C + J

Horoscope

2011-12-08T14:23:00.000-08:00

My updates have always been sporadic at best, but this year takes the cake for inconsistency with a whopping seven posts. Stellar, I know. I started drafts of several posts throughout the year and then never finished them. Lack of motivation probably had something to do with it. But with the new year approaching I'm launching a last-ditch effort to redeem my blog with some catch-up posts. The first is from July and can be found just below my last post, here. Additional posts over the next few days/weeks are in the future. Here's to trying!

"She Wore a Yellow Ribbon"

2011-10-30T14:55:00.000-07:00

Emphasis on the wore, as in past tense. Just took this out of my car.

It's been there for 9 months and 5 days. Can't believe how good it felt to take it down. But it felt a heck of a lot better to see and touch this guy.

No, that's not a cardboard cutout. Jordan really is home from Afghanistan. Early. Trust me, I've pinched him plenty of times to make sure. And no, I'm not going to write about it all now. I'd rather be with him. But for all of your prayers, love and support, we are eternally grateful. Welcome home, soldier!

New England is through with us...

2011-06-25T09:36:00.000-07:00

for now. Remember that school I got into? Well I did finally go, and I did love it, and now that my first semester is over I need to address the fact that my house looks like a library, an office supply store and a laundromat had a party and didn't clean up after themselves. And blog. I need to make a record before I forget about it all.

What I really want to document are the preceding events. Prior to going to my very first graduate residency on June 26th, my sis, my mom and I planned a whopping good time of a New England girls trip during which we spent about five days touring Vermont and Massachusetts. Credit is due to my Uncle Dixon, without whom we never would have strayed off the beaten path of tourist sights. The historian and genealogist in the family, Dixon prepped us with history, maps, pictures and lists of places to go that are connected to our ancestors. We took more pictures than you can shake a stick at, and what you see below only scratches the surface. So even if you don't read this, at least we'll have the memories. Where to start...

In Vermont, I suppose, since that's where we started. Flew into Burlington and the first thing we saw pulling up to the gate was a row of rocking chairs lining the big windows of the small airport. Who wouldn't want to rock in an airport? Or anywhere else, for that matter. Got our car,

a Chevy Malibu named Sadie, and headed to Stowe where we would be staying.

Side note: So as a joke I decided to take "the shirt" with me so that Jordan could be part of the fun in a Where's Waldo?/traveling gnome kind of way. The shirt went everywhere with us and many pictures were taken so that I could make him a kitschy photo book and send it to him overseas. I later discovered that some of the shirt pictures were the only pictures taken in certain locations, which is why you may see me holding the shirt every now and then.

So we stayed at the Stowe Inn

and we rocked

and posed by the random modern art sculptures that were placed throughout town.

(yes, those are giant yellow spoons hanging from a tree)

and we skipped down the covered bridges arm in arm.

No pictures of the skipping, but I know you're imagining it right now. Covered bridges should be everywhere. Though it would be a little spooky at night a la Ichabod Crane, wondering if we'd have our heads coming out the other side.

We discovered the true meaning of green

and caught our first glimpse of history. You don't go to a cemetery in AZ and find plaques by graves indicating Revolutionary War veterans. Chills.

Churches. TONS of churches.

And gazebos.

Fun little fabric stores.

I still wish I brought this little guy home with me.

We explored downtown shops

and got to know the locals.

After tasty sandwiches at a cafe downtown, we took a drive up the mountain and discovered why Vermont is known as the Green Mountain State. Gorgeous. Got out of the car to explore a bit only to be eaten alive by who knows what kind of bugs. But it was worth it. Canopy trees, massive rock with mossy faces--

perfect for getting our yoga on.

How CUTE is my mom?!

I attempted a little rock climbing. A very little.

And Heather found Ferngully. Or the tree of life. Seriously one of my favorite pictures from the trip.

(I promised her I wouldn't post the picture I took of her trying to climb down that rock face. It was a lot steeper than it looks!)

Next...Ben & Jerry's!

You can bet we took the tour and loved it. The flavor of the day that they gave us in the taste testing room was Late Night with Jimmy Falon. It had chocolate covered clusters of potato chips. Weird? Yes. Delicious? Absolutely.

We even went to the Flavor Graveyard

and mourned.

This ought to put things into perspective for you, in case you were wondering what's in the goodness.

And we went to the loo.

How cool is that?! How blue is YOUR loo?

After Ben & Jerry's we hit the Cold Hollow Cider Mill where we didn't have cider but we did have cider donuts. YuM.

We tried for a photo op in another one of those cheesy wooden cutouts that you stick your head in as devout tourists always do, but we were foiled in our attempt by two spiders who were on the move. Big ones. Mom, recognizing the severity of the situation, came to our rescue. I believe her words were: "I will take them out if you want me to," armed with her newly acquired honey dipper.

Thanks, Mom. You tell those spiders.

Tired from a full day of exploring we spent the rest of the night trying to figure out how to print our tickets for our trolley tour in Boston the next day. Yes, we broke down and took a tour, because the thought of the three of us driving around Boston with a map made us all laugh and agree that we would see much more if we let someone else provide transport. Plus, it was supposed to rain all day and Boston in one day = impossible, so this was the best option for maximizing our time and minimizing our frizz.

So the next morning, bright and early, we made it to Boston.

Without incident, I might add.

Before hopping on our tour we tried to use a restroom in a nearby shopping center. Turns out you have to buy something in the plaza to obtain a token in order to even get into the bathroom. Tricksters. We came out to find our trolley pulling from the curb, so we chased it down and branded ourselves the latecomers.

Oh well. Good thing you get a new trolley driver every time you get off and get back on. The cool thing about this tour was that you could get off at any of the stops and stay off as long as you wanted to explore, you just had to make sure you found your way back to the pickup spot. So we rode around for awhile

to get our bearings and decide where we wanted to stop.

We didn't get a chance to see if they knew our names at Cheers--there was just too much to see so we didn't get off at that stop and had to take a picture from the trolley.

Our first hop off was here:

pretty much just to make Jason jealous, since there wasn't a game and we couldn't go into the actual stadium. But we were there, by golly, and have pictures to prove it!

Next we hopped back on and headed to Cambridge where we stepped off at MIT.

It was lunchtime so we stumbled into the equivalent of a food court/union and were lucky not to get run over. Not a single smile and you could feel the intellectual stress in the air. Overheard conversations included words I've never heard before juxtaposed with scientific theory and furrowed brows, while we sipped our cokes and ate our sandwiches, marvelling at the brain power creating the forcefield around us. We all sighed and took deep breaths when we got out of there. We bypassed Harvard so that we could move on to some of the other sights of interest.

Back over the bridge, we jumped off at Beacon Hill and fell in love with the historic district.

Mom saving the world one light post at a time.

Dog walkers!

Living in the country you don't think about how different it must be to be a pet owner in a big city.

At the top of Beacon Hill sits the State House

where people were protesting immigration laws.

Granary Burial Ground

where this guy

and this guy

were buried, which is next to the

Park Street Church.

Quincy Market

Faneuil Hall

We DIDN'T get lost, and that's what's so amazing!

Did I mention it was raining?

Our last stop was at Paul Revere's house in Little Italy. This picture kind of sums up our trip, as we are truly three of the most indecisive people on the planet. In fact Jordan laughed when I told him we were going. I believe his words were, "you'll be lucky if you make it out of the hotel room." Put us together and you sure as heck better give us a coin to toss.

But there was no coin tossing outside the home of Paul Revere. You had to pay to take the tour and at that point we were fading. We knew we still had to drive to our hotel outside of Boston in rush hour traffic, so we took a picture and called it quits.

Oh yeah, and we stopped at The Cheese Shop, just for Jordan.

Next day was Salem, my favorite part of the trip. Dixon sent us the history of Susannah Martin, the mother-in-law of my mom's eighth great uncle, who was hung as a witch during the Salem witch trials in 1692. For more info on her click here. So we decided to go to the Salem Witch Museum to learn more about it.

Doesn't just looking at it give you chills?

Here she is under July 19th.

So they take you into this huge room sort of like a chapel with all the seats removed and they have you sit in benches along the side. All the way around the room are dioramas way up high and as they tell you the story of the trials they light up the diorama depicting that particular event. Spooky, emotional stuff. Then they take you through a short history of witchcraft and how the fear of it ignited mass hysteria among the Puritans. It would have been cool whether or not we had a connection to one of the accused, but knowing a little of her story made it that much more haunting.

Statue of Roger Conant, first settler of Salem, though we thought he was a witch at first.

Cemetery right next to the witch trials memorial.

The memorial is a big rectangle with stone benches all around, one for each of those executed. Most of them were buried in an unmarked mass grave and only the remains of a few were ever extracted, buried and marked, so the rest have been memorialized here.

Here is Susannah's.

We ate lunch at Red's Sandwich Shop

where we had New England Clam Chowder, of course.

The Atlantic ocean

right next to....

The House of the Seven Gables!

The house

is right next to Nathaniel Hawthorne's birthplace

and was owned by his cousin Susanna, as well as other ancestors who were involved in the witch trials, and Hawthorne based the novel The House of the Seven Gables on this house. Couldn't take pictures inside, but the tour was cool.

Next we drove to Marblehead, not far from Salem, to check out the Old North Church

where my mom's ninth great grandfather, Reverend William Walton, was the first pastor. We went in only to discover we were crashing a wedding rehearsal, so we promptly left. Around about this time we were getting tired and burned out. Traffic had been crazy (we've decided New England drivers took a different driving test or maybe didn't take one at all) and we won't mention the stress from the four way stop with only three stop signs or the fact that I dropped my camera - twice. We were definitely in need of some ice cream--ice cream always takes the edge off. Dixon had recommended a place so we walked through quaint Marblehead

to find Coffey Ice Cream. Just what we needed. I had yogurt that tasted more like real ice cream than any I've ever tried. Yum.

So that night we headed back to Stowe, VT in a rainstorm and made it to the Northern Lights Lodge where we stayed for the remainder of the trip. The next day we drove up to the Von Trapp Family Lodge (right). They weren't giving tours that day, but we went inside to the gift shop and walked around the grounds a bit.

Then we headed to Montpelier to check out my school.

It's a small campus, so it didn't take long to walk around, but it was nice to see it before having to report the next day.

We walked around downtown Montpelier (also small) ate lunch, did some shopping

then drove back to Stowe to relax and get me ready for my first day at school. Before we left the next day, we had to get a final group picture. After MANY attempts, this candid one is probably my favorite.

If you made it to the end of this you probably spend too much time online. But if you did, thanks for sticking with me. That last day they dropped me off at VCFA (after the strangest lunch of our lives, but that will stay between us). I never checked the whole-go-away-to-college/be-dropped-off-by-your-parents experience off my list because I went to school in Flag. But I can imagine the fear I felt that day was similar. "Why on earth am I doing this" thoughts were creeping in, but Mom and Heather were there to encourage me and that meant the world. I love these women. They are everything to me and this is really the first time we've ever done something like this. Here's to making it a tradition.

3

2011-05-17T21:58:00.000-07:00

There are shirts, and then there is the shirt to end all shirts.

This is the shirt that I took hostage about four months ago (and I don't feel a bit bad about it). The shirt with the 50/50 cotton-poly blend that makes you want to cuddle like it's 1999. The shirt that you would want to be wearing during an alien invasion or a really bad movie just as a reminder that there is hope in hugging yourself. The shirt that was clearly labeled with the best letter in the alphabet in my honor (though the rest of the world seems to think it has something to do with Chicago). The shirt that used to smell like my husband but now smells like me, as I have now officially worn it almost as much as he has.

I love it when Jordan wears this shirt. I love that I can tell him to put on the "cuddle shirt" and he comes out with this on (I know, enough with the cuddling already). I love how he gets irritated at people who think it's the logo for the Cubs and not the Bears. Well this "bear" beats any teddy bear out there; "I love it, and squeeze it and call it [Jordan instead of] George." I'm convinced it has super powers of the keeping-me-calm-and-carrying-on variety. It's been keeping me company of late, especially today. That and peanut butter M&Ms and chocolate chip oatmeal cake.

Why the smock-topic ode? Three years ago today, the owner of this shirt and I were married. In honor of that special day, I wear the bear as a tribute to the man who should be wearing it, and hope that somewhere out there Jordan knows I love him and that I couldn't possibly be more thankful for the past three years we've spent together in body and spirit.

Happy Anniversary, Love. And no, you're not getting your shirt back.

Something Noteworthy

2011-04-11T23:47:00.000-07:00

I've never been one to blog much about current events, but every once in a while a bit of news strikes me as worth mentioning. This particular bit of news involves an announcement from Air New Zealand.

Introducing: Cuddle Class

Read the article. I did, and I'm smiling. It's not long and it's worth it. This news prompted an immediate email to my love requesting that we celebrate his future homecoming by traveling to New Zealand just so that we can say that we cuddled at 35,000 feet for 13 hours. I'm not certain that he's as convinced of the genius in this new development as I am, but there is still time to convert him. I wonder how much Business Premier tickets are...

With all of the terrible things in the news of late, I welcomed the laugh.

G Force

2011-03-18T20:09:00.000-07:00

There is a lot I want to write about and can't, some I probably should write about but won't, and a bit I probably need to write about and, at some point, will find the words. Until then, let's talk about rodents.

Meet Edge, Weston's guinea pig.

Heather's family left for Spring Break and I have guinea pig duty. When Jason brought him out to my car Edge scurried into his little igloo house (fondly referred to as his "happy place") and didn't come out for the next 12 hours, at least that I could see. Power to you, Edge. Everyone should have a happy place. Poor little guy was traumatized. He would actually pick up the igloo and move it with him to his water or food so that he only had to stick his snout out for nourishment. Comical, really, like those cloak-and-dagger movies where you see barrels or bushes moving, mobilized by the spies hiding beneath them.

But he eventually came out and our relationship is progressing. He lets me pet him and feed him. I haven't ventured to hold him because, with my pet-sitting record, no doubt he would escape and take to the walls or plumbing.

Ask not what you can do with a guinea pig, but what you CAN'T do with a guinea pig. We've read poetry, rocked out and watched Arrested Development together. I think there was a staring contest in there somewhere. He's not much of a classic rock fan. The White Stripes, on the other hand...

