Well, the day has finally come. Kolt left for officer training this morning and is on his way to Alabama right now. His goal is to get to Sidney, NE today, then Kansas City, MO tomorrow, Memphis, TN by Saturday and then finally roll in to Montgomery, AL Sunday afternoon. He has to report for in processing at noon on Monday.
After all of the waiting and crying and more waiting, it seems like this snuck up on us and got here too fast! This last week has been a whirl wind of spending time with friends and family, packing, shopping, and going up to the base to get things ready for our move.
The plan is for me to stay in SLC and work Friday-Monday, then go up to Idaho and be there when our stuff is moved from storage on the 20th. That is the bulk of our stuff and we were so happy to find out they would move us out of two locations. Then I think I'll come back to SLC and work for one more week until they come on the 27th to move our things out of our apartment. After that I think I'll head up to Pocatello and stay the remainder of the 3 weeks with my sister, Piper. I may come down and stay with my friends Brandon and Lauren to work one more weekend in November, and to try and break up my weeks. I worry that once all of our things are moved and the dust has settled from that, the last few weeks will DRAG by for me :(
Kolt's parents and I were going to road trip out to Alabama a week before the graduation to bring out another one of our vehicles, but we decided to return it since it was leased under the Servicemember Civil Relief Act. It was really simple to do, make a phone call, send a fax and an email and 24 hours later our car was gone. We loved the Xterra but figured we wouldn't need an off roading SUV in Texas. So now we're down to 2 cars and a motorcycle, which will make everything a lot easier for us. Because of this though, now his parents and I are just going to fly down on the 18th of November. I was really looking forward to the trip, but this is what worked out best for all of us.
After COT graduation on the 20th, Kolt and I will make our way to SA and on the 23rd meet with the housing office to get our on base housing set up. Then we'll fly home, do Thanksgiving, try to see everyone we need to, then drive back to SA. While we will have on base housing, we've decided it will likely not meet our needs and so we will hopefully be buying a house not long after we get there. We've been looking online and have already seen so many that we like and that are SO affordable, it will be exciting and I'm really looking forward to owning a home again.
One of my goals while Kolt is gone is to lose 20 lbs. One of the JAG officers he talked to prior to leaving said he dropped 20 lbs while he was at COT and so it was my goal to lose more weight than Kolt while he's gone :) I understand that 20 lbs will be really hard to lose in 5 weeks, but I want to set the goal high to give me something to work hard for.
I will update the blog with Kolt's triumphs and blunders from his experience at COT as he tells them to me. I have a feeling that he won't call me very often and even when he does he won't talk very long because he'll have so much to do. I'm really excited for him and I know he'll enjoy the experience and will grow so much from it.
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Monday, September 21, 2009
It's official
This morning Kolt was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the United States Air Force. It was a brief ceremony where he took an oath and promised to uphold and defend the Constitution of the United States. His parents were able to be there and his dad pinned on his 2nd Lt Bar on his shoulder.
I expected to get emotional or teary eyed but I didn't. After all this time it just felt right and I was so proud of him. His poor mother struggled and cried at the end, we know she is going to miss us terribly, as we will her and all of our family. For those of you who wanted to be there but couldn't on such short notice, we missed you but completely understood.
This was the first step in a long line of many towards our lives in the USAF. I'm so happy that it's finally all come together.
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Change of Plans....
So on Tuesday we got a phone call from TSgt Bursee, he said that 4 slots had been opened up for the October COT class and we could have one if we wanted them. Kolt looked at me and before he had even told me what was said, I knew. "Oh, crap!" That's what we said. We were told we had minutes to decide as the slots would fill up fast, so Kolt said we'd call back in 20 minutes. We looked at each other with stunned expressions, holy cow! We knew he was on the stand-by list but never expected that anything would come of it. We had JUST moved into an apartment in Salt Lake, did we really wanna undo everything we just did? Kolt called his mom and his dad and asked for their advice. We really wanted to do it, but didn't at the same time. We were happy that we were going to be around for the holidays and for hunting season....but when it came down to it we decided that all of the little things weren't worth putting off our plans for 3 more months. So we called TSgt Bursee 20 minutes later and said we'd take it, and it turned out we took the very last spot.
So all of a sudden we have about 30 days to get all of our plans together. We don't know what we're doing with me yet. The USAF will move our things, but we have to consolidate them first. They will even pack us up, but if we pack up our apartment here, then there's no point in me staying in an empty apartment. Until we have his official orders, we can't contact any of the departments that will handle our move. Hopefully next week we can begin to figure things out and get things under way.
