First Day of F-22 Raptor B Course!

At the beginning of January, Dan FINALLY started B Course for the F-22 Raptor! This had been a long time coming, since he found out this is what he'd be flying last June at drop night! There are only two classes per year for the Raptor, though, and the last one started in July before he had completed IFF or Water Survival.

This is going to be a grueling nine months for him as he completes academics (now) and simulator training before finally flying the jet (probably in March) for the first time! Oh, and since it's a single seat jet, he'll be flying it completely solo for his very first (and every) flight! Ahh! I am going to be in panic mode that day, but hopefully I'll be able to go out and watch him take off!

Anyway, send good vibes for his training these next nine months and for my parenting ability for our two sweet girls since I'll be alone with them a lot of the time while he's busy training and studying!

(and in case you don't know what a Raptor looks like... here's one!)

Our 3rd PCS in 3 Years

Mid-December, when sweet baby Josephine was just two weeks old, we gathered what we'd need for two weeks and moved out of our home in Texas and into the TLF at Sheppard Air Force Base. We needed to get all of our belonging packed up and moved out so we could clean the house for our new tenants.

This is the first time we did not do a DITY move. In fact, we had people do almost everything for us, aside from Dan finishing up his home renovations - which turned out awesome, by the way, but that's a post for another day!

We had the movers pack and load up the truck, and we even hired someone to deep clean the house and another to clean the carpets - all things we've typically done ourselves. That just wasn't feasible with a toddler AND a newborn, though. Overall, our experience with the military moving us went much smoother that we imagined, but we still like that extra payout from DITY moves.

Half way through our TLF stay, the water heater leaked all over the laundry room, and we were forced to move into one of the MUCH older units across base. Lame. But it worked out okay... it was just a huge hassle to pack up all of our things (you have a LOT of stuff when you have two young kids, so I'm not exaggerating the hassle here), especially when we had plans to meet some people for dinner at a specific time. Yikes. That is a day I don't want to re-live.

Finally, we made it out of Texas, though, and started our trek to Tyndall Air Force Base in Panama City, Florida. Thank goodness for our camper because we were able to sleep in it each night instead of moving all of our stuff to a different hotel room each night. It was also nice for discretely nursing Josephine along the way. We could stop anywhere, and I'd just get in there with her and not have to worry about using one of our covers (that we actually LOVE, by the way, but we were still learning our breastfeeding relationship at this point - remember, she was VERY young still!)

On day one, we made it to Louisiana and spent the night. On day two, we drove through the rest of Louisiana and all of Mississippi and stayed in Alabama. We made it into Florida on the third day, had lunch with some friends along the way, and then made it to our home! It was late, and our stuff wouldn't be delivered until the next morning, so we actually parked our camper at the Fam Camp at Tyndall and stayed in it for one last night.

The next morning, our household goods arrived! (Quick - I know! It helps that it wasn't peak PCS season... and it also meant that we skipped our New Orleans adventure we had planned because they called and said it'd be there on Monday morning, and if we weren't there, it'd go into storage... that meant we'd be waiting for our bed (and more importantly, Annabelle's bed!), and it would have another opportunity to get lost or damaged... so we said okay and hightailed it to Florida, skipping our time in New Orleans.)

I really like our new home. We're just renting for the time being since B Course is only a nine month training. If we end up staying at Tyndall after he graduates, we'll want to buy somewhere in this area... but this house is totally great for what we need right now! And it's in the closest neighborhood to base (which is still a 15 minute commute for Dan each day... the city is weird).

I can't say that we're in love with Panama City... it's very different from what we assumed... BUT we're going to give it a fighting chance before we make that decision since the weather has been SO COLD (worse than it's been in 28 years, in fact, according to the news), and we haven't had time to go do anything fun... so we'll blame the "blegh" feeling on that for now and hope we end up enjoying it more once it warms up!

Now we wait to find out if we will be staying at Tyndall for Dan's follow-on flying assignment or if we'll be moving again this fall. We will put in our request in a couple months and find out hopefully sometime in May or June. He graduates in August and goes to SERE after that, so we'd be moving in October or so if we do!

