Loaf doesn't loaf around

So, even though Rob's call sign is Loaf (only for another month or so) he is not idle in his spare time. Recently, he noticed the fence around Mr. Bones' (squadron mascot) grave was falling apart... so he built him a new one. He just started sawing and painting and before you know it, viola! I know, my husband is amazing!

Day to Day

Here's a few of the ways Rob and I have been spending our time:

Watching friends' movers pack them, helping make sure packing is how it's supposed to be.

Attending briefings that tell us how to move.

Dining out with friends.

Making meals for friends who no longer have any food in their house due to moving.

Attending the Panama City Passion Play, put on by our church here - our friend played Jesus!

Going to zumba class to workout.

Watching more movers pack more friends.

Going on little date nights to the restaurants we like with patios overlooking the bay.

Walking in the March of Dimes walk on Saturday with the squadron.

Shopping for clothes before living in a country with petite people.

Gazing nostalgically through my boxes of memories as I try and whittle them down to just one box.

Making hotel reservations along our cross-country route, hoping that if we have to change them due to Rob not finishing on time, there are no fees.

It's pretty exciting and busy here, but enlaced with that slower pace of life that comes with living in a warm climate (love that!)

Going In For Guns

Please allow me to take a moment to brag some more about my wonderful husband.

Recently, in his training, he was allowed to shoot the gun on the F-15! Shooting the gun is a big deal because you don't often get the chance - the Air Force has to have enough money, you have to have a need to shoot it, etc. So, anyway, Rob and a few of his classmates shot at a banner being pulled behind another plane to practice their gunning skills. Afterwards, someone collects the banner and brings it for everyone to see how it went.

Well, the guy who collects the banners said this was the most holes he'd ever seen in the banner - his remembered record was 36. Of course, they had to count them after that! WOW!! There were 400-something holes in this banner!! Holy cow! Plus, Rob actually shot OFF the bar that attaches the banner! As you can imagine, I'm very proud of my awesome husband.

Fun Florida

This is what Florida looks like when it rains. It's not as fun as when it's sunny.

The azaleas I picked in our neighborhood.

Katy and Sarah making Easter eggs on Easter Sunday!

The ladies and their beautiful work!

Close-up

This is the best sign I've ever seen. Ever. It's on the road returning to base. It reads "Horse Show & Music Festival" and in the bottom left, "Horses, Monkeys, Dogs, and Brahma Bulls." I know. It's awesome.

Things I Take for Granted on a Military Base

I like to take people not at all associated with the military to the Air Force base! Not only does it show them things they couldn't otherwise see, but it reminds me how cool it all is! These are some things I take for granted:

Having to pause a conversation because a fighter jet is flying directly over one's head.

Driving by the shooting range as they shoot super loud machine guns and not thinking it's weird.

No longer being a little scared of the gate guard in the uniform holding a big scary gun as he checks my ID.

Not thinking it's weird that there's a bar at my husband's workplace where he and his coworkers gather every Friday night.

Loving that people stop driving, pause walking, turn and respect the National Anthem.

That the National Anthem is played loudly all over the base every day at 5pm.

That there's a Giant Voice that speaks to me when the weather is bad.

Finding buildings not based on address, but on the little brown building number on its side.

That my husband FLIES A JET as his job!!

That my husband got to shoot the gun on the F-15 today at work.

People don't use my husband's given name anymore, but rather refer to him with his call sign. All the time.

That my husband FLIES A JET at work!

I love the Air Force!

Share your own...

Weekends are fun

On Saturday, we went SAILING!! It was one of the first sunny days in a while (no, Florida is not as fun when it's raining) and we took the boat out through the bay (blackened with rain-wash), pushed and pulled it across some ankle deep water over the sand bar, broke the waves (which was admittedly VERY scary), put the dagger boards in (much nicer now), and sailed the clear blue-green water of Florida's Gulf of Mexico! WHOOP!

Rob was master of his craft standing on the catamaran, angling the rudder just so to take the boat to faster speeds. I am slower at mastering the craft and feel a little like Peter on the rough waters of the sea going, "whoa! Can we not rock so much? I really don't want to tip over!" But I felt much better when I would look at Rob and see the calm and confidence on his face. Ah. Rob helps me practice trusting the Lord - "I really don't see what your plan is or how it's going to work... okay, let's do it. Oh! Look at that! It worked!" That's pretty much how it goes. :-)

It did become a little alarming when the wind picked up on our way back to the boat launch and the wind that we caught pushed us a little nearer the edge than I cared to sail. Rob was still enjoying himself immensely - right up until he lost his grip and fell very suddenly off the boat! Thankfully, he's a good swimmer and caught up by the time I had almost stopped the boat. Whew!

Sunday, we went to the beach again - this time to go fishing. Rob caught three! The first was a stingray! No stabbing here. It was neat to touch it though - they're so soft! Then Rob caught two saltwater catfish. We've heard they're not good to eat so we threw them back. However, Gus swam in after the first one and retrieved it back to shore!!! We wish we'd brought the camera because it was a hilarious sight - our ridgeback swimming back in the waves with a catfish in its jaws!

Air Show

The Beagle at our most recent 95th Wives Coffee.


Rob's parents came into town this weekend for a visit! It also happened to be the weekend of the Tyndall Air Show! With the 95th being not only the coolest squadron, but also the closest to the flight line, it was host to the pilots and other air show participants. Therefore, we got to tour the squadron, see the life support area, and even play in the F-15 simulators! Not to mention, enjoy a rocking party Saturday night with pilots from Germany, Canada, and all over the US, present, and retired! Really neat to get to talk to lots of different people!


Here's some pics from the squadron.



In Life Support

Rob and Andy in the bar after successfully completing installation of new flatscreen TV and surround sound that even plays outside. Thank you tax dollars.

It's a very manly squadron bar.

Rob in front of the F-15. He looks so sexy.

This one I thought was really cool. It's called a Sea Dragon and it's the same kind of helicopter that was on the movie Transformers - cool, huh? It looks very angry.

The Air Force Heritage Flight with the P-51, the F-4, the F-15, and the F-22. Very cool.

We had a great time with the Moores! It rained most of Friday and Saturday so we were forced to stay at home and relax (rough, I know). But Sunday was a beautiful day and we spent it at the Air Show enjoying great planes showing off. Makes me more proud Rob is in the Air Force.