Living the English Dream...

I haven't written in a few weeks because it's been such a whirlwind!! I got my Visa on a Friday and left the next Sunday!

I am SO happy to be here! THIS is my dream! I worked towards this for a long time and finally it has fallen into place!! Everything about England makes me happy-the buildings, the roads, the people, the fashion, the food, everything! I feel so at home here and everyday, my heart is fulfilled!!!

And bonus!! Steve is here, of course!! He took leave for 2 weeks and we've been spending a lot of time together! He's at work now in Lincoln so I'm a little sad, but he'll be back tomorrow!

Going to school is absolutely amazing. Being a student is seriously the best feeling. Going to school without wearing a uniform is perfect!! My nails are painted purple and I don't have to worry about taking the polish off before Monday! I love it! I am an oldie though-everyone at school is 18! But I've met so many wonderful people, and I can't wait to get to know them over the next few years!

Steve and I found a lovely apartment 1 mile away from school! It's a brand new apartment building with 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, and a spiral staircase that leads up to the mezzanine bedroom! And it's about 400 dollars less than what I get for housing allowance! I'll be able to walk to school easily, which saves me getting a car straight away.

I also want to learn Italian! A local college teaches it and I'd like to go! Especially before I meet my Italian family!!

I celebrated my birthday in London!! How perfect is that? Steve and I took the train there on Friday and stayed at this really nice hotel for the night. We ate at this vegan Japanese restaurant that was not worth the money (sorry Steve!), then we went and watched The Phantom of the Opera in the West End, sort of like our Broadway! Oh my gosh. It was AMAZING. I would see it again!! Even Steve liked it! We then walked around London and looked at the pretty buildings, then went to Big Ben and took some beautiful pictures. I can't post them on here because the internet is too slow! But that was really my favorite birthday. There is no better way to spend my quarter-of-a-century birthday! The last few b-days I had were really lame. I was taken to lunch for 2 of them but I didn't know anyone because I had just moved to wherever it was. So this one was very special to me.

This weekend we are going to Sian's birthday party, then heading off to Cornwall for the rest of the weekend!! I love Cornwall. I want to live there one day!

I love love looove being here. I am so thankful that I am living my dream!!

One last thing...please pray for my Uncle Chris who was submitted to the hospital for heart surgery. He's doing better now and is in the ICU for recovery. Also, my cousin Franky, who just had pneumonia and thankfully got out of the hospital. Thank you!!

I hope everyone is doing amazingly well!! <3

Quick Takes-Thanks Lenae!

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1. This is my first time attempting Quick Takes, and I'm quite excited! I read it on Lenae's blog all the time! :)

2. I received my Visa today in the mail! Which led to me buying my nonstop plane ticket to England for Sunday!! I'll arrive Monday afternoon, Steve will pick me up, and we'll head to school so I can enroll for classes!!

3. Steve and I have been dreaming of this moment since the day I left England one year ago! I imagine it in my head-coming through the security checkpoint and seeing him wait for me so we can spend the rest of our lives together! None of this 1-2 weeks together every few months!!

4. I realized that I accumulated too much while home for the past month. So I am shipping another box out!! It's full of cookbooks, clothes, and some shoes!

5. Has anyone ever heard of Worry Dolls?? Well, I used to LOVE them as a kid and I would keep them under my pillow! I found them at Barnes and Noble the other day and had to buy them! They take away all of your worries, and they are super cute!

6. I am really going to miss my two little boys, especially my little Pea in a Pod, Coco. We are attached at the hip. We just have this attachment that I have never really had with any animals! All he does is cuddle up to me and lick me. Haha! I love him so much. I sing "Chim-chiminey chim-chiminey chim chim cherooo" to him because he has a big whisker on his chin, and Chim sounds like Chin. I guess I could sing Mr. Finnigan. You see how he lays on me??

7. And to save the best for last-I want to thank God for making my dreams come true. Over the last few years, I've gotten close to God. After all, he saved my brother, my dad, my aunt, and my cousin when they all almost died. He was/is always there for me when I need him, holding my hand through everything. I respect people's decision not to believe in God, but I don't understand it because he has done so much for me.


Thanks, everyone, for sharing a new part of my blog with me! I can't wait to update you with my newest adventures!!!

Beginnings...

My life is finally going to start!!!! My visa was approved and it's on its way!!! I am so so happy!! You see, this morning, I woke up and spoke to Steve for an hour before he went to work. He told me not to call him if I get my visa so he still has some hope. So after he left, I went to sleep for another few hours because I sleep when I'm stressed, woke up, turned on the laptop, and BAM! There it was!!! I screeeeamed! Then I ran and hugged my mom, kissed my dad, and called Steve! He was soooo happy and so am I!!!

Jonathan's birthday is a good luck charm, apparently!! Haha!! I love it, I'm so happy! We can finally finalize the houses/apartments we want to see!

