Another inch!

I went to get Jena dressed for school today. It was a little cooler than it has been so we put on warmer clothes. First we put on her jeans, and I had to let out the adjustable waist. Then, when she went to put on the jacket she had some trouble and I noticed it was too short. So, I measured her and she has grown an inch since just last month when I measured her so I could put away her clothes that were too small. I guess I will have to do that again.

Why I love being Lutheran!

I found this in our church news letter. Roger and I are big fans of Garrison, an NPR regular. And what he has said is so true. My mom's family loves to sing, we do it at every holiday. Christmas is my favorite church holiday because of the music. Thank you, Garrison, for putting how I feel into words.

SINGING WITH THE LUTHERANS
by Garrison Keillor
I have made fun of Lutherans for years - who
wouldn't, if you lived in Minnesota ? But I have
also sung with Lutherans and that is one of the
main joys of life, along with hot baths and fresh
sweet corn.
We make fun of Lutherans for their blandness,
their excessive calm, their fear of giving offense,
their lack of speed and also for their secret fondness
for macaroni and cheese. But nobody sings
like they do.
If you ask an audience in New York City, a relatively
Lutheran-less place, to sing along on the
chorus of 'Michael Row the Boat Ashore', they
will look daggers at you as if you had asked them
to strip to their underwear. But if you do this
among Lutherans they'll smile and row that boat
ashore and up on the beach! And down the road!
Lutherans are bred from childhood to sing in fourpart
harmony. It's a talent that comes from sitting
on the lap of someone singing alto or tenor or
bass and hearing the harmonic intervals by putting
your little head against that person's rib cage. It's
natural for Lutherans to sing in harmony. We're
too modest to be soloists, too worldly to sing in
unison. When you're singing in the key of C and
you slide into the A7th and D7th chords, all two
hundred of you, it's an emotionally fulfilling moment.
I once sang the bass line of Children of the Heavenly
Father in a room with about three thousand
Lutherans in it; and when we finished, we all had
tears in our eyes, partly from the promise that
God will not forsake us, partly from the proximity
of all those lovely voices By our joining in harmony,
we somehow promise that we will not forsake
each other.
I do believe this: These Lutherans are the sort of
people you could call up when you're in deep distress.
If you're dying, they'll comfort you. If
you're lonely, they'll talk to you. And if you're
hungry, they'll give you tuna salad!

Are you better off than you were 10 years ago? A look back…

10 years ago today, September 22, 2009, Roger was discharged from the Army after 7 years and 2 months. Because of so much vacation time built up, can we say workaholic, he actually finished up working in July and started college full time in August. But in September we still celebrated our break from the Army. I remember we went to dinner at our favorite restaurant and made a big deal out it. We were beginning the next phase in our lives, the phase that lead us to where we are today and Roger becoming a doctor.

Even though staying in the Army long term had never been part of the plan, Roger stayed in 3 years past the end of his original enlistment, which was July 1996. He first extended in Korea because the Army has a stupid rule that they won’t bring a solider back from a remote assignment when they have less than 6 months left in his enlistment. Roger had 5 ½ months. Seriously. So he extended to March 1997. After he came home from Korea and I started back to college he extended again to September 1999 to ensure I would finish college before he was no longer working. It was all part of our plan, I would finish school and then work while he went. It made sense to us, but not the rest of the world. So, when the time came for Roger to get out of the Army, people told us we were crazy. Why should he leave a good job? He was practically half way to Army retirement! (I point out 7 is NOT half way to 20.) Roger turned down orders to Germany, a promotion and a training school when he got out of the Army. But College and Medical School were the plan. And he couldn’t do those while in the Army. We knew he would be better off by getting out.

So, together we jumped off a cliff. Roger left the Army and started college shortly after I graduated and found a job making less than he had in the Army. But we had his GI Bill and Hope Scholarship and I am the coupon queen. In September 2000, we received his official discharge from the Inactive Ready Reserve. We went to dinner again (we love to eat!) He was free! College was going great, Roger had almost straight A’s. Then came his senior year and 9/11 happened. And I was so thankful Roger was no longer in the Army (yes, I can hear you laughing as you read this.) Our friends and family worried he might be called up, but he was free.

That year began the journey towards medical school. Roger applied but was waitlisted. Frustrated, we celebrated his graduation, with honors. The plan had worked, almost. So we altered the plan. Roger worked in research for a year. That was a great year. We bought new living room furniture and took a cruise. And he applied to medical school again with better MCAT scores. And waited. He was waitlisted again, at 3 schools. We began to question the plan. Roger wondered was he would do if he couldn’t be a doctor. Thankfully, we never had to answer that because in May of 2003 he was accepted to the MCG Class of 2007. Because he was accepted late he was not able to apply for any outside financial aid. We used savings and took out loans. And then in the fall of his first year his friend Ian introduced him to an Army recruiter and he began to think about going back in. The money paid for school but somewhere inside of Roger he felt it was about more than that. It is hard to explain, but he wanted to help those soldiers going off to war. Again, everyone thought we were crazy. Who signs up for the Army during a war? I got the same question over and over. Isn’t there any other way? Sure there was, but this was Roger’s. And I supported that.