I decided to do some research, as I know nothing about these creatures. I learned that they are in no way related to pigs (shocker) and they in no way originated from Guinea. I glazed over the part about guinea pig cuisine in the Andes in case he could see it in my eyes. But more importantly I learned that GPs thrive in pairs or groups and that lone GPs are more prone to stress and depression. Amen to that. So as I watched him chewing his cud (wait, that's just cows...), I couldn't help but wonder if he's lonely. Maybe he misses Lenny (Micah's GP, may he rest in peace). Hence the necessity for a happy place.

Well, Edge, you're no Jordan, and I'm certainly no Lenny, and while I won't fit in your igloo, I think we've found a comfortable happy place together. Maybe the Cureton Three can join our guinea pig cabal. If they're lucky.

Diggin' Up Bones

2011-02-03T20:30:00.000-08:00

Best Christmas present EVER:

I promise I'm not as weird as you're thinking I am.

I think it's safe to say that, while my parents like country music, they weren't exactly putting earphones to my mom's Casey-belly hoping I'd come out loving Randy Travis (or to her Heather-belly wishing for a Kenny Rogers fan, or even the Ben-belly with fingers crossed for a Ray Stevens and Arlo Guthrie enthusiast, for that matter). But for some strange reason he appealed to me as a little girl. Go figure.

My parents have a recording of toddler me singing along to a Randy Travis tape. "Diggin' Up Bones" was my favorite. I had no idea what neglige meant (though it's hilarious to hear a four-year-old say it) and "exhuming" became "zoomin" in my early childhood phonetic interpretation. A gold star is definitely in order for my attempt to be both Randy and the back-up singers at the same time. I just couldn't get enough of Randy, even if I couldn't quite say my Rs yet.

I haven't listened to Randy Travis in years and, despite my childhood obsession, I've never had more than that old, forgotten cassette stowed in a box somewhere at my parents' house. Until this Christmas, when they gave me his greatest hits.

Jordan and I drove to Alexandria on New Year's Eve (nothing like going to a Best Buy to celebrate the New Year) and I made him listen to Randy: two discs, one each way. Swoon, I know. After about the first five songs he was thinking that they all sounded about the same, but we both got a kick out of the fact that I still remember the words after all this time. That's one of the most entertaining things about being married: it seems there is an endless supply of quirky traits and childhood memories to spring on each other. Although I did have a moment of regret when he started belting "I Told You So" the next day when he was right about something.

Thanks for humoring me, Babe. "My love is deeper than the holler." Thanks to Mom and Dad for bringing Randy back. You never know when you're going to need him.

A Year Without Tree Stands

2011-01-14T21:13:00.000-08:00

At least that's what the girl at Walmart told us: all the stores are out of tree stands. We probably could have found one if we drove 20 minutes, but it's much more compelling to think that there were absolutely no tree stands to be found in the area and that the festive evergreens in Leesville homes (did I mention we live in Louisiana now?) were contained in everything from waste baskets to hiking boots this Christmas season. Our stand of choice was a large paint bucket Jordan found in the perfect shade of green. But more on that later.

A couple weeks before Christmas I was standing in the bakery at Walmart when I had one of those silly homesick moments that come out of nowhere. We had just returned from our road trip all over the country and had been blessed with an opening in temporary housing on post. We were thrilled to have a place, but temporary housing isn't exactly the cleanest, friendliest place to hang your hat. We were tired, hungry and just plain ready to be "home." Jordan had gone off in search of plastic forks and as I stood there holding a box of holiday cookies (the kind with sprinkles and about half an inch of frosting) I started thinking, boy I could really go for one of Mom's gingersnaps right now. Gingersnaps...fudge...divinity...Mom...and the tears started coming. Thankfully they were fleeting and were gone by the time Jordan came back with the utensils.

Christmas has always been a big deal to me and it has always meant family, so I was a little apprehensive when we decided it was best to stay in Louisiana this year. Upon making the decision, I told Jordan that we should get a little fake tree to put on the kitchen table or something, seeing as how all of our ornaments and decorations (including our tree stand) were still in storage with all of our other belongings. That's about as "in to it" as I was going to get. But knowing how much the season means to me, Jordan saved Christmas with a tree, an economy box of ornaments and lights and a matching paint bucket. A few homemade ornaments and some candy canes later, our temporary home spelled Christmas cheer.

Christmas Eve we read the Christmas story and The Other Wiseman, sang songs (our "O Holy Night" rendition is frightening) and talked to the Eberts in Michigan. Then, in true Ebert fashion, we went into the bedroom and waited for Santa to come. Jordan even went out and pretended to have a convo with Santa before telling me I could come see my stocking under the tree. Santa's bells may have been jingled car keys and our stockings red and grey tube socks, but it didn't feel any less like Christmas, however unconventional.

Christmas day we slept in. Christmas dinner: cream cheese and bacon-wrapped chicken, beans, mashed potatoes, Coke (because I forgot the sparkling cider for toasting) and berries and Muddy Buddies for dessert.

Notice the forks purchased during the aforementioned shopping trip. This is supposed to be a fully furnished apartment, hence the mis-matched dishes. But no forks! Do they really think people don't need them, or did someone just take off with them? Anyway... we skyped with the Cokers/Curetons and I even got Jordan to watch Elf with me.

We still have enough Muddy Buddies to last until next Christmas and "I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas" will be stuck in our heads for just as long. Though we missed our families, I have to say that Christmas with just the two of us couldn't have been more perfect.

Wandering Camels

2011-01-03T09:08:00.000-08:00

Ever feel like someone has untied your camel and you're wandering around the desert looking for it? Through the changes of 2010 I identified with Hafiz's poem "Someone Untied Your Camel" as I struggled to find my place in the new life I'm leading. Hafiz promises that when someone has untied your camel and you find your caravan is wandering, he will lead you to the tent of the Beloved. While I haven't been lost in the religious sense to which Hafiz is most definitely referring, I have felt a bit like my life camel took a stroll without me and is napping in an oasis somewhere just waiting for me to show up.

The Army has been good to us and I have no complaints. But over this past year of moving, training and getting Jordan ready for deployment I went through an adjustment period during which I all but swept my goals under a rug. Not having a steady job as we've state hopped left me chomping at the bit and gave me a lot of time to think about purpose.

Many of you know that I've wanted to go to grad school for a LONG time. I would probably be a professional student if I could. But over the years one thing after another has postponed the endeavor.

Well, in 2010 I finally applied. And in 2010...

I got in.

I'm scared to death but more excited than I've been in a long time and I can't wait for the challenge that starts in June. It's a low-residency MFA in Writing program at Vermont College of Fine Arts, which means that I attend 10-day residencies each semester in Vermont and the rest is completed online. The format is perfect for our situation (ever nomadic) and for the creative process in general, as writing tends to be an independent process by nature.

I am thankful for a husband who would support me in conquering the world or, as my dad would say, in "shoveling manure in Gila Bend," if that's really what I wanted to do (though I'm sure he's thankful that I chose school over the latter). He appropriately prods and encourages me to achieve anything and everything, even when I waffle and my Coker stubbornness resists. Thanks for getting me back on track, Love.

That darn camel better be waiting for me when I get to Vermont.

"Leg" No Longer

2010-12-29T16:00:00.000-08:00

Jordan's friends have enjoyed calling him a "leg" ever since ROTC because he had yet to jump out of a plane, so he's been itching to get some wings and relinquish this land-bound nickname.

He started Airborne School October 11th and three weeks (and a few days) later he graduated with his jump wings. Yes, another Army graduation. The mind reels, I know.

Airborne School consists of: Ground Week, where they learn how to fall gracefully on the ground and from moderate heights; Tower Week, where they learn how to fall gracefully out of a 250-foot tower; and Jump Week, where they're thrown out of a plane at 1,250 feet and hope they land as gracefully as they did in weeks one and two.

The problem with Jordan's class was the weather. They're supposed to make 5 jumps throughout week 3 and then graduate that Friday. Jordan's class didn't graduate until the following Tuesday, November 2nd; they just couldn't get their jumps in. So a lot of time was spent sitting in a harness either in the hangar--waiting--or circling in the plane--waiting. The commanding officer who spoke at the graduation said that the class spent a total of 56+ hours sitting in their harnesses, pretty much a record as far as he knows.

Family is allowed at the drop zone so a friend and I spent three days there with our eyes on the skies; waiting, but much more comfortably than our significant others. We did finally get to see them jump and it was well worth the wait. Pretty cool stuff.

Here they are coming out of the plane.

With his friend, Chad, after one of their jumps.

Now a few shots from graduation. As you can see, the weather didn't exactly cooperate for commencement either. Normally they have a little air show with experienced paratroopers who jump and land right in front of the audience, but the gloomy conditions nixed that. Jordan's class actually did their last jump that morning. We're just thankful they all made it safely to graduation!

He was one of about 416 graduates out of a class of about 509 men and women. The tower in the background is the 34-footer.

Towers on the left are the 250-footers.

Here they are, in all their glory.

Jordan didn't appreciate the "ca-caw" bird noises I made in reference to his wings.

The whole process was a test of patience and while it may not have felt like it at the time, the thrill and the badge were well worth the pre-dawn commutes, the late days, the waiting and the harness bruises. Way to go, Airborne.

I Went to Savannah and All I Got was this Stinkin' Radiator

2010-11-09T10:27:00.000-08:00

Traveling is just like meeting new people. Each new place has its own unique personality and I have officially found my best friend of cities: Savannah, Georgia. Though we only spent about a day and a half together, I know we were destined to be good friends. Jordan had a little time off before Airborne so we decided to drive to the coast and check out Savannah. Unfortunately, our time was limited in this southern gem of historic districts, but we enjoyed (almost) every minute of our time there.

It all started here on Monday, Oct. 4th.

We heard about this place just outside of Columbus a while back but didn't decide to go there until we were hungry and on our way out of town--without directions. Oh, the turns along the road of spontaneity... after about an hour of driving around we FINALLY found the seemingly fabled place. Apparently it was worth it.

The Ranger Burger

The Ranger eating his Ranger burger. I think the idea is that you're supposed to go after you've just graduated Ranger School and you're starving. Apparently it still does the trick a week and a half later.

After the burgers and large mason jars of coke and water ensuring that we would have to pee all the way to Savannah, we headed out.

We took the scenic route and enjoyed a country wave of cotton fields, orchards, hunting blinds and faded wooden crates teasing us with "Peaches this way" or "Fresh Strawberries next right." Had we stopped for any produce I would probably still be lying on my back staring up at the sky through the branches of a peach tree, Secret-Life-of-Bees style. Forget Savannah.

Tuesday morning we tackled the pamphlet kiosk at our hotel and decided that rather than flaunt our tourist status by paying for one of the many trolley tours of downtown Savannah, we would grab the trolley route map and do our own tour. Locals probably hated us even more than the obvious tourists--at least the trolleys know their routes by heart. Pretty sure our AZ license plate gave us away.

The first thing we noticed on our way into downtown:

the trees.

Ohhhhh, the trees. Aside from seeing the redwoods, I have never been so fascinated with trees. Practically everywhere you go you're driving through a tunnel of rambling oaks with weeping Spanish moss (hence my calling them "weepy trees" before I actually knew what they were).

At times it was hard to see the sky.

I started taking pictures of beautiful houses...

until I realized that they were ALL beautiful and that I could probably spend our whole trip just walking around taking pictures of entire blocks.

Hungry on Broughton street, we ended up at this place.

I love little cafes like this, but Jordan and anything French (aside from fries) just really don't go together, so I was surprised when he passed up burgers and pizza for a little cultural adventure. Who knew he'd love it.

Some of the best food we've had to date:

Goat cheese, spinach, roasted tomato pie (with pine nuts and pesto). Seriously, drooling just writing this.

Le Parisien (Ham, swiss, brie, apples...)

In true Jordan fashion, I came back from the restroom to find that he had started up a convo with the owner of the place. By the time we left, we knew she and her husband's whole story plus the history of the restaurant. Yet another reminder of how much my husband is like my father. Dad rarely leaves a public place without a new friend and Jordan is proving to have the same knack for friendly chatter.

Next was Tybee Island.

One of the main reasons for visiting Tybee was to see the lighthouse in order to feed my obsession. Just our luck, the one full day we had on this trip was Tuesday and they are closed on Tuesdays except for scheduled group tours. Two is apparently not a group. Who closes on Tuesdays? Grr. My light station dreams shattered, we settled for the pier.

And a little sand and setting sun.

We couldn't leave Tybee without a genuine Georgian seafood experience, so we ended up here for dinner:

We wanted a sampler with a little bit of everything. We ended up with

a sampler with A LOT of everything.

Our food was sitting on a platform and underneath it was a hole in the table with a trashcan underneath so that you could just toss the shells and fodder away as you ate. It was delicious, but I think after the initial excitement of using pliers to retrieve the meat, Jordan would have preferred not to have to work so hard for a meal.

Wednesday at Chippewa Square.

The trolley route lists the Forrest Gump Bench site as an attraction, so naturally we had to check it out on our way out of town. I mean, who wouldn't want to sit where Forrest sat? I even thought about buying a box of chocolates in the spirit of reenacting, but that would have officially foiled our attempt to blend in as non-touristy tourists.

Good thing we didn't buy those chocolates. We went to Chippewa Square (one of 22 squares in downtown Savannah. Heritage Square, eat your heart out). There were benches, alright, but just your run-of-the-mill, average park benches--no plaques, nothing. I can only imagine what we looked like circling each one, trying to be inconspicuous as we hunted for the famous seat.

We didn't learn until after we were back in the car driving around (thanks, Duncan) that the bench is no longer there and was never there permanently. It was brought in for the movie and taken to a museum after filming, so it is indeed the Forrest Gump Bench SITE, not the bench itself. There is now a one-way sign and a Chippewa Square marker in its place. Rats. But if you look at the picture above, the bench was to the right (north) of the statue of Georgia founder James Ogelthorpe. Next time you watch the movie, look for the statue in the background.

So what does any of this have to do with a radiator?

The week before Jordan came home from Ranger School, my car started overheating (there was also a huge leak in the kitchen, nasty mold from that leak, and someone smashed in the passenger side window of Jordan's car as a bonus--proof that inevitably everything waits to go wrong until my man leaves the house). Salvation came in the form of a walkthrough inspection with Dad over the phone and a fresh jug of antifreeze from Tanya. With new coolant added, it appeared that Worm (my car) was back in business.

