Ah, 2013...how I've both loved and loathed thee. It's been an interesting year, to say the least.
Let's start with January. This was the first full month I got to spend living with my husband. Our house wasn't completed just yet, but we had a place to stay with our (now) neighbor and Kevin's friend from college. I started flying training officially this month. It wasn't all bad. I got a little nauseous the first time, but it wasn't as bad as I'd heard. She's a quirky jet, but she gets the job done, I s'pose.
In February, we moved into our house, finally! The in-laws came down to help us get settled. We took a little break from unpacking and went to Branson for the first time. I don't recommend doing this during the off season like we did. It's kind of boring. They're really not a happening place in winter. This also marks the month of sickness, in which both Kevin and I caught an upper respiratory infection/bronchitis. Surprising, considering it was such a warm winter.
Then comes March. I really didn't like March. It was probably the longest month of the year for me. I was horribly ill most of the month. I mostly remember the pain, both in my body and in my heart and mind. I found out I was pregnant on the 9th, and after a month filled with despair, hopelessness, and the inability to walk, it was over. Just like that, my child died on the 27th, and there was no more pain--physically, that is. Even today, I deal with the scars. It's surreal to think about, and when I do talk about it, I realize how much I really don't remember. I don't know if details have faded with time or if it was always like this. I guess I'll never know.
April. Another poorly executed month. I finally started flying again, but I really found myself lacking the desire to go back to work. I attributed it to being in training and forced myself to go through and get it over with.
In May, I finished flying training and decided it was time to take some much needed leave from work. If only I'd known that God had other plans than relaxation. My first day of leave, a deadly tornado swept through our town, missing our house by less than a mile. I realize now that this is when I started referring to Moore as our home. Before that, it was just where we lived. Now, it's that lovable little place that sometimes makes you shake your head in exasperation, but at the same time makes you smile when you're coming back to it. It's not quite like Norman, which will always hold a special place in my heart and I will always call home, but it's close. It's sort of this little piece of heaven when you get right down to it. You can't beat the people. Their tenacity and willingness to help in those few days just inspires you. I could go on and on about the love of a community gathered together after a disaster, but it just seems cliched nowadays.
Let's see...then there was June. I had another round of training--this time only two weeks long--that I finished on June 13th and FINALLY made it to my permanent squadron. It was a step forward for me, and I was proud of myself for all of two weeks before the reality of goverment funding (or lack thereof) set in.
Now for July. This was a big month for me, because this was the month I decided to relaunch my Arbonne business. It was a mad dash to get booked for August and qualify for District Manager, but I did it! And it's been tons of fun so far.
As I mentioned, August was my first full up month back with Arbonne. I was able to get everything I needed to promote to District Manager in the month of August. Unfortunately, I also managed to nearly break my foot walking across my yard (a flat surface) and was out of commission on several counts when it came to that. I had yet another round of training with the Air Force that lasted through September, but other than that, not much to report for that month.
September was somewhat uneventful, but October began a few weeks of craziness. My cousin got married on the 26th, and I was the photographer. I will, haltingly, admit that it was my first wedding in some time. So many people are afraid to hire a photographer with less experience. It's a sad but true fact, and I don't blame them. I really hope that as my portfolio expands, this changed. Nevertheless, I am so glad that she chose me to be her photographer. I had tons of fun and can't wait to see that part of the family again!
There is a sad part to the weekend, however. On the way back from that wedding, a close friend of mine, whom I've long considered my brother, uninvited me from his wedding a few weeks following. To say how that made me--and still makes me--would make this post much longer and more complicated than it needs to be. Put simply, here I am left with gifts but no address and no way to really contact either him or his new wife. I pray constantly that he is in good health.
November kicked off with another wedding. Kevin and I flew to California so he could be the best man for his best friend's wedding. The next week, we rented a plane and flew to a Josh Groban concert in Dallas. That was a whole 'nother fiasco. Apparently, I had been selected to meet Josh, but got there too late to use the backstage pass that I won. It was a beautiful concert, but I was a bit disappointed, as can be expected. I remember thinking how it just figured with the year it had been thus far.
Rounding out November was Thanksgiving in our house. Both Kevin's family (aunt and grandparents included) and my family came for a lovely, but quite large gathering. And of course, wouldn't you know it, Kevin's family hadn't been in town 5 minutes and their car got robbed! What a story to tell! Not to mention that, true to form, Oklahoma turned down the temperature for the California in-laws. I swear, every time. They're going to think we're nothing but cold!
And now December has just ended, and I'd love to tell you about it, but I can't. The wounds from its attack are still too fresh on my heart. I sit here typing this thinking back on the year, its ups and downs, and praying that next year is brighter.
2014 marks my 25th year on this earth. It holds so much potential, but then again, so did 2013. It's been three disappointing years in a row, and it's getting kind of hard to be optimistic. Still, I shall try. I've got nothing left but to try.
