Where Has She Been?!? {Part 3}

The final post catching me up to present time! Prepare for another long one.  If you want to read about where I have been since I last posted read part 2 and part 1 of this trilogy regarding my mishaps in steady blogging.  Anyways I still feel like I have so much to blog about in just a few months!  At least I know my life thus far hasn't been boring.

December (first half):

I was very sad to leave Andrew but I knew I still had things to accomplish by coming home December 9th.  I had only a few short days to pack up all of the things I had to keep behind with me while I finished school.  Yep.  All of those heavy, heavy books!  Ok, I actually just ended up mailing most of them:)  But the moment I had been waiting for the past 5 semesters, and really of my time during school, had come.  I was finally done with my bachelors!!!! Whoop, whoop!  December 15th, 2014 marked the day I had my official pinning ceremony for nursing.  My nursing class, which had become like a family, invited friends, family, and instructors to join us in celebrating our accomplishments and marking our entry into the nursing world by getting pinned by someone who has influenced us.  

I had just one person able to come to my pinning ceremony.  I couldn't think of a better person who I would want to pin me.  My Aunt Karen made the trip all the way from Iowa just to come "pin me".  I have always been close to my aunt but was able to grow even closer during my time in North Dakota so it meant so much she sacrificed to come up.  She and my Aunt Cris have definitely been at the forefront of supporting me in becoming a nurse! But honestly, we had a blast during those days she came up! I feel so blessed.  Here is a little of the fun we had and of her pinning me!

As you can see it was amazing!  My Aunt Karen has always been such as strong influence in my life and someone who I really respect.  So happy I had someone to share in such an amazing day, especially since the hubby couldn't be there!

December (second half):

December was so busy I had to split up the month!  After my pinning ceremony I literally had just one day before I flew out the morning of the 17th to stay with family.  It really was bittersweet to say goodbye to Minot.  The place I initially was very, very resistant to go to was a place I didn't want to say goodbye to.  We both really grew to love it.  But, it was so much fun to be with my family for the time that I did!  I really feel grateful it worked out the way it did.  

What came next?  Well...on December 29th I got to be a part of one of my best friend's wedding.  Allison Mills, now Allison Muir was a beautiful bride and I am so happy I got to be there.  Now you see why I put up with being away from my husband for so long? I would miss out on so much!

What did I say? Beautiful!  Another one of my best friends, Jenepher, was also there (as a bridesmaid of course).  Seriously so happy I got to see both of them and my family!  I know the military is a lifestyle I fit well in, but that doesn't mean I don't miss the important people in my life constantly!

January-February:

Just a couple pictures of what my life was like during January.  Yes, I realize the this one is one from Christmas, but I needed one to represent family time! haha. In reality most of January was spent studying.  It was miserable and of course as the "hot mess" I am, I stressed about taking the NCLEX the whole time.  Turned out it was just as hard as I thought it would be and the two days I had to wait for my results were sheer torture.  But everything, all of the anxiety, studying, years of school, being away from home, spending less time with my husband, etc. was all worth it.

I passed! (In 75 questions I might add;) ) I am officially a registered nurse!  I literally cried with happiness because it also meant I could now schedule a flight home.  About a week after I took my test I came "home" to Germany.  It had been about 12 weeks apart and I was so excited to see him.

February-March: 

The end of my tale has come.  I am in Germany.  There has been ups and downs and adjustment has been hard.  They saw it takes about six months here to finally feel adjusted to living here!  The first month I was here was rough.  I was missing my family and was frightened of the future.  All of my classmates were out already with jobs and here I was sitting at home without a drivers license. By the way,getting a drivers license here is quite the process, but luckily I now have one!  Yep. Had I made the right decision?  I suppose I could have been more selfish and live by myself for a year and work.  But, I put my trust in the Lord and knew we were sent to Spangdahlem for a reason. I had to put my faith in Him and believe things we happen in His time and in His way.    Things really are finally falling into place:)

I was able to get through the first month since we were able to go home for my brother's wedding the begining of March!  It was beautiful and so glad we got to be a part of it. We got to see my whole family.  By whole family I mean a bunch of them! Grandparents (both sets), aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews, siblings, in-laws.  The whole clan almost!  It was a blast...which almost didn't happen due to some space-a mishaps (aka they canceled several flights as we were about to board, ugh!).  