We got to Savannah Monday night and after driving around all day Tuesday, the overheating began again. This time we could actually see the crack in the radiator. Went to Napa the next morning, spent too much on some goo that they swore would seal the crack until we made it back to Columbus, and ate at the Original Pankake Palace while letting it set. Not ten minutes back into downtown Savannah and not only was the car overheating, but antifreeze was shooting a neon fountain out of the hood. Lovely. We made it to the parking lot across the busy street from Napa and, with the help of a stranger who stopped, Jordan removed the radiator, lugged it across the street to Napa and plopped it on their counter to show them that the expensive goo didn't do a thing. A"bummer, dude" look was about the only consolation they gave him. He ended up buying a brand spankin' new radiator and installing it in the parking lot with the help of our new friend, George Jones.

Of all the haunted houses, fabulous shops, town squares, beaches, invisible benches and weepy trees of Savannah, this was the only souvenir we brought back. Someday I'm sure we'll return and do more than simply scratch the surface of the city, but in the meantime I am ever so thankful for handy men and shiny new radiators.

Rangers Lead the Way

2010-10-19T16:30:00.000-07:00

He did it, folks! Jordan is home and is officially Ranger Qualified.

One thing the Army does not have is a lack of graduation ceremonies. Jordan has already been through three and he hasn't even reached his one-year anniversary in the Army. Of all this pomp and circumstance, the graduation we witnessed on Friday, September 24th, was probably one of, if not the most, meaningful ceremony of his Army career.

In case anyone missed it, Jordan was in Army Ranger School from June 26-September 24. His mind and body have been pushed to mental and physical limits and beyond, and he is forever changed because of it. He successfully completed all three phases with one recycle: Florida Phase.

Ranger School is the Army's premier leadership course and they basically try to simulate combat situations as realistically as possible, including food and sleep deprivation, difficult terrain, mental and emotional stress, physical exhaustion, and leadership objectives within restrictive time limits. For more information about the school take a gander at this.

Most people graduate some 20-40 pounds lighter than they were going into the training (if they graduate at all) due to the food deprivation and constant physical strain. Leave it to Jordan to defy the norm by gaining 30 pounds. When he recycled Florida, he had several all-you-can-eat days at the DFAC, and boy, did he eat and then some. He probably would have gained more were it not for the now infamous "Beer Debacle."* He is currently the heaviest he has ever been in his life and he couldn't be prouder. I'm now starting to understand the jokes people make about adolescent boys' enormous appetites. Based on Jordan's current diet, I'd say he's about 15 with a gain goal for the next weight class on the wrestling team. What's funny is that people who don't know him very well can't really tell the difference. Shows how thin he was in the first place!

Before Ranger School:

After Benning Phase on his 8-hour pass:

After Ranger School:

It's hard to tell with his uniform on, but you can probably see it in his cheeks. They say that soldiers often gain weight AFTER Ranger School because they've basically been starving for the past 61 days so their metabolisms are out of whack. Jordan just got a head start, I guess :)

Preceding the graduation was the Rangers in Action demonstration where Rangers and RIs (Ranger Instructors) get to show off some of the high-speed tactics and maneuvers Rangers are capable of and famous for doing:

Mountaineering

Orchestrating Explosions

Fast-roping from Helicopters

Helocasting

(and getting back into them)

Combat Water Survival/Confidence

and combatives,

to name a few.

It was pretty much one big explosion of testosterone. The presentation was interesting and informative and it was exciting to see some of the skills Jordan has been trained in (and some he hasn't). A big thanks to my mom and dad for taking pictures while I attempted to videotape the proceedings.

The graduation itself was the best kind: short, sweet and to the point. There were 166 graduates out of 337 men who started the course (the 337 count is only accurate for those who started in July and went straight through. Jordan's original class started in June and consisted of over 400 men, but this at least gives you an idea of the attrition rate. Roughly 50% pass eventually, only around 25% pass without recycling).

Alpha Company (Jordan's company and survivors of the Beer Debacle)

Reciting the Ranger Creed

There is just something so moving and venerable about hearing the voices of so many men, who are willing to die for each other and our country, proclaim in unison:

Recognizing that I volunteered as a Ranger, fully knowing the hazards of my chosen profession, I will always endeavor to uphold the prestige, honor, and high esprit de corps of the Rangers.

Acknowledging the fact that a Ranger is a more elite soldier who arrives at the cutting edge of battle by land, sea, or air, I accept the fact that as a Ranger my country expects me to move further, faster and fight harder than any other soldier.

Never shall I fail my comrades. I will always keep myself mentally alert, physically strong and morally straight and I will shoulder more than my share of the task whatever it may be, one-hundred-percent and then some.

Gallantly will I show the world that I am a specially selected and well-trained soldier. My courtesy to superior officers, neatness of dress and care of equipment shall set the example for others to follow.

Energetically will I meet the enemies of my country. I shall defeat them on the field of battle for I am better trained and will fight with all my might. Surrender is not a Ranger word. I will never leave a fallen comrade to fall into the hands of the enemy and under no circumstances will I ever embarrass my country.

Readily will I display the intestinal fortitude required to fight on to the Ranger objective and complete the mission though I be the lone survivor.

We were blessed to have Al and Jody, Jordan's uncle Kerry and cousin Lance, and my parents in attendance. Thank you guys for making the trip. It just wouldn't have been the same without all of you. As my dad said in his last letter to Jordan, "That was really considerate of you to recycle Florida so that we could all make it to the graduation!" We hate that it happened, but it all worked out in the end and the celebration was that much sweeter. Of course I never did manage to get a picture of all of us together, but here we are:

Jody and Al

Lance and Kerry

Jeff and Janet

and the old ball and chain.

The visit was too short, but wonderful. We now know that Al has a need for speed, that Lance and Kerry should forever be our advisors when it comes to electronics and that nothing celebrates family and achievement quite like a good dessert, right Jody? :) Our hearts and our bellies (especially Jordan's) are ever so full.

So what is his reward for enduring the torture of and successfully completing Ranger School (aside from food, a new sound system and family gushing)?

This:

the Ranger tab.

The speaker, Command Sergeant Major Retired John R. Burns, reminded all of the graduates that no matter how long it took them (I think one guy graduating had recycled every phase) or where they were next assigned, they are all responsible for bearing the Ranger tab with pride for the remainder of their careers and no one can ever take that away from them.

The coveted tab demands a certain amount of respect, whether the wearer is assigned to a Ranger Battalion or leading in another unit, as Jordan will be. Some guys pin a Ranger tab into their patrol cap at the beginning of the course as a reminder throughout the school of what they're working toward. For Jordan, depending on his mental state, Ranger at times became

and sometimes

Some even take to writing motivational aphorisms and such on the underside of the brim.

I remember the two of us lying in bed the night before he had to report to the school, talking, trying to be optimistic in an attempt to ward off the impending fear and farewells. The one thing he asked of me was: "Don't let me quit. No matter how much I want to, no matter how much I convince myself that I need to, no matter how long it takes, don't let me quit." While heartfelt, his petition wasn't necessary, as Jordan is not and never will be a quitter. While he may have wanted to at times, not once did he complain or express a desire to withdraw. I have never seen him set a goal and not reach it, and "superman school" was no exception. As far as I'm concerned, he deserves a matching cape to go with that Ranger tab.

I've always preferred good old-fashioned hand-written letters to email correspondence and the like. But when the former becomes the only form of communication with my husband, I admit that a phone call or an email proves most desirable. I remember reading letters written by my young grandparents during WWII as my grandpa fought in the Pacific, wondering how on earth written correspondence sustained them for two years without seeing each other or even hearing each other's voices. Those letters are now a treasured part of our family history.

While the past three months paled in comparison to what my grandparents endured, I am thankful for the little taste we had in writing good old-fashioned letters. A trip to the mailbox has never been so exciting! We learned things about each other and grew closer in a way that no other medium quite allows.

Jordan never intended to keep a journal. What started as a bullet-point list to help himself remember details to recount in his letters home in effect became a Ranger School memoir, sections from which he would mail to me a little at a time. I don't know how he managed it or what possessed him to keep writing when I'm sure his mind and body were persuading him otherwise. But he wrote almost every day with few exceptions. One of these days we will compile all of these letters and entries into a book just as my uncle did with my grandparents' letters. I hope that our children will one day enjoy them as much as I have enjoyed those from my family history.

To say that I'm proud of Jordan really just doesn't cut it. There are hardly words...

As my dad wrote on Jordan's plaque from the family:

"Your reputation and character are defined by the difficulties you chose to face and how you overcome adversity."

Well done, Jordan. Well done.

*Beer cans were found hidden in the barracks in Florida and all 53 recycles were put on lockdown with little food and sleep and were almost dropped from the course for an offense to which no one ever confessed. In all likelihood, the group wasn't even the offending party. Saddest letter I received from him was when he thought he was being sent home for something he didn't do. Miraculously the powers that be let them all continue on, and all but 2 of the 53 graduated on the 24th.

A Toast

2010-08-30T20:27:00.000-07:00

I've never been good at giving toasts. Give me a few hours with a pen and paper and I have a fighting chance of expressing myself, but ask me to speak impromptu on a special occasion and you can bet that the result will be an insufficient representation of true emotion. That's probably why I didn't offer a toast on Saturday at my brother Ben's wedding. I just wasn't sure that I could express how happy I am for him and how much he means to me. What follows is my written attempt.

This is Ben, AKA Benny, Benjamin, Sweet Cheeks, and (at one time) Flipper. This is an older picture, but I can honestly say that not much has changed over the years aside from his facial hair. Sure he's changed locations and jobs, but what I love most about my brother is that he's a constant big heart. He would have a killer singles profile: humble, generous, thoughtful, kind, hard-working, easy-going, loyal, charming, fun and unwavering. Oh, and he has "pretty" feet to boot :) But the best part is, he's always been that way.

I've been told that when I was born, it didn't take long for Ben to inquire as to when I was going back into mommy's tummy. We had a typical little sister/big brother relationship: we fought--a lot. But somehow once we both got to high school and beyond I realized that Ben's purpose in life was not to pick on me, but to look out for me in true big-brother fashion.

Some of my favorite Ben memories:

"I feel weird."

Convenient bathroom breaks when it was time to do the dishes.

"Alice's Restaurant," "Good Brown Gravy" and running around like "Nature Boy"

Black velvet and the Phoenix Suns

Riding to high school in his big blue bronco listening to Led Zeppelin, Donovan and Primus.

My 17th birthday when he and his friends came running into the Commons at Flag High singing "Happy Birthday" bearing tickets to Dave Matthews and the trip that ensued.

Occasional late-night chats before he moved out.

Introducing me to classic rock, Horchata, Totoro and the Ems.

The Redwoods

Harry Potter

Newport Beach

Being my first and best friend when I moved to Oregon and letting me be "one of the guys" for a few months.

I've always admired my brother for his ability to take whatever life throws at him. He's never afraid to try something new, to move to a new place or to take on a new challenge. He's minimalistic, nomadic and he earns the respect and love of everyone with whom he comes into contact. He's basically conquering the world, in flip flops, no less!

It's hard to watch your brother get his heart broken even once and still believe that there is a girl out there who is remotely worthy of him. And then he met...

Deborah.

From the moment we met her over two years ago, I've loved her, and not just because she's adorable, easy to talk to, likes old movies and Audrey Hepburn and didn't hate me after I threw up in the car sitting right next to her. She recognizes what a unique and amazing person my brother is and, most importantly, she makes him happier than I've ever seen him.

Ben proposed to Deborah fairly recently with plans for a wedding within the next year or so. However, their pending transition in moving to Canada prompted moving the date up a bit--to this weekend. I didn't think I would be able to make it, as Jordan's Ranger graduation was supposed to be on Friday. But since he won't be home for another month now (more on that in another post), my parents and I decided to have me fly out as a surprise.

It was a perfect day, full of love, family and friends, in a beautiful spot outside of Santa Fe. And now, the pictures.

Ben with Dad, AKA Doctor Love. (Sidenote: Dad was supposed to marry them until he found out that New Mexico wouldn't let him officiate because he's licensed in Arizona. They recommended that he become certified online as a minister in order to perform the ceremony. As he said, "Funny how twenty plus years on the bench as a judge in Arizona doesn't qualify me to marry my son in New Mexico, but three minutes on the internet does." He's adopted the name Dr. Love to denote his new credentials. Naturally.)

Jason the grill meister.

Pan de jamon. Delicious. Ben's boss Omar and his family are from Venezuela and his wife made this amazing treat. It was almost too pretty to eat!

This beautiful lady is the maker of the above mentioned goodness and to her right is their son Omarcito.

Too cool for school.

Too cute for her own good.

The blushing bride.

Family and friends.

Foot pop! Adian is such a good sport.

The happy couple.

LOVE

To the wedding!

The ants dance. They were EVERYWHERE, crawling all over us. I'm super impressed Ben and Deb kept their composure during the ceremony.

Husband and Wife

The Coker clan plus its newest member. Missing: Adian (where did he run off to?) and Jordan.

Do I REALLY want to sign this?

Too legit to quit!

Dr. Love's signature of approval. Done deal!

Welcome to the family, Deborah and Adian! We love you and couldn't be happier to have you officially inducted into the clan.

Ben + Deborah

Here's to you.

8 Hours = Not Enough Time

2010-07-21T19:09:00.000-07:00

Jordan had his first 8-hour pass from Ranger School on Friday, which means...he passed Benning Phase! One down, two more phases to go. I would have been proud no matter how he did, but considering that roughly half of the (about) 460 guys that started the school have either failed or recycled already, my pride has swelled to button-popping proportions knowing that he'll be moving on to the next phase.

We literally had 8 hours to refit him for Mountain Phase. We shopped, ate, did laundry, and before we knew it we were on our way back to post to drop him off. It was just so nice to see him in person, to see for myself that he's ok.

Here he is getting his gear out of the car to head back in. Of course I managed to wait to take pictures until those 5 minutes before he reported again.

And I thought dropping him off the first time was hard...

He's skinny, hungry, tired and humbled, but he's determined and I know that he's committed to this, no matter how long it takes!

He's been keeping a bullet-point journal and sending me sections a little at a time. He said that I could blog some of it to let everyone know what he's been up to. I found that some of it is personal and some of it I just can't read; you can tell when he's tired by his handwriting, bless his heart. Some of it's technical Army jargon, and some of it's just downright difficult to swallow. When a man is broken down physically and mentally, it's not easy to relate his thoughts. So what's left? You just get a few snippets.

Here are some highlights (or lowlights, depending on how you look at it).

