WARNING!

Hello Ladies and Gents!

I know its been quite a while since I've written something, much less posted any of my recipes! Well I can assure you that I will be putting up some recipes soon. I'm finally settling in and getting back to my "normal" life without John and back at school.

Speaking of life without John..its definitely an adjustment. I mean don't get me wrong, its terrible to say but I'm almost use to John not being next to me every night. We've been together for about 5 1/2 years and will be married for a full year in exactly two weeks. Within those time spans, John and I have spent only 1 1/2 months actually living together and in the same zip code at the same time. So you can say distance between John and I basically comes natural. Although, YES it is totally different when he's halfway across the world and in a war zone. Ok, here is the thing for all you civilians..(not for most Military families) but John and I don't need you to feel sorry for us. Please don't take this as a stab or that I'm trying to be a complete drama queen about this but we don't. John and I chose the life we live, we chose this life together, we chose Army and we wouldn't change it for the world. We live a very good life, regardless of the distance so pleaseee don't feel sorry for him or I. We are making it through this deployment the best we can and keeping high spirits is truly the most important thing. Also, don't confuse sorrow for support. We absolutely LOVE the support from everyone and we couldn't push through times in our life without the support but know there is a difference. Anyways, life without John is tough and I live for waking up to emails from him, but this deployment could not have come at a better time. I'm able to fulfill my goal to finish my degree and he's able to fulfill his goal of doing what he wants for his country. Were both accomplishing something we've always wanted to do. After this time apart is when we will finally be able to settle down for real and start a life. So again, thank you for all of your wonderful support.

School is winding down for me, just to pick back up. Haha I have an overfilled summer with a pretty full fall to get me through this time and focus on something. Only 8 more months until John is home and I have my degree :) 

Well thank you for reading about my rant. I hope to be posting more so stay tuned! 

Everyone have a great week! 

<3

-Megan

Let's Get Physical

It has been FOREVER since I've posted something worthwhile for people to read so here are a few things that have been going on and/or about to start happening. 

First off, time is so weird with John being gone. I've told so many people this and I truly believe it: "I can't tell if my days are getting better or worse" I've heard so many times that your days gradually get worse when a soldier leaves but about mid-deployment is when you buck up and they start getting better because you're use to not having him there day-to-day. Well, in our situation as soon as he left our home- so did I. I went straight to Virginia, crying the whole 5 hours, and spent the next 4 days with my two best friends in the world then we headed back to Texas. So, its almost like I haven't had time to sulk. I feel like I've been "moving" for two weeks now. On Friday I am finally getting to final destination of this move and will be there for the next 9 months until I graduate! To help me through this has been everyone, I want to give a BIG shout out to my friend Courtney, whose fiance is in Marine Boot camp/SOI. We've been talking all military and it helps to have someone who is use to their other half being gone. 

I've recently discovered an amazing book to help me through these times, thanks to my cousin Lindsey: 

I think every military wife should definitely get this book, its based around a Marine officer wife living in California. I think its awesome and really helpful with every feeling you may be scared of. I really love it!

Secondly, school has been amazing this semester. Its been the most stress free I've ever felt in a semester and  where I don't have to play catch-up every week. I just need to keep up all my hard work over the next 8 weeks of this semester. Next week I will sign up for my last semester at Sam Houston, and I am so beyond excited. Ever since I was about to understand the concept of college I was told not to do anything until I finish (I didn't really obey this rule, but I'm almost finished!) so I am so excited to be done with college and start making a career for myself. :)

Lastly, I am in desperate need to start taking better care of myself. I eat a lot of junk food and I never realize it until I see myself in pictures or right before I get in the shower. So during John's deployment I plan to make a change that I stick to for basically the rest of my life. I have this bad habit about saying a lot of things about being healthy/weight loss, but I don't back it up. So its time to put my money where my mouth is! Ok..done with that rant for the day.

I think that just about sums up what I feel for the moment. If you're a military wife-get the book! :)

<3

-Megan

Back to Texas

I am so excited to get back to Texas! I can't wait! I want to go back and get back to my Huntsville life. I want/need a job really bad so if anybody out there could help me around the Huntsville area that would be great! :)
I also need my husband to come back, that is something I can't count on in 9 months :/
Anyway! Time for quality best friend time!
<3
Megan

Rough days ahead

John left yesterday and God only knows the next time I'll be able to talk to him again. I'm really lucky and blessed to have my best friends with me though. I think I probably would have still been crying. I miss him so much but I know I'll see him soon.

