3 Amazing Years

July 4 was our 3 year anniversary. 

It has been an amazing three years.

I don't think I have ever told our story on the ol' blog- so here it is.

Me and Dallas met in 8th grade. My sister Cyndi, had a good friend named Dee Wright. (One of the loudest, uninhibited person I have ever met- she always told you what she thought- and believed everyone had success in them- just an amazing person)

 One Saturday, Cyndi asked if I wanted to go to Dee's sons birthday party- It's at the rock gym. And we were the same age.

I didn't really want to, but Cyndi also promised to take me to Papasitos after, so I went. When I met him, I was definitely less than impressed. Ha. I was a cheerleader and he played video games and was on the debate team. But I hung out- and we became friends. He was a nice guy- very different from the people I normally would hang out with. He was smart and played the drums. He would also burn some really sweet mixed CD's for me- which I just found again during our last move.

The next  "date" was to the movies, and then I agreed to go to the 9th grade homecoming dance with him.

 Everyone loves this picture- its definitely a conversation piece. That was 11 years ago. Circa 2001

We stayed in touch over the next few years, hung out occasionally- and then I went to Texas A&M while Dallas graduated from High School. I hadn't seen him in a about a year when Cyndi called me after she went to his graduation party and told me Dallas had really buffed up (WHAT?!) and I should go see him. And Oh Yeah- he got a Vice Presidential Nomination to the Air Force Academy and that he would be leaving at the end of June.

Summer 2005. He changed just a little bit. :)

I happened to be living with my dad that summer, which, by the sweet grace of God, was about 7 minutes from Dallas' house. We hung out about every day until he left- and I loved loved loved his family- They treated me like their own daughter/sister- which I eventually legally became. :) The same day he left for basic training was the same day I left with my dad for summer vacation in Mexico- and weirdly- we both spent our first few days on vacation/basic training with strep throat. (We didn't find that out until later when we finally got to see each other again.)

The next 3 and a half years of long distance (plus the rigor of the Air Force Academy and him studying Physics and being broke college students- so not alot of visits) were tough, but worth it, and I finally moved up to be with him in Colorado Springs while he finished school and I got my first real job, graduated and we finally got married.

The past three years have been amazing. We both have had great loss in our lives separately and together in the past 2 years, but I feel that this has bonded us more than anything else. The blessing with our losses has been that we learned extremely hard and valuable life lessons much earlier than most people, and have really grown from this. I feel that we now realize what is TRULY important in our lives.

We have been through pilot training, career changes (already), and 3 moves. We have been able to make a happy life wherever we are, and are grateful we have been together through it all (without deployment, so far). And for that, we are thankful and praise God everyday.

Some people say the first year of marriage is hard. I disagree. Nothing about our three years of marriage has been hard, especially our first year.  (I think we were just so excited to not have the Air Force Academy tell us when we could and couldn't see each other. :))

I can definitely say that in 8th grade, I never imagined my life would be where it is right now. But I am so happy to be where I am, and to have Dallas to share my life with. I am so proud of all of his accomplishments and love him more than life itself. He is my best friend, and I thank God for giving me such an amazing man.


Its been a while since I have posted- I still owe you all a post on Jameson and Taryn's wedding, which was just beautiful and exquisite and so, so special! We had a great time and were happy to see these two get married! :)

Here's a little throw back:

This is Dallas and Jameson (Middle) from freshman year at the Academy. This was one of the first pictures I was sent when he had access to the computer after basic training :) The other guy didn't make it past freshman year- and spent the second semester eating pizza and watching the OC. That definitely wont cut it there.

Next week we are heading to Florida to see Dallas' grandparents in Naples, FL. We were supposed to be heading to Disney also- but, again, the Air Force scheduled mandatory training for Dallas right in the middle of our trip. (Seriously, story of our lives- first the cruise now Disney) Dallas is coming home early and only staying for 3 days, and I am staying the whole week to enjoy getting spoiled by Nana and Grandpa and go to the beach! Sorry Dallas! Duty Calls, right? :)

Hope you had a great 4th of July- We sure did! :)

Cheers,

Megan

The New Casa!

Here it is! Our New Home!

We absolutely love it! Here a few things we have done to make it our own!

We couldn't take the blood red dining room, or guest bedroom, so we painted them immediately before we got our stuff in. (Thanks to Amy and my parents- this got done!)

After

I love the color- and it looks really great- the first thing that came out just as I envisioned!

We also put the built-in book shelf next to the fire place. It came out wonderfully thanks to our awesome carpenter!

The back of the living room, dining room is the the right

Our kitchen

Breakfast area.

