Change

Todays thoughts have been on my mind for a long time now. I've sat down to write this post several times within the last several months, even more so within the last several weeks, but something has always stopped me. I didn't know if it would be too much information to share, too personal, and it very well may be; but then I remembered part of the reason I started writing these posts was to help me open up and be a little vulnerable. SO here goes...

My brother graduated from Marine Boot Camp in Paris Island, South Carolina when I was fifteen-years-old. I remember being so impressed with the graduation ceremony and the sense of pride from all the new Marines and their friends and family was just overwhelming. I remember saying to my family that I was going to do it too. I was going to be a Marine. 

I will never be a Marine.

My family got to know my brother's recruiter fairly well, so when he came to my high school later on that year, I decided to talk to him about my interest in the Corp. Thats when he told me that it would be impossible for me to be a Marine because of my heart murmur. I wouldn't go as far to say that I was devastated, but I was disappointed. I couldn't be a Marine, but the desire to join the military never left me. I ended up going to college for Secondary English Education and immediately got a job after graduating college and have been teaching for the past three years. However, around October of last year, the desire to join the military hit me again full force. I discussed it with Joe and we started looking into different branches of the military and possible careers but didn't tell anyone about it. In December, Joe and I travelled up to Virginia and spent some time with my Grandma and Great-Grandma. I love talking to them. My great-grandma is a wealth of information, knowledge and incredible stories. As we were wrapping up our visit, my great-grandma looked at me and told me to live life with no regrets. She told me to pursue any dream I ever had even if it seems a little bit scary. I found the timing of her advice slightly ironic considering what my current thought process was towards the military. As Joe and I continued traveling north to Pennsylvania for Christmas, we decided I would once again pursue my desire to have a military career.

As soon as we returned home from visiting family, I immediately met with an Air Force recruiter. It took a couple weeks to see if I qualified to even be looked at by an officer recruiter. I finally got the word that everything looked good, except for my heart murmur. I was told that if I got a clearance from a civilian doctor that I was able to do extreme physical activity than I would be able to pursue the career in the Air Force and meet with the officer recruiter. I did get the clearance and was told to begin studying for the AFOQT (Air Force Officer Qualifying Test). I wasn't scheduled to take the test until late March of this year. I've never studied so hard for a test before in my life. As my test date was looming near, I got a phone call from my recruiter saying that he was PCSing and I would have to wait to continue until the new recruiter arrived...in two months.

When I finally met with the officer recruiter, things didn't exactly go as planned. I told him that I wanted to be a special investigations officer and he basically told me the chances of getting that job were slim to none. He could get me in immediately if I took a flight job, but I just didn't feel right taking any of those jobs. That day, I walked away from a career in the Air Force. While my name is still out there, the possibility of getting the job that I want is high unlikely.

I got all this information recently- around mid June. I had already quit my job as a teacher, hoping that I would have been gone for boot camp over the summer or in the early fall. Obviously this is not happening, so I was stuck. What do I do now? Joe and I decided to take this opportunity for me to go back to school. SO, three weeks ago I started school for Professional Photography. If all goes to plan (which it never seems to) I will be done with school by next fall. My plan then is to start doing some freelance photography. I'd love to take pictures for magazines and travel the world doing so. The ultimate goal that I'm holding for myself is to get one of my photos into National Geographic. While I never thought that photography would be easy, I'm learning that it is a lot more difficult than I had anticipated. So for the next year, I will being diving head first into learning the profession of photography.

All that goes to say, a lot of changes have happened in my life that I hadn't really anticipated. I hadn't planned on not teaching, I hadn't planned on the Air Force not working out, and I hadn't planned on going to school for photography. But considering Joe's deployment is getting closer (only two months away now), I feel as though I'm exactly where I should be. I'm learning a new craft which I enjoy and it will be a good distraction while Joe is gone. So if anyone knows of a good place to shoot some pictures, or is willing to be a model for some of my shoots I'm going to have to do for school or has any advice- I'm all ears!  

Sweet Summertime

Teacher: "Are you excited for summer?"

Student: "Yeah, I guess so"

Teacher: "What do you mean you guess so?! Since the beginning of the school year, 

summer break is all you've talked about!"

Student: "Yeah, the break is nice. But then, it gets boring and I miss being in school."

Teacher: "I completely understand."

