So, I lied...

So, in my last post, I said that I wouldn't be posting anymore for a couple of days, but I'm taking a short break from packing and getting ready to go umpire a couple of t-ball games (omg.. these kids are HILARIOUS!! One kid peed on the pitcher's mound last week-yes a little gross!!--and all the players run after the ball when it's hit!), but I was looking at my plane reservations and I am getting SOOOOO excited to see Allen!! I just had to share it with all of you!!!!

So, tomorrow, though, I baby-sit for two ADORABLE little boys (2 & 4), Brody and Parker, in Kansas City, and then I get to spend a WHOLE WEEK with my best friend and her fiance in KC!! I also get to see some of my other amazing friends. I think we're doing dinner on Sunday, yay!! It just made sense to stay up there since that's where I was flying out from, and I have dearly missed Liz!

So, on the schedule is....

KC: dinner with the girls!!, watching the Hangover Part 2 (Liz and Travis even waited for me to come up so we could see it together! I just love them :) ), pool time!, shopping (or window shopping for those a little short on cash..., making some delicious meals, and just hanging out!! I'm just ready for best friend time!

And then....

MYRTLE BEACH!!! Allen gets a 3 1/2 day break. He leaves Japan tomorrow morning, which means he will be back stateside by the 12th! And I will get to talk to him for short periods, but that's definitely better than now! He was barely even able to keep up with emails. :( But it's completely understandable, and I am BEYOND proud of him. :) I have no idea how I got so lucky to be marrying such a selfless, caring, respectable, handsome, loving man!!!! As you can see, I'm definitely excited and in love. :) So.. he will be at the airport on Friday waiting for me to fly into Myrtle Beach (he is at Shaw AFB for the week but we're trying to get away from the base for our vaca!), and we will get to spend three glorious days in the sun, just catching up and spending time with each other!!! On Monday, we'll be going on a two-hour drive to Sumter (where Shaw AFB is) that the AF will provide for us, and I will get a tour with other military family/girlfriends/fiances/wives (each person is allowed two people to visit during this time) and we'll welcome everyone back from their deployment officially!! Unfortunately, the car ride back to Myrtle Beach will be lonesome because Allen has to report back in to Shaw by 11 pm on Monday, but I'm grateful for ANY time I can get!! I will probably not get to see him again until December when I fly to Riverside for his week off before Christmas because it's an intense 35-week program. But, at least after the first few weeks (8-12), I'll get to skype with him, talk on the phone, email, and write. :) Plus, send fun packages, and speaking of, please leave a comment if you have any ideas for a fun monthly package!!

Shaw AFB

Thanks for reading!! Hope you all are enjoying the summer weather!! Any big exciting vacations or trips?

I'll recap when I'm back so check back around June 23rd!!

Take care,

-Gennie

Five Question Friday!

Hey everyone! Today, on the best day of the week, I'm linking up with My Little Life for Five Question Friday!!

1. How close to your childhood dreams is your life now?

 

Pretty darn close! I always wanted to be a doctor, and I just got accepted to medical school, but even if I choose to go to Physician Assistant school, I'm still going to be working in medicine which is what I always wanted to do!! And, by doing this Master's program in Biomedical Sciences before PA or Med School, I've learned way more about the background in healthcare and molecular science!

2. What is one must have item for the summer?

 

A book! I'm taking classes, but this summer, I'm determined to read all six of the novels I've bought or my fiance, Allen, bought for me! I'm determined to relax!

3. Do you have your kids stay up on school stuff during summer vacation? (Or, if you don't have kiddos, did your parents make you keep up on school stuff during summer?)

 

Don't have any kiddos yet :) working on the getting-married part!

4. Do you can or freeze fresh produce?

 

I don't, but I've done it with my grandma and mom, and it's fun! I hope to have a garden one day and can and freeze that produce. :)

5. Do you get ready for the day first thing in the morning?

Uh.. no.. I'm liking getting up earlier and earlier and starting to get ready to go right away more as I get older, but I'm still one that's really hard to drag out of bed. Plus, I take some medications that make it really hard to focus for the first half-hour or so when first awake, so I have to take some time to wake up and focus first!

 

In other news, I'm heading out tomorrow after umpiring a couple games to go to Kansas City and spend the week with my best friend who I haven't seen in forever! A whole month has gone by... and that's just not right with us, so I'll probably be out of the blogging world for a little bit! And today marks one week from when I will be stepping off the plane and running into my fiance's arms in South Carolina, and I am SOOOO excited!! So, I'll be busy for the next week and a half, but I'll recap everything and catch you all after then!!

 

Enjoy the beautiful weather!

