Change

"It's not that some people have willpower and some don't. It's that some people are ready to change and others are not."

Dedicated, Hardworking, Motivated workers.

Now that things are dwindling down, and my days here are limited, I feel the need to express my appreciation for being able to serve with so many tremendous people.

There's something special about serving in the military, because not only do you get to do incredible things every single day, but you also get the opportunity to work with some pretty amazing people along the way.

I can honestly say the people I have had the privilege to serve with throughout these past couple of months have become family.

They're dedicated, hardworking, & motivated workers. They're the people I'm proud to say have my back. They're the people who practice integrity daily. They're the people that are vigilant both in/out of combat. They're the people I want to be standing next to while defending America's freedom.

These are the men & women I'm honored to serve with:

Going green

For the record, by no means am I a tree hugger, but I do admire people who do their part for something that's greater than themselves. It takes a special type of person to sacrifice (even if it's just setting their thermostat a few degrees lower in the winter) to do their part for the greater common good. People who take a stand for something & stick by it whole heartily gain all my respect. Yes, even if they do hug trees.

With that said...

I don't:

-Dry my clothes on drying rack or clothesline.

-Make my own cleaning supplies.

-Install compact fluorescent light bulbs.

-Buy organic food (only because I'm a poor college student, but I would like to grow my own garden someday)

But I DO:

-TRY to recycle.

-Turn off the lights when I leave the room.

-Car pool when I can.

-Shop online.

-Wash clothes in cold water whenever possible.

And Recently...

I decided to rent a bike here on base to ride to work everyday, because not only does it save on gas & help the environment, but it ALSO improves your health & decreases your risk of obesity by exercising on a daily basis.

Go green!

Contentment: Day 71

"And having food and raiment let us be therewith content"

1 Timothy 6:8

I have food.

I have clothes on my back.

&

a family back home that loves me.

I am content.

Note to self:

Never put chapstick on before walking outside into a sand storm. Your hair WILL stick to your mouth & cause you much discomfort.

I miss you, America

I would just like to point out that I will never again take for granted the fact that restrooms are (and should be) located in the same building you're living/working in. Walking to the bathroom across the street at 4 in the morning, because you feel like your bladder is going to explode is not really my idea of a good time.

I miss you, America.

No expectations = no disappointments

As the days go by here in the desert, I've learned that the only way to keep your chin up is if you have no expectations. It is a most liberating experience when you are able to live life with an attitude of no expectations. When you have expectations, you have preconceived ideas of how things should be that you are attached to. Expectation creates fear because you think what you desire may or may not happen. Free of expectations, you can just go with the flow of the universe and not be affected by the outcomes that you encounter...

I don't expect people to mail me, and when they don't, I'm not disappointed. I don't expect the food here to be good, and when my steak is dry, I'm not disappointed. I don't expect to get 6 hours of sleep at night, and when I only get 5, I'm not disappointed.

No expectations = no disappointments.

My little onion

"she's like an onion, you have to peel her back one layer at a time"

I love to mold her & act like she's my little experiment. I love learning what makes her laugh. I love how she has cute little dimples. I love the way she's passionate about reading & totally excepting of the fact that I won't read, but I'll see the movie with her. I love the way she's so humble, sweet & understanding. But what I really love the most is the fact that she's my little sister.

Daydreaming...

Don't settle for less

Ladies, don't ever settle for less in a love relationship. Don't worry about things that don't come naturally. If a man wants to be with you, nothing will keep him away, and if he doesn't want you, nothing can make him stay. Don't live your life waiting for a man before you find what truly makes you happy. Don't ever let a man define who you are. You should look for someone who compliments you, not completes you. A relationship consists of two whole individuals. God made you in his image and gave you a priceless value. If a man doesn't respect you, cherish you, speak life to you, then he doesn't deserve you. Be fully responsible for yourself and your own fulfillment and happiness. Make choices that are aligned with who you are and what you want in your life. Be someone worthy of the best. Don't cheapen yourself. Think that you deserve it - because you do.

