Like Mother, Like Daughter?

The joke with my family is that I am very much like my mom in a lot of ways. Both flute players, both did colorguard in college, both want to be/are nurses, both joined 23rd Army Band, both did basic training, both got sent home from basic training the first time we tried to go for the same reason.... The list goes on. If my story continues like my mom's did, she met my dad in the band, they both went to the U, and now they are married. So, now the joke is "Hah hah hah, now you just need to find some cute RM in the band who goes to the U and marry him!" If only, if only... :) I've kinda blown that idea off, since they locked our unit shortly after I got in, due to the fact we were filled to 160% capacity. My only options were a single 30-year old guitarist, (whom my mother forbade me from looking at :) age difference...), and Anthony King (*cUtIe!!*), who is on his mission in Ft. Hood, TX right now. So, it looks like I have a while if I want to follow in my mom's footsteps. Or so it seems....
Here's a conversation that took place between me and mom at Sam's Club today:

"Dad says they got a new guy in the band while you were gone." -Heidi

"Oh really now?" -Chelsea

"Yeah. Return missionary." -H

"Uh oh." -C

"From North Carolina." -H

"Uh oh." -C

"25" -H

"Uh oh!" -C

"Came to Utah to go to a 'Mormon School', but didn't want to go as extreme as BYU, so he's going to the U." -H

"UH OH." -C

"Don't even think about it. Dad already told him we have some cute girls in the unit." -H

"UH OH!" -C

"I told him to knock it off." -H

"Awww...." -C

Haha!! I just absoulutely HAD to tell you girls, since you are all aware of my circumstances and questions, and why did I join the Army, what am I doing with my life..etc, etc, blah blah blah. This will be an interesting story to unfold! It has a lot of potential to go somewhere, and yet it also has a lot of potential to go absoulutely no where. So don't get your hopes up, I'm not, but the idea of it still makes me giggle, and I just had to share the laugh!!! I haven't even seen this kid yet, but hopefully I will catch a glimpse of him tomorrow. I'll let ya know what I think!

Better yet, I just found out he is indeed a percussionist!! Good night, this should be interesting!!!!

A clearer look at Stupors of Thought

Chelsea and I were having a conversation about stupors of thought and I was explaining my frustration at the ambiguity of what it really means and entails. Confusion, discouragement, and frustration don't come from the Lord; how can stupors of thought come from God if they feel so yucky!? She said something that "turned a light on in my soul," as I put it at the time.

"A stupor of thought does come from the Lord, and you do feel confusion, but the confusion doesn't come from the Lord, it comes from the Lord not being there."

The Holy Ghost will manifest when a choice or a decision is right because that confusion and uncomfortable feeling won't be there because the Lord will be there instead.

Thank you, Chelsea, for sharing your light with me!

Airport Adventures

So during the little fiasco of sending me to South Carolina by mistake after leaving Ft. Sill, I was finally on my way to Virginia Beach. Once I arrived, I went to go pick up my luggage. This consisted of: One very large military green duffel bag (50 lbs), National Guard backpack (20 lbs), pink backpack (10 ish lbs), and my purse (stuffed to capacity. And then some.) I joke that the final test of a soldier is to see if they can manage to carry all their luggage with them out of training through the airport by themselves. It was quite a gamble! My plan of action: back-load the big, monster duffel, front-load the National Guard backpack to even things out a bit so I don't tip over backwards, sling my purse over my shoulder as best I could, then carry my pink backpack in my hand. I'm sure I was quite a sight.
Anyway, when I went to go get my luggage, I discovered that although my pink backpack was there, my green duffel was missing. GREAT. However, there was another identical duffel sitting with my pink backpack, so I figured some other serviceman thought my bag was theirs and ran off with it. Sure enough, that's what happened. After talking to some people at the airport and a few phone calls, we were able to track down my bag and the trade was successful. I felt bad for the Marine who ran off with it, because mine was TWICE as heavy as his!! After giving myself a quick pep-talk of "I am an American Soldier. I am disciplined, physically and mentally TOUGH. I CAN DO ANYTHING.", I began my attempts to lift my duffel. I got it onto my back in one motion; too easy. I was feeling pretty good and all sorts of Army-strong. I looked up and saw some punk kid in cut-off jeans, a wife-beater tank, and baseball cap on backwards watching me. He saw I was looking, gave me the COMPLETE up-down, looked at me like I was insane, then said "You are too cute to be in the Army!" I smiled at him, said "Thank you!" and just walked away (blushing furiously). Made my day, and carrying all those bags just a little bit easier ;)

Happy Birthday to Me!

