A-School Graduation

Well the first leg in our Journey is coming to an end. CJ is officially MM3 Warren (petty Officer Third Class). To start this journey CJ had to go to school 5 days a week for 9 hours, PT 3 days a week for an hour and studies 2 hours 6 nights of the week. Any one counting how many hours a week CJ puts in? 60 Hours each week! Along with studying CJ was the Class leader and had many duties outside the class as well. He stayed in the top four throughout the semester (3 months) and Graduated with 3.57 out of 4.0 which put him third in his class! I am so proud!

1109T Machinist Mate class standing for commanding officers to enter

CJ shaking section leader PO Andrews

Command Captain Bailey, CJ, and A-School Commander Schmidt

SO the next stage is Power school which all the hours I told you about, well they come back to haunt us but this time for 6 months. We are not quite sure when CJ starts school again could be as early as April 28 or as lat as June.

Five Years

What a difference five years can make...

I was still attending NAU and pursuing my dream to be a teacher and was trying not to focus on boys. I was excited to be with the kids and I loved staying out and talking with great friends! I did not know who I was going to marry or where it would lead me.

Five year plan as of 2006: Graduate and student teach in Prescott Valley, then pay off school loan for a year and go on a mission for the LDS church. I had all the plans done and I was ready to check each one off!

Well it started off pretty great. I did graduate with honors and I was head back home to PV and I started in the Fall. I was able to attend the singles ward and made some great friends and that is when things started to change...

I met a boy haha one that asked me out nontheless it was great and it was a fairy tale! Everything happened so fast and next thing I know I am married and as happy as can be!

NOW Five years later I a Home owner and renting out the house, I live in South Carolina being the best and most supportive wife I can be for a husband who wants to serve his country! I use jargon like Military time, Petty Officer, NSU, NWU, over, badge, ID, Commissary, NEX, BAH... And the list goes on and ON!

I love my life and I can't wait to see what else happens!

Norfolk VA Trip

This past weekend we had the great opportunity to go and visit my brother and finally meet his new wife. Eddie and I's dad was there as well. We had a lot of fun. The first day we went to Nauticus, a museum that houses the USS Wisconsin and some Marine animals. CJ really enjoys looking at the history of the Navy and so going to these museums is a lot of fun for us! We went with 4 Sailors (CJ, Eddie, his wife, and his sister-in-law) so we had our own little private tour!On Sunday we went for a stroll down to the beach. Eddie's sister-in-law lives right up the street from the beach. It was pretty much empty, except for a couple people. So we spent some time picking up sea shells and enjoying the beautiful view!
It was nice to get a break and go see the sites. We want to take full advantage of living on this side of the country. We really enjoyed driving through the small towns and looking at the homes. Can't wait for the next adventure!

Crafts

Here is another round of crafts! It has been nice to have time to do these. Making my house homey and more our style!

This one is a Sentsy Flame-less candle. It was plain black so I took white vinyl and gave it a little style. This is now on our counter in the kitchen.
Here is a Spring ring that i put together. Thank you to a friend back home that started making these. I want to make one for each holiday and/or season.
My friend Ashley wanted to make a chalkboard. She had some left over chalkboard paint from Lowes and a cupboard that we bought for $5 at Habitat for Humanity Resale. Then I took scrap paper that had travel pictures on it and modge podged it on. I will probably hang this, but not sure where yet!
I am also working on learning how to crochet more, I am really liking it! I will post pictures later!

I am trying to be crafty!

Since CJ is in school all day and then studies fro two hours each evening I have a lot of free time. So I decided to try and be crafty. I have finished a few projects and have many more to come.

When we first moved here I tried my hand at making necklaces. These are the first two I made and I just picked up more beads and will make a couple more.

So since we don't really have a yard I have to go out and be on dog poop patrol and we have been saving plastic bags. At first they weren't taking up much room, but then it was over taking my laundry area. So I made a bag holder. Pretty easy.
Next I have been wanting a new apron for the kitchen, so Wal-Mart has this new thing where you by the package and the material is the pattern, all you have to do is cut it out. EASY. Directions are basic and the pattern is cute. I am excited for my new apron.

Next crafts to do:

*I have two skirts that need to get done

*Make a few more necklaces

*Decorate Scency Candle with vinyl lettering

*Make two Dog beds (this is going to be hard)

The Ultimate Feeling

This past week CJ and I were able to go and help clean the South Carolina Temple. Since there are not very many wards around here the Temple calls upon each to help clean. I was so excited to go and see what this Temple looked like.

We were even more excited that we were going on our anniversary! I just figured we would get assigned to a bathroom or endowment room for vaccuuming, well some did, but I well I was chosen to go and clean the Celestial room, ALL BY MYSELF! Oh I will have to say I felt like a little girl about ready to enter Disneyland. I had butterflies and I couldn't stop smiling.

Everytime I go to the Temple I am filled with excitement and I have the usual over whelming feeling. I can usually feel the spirit and can relax and forget about everything in life. This "cleaning" time was a little different. Have you ever sat in a Celestial Room by yourself? Or been to one where NO ONE was talking?

I felt so encompassed by the Spirit that while I was vaccuuming I was teary eyed. While dusting I couldn't help but remember my first time in a Celestial room. It was so quiet I could hear myself praying and I could just sit and feel Heavenly Father sit beside me.

I LOVED being able to give service to God and be blessed while doing so. I will always remember the beautiful and peaceful feeling of sitting with God in His House.

I am so thankful for the blessings of my life and I can not wait for the next time I am able to go and give service to those who have gone before me!

Bringing in the New Year!

This last year has brought so many blessings in our lives and one is moving to the beautiful East Coast. We have been here for almost two months and this is our first trip to the beach. We were excited to be able to go and explore. Since it is the off season we can take the dogs and walk along the water.
I would love to live in one of these houses, but not when a hurricane is in the forecast. But the view is just one of God's beautiful creations!

The dogs are suppose to be on their leashes the entire time, but we came across a portion where no one was walking by and we let them off and threw a stick around for them. It took some getting used to the waves coming in, but once they realized the water wouldn't hurt them they jumped around!

We had such a great time, and can't wait to go back. It is so nice to be so close to the beach and be able to go when ever the sun is shinning.

To bring in the new year we spent time with our new friends the Blosil's and the Waldron's. We had great food and played some great games together.

Here is to hopefully another GREAT year!