Things I Have Learned

I have learned so many things in the last year, a journey of self-actualization if you will. In retrospect its strange I thought I knew who I was, what I stood for, and what I wanted out of life. Its strange now how goals, ideas, and perception can change~it can mold itself into whatever we need it to be. In the last year I have had to let go of preconceived ideas, and change the mold I have been living in. Oliver Wilde says, “Man is least himself when he talks in his own person. Give him a mask, and he will tell you the truth.” So my mask is on....

Some people who know me know that I have struggled with eating disorders since I was a teenager. I struggle with them because society has put a label on what pretty is, what a woman should look like. So this year has been really hard for me. I have struggled with my weight since I have my babies. Its strange because my whole life i was so thin, eat what I want, do what I want with no consequences. Then all the sudden you have gained 100 pounds and two kids, stretch marks, and wide hips. Would I change it, absolutely not! My children are the most real and honest thing I have ever done. However, my mind said stop eating. I started working out in Mississippi and through unhealthy habits I did loose about 70 pounds. We moved here to Arizona and I gained 20 pounds back. So, in my mind the one thing that has always worked is anorexia. "do eat, don't eat" it was my mantra. I started working out again, but I wasn't seeing the weight loss and it becomes very frustrating. I get very down on myself. This battle has been forging on for a long time now. Which leads me to the next thing I have learned. Have a little faith in me. I want to say I woke up one day and had an epiphany, however that's not really the case. I started CrossFit 10 months ago. Swear this is the truth I have never had so much negativity from people as when I told them I was doing CrossFit. I don't know if its the be all end all of workout programs but I cannot say what this process has done for me without crying. When I started CrossFit I was to afraid of everything, I was afraid to try. I am no longer afraid to try. I struggle everyday and its OK. Its OK to have a bad workout, its OK to fail as long as I am learning in the process. Have I lost a ton of weight? Absolutely not. Do I have a LONG way to go? ABSOLUTELY but like the coach has been telling me from month one "trust the process". three words, but they mean so much to me. From CrossFit I have worked really hard on my eating disorders. I am not cure it will probably be something I always struggle with. But, the biggest thing is I have learned women are beautiful no matter how big or small they are. Its beautiful to watch women find themselves through the process get PR's they didn't think they could make. Beauty is not singular, there is no one right model, size, or person. I think our beauty comes from our strength as a person. So, while CrossFit is not right for everyone I can say 10 months later I have grown so much as a person than with most anything else I can try because I learned not to be afraid, let go, "trust the process". Another thing I have learned and this was a pretty hard lesson. My husband and I were fighting as most couples do we have been married almost 8 years its never perfect. I told him the day before my house burnt down that I was just exhausted with being his partner. I was in a bad mood that day. I rarely say things I don't mean everyone who knows me knows I am a brutally honest person. This has taught me we can say things very quickly but sometimes the wounds take longer to heal. Well I swear the next day I came home at 5 pm to eat dinner with my kids and my house was gone. I don' t know how to describe that feeling. Michael and I have worked so hard for what we have and what we have given our children and it was just gone. My dog, my baby...he didn't make it and I don't know when that will be OK in my head and heart maybe never. But while I stood there with my husband crying I though I am not exhausted with him as a partner I am frustrated with myself. I cant take back things I say and sometimes I need to deliver my message with other peoples feelings in mind. Yes I am brutally honest but I can add some finesse into what I am saying and remember not everyone responds to things the way that I do. Back to the fire. I found that people are pretty amazing. Michael and I are very self reliant I wouldn't ask someone for a pack of sugar. So when our house burnt down I had a really hard time accepting peoples generosity not because I wasn't thankful but because I didn't know how to pay that forward. I have found that even when you have nothing we have so very much. I have an amazing community of friends, family, and acquaintances. 

