Flori-bama

Sometimes I forget that we live in Florida, because it doesn't always look or feel like it. Pensacola is a far cry from Orlando or Miami, and we're reminded constantly that even though we're in Florida, we're basically Alabama. But lately, the weather here has reminded me that we are, indeed, in Florida. It has been absolutely dreamy, like - leave the patio door open all day, dreamy. I'm loving how our electric bill is going to look already. I'm going for longer and more leisurely walks and embracing the fact I can wear jeans or shorts, whatever I feel like. I'm so satisfied with the fact that we've had thunderstorms lately- they feel like home.

Since I've written, life has been good. It's been comfortable. It's been peaceful. I've felt spoiled. But, it's also been hard. For some reason, my energy and motivation have just been pulled from my body and every day I have to focus harder on my attitude. So, I'm sorry that I haven't written much, but I'm trying to get my balance back. I've been flipping through my 50 Promises memory verse cards (designed by my inspiring friend, Summer). They have reminded me over and over again where true joy and security is found and helped redirect me to a better attitude.

After three cancelled flights, Keagan finally (literally two minutes ago) finished his first flight at IFS! Oh, man. He isn't even home yet, but I'm excited to hopefully see him excited. We have been waiting awhile for this. He has passed through the drudgery of the "book" portion of IFS and now has 15 hours of flight to complete. Then, hopefully they'll be able to have him start Stage 2 of 3 here in Pensacola: API. Oh, and he made us the most delicious meal on Valentine's Day. I would take that over chocolates and flowers any day.

Volunteering has been going so well. I really appreciate the people that I work with and found an unexpected friend. It's so nice to work with people who have gone through the military life and can offer advice and encouragement. I'm really appreciating this opportunity and hope that it will help me gain good experience for the daunting job search.

The last couple days of February and dwindling down and I can't believe it. We've been here almost three months and the time is going so much faster than it did for us in Virginia.

To all of my friends and family back home - stay warm...or come visit. :)

Writing in Order to Function.

There are times where I simply can't function properly until I sit down and write. And a lot of the times, it's not even anything important, or the tiniest bit interesting. So, most of the time I don't publish the nonsense that passes from my brain, to the tips of my fingertips, typing away at my little black laptop. But somehow, it feels good to write. Just to get thoughts from point A to point B. Just recording a little bit of normalcy onto a blank slate.

I don't know why; I just do it, because once I do it, then I can move on to sorting the papers piling up in the office, mailing our tax forms, working on my classes, and vacuuming the rugs. Note: I cannot spell vacuum right...like ever.

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I'm almost always cold. Even when our apartment is 72°, without the heat on, or the air conditioning on. I'm still cold. So, on go the cheetah print slippers and the blue fuzzy robe.

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I went to get groceries today. I tend to put off this task, until I can't anymore. Then, the day that I have to go is of course the drizzliest, grayest, coldest, grossest, day. It really never fails. It may seem strange (and a little bit invasive), but I love looking at what other people put in their shopping carts. Something about seeing the food items they select, gives me a little inspiration. I try to guess what they're making that week. I try to guess if they have kids at home or not. I get ideas for what I should make next week. I see an item I sort of forgot existed, and then I get really excited about Zucchini again.

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Ah, now that I've jotted a few thoughts down, I feel like I can vacuum. (I spelled it right the first time, this time). See, not important. Not the tiniest bit interesting. But it's done.

Just dropping in

A week and a half ago, Pensacola had an ice-storm. Well, it was basically just ice, but in a city that's not built for or prepared for ice...everything shut down. The schools had closed for two days before the temperatures even dropped into the 40's and there was only a chance of ice. It was strange looking out the windows and seeing cars covered in ice. No one had scrapers to clean their windshields, the city didn't have trucks to salt the roadways, all of the bridges were shut down (even when the temperature was back to 50° and the sun was shining), and no one went to work. No one. The power went out in parts of town. We went outside, scraped the car off like pros, and tried to run errands. However, we were stopped when we came to a tiny little bridge that the police were blocking off. So, we went home and enjoyed our "ice day." Florida is a funny place to live.

Because of the ice-storm, Keagan started IFS on Friday the 31st, instead of Wednesday. Rather, he got to help me take care of 3 kids and 2 dogs for 3.5 days. Yep, we got to play "Mom" and "Dad" for awhile, while our friends took an anniversary trip to Tampa. Let me tell you, the pace we're used to was thrown out the window, but it wasn't so bad. We had fun stepping back to the land of fairy tales, dress-up, "hot lava", and more.

