that we could all come together.  It was just a really perfect time.  And look at our moms.  Can you say gorgeous?

 This is my dad and me.  He had these new blue tooth headphones, pretty cool. Also, quite nice for all the 'hurry up and waiting' we did.

 My parents and Jer and me :-)

 My grandparents and my brother Timothy and my dad.  We actually just dropped Timothy off at the airport this morning at 5 am.  So proud. His first big trip by himself. :-)

Jeremy and I rocking out the bowling balls and shoes. Don't lie, I know your jealous of my coordinating socks, scarf, dress, and shoes.

My parents! Woot woot!

Jeremy's parents Ron and Adri and us.  I'm fairly sure my smile was bigger than the moon that day and that whole weekend. I was so happy.   According to the moms I was as radiant as a shiny new button between my show tunes in the shower and skip in my walk.

What can I say, my man makes me happy.

That's all for now, going to Cedar Falls tonight for one last hoorah, and keeping on trucking with my packing.  I hope you all had a wonderful Memorial Day weekend, and thank you to all who serve, or who supports someone, in whatever way, who does.

Love you all,

The adventuress,

Aj

New Things

Jeremy in his dress blues. What a stud. ;-)

All this week, I kept thinking about all these things I wanted to blog about.  I tried getting pictures from my mom's camera, but then it didn't work, and so I need to do that still and I can post some.  There are quite a few good ones.  This past weekend I went to San Antonio to see Jeremy. It was awesome.  It was nice to just catch up with everyone.  Jeremy was different, more confident, strong, and gorgeous as always.  I'm so proud of him. He's a keeper.  He really shined as Dorm Chief and I'm excited to see what's next for him.  He was so excited that we brought him treats, his mom made some home made goodies (I didn't have breakfast for two days, and ya'll know that I am ALL ABOUT the breakfast) and so the first day we had to be there at 5:45 AM aieee.  And I had had no breakfast, (but I was looking good so that has to count for something) and Adri let me eat two Monster Cookies underneath the understanding that there was oatmeal in them so they were healthy for me.  Love it.  I was not complaining.  And they were quite delicious.  After that I was able to stay at a hotel on base and they had a FREE coffee machine, so who got a mocha coffee everyday for free?  This girl.  It was awesome!

Speaking of Awesome, this is not :-)
(don't worry, not anyone I know)

  I figure once I get pictures off mom's camera in the next two days I'll talk more about this past weekend, and that way they'll be pretty pictures to go along with it.
This week has been a transitional week for me, now that I'm done traveling for a little bit (about 2 weeks) I can get some stuff done around here, I had girls night on Tuesday with Kelsey and Laura and it was lovely.  We had some cider and chips up on Laura's roof and just talked about life,  love, and plans.  They reassured me about my ability to be a solid Air Force Wife (I get a little excited sometimes), and it was definitely a night of appreciating our friendships. So often you are friends with someone and you don't tell them how much they mean to you and how much you believe in them.  My love cup was full to the brim that night and I'm very thankful for that.  It is so cool how God brings different people into your life.  I feel so blessed to have been able to spend an evening with two of my best friends. Happy Camper I am.  

I'm so excited!!

Red Lips Mcgee and Shaved Head Magoo :-)

Today the family and I went on a mini-venture and went up to the park and got subway sandwiches and just hung out, it was really nice and we went up this cool tower thing and ended up playing Frisbee (which would have been much nicer if I wouldn't have been getting eaten alive by bugs at the same time) **NOTE** My dad has an App for mosquito repellent. Don't trust it.  Not for a second. Doesn't work.

In love.

