I can't believe it's almost Friday already! A couple days ago I was thinking that I had tons of Spring Break left and now I realize it's almost over and I still have a ton to do.
Abram and I both couldn't help but think that today was his original graduation date so he could've been home today or tomorrow. But we'll live with another 6 days from now (almost 5!). Instead this morning he took off for his 3-day Field Training Exercise so I won't hear from him until Sunday some time. He finished learning how to use all the vehicles yesterday using the road grader and the scraper in the last two weeks. He still has very much enjoyed the training part but has grown continually more and more frustrated with living arrangements including barracks and people. Last week he had his 23rd birthday and for a present his platoon had to move, which they were all frustrated with. Their sergeant was so displeased that he told them he wouldn't inspect their stuff anymore and they could just throw things into their wall lockers since they would be leaving in 2 weeks. A group of soldiers he lovingly calls "the retards" have really been getting on his nerves so he will be glad to be rid of them. Though he said one of them is from the Valley and will be flying home with him. But his battle buddy, who he knew before going to training and has become really good friends with the last 2 months, is also from here and will be with him, too. So that's what's been going on with Abram.
I have been on Spring Break this week and have spent it working at theater camp. I love it so much it hardly feels like work, though! We have a few hours tomorrow to put the finishing touches on our showcase and perform it for the parents the last hour of camp. They have been a really well-behaved group of kids this year and I have enjoyed every minute of it. I have had a few hours of extended care either before or after camp hours (it's basically babysitting while the kids watch movies and stuff) so I have used that time to study for my exams this Saturday. This is my one and only chance to take and pass my teacher certification exams before I graduate. If I don't pass one or both of them, I can't retake them until the fall which means I can't teach in the fall! So wish me luck, pray for me, and I'll let everyone know how I did as soon as I know.
And that's what's been going on with the Joslins. This set of Joslins anyway. I will keep everyone updated about the reunion next week, which will happen on Wednesday night at 7:19pm!
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
28 Days and Counting
Things have still been pretty calm in our lives the last couple weeks. We are down to 28 days, or 4 weeks, from today until Abram gets home from Missouri. A couple of weeks ago they decided to make his class a test group to add a Field Training Exercise (FTX) after their construction vehicle training. So that extended his stay by 5 or 6 days. He will for sure be home on March 23rd though. They promised this time. Ha, anyone familiar with the military knows that doesn't mean anything...
Abram is still enjoying his training. He likes the training part but isn't crazy about the downtime and living situations. He is dealing with it, though. Today they found out they're moving next week so maybe that will make his living situation a little better. He did pass his final PT test yesterday. He scored 229 and needed a score of 180. So he passed with no problem. He's worked with four vehicles now; the dump truck, the scoop loader, the back hoe and he just finished with the hydraulic excavator today. Tomorrow he starts using a bulldozer. He loves driving and operating all the different vehicles.
I have continued with student teaching. I'm coming up close to the end of my middle school stay and moving to the high school. I still enjoy it a lot and am learning new things all the time about teaching such as, walking around the room more, making eye contact with students while playing music, catching students by name when they start side bar conversations, and how to run a music program. I've been busy outside of school with teacing private students, teaching theater classes, talking with Abram, and cleaning a little. I had to finally clean out everything in my room at my parents' house because my room is being taken next week by my brother.
It's crazy how fast 2 years goes by. Even looking back at Abram's two-year mission it feels like it wasn't a whole two years. This last leg of his training feels like it is lasting forever and we get to talk on the phone every night! But anyway, my younger brother is getting home from his mission in Toronto, Canada next Wednesday! We are so excited to see him. I can't believe it's time already. His room was taken over by another younger brother so now he needs a new room and mine is the only free one right now. So I had to clean it out. :) When Abram was home over Christmas we brought home a few boxes of about the last of his stuff at his parents' house. Those boxes are sittting in our work room and now the boxes of my stuff are sitting there, too. So guess what we are doing on the weekends when Abram gets home? :D
The Friday before Valentine's Day a large box was waiting for me at home. I was on the phone with Abram when I walked in the door and found it and when I looked at the label and told him where it was from he told me I wasn't allowed to open it till Monday! So I waited patiently all weekend and this is what I found when I opened it Monday night:
It is so cute :) The dog is holding a little version of itself! Hopefully this year was our third and final Valentine's Day apart from each other. And that's a little of what's been going on with the two of us!