 The Beautiful Couple (courtesy of Lynn Anderson).  Welcome to the family Lacey!

 

Anderson Family

The week of the wedding was crazy, crazy, crazy busy.  Up until the end was just busy non-stop!  But so happy we were with so much of my family and at least able to talk to them:D

 The Hubby and I (love it!)

We are back in Germany now and have been for almost two weeks.  It has started to grow on me in many ways.  Patience has never been my strong suit and I want things to just happen right now!  However I know it is not always easy, but so true that we grow the most during our time of "waiting".  

All I know right now is I love my husband, I miss my family, I am so excited for the new friends I have been meeting, I now know the potential in opportunities to come, and am ecstatic for the adventures that await for my little family!!!! Today, as I am writing, I coming out of the hoping and waiting for things to fall into place because they finally are (but more on that later!) Traveling, church, experiencing living in a new country, nursing, military life, and growing together are just some of things to come.  "Where have I been" has concluded, so all of the next posts will be about what we have been doing in Germany!

Love Always,

The Andersons

Life in Limbo

I am pretty sure the title says it all.  Right now, I have been feeling like I am in some middle ground in my life where I am just waiting for something to happen.  As I even start to write this I know I sound crazy since the previous sentence would imply we have been doing nothing.  Which in fact is not true.  Let me back up and try to get my thoughts out like a normal person...

What have we been up to?  Well, things have just been crazy, as evidenced by (oh geez, the nursing lingo is already sticking) my lack of blog updates and really any "social media" connection updates.  But for starters I am still in school.  Less than a month until I finish my 2nd semester of nursing school.  I have just 3 more left including practicum!  But this is what I mean when I say it is life in Limbo.  Will I ever be able to say I am no longer in school?  It feels like forever!  I feel like our lives have revolved around schooling for me.  Not ever moving forward, just stuck in a state of just (if that even makes sense).

Andrew on the other hand is moving forward!  He just put on Senior Airman, meaning he upgraded in rank and has a little more respect and responsibility.  Though, still just an airman:)  He also won an award for airman of the quarter out of his whole squadron!  On top of all this he is taking a college English course to start his own schooling.  I feel so proud!  

To be honest I think most of my complaining, because honestly that is what this post is about haha, is I am getting antsy.  I never thought growing up in the military and now being a military wife would affect me so much.  But honestly, I think I am ready for a new adventure.  We have only been here in Minot, ND for 2 years and it seems like forever.  Don't get me wrong, this isn't the worst place in the world to live and like anywhere else you kind of have to "bloom where you are planted". 

 I still am just ready for something to happen.  Something to change.  Something to make me feel like we are moving forward! We have just kind of talked about Minot being a place of middle ground.  We are no longer newlyweds, but neither do we have kids.  I am not just starting school, but I am not finishing for another year.  

I have so much to do here and I have basically no time between church ( I am the YW Laurel Advisor now!), school (nursing school is just pure craziness), running (still obligated in Track), and of course being married to really complain about Life in Limbo.  Yet, here I am, anxiously waiting for something.  

The best I can describe my feelings. haha.  Enjoy:)

Love, 

The Andersons

Playing Catch Up

Where has the time gone?  I just realized I haven't updated for almost two months.  Sorry about that delay...last time I promised to post pictures of the new place (well you will have to wait till my next post to see those). Where to even start with my catch up?

  Well, one of the most fun things Andrew and I have done was go to Mall of America back in September.  It was a blast! I had been the year before but this was his first time.  I was already going to Minneapolis for a XC race so Andrew and I just made our own arrangements. Because Andrew is Air Force we got to stay at cheap lodging on an air station right next to the mall!   We left Thursday and stayed until Sunday.  I raced on Saturday but we were able to just bum around such a big city.  Minneapolis, Bloomington (where the mall is), and all the surrounding areas are just huge!  I never realized how diverse Minneapolis area is.  

We got to play for a couple hours at the Nickelodeon Universe amusement park in the mall (if you know my husband he was in his glory!).  Too bad he missed seeing the avatar there :)  We also got some good shopping in as well for my benefit.  Overall, it was a really fun 8 hr road trip, a great race, and a fun location to stay at. 

As far as updates as to why I haven't been posting? 

