I vow to help you love life, to always hold you with tenderness and to have the patience that love demands, to speak when words are needed and to share the silence when they are not and to live within the warmth of your heart and always call it home.

Monday, December 27, 2010

No Place Like Home For The Holidays!

     This Christmas was very special to us. It happened to be our first Christmas spent as Mr. and Mrs. McVay. We started the holiday wanting it to be special and including everybody that we could. Our first stop was Enid, OK! We spent Christmas Eve with my huge side of the family at my Grandma Jackie's home. There we enjoyed homemade pumpkin soup, breads, and the traditional oyster soup! We played a new game called, left-left-right-right and, of course, the always interesting dirty santa where the coveted items of the night were a wooden wine rack and sample pack of KY lubricant! I ended up with a beautiful Tiara crystal table set for 8 from my Grandma Jackie, and Kit got a ratchet set! Then we woke up Christmas morning at my parent's house and enjoyed the traditional cinnamon rolls and hot chocolate. We opened our stockings and even our little four-legged child Zeus had his own! This year Kit and I wanted to start our collection of home videos, so we decided our first Christmas was worth capturing. We filmed everyone opening their presents then interviewed my parents on their memory of their first married Christmas!




     Then off we were for round two with the McVays in OKC! We were just in time to share an awesome Christmas lunch feast with his parents, grandparents and aunt. After lunch we opened gifts and continued our filming! When the time came to interview the McVays on their first Christmas, it took them awhile, but they finally remembered their very interesting story with some help from Aunt Diann. :)  We also had the wonderful opportunity to interview Kit's grandparent's on their story as well. It's times like these that Kit and I will look back and cherish; and times like these spent story telling at dinner and memories of Christmases past with family and friends that truly make the holiday so lovely. I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas and made some amazing memories with friends and family!!





Sunday, December 19, 2010

It Started With a Room...

Our adventure started with a room. August 2008, my best friend and I, Isaiah Gomez, walked into the downstairs lounge of the ROTC building and agreed to start the long process leading up to our hopeful commission. We were very nervous and so clueless on what was to come, but since we were doing it together, had no reservations. The 2.5 years held MANY adventures. As we both got into some legal trouble, both turned 21, both got through the military's version of boot camp and returned victorious. Now we were the big kids around the detachment. Later that same year, he graciously accepted my offer of being a "grooms-maid" in my wedding. I wouldn't have had my wedding party any other way. After this, we both served on Wing Staff together, and had a great time. We learned a lot about responsibility and how to manage people together.



Finally, the time had come for commissioning. I couldn't commission this year because I am lacking one military class, but my buddy could, and did. We walked into the downstairs lounge of the ROTC building December 18, 2010. We talked of how excited we were that he was going off into the real world and of course promised to stay in touch. He was the first out of two commissionees, and as he walked up to the podium I felt such great pride. I was so proud of my friend for all he had accomplished, and for this grand step he was taking to be a part of the greatest Air Force our world has to offer. He was sworn in, gave his first salute, and now for the speech. He thanked his family, friends and then it was my turn. As he turned to thank me, I felt those hot tears slide down my cheeks. He talked of our long journey we'd taken together in ROTC, and how he couldn't have done it without me. He walked over, hugged me, and I finally found that I could stop crying. I can't express how truly proud I am of my best friend for signing away his life for at least the next four years. Like him, I don't think I would have made it through without his help either. I can't wait for him to start on Active Duty and get to know the real AF. He's definitely going to go far in whatever he chooses to pursue. As this adventure started with a room, it ended with that room.

Monday, December 13, 2010

Finale Toast

Here's to the comfy sweat pants,
the black coffee and sugary snacks,
to the all nighters at the library,
and to the endless power point slides
that I'm forced to believe will get me an A
in the class. May you have pity on our
educated souls this holiday season.....

Tuesday, December 7, 2010

Kit's Time to Shine

Kit and I started our relationship knowing that for possibly the next 4-20 years, our lives would revolve around my career. By this, I mean the Air Force will determine where we live, places we can go, when we are allowed to take time off and how much of the year we get to spend together. Since Kit is military, he is very familiar with the military's etiquette, fully understands all these hurdles, and supports me unconditionally. For this, I will never be able to thank him enough. This past weekend was different. This trip had nothing to do with the Air Force, but instead was all about my husband's future career. As soon as we found out our future home would be Ohio, Kit  feverishly researched different law enforcement openings in the area. Finally he found one, registered for the exam and we were on our way! We traveled to Dayton, OH for his police state proficiency exam. One hundred fifty people showed up to the exam, and there are only two job positions open. The test lasted two hours and covered everything from basic math to ethics and police procedure. He walked out feeling confident on his scores! We find out December 15th whether he made the cut, then onto the physical fitness assessment, lie detector test, drug test, then final interview. I'm so excited for my husband, he will make an outstanding police officer!