Military Spouse Appreciation Day Link-Up 2017

It's that time of year again - Military Spouse Appreciation Day! And a HUGE thanks to Jen and Amanda for hosting this link-up each year. I absolutely LOVE meeting new (to me) military spouses to connect with.

//Tell us about yourself and your blog.

I’m Janelle, and I’m an almost 30 Air Force wife, girl mom, and former middle school language arts teacher. I now own two Etsy shops that I work on during nap time. I started blogging here in January of 2013 to document our lives – and since my husband is a pilot (to be in the Air Force – almost there!), the name Come Fly With Us was born. We also used Frank Sinatra’s Come Fly With Me as our first dance song at our wedding way back in 2014. I used to blog on a much stricter schedule, and while I do kind of miss it, my life just has other priorities now, so I try to post when I can so I’ll still have major events documented. I’m working on it.

//What branch of military are you affiliated with?

Dan is a part of the World’s Greatest Air Force! He is currently six weeks away from graduating from Euro-Nato Joint Jet PilotTraining at Sheppard AFB in Texas and only three weeks away from finding out his aircraft assignment! To say we are an anxious mess would be an understatement. He will celebrate 11 years in the military next month, but his journey has been anything but normal! He first enlisted in the Army in 2006 and played trumpet in their band (in the Army Guard). He also played military funerals all the time. He transferred to the Air Guard eventually because there was an Air Force base near the college he chose to attend (where we met) and was working toward becoming a B-2 Crew Chief when we started dating. He applied to the Air Force Academy on a whim, got accepted, and spent five years in Colorado Springs doing his time there (including a year at the prep school), all while competing on their official Flying Team. He found out he got a pilot slot his senior year and was ecstatic – that was the DREAM all along! But then he was also accepted to graduate school, so he put his dreams of flying on hold for another 18 months to obtain his Master’s degree in Physics first at AFIT atWright-Patterson AFB in Ohio.

//What is one thing you enjoy about the military lifestyle?

The thing I love about the military lifestyle would definitely be how quickly spouses and significant others make friends. We don’t just become friends… we become FAMILY… because we all understand what it’s like to be away from our actual families. If someone is sick, people are there to take them what they need. If someone is going out of town for the weekend, someone is right there to take care of their pets. If someone has a baby, SO MANY people line up to bring the new mom a meal. It’s a wonderful sense of community, and it’s something I don’t think the general civilian population gets to experience on the same level.

//What advice would you give other spouses who are new?

Every assignment is what you make it! If you’re going to an undesirable place, make a bucket list of things to do while you’re stationed there. Find a church (or other type of organization) to get plugged into as soon as you can. Have your spouse invite his flight/class/unit/etc. over to your new place for a cookout as soon as possible so you can get to know the people you’ll be spending most of your time with for the next year or more. Essentially, do the work upfront to make friends, and you’ll end up having a good time. I’m guilty of not enjoying a certain place as much as I should have, but I was a brand new spouse, and I have learned from that mistake for sure. I’m not just excited to find out where we’ll be heading next, even though I don’t hate our current base.

//Where have you been stationed?

Before we were dating, Dan was technically stationed at Whiteman AFB in Knob Noster, Missouri. He was in the Air Guard then, so he didn’t spend too much time there, as he was in college full time as well. Then, he got in to the Air Force Academy, so we moved to Colorado Spring, Colorado. We weren’t able to get married until he graduated from there (no dependents allowed!), but I moved out there and lived on my own while he stayed in the mandatory dorms. From there, we got married and moved to our official first base together- Wright-Patterson AFB in Dayton, Ohio. We were there for only 18 months, and then we moved to Sheppard AFB in Wichita Falls, Texas. We’ve been here for a little over a year and will be finding out super soon (next month!) where we’re heading next (most likely later this year).

//Do you work, go to school, volunteer, or stay home? I taught middle school language arts for before having my daughter, Annabelle. I enjoyed the teenagers and do miss it some days. But for now, while she is young, we have chosen for me to stay home with her. Dan’s schedule is so unpredictable, so it’s best if one of us can be with her. I’ll probably get back into teaching in a few years, but who knows where the Air Force will take us!

I hope to meet some new faces today after reading everyone's posts! 

