The kind soul looking out for Military kids

We live in base housing at Nellis Air Force base so my kids attend the base school, Lomie Heard Elementary.  There is a kind and very generous man who takes care of the kids at Lomie Heard.  Every year each child at Lomie Heard receives a new pair of shoes and socks from him.  The kids were thrilled to come home with new shoes in November. The other amazing service he does is dress up as Santa and gives each of the kids a present.  I had heard about this and could not really fathom this generosity.  I was lucky enough to be at the school for this assembly on Friday.  Mr. Ellis, dressed as Santa, told the kids that they were appreciated because their parents fight to protect the freedoms we all enjoy. Then he asked them if they had all been good this year. When they all screamed, "Yes!", he opened the curtain to the stage where there were stacks of toys covering the entire stage.  I was completely overwhelmed by this.  It made me quite emotional.  I could not believe the generosity of such a kind man.  The kids lined up grade by grade to receive their present.  The gifts were good quality toys and the kids were thrilled.  They walked with their toys through a line of airmen who gave them high fives.  I felt privileged to have seen such an awesome event.  There are some amazing people in this world who provide an example to us all.  

Gingerbread house decorating

"Dress like a Candy Cane" day at school

Time Out for Women- Las Vegas

This last weekend I attended Time Out for Women in Las Vegas.  It is a weekend conference for LDS women with uplifting music and speakers.  The theme of the conference was, "Inevitable Light."  We were asked to think about our gifts of the spirit and this conference answered questions for me that I have been pondering and wrestling with a long time.  Since I have moved here to Las Vegas, I have constantly questioned what I have been spending my time on. I am always concerned that I teach yoga and Zumba too much and that I take too much time away from my family in pursuit of my skills.  The conference asked us to stop when we feel happy and fulfilled.  What are we doing that moment?  We may be using one of our gifts.  Last Thursday in my yoga class at the Warrior Fitness Center on base, I had a very clear moment where I was watching the students and I thought, "I am so happy teaching and I am good at this."  I feel this all the time when I teach.  I love watching people make changes in their bodies and walk out of class feeling uplifted.  So why do I question that what I am doing is good?  I know that one of my gifts is teaching with my talents, whether that be with my physical abilities, or with my musical abilities.  And I have always been a teacher.  When I was three years old in my first tap recital, I stopped dancing to show all the other kids the right moves.  Most likely I was just being bossy, but I was trying to teach.  We are not given gifts only to shove them away for another time when it may seem like we are not so busy.  That is one of our challenges in this life, what to do with the time that we have been given.  I believe that we are supposed to use our gifts to benefit the kingdom.  If I can help someone enjoy the gift of their body or clear their minds of distractions so that the spirit can enter in, then I am benefiting the kingdom of God.

Happy Halloween!

Gilcrease Orchard- I am so glad we found this place.  Not only does it feel a little bit like Utah, but I have a place where I can get fruits and vegetable to can next year.

Bear's new braces!

Hiking at Red Rock Canyon on Veteran's Day

Eternal Companions

A tribute to my brother, Bryce, who was married for time and all eternity to his sweet bride Claire on October 18th, in the Logan Utah Temple.  Bryce is the brother that everyone should have.  He is loyal, kind, protective, and loving.  He and I were good friends growing up because we only had each other.  We were a small group, Bryce, my mom, and me.  We were tight; the three musketeers.  My mom refused to accept that siblings would fight. One time while we were separated in our rooms, we crafted a telephone with string and two cups.  Ah, the days before texting.  We thought that we were being so deviant, talking to each other when we were supposed to be apart. I am sure that my mom knew what we were up to and did not care because we were quiet, we were out of her hair, and we were collaborating instead of fighting.  She expected us to be friends at all times and even though we had some struggles as young kids, the friendship won out in the end. 

Mt brother is very rarely serious, even on his wedding day.

