Some Days....

Yep, Today is one of those days. I am exhausted tired and just done with everything today. DONE!

Nuff Said!

Reality Sets In

"On Behalf of a Grateful Nation....."

Six words.....Six rather small words that send chills up my spine and tears to my eyes. These six words hunt my every fear, and I am sure everyone else with any loved one in the military's fears as well. I was once told by a Colonel's wife that at some point in our lifetime as a military family we will know at least one person who is in some form killed in action.

After watching Army Wive's tonight reality slowly began to set in. Steve smiled and laughed at me as he passed through the living room watching me ball my eyes out and go through a box a of tissues. What he didn't understand was I was not upset because of this fictional show, but the real world situation it was depicting. Our real world. It was just last week Steve came home to tell me a story of how he almost had a mid-air collision with another (civilian) air craft AND he's not even in a battle zone!

So what can I do to ease my mind? Nothing. All I can do is hold on to him every minute I have. Cherish every second I spend with my sister and every laugh I have with friends. I know the dangers that come with the job they are doing. I know the reality of what could happen. I know that my time with them is precious. I know that I am Blessed just to get to have them in my life. And I pray every day that no one else will ever have to hear those six hair-rising words.

Sweetness of doing....NOTHING

A philosophy that I took to a whole new level this week. I lost my cleaning day on wednesday, because my boss asked me to work while she ironically cleaned her house. After missing out on ten days of work this month I decided I could definitely use the extra money. I figured I could always catch up on the housework Thursday and Friday when I got off. Since my house is a disgusting mess right I obliviously did not catch up on housework.

Thursday I worked 11-4. Came home took the pups out to the dog park where they played with their friends till 6. Then Steve got home and informed me that a group of people from his flight were going out to a local restaurant called The Grill and he wanted to go. So we didn't get home till 830. By this point I was exhausted and ready for bed since I had to get up earlier then normal because they were shutting off our water (which turned out to be a false statement because the water NEVER got shut off.)

Friday was Steve's birthday so besides working 930-530 I had all his birthday stuff to do. Which included going out to eat AGAIN. (bear with me on this we did it a lot this weekend.) We were going to go to chili's but since it was jammed back we thought we would try something new. Hello Station Seven! This place was great!! Its located in historic downtown columbus right on Main Street. They have everything a normal Sports Bar would plus live music. Great Atmosphere and the food was delicious. We didn't get home till like 930 and there was no way I starting to clean house then.

So I planned on catching up on all the house work today. My dear husband had other plans for me. He has been talking about wanting to see that new movie Paul for months now. So we went to the 130 showing (cheaper!!) It was such a funny movie. Anyone who loves nerdy things like say STAR WARS would get a real kick out of it. I don't even like Sci-Fi and I loved it! Then we went to Lowes because ONCE AGAIN our shower is clogged (Welcome to base housing build in 1960!) Then we had a flight dinner at 6, which we just get back form (it's now 9!).

So although my week/end has consisted of NO CLEANING it definitely has not consisted of NOTHING. I guess I better make NO PLANS tomorrow and just CLEAN! LOL

On bated breath...

So here is how the last 24 hours or so in the Bostwick house has gone.

Tuesday night- Steve comes home from work nervous but feeling pretty confident about the flight he planned for the next day. We ate dinner and he tells me he's going study his general knowledge (GK) for the rest of the night. About 10 pm he comes flying out of the back bedroom slamming doors. I can tell we are on the verge if not far past a complete stress meltdown. He starts quibbling about the weather in the area he was flying into is supposed to be bad making it impossible for him to fly there and pass his check-ride. Then he tells that the weather in his two back up areas are bad as well. I try to offer words of encouragement, but you would think after almost a year of UPT I would learn my lesson to just let him vent this out and all will be well. A small spat between us ensues, but quickly ends when I offer to shine his shoes for him if that will help alleviate some stress tonight. BEDTIME but not before many prayers!

Wednesday Morning- 04:45 am Steve is awake making lots of noises in our room in his attempt to double check all his stuff for the um-teenth time. I try desperately to go back to bed, umm NO! When Steve leaves the house I know that I probably won't hear from him until much later so I should try not to thinking about his flight. Around 11pm my phone beeps with a text message from Steve. He tells me that they had flex (change) to his fourth back up plan to a place that he has never flown to before and he's pretty sure he already hooked the ride. I now beginning to panic a bit myself. I am pretty sure he's overreacting but I know that if he's not man is he going to be bear to deal with for the next 43 days. So from then on I am consistently checking my phone waiting for ANY word from him at all. FIVE....FIVE...that's right people I said FIVE HOURS LATER I get the following message "I passed!! 5G!!"

BIGGEST SIGH OF RELIFE ON THE PLANTE!

