Back to Blogging - Last One

June seemed liked such a short month for us! I was working a lot so that my co-workers could take vacations. My job is definitely a blessing, but working full time for a few weeks was stressful - especially since Joel had so much free time! He was actually getting bored because he didn't have any responsibilities.

On June 12th, we celebrated our two year anniversary. It feels like we have come such a long way together, but still have so far to go! Sometimes the daily work and sacrifice of investing in our marriage is exhausting, but we know it's sanctifying - and it's worth it!

July is following in June's footsteps by flying by! We had a fun Independence Day, and were able to have several of Joel's pilot training classmates over for some BBQ. We also had the opportunity to go to Maxwell, AFB in Montgomery, AL to visit a good friend of Joel's who was doing some training there. (It was his friend Matt from Maryland, who commissioned him two years ago.) We had a nice, uneventful weekend, which has built up our trip-taking confidence a little bit. So, we are actually planning a trip to Biloxi/Gulfport for a beach weekend together before Joel leaves for SERE. We're praying for good weather and no catastrophes, since our last "vacation" was the Murphy's Law Memorial Day trip to Pensacola last year.

On July 2, Joel started taking two 8-week online master's classes through American Military University. He has been working hard, but NOT enjoying getting back into the academic world. His birthday was the 17th, and I decided to do birthday week for him this year, since he always does it for me. (He said I only did birthday week as a lesson for him - you know, "do unto others as you would have them do unto you!") I really enjoyed surprising him with a little present everyday, including his first-ever purple shirt and tickets to the Dark Knight Rises (which was really good!).

Yesterday, Joel was officially promoted to First Lieutenant! It's pretty much an automatic promotion after two years of service, but it's a nice little pay raise, and I'm proud of him! We have lots of big events coming up, so hopefully I will be a faithful blogger. Joel and I are a one computer family right now, and with all of his master's homework, it's difficult for me to get computer time to blog! (Sadly, Joel's pink Dell died about a month ago. He isn't exactly loving getting used to my Mac, either.) So stay tuned - there's lots going on in the Loftus' lives! :)