Big news.  I rediscovered Covergirl Outlast Lipcolor this week. I had some red lipstick, but it kept coming off, so in Texas mom and I grabbed some makeup, and I picked up a red tube that reminded me of what I had in high school show choir and used it. Lasted for like 10 hours in Texas heat and looked great all day.  I'm in love with it.  I've been wearing it everyday.  Well, except for today, today I looked like a boy with my camp clothes on so I didn't think it was appropriate for red lipstick.  Tomorrow?  Most definitly. :-D

In other news I put a dream to rest this week, maybe forever, maybe not, maybe it'll resurface later, and maybe it'll reform.  I really don't know.  But believe it or not I'm really okay with it, it feels like the right decision and I know that God has something else for me lined up next, so I'm interested to see what that is. I think often times people see dreams as an end.  And perhaps some dreams are meant to be journeys.  Not means to an end, or even an end (even if they look like and enticing one), but just a path you are meant to walk that will shape you and guide you into what you are to become.
I think that's about it for now, the picture to the right was taken out of the airplane (I was in the airplane looking out). And there were so many clouds below us it looked like a fluffy carpet. Just looked really cool and peaceful.
Let someone know how much you appreciate them today.
Also Happy Memorial Day Weekend!
Love,
Am the adventurer

Currently...

*Listening: I have been on the search for good music to Poi to, and I've been jamming to Bon Iver, Dr. Toast, and Shipwreck.  Jamming is the wrong word, chilling out and retrospecting about my life and imagining all the things ahead of me is more accurate. The video to the right is Bon Iver Skinny Love.  Relaxing and tranquil.

*Reading:I just finished the second book in the Firelight Trilogy and it was AMAZING. I also read the start of the Kiesha'ra Series called Hawksong and it was also fabulous.

*Watching: I just watched the season finale of Make it or Break It.  It was crazy intense. Aunt Sara and I were pacing, and no lies my heart was racing a bit at the end. 

*Working On: My scarf, and this new poi move I learned, which inevitably involves tons of me smacking myself with the poi in the face (yeah, it's one of those is near face/feels like near death moves). I'm also working on packing....but blogging is more fun.

*Thinking About: How I should really pack.  :-) But really about this upcoming weekend, I know I've changed a bunch, and I'm excited to reacquaint myself with Jeremy and see how we've both changed and our new ideas about life and the future.  We've both have a new fire for life after being separated and I'm fairly sure we feel ready to take on the world together, or at least our base placement after camp this summer.

*Anticipating: SEEING MY HUSBAND!!! 2 DAYS!! In case you are new to the blog, my husband is in the Air Force and graduates this weekend! I also get to see my family and in-laws. Yay!

*Eating: Just had a fantastic chocolate chip muffin (Aunt Sara bought it for me as she knows I love chocolate chip muffins, maybe she's just celebrating that I'm leaving finally) ;-) just kidding.  But seriously, great muffin, and apple juice.  You can not go wrong with that!

Thinking about this guy...for sure :-)

*Wishing: That my bag does not weigh over 50 pounds that everything flows this week,  I want everything to go smoothly this weekend, and not have any Johannesburg type events happen (Jer and I missed our flight from Africa to America in Jo-Burg, it was terrifying).

Overall, I can't believe tonight is my last night in Florida.  The time went by crazy fast, and I had such a great time, I feel like I learned some valuable lessons (read stay super clean, I needed to learn that one, as anyone who knows me knows I struggle severely in that department) and took some much needed time for myself to just do what I love and be proud of who I am. All good things learned alongside great people. :-)  Good times in Florida, and now I have a pretty decent tan :-)

I can't believe this part of my adventure is already over, I feel like just yesterday only a bit ago I was in Cedar Falls hanging out with my lovely ladies Laura and Dylan, then Des Moines with Iowa Kelsey and then in Denver with Aunt Holly, Kelsey, and then Robyn, and then here in Florida with Aunt Sara and Court. I feel very blessed, and thankful to everyone who opened up their hearts and their homes to me to crash on your bed or couch or both.  I have learned a great deal these last two months about who I am, what I value, and what God means to me. 

"Look weird?"  "Just a bit..."

Thank you all for touching my heart and being a part of my adventure, I am ever grateful. Thank you for advice, sharing stories, drinking wine with me, going out to eat with me, trying new things with me, and going to shows with me.  It was a really magical time that I will never forget.

