4AM Ramblings.

I'm doing the "it's my last night shift for several weeks and I have 2 hours left to go" dance!!! Woohooo!

I actually didn't mind the night shift this rotation. It does help that I can sleep in the morning and early afternoon when Cameron is working on photos and on http://www.cameronkline.com/ . (Cheap plug, yes.....but check it out.) I did mind waking up and having him run out the door for an engagement shoot or modeling shoot.

Almost every weekend this summer Cameron has had a wedding or two to do. Sometimes in Florida, but many times in Georgia or North Carolina. He's doing an awesome job and I hope he knows how much I admire him for making it happen.

I'm in talks with the detailer about my next tour of duty and thankfully God blessed me with a husband who is very flexible and wants to move overseas. I start to worry though, because then his happiness will depend on where we are and how he will work to contribute to the family. I know he supports the idea, but I still feel a lot of weight on my shoulders to pick a good spot for both of us.

I am extremely thankful to have him in my life.

There may be some exciting news about our next tour, but nothing is final yet and I need to actually call and speak with my detailer first. I think the next tour is going to be our mini vacation before thinking about a family and possibly graduate school for me or both of us. Gotta live it up while we can.


I think this weekend, Cameron and I will be able to try a church out in our neighborhood. We've had such hectic schedules this summer. Either I am working nights, or Cameron has a wedding or we are both out of town. This Sunday, we are both free and I'm back on a day shift rotation starting today.

Our spirituality has been a hot topic lately. We come from different spiritual and religious backgrounds, so at times we sound like we are talking to someone from another planet. The basic, simple thing in common we have is that we both believe God has created this amazing world for us to live in, that he sent Jesus to teach us our most important lesson of loving others and that he took all the blame for our sins when he died on the cross.

A few tedious topics that really have nothing to do with Jesus' main point that his followers should "love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind" and also "love your neighbor as yourself", get us all ready to fight it out and declare we know everything there is to know about religion, spirituality, the universe and God.
Cameron and I have very, very similar beliefs, but we have a few things that we are staunchly different on. I really think, personally, that God brought Cameron to my life to help me relax on the "rules" of religion and focus on loving him and being an example of Jesus and loving others. I think maybe I came along to learn a little more of the history of Jesus and biblical truth. Of course, I was never great at that, so the review is for me as well. Many of my stories are "yeah, there was the story...I can't remember what book...where that chick cut off the guy's hair and then she turned into salt and the three guys got put in the furnace and then danced............but I think I have a few facts messed up." Just kidding. I'm not that bad to mix them up like that, but it's sadly true that I can only remember bits and pieces of my 5 year old Sunday school Bible stories.

I probably could still sing along to "Wee Sing Bible Songs" or hymns from when I was growing up. It's amazing how your mind remembers songs. I guess that's why my Christian school I went to for a few years played so many scriptures in song form. I can still sing those.

Anyway. I'm rambling and it's now 0502 and I have an hour and a half left before we're getting ready for report. So with that, I hope you are all sleeping well and I can't wait to be on your schedule.

Shotguns, pistols and AK's! OH MY!

We're ready for the zombie apocalypse. This last weekend, Cameron and I went to Murfreesburo, TN to see his dad, Bob. Cameron actually drove up last Tuesday and I flew up Friday to meet him.

There is a particualar gun store Cameron takes me to every time we step foot in Murfreesburo. Now, I can't remember the name, but I'll ask him later. I'm not sure how I don't remember the name, seeing that we go every time. This time, 2 visits.

Cameron's birthday is coming up in September and I have been going over and over what I'm going to get for him. I've gotten a few small things, but I wanted to get one large gift. Either a camera lens, or a gun. I know he's been eyeing shotguns and AK-47's....but I obviously couldn't go buy one for him, so I would have to take him to the store and let him pick one out. Plus, I really didn't know which one he would want! I've been reading all about AK-47's, learning about Russian made vs American made....underfolders, accessories, etc. I've also been looking up "what is the best leica camera lens" to try and look down that route.

I have to say that his hobbies are so hard to buy for! I know nothing about guns, cameras or motorcycles. Sigh.

So, we went into the armory in Tennessee and I told him even though it was early, he could pick anything he wanted! He settled on a Saiga 12 gauge semi automatic shotgun.

I had no idea they made such a thing! Good thing I didn't go buy something! He's apparently been looking at them for about 3 years. I gotta say...it is pretty sweet. Plus, it's another defense in our zombie apocalypse supply kit. I think we have enough gun power. Now, we just need more ammo.

He and I need to set up a grade and stage system for disasters/zombies. I did find a website that might help us. http://www.zombiehub.com/zombie-survival-kit.html You can select Zombie Grade and Stage and see their way of doing it.

I think he likes his gift. I've never seen him look so crazed and yet happy while holding anything.

How will I top this one??

Let's see. Interesting things coming up on our google calendar:
-Indy Motorcycle race August 26-28th
-1 year anniversary of our first date September 1st!
-First Texas Tech Football game of the season Sept 3rd
-Concealed handgun class Sept 10th
-Grey's Anatomy premire Sept 22nd
-Cameron's birthday Sept 24th
-First anniversary of proposal October 7th
-The Walking Dead premire Oct 16th
A lot of nothing.............Halloween, Thanksgiving (prob be working)
-Christmas leave Dec 22-28th


I hope on our leave in December we can go down and talk with a real estate agent in the hill country. We've figured it out and we plan to purchase between 5-10 acres in the Texas Hill Country next summer. I'm planning a 2 week road trip and we'll stop a few days to look at property and buy something. Our tenative plan is to buy something large enough for Bob to move down there too at some point and we'll move there when I'm done with the Navy or retire from the Navy.

I'm mostly looking at Blanco, because it's the same distance to San Antonio and Austin. It's a little hilly and green, but also can look desert like (what Cameron loves) in some places.

Then, Bob can find a job down there and sell his house in Tennessee and buy 2 of those Tiny Texas Houses (http://tinytexashouses.com/) where he will live in one and we will live in one.

I keep daydreaming about having dirt bikes, a pool, eventually do some landscaping....and then sit out under the stars with some wine and just enjoy each other's company. I really want to make this happen. Now, we just have to find an agent down there and start writing them and then meet to discuss what we're looking for and save up to pick it out next summer!

I love talking about the future with Cameron. I know if he and I decide to do something, we can actually make it happen.

I don't mean that I'm not excited about right now in our lives. I really am. I am so happy. I really can't complain right now. God has really brought me to a good spot in my life. I really owe everything to Him. I remember so vividly sitting on my bed in January 2008 and deciding to completely let go of my love life to God. I stopped trying to do it on my own and "find someone" and focused on growing on my own and trusting he had someone perfect (who he really needed to work on more than me ;) hehe). He really did. It's amazing what things can happen when you completely put your trust in the Lord and step back. They all tend to work out. You know what? Even if they don't turn out how you would like them to, He will do it to help you in some other way, or maybe show someone else a message and He will help you be at peace with whatever comes your way.