Ok, pretty nice, sweet, and serious

I would not be doing my duty if I did not mention some funny things about Bryce.  As a little boy, he hated peas and would slowly melt into his chair while groaning loudly until he ended up on the floor under the table.  Now he is a “foodie” so he has overcome this problem with age.  He used to bring out his harmonica and play for guests.  He would inhale in and out into the harmonica while running in circles.  This has grown into his love of music and dancing.  Poor Bryce had to suffer through all sorts of silly nicknames; “geez”, “mop head”, “boo head”.  Bryce was “boo-head” until I had Bear and decided that “Uncle Boo-head” sounded a little too juvenile.  It was time for him to grow up.  One of the most memorable events was the plum leather.  My mom was making plum leather in the kitchen.  She removed the lid on the blender just as Bryce’s little finger reached up to touch the buttons.  Plum leather flew all over Bryce, my mom, and the entire kitchen.  I have never run so fast to my room. He has not really grown out of his kitchen troubles as he still frequently clogs my mom’s disposal.  I hope this is something that Claire can help him with. 

Bear, Bub, and Pants love their aunt Claire and Uncle Bryce!

Bryce has been someone that I have been able to rely on and confide in my whole life.  From childhood pretend games and family vacation memories, we have grown into adulthood together.  I was the lucky sister who received a weekly missionary letter from Bryce.  He made it a point to write to both my mother and me weekly.  I was the lucky one who got to tell my mom that he was extending his mission.  He probably just did not want to deal with that himself, so he wrote the big news to me.  What are sister’s for?  Bryce is always the one who calls me on the phone to catch up since we have not lived in the same city for 13 years.  There have been milestones for my family that he has had to miss like my wedding and the birth and blessing of Bear and Bub.  That is when it is hard to have only one sibling.  But my children have all loved Bryce as their favorite uncle.  It made my mother quite frustrated that baby Bear would choose to go to him before her. 

Pretending to be horses at the reception in Mendon, Utah

Now I am the lucky sister that gets to watch Bryce take his sweet Claire to the

temple and start their eternal family.  So Bryce and Claire, I wish you the best start to your eternal story.  Thanks for being a wonderful brother, filling my childhood with happiness, and all the great memories that are yet to come. To Bryce and Claire!

Reception in Mendon, Utah

Reception in Salt Lake City, Utah

Thoughts on Las Vegas

As time goes by, we adjust to things in Las Vegas.  I am still getting used to the weather.  It is October 11th and the daily temperatures remain in the high 80's.  As I was going through the kids clothing boxes to make sure they have a few pants for when we go to Utah next weekend, I discovered cute long sleeved Halloween shirts.  The kids wore them to school on Friday even though it was 88 degrees.  Halloween is my favorite holiday and even though I am all decorated inside the house and out, it feels so different at 90 degrees.  I miss the crisp fall scents and the smell of food canning in the house.  I am not sure how to can here as I do not understand the seasons of growth.  I am going to make this a goal for next.  This year is all about getting settled and finding our place.

I like to ask local people why they enjoy living here.  Today I attended a Kappa Kappa Gamma Founder's Day tea with the Southern Nevada Alumni Association.  I really enjoyed talking to the women who have raised their kids here.  One woman has a beautiful garden and grows lettuce and spinach year round.  I will have to learn from her.  She also felt when she was raising her kids that the Las Vegas Strip was a great cultural experience for them.  They could visit a pyramid (the Luxor), explore an artistic conservatory (the Belagio), float in a gondola (the Venetian), and watch a volcano erupt (the Mirage).  I have to admit that I have never thought of the Strip as a family cultural experience.

"Staycation" at the Mirage where the kids saw the white tigers, dolphins, and volcano.  They did love it!

Perhaps more profound was the conversation that I had with a woman in one of my Zumba classes at the YMCA. She is LDS and has lived in Las Vegas her whole life.  When I asked her why she liked it here, she said, "I have the strip 20 min from my home in one direction, and the temple 20 min in the other. I get to decide what side I am on."  This gave me the chills.  I like the idea that I have the power to choose which way I point my gaze.  "As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." -Joshua 24:15.

Las Vegas Temple

Family Vacation

We just got back from our vacation to Southern California.  It is nice being only four hours away!  My mom and brother met us from SLC.  Las Vegas is a good half way point.  We spent our first day at Sea World where all military families get in for free.  They had all the military members stand to be recognized at the beginning of the Shamu show.

We also enjoyed the Mormon Battalion visitor center which is just five minutes from Sea World in Old Town San Diego. It is a great interactive visitor center and is very educational about the history of the battalion.  I think it is a good missionary tool for the area.

