High Hopes

I listen to Radio 2 in the mornings on my way to work every day.  I know that it's not the "coolest" station, but I just can't help myself when they start playing show-tunes!  Oh gosh, did I just give away what a big dork I am??  Oh well, what can I say?  They're so catchy!  Okay, anyway, I was listening this morning and I heard Frank Sinatra singing "High Hopes".  It's a so-so song in my opinion, but that's really not the point...the point is that it got me thinking.  What are my high hopes for this deployment?  What do I aspire to do with all this time I have on my hands?  What are some ways that I can make this time "fly by" like everyone keeps saying it will?  That's where my list comes in.  Now, if you know me at all, you know that I'm a planner.  Notice that I said "planner" not "doer" because somewhere in between the "planning" and the "doing" I tend to get a little sidetracked!  So, here are some of my plans (in no particular order)...

1.  Stop drinking carbonated drinks ~ I started with this one b/c I've already done it, and I thought that it was important to start off on the right foot :)

2.  Read "Pillars of ther Earth" ~ I've heard it's fabulous, so I bought it about 2 months ago.  So far, it's just been taunting me from the side of my bed!

3.  Take at least 2 trips ~ So...I have Spain covered.  Any takers on another one???  Who wants to travel??

4.  Lose some "poundage" ~ Hmmm, this could be tough considering my love affair with chocolate!

5.  Treat myself to a Hot Stone Message ~ I think 2 years without one is entirely too long!

6.  Be a better friend ~ I'm horrible, I mean HORRIBLE at phone calls.  I have some of the most wonderfully supportive & amazing girlfriends who hear from me, ohhh, maybe once a month.  I really want to commit to being better about that.

7.  Finish the rough draft of my children's book ~ Even if I never send it off, I think that just finishing it will be sweet enough.

8.  Actually take Kelly up on some of her offers to go to some aerobics classes ~ Ok, so maybe just one :)

9.  Learn how to use my camera ~ Chris got me an awesome camera about a year ago, and I have yet to figure out how to use all it's fun gadgets!

Hopefully I'll get to all of these things...but even if I don't, at least I had a plan :)

Cheers, 

Amy   

Just a few things...

I'm rounding out the second week with Chris being gone, and life in this tiny little village is finally starting to settle down.  When I arrived home from saying good-bye to him (very sad day indeed!), I found some beautiful yellow and red flowers sitting on my front door step from my friends in my bible study group.  I am proud to say that those little guys are still kickin', and they put a smile on my face every time I get out of my car.  Those flowers are a constant reminder of the support system that I have here.  One of the things I love the most about being a military wife is the sense of community and togetherness that I feel each day.  We're all in the same boat.  We all miss our loved ones & worry about them while they're away.  We all get lonely sometimes, and have moments where just about everything seems to be going wrong.  But in return we all have each other to lean on, and talk to, and celebrate with when those wrong things suddenly turn out okay.  It's like a family, and I am thankful to be a part of it. 

These past two weeks have been spent making a new routine for myself.  I must say that cooking for one has been the hardest thing to get used to...good thing I have all those sweet friends to come over and help me eat the left-overs!!  I'm hoping to start traveling a lot more during the summer, I've had a nice long lull in my travel plans and I'm starting to get antsy!!  It will be hard to travel to new places without Chris, I so love experiencing new things with him, but I'm excited to spend some time with the girls and just do "girly" things.  I can't really see Chris lounging around all day in Spain trying to catch up on his tan!   So I'll let y'all know how it goes, and I'll be sure to post some pictures of my adventures :)

Cheers, 

Amy