The Bradley household (AKA "apartmenthold") has caught the Olympic fever. It's bad y'all! We have even started calling the athletes by their first names!! Seriously...we sit on the couch all night (and afternoon, since we're being honest) and watch these athletes do their thing! I blame it on our fierce American pride, lol! But seriously, it is awesome.
My heart broke for Jordyn Weiber last night....the best gymnasts should qualify to compete in the all-around, not a limit of two per country. Hey, it's not our fault we brought a superteam to London!! I really hope all those female gymnasts got all their bobbles and oversteps out of them last night....there seemed to be a lot! Also, let's hope Michael Phelps get at least one gold medal!
In other news, our inspection on the house is in a little over an hour...I am SOO anxious about it! I've been slightly glued to Holmes Inspection and Holmes on Homes lately! Please keep us in your prayers.
Hubs and I are greatly enjoying our time together. We were able to go out for a few drinks on Friday night with some friends I used to work with. We had a great time and even happened to be in a "watering hole" with lots of TVs when USA was shown on the opening ceremonies. The cheer from the patrons in the bar was so impressive and made me proud to be an American!
Hope y'all have a good day! Stay tuned for news on our house!
Hello bloggy world!! I'm back and I've missed catching up so much!! However....I can explain my absence....which is only the best feeling in the world...
Taken the night he got home!
My husband is home!!!
J has been home for almost the same amount of time that we were married before his deployment, so now we are approaching "uncharted marriage land"! Today marks 5 months since our wedding...almost half a year! It's been amazing having someone live with me again....getting to wake up beside him and having him there in the middle of the night. There is always something to do when he's home, even if it's just watching movies on the couch with him.
Since he's been home, we found and put an offer in on a house. The seller accepted and our inspection should be sometime this week! So ready to get out of this apartment!
I also finished my summer semester yesterday...sooo happy to have another semester behind me.
We have a vacation coming up next week, so I'll fill y'all in on that, as well as what we've been doing lately!
P.S. I promise not to disappear again and can't wait to catch up on what all of y'all have been up too!
Good morning sunshines!! Just wanted to share my Saturday Morning...
Yes, I watched the sunrise while studying, cup of coffee in hand. No, this is NOT a normal occurrence! Blame it on night shift.....I'm becoming a terrible insomniac! However, I'm typically not a morning person, and when I work my two weeks of day shift, I'm always reminding myself I will get to "sleep in" again soon when I switch back to nights.
So, on mornings like this one, when my poor little internal clock is saying HUH?!....I decided to make the most of it and get a little bit of studying in so I can enjoy a few hours at the beach later!
Now...I'm actually headed out for a run....yes, my body is about to be REALLY confused!!
Well...guess who is getting her own in a few days???
Oh yes y'all, I'm getting my own monogrammed debit card! I CAN'T WAIT! It should be here sometime next week. The best two things...it's pink (!!) and it has my new last name!
I've been in one of those moods lately where I really listen to song lyrics, and I'm a big country music fan. I'm loving the new CD from Lee Brice... His new album is called Hard 2 Love. It's been one of my favorites lately. Go to iTunes and check it out!
I'm not giving up on my FAVORITE though...Luke!! I love me some Luke Bryan (my friends and husband will immediately agree to this). He is SUCH a performer and a Georgia boy....what more could you ask for? He also gave a shout out to his wife at the CMA awards....yep, a winner.
Today, I'm linking up with Megan for a little Sometimes & Always!
I wish I had a post to tell you about the awesome things I've been doing, but you'll have to wait. I've literally been working and doing schoolwork for the past few days weeks. It's definitely making June fly by, but it's taking my social life with it!
Sometimes... I get really, really, REALLY discouraged/anxious/angry about how busy school keeps me and want to just go back to being a nurse and enjoying life again.
Always... I end my pity party and remind myself I'm not the only person in this situation and that I can do it, and that it WON'T last forever. It will be worth it.
Sometimes... I remember how I used to think I was tough and never cried at anything.
Always... I wear my heart on my sleeve....I'm that girl who is teary-eyed in the Hallmark store, alone on my couch watching countrymusic videos, or in my 80 year old patient's room when he finally realizes he isn't going to be able to go back home alone.
Sometimes... I still look for my maiden name on the work schedule or forget to answer when someone asks for Mrs. Bradley.
Always... I smile and get butterflies when I think about my new last name and marriage!