Bear is dressed in Battalion gear with the help of the sister missionary.

We did spend one day at Knott's Berry Farm.  We are really just Disney fans though.

Josh is still practicing, even at Knott's!

We purchased our entire trip through our ITT office on base.  It is nice to be able to take advantage of some discounts due to Josh's military service.  I dressed Pants in Princess costumes every day.  Bear feels a little too big for that now and that makes me sad.  She was excited to dress as Elsa from Frozen though.  It was perfect to have Pants was Anna.  We had a great time at the happiest place on earth!

Meeting Red in Radiator Springs- California Adventure

Yes, we waited to see Captain America!!  He was so great with the kids- telling Bear (dressed as Elsa from Frozen) that he was afraid of her because he does not like ice.  Then he told Pants (dressed as Anna) that they had a lot in common since they had both been frozen and unfrozen.  Notice me and Bub have a coordinating shirt on.

Meeting the Frozen characters.  Notice to matching costumes.

My favorite- THOR!  Yes, he noticed my shirt.  I should have brought my hammer shirt to change into in the bathroom.  

Halloween Party costumes- Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.

Immersion into the Nellis community

When Josh received his orders to report to the Nellis AF Base, we made the conscious decision that we would live on base.  We felt that since we were not raised in military families we needed to learn as quickly as we could about the culture of the military.  What better way to learn the terms and access the benefits then jumping right into the base community?  Truthfully, most of the time I do not notice much of a difference now that we are in our permanent base housing. I am just a mom on the street taking the kids to school like the other moms.  I feel like it is a mini town sometimes. There are times when I really do notice though, like in my correspondence with the Warrior Fitness Center.  This is one way that I have found to connect myself to the community.  I am starting to recognize some of the people that come to my classes and I see them at the Commissary or at the school.  It helps me to feel that I have a place here.  I have also joined the Nellis Area Spouses Club.  This club is open to any military affiliated person in the area, so retired, active duty, reserve, national guard, etc.  There is a lot of military around. I am glad that this group is not specific to Officer's Spouses only. One thing that I will be doing is volunteering time once a month in the Thrift Store.  The Thrift Store sells donated clothing and housewares and all of the profits go back into the military community.  They fund scholarships for military family members as well as give to local area charities.

It is important for Josh to be involved in many different aspects of military life as well. At the end of every year he is given a Officer Performance Review (OPR). This review is an evaluation of his work over the last year and is used when he applies for higher rank, different positions and opportunities within the Air Force. The evaluation looks at his professional accomplishments (leading an element, money saved or money earned, number of people he help return to service, etc.). The OPR will also look at his contributions to the Air Force community outside his professional duties (services, activities, volunteering). He takes all his activities and writes bullet statements or "bullets". These are reviewed by his rater and commanders and then submitted to the Air Force. These are kept in his file and follow him throughout his career.  Josh has been chosen to lead the Family Advocacy Program (F.A.P.) at Nellis. F.A.P. is the program that provides services to family members that have issues with domestic violence, child abuse, neglect, or maltreatment. His element works to prevent first and treat second. Josh has exposure to all levels of Air Force leadership and this bring a great deal of exposure and pressure. His element is comprised of 10 individuals and most are civilians.  Many have some form of military experience or have been working in the program for a few years. Josh is very excited about this opportunity. He will have monthly meetings with the base vice commander so he will become well known in some circles.

The second major project that Josh has undertaken is the planning of the 2015 Air Force Ball. This is the formal event for the base. Josh will observe the 2014 ball committee to learn how they planned and prepared for the event and then starting in October he will take the lead for the coming year. This is a very complex event that he will lead a team of people to implement it. I am excited because I will have an excuse to get all dressed up and go out with Josh in his mess dress (formal military tuxedo.)  

 

First day of school for Bub and Bear.  Pants is in the background and is unhappy at being left behind.

Looking back over a year...

A year ago my family went to the Shakespearean Festival in Cedar City, Utah.  We visited a war memorial for people who served and died from Iron County.  It is very impressive and includes memorials from the Korean War, World War I, World War II, Vietnam War, and Iraq.  Josh was inspired by these memorials last year and started to write his statement of intent to join the Air Force.  Look where this year has taken us!  He is now an Air Force member and we live on Nellis Air Force Base.  I did not foresee this when we visited the memorial last year.  You just never know where life will take you!