So, here we are back in the Army. But our life is different and Roger got to be a doctor. That would not have happened if he had stayed in the Army 10 years ago and taken the Warrant Officer position. So, yes, we are better off. But not for the reasons most people would think. See, 10 years ago they wanted Roger to stay in because he was a good sergeant. But Roger didn’t love his job, not like he loves medicine. It was like something was missing. In the end we took risks, even more than what I’ve listed here. But that is what life is about. It doesn’t always work out according to plan, but it always works out one way or the other. The path taken over the last 10, even 20 years has shaped Roger into the doctor he is today. And for that, he is better off.

14 months!

As you can see, Lily is still not walking independently yet. But boy can she get around. She is everywhere and in everything! And she loves to hang out with Jena. Many times I will find them just laughing at each other. No doctor's visit this month, but I think she is between 16 and 17 pounds. She won't sit still long enough for me the measure her, but I know she is getting taller. Still skinny but look at all that hair!

She's ready for college!

Jena loves to help cook. So I modify preparation so she can help, i e I take thing out of hot pans or let her help before hand at the table instead of the counter. A big favorite at our house is mac & cheese (from a box). She usually helps me pour and stir. I drain the macaroni and put it in a bowl and she help pour in the milk, cheese and butter and we take turns stirring. Today she said she wanted to do it all by herself. So, I measured out the milk and butter and let her pour them and the cheese in to the bowl. And she did ALL the stirring. She did a great job and now she knows how to make a staple that many a college student lives on! Yale here we come!

My next journey

With Roger coming to the end of residency next summer (YAY!), we are talking about where we will move next and what I will do when we get there. I have always wanted to pursue a graduate degree in Economics so I could teach at the college level. After college we were focused on Roger's college, so I got my MBA instead to further my career in business and accounting. After Jena was born, we talked about it again because I wanted a job that would allow me to work part time. I can teach with an MBA, but most schools want a degree in a specific subject. So I began to take the prerequisite courses I would need to apply for a PhD that I had not taken in college. Then the Army moved us to North Carolina. I continued to take courses, even considered applying to the Masters in Economics at NC State. Then Lily came, and I took a break. But I have continued to think about it and research my options.

At the beginning of the week a preliminary list came out for operational spots (doctor with a unit) for Roger to consider. It is not a complete list and we don't have hospital or clinic spots yet. But as we had suspected, there are no spots in Europe as we had hoped. We have thought this might happen after last spring when neither of the residents from here that applied for Europe received it.

So we have decided to focus on staying stateside. Not going to say where yet, but it will be hopefully somewhere I can go to school. Due to time constraints, I have decided to apply to Masters programs. So, I will have to take the GRE. My neighbor told me about some GRE prep courses at Fayetteville Technical Community College. I signed up for an online review that started yesterday. And I plan to take the test around Thanksgiving. Wish me luck!

Happy 35th Birthday!

A day to remember 9/11

It is a day that changed everything. How we live, feel and ever travel. Nearly 3000 people died that day. All while I was turn on my computer and getting something to drink. That's what I was doing that morning at work, like every other morning. I got to work at 8:30, went through my mail, turn on my computer and went to the kitchen to get water. On the way back, I stuck my head in Dayna's office to say hello. I turned to leave and her phone rang. A coworker home on maternity leave called to tell us she saw the plane fly in to the World Trade Center on Good Morning America. And just like that is all changed.

Since invading Afghanistan nearly 8 years ago, almost 800 soldiers have lost their lives. And contrary to public opinion, we do still have troops there. They have been there the whole time fighting, no we did not pull out of Afghanistan to go into Iraq. We have troops in both places. Since March 2003 when we invaded Iraq, over 4000 soldiers have lost their lives. And thousands have been injured in both places. Don't let the numbers fool you either. We have more than 2 1/2 the number of troops in Iraq as Afghanistan, so please don't think it is "safer" in Afghanistan because our loss is less there. It is dangerous in both places.

So, why such a bummer post? Because, just like that day 8 years ago, we go about our daily lives and don't think about all of this too much. So I am asking you to remember the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines that are over there and pray for them if you do that. And then remember their families and friends who are thinking about this everyday. And have some compassion for these people. Yes, they signed up for this for many reasons. But it is a very hard life to live.

Happy 9/9/9

When I was getting the girls already for their first day of school I realized today was 9/9/9. Pretty cool, especially since my favorite number has always been 9. Some of you may know this little tidbit about us, but our" numbers have always been 9 and 6. Roger's birthday is 6/19, mine is 9/16, Jena's is 3/9/06 and Lily's is 7/19/08 (the only one without a 6). So today is a good day, Jena starting back to preschool and Lily starting Parents Morning Out. And Jena is 3 1/2 today! What a big day! Everyone had a good day. Lily cried a little when I left, but had a good time playing with the other kids. Jena had a great day, but wouldn't keep her shoes on for some reason. And I got to go for coffee with my friend Rebecca for the first time since Lily was born Kid Free!


Ready for the big day!Big girl back pack. Cinderella of course!

What Jena's up to...

At the beginning of the summer Jena started gymnastics. She absolutely love it! And she is progressing really well. Each day she amazes us with her new skills.

Lately Jena has been asking about starting ballet. She wanted to dance like I did. So, we signed her up. Here we have a side by side with another aspiring ballerina! Like mother like daughter.


Of course she is taking the class with Piper and Quinn. They were all very excited to start and Rebecca even asked the dance teacher about a tap class. So now I have to go get tap shoes. Thanks, R! Notice Jena's tiny feet in the white shoes. They didn't have her size in the pink. Soon, she will be bigger!