Moving With The Military

Recently a friend asked me how I felt about entering the Air Force and dealing with moving on a regular basis, especially with kids. This is something that I have thought a lot about and was one of the things that I had to reconcile in my mind before we decided on this new course for our life.

Something you may not know about me is that I moved quite a bit growing up and people always asked me if we were military and the answer is no. My dad has so many interests and things he wants to do in life that the next big opportunity was always somewhere else and so we moved frequently, chasing the dream. Making friends who had lived in one house their whole lives was always a bit surprising and seemed like the ideal to me when I was growing up and I envied them. I moved 11 times before I left for college, (lived in the same house twice) and lived in 5 states. Interestingly enough, I ended up marrying someone who had only lived in 3 houses before he left for college and two of those were in the same city. As I've grown older I've realized that moving a lot while growing up meant I was challenged and grew in many ways that my friends did not and I had opportunities that some of them never would have had. That being said, there were some pretty tough things about moving frequently and sometimes rather suddenly and unexpectedly as a kid.

The big moves growing up, my 5 mission moves and our 3 moves in one city since we've been married.

So, with all that being said, how am I okay with the Military lifestyle for my kids, you might ask?

 (get comfy as this might be a long post...)

Conundrum

If perhaps you've been wondering where I've been, I'm here to explain. I've had quite a conundrum going on in my mind. I have kept a family blog for the past several years and when I started this blog I thought I would keep it mostly Air Force/Military related to protect my family's privacy but now I'm not sure. I want people to be able to get to know me and connect on more levels than just Air Force information. How much do you feel comfortable sharing on your public blog and how do you know where to draw the line?

Social Media Stumbles

Almost a week ago I was reading through a milso's blog and one of the comments really surprised me. I've thought a lot about it and felt like I needed to get my opinion out there. I don't remember exactly what the blog post was about but I do think it had something to do with things that irritate people about facebook or social media or something along those lines, since I do remember something about people that take multiple selfies a day and post them. And hey, I can't manage to take a single flattering selfie so I gave up on that years ago so that one isn't an issue for me at all!

The thing that got under my skin was a comment that said how irritated someone was when people posted on their facebook walls about how awesome their husband is. They went on to say that it's been proven that the people that do this have failing marriages (not an exact quote, since I can't remember which blog this was on, but it's pretty close to the main idea). I am just going to go ahead and call BS on this! While I don't always appreciate super gushy, sappy posts on a daily basis from people I don't think that such a blanket statement about failing marriages connected to social media updates applies or is at all accurate.

Shouldn't people feel like it's okay to mention how awesome their husband (or wife) is on social media without feeling like their marriage is under scrutiny? MANY people post on social media about every little thing in their life. Sometimes it's a little TMI for me, but that's okay, I just try to laugh and remember that not everyone thinks like I do. Since people post about every aspect of their life, why would you expect them to leave out what should be the most important person in their life? My friends post about how proud they are of their kids and how much they love them, why shouldn't they feel comfortable posting about how much they love their spouse and how wonderful they are? Does this commentator really think that all these people have terrible marriages?

I have made a few posts on facebook in the past about how much I love my husband or how proud I am of him for some accomplishment he has achieved, or how I was reminded of just how awesome the guy I married is. Sometimes these happen on a normal day but these also happen after my hubby has done something super spectacular or gone out of his way to do something special for me or they happen on our anniversary when I remember just why this guy captured my heart.

I DON'T post such things in an effort to convince myself or anyone else that my marriage is better than it is. Nor do I know anyone who would do such a bizarre thing. The friends I have who post about their marriage or their spouse have strong marriages and want to share how happy they are (And I don't have many facebook friends that I don't know in person at least fairly well).  

I love my husband and am super proud of him. He is a talented guy and can achieve anything he sets his mind too. He's always learning new skills and talents just because he finds new things that he is interested in. He is the funniest guy I know and can make me laugh in ways no one else can and he just "gets me". He is a super hard worker and makes many sacrifices so that he can finish school and still provide for our family. He will never really know how much I admire and love him. 

My husband is a wonderful, inspiring guy, I love him, and I will shout it to the world and be proud of him! And if you think my marriage is on the rocks because I am proud of my husband and not afraid to share it then perhaps you should come over to my house and have dinner with my crazy fun little family and get a little change of perspective. So come on over, we don't bite! :)

What do you guys think? Is this way of thinking common and I've just been in the dark about it? Do you post on social media about your spouse?

MEPS

This past Thursday hubby went to the Military Entrance Processing Station (MEPS). His experience was slightly different than it is described online for most people so I will try to relay to you what he relayed to me about how it went.