Josh and the kids standing by the Air Force memorial in Cedar City, Utah

New job and Summer Fun Jar

I have been teaching Yoga and Zumba at the Warrior Fitness Center on the Nellis AF Base.  I recently accepted the contract manager position so I create the monthly fitness schedule, hire new teachers, and complete payroll.  On my second day of holding the title, I received a call from a Master Sargent at the Fitness Center.  He was so formal, constantly calling me ma'am, and filling me in on the politics of the base fitness center.  I wanted to tell him, "Wait, I am just a mom who loves to teach yoga!"  Sometimes when I receive emails always, addressed to "ma'am" with lots of acronyms and titles at the end of the email, I feel out of my league.  I do not know how to respond properly.  Can I just say Hello?  I need to create a title for myself:  Master Mother Ashtanga Lieutenant.  (Can I put that on the house under the Captain Turner sign?) I took the job so that I could schedule myself more classes.  I did not realize that I would be in contact with the Air Force on a weekly basis.  I am used to working as an independent contractor so I will have to get used to working with a huge military facility.  This is just another little culture switch for me.

For the last few summers I have created for my kids the "Summer Fun Jar."  Every week we would some activities out of the jar to fill the long summer days.  In Utah we did things like picnics in the park, hike up Hobble Creek Canyon, fish in Salem pond, visit the farm at Thanksgiving Point, play in the Springville Splash pad, etc.  None of these things apply to Las Vegas.  When I attended the Heart Link meeting (orientation for new military spouses), I received a booklet of things to do around Las Vegas.  We have been slowly working through them, trying to find out about our new surroundings.  Truthfully, most of the time we end up at the pool but I do get sunburned no matter how much sunblock I put on, so I need a break every so often.

Today we picked the slip, "M & M World."  Ok, seems easy, it was on the strip but we left at 10:00am, so I thought it would be fine.  Everything is 20 min away from us so we had some travel time.  Then we had to find parking. Why did I think I could find some parking and walk right in?  We found a spot after 10 min in the MGM Grand Hotel parking garage.  Then we took a 20 min walk through the hotel, no joke, I timed it.  By the time we got to the M & M World, the kids were already saying they were hungry.  The M & M World is free but I should have known better.  It is just a big advertisement to buy the product.  After watching the 3D movie and starting to get hungry myself, I bought into the marketing ploy.  Then we had to walk back to the car.  Remember, 20 min through the hotel, 10 min to get back to the freeway, and 20 min home. I threw up my hands and said, "We are going to the Rainforest Cafe!" because it was in the MGM Grand Hotel.  These are the kinds of outings that I have in Las Vegas.  I used to be the mom that would pack our lunch everywhere, find a bit of grass to sit on, and eat.  All in all though, it was really a fun morning.  The kids loved the M & M World and the Rainforest Cafe and I have noted that the "M & M World" slip will be removed from the Summer Fun Jar for further summers.  Once is enough!

Race Car the M & M World. Pants is already clutching her desired purchase

Rainforest Cafe at the MGM Grand.  The whole time I was reminded of the Animal Kingdom in Disneyworld, one of my favorite places!

Family time and Home

We spent some time in Utah with our family over the 24th of July. In Utah, the 24th of July is Pioneer Day, the commemoration of the Mormon Pioneers entering the Salt Lake Valley.  We watched the parade on TV and the kids were very aware of the military tributes in the parade.  This is some thing that we have gained with Josh's service.  I do not think the kids would have noticed the Air Force veteran riding in the car or the Air Force anthem being played by the high school band before this life change.  It is fun to hear their cheers of recognition and excitement.  I am glad that they are starting to have some pride in their country and that this has become a bit of their life.  I noticed military words creeping into their vocabulary while we were with family.  Bear said to her cousin, "Have you ever been to the commissary?"  She made it sound like the commissary was some new and strange place and that her cousin should be jealous.  I did not burst her bubble by stating that the commissary is just a grocery store.  Bub was telling his grandparents that he likes Las Vegas better than Springville, Utah because there are jets over our heads every day.  That is hard to top.