Abram is still enjoying his training. He likes the training part but isn't crazy about the downtime and living situations. He is dealing with it, though. Today they found out they're moving next week so maybe that will make his living situation a little better. He did pass his final PT test yesterday. He scored 229 and needed a score of 180. So he passed with no problem. He's worked with four vehicles now; the dump truck, the scoop loader, the back hoe and he just finished with the hydraulic excavator today. Tomorrow he starts using a bulldozer. He loves driving and operating all the different vehicles.
I have continued with student teaching. I'm coming up close to the end of my middle school stay and moving to the high school. I still enjoy it a lot and am learning new things all the time about teaching such as, walking around the room more, making eye contact with students while playing music, catching students by name when they start side bar conversations, and how to run a music program. I've been busy outside of school with teacing private students, teaching theater classes, talking with Abram, and cleaning a little. I had to finally clean out everything in my room at my parents' house because my room is being taken next week by my brother.
It's crazy how fast 2 years goes by. Even looking back at Abram's two-year mission it feels like it wasn't a whole two years. This last leg of his training feels like it is lasting forever and we get to talk on the phone every night! But anyway, my younger brother is getting home from his mission in Toronto, Canada next Wednesday! We are so excited to see him. I can't believe it's time already. His room was taken over by another younger brother so now he needs a new room and mine is the only free one right now. So I had to clean it out. :) When Abram was home over Christmas we brought home a few boxes of about the last of his stuff at his parents' house. Those boxes are sittting in our work room and now the boxes of my stuff are sitting there, too. So guess what we are doing on the weekends when Abram gets home? :D
The Friday before Valentine's Day a large box was waiting for me at home. I was on the phone with Abram when I walked in the door and found it and when I looked at the label and told him where it was from he told me I wasn't allowed to open it till Monday! So I waited patiently all weekend and this is what I found when I opened it Monday night:
It is so cute :) The dog is holding a little version of itself! Hopefully this year was our third and final Valentine's Day apart from each other. And that's a little of what's been going on with the two of us!
Sunday, February 6, 2011
Not much going on
There's hasn't been too much to write about the last three weeks. I've kept up with my student teaching and he's been busy with his training. We are getting more and more anxious to finally get to be together for more than six months in exactly 39 days and more than 3 months together as a married couple! When we are both busy with our respective duties we are fine but when we're not, all we can do is be anxious.
But the good news is that we do get to talk every day. He usually texts me a few times early in the morning (he's up at 4am, which is 3am in AZ) and lets me know when he's leaving for the course. That's about the time I get up to get ready for school. Then in the evening after we've both made it "home" we are able to text some more and then talk on the phone the last 30 minutes before he goes to bed. It is so nice to be able to talk to him every day. And on the weekends we get to talk all the time!
Speaking of Abram's training, he has been enjoying it a lot. The first week (weeks go from Wednesday to Tuesday) they just spent time in the classroom and had a couple tests. He got 100% on the first quiz and then 96% on the big exam. He was a little upset that he missed that one question because it was silly, of course. But I was still proud of him. :) After that first week they started on the dump truck, which he loved. They hurried up and finished it this last Monday, a day early, because they were expecting a snow day on Tuesday, which they did have. They had another one on Wednesday and finally got back to almost full training on Thursday. Now they are using the scoop loader. They trained on Saturday this weekend because they thought Monday might be a snow day so we will see what happens.