Love

The fear of love is nothing more than fearing your limits. Love isn't something that you can buy, wear once, then give it to Goodwill. It's something that opens your soul and makes you test yourself, something you wear until there are holes and it fits just right that you'll never get rid of it. Love is even more powerful when both sides choose to hold nothing back and fight with everything they got. I'm not naive enough to think that only army families have it hard because every relationship and every love has been stretched so far that they can either use that stretch as a learning experience and become stronger or run so thin that there is nothing else left. I believe in fate and true love, our story is the one that gets me out of bed each morning. I could not imagine life any different than it is now, any easier or any harder.
Each day is hard because I know it's one day further from when you left, but it's also one day closer to when you come back.. I love you.

Bittersweet News..

Well today John and I found out for sure when he's leaving :( I didn't think I would be as sad as I was. I know when the day comes it will be even tougher than it was today. Unfortunately this is a good time for me to finish school and spending my last few months in Texas. I know he'll be back but him being away for 9 months is ridiculous. Those families who use to last 15-18 are so crazy strong! On Monday we have to start packing again :/ good thing we don't have to ship it halfway across the country again. Well thank the lord the day he leaves I'll be with my two best friends in the whole world! Also, my recipes this week won't be too fabulous because ya know, were moving soon. Haha
<3
-Megan

Travel Bug

I have this sudden urge to travel! I want to just book a flight and head there with or without anyone with me. I love going new places and seeing new things, especially small hole-in-the-wall places that the locals hang out. I want to take pictures of everything I see so that people can see what I saw and almost experience what I did. I think I might take a few trips while John is away, not that I wouldn't love to have him by my side but with school, my hopeful future job, and him being away it would be a good stress reliever for me I think. I'm definitely ready to test my travel itch next week when I'm in Virginia for 10 days! I've already made a list of some things I've googled of places I'd like to visit. 

Speaking of John being gone :( I'm also going to make a list of things I want to accomplish while he's away so when he gets back I can solely focus on us and creating a life we can settle into. I guess this is just a way for me to get some things out of my system before careers and responsibilities (not like I don't have them now) take over. 

I've been reading up on some things to do in your twenties that you'll regret in your forties and travel is one of them...along with waiting until marriage but I've already blown that out of the water :) haha I guess I have a bug for traveling right now because I'm somewhat smothered at this time of my life. John and I only share one vehicle and he goes to work everyday so its hard for me to explore this city around me without having a mode of transportation, and when I do have the ability to explore I never know where to go because I haven't gone exploring..so its just a big Ferris Wheel that I can't get off of. I only have about two more weeks here so I'm going to use it as best I can and if that means dragging John's butt into the car while I explore so we can "hang out" then so be it. 

I don't want to seem like I'm complaining about my life or that I wish I had something else of anything because that is totally NOT the case! I have a wonderful life that I never would have expected and a life that I wouldn't change for the world. I just feel that since John and I are young we shouldn't have boring nights, go a day without laughing, or hold back from something that we want to do. 

I'm going to be making mini and long term goals and dreams for myself to accomplish, making lists is what I'm good at so why not put it to good use! 

YAY for venting on this blog post! Thanks for reading :)

<3

-Megan

Last Few Days

Last night was kinda tough for me. First I had to finish my 10 page paper that was due today and secondly I was just reminded that John's days left are numbered here..it got me so sad and thinking that I have to make a huge effort to make his days left the best ones. We usually do a lot of stuff together but I think this coming weekend might be the last weekend he'll have here so I'm going to try and plan something awesome for us to do. 

On a positive note, only 11 more days until my best friend flies up here to North Carolina and we drive to Virginia! I'm soo excited! 10 days on vacation with my best friends is going to be amazing. :)

Here is the date on my dry erase calendar:

:)

Another thing that happened last night was making the next delicious meal! 

I got it from Pinterest, of course! Its called Spicy Shrimp Scampi

Ingredients:

4tbsp butter

2tbsp olive oil

1/2 medium onion, sliced

4 cloves of minced garlic

1lb raw peeled and deveined shrimp

1/2c white wine

1 1/2 lemons (for juice)

4 dashes of hot sauce

dash of red pepper flakes

salt and pepper

8oz angel hair pasta

chopped parsley

graded (or shredded) Parmesan

Directions:

Boil water for pasta. Heat oil and melt 2tbsp of butter in large skillet over medium heat. Add onion and garlic, cook for 2 minutes. Add shrimp, wine, remaining butter, salt and pepper, hot sauce and red pepper flakes cook for 2 minutes then reduce heat to low. Add pasta to boiling water and cook until almost done. Drain while keeping 1c of pasta water. Add pasta into skillet then add water as needed to thin (you probably won't need it). Mix thoroughly then serve topping it with parsley and cheese. 

Its super yum!!

Hope everyone had a good Monday!

<3

-Megan