Spring Has Sprung!

     Spring has really picked up here in England and I for one am really happy to be living here, especially after hearing about all the snow reports in the Midwest recently. April was pretty cold, I still needed a winter coat and everyone told me that wasn't normal, usually by April it is starting to warm up. Luckily, May has been the turn around with lots of sunshine, the day light lasts longer, and I don’t have to wear boots! I have tried to get out and explore the beautiful country side while soaking up the sunny days. A couple of weekends ago me, and three of my girlfriends, took off to the Burghley House, which is about an hour’s drive away. The town is so cute and the house is huge. We enjoyed lunch, explored the house, which was originally built/designed for Queen Elizabeth the I between 1555 and 1587, soaked up the sun and had proper afternoon tea. My favorite thing about England is the tea and scones. The Burghley house is located in Stamford, England which is such a quaint town known for its medieval stone buildings and where parts of Pride and Prejudice were filmed. After our day out we had a fun night in eating pizza and of course watching chick flicks, I always have a blast with fellow spouses!

Taryn making herself at home

One of the dining rooms inside the house

The Burghley House

I bet that is pretty in the fall with the trees leaves changing color, or in general when the tree has leaves

Taryn, Laura, Meleah and I soaking up the sun

Nice butts...Taryn, Meleah and Laura enjoying the view of the house

Burghely House

Yes we did cartwheels in the sun

From left to right: Laura, Taryn, Me and Meleah. These girls are amazing! Despite my efforts to ruin it, they surprised me by taking me out to dinner in Cambridge to celebrate me getting a job!

     Two weekends ago, my last full weekend before Sam was due home, I found myself working very hard on household projects. I did enjoy Friends Friday at Taryn's house, where she made me a delicious meal and we watched Friends, but my Saturday and Sunday were completely consumed with finishing up painting our kitchen table. I started this project at the beginning of April and one month and 30+ hours of labor later, I finally finished! I sanded, primed and painted the table and let me tell you my body was sore by the end of it, lucky for me I had Grey's Anatomy to keep me occupied, but I would've rather been at the BBQ and Beer Festival with some friends in Bury St. Edmunds. 

Priming the table after sanding it

Priming the chairs after they were sanded

Finished project! I also painted the ladder and bought a new rug

It looks more homey now!

      Normally, I save any sad or hard news for the end of my blog but I would rather end on a happy note, so here it is. On Friday, May 3rd a KC-135 airplane crashed. If you are unfamiliar with the story you can read about it here:

Air Force Times

     Sam flies the KC-135 and this crash occurred one day after his return home from the deployed location that the plane was coming from. My first reaction when I got the phone call about the crash was to hug Sam, my second reaction was crying in his arms, because he was still supposed to be deployed there (he came home two weeks early), and my third reaction was worry, worry about our close friends who were still deployed at that exact location and worry for my fellow spouses. I learned a lot about the protocol that occurs in a situation like this and it rattled both Sam and I up a lot, as well as all our fellow friends in the 135 community. I know that a KC-135 crashing is pretty rare, prior to this one the last crash was in the 90’s and I also know it is a much safer plane for Sam to fly, especially compared to the helicopter he originally wanted to fly, and it is just like an airliner in the sky. I also know that more air force men and women die in car crashes than plane crashes. However, even knowing this information, I have still lost sleep and had nightmares since first learning about this crash, which I pray will subside soon. One thing I learned from Kathy, (who I worked with during college, and is a mother of three, who has gone through two separate year-long deployment tours of her oldest son to Iraq and Afghanistan), is to never trust or read the news while your loved one is deployed. While I lived by this rule during Sam and I’s first deployment, I was not prepared to deal with news that hits close to home and how to shake the thought that it could’ve been my husband on the plane, even though they are safe and sound at home.

So blessed and happy to be in each others arms

     So I ask you, my readers, to pray for every military member and their families right now, especially the Air Force and the KC-135 community, because this crash hits the entire 135 community and the AF hard. Also, please pray for the crew members who made the ultimate sacrifice for us, and our country, and their families whose lives will forever be changed and who won’t get to experience the joy I felt of welcoming my husband home. The two pilots on the flight were 2008 graduates from the Air Force Academy and one of the pilots was in Sam’s squadron, so I know it hits him hard in more ways than one, so please also keep Sam in your prayers. The crew is from Fairchild AFB in Washington, pray for everyone at Fairchild as well, I know it is hard on everyone, because you truly do become like a family with the people in your squadron and losing a member of the squad is like losing a brother or sister.

Hercules is also happy to have daddy home, though it has taken him awhile to warm up to him again.