Kolt will be officially commissioned in to the USAF on Monday. We wanted to use one of his 2 uncles that are or were officers in the military, but on such short notice neither were available. So we're just using whoever we can get, and his parents will be there with us as we "sign our lives away."
Things are finally starting to come together for us, albeit in a rather rushed fashion. It's kind of ironic that after all of the months of waiting, now it seems we don't have enough time to get everything together!
As we figure things out I'll update on our status. Kolt will most likely drive out to training and he will leave on October 15th. I've applied for at least 7 or 8 jobs and if I can secure one, then I will be going at the same time. If not, then I may stay up here with family in the mean time. At this point, I just don't know but i promise to keep you posted!
So all of a sudden we have about 30 days to get all of our plans together. We don't know what we're doing with me yet. The USAF will move our things, but we have to consolidate them first. They will even pack us up, but if we pack up our apartment here, then there's no point in me staying in an empty apartment. Until we have his official orders, we can't contact any of the departments that will handle our move. Hopefully next week we can begin to figure things out and get things under way.
Kolt will be officially commissioned in to the USAF on Monday. We wanted to use one of his 2 uncles that are or were officers in the military, but on such short notice neither were available. So we're just using whoever we can get, and his parents will be there with us as we "sign our lives away."
Things are finally starting to come together for us, albeit in a rather rushed fashion. It's kind of ironic that after all of the months of waiting, now it seems we don't have enough time to get everything together!
As we figure things out I'll update on our status. Kolt will most likely drive out to training and he will leave on October 15th. I've applied for at least 7 or 8 jobs and if I can secure one, then I will be going at the same time. If not, then I may stay up here with family in the mean time. At this point, I just don't know but i promise to keep you posted!
Monday, September 7, 2009
FINALLY!!!
I think most people who read this are also my facebook friends, and so by now the news isn't "new" but I'll share it anyway. We finally got Kolt's orders on Wednesday Sept 2nd (I haven't had Internet access at home, this is the first chance I've gotten to post) and we're moving to San Antonio, Lackland AFB in February. We are so excited to be going to Texas, myself probably more than Kolt haha. I have family there and friends there as well and I just love Texas and have missed it so much over the last 10 years. I'm already making plans to see old friends that I have seen in years and new ones I have yet to meet in person.
Kolt will go to training on January 11th for 4 weeks. Then we hope to go on a cruise with his parents, then we will move mid February, I'm guessing around Valentine's Day :)
Because it's still 4 months away, and due to my brother and niece moving into my parent's house as well, we decided to move back to Salt Lake for the remainder of our time in the Mountain West. We found a cute little place right on the University campus, so it's 2 miles to work for me and it's right on the train for Kolt to his work. He's actually been riding his bike the 10 miles home everyday, I can't believe it! He says it's faster than the train with all the stops and it's a great way to wind down at the end of the day, so I can't blame him.
Once we get our place set up and decorated, maybe I'll take a few pics and post them. The dogs seem happy there and it finally feels like everything is falling into place for us. FINALLY! woohoo!
Kolt will go to training on January 11th for 4 weeks. Then we hope to go on a cruise with his parents, then we will move mid February, I'm guessing around Valentine's Day :)
Because it's still 4 months away, and due to my brother and niece moving into my parent's house as well, we decided to move back to Salt Lake for the remainder of our time in the Mountain West. We found a cute little place right on the University campus, so it's 2 miles to work for me and it's right on the train for Kolt to his work. He's actually been riding his bike the 10 miles home everyday, I can't believe it! He says it's faster than the train with all the stops and it's a great way to wind down at the end of the day, so I can't blame him.
Once we get our place set up and decorated, maybe I'll take a few pics and post them. The dogs seem happy there and it finally feels like everything is falling into place for us. FINALLY! woohoo!
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Still NO news
Well, I had certainly hoped by now that I would have some exciting news to tell everyone, but alas, I don't. Apparently way more people than usual applied at this particular board and that's holding them up as well as some other issues with the new COT class starting on Monday.
So here it is, almost the end of August and we know nothing more than we knew a year ago. Awesome. I keep hoping every day will be the day we get the call but at this point I'm beginning to think that we'll be in limbo forever. I'm hoping for next week sometime, and as soon as we know I will post it.
To complicate things even more I've pretty much lost all hope of Kolt making the October COT class which would mean there's not another one until January. That means we have to find a new place to live in Salt Lake and possibly even Idaho now that my brother and his daughter have also moved in with my parents. I'm trying to just take it one day at a time and not worry about the things I don't know yet but not knowing is beginning to take it's toll. I'm having a hard time sleeping at night and I frequently am very anxious and feel nauseated because of it, (and NO I am not pregnant). I know it will eventually all work out and we'll figure things out one step at a time, but this is just getting really old.
