December 21, 2012

From border to border

(I'm finally getting around to posting this one.  I am terrible with keeping up, but I will try my best)

A few weeks ago, we embarked on the journey of a lifetime (at least I hope it was because I really don't want to have to be in the car for that long again).  We left Del Rio, TX on Wednesday, August 22.  Our first day we made it to Tucson, and left the next morning for Los Angeles so that we could spend Friday in Disneyland!!  I had a blast and even had a kind of celebrity sighting!  I am a closet 'Sister Wives' fan (the TLC show....don't judge) and we were in a line for food right behind Christine's daughters, Aspyn and Mykelti.....yes I know their names.  I later ran into Christine at the parade on Main Street and may or may not have stalked her a bit for a photo.  Paparazzi much?  Anyway, I was way excited!  And to top of my D-list reality show celebrity sightings, I saw Adrienne's husband and sons from the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills.  I watch way too much reality TV apparently.  Our Disney day was fabulous and I'm so glad we did it!

The next morning we got up early to have breakfast with my cousin and her family.  We had literally just left their house and got a call from the trucking company that would be delivering our stuff from TX to WA.  The gist of the conversation was that one of the axles caught on fire while the truck was driving through the mountains of Idaho, and the whole trailer went up in flames.  The driver got out just fine (thank goodness), but our things did not share the same fate.  There were 4 other families belongings on this 18-wheeler, all of which were completely destroyed.  Talk about a shock to the system!  We spent the next two days at my Grandma and Grandpa Jenkins house trying to start our list of every item we lost in the fire, down to socks, underwear, candlesticks.....what year we bought them, how much we paid for them, and pictures if possible.  A seemingly impossible task, but we got it done over the course of a few days.  It was so nice to be with family!  After two days in Fresno, we went to Monterey for 2 nights.  I think it's safe to say that this is Doug's most favorite place in the world!  We had fun enjoying the beaches and restaurants and avoiding thinking about the fire.  Next up was Sacramento where we spent a few days with my Aunt, Grandpa, and Norma, then we headed up to Beale AFB to see some good friends from Del Rio, Scott and Cassy, for a night before we made the 12 hour drive up to McChord AFB.  What a crazy ride!

Cars all loaded and we're off!

Laughlin AFB in our rear view mirror.

Disney day!!  :)

One of the many gorgeous views from Monterey

Mount Rainier!  I love getting to see it on the rare cloudless days!

Quick shot of our house taken from the car before we moved in. (And before the ever-present rain turned our grass back to green!)

I will try to keep this updated a little bit better.  Lots going on around here.....Doug has started flying missions and is gone quite a bit.  He gets to go to lots of cool places though and he brings me yummy chocolate.  :)  Hope everyone has a very Merry Christmas!  

September 27, 2012

Things we will miss when we move: Del Rio Edition

(Apparently forgot to post this when I wrote it, so here it is a few weeks late....)

Yes, there are in fact things we will miss about Del Rio!  I never would have thought I would say that when we moved here almost 2 years ago, but it has grown on us!

1.  The number one thing we will miss about Del Rio is the people!  We have made so many life-long friendships here.  Our time here would not have been nearly as enjoyable as it was without them.
2.  My job!  I had the most amazing job and the best co-workers a girl could ask for.  I would have worked there forever!  Teaching preschool is seriously the most fun and rewarding job I have ever had!  Working with your friends makes it that much better.
3.  Our church was absolutely amazing and made us feel so at home from the day we got here!  Some of the nicest, and most caring people we have ever met.  We will miss them so much!
4. Going out anywhere (Wal Mart, the Commissary, etc.) and ALWAYS running into someone you know.  I did not appreciate this for the longest time because I was used to my anonymity in Dallas, but I learned to love it!  Small towns are funny.
5. Lunch dates with friends.....also Brown Bag and Buffalo Girls!
6. Drop Night- There is something so exciting about finding out people's future aircraft and assignment location and seeing them (hopefully) be really happy about it!  So entertaining on so many levels.....

Things I won't miss as much......
1.Waiting in long lines at Wal Mart because everyone pays in cash or checks.
2.Wal Mart in general, especially on Saturdays
3. NO TARGET!!  I mean honestly, I think I deserve an award for living 3 hours away from a Target for two years.
4.Crazy drivers and getting cut off constantly.
5. Living 3 hours from civilization.......
6. Skunks.  Everywhere.  In my yard.  Ahhhhhh..  (And the countless other larger than life insects and critters that make my house their home.)

In general though, we really will miss Del Rio and all the people we met during our time here!  Washington, here we come!!  :)


April 27, 2012

Changes are coming our way!

Faithful readers, *ahem*Heather*ahem*, it appears that I am seriously behind on updating.  Lots has happened over the last 6 months....or more, whatever.....so here is a quick bullet point update.  I'm going to be living very far away soon so I figure I should keep this updated.  Or maybe I shouldn't so that everyone has to come visit me in person to find out!  ;)

February:
~Found out Doug will be flying the C-17 at McChord AFB, Washington.  (Near Tacoma/Seattle)
~Doug finally graduated from Pilot Training and got his wings.

March
~Doug went to Water Survival Training in Pensacola, FL.  Seemed more like a paid vacation to play at the beach, but I guess he's trained now.

April
~Went on a getaway to San Antonio with our friends Anna & Jonathan and got to stay at the Westin La Cantera.....thanks to a stellar deal on hotwire.com.  Spent some time at Six Flags too!  It was awesome.  more on that here: http://livingonawingandaprayer.blogspot.com/2012/04/weekend-getaway.html
~Doug went to SERE training (Survive, Evade, Resist, Escape) at Fairchild AFB, Washington.  This training was way less like a vacation than the other (and lasted almost a month!!), but at least it's over and Doug will be coming home tomorrow!!

May
~Doug leaves Wednesday the 2nd for Altus AFB, Oklahoma where he will be doing C-17 training until mid-August.
~My last day at work is Thursday the 3rd.  It will be a sad day and I'm dreading it with all my heart! I love my job.  I'll leave Saturday morning to join Doug in Altus for a bit before I leave him to play with my family all summer!

Well, that's the short version folks!  I'll try to post about all the fun stuff I do this summer.....like my sister Chelsea's wedding!  Lots to do.


Peace, Love and Blessings