I don't know if any of you are familiar at all with Steve and mine's journey to get this far in pilot training but it has been a rocky one. I just wanted this finally huge hurtle for him to go smoothly. PRAISE GOD that it did. Although Steve's day was long and stressful he was able to prove that he can not only fly the T-1, but can fly a flight plane he has never even looked at before WELL! I am so ready for May to get here! LOL

WeekEND!

This weekend was so relaxing. I could not ask for a better way to end my ten day stay-cation. Friday night Steve actually got home at a decent hour (7pm) and we were able to relax. I made orange chicken which came close to the original recipe of Panda Express and we spent the rest of the night killing friends on Halo. (Yes, I play video games now with my husband..I am that big of dork!) Saturday we slept in (10 am) which is something that believe it or not is something that happens very rarely in this household. We went to lunch @ Zaxby's with a few other fly-boys from the class and Steve spent the afternoon (4 hours) in the flight room studying. This is very common recently! I spent the afternoon getting addicted to Netflix! We did manage to squeeze in the movie THE TOWN Saturday night. (Highly Recommended!) Sunday we went to the early mass so Steve could have the afternoon for guess what.....STUDYING! (Do you see a pattern here or what??) In his defense this upcoming week is going to be one of the hardest weeks of his UPT career. Today he had his too-check ride to his Navigation Check. Which luckily he passed! Which means after a day of planning and studying tomorrow he will have his BIGGEST check ride of SUPT!

The Navigation Check Ride = this is basically the most nerve racking check ride of a T-1 Student pilot's life. Basically he starts his day off with a 2 and 1/2 hour brief with a Check IP. Then him and said IP get into the plane fly 2(or so) hours a way, land for a couple of hours and fly back (2 or so hours) followed by a basically 4 hours debrief. This is the one time that you will knowingly more then likely break crew rest (12 hour duty day).

Ok to be honest there is WAY more to a NAV. Check then that but I am just trying to sum it up. At any point in this 12 hour period any one mistake can basically fail him. Which would be very bad for his ranking in the flight! This is a highly stressful Test! So basically what I am saying is PLEASE keep Steve in your prayers on Wednesday! I would really love for him to pass this checkride and then be able to enjoy his BIRTHDAY on FRIDAY!

As for me...I get to go back to hanging out with my lil mane man Hansen tomorrow! I love love my job even if it is a 9 hour day!

(Sorry I know this is all scattered but I am really tired and I just wanted to write really quick. lol)

Dear John

So today I watched Dear John on Netflix, and there is just something about this book/movie that aggravates the hell out of me. After 9/11 in the story (really even before that) Savannah acts as if dating a man in the military is a death sentence to the relationship. When John decides to extend his tour with his unit after 9/11 she gets angry with him. I can only image the hurt and disappointment of thinking the one you love will soon be about to be with you and having that ripped away but do be angry at him doing the only thing he's ever known?? She met him in the Army she knew this was his life. Then after only two months of him being deployed she writes him to tell him she has fallen in love with someone else and that it's over between them? Are you crazy girl?

I know it takes an extremely strong person to be with someone in the military. Never knowing exactly where your other half is or what they are doing? Or worse not knowing if their coming home at all. This was something I understood growing up an Air Force Brat myself, but it was not until I married an Airmen did it truly hit home. I love my father he is an amazing man. My siblings and I were blessed to have our parents. When he deployed growing up it was sad and I missed him like crazy, but us kids, we were alright. Now when I think about Steve going ( and I do mean think...I have been lucky enough to have never had to be without him for more then 6 weeks at a time.) it's a whole different story! When we were separated our first month of marriage a part of me shut down. I went though day to day life going though the motions but I never really felt myself. Even when I went back home and was around family I still didn't feel whole, something was missing. I guess that's the point though....I always stories of the Home-front keeping it together while the boys are away. I understand it now. You hold it together because life goes on weather your partner is there or not. That's the kind of person you have to be to marry military. You have to be able to make it on your own, even when your not whole. That's what this life takes. As the poem says I am in the Silent Ranks

The Silent Ranks

I wear no uniforms, no blues or army greens,
But I am in the military in the ranks rarely seen.
I have no rank upon my shoulders.
Salutes I do not give.
But the military world is the place where I live.

I'm not in the chain of command, orders I do not get.
But my husband is the one that does,
this I cannot forget.
I'm not the one who fires the weapon,
who puts my life on the line.
But my job is just as tough. I'm the one that's left behind.

My husband is a patriot, a brave and prideful man
and the call to serve his country, not all can understand.
Behind the lines I see the things needed
to keep this country free.
My husband makes this sacrifice,
but so do our kids and me.

I love the man I married. Soldiering is his life.
But I stand among the silent ranks
Known as the military wife.

Start Speaking

So today I amused myself by the little things.

Homemade Wings!

