Election Day

I hope everyone went out today and rocked their vote, I did. And as I was leaving, I can't believe I am about to say this, I started to CRY. Let me clarify...not cry, but I did have some good tears running down my face. You are probably have several thoughts running through your head right now, things such as, "IS SHE OK?," or "MAN she's a nerd and loves politics too much." and I am sure there are several other thoughts...trust me I thought them too. Yet, my reasoning is so much more than my love for politics.

I cried because about a month and half ago a certain country held on of their first election...and on their election day the people worried whether or not there would be an attack on the polling site. They had to walk past their police and Army, as well as U.S. soldiers. These voters risked their life. I walked into my polling site without a care in the world, I did not walk past any police or soldiers, I FREELY and SAFELY walked into my polling site, voted and left the same way.

I cried because my action of voting is exactly what so many of our U.S. military men and women are fighting for. They are keeping the terrorist at bay so "WE THE PEOPLE" can express ourselves freely. There is no excuse for each and every eligible American NOT to vote.

That's the reason tears ran down my face and I am anything but ashamed.
:)

The Adventures of Flat Daniel

As you all probably saw on facebook, I had a cardboard cut out of Daniel made. The cut out stands about 5 ft. tall and looks identical to my man, the cut outs name, Flat Daniel. Flat Daniel has been going with me to all the events that Daniel normally would. At the events I then take Flat Daniel's picture with everyone and send Daniel the pictures in collage form. He has a binder that I sent at the beginning and now all he has to do is keep adding the pages I send. The idea is that Daniel gets to see all the things we've been up to instead of just reading or hearing about them, by the end of this I have a feeling that he will have a pretty hefty book of Flat Daniel adventures.

Flat Daniel has already been several places... Garrett's birthday, Church, Danny's birthday party, Football game, a couple's wedding shower, Salem to visit college friends, St. Louis, Main Street in Robinson, after-party from the Palestine Wine Festival, Karrie and Dustin's wedding, and Connor's 1st birthday!

He's a pretty popular guy...and luckily everywhere he goes he is welcomed with open arms. When I've taken Flat Daniel to more public places it amazes me the people that come up to me and tell me it's great what I am doing for him, but more importantly they tell me how great it is what he's doing for us. Just this past weekend I had several people, most complete strangers, at the wedding tell me to thank him for his service, and believe me I do. When I purchased Flat Daniel I thought he was just going to be a cardboard cut out that family and friends would take pictures with, but I feel that he may be more than that. I think we all to often forget about those serving, I know I did before I had a direct connection, but maybe Flat Daniel will help people remember. And that's fine by me, I wouldn't have it any other way.

End of Season, New Adventures

This post has been a long time coming I know, but I am going to ask you to cut me some slack, I have been busy. Busy packing, and then unpacking, busy setting up my "control center" for packages and other Army stuff, busy making sure Daniel has anything and everything he wants, busy trying to find a new job, all in all just busy! As you all know by now, Daniel left at the end of August and is now in Afghanistan. For me it was the end of a season for us, and the start of a wild, learning, daily change of emotions adventure! Just another couple chapters in our book! :)

The Sunday before Daniel left his Mom and Dad had an open house type party at the church. After the open house we then had a church service upstairs where we anointed a prayer cloth with oil and everyone then came and touched the cloth and said a prayer for Daniel. Before the open house started we were all their decorating wondering if we'd have a good turn out...many of us said we could see it going either way, there would be a lot, or not so much. Boy were we all surprised...there was A LOT, A LOT. At one point in time someone counted 150 or 160 there! We couldn't believe it! The service was one for the books. People got up and shared stories of Daniel through the years, people were laughing, in tears, etc. Then Daniel and I got up in front. I said a few words...not nearly to the extent of what Daniel said, big surprise 'ey, but when he got up and spoke it was at that point I started to wrap my head around how many people were there. I looked out into the crowd and saw so many peoples faces, so many that care about him, about me, about us. It was a whirlwind of emotions for everyone to say the least.