I have been able to teach a lot, especially this last week as the teacher was out sick. So it became my classroom (with a sub on the side, of course)for four days. It was so fun! I gave out lots of grades, changed 6th grade seating, handed out new music, and wrote bus passes. Oh yeah, and I taught 6 classes a day. I really got the full teaching experience (well, minus some of the extra clerical work) and I loved it! So I guess I'm in the right field. :)
So that's what's been going on with us lately. We are excited to know that February is a short month and Abram gets home in March. That makes it seem sooner.
But the good news is that we do get to talk every day. He usually texts me a few times early in the morning (he's up at 4am, which is 3am in AZ) and lets me know when he's leaving for the course. That's about the time I get up to get ready for school. Then in the evening after we've both made it "home" we are able to text some more and then talk on the phone the last 30 minutes before he goes to bed. It is so nice to be able to talk to him every day. And on the weekends we get to talk all the time!
Speaking of Abram's training, he has been enjoying it a lot. The first week (weeks go from Wednesday to Tuesday) they just spent time in the classroom and had a couple tests. He got 100% on the first quiz and then 96% on the big exam. He was a little upset that he missed that one question because it was silly, of course. But I was still proud of him. :) After that first week they started on the dump truck, which he loved. They hurried up and finished it this last Monday, a day early, because they were expecting a snow day on Tuesday, which they did have. They had another one on Wednesday and finally got back to almost full training on Thursday. Now they are using the scoop loader. They trained on Saturday this weekend because they thought Monday might be a snow day so we will see what happens.
I have been able to teach a lot, especially this last week as the teacher was out sick. So it became my classroom (with a sub on the side, of course)for four days. It was so fun! I gave out lots of grades, changed 6th grade seating, handed out new music, and wrote bus passes. Oh yeah, and I taught 6 classes a day. I really got the full teaching experience (well, minus some of the extra clerical work) and I loved it! So I guess I'm in the right field. :)
So that's what's been going on with us lately. We are excited to know that February is a short month and Abram gets home in March. That makes it seem sooner.
Sunday, January 16, 2011
Christmas, New Years, Student Teaching and Graduation
It's only taken me 3 weeks to finally get back with news but I did make it! As I said in the last post, Ciara finally made it home and we went over to see her on Christmas Eve. It was a glorious reunion! We spent some time just talking and starting to catch up but we barely made a dent. Most of it will have to wait till March when we can all be together again but we plan to share pictures, videos, and stories. Here is the picture I had been waiting to take for over a year!
After visiting Ciara, we spent the evening at Abram's parents where I got to participate in my first Christmas Eve with the Joslins. Even though it's the third Christmas I've known them, it was the first time I've participated in those festivities. I liked it! Abram was getting pretty anxious to find out what his Christmas present was and somehow talked me into doing Christmas the European way. Maybe it was the fact that he was only home for 2 weeks and I wanted us to have a good time that I said yes. So when we got home I let him open his present that evening. Here's one of my trees (we had another in another room) and Abram anxiously opening:
And the gift is......
All 11 Star Trek movies! I knew I would regret it probably some day but so far I'm good. :) We watched the first one a few days later and I actually liked it. Now I need to watch 2-6 again. :)
Christmas Day we went back and forth between both of our parents' houses. We started off at the Joslins for present opening. Since they had a 7-year-old there we couldn't start too late and my family always starts really late. So after some fun over there, we went to the Benitez house for breakfast and present opening. That was fun too and about the time we finished with that, we were back to the Joslins to talk with Abram's brother, Joseph, who is in the Philippines. After a little time doing that, we came right back to my parent's for dinner and then talking with my brother, Daniel, who is in Canada. He gets back in just a few weeks from now and celebrated his 21st birthday today. It was a busy but fun Christmas!
New Years was similar to Christmas. We spent New Years Eve with my family (and Ciara) playing games, drinking cider and having fun. Then we had the annual Joslin New Years Day dinner the next day. I decided after the holidays that having two families is more fun then I ever expected!
