Sorry I haven't posted something new for a very long time. So this new post will be a sum up on everything that has gone on since my last post.

After BMT graduation and I went back to Utah life went on like it had been for the previous two months except that Jalen got his cell phone back and I could actually talk to him every night and we changed the wedding date from May 17, 2012 to December 23, 2011. That was three weeks away from when I got back to Utah. At the time our families were skeptical about the drastic change, but we made the decision that was best for us. Jalen and I realized that there was no way that he could definitely come home in May but we knew he would be home for Christmas exodus, so we decided to change the date instead of hope he would make in home in May.

So we got our families on board and started planning a wedding in three weeks. Luckily, I already had my dress and the maid of honor dress. Jalen's older sister Brita offered to do a dutch oven dinner for the wedding. We did fake flowers for my bouquet and my maid of honor's bouquet. My maid of honor was my sister of course and Jalen's best man was his older brother Jake. The biggest obstacle for me to overcome when we made the decision to change the wedding was that I thought the rest of Jalen's siblings wouldn't be able to come. Luckily all of the were at the wedding; it was the first time all seven had been together in one place at the same time for five years I think. Anyways...going along with the fact that the wedding was in December we used fake Christmas trees and poinsettas as decorations for where we stood during the ceremony and snowglobes for the centerpieces. Once we got all the wedding plans set all Jalen had to worry about was getting home on time. That was where tragedy hit. Jalen was scheduled to fly in on the 20th but on his flight home another passenger had some sort of anxiety attack and the plane had to make an emergency landing making it so Jalen missed his connection in Denver. He had to stay in Denver for the night and hope to get on the first flight home the next morning. I was only a little worried. To make a long story short, he got on the next flight home in the morning and the wedding with on without a hitch. Brita did my hair, our pictures, and the luncheon after the ceremony. Everything was perfect.

After about two weeks of being a newly wed couple that actually got to be together, Jalen went back to Texas to finish his Tech School; which was going to take until March and I went back to school full time and working at the campus library part time. We spent three months without seeing each other. We bought a car together; which was a huge pain because he had to sign the loan papers and I got about an hour phone call to ask him if he thought this car was a good buy and how much we could put down for a down payment. We bought an orange Subaru Impreza. The auto body shop we bought it from thought it was a 2008 but it turned out to be a 2009. They found that out after we had already made the deal so we got the car for a steal, probably about three thousand dollars cheaper.  When Jalen finished Tech School he moved to Cheyenne, Wyoming where he got based. A week after he got there my parents and I drove up to see him (and to drop off the new car so he had a way to get from our apartment to base). I spent five amazing days with my husband most of which I spent looking for a place to live because the housing office told us it would be 30-60 days before we could get housing on base. After finding an apartment, buying a new couch, and leaving Jalen to sleep in an apartment with no furniture for a month I went back to Utah for finish my semester.

In April I finished my semester, packed up our stuff and moved to Cheyenne, Wyoming. Eight hours from our families we started our lives together. Now June the apartment is finally settled with all of our stuff. Jalen has actually started working instead of sitting in a classroom and for the first time in years I actually had a summer break; which is about to end. I am going back to school Monday to get my CNA here in Wyoming and in August I'm taking Anatomy and applying for the Nursing program at Laramie County Community College. I just have to take a test that is similar to the ACT/SAT and hope that my application is good enough to start the program in the Spring semester.

Our chaotic lives of being a military family has started and I'm loving every minute of it. I miss the mountains and my friends and family but I'm happy to finally be with my husband. I can't wait for everything else to fall into place. I'm taking a deep breath and plunging head first into my new life. Here we go!

BMT Graduation

This was taken the first day that I saw Jalen after two months. It was Thanksgiving Day in San Antonio, Texas. I was absolutely jumping with joy, of course you can't tell if he was happy or not because he never smiled in like any of the pictures that were taken while we were there. However, the fact that he was in uniform in public and I couldn't hold his hand was driving me insane, so I stood as close as I could without actually touching him.

I was trying really really really hard not to turn around and never let go of him ever again. See the control...we stood like that for a good 45 minutes before we were seating in the resturant. I swear nobody in San Antonio cooks.

To make a long story short I spent the best four days of my life with my now amazing husband (he was my fiance at the time). San Antonio is beautiful and I would love to go back if I ever get the chance. However, I would rather be there when Jalen could be out of uniform so that I would be able to hold his hand, hug him, and kiss him without him potentially getting in trouble with his superiors. 

The Count Down Continues

16 DAYS LEFT!!!! It's getting so close to seeing my amazing man again that I can almost smell him (in a good way). :) That probably seemed weird to read. I guess I should inform you that I love the way he smells and that was one of the first things that I noticed about him. Even when he's not wearing cologne I love the way he smells, pure man, ugh!

