All Things Aviation

Yesterday, I took Kaitlyn to her very first airshow. To be honest, I haven't been to a show since I was a kid. So, it was great for both of us. Ronnie hurt his back at work, so he unable to attend. It was a day full of mommy/daughter time, travel, and airplanes. I wasn't sure if she would want to go. I've never told her that mommy was an aviation student in college, or that when I was in 7th grade, I wanted to join the Air Force to be a pilot. In other words, I've never exposed her to the world of flying.

The travel was an adventure in itself. I have a good sense of direction, if I have some familiarity of where I'm going. For instance, if I have directions to a place, I don't usually need the directions for the opposite way back. Does that make sense?
Anyway, the Acadiana Airfest was in New Iberia, LA. I've never been to New Iberia, but decided it couldn't be THAT difficult. So, I packed my kid in the car, and away we went. And went. And went. And then, I got lost.

Just a side note: if you have an iphone and are interested in the Mapquest app... don't waste your energy. I'm glad I have common sense, because the app wanted me to make a left turn on a road that was clearly marked, "No Left Turn." Okay, fail one. After a lot of looking for streets that never appeared, I did what a woman would do: I stopped and asked for directions. =) Finally, I found the airport.

The opening "act" was a sky diving team. My daughter was unimpressed. At that point, she was far more interested in the random, inflatable Ronald Mc Donald that was just as randomly placed on the ramp. But, as the other aircraft made an appearance, she was hooked. The only thing that she didn't like was the noise of the F-16 Viper. She kept her fingers in her ears while he was in the air. (The F-16 was my favorite part).

I took Kaitlyn to buy an airplane, and she chose an inflatable F-16. I was SO excited that she showed an interest in something that I love. Once the show was over she wanted to drag me to look at each and every one of the planes. We looked at a few, and then headed to the car. I knew we had a LONG drive home.

Once home, Kaitlyn didn't want to put her new airplane down, and requested to take it to school. She wanted to show all of her friends her new plane. She asked me last night when we could attend the next airshow and if SHE could fly in the planes. There's a Fly In in DeRidder next month, and we will be there.

Crazy!

So, it's been a couple of months since I last posted, and I apologize. I have been SO very busy lately. I am continuing my weightloss journey (there's a separate blog for that), running after Kaitlyn, playing house, and all the other things that can be thrown into my crazy life.

Kaitlyn has started K-4. I can't believe my baby is getting so big! I need to buy her more school clothes already, as she keeps getting taller. UGH!

A couple of months ago, I went to Baton Rouge to visit a few friends I hadn't seen it years. It was great to catch up, and just not have a care in the world. I went by myself, and it was lovely! I realized that I needed that break. It's not that I don't love spending time with my family, but I tend to lose who I am in the mix of everything. There are times that "Angela" is no longer my name, but I have been replaced with mommy, friend, wife, employee... or any other title that pops up.

I think it's important for women to step back sometimes, and remember that, we too, are a single person. We have dreams, hopes, aspirations, desires... and we need to meet our own needs, or face being a pathetic excuse for a mommy, friend, wife, employee. We don't have to please everyone all the time. When you take that time for yourself, you come back in the game feeling refreshed, and ready to rock. Your family really can function at least a few hours without you. I promise.

Update

I have decided to create a new blog for the sole purpose of my fitness journey. I have moved all of the previous posts to that blog. The blog is named Mission: Fitness. For those of you who have been following me, the url is www.fitbound11.blogspot.com

I hope you will follow me there as well as here. This blog, will return to it's originally intended purpose...my life.

I hope you enjoy!

A First Time for Everything

In September of 2009, Ronnie was laid off. Bummer. No problem, I thought. We'll make it. Less than a week later, I was fired. NICE. I was in a job I hated, doing what I hated, working with people, that for the most part, I "strongly disliked." I said a prayer that morning before leaving for work asking God to close the door and open another, if that was His will....apparently it was.

Even though it was bad timing (and I feel I was wrongfully terminated), I knew that this was obviously meant to be. So began my list of firsts.

1. Fired from a job. Check.
2. Applied for unemployment. Check.
3. Was more broke than ever before. Check.
4. Relied on the help of friends and family more than I care too. Check.
5. Depended solely on myself to find a job. Check.
6. Became more creative, because I didn't have the money to "just buy it." Check.

There are more, but I think you get the point. Getting fired from a job was a huge blow to my pride. I was stressed. I wondered if anyone would hire someone who'd been terminated. That's such a horrible word. I prefer to use the term "released from my duties." I was even more embarrassed for applying for unemployment. Yuck!

As far as my family and friends? Wonderful! I have the best of both!!! My family made sure that my daughter was well taken care of during the holidays. Christmas is my favorite holiday, so being without funds at this time of year...its not right! I know that Christmas isn't about gifts, but I LOVE to buy for people. It wasn't happening. I don't think I've ever been more humbled. Ronnie and I made sure we were able to buy for our families, but didn't do much for each other. Which is how I wanted it. We can buy for each other throughout the year.

I've never found a job solely on my own. I've always known someone on the "inside" to help me. This process started at the early age of 14, when I worked for my father. I didn't even know I could get a job on my own! But, I did. Every interview I went to, I gave it my best. I was hired 2 days before Thanksgiving for a company called First Command Financial Planning. Wow! I did it! So very exciting.