I started my student teaching the first week of January on Tuesday after shipping Abram back off to the base on Monday. I was thrown into teaching pretty quickly and it was so fun! I felt ready to go for it and my mentor teacher thought I was ready so she let me go for it. I had made a connection with so many kids in those first four days that I hope it's still there when I return this week.
I took this past week off from student teaching to go to Missouri for Abram's basic training graduation. His parents and I went together and had a blast! We flew out on Monday night, arriving in St Louis just before midnight. We were able to get into the USO at the airport with my military ID so we went there and spent the night on recliners. Not our best night's sleep but it was free, warm, and convenient so we appreciated it.
Tuesday morning we took off in our rental and headed to St. Robert, MO. It had snowed all day Monday and all night so it was pretty wet out there but we made it just fine! When we arrived at our destination that afternoon we just took things easy and went to bed early since we needed to catch up on our sleep. Wednesday was family day, but really it was 4 hours in the afternoon and by the time we got out of there late and had to get him back early, we had just over 3 hours together. But it was fun and SO good to see Abram. He looked so cute in his ACUs and Eyepro.
We went to the museums on base, had lunch, and he showed us some training sites on base. It was fun! Thursday was the big graduation. We were up and out the door early and it was worth it. Here is at the graduation in his seat:
He looks so good in his dress blues! And lucky for me, he had to stay in them all day. :) We didn't do much that day but sit around at the hotel and relax because there's not much to do in rural Missouri in January. But the time was SO nice. Here's a few more pictures from the day:
It was a great trip and we finished it off with a stop by the St. Louis Temple on our way back to the airport on Friday. Unfortunately, we had to leave Abram behind at Ft. Leonard Wood to start his advanced training this week in horizontal construction in the Corps of Engineers. The Temple there is beautiful and easy to find!
And that is what has been going on the last few weeks! If you're still reading either you really care about what's been going on with us, or you like to waste time on the computer like me! ;)
After visiting Ciara, we spent the evening at Abram's parents where I got to participate in my first Christmas Eve with the Joslins. Even though it's the third Christmas I've known them, it was the first time I've participated in those festivities. I liked it! Abram was getting pretty anxious to find out what his Christmas present was and somehow talked me into doing Christmas the European way. Maybe it was the fact that he was only home for 2 weeks and I wanted us to have a good time that I said yes. So when we got home I let him open his present that evening. Here's one of my trees (we had another in another room) and Abram anxiously opening:
And the gift is......
All 11 Star Trek movies! I knew I would regret it probably some day but so far I'm good. :) We watched the first one a few days later and I actually liked it. Now I need to watch 2-6 again. :)
Christmas Day we went back and forth between both of our parents' houses. We started off at the Joslins for present opening. Since they had a 7-year-old there we couldn't start too late and my family always starts really late. So after some fun over there, we went to the Benitez house for breakfast and present opening. That was fun too and about the time we finished with that, we were back to the Joslins to talk with Abram's brother, Joseph, who is in the Philippines. After a little time doing that, we came right back to my parent's for dinner and then talking with my brother, Daniel, who is in Canada. He gets back in just a few weeks from now and celebrated his 21st birthday today. It was a busy but fun Christmas!
New Years was similar to Christmas. We spent New Years Eve with my family (and Ciara) playing games, drinking cider and having fun. Then we had the annual Joslin New Years Day dinner the next day. I decided after the holidays that having two families is more fun then I ever expected!
I started my student teaching the first week of January on Tuesday after shipping Abram back off to the base on Monday. I was thrown into teaching pretty quickly and it was so fun! I felt ready to go for it and my mentor teacher thought I was ready so she let me go for it. I had made a connection with so many kids in those first four days that I hope it's still there when I return this week.
I took this past week off from student teaching to go to Missouri for Abram's basic training graduation. His parents and I went together and had a blast! We flew out on Monday night, arriving in St Louis just before midnight. We were able to get into the USO at the airport with my military ID so we went there and spent the night on recliners. Not our best night's sleep but it was free, warm, and convenient so we appreciated it.