2016: A Year in Review

This is one of those posts that probably won't interest too many of you, especially as I've blogged (not too well this year!) about many of these topics already... but this is more of a post for the books. For my memory. For my family... and especially for my daughter. 

Regardless, 2016 was good to us! It was less life-changing than 2015 was, but it did bring along a cross-country move and home-ownership for the first time. Each month was filled with many different events, and I want to remember as much as possible.

In January, we took our first family vacation to Niagara Falls, Canada (with a stop at the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio on the way) when Annabelle was four months old. 

In February, we had lots of visitors to our home in Ohio - my mom, followed by Lydia, followed by Michelle! 

March brought Annabelle's half birthday, Dan graduating with his Master's in Applied Physics from AFIT, and saying goodbye to good friends in Ohio before moving to Texas. 

We stopped in Missouri to see family for Easter on our cross-country drive and got settled in Texas in April. Annabelle went to her first air show and (kind of) enjoyed it. 

We traveled to Oregon, Washington, Colorado, and New Mexico in May, and Annabelle got to go on her first six flights, including one Space A flight on a C-17. We visited family and friends on that trip and even took Annabelle to our favorite places from our years in Colorado Springs. At the end of the month, Dan and I celebrated two years of marriage. Exciting! 

In June, Dan promoted to 1st Lieutenant and started pilot training at ENJJPT, signifying the real beginning of our life in Texas. 

July was hot, and we spent a lot of time walking around our neighborhood in the mornings before it was unbearable. 

August was spent with a trip to Branson for a wedding and a trip to Kansas City for a bridal shower and bachelorette party. Dan flew his Dollar Ride in the T-6, and Annabelle and I went to the airfield to watch Dan fly his first solo in the T-6 - how fun! 

September brought our sweet and sassy Annabelle's first birthday, which was a blast, and a family trip to Dallas to take her to the zoo for the first time. That month ended with a trip to Kansas City so I could stand by one of my best friend's side as she became a wife, and then Annabelle and I visited another best friend in St. Louis so we could meet Baby Huxley! I also finished my exclusively pumping journey, which was a long but well worth it year-long extravaganza for me. 

In October, Annabelle and I returned from our road trip, and we celebrated her second Halloween by taking her to a Trunk-or-Treat event on base. 

November was busy with Dan flying long hours, hosting a giant Thanksgiving dinner, and just living life. 

December brought about Dan completing his training in the T-6 and traveling to Missouri for Christmas and New Years! 

What a wonderful year we had as a family. Here's to 2017 - hopefully it will be even better!

Military Wellness Initiative

Before I even get started, I just want to say that this is NOT a sponsored post; I just love this product already and think the gesture of this program is extraordinary. The wonderful people working for the Military Wellness Initiative do not even know me personally or know that I have this blog.

Anyway, have you military spouses heard of the Military Wellness Initiative? If not, they are doing a pilot program right now for all military personnel and their dependents in Texas (for the time being - it sounds like this is just the beginning of the road for this wonderful opportunity).

My husband received an email about the program, and we signed up right away. We received the UA Band from UnderArmour at NO COST to us at all. That's a $180 value (each), and we're pretty stoked about it. We each got one; we do not have to share... just to make that clear.

We also both received access to the UA Record app, where we can track our steps (synced automatically through the band), sleep, fitness, and even nutrition. I am really loving it already, and I won't lie: I've become one of THOSE people who tracks my steps now. I have never done this before because I knew I would become obsessive... but after having a baby and staying at home with her, I need a reason to get out an about a bit more and get moving!

This is the perfect solution. I'm able to take Annabelle with me on walks. The heat and humidity has been brutal here lately, but we're making do (and walking inside when we can).

If you have a step tracker (no matter what brand), how do you ensure you get your 10,000 daily steps in? My goal is set to 7,000 steps a day right now because I'm just starting out and still figuring out how to accomplish it while staying at home with Annabelle. I have hit my goal two days in a row, though, so I think I'm ready to step up my game (haha... pun intended).

If you are a military member or spouse living in Texas, check this out TODAY! This is the last day for the Military Wellness Initiative Pilot Program sign-up! You won't regret it!