 I am 29 now and I feel like I know who I am as a person. In no way do I think that I am going to stop growing as a person, but I know who I want to be. I didn't always anyone who knew me long ago knows that. I use my laughter to hide when I am uncomfortable, or sad. I am goofy and silly. I am full of anxiety. I cannot function without a plan. I love my kids, I love them with a fierceness you don't know you have until you have them. I am fiercely loyal to my friends, I love my husband on his good and bad days and he loves me when I am driving him crazy with my plans. I am so very blessed. Not blessed with material things blessed with things a lot of people have and take for granite. And its ok if I am a little over weight, its ok to suck at my burpees for the day. Its ok to be human, to make mistakes. I am going to keep trusting the process. "We should not judge people by their peak of excellence; but by the distance they traveled from the point where they started." Henry Beecher

So, taking my mask off now. But just know that the struggles we find outselves in lend to who we are in the end. I cannot and will not let my failures define me as a person rather lend thing to my growth. 

SPRING HAS SPRUNG!

Well we Boones find that Spring is here, the peach trees in our yard are budding, the roses are in a colorful array, the pool is nearly 75 degrees, and of course we have planted our garden. Ah yes, there is something quite beautifully peaceful about spring. We have been having so much fun. Hannah is in English riding for horses now the lady says Hannah is a natural. Hannah just had her 6th birthday I know where did the time go? Isabella is a month away from 3, and she will be going into gymnastics. Michael just celebrated his 1 year at work so he is a GS 12-2. We are super duper proud of him. I have been hitting the gym hard core. I am back to running again. I am committed to this healthier lifestyle we are about 20 weeks in and I feel great. We just started crossfit and I am excited for a challenge, I am excited to see what I can really push my body to do. Life has been good. We leave for vacation in like 2 months to the FL Keys, Islamadora to be precise. I CANNOT wait I was not made to live in the deserts of AZ> I am made for FL waters, humidity, and sunshine. I guess that catches everyone up. We have been crazy busy and loving life. I am so blessed.

Battles

If I am being honest it has been a while since I have had a battle of any sorts.
David McKay said, "the most important of life's battles is the one we fight in the chambers of our souls." My soul lately has been hush, hush. A tranquility has set it or so I thought. Perhaps there has been a small battle brewing for some time. An inner demon that needs a worthy adversary. The soul is there to fight the battles of my heart and mind. My seas again feel stormy, my life feels like it is in quiet turmoil. The ship while not capsized, is slowly lulling away. I am not sure if I can pinpoint the eye of the storm, however, I think it may have something to do with the feeling of being stagnate. A lack of direction, a misplaced compass-I wish due north was a direction. I think I need to wage this battle, rock my ship, steer it in another course. Maybe not due north as I have always sailed in my own direction, but I need to pick a direction. Fight this feeling of of being stagnate. I have a purpose and at 28 I think its time I figured it out, plotted it on a map, battle this inner chamber of my soul.

This is Halloween

Is it fall already? Oh let the Christmas shopping begin MOMMY cannot wait I love over indulgence for the holidays. I cannot wait Grandma and Grandpa are flying in less than a month and they will be here for 3 weeks. Papa Boone and his new wife will be flying in around the end of October. Its always nice to have family come to stay the kids miss them. Michael has finished everything for the FAA in order to be hired now you have to have psych evals so that is the last thing we are waiting on should have that done in the next two weeks. That is the last thing they are waiting for. He was discharged October 4th, so we are excited about that another part of our lives we will look fondly at in the past. He did his 10 years and we are all very proud of him. Kids are getting big fast. Hannah is so smart. Isabella is a CHATTERBOX! We just got back from our vacation with our friends we went to the Grand Canyon, Flagstaff, and Sedona. I will never get over how beautiful these things were. I have been to many countries, lived a lot of places, it is nice to see things that still surprise me, the Grand Canyon was stunning! How can people say there is no God when you see things that beautiful? WE stayed almost a whole week it was needed. I told my husband you drug me all the way to Arizona you better take me to see the Grand Canyon. Of course hes an awesome husband and he did. WE are anticipating Halloween going to get our costumes this weekend. Isabella just wants to be Jack off Nightmare before Christmas I am so over watching that movie...kids are obsessive at best. WEll I think that brings everyone up to speed I am gonna do another book blog again soon. I am way over 300 books now. Love you all