We found out last weekend that he would be going in on Thursday. What that really means is that he reports to the hotel the night before. He needed to be checked in by 6pm on Wednesday. Even though we live less than an hour from the MEPS station they asked him to stay at the hotel with all the other guys. This particular hotel handles a lot of MEPS guys and they had a lounge area set up with wifi, video game systems and games, snacks and meal vouchers. The wifi was great for my hubby so he could finish the homework he needed to get done since he missed class to pick me up from getting a root canal done and then he needed to meet with his recruiter to review the paperwork that he would be submitting the next day at MEPS. They share a room with a roommate who could be from any branch of the military.

Most of the people who go through MEPS are enlisting so they take the ASVAB test while they are there, to determine what area of the military they are suited for but since Scott is going in as an officer they don't use that. They will use AFOQT test that he took years ago in the AFROTC that measures aptitude. (you can only take it twice and the scores never expire) The AFQOT doesn't replace the ASVAB (they already know a lot more about the officer candidates by this time than they do about those enlisting) but it does give the Air Force a good glimpse of Scott's brain and how he thinks. If that doesn't all make sense, ask me and I can try to explain it better!

Hubby said that MEPS was similar to a VERY comprehensive physical. It also included a drug test, a blood test, hearing test, vision test, depth perception test and a range of motion test. The range of motion test was very specific and included things like rotating your ankles different directions, making different kinds of fists, walking like a duck, balancing on one foot, kicking front and back, standing from a squat in a fluid motion without using your hands, large and small arm circles, etc...

One thing that I thought was interesting was that their fingerprint is used extensively to help identify them and fingerprint scanners were used to sign in to different tests to ensure that they were the ones completing it. 

At the end of the day Hubby was sworn in as Air Force reserves and committed to 8 years with at least 4 years active duty. The fingerprint was also used to sign the papers at the end of the day.

For hubby it was a one day deal and he was done, some of the websites where I looked to find information about MEPS said it was a 2 day deal.

There is some waiting time between different sections but not as much as he expected. Hubby took a book but ended up chatting with people more than reading (he's way more social than I am in situations like that, plus I jump at every chance I get to read a book without little fingers covered in jam or other sticky things poking at my pages while little voices request a snack, or need help with something). He said that there are lots of magazines in each room and tv's with the news, animal planet, etc...so you definitely won't be staring at a white wall the whole time you are waiting.

Before you go I would check out the weight requirements so you don't fail that portion of the day. Hubby passed without any issues but some other guys were a little over or a little under and didn't pass.

It's a great feeling to have one more things checked off the list and now we are just waiting on a class date for next year! Wahoo!

(And of course, don't forget your ID, all forms of ID that the recruiter tells you to bring...)

And of course don't lock your keys in your car when your wife can't drive up to bring you a spare set.....

Just For Fun

I found this list over at through it all and then some and thought I would do my own version to help you get to know me a little bit better. The first 100 I borrowed and then I added a few more since it felt like I hadn't done much after reading through the first 100 things! The items in bold and starred are the things I have done.

**1. Started your own blog 
**2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
**4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland
8. Climbed a mountain
**9. Held a praying mantis
**10. Sang a solo
**11. Bungee jumping
**12. Visited Paris
**13. Watched a lightening storm
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
**16. Had food poisening
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
**18. Grown your own vegetables
**19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
**21. Had a pillowfight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you're not ill
**24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Run a marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
**29. Seen a total eclipse
**30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of you ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36.Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo's David
**41. Sung Karaoke
**42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43.Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
**45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
**50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in person
**51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
**52. Kissed in the rain
**53. Played in the mud
**54. Gone to a drive-in-movie
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited The Great Wall of China
**57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served in a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout cookies
**62. Gone whale watching
**63. Got flowers for no reason
**64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
**66. Visited a Nazi concentration camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
**69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
**70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
**73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the changing of the guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
**84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
**88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone's life
90. Sat on a jury
**91. Met someone famous
**92. Joined a book club
**93. Lost a loved one
**94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a lawsuit
**98.Visited Japan
**99. Been stung by a bee
**100. Read an entire book in one day
**101. Been on a blind date
**102. Been to the top of the St. Louis Arch
**103. Hiked a volcano
**104. Seen the Statue of Liberty in both countries
**105. Gone to the top of the Seattle Space Needle
**106. Competed in a Ballroom Dance Competition
**107. Saw a bear up close in nature
**108. Sewed an entire piece of clothing
**109. Been in a beauty pageant
**110. Ridden in San Francisco cable car

6 years old, I'm on the left in the green coat

 Europe at 17, I'm on the right in the black sweatshirt. The Matterhorn is in the background

Which things have you done and what things would you add to the list that say something about you or your life experiences? OR what things are on your bucket list?