Thats all I have for now, but we do have some more things to do to really make our new place our own!

It has definitely been a whirlwind of a couple of weeks- right after I finished my finals- it was time to pack up and get moving! (Thanks to my Mom and Step Dad for helping us move- we would probably still be moving if it wasn't for them!)

We are finally breathing- and enjoying our new home. This weekend we are off to Detroit, MI for some very good friends' wedding- Finally! Jameson and Taryn have been engaged for about 4 years while Taryn was finishing dental school! We have never been to the motor city- so we will see whats in store for us this weekend!

I am enjoying my summer off- but am starting to get restless already. I just keep thinking how busy I will be in the fall with clinicals. :)

Thats all for now- but I will eventually post more pictures of the house!

Have a great weekend,

Cheers

5 days and counting.....

Thats right! Only 5. (FIVE!) days left in this semester. I can practically taste summer- I actually get one! No classes this summer since all I have left are clinicals. :) So this summer can be spent moving into our new house (We got a house! Should be closing in the next two weeks), and planning for our disney trip! :)

But in between that time, I am throwing a shower (Yes, another one) for my great friend, Ellen! She is glowing! I can't wait to share photos- (Its going to be a darling little shower- and I hope she truly feels loved.)- and also studying for 2 other finals.

Dallas has In- Processed to the 20th- and is starting his big-boy job in the Air Force! (He is Snacko- Ha).

I'll be back next week to share photos of the shower as well as some of the new house!

Pray for me during finals!

Cheers,

Megan and Dallas

P.S. The first phase of the Air Force's Operation: Smith-Removal has occurred. (Derek is on his way to Minot- we had our "See You Soon" dinner tonight. At least me and Amy have a little time together before she goes.)

Graduation Day, and Recent Happenings.

Dallas is officially a B-52 Pilot! :)

He's pretty handsome! 

And I do love that flight suit.

Here is his class photo in front of the mighty B-52!

Us with Amy and Derek. 

Us with Dallas' Dad and Lisa

Dallas and My Mom

Dallas and Larry

Dallas graduating!

Getting his Flight Jacket and Scarf

Us!

The newest members of the 20th Bomb Squadron!

It was a pretty short and sweet graduation ceremony- and they had Southern Maid Donuts! 

Both of our parents came in town, and we went to eat a delicious celebratory lunch for Dallas at Ralph and Kakoos, without Dallas-  The Air Force apparently needed Dallas for 3 hours after graduation to plan for a make up flight- and we didn't know that until we had already gotten to the restaurant. It was delicious though, and we thought of him while we ate. :)

On another note, we put in an offer on a house. So we will see how that goes! It's in a cute little gated subdivision, and its close to base. This process is definitely proving to be a bit taxing, and anxiety filled.

This weekend, and until the end of the semester, I will be doing some major studying for chemistry (Yuck) and for my clinical entrance exam. Prayers are welcome for some much needed endurance for me and for my brain!

I would have had more pictures, but I seemed to have lost my camera. Boo. 

Have a great weekend!

Megan and Dallas.

P.S. Its the last day of March. The Stache' is gone! :) :) :)

Hide Yo' Kids, Hide Yo' Wife....

And your husbands......But mostly your kids.

It's March.

And for most of you, you probably get warm and fuzzy feelings thinking about the arrival of spring.

I, however, get feelings of fear.

March is a month in the Air Force where all (??) grow (or in my husbands case, attempt) mustaches. I get the heebs (Heebie- Jeebies) just thinking about it.

Let's remember last year:

See that faint, chester, flesh colored stash?

This was from last year.

Well, slowly, it's making its return.

I forgot all about this terrible tradition until today, I gave Dallas a welcome home kiss, and noticed there was a little stubble. 

I said "Hey! Did you forget to shave this morning?"

And he looked at me with a sly smile and told me very excitedly it was "Mustache March!"

Yay.

In some ways, I hope this month flies by (the mustache portion), and in a lot of ways, I don't. Time seems to have been passing all too quickly lately. And I am not a fan. 

This past weekend, Dallas and I went to Houston to go with my sisters, Tara and Annette, to the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. It was a blast! I love the Rodeo, and more than the rodeo itself: The Food.  Roasted Corn, the BEST BBQ in the world, and so much more. 

We also celebrated my brothers 29th birthday with a yummy breakfast! It was great to see family, and have a little fun, but we hurried back on Sunday so Dallas could study for his check ride he had today. 

He passed and is officially B-52 qualified! :)

In other news, two weekends ago, me and my buddy, Amy, threw an adorable baby shower for our friend Allison Pride! Pictures can be found Here. We had so much fun throwing it, and we hope Allison had a fabulous time!