"The Brigade Commander says our minds will tell us that our body has maxed out. Supposedly it's not true and our body will give us 25% more if we tell it to. So that's what I did."

"I've decided this is the hottest place I've ever lived."

"It's all about perspective. I'm just a guy, in a place, eating and sleeping (sometimes), and doing things, just like everyone else. I'm not far and things could be worse."

"Got a med brief as a battalion. Saw nasty pics (he said 60% of us will get poison something)."

"There are 460(?) men. They say that by day 5 we'll have 260 left."

"Battalion Commander gave us "the facts": give all, don't do for self, hydrate."

"Combat Water Survival was entirely too high and wobbly:

Balance Beam: 35'

Rope Drop: 30'

Zipline: 75'

On zipline they told me I had a wasp on my feet just to make me look down."

"BDE CSM and Company Brief:

25% of candidates are 1st time goes

50% of all candidates eventually graduate with recycles

50% never make it"

(now that I'm looking at this, the math doesn't make sense...)

"I have decided that sleep is the most important need. If a man needs sleep there is only so much you can do to stop him from getting it. It affects every other aspect of his life."

"Got shots in my butt. I thought those stories were jokes, but no."

"Gideon had too many people for his army: 32,000. He said it was "not for the weak-hearted," just like the Ranger School sign says. He cut them down to 10,000, then down to 300, per God. Just like our class."

"Everyone is religious in Ranger School...it was funny to see all these Rangers turn to each other and tell them God loves them."

"Ha ha. Dude next to me is writing to his girl. Other dude next to me is too."

"Learned stuff, got hands-on training, got to make things go boom."

"I had no idea what my body was capable of, but I'm impressed!"

"I got diagnosed with Cellulitis today. No, not the fat kind..." (It's a skin infection)

"Smells like ammonia around here. They say it's our bodies burning muscle instead of fat."

"I'm going to say that this is the hardest thing I've done in my life."

I will also note that almost every exclamation mark he used throughout was reserved for entries about food and sleep :) Now he's in Northern Georgia for 22 days of Mountain Phase, and then off to Florida for Swamp Phase. Hang in there, Babe. We love you!

Purple Rain...or Dishwater

2010-07-15T19:46:00.000-07:00

My mom and grandma knit dishcloths. They've been doing it for years, and I've been collecting them for about as long. In fact, Heather and I both brought a handsome dowry of dishcloths to our marriages (instead of cows, of course). But I tell you what, nothing works better. I've tried many a dish-washing gadget in my day and nothing has come close to these.

Mom was sweet enough to bring me a red, white and blue one for the Fourth of July. I was super excited to use it washing dishes today; however, unfortunately in my excitement I forgot to prewash it. The result:

the prettiest dishwater I've ever seen.

Now my dishcloth is

red, purple and blue.

Sorry, Mom. But thanks for making washing dishes so much fun!

The South Agrees with Us...

2010-07-01T20:42:00.000-07:00

or we agree with it. Remember how we were supposed to go here?

Not anymore! Not that Korea wouldn't have been an exciting adventure, but it wasn't exactly where Jordan wanted to start his military experience. We'll now be going here:

That's right, folks--Louisiana, here we come! Jordan traded for a spot with the 4th Brigade, 10th Mountain Division. The division is actually out of Fort Drum, New York, but this particular brigade is temporarily stationed at Fort Polk, Louisiana. So it looks like we'll be staying in the south for a while, anyway. We'll head there this fall/winter after he finishes Ranger school and Airborne school.

I sent him off to Ranger school on Sunday. Easiest haircut I've ever given him.

Good luck, babe. Love you!

They Came, They Saw...and Jordan Conquered

2010-06-23T19:00:00.000-07:00

When we lived in Flagstaff, we used to see my family at least two times a week, sometimes more. As of last Tuesday we hadn't seen them for 4 months, so imagine my excitement at their coming to visit us for a week. I even baked, if that tells you anything. My parents and Heather's family braved the open road last week and drove all the way from Arizona. Much to my relief, the kids had not forgotten us. They still call me Kiki and Jordan "J." The world was right again for a week.

We have loads of great pictures and memories, and I could go on and on about each event. For your sakes, I'll try to keep it brief.

The visit kicked off with some quality pool time so that they could get their wiggles out before attending...

this:

Jordan's graduation from Infantry Basic Officer Leaders Course. The ceremony was the culmination of the 16-week training course for which we came to Columbus. He is now officially an infantryman.

So says the snazzy infantry blue cord now on his right shoulder.

For more info on the history of the cord, click here.

Congratulations, Jordan! It has been an adventure and will continue to be. I am so grateful for your commitment and your patience with me as we learn to live this lifestyle. I'm thankful for what we've learned and how we've grown. We're all so very proud of you!

On to the rest of the visit...

There were plenty of good eats (although Rylee was upset that Country's didn't have any bacon).

A trip to the National Infantry Museum. The fam in front of "Iron Mike" out front.

Playing dress-up at the infantry museum.

More swimming.

A trip to Callaway Gardens, complete with:

miniature golf (and can I just point out that Jordan and I tied for best score. He was frustrated, I was triumphant. I think we have FINALLY found a "sport" at which I can succeed. It may be the only one, but I'll take it!)

a flying circus... Rylee got to meet some of the trapeze artists.

Then she decided to be one.

Here she is on the spider jump. She was bouncing and flipping with the best of them!

oh yeah, and MORE swimming...

and finally a little R&R. Don't let him fool you. He missed them almost as much as I did.

Dad entertained (as usual)

us girls gabbed

and the kids became bonafide Georgia tourists.

For my birthday last year my parents gave me these fabulous books by Karen Jo Shapiro in which she takes famous poems and rewrites them (maintaining the original rhythms and meters) with more kid-friendly subjects. I've been so excited to read them to my own kids someday, and this visit with Heather's kids proved that they will be a hit. Rylee insisted that we read the entire book AT LEAST once a day and by the end of the week, the boys were into it too.

Here is their favorite, probably because they had just been in the car for three days!

Oh, Mommy! My Mommy!
(based on Walt Whitman's O Captain! My Captain!)

"Oh, Mommy! My Mommy! Tell me, please, are we there yet?

From what you said the last time, the answer's 'NO,' I'll bet.

I'm tired of just sitting still, I'm tired of this car.

I'm tired of you turning on that show called NPR.

I have to go potty and my seatbelt's hurting, too.

I've used up all my games and books. I have a dismal view.

Oh! Back here there is nothing to do! do! do!"

In front my mother's driving, did she not hear me somehow?

So I say a little louder, "Are we there yet, Mommy, NOW?"

There are no more little shoes by my front door, no more pool toys on my sun porch, no more Lucky Charms on my floor. Jordan may have to let me read him to sleep with Because I Could Not Stop My Bike. I miss you all terribly. Thank you so much for braving the "are we there yets" and for making the long journey to see us. It truly meant the world.

Storming the Castle

2010-06-15T07:32:00.000-07:00

"Maybe you think I was just out in the ladies' room all this time, but there isn't a word of truth in it. In case the question ever comes up, I was in Switzerland, that's where I was. It seems that there was some novel notion of Getting Away from It All, coupled with a wistful dream of Trying to Forget. And when the day comes that you have to tie a string around your finger to remind yourself of what it was you were forgetting, it is time for you to go back home." ~Dorothy Parker

I haven't been in Switzerland, or the ladies' room, for that matter (though I have been reading a lot of Dorothy Parker and wondering where she's been all my life). But somehow I prefer to adopt her reason for disappearing rather than own up to my own lame excuse of having a case of the "mean reds" when it comes to social networking, blogging included. I started this blog knowing that we were headed the way of the Army, necessitating the need for a what's-happening network. Funny how since our Army career officially began, my posting has been more sporadic than ever. One of the many things I need to work on.

How about an update?

I cannot believe we've been in Columbus for almost 4 months. Yikes. Jordan graduates on Thursday from IBOLC, the infantry officer training that he's been attending since we arrived. Week before last they invited the wives to attend their last big event in the field: the taking of an objective in a mock village on Fort Benning. They put us on the top of a building in the middle of the "town" so that we could have an aerial view of the action. They were firing blanks, using arti-sims and smoke grenades, and essentially "storming the castle," complete with men dressed as the enemy and even BBC camera men. I'll stop there before Jordan rolls his eyes at my pitiful attempt to accurately describe the action.

I still find it hard to believe that this is what my husband does when he goes to work. Not your typical day job, eh?

Support by fire from the woods (if you can see them)

I really wish this picture wasn't blurry. There's something so moving about watching them rescue their wounded right in the middle of it all, even if this was just pretend.

It was probably strange for them to carry out their mission with a bunch of eager, picture-snapping women looking down on them, but I'm so thankful for the opportunity to see them in action. It's one thing for Jordan to come home and tell me about his day and quite another for me to be there in person. I highly recommend a take-your-spouse-to-work day for all couples, even if it involves paper and staples instead of weapons and smoke. The insight will do you good.

Consider this update Part I. To be continued...

Sleepless in Columbus

2010-03-23T23:49:00.000-07:00

Do you remember this cartoon?

I can't sleep. Try as I may, I spend most of the night tossing and turning and feeling much like the Goofy insomniac owl (minus the headboard to perch upon). We've been in this apartment for almost a month now, so it's not as if I'm suffering from disorientation or can't-sleep-in-a-new-place anxiety. It's not the dark--or the light, for that matter--we've adjusted both. It's not a temperature problem or even the noise of our "haunted" toilet (the guest bathroom commode that whistled, wheezed, dripped and trickled until my hero, the maintenance guy, replaced the flapper thingy). I've tried reading, meditating, deep breathing and counting every animal known to man, and even some imaginary. I've even taken to doing ports de bras (that's ballet, not underwear) as I lay there to break up the monotonous stream of consciousness that has become more like Niagara Falls.

Any suggestions? Any at all? Because I'm really just a few nights away from purchasing a large mallet...

Greetings from the South

2010-03-08T20:00:00.000-08:00

Paula Cole once posed the question: "Where have all the cowboys gone?" I now ask you: "Where have all the corn tortillas gone?"

We are officially southerners. Actually, scratch that. We officially live in the South, as in we have an address here and we sleep and eat and live our lives here, but I suppose we have a lot of enculturation ahead of us before legitimately adopting the label of southerners. We probably won't even be here long enough to achieve that status. In the mean time,

some things we're loving about Columbus, GA:

-Beautiful trees

-A break from snow (Ok, there was a tiny bit, but it doesn't count)

-Southern Hospitality: it is alive and well

-Fort Benning: a world in and of itself

-Fried pickles--YUM. Thank you for introducing us, Tanya.

-Southern accents

-An apartment twice as big as our old one--and a dishwasher!

-Tasty BBQ and chicken

-Meeting new people

Things we're not liking so much:

-Roads that have AKAs

-Getting lost on Fort Benning--twice. Ok this one's just me, not Jordan.

-Damaged goods from the move. Our dryer is broken. How thankful we are that it's the dryer and NOT the washer. Jordan has rigged us quite the clothes line.

Farewell Safeway and Albertsons, hello Winn Dixie and Piggly Wiggly. I went to the store the other day and instead of the usual tower of tortillas you find in the grocery stores in Flagstaff, there was a tiny section, one brand (no Tortilla Lady, of course), without corn tortillas. Granted, they may have just been out and I'm sure upon simply going to another store I could have found some. But when you've just moved across the country and you're looking for a bit of familiarity, a little thing like missing corn tortillas can really throw a girl. A few tears may or may not have been involved. Seeing as how tacos and enchiladas are two of the few things I can actually make well, this was quite the ordeal. I digress...

I was talking to my brother the other day and what I told him pretty much sums it up. We're loving it here so far, meeting some great people and life is good. But I really could use a -berto right about now. Doesn't matter if it's a Poli-, Rol-, or a Filiberto; any cheap, greasy, fabulous mexican food will do.

A Christmas Story

2010-01-11T21:49:00.000-08:00

This is what happens when you don't have a ladder for hanging your Christmas lights.

This is who you need if you buy a Christmas tree named Hugo (that is too big for your apartment, as Les Miserables is for your bookshelf).

This is Hugo (minus a few inches off the top--and bottom)

This is what your floor looks like when you wait until Hugo is dead, so very dead, before you put him out of his misery.

This is what Hugo looks like...out of his misery.

This is a "stud" according to Jordan's new stud finder.

and this is why we love Christmas.

M.A.S.H.

2009-12-19T11:13:00.000-08:00

This post is about a major turning point in our lives, so it's hard to know how to share it and make it mean as much to those reading as it does to us. I thought about not sharing at all, for fear of putting too much out there and marring the memory with cliche emotional driveling. So I'll try to stick to the facts, as credit must be given where credit is due.

Last week Jordan commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the United States Army and graduated from NAU with a degree in Construction Management to boot. The big event kicked off with the commissioning ceremony on Thursday night. Thank you so much to all of you who came. It was truly humbling to see all of your faces. You are all greatly loved and your support is much appreciated.

Here is our friend Duncan getting his shoulder straps pinned. I don't have any pictures of Jordan's pinning or oath because his parents and I were doing the pinning, but this will give you an idea.

Jordan giving his silver dollar First Salute with First Sergeant McClinton

The Speech

and no, it wasn't really that long. My husband the ham.

Cutting the cake as the Distinguished Military Graduate

Jacki and Duncan

Jordan and his parents

Jordan and the "general"

Please note I did not give myself this title. That's how he referred to me in his speech: the "general" of his household.

and my favorite...

Rylee holding the piece of paper that makes it all official.

Some of you know that because they are restructuring the training schedule for officers, assigning orders was delayed, so we have been waiting anxiously for news of our future when we normally should have found out in November. Well, the night of commissioning we were told that Jordan was chosen as one of three in the nation to take an open slot in the first training course. So we are moving to Georgia...in February! He will train there for 7 months or so and then, as we just found out a few days ago, he has been assigned to...

KOREA

Yes, Korea. Not Korea, KY. South Korea...as in the Orient.

Lots of mixed feelings, lots of unknowns right now. We'll keep you posted.

As if commissioning wasn't enough excitement, he had to go and graduate from college the next day. As you can see, he was THRILLED to be there:

Thrilled to be done with school, yes. Thrilled to have to walk to prove it, not so much. We're lucky we got him there! At least he got to wear a cool hard hat!