This past week, started out with Keagan reporting every day (and taking a few tests), and me interviewing and attending orientation for a new volunteer opportunity. We're both excited to move on to our new schedules, but are still enjoying the amount of "free-time" we get to spend together. The studying isn't so bad for Keagan yet, so I'm enjoying that while it lasts.

Other than that, things are pretty casual here. I've been looking for nice walking trails, and trying to train my dog not to throw all her good habits out the door as soon as we cross paths with someone else. (tips???) Keagan is trying to be as patient as possible while waiting to hop in a plane and fly. We're both watching bits and pieces of the Olympics and I was able to identify one of the skier's Minnesota accents and felt like a total dork.

Life's good here in Florida. It really is. We can't believe that a year ago we were still living in Iowa, not knowing when Keagan's career would start. So much has happened since then, and now, we're enjoying every second and every stage.

Booking it

I have never been more excited about reading than I am lately. I've been able to allowed myself to sit down and read more than ever before, and a generous addition to my book collection over Christmas has sparked the excitement even more. Combine that with hearing about books on the radio, combing through a new library, and accepting my Mom's English-teachery suggestions (she's either going to love or hate that I made that description up), I had to create an Up Next list for books. I've never imagined myself doing a book review post, but I've read so many good ones lately that I hope to pass on the excitement! Here's a quick peek at what I've been reading lately. Please grab one of them and curl up on your couch with a blanket and some tea. I know you're cold- this will warm you up.

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Shepherd's Abiding - Jan Karon I picked this gem up at the library the morning before Keagan and I hit the road for a 20-hour drive to Iowa. Although I didn't get around to reading the book on the way up, I started it during our vacation and finished it shortly after we got home. I've read Jan Karon's Mitford series before, and love the characters she's so gently placed into her fictional small town. Somehow, I always passed over this book, but decided to give it a go in the spirit of Christmas. If you've ever read a Mitford book, this does not disappoint. Every book is like going back to visit your hometown and reconnecting with the stories of those around you in the most delightful way. Karon's fiction is always an easy, delightful read, but also helps to challenge and inspire a faith-filled life of ministering to others while also pursuing balance in our own lives.

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Light From Heaven - Jan Karon Light from Heaven was another Mitford book I had missed. I also picked this one up before our long trip, and read it in a hurry before it's due date at the library. I'm glad I had missed this one, because it was so exciting to enjoy further tales of Father Tim and Cynthia that I didn't know existed! What an indulging read. Karon shifts away from Mitford a bit, as Father Tim and Cynthia take on a new adventure at Meadowgate Farm and beyond. Many of the favorite Mitford characters are present, but Karon also introduces us to a whole new crew of people I desperately wish were real. Of course, she can't resist throwing in a surprise here and there, and the last page will have you in tears. If you haven't read #9 of the Mitford series, please do. If you haven't read any book of the Mitford series, get to your library ASAP.

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The House of the Scorpion - Nancy Farmer When I told my brother-in-law that I wanted a book with his stamp of approval for Christmas, he gifted me this. This book is not a normal Hannah book. It's a little more sci-fi than I usually enjoy, and when I opened it I went in with the expectation that I was going to put it away after a couple chapters. However, I was proven wrong. Farmer's story-telling was simple, yet intriguing and I read it in less than a week. The main character, Matt, journeys through different levels of self-awareness, societal acceptance, safety, friendship, trust, and moral dilemmas. This journey is intertwined with his growing awareness of the dysfunctional family he is surrounded by, and later, a society completely new to him. If you're looking for something a little different than your normal reading, check it out.  It's technically Young Adult Fiction, but I feel that it will appeal to any reader older than that. I may have ordered the sequel the night I finished reading it... Thanks Wyatt for the suggestion and helping me to enjoy something that I normally wouldn't give a chance!