3 words for the day

1. Inspire-to affect, there are many ways to put this word into motion and many things that seek to inspire us everyday. Yesterday while at the park there was the most amazing sky painted with pinks and purples I was inspired to write, to take a picture, and remember all the gifts that God gives us everyday. Inspiration comes from big, small, and sometimes unseen things. I am inspired to wake up everyday and be a great mother to my girls because when I look at them I know that they deserve nothing less. I want to inspire other people to understand someone always has it worse than you and you an overcome and be better than your circumstances. “When we love, we always strive to become better than we are. When we strive to become better than we are, everything around us becomes better too.” (the Alchemist). Not only should we be looking for inspiration we should be giving inspiration. 


2. Instill-implant/infuse. I want to instill free will, love, patients, freedom, change, etc..that list just goes on and on. We are the catalyst for change but we have to start to instill that change, motivate the masses, and be determined to see the implant grow. What we instill into this world will be our legacy. I want God to instill his will into my life, and my families life. I want to instill into my family the importance of good will and living up to what you are meant to be. The idea of instilling something small and watching it grow over time is and can be most rewarding. 


3. Motivate-to provide incentive. Walt Disney said, "If you can dream it you can do it". We need motivaters to start instilling and inspiring people. Sometimes a gentle nudge is all a person needs to succed. sometimes all they need is for one person to believe in them. Can you imagine the good you can do if you just motivate one person it can be a domino effect. Motivation to start a diet, finish school, join a sport, be a better person, etc.... motivation is hard to find sometimes but it is always there if you know where to look.

September

Well Falls coming the cold air is pushing down the mountains here in Arizona. I am ready for apples and fall baking! Such an exciting time. Michael will be getting his orders for discharge they said by next week (YEAH!) after 10 years no more ties to the USAF! They are honorably discharging with severance pay. We prayed a lot for the answers and I feel like we are where we are supposed to be in life. The FAA has everything they need we are waiting on the firm offer letter of course the school is so back logged I am sure we will be in Arizona at least another year. But will be HAPPY to be back on the east coast. We have a trip with our friends and their kids to Sedona/and the Grand Canyon in October for a week and I cannot describe how excited I am to see something so beautiful. I will be taking hundreds of pics while we are here we will make the most of it. Had Hannahs 1st parent teacher conference and shes apparently doing amazing (DUH!) Isabella has an amazing vocab on her and they are just such joys in my life. Not sure who I was before I was a mommy. Other than that I have a test next week for a job as a Juvenile Detention Officer. Hopefully that will pan out but I will be sad if it does because I will loose so much time with my family. I am guilt ridden because we don't really need the money but I need to get some experience and an audience outside a 2 and 5 year old. Anyhow lots of great things going on and coming our way looking forward to the holidays ahead and family thats flying out here. LOVE YOU ALL!

BOOKS!

So, I am reader! An avid one at that. There is nothing like a book that has the ability to move you in time, make you cry, laugh, and feel. So here are a few of my recent favorites that I hope can provide something for you. This is in no way a representation of what I have read just a few of my favs I cannot like over 200 books from the last 4 months but I hope these will encourage you to buff up your library. There is something about reading that worms its way into your soul.

1. The Taker (#1)/The Reckoning (#2) from the Taker Trilogy by Alma Katsu-these are an amazing set of books that I COULD not put down. 

2. Wicked Appetite/Wicked Business, from the Lizzy and Diesel Series by Janet Evanovich. She is a really good writer of course she did all the Stephanie Plum books as week. But these two books have more to come. 

