We’re down to DAYS, party people! Obviously I can’t say in writing when or where the big homecoming ceremony will be, but my to-do list is full just like my heart with happiness that this is finally hours from being OVER.
I took a peak at my deployment bucketlist a couple days ago and wasn’t surprised at all to only see less than half of the agenda crossed off. Rachel’s Challenge threw my bucketlist a curveball, but I wouldn’t trade my experiences with them for a million bucks. Here’s a little run-down of what I did cross off the list, as well as my list of excuses for not accomplishing the rest. 🙂
What I DID accomplish:
2. Visit Amy in Denver –
Though I didn’t get to fly out there and spend a long weekend with her like I’d originally planned to do, I did get to enjoy dinner and hang-out time at her apt during two of my work trips. So stinkin’ proud of the life she’s built out there over the last couple of years. Can’t wait for the next visit, lp. 🙂
Though I didn’t get to fly out there and spend a long weekend with her like I’d originally planned to do, I did get to enjoy dinner and hang-out time at her apt during two of my work trips. So stinkin’ proud of the life she’s built out there over the last couple of years. Can’t wait for the next visit, lp. 🙂
4. Visit my sister (at least once) at my new home in Enterprise, Alabama. –
Like visiting Amy, my intentions were to visit her intentionally for a long weekend. I figured this one would be easy to do since we only lived about seven hours apart. Unfortunately, I only got to visit with her and Josh for one night! Jen cooked us a great dinner, and the three of us enjoyed sitting around hanging out all night, regardless that they both had to go to work the next day.
Like visiting Amy, my intentions were to visit her intentionally for a long weekend. I figured this one would be easy to do since we only lived about seven hours apart. Unfortunately, I only got to visit with her and Josh for one night! Jen cooked us a great dinner, and the three of us enjoyed sitting around hanging out all night, regardless that they both had to go to work the next day.
5. Visit the Armacost family and Ashley Martin in Destin, Florida. –
Crossed this one off the list back in August. After visiting with Jen in Enterprise, I woke up and headed to Destin. Once I got the RC job, I knew that there would be VERY little time for personal travel, and I was definitely correct! I’m glad I knocked this trip out early. Ashley has a gorgeous apartment and our weekend together was super fun like usual. Loved loved LOVED hanging out at Amanda’s for a while, playing with Lynlee, and meeting/falling in love with baby Maddox.
Crossed this one off the list back in August. After visiting with Jen in Enterprise, I woke up and headed to Destin. Once I got the RC job, I knew that there would be VERY little time for personal travel, and I was definitely correct! I’m glad I knocked this trip out early. Ashley has a gorgeous apartment and our weekend together was super fun like usual. Loved loved LOVED hanging out at Amanda’s for a while, playing with Lynlee, and meeting/falling in love with baby Maddox.
6. Go SKYDIVING! –
Definitely one of the best days throughout the last 10 months! Me and one of my best friends Emily bought groupons for this little adventure back in January. I’m so glad we spent the money early because we probably wouldn’t have had the nerve to actually go through with it otherwise! It was incredible.
Definitely one of the best days throughout the last 10 months! Me and one of my best friends Emily bought groupons for this little adventure back in January. I’m so glad we spent the money early because we probably wouldn’t have had the nerve to actually go through with it otherwise! It was incredible.
9. Invest in a new camera.
OH did I! In the hustle and bustle of getting ready for Germany, I took myself to to PX on post and splurged on my camera. I justified getting the exact one I wanted for two reasons. 1) I had been working my booty off with RC and making some extra moolah. 2) We’re already spending enough of this last-minute trip, so what’s another X amount of money? Swiping that card was hard, but I am SO glad I have that cam. It’s my favorite.
OH did I! In the hustle and bustle of getting ready for Germany, I took myself to to PX on post and splurged on my camera. I justified getting the exact one I wanted for two reasons. 1) I had been working my booty off with RC and making some extra moolah. 2) We’re already spending enough of this last-minute trip, so what’s another X amount of money? Swiping that card was hard, but I am SO glad I have that cam. It’s my favorite.
10. Host a big dinner party for my friends with a four-course meal.
The biggest meal I cooked was the night before I left for Germany back in October. I was trying to get rid of some perishable food in my house since I’d be gone for 15 days, so I invited five of my friends over. I did an app, salad, and dinner, which was followed by a surprise cookie cake to celebrate my sweet friend Michele’s acceptance to nursing school. They helped keep my distracted and calm my nerves before the big flight overseas. I had friends over several times throughout the last 10 months for dinner, which has always been a ton of fun! CAN’T WAIT to host cookouts with Jamie.
The biggest meal I cooked was the night before I left for Germany back in October. I was trying to get rid of some perishable food in my house since I’d be gone for 15 days, so I invited five of my friends over. I did an app, salad, and dinner, which was followed by a surprise cookie cake to celebrate my sweet friend Michele’s acceptance to nursing school. They helped keep my distracted and calm my nerves before the big flight overseas. I had friends over several times throughout the last 10 months for dinner, which has always been a ton of fun! CAN’T WAIT to host cookouts with Jamie.