So an update on what has been happening while Jalen has been gone. School, work, homework, stir, and repeat. I haven't done much stuff due to the fact that I have a ton of homework all the time. But, this past weekend I officially found people who really understand what I'm going through right now. They are the girls of the USAFGF facebook group. All of these girls are either dealing with their boyfriends/husbands being deployed or just at basic training like Jalen. Actually there are five us that have guys graduating the same week, so we'll hopefully get to meet. :) Also, because I don't fly in until Wednesday night, missing all of the first days events, the amazing ladies going the same weekend have agreed to be my messenger. They have agreed to carry part of a 4 part letter to Jalen, give him a huge hug for me, and let him know that he's really not alone even if his family and I aren't there. Each girl has been sent a letter showing my appreciation and another sealed envelope with the part of the letter they're responsible for. Each part of the letter expresses my regret of not being there, how proud of Jalen I am, my love for him, and how excited I am to see him the next morning. Hopefully, these letters and hugs makes him feel better about not seeing me... I wish him luck, and I hope all the letters make it to him safely. :) The count down continues....

Washington D.C Day 2

On the second day of our trip to Washington D.C we went on our Pentagon Tour (with special priviledges because of Jake's Air Force buddy that worked in the Pentagon), we also went to Arlington Cemetary, which was inspirational and very cool. Here are some pictures of the Cemetary. Unfortunately, pictures of The Pentagon are prohibited, so you'll have to use your imagination.



Women's Memorial




Women's Memorial




Lee House (Me and Jake exhausted after the long walk up to the house)




Old Tomb of the Unknown Soldier




Old Tomb of the Unknown Soldier




Full View of the Old Tomb




Old Amptheatre




Side view of the Old Amptheatre




Audience View of the Old Theatre




Some of the head stones




New Theatre: Audience View




Me by a huge marble column




A walkway through the cemetary




Nurses' Memorial




Tomb of the Unknown Soldier




Blossoming tree surrounded by headstones




JFK Eternal Flame



The Count Down

I was always told that I shouldn't wish my life away, and I should live in the moment. But, because Jalen is Basic Training and starting on his fourth week and I'm still going about my monotonous and very lonely days I have started a count down (Actually I've been counting down since 52 days), and I am wishing that every week, everyday, every hour, and even every minute would go by so much faster.

The first week that Jalen was gone I could not focus on school or work. I went through my days as if in a trance. I never thought that saying goodbye to Jalen for a couple months was going to be as hard as it actually is. However, some days are better than others, and as the weeks go by I am able to push the ache of missing Jalen to the back of my mind and focus on what I'm doing. Plus, my friends and family have been a huge support in handling the separation. I usually have something to look forward to on the weekends. This weekend (which was also fall break) I've spent with Marika. We have watched movies, gone ice skating, gone shopping, and just spent a ton of time being teenage girls.

So to sum it all up. My ticket to Texas for Jalen's graduation has been bought. School is going well and I'm not failing any of my classes. I am impatiently awaiting Jalen's weekend phone call and the letters he writes me. And, there is only 33 days until I fly to Texas so we can be together, even if it's only for a few days. Wish me luck...

Our Washington DC Trip First day (just a few pictures)

August 6th has come and gone, and our much antisipated trip to DC has been lived and is now gone. School and a new job started. Jalen doesn't work, he's just waiting for the day that he lives for Basic Training (September 26th). Our DC trip turned out to be a the end of our High School years and the beginning of adulthood. In every end there is also a beginning. Naturally our trip was one of the best experiences of my life. I gained alot of major life skills (with the help of Jake-Jalen's brother), I learned to read a Metro map, to travel without my parents, and to not only do everyday things like the dishes, and laundry for myself but for Jalen as well.



Salt Lake City Airport

 Well...we got through airport security, and made it to the gate with an hour and a half to spare, so naturally we were waiting on the plane.


The airplane at 30,000 feet




Jake and Jalen at The Capital

 We made it! This was the first day that we were there. We walked from the top of The Mall to the bottom, about 6-8 miles in one day in Washington DC humidity. Great way to start off the trip. :)


Jalen and I at The Capital




Jalen holding The Washington Monument



The White House

As Jake would say, "No Obama today".

Outside Fun

Ahhh...Isn't the summer grand? The sun warming your skin, snow cones, and the free time away from school. Fortunately, I was able to take some time off of my two summer jobs and enjoy some summer time fun with my amazing fiance-Jalen.

Jalen has a passion for guns, so we drove up to West Mountain and took a few shots at some targets.  

Next, I took a leap of faith and took Jalen to my family reunion on Boulder Mountain. I was pretty sure that he would be completely accepted and wouldn't be scared away from me...and I was right. We had so much fun hiking, four wheeling, and roasting marshmallows. Could this summer get any better?

The drive was beautiful, and one that I will always remember.