When I visit Salt Lake, I feel like a visitor.  We have not lived in Salt Lake since 2004 so it still remains my childhood home but is now the place that we visit family.  We did stop in Springville on our way to Las Vegas to meet some old friends.  This felt strange to me. Springville became home to us quickly.  We lived there for four years and we were very integrated in the community.  It was strange to drive the streets but not head toward Brookside Drive. I feel in between places right now. We are settling into Las Vegas but it is not home yet.  What does the feeling of home mean? I am not entirely sure except that I do not feel it yet. I suppose that the feeling creeps up on a person one day unawares.  I look forward to finding my haunts and places that make Las Vegas special and meaningful to us.

Hogle Zoo in Salt Lake City

Fairy Forest in Kamas Utah

Historic Cove Fort in middle Utah.  LDS historical site

Military Day to Day at Nellis

It has been a while since I have written about Josh's military day to day life.  Josh has applied for Squadron Officer School.  He can either complete this through distance learning in which he would have 18 months to complete the course or he could go back to Maxwell AFB and do an eight week residence.  He would need to complete this course before he would be eligible to advance to Major.  He would like to go back to Maxwell and take me with him for the eight weeks. Anyone want to volunteer to watch our kids? Each rank in the air force has an educational piece associated with it and this is the education for Captains.

I asked Josh about his day to day life in his job.  He wears his ABU's daily and he does not have the strict protocol and ceremony like he did at COT.  He did have a formal ceremony today though.  A new colonel arrived as the Squadron Commander so they all met at 7:00am at attention. The change of command ceremony dates back to the Prussian Military. The Squadron flag was given from the exiting commander to the new commander in front of all the troops so that they would see the change in command.  Josh said that there is more ceremony on the operational side of the Air Force because they are constantly war ready.  The medical squadrons have a different focus.  They support in time of war.  These kinds of things are interesting to me because they do not compare to our past experiences in the civilian work force.  When a new boss arrives to the workplace, you get an email and a board meeting.  Some of these new experiences we are having still surprise me.

Our discussion of ceremony at dinner prompted our kids to practice their salutes.  Bear has hers down pretty well.  Bub is not quite stiff enough and Pants is determined that the salute comes from the top of the head.  There is no convincing a three year old.

I actually really like the names on all the houses on base.  Then I can find the house I am looking for.

Move to Base Housing

We finally were able to move to our base housing on Nellis Air Force Base on June 26th.  We were about two and half months in the TLF without most of our stuff and any internet connection.  I was ready to move.  I guess that it is too much to expect for the move to go smoothly.  The movers were not allowed on base until 1:00pm.  They sat at the guard post for four hours while their entire truck was searched. I am  not sure where the problem was because I am sure lots of people move with similar amounts of household items.  Once they did arrive at the house things went pretty quickly.  Then we started to find all the broken items.  The driver and movers on the Springville side did a horrible job.  Here is the list:  Our bed is completely broken as it is an air bed and the tubing was snapped, the parts box was missing of any parts so we could not set up Bear and Bub's beds, the kids homework table arrived in pieces, our dresser has two chunks of wood missing from the base, a floor lamp base was broken, my curio case was cracked in half on the base, the toy kitchen had water damage and the base was crunched, there was a chunk taken out of the kids dresser, the computer desk arrived in pieces, and couch had a ripped seam, and the piano paint was scratched on the side.  The movers kept complaining about the way the items were labeled and and listed on the paperwork.  They did not leave until 6:30 and we had a mess and only Pants had a good working bed. Thank goodness for good neighbors who arrived with dinner and an air mattress.  Since we have been unpacking, I have noticed the lack of our broom and mop.  I had a breakdown in Lowe's over that because they did not have the step on it dust pan that is now lost to me.  Thank goodness for Amazon.com. So, we are in, we have broken stuff, but we are determined to make this home!

Nellis Base Housing

In Search of Yoga- Found!