Tuesday morning we took off in our rental and headed to St. Robert, MO. It had snowed all day Monday and all night so it was pretty wet out there but we made it just fine! When we arrived at our destination that afternoon we just took things easy and went to bed early since we needed to catch up on our sleep. Wednesday was family day, but really it was 4 hours in the afternoon and by the time we got out of there late and had to get him back early, we had just over 3 hours together. But it was fun and SO good to see Abram. He looked so cute in his ACUs and Eyepro.
We went to the museums on base, had lunch, and he showed us some training sites on base. It was fun! Thursday was the big graduation. We were up and out the door early and it was worth it. Here is at the graduation in his seat:
He looks so good in his dress blues! And lucky for me, he had to stay in them all day. :) We didn't do much that day but sit around at the hotel and relax because there's not much to do in rural Missouri in January. But the time was SO nice. Here's a few more pictures from the day:
It was a great trip and we finished it off with a stop by the St. Louis Temple on our way back to the airport on Friday. Unfortunately, we had to leave Abram behind at Ft. Leonard Wood to start his advanced training this week in horizontal construction in the Corps of Engineers. The Temple there is beautiful and easy to find!
And that is what has been going on the last few weeks! If you're still reading either you really care about what's been going on with us, or you like to waste time on the computer like me! ;)
Thursday, December 23, 2010
Update :)
Just a quick night before the night before Christmas. Abram made it home with no problems on Sunday morning. We have been enjoying our time together and are looking forward to our first Christmas together in the next two days. Ciara, unfortunately, was not so lucky. She got snowed in! I guess Europe, and definitely including England, got a lot of snow real fast so she was stuck there an extra FIVE DAYS! She did finally make it today about 4 hours ago. We have yet to see her, as we thought it most appropriate to let her family be with her today and for us to stay out of the way. However, we will probably stop by to see her for at least a few minutes tomorrow. We are very excited to see her!
In other news, we learned today that Abram's brother and his family will be moving up here to the valley from Tucson soon since he was offered and accepted a job in downtown Phoenix! That means our only niece will be up here close to us now :) Things are great and I am sure will stay that way for a couple more days!
In other news, we learned today that Abram's brother and his family will be moving up here to the valley from Tucson soon since he was offered and accepted a job in downtown Phoenix! That means our only niece will be up here close to us now :) Things are great and I am sure will stay that way for a couple more days!
Friday, December 17, 2010
This Weekend!
The weekend I've been looking forward to for weeks is finally here! I officially finished up school early this week and my grades are very good so far! There's only one I think might be lower than an A but I'll have to wait and see. Maybe it'll be an A-. I spent the rest of the week since finishing my finals on Monday playing Pooh shows, cleaning house, running lots of errands, and spending some time with my sister. I also supervised junior high kids this morning at their school music assembly. I've been sure to keep myself busy so the time passes quickly as I get more and more antsy.
So what do I have planned for my last day before seeing my best girl friend and husband on Sunday? I have five gigs! Five! Well, sort of. I start off with a one-hour rehearsal with my cousin who is getting ready for a music competition in January. Then I go and do three Pooh shows. There's at least one Saturday each year where we do three shows in one day and tomorrow is this year's day. Haha. After that, I am headed to play a choir concert at a church not far from the theater, meeting my Mom for some dinner on the way. We're playing the concert together and she's coming from another show out a little further. By the time I get home in the evening I'll be ready to sleep the night away and see my husband in the morning!
Abram's experience at basic training has been good overall. He said he enjoyed it and still likes the Army, which was good news! He's all set to graduate when he returns in January, having qualified in everything he needs to. He was a little disappointed that I was doing all the holiday decorating without him but since I haven't gotten either of the Christmas trees up yet and Grandpa and I just decided this week to get some lights up outside and bought the hooks and lights today, Abram will get to help with almost all the decorating next week! We'll have to work fast to get it all done before Friday...