I was extremely iffy on trying to make wings for my husband. If there is one person I know on this Earth who knows good wings it's my husband. But tonight I was feeling daring. I heated up my professional style deep fryer for the first time, mixed up some batter, and fried me some wings. (Well Steve wings...we all know I don't eat ANYTHING on a bone.) I sat patiently on the couch while his wings cooled. Then anticipating an epic failure me and both dogs stared like freakish food stalkers as Steve took his first bite. (AND I QUOTE) "Katie, I hate to tell you this but......these are actually REALLY GOOD!" EPIC WIN in the KITCHEN for KATIE!!

Speak Feature of Apple.

So I was sitting there about to write an entire blog about my complete and utter disappointment in the Atlanta Thrashers this year for throwing away a perfectly good season when I found a very entertaining feature on our IMAC. The Speak Feature....Yes, Steve made fun of me for not knowing that MAC had such an inventive little do-da. So I sat there for about 30 minutes typing silly and some times vulgar words and phases into the computer and having it read them out loud. Steve just shook his head.

NETFLIX

DO NOT ASK WHY IT HAS TAKEN US SOOOO LONG TO GET ON THIS TRAIN! Tonight we got it finally and all I have to say is WOWWERS!! Yea I know we are slow SO WHAT!

So yea that pretty much sums up my day. LOL

Very Productive day of being UNPRODUCTIVE

So today started my "spring break"! My boss has off so that means I have off too! I spent the day doing NOTHING! After last weeks running around after a toddler and taking care of a infant I figured I should get at least one day of doing nada!

I started my day of sleeping in by getting woken up at 6 am by my loving husband who did have to work today. Don't fret too much people because I went right back to sleep at around 7:30 and slept in till 10! It was glorious!!!!! Yea I am bragging what-ca wanna do about it!

Then I spent the rest of the day playing on the computer where I Facebook stalked a bunch of people I haven't talk to in years and I began to wonder why on Earth we were even still friends on Facebook. So I started to do some spring cleaning of my friends list.

Yep...that was pretty much it. I cooked BBQ Pork-chops and rice for dinner and watched Coming Home with Steve where he spent the whole time making fun of me for balling like a baby! Now we are off to WalMart to pick up some print ink and then I get to return to my spot on the couch to continue my day of watching trash TV!

Tomorrow I will Clean....MAYBE!

I'M BACK!!!!!!!!!!

Ok so after a LONG LONG LONG stint of being away I am FINALLY back on my blog. Why was I gone for so long you may ask? Well you see we had an EPIC computer fail. Right before we left for Christmas Break to go see family and friends my previously used laptop from my sister died. :-(! So for a while we were using Steve's extremely old but still use able MacBook. Yea well not two weeks after we got back from break Steve's laptop over heated and voila NO computer in the Bostwick household. :-(!! Thank God for Tax refunds because now I am typing away on our brand spanking new iMac!

So what have you missed in our lives this year???

RECAP!!

January- Steve starting flying his new training plane the T-1 Jayhawk, and HE LOVES IT! He just had no idea how awesome this phase of training was about to become for him!

Happy Birthday to my wonderful sister Brittany the BIG 2-5! Yahoo!

I started back at work with lil Hansen who turned the big ONE on Jan. 30th! We were lucky enough to get to celebrate his big day with him. Boy am I gonna miss this kid when we leave :-(!

February- Happy 26th Anniversary to My Amazing Parents.

Happy 29th Birthday to the number one mommy in the world.

Happy Valentines day World!

Steve's first check ride in the T-1 PASSED!! Yahoo! With a great score too!! Then his amazing out and snacks started. For those of you who are not familiar with this term it is basically when they take a plane on your tax paying money and go to lunch somewhere out of state. However, the flight out there is full of lots training ;-)! So far the best one he's been to is when they went to Louisville and got to go to the Louisville Slugger Museum for the day.

Presidents weekend we got to spend a lovely time with Brittany and Alex! I am not speaking for everyone but I had a blast!!

Happy Birthday to Steve's number one daddy in the world.

And then we arrive here at March.

So we are only two weeks in and it has been a CRAZY ride.

The first weekend we celebrated OUR YEAR ANNIVERSARY! It was a great weekend, even if we did not get to go to Atlanta like we planned. We spent the whole weekend together and that's all that matters. Tip for those of you coming up on this big or any anniversary for that matter. DO NOT try and put a computer desk together on your big day. It just causes fights, but it does make for a funny story later.

This week was rather interesting. I can't really go into detail because I am trying really hard not to talk about people, but it's failing after this week. The base was having a HUGE UCI Inspection this week and I was roped into watching the 3 month old darling angel of a couple of inspectors who got screwed into coming here together. Well I still have my other job of watching Hansen 4 days a week. It was not nearly as bad I thought watching both of them together. Just a lot diapers and a lot of "Hansen you have to be gentle....Hansen that's not yours that's the baby's your a big boy...Hansen you can't play in the baby swing your too big." The little girl I watched was a total dear. She wanted food and sleep, and that's pretty much all I have to say on that!

So here we are....March 12th. Happy 84th Birthday to my Nana and Happy First Birthday to Addison Faith.