3. Accidentally in Love With a God (#1), Accidentally married to a Vampire (#2), Sun God seeks a Surrogate (#3), by Mimi Jean Pamfiloff . OK these books are really good and funny at the same time there will be more to come in this series, but this is a funny series. 

4. Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn, what an good book its like psychology met a sort of love story. I think its different and a more mature read. 

5. The whole Jeaniene Frost series about Cat and Bones its the Night Huntress Series I LOVED the whole series I think so far there are 5 or 6 I have read them all and every one of them and they are all funny and the love story is just as odd as the couple. 

6. Sweet Talk by Julie Garwood, I like her style could be that my major is in criminal justice that I like this one its a copper love story but well written. 

7. A Discovery of Witches (#1)/Shadow of the NIght (#2) by Deborah Harkness REALLY GOOD SERIES!!

8. Molly Harper she wrote a series (Care and feeding of Stray Vampires, Nice Girls Dont Bite their Nieghbors.....) ok if you find anything written by Harper she is so FUNNY! I found myself laughing out loud at this series and I love when I find a writer thats able to do that I have 6 books from that series so funny.

9. The Sookie Stackhouse series by Charlaine Harris, I like True Blood and all but the books are SO much better as they so often are. This is a long series and my only complaint is the books are kind of expensive if you plan on reading the whole series I think on Nook they are each $7.99 so that adds up when there are over 9 books in the series. 

10. Slammed (#1)/ Point of Retreat by Coleen Hoover, ok this are really "grown up" books like reading Date or something but I think they have a fundamental sweetness behind them and I loved the idea of the Slam poetry that was in the book It was a light fun read

11. If I were You by Lisa Renee Jones, this is a good and better written erotic book that Shades of Grey. Shes a really good writer the second part of the story is not out yet but I assure you it will be GOOD.

12. The Rose Garden, by Susanna Kearsley In the beginning this book was a little confusing and I almost gave up on it but by the end I was enamored with her writing and the style of the book. its a good mix of past and present that has an lovely love story. Stick thru the book it will pay off. 

13. Rainshadow Road (#1)/Dream Lake (#2) by LIsa Kleypas. LOVE THESE BOOKS! beautiful love story. 

14. Taken (#1)/ No Takebacks (#2) by Kelli Maine-OOHHH good books I am so anxious to see what happens in number 3. its sexy, fun, well written, all in one

15. H.P. Mallory LOVE HER WRITING CANNOT SAY ENOUGH I read her whole Dulcie ONeil Series and loved it wish she was ready with the 5th book but alas the woes of waiting on publishing. She also did the Jolie Wilkins Series her next book in that series I think comes out on the 25th of this month AMAZING SERIES!! I find myself rooting for two potential loves and not sure who I would pick cannot say enough about her writing she's amazing and both series are awesome.

16. Beautiful Disaster, by Jamie McGuire another awesome book 

17. Auschwitz, I am a history minor so this was a really good book from the other side. 

18. Gabriels Inferno (#1)/ Gabriels Rapture (#2) by Sylvain Reynard oh I was so sad when this series ended. I love Dantes Inferno and these books use a lot of Dante inferences and I enjoyed being challenged at the understanding as anyone who has read Dante's Inferno knows. You will enjoy these books. 

19. The Guild Hunter Series by Nalini Singh awesome books about vampires being enslaved to the Angels. An interesting new take on angels and vampires. Singh keeps you engrossed through the whole series I think there are 5 in the series now  a new one just come out but I haven't read it yet. 

20. The Best of Me, Nicholas Sparks-ok I cried on this one but who doesn't when they read Sparks....a tear jerker for sure

SO here are 20 series/books that I think people should give a chance. I have SO MANY more but I narrowed down the top 20. If you can read you can think for yourself, you can inspire others, you can come to your own understanding. 

catch up

So it has been so eventful around here. I just celebrated my 6 year anniversary to my husband last month. 6 years where did the time go. I am still so honored to be walking thru life with my biggest fan. He is an amazing man and he is my best friend.