If you are a teacher or a student you probably have had a similar conversation to the one written above. I know I've had the conversation multiple times with several different students and I couldn't agree more with them! Summer can get boring. Teachers and students alike look forward to summer break, but after a few weeks you typically miss the hustle and bustle of school. Now I say typically because I can honestly say I haven't had that thought once since school has let out! I have had a surprisingly very busy summer and I've loved every second of it so far. In fact, thats why I've been MIA for several weeks. I just haven't had the time to sit down and blog about the current boots and spurs* of my life. So this is a "catch up" blog post. There are three wonderful things that have happened to me so far this summer and ironically they all, literally, involve boots....

1. Line Dancing

For my 25th birthday, my husband took me line dancing at the Waterin Trough and I've been hooked ever since. I used to go to square dances when I was younger, but it had been such a long time since I've been able to do some good ol' country dancing! I do enjoy the dancing, but I think I'm hooked on the Waterin Trough for a different reason. As odd as it sounds, I feel almost at home there. Its like stepping out of Florida and into the middle of a small town out in the midwest somewhere. There are wrangler jeans, boots, cowboy hats, and belt buckles EVERYWHERE. And of course, lots and lots of country music- all. night. long. I love it.

Line Dancing at the Waterin Trough

2. In the Breeze Horse Ranch

At the end of June, my friend Abby and I participated in a 5K Mud Run (which was awesome by the way). However, the best part about this run was that it took place within a horse farm. Incase you haven't read my past blog posts, I am in love with horses. I've been told that I could ride before I could walk. I feel most comfortable and in my element when I am on a horse. So, when I showed up for this mud run and saw several horses on the property, I immediately went is search of the owner to see if I could work at the barn. Before I knew it, I was filling out paperwork and was told to show up at the barn whenever my schedule would allow me to be there. I am SO grateful for the opportunity to work with and be around horses again. So if anyone in Florida wants to go for a horseback ride, schedule an appointment with In the Breeze Horse Ranch and ask for me to be your guide! I'd love to show you around the farm :-) 

Bentley and I at In the Breeze Horse Farm. Bentley is the horse that the barn has "given" me to work with!

3. A Dear Friend's Wedding

Finally, I had the wonderful opportunity to witness Dana Marie Yarbrough Griffin's wedding. Whew, thats a mouthful! Dana and I have been friends since '08 when I spent the summer working at a camp in Georgia. Her family took me in and even referred to me as their "adopted daughter". I love Dana and her family dearly, so when she asked me to come up early and help her out with some wedding details I obviously could not and would not deny her request! Unfortunately, Tropical Storm Debbie had other ideas and delayed my trip a couple of days. But once, I was back with Dana and back in Georgia I felt like we picked up right where we left off and I had an absolute blast! Not only did I love being back in Georgia with Dana's family, but I also just loved being back in the true south. I love the culture, I love the way people talk, and I love how absolutely kind and charming people are. So I wanted to take the time to say thank you to Miss Penny for all your hospitality(and margaritas), to Kip for organizing an incredible bachelorette night, to Miss Michele for your photography tips, to Grannie Fran for your advice, and to Mama Brenda for opening up your home to me. And finally, happy one week of being married to the wonderful couple- Tyler and Dana Griffin! 

The beautiful bride and myself! 

The kiss

Bachelorette Crew! 

Newlyweds

So that has been my summer so far in a nut shell. Its been busy, but full of just fun. The only negative or spur* of this summer has been the absence of my husband as he has been away. However, I look forward to being with him in about a week and for the adventures we will have on the family farm up in Ohio. While it is already July, I feel as though summer has just begun and I have plenty of more fun to look forward to! 

Happy Anniversary, Love

"Every love story is beautiful, but ours is my favorite". Thats probably a quote that most women would one hundred percent agree with. I am definitely a part of that "most women" category. Today is our second wedding anniversary. I know we haven't been married long (especially compared to those people out there who have been together for fifty plus years) but every time our anniversary rolls around, I love reflecting back on how it all began for us. I may be a little biased, but I do believe that our love story is something very special and very different than most people. But the reason why our love story is so amazing, is because you can definitely see God's hand in bringing us together. There are so many tiny details and decisions that had to be made at a precise time in order for our lives to cross paths. While Joe and I didn't meet until I was a senior in college, our story begins back in high school...

Joe grew up in the small town of Travelers Rest, South Carolina and attended Hampton Park Christian school from kindergarten to twelfth grade. He graduated in 2005 with a pretty small class so he was close with most of his classmates. Several of his classmates decided to go to Christian colleges but, in order for us to ever have met, the decision of one of his classmates named Julie to attend Northland Baptist Bible College was crucial (you'll understand why as the story continues). Joe had already decided that he was going to join the Army after high school. Both his father and his older brothers had served and he felt led to enlist as well. He went through boot camp and was stationed in Hawaii for a couple years before he was told that he would be deploying to Iraq in 2007.