Here is my dad berating him afterwards for not standing when they asked for all of the graduates graduating with honors to stand up. When Jordan didn't stand, my dad yelled as loud as he could: "Jordan, you slacker!!" Which was immediately followed by a resounding, "Grandpa, what's a slacker?" from Heather's kids:)

Cutting the graduation cake

and what's a celebration with Jordan without a little cheese whiz?

So what does any of this have to do with M.A.S.H? I'm not referring to the TV show, although Jason did recommend we rent the whole series to prepare for our Korean adventure:)

Last month I had the opportunity to go on the youth temple trip with my ward. On the way back from Snowflake I rode with some of my crazy Beehives (girls ages 12 and 13), who insisted on playing M.A.S.H. For those who don't know, M.A.S.H. is an acronym for Mansion, Apartment, Shack and House. It's a game most young girls play (I know I did when I was their age!) that tells you stuff about your future: who you will marry, how many kids you'll have, whether you will live in a mansion, apartment, shack or house, etc. They were gracious enough to let me keep Brother Ebert as my husband so that I wouldn't have to pick alternatives :) Apparently I am going to drive a BMW, have 6 kids, be an editor and live in a shack. Hmm...maybe I should trade in that BMW...

As I watched my husband last week as he was honored for his accomplishments, I couldn't help but reflect on this game. Those young girls giggled and dreamed of their husbands and future lives as I once did, planning out the details as if that scrap of paper were a binding agreement and could tell no lies. But with M.A.S.H., you can't factor in the emotions because you haven't experienced them yet. I had no comprehension of love and marriage back then, I'm just barely starting to understand now, and I have a LONG way to go. Before Jordan, I had no comprehension of the ultimate pride I could feel for another person. No concept of the extent of happiness and sadness that can come from joining lives with someone. No idea that I would feel such a willingness to make sacrifices for his happiness. No clue that my heart could hold so much.

I'm thankful that I found my "dream" guy, and I couldn't possibly be more proud of his accomplishments and the sacrifices he is willing to make in serving his country. Whether we live in a mansion or a shack, I will forever be thankful that my life is not turning out anything like those old M.A.S.H. games. I would take Jordan over a pet flamingo any day :)

My "Saxy Lutellan"

(If you haven't seen South Pacific, please do so you know what I'm talking about :)

Congratulations, Lieutenant Ebert!

The Stockings Were Hung

2009-11-21T18:13:00.000-08:00

Jordan likes to give me a hard time because his mom made their Christmas socks (or stockings), each personalized and embellished to be unique to their owners (I can attest to their cuteness), and I came home last year rather sheepishly with two plain, store-bought stockings with no personality and zero sentimental value. Riddled with guilt from my failure to deck the season with homespun charm, I've been trying to think of how I could make them special ever since.

Well, I was planning on doing an activity with my young women using those Knifty Knitter looms, and when I borrowed them from my mom to see what patterns were in the book, I noticed one for stockings. What could be more homespun than a stocking that actually looks like a real sock! So I went to work. I even picked colors that I thought he would like. Little did I know that this stocking pattern was for a Goliath-size foot...

I kid you not, I followed the pattern exactly, with the exact number of rows. That taught me to cut back when I did one for me...

but if I ever make another I will ditch even more rows. At first I was a little disappointed that they turned out so big. But I have to admit that upon reflecting, I now LOVE them. They're awkward and goofy, but they're ours and they sure beat the $5.00 ones at Wal-Mart. They remind me of home; not necessarily my old home, but a home, OUR home, and that makes me happy. Christmas, here we come!

A Very Cheesy Birthday

2009-11-02T19:39:00.000-08:00

Those who were at my bridal shower may remember that when interviewed and asked about his favorite food, Jordan didn't hesitate in confidently answering CHEESE.

Well, Jordan turned 28 on Thursday. I tried to make it special with little things throughout the day, but I have a feeling that nothing held a candle to the appetizer we had at dinner.

Just when he thought a chunk of cheese couldn't be more perfect...

Taverna went and set it on fire. I mean, seriously. What could possibly beat flaming cheese? I simply can't compete with that. I suppose I have all year to think of something to top it for his next birthday...

Gram, however, seemed to be in tune with the theme. Her gift included string cheese

and a "cheezy" card.

It even talks when you open it :)

I didn't get many pictures from the family celebration,

but it was pretty funny when Heather stuck a copy of Newsies in his gift to see how he would react. Needless to say, it's a good thing that wasn't the real present. (Heather and I made Jason and Jordan watch Newsies with us once and let's just say we didn't need to turn on the commentary--they provided PLENTY, and it wasn't of the four-star-praise variety).

I did attempt to make Jordan an ice cream cake. An ice cream cake roll, to be exact.

Please spare me what you THINK it looks like. For as long as it took to make, it was sadly mediocre.

We live and learn.

Happy Birthday, Baby!

And a big Happy Birthday to Al, Jordan's dad! We love you and miss you!

Put Your Hands Together....

2009-10-26T18:33:00.000-07:00

...for Scuba Jordan!

Recognize this place? Most of you probably do because unlike Jordan and I, you have no doubt made a trip to Rocky Point, if not many. Yes we're in the minority, and yes we remedied that problem this weekend. Jordan took a scuba class this summer and they had a spot for him to go on the certification trip to Mexico.

So while Jordan did this:

I stayed here:

and got some crazy raccoon eyes from wearing my sunglasses all weekend.

But the weather was perfect, the tacos

like none other,

and the sunsets

were phenomenal.

Jordan is officially certified in scuba diving after five dives. Hip hip hooray! He even brought me a souvenir from the deep.

Did I mention we love traveling?

...and maybe each other too :)

Are We Not All Beggars?

2009-10-17T13:42:00.001-07:00

"In war, there are no unwounded soldiers."

~Jose Norosky

On our last night in Santa Barbara we decided to take a walk down the wharf. In the sand right next to the entrance we found what appeared to be a homeless man who had completed a sand sculpture that was at once beautiful and moving; a soldier holding a dying soldier in his arms. It was interesting to watch those passing, admittedly even our group, as we looked on in admiration but didn't stop to listen as the man spoke, perhaps asking for donations, or maybe just looking for someone to talk to. I'm sure every passerby was curious, wanting a better look at the sculpture. But most just passed with a nod.

Some time later, as we made our way back, we came upon the same spot. The sculpture was there but the artist had disappeared and there was a group stopped in front of it taking pictures. We too stopped, and the sight prompted not only emotion, but inevitable contemplation. (The picture doesn't remotely do it justice. The detail was incredible.)

The spirit was almost tangible as I stood there with three men, two of whom have already served our country, and my husband, who is about to join them in doing the same. The man who made the sculpture was no doubt a veteran; the details in the uniforms and the posture...I can't help but wonder if he was at one time the man holding his fallen comrade or if he witnessed something similar. I don't know if he was a hero or a coward, if he's been a saint or a sinner. I know nothing of his background or if his current circumstances are a result of past mistakes or misfortune. I don't know what happens in a man's life to bring him to such a place.

But I couldn't help but think about him that night, wonder if he had a place to sleep and half wishing that we had stopped to hear what he had to say.

This humbling moment brought me to Mosiah 4:16-17, 19, 22: "...ye will not suffer that the beggar putteth up his petition to you in vain, and turn him out to perish. Perhaps thou shalt say: the man has brought upon himself his misery; therefore I will stay my hand, and will not give unto him of my food, nor impart unto him of my substance that he may not suffer, for his punishments are just...[but] are we not all beggars? Do we not all depend upon the same Being, even God, for all the substance which we have, for both food and raiment...for all the riches that we have of every kind?...If ye judge the man who putteth up his petition to you for your substance that he perish not, and condemn him, how much more just will be your condemnation for withholding your substance, which does not belong to you but to God, to whom also your life belongeth."

Just something to think about.

A Whale of a Tale

2009-10-12T19:39:00.000-07:00

It's not every day that you get to go to the one and only, genuine, original...

Please, contain your excitement :)

Our friend Duncan is from Santa Barbara and after months of bragging about his homeland, Jordan and Mike dared him to prove his claims that California is all that he cracks it up to be. So what does he do? He takes us to the Avocado Festival in Carpinteria. Naturally.

ROAD TRIP!!!!

On the way we stayed in Jacki's hometown, the adorable little ski town of Wrightwood, CA, that I must admit I'd never heard of. So cute.

The gang: Jordan, moi, Mike, Jacki and Duncan. And we're off!

Even though Jordan was a tad embarrassed by our fabo rental (mini van),

the rest of us couldn't complain:)

The best part of going to someone's hometown is the food; their knowledge of all of the little hole-in-the-wall places that as my father would say, "make your tongue slap your brains out." Kudos, Duncan. You fed us well. And boy, did we eat avocados. Even avocado ice cream!

I know, sounds nasty, but it was oh so good.

The boys even got a shot at target practice with the cork rifles at the festival.

Might I point out that not one,

but two of our veterans gave it their all...

and they were both defeated by a little girl who won the jackpot. You were letting her win, right guys? :)

A California adventure wouldn't be complete without a stay in a cute little beachside hotel,

some seal riding,

some body surfing

and don't forget the whale watching.

Happiness is a nice, long weekend with some friends and an unlimited supply of avocados.

Green Matters

2009-09-14T19:57:00.000-07:00

I used to think that being good with plants was like any other activity: you get better with practice. Perhaps this is true, but I’m beginning to wonder if there isn’t something to the “green thumb” theory, that you either have one or you don’t. I’m thinking I don’t.

We’ve had this palm plant since our wedding--our “love fern,” if you will. It started out so beautifully full and green. Now it's anything but. I have tried my best to nurture it but it seems to be failing (couples therapy is out--thankfully the demise of our plant is in no way related to a demise of our relationship :). Well, I have a friend at work that is big into naming her plants and she swears that it makes a difference in their health, so I figured it was worth a shot.

Meet Ferdinand:

Yes, Ferdinand. Jordan thinks it’s dying faster out of disappointment from receiving such a lame name. But what can I say, it just looked like a Ferdinand.

Since Ferdinand, I have acquired three more plants in need of rehabilitation:

Judy

Jeremy

and Quan.

Maybe having some siblings will lift Ferdinand’s spirits. Although…

Jordan thought it would be funny to look up Quan in the Urban dictionary, and it appears that I have named our plant after a substitute swear word. You know, like heck, darn, shoot (or the proverbial yay yay, nay nay)…yeah, add Quan to the list. Great going, Casey. You've doomed him to be a semi-bad influence by labeling him as a replacement expletive.

But seriously, all you green thumbs out there, what are your secrets? Anyone have suggestions/tips for successful plant rearing?

Metamorphosis

2009-08-20T21:19:00.000-07:00

This look inspired many nicknames, but just to name a few: Jeremiah Johnson, Louie the Lumberjack and the American Taliban. I had no idea my husband was capable of growing so much hair!

Then he started to trim...

and trim some more....

a little more....

and a little more...

quite a bit more (and no, I didn't let him out of the house with this one :)

and now...

my baby's back!

One Boy and One Girl...

2009-08-20T19:51:00.000-07:00

My sister did such a superb job recounting my parents' 40th anniversary bash that I don't want to spoil it by trying to do the same. So check out her blog for the good stuff. But I would be remiss if I didn't say something about my parents.

How truly lucky I am to have the family that I do. Do you ever wonder what it was like? You know, in the preexistence when we chose? How on earth we claimed my parents will forever be a mystery; there must have been thousands of children waiting in line for such a couple.

Whether it was hand holding, a sneaky "smack on the booter" or a nuzzle to distract my mom from cooking (making her burn the bread--yes, Dad--perhaps some of the blame should go to you :) we kids knew without a doubt that our parents would love each other forever. While as kids we may have taken it for granted, I know that we have all grown to respect and appreciate their powerful example. We didn't have to look to Hollywood or to our friends' parents for examples of romance and true love because our parents defined it.

Congratulations, Mom and Dad! We love you!

My sister, is a creative genius and that's all there is to it. She got the idea to create a music video as a surprise gift for my parents: Sugar, Sugar, sung by the Archies. See her blog for more details. But the story would not be complete without a few blooper pictures from our music-video-filming experience.

I have no idea what's happening in this picture...in fact, I'd rather not know. Definitely caught them at the wrong moment :) But doesn't Jordan look like one of the wild things from Where the Wild Things Are?

Yes, we wore Bumpits, and yes, it was strictly in the name of authentic costuming.

We watched a movie after we made the music video. Jordan was sitting on the couch, so I laid down and put my head in his lap only to hear an abrupt "ow." I had totally "bumped" him with my Bumpit. Be careful, girls. They have teeth.

Jordan Thinks He's Funny

2009-08-10T07:30:00.000-07:00

At least the toilet was clean.

Let's just say I know where his Blackhawk Down dvd is... and it better watch its back.

The Not So Lazy Days of Summer

2009-08-05T22:15:00.000-07:00

I'm so far behind in the blogosphere that there's no point in trying to fill you all in on the past month in its entirety. A couple highlights will suffice.

June took us to Michigan for a family reunion. Once again, Jordan and Casey failed miserably in documenting the event through picture taking. In fact, we took like 3. And really only one turned out.

The Ebert clan, minus one brother. We missed you, Clayton! Good looking bunch, eh? I love the unplanned color coordination. We had such a great time, and I loved meeting Eberts young and old that I have never met, as well as seeing familiar faces. I keep kicking myself that I didn't get pictures of the large group that came, but maybe we can steal some from other, smarter Eberts who weren't so foolish :) Thank you EVERYONE for making it possible for Jordan and I to be there. We are truly grateful.

A trip to Michigan wouldn't be complete without a project:) Jordan was enlisted to man a bathroom remodel project at Gma and Gpa Ebert's house. I went with him for part of the reunion and then came back to Flag for work while he stayed most of July to complete the job. The gist: take an existing small, half bathroom, knock down a wall into a closet space for expansion, build a wall where the closet doors used to be, and then create a full bathroom that is entirely handicap accessible. They did every trade: plumbing, HVAC, drywall, tile, etc. He was diligent in the picture taking this time, so we have TONS, but here are just a few...

before

three (stubborn) generations :)

sloping the floor toward the new shower drain

This was really cool. They used a concentric circle method, so the entire bathroom floor slopes toward the drain.

the shower lining

tile

more tile

the floor

accessories

And my handyman hubby wows again! Thank you to all of those who helped Jordan with this large undertaking, especially CC. I hear you were quite the trooper, putting up with him for those long weeks.