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! 

Hello, Texas!

Well, we made it to Texas! We are moved in to our new home, and we love it!

We've been taking our time unpacking boxes, figuring out where we want things to go (isn't that always the worst when you have a new layout in your home and certain things just don't seem to fit anywhere?!), and getting settled in.

We've checked out some local stores and the base, and it seems like we're really going to enjoy our time here.

Lieutenant Lovemuffin doesn't start pilot training until June, so we have a couple months to relax before the full-blow CRAZY begins... and I'm okay with that.

I'll be going back through everyone's blog posts from the past week and a half and going on a commenting spree to play catch up... so I apologize in advance about that! ;-)

Do you enjoy moving in to a new home?

Goodbye, Ohio!

Today, we are driving away from our house in Ohio. It was our very first duty station as a married couple. Once Dan graduated from the Air Force Academy in 2014, we got married and moved to Dayton, Ohio so he could get his Master's degree from AFIT, the Air Force Institute of Technology.

Last night, he received that Master of Science in Applied Physics degree (more on that coming soon), and we completed our time at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. Thank goodness. We were not so much a fan of this town, but we also know it could be worse. There's nothing AWFUL about Dayton... there's just nothing exceptional about it either. In all fairness, we probably would have felt that way about any base after coming from gorgeous Colorado Springs.

Although we are not upset to be leaving Ohio behind for more exciting things (ie: pilot training and all the fun and craziness that comes along with it in Texas), we did make some special memories in Ohio...

We lived in our first house as a married couple. Sure, we rented it, but we worked hard to put it together to look and feel like a home, and I will definitely miss the layout of that house. It's also the home we welcomed Annabelle into, and while she will have many homes growing up, this one will always remain special because of the middle of the night feedings, sweet newborn cuddles, and many first milestones that took place in this very house. I'm happy to be leaving, but I'm also overwhelmed with sadness about leaving that part of Annabelle's life behind - she'll never remember it, so I'm happy that I at least captured her nursery in photos for her to have when she's older.

We went to many baseball games, went flying, and even made our own table for our patio! We're excited to move that one with us to Texas for all of the cookouts we see in our future.

We welcomed Smudge, Dan's childhood dog, into our home, and the kitties moved to their third state! Gilligan and Stormy are such well-seasoned travelers. 

Dan started his first Air Force job as an officer, going to school at AFIT. Those butterbars look so good on him. I turned my Etsy shop into something larger than I ever expected and shipped out a TON of orders for the holiday season. We took a family picture with all of our pets for our first married Christmas, and we celebrated our first year of marriage! 

In Ohio, we found out we were expecting, found out the baby is a GIRL, went through my entire pregnancy, and welcomed sweet Annabelle Kathryn. Life wasn't so bad in Ohio, after all. ;-) 

We bought our new car (the Dadmobile), spent our first Christmas with a baby, watched Dan defend his thesis (and graduate!), and took Annabelle to the polls to teach her the American way. 

While we're hoping never to be stationed in Ohio again (and as a pilot, Dan shouldn't be assigned there - but you know the military...), we will definitely miss some small aspects of it. And our small handful of great friends there. We will definitely miss them.

Now onto the adventures of pilot training! 

Do you ever feel sentimental when leaving a base, even if you didn't particularly care for it?

Proud Military Spouse {a link-up}

Today is Military Spouse Appreciation Day. This is the first year I've been a spouse instead of a girlfriend or fiancée for this day, so I'm pretty excited!

I am linking up with Amanda from Somewhere over the Camo and Jen from Marathons and Dog Tags for the "Proud Military Spouse" link-up! How fun!

I've been married for almost a year now, and it's been so much fun! Dan and I were together for over five years before tying the knot (thanks, USAFA), so I've learned quite a bit about this military journey along the way... but I learn more each and every day! 

Amanda and Jen listed some questions to answer for the link-up, and I'm so excited!