     

Back in the small rural town of Elverson, Pennsylvania, I was completing my senior year at Twin Valley High School. I had transferred to Twin Valley my junior year, and while I made some great friends, I wouldn't say that I was especially close to anyone. It was tough transferring in to a new school and by the time your junior year rolls around, your pretty set with your group of friends. It didn't help that I was extremely shy when I was in high school and had a hard time opening up to others. After graduation, I still didn't know exactly where I wanted to attend college and what I wanted to major in. I eventually ended up enrolling at the local community college but only attended there for a semester. Over the course of the next year and a half, I attended two different colleges. Every summer I worked at a summer camp. For two years, I was the horse wrangler at High Point Camp. My last summer there, I met a great group of people who attended Clearwater Christian College. I had a blast with them and decided to change colleges once again, so I moved to Florida to finish out my degree in Secondary English Education. 

Working as a wrangler at High Point Camp. Spreading hay for the horses! 

My favorite horse was Macon- he LOVED to go swimming in the lake!

more camp fun with fellow Clearwater Friends! 

My first year at Clearwater was tough. I got into a little bit of trouble which made me re-evaluate my life and where I was headed. I started dating a guy who I was absolutely head over heels with. He ended up breaking it off with me the summer before my senior year of college. It was hard, but I learned a lot about myself and now, looking back, it was probably one of the best things that has ever happened to me. So going into my senior year, I decided NO BOYS. I just wanted to hang out with friends and enjoy my last year of college. 

During my senior year, I roomed with my friend, Jen, who was from Oahu, Hawaii. We became very close and did pretty much everything together. She was aware of all the trouble I had gotten in before, and how heart broken I was over the break up I experienced over the summer. She also knew how important the military was to me. My brother had just returned from a tour in Iraq, and I had shared with Jen how I had missed sending packages and supporting a group of soldiers overseas. She then informed me that she knew of a guy who was currently serving in Iraq that she had met at her church in Hawaii. See, before Jen attended Clearwater, she went to school at Northland Baptist Bible College and knew Joe's classmate, Julie, from high school. Julie had asked Jen to get in touch with Joe (since he was stationed in Hawaii) and help him find a good church. So now, Jen started to play matchmaker for me. Jen got in touch with Joe and told him about me. We started talking through facebook messages, which turned into facebook chat, which eventually turned into phone calls. At first, I just enjoyed being there for a soldier. More than once, Joe told me he just appreciated talking to me. It kept him grounded while he was over there; it reminded him that he would eventually be coming home to a "normal" life once again. But somewhere after the second month of talking, things began to change. I began looking forward to these phone calls and checking my facebook often, hoping for a message from him. I began to become seriously worried and concerned when I didn't hear from him after he had told me he was going on a mission. But, I didn't want him to know my feelings were changing. I didn't want to ruin what we had, especially for him. I didn't want him to become distracted or annoyed while he was overseas. 

Jen and I

late night studying for finals

Basketball nationals

College graduates! 

Hawaiian tradition

But everything was all put out on the table in October of 2008. I was on a soccer trip to Atlanta when I got a phone call from Joe late one night. He was going on a mission the next day and wanted to talk before he left. We talked about everything and anything. Towards the end of our conversation, Joe dropped the "L" word. He told me he loved me. I was blown away and didn't quite know how to respond. I hadn't even technically met this guy and he was saying he loved me; yet, I oddly felt the same way. But how could that be? Again, we hadn't even met! I asked him if he realized what he had just said. How strong that word was. He explained to me that he knew exactly what he was talking about. He told me that when death has stared him in the face several times while going on these mission, you don't want to have any regrets. Your view on life and what is important changes. So he told me he did love me. And he understood exactly what he was saying. 

The soccer trip where the "love" word was dropped for the first time!

After that conversation, everything changed for us. I knew then that I was going to marry this man. After he returned from Iraq and was able to go on leave, I flew up to South Carolina and met him at the airport where we met for the first time. It was as if we had known each other for years. We were completely comfortable around each other and things just felt right. I spent my spring break with him and then he flew back to Hawaii. Once I graduated from college in May, I flew out there to be with him. 

Seeing one another for the first time

what a wonderful day

first kiss!

Seriously one of the best days ever. I will never forget it!

And the rest is history. We were engaged in October of '09 and married June 4, 2010. Most of our relationship has been spent apart. While dating, Joe was in Iraq and Hawaii. While engaged, Joe was in Florida and I was in Pennsylvania. While married, Joe has been gone for training at several different schools for months at a time and has been gone on several missions as well. This year, on our anniversary, Joe is gone on a mission. Next year, on our anniversary, Joe will be deployed. While we aren't able to spend much time together, I wouldn't change anything about our relationship. It isn't quite a "normal" marriage, according to most people, but its perfect for us. And if you know Joe, he wouldn't want us to be "normal" either. He is all about being different! 

