Day 119: Organized Disarray

Over the last few weeks we have tried to move as much stuff as possible from the garage at the house into the garage at the apartment. Yesterday afternoon and evening Greg, Matt and I tried to move as much of the big ticket items and heavy boxes. I took today off work in order to get as much done as possible since we have to be out of the house by May 1st. We stayed in the apartment last night, which was a nice feeling to know we are on the right track and are moving right along. The only funny thing was that I hadn't arranged for the power to be turned on until today, so last night we were without light! It was kinda fun to "rough it" and we just got a couple of battery operated lanterns to use as light. We knew it would just be one of those fun things we laughed and talked about when we were old and gray.

The apartment looks like a tornado has struck!

Ranger is a little perplexed to say the least! LOL.

All day we just busted our tails and worked like mules...only a couple more days to get it all done and the house cleaned before we move out. Ahhhh!

Days 114-118: Officially Moving!

April 28th-
We got the keys to the apartment! So incredibly excited! It is weird that I am so excited to move out of our big, amazing, wonderful house into a tiny little apartment, but I totally am! Don't get me wrong...I love our house and have loved living there for the last year and a half, but I guess I have just come to terms with the fact that it is time to move on and start another part of our lives. And to top it all off...we will be saving a TON of money since the rent is considerably less and the only utility we have to pay at the apartment is NV Energy. Right now we are paying water, sewer, trash and NV Energy. So, all in all, this is going to be an awesome thing for us...and we have been so blessed to have found such great apartments-they are well maintained, are spacious, are in a great location, are super safe, have a great ambiance, they allow us to have Ranger and the management is super awesome! The Lord is good!

Our dear friend, Matt helped us move all the big ticket items and heavy boxes. He was a life saver! There is no way we would have gotten all our stuff up three flights of stairs if it had just been Greg and myself! Thank heaven for amazing friends!

Day 113: Pond Bully

I took this photo while shooting Sarah's graduation photos on the UNR campus. These sweet little geese and their parents were trying to get into the pond, but the infamous swans that primarily reside in the pond were being extremely nasty and were not allowing the geese to get into the water. We seriously thought that the swan was going to attack and kill some of the babies! Poor little guys! It is funny because I love swans and think they are beautiful and always thought that geese are the aggressive and mean ones, but I have come to find out that they swans are also horribly mean bullies!

Day 112: Bridal Shower Fun & Catching Up with Cat & Chris

Tonight after work I went to Sarah's bridal shower...it was so much fun and it was great to meet her mom, sister, grandma, aunts, friends, etc. She (and Matt) got a lot of really wonderful gifts! I am so excited for them and can't wait for their wedding! 

Sarah with her sister, mom and grandma...they are all such amazingly wonderful ladies!

After the shower, I went and met up with Catherine and Chris. They had come up to visit her family and were staying at the Grand Sierra Resort. We went down and wandered around the casino for a bit. She and I each played $5 in the slots, won it back and then lost it again. And this is why I think gambling is totally lame. LOL. But we had a good time and it was super awesome to see them! I wish we lived closer to them!

Overall it was a fun night and I am so glad I got to spend time with such wonderful people! 

Days 110-111: Beautiful Sarah

My dear friend Sarah is graduating from UNR and asked me to take her graduation photos. I was extremely flattered and excited for another opportunity to develop my craft. I have photographed Sarah before when I took her and her fiance's engagement photos and I must say that I love working with her! She is extremely photogenic, is stunningly beautiful, has a warm and engaging personality, is bundles of fun and is so comfortable in front of the camera.


We went to the UNR campus for the shoot for multiple reasons-it is a beautiful location and it is her Alma Mater. I couldn't think of a better place to document such a momentous thing as her graduation then in the place where she accomplished it! It was a great shoot and as always, it was an extreme pleasure to photograph her! I love you to pieces my dear, sweet friend! XOXO

Day 109: 'Ello Ducky!

These little duckies were walking around the lawn at work today. The female duck seemed to be slightly injured and her faithful drake (male duck) stayed by her side and seemed very worried about her.

Day 108: Moving Right Along

The last few weeks have been so crazy busy! I feel like we have been going 100mph, but it is a really exciting time and we are just trying to embrace every moment! We don't have the apartment just yet, but we do have a garage on property and are starting to move as much stuff into it possible, any chance we get. Going, doing, going, doing. It's been a whirlwind! :)

This is just the first load...lol.

Day 107: Out with the Old!

Since we are moving into the apartment, we have really been trying to get rid off the the unnecessary stuff that we have seemed to have accumulated over the years. One item is the 1980's  dirt bike that we have had for eons. Greg has never really ridden it and it has just sat in our garage. So, we put it on Craigslist and sold it that same day! Spring cleaning is officially in full swing!