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Love & War - Mary Matalin and James Carville This book is proof that my interests are expanding thanks to my very politically-minded husband. As we were listening to NPR one day (yes, we do that now), Mary Matalin was a guest on one of their shows. I immediately loved her. She was sarcastic, honest, and had the same kind of humor that I've always loved (the kind that runs rampant on the Hansen side of the family). She mentioned a book that she recently wrote with her husband, and I had to get it from the library right away. To be honest, the book was not as sarcastically funny as I expected, but I loved it just as well. Reading a memoir was a good change of style for me, although I didn't read it as fast as I generally read other books. Oh, man, was it good though. Mary's strong Republican background and beliefs are so strikingly paired with her husband James' strong Liberal beliefs. It's a good eye-opener to each side of the story and reading about their unlikely successful marriage was refreshing. This book is a great insight on the political life of Washington, D.C., and after living in the area, I found it even more compelling than I probably would have in the past. Even though it kept me up way too late, I couldn't put down the book until I finished the section on 9/11. Mary was working for VP Cheney in the White House at the time, and her recollection of that day and the days to follow made an event that my 10-year-old self didn't really understand so much more real. If you're looking for an honest, insightful, and entertaining read...go for this one. There's so much diversity- from politics, to marriage, to parenting, to later life in Louisiana. James and Mary tell a great story.

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Unbroken- Laura Hillenbrand So, I'm cheating a little bit because I read this one in June, but I still can't stop thinking about it and strongly suggest you get to it before it comes out as a movie this December. Do yourself a favor and read it. Now. I read it after seeing many good comments about it. After I read it, I told at least 8 people to read it and they all loved it. So don't wait. Get to it. I might just have to read it again.








Up Next:

The Book Thief - Markus Zusak
Tuesdays with Morrie - Mitch Albom
Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail - Cheryl Strayed
The Eliot Family Trilogy - Elizabeth Goudge
In the Company of Others - Jan Karon
The Lord of Opium - Nancy Farmer

I just realized I have 6 more books I want to add to this, but to avoid crazy book lady status, I'm not going to. Please give me grace and pretend you didn't read this sentence.

The Turquoise Dresser

So let's talk about that turquoise dresser sitting in the corner. It's really nothing special. It's old, very simple, and the drawers don't quite operate properly. But once upon a time, it called a farmhouse in Storden, MN home- the house that my mother grew up in. It eventually made it's way to our house in Jackson and later to Mountain Lake. Somehow, it ended up in my hands. At first, I tucked it away in my closet as extra storage. It sat in my closet, full of papers and stray ankle and knee braces, notebooks, and all sorts of other weird stuff. Then, the dresser made it to my first apartment in Mankato. It safely held my clothes for a year, and then made it's first move out of state, when Keagan and I moved into a farmhouse in Paullina, IA. It's first military relocation brought it to Stafford, VA, where it brightened up yet another room of white walls. Then, to Pensacola, FL it went. It sat for awhile, looking kind of awkward.

We had talked about the dresser for awhile- getting it fixed up and repainted, but the nostalgic part of me wouldn't quite let go. Honestly, I liked the odd turquoise color (despite it's many chips and scratches). It was unique. Looking at the dresser and remembering where it had been was a strange sort of comfort- it's really the only physical thing that's been everywhere I have been. I liked that it used to belong to my mother. I liked how in so many white-walled rooms, it added an interesting bit of color. Anyways, I'll move on from the boring backstory now. Point is. It's a dresser. It's kind of special to me, and we decided to paint it.

Early this week, thanks to another delay in Keagan's training and my classes, we decided to finally tackle a couple of projects we've been putting off. We made the guest bathroom an acceptable place and started to work on our bedroom. We picked out a comforter, curtains, and a couple of big mirrors that were on sale (yay!!). And then, we picked up some paint. You see, as much as the turquoise colored dresser was unique...it really needed help.

We made a game plan and got to work. First, we stripped the paint. It was messy, and took a couple of coats, but worked pretty well.

Then, after sanding out the imperfections as well as we could, we used a spray primer to get it ready for painting. (Later, we realized that priming the entire dresser was totally not necessary. The drawers were all that really needed it).

Then, we got to the fun part. I went to work painting the outside of the dresser, while Keagan sat to do the math for the drawers. It was all fun and games, until we realized that our chocolate-brown was really not anything close to chocolate brown and prompted us to come up with some less-than-nice names for the paint color...

But life goes on, and we picked up a new, darker paint color that looked way more like perfectly-rich-and-delicious-chocolate and less like pond-scum-booger-slime-greenish-brown.

Keagan, the brains of this project, taped up the drawers and we painted the blocks. We found out that peeling the painting tape off while the paint is still wet is the way to go. Our lines were way more perfect than we expected them to be. After letting layer two of the paint dry, we added the new handles.