Thank you, everyone, for praying for me!!! It means so much to me and all of your prayers worked! THANK YOU LORD!!!

Gingers

I have a soft spot in my heart for gingers!! Random, I know. But I was watching a commercial with a ginger guy helping out the "loser" in school when some bullies were being mean to him. Go red hair!!! ;)

I'm. Still. Here. NO VISA! I'm dying here! I pray so hard every single day, multiple times a day, for this visa to come through. School starts MONDAY! At least it's just enrollment (which they spell it as enrolment). Please keep praying that I get it!! I'm counting on tomorrow because it's the 15 day mark, a.k.a. the visas-are-all-processed day.

I had a rough night last night. Really rough. So I went shopping today! I got a t-shirt dress, which is what I've been wanting! I also got a new Pandora charm! I got some more pearly jewelry, this beautiful scarf, and this exfoliator. I also got the most adorable measuring cups from Anthropologie!! Take a look after this paragraph! It was nice spending some time with myself.

I had to de-friend a friend the other day. She was my best friend for years. We met when I was about 15. The thing is, is that she wasn't there for me when my aunt was in the hospital. I told her the day I found out, and since that day, I had not heard from her. She never asked how I was doing or how my aunt was doing. Recently, my cousin was in the hospital and was told he wouldn't make it. Thank GOD he did. I told her about it, and since then she hasn't asked anything about me or my cousin. I realized she is not a true friend. A true friend checks on you often, just like I would. Just like I have. So, I wrote her a facebook message explaining why I haven't seen her since I've been here (because she kept texting and got her brother-in-law to write me a message on fb to tell me to hang out with her). I was completely honest and I was not angry. I just told her that I am distancing myself from her because of what happened. I wrote that August 31st and it is now September 8th. I have not heard from her at all. Instead, her sister and brother-in-law have deleted me off of facebook. Classy.

We went to The Cheesecake Factory tonight-my faaavorite place! It was deeelish!

Oh! Arezou has left to Germany! I'm so happy for her! I can't wait to be sipping bellinis in Italy with her!!

And now I've saved the best for last...Happy Birthday to my amazing big brother, Jonathan!! He is 26 years old Eastern Time-he still has another 30 minutes until his birthday starts here. But! He was born in New Jersey, so it's his birthday! I love you, Jonathan!!

Goodness me, I'm going to be 25 on September 24th. OLD!!!! Haha!!

I hope everyone is having a wonderful week. <3

Laziness...

I'd like to point out that I am unemployed and homeless. Haha! And I'm just super lazy. All I want to do is sit on the couch at home and do nothing. Isn't that terrible? I think it's because of moving and all that, that now I'm tired.

I went to Illinois last week to visit my aunt, and let me tell you, it was awesome seeing her not in a hospital bed and awake!! I loved spending time with her and the rest of my family. Aaaand I saw 3 shooting stars! But I also received 31 mosquito bites. I counted. :(

I sent in my Visa application the other day!! Please pray that I get it approved! I should find out between next Wednesday and Sept 8th. I'm sooo nervous. There is so much to do! We still have to find an apartment and furnish it. We've been looking online but they go so quickly! Then I have to find a job. Oye.

It's all exciting though, as long as I get the Visa!!

I don't have much to write really. I hope everyone is doing well!!

The Next Chapter

Seven years ago, I joined the Air Force at 17 years old. It was both a scary and exciting time for me. I went through a very interesting time in Basic Training, then went on to DLI where I learned a wonderful language, Arabic, then it was off to Fort Gordon for 2 years, England for 2 years, and Hurlburt for a year. I've met hundreds of people and learned so much about life and myself. Although I've been wanting to get out for about 5 years, I am thankful for the opportunity I was given to serve in the USAF and the benefits I've received from it. Here is a picture of when I was about 18 with my good friend, Lenae! We rocked as Airman Leaders and neighbors! Haha!

Here is when I was promoted to SrA:

And when I was promoted to SSgt:

And now it's time to move on to the Next Chapter, as I like to call it!! I went from living at home in a strict environment, right to the military as a young adult, and now I feel like I am really ready for this. I was supposed to get out of the military last year but I was not ready. I had nothing set up. It's a good thing I extended for a year because I ended up finding out that England was my home and I needed to be there.

I look forward to see what's in store for me in the future! Right now it's looking like at least 4 years of being a student, being with the one I love, and being with all of my best friends!!!

4 more hours and I will be starting this Next Chapter!

Last Day...

This is my last day in my townhouse, yay!! This realty really sucked. But I got a beautiful view of the bayou from my living room and bedroom, so I'm happy!! So much has happened in here-my family visited several times, I got 2 turtles, one passed away :( , I had a fire on Valentine's Day, aaand I had my first Christmas with Steve!

Goodbye air mattress that I've slept on for 2 weeks!!! Hello real bed in a hotel!!! I can't wait!

2 more days....