Maybe the last real snow?!

Well, it wasn't yesterday - I am just catching up with our cameras and all those pictures that have been hiding in memory cards. So, in uploading I found some pictures from 5-6 March when it actually snowed and Keith went drilling with his Reserve unit. Perhaps it was the last real snow around here - because since the it has snowed but never stayed.
Here is the street we live on.

Our driveway - Keith shoveled not just our driveway, but quite few of the families' on our street and was enjoying it as an exercise and is sad that the srping is coming.

In Pleasant Grove. It snows more in the South - Pleasant Grove, Provo area than here. Interesting. I love the mountains and how easy it is to feel you are out in a country yet in the middle of a bustling city.

Road march.

Hope the huge rucks and fast walks kept them warm.

More pictures to come and more adventures to share. Don't go too far.

Girls' Night Out!

Last night was full of reunions. I saw friends from 13, 14 years ago - it was wonderful to catch up and remember the time we had together.

Of course, interestingly, I found out Chanar lives about 10 minutes away from me and I haven't seen her for about 14 years. She hadn't changed a bit. Still as fiesty as ever. Nara and her a working on a visit to Mongolian orphanage to distribute blankets, hygience items and food.

Please visit their non-profit organization website at: www.care4kidsworldwide.org

It is amazing what is being done to help the children in Mongolia, Ukraine and worldwide who were neglected and discarded - some in orphanages, some just simply living wherever they could to survive without home or shelter.

I will post some pictures of our visit soon. Since I didn't have a camera with me - I will need to rely on friends to send me pictures.

Military Day!

Today is a Military Day in Mongolia. Interestingly the Mongolian Armed Forces is comparatively very small to that of the United States. However, they have a day dedicated to those who serve and protect wearing a uniform.

I spoke with my sister yesterday - she expressed her appreciation for both of us even though we are serving in the Armed Services of the United States. I am grateful for the men and women who are serving in uniform of their country and are willing to sacrifice their lives if needed. I am also grateful to be wearing the USAF uniform and be a member in that team.

New Orleans Trip

My first TDY with the Air Force happens to be to New Orleans, LA. Here are some pictures of the area and the fun I had.
The bridge over the Mississippi River heading out of town.

This big guy stands outside the Hand Grenade bar. Gotta be stuffy in there.

On the causeway - heading to Covington. The Causeway is a 24 mile long bridge over Lake Pontchatrain (?). Once get in the middle, no land was in sight either direction. Must have been a quite an ordeal to build that.

Aimee, Jacob and myself outside the Mi Casa - their family restaurant.

Aimee the manager and the bartender.

It is a cute little restaurant and the food was delicious.

It has been a very interesting trip for me as far as TDY and I enjoyed getting to know some people and meeting Aimee's husband and in-laws.

Happy International Women's Day -March 8th!!!

Did you know there is an International Women's day - a day dedicated to the celebration of economic, political and social achievements of women past, present, and future. In some places like China, Russia, Vietnam, and Bulgaria, International Women's day is a national holiday.


Today is the 8 March 2010 in Mongolia. I remember this day growing up. Interestingly enough this day has been celebrated since 1911.

Please read the history of the International Women's Day throughout the world. Taken from: http://www.internationalwomensday.com/

"International Women's Day has been observed since the time of great expansion and turbulence in the industrialized world that saw booming population growth and rise of radical ideologies."

"1908: Great unrest and critical debate was occuring amongst women. Women's oppression and inequality was spurring women to become more vocal and active in campaigning for change. Then, in 1908, 15,000 women marched through New York City demanding shorter hours, better pay and voting rights."

"1909: In accordance with a declaration by the Socialist Party of America, the first National Woman's Day was observed across the United States on 28 February. Women continued to celebrate NWD on the last Sunday of February until 1913.

"1910: A second International Conference of Working Women was held in Copenhagen. A woman named Clara Zetkin tabled the idea of an International Women's Day. She propposed that every year in every country there should be a celebration on the same day - a Women's Day - to press for their demands. The conference of over 100 women from 17 countries, representing unions, socialist parties, working women's clubs, and including the first three women elected to the Finnish parliament, greeted Zetkin's suggestion with unanimous approval and thus International Women's Day was the result.

"1911: Following the decision agreed at Copenhagen in 1911, IWD was honored the first time in Austria, Denmark, Germany and Switzerland on 19 March.

"1913-1914: On the eve of WWI campaigning for peace, Russian women observed their first IWD on the last Sunday in February 1913. In 1913 following discussionsm IWD was transferred to 8 March and this day has remained the global date for IWD ever since."

Hooray!!!

Finally it is the 4th. Keith is coming home tonight. He is already on the way - in air from Fayetteville to Atlanta and then one more flight to Salt Lake City. I am counting down hours and minutes.

It is silly that I miss him this much considering how much we have gone through this before and how busy I have been - time should have gone by fast. But, somehow, it feels like he has been soooo long that I was getting very antsy.

I know he got drill this weekend so he will be gone bright and early tomorrow morning and through the weekend. But, I am just grateful I will be heading to the airport in seven hours.

Quotes for Strength

"When I dare to be powerful, to use my strength in the service of my vision, then it becomes less andless important whether I am afraid." ~ Audre Lorde

"Nothing is so strong as gentleness. Nothing is so gentle as real strength." ~ Frances De Sales

"If your heart acquires strength, you will be able to remove blemishes from others without thinkingevil of them." ~ Mohandas K. Gandhi

"The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong." ~ Mohandas K. Gandhi

"People do not lack strength, they lack will." ~ Victor Hugo

I need strength and will to endure through this and complete what is in front of me. These words give me hope and power to get up and keep moving forward.