My loved ones mean the world to me.  When I saw this link-up over at From Mrs. to Mama... I got curious about what I mean to my loved ones.  What they love about me.  So I asked them... and this is what they said.

My dad loves.
My redhair. Beautiful smile. Compassion for others having difficulties.  Creativity and craftiness.  And my dedication.
My mom loves.
My loyalty to those I love.  That I'm a great daughter and a wonderful pet momma.  My drive to make a difference.  My smile.  My writing abilities.  And my love and kindness.

My friends had just a bit more to say...

My best friend Allison:
"1. She is always, always, always there for the people she loves. Even if she's 1,000 miles away and it's 3 am.
2. She constantly surprises you with the most thoughtful gifts or cards, just to remind you how much you are loved by her!
3. She NEVER EVER forgets a birthday, anniversary, etc.
4. On summer nights during high school (and even to this day) she'll drive around town with the windows down blaring and singing country music with you.
5. She'll hang out with you at work to help you pass the long boring hours at your first job as a hostess at Outback Steakhouse.
6. She'll visit you while you're away in college, even if you live in a teeny tiny dorm room.
7. She'll hold your hand while you get a tattoo, even if needles are your biggest fear and you almost break her hand.
8. If you have a really rough day, like say it's a week before your wedding and your fiancé calls to tell you that his passport is expired right after you try on your dress one last time only to find that it no longer fits, her first words are: "be there in ten! we're going to have drinks at tanners."
9. On your wedding day she joins you in screaming "IT'S MY WEDDING DAY!" the moment you wake up and stealthily ensures that no one bothers or upsets you, that your hair and make up are perfect, and that you don't accidentally run into the groom.
10. Then she babysits your unruly english bulldog while you're on your honeymoon!"

My best friend Kara:
"First off, that beautiful red hair. It makes you want to be a redhead. Have you ever heard the term "feisty redhead?" Well...Amanda lives up to that saying.

Amanda never, EVER misses an opportunity to lift someone's day up. She never misses out on sending birthday cards, Christmas cards, notes, or postcards just because. No matter how Amanda is feeling, she is always wanting to make her friends happy.

Her passion...for her family, her friends, her husband, her fur children, God, and her country.

Amanda's love for country...in more ways than one. She is a proud supporter of her husband, who serves this wonderful country that we live in. Amanda is so patriotic, with her Republican elephant tattoo (with my matching one!) and American flags spread throughout her home. Also, she is a good ole country girl. She may have spent many years in the city, but those country roots sure do shine.

Her sense of adventure. It takes a lot of guts to move to a different state (or two) to be with your new husband. I love that she spread her wings and started to explore what life has to offer. Of course, it definitely has its ups and downs but I know she wouldn't trade it for the world.

Amanda has such a creative brain...it makes me jealous. Whether it's decorating a home or working on graphic design, this girl can do it all.

Her LOVE. This girl has one of the biggest hearts I've ever seen. This could probably tie in with how passionate she is but Amanda never forgets to express her love to those she cares about. (I think I should include her love for purses and shoes, but some might consider that an obsession.)

Amanda was one of my very first friends when I moved to a new school my 8th grade year. Ever since, she has been one of my very best friends. We have been through so many things...from crappy friendships that have shaped who we are to those dang boyfriends we never want to remember to. I know we are in different places in our lives, but I always have her to call when things aren't going so great. Amanda is one of my biggest fans and I'm definitely one of hers too. This list of things I love about her doesn't even begin to show who Amanda is! Ten years of friendship with laughs, tears, booze, and matching tattoos...it's hard to find a friend like her."


I'm lucky to have loved ones.  To have family that cares about me... friends that don't forget me.  To have support all across the nation.  I am lucky and blessed...

...and I know it.

"How I measure riches is by... the friends I have and the loved ones I have and the people that I care about in my life, ...

One of the hardest things I have had to deal with in regards to moving from Kansas to Georgia is leaving my friends, my family and the known, again.  Georgia is great.  Being with my husband and dogs in our own little house is great.  But not having friends to call up last minute and go get drinks with or my parents around to help with the dogs if Rob and I want to take a day trip.. among so many other reasons... is hard.