16. Organize a yard sale.
BUST. I made $42, and then Teddy locked me out of my running car. Remember that? NEVER AGAIN. Resorting to donating to the thrift store and/or selling on Craigslist from now on.
BUST. I made $42, and then Teddy locked me out of my running car. Remember that? NEVER AGAIN. Resorting to donating to the thrift store and/or selling on Craigslist from now on.
A run-down of what I did not accomplish –
1. Complete a half-marathon.
The day after Jamie left I signed up with run one with my friends Amber and Christy on December 3rd. I ended up having a very good friend move her wedding up to the same date, and absolutely could not miss her wedding date. I am bummed that I did not cross off my number one goal, but seeing my friend get married was worth it, and there was definitely be more races. Jamie and I are signed up for the Country Music half-marathon in Nashville on April 28th.
The day after Jamie left I signed up with run one with my friends Amber and Christy on December 3rd. I ended up having a very good friend move her wedding up to the same date, and absolutely could not miss her wedding date. I am bummed that I did not cross off my number one goal, but seeing my friend get married was worth it, and there was definitely be more races. Jamie and I are signed up for the Country Music half-marathon in Nashville on April 28th.
3. Visit Hannah and Mallory in West Palm Beach, Florida.
I feel terrible that I didn’t cross this one off the of the list, but there was literally no time for personal travel outside of my job. Still trying to plan on getting down there asap.
I feel terrible that I didn’t cross this one off the of the list, but there was literally no time for personal travel outside of my job. Still trying to plan on getting down there asap.
7. Finish the photobook I started of Jamie’s four years at West Point.
No excuses for this one. The idea of sitting down and doing the photobook was never appealing to me, but I’ll get around to it one of these days.
No excuses for this one. The idea of sitting down and doing the photobook was never appealing to me, but I’ll get around to it one of these days.
8. Make a photobook of my four years in Tuscaloosa. Another one that I’ll get around to one of these days!
11. Find and join a womens’ weekly bible study.
I thought this one would be easy, but not so much. I haven’t settled down with one specific church yet because I have this thing in my head about wanting to select a church WITH Jamie, rather than him come home and say to him “I’ve picked out our church, hunny!”. I looked into bible studies at a church I’ve attended the most, but with my traveling I could never commit to attending. Hoping to find a good couples study in the near future. My heart needs it!
I thought this one would be easy, but not so much. I haven’t settled down with one specific church yet because I have this thing in my head about wanting to select a church WITH Jamie, rather than him come home and say to him “I’ve picked out our church, hunny!”. I looked into bible studies at a church I’ve attended the most, but with my traveling I could never commit to attending. Hoping to find a good couples study in the near future. My heart needs it!
12. Travel to watch my brother run at least one cross country meet.
Feel so bad that I keep missing out on his races, but traveling 4+ hours one-way during my one day off of traveling that week just wasn’t going to happen. Proud of my brother and still anxious to cross this off the list!
Feel so bad that I keep missing out on his races, but traveling 4+ hours one-way during my one day off of traveling that week just wasn’t going to happen. Proud of my brother and still anxious to cross this off the list!
13. Attend one home Alabama football game.
Personal travel wasn’t gonna happen.
Personal travel wasn’t gonna happen.
14. Attend one away Alabama football game.
Yeah, right. No time. Definitely wasn’t any kind of priority this year, and I really didn’t miss it.
Yeah, right. No time. Definitely wasn’t any kind of priority this year, and I really didn’t miss it.
15. Run 100 miles in one month.
Started this goal in October, and did well for about a week. News of the trip to Germany popped up, and the month of October then became consumed with Germany and Jamie. That’s about the extent of my excuses. 🙂
Started this goal in October, and did well for about a week. News of the trip to Germany popped up, and the month of October then became consumed with Germany and Jamie. That’s about the extent of my excuses. 🙂
I loved having a bucketlist, and to my milspouse friends out there facing a deployment, definitely create a lofty one for yourself. I have NO regrets about no accomplishing over half of my list; I never dreamed of the things I’d do and places I would see that would keep my from accomplishing my “goals”. I think my next bucketlist will be “Before we think about kids” bucketlist. 🙂
Off to substitute 4th grade; Yeah, that’s what I’m doing these days since RC has slowed down. Joy!
xoxo.
Hi! I’m Erica, and I absolutely adore sharing my life on this website with you! I come here almost daily to blab about all of the things related to being a regular wife and mother in today’s ever-evolving society. I share about our new home, what’s on our kitchen table, what we’re hanging in our closets, where we’re traveling to next, my crazy 5 a.m. work outs, how I make time for girlfriends, our faith, and much more. We always have a lot of balls in the air and somewhat thrive on the chaos. I believe in the power of story-telling as a form of inspiration and entertainment, so I’m here to do both! I was born and raised in north Alabama and recently re-planted roots here again after my husband transitioned out of the Army (he is now in the Reserve and it’s going so well!) I’m a super proud mom to three little girls (ages 7, 4, and 1) who seem to be the stars of the show around here (for good reason – they’re pretty great!) I’m so glad you found me and are here reading! I hope we can get to know each other here on the blog as well as Facebook and/or Instagram. xoxo