1. Tell us about yourself and your blog. Well, I'm Janelle, and I'm a newlywed to Dan. I am a former 8th grade teacher, and now I have a home based business making crafts and selling them through my Etsy shop. We have two cats and a dog - OH, and we have a baby on the way! We currently live in Dayton, OH while Dan gets his Master's degree in Applied Physics at the Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT), but we are moving to Wichita Falls, TX next spring for him to begin Euro Nato Joint Jet Pilot Training, and we couldn't be more excited about that! My blog started as a platform to keep family up to date on what we're up to since we live far away from them, but it turned into so much more. Shortly after starting this blog, I found the amazing (and huge) military spouse community, and I began reaching out to other significant others of America's warriors. It's been so fun connecting with others and even meeting some of them.

2. What branch of the military are you affiliated with? While Dan originally enlisted in the US Army way back in 2006, he switched a couple years later (and before we met) and is now an officer in the greatest Air Force in the world... so we are a proud Air Force family!

3. What is one thing you enjoy about the military lifestyle? I love a lot of things and TRY to focus on the positives. I love all the uniforms my husband gets to wear... I love going to balls... I love traveling for free via Space A... I love making new friends all over the world... I love the possibility of living in really cool places... heck, I even love those giant green onesies (aka flight suits).

4. What advice would you give other military spouses who are new? The biggest adjustment I had to make was my flexibility, and while it's commonly said that flexibility is the key to air power, I think flexibility is also the key to a military marriage. After all, plans are going to change last minute. You're bound to get orders to an undesirable location someday. Training, TDYs, and deployments can and will interfere with life... but making the most of the time you do have together and being flexible about when that is will make all the difference. Each experience in life is what you make it - so have a positive outlook, and enjoy the ride!

Check out the rest of the wonderful ladies who posted in the link-up at the bottom of this post!

How would YOU answer questions 3 and 4? I am always looking for more uplifting stories and advice!


    

Blogs I Follow {Blogtember Challenge}

September 22nd Prompt: Introduce us to five blogs you read on the regular, and tell us why!

Since I just did the Liebster Award where I gave a shout-out to blogs I read all the time, I wanted to take a different spin on this one. Instead of listing individual blogs, I just want to share an overall "who I read".

For the most part, I read other military spouse bloggers. It's fun to see different perspectives from all of the different branches, ranks, and parts of the world. I love it! I even follow some older USAFA grad wives, and that's nice too because many of them took the same career path Dan is planning on.

I do follow some others who I have randomly found along the way, though, who I don't know how to classify since they are all so different. I have thoroughly enjoyed "meeting" so many bloggers over the past two years, though. It's been a fun experience, and I can't wait to make this little blog even bigger!

What kinds of blogs do YOU follow?

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?

The Impact of Blogging {Blogtember Challenge}

Thursday, September 12th Prompt: Discuss ways that blogging or social media has changed you.

Has social media changed me?

Well, I wouldn't say that I'm a different person because of blogging, but I do feel that my mind has been clearer since I started this blog. It's been a wonderful experience sharing my thoughts and feelings about different topics with the people around me.

I have also branched out this year, and I started looking for military spouse blogs to follow. Since I marry Dan in less than a year, I really wanted to see what married life is like in the Air Force... but instead of just following Air Force blogs, I decided to make friends from all of the different branches of service. It has been so nice seeing what to expect in the future, and I have started talking more to a few of the ladies.

I'm so happy that I decided to create a new blog after I finished my Always Write 2012 Project. Writing is my favorite thing to do -- no matter what. I ALWAYS makes me feel better, so I try to fit it in daily, even if it isn't always on the blog.

So tell me, has blogging or social media changed YOU?
If so, how? 

The Tight-Knit Military Community

I often see posts bashing the military -- even from military spouses. They aren't bashing the troops, by any means. Some people just talk about how they don't always like the military lifestyle. While that is definitely normal, and I have felt that way myself, I want to offer a different perspective today.

It's so easy to get caught up in the negative aspects of every part of life. I refuse, however, to let those  thoughts dominate my mind. Sure, certain things can be aggravating. But when I think about it, this military lifestyle that I instantly became a part of when I started dating Dan in 2009 has led me to some amazing friends, one of which I now consider one of my very best friends in the world.