 Eat, Sleep, School, Run, Repeat

Pretty must that explains my life.  Never in my life have I been as busy as I am in nursing.  I love it!  But it is so time consuming, stressful, and just all around different.  I may have to dedicate a blog post sometime about being a nursing student.  For those of you going or have gone through the nursing program already-I salute you!  So much work, so many crazy days, but so worth it in the end:) But what is at end for me now is cross-country.  I have finally completed my four years of eligibility running in Division II competitively. I am so sad, and yet relieved to focus more on nursing.  Mostly just sad.  Although...I do still have track-that I might not be as sad when it is over:)

That's all I have time for, for now.  Hopefully you will see me posting within the next to mush haha.  Next stop- On to Iowa for Thanksgiving!
 

Love, 

The Andersons

P.S- Did I mention this counts as a bucket list for us? Even though I have been own my bucket list was to take Andrew!

Survival: Day One

I did it.  I survived my first official day in the nursing program!  I seriously have so much admiration for all those who are or have gone through the nursing program.  It definitely is going to be a lot of work.

But still...I did it!  One day down, only five semesters left to go.  Yay me. Ugh...

These are all the books for just my two nursing classes.  I am also taking online statistics but those two nursing classes (along with cross country practice) are going to take the majority of my time.  The first three days of the week consist of class from 8-4 and that doesn't include future clinicals or my practices I have after class everyday! Well, here goes nothing!  Wish me luck ;)

Just a little update: We are moving to downtown Minot!  Call me crazy... but more on that later:)

Love Always, 

The Andersons

A day for writer's block

It's crazy.  I honestly don't know what to say in this blog post.  I tried to make a goal for myself to update the blog at least once a week.  I have done pretty good as of the late.  But seriously, I don't have hardly anything to write. 

Nothing new.  Same old, same old.  Not moving, not pregnant, still in school...this is the life.  

So maybe just some basic updates I hardly think are blog worthy.  Update 1, I officially found out I will graduate from the nursing program December 2014.  It feels so far away I just can't wait to get started.  The program itself is 5 semesters and they have certain studies during each semester.  For me, it will be a really light load.  We are talking barely scraping by with 12 credits each semester.  I have done so many of the classes for it already I am already ahead of others who are stuck with 18 credits for the first couple of semesters.  I can't combine any, but at least I get to completely focus on nursing.

Update 2, my injury.  I am supposed to be starting races for outdoor track but I am injured.  I feel like I am falling apart from silly things.  Like muscle weakness and a little plantar fasciitis in my foot.  I am so tired of doing alternative work outs, I just want to run!  Running is such a major part of who I am that not doing what I love is just depressing.

Update 3, Andrew will hopefully be starting school again soon.  He will most likely just be taking a few classes here and there at night or online while he works.  Basically, he is completing the degree for his job so he can eventually rank up.  I am really proud of him for starting with this and then hopefully he finds out what he wants to major in along the way:)

So there you have it.  I gave 3 updates.  Nothing too major but at least it is something.  Sometimes I think that I will be grateful doing this blog and being able to look back at all the events of our lives!

Love,

The Andersons

A day for great school news

Yesterday, I received amazing news in the form of an acceptance letter.

After many moves and many school transfers...(on my first try)

 I got ACCEPTED into the Minot State University- nursing program!

(no this isn't really me:))

I start Fall 2012 and will have 4-5 semesters after that.  I will graduate 2014 with my BSN!

P.S- A special thanks to my friends and family who supported me.!

P.S.S- A specific thank you to Cris "the bear" Meacham for filling out a letter of recommendation ;)

Running, Running, Running...

If I got a dollar for every time someone said I was crazy for being a hard-core runner I would be making quite a bit.  I understand I am crazy but like with every addiction it consumes my life hehe.  Ok, I wouldn't say I am addicted to running but since I am on scholarship for it I kind of have to do it all the time.

However, looking back I am not sure I would have put myself through all this pain if I had known what I was getting myself into.  But lets me honest.  I probably still would have.  Let me recap a little about what running entails for me these days...

This past week was our first week back for the semester not to mention we had our first race on Saturday for indoor track.  But since we are in our "dead year" our coach doesn't understand the term of "cutting back".  Nope.  He just wants us to push on forward with our workouts and still race on Saturdays.

Monday- 8 mile run.  6 excels (basically build-ups where you do 100 meters building up to a full-out sprint). weights.