So after I got off the phone with three amazing girls who gave me a fantastic rendition of happy birthday, I couldn't stop smiling. Walking on campus I jumped over a fallen sign as the champion of all things small which again made me smile at my silliness. A guy passed me on a bike and said Hi! How are you? I said Hello! I'm wonderful! and kept walkin. I got to the crosswalk and there he pulled up next to me. He says hi, I just passed you back there and I saw you were smiling and I said ya that girl is thinkin positive, so I decided I should come meet you and see if maybe you'd like to go out sometime?
That certainly is one way to introduce yourself! in any case that is really a flattering comment, and props to him for having the guts to do that! we exchanged numbers.

What's your opinion?

Hi girls, I asked this question to Jake tonight because I was curious and I thought we would have very different answers. It was an interesting experience! I'm curious to know your opinion as well:

What's your idea of 'romance'?

Thanks girls!
Signing out-

The Airborne Ranger

The Sexiest SPC

I few days ago, I was texting Chelsea and she had mentioned that she was feeling stressed with the final stretch of this army girl adventure. I told her, "It's just like getting ready for a school dance. Cool, calm, collected, and sexy! Work it, baby!"

Her response is priceless:

"If I can make it through this week and still be calm, cool, collected, and somehow manage to pull off sexy (I don't know if that is allowed in the army), I will be one happy soldier!"

Well we hate to tell you, Chels, but you just can't help being sexy--the army's going to have to deal with it! :)

Best news ever: Chelsea made it and not only survived, but thrived! One happy soldier, and three happy girls at home! We're so proud of you, Chelsea!

Prince or a Knight?

When I was initially telling Kate about Mr. Jake Swallow *absent-minded smile* she said,

"Until you decide he's a prince and I approve, he's not a prince, he's a knight."

Kate has seen Mr. Swallow in action, and one of her comments was that, "The two of you just click so well." So I don't know if that counts as your approval, Kate, but I guess we'll have to keep waiting and see. :) As far as if I've decided or not... Oh dear. "I could tell you his favorite color's [blue], he loves to [laugh], and it makes me laugh, too. His sister's beautiful, he has dark blue eyes..." As for the rest, we'll see. :)

I'll keep you posted! (Literally)

Annie's Psychotherapy

I asked Kate questions regarding relationships and Mr. Saunders and wrote as she gave answers. Here are a few of the things that got written down. I don't know if Kate thought it was therapeutic, but I quite enjoyed myself! I do it with myself all the time! (That doesn't sound crazy at all, does it...)


Healthy Relationships-

supportive
open
honesty is huge; honest is not just telling the truth, it's telling everything; not hiding anything
with that I think you can build anything including trust
trust- without trust there is no relationship
cutesy; thoughtfulness, gestures mean a lot. :)
"But I don't know how to make those myself."

Speaking of writing to Branson:
I promise if you write him, you will not regret it at all. It will make everything good. He makes me happy and feel okay with life.

Speaking of Adam:
Have his thoughts changed? Am I holding onto something that isn't there for him? What can I do for him. Does he have that same attachment? Hello mister, What's going on in your head? Maybe we just need to start over this fall?

I feel like he knows nothing about me. When we were up at college we talked all the time.

"Why I like Adam"-
feel protected
the singing is a big bonus
strong testimony
he gives you compliments
very attracted to him
he makes you laugh
always have fun with him
there isn't anything you've found that you haven't liked
he knows how to control his frustrations
doesn't get outwardly angry
touchy-feely; not overbearing


I know I was hesitant because I didn't know where he stood with the gospel.

“This is mostly my fault.”

--------

There's more where this betsy came from, but there's some about Adam and about relationships. :)

Outrageous quotes during discussions with Kate

Kate, as the cat was rubbing all over her: “I think I just got frisked by a frisky kitty eating friskies.”

Annie, speaking of Carl: “WHAT?! He's not catholic???!”

Annie: "How was last night, Kate?"
"It started with me burning brownies, and ended with chasing a chicken. I spent 45 minutes last night trying to catch a chicken."

Speaking of the chicken chase, Kate was referring to how 'we' were chasing, trying to catch, etc.
Annie: “We who.”
Kate: “ME.”

You'd be ashamed of what I ate last night. -K
I would not. -A
Yeah huh. I ate a a double cheeseburger, half a pizza, and 3 crazy bread sticks. -K
With who??? -A
No one. -K

“Relativity sucks.” I'm not sure why Kate said that, but I still think it's hilarious.

Kate, in a passionate voice: I love water, with all my heart, might, mind, and strength.