The Life of Living out of a Suitcase

From the day I got married, on May 22nd, and until the end of next March (2011) I am living in a suitcase. Our life has been far from normal but it every step of the way has been amazing and so worth it. In June we moved to Montana and lived at the lake house because our apartment is still getting built. A month later (July) Chet left for Basic Military Training in San Antonio, Texas. The very next day I left Montana for three weeks. I flew to California to visit family, drove to Texas with my mom and Ron to help them move, then flew back to California for my cousin’s baby shower and then flew back to Montana. Once I arrived in Montana, after being gone for three weeks, Mary and I left the very next day to run a Bed and Breakfast in Missoula for a week. After that was over we drove back to our home in Marion, Montana and I was able to work for the Todd’s and help with the B&B. Eight days after I got back my dad, em and sister drove to Montana pulling their enclosed trailer behind their motor home to bring up everything Chet and I owned. The enclosed trailer was packed to the max with wedding gifts, furniture and tons of boxes. After they left Montana I flew the very next day to Aledo, Texas to visit my mom while Mary and Rick went to California. I was in Texas for a week and then flew back to Montana. Once I arrived home my mom and Ron flew to Montana the very next day! I got to spend about five days with them and once they left I flew to San Antonio Texas for Chet’s graduation. I got to see Chet for four days and we had a blast! Being reunited after 8 ½ weeks from being apart was blissful. That Sunday night I had to say goodbye I drove with my mom and Ron back to their house in Texas and spent almost four days with them.
While I was with my mom, in Texas, we decided to take a day trip and drive to Wichita Falls to try and find myself an apartment. It was only a 2 hour drive and the first thing we did when we got there was drive to the base to talk to the housing office. Now Sheppard Air Force Base is huge and I wanted to see Chet so bad, but I had no idea where he was. So my mom and I prayed that we would run into him. Well……He answered our prayer. Mom and I stopped at the wrong building while trying to find the housing office and as we were walking out Chet was walking in. It was a miracle!!!!!!!! The odds of us running into each other at the base was less than a 1% chance. Of Course we couldn’t hug or get close to each other but we were able to talk for maybe 30 seconds at the most. I know that’s seems like such a short time but it felt much longer. He had to go or else he would have been in big trouble talking to his wife. But seeing him for those 30 seconds was well worth the two-hour drive. I was all smiles the rest of the day. It was an answer to prayer to run into him.
Anyways, we drove all around town looking at all the apartments for me and they were so dumpy, ghetto, scary and run-down. After apartment hunting for a few hours we found one apartment complex fifteen minutes away. But our first choice is for me to get a house on base. I pray our application goes through and they have an opening for me. The only problem is the house is not furnished one bit. ☹ But my amazing mother and step-father have enough extra furniture and housing items that will make due during my 3 months of living in Wichita Falls. So right now I’m trying to figure out where I’m going to live starting October 4th and also trying to find a job. Finding a job is going to be a little difficult because I will only be there for three months and one week. So pray that we find the perfect place for me to live at and the perfect job. As of now Chet will not be able to live with me but I pray that he will get it accepted starting the end of October. It’s in God’s hands and only He knows!
So now I’m flying to California to visit family, hopefully meet baby Syenna, help out at my sister and Nick’s going away party and then drive with my sister and Nick to Oklahoma to help them move. Once I get to Oklahoma I’ll fly to Texas and then drive to Wichita Falls to start living there. I am now becoming a great packer and learning to travel light. In a nutshell my life has been crazy and I’ve been on the road constantly, but it sure has been a fun adventure. I’m blessed beyond measures to be able to do everything I have done the past 4 ½ months. Thank you Jesus! I give Him all the glory!