We finally got his stuff back from his TDRL they have determined that they will honorably discharge him with a severance package. 10 years of service 1 year of temporary medical retirement, we are sort of over it. Michael got turned down down the FAA center job in Jacksonville, FL they sent him another letter a few weeks ago asking him to take it again..persistant. How can you turn it down its a GOOD job he sent in all his paperwork so now we are waiting on the firm offer letter and class dates. Not to mention I will be living in FL again by the beaches. It will be a while it takes forever to get into the FAA schools but we are excited about the upcoming job. Arizona is nice but I HATE being so far away from my family.

My brother had his 1st baby Mr. Hunter he is so handsome~ I am a lucky Auntie. My father-in-law just got married last week and we are so excited for him. So many great things happening within the family.

Hannah is in Kindergarten she is a genius of course I am a little in awe of the things they are trying to teach her she knew this stuff when she was 3. I wish we would have put her in a private school and probably will when we move. Isabella is getting ready to start potty training she is so funny She can swim in our pool with no swimmy arms she jumps off the side of the pool and yells cannonball and she isn't even 2.5 yrs old. My babies are above average. I couldn't be more proud of them both.

Life is good we are chugging along. I am ready to move start law school, and get stuff on track just sucks it will still be 9 months-1 year before its going to be time.

5:30 am

How many things be accomplished if I got up everyday at 530 am? Isabella thinks if we are all up at 530 am, mommy can add a few more hours of boredom to her life. Heres the thing she doesn't get on her internal clock mommy is no longer busy. Sure I take care very successfully of 2 kids everyday, my house generally pretty darn clean, 3 home cooked meals a day ,but no more 5 classes cramming for finals, and being a single parent. I sweat my brain is mush I have read like 12  books in 3 weeks, I am stinking bored, even more bored that my days start at 530 am. ANd get this they want me to send my baby to Kindergarten...what? then what will I do. probably work I can't let this genius brain go to waste. I can't start law school here because it would be a waste of time not staying in Arizona. So for now this brian is at an impasse. I am under stimulated (not in a sexual way lol)! I am bored, Sierra Vista, AZ while beautiful doesn't have a whole lot to do I am an on the go mommy and the only place I go is to get coffee at the starbucks. AYE! I am gonna start volunteering if I have to I can't understand lazy people, people who can't get things accomplished, there is no reason a house can't be cleaned, 3 meals on the table a day, kids taken care of, baths, and in between all that we go to the park all the time swim every single day....it can be done, however, many people lack ambition. This is not to say there aren't many days I would love to run away pulling my hair out but I can say my kids have the best of me everyday. Onward and upward bout to be the best PTA mom ever. Hannahs getting ready to start gymnastics and ballet so theres one or two things to add to my to do list may even put Isabella in toddlers gymnastics I think she'd have lots of fun. Until them here I am brain wasting away everyday, missing the chaos that was my life, not use to this "relaxing" time(WTF is that for?) And unfortunately my days start at 530am, and don't end until 11-12pm.
Forever yours,
bored out of my mind

What now?

Fathers day was a success the girls bought Michael a new infared electric smoker which we gave him early so he could use it for our pool party that was a success on Friday. It was fun! Lots of kids you know my kids LOVED that. Yesterday was fathers day! We got up kids made their daddy cards, then we made him a big breakfast, went to the park, played in the pool, smoked some ribs and had a great family day. Mr. Stewie the new dog is really working out he reminds us so much of cane and he kids are crazy about him. He's very sweet and he is a rescued dog no dog deserves to be at those pounds so sad. Life is good here over looking the mountains. Anxiously awaiting being an Auntie, Hannah going to school, Isabella going into daycare, me working. Lots coming lets get it started!

