We made it!!

Good Morning all..today is the last day of our first 2 week on campus block for PA School, and let me tell you..our brains are jam packed full of bits and hours of knowledge that they keep telling us will sort itself out and in a year or so we will look back and laugh at how overwelmed we felt within these 2 weeks???? My thoughts on that is I am not holding my breath..but maintaining (or at the minimum trying really hard to) a positve attitude and praying for the best and that they indeed are correct. I have experienced plenty of moments during this time in Rheine where I have began to panic..esp in the course times where we are quote unquote reveiwing Chemistry as I have never before seen it..but patience, perserverance,  lack of sleep..along with lots of support from the poor people in our lives that are going to have to live with us through this time period..and the support systems we will build with our classmates will get us through..I have decided though, that as far as all of the travel that I get to do and all of the extras that go with my position in the USAR are going to pretty much have to come to a halt..I need to start spending more time in one place and not living out of a suitcase every month..it is all very interesting and I get to meet lots of people and even have some fun but in the long run it will put more stress on my plate than I need within the next few years..on another note though..we continue to play the waiting game to see if my nursing education and years of experience will be recognized here in Deutschland..and if not the situation and choices and goals that I have set will take on a entirely new aspect..but as always..praying and hoping that will also work out and they say 'of course you can be a nurse in your new country'!!
I must say though..I have come to enjoy Rheine, it is a great place to put on your running shoes and explore ..the houses surrounding the hospital are absolutely gorgeous and with the weather starting to change I am looking forward to being here when the days are longer as the city is built around the Ems river and I look forward to going running there..as always there are tons of dogs out walking their owners on most days..makes me wish that I could bring our 2 with me..or at the very least our sweet Marli cat who has been reportedly terrorizing the guys at home since I have been gone..Matthias reminds me gently almost everyday that we talk that he is ready for me to be home so that the critters will be back to normal..I cannot help it that they are super spoiled! :D As far as dalton..he is I am sure getting ready in his mind to get on a plane and start his new chapter in life as soldier..don't tell anyone but the tears have already started on his mom's side..not that I am sad but just so proud..and as he is the last to be leaving home it is a new emotional experience for me..esp since we live so far from where he will be..and the same goes for Trevor..it is not like they can come home every weekend to eat or bring their laundry for me to wash..I have finally found a rhythm here in Deutschland but being able to be there for the little things sometimes makes me a little on the sad side..not so much being as people say.. 'homesick' but another feeling that I cannot really put my finger on. But, as we say in the South..I have made my bed and now I have to lie in it...not in a bad way, but my opinions there are always consequences that come with the decisions we make in our lives and for me..no longer living in the states close to my family is one of the consequences of my decision to marry Matthias and move to Deutschland..and I must say..that was one of the best decisions I have ever made..So..time to organize for the day..empty the room of my belongings and get ready for 8 hours of learning fun...Have a great friday!

Less than 24 hours at home...

Guten Morgen all..this morning I find myself at home..in between the first 2 weeks of PA school and what have I found myself doing you ask??...Well, yesterday evene ing after unloading a few things from the car I washed a load of clothes, made an extremely simple dinner..aka..out of the can and freezer..organized all of the papers I had accumulated over the past week, tried out the new printer Matthias bought me to take to school with me, played with the baby dogs and wild cat and fell into bed..Marli in true Marli fashion was wide awake before 0500 this morning so that means I was too..real coffee..Yum!!, fed the critters, ironed clothes, started another load of laundry, organized a few new clothes to take back to school with me this afternoon, checked emails for the first time in a week without having to be in another building, and now here I sit ..finally..able to blog and connect with all of you again. So, what have I learned in less than 24 hours?? That no matter what, when you are married and the female part of that marriage it does not matter what your life includes, when you are home the caring and housework that was temporary assumed by others will automatically fall back into your hands in the very second you walk throught the front door. And secondly, I have learned that even though the first lesson in life..see previous sentence is a bit on the annoying side..that I am indeed married to a very supportive and generous man..I say this not only due to the fact that he has adapted to this crazy lifestyle we have.. but because in this journey to become a PA in Deutschland he provides whatever I need to be successful..for example over the past week I learned that we have no WiFi in our living quarters at MHR, the library is only open M-F until 1800, that we are not going to be using books but power point presentations to learn from..and we will have hundreds of hours of self study every semester..the majority of which will include online searches for papers, etc. in learning all of this a list was formulated..printer, WiFi stick, textbooks, printer paper..and when I arrived home yesterday all was here except for the texkbooks that he had ordered from Amazon..overnight shipping?? more like a couple of days..but..the moral of the story is I am very blessed! Now, if I could only load the treadmill into the car :D. the sun is coming up, it looks like it will be a gorgeous day. Be happy, hug those you love, and count your blessings..sometimes we get caught up in our stessors that we forget there are others out there who would love to have our 'problems'. 
Fluffy