On a different note, we recently celebrated Kolt's 29th birthday and that was a blast. Our good friends Brandon and Lauren Martin and they're adorable baby girl came to visit and we went to the rodeo and to the reservoir. Kolt's parents and niece and nephew also came down and it was so much fun. It's been an incredible summer over all and I just keep wishing there were more time because there's so much we still want to do!
Speaking of birthdays, mine is coming up in 3 short weeks :) I keep tossing around the idea of a trip, possible to Monterey, Ca and Kolt is definitely not opposed, we just can't make any plans until we know what's going on. But I have high hopes for a really fun birthday. We've kind of made traveling for it a tradition over the last few years. If nothing else I'm training for a 10k now for the weekend of my birthday, so that will be great if nothing else. I've run as far as 5 miles at this point and I think if I really step up my training I'll be able to do it!
So I really hope that very soon I'll be able to post some good news, if not you may hear about me on the evening news going crazy and doing something stupid, lol.
So here it is, almost the end of August and we know nothing more than we knew a year ago. Awesome. I keep hoping every day will be the day we get the call but at this point I'm beginning to think that we'll be in limbo forever. I'm hoping for next week sometime, and as soon as we know I will post it.
To complicate things even more I've pretty much lost all hope of Kolt making the October COT class which would mean there's not another one until January. That means we have to find a new place to live in Salt Lake and possibly even Idaho now that my brother and his daughter have also moved in with my parents. I'm trying to just take it one day at a time and not worry about the things I don't know yet but not knowing is beginning to take it's toll. I'm having a hard time sleeping at night and I frequently am very anxious and feel nauseated because of it, (and NO I am not pregnant). I know it will eventually all work out and we'll figure things out one step at a time, but this is just getting really old.
On a different note, we recently celebrated Kolt's 29th birthday and that was a blast. Our good friends Brandon and Lauren Martin and they're adorable baby girl came to visit and we went to the rodeo and to the reservoir. Kolt's parents and niece and nephew also came down and it was so much fun. It's been an incredible summer over all and I just keep wishing there were more time because there's so much we still want to do!
Speaking of birthdays, mine is coming up in 3 short weeks :) I keep tossing around the idea of a trip, possible to Monterey, Ca and Kolt is definitely not opposed, we just can't make any plans until we know what's going on. But I have high hopes for a really fun birthday. We've kind of made traveling for it a tradition over the last few years. If nothing else I'm training for a 10k now for the weekend of my birthday, so that will be great if nothing else. I've run as far as 5 miles at this point and I think if I really step up my training I'll be able to do it!
So I really hope that very soon I'll be able to post some good news, if not you may hear about me on the evening news going crazy and doing something stupid, lol.
Thursday, July 23, 2009
If it's not one thing...
So I know we were ALL hoping that my next post would be filled with all the exciting details of Kolt's assignment, alas...some complications have come up and so I just wanted to fill everyone in so we don't keep getting asked if we have the orders yet.
First of all there were a few more forms that he had to sign, or resign it seemed to me, which he did and I drove them up to Sgt Bursee myself today. However, when I met with him he said that they needed a transcript from the Institute in Pocatello for the Book of Mormon class Kolt took there in 2002. We never thought about it before because it's not really a college or for grades, it's just something that people do in college to study the scriptures. Well, apparently since BYU accepted the "credits", all 2 of them, we now have to have an official transcript from them. The good news is his application went forward and is currently in process without this document, THAT is amazing, the bad news is even if they reach a decision and give him an assignment, we can't know what it is until they have the transcript. Kolt's working graves this week so I'm going to try and call them tomorrow and see what we can work out. I'm hoping since it's not really a University that I can tell them the situation and they will be so kind as to send a copy to us tomorrow and maybe by Monday or Tuesday Sgt Bursee will have it. I will also ask for one to be mailed to us as well in case the one they send doesn't make it.
It's not like it's a huge deal, just another one of those blasted set backs that keeps us farther from knowing our future. The other bit of info I got from Sgt Bursee was that the October COT date is filling up and he may not get to go until January. This is a problem because Kolt just passed up a charge nurse position because he didn't think he'd be there long enough to make it worth it, and because we will have to find another place to live for only a few months, and because it will just be that much longer that we live with my parents. NOT that I don't love them, but we're ready to move on.