Also thank you to anyone who reads this blog, may you be blessed and feel God’s hand on you today.

Love and blessings,

Am

PS. Sorry if this post looks all weird, I'm trying to figure out a new thing on Blogger and it's fighting me tooth and nail and ticking me off. So, I apologize if the room looks purple when you look up or something.

Happy Mother's Day!!

Happy Mother's Day!!!

Me and my pretty mom!!

Today is Mother's day and I am way blessed with two amazing ladies in my life for moms, one is my mom Linda, and the other is my mother-in-law Adri. I am so thankful and happy that I can learn from them and grow from them. Both are wonderful women of God and have set wonderful examples of how to be loving wives and how to take care of a household.  I'm pretty darn blessed, plus, with genes and looks like they have, Jeremy and I'll have some good looking kids! Can't go wrong there! ;-)  So thank you to both of you for being role models, giving advice, cooking with me, shopping with me, and loving on me.  You two are the best mothers I could ask for. :-)  I will see you both later this week!!

Here are 5 things I love about each of my moms (just a taste, so you know how cool they are)

Linda

1. She loves God with a fierceness that is topped by almost nothing

2. She loves kids and teaching (I got the bug from her)

3.  She told me to do what I loved and always encouraged me

4. She taught me how to walk with God and how to pray

5. She taught me how important it is to enjoy and get manicures and pedicures once in a while ;-)

Adri

1.  She loves God with a quiet passion that amazes you 

 Adri, Jeremy, me, Ron! 

2. She is an AMAZING home maker in that she can cook ridiculously well, loves her husband, and manages to stay on top of everything in the house on top of keeping up a bee hive and vineyard (I'm exhausted just thinking about it)

3. she does cool things like having a vineyard, garden, and bee keeping, as something she does for herself.

4. She thinks through her advice, and actually listens to you, and allows you time to process what you say and is crazy wise and smart.

5. That she volunteers and is involved in her community, and loves on those around her.

Happy Mother's Day again to Linda and Adri, I love you both and you two are awesome! Also Happy Mother's Day to anyone else who is a mother, or an expectant mother, I hope you have a blessed day, and know that even if your kids don't always show it, God is always pleased with you and loves you loads.

Countdowns:

1 day till Busch Gardens

2 days till I leave Florida for Texas

4 days till I see my husband!!!!!

21 days till I start camp

77 days till I get to join Jeremy to wherever he has break or placement

Love you all and God bless, we just got back from the beach so I'm going to go shower!

Am

Yesterday was my birthday!!! Woot woot!

Hey ya'll!

Ready for Universal with my rainbow watch!

So yesterday was my birthday and it was AWESOME. Most definitely a day of blessings, I think God and the universe got together and was like, 'this chick is missing her hubby and it's her birthday, let's make it extra awesome'.  We woke up at 6:30 since we wanted to get to Universal Studios near opening, and to do that we needed some coffee power, so we stopped by Starbucks and I got a Carmel Frappachino, it was pretty good.  The lady found out it was my birthday and gave me a free cake pop.  It was pretty rich but pretty darn delicious.  On the way there I finished a book I had gotten the day before at the library called Firelight, quite grand. Loved it. 

Me and my birthday button!!

Anyways, so we get to Universal, and at the gate we tell the lady that it's my birthday and so she gave me a birthday button!! With my name and everything that said "today is my birthday" so all day people were extra nice to me, let me go in the front of the line to skip a huge wait, one time they announced it over the intercom and so a huge roomful of people applauded for my birthday. I felt super loved. PLUS, I was hanging out with my Aunt Sara and Cousin Court all day, so that was pretty fantastic. I'd never been to Universal before and so was nervous about getting everything done in one day because there are two parks, Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure.  (It was totally doable, we actually left a few hours before the park closed).