Okay..where to begin???

Fluffy readers..first let my apologize for the lack of communication..the busy days are really getting in the way of my computer time!! Wanted to share some pictures with you all of Dalon's first going away dinner (cake and a small portion from the table decorations) and him opening the super cool Basic Training Survival Kit that he received for his Uncle Alex. He flys in about 3 weeks..I am sure not soon enough for him but too soon for me. This morning saw the first day of PA school for me, all is 100% auf Deutsch, I am fighting a growing feeling of panic that I am going to have a hard time with this program..not for the learning part..as goodness knows I am a total closet geek and would study forever if I could but that I am going to be so lost with the language difference. But, as this..to be a PA has been a goal of mine for awhile it is time to put on the big girl panties and do whatever it takes, not only to succeed but to excel in this program..I am however, coming to the realization that most of my other activites are going to have to come to a screaching halt for oh..about 3 years!!

I am living on campus for the third of each semester that we are required to be in the classroom setting, now I must say..what for a strange feeling moving stuff into a dorm room for the first time since I was what..19 years old?? Thank goodness I have an awesome husband who understands and accepts what makes me tick..learning, being busy, and doing everything a bit over the top!! We will be married for 3 years on Wednsday..I will be at school but his gift is already purchased..now just to set a later date for a nice date night to celebrate. Below are pics of the school, the dorms (not really as they also have offices in the building, but kind of..), my room with 3 loads worth of my stuff, and the hospital on what grounds the college is built. Pretty cool. Anyway, I am hungry, it is almost 6pm , and I need to refocus on PA stuff for the next couple of hours..have a blessed Monday and next couple of days!! Bis dann.

Spring..is it here to stay??

Good Morning to everyone, we have been enjoying the most wonderful weather here..blue skies and actually warm temps..Sunday was unbelievable. We worked outside all day and I wore a tshirt, shorts, and flip flops..granted there were no fewer than 3 wrecks due to drivers being blinded by my way beyond white legs..so kidding here but I prior to moving to Deutschland I had not, not had tan lines since I cannot remember when. Now I am just plain white all over. Not so attractive. At anyrate, had a doctors appt yesterday and was able to ride my bike, fabulous. Dentist appt today, and a couple more errands to run..plan on doing the same..it is a bit chilly right now but should warm up to about 16 grad. So, started my day with ONLY 2 cups of strong black coffee, ate some super healthy cereal..all natural..NO flavorings or preservatives, with almond milk..took my vitamins and am drinking a small glass of juice..will head out with the pups once the sun is out. have been noting a decrease in my energy level lately, am trying hard to break all of my bad habits..ie.. not eating breakfast, snacking after dinner, drinking so much coffee..plus seeing more bruising from a decrease of iron in my diet..got a prescription from the doc yesterday for a plant based iron supplement..will see if that helps.When I am at home it is supper easy to eat well, but being on the road and so busy I know that I really need to be careful and moniter myself with getting what my body needs to function correctly while eating Vegan. 
So, less than a week until PA school starts, less than a month before Dalton leaves for Basic Training..things are moving at the speed of light or should I say life?? Critters are fed and sleeping once more this morning..the cat queen Marli was up at 0430 wanting her breakfast..sometimes I think with all of her demands she is more like a small child than a pet..but with all of her antics she keeps us laughing..hard to be annoyed at her for long! Okay, will get some organization done while all is quiet here..I wish you all a blessed day!  

