UT and NE Trips

This past June, I started Graduate School through Utah State University. My summer courses required that I come to campus for one week to work face to face with my professors. This week happened to be the one prior to the Junge Family reunion in NE (check out the blog above). I was more than happy to be able to come back to Logan for a week! My courses were from 8-12 and then from 1-5. This allowed my evenings to be filled with friends and family – which was great!

My parents drove down for the weekend prior to classes starting. We took my Mom to a demolition derby (the first one she has ever been to). It was great fun. My adopted grandparents from our church in Logan also came with us. Mr. and Mrs. Bence are wonderful people to Paul and I – thank you for all your hospitality and friendship! During the week, I was also able to spend time with my dear friend Annie and her little guy. What fun we had walking the Stokes Nature Center Trail, having a picnic, and going out for food. I was even able to accompany her on the piano as she sang for church Sunday evening.

We also got together with another friend and had a wonderful dinner and ice cream. This place was really cool (as the inner nerd in me comes out)! They mixed your batter (custard, whipping cream, yogurt, etc) as a liquid with flavoring. Then they added your fruit, chocolate, etc much like Coldstone. It looked much like a soup mix until they placed the bowl under a tank filled with liquid nitrogen and pulled the lever. It then turned the liquid into ice cream! So wonderful...

My summer classes ended successfully in August and I just started back up last week for my second of six semesters. I am really looking forward to this semester’s courses as one of them is motivation and classroom management. As a new teacher, this is something I am always working on improving. I am also working on my Thesis as I narrow down my research question. How I respect researches much more now. Fun side note, did you know the APA manual’s main editor is a Vandenbos? I told Paul that it must be the reason why they are all so good at writing. :)

"GreenBean" during the half time. I would expect to see this in VA... :)
Dad's view of the derby.

The Bence family (AKA adopted family)

My parents...love them!!

Pink car was driven by a girl who won...kinda lame because she really just hid the entire time...

Annie's cute little man.

My good friend Annie! Such a sweet little lady!


In July, right after the week of grad school in Logan, I was able to go to the Junge Family reunion. The reunion was a “low year” with only 186 people in attendance. This is Paul’s grandmother and her ten other siblings and their families that make up the attendees. It is held just outside of Lincoln, NE in a town called York. Events were planned for three days that ranged from family fishing, cosmic bowling, church services, games, photos, three hour DVD of family history with photos, fellowship, and plenty of food. It was a great time to meet Paul’s extended family and get to know his closer family a little bit better. His great Grandfather sold seed in NE for Dekalb and his family was heavily involved with Agriculture.

Because Paul was unable to come because of training, it was a great way for me to reach out on my own and get to know others. At one point I even got to try on Paul’s great grandmother’s wedding dress that all the female family members get to try on. A big Thank you to Paul’s parents for providing the funds for me to come! I had such a great time and appreciate his family so much more.

Great Grandma Junge's wedding dress.

Our section (Vandenbos) of the Junge Clan. We were the second smallest group in attendance.

In the books!

A little over a week ago I started my graduate studies through USU. The two courses are eight weeks long and require some "light" reading. And when I say light, I mean six textbooks. :)

I am just thankful that I enjoy reading and it isn't a chore like it is for some people. I have been able to keep up with reading really well so far (it has only been a week mind you) and have even finished a 400 page "pleasure reading" book this past week. It is so nice to be able to escape into your own reading!

Speaking of reading, Paul gave me a Nook for my graduation present this past month. It is such a neat little contraption and can hold thousands of books. I am not sure I would take it to the pool with me, but other than that scenario, it is a very smart idea. Notice the handy little touch screen!

When Paul and I have the opportunity to drive together, one of us navigates the vehicle and the other one reads. It makes the car rides go by a lot faster! For those of you out west that don't understand the east coast driving - it generally takes you at least an half hour to get anywhere. We have a little over an hour drive (roundtrip) for church so really makes the time fly by and you aren't "wasting" your life just sitting in a car doing nothing.

Tell me what you are reading right now - I would love to hear!

Well, back to my studies!

Whew, it's been awhile!

After my graduation on May 8, time has just flown by! My parents came out for a week long visit following my graduation; Paul took me to the Adirondack Mountains after his TBS graduation; Paul's parents came out to visit for a week; and now I have started my Graduate courses through USU. It has been a full month, but a very fun one at that. It was so nice to catch up with family while they were here and we enjoyed their company. It was equally nice getting away to the backwoods cabin in NY.

Well, instead of describing it all, I will post pictures for you to stare at. After all, a pictures worth a thousand words...right?

After Paul's graduation with sissy Laura :) Paul is excited, can you tell?

Paul received the highest shooting award at TBS in the rifle and pistol. His Grandpa, who was an excellent nationally recognized marksman, would've been proud of him.


My Undergraduate Graduation! I forgot our camera charger so after four pictures our camera died. I was so excited that so many family and friends showed up for the event. Thank you to those that came and were there in spirit!!

My parents with Paul and I. Can I just say that those caps are my nemesis. I.HATE.GRADUATION.CAPS!