Insanity and genius

Insanity vs. Genius


Can there be an oxymoron that would allow for an insane genius? the definition of insanity is extreme irrational, foolishness. So was Michelangelo insane? Well by definition perhaps. He was an artistic genius but when it came to hygiene he rarely took baths, changed his clothes, and would sleep fully dressed. He has often been speculated to have autism. How can a man like this help to create some of the most beautifully regarded works of art? There have been many in the past, present, and I am sure in the future who if they thought or think outside of the box of "normality" would be deemed insane. Is that a fair label to apply to someone we perhaps do not understand or has a view that is opposite of our own. There was a time that Greeks believed in Gods like Zeus were they insane. Or perhaps their methods were genius using what they had to understand the world around them. Aristotle said, “No great mind has ever existed without a touch of madness.” If there is that fine line than why not erase the definitive line that a textbook created and let the insane geniuses rule the world. Dropping the labels would mean a general acceptance of people who are different than ourselves. this is not an easy feat for anyone we all have our preconceived notions of who people are and what box we want them to fit into. I have never been big on conformity and I am successful in my own right. I have had moments of insanity and many moments of clear genius. There was never a line only me~ Only the diversity that makes us who we are, makes our nation great, makes people question themselves. 
 I dare you to erase the line between insanity and genius and let yourself shine for who you are not who they want you to be!

Some new pics

Top those cute kids..not!

My Goodness i am a lucky mommy

New Mexico-my sun babies

the family

Mommy and Hannah after her big dance recital

ME!

Graduation

So proud

Me and Lifey..thats right highest honors

me and mom

Hannah and I

I did it for them....

after graduation

WOW can you believe this?

their love is inspiring

Arizona here we are...
well we are all settled here in Arizona 5,000 feet above normal. What a difference it is here. No humidity, hot, windy, LOTs of mountains beautiful. However I get nosebleeds all day everyday, I feel like I am breathing hot sand. It is so different. Other than that the kids love it we have a huge pool, a hot tub, 3 bedrooms, a play room, living room...the house is gorgeous. Hannah we just enrolled her in Kindergarten (boo) she starts August 8th. I may put Isabella in day care depends if I get his job or not. Michaels friends sent my resume to Department of Homeland security and to Border patrol. I don't know thats what I want to do Hannah will be doing cheerleading, gymnastics, and soccer may be no time for working and Michael makes more than enough money I dont have to work and we are still muy comfortable. Life is settling in here the time change is crazy. I am excited for all the things to come I am going to start studying for the LSAT's so i can get into Law School. There are many changes on teh horizon I have a 2 year, and 5 year old now busy as ever. So nice though Michael doesn't work weekends, work doesn't start till 7am, and closes the airfiend at 11pm so the hours are amazing and he makes GS 12 pay with 14% locality and air traffic pay. 80,000 a year to do NOTHING seriously the slowest base I have ever seen no complaints here. He is getting ready to go back to do his BA. Well i have to go cook dinner a mommys job is never done. Love you all sorry its been so long :) Oh and to let you haters know...graduated highest honors from USM, I am brilliant! What a relief to walk across that stage now on to my JD degree

Beach Bum

Its sort of bittersweet leaving MS, we have been here like 4 years now and for the most part its been an amazing experience. I live on the beach I love walking across the road and taking the kids any time I want They are like little fish. Isabella likes to lay in the waves, Hannah likes to dig her self into the sand and make me make her a mermaid. We went yesterday and we will be going again today. I do miss tanning, ahh to be able to lay on the beach would be nice I take a more vertical approach stand and chase kids and hope the sun his hitting all the right spots. WE went this morning to our fav breakfast place Arbor View cafe and we sat on the patio watching the beach while eating a fab breakfast. I take the kids to breakfast once a week. They loves it. Its lazy days of summer. I am looking forward to my pool and outdoor living area in Arizona but I will miss the beach, "I got some ocean from property in Arizona and if you buy that I'll throw the golden gate in free..." yeah no beaches not far from California though and there will be new things to see but I have never been far from a beach my whole life I will miss it. Opportunities are what you make them and this is just a stepping stone to get back to the coast. I have the most amazing little family and it is a blessing to be anywhere God wants us. My baby is going to be 5 in a few days...where did the time go? It seems like a flicker of an eye, a dot in time. I'm not ready to walk her to school in a few months they have always been home with their mommy. I am ready to start a career law enforcement? well I am a parent and I question the effectiveness of that career this is the first time we will be close to a culinary institute which was always my first choice I have always wanted to be a chef....so go back to school? I don't know but whatever we choose to do i am ready for the new experience. I love life, God, family, and my friends with those things how can anything go wrong?