What a great Week!!

 Well, as a lot of you who read Fluffy know..as we are also friends on facebook..I became the proud Mama Bear of a brand new soldier this week.our youngest joined the Army..Active Duty and I was lucky enough to perform the swearing in ceremony (into the Reserves, as he will be sworn in again to AD right before he leaves for Basic Training). He will become a Combat Medic..2 points that follow mom..in the Army and in the medical field..have I mentioned we are proud?? The 2 gentlemen are 2 of the recruiters that worked to make all of this come together in a timely fashion, as our distance from the recruiting station is a little more than a minute!! He will be leaving the first part of April..soon, I know but he is ready.

Will celebrate his 19th birthday in the mist of his Army family, not a bad way to turn 19. I am now struggling to ward off the guilt that I will be gone for 3 of the 4 weeks that he has left at home, 2 weeks to start PA school and then a week of Annual Training with my unit..I am pretty sure it is no big deal to himbut all of you Moms out there know what I am talking about!! What is super is his dad has arranged to take time off work to be there with us for his final prep days before he leaves, we ..as you all know lead a crazy life and I am always thrilled when we can function together as a family unit..just wish his older brother could be here too, a lot of experiences come and go where I always think that it is a shame he lives so far away..however,  I must say..they are both adults and I cannot keep them in the nest under my wing..but as 1 is in school and 1 in the Military I have no complaints..So, time to pack it up and head home this morning..Happy about that..Bis Dann!!

Pain from not working out??

Guten Morgen all..as you know I am attending a week long class and before that spent 4 days working..did have some free time on Sunday and got a good workout in along with some fresh air due to fact that I was not behind my desk during hours when the sky was not dark..at any rate, am here to say that the effects of not working out like I usually do is really affecting my body, I hurt all over,  usually even on my super busy days at home I make time to at the very minimum take the dogs for a walk and because my husband is awesome an purchased a treadmill for my birthday I am able to run long before the sun comes out..I have to tell you, as a female with some what I hope is at least some common sense I just do not feel comfortable running outdoors when it is dark, alone. Paranoid, maybe some would call it that but it is outside of my comfort zone and I choose not to do it..who would harass my kids if something happened?? ;D
I am however, making a real effort to stay hydrated..due to the fact that being inside all of the time is a killer with the dry heat, not to mention it keeps the insides functioning even though a good long walk helps also..
So, day 2 of my course, found out yesterday that we will be presenting on Thursday, my number 1 phobia..speaking in front of people..why why why do various institutions believe that everyone needs to be able to stand up in front of a large group of people to be worth something?? Me, myself, and I are PERFECTLY happy and very content to be behind the scenes..but whatever, this too shall pass and who cares if I look like a goober for a few minutes..it will be humbeling !! Okay, time to go and get this day started..be blessed and share a hug with someone..it will make both of your days a little brighter!!

Good Morning..What a way to start the day!!

Guten Morgen liebe Leute!! It is a wonderful Sunday morning here, the air is crisp, the sun is playing peek a boo behind the clouds but at least it is not raining. I managed to have a half of a day free and am using it to full advantage by starting the day outside for some exercise and then to eat a super healthy breakfast of cereal, fresh fruit salad and yogurt..of course it is Vegan..and quite tasty I might add. Journaled and talked to God..am in a super duper good mood as a result of all, just goes to show what taking care of yourself spritually, mentally, and physically can do..now to figure out how to start everyday like this ..esp on the really busy days where I feel like I do not have time to take a deep breath in..on those days I espescially need to feel like this. Am missing being home but the next week will be filled with busy days for both myself and my son so I am betting that the days go by really fast. Not to mention that my poor husband is probably enjoying the break and a quiet house!! So, we have yet to have made it to go shoe shopping..tennis shoes mind you for spring and summer outdoor running..maybe we will accomplish that task today. So, wishing you all a wonderful Sunday..spend time with those and doing what makes you happy...I will save part of that for next week when we are home again!!