 

Take care,

-Gennie

We Had So Much Hope...

I'll post more happiness later, but right now, I feel like I should do a post about what has been happening with my dad's job, which I think I talked about a little before. More specifically, MoDOT District 9 Office. With the need to cut down the amount of money being spent from the government, MoDOT's State Engineer decided to cut down the amount of districts in Missouri from 10 districts to 7 districts, which eliminates my dad's district that he runs in Willow Springs. My dad was offered another job in Jefferson City, where the main office is, but turned it down and is exploring other options because he is fully committed to seeing his district to the end. We appealed to JoAnn Emerson and all of the state representatives and senators to try and reason with the MoDOT Commission Board, but yesterday, they announced a unanimous vote to shut down the District 9 Office. We're all devastated. This means that so many of the workers in District 9 will lose their jobs or have to be relocated. More so, Willow Springs is a small area that depends on the jobs from MoDOT, and this will be devastating for this community. You have to wonder sometimes if there was even any reason going into this decision or if it was solely because we are centered in a small town and can be shut down easier (or at least they thought) than a district in Kansas City or St. Louis. However, the difference is that the bigger cities can AFFORD to shut down a district as long as they have a MoDOT presence in the area. Those citizens are not depending on the jobs NEAR as much as people in Willow Springs and surrounding areas. My heart goes out to all the people affected, and I just want to tell you that we have been behind you all the way. My dad has come home many, many times so down because he cares so much for all the employees and knows that this is unfair. He can't say anything against MoDOT's Commission, though, because his job depends on him being loyal to MoDOT. But, he, and we all, know this is unfair, and if there is anything left to do, we'll do it.

Thoughts and prayers with all of the Willow Springs and surrounding area communities.

If you want to learn more about this district, go here!

 My dad, Tom Stehn, doing one of the million presentations he does on a daily basis. :) So proud to be his daughter!!

 So many people work so hard daily at their jobs... their jobs deserve to be respected!!

 Even the school district came to hear JoAnn Emerson speak on Monday about how we could save District 9! The District 9 Office is in the background.

JoAnn Emerson speaking on Monday.

Please keep all of the wonderful people in these areas and employees of MoDOT District 9 (as well as other districts affected by the plan) in your thoughts and prayers!

Have a good day!

Take care,

-Gennie

Alphabet of Me!

Alphabet of Me

So, I saw this on two of my favorite blogs: Tyler's and Lynsie's, and I decided to go ahead and play along, too! 

 

Ambition: Be a good military wife, obtain a career as a Physician Assistant or M.D. (or D.O.), have kids (or adopt as it may turn out to be), and teach in college/grad school one day
Bad Habit: Trusting people too much, using scissors to cut nails (my best friend HATES that), overscheduling, drinking too much soda!
City: Springfield currently but my heart is back in Kansas City or West Plains

Drink: Pepsi--or water

Education: B.S. in Cell & Molecular Biology and working on M.S. in Cell & Molecular Biology--hoping for a MPAS or M.D. one day in the near future!
Food: steak!! loveeeee

Guilty Pleasure: reality tv, One Tree Hill
Hometown: Jefferson City, MO, but lived in West Plains, MO, for most of my life
Ice Cream: hmm... mint chocolate chip or butter brickle :)
Jonesing for: June 17th!! I get to go to South Carolina to see my amazing guy. :)
Kryptonite: playing softball or being at home relaxing

Look-a-like: not sure... but I have been told I resemble all sorts of people, which is kinda strange!
Movie: Too many to name.... Some of them include Ten Things I Hate About You, Seven, Bourne Ultimatum, Harry Potter (any),...
Nickname: Gen, GG, Gennaaayyy (Forrest Gump, anyone?), Gennifer (since my real name is Gennie, people start calling my Gennifer as a nickname!)
Obsession: currently anything wedding :)
Perfume: Dark Kiss by the Bath and Body Works Collection
Quirk: I have so many, I could not even being to start listing them
Regret: None--live for the moment and never regret anything.

Starbucks:Caramel Frappachino or White Mocha Macchiato
Thrift Find of the Year: Still looking for it!!
University: Rockhurst University, Missouri State University
Vacation: Mid-June to South Carolina to visit Allen!

Wine: merlot
X: now this one is just impossible...
Years: 23

Hope you enjoyed it! Check back for a post about this crazy summer I'm having! 

Take care,

-Gennie

Happy Memorial Day Weekend!!