Monday, November 15, 2010

McVay's Harem

Within ROTC, there are semester interviews for the Cadet Wing Commander, which is the highest job position attainable in ROTC. I originally had NO intention of interviewing. My next semester I should only have one class (if I pass my dreaded Botany course) and work. I don't want all the responsibility to get in the way of my careless last semester of college. Our Captain came around and voluntold every cadet who is graduating in May of 2011 to make an appointment for an interview. Crap. Well today was the interview and I was nervous to say the least. I walked in very prepared with my organizational job chart and new ideas to change procedures around the detachment. My Captain looks at my chart and asks how I would defend my decision on having the top three job positions filled with all female cadets. So I replied, "Well Sir, with all do respect, did you pose the same question to Lt. Tobit, C/Reed, C/Marshall or C/Quinnett (whom are all past male cadet commanders) when they presented you with their org charts with the top 5 positions all male?" The look he gave me told me I surprised him to say the least. He smiled, shook his head, scribbled something down on his pad of paper and said, "Good point." Then he and the Colonel proceeded to name my organizational chart McVay's Harem. I went in hoping that I wouldn't get the position, but now I'm interested on how "McVay's Harem" would do running the detachment!

Tuesday, September 7, 2010

Done Before It Started?

Currently, my job in the USAF will be a Biologist. Since my degree is in Biological Sciences, it fits quite nicely! But I am currently trying to get reassigned. I have to submit a detailed packet to the Air Force Biomedical Corps to see if I can work as an Aerospace Physiologist instead. Once my packet is received, I will have to go through many interviews before I'm accepted. Aerospace Physiology is more closely married to what my real passion is, medical and people. As an AP, I would teach classes to help pilots better understand what changes their bodies go through in flight. I would also run tests in centrifuges and hyperbaric chambers! If I ever decided to separate from the AF in the future, this job would be amazing on a resume, especially if I still want to pursue a Physician's Assistant route. The problem I'm facing is the packet itself. I have gathered all that is needed from me, including a resume, transcript, test scores, letters of recommendations, personal statements and even endured a very PROBING physical. The packet is due September 30th. The AF has not given me the results from the physical yet. I'm starting to pull my hair out! I can't submit my packet without everything needed. If I don't get the results in time, no submitting = no chance at a great career opportunity. I'm not trying to sound ungrateful here. I will still be a Biologist, and this will be a GREAT research and development kind of a career. Very grateful for the opportunity! But it would be nice to at least have a chance at something a little greater, and not be out of the running before it begins.

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

Lowering the Bar

Every semester, cadets must weigh in to make sure they uphold the Air Force's standards. This week I did my usually weigh in. I came out fine as usually, but left with a heavy goal on my shoulders. The Air Force is lowering the bar on maximum weight standards next semester. They are knocking it down by 15 pounds. This means, I must lose about 12 pounds by my next weigh-in in January to stay within range of a 5'2 female. Weight is a sensitive subject with any woman, and I'm no exception. I have never been described as thin, delicate, petite, or skinny. I work very hard to maintain my physical fitness, with multiple trips to the gym a week and a more healthy way of eating. It has taken me time to love and appreciate my natural body, and I'm glad to be where I'm at today. I can run 6 miles without death to the lungs, touch my toes, do 61 sit-ups and 50 push-ups (military-style) in a minute. I'm by no means a size 0, 2, or even a 6, but I have learned to embrace every curve to it's fullest. So when I'm told to lose weight to fit into "standards", it feels like all the hard work I do isn't enough. As a future member of our military, I know I must meet standards and regulations, for they are there for a reason, so I have decided to take this new goal and run with it! I haven't been at this goal weight since high school, but I have never had this kind of motivation until now. My mom once told me," A goal without a plan is just a wish." So I'm making a plan! I'm going to completely restructure my eating habits, with the help of an on-campus nutritionist, and strive for some new work-out plans. I know I can do it if I'm truly focused, and with the help of my amazing, supportive husband. He is getting on the ball with me because it makes it so much easier to eat and make smarter choices when your other half does too!! We also hit the gym together and keep each other motivated. Any new goals you'd like to start up on? No better time like the present :~)

Wednesday, August 18, 2010

First Flight

Unlike my once-deployed Staff Sergeant husband, I am just an Air Force cadet. I only have a year left until I commission as an officer, and I found out last semester that I will be a Biologist! With respect to my degree, it is a dream career that I can't wait to embark on. Six months ago my husband and I sat down to make a preference sheet, which is a list possible initial duty stations. Our top three choices were all in Florida and our last choice was Ohio. We waited very impatiently until last week when we received an e-mail from the Air Force about our first station. I opened and scanned it quickly until I found what I needed. My heart sank. We, of course, were assigned to our last choice, Dayton, Ohio. At first, I could tell the husband was slightly disappointed as the dreams of white beaches and palm trees slipped away. But as we discussed it, we had a renewed sense of excitement! We are finally leaving the nest that is Oklahoma and heading out on an adventure together as a family. We are realizing that this may be the location where our first child is born, where we start our first careers, and where we truly set out on our own. We quickly did some research and discovered Dayton is only one hour away from Cincinnati and Indianapolis and five hours from Chicago and Pittsburgh, and most importantly, still a day's drive from home. Hopefully, if Dayton doesn't keep us busy, the surrounding cities will! Here's to our first flight out of the nest!