One year down...

It's finally been one year since we move to Fort Polk. It really has went by fast. It seems like everything is moving so fast these days. We have met so many great people that will be long time friends. We had a little mourning period but then realized we should be celebrating! We had made it through one year here! We try to look at all the positives! At least we were not just moving in like most everyone here! People are coming and going and believe it or not the town is actually grown just a little. I work at a real estate company so I see all the people coming in and out. (Lucky ones going out!) We just had a huge group (Army) get back from deployment and around 800 more come in from Fort Riley in Kansas. So with all the people getting here we hope that more businesses will come into the area. BUT what we REALLY hope is that we only have one more year here. Hey one can hope, can't they? With married couples they try to keep them at a base for at least two years because of the expense of moving a family as opposed to one person. I'm sure year number 2 will go by somewhat fast. Aaron is coming up on deployment, you will hear lots about that in the future I'm sure. And he will also be going on several TDY's. I have decided to stay here throughout his deployment. We have both talked about it several times and it just makes the most sense to stay here. If I were to go home we would possibly not have a house to come back to and I would lose my job that I really like. I will be going home as much as possible and going to Ohio to visit the Kimmels! We would love to go to Germany, Hawaii, Italy, somewhere great! And Korea as a last option, but that would only be for one year! Hopefully we will be seeing everyone before he leaves. But if not we will when he gets back!

Happy Anniversary!!!

Wow I'm having a little trouble with this! There is so much to say! So it's been one year since Aaron and I have been married! It seems like it just happened yesterday but at the same time it seems like it has been forever! They say the first year is the hardest. Well I don't know who "they" are but "they" are right! You learn so much during this time. You learn how to live with each other, learn that is's not all just about yourself, find out each others' habits (good and bad), and basically grow up together. I can honestly say that it has been very hard but I wouldn't change it for the world! I know there are going to be many more rough times to come but we will get through them. It's been exciting, scary and the most wonderful time of my life. I don't know what I would have done without those late night calls to Christina! I save the day calls for mom and mom Kimmel! But what is even better, are all the good times to come. We have so much ahead of us, I can't wait!

Aaron and I spent New Years in Florida and had to leave the day before our anniversary so we decided to combine it all and celebrate both! Aaron picked out the condo and it was so nice! We met so many wonderful people, almost all were retired from the Air Force and had moved to Florida! We heard many interesting stories. We were at the nice outdoor mall and Aaron was giving blood (I know) so I sat out on one of the benches to wait. The man next to me starting talking to me and told me that he was retired from the Air Force and went on to tell me about all the places he lived: Japan, Korea, Italy, Germany, Hawaii. He loved it and so did his family. They got to see so many places and things that most would never have the opportunity to do. He told me it would be rough but to hang in there and support Aaron, because his job is not always easy. Stick it out twenty years and it will all be worth it! And that's what the plan is now anyway. The rest of our trip we spent a lot of time out on the beach. And in the heated pool! And we met another retired guy who talked to us about selling one of his condos to us! Hopefully next year we can do it! We got to hang out at almost all our favorite spots including McGuires and the Crab Trap! I can wait to go back! It was a wonderful trip!

New Years!!!

New Years...what FuN! We spent bringing in 2009 in Florida! We had so much fun. We left at noon on New Years Eve and got there just in time for all the excitement! And with no speeding tickets might I add! Between me, Aaron and Bartle I think we did ok! We tried to go to some of our favorites but being "snow bird" season most of them closed early. So we hit up Hard Rock and had a good time there. Then decided to head back to the condo to watch the ball drop and the fireworks over the ocean. I can't think of a better way to celebrate! We spent the rest of the weekend shopping, hanging out....well you will see in the next blog!