That night Daniel and I drove back down to Clarksville, it was the first time that we'd been alone after the party and the first time we could talk about the party. We both came to the same conclusion, we are blessed beyond measures, blessed on so many levels, and so lucky to have so many great people in our lives. But with that said don't forget the men who you don't know. Say a prayer for Daniel, as well as all of his men and the rest serving our country. Send a care package to Daniel, but the next time send one to someone you don't know. (I myself need to do this) Daniel is many people's only connection to this war on terror...but please don't forget everyone else serving, as well as their families. If any of you want to send anything to any soldier I will send you a flat rate box, print you off a label and give you a customs form. Ok, I am stepping off of my soapbox for the day...but just one last thing. To everyone who came to the open house, to everyone who has contacted me and told me they were thinking/praying for us:

"Thank you from the bottom of my heart and Daniel's. We again are so blessed to have so many wonderful people in our lives. I guess in a sense, we never knew how many lives we touched, but are oh so lucky to have so many on our side."

Here is what I have learned in this short time that he's already been gone. And I wouldn't have it any other way. I love being busy with Army stuff, and sending packages, knowing that I helping/giving Daniel and his guys in any way makes me feel so wonderful. I love researching about the war, the area that Daniel is located, I want to know about the people, the terrain, the upcoming election, but I guess that is just the Political Scientist coming out in me. I am getting use to the questions such as, "Do you miss him?" or "Are you sad that he's gone?" I must admit when I first started getting asked things like that I was a little peeved. But I now know that people are just concerned about me and I appreciate it. But just to clarify...."Yes, I miss him to the moon and back a million times." and "Yes, I am sad he's gone." But what he's doing is bigger than me, bigger than you, bigger than any of us...and I love him so much for what he's doing.

If anyone wants to know Daniel's address, or anything else, I will tell you as much as I know or can. Just send me a message on facebook, email, stop me on the street. You'll find out...I do like to talk about him, he's one of my favorite hobbies! :) Again, thank you all for your love and support it means the world to me.

Time flies when you're having fun!

Busy, Busy, Busy. That is what I have been up too lately. Daniel was home on block leave for about 18 days and we almost always had something to do, and I wouldn't trade it for the world. We got to celebrate his little brother's birthday, as well as the 4th of July. Us spending the 4th of July together is a rare thing, in the past he has always been a some sort of military training, so it was very nice to have him home. Everyone has been asking me how I have been and my reply "Good, not worrying about anything yet." I fear that time has passed. We have seven weekends left until he is deploys. I am starting to wonder how we are going to everything we want to in that short amount of time.

Memorial Day Weekend

As stated in my last post, there would be adventures ahead. Memorial Day Weekend was the first of many to come! It was so nice to have a three day weekend, but I must admit it was a busy one! Saturday I went down to the Vincennes Rendezvous and painted faces all day, you wouldn't believe how busy we were. Children love to look like Indians I suppose! I felt like I was just mass producing Native Americans. At the same time it excites me to see that so many children take an interest in history. Sunday, Daniel and I went back down to just enjoy the day. We have made many good friends through the years and look forward to seeing them at this event. We had good food and very good fellowship! Here are a couple pictures from the weekend....enjoy!

Cruise Control but...Adventures Ahead

I know...don't remind me...I haven't posted in a VERY long while. But I haven't had too much to post about. The last part of April and the month of May have felt like the cruise control on my car. I have just been doing my routine, get up, go to work, come home, go to bed....repeat. But this is all about change in the coming months. Why, one might ask...well first of all it is SUMMER there are always fun activities going on! And also it is the last couple of months before Daniel deploys and we will have lots of things to do before he leaves.

Next week Daniel and I are going to a dinner. I must admit I am a bit nervous, this will be the first time I meet everyone that he works with and will be spending the next year with. We also have to start packing everything up to go into storage for the next year. We will have to go through everything and decide what stays in storage and what needs to come home. (Garrett has already claimed the X-box!) This is also the summer of weddings, between friends and family we have 3 in the upcoming months. AND I have so many other little things I want to try to squeeze in with him before he leaves.

The morale of this story...right now I may be set on cruise control, but this summer will hopefully be filled with lots of good post and pictures about "The Adventures of Ashtin!"

Reality Check

I can't believe that I have been in this grown up world now for almost a year and a half! Where has the time gone! I am still "learning" new things about being a grown up everyday! I am learning that first jobs aren't always what they are cracked up to be, that even when the student loans are almost paid, there will always be a new bill to take it's place, etc. I am also now contemplating on whether or not I should go back to school...a part of me wants too, to get away from my job and go back for teaching, or get my master's. Shoot, I have even thought about going back to be a nurse, but I just don't know if I could handle that! But if I go back to school that means more student loans...trying to find a part time job to still pay for bills, and I am sure the list would grow. In my spare time I look for other jobs...but right now, especially in this area, the market isn't great. The last few weeks these are the thoughts in my head...and as I read this...I am disgusted. I would first like to thank my family and friends for listening to me...but most of I want to apologize.

