Day 1 ~ Your Greatest Accomplishment

Accomplishment: [uh-kom-plish-muhnt] noun
1. an act or instance of carrying into effect; fulfillment:
2. something done admirably or creditably:
3. anything accomplished; deed; achievement:

I would have to say that my biggest achievement has been graduating with my Bachelors in Agricultural Education. To some this is not a lot, but for me, it is a big deal. Here are my reasons.

* I was married for three out of the four years

* I transferred schools - from University of Idaho to Utah State University

* I am the first person in my family to graduate with my Bachelors

* I graduated with a combined 3.84 GPA

* I participated in student organizations and served in leadership roles

* I student taught in a state completely foreign to me

* I worked part time while attending school

* I was active in our church teaching Jr. Church, playing piano, and helping with the youth ministry

* I finished my last semester with Paul training over 2,000 miles away

* I have zero dollars in student loans receiving over $65,000 in scholarships

However, none of this happened because of me. I thank the Lord for blessing me with the opportunity and resources to accomplish this feat. I also thank my parents for instilling in me desire and a dream. And finally, for Paul for putting up with my late night studying, mounds of laundry, and crazy coffee addiction. Since I am working on my Masters right now, I have been contemplating continuing on towards a doctorate. With Paul's brother finishing medical school, who knows, there could one day be two Dr. Vandenbos'... :)

Prepare to be Challenged!

Okay, so I have been HORRIBLE at blogging lately. I saw this challenge on another friend's blog and I thought it would be a great way for me to get back into the habit of posting consistently. I challenge some of you to do the same thing if your blog needs a little help too!

The 30 days Include the following:

Day 1 - your biggest accomplishment
Day 2 - your definition of success

Day 3 - Your favorite teacher

Day 4 - your favorite book

Day 5 - your favorite quote

Day 6 - 20 of my favorite things

Day 7 - a photo that makes your heart melt

Day 8 - a photo that makes you angry/sad

Day 9 - a photo you took

Day 10 - a photo taken over 10 years ago of you

Day 11 - a photo of you recently

Day 12 - something you are OCD about

Day 13 - a fictional book

Day 14 - a non-fictional book

Day 15 - your role model

Day 16 - a song that makes you cry (or nearly)

Day 17 - an art piece (drawing, sculpture, painting, etc)

Day 18 - my wedding/future wedding/past wedding

Day 19 - a talent of yours

Day 20 - a hobby of yours

Day 21 - a recipe

Day 22 - a website

Day 23 - a youtube video

Day 24 - where I live- in detail, what makes it special?

Day 25 - guilty pleasure

Day 26 - your week, in great detail

Day 27 - my worst habit

Day 28 - whats in my handbag/purse

Day 29 - hopes,dreams and plans for the next 365 days

Day 30 - car you drive ( and past cars too!)

Excuses...Excuses....Excuses...

I know, I know. I haven't been blogging very well as of late. I do have really good excuses though... I promise!!

1. We moved out of our apartment in Stafford. Our "stuff" is now in an ABF storage pod in Manassas awaiting our orders to the duty station. Meanwhile, I am living in Fredericksburg (aka the Burg) with family. Paul is living 3 hours south on the Dam Neck naval intelligence base. He graduated the Infantry Officers Course and is now attending another school as the class commandant too! :) He graduates in February and we are still unsure what schools/training/duty station that will follow.

2. We took a scouting trip to Virginia Beach (which is where Dam Neck is located). It was great fun, but the pictures can do it more justice than I can describe.

Paul was buried standing up...that is how deep our hole was!!! :)

Wet little Lucy

I love this picture! She is such a cutie!


3. Cousin Rach's birthday was in August so I took her to the Kennedy Center for a performance. It was fun to get dressed up for the evening and head into D.C.

At the Kennedy Center

Rach and I in front of the fountain.

4. Paul and I attended the 8th and I Marine Corps Evening Parade in D.C. It was a great evening as we ate at Ben's Chili Bowl first (yummy) and then made our way to the parade deck. It is always fun watching the silent drill platoon - Google it if you haven't ever seen them. The Commandant’s house is also on the end of the parade deck so it was fun to see his home.

The house in the back is the Commandant's.

The parade deck...love this picture!

5. Uncle Hart is apart of the chamber of commerce for Fredericksburg and the Military Affairs Council. We had the opportunity to attend a wreath laying ceremony for the MAC and a private tour of the tomb of the Unknown Soldier area. I have attended a couple wreath laying ceremonies and the changing of the guard, but it was so fun to be able to actually go inside and learn all about it. The Commanding General was present to give us all the information personally. We also got a police escort through the entire cemetery - way cool! On a side note, the recently deceased Senator Ted Stevens was being buried that day so we got to see lots of black SUV's and men with ear pieces along with loads of Senators and Representatives in the cemetery. If I could only give them a piece of my mind... :)

At the top of the hill at Lee's house.

Wreath laying ceremony with Paul's head in the foreground. The lady that laid the wreat in honor of the MAC was a widow of a WWII veteran who was the youngest man at Normandy.

Paul and I with the Army General. :)

6. Paul was in CA for 3 weeks - he is back now! :) He really received some great training in the 29 Palms area.

7. Among those fun filled activities, we have been getting as much time with family and friends as possible. We have a wonderful Christian family here in VA and I am so thankful for them. Our church will be difficult to leave as well. Among fun activities I have also been teaching and continuing my Master's program (fun fun!). I think I will be a forever student as I just love school. Either teaching or learning...you will find me doing one of those! :)

Those are my excuses as of late.

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?