My quest for Yoga in Las Vegas is mostly concluded.  I have found this magical place called the YMCA.  At the YMCA I can attend my own fitness classes while Pants goes to Kids Gym, Bub goes to a Y-Kids class called CATCH, and Bear can attend class with me or go to CATCH with Bub.  It is just wonderful.  I am not sure why Utah County is not filled with YMCA’s.  They are a Mormon mother’s dream come true!  Perhaps that is why they are not in Utah County, it would be busting at the seams with all the Mormon kids.  I do miss going to yoga class in a yoga specific studio but for now, while my time is parceled out by children, this is working.  Bear and I attended Aqua Zumba together today.  I love having her as my little pal.  We both wore our hair in high buns (twinners!) so that it would not get wet.  Well, my hair stayed dry.  Another benefit that we are enjoying is the military family discount, 50% off every month.  I do value exercise and I want my children to grow up having positive memories of being active.  I want it to be our family culture.

I am also finally teaching ashtanga yoga again.  I cannot believe how much I have missed it.  My first class at the Warrior Fitness Center on Base was attended by 17 people. I was very encouraged.  I like listening to the military conversations around the room; spouses talking about their husband’s assignments, discussions of TDY (Temporary Duty Assignment, I have no idea what the Y stands for), and transfers to and from other bases.  There certainly is a culture here that I feel I barely understand.  I am happy that yoga is so popular on the base.  When I was completing my expensive and time consuming training, Josh was losing his job.  He was not being paid as the company did not have any money to pay him.  We were paying money that we did not have for the training and to the babysitter.  Josh was so supportive of me, saying that I should be able to teach anywhere we were.  That seems to be true and I am grateful for his foresight and his support.  

Las Vegas Temple

Bub's Kindergarten graduation. He had glitter on his head for days!

Lagoon day in Utah

14 things we have learned about Las Vegas and the Air Force in 2014

1. Everyone has a tattoo here so Josh finally fits in!

2. White Oleander is everywhere on the base, surrounding the walls, the post office, and beautifying the homes.  It is a poisonous plant that causes allergies and skin irritations.  I think this is a threat to national security!

3. Need to read a newspaper?  Just look outside.  There is bound to be one blowing around along with tissues, napkins, paper, etc.

4. The favorite color in Las Vegas is Salmon. The houses are salmon, the rocks are salmon, the rock walls around the housing is salmon, and even inside the temple is, you guessed it, salmon.

5. The drivers are really courteous here...until you leave the base. Watch out for red light runners!

6. Goodbye Utah County mommy, hello Gangsta motha!  I have tinted my windows really dark.  It is totally HOT!

7. Even a three year old can pull rank.  Pants has been know to yell, "That's Captain Turner" to the gate guards as they salute him.

8. The Air Force likes to tell us how to do everything, even when to wake up.  6:30 am revelry every morning.

9. What should Josh wear to work, Air Battle Uniform 1 or Air Battle Uniform 2?  They look very much the same...hmmm

10. We must be in sin city because it is hotter than *^&#!$*

11. We have perfected the art of hurry up and wait.

12. We are starting to speak acronym, our second language!

13. If Josh gets a sunburn, he can be arrested for damaging government property.

14. Josh likes to play two games here in Las Vegas: Spot the Mormon and Spot the Call Girl.

"Tourist" weekend- Mirage Hotel

Heart Link Meeting

I am constantly amazed at the people who will thank me for Josh’s service in the military.  This is a humbling thought to me.  I feel like we entered this job to help ourselves.  We needed a change, we needed to fix our situation.  So, I am humbled when I am reminded by a stranger that he is also helping others serve this nation.  Sometimes it feels that he is not doing much in that he is not flying or attending to the planes that protect our interests.  He is serving the country though because he is looking out for the mental health needs of those that are flying those planes.   This life is still a little surreal to me.

Here is a way that Josh practices for his PT test.  He passed at 94% so he does not have to take it again for a year.  He was really excited.  In a year Pants should be a little bigger too so he better not let up on his training.

I attended the Heart Link meeting on the base today.  The meeting is put on by the Airman Family Readiness Center and is for new spouses to Nellis AFB.  I actually won a prize for being the newest Air Force spouse- 3 months new!   These kind of meetings make me feel excited for this new life that we have entered.  Colonel Perham talked to us about the base and how large and influential it is.  There is usually one wing on a base but Nellis has five.  It is the lower 1/3 of the state of Nevada, at 2.9 million acres of land.  This is bigger than the state of Rhode Island.  The desert climate is very conducive to flying and training as the air is dry and the mornings are clear.  Nellis houses all of the fighter aircraft for the Air Force so there is always an air show here with the pilots flying, training, and practicing war.  This is the biggest complex in the entire Department of Defense.  Nellis contributes 5 billion dollars to the local community here in North Las Vegas. 