Tuesday-20 minute warm up.  8x800m 60sec rest between each on (these were around 3:00min pace).  15min cool down.

Wed.-6 mile run.  4 excels.  Funny feet (form drills basically).  Weights.

Thursday.- 3 mile morning run.  Then afternoon: 20 min warm up.  8x 200's @ ~42sec pace.  15minute cool down.

Friday (day before the meet)- 4miles. 4 excels.  weights (yep.  we did weights a day before ugh).

Saturday- 20 minute morning run. 20 minute warm up (well just the running portion, we warm up about 50minutes before we race).  Then my race was a 5k.  Then a 45 minute cool down (yes, I said a 45 minute cool down)

Sunday- rest, thankfully...

So that was just a run down of my typical training week.  I am sure most of you have no idea about half the things I am talking about unless you are a runner.  Andrew always says it is like I speak a second language.  But, needless to say it is easy to become sore and tired from this.  I miss the good old days before I had 2+hour workouts 6 days a week. 

However, despite all this I have to say I am crazy.  I still LOVE running.  It is one of my passions and it is putting me through school.  Playing sports and college level is like having 2 jobs because you have to work your entire day around it.  This includes sleep, eating schedules, and the workouts.  A full-time job.  Definitely not for the faint hearted :)  But all in all, I a girls got to do what a girls got to do.  

Andrew wishes this didn't consume my life.  For now it is helping me get through school and when this is all done we can finally start planning for the future!  But for now we just got to take this journey one step (or in my case a run) at a time...

Love,

The Andersons

The Craziness of Life

This blog post is almost solely dedicated to how I feel myself fighting each day to see the light at the end of the tunnel.  As most of you know, Andrew and I are in Minot, North Dakota.  Even now it is hard to believe we are actually living here.  But in moving here I have changed my life around in order for Andrew to start his.  Over the summer it seemed like things were pretty chill, other than the flood of course.  I had just two summer classes and the rest of the time I felt like I did nothing.  Oh how I wish things could be like that.  Now I have am going to school and started cross-country.  It might not seem like a big deal but it is...

School, cross-country, being married, taking care of a dog, along with other stressors....is a lot for me.  Especially when I feel l will NEVER  be done with school.  Next semester I am applying for the nursing program here at Minot State University but I won't be able to start till next August.  And the program itself is 5 semesters.  Perhaps now you can see why I feel like my life has not really started yet.  On top of that tuition is so much more expensive!  It is no Stanford but it isn't the low cost of BYU either.  Meaning school books and the extra tuition cost, even with a scholarship, is a bit much.  

And then there is cross-country.  The kryptonite of my existence sometimes.  Don't get me wrong, I love running and I get paid to do it.  But when you have to practice 6 days a week for at least 2 hours a day (sometimes at 7:00am) and have to schedule the rest of your day around it, it kind of stinks.  Plus since we live on base I have an extra 20 min each day to drive.

Now on to Andrew's fun life. He starts work at 7:00am and works till 5:00pm.  A regular work day right? Until they have inspections( which feels like they happen every two weeks) and is required to always be on call in case of a substance leak somewhere. So last week he had work on Saturday and today he may be out at work till at least 10:00pm because of an inspection. I know I shouldn't complain because at least he has a job (which he actually enjoys).  But for all those who understand the military will know that the "benefits" we receive through the Air Force is actually compensation.

As I finish writing this I realize how silly it all seems.  I need to be grateful for all the things I do have!  My family is awesome and always there for me, I have a loving husband, a beautiful house, and in 3 years I will be looking back saying how fast the end of school went by.  I guess I will just have to wait till then.  But in the meantime I have learned that I need to live life in moment.  Enjoy the scenery as it passes me by.  Do the best in everything I do now. Instead of telling myself "if only I was done with school" or "I can't wait till my final running season is over and things will be easier" or the best " I will do that when this happens"...I need to be enjoying life now.  Not waiting to do life when "life gets easier" because it never will. 

The present really is a gift I need to take advantage of.  So thanks for listening to the ramblings of a stressed soul... The fact that I realize I need to just roll with the punches shows that at least I can change right?:D ha ha. 

Here is exactly what popped into my head, and will stay with me the rest of day...

I thought it was fitting:)

Love,

The Andersons