I have no reason to whine and complain. I am blessed in so many ways it is amazing! I have a job...a job that might not be great, but they are going to give me two weeks off before Daniel deploys! I have more material possessions than I will ever need. I live in a country where I have freedom. I have family and friends who listen whenever I call or need to talk. I have met my soul mate, my best friend. I love him with all my heart forever and always...and the best part...he loves me too!

So for the time being I will quit thinking...and just enjoy this truly beautiful life I already have.

Spring Fever

Yes...you don't have to tell me. I know I have been slacking...and I have to blame it on the case of Spring Fever I have had for about the last month. Spring is FINALLY here and I couldn't be more excited! The sunny days, the warmth of the sun on you skin, actually wanting to go outside...I don't even mind when it rains, well sometimes, but still you get my point. It is staying light longer and when I get off work the sun is still out! This coming weekend is already Easter, time flies when you are having fun! We have several spring birthdays in my family, mine included, so we always have lots of festivities! So I apologize for slacking, but don't worry it isn't because anything it wrong, it is in fact quite the opposite! And if you haven't, I hope you catch a bit of Spring Fever soon too!

Patience is a Virtue

We have all heard the saying above but what does it mean? I am not a patient person, I used to deny it but I will now openly admit it. I don't like it when I call someone and they don't pick up the phone...so I usually give it a little bit, depending on who you are, and try to call again. I like to have the bigger decisions in life mapped out in advance, because well, I want a decision made. I knew I wanted to graduate from college early, thus the reason for so many college course in high school. I knew where I wanted to go to college by my Junior year and was accepted the October of my Senior year. I struggle with patience in my life, but it is a quality that I not only want to improve on (and I feel like I have), but I must improve.

Improvements have been made, of that I am sure. This past year has really put my patience to the test. I graduated college, not knowing what was going to happen, I had no idea if or where I would get a job, and I thought I lost the love of my life. YIKES...so my journey to gain patience began. I started looking for jobs, had interviews, and nothing. I knew my relationship was on the rocks and there was nothing I could do. I moved back in with my parents because I couldn't afford my own place. I know this sounds awful, and let me back up, I am blessed in more ways than anyone knows. I couldn't ask for better family and friends throughout this experience. It was in the midst of all of this that I read a bible study book I had received after graduating college. It is called God's Promises for Graduates, the book list different verses on certain subjects...you bet, patience is one. Reading the different scriptures that the bible has on patience helped give me a reality check. While the unknown is a very scary thing, and something that I have always tried to avoid because well, of my impatience, who did I think I was? I mean I can't have my hand in all my decisions in life. I have to turn it over to the man upstairs and patiently wait, he knows when and what I will be ready for. It was on a summer's night that my quest for patience began and is still in progress.


My results so far, I found a job and my relationship is stronger now than ever. I must admit I do find myself relapsing from time to time, as a matter of fact I did last Sunday for about an hour! Thus, my quest for patience is far from over, in these coming months my patience are definitely going to be put to the test. I still don't know if I will be moving to Colorado, there's a chance Daniel will get deployed, and I have thought about going back to school. Yet, this time it is different, this time I know it will all be ok. Everything is going to work out the way that it should. I could think "what if" and get upset because Daniel and I don't know what is going to happen, but what good does that do? It causes unnecessary stress for all parties in the situation and that is not the virtue of patience. The virtue of patience is this, allowing yourself to be peaceful and content in enduring situations. And while a few relapses can be expected, that is what I will strive to do now and for the years to come.

Sunday's

Today is Sunday and I love Sunday's. It is the day of the week when you are expected to be lazy. On Sunday's you are supposed to eat a big meal, with desert following. Sunday's seem to creep by, but I wouldn't have it any other way. On Sunday's I don't want to go anywhere, well besides Church, and when he is home, down to Daniel's. It is the day that brings closer to the end of a busy week, and the start of another.

And depending on the season it varies what I will be doing on a Sunday. In the winter, you will find me curled up by the fire hanging out with the family. In the spring, get outside and enjoy the fresh air, when Daniel is home we like to go for walks in the woods, or visit the baby cows! When summer rolls around it is usually my one day to enjoy "laying out" or swimming. And my favorite part of the summer months is taking my Sunday nap in the hammock! Sunday's in the fall for our family means raking leaves, and lots of them, and then again enjoying the fire. No matter what season, one thing is for sure, the ones I love are always the people I am around on a Sunday. Relaxed and carefree.