I will be sure to bring an update next week on how the glorious reunions were for your enjoyment but until then, enjoy the weekend. :)
So what do I have planned for my last day before seeing my best girl friend and husband on Sunday? I have five gigs! Five! Well, sort of. I start off with a one-hour rehearsal with my cousin who is getting ready for a music competition in January. Then I go and do three Pooh shows. There's at least one Saturday each year where we do three shows in one day and tomorrow is this year's day. Haha. After that, I am headed to play a choir concert at a church not far from the theater, meeting my Mom for some dinner on the way. We're playing the concert together and she's coming from another show out a little further. By the time I get home in the evening I'll be ready to sleep the night away and see my husband in the morning!
Abram's experience at basic training has been good overall. He said he enjoyed it and still likes the Army, which was good news! He's all set to graduate when he returns in January, having qualified in everything he needs to. He was a little disappointed that I was doing all the holiday decorating without him but since I haven't gotten either of the Christmas trees up yet and Grandpa and I just decided this week to get some lights up outside and bought the hooks and lights today, Abram will get to help with almost all the decorating next week! We'll have to work fast to get it all done before Friday...
I will be sure to bring an update next week on how the glorious reunions were for your enjoyment but until then, enjoy the weekend. :)
Friday, December 10, 2010
Almost There
I just got back from ASU where I was working on the last assignments for my computer class. I did get them done and a few hours before it was no longer December 10th but it feels so good to have another class crossed off the list! I only have two more classes to finish up. One of them all I have to do is go play my violin for a few minutes. Although, it takes several hours of practice to do that well. :) Then I have to film myself teaching for 20 minutes and write a 5-page paper for another class. I will be all done with all of that by Tuesday morning so the end is in sight!
Just like I've almost made it through the semester, Abram's almost made it through boot camp. We had a little concern when he had trouble passing his shooting. He didn't qualify the first two times he tried but I knew it would happen the third time because there was a lot of fasting and praying going on here at home. Those things haven't failed me yet! He called yesterday and said he finally qualifies on Wednesday. Not only did he qualify but his score was pretty good. He had to score 23 and scored 27 this week. Great blessings come to those who wait! :) He finishes up his training next week and will be headed home that Sunday for his two-week break. While we were on the phone yesterday he asked me if we could plan a little get-away for a couple days during that break. He wants to repeat our honeymoon with the same hotel and everything. I guess it was good the first time ;) So while we talked I booked it for a couple days after Christmas.
In work news, Winnie the Pooh is up and running. We opened last week after a long week of rehearsals. It runs through the 23rd so I will stay pretty busy with that on the weekends and the week leading up to Christmas. I've got a couple extra holiday jobs to play next week, too. My work schedule is lighter than in years previous this year. I'm not sure why that is but I'll take it so I can spend time with Abram.
As a quick end note, military health insurance is wonderful. I highly recommend it ;)
Just like I've almost made it through the semester, Abram's almost made it through boot camp. We had a little concern when he had trouble passing his shooting. He didn't qualify the first two times he tried but I knew it would happen the third time because there was a lot of fasting and praying going on here at home. Those things haven't failed me yet! He called yesterday and said he finally qualifies on Wednesday. Not only did he qualify but his score was pretty good. He had to score 23 and scored 27 this week. Great blessings come to those who wait! :) He finishes up his training next week and will be headed home that Sunday for his two-week break. While we were on the phone yesterday he asked me if we could plan a little get-away for a couple days during that break. He wants to repeat our honeymoon with the same hotel and everything. I guess it was good the first time ;) So while we talked I booked it for a couple days after Christmas.
In work news, Winnie the Pooh is up and running. We opened last week after a long week of rehearsals. It runs through the 23rd so I will stay pretty busy with that on the weekends and the week leading up to Christmas. I've got a couple extra holiday jobs to play next week, too. My work schedule is lighter than in years previous this year. I'm not sure why that is but I'll take it so I can spend time with Abram.
As a quick end note, military health insurance is wonderful. I highly recommend it ;)
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