The most exciting part of the meeting was that I obtained my first challenge coin.  Challenge coins are a military tradition and most service members collect them as they move from base to base and ranks.  Colonel Perham presented the coin to all of us with a handshake as is tradition.  Now I have to carry it with me always.

Here is a funny little thing we received at the training.  It is amazing how true these things are.  I am already noticing the truths after just three months:

The Ten Commandments of a Military Spouse

1. Thou shalt not write in ink in thy address book or planner.

2. Thou shalt not covet choice assignments.

3. Love thy neighbors from other branches of the service no matter how superior the Air Force may seem.

4. Honor all thy benefits for as long as they all shall live.

5. Be thou kind and gentle to retired, white-haired Commissary, Exchange, and Thrift Store customers, because someday thou too will be a retiree.

6. Thou shalt not threaten to, or kill thy children or spouse when your spouse is TDY.

7. Thou shalt look for the best in every assignment even though the best may refer to “most childhood diseases in one year” or “record snow in one month. 

8. Thou shalt remember all thy friends from all thy assignments when holiday greeting cards, for thou never knowest when thou may wish to spendeth the night with them while enroute to a new duty station.

9. Thou shalt not curse thy spouse when s/he is TDY during moving days, holidays, birthdays, or anniversaries.

10. Thou must never arrive at a new duty station and constantly speaketh about how much better thy last base was.

Just a note on #9:  We have only been in the service for three months but by June, Josh will already have been gone for a moving period (while he was at COT and I was selling our Springville home), three birthdays (Nora’s, Tessa’s and his own), and one holiday (Father’s Day.)  Now he just needs to be assigned a TDY in September and we will miss our Anniversary!

A Church Focused Weekend

Josh and I went to the Las Vegas Temple on Saturday.  It is in North Las Vegas but not our area of North Las Vegas.  We drove past the Walmart that is nick named the “Stab-Mart”, past the tent squatters in an abandoned field, and up onto the hill where there are beautiful adobe style mansions.  It took us 15 min to go into a completely different tax bracket.  Amazing.  We feel that we are lucky being so close to the temple.  It is ironic that the farthest we have ever lived from a temple is when we were in Heber, Utah.  It took 45 min down either canyon to reach the Provo Temple or the Salt Lake Temple.  We were 20 min from the Denver Temple when we lived there and now only 15 min from the Las Vegas Temple.  We had a beautiful experience there.  We are used to serving in the Provo Temple, one of the busiest temples in the world.  So it was refreshing to notice the lack of people and the quiet atmosphere.  Everything seemed a little more laid back.  I do wish we could have been in Utah for the opening of the downtown Provo Temple.  That would have been our temple district.  We just left a little too soon.  

On Sunday Josh and I both received our callings in our ward.  Josh is going to be the Executive Secretary and I am going to be the Primary 1^st Counselor.  This is actually a calling I have never held.  After three times as the Primary President in previous wards, the 1^st Counselor sounds like a relief.  I was being really irreverent when our names were announced for sustaining.  Our membership records were just read in last week and now we both have substantial callings, one week later.  I could not stop giggling and I definitely embarrassed Josh, something that I do frequently and often while in church. 

That evening we had the missionaries over for dinner.  I had forgotten how great it is to have missionaries assigned to one ward.  In Springville, Utah, the missionaries are assigned to a Stake and it is rare that one congregation sees them more than once.  When we lived in Denver we were well acquainted with the missionaries as they lived in our apartment building.  They used to like to visit and I had to send them away many times because Josh would be gone from home studying.  So, I think it has been 10 years since we have had missionaries over for dinner.  They challenged our kids to invite them over for Family Home Evening.  I think that is a great idea but we will probably wait until we move out of TLF (Temporary Living Facility.)  I am starting miss all my stuff that is packed neatly away in storage.  