Like I said not a lot happens on Sunday's but I think it is just that, not a lot happening, that is what could make it my favorite day of the week.

Small World

I am learning more and more as I grow up how small the world really is.

In order for this story to begin I need to explain my job, which I don't think I really have. So let me elaborate. I work in health insurance, we insure people across the 50 states. I am on the phone for 8 hours a day...yes 8 hours. To top it off I say pretty much the same thing roughly 120 times a day. I have found that people do not like insurance, they actually loathe it. People are rude, call me names, and sometimes forget that I myself am a human being and have feelings too. We have all been there when it comes to insurance, had a claim that didn't go through correctly or found out a procedure wasn't covered the way you thought it was. So, I do understand their frustrations...and believe me I tell them this in my most soothing telephone voice possible. I always try to be upbeat and speak with a smile in my voice, I have found it can make the caller in a better mood as well. But let's face it I am bored, and some days have just had enough of being robot! But then....

Yesterday (02/01/10) I took a call from an insured. Their id number popped up, as did the names. I recognized them immediately and couldn't believe. It was someone I knew. I won't use their names, part of the job, I will call them Mike and Christine. I figured it was a provider but I was still excited because, well I mean let's face it this is high excitement stuff in my job! And what happened next floored me. It wasn't the provider, it was the insured. Mike and Christine are some of my mom and dad's good friends from high school. Mike has recently been fighting a battle with cancer and has had several on-going treatments. Christine was calling in because they were trying to go home, but were told by home health care they couldn't because they were waiting on the insurance to verify benefits. I asked to place her on hold...I had not told her who I was yet. What I did...I consider nothing. I simply looked on one of my "cheat sheets" saw that we didn't need any notification, so I could release the benefits for home health care. I have always known my family to call Christine, Christi, so when I got back on the line I called her Christi and proceeded to state who I was. She was flabbergasted...much like I was when I took the call. She then asked how my family was and we small talked for a bit. She said it was thanks to me that Mike was going to go home on that day.

My family has been following their journey, I still can't believe that I took that call. What a small world we live in. And what a Great God we have. I think it was meant to be. It gave them yet another story for their journey and made me realize that maybe my job is a little better than I thought after all.

AHH....RANGER!

Last Friday was Daniel's Ranger school graduation. I drove the almost 9 hours down to Ft. Benning the night before graduation, that way I could stay for the week! My trip down was one for the books...between the monsoon and tornado, it wasn't too bad! Yes, you heard right a tornado. I was almost to the top of Mt. Eagle and I couldn't take it any longer, I had to pull off in a rest area. It was storming like crazy and I was leery of driving up the mountain anyways, without the storm, so I pulled off. Once I was in the rest area a trucker informed me that a tornado had just touched down on Mt. Eagle. Great, all I wanted was to be down the mountain with no problems and be on my way to Ft. Benning. I wasn't going to chance it...so I waited for about 15 to 20 minutes and made it down the mountain with ease.

Friday was a great day. What Daniel accomplished was phenomenal. Ranger school is 61 days of physical and mental exhaustion. Going off of about 45 minutes of sleep a night, a Ranger must be able to preform a mission that is up to the tactical, techinical and profiency level the Army expects. The Ranger goes through three different phases, Darby phase, Mountain phase, and Swamp phase. Each phase offers a new challenge that pushes the Ranger to preform at the best of his abilities. Most Rangers will recycle one of the phases if not more. So for Daniel to go straight through is a pretty big deal! I am so proud of him and all that he accomplished. To find out more about Ranger school and watch what Daniel did this 8 part video is great.

Stay Tuned!

I have been told by a certain someone that my blog is boring...it has no pictures, I don't keep it updated, blah, blah. But I am finding out more and more that once I am away from work the computer is not where I want to be! I have other things that I would like to do, like run errands, or be lazy. But that doesn't mean that I don't think about updating my blog. I would love to have the ability to write a couple times a week about interesting subjects. I would like to post pictures, polls, and make my blog unique, and I hope that will happen here in the near future. So don't give up on me, or my blog. I will have an interesting post in the near future, so stayed tune...there could even be pictures!