Two years ago today, I was so blessed to marry a man who truly makes me happy. Who loves me and makes sacrifices for me endlessly. I married a man who is unbelievably selfless. He has the biggest heart and cares deeply for people. We have so much fun just being completely crazy together. He is an incredible leader in our marriage and I respect him so much. I love him more than anything and look forward to many more anniversaries, whether they are spent celebrating together or apart. 

Thank you for two amazing years, Joe. I love you and I love our story that we share! 

June 4, 2010

June 4, 2011

  

Mahalo

My husband began his military career as an infantry soldier in the Army. He was one, who many would deem "lucky", to be stationed at Schofield Barracks in Hawaii. Although the island of Oahu is absolutely gorgeous, my husband's time on the island wasn't always a positive experience for him. He arrived on the island after he had just barely turned eighteen on Christmas Eve. He deployed from the island and returned there after spending fifteen months in Iraq. Needless to say, his view of Hawaii is probably a lot different than many world travelers or dreamy vacationers.
My view of the island however, is completely different. I had the opportunity to spend a significant amount of time on the island with my husband before the move was made back to the mainland. I absolutely fell in love it. The weather is perfect. The island way of life is wonderfully relaxed. The terrain is absolutely stunning. The beaches of course are unreal, but my favorite part of the island is the mountains. I never got tired of waking up and looking at those beautiful, lush, green mountains that are a part of the island. And I loved seeing, almost everyday, why Hawaii is known as the rainbow state. Everyday, I saw just how incredibly amazing and beautiful God's creation is and I loved every second of it. I miss it, terribly. Since my husband now drives boats for the Army, our options are somewhat limited to where we are able to be stationed, however Hawaii is one of those options. My dream is that one day we will be stationed there again. My husband isn't quite as thrilled about the idea since his past on the island doesn't always hold great memories, but he is open to the idea and understands that things would be much different the second time around. Sometimes my desire to live on the island again is strong that its almost painful. Yes, I understand that may sound corny or lame, but I don't know how else to describe it. Today or maybe this whole week (actually month), was one of those times when I just couldn't get the island, and the friends that we've made there, off of my mind. So below, I've used pictures to show you just how incredible my time on the island was and why I fell in love with it:

Beautiful scenery and awesome hiking trails! This trail is called Kole Kole Pass located on base at Schofield Barracks

More from Kole Kole Pass

Beautiful Sunsets and Sunrises

Street Performers on the Waikiki Strip

Chinaman's Hat- I was dying to see this! 

You bet I had to get some riding in on the island!

Watching storms roll in

The traditional island garb

Vacation Bible School

The views from Makakilo

I'm a HUGE fan of LOST, so I loved visiting all the LOST filming locations. This is where "the others" lived!

Fourth of July festivities at Schofield

One of our favorite places to go to: Ko Olina

Ever since I was little, I've wanted to go to Pearl Harbor. I never thought I would ever have the opportunity, so the day we were able to visit meant a lot to me. It was an incredible, sobering experience.

This place ranks up there in the top three places I loved about the island: snorkeling at Hanauma Bay!

I had the opportunity to be a counselor for our church's summer camp. I loved my girls!

I was able to witness my roommate's gorgeous wedding!

No words needed

the island at night

Rock jumping on the North Shore with the locals (yes thats me jumping! So fun!)

There is so much more that I wish I would have taken pictures of: spam musabi, sticky rice, shaved ice, the locals, surfing, outdoor malls, movie scenes, outings with friends, downtown Waikiki, Luaus, coffee farms, pineapples (which taste unreal by the way), learning to hula, the beautiful language, I could go on and on...

Living in Hawaii again is one of the deep desires of my hearts. It is something that I pray about very often. The Bible says in Psalm 37:4, "Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart". Now, obviously this verse does not mean that God is going to grant me every single desire that I have. Sometimes His answer is "no" and sometimes it is "wait". But I do know that God wants us to talk and communicate with Him through prayer. He wants to know our desires just as much as He wants to know our needs. I just need to remember that He has a perfect plan for me. One day, it may be allowing us to live on Hawaii once more or His will may be that I never set foot on that island again. Whatever His will may be, I find comfort in His words from Jeremiah 29:11, " 'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.' "


Mahalo Hawai'i for the wonderful memories. Maybe, one day, I'll see you again.