Conquering a Fear

2009-06-23T18:35:00.000-07:00

A few weekends ago we took the youth rock climbing/rappelling for a joint activity. I figured my role as a leader promised an automatic exemption from participating. But when only 4 youth showed up and like ten leaders, the flak increased exponentially. The fact that Jordan came along made the "peer pressure" even worse.

Why was this such a big deal? So the last and only time I went rappelling was my third year at girl's camp. I had been rock climbing before so I figured if I could go up a rock, I could handle going down. No big deal, right? Wrong. I totally flipped around to the wrong side of the cliff, virtually turned upside down, smashed my head into the rock and sincerely thought that that moment might be my last. Dramatic, I know; I'm a wuss. But I was totally traumatized and had no desire to relive that experience.

And yet, this time I gave in.....

And my sweet hubby went down with me...just in case :)

As is frequently the case, Jordan was right: I'm really glad I did it.

Our group diminished throughout the morning. Here are the few and the brave who remained.

Macho Macho Men

2009-06-04T20:12:00.000-07:00

Do you ever look at a picture and subconsciously put background music to it? When Jordan looks at this picture, he probably hears Ride of the Valkyries or Kashmir. You know, something with a beat that defines "manhood." When I look at it, somehow the first thing I hear is It's Raining Men :)

Memorial Day Weekend

2009-05-28T20:16:00.000-07:00

Started with this:

which was rather disappointing,

but was redeemed by this:

which was insanely amazing!
(Seriously if you haven't seen this movie, you best rent it--pronto)

Then we did a little of this:

with our neighbor friends,

then joined some other friends for an adventure here:

Riordon Mansion!

I went there as a kid but I don't remember any of it, so it was fun to join some other couples and check it out.

Highlights:

It's hard to tell from this picture, but yes, that is a SWING in the living room instead of a couch. How cool is that?! And it could be turned to face the window. Genius, if you ask me.

And:

I'm pretty sure my future home will have to have bookshelves like this--on every wall. That's it; a swing and wall-to-wall bookshelves (and of course enough books to fill them with) will do.

Thanks Joe and Amber for getting everybody together!

Then, MOST importantly, we paid a visit here:

In very loving memory.

The day ended with a meal here:

And if you haven't eaten here, you best be going--pronto, like maybe on your way to rent The Curious Case... You won't be disappointed. We promise. In fact, we're thinking of being spokespersons. We may even consider wearing burger costumes downtown to advertise. It's that good.

the end

Reflection

2009-05-23T18:00:00.000-07:00

On May 17th, 2008, Jordan and I made a pretty big commitment.

Best decision I ever made.

There is an old country song by the McKinleys that's called "I'm Me with You." I don't think I could describe my relationship with Jordan any better. One of the main reasons I knew he was it for me was because I didn't feel like I had to change myself--not a single thing--to be with him. What a blessing it is to find someone that you can truly be yourself with. Thanks for a wonderful year, Jordan, and for letting me be "me" with you.

R & R

2009-05-23T17:08:00.000-07:00

Last Friday afternoon I came home from work to find a note on the front door with packing instructions for a successfulL (emphasis added with the extra L) anniversary weekend. Turns out Jordan surprised me with reservations at the Arizona Mountain Inn, the same place we stayed on our wedding night. He even reserved the exact cabin we stayed in :)

Explanation: our wedding night was a bit less than romantic. We were both EXHAUSTED and I still had an upset stomach after puking nonstop the day before. Plus we had to be up at the crack of dawn to make it to the airport, so we literally were only at the cabin for a few hours and didn't have a chance to appreciate its charm. So this first anniversary retreat to the same location was a way to relive and make right the moment.

Our cabin

So cute. This place is just off of Lake Mary road and it's a great little peaceful escape from everything.
We toured the site

Played on the playground

And spent an awesome day at Lake Mary exploring, reading in the sun, etc. We even took that road up by Marshall lake that's normally closed and followed it all the way over to the east side of town past Walnut Canyon. Who knew it went that far! Anyway, it was so nice to spend some time together and to pretend like we were tourists in our own town. We highly recommend it.

Thank you for a fabulous weekend, babe. I love you!

Another Year

2009-05-21T20:46:00.000-07:00

That's right, folks. I am officially a quarter of a century.

So there is a rumor going around that Jordan forgot my birthday last year. I decline to confirm or deny such allegations. But I do know that he more than made up for any hypothetical blunder this year by attaching a happy birthday note...to just about everything in my morning routine for my birthday last Thursday. The mirror, the toilet, the shower, my hairspray, the milk, my purse--you get the idea.

Thanks for making my day, Love :)

On another birthday note, my parents gave me pretty much the coolest gift ever...

Scrabble!! I know you're all as thrilled as I am :)

But what's funny is that we have been over to some friends' houses for dinner and keep thinking that we need to return the favor. And then I remember: oh yeah, we have NOTHING to do at our house! We love conversation, but what if our guests get bored and we need entertainment ?! I know you all love duck duck goose as a mixer, but... how's that for a lousy back-up plan! But have no fear, Scrabble is here and our worries are over. Now if I can just get Jordan to play with me...

And the Oscar Goes to....

2009-05-13T21:40:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago, Jordan had a Dining In for ROTC. Here is part of the gang:

And now the real reason I'm posting about this. Part of the program involved skits where they basically try to make fun of each other in any and every way. The MS 4s were assigned "interpretive," meaning they had to impersonate the Cadre (their leaders) without speaking. They made Jordan play the role of First Sergeant, which is hilarious because he is so skinny and pale and First Sergeant is a stout black man. Sadly, I wasn't there to witness, but he let me take pictures before returning his gettup to Savers. First Sergeant is from Chicago, so Jordan entered wearing this with Colt Forty Fiva playing in the background...

Red velour--nothing quite like it!

And the best part was learning that his do-rag was actually...

a pair of women's black tights.

Good thing First Sergeant is a good sport! :)

Breakfast, Babies and Bly

2009-04-28T21:23:00.000-07:00

We just rounded off a busy weekend. Saturday was our Girl's Camp Fundraiser breakfast, and considering none of us had ever put on anything quite like it, I think it was a great success. Our Young Women program is tiny but mighty, and the girls never cease to amaze me. And our ward...wow. They have attended various fundraisers (not to mention the enchiladas, cookie dough and coupon books they have no doubt purchased from the youth) and yet they still supported our girls by joining us on Saturday. My heart is truly full.

Next: a baby shower. Remember the fabulous hot pink yarn? My shower gift:

My first baby afghan! It matched her nursery colors; I couldn't resist. I forgot how therapeutic crocheting can be! Congrats, Amber!

And then...An Evening with Robert Bly. Have you ever been to the Northern Arizona Book Festival? My first time was a few years ago, and let's just say I pretty much camped out at the Orpheum. I was there for every reading, signing, lecture, you name it. Yes, I am a reading/writing freak, and yes, I'm not ashamed to admit it!

Unfortunately, I missed out on all but one event this year. But that one event trumped anything else that could have happened. They say that Robert Bly is arguably the most important/influential literary figure of the 20th century, and after seeing him live after reading his work and watching his lectures, I tend to agree. Saturday was such a long day and though I wanted to see his reading, I was pretty much ready to pass. But my awesome husband knew how important it was to me so he made it happen. We went together, and shh--don't tell anyone--but I think he actually liked it! :)

Robert Bly: Poet, Essayist, Translator, Orator..........................

Chills, smiles, tears....there are moments in life that attest to a true calling for each and every one of us. I had one of those moments at the last festival I attended when one of my favorite poets, Billy Collins, was here, and this evening with Robert Bly was another one for me. Not sure how I'll get there, but I'm pretty sure I could spend my whole life trying and still be satisfied.

So what is your "poetry"? I know everyone has one--that something in your heart of hearts that you love and gives you that peaceful, but ecstatic feeling, yet somehow loving it makes such a juxtaposition OK. Please, do share.

Our First Camping Trip

2009-04-16T21:11:00.000-07:00

When most people get a new tent, they probably take it out on a camping trip to their favorite outdoor spot for a test run.
Jordan and I, however, did not feel like being blown away in this terrible Flagstaff weather we've been having (ok, maybe just me--Jordan would camp rain or shine), so naturally we chose to try out our new toy by:

Camping at Home!

Ok, so it started out on the floor in the living room, but seeing as how it's about as big as our living room, we couldn't stand trying to maneuver around it for long. The bed was a perfect alternative. I'll admit we're pretty hardcore--we've been "camping" for a week now! :)

I totally feel like one of those lucky kids on home makeover shows that gets a tricked-out bedroom with a fantasy bed. I was joking last night that we should turn on the nature sound feature on our alarm clock, throw some glow-in-the-dark stars on the ceiling and the ambiance would be complete--crickets and all!

This is the life...

Watermelon

2009-04-16T20:52:00.000-07:00

Isn't it fabulous that yarn exists in such a color? Although, I'm pretty sure that I could beat "Watermelon." Yet another moment when I secretly wish my job was to be the mastermind behind the color names of clothes, nail polish, yarn...the works. How fun would that be?

Stay tuned to see the finished product.

Happy Easter!

2009-04-16T20:43:00.000-07:00

Nothing like cute kids and a little imagination to make a holiday special.

The Easter Egg Decorators. Notice their fancy artist smocks :)

Happy Easter!

Spring Break

2009-03-28T21:59:00.000-07:00

How amazing are vacations? This year we had one of the busiest and coolest Spring Breaks--ever--and though it totally wore us out and this week back to school and work was a killer, it was TOTALLY worth it!

The plan originally started out as a 4 day cruise but we ended up accomplishing quite a bit more. It all started with a free meal at Sonic. We stopped there for breakfast on our way out of town and their credit card machine was broken, so we got free food! That's when we knew it would be a great vacation :)

We stopped in Yuma on the way to San Diego to have lunch with Gma and Gpa Buckle

Then on to CA. At a gas station outside of Jacumba we tried to help a girl whose car had broken down. Here's the catch--she didn't speak any English. That made for an interesting hour! Pretty sure she wouldn't have been cool with us taking her picture, so you get Jordan and the Porta Potty instead :)

That night we were fotunate enough to be able to stay with Jordan's aunt CC in San Marcos. I've heard such wonderful things about their family; it was so nice to finally meet them! We didn't take any pics and the visit was brief, but it was great to see them.

And the next day we were off! We went on a Carnival Cruise with a group of about 15 people--some we knew, some we didn't but we made some new friends and it was nice to have a group to hang out with.

A few of us before boarding...

On the water taxi to Catalina Island

"It won't be a stylish marriage,

I can't afford a carriage,
But you'll look sweet upon the seat...
Of a bicycle made for two!"

More Catalina

Welcome to Ensenada! And quite possibly the largest flag I have ever seen in my life.

Jordan and Carl checking it out before going ashore

Hussong's!

Adios!

Neither one of us had ever been to Mexico--I know, that's pretty much unheard of as a Flagstaffian. But I'm happy to report--tastiest tacos I have ever had, bar none.

In case you forgot--Hussong's!

One of the best parts about the cruise--the food. We ate, and ate and ate......and when it was all over.....we continued eating.

The gang at dinner....

...

...

So long, farewell... Check out our ride :)

Not really, but at least we LOOK like we're important.

These two were awesome. Stephanie was Jordan's close friend and next door neighbor in high school in Michigan. She and her boyfriend Tyson live in San Diego and they took care of our car for us while we were on the cruise. Then when we got back, they treated us to a great day of sight seeing. We went to Old Town, ate wonderful mexican food, toured Point Loma and went to Yogurtland, which is pretty much the happiest place on earth :) Thanks, guys!

Point Loma Lighthouse

Inside the light tower

Lunch :)

Then it was on to visit my friends Rachel and Josh and their adorable boys. They spoiled us for two days...

Touring the Wild Animal Park

La Jolla Cove

So they told us to pose like we were getting splashed (hence Jordan's girly squeal)...and then a few seconds later a huge wave did come up and soak us. Nice. Thank you, Rainbolts!

And we're spent. So much fun. Lots of memories. Not enough pictures, but too many to post.

And we're back...

2009-03-28T20:12:00.000-07:00

To see what Jordan is up to this weekend, go to www.bataanmarch.com. So while I will be on the couch blogging about our latest vacation, he will be dressed in uniform, carrying a 45-pound pack and rucking 26.2 miles in the windy desert of New Mexico as a participant in the Bataan Memorial Death March. This is why he will make a stalwart soldier....and I am better suited for the couch :) Stay tuned!

Nothing Says I Love You Like Quilted Northern

2009-02-03T18:21:00.001-08:00

When Jordan and I lived on opposite sides of the country, we spent hours getting to know each other over the phone. We would pose questions about random thoughts, habits and opinions and get a kick out of each other's initial reactions.

One point we adamantly agreed upon was the way the toilet paper should be put on the roll, so that you pull from the top, NOT the bottom. Well now that we're married, the problem isn't the direction but the quantity. Somehow, it seems like every time the toilet paper runs out it's always on Jordan. He claims I do this on purpose (just like leaving the gas tank on empty), which of course is not the case :) Nevertheless...

A few weeks ago, I found this little love note hanging on the roll after Jordan left for the day:

I responded with a note of my own, so the next time we ran out, I found this:

And now we communicate regularly via TP. Honestly, it's hard not to smile on the way to the bathroom every morning :)

Picture Tag

2009-02-03T17:52:00.000-08:00

So I just got tagged!

Follow these rules...

1. Go to your documents/pictures.

2. Go to your 6th file.

3. Go to your 6th picture.

4. Blog about it.

5. Tag 6 people to do the same.

6. So here we go...

3 of my favorite things: Jeri, Guitar Hero and my old apartment. Sigh...lots of great memories packed into this picture. Sooo many laughs, so many tears. Thank heaven for great friends who are there for both. Love you, Jer!

This One's for All the Girls....Who Long for the Perfect Derriere

2009-01-29T19:20:00.001-08:00

This is absolutely ridiculous to post about, but I'm having one of those days when I really need to find humor in something, so I might as well laugh at myself!
When I was a teenager I remember reading a magazine while waiting to get my hair done. There was an article about little things that you can do to excercise if you don't have much time for a workout. They listed tips from busy celebrities who try to turn everyday activities into calorie burners and bun tighteners. The only one I remember was from Reese Witherspoon (love her) who said that one of her tricks was to tighten her leg and butt muscles when she walks--everywhere. In the store, to the car, up the stairs, etc., claiming that this is an easy way to keep your muscles tight and working.