We have had quite a bit going on recently, and are finally slowing down.

Ok. Enough for now. Have a great, blessed week!

Megan and Dallas

Mardi Gras and T Shirt Quilt Complete!

I have been absent for a while. What can I say? Life gets in the way sometimes, and other times, I feel like I don't have much to update about.

But this weekend, 2 special things happened.

We experienced our first Mardi Gras. It was in Shreveport, so nothing crazy like New Orleans, but we still had tons of fun with our good friends, and experienced a little of the Big Easy, up North. Here's my loot.

And the second thing, is that I FINALLY finished binding my T-Shirt Quilt! Its complete except for my quilt tag, which I will be doing soon!

Heres my backing. I fell in LOVE with this fabric and ordered it online from College Station. I am loving the way it turned out, and now feel pretty competent in the quilting department. I love my new craft! :)

Other than that, school is rolling on, and Dallas has about a month left in training before we will move to the 20th Bomb Squadron (AKA real live Air Force). I can't believe we left Enid 9 months ago. Its crazy to think about how quick time is passing. Which right now, I don't like. Yet another bestie (Amy and Derek Smith) of mine (ours) will be departing soon and will have to begin another long distance relationship. Yuck. 

Speaking of being here for 9 months, thats about the time it takes to cook a baby. 

No. I am not having one. (Not any time soon, either.)

But, my good friend Allison Pride will soon be having a little Zoe, and its Shower time! I am so excited for the things me and Amy have been crafting up for the shower, and for the great things Allison is going to get! Its going to be a pretty great time with yummy food and awesome friends! Pictures of that will come in about 2 weeks. 

Next weekend were going to trek to Dallas/Ft. Worth to meet up with some friends that still live in Enid. She and her husband have probably the sweetest baby in the world, and we have yet to meet her! Another bonus....I am going to get to see my lovely Susan Riley. OMG. I can't wait! 

Thats all for now,

Have a great week and Happy Valentines Day, if you do that sort of thing.

Megan and Dallas

TCB baby, TCB.

Takin' Care of Business. Thats what I am talking about. This week the vacation is over, sleeping in is done, and I'm trying to get back to "normal" or my whatever my new "normal" will be.

School started yesterday (Last semester before clinicals!), new quilting class today (!!!), bible study starts back tomorrow, and Thursday is my hunky husbands birthday! Its all definitely starting back up with a BANG! But right now, I need to keep busy, so this is a good thing.

No real big plans for Dallas' birthday, he forgot it was even his birthday until I reminded him. I think his favorite part of his birthday is the cake! This year will be a different cake from last year, but I believe he will love this one just as much! We will probably do a small gathering at Texas Roadhouse for dinner (one of our favorites) perhaps followed by birthday dessert and games at our house- we will see!

We were actually supposed to be taking a cruise next week. Remember the one I talked about HERE? Sadly, the Air Force said no, so we had to cancel. But it was supposed to be celebrating Dallas' grandfather's 80th birthday. It was sure to be a great time with family we rarely get to see. But, now we have to get through the training and we will hopefully be taking a couple of vacations this summer to make up for it- at least one to Naples to visit Grandpa and Nana for sure!

Lets talk serious now.

How well do you know me? If you know me at all you would know who my second life love is- the one that only follows Dallas. The only true King of Country.

That would be this man:

Mr. George Strait.

Since I can remember he has been my favorite singer- and I can remember back to age 4- I have been lovin' this guy for 21 Strait years. (Ha, get it?). I have seen him countless times, and never get tired of hearing that man sing. Dallas might disagree with that last statement- but he tolerates my mild obsession with grace and even got me tickets to see him! 2 weeks from Saturday, he will be right here in Bossier City, LA.  Holy Cow. If you can't tell, Im excited. 

(Ben- I hope he wears a 10-gallon hat similar to the one he is wearing in this picture :))

To make the occasion even more awesome, it is also my sister, Annette's, birthday and we got her a ticket for a gift- because I am pretty sure she is the only one who understands the love I have for George and even shares in it. I am counting down. Until then, its all George Strait, all the time in our house to prepare. :)

As promised, here is a picture of my first quilt- it was actully getting "quilted" in this photo- I had planned on taking a real photo of it- but forgot before I gave it to my grandma! And she loved it- by the way!

T-shirt quilt class starts tonight! I am pretty excited to get this one started. I have wanted a T-Shirt quilt since I can remember and it will mean even more to me if I am able to make it myself! :)

Thats about all I have for now,

Cheers,

Megan and Dallas