I'm trying not to let all of this get me down because we don't know yet that we won't be able to go until January, but the thought of it being THAT much longer makes me sick almost. I just really want to move on with our lives and it seems like just when everything is in place, something else pops up that sets it back.
I'm really hoping that tomorrow the Institute will be super awesome and send out the transcripts and it will be no big deal. I'll let you all know how it goes.
On a more positive note, I found a 5k race that I'm going to run. It's here in Midvale (where our house is) and it's only $15, and it's all flat. It really is perfect and I'm excited to finally be running in a race. I'm up to 2.5 miles already so I feel confident I can be ready by August 8th. I'll give more details on that once I've run it.
First of all there were a few more forms that he had to sign, or resign it seemed to me, which he did and I drove them up to Sgt Bursee myself today. However, when I met with him he said that they needed a transcript from the Institute in Pocatello for the Book of Mormon class Kolt took there in 2002. We never thought about it before because it's not really a college or for grades, it's just something that people do in college to study the scriptures. Well, apparently since BYU accepted the "credits", all 2 of them, we now have to have an official transcript from them. The good news is his application went forward and is currently in process without this document, THAT is amazing, the bad news is even if they reach a decision and give him an assignment, we can't know what it is until they have the transcript. Kolt's working graves this week so I'm going to try and call them tomorrow and see what we can work out. I'm hoping since it's not really a University that I can tell them the situation and they will be so kind as to send a copy to us tomorrow and maybe by Monday or Tuesday Sgt Bursee will have it. I will also ask for one to be mailed to us as well in case the one they send doesn't make it.
It's not like it's a huge deal, just another one of those blasted set backs that keeps us farther from knowing our future. The other bit of info I got from Sgt Bursee was that the October COT date is filling up and he may not get to go until January. This is a problem because Kolt just passed up a charge nurse position because he didn't think he'd be there long enough to make it worth it, and because we will have to find another place to live for only a few months, and because it will just be that much longer that we live with my parents. NOT that I don't love them, but we're ready to move on.
I'm trying not to let all of this get me down because we don't know yet that we won't be able to go until January, but the thought of it being THAT much longer makes me sick almost. I just really want to move on with our lives and it seems like just when everything is in place, something else pops up that sets it back.
I'm really hoping that tomorrow the Institute will be super awesome and send out the transcripts and it will be no big deal. I'll let you all know how it goes.
On a more positive note, I found a 5k race that I'm going to run. It's here in Midvale (where our house is) and it's only $15, and it's all flat. It really is perfect and I'm excited to finally be running in a race. I'm up to 2.5 miles already so I feel confident I can be ready by August 8th. I'll give more details on that once I've run it.
Friday, July 17, 2009
Feeling Grateful
Sorry it's been a while since I posted. I really feel like I haven't had a whole lot to say. As far as we know Kolt's application will go in for review on Monday (July 20th) and we should hear back as soon as next Friday, the 24th. I promise as soon as we know where we are going there will be a big post in all caps with as many details as I can provide!
I've been doing exceptionally well with my running and weight loss. I retook on the challenge the 28th of June and am almost down 10 lbs. I've been running almost everyday and am up to 2.5 miles already!!!! That 5k isn't feeling so out of reach anymore and I am so proud of myself. I've just set my mind to it and I'm doing it. I figured that being over weight in my case is a choice that I alone have made and that I alone have continued to perpetuate and I'm over it. Food is food and while it can be SO good, it does nothing for me. It doesn't hug me back when I've had a bad day, it doesn't listen to my problems, it doesn't provide anything but momentary distraction and satisfaction that has in turn continued to lower my confidence and self esteem through out the years. My goal is to be down 40lbs by the time we move to wherever we're going, around the 20th of November. If more then great but that's my goal. I've really been pushing myself with the running and went out of my comfort zone and found a place to run in Salt Lake while I was down there working and had to go after work in the heat of the day at 4pm. I NEVER would have done that in the past, but nothing will stop me now. I need to sign up for a stinking race but I just haven't done it yet. But race or no race, I'm running as long as my body will allow me to.