And then it was done! It was so fun to work on this project together. We were both itching to work on something, anything. Having a lot of free time is great, for awhile, but we are definitely at the point where we needed something to help us feel accomplished. We're loving the new look. And even though it's not a unique turquoise, I love that it's still the same dresser, still has the same history, and is now evidence of a project we worked on together.

Photobooking Virginia

One of the things that I'm slowly learning about military life is how to embrace each spot that we are placed,but also how to let go of it in a positive way when it is time to move on. I'm not great at documenting life. Scrapbooking was never really my thing, I don't print out pictures like I used to, my journaling is sporadic, and I tend to get overwhelmed trying to keep up with documentation. In the past, when I've tried to organize memories, they just end up as half-finished projects sitting in boxes.

One thing I decided I must document, though, is each home that we live in. I know that through the course of Keagan's military career (and maybe even after that), we will live in many homes. I want to remember each place for what it is- a place for memories, growth, and life. I decided that the easiest and most efficient way for me to do this would be to create a small photobook of each house. Throughout the time that we live in each place, my goal is to take pictures of every room, the scenery of the neighborhood, places we visit, and everyday moments. I try to capture pictures of what made each place feel like home to us. Then, after we move I force myself to sit down for however long it takes, and put them into book form.

 I'm kind of bad at it. I've realized that I am way too picky when it comes to designing photobooks. It's hard for me to narrow down pictures to only the ones with the most meaning. It's hard for me to arrange them in a layout and order exactly how I want them without spending an insane amount of time on the project. It drives me crazy, for almost a full day, but then it's done.

So far, I've been so happy with the two books I have made. I love flipping through them and remembering the beauty of each place. I'm excited that someday if we have kids, they'll be able to open the books and know about each place that we've been. I feel that where we've been and what we've done is something to celebrate and cherish, so I'm glad that I have these reminders of our life in each place.

For both of our books so far, I've used Shutterfly's 8 x 8 hardcover book. I decided that I'd always go with whatever site offered the best coupon or deal at the time, and so far it's been Shutterfly both times. Now that I'm used to their system, I might stick with them. Plus, I kind of like the uniformity of the books. Shutterfly's photobook system is pretty easy to work with, once you figure out it's kinks. I've gone the custom route (because I'm picky, remember) both times, but using the Autofill feature would work great too, I'm sure! I probably spent a full day on each book, but to me, it's worth it.

This time around, I altered things a little bit. Instead of just including pictures of our house/yard, like I did in Iowa, I included a cover page with "key phrases"- events that happened/memories while we were in Virginia. I also added a couple pages of pictures of "life" in the back. Since I've accepted the fact that I probably won't get around to documenting our lives in a bigger way, I figured a couple extra pages of pictures (even if they aren't related to our house or apartment) would be worth it.

 Check out a digital version of our Virginia book below!
If you're interested, here's a link to our Iowa book.

Click here to view this photo book larger

The new way to make a photo album: photo books by Shutterfly.

So far in Florida...

It's not as sunny as we expected. We've had a lot of rain and a couple of thunderstorms.

I'm amazed at how much sand gets trampled into our apartment.

We're laughing at how often we get teased for how we dress. Apparently 60° is not as warm as we think it is back home.

Keagan has not started Introductory Flight School yet (thanks to some miscommunication...of course). His start date is unknown.

Keagan has consequently been playing a lot of Halo. :)

We found a big Baptist church to attend.

We're slowly picking up Alabama accents thanks to the radio...

I'm spending a lot of time talking to customer service representatives. I think working as one last year makes it harder for me to sit through some of their antics..

We're laughing at the absolutely hideous military-issued glasses that Keagan is lucky enough to wear and realizing how expensive glasses really are (neither of us have had glasses before).

I'm trying to find a good recipe with churizo. Two have been disappointing so far.

We're fighting over the leftover guacamole.

I'm loving having extra time to read (for fun!) while waiting for my next class' book to come in the mail.

We're watching Parks & Rec, Modern Family, The Middle, and How I Met Your Mother. (I've never watched this much TV before!)

I'm trying to remind myself that having to paint everything back to white in a year or so is a very good reason not to paint the entire apartment...

I'm trying not to give up on the 1000 piece puzzle in the corner of our living room.

We're enjoying a year without a winter, although we might miss it eventually.

We're content with where we're at and making the most of the phase we're in.