The Forbidden Journey Ride...saweet!:-)

There wasn't a ton of people there which was really nice, so there wasn't a long wait, except for the Forbidden Journey ride which was a 45 minute way, so we went in the single riders line, and instead of a 45 minute wait, it was a 3 minute wait...AWESOME! Then we went again, but it made us a little sick since we had just ate lunch at Mythos.  
All the rides were really cool, and in the afternoon we went to HP world, which was fantastic as well, smaller than I expected, I don't think they thought size of shops and stuff through as parts were a tad crowded, but I'm fairly small so I just slid through. :-) We walked right into one shop and were looking around and had some fun, and then exited and saw this huge line.  I asked someone what they were in line for and they were in line for the same shop that we had just waltzed right into. ::Smile::. It was a pretty busy day and I got to ride some fantastic roller coasters and even rode some on my own. 

In line for a ride!

BUTTERBEER!!!

We also were able to try the infamous Butterbeer. Hilarious story, you can get Butterbeer frozen or normal, and so we got two frozen and one normal and the lady gave me two straws, so I put one in the frozen for Courts and I went to put it in mine, but then for some reason put it in aunt sara's. Well, the way it is made with foam and stuff means you shouldn't put a straw in, so we're trying to take a picture at Hogshead in Hogsmeade and Aunt Sara's drink is volcanoing, just foaming over everywhere. It was hilarious.  I think I like my version of Butterbeer better than theirs though, I was pretty excited to find that out. :-D  We also had fantastic luck, because we'd get somewhere and there would be like next to no line and then after we'd leave or be in line the line would be huge, so we had some favor :-)  I think it was because of the super cool watches Court and I bought the other day, I have a rainbow watch and she has a batman watch, both light up....because we're awesome. 

Me and the map and a great make-up day. Love those.

When we came home, exhausted from a truly magical birthday, I saw a package and two letters on the table for me.  Gift from my parents and two letters from my husband.  Now, Jeremy was in BEAST week all last week, so I haven't gotten a letter in a while, so for my first one in a while to be on my birthday, well it was definitely the icing on the cake. I really enjoy getting love letters in the mail, I've fallen more in love with my husband in the past two months than I expected, due to these letters and things God's done in my life, AND I get to see him in 6 days.  I am a happy camper.  So while I'm finishing up reading these letters a random number calls my phone so I pick it up, and guess whose voice I heard on the other end?  Jeremy's. O my word, tears just streamed down my face, somehow he was able to call me and wish me a happy birthday. 
All in all, a wonderful magical, lovely, dessert filled birthday,
Thank you all for the birthday wishes and love,
I hope you have a whimsical Friday,
Am

Florida Dreaming

Hello friends,

Court and I on the boat!

I'm just sitting here in my Florida abode as the sun streams in through my windows.  I'm pry not going to do much today as I had quite the adventurous weekend.  We went to Key West, taking a 3 level boat. It was pretty intense. We had to leave our house at 5 in the morning, and at 8 in the morning our boat left the dock and got up to a pretty nice speed. 
 At one point, Court and I decided to go upstairs to get some sun and read, these two college guys were toasted, just wasted at 8 AM!! At 8 am all I will ever be drinking is one of three things: 
1. Chocolate soy milk
2. Apple Juice, or 
3. Orange Juice (pulp free, the pulpy kind weirds me out)

Red Tide...weird right?

At Key West we were planning on doing some hardcore snorkeling, but turns out that the red tide was in, which means the red algae was all over the beach and the first 30 ft of the ocean. It was pretty intense, so we did the touristy stuff.  Court and I headed over to the shipwreck museum and were able to look over the top most pier, where people would yell "WRECK ASHORE" when boats were in trouble because then Key Westers would go and save the people and take the treasure.  Pirates/rescuers/opportunists.  I was actually able to buy a necklace that was from a shipwreck, pretty darn cool if you ask me.  To be honest I never really buy myself anything, I think because I've always been nervous about how it looks spoiling yourself, but I've been learning lately that it's okay to get things that you really want once in a while, especially if you've been saving for it, or if it's just a special something.  Happy birthday to myself (I've been saying that quite a bit lately, ::sheepish smile::).  The only other thing I've bought for myself was my Poi and I'm in love with those, so I'm not apologizing to anyone.  Yay for confidence in my choices!

