91 Days and Counting...

In 91 days, 9 hours, 30 minutes and 00 seconds, Airman Brown will finish his last day at Sheppard AFB in Witchita Falls, TX. But who's counting?

During the past four-and-a-half months, Matt has successfully completed Basic Military Training at Lackland AFB (San Antonio, TX) and Technical School at Keesler AFB (Biloxi, MS.) As long as the classes stay on track, Matt will finish with Technical Training on Saturday, October 16 at Sheppard AFB.

Matt is doing really well with his classes and exams. Matt mentioned the weather in Texas is much better than Mississippi. According to Matt, Biloxi was incredibly hot and humid, to the point where he couldn't breathe most of the time. He said that Texas is still hot, but a dry heat.

As of Friday, July 16, Matt has 12 weeks left of Technical School. Hooray! I know it's three months away, but I am honestly getting excited. Here's to Airman Brown -- may you continue to excel during this last phase of your training and know that I am here cheering you on every step of the way!

Thankful For Amazing Friends

My high school senior year-book quote was, “Friendship – God’s special way of loving you through someone else.” At 17, I’m not sure if I completely knew the significance of what true friendship means; at this present date, I can honestly say I do.

To my undergrad and grad school friends, Sorority Sisters, and co-workers past and present: thank you so much for all your support during the past four-and-a-half months.

I can't say enough about the friends and colleagues who have been instrumental in getting me through the past four months while Matt has been away in Basic Training and Technical School.

I offer a humble thank you for your calls, e-mails, voice messages, cards, flowers, invites to social events and activities. I feel stronger as a result of the tremendous support group around me.

On to the kindness of others...Here is a beautiful bouquet of flowers sent by my sorority sisters Taryn and Tewks. They sent the flowers as a way to uplift my spirits, and the flowers absolutely did!

Karla, one of my co-workers invited my boss and I to a Cards game. It was a great escape from work for a few hours.

It's important for me to mention that I do not put myself in the same league with the Air Force wives and families with loved ones serving overseas or on deployment. Their lives are much more difficult than mine. I am simply a wife separated from her husband. Matt has been away in training for 18 weeks, and it will be another 13 weeks until he returns to STL.

Many thanks again to all my wonderful friends for helping me through this!

Independence Day – 2010 Fair St. Louis

A wonderful friend and sorority sister remarked that July 4th probably has a new meaning for me this year -- and she's correct. Matthew: thank you again for your service. I know you are working hard in Technical School, and I am so proud of you! Keep up the great work.

Independence Day allows us to support and appreciate those who gave their lives for our freedom, and continue to serve and protect it. July 4th is also a day of fun with family and friends, festivities, and of course fireworks.

Fair St. Louis noted it’s 30th anniversary this year, and took place downtown St. Louis during 4th of July weekend. Saturday morning funfair began with a parade through Market Street. The theme, A Night at the Movies, depicted some interesting floats.

Okay, I have to be honest, the above pics are not mine. I "copied" them from the STL Fair website. My camera pics are below, as you can see, not as well photographed.

After the parade, I made my way to the Arch grounds and joined the hundreds of on-lookers for the Air Show. I am still getting used to the "preferred beverage of choice" here in STL... there were Budweiser beer tents everywhere!

Yep, the above are the pro pics... and now for mine.

Onto Sunday’s festivities, where I joined a co-worker at her family’s house for a traditional cookout and an awesome fireworks show at dusk.

Matt had a great holiday weekend too; celebrating beach style on the Gulf, enjoying BBQ foods and watching fireworks. Even though we celebrated this day more than 800 miles apart, it still felt like we were together while seeing fireworks in our home states.