Let's start with January. This was the first full month I got to spend living with my husband. Our house wasn't completed just yet, but we had a place to stay with our (now) neighbor and Kevin's friend from college. I started flying training officially this month. It wasn't all bad. I got a little nauseous the first time, but it wasn't as bad as I'd heard. She's a quirky jet, but she gets the job done, I s'pose.
In February, we moved into our house, finally! The in-laws came down to help us get settled. We took a little break from unpacking and went to Branson for the first time. I don't recommend doing this during the off season like we did. It's kind of boring. They're really not a happening place in winter. This also marks the month of sickness, in which both Kevin and I caught an upper respiratory infection/bronchitis. Surprising, considering it was such a warm winter.
Then comes March. I really didn't like March. It was probably the longest month of the year for me. I was horribly ill most of the month. I mostly remember the pain, both in my body and in my heart and mind. I found out I was pregnant on the 9th, and after a month filled with despair, hopelessness, and the inability to walk, it was over. Just like that, my child died on the 27th, and there was no more pain--physically, that is. Even today, I deal with the scars. It's surreal to think about, and when I do talk about it, I realize how much I really don't remember. I don't know if details have faded with time or if it was always like this. I guess I'll never know.
April. Another poorly executed month. I finally started flying again, but I really found myself lacking the desire to go back to work. I attributed it to being in training and forced myself to go through and get it over with.
In May, I finished flying training and decided it was time to take some much needed leave from work. If only I'd known that God had other plans than relaxation. My first day of leave, a deadly tornado swept through our town, missing our house by less than a mile. I realize now that this is when I started referring to Moore as our home. Before that, it was just where we lived. Now, it's that lovable little place that sometimes makes you shake your head in exasperation, but at the same time makes you smile when you're coming back to it. It's not quite like Norman, which will always hold a special place in my heart and I will always call home, but it's close. It's sort of this little piece of heaven when you get right down to it. You can't beat the people. Their tenacity and willingness to help in those few days just inspires you. I could go on and on about the love of a community gathered together after a disaster, but it just seems cliched nowadays.
Let's see...then there was June. I had another round of training--this time only two weeks long--that I finished on June 13th and FINALLY made it to my permanent squadron. It was a step forward for me, and I was proud of myself for all of two weeks before the reality of goverment funding (or lack thereof) set in.
Now for July. This was a big month for me, because this was the month I decided to relaunch my Arbonne business. It was a mad dash to get booked for August and qualify for District Manager, but I did it! And it's been tons of fun so far.
As I mentioned, August was my first full up month back with Arbonne. I was able to get everything I needed to promote to District Manager in the month of August. Unfortunately, I also managed to nearly break my foot walking across my yard (a flat surface) and was out of commission on several counts when it came to that. I had yet another round of training with the Air Force that lasted through September, but other than that, not much to report for that month.
September was somewhat uneventful, but October began a few weeks of craziness. My cousin got married on the 26th, and I was the photographer. I will, haltingly, admit that it was my first wedding in some time. So many people are afraid to hire a photographer with less experience. It's a sad but true fact, and I don't blame them. I really hope that as my portfolio expands, this changed. Nevertheless, I am so glad that she chose me to be her photographer. I had tons of fun and can't wait to see that part of the family again!
There is a sad part to the weekend, however. On the way back from that wedding, a close friend of mine, whom I've long considered my brother, uninvited me from his wedding a few weeks following. To say how that made me--and still makes me--would make this post much longer and more complicated than it needs to be. Put simply, here I am left with gifts but no address and no way to really contact either him or his new wife. I pray constantly that he is in good health.
November kicked off with another wedding. Kevin and I flew to California so he could be the best man for his best friend's wedding. The next week, we rented a plane and flew to a Josh Groban concert in Dallas. That was a whole 'nother fiasco. Apparently, I had been selected to meet Josh, but got there too late to use the backstage pass that I won. It was a beautiful concert, but I was a bit disappointed, as can be expected. I remember thinking how it just figured with the year it had been thus far.
Rounding out November was Thanksgiving in our house. Both Kevin's family (aunt and grandparents included) and my family came for a lovely, but quite large gathering. And of course, wouldn't you know it, Kevin's family hadn't been in town 5 minutes and their car got robbed! What a story to tell! Not to mention that, true to form, Oklahoma turned down the temperature for the California in-laws. I swear, every time. They're going to think we're nothing but cold!
And now December has just ended, and I'd love to tell you about it, but I can't. The wounds from its attack are still too fresh on my heart. I sit here typing this thinking back on the year, its ups and downs, and praying that next year is brighter.
2014 marks my 25th year on this earth. It holds so much potential, but then again, so did 2013. It's been three disappointing years in a row, and it's getting kind of hard to be optimistic. Still, I shall try. I've got nothing left but to try.