New Beginnings

So we have a countdown. Michael moved to Arizona about 2 weeks ago. WE have been in NC for my Spring Break throwing my sister in law an amazing baby shower. I graduate very soon (already ordered my cap and gown) then I have Hannahs' big dance recital at the end  of May and we are out of here. Hopefully we will be finalizing our house we are buying or at least picking one by the end of next week. We are looking a a big house right now on 4 acres. WE will be out there for a few years we decided on the DoD for several reasons but it is an amazing opportunity. Hannah is going to be 5 very soon, when did that happen? Isabella is almost 2 when did that happen? We are having an amazing time and always looking forward to the future. I cannot wait to graduate its a cumulation of a LOT of hard work graduating with the highest honors with a BS in Criminal Justice from the University of Southern Miss. I am excited for the future sorry it was a while since my last post been overwhelmingly busy! I love you all. It is all in Gods time not ours.

Holidays are in the past

Well the tree is down and the tinsle away. LOL! We spent an awesome Christmas in FL for 2 weeks. It was good getting to play with the kids and the fam damily. New Years was lame kids were projectile vomiting so the parents (Michael and I) got to tend with that all night. WooHOO! Ring in the new year. Then by the 2nd when we were leaving to come home and go thru fort rucker on the way I was proejctile vomiting YEAHAW! Then Michael that evening. It was miserable. we are amped up new year so much stuff happening. Michael got offered all 3 jobs LOL! Oklahoma, FAA in Jacksonville, FL, and of course the supervisory GS 12 job in Arizona. I think we are gonna do Arizona while we wait of the FAA and their stupid class date. They are both amazing jobs Oklahoma ehhh. I am getting ready to be the big 27 OH the age is dragging me down. I am graduating in like 4 months. I am so excited. I cannot wait to start working when we move to AZ. ultimate goal is of couse to get back to NC don't care where just NC. Life is muy bueno. Isabella will be 18 months old in a few days and she is a PIP! Oh goodness she is so much like me, Hannah is the most beautiful ballerina I have ever seen. my angel bug. Its all going by in the blink of an eye. By the time I graduate I will have a 5 year old, and a 2 year old I cannot wait for them to see how hard their mommy has worked and how its all so possible. They make me a better woman. Well thats the excitement need to get ready for church. Love you all. Happy 2012

December

What an amazing month this has turned out to be. Michael is home for what was susposed to be his vacation his base he was working at in Al Asad Iraq closed and midwest was sending him to Kabul, Afghanistan. This decision has never rested well on my heart I don't have how much they were paying him it was not worth his life. So he was home on vacation planning to go back on Sunday and we got a call from a job in Fort Hachuka Arizona starting at GS 12, score. He is getting all the stuff done for that its really good pay and in the United States. Well he is also in Tennessee today being interviewed for a job in Jacksonville, FL center airport...awesome job. Of course anyone who knows the FAA knows these jobs take FOREVER so my husband upon completion of his paperwork for this army job will be going to Arizona. I am so excited for him hes an awesome well-roudned controller with pretty much everythign you can do or get in his career except running his own facility they were stupid if they didnt pick him.

School is out for the holidays and when we go back I will be in my final semeseter at USM and I will have my BA with honors in Criminal Justice. Hopfully when I join Michael in AZ I will be able to get on with the FEDS.

