Pool Boys...

Today my brother and I took out the pool and let the boys have some summer fun! This was their first time in the pool, but we assumed since they have been in rivers and lakes the transition would be simple. I think this will be a fun weekend toy for them all summer long!
I cannot wait for Nick to come home and see this because I know he would be the first one to sit down in the pool with these crazy pupps!

Enjoy the View Along the Way...

I have made a habit of taking a walk during my lunch break at work each day. It is good to get away from the florescent lights and take in the fresh air. Here is my view (on top of the free air show I get when the F-16 go screaming past from the AFB):







I completed my CASA training on Thursday and was sworn in before the court. Now I will pick my first case and hopefully start encouraging the life of a child. I am going to work in the Youth in Transition unit which means I will be working with a teenager to emancipate out of the foster care system and become self-sufficient. I cannot wait to dive in head first!

Summer School

The boys have been "in school" for the last few weeks. The trainer comes over once a week and works on problem areas and good manners with the boys. She has a lot more patience than I do. Especially since Moose has been completely difiant since Nick left. When she came over yesterday, she suggested more exercise for their brains. So, I went out and got the suggested puzzle toys for Cricket and Moose. They are stimulating for them and SO entertaining for me to watch! I will have to put some videos up, but the toys keep them very entertained, and allow me to have "me time." You'd think I was talking about children...puppies are a lot of work. I am so very thankful for the companionship I get with them and the laughter! There is always laughter in my life!

"All Work No Play Make Kelley..."

So, I have been working overtime at work, plus attending evening training as an extra duty to my internship. This leaves very little time for de-stress procedures and a lingering cough I have has made daily runs slim-to-none.
Today I left for work and Nicks truck gave up in the driveway. I supposed I should be thankful that it died at home instead of blocks away. Luckily my car started and I was able to drive over the lawn (Nicks truck was completely blocking the drive) to get out and make it to work on time.
After many phone calls, Chrysler sent out a tow truck under Nicks roadside assistance plan. It got towed to the dealership he purchased it from and they will look at it on Monday.

Now, I'm a good sport, and I can roll with the punches and maintain a sense of humor. However, this was one of the MANY things that has broken since Nick left (and it has only been two weeks)! So I'm less and less amused as the list of "needs to be repaired" grows. Ha!
To handle the stress, I did what any girl does...head to the salon and chopped off my hair!!! Haha, ok so maybe not EVERY girl. I lost about 8inches and feel much better. One of the "needs to be repaired" on my list was removing all the blond hair dye from my hair. CHECK! I now have my natural color again and will wait for it to grow, grow, grow. The short do should be nice and cool for summer.

A Full Plate With No Room For Seconds...

My coworker advised me to volunteer for the local USO or VA offices to help me feel more a part of this deployment. It was a wonderful idea but I just had to laugh. Where in the world would I find more time? I'm already volunteering at the Animal Shelter, about to be sworn in as a CASA volunteer, my internship, my new full time hours, and trying not to neglect the dogs! I think two volunteer positions are enough for now.

I am still looking into masters programs and trying to decide which path to persue. There are so many passions inside me and they are all very conflicting. I'm gonna have to pray about this one for awhile. Until then, I am going to start studying for the GRE's and get signed up to take them. At least I will be one more step in the right direction!

Needed a Little Pick Me Up...

So apparently God could tell that I needed a little pick me up since the whole missed phone call fiasco. Today, I got it. I got offered a promotional position at my work as a court clerk (which is very appropriate seeing as how I just graduated with a Criminal Justice degree)! I am so glad to be back to working full time hours (even though I don't start for two weeks). I have SO missed having a career. It hurt a lot to leave the police department and "demote" myself to just part time. I know that it was the right thing to do for graduation, but being a dispatcher, and a career woman was the essence of my being.

I've also been blessed by being surrounded by such wonderful people in the past week. I've gone full force at my internship and have already met such amazing women! They are strong, funny, endearing, and compassionate. They are lifting my spirits without even knowing it. I am grateful for such a rewarding distraction.

Almost as if by realizing all the positives surrounding me to keep from being sad about Nick...as I was pondering all this good, Nick called! He is in limbo right now, waiting on a base he is not assigned to until he can move to "his" station. Tomorrow sounds like it will be the big day! He will head out to his duty base and hopefully then be able to start communicating state-side. The phones have been terrible and inconsistent at best. He wanted everyone to know he made it in country, and will call when he reaches his base. A drawn out game of waiting around, but hopefully soon he will be doing what he trained for and in better contact.

A song my Dad used to listen to seems like an appropriate closing for this post...
When the road gets dark/ And you can no longer see/ Just let my love throw a spark/ And have a little faith in me. And when the tears you cry/ Are all you can believe/ Just give these loving arms a try babe/ And have a little faith in me.

"Mama said there'd be days like this..."

This morning as I was shuffling out the door my phone started ringing. I reached into my purse to grab it and somehow pushed a button that sent the call to voicemail. OF COURSE, it was Nick! My voicemail light went on and I listened to it and completely lost my cool. I cried and cried and cried all the way into the office. This is the first time I have cried, I didn't even cry the day I dropped Nick off and was so proud of the strong-me. It just crushed me that I had the phone in my hand, and yet...still did not get to talk with him. I made it halfway through the day and then just told the ladies at the office I needed to go home because I just kept crying (real professional in a courtroom). They were all very sympathetic and understanding. I used my "afternoon off" to rake out the backyard and get rid of the hideous bark that covered half the yard. I figure if I keep tackling the back yard in mini sections, everything will be removed and just be a dirt slate by the time Nick gets back. Then the real fun will start and we can plant anything we want. Anger/emotion gets work done!

Almost there...

Nick made it Kazakhstan! Got a very broken phone call from him tonight and he sounds good. He was heading to the gym when we hung up so I know he will be a happy camper. I am sure being on planes for such extended period can make the best of them grouchy. We did not talk long, so that is all the information I have for now.