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.

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!