Christmas came a little early to the Boones in anticipation of him leaving to go back before Christmas we called Santa and he agreed to bring the kids their presents early. LOL! OMG there was so much stuff. SO MUCH! We spent all day opening boxes it took them 35 min just to unwrap all their gifts. We will be going to FL next week to spend christmas with the family as a family. I am pretty excited about that. Isbella is getting ready to be 1.5 yrs old an OMG she is a handful but she is SO smart really that is unbiased she is so smart. Hannah is over 4 and  half and she is the sweetest, kindest person I know but she is also hell on wheels. It has been an interesting and reflective year. I am so thankful we are out of the military (mostly, temprarily retired LOL!) we don't miss it we don't talk about it we just act like tse 10 yrs don't exist. My husband served 2 tours in Iraq in the military nd served his country honorably but that par of our life seems like forever ago I am so excited for 2012 things can only get better. I am excited about AZ a new chapter, I am excited about this FAA job in Jacksonville. When we walk with the Lord we stay in the light. Many blessing to everyone during their holidays we will be spending ours together as a family.

Thinking outloud

If I were to get in my car and drive, where would i go how would I survive?
I'd like to say I'd bring a map, but really who needs that?
A car, some gas, and crazy tunes
Up, Up, and away maybe the moon?
The destination is not important, its the ride that counts,
The laughter, the snacks, the epicure.
At the end of my rainbow I will come back
Because no matter where I go
My ruby red shoes lead me home.
Theres no place like home-thats a fact!
I;ll remember the tornado that lead me away
But in the end my heart says stay

End of October

Well October what a long 31 days. Aye! One month less to our future goals. Schools almost over 1 month of this semester left, one semester to go! YEAH! Lots of big things happening. The FAA has referred Michael for jobs throughout Florida and throughout North Carolina both places we would love to be NC more than FL as long as it isn't that crap hole SJAFB, losers (sorry, not our amazing friends there we love you). Until then hes been over there like 80 days and I am missing him every minute of every second of everyday, I just want him to be home with me we are never apart so this sucks. His base will be closing December 3rd and we are unsure weather we want to continue on over in Afganistan or not, by then we should hopefully have some answers from the FAA, I am unfortunatly stuck in Mississippi until May the 12th for grauduation.

The kids are doing amazing. Hannah is 4.5 now and so smart. Shes well past where she should be for Kindergarten next year. She loves singing and she loves her ballet/tap. Shes an amazing child when she isn't driving me crazy with her attitude she is all girl and so much like her momma LOL Her dance instructor said she is so observant. Duh shes gonna be brilliant like me also! Isabella is 17 months old now. My baby! She is SO smart I cannot put it into words she understands everyting she is speaking so well. Isabella is going to be my wild child. It is amazing how much they love each other. THere is such a bond between them. I love to hear Hannah whispering things to her and Isabella giggling. Amazing children I am so blessed.

Life is so busy here I am home with the little terrors all morning then I leave go to school till 945 at night if I get out early I go to the gym and run. I just bought a new running stroller for the kids are are taking it on its maiden voyage tomorrow. I am excited but I think they are more excited. I am hoping to jog a lot of the 4 miles. we shall see my legs and arms are so tired from the weights the other night i think monday I will start back to Insanity it really provides the best results in a short amount of time. But they are draining exercises. I am just pleased with the 50 lb weight loss but it just leaves me craving more, it obsesses me. literally!

Monday is trick-or-treating and I cant wait to take the kids I am sad Michael will miss it but hes with us in heart. WE are so looking forward to November. We have Michaels 30th bday on Thanksgiving my old man, my moms birthday, my brothers birthday. Whew! lots to come and of course Thanksgiving. I have so much to be thankful for. Well I have to get off here life doesn't wait for me to blog. Kids are all tucked into bed, its crazy cold here BRRR...i have my fireplace going and my jammies on. I think I may even make apple cider. Fall is here baby.

Awesome

The memo may not have been gotten my kids are amazing, awesome, wonderful, smart, beautiful! Just saying.