When I moved from Kansas to Maryland to join Rob.. I was fortunate enough to kind of walk into a great group of friends.  We had our differences.  Many of us didn't have children.  Almost everyone was under the age of 30.  Rob had already been in Maryland for over a year, so he knew many of the husbands already which made it that much easier for the wives to naturally get along.  I had that support needed.  In fact I was at a company FRG meeting when I found out one of my grandpa's had passed away.  If you've never seen a group of Army wives come together when someone has an emergency, then you haven't been around the military long enough.

So maybe I had my expectations set really high about moving here.  I thought, it can't be THAT different.  Oh yes Amanda, it can.  I've kind of touched on this before.. but Fort Gordon is a rather large base (bigger than Meade at least) that consists of a lot of AIT students and a lot of higher enlisted/officers.  Which poses a problem because you can't all intermingle.  So I can be friends with the AIT students wife, but our husbands can never hang out.  I can be friends with the officers wife, but our husbands can never hang out.  Makes it kind of hard to do normal married couple with friends things.

The other issue that I've noticed in regards to this is age.  I'm 22.  Rob is 22.  He enlisted straight out of high school and has 4 years under his belt.  At one point he was one of the youngest if not the youngest person at his rank in the entire Army.  So when you look at other 22 year olds... they are either fresh into the military as a student or at a lower rank.  Or they have kids.  Not that I hold anything against those women for starting a family young... it's just not me, yet.

Where do I fit in then?  A married 22 year old with 2 dogs, no kids and a husband on the fast track to making his military career above standard.  I want to build that support I have in Kansas.  The support I had in Maryland.  But I'm just not finding it here at Ft. Gordon yet and we've been here since July.  I've tried clubs on post and Facebook pages associated with post.  I have gone to lunch with a few different girls.  Out of all of my effort I have one person from post that I can go to lunch with and talk to.  But she won't be here forever as her husband is done with AIT soon.  Then what am I to do?

I'm just at a loss.  I made friends easily in high school.  Then made friends easily at the community college I went to.  When I left Kansas I made friends easily at Ft. Meade.  Heck I even made friends when I lived in Kansas while Rob was deployed... but now here I am six months into this adventure at Fort Gordon and I am not making friends like I have in the past.

I guess it is just something you learn to deal with.  I can't obviously change the fact that I am young and my husband is a superstar (not that I would want to!)... hopefully shortly after the new year I will land a job to preoccupy my mind.. so I don't spend days like today thinking about all that I wish I had here in Georgia.

Regardless of who I can consider a friend though.. I am thankful to have my husband.  I can call him my best friend and mean it.  He knew that so far this twelfth day of the twelfth month of this twelfth year of this century (tongue twister much? Had to incorporate it!) was not going quite how I hoped and he swooped in and took me out to lunch.  I am blessed and I know it.

But being young and not having a huge Georgia support group is really weighing on me.


P.S. I'm sending a special shout out to the one cousin I have here in Augusta.  She's great and I am thankful she is here.  When our schedules work out the same way we can go shopping, get food and just hang out.  I know many military individuals don't get this luxury so I'm soaking it up while I can and trying not to think about the fact she won't be here forever.  (Wait, neither will I!)

"Live fast, die young and leave a good looking corpse."  -John Derek One of the hardest things I have had to deal with in re...

I saw the weekly Show and Tell Monday topics for this week over at From Mrs. to Mama and HAD to participate.  I miss high school.. and as much as I hated it then.. I miss it now.  Miss seeing my best friends everyday.  Miss not having responsibilities.  Miss Friday nights at the football field.  Miss getting fancied up for homecoming and prom.  Miss Mrs. Hardesty's seminar.  Miss making memories with all kinds of people.. some have come and gone, some have stuck around, but they all helped make high school what it was and has come to mean for me.

Mrs. Turner and I, last day of senior year.

2009.. less than a year after graduating.

2012.. 4 years after graduating.

Megan, Kara and Allison... thanks.  You've helped me become who I am today... and for that I will forever be thankful.  You guys are the best ever.  I love each of you.. tons and tons.

I saw the weekly Show and Tell Monday topics for this week over at From Mrs. to Mama and HAD to participate.  I miss high school.. and as ...