     On a side note, just to clarify, because I didn't know this until three years ago and I think it’s neat, in the Air Force Hymn there is a verse that starts out with “here’s a toast” and when an Air Force service member dies you may see lots of things on Facebook, or other social media sites, that say “a toast” and nothing else. Whenever you see that posted it is a way to honor the fallen service member, not many people know that and sometimes that can lead to awkward situations, so be mindful and careful with what you post on the internet. Now, whenever I see that, I always ask Sam who has died, or I look it up in the news. Here is the entire verse, most people (like me) only knew the “off we go into the wild blue yonder” part, but there is so much more to the song:

"Here's a toast to the host 

Of those who love the vastness of the sky, 

To a friend we send a message of his brother men who fly.

We drink to those who gave their all of old, 

Then down we roar to score the rainbow's pot of gold.

A toast to the host of men we boast, the U.S. Air Force!"

     On a much happier note, I got to welcome my pilot home last Thursday. It was an amazing experience; I even had butterflies in my stomach as I anxiously awaited his arrival! The squadron called to tell me when he would be home and all the spouses met at the squad at 1:00pm. They made an announcement about a jet returning and lots of people in squad took a break from work to go meet them. We took a bus out to the flight line and even got to watch them land, and Sam was the one flying the landing! There were lots of people getting off the jet and since our husbands had check lists to do, Erin and I were the last spouses to get to hug our men, but it was worth the wait! Getting to greet them on the flight line was unforgettable and I am so glad that my friend Taryn came and took pictures for us.

Sam had just landed this plane and they were taxing 

Hi Sam!

Our first hug, Taryn captured this moment beautifully! I specifically told her not to get my face...I wasn't sure if I would be crying or not, because every time I see a homecoming video or picture I cry!

Welcome home Sam!

We are both happy he is home!

Posing for a quick picture with the plane 

This is a sweet family! We first met them at Thanksgiving and then got to know them more by joining their Bible study. From left to right: Me, Sam, Mark, Erin and Emily. Mark was Sam's AC (air craft commander) so they flew together throughout the whole deployment, well they did everything together as a crew, the only person missing in this picture is their boom operator. Sam really enjoyed flying with Mark and he said it was an awesome crew. I gave one order to Mark before they left and that was to keep my husband safe and bring him back safe and sound, he defiantly followed through  thanks Mark!

      Sam and I have enjoyed our reintegration and we have eaten at La Hogue twice since he has been home! Though I have had a few bones to pick with him along the way, like when he turned off the hot water and I was stuck taking a cold shower, but we are working on this reintegrating thing. On Saturday morning we left for Bruges with our friends, Zack and Jill, and we had a blast! We drove to the Chunnel, which is where you drive your car onto a train and in thirty minutes you are in France, crazy! While we were in Bruges we toured a brewery, shopped, ate chocolate, drank beer, walked around the town, spent four hours at a wine bar, ate toppas (small meals), walked up 377 stairs to the top of a clock tower, ate fries with mayonnaise, toured a chocolate museum, and soaked up the sun. The best part of the weekend was that my husband was by my side, we were in Belgium, and we were with great friends, it was a perfect weekend and I couldn't think of a better way to welcome my love home!

Jill and Zack sleeping on the drive. 

A detailed itinerary...this right here is why Jill is an amazing travel agent!

The city of Brugge from the top of a brewery 

And again

Fries with Mayo, a must try while in Belgium, but however to me they just tasted like fries covered in mayo 

Sam wanted a picture of this statue

Zack and Sam were in heaven with all the beers

Enjoying some wine at the wine bar

It is a beautiful city

Jill and Zack

Sam and I

How deep is that water?

Walking the streets

The clock tower we climed

Sam and Zack trying the worlds most best beer...or maybe its the most rarest...I don't remember but it was like 12 euros a glass so it better have been good! 

Oh hi Jill! 

A bell in the tower

The view from the top of the tower 

Another view from the top of the tower

And again

Washed out by the sun

My first Sangria...yumo!

Sam and his mussels...they were so yummy

Loved the horse drawn carriage through the city....we have to do this next time

Jill and I getting some sun

A random marching band came through the streets, it was cool

The pretty canal

Love, love, love!

Belgium! 

Our driver fell asleep at the wheel on the way home! Good thing it was on the chunnel :)

      Thank you for all your prayers and support as we went through our first of many deployments. I cannot even begin to explain how blessed we are and how much I have been praising God for the safe return of my husband and friends!

Hey! Any of the readers who live in Springfield, there is a Springfield road in Bury St. Edmunds, England

 Thanks for reading,

Amanda