The last 6 months have been wild. Though I've found full time employment, Ronnie has only worked part time. It's been a little crazy, but we've made it. Since money has been tight, I've learned to make things instead of buying them. For instance, I now make Kaitlyn's hair bows. I watched tutorials online, and create from there. They aren't perfect, but they've come a long way from when I started.

I cook more as well. I love to cook; its one of my passions. I collect cook books, and am always up for trying something new. I have definitely learned to be more creative in the kitchen as well. Ronnie doesn't always care for everything I try, but he won't say as much. I can just tell. And that's fine. What good is experimenting if you never have a failed attempt?

The next thing I'm going to try is crocheting. I would love to learn, and classes are being offered on Fort Polk. Now, I know this sounds a little strange. I'm 27, and I want to crotchet? What's next? Quilting? HA!! No, but I would love to learn to sew. I've never had the desire for any of this before. I've always claimed the highest level of "lack of creativity." I've never considered myself someone to say, "oh, I can make that. That's easy." Not me. Not anymore!! I think I may have found a new passion!

As frustrating as losing a job can be, I have made lemonade. And, I'm enjoying every sip.

Yes, I'm Blogging

Overall, I have a strong personality. Everyone knows this. The only time I'm quiet is when I first meet someone. I don't want to scare them away!!

I am optimistic, yet realistic. I know what I want, and I am far from patient. If I want it, I feel like I shouldn't have to wait. I pray that I don't pass these traits on to my child.

Kaitlyn is beginning to show the signs of being a social butterfly. As a mother, I want my child to interact with other children, but I also want her to choose wisely. God forbid my daughter end up with the wrong crowd. By wrong, I mean kids who are doing drugs, drinking, etc. I can only pray that I will instill in her the knowledge to choose between right and wrong.

Back to the point (sorry)...

I started off the morning with an argument with Ronnie over pipe dreams. I don't try to be harsh, but sometimes I come across that way. I always want to be honest with him. And, I hope he does the same for me. I expect it. If you're truly best friends with your spouse, then you must give them the truth. Even when it hurts.

So, after I said my part, I decided to start the morning over. I looked at my husband and said, "Good morning." At first, he wasn't game for this. But, I said it again, and he returned it. My day was SOOO much better because of it.

I think that sometimes we need to step back, maybe step down from our position. Was I trying to insult him? Not at all. Is that what I did? To a point, yes. As a wife, I never want to hurt my husband. I want to lift him up, pray for him, and enjoy him every day of my life.

So, here it is the end of the day, and we have both had a good day. Even though my world is crazy sometimes, and I don't always stop long enough to say "I love you," I love my life, and all that are in it!!

God bless!!

The Background

My life began in DeRidder, La. Now, for those of you who don't know this place, it is a quaint town about 45 minutes from Texas. It is filled with senior citizens, and high schoolers. And some other people in between. At the age of 1, we moved to Beaumont, Texas. And, at the age of 3, we moved to the great state of Alaska. We'll begin there.

I lived in Alaska until the age of 16. I love that state! I grew up in Anchorage, which is probably the most widely known city in the whole state. When I left, I left behind some of the most amazing people I have ever known. I miss each and every one of them! I miss the beautiful scenery; waking up each morning to snow capped mountains...it was amazing!!! I loved snow machining, skiing, and even gave snow boarding a shot. We camped, hiked, mountain biked, etc.

As I said, when I was 16, I left. My parents went through a terrible separation. Long story short, I ended up in DeRidder, La. Again. This time, I was obviously more aware of my surroundings. I enrolled in a high school where I knew noone, a church where I knew noone, and spent my Friday nights, with no one. See a pattern? I was LOST. So, I made the best of what I had.

Eventually, I met people at both church and school. And, I even made friends. I was highly disappointed with the education system, but that's a whole other blog. I graduated in the year 2000. I was FREE!!! Well, sort of. I enrolled in Northwestern State University, and lived my first semester at home.

THEN, I was free. I left home, moved to Natchitoches, La, and spent the next five years of my life in college. College was crazy. I enjoyed my freedom (maybe a little too much) and filled my plate with more than I could chew. I was a full time aviation student, a full time assistant manager, and a full time social butterfly. I didn't have my priorities straight, and left college burnt out in 2005.

I met Ronnie in July of 2004. We began seriously dating in September of the same year. I was in love before we started dating. HA! After a year of dating, we planned our wedding and married October 29, 2005.

Shortly after we married, we moved back to DeRidder (see another pattern?). April 11, 2006, I had a beautiful baby girl.

Kaitlyn Marie has been the most awesome, nerveracking, incredible, scary, amazing, stressful thing that has happened to us. In other words, its been a roller coaster. But, I wouldn't change a moment of it. She has completely changed our lives, and for the better!! Everything I do, I do for her. My life has been consumed. She is entirely too spoiled, and she's rotten to boot. She can be so precious, and so bad all in the same breath. So, many of my blogs will probably be about her!! Here she is today:

So, I guess that's it for my first blog! I hope you enjoy this and all the future craziness that I call LIFE!!!