Me with the shrimp

          The other really cool thing that I did this weekend is I fed a sting ray. Actually not one. Multiple. A whole tank of them.  I fed them shrimp from my hand. IT WAS AWESOME.  
Granted their stingers were removed, but it was one of the coolest things I've done. While I was doing it, I said, "It reminds me of feeding an elephant" the people around me looked at me with confusion and I said "Because Sting Rays and elephants suck it up into their mouth/trunk to eat it, it feels similar in my hand" then I laughed at the analogy, only I would make that connection. :-) (For those who don't know, I turn into a 12 year old girl when I get really excited about things, this leads to a smile the size of a half moon on my face, my eyes as wide as golf balls, and rambling from me about how cool _____ is) .

This was a pretty big thing for me, feeding these sting rays. Now, as some of you know, I'm slightly terrified by water, and by slightly terrified, I mean for years I could not be in a pool alone or even by myself on a certain side of the pool for fear that a spirit would drag me under water (I'll explain in another post). 
I would like to say that for the first time in 12+ years I was in a pool, all by myself.  No one was around, and although pretty scary. I was fine.  I ended up getting out 5 minutes later because the water was cold, but that's besides the point. I'm pretty darn proud of myself.  See what I'm wearing?  That's my big girl pants. :-)

Also, last thing before I make this post into a novela, is that since I was three years old, I have wished to be a mermaid on my birthday, I'm fairy sure 17/22 birthdays have been mermaid wishes, at least last year was ;-) ANYWAYS. I found out this past week that you can BE a mermaid. It's possible.  They make monofins, so instead of two fins, it's just one, and then they make tails that go over them, so YOU CAN BE A MERMAID. There are people who do this professionally, they have a tail and do birthday parties, and help to raise money for the environment, and the oceans, and they swim and look gorgeous.  I also found out about a mermaid camp that TEACHES YOU HOW TO BE A MERMAID. Um yes. 
So, not this year, and maybe not next, but at some point in time, I will get a monofin, and either sew my own, or buy a mermaid tail, and become a mermaid.  And here something I thought I would never be able to cross off my list, has just become cross-off-able.

Umm, Yes.

Jeremy wrote me a poem he loves in response to me talking about how ridiculous some of my dreams are, feeling shot down, and trying to be confident in where I feel God has led me, and how people think I'm just a dreamer and that I should focus on 'real jobs' and 'reality':

We are the music makers

We are the dreamers of dreams

Wandering by sea breakers

aside desolate streams

world changers and world breakers

on whom the pale moon gleams

we are the movers and shakers

of the world forever, it seems

Best husband ever. One thing (out of many) that I was blessed with growing up was parents that told me to find my dreams and chase after them, not blindly, don't be a fool, but find what God has seeded into your heart as your desire, and then go for it, and don't let people who aren't chasing their dreams spoil the thrill of achieving your own.  I have done many things, most have been dreams or helping someone else with theirs, (China was Jer's, I was pretty nervous).  I hope in reading this post (and I think I'm going to write about Dreams in a post coming up, as I have some cool stuff that's been on my heart) that you think about what your heart wants, and what desire God has put in your heart.  Maybe it's growing a vineyard or bee keeping like my lovely mother-in-law, or maybe it's helping children discover the glory of God like my mom, or breaking a world record on a unicycle like my awesome dad, or going to the Air Force like my husband.  Whatever your dream is, go after it.  If you want to be a mermaid, practice swimming, if you want to write a book, set aside time.  Go after it, because if you don't.  Then you won't. And your dream will either become dormant, or eat away at you.  

Take faith, God will not give us temptations OR DREAMS that we can not accomplish or handle. 

Chase after those dreams,

Amber Jane