I'm a strong believer in doing things that make you feel good about yourself. Always believe you are beautiful. Think beautiful and live beautiful. Walk on the street and feel beautiful. Hold your head up high, toss your hair, and take a deep breath. Understand that the most important part of beauty comes from within. Outer beauty fades through time, but inner beauty is what lasts throughout your whole life.

Things I would like to do when I return home:

1. Make a bonfire & eat tons of s'mores

2. Go fishing & catch something to bring back home for dinner

3. Buy a new cowgirl hat & go crazy at a country concert

4. Shop for a motorcycle

5. Plant a garden in front of my new apartment

6. Find a new apartment to plant my garden in front of

7. Enjoy a nice hot coffee from Tim Horton's

8. Go on a road trip to a place I've never been before

9. Complete the Air Force half marathon I'm signed up to run in September

10. Finish filling up my calendar with weddings to video tape for the year 2010!

We live by faith, not by sight.
-2 Corinthians 5:7

10k fun run

The Air Force is having a 10k fun run, and I've decided to participate in it.

My only hope is that this 10k fun run doesn't turn into a 10"k I'm going to pass out" run.

We shall see!

Just another day in paradise...

Thoughtful gestures

I always find that being kind to others not only feels good and benefits other people, but it tends to spread as those who receive an act of kindness often pay it forward.

Today I received an awesome care package from Cristine Viggiano. It had all sorts of goodies in it. Pringles, Sunkist gummies, water drink mix, gum, & yummy flavored lip gloss. First off, the guys went wild when they saw the pringles. I think they lasted for a whole 2 hours. Second, how did you know peach flavored drink mix is my favorite? That's all I've been living off of over here. And third, that nerd flavored lip gloss - I can not stop licking my lips. I'm afraid someones going to accuse me for sexual harassment because of it.


To top it off she wrote me the most hilarious letter I have ever read in my entire life. My favorite part was when she described to me how she introduced her 2 weeks old son to her crazy old neighbors by knocking on their door. "They are hard of hearing so Harold screams through the door 'Hold on, just a minute' then you hear him yell 'TERRY! someones at the door and I'm undressed!'"


Thank you for thinking of me, Cristine. I can't tell you how much I appreciate it. Getting mail is the only thing I look forward to these days. Keep an eye out for the letter I'm about to send you!


Yours truly,

York

Question of the day

Inventor: Christopher Wagner
What: Detachable bulletproof air conditioned vest
Purpose: To cool down overheated, sweaty soldiers like myself.
Question: To buy or not to buy?
Decision made by: My commander

Decision so far: Still pending

Love never fails by Brandon Heath

Brandon Heath is one of my favorite Christian singers. This song really hits home. If you get a chance, I recommend listening to it.

Love is not proud

Love does not boast

Love after all

Matters the most

Love does not run

Love does not hide

Love does not keep

Locked inside

Love is the river that flows through

Love never fails you

Love will sustain

Love will provide

Love will not cease

At the end of time

Love will protect

Love always hopes

Love still believes

When you don’t

Love is the arms that are holding you

Love never fails you

When my heart won’t make a sound

When I can’t turn back around

When the sky is falling down

Nothing is greater than this

Greater than this

Love is right here

Love is alive

Love is the way

The truth the life

Love is the river than flows through

Love is the arms that are holding you

Love is the place you will fly to

Love never fails you

Operation reflective belt

Where I am stationed, there are very few rules. One of them being you must wear a reflective belt at all times once the sun begins to set. Now for those of you that have driven on an Air Force Base before, you know that the speed limit is beyond slow. Unless you're walking at the speed of a snail, it's practically impossible to get hit by a vehicle. So why reflective belts are mandated to wear, I'm really not sure, but for the next 3 months this is what my life has become.

As if I didn't stand out like a sore thumb already (out of the 11,000 people here on base, only 1,000 of them are females) I just so happen to have a purple reflective belt. I brought it from home with the intention that anything to make me feel pretty while in uniform was worth bringing. Right? because let's be honest, between lip gloss, and reflective belts, that's all I really have going for me right now. Turns out you can find every color you could ever think of here in reflective belts EXCEPT for the color purple. Red, blue, yellow, green, white, orange, even pink, but no purple.