SO I've been feeling really out of shape lately (probably because I AM) and for some reason Reese's tip popped into my head this morning on my way to work. I parked my car, and since I have to walk quite a ways and up four flights of stairs, I figured I'd try it. I got out of the car and immediately tried to flex every leg and butt muscle as hard as I could, and began rather awkwardly waddling toward the building. About halfway there, it was apparent that I tried too hard, for instead of that exhilerating rush you get from exercising....I got a charley horse...in my bum. Who knew that was even possible! So I make a goofy sound and pull some goofy looking robot-ala-1980s move as a result. I could barely move and yet somehow had to make my way into the office...while the 8:00 rush of all the OTHER employees walked past me and wondered whether they should offer to help or walk quickly past and try not to laugh. Alas, I made my way as best I could because I certainly wasn't going to go into the office and tell my boss that I was late because of the charley horse in my rear end.

Doris Lessing once said that "Laughing by definition is healthy." So even if my jaunt across the parking lot didn't give me a workout, the laughter that ensued had to do me some good!

What do YOU do in Your Spare Time?

2009-01-22T17:18:00.000-08:00

Once upon a time there was a girl who disliked cooking….a lot. She decided that maybe having a cute apron would help her enjoy the process more, so she asked for one for Christmas. Her parents more than came through, with two fun aprons to match her kitchen.
Santa must have forgotten to put the magic chef dust in the pockets, because she still dislikes cooking…..

But aren't they cute?

And entertaining! :)

Christmas No. 2, a New Year, and a Perfect Memory

2009-01-15T19:09:00.001-08:00

The rest of our holidays were spent with the Eberts. The weekend after Christmas we headed to Michigan for a week of fun and to welcome in the new year. Mike and Rachel were kind enough to house all of us and spoil us with amazing food, and we were able to celebrate a second Christmas with a visit from Santa and everything! Somehow I only managed to get one picture of "Christmas Eve" and it's a goofy one!

A little reminiscent of Minnie Mouse....

I am sooooo mad at myself that I didn't get any family pictures--not of the Christmas festivities, of the traditional Whirly Ball game or even New Year's Eve. I'm totally fired from camera duty!! But needless to say, it was a great trip full of lots of family, great food, fun games and tons of laughs. Thanks to all who made it so enjoyable!

On New Year's Day, Jordan and I decided to revisit our engagement spot because when he proposed last year, my camera broke, so all we had was a fuzzy picture on one of our old phones. So here's the story, a la pictures from this year's trip...

Last year, Jordan and I had been dating for about 5 months, and he invited me to go to Michigan with him to spend Christmas with his family. We had pretty much decided we were going to get married, had been looking at rings, yadda yadda. But I really didn't know that he would actually pop the question during that trip. Come to find out, he had gotten a ring by Thanksgiving and had gone to ask my parents' permission the week before, all unbeknownst to me.

So we went to Michigan, I met his family and I totally loved them! Christmas Eve day, Jordan took me to see his home town, Saline, so that I could get a feel for where he spent his high school days. He started off by taking me to Panera Bread, a restaurant that his parents used to go to for a date night. We had a great meal...

right next to the fireplace; totally cozy and romantic, even if he won't admit it :)

He then took me on a tour of Saline, their old house, his high school...even the courtyard where he performed his best ever varial kickflip :) It was so fun to place him there and get a glimpse of what his life was like.
He then took me out onto some back roads through beautiful farmland to a place called Saline Mills, where his high school art teacher gave him an after school job. He told me all about this teacher, how they connected, how he respected him, how he appreciated his time working there and how it was one of his favorite places.

Just down the road, we pulled over and walked down a slope to the creek. It was so beautiful and peaceful with the sound of the water and the snow...

So it was here by the creek that he told me he wanted to read me something he had written. That one is between him and me, but needless to say I was definitely crying by the time he got down on one knee.....

And yes, I did actually say that. Sad, but true. What can I say, it just came out! What an unbelievable cheese ball I am.

Not too shabby, eh?

This REALLY doesn't remotely do our story justice, but I figured I'd spare you the novel and give you the abbreviated version :)

The End

Yuletide Tidbits

2009-01-13T21:44:00.000-08:00

Somehow I got the crazy idea that it would be fun to host a holiday get together for the fam here in Flag. Then, as I frantically entered the kitchen just an hour before they were to arrive, the fact that I am somewhat domestically challenged made me wonder why I ever thought I could successfully play the role of holiday host. But, all in all, I think it turned out pretty well! We ate good food, played games and thoroughly enjoyed the evening. As usual, I totally slacked on the picture taking, but here are a few.

The Cokers...aren't my parents cute?

Micah and Weston

We spent Christmas here in Flag. It was different this year, as Ben wasn't here and the family is growing and changing. Lots of emotions... But the magic was still there.
Christmas Day at the Curetons...

Grandpa modeling Rylee's new hat

Gram devouring a popcorn ball

Jordan's fashion statement after a rousing game of football in the snow. He had to borrow the stylin blue shorts because his pants were soaked. What a hunk!!

"It's the most wonderful time of the year...."

Deck the Halls

2009-01-10T19:24:00.000-08:00

The Christmas freak of the family, I have always gone a little crazy when “Chwimas” comes around, and some of my favorite memories are of the holidays with my family, baking, decorating, listening to carols and completely wrapping myself in the comfort and spirit of the season. So imagine my excitement at our first Christmas as a married couple!!
We always had an artificial tree growing up, so it was fun to get a real one this year. It was an adventure, but we found a beautiful tree....

and I had a blast decorating it.

Jordan on the other hand tackled the outside lights. This was just the beginning...the picture of the huge star he put up between the posts didn't turn out, but it was truly a masterpiece. I’m pretty sure his new life mission is to forever outdo the neighbors. There’s talk of Valentines lights….who knows, maybe St. Patty’s Day, and 4th of July too...oh boy!

Adventures in Babysitting

2008-12-16T18:33:00.001-08:00

As you've probably noticed, since we don't have kids of our own yet, we like to claim these little gremlins...most of the time :)

Rylee singing the National Anthem (otherwise known as Jingle Bells--you know, the "Batman Smells" version) before the boys living room football game. Note the makeup brush microphone.

I love this one. We were sitting on the couch singing Christmas songs while the boys played and when I tried to teach Rylee the real version of Jingle Bells, she informed me that there is no real version, that Batman smells and Joker does ballet--always.

Watching the snow. Love the butterfly wings.

Taking time out from "Butterfly Chase" to chat with Grandpa.

And...the famous Gingerbread Men. Such talent!

Polar Express

2008-12-16T18:05:00.000-08:00

They only LOOK sweet and innocent......

I'm not sure Santa intended his bells for combat...

But really, we had a great time riding the Polar Express again this year. There is nothing like watching kids come alive with the spirit of Christmas. The best part was watching Micah stand up with a confused look on his face saying, "If we just saw Santa at the train station....and we just saw him at the "North Pole"....and now he's on the train....that CAN'T be the real Santa!" Jordan and I just looked at each other a little panicked and said, "It was the tunnel, Micah--you know, the magic tunnel we just went through..." Darn kids--too smart for their own good!

Nutcracker

2008-12-09T19:36:00.000-08:00

Christmas just isn't Christmas without the Nutcracker. I just can't see one of these guys or hear the music without reminiscing...

Heather and I had the opportunity growing up to perform in the Nutcracker with the Nevada Ballet Theater when they would come to Flagstaff. Our parts were small, but the experience was larger than life to us as teenagers dancing with professionals. Though Nevada doesn't come anymore, NAU Prep School, the school we used to dance with (and Heather still teaches at--well done Heather, by the way. She is one of the teachers/choreographers and as always, did a marvelous job) puts on a great show with the symphony. Last week most of the fam was able to go to the dress rehearsal, and what a perfect way to get into the holiday spirit. Lots of memories....

Unfortunately, I didn't get any pictures of the actual performance. But I did manage to capture the boys reaction............

This is the result of boys surviving an hour of tutus and tights. They were pretty good sports, all things considered. While us girls were relishing in snowflakes and the Sugar Plum Fairy, they at least got to see some soldiers with swords destroy the Mouse King:)

Many Thanks

2008-12-02T19:30:00.000-08:00

Everyone is partial, including me. But I just have to say that I have the best family in the world. We were lucky enough to have everyone in my immediate family here for Thanksgiving this year. Heather, Jason and the kids, my parents and Ben, Deborah and Aidien were even able to join us from New Mexico. The only missing person was Gram, who unfortunately got sick the night before and wasn't able to join us :( Somehow I made it through the whole day without taking any pictures. Suffice it to say that we stuffed ourselves with amazing food (you're amazing, Mom) and had fun playing games and catching up. AND, shock of all shocks, I even cooked--two pies, to be exact, and they were eaten, so I suppose that's a good sign! There may just be hope for me after all.

On Friday we decided to make the boys watch the kids while us girls went to a movie. Twilight was the natural choice, as Heather and I have read the books and just had to see if the Hollywood version was worthy of the book's magic. Mom and Deb had no idea what they were getting into, but I think it was all worth a few hours to ourselves. The jury is still out as to whether or not we really liked the movie. What did everyone else think??

Saturday the fun continued as we headed to Out of Africa, the Wild Animal Park in Camp Verde. So fun! I totally want a pet tiger now. I don't think one would fit in the apartment, but maybe some day!

Jordan and Micah perusing the "Serengeti Highway."

Humphrey the Camel. Isn't he cute?

Rylee feeding Kibo the Giraffe

Watching the pacing tiger

The joys of motherhood...Heather got to take the kids in to pet the Albino Python. No thanks!

....and waiting for the Tiger show to start...

It was so great to see Ben, Deb and Aidien. We can't wait until the next time they can visit!

After everyone took off for Flag, Jordan and I decided to explore Cottonwood. We drove out on some back roads by the Verde River close to Tuzigoot and it was absolutely beautiful. Once again, I neglected to take pictures, but I'm not sure they would have done it justice anyway. It was so nice to see a hidden beauty in Cottonwood that we never knew existed. Tuzigoot was closing by the time we got there, so we'll have to do that another time. We headed back to Flag and ate at Cracker Barrel to round off the day.

The whole weekend was a perfect reminder of how truly blessed we are. I'm so thankful for Thanksgiving and the opportunity it gives us all to practice humility in recognizing our many blessings and giving credit where credit is due. May we never forget how truly fortunate we are to live where we live, with what we have, with so many loved ones to share each moment with. Hope everyone had as wonderful a holiday as we did!

Ella and Nat are Having Tea with Ava and Abe in a Sty on an Isle by the Sea...Aka: Life is Like a Crossword Puzzle

2008-11-05T16:51:00.000-08:00

We all know that life is like a box of chocolates. Forest Gump says so, therefore we all should say so. But today I will venture outside the chocolate box to say that life is also very much like a crossword puzzle.
A month or so ago I had one of those off days where I felt forgetful and clumsy and consequently had a moment where I thought about what I would be like when I’m 60 or even 30, for that matter. Silly as it may be, I panicked a little, wondering if my mind would be sharp and in focus. So I decided that preventative measures must be taken. Thus, I have begun doing crossword puzzles—every day. In fact, I’m pretty much addicted. I LOVE words and I like puzzles, so I figured this was a good place to start and a way to exercise my brain in a way other than reading or working. I always seem to get stumped by the advanced ones in the newspapers (plus, we don’t subscribe to any newspapers) so I decided to start at square one ala the practice-makes-perfect method. I picked up one of those travel crossword books that has progressing levels of difficulty and I’m now in the intermediate section.
There is a specific crossword mindset that must be in place to ensure a successful run. Once I started analyzing the clues a certain way it made it much easier and faster to make it through a puzzle. The key is recognizing common clues that appear repeatedly. Here are some that are frequently included in any given puzzle, in one form or another:
Ella Fitzgerald
Nat King Cole
Ava Gardner

Abe Lincoln
Alec Baldwin
Pal

Arab
Oslo

Tea

Two

Ores

Ado

Pal

Sty

Isle

Awe

Ala
The trick to solving the harder ones is to not stay stumped by solving the clues in order, but look for the ones you do know and fill them in, then build off of each of those. Knowing some regulars sometimes helps that process.
I’ve been frustrated with some things and it was in mulling over these frustrations last night that I had the epiphany. There wasn’t a box of chocolates or a bus stop bench with diverse visitors to listen to the epiphany, and it certainly didn’t make America cry, but it was an epiphany, nonetheless.
Life is hard. Sometimes we’re overwhelmed by the obstacles in our path and we don’t feel like we are properly equipped to handle them, especially if it’s something we’ve never experienced before. But we all have a foundation, whether it be basic religious principles, book smarts, old adages or the ABCs song. It is those basic principles, simple experiences and emotions, that we can build from when we’re at the gauntlet starting line. Just like when you’re reading and you don’t know the meaning of a word, you look at the words around it that you DO know to give it a meaning; we do the same thing in life. We rely on the few things we know to be true to help us learn and navigate new territory. We just can’t forget that they’re there.
So I’m going to try to process my frustrations like a crossword puzzle. I will not allow myself to become overwhelmed by the big picture or the things I do not understand and I will rely on the basic truths that have gotten me through before, and I encourage everyone to do the same. If Ella or Nat can’t help us out, I’m not sure what will! :)

Happy Happy Birthdays

2008-11-01T20:58:00.000-07:00

Three belated, nevertheless very important, birthdays....

October 19th

My sister Heather turned 30 this year!! Though she had kind of a rough time with this milestone, we all know she's in her prime. I'm so thankful to have an older sister, without whose friendship, advice and example I would be nowhere. She is selfless, intelligent, funloving, and a wonderful mother and friend. It is truly an honor to be related to her! Love you, Sis. Copper Boom!

October 29th
Happy Birthday, Jordan!! Jordan turned 27 on Wednesday. It was a pretty laid back day, but I had fun preparing a few surprises for him and we enjoyed a wonderful dinner together at Beaver Street Brewery. Honestly, it was just nice to spend some time with each other! The card I gave him this year showed a little girl and boy at a carnival. The little girl is watching the boy eat his corn dog with a big smile on her face, and the caption reads: "You're my favorite amusement." That pretty much sums him up--Jordan always keeps me

smiling! Happy birthday, Baby!

Jordan shares his birthday with his dad. I am so lucky to have such a sweet, wonderful and honorable father-in-law. Happy birthday, Al! Wish we were there to celebrate with you.