Sometimes... I laugh about how stressed I was over limiting my number of bridesmaids! It may have been the hardest decision of my life to date!
Always... I am so thankful that ALL of the girls who are near and dear to me were at my wedding. We had the best time at my reception tearing up the dance floor! What a night!
Sometimes... I think about how J and I will decorate our new house when we get one.
Always... In every situation, there are rocking chairs and an American flag on the front porch.
Alright, back to writing a paper! Go over to Megan's blog and check out her Sometimes and Always (plus all of her other awesome postings)!
It's Friday....and it looks like it might be BEAUTIFUL weather this weekend....a welcome break from all this rain we've been having!!
But nope, I won't be living it up at the beach this weekend....
although it's gonna be THE place to be, I'm sure.
Instead... I'll be NURSING ON THE NIGHT SHIFT.... the entire weekend!
Thank goodness for weekend shift differentials.
Yep, your Friday is my Monday...the upside for me....while everyone goes back to work on Monday (with their pink noses and shoulders, I get to sleep by the (now quiet) pool or maybe even beach ALL DAY LONG!
At 22 years old, I was a college graduate....working as a nurse, a big-girl job with a big-girl paycheck. I thought I knew what sacrifice was....I thought I had "sacrificed" many parties, many nights out, spring breaks, and more. I finished college in 4 years and thanks to HOPE scholarship and other scholarships, didn't have to pay a dime for my education as the result of those "sacrifices."
Turns out.... I had NO IDEA what sacrifice really was.
Then at 23, I met J...a soldier with deployment looming in the next few weeks. I took a chance, started dating him... eventually moved up the "ranks" of girlfriend, fiancee, and now, wife.
Sometimes, I think I have "sacrificed" a lot during our relationship. I "sacrificed" having a whole year to plan my wedding because of his crazy work schedule. I have "sacrificed" and gone alone to weddings and family functions. I am "sacrificing" my first few months of marriage because he is deployed.
But the truth is, none of that is real sacrifice. It's the life I live....the military way of life.
I take the time I have with him and cherish it like no other....make memories to think about during his times away at training, at schools, and during deployments.
SO, WHAT IS SACRIFICE?
Every single one of those men in the photo above have been killed in action while actively defending our country. They died with honor, forever a hero.
THAT IS SACRIFICE.
They all have different, yet similar, stories. Some of them left behind children, some of them left behind wives. One of them never even got to meet his son. At least one will celebrate his first wedding anniversary in Heaven, where these men sit in a Hall of Heroes. Another left behind a fiancee. One of these men never even got to experience his first homecoming....another had make it home safely over ten times before. All of them left behind hopes and dreams for the future.
THAT IS SACRIFICE.
June 14, 2012 marks the one-year anniversary of SSG Jeremy Katzenberger's death. He left behind a wife and a baby boy. His wife is an inspiration to all, such a strong, beautiful lady that was shares her journey of healing after losing her husband. She is the epitome of a role model...she has stood tall and presented herself with grace and honesty.
“I wish the American people could truly understand the dedication and SACRIFICE that Staff Sgt. Jeremy Katzenberger made for his country.
Since early 2005, Jeremy has either been in combat or training for
combat. This was his eighth combat deployment,” said Col. Michael E.
Kurilla, commander, 75th Ranger Regt. “Jeremy was the epitome of a
Ranger squad leader; he is a hero to our Nation, the Army and his
family.”
SSG Katzenberger will never be forgotten, nor will any of the other soldiers who laid down their lives defending our flag, our country, our Freedom.
My heart goes out to those who wake up every morning and face the loss of their service members (whatever branch of the military). I appreciate your sacrifice.
To those of you who pray for these families and also pray for our men and women who are still over there, fighting the good fight....THANK YOU!
Today, I had the privilege of celebrating yet another birthday of the single most influential person in my life...my mama!
She, along with my father, are the reasons I'm who I am today.
I owe her so much for my success in life. Hours upon hours sitting at my bedside, keeping me awake in the elementary/middle/high school years, helping me to study for my tests. The projects she helped me do...The school events she didn't miss.
The dance lessons, pageants, and proms she helped me me get ready for.
The cheerleading practices, games, and competitions she coached at....The tumbling lessons (both professional and in the front yard) she endured.
This is the most selfless, most family-driven, and most dedicated person I know. She has set SUCH a shining example for the mother I hope to one day be.
To my knowledge, not a day has gone by that I haven't spoken to her. More often than not, asking for her advice on something.