Chet is an Airmen First Class

This past weekend Chet graduated from Basic Military Training (BMT). He was at The Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio for 8 ½ strenuous weeks going through what most people call boot camp. Chet graduated in the top 10% of 610 Airmen. He did an outstanding job, and went above and beyond what was asked. Chet was picked to be an element leader and watched over 12 other men. He was their leader and had to do many extra things during BMT. If one of his men got in trouble over something as little as not having their shirts face the right way in their closet than that guy and Chet would both have to do push-ups or sit-ups. Anytime one of his men were in trouble, Chet was too. Out of 610 Airmen only 61 men graduated with honors, and being a top physical fit airmen. Chet received a high A for his final written exam and he also received an excellence in physical training, therefore he was an honor graduate and there was a separate graduation honoring those men. I am so extremely proud of him. He deserved it! Graduation on Friday was magical (as Mary mentioned). It was a ceremony filled with integrity and honor.
From Thursday to Sunday Chet and I were able to spend time with each other. It was so amazing to finally be with my husband. We were not allowed to show any PDA on base, which was very hard. ☺ Every night I dropped him off at the base so he can report back in the dorm by a certain time. Sunday late afternoon it was time to say goodbye and I couldn’t help but cry because the last thing I wanted to do was say goodbye, again, to my husband.
Yesterday, September 20th, Chet arrived on a bus with other Airmen at Sheppard Air Force Base in Wichita Falls, Texas. Wichita Falls is only 113 miles from my mom and Ron’s house in Aledo, Texas. The main reason I am writing this blog is because I need all my friends and family to start praying for us. Last night I got a call from Chet and he found out very important information about the different phases at Sheppard AFB. Chet’s time at Sheppard AFB is divided into 3 main phases. Phase one is September 20th – October 3rd. Phase 2 is October 4th through October 24th. Phase 3 is October 25th until the end of his time at Sheppard, which is mid-January. He is spending four months at Sheppard AFB. Phase 2 we can start seeing each other after he is done with all his schooling each day, and every night he has to report back to the base. Now here is the bad news: the paperwork says that during phase 3, if approved by the squadron commander, we can live together. But everyone Chet talked to last night said this commander has never approved anyone!!!!!! Which means he doesn’t allow spouses to live together. Once Chet told me this I began to cry. Pretty much this commander is a jerk and never approves any airmen to live off base with their spouse, which means Chet and I will not be living with each other for over 6 months (between boot camp and now tech schooling).
Last night I was very upset and heartbroken. I can’t imagine Chet not being able to live with me until end of January. That seems absolutely ridiculous. Why wouldn’t a commander allow the airmen to live with their spouse? To me it’s ludicrous. As I was going to bed last night I began to pray and try to process this horrible information, and it dawned on me…. With God ALL things are possible! God is much bigger than this squadron commander, and I believe God can change this commanders decision and approve Chet to live with me during phase 3. I strongly believe in prayer and I believe that with everyone’s prayers God can allow us to live together. So I’m asking you to start praying daily that the Lord will change the commanders heart and approve Chet and I to live together starting October 25th. Please, please pray for us and don’t stop! God can answer prayers and I pray this is one of them!

