Merry Christmas! Here we are again at the end of another year! I was a traveler for most of the year having deployed overseas to Qatar, returning back to North Carolina in July, to Tennessee in July and up to Connecticut, New York, and Canada in August, two weeks of Army business in September in Oklahoma with return to North Carolina and finally settling back in Oklahoma in October where this Army Officer journey all began five years ago and where I will be until April when I move to a place that is still unknown to me. I do not know what it feels like to stay in one place for very long and am very anxious to learn where I will be moving in 2018.
The move to Oklahoma was an adventure. Travelling with a dog, two cats and a U-Haul trailer is no easy feat. The journey was long and slow. I almost lost a cat at a rest stop. The expedition required use of several latex gloves, a lot of air freshener, calories upon calories of mountain dew, tons of patience, perseverance and valuable lessons learned for the next trip. After we finally reached destination, the vehicle was taken immediately for a full detail. I am renting a quaint little house in a beautiful area of town. The sidewalks are perfect for walking Lexi every day. And just as I thought four years ago when I was here, the Midwest’s Oklahoma sunrises and sunsets are a rare kind of beautiful.
In January, I deployed back overseas to the country of Qatar for the duration of six months. It was an incredibly awesome and positive experience, much different from my first deployment. I had the privilege to travel off base and enjoy an Arabian Nights adventure which included sand dune rides, a camel ride, jellyfish stings at the Persian Gulf and a campfire on a private beach roasting marshmallows and enjoying Hookah. This base was much larger and offered a multitude of opportunities. I was able to be an active participant in the church lecturing and singing in the choir. I certified as a Spin instructor; nothing has ever been more fun or sweaty—an incredible adrenaline rush it was to yell at people to pump the pedals along to the beats of many different playlists. Tabata Mondays were the best!
It took me quite a while to adjust back to the summer weather in the United States as I had grown accustomed to the 115 degree heat of Qatar! 85 degrees felt quite cool to me when I returned!
In February, I promoted to Captain and in September, celebrated my five year anniversary of signing the dotted line. I can hardly believe how fast five years have flown by. I have had some very amazing experiences in these years as well as many challenges; both have shaped me into the person I am today and into who I will become.
The first half of the year was marked with many highs while the second half of the year was marked by several painful goodbyes. I lost my grandfather on June 27. Thankfully, I returned home from deployment shortly after to be with the family. He was a good, strong man whom taught me a great deal and relentlessly supported and encouraged my goals. Following, my sister’s boyfriend lost his sister in a car accident. Thomas is looked at as a son and brother already in our family so that’s been a difficult loss to process and endure. In August, an old friend to the family, whom I shared my first kiss with at 18, died at the young age of 29. A talented entertainer and genuine spirit he was. Finally, a woman whom I met here in Oklahoma four years ago and referred to as my Lawton grandmother passed away. We often went to church together, talked and sang hymns together. She was a special lady. It is difficult saying goodbye; however, it is also a blessing to have known and been touched by such people that make saying goodbye so hard. They shape us and live on in our hearts and in our memories. Please keep them and their loved ones in your thoughts and prayers this holiday. To those of you that have yourself lost someone this year, my thoughts and prayers are with you. Take comfort that they are spending Christmas with Jesus this year.
Not as heartbreaking, it was tough to bid farewell to a job and people that I loved working with for 19 months. Serving as a Brigade Adjutant was incredibly rewarding and educational. I had the distinct privilege to work for an amazing leader that still currently serves as a mentor to me. He gifted me with more than superb leadership. He believed in my potential, helped me become a stronger leader and person, but most importantly enabled me to grow deeper in my faith. For all of this, I will always be eternally grateful and deeply humbled.
My final goodbye was to my home in North Carolina. I loved my first house and unfortunately did not get to spend time in and enjoy it as much as I would have liked to. I hired a property manager and currently have renters. Change is good but leaving a place you called home and made friends for several years is always challenging. Goodbyes open the door for new possibilities though and I look forward to exploring them.
My family is doing well. Mom remains strong and cancer free since 2015. For those that were not aware, my dad’s wife, Sandy, was diagnosed with Stage 4 Ovarian Cancer last January. As of last month, after almost a year of determined fighting and unceasing believing, her scans came back clear. Cancer is an ugly disease that’s plagued us for two years now, but this family fights hard and wins! Brianne continues to tackle her Lyme’s Disease with grit and determination. My nephews are 6 and 4 now—growing up way too fast. Jimmy commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Tennessee National Guard and his girlfriend, Cydney, and I pinned him which was a true honor. He is currently in Fort Benning, Georgia for his Officer Basic Course. Kaci and Mara are working jobs they really enjoy and Kalli graduates Nursing School this month and will begin working at Northcrest Medical Center in Springfield, Tennessee in January.
Lexi, Cheeto and Stormy and I hope you and yours have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. May God bless you in 2018 with good health, renewed hope and abiding joy.