With all that said, since I've been here I've had multiple people make an effort to come up to me and ask if they could either buy or trade my reflective belt. To my humor, I decline every time.

So as if my pale, glow in the dark skin didn't cut it already, I'm thankful for my little purple reflective belt that has made me a lot of new friends since I've been here. I think it's safe to say that sometimes it's the little things in life that matter.

Yours truly,
York

Getting acquainted with my surroundings

Just cruising on a sunny day:

My roommate loading the airplane:

A bunch of the guys loading luggage:

Me & part of my squadron:

Proverbs 3:23-26

"Then shalt thou walk in thy way safely, and thy foot shall not stumble. When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid: yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet. Be not afraid of sudden fear, neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it cometh. For the LORD shall be thy confidence, and shall keep they foot from being taken"

Dear sandstorm

Dear sandstorm,


I do not like you.
You make my face burn,
You make my hands sweat.
You make my mouth dry.
And you sometimes even make me want to cry.


When your gusts try to crush me with the door as I'm getting into the truck,
I just try to brush it off and blame it on my bad luck.
But then when you whip me in the face with a trash can lid,
I can't help but get angry like a 7 year old kid.


Can you please leave me alone?
Can you bother someone else?
Because quite frankly,
I'm getting sick of all these welts.

Your enemy,

York

Free Cup 'O Joe

The heat here is insane, but it's really not all that bad when I close my eyes and pretend I'm on vacation. We hit the 100 degree mark just the other day, and the sand's so white that you practically can't open your eyes unless you have sunglasses on when you're outside.

I got to work with the airplanes for the past couple of days. I got to unload them, and hang around the flight line for a little bit. I had the chance to meet some pilots. They told me some of their flying experiences, and let me tell you, they're absolutely mind-blowing.

I live in a camper where my room is probably the same size of a closet. I share with one other person. Her name's Sabrina. Our bathroom is located outside the camper, where were only allowed to take 5 minute showers. They call them "battle" showers. The food here is pretty decent. It's no Buffalo chicken wings, but it'll do for now.

I work 6 days a week, 12 hours a day, with only one day off. Saturday is my day to kick back, and relax. Your todays, are my yesterdays, meaning I am 7 hours ahead.

I miss everyone dearly, and wish I were home, but if there's one thing I don't want to do while I'm here is be negative about this whole experience. So because of that, I'm learning daily how to pick out the little positive things about this place. For instance, every morning I have some stranger from around the world donate a "cup o' joe" from this website: http://www.greenbeanscoffee.com/coj/index.php to the Green Beans Coffee Shop (trailer) that happens to be right next to where I work. For that, I'm thankful.

All in all, God is good, and I am very blessed.

Yours truly,
York

Home is where the heart is

Next week I will be flying to a destination that I didn’t even know existed until a couple of months ago. Some say it’s nice, others disagree, but I say it’s whatever you make it out to be.

These days, more often than not, I find myself getting emotional when I hear the national anthem play before a baseball game starts, or when a Veteran thanks me for my service when God only knows how much he or she has seen and been through, but more recently, when I’m ordered to wear my dog tags at all times.

My nation is in a time of need, and I can truly say that I feel honored to be able to defend a country where freedom and liberty greatly abounds. Like FDR once said, “In the truest sense, freedom cannot be bestowed; it must be achieved”.

As I continue to blog throughout my time spent in the desert, I want to encourage you to notice life and all the beauty that’s in it. Notice the bumble bee, the small child, and the smiling faces. Smell the rain, and feel the wind. Take life one day at a time, and love every second. Do thoughtful things, and take spontaneous trips. Love with everything you have, and don’t be scared. Know how to truly receive God’s forgiveness when you make mistakes. Cherish your friendships. Never hold grudges, just move beyond them. Learn what your passion is, and write it down and figure out how you’re going to get there. Practice integrity. Don't worry about the things that don't come naturally, if it's meant to be, it will happen. Work very, very hard, but don’t forget to splurge on yourself because that’s why you work. And lastly, please don’t ever take your freedom for granted.

Buffalo, NY - you will ALWAYS hold my heart.

Yours truly,

York