Military Spouse Appreciation Day Link-Up

Today is Military Spouse Appreciation Day, and I'm linking up with Amanda at Somewhere Over the Camo and Jen at Marathons and Dogtags for a fun get-to-know-you post! 

//Tell us about yourself and your blog. Hi, I'm Janelle! I'm a wife to Lieutenant Lovemuffin, also known as Dan. We have an eight month old daughter, Annabelle, and we recently moved to Wichita Falls, TX so he can go to pilot training. I used to teach 8th grade reading and writing before getting married and being whisked across the country. I love reading, writing, running (when I'm not injured), blogging, crafting, my cats, game shows, and all things Kansas City sports related. I also run an Etsy shop, named after my little girl: AnnaKate Paperie.

//What branch of military are you affiliated with? Air Force! But Lieutenant Lovemuffin originally enlisted in the Army nearly 10 years ago in June of 2006! He then transferred to the Air Guard and was training to become a B-2 Crew Chief when he received his acceptance to the US Air Force Academy in 2009. He graduated and commissioned from there in 2014, got his Master's degree in Applied Physics at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, and is now ready to begin pilot training (ENJJPT) at Sheppard Air Force Base. 

//What is one thing you enjoy about the military lifestyle? I am not a big fan of the unknown, so a lot of aspects of military life aren't for me... but all the adventures we've been able to go on and will be able to go on in the future are pretty awesome and have definitely helped to break me out of my comfort zone. We've traveled via Space A twice now (and are planning a third trip VERY soon, so hopefully that works out!). I'd say Space A is a huge benefit. I've also made a few really great friends through this military lifestyle... not many, but hey - quality over quantity any day!

//What advice would you give other spouses who are new? Learn how to be alone comfortably. It took me a while to get the hang of being my own company, but I'm an expert at it now and sometimes crave it. It's a great skill that I'm happy to have acquired. Sometimes (okay, often times), you'll be alone as a military spouse, and it's no fun at all dwelling on the fact that you're missing your man. Also, go with the flow. It's easier said than done, I know. But it really will make you less crazy... and you know what they say: flexibility is the key to air power. ;-)

It's been fun linking up today, and I look forward to meeting some fellow military spouse bloggers who I haven't connected with before! 

The Real Military Wives of Blogland

Today I am joining Mal and Samantha for their newest link-up!

I'm not quite a military wife. I can't claim to be one yet, and I won't. 

However, I move from fiancée to wife in just five weeks. 

The blog link-up tells me to introduce myself first, so here goes:

I am Janelle, and I'm 26. I teach 8th grade language arts, and I have two cats. I am engaged to a very handsome guy (Cadet Lovemuffin), and I enjoy reading, writing, and running. 

Dan and I met in 2008 through our co-ed national honors fraternity, Phi Sigma Pi. I was already a Brother, and he rushed. We became friends while he was an Initiate, and shortly after that, we became GOOD friends. And then we started dating. That's when I learned how weird it was to be with someone in the military.

At the time, Dan was in the Missouri Air National Guard (since 2006 - it's crazy that he's been in for nearly eight years already!), so he wasn't gone often, and he wasn't TOO busy with his military duties. It seemed pretty nice. 

And then he applied to and was accepted to the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs. 

I stayed back in Missouri to finish my senior year of college and complete my student teaching. He moved to Colorado to begin his five year journey at the Academy. 

Once I graduated, I knew I had to be near him. I packed up my belongings and moved to Colorado Springs, where I have spent my entire adult life. For the past four years, I have taught middle school in Colorado, and I see Dan on some evenings and weekends. It's amazing being able to be near him, but it's still tough not being able to be with him all the time like a lot of my friends are with their significant others. 

That said, we've been through a lot, and we appreciate our time together a lot because of it. 

We haven't made our first move yet, but it's coming up soon. Dan goes to pilot training at Sheppard AFB, and I can't wait to go with him and finally live together. (Oh, and there will more than likely be an 18 month pit stop along the way, but that's a whole new post that'll be coming soon). 

One thing I wish others knew about being a military spouse is how difficult it is for us to get jobs in our career fields. As a teacher, there are always job openings, yes. But did you know that I can't apply for a job in the next state we'll live in until I take a new test? Oh, and once I pay for (~$150) and take the test, I have to fill out pages and pages of paperwork. Oh, and I have to pay that state about $200 as well. And then I have to have a background check (more $$$), and I have to get fingerprinted (AGAIN - and even more $$$). Oh, and since my résumé states that I left my last job after only a couple years, that raises some red flags too - such as the fact that I'll be moving, yet again, away from the job I'm applying for. 

Those reasons are why I haven't even decided if I will pursue teaching anymore once we leave Colorado. I don't know how I'll feel once we're settled somewhere, but I'm a little put off by all of the seemingly unnecessary work I need to do in order to obtain a job JUST LIKE the one I currently have.

That said, I wouldn't trade this life. It's an adventure, and I love it. I can't wait to OFFICIALLY be a military wife in five weeks. It seems like the past five years have been an eternity waiting for Dan to legally be allowed to get married... we are so ready, and I am looking forward to seeing what the military has in store for us in the future! Where will we move? Who will we meet? What cool things will we get to experience because of this lifestyle?!

Are you a military significant other too?

Did you participate in this link-up?