"Get outta my dreams, and into my car"

Chris called me and told me that I was slacking on the blog so I am trying to update it more. When I started thinking about what to write, I realized that I totally forgot to put up pictures of my new car. Chris and I had been looking for a car for a couple months and we had not been able to find anything we were serious about buying. I really wanted a Mustang and that's what we were trying to find. Long story short, we were headed an hour from home to look at a car and they happened to sell it an hour before we got there. Since we were already out and about, we decided to go look at some other dealerships. Nothing was really standing out until we saw my car...a Volvo S40 - which is far from being a mustang so I wasn't really interest at first. I decided that it couldn't hurt to test drive it and wouldn't you know, I fell in love with it! After some tough negotiating, we actually left with it.

It's the most expensive gift Chris has ever given me and I cannot say enough how much I really love him for it. I don't love him because he spent money on me - I am not a very good gift receiver - I just know the sacrifice he made so that I could have it. It was a big step in the right direction for us. We're real adults now. We bought our own car with our own credit. :) Sweet!

"We will sing one song for the old Kentucky home..."

So, here's the update on us. Chris has left for BOLC II and he is at Fort Benning right now. He was supposed to be going to Fort Sill in Oklahoma, but due to a last minute clerical mistake - we were blessed with a little more time together. He trains during the week and then on some of the weekends we get to see each other. It has really been a blessing that we weren't expecting.

When he finishes this school on June 26, he has to go straight to Aberdeen Proving Ground in Maryland until October 9. Meanwhile, I am going to be looking for a job and somewhere to live in Fort Campbell, Kentucky. If you asked me even six months ago if I thought I would EVER be living in Kentucky I would have called you crazy. That's how it goes in the Army I guess. Right now, I am packing up our apartment and moving everything into a storage unit across from my parent's neighborhood. I am going to finish out the school year at Alcovy and then move in with the parents on May 30. **Another unexpected blessing, we got to break our lease without paying any penalties**

Soon after May 30, Mom and I are going to take a trip up to Fort Campbell and find somewhere for Chris and I to live and find me a teaching job. While we would like to live on base, we have heard that there are a limited number of slots available and we should just look for somewhere off post to live. Again, six months ago I would not have suspected that the two of us living on an Army post would even be an option. Now, I am busy trying to figure out what PCS, TDY, HHG and all the other acronyms mean. In July, I am headed up to live there on my own until Chris gets there in October.

Chris is thrilled to be joining the 101st Airborne. We never dreamed that his first active duty assignment would be with such a prestigious unit. While I know the added level of danger there will be with this unit, I am also well aware that should Chris be deployed, there will be plenty of seasoned veterans to show him the ropes and prepare him for war. We haven't heard anything about him deploying or anything yet...but it is inevitable. It's just a matter of time. I don't know if I will ever be prepared to hear the actual date, but as soon as I know anything I will pass on the word. As for now, just pray that he has an open mind so that he can absorb all the training and information he needs to be the best officer he can be. He has alot to learn in 5 months and if he is going to be leading troops then he has to be someone that they'll want to follow. After all, as he always says, "you can't lead from the rear."

As soon as I get some pictures from around the Fort Campbell area, I will post them. As for friends and family...you better start saving your money to come visit. I will bribe you with the Kentucky Derby!! I already told Chris that we are SOOO going! It's the only thing in Kentucky besides the fried chicken, right??