Not my turn, but his

As I look back on our marriage, I see a lot of times that Josh has supported me.  He spent many hours waiting for me while I had rehearsals for multiple community theater productions, he acted as my third counselor during my three stints as Primary President, and he doubled as Mr. Mom while I did my 200 hour yoga training, and so many more instances.  This is what we promise when we say that we will love and support each other for all eternity.  It is my turn now to support him.  I am convinced that this move has been for him.  Once again on Sunday, it was proven to me that the Lord has some sort of plan for Josh.  He was given the job of Executive Secretary after the Bishop picked him out of the Sacrament Meeting audience on our first week in the new ward.  Inspiration works in mysterious ways.  Every time I feel sorry for myself that I have left behind a calling I loved, teaching yoga and ballet that I loved, friends that I loved, an elementary school that I loved, and a neighborhood and home that I loved, I just look at the man that I love.  I do not say this to prove that I am some sort of saint.  Anyone who knows Josh and me will say that he is the saint.  I just say this to remind myself of my priorities.  I have had plenty of turns to be supported during our 13 years. I am grateful that Josh works so hard to take care of us and that he is now able to have some happiness in his life again.  I will strive to remember this as I am searching all of Las Vegas for Yoga, friends, and meaningful activities to fill my kids’ days.

Josh is my hero, he is my Cap.

How the Word of Wisdom prepares one for Military Service

Josh and I attended the Right Start meeting on base today.  The base offers a nice service of 20 hours of free babysitting from the AF licensed providers within 60 days of arrival.  This is why I was able to attend the meeting too.  The meeting was comprised of briefings about the area surrounding Nellis AFB.  They discussed the weather hazards (we are to expect high winds and possible earthquakes) and the crime. Historically bases are not built in high economic locations and this is true of North Las Vegas.  A police team discussed crimes of assault, robbery, and gang violence.  I do know that I lock the doors of my car when I drive my kids to the library right past the Salvation Army.  We are not in Springville, Utah anymore! 

The commander of the base discussed the five ways that he sees airmen get in trouble and get removed from the Air Force. As he talked I kept thinking that because we understand the Word of Wisdom and are striving to live it, we can avoid four of the five problems:

1. Drugs and alcohol.  The commander stated that the core values of the military are always on display and we need to be vigilant that we stay out of compromising situations.  Personal safety can be effected when impaired. CHECK thanks to the Word of Wisdom.

2. Physical Fitness Test Failures- He stated that if an airman calls himself/herself a warrior, he/she needs to work for it.  An airman should be physically fit, mentally focused, socially well adjusted, and spiritually connected.  Does that sound familiar to any of you men?  CHECK- thanks to the Scouting program values and the Word of Wisdom.

3. Safety mishaps off base- The commander discussed alcohol related fatalities.  While I cannot control the choices of others, at least I know that for us, CHECK- thanks to the Word of Wisdom again. 

4. Failing at our job- CHECK.  Many of the things that we avoid have lasting impacts on our brain functions.  “And shall find wisdom and great treasures of knowledge, even hidden treasures.” –Doctrine and Covenants 89:19

So, just another thing that we have learned about the base and about the surrounding area.  We are slowly getting adjusted.  It is difficult to me that yoga studios and ballet studios for Bear are 30 min from us.  I am having a hard time finding places to teach yoga and take classes for my own practice.  I have to remind myself that I have only been here two weeks.  Patience is not a quality that come easily to me.  There are some great blessings though in this life we have chosen to live.  We have had dinner with Josh nightly for the past two weeks.  It has probably been six months since we have had consistent dinners together.  We are enjoying seeing more of Josh.

I finally got a replacement USB cord for my camera.  The camera cord is safely packed away in storage.  It was really hard to know what to bring to our temporary housing and the camera cord was overlooked.  Here are a bunch a pictures and from now on, there will be a picture with every blog post. 

Easter morning at our TLF.  We have beautiful trees that make me forget I am in the desert.  Bub is upset because he is in the shade and is cold. I cannot keep him happy.

Eddie Griffin came to the BX.  We love the movie Double Take so we were excited to meet him.

Hoover Dam day trip

Rope swing in our TLF huge backyard

Look at this beautiful backyard!  It does not feel like the desert.  We love this backyard.

Here is the TLF from the front.  It was former Officer quarters before the new housing was built.  We are on a quiet circle with full trees and housekeeping daily.  We put up with 6:30 revelry and no internet connections.  Bub is unhappy again because the sun is in his eyes.  Can't win!