Without the Air Force (particularly the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, CO), I wouldn't have met some pretty spectacular ladies. Until the cadets graduate, we aren't allowed to be married. Most of us have been with our significant others for longer than the average dating/engagement timeframe, but we patiently wait for our turns anyway. We ask questions to each other and gain the support we need when we're feeling down. It's amazing how an online Facebook group has brought so many ladies together during a difficult part of life. We were all new at this game once upon a time, and it's so cool to watch people learn and develop through a relationship with a cadet and use their gained knowledge to help younger girls who find us. The military (future) spouse community is a special community -- there's no doubt about that!

And here are some pictures... but don't worry -- there are comments to go along with each one!

This picture is from USAFA Parents' Weekend in September of 2009 during Dan's year at the Preparatory School. This was my first experience meeting the ladies I had been talking to online all summer, and what a wonderful experience it was! 

When Lizzie and I realized we were going to school about an hour and a half away from each other, we decided to meet up for dinner. It was so much fun, and we instantly got along really well. We still talk daily (almost four years after "meeting" each other), and I honestly believe we would be close friends even without the Air Force connection we have. I just thank whatever military powers that may be for allowing us to meet!

When I had JUST moved to Colorado Springs after a year of long distance dating, Dan was in his third Basic Training, and I knew hardly anyone. These lovely ladies came to a birthday dinner for Ellie and me, and it was SO nice having that when I didn't have friends out here yet. 

The night before the freshman cadets (class of 2014 at USAFA) had their Acceptance Day, a group of girlfriends got together. We had been talking ALL summer while our boyfriends were in BAsic Training, so it was wonderful meeting them and hanging out with them!

Every Thursday night before Parents' Weekend begins, all of the girlfriends of cadets who are in town meet up for dinner in Colorado Springs without cadets or families. We always have SUCH a great time. This picture was taken when Dan was a freshman at the Academy. 

During halftime of the football game during USAFA Parents' Weekend, the girlfriends always get together to take a picture in Falcon Stadium on base. It's really great meeting new people each time!

I designed shirts for some of the girlfriends to buy, and Emily and I wore them to the football games! 

When our boyfriends (now fiancés) were freshmen, Emily and I were football game buddies almost every week! It was a lot of fun. 

It is also always fun when you get to hang out with former cadets' wives! Kate is so much fun! 

Ellie and I also got pretty close while she lived out here. It was so hard saying goodbye to her when her husband was stationed elsewhere after graduation, but luckily we keep in touch. 

The balls are also more fun when you have other friends there! 

Just don't even ask about this one...

Don't mess with future military spouses! Ha!

A lot of girls were in town at the same time in 2011, so we met for lunch!

This is from dinner before Parents' Weekend in 2011, Dan's sophomore year at the Academy. 

This is the Parents' Weekend football game in 2011, and I think this is one of the smallest turn-outs ever. 

This is Ellie, Torie, and me at the Air Force Academy's Autumn Ball in 2011. 

We had a great turn-out for the halftime meetup during Parents' Weekend in 2012, Dan's junior year at USAFA! 

Lizzie and me at the football game -- we have way too much fun together! 

Torie, Lizzie, and I had matching strawberry daiquiris at a dinner before the Air Force v. Navy football weekend in 2012. 

Dan and I had professional pictures taken at the same time as Lizzie and her fiancé at the end of the Air Force v. Navy weekend in 2012 by another USAFA girlfriend, who happens to be a photographer! It was so much fun, and Lizzie and I could NOT resist taking some silly pictures together at the Academy!

A small group of USAFA girlfriends went to Olive Garden in the fall of 2012, and we had so much fun talking and catching up. Our waiter was way too friendly, but it was hilarious! 

When our fiancés went to the restroom, Lizzie and I had too much fun posing with foam airplanes at the All Service Academies Ball in Kansas City, MO at the end of December! 

One of the wives of a USAFA grad moved away in early 2013, so we all got together for dinner one last time before she left for their new home. As always, it was lots of fun!

Some of who live in Colorado decided we should get together because it had been a while, so we did and ended up talking our heads off for almost three hours. It was a blast! This was in April of 2013. 

Can you believe that ALL of these friendships (plus hundreds more) have formed from one little Facebook group? It's such a strange thought, but technology really is a miracle for many people these days, with military significant others being no exception.