All this being said and going back to the title of this post, I am feeling extremely grateful at this time in my life. There's a lot going on around me that I'm not directly apart of, but that I see and it just makes me realize how good Kolt and I really have it. I was recently insulted by someone I won't mention, but this person said something like this "Now I know why God doesn't want that crazy cracker jack psychology COW to have any children." And she also made another comment about me that commented on my "SIZE." This person is a pathetic piece of crap who has absolutely NOTHING going good for her in her life and felt the need to lash out at me to make herself and her laughable excuse of a life look better. I'll admit, I felt the rage go through my veins like nothing you could imagine. In fact, I vowed (much in the way of my father) that the next time I saw that %$%$&%*$ that I would put a dent in her forehead, particularly for the comment that God doesn't want to have children and that's why I keep losing them. As if that line of reasoning makes sense. Like he wants crack whores and 12 year old girls to have them? Please. But I went for a run and clarity reached me and the peace came. I have the most amazing life (well maybe not in the cool sense, at least not yet, but soon!) and I really can't ask for anything more than I have. An amazing husband who's loved me through thick and thin, quite literally, a good job that has allowed me the flexibility to work whenever I want this past 9 months, Kolt has a steady and good paying job with complete job security, I have an incredible family who loves me no matter what and who I know will be there every step of my life to pitch in and provide support any time I need it, and we're about to embark on a fantastic journey to God only knows where and to places that most people only dream about. We have complete financial security and tons of toys and more time than most couples could ever imagine having together. What more could I ask for? A child, yes, but at this point in my life I'm simply not ready for one. How many people can say that they have all of those things? That the truly want for nothing and are totally happy with their lives and at peace with themselves? I doubt very many. I really just have it so good, that I'm not going to let what some ignorant, selfish, self absorbed, psychotic, immature brat bring me down. It's not worth the energy to be upset or angry about it. So I won't, and instead will continue to reflect on the wonderfulness that is my life and I will continue to strive to meet my goals and I WILL accomplish them.
I've been doing exceptionally well with my running and weight loss. I retook on the challenge the 28th of June and am almost down 10 lbs. I've been running almost everyday and am up to 2.5 miles already!!!! That 5k isn't feeling so out of reach anymore and I am so proud of myself. I've just set my mind to it and I'm doing it. I figured that being over weight in my case is a choice that I alone have made and that I alone have continued to perpetuate and I'm over it. Food is food and while it can be SO good, it does nothing for me. It doesn't hug me back when I've had a bad day, it doesn't listen to my problems, it doesn't provide anything but momentary distraction and satisfaction that has in turn continued to lower my confidence and self esteem through out the years. My goal is to be down 40lbs by the time we move to wherever we're going, around the 20th of November. If more then great but that's my goal. I've really been pushing myself with the running and went out of my comfort zone and found a place to run in Salt Lake while I was down there working and had to go after work in the heat of the day at 4pm. I NEVER would have done that in the past, but nothing will stop me now. I need to sign up for a stinking race but I just haven't done it yet. But race or no race, I'm running as long as my body will allow me to.
All this being said and going back to the title of this post, I am feeling extremely grateful at this time in my life. There's a lot going on around me that I'm not directly apart of, but that I see and it just makes me realize how good Kolt and I really have it. I was recently insulted by someone I won't mention, but this person said something like this "Now I know why God doesn't want that crazy cracker jack psychology COW to have any children." And she also made another comment about me that commented on my "SIZE." This person is a pathetic piece of crap who has absolutely NOTHING going good for her in her life and felt the need to lash out at me to make herself and her laughable excuse of a life look better. I'll admit, I felt the rage go through my veins like nothing you could imagine. In fact, I vowed (much in the way of my father) that the next time I saw that %$%$&%*$ that I would put a dent in her forehead, particularly for the comment that God doesn't want to have children and that's why I keep losing them. As if that line of reasoning makes sense. Like he wants crack whores and 12 year old girls to have them? Please. But I went for a run and clarity reached me and the peace came. I have the most amazing life (well maybe not in the cool sense, at least not yet, but soon!) and I really can't ask for anything more than I have. An amazing husband who's loved me through thick and thin, quite literally, a good job that has allowed me the flexibility to work whenever I want this past 9 months, Kolt has a steady and good paying job with complete job security, I have an incredible family who loves me no matter what and who I know will be there every step of my life to pitch in and provide support any time I need it, and we're about to embark on a fantastic journey to God only knows where and to places that most people only dream about. We have complete financial security and tons of toys and more time than most couples could ever imagine having together. What more could I ask for? A child, yes, but at this point in my life I'm simply not ready for one. How many people can say that they have all of those things? That the truly want for nothing and are totally happy with their lives and at peace with themselves? I doubt very many. I really just have it so good, that I'm not going to let what some ignorant, selfish, self absorbed, psychotic, immature brat bring me down. It's not worth the energy to be upset or angry about it. So I won't, and instead will continue to reflect on the wonderfulness that is my life and I will continue to strive to meet my goals and I WILL accomplish them.
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