This advice has changed drastically over the years, and I'm sure it will continue to evolve.
It used to be choosing which dress to put on my baby dolls...then it became which dress to wear on my first day of school...then on my first date...then to prom...and, finally, THE dress to wear on my wedding day.
She was the first person I called when I got engaged, the first person that will know when I'm pregnant (although I have a feeling she will already be able to tell).
Through the years, she's stuck by my side, guiding me in the right direction. Never with an iron fist either...maybe a convincing voice, however. But I wouldn't trade our times together for anything in the world.
I hope she sees what she's done...her years of raising babies were well spent. I have an amazing little brother as well. As her marriage? The one I strive to have in 30 years.
I feel like the luckiest daughter in the world, and when I say my prayers, I thank God for blessing me with the mother and family that He did.
This is my friend Hollie (read her awesome blog here)... and we have been BREAKING IT DOWN lately. I'm talking about no-holds-barred booty shaking and dancing. Enough to break a sweat...needing to put our hair up and all.
There were days when this would happen in a bar and may or may not have been preceded by some "liquid courage." However, that's not our style anymore.
Gotta love the humidity in South GA...look at those curls creeping back!
This calorie-burning dance party has been taking place at the gym...where we are working it out in ZUMBA!! Tonight we did a two-hour long Zumbathon...complete with door prizes and everything. Of course, we have the worst luck ever and didn't win anything! I wish I would have snapped a photo of us because we were having lots of fun and working hard!
A bonus? We got to Zumba to Luke Bryan... best moment ever!! He's our fave!
I'm going to link up with Life after I "Dew" again this week for a SO WHAT! Wednesday.
This week I'm sayin'so what that...
I don't feel like the best nurse on my floor right now...Most days I'm overwhelmed and bewildered at the amount of information I have yet to learn. But you know what, my patients are always safe and I never "try" anything before consulting with someone else. Teamwork is really getting me through these days and I learn something new every shift.
I'm using Zumba classes to shake my booty instead of going to the bars these days.
I haven't finished my wedding thank you notes yet.... actually, that's a problem and I'm going to HAVE to get them done.
I drive around neighborhoods looking at people that live in in them and the type of houses. Buying a house is SUCH a commitment (aghhh) and I want to make sure we find the right house/neighborhood for us!!
I'm OBSESSED with The Bachelorette again. I got burnt out for a few seasons and decided to pick it back up this season. My favorites? Doug and Sean. Biggest disappointment? Looks like it's gonna be Ryan.
Two years ago, May 27, 2010, I thought I was going for a fun girl's night after work at Tubby's Sunset Party. I was done with dating...was just gonna live the single life and be happy with it... or so I thought.
Fate had other plans....it just so happens that was the night I realized that love at first sight
really does exist and my happy-ever-after began.
I met the love of my life, my best friend, my hero.....my husband, two years ago tonight. I actually convinced him to buy me a drink because I thought he was cute and didn't know what else to say...but after he smiled at me, I was done for, ladies and gentlemen!
I love this man....two years later, I am the lucky lady who gets to call him my husband. I loved you then, I love you now, and I will always love you.
On Saturday the 26th, I participated in the Savannah Mile with an AMAZING group of women...the wives married to men who work in the same unit as J. We all wore matching blue t-shirts and had a great time. I'm definitely not a runner at all, but I managed to run almost the entire mile and finished in 10 minutes (also coming off a 12 hr night shift!)
So yep, I have officially ran in my first ever organized run... not
quite a race since I ran in the non-timed "Fun Run" heat, but
still...I'm proud of myself. I really expected to walk the mile, but at
the very last minute, my adrenaline kicked in and I decided to go for
it!
All proceeds for the Savannah Mile went to the 200 Club, whose objective is to provide immediate financial assistance to the surviving spouse and
children of local law enforcement officers and firefighters who
lose their lives in the line of duty.
The last heats of the race were the Memory Walk for fallen firefighters and police officers and the Heroes Heat, where firefighters and soldiers ran in full uniform and gear. My heart swelled with pride when I saw these men working so hard and remembered just how much they put on the line each and every time they go out to work to protect us. It was a great way to start the Memorial Day weekend.
Those two pictures may be my favorite. I love the Ranger running with his son and then seeing the Rangers carry the American flags...ahh, there are no words.
All in all, a great day. I actually may have a goal to run a 5K now!