At the top of our hike in the Adirondack Mountains. Such a beautiful day! We could see the Lake Placid area and the ski resort from the top of the mountain.

Our cute little turn of the century cabin. Complete with an outhouse, no electricity, no running water, but a neat hammock!

I love this picture! Taken on our hike.

Covered bridge in Jay, NY

Paul and Lucy discovering this unique covered bridge.
And now a tribute to Lucy, cutest little hypo-allergenic non shedding dog in the world! :)

I have more pictures on my camera that I have yet to convert to the computer...so those will be posted at a later date. I hope to be more consistent with short little updates on here at least twice a week now...we'll see how that goes! :)

Just do it!

Tomorrow morning I am leaving on one of these:

and then I will arrive in Boise...

and then my parents and I will drive to Logan (and not look like these people for obvious reasons)...

then we will arrive here...

and on Saturday morning I will be doing this:

and listening to this man, our commencement speaker...

and then be receiving one of these...

and then be eating this (but not Chocolate Chip Mint)

I am excited, can you tell?

Standby

Paul found out yesterday that he may have to leave right after TBS graduation on May 13 to go to California for six weeks instead of the planned four. We still aren't sure if he is going, as we haven't got official orders, but we are planning on it. Looks like our vacation between TBS and IOC might be on standby. Either way is fine for us. He will be receiving great training in CA but it would also be nice to spend some time with him here in VA. The rest of the year we really won't be seeing eachother a whole lot so it would be nice to have that time. But whatever happens happens.

"...for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content." Phil 4:11

A little clearer now!

In the past few weeks Paul has been receiving more information about his future in the Marine Corps and where/what we will be doing. As of two weeks ago, we didn't know where we would be living after May 13.

Paul is officially an 0302 - a Ground Intelligence Officer! This was his first choice and we were thrilled that he received it. Out of 300 other TBS students and MOS (Military Occupation Specialty) slots, there were only 9 Ground Intelligence positions. His exact job for the next four years isn't set in stone yet. There is a possibility he could be a sniper platoon commander, reconnaissance platoon commander, or an infantry platoon commander. There are some other options in there as well, but he won't receive his official billet until probably December. I can sum it up as his job is Jason Bourne + James Bond (minus the women) + the guy off of Shooter. :)

Here is what our forecasted schedule entails as far as we can see:

May 13 - TBS graduation

After six months of school, which is equivalent to a Masters degree program, he is finally done! Well, at least with this section!

May 14 - 23 LEAVE!!! :D

We are spending time with family in DC and then going on a vacation to PA and NY.

May 24 - June 27 Pre-Infantry Officer Course (IOC)

There is a rumor that they will be in 29 Palms, CA for this entire time for pre-training. This is one of those things not set in stone yet. We are just planning on him being there for that.

June 28 - Sept ? Infantry Officer Course (IOC)

Training 1/3 of the time in class so he will be able to come home in the evenings. The rest of the time will be spent in the field. He will also be in 29 Palms, CA for about three weeks. This is kind of a mystery school because they don't want anyone selling information to Korea - you know us...

Oct ? - Feb ? 2011 Ground Intelligence Officer Course (GIOC)

This is in Damneck, VA which is really close to Virginia Beach. We are supposed to find out where our Duty Station will be and Paul's billet 2/3 of the way through this school. So Paul and I have been joking that this Christmas all we want is to know where we will be living! :D

Paul found out that this is a top secret school to the point that you cannot take any materials out of the building with you! And we thought Infantry School was mysterious...

This course is unaccompanied and Paul will be living in the Bachelor Officer Quarters (BOQ). I guess he has the room to himself and it has a kitchenette so we got told by some instructors last night at a informative meeting that he can have "guests" in there. No one checks how long the guests stay so technically I could be there the entire time if I wanted to. One problem, they don't allow dogs! We are still mulling over what we are going to do...

Feb ? - ? Sniper Platoon Commanders School

This is back in Quantico for just a few weeks. A short one! :D

??? After this we have no idea as he could go to Jump School, Dive School, SEARS School, Language School...they are all schools that Ground Intel Officers go to but are entirely dependent on their MOS.

So recap:

*Paul goes to a lot of schools

*I don't know where I am living after August

*Paul is pretty much awesome!

*We are praying and seeking God's will for our future

Spring Break = COOKIES!!

Today my new found friends came over and we made cookies. 236 cookies to be exact. Chocolate chip, Double Peanut butter, Cinnamon Snaps, and Oatmeal Craisin.

We had two Kitchenaides and one hand held mixer going to produce these sugar laden treats.

Yes, we made a mess, but it cleaned up fine!

Where do you ask are all these cookies going? Well just about all of them are going with our husbands, minus the messed up ones we had to "dispose of", to be shared with the guys in their Bachelor Officer Quarters (BOQ). Our husbands room with these guys during the day and become very close with them - these guys don't get to come home at night though so I (now we) have provided cookies to them.

I am so thankful for true Christian friends that God brought in our path in the last few weeks. They are both wives of the new company of officers at TBS and attend our church (which is how we met).

I am already looking forward to our next adventure!