DAY 106: Corner Apartment with a View!

We talked to our landlord and he said that he would re-rent our house and let us out of our lease. The Lord is so good! So, we called the leasing agent at the Marina Village Apartments and asked if she had any apartments opening up around May 1st. She said she did, so we went and signed the paperwork and put down a deposit. The apartment was still occupied, but she showed us which one from the outside. It was on the third floor like we wanted, and the most awesome feature was that it was on the corner...which means we don't have any side shared walls and we have an extra window in the bedroom! So grateful for how much the Lord is blessing us!

Days 101: Bittersweet Goodbye

We have officially paid off both our vehicles! YAHOO!!!! What an amazing feeling! The Eclipse has been out of commission for a while and we have vacillated on whether we should repair it or just sell it. We finally decided, especially with the events as of late, that it would just be best to try to sell it. The day we paid it off, I put it on Craigslist and within 30 minutes, we got numerous phone calls. One of the interested parties came by to look at it and decided he most definitely wanted it. He paid half up front and we got the other half the day we got the title and the day he hauled it off. It was a very bittersweet feeling, since we loved the Eclipse, but it was such a cleansing feeling to no longer have to deal with wondering if it would ever run again. So long, farewell, auf Wiedersehen, goodbye!

Day 100: Pizza Date with Some Lovely Ladies

I haven't had a chance to visit Amanda in a long time, so she and I made a date to meet for pizza and a visit. It was so very nice to spend some time just catching up, and of course to see how big her precious Annabelle is getting! Amanda was very supportive and encouraging of our decision to join the Army and really extended her love and friendship to us, and I can't tell you how much it means to know that our friends are behind us!

Day 99: Apartment Hunting & Family Visit

After things changed so drastically for us last month, I started doing some research a few weeks ago trying to find some local apartments that might be an option if we decided to move out of the house we are currently in. I wasn't able to find that many that were in the price range we wanted (paying less than we do now, enabling us to save $$$), that allowed German Shepherds and that weren't completely ghetto. Truth be told, I really only found three. One in North Reno was extremely run down, the other in South Reno was a bit out of our price range and the third by the Marina seemed ok. On our way back from MEPS, we started really talking about moving sooner rather than later. Our lease is technically up in December, and with him leaving in October, neither of us really liked the idea of me having to be in our big house all by ourselves. And then we thought about moving right before he ships out in October, but then that idea seemed a little sad, like I would be starting out in a new place, by myself and it might be a hard adjustment. So, we decided to try to research our options and if it was meant to be, the right doors would open up. We went down and looked at the complex by the Marina. We went to look and loved them! They allow German Shepherds, the complex is only 5 years old and is in excellent condition, it is gated and extremely safe, the apartments are spacious and have lots of nice features and natural light. The rent is within our price range and I swear the leasing agent is another angel put in our lives! She is a Christian, was completely sweet and was so helpful! She put us on the list and told us to keep in touch with the final date we wanted to move. Now all we have to do is talk to our landlord and see if he will let us out of our lease...Lord willing it will all work out! 


Greg's mom and dad came up to Reno to visit us and learn more about our decision to join the Army. They are very supportive and very proud. I know they are a little worried, scared and concerned, but they are behind us all the way and are extremely proud of Greg. We had a great time and so enjoy spending time with them!

He's my special guy!

Aw! They are so sweet!

Days 94-98: In the Army Now!

Today is a special day for Greg and I....Greg is joining the Army! This may seem somewhat sudden to everyone, but it has been something we have thought, discussed and prayed very hard about, and we feel that the Lord is leading us on this journey. We have placed all our faith and trust in Him and if it is His will for Greg to actually join, we know He will open the appropriate doors; and if Greg is not meant to join, those doors will close. We have asked that the Lord be there every step of the way, and that ultimately His Will be done in all this.


Joining the service is always something Greg has had a desire to do and for as long as we have been together, it is something we as a couple have considered. Things have happened of late that have made us start considering this as an option...so we went and talked to a recruiter and have been pursuing this path.


Greg went down yesterday morning to MEPS (Military Entrance Processing Command) in Sacramento. He had to go with a group from his recruiter station, as they are responsible for ensuring everyone is accounted for. I took the day off from work today to drive down and be there for this special day. I am not the type of wife that has no interest in being part of the important things that transpire in her husband's life...nor is Greg the type of husband to want that.


We knew I would need to head down early, so I could at least be there for his swearing in. He texted me at 4am and said I might want to leave even earlier, as there were only 20 or so people that were being processed that day. I will be honest...I freaked out a little as I was so worried I was not going to make it in time! I got up, got ready and headed out; it was still dark outside and I was extremely tired, but I was running on nerves and adrenaline and could have cared less at that point.

Starting my trip so very early!

A must for my early morning adventure! 