Day 1 of BMT Graduation

The day had finally come! It was 8 ½ weeks since I last saw my husband. It took me a long time to go to bed because I was so anxious and excited to see my hunny. Right when that alarm went off at 5:30am I woke up and had the biggest smile on my face because I knew today was the day I get to see my man. All morning I was so anxious. I had butterflies and felt the way I did on my wedding day. The excitement of just seeing my husband in only a few hours brought joy to my heart.
After a $55 dollar cab ride I had finally made it to the base. I dropped my bags off at the Lodge and headed over to watch the ‘Airmen’s Run.’ The run was a 1.5 mile and they sang their ‘joddie’ song while running in formation. It was during the run that I saw my hubby!!!!!! The moment I saw him my eyes started to fill up with tears of joy. He saw me and smiled but that was the only contact until later on in the day. After the run I went to an orientation briefing, which was very insightful and taught me everything Chet had been doing the past 8 ½ weeks. Following the orientation was the Coin Ceremony. I waited in the bleachers for over 40 minutes and I finally spot Chet from afar, but I wasn’t 100% positive it was him because he was with the marching band. And as far as I know Chet doesn’t play an instrument. Well……I was wrong about him not playing an instrument but right that it was really Chet. He somehow forgot to tell me that he was picked to be in the marching band, had band practice the past 8 ½ weeks and plays the base drum! Not too sure how he forgot to tell me that small little detail but I was so shocked to see him in a band. During the Coin Ceremony Chet received his coin and was no longer a trainee but an Airmen. It was such an awesome Ceremony filled with God’s presence. Right after the ceremony was over I ran to Chet but all I could do was give him a quick hug. NO kissing, long hugs or even hand holding. NO PDA whatsoever, which is absolutely ludicrous seeing that I haven’t seen my husband in 8 ½ weeks. It was weird and awkward. I wanted to run and jump into his arms and kiss him, but I was dreaming. It was not until we weren’t in public that he could hug and kiss.
I followed him into the reception center for the next event, which was the honor graduate ceremony. Chet was not only an honor graduate, but he was also one of the top physically fit Airmen. Out of 600 Airmen graduating only 61 received either of these two awards and I was so proud of him! It’s a huge accomplishment to graduate from BMT, but also graduating in the honors is outstanding. He is such a stud! You would all be so proud of him.
Besides not being able to hold hands with my husband, he can’t even stay the night with me in a hotel room. He has to report back to his squadron at 7 or 8pm. I mean come on….We’re married! But that doesn’t matter to the Air Force. As of right now they own Chet! But at least I’m able to see him for four days and spend quality time with my wonderful, stud muffin husband. He only had base liberty today so the rest of the day we spent on the base and I said goodbye at 7pm and went back to my hotel. I can’t wait to see my hubby tomorrow.
Not seeing him for this length of time was not easy and I’m so glad it’s over. But during this time apart I have realized what true love really is. Some people have told me they don’t know how I was able to go 8 ½ weeks without seeing Chet, but when you’re deeply in love with your spouse you will do anything it takes to keep that love growing stronger and stronger everyday. You do whatever it takes. And now I will NEVER take Chet for granted. He is the most amazing man in the world and I am so blessed to be his wife.

The Most Frustrating Thing Ever….

Would you like to know one the most frustrating thing ever? Well let me tell you..…Personally, the most frustrating thing happened to me yesterday: We were driving back from Possum Kingdom Lake and I got a phone call from Chet. Well you’re initially thinking that’s not frustrating, that call should have made my day. Well I wish it did, but let me explain what happened. Before we got into good cell phone range I got a call from him and he had 15 minutes for a phone call, which only turned into a four minute conversation because we had to continue to drive to get a little bit of phone service. We kept pulling on and off the side of the highway to get service, and eventually I was on the side of the highway sitting under a little shaded area talking to my husband for only four minutes. I was so unbelievable frustrated that I couldn’t stop crying. I was actually pissed because I have been waiting for a phone call for a week in a half and a fifteen minute phone call only turned into four minutes, but I guess I need to look on the bright side. At least I got to talk to him for that little bit. Hearing his voice is still amazing, but hearing that he is sick is not good. Chet said it’s normal to get sick because once one person does everyone else does too. He had to tent for five days and said that wasn’t too much fun. He feels icky and just wants to be done. We both can’t wait to be with each other again. It’s been 50 days today since we last saw each other and only nine more to go, yet it feels like an eternity. People get sad about leaving their spouse for just a few days and I tell them to try 59 days. In the past 50 days we have only talked on the phone three times, a total of 25 ½ minutes. Yeah I said that right, only 25 ½ minutes in the past 50 days! That is so little considering we used to talk on the phone for longer than 25 ½ minutes in one single day. We are both ready for this to be over with and be with each other again like a normal married couple. So please keep us in your prayers daily, especially Chet that the Lord will heal him from being sick and give him the strength and endurance to finish boot camp strong.