Just a quick note to once again say have a great Memorial Day weekend, and thanks again to all those serving our country! My plans for the weekend are hanging out by the pool if it warms up even more (my dad and brothers are setting up our pool as we speak!), reading A TON (loving "The Island" right now!), wedding plans (guest list--ahh such a big task!), grilling out, LOTS of family time and sister time, dinner with my friends, and maybe indulging in some sweet fruity alcoholic drinks (sangria sounds AMAZING). :) I am soooo excited for this weekend, and I hope you all have such a great time! I will recap it when I get back, as well as post those recipes that I have promised! I will also do a post on the sweets that I have made lately.... this week's project: an ice cream cake! Yay!

Once again, Happy Memorial Day!!!!!!!!!!!!

Love you all!
Take care,
-Gennie

A little from this week!

Well, like usual, life is crazy busy, even though school has a couple week break before I start two classes (however, I found out that myself and a few others are given permission to take a couple of classes out of order that they offer in online/interaction Itunes (basically watching the lectures) classes which is way exciting and gives me the chance to actually have a summer!), but that time is filled with getting stuff ready for my review with the graduate board at my college next week (wish me luck!), hanging out with my friends, especially those I haven't seen in FOREVER!, and trying to spend time with family! Not to mention, still working doing umpiring, baby-sitting at times, and writing this book about my life experiences, which I hope will be good, but I have English Composition professors working on it with me and who have connections to get it published! I am getting more and more excited about it, and I just hope that I can share my story with others who can relate and show that even having a disability and chronic medical problems can just make you stronger and more devoted to your end accomplishment, even if it takes you longer! :)  But for right now, I just thought, in picture form with some comments, that I would share a little bit from my week, starting with last weekend!

Jess and I at the Cards vs. Royals' game! Go Cards!

 Jess, Jenny, Anna, and me at Cheesecake factory on Friday night! :)

 The girls :) minus Liz who was too busy backpacking with her fiance through Yellowstone.... sheesh!

 Welcome back, Travis and Liz, from your amazing vacation to Yellowstone!! Love, me and your adorable kitties. :)

 Chris on our way to lunch with my mom!

 The cookie cake that I made for Katy for our ice cream date the day before she moved. :(

 Katy with her "miss you" cookie cake!

 Chris bowling!

 Chris and I hanging out with Mickey. :)

 Ryan and Chris, my youngest bro, at the bowling alley. Acting cool and dorky....

 He's sooo cute. :) If I do say so myself....

 Ryan threw his hat at me after an unlucky game of bowling. :)

 My beautiful friend, Teagan, and I!

My first visit to Andy's Frozen Custard :) Delicious!!

It's been a fun week! With  many more exciting and fun weeks ahead to come. :) Wedding season is upon us, including plans for my wedding and my best friend's wedding, lots of river trips and hopefully boating soon, free concerts, and just hanging out by the pool!! And of course, lots of getting dressed up for fun occassions. :) Hope you are all enjoying the weather today, and I'm hoping it stays at least through Memorial Day weekend!!

Happy Memorial Day wknd! Thank you to ALL of those who are serving our country. My heart is always with my soldier, Allen, but there are soooo many more that have sacrificed their lives and time with their families/friends/etc to protect us, so THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!

And a sincere thanks to all of those devoting their time to clean up and restore life as much as possible after the storms. Thinking and praying of all of those lost and injured, as well as still missing, in Joplin, Oklahoma, and other areas in Missouri and the mid-west. Still also praying for Alabama and all the others affected. PLEASE stay safe and take care of yourselves!!

A candle in prayer!

That's enough for now! I made spinach artichoke dip, mini-cheesecakes with oreo topping, and rotel dip last night, and I'll post the first two recipes later with pictures! It was SOOO good!

Have a great day!

Take care,

-Gennie

Summer Must Haves Swap!

So, this week my youngest brother, Chris, came into town to visit for a couple of days, so time has gotten away from me, and I failed to blog on Tuesday and link up for the summermusthaves swap post! But, I had the greatest swap partner, Leeann, and I LOVE the package she sent me, so I am doing this blog a couple of days late!!

Here is my AMAZING package!

Since looks alone from the picture don't even do it justice, this is in detail what it contained:

-An adorable three picture frame hanging decoration (sooo cute!)

-A long, cute necklace (my fav!) in my favorite color, purple, from Forever 21--so pretty!!

-A floral scent trio from Bath and Body - lotion, body wash, and body spray! Smells SOOO good!

-Yummy lip gloss!

-Pink nail polish!

-And the most adorable card :)

Thanks again, Leeann! I LOVE it all!!

If you haven't participated in a swap before, I definitely recommend it! Your daily list of blogs will sooner or later probably post a blog swap, and it is so much fun! I am hoping to organize one myself soon!

Hope you are having a blessed week and staying safe from the storms!

Take care,

-Gennie