The Big Rappel

2008-11-01T13:23:00.000-07:00

Last weekend my parents, Heather's family and I went to the NAU Homecoming football game and watched Jordan rappel from the top of the dome. It's something that the ROTC program does for several games each fall where two cadets free rappel, one on either side of the flag as it is lowered during the National Anthem. They stop at the bottom of the flag and hang there until the end of the anthem and then they drop straight down to the field. Pretty scary, if you ask me! But he loved it and did a great job. Unfortunately, I didn't get any good pictures but Heather got one and Jason took a video of it. Check out Heather's blog for pics/details of the day. We're all proud of you, Jordan!

I Love Visits!

2008-10-17T23:24:00.000-07:00

Precious...I've been meaning to post this for a long time. A little while ago my dearest friend Tanya came to visit, which was exciting in and of itself because she lives back east and I rarely get to see her. But this was the best visit EVER because I finally got to meet baby Kian. What an angel!! He's just perfect. We've certainly come a long way from those days riding the bus together, talking about all the things that we would do...and now we're doing them! How different, and yet how much better than we imagined, it's all turning out to be. Love you, Dear!

Good Writing Nugget

2008-10-15T10:21:00.000-07:00

“What if the water that came out of the shower was treated with a chemical that responded to a combination of things, like your heartbeat, and your body temperature, and your brain waves, so that your skin changed color according to your mood? If you were extremely excited your skin would turn green, and if you were angry you’d turn red, obviously, and if you felt like shiitake you’d turn brown, and if you were blue, you’d turn blue. Everyone could know what everyone else felt, and we could be more careful with each other, because you’d never want to tell a person whose skin was purple that you’re angry at her for being late, just like you would want to pat a pink person on the back and tell him, “Congratulations!” Another reason it would be a good invention is that there are so many times when you know you’re feeling a lot of something, but you don’t know what the something is. Am I frustrated? Am I actually just panicky? And that confusion changes your mood, it becomes your mood, and you become a confused, gray person. But with the special water, you could look at your orange hands and think, I’m happy! That whole time I was actually happy! What a relief!” Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close, Jonathan Safran Foer

The Inevitable Call

2008-09-25T22:04:00.000-07:00

So I'm behind on a lot of things, one being the fact that Jordan and I had to speak in church--over a month ago. I have to admit that it was nice to be able to show our ward that I really do actually have a husband! We ended up with topics that were a blessing to us both, as is usually the case. Jordan spoke on a talk by Dean R. Burgess entitled Do You Know Who You Are? and I spoke on a variation of that and staying active in the absence of a spouse. I felt completely unqualified to speak on the subject, but was truly humbled by it and learned and grew so much.
I had never actually heard Jordan speak before, and was admittedly a little concerned when he joked about exclaiming "We are Sparta!" from the pulpit. But he did such a great job, I wish I could post the whole thing.
A few things we learned....
~Jordan has a remarkable knack for using history as a metaphor for spiritual awareness and responsibility.
~Don't wait to print your talk the morning of--you may find that your printer is running out of ink.
~It's kind of cool not to know what the other is going to say beforehand.
A few gemmas, if you will:
"This is the church of Jesus Christ, not the church of marrieds or singles or any other group or individual...The answer lies in finding out what God expects of each of us in our circumstances--single, widowed, divorced, husband, wife, father or mother. Let us not grope blindly for fulfillment without the vision of who we are and what we can become." ~President Faust
"...be patient toward all that is unsolved in your heart and try to love the questions themselves like locked rooms and like books that are written in a very foreign tongue. Do not now seek the answers, which cannot be given you because you would not be able to live them. And the point is, to live everything. Live the questions now. Perhaps you will then gradually, without noticing it, live along some distant day into the answer." ~Rainer Maria Rilke

An Ode to Disclaimers

2008-09-13T11:22:00.000-07:00

We recently purchased a paper shredder and were surprised--and admittedly rather amused—to find this when we opened the box. So much for just a staple warning...

What’s next? Books? Car keys? The dog? Disclaimers—always a joy to know that there are people in this world ridiculous enough to try stupid things….and then sue.

Waffles and Warriors

2008-09-11T20:31:00.000-07:00

Today is not only the anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, but it is also my Pop's birthday. Though he has not been with us for several years now, I still feel the ever present need to honor him and remember him today. (The pictures are terribly fuzzy, but I don't have a scanner, so I'm limited).

I was recently looking at an old journal entry from my senior year in high school that I wrote on 9/11 when the attacks happened. I won't bore you with details, but here's the gist…. I wrote about how I found out, what the day was like, images on the news, etc. But when it came to how I felt, all I could seem to think about that day was Pop—and I wrote and wrote about him. I thought about the fear he must have felt as a Marine fighting in World War II, of my young grandma home alone with a new baby, and of all the other men and women who have sacrificed as much and more for our country. I've always been so proud of Pop's history, of the stories I've heard, the pictures I've seen and the memories I have. How appropriate that such a tragic day, forever marked by patriotism and sacrifice, should fall on my own personal hero's birthday.

I never in my wildest dreams thought that I would marry a military man—in fact, I think on several instances I swore against it. But here I am in love with someone who is willing to make the same sacrifices my grandfather did. Ironic that the more I learn about my grandfather, the more I realize I married someone a great deal like him. I am thankful for the irony and honored to be connected to both great men.

(This one's my favorite...Pop knew why)

Pop and I loved waffles. We were very systematic in the way we prepared them, making sure that the butter was spread just right and that the perfect amount of syrup filled every hole. We never talked much while we ate. We just ate and enjoyed the moment. Of all the experiences to use to describe our relationship, these waffle-eating moments take the cake. So much of our special connection existed in enjoying those individual, deliberate moments. Remembering him and having him in my thoughts today somehow seems to constitute one of those moments. Happy Birthday, Pop.

There's Just No Trusting Rachael Ray

2008-08-25T19:57:00.000-07:00

Me + Rachael Ray 30 Minute Meal Recipe = 1.5 hours in the kitchen with a headache and enough pasta to feed a small country (or at least maybe a junior high male gym class... after a 2 mile run right before lunch). 30 minutes my eye!

"It's Fan Participation Day!"

2008-08-21T21:44:00.000-07:00

It has become very clear: Jordan missed the twins more than he missed me :) jk The boys had a soccer game last saturday and Jordan was chomping at the bit to go cheer them on. He woke up that morning, jumped out of bed, and said, "You know what today is? It's fan participation day!" and promptly dressed for the occasion: soccer cleats, soccer socks and soccer shorts. He even put one of those sport elastic bands that holds your glasses in place on--you know, in case it got rough on the sidelines. Oh, Jordan.....

I have to admit, it's pretty dang cute to see how excited he gets, pacing the sidelines, giving them tips and cheering them on.

Uncle J just can't get enough of hanging with the boys!

Farewell to an Old Friend....For Now

2008-08-17T17:35:00.000-07:00

Those who know me know that I absolutely adore this lady. In fact, I'm really a bit obsessed. I have the movies, books, pictures galore...my wedding shower was even Audrey themed. It doesn't matter if I'm watching her movies, reading about her life or just wishing I had even as much class as she had in just her pinkie toe, Audrey Hepburn will always be one of my heroes and by far my favorite leading lady.

One of the tricky parts about Jordan leaving so soon after our wedding was that we had just a few days to move all of our stuff into our new apartment. After he left, I found myself surrounded by boxes and the daunting task of making the house a home for his return.

I love having my own place, and I've always enjoyed decorating, so I was excited to begin putting everything together. However, it didn't take long to realize that I needed to ground myself--Oh Yeah, I'm married....and I guess that means a boy lives here too :) Jordan was pretty good about trusting me to take care of things in his absence, like picking out furniture, feng shui, the works. But I knew that deep down he was worried that he would come home to a froo-froo girly fanfare as a result of me being turned loose.

Well, I think he was pleasantly surprised (or he's really good at pretending:). We're still working on it, but I think it's turning out really well. So what does this have to do with Audrey? I have had the above painting for quite some time now--it came with me to Oregon, to Salt Lake and back to Flag; we've definitely bonded. But somehow in decorating our first place (especially because it's so small) the large canvas seemed a bit much, for the apartment and probably for Jordan's manhood. Therefore, I hereby place Audrey in storage (aka, my parents house) until such time as I have an office or a larger house for her to live in. Someday, Audrey...someday...

My New Vice

2008-08-14T21:04:00.000-07:00

So these are pretty much heaven....and a half. I just can't stop eating them. Really. Amazing. The package looks a little different than what is shown above, but if you haven't tried them, you should.

My Husband

2008-08-12T20:59:00.000-07:00

Now that he's home I'm feeling the need to brag about Jordan a little. As he certainly wouldn't recount this himself, I will do my best to muddle through. Jordan is in the NAU Army ROTC and when he graduates he will commission as a Second Lieutenant. Two weeks after the wedding, he went to Ft. Lewis, WA, to participate in LDAC aka Warrior Forge, which is a course designed to assess and evaluate cadets as leaders. Successful completion of this training is the last milestone and is required to become an officer.
He was there for 33 days and had to prove that he was physically fit and meet many other requirements. He was one of the few to score 100% in all three areas of land navigation, he easily qualified with his M16, and passed the Combat Water Survival Test. He excelled in leading 12 and 24 man teams, was ranked 3 out of 12 in his Squad by his peers, and graduated as one of a small group with an overall "E," the highest rating one can achieve. In other words, my baby is the man!

After LDAC he headed for Ft. Jackson, SC, for DCLT: Drill Cadet Leadership Training, for another month where he had the opportunity to be assigned to a Basic Training unit to continue developing leadership skills and learn the ropes as a Lieutenant. It was so neat to be able to hear him talk about the men he was leading, how excited he was to work with them, going above and beyond to teach them as well as learn from them. He gained the respect of his leaders and those he led. He told me that he learned that soldiers are human and imperfect, whether they are leaders or followers. As hard as it was to be so far away from him, I'm so thankful that he had the experiences that he did and for the humility his experiences taught me.

On a construction note, upon finishing in SC, Jordan flew to Michigan to man a deck building project for his aunt Rachel. I met him there for the tail end and, wow....I knew he was handy, but holy cow!

The joke seems to be that what was going to be a modest 12'x14' platform with a few steps turned into a fortress. A fortress indeed! We learned that Jordan is a master carpenter and that I am terrible with a drill!

A big thanks to Rachel and Mike for giving Jordan a great project, for great food and great company! And to Jordan, I'm so proud of you, baby! I'm one lucky girl.

Wedding Bells and Beaches

2008-07-25T23:17:00.000-07:00

Obviously this post is a bit late, but as it was the kickoff to our life together, I felt it only appropriate that it be documented. You know how people speak of their wedding as the happiest day of their lives? I really just don't think "happy" quite does it justice, as I do believe that I probably felt more emotions in that one day than I have felt collectively throughout my whole life. Jordan and I were married in the Snowflake Temple on May 17th and celebrated with a reception that night in Flagstaff. While the circumstances surrounding the weekend may have been less than ideal, the day was indeed perfect; truly a day for our history book.

Many of you may know that I managed to catch a stomach bug the day before the wedding. In fact, I don't remember the last time I have felt that sick. Honestly, I'm not quite sure how I made it through the endowment session that evening. Heavenly Father was truly helping me through every minute. I will never forget the sweet temple worker sisters who were out in hall ready to clear the way for me to get to the bathroom--I had my own little angel cheering section! :) But no matter how sick I felt or how many times I had to leave the session, it was all worth it for Jordan and I to be able to both go through together for the first time. I will cherish that opportunity always, and no degree of illness would have been worth missing that experience for.

After spending wedding eve at the walkin clinic, I wasn't sure how the big day would turn out. But miraculously, everything went off without a hitch. Our friends and family were incredible. We can't possibly express how much it meant to have so many loved ones travel so far to share our special day. I'm not even sure how to describe it. Our very own quirky fairy tale (complete with gatorade, saltines and a chair to prop me up in the receiving line :) (And a huge thanks to our photographer Jen Fauset. You're awesome, Jen!)

We left early the next day for the honeymoon in Costa Rica. We had a great first day exploring the resort, hiking along the beach....gorgeous and a bit surreal. Neither one of us had ever seen anything like it. And then there was dinner...after which we returned to the room to discover that Jordan now had the stomach crud too. Needless to say, we spent a pretty sleepless night taking turns running to the bathroom. The next day I was feeling a little better, but Jordan was in terrible shape, so I took a crazy trip to a sketchy little pharmacy in Coco Beach with two guys from the hotel, one of which was a Venezuelan refugee who had signed against the president--crazy stuff! But we got some pills--still not sure what they were, but they worked!

Then the cold came, which hit me about mid week and Jordan the day we flew back to the states. Unfortunately, by the time we were feeling up to exploring again, most of the tours and activities we were hoping to participate in were booked :(

But we were able to take a bay cruise, see some beautiful scenery, play in the ocean, and even rent a car to go explore some of the villages. Breathtaking, colorful, humbling... All in all, it was wonderful and miserable all at the same time. We're glad we went and just wish that we could go back under healthier circumstances! Someday....

So it begins...

2008-07-21T22:42:00.000-07:00

I don’t scrapbook. We might as well get it right out in the open. But may it be known that this lack of participation in the wonderful world of scrapbooking is not because I lack the desire. I simply lack the patience. Though I may at times try to deny it, I am a huge perfectionist. In the past I have ventured to sit down with a stack of photos to catalogue, surrounded by fun and fancy paper, ribbons, stamps,and stickers galore excited by the prospect of capturing wonderful memories with corresponding aesthetically pleasing images. Sadly, it never fails that after an hour or two of working on the same page (because I want to make it just right), I am inevitably discouraged and frustrated knowing that at this rate, the one stack of photos will take several months to complete, not to mention the several other shoe boxes full of pictures that will meet the same fate. The daunting task is therefore abandoned and I consider myself lucky and ahead of the game if I at least have the pictures labeled with dates, names and locations on the back.
It is my goal, however, to complete one scrapbook project: our wedding, and a big thank you to those who gave us adorable scrapbooking goodies to get me started!! It will happen, even if it does take several years! I digress…
I also don’t blog, and have resisted the phenomenon quite successfully for some time. But I have come to the realization that Jordan and I are indeed an Army family, and when it becomes official in about a year and half, we really don’t know where we will end up. Hopefully this blog will be a way to connect us with the family we love so much and will be so far away from. And if nothing else, it will hopefully in some small way make up for the fact that I do not scrapbook and allow me to do what I love best--write!