So I've seen a couple of other people do it and I thought why not... Let me sum up my last 10 years for you guys! (and me, before memory loss sets in!)
2000 - A year of change and uncertainty. I was unemployed and bumming off of friends. I joined the military, entering into the delayed entry program in January and shipping off to boot camp at the end of May. I graduated in the middle of June and then left to go directly to Keesler AFB, MS to go through 5 weeks of technical training to learn how to do my job in the Air Force. Upon graduating, I spent 2 weeks back in my "hometown" with my recruiter, trying to sign up other suckers to be like me haha. Then I was off to my first duty station, Barksdale AFB, LA (in Shreveport.) I arrived there on Labor Day weekend, still unsure about the world. I was in an unfamiliar place with unfamiliar people... but I made friends quickly and adjusted to life as a working girl!! I was on the road to independence.
2001 - I grew as an Airman. I partied hard with friends... I fell in love (for the first time) and had such high hopes that we'd end up married. Unfortunately at the time, his life decisions steered him a few miles from me (to FL) to complete school and become an officer in the military. This would take him away from me forever. We dated on/off after he left, but he'd later decide that our lives were too different and incompatible. Then September 11th happened. The fate of all of our lives was put indefinitely on hold as war was on the homefront and storms were brewing all over the world. I remember how scared I was that day, how worried my friends were that terror would find our families, or us. We were on call immediately to do whatever it took to safeguard our home.
2002 - I deployed in support of Operation Enduring/Iraqi Freedom. January I was on a plane to Diego Garcia (a tiny, TINY island in the middle of the Indian Ocean.) When I envisioned joining the military, I wanted to be driving hummers, rolling in the mud with guns, and deploying to combat zones! DG was hardly a combat zone. 4 hour shifts, every other weekend off... and a LOT of time spent drinking in the lagoon on sunny afternoons. This place was THE Club Med of Club Meds. HAHA... I guess that explains how I ended up pregnant not even halfway through my deployment. I ran into an old friend and had a little too much fun and well... Stevie happened. No regrets... NONE. Stevie Lynn was everything I ever needed at a time in my life when really, I had nothing. She was the giant rope that pulled me out of a rut so big that even I couldn't see it. She magnified my independence 100x and the love between us... unimaginable. Thanks be to God for blessing me when I needed it most.
2003 - Hmm... nothing big this year. Well, I moved into a really BIG apartment with a friend/roommate. Was a step up from living in my 1 bedroom with my daughter. Stevie now had her own room, and I had a master bedroom WITH a bathroom inside of it! Oh, and we had a fireplace. I was stylin'!
2004 - I traded my 4 door Honda Accord in for a new SUV... A 2004 Mitsubishi Endeavor. I was SO proud of myself that I'd finally established enough credit that I didn't need a co-signer!
2005 - The start of all things wonderful in 2005. Nicolas and I REALLY started talking (online) again in March. In October, he flew over for 2 weeks... he attended my ALS graduation with me and helped me celebrate my birthday that year. I fell head over heels for my French hottie. He came back in December of that year for another 2 weeks. We had Christmas in Texas and I introduced him to all the family. I knew in my heart that he was the one... I'd never felt so close to someone, and the feeling was AMAZING.
2006 - I deployed back to Diego Garcia. January to May. This was the first time I'd have to leave Stevie. I was ok with it. I wouldn't miss too many firsts, given she'd just turned 3. It was hard to say goodbye, but I needed the break from single parenting and the extra money that time would bring me! I called often, and sent plenty of gifts and shopped online a lot and shipped so much stuff to her! I also found out while deployed that I had orders to Germany! I was overjoyed, as it was a 4.5 hour drive to see Nicolas from the new base and that would give us such a headstart on helping our relationship really get off the ground. In August 2006, I moved to Germany and Nicolas commuted EVERY weekend to come be with us until November when he finally quit his job and made the move permanent. Dec 29, 2006, we married.
2007 - I got pregnant after the second month of trying, and had Ava Ryan in October. Our family of four felt so complete.
2008 - Travel abounds! With a husband to tie down the fort, I felt more free to go where my job needed me to go. June took me to Turkey where we stayed 3 weeks. I got to travel, see Cappadocia, and meet local friends who helped us to learn the culture, taste the foods, and understand the people. November afforded me the opportunity to see Israel. This trip alone was something I'd never dreamed of. To walk where Jesus walked, be where he died, to see Mary's tomb. Hiking Mesada, floating in the Dead Sea. It was... awesome!
2009 - January, Las Vegas baby! I made it. I lived the dreams of my father. (he'd always wanted to go to Vegas.) He always wanted to fly in a chopper too - so I doubled his dream x2 when I paid for a chopper flight over the Grand Canyon. B E A UTIFUL! I took the time to see Zumanity and Blue Man Group, and I got my wedding ring tattoo'd on my finger. May-Sep I finally got to experience deployment to a combat zone. My first time in Iraq. I'd say 80% of the time, I HATED it. The dry, extremely hot days... neverending alarms, working out EVERY night. 20% of me loved it though. I loved the fact that I was doing what some would never do. I loved being in the desert... I loved the sand storms, and running the track at 130am with my friend Lacey. Great times.
Driving to work this morning, I was thinking about writing this post and funny... I smiled to myself as I thought "I'm exactly where I wanted to be in 10 years!" I'm married, happy, and successful. (with children!)
So that brings us to 2010. . . What travels and blessings will this year bring to our family??
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