(Don't worry, I didn't drink both...I gave one to my brother! :)

Silver and Catherine were such a blessing and let me borrow their Honda Accord...driving my beast down there would have been such an expensive venture. I made it down there by 9am and then commenced the infamous "hurry up and wait" game, which I had fully expected; ultimately I was just glad that I had made it in time. I spent the next hour or so Facebooking, texting, reading and taking photos in the lobby. 

Nothing quite like the Red, White and Blue.

MEPS Reception Area

Around 10am, I heard a quiet "hey"...I looked up and saw my man walking down the hall towards me. We both had huge smiles on our faces and I could tell he was very pleased. We hugged and I asked him how he did...he said he passed everything. We were both super excited and so very thankful for the Lord's blessings so far! He got a 70 on his ASVAB (which is scored on a percentile scale and means he scored better than 70% of others who have taken it...which is a very good score!). The physical profile has 5 different aspects that the recruits are tested and rated on; the aspects are called PULHES...they stand for Physical capacity/stamina, Upper extremities, Lower extremities, Hearing, Eyes and Psychiatric. There are different tests they conduct to ensure that each recruit can perform to the standards that are required of them in general and in their specific job. The results for each factor are rated on a scale of 1 to 4; with 1 being the best score and 4 being the worst. Greg was extremely worried about failing all or some of the aspects, but I knew he would do great. He told me that he scored 1's straight across the board-which is an exceptional!! 


When he went to talk to his guidance counselor about his MOS (Military Occupation Specialities/job), contract, ship dates, etc. I was allowed to go as well and be there for that step of the process. The guidance counselor was amazing...I think he was an angel, because he was so dedicated and so invested in us and really helped us to get the outcome that was going to be the best fit for us. I am sure that is just his job, but he really made us feel like we weren't just another number, but that he really cared about us and our future.
When Greg talked to the recruiter before going down to MEPS, he told Greg that he would need to choose a MOS from the available listings to insure he got a contractual agreement with a specific job listed, rather than just being thrown into whatever job was available. When the recruiter pulled the available jobs, there wasn't much available...infantry, tank refueler, cook, and a couple others...nothing that Greg really wanted to commit to for his whole contract. He chose infantry, as it was the closet to being "hands on", which is something that is a must for Greg. We were both a bit worried, as it wasn't really what he would want to do for a career, but we were also confidant that if he was to start this journey, that the Lord would open the doors and that he would get a good MOS. However, when we started talking to the guidance counselor, he looked at us and said to Greg "You scored this well on your ASVAB and physical and you want to go for infantry?" Greg told him "Well, no, but it was the only available job that sounded decent at the time I had to chose." The counselor went on to say that he was going to help Greg "get a real job." He pulled up the available list for Greg's ASVAB score and let us look at it. I was very impressed with the jobs that he qualified for: Special Forces, Interpreter, Engineer, Driver...but at the bottom of the list was the most important...an open position for 31B, Military Police. Greg asked the counselor "31B? Seriously? It's available? I qualified for it? I want it. I want 31B." The counselor said ok, and reserved it for him, but warned us we would have to go through some extra paperwork to get the secret security clearance. I was just laughing and smiling the whole time and the counselor was like "what is so funny?" I told him that I am not surprised at all that it is available and that we had prayed for the right doors to open if they were supposed to. The background and investigation for his secret security clearance went great and it was granted almost immediately! 

After we were done with the guidance counselor we waited for a bit for Greg to sign his final contract and to officially swear-in. The swear-in was a really touching moment to witness...the commanding officer that preformed the swear-in had a really good little speech...saying things about how the decision that recruits have made to join the military and become soldiers is an admirable one...he said that they are joining at a time of conflict and not of peace, and that less than 2% of Americans actually serve in the military. He commended them on their decision and thanked them for their willing service. 

I am so glad I went down to be a part of us an important day in mine and Greg's life. It was really awesome how accepting and encouraging the military personnel were of me being there. They never shut me out, they were completely welcoming to me being there and they even said that it was obvious that Greg and I were best of friends and were in this together...they said they love when they see spouses being involved and supportive, as it just makes the whole process that much easier. I can't imagine being a spouse that doesn't care or want to be involved or there for such important things...and I am so glad that Greg wants me there as much as I want to be there.


After the swear-in, we got in the car and headed home...and started calling our family and friends and posting it to Facebook...sufficed to say, everyone was pretty surprised, but were very proud of Greg!


The has Lord guided every step of this process and has really blessed us with such amazing things on this new journey! He has opened so many doors and has given us the confidence to know that this journey is being blessed by Him and we are walking in His plan. We are so excited to see what is next! 


I am so very proud of Greg and his decision, and also his determination and drive to accomplish and pursue his goals and dreams. 


And so our journey as an Army family has begun...   :)