Thursday, June 20, 2024

Tradition of Honor

    Now that we are all caught up for the past few years, we are back on schedule for some military family updates! I WISH I had been better at jotting things down as they came but I only have a few things that probably won't make a whole lot of sense. I guess I just thought that military life would be something other than what it was and that's why I didn't write down everything. Another possibility could be that I didn't understand everything that WAS happening so I wasn't sure how to write out a blog post about it. We'll see if that gets better with time I guess. 

    On June 13th, 2021 we arrived at Beale AFB in Northern California which I wrote about here. On June 25th 2021 we moved into our house on base and by June 25th 2024 we will have lived here for exactly three years. When I began writing and compiling this blog post June 25th seemed like months away. Now that I'm finishing it up it's only five days away. 

 Within these past three years we have (and not just collective 'we' but individually),

  • Bonded as a family as we had a house filled with nothing, awaiting our things to be delivered to us. We also were able to bond because we were all we had at the time.
  • Training for daily work in the SCOI shop to help the entire base with networking or communication device issues. 
  • Applied to the BTZ program for the opportunity to be promoted to Senior Airman six months early. The whole process included offering a bullets package (like a resume with points of interest revolving around any accomplishments or work you've done within the military). Following the submissions of the package there were two mock board interviews and then a finally one with the Wing. The wing is the highest level of the base with a committee of chief master sergeants. Unfortunately Da Beast did not get the early promotion.  
"June 21st- Dax: You know the BTZ program where I could become a SrA early? Well TSgt Irwin said my BTZ package isn’t that strong however the Chief is putting me up for it and I found out at about 8 that I was suppose to be in blues for a mock review board. It was me and one other person who was told about it yesterday and was in blues.

We did a crash course on how it all works and then did a dry run on the actual board. Luckily I didn’t go first because I took notes on his feedback.

It was then my turn and I tried really hard to immediately apply my notes and in the feedback they all noted that I did that.

So now either Wednesday or Thursday we’re going to practice again and on Friday I could be going to the Wing for the actual board.

June 22nd- Dax: It’s been confirmed, I am going to the Wing for BTZ on Friday. I have a second mock board tomorrow which is when I need to be in full blues.

June 28th- Dax: I found out that I did not get BTZ. Irwin said that whenever I’m ready we can have a conversation to start pushing my preparations to promote to SrA which is automatic but should still be prepared for. Everyone says it’s the best rank but there are plenty of responsibilities that come with it. "
  • Got promoted to Senior Airman and we all got to be apart of the ceremony! The kids even had the opportunity to pin their dad with his new rank! 
  • Da Beast got to be apart of a retirement farewell for a Senior Master Sargent. He folded a flag and was able to present it to the SMSgt and thank him for his twenty-three years of service!  
  • Been able to have plenty of leave to travel to family events like family reunions, birthdays, holidays, and weddings! We have also been able to travel to Oregon and Washington and see National Parks for free with the military 'America the Beautiful' pass they offer. 
  • Had plenty of family visit US as well! We LOVED being able to show everyone some of our favorite places here like the new Feather River temple in Yuba, CA; a bee themed shop in Auburn; Grassvalley and Empire State Mine; Bishops Pumpkin Farm in Wheatland, CA; exploring Sanfranscio for my thirtieth birthday; Sacramento Capital Building and Lincoln, CA. 
  • A Few of our OTHER favorite places we have explored more locally is Terrnero Olive Orchard in Lincoln, CA where we held a homeschool co-op; The Historic Bridgeport Covered Bridge over the Yuba River in Pennvalley CA that we went for a rainy mothers day picnic; Beale Falls Hike in Grassvalley; Coloma Pioneer History Day that we did the first year we were here; Oroville Dam Train Tunnel Hike that we did for a Primary activity; Galleria mall in Roseville for movies and a birthday party for a neighbor 
  • A few of our favorite places we have eaten at is the Happy Viking in Yuba, CA; The Enchanted Forest Dining Experience in Placerville, CA; Old Town Pizza in Lincoln, CA; Mr. Pickles in Lincoln, CA; Blue House Korean BBQ in Roseville, CA where a robot cat delivered us our meats to grill ourselves; and the Bambu Garden in Roseville, CA which is the first place we ate at when we arrived here and were house hunting. We have discovered that California is generally the place to go for really good Oriental flavors just like Arizona is the place you go for Hispanic flavors. We haven't so far had any good Mexican food while here. 
  • had opportunities to have what is called a resiliency day where he and his shop go and do team building activities together such as white water river rafting through Sierra White Water along the South Fork American river; Rock quarry climbing in Rocklin; and Paintballing in Sacramento. 
  • gone to Collins Lake in Browns Valley, CA every year for the Squadrons summer event as well as other Squadron holiday events for Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. In 2022 we had a adult only formal charismas party while our kids were watched by some members from the security forces. We also had some from our squadron watch their kids for the charismas party.
  • celebrated veterans day the past few years by going around to different restaurants in mostly the Roseville area for free food! We ate at places such as Krispy Kreme and Dunkin for a free donuts, Ihop for free pancakes, Outback for a drink and blooming onion, TCBY for a 6oz yogurt. Texas Roadhouse for a certificate valid until the end of May, and free play at Dave and Busters to name a few. 
  • learned how to bake and gave away many loaves and rolls to neighbors and friends. I also had the opportunity to teach our neighbor across the street what I had learned. It was a gift I truly never thought I would get the opportunity to have. 
  • Saw a therapist and learned how to be more confident in God, myself, and the gift of choice. 
  • Had my testimony awakened and learned how to use it.  
In summer of 2023 Dax found out he was going to go on a deployment in the fall of 2024 at the same time that OCONUS was opening up. This is the opening of job opportunities for the Overseas Permanent Change of Station. We decided to change our PCS (Permanent Change of Station) wish list to all the bases we could in Europe and just see what happened. 

In fall of 2023 Dax called me and breathlessly told me that we had gotten an assignment that we would learn a bit later is different than 'orders'. Our assignment was to a base called Molesworth in Huntingdon, England, within a few hours north east of London. In that moment we were both bombarded with thrilling nervousness about our uncharted future that lay ahead. 

For the next few months we slowly let family know that we were moving to England in September of 2024! It seemed so far away and yet we knew it wasn't going to be a whole lot of time at all. At the time we had a Disneyland trip planned for the beginning of March and we told ourselves that's when it'll really start becoming real. 

We lived in this denial of moving for months, went on our trip to Disneyland, and when we returned things indeed became more real. We had forms to fill out to be cleared medically to move over seas which took some time but was required to get official orders. At the end of May when we got the information and plane tickets to England on September 4th denial slipped into the paradox of excitement and depression all at once. It was difficult to hold such opposing emotions at once and because of it I was unable to know what to do with myself. 

I loved my life here, and not just the physical one of being in Northern CA, at a base no one seems to like, but also what I've been able to build for myself internally. I would miss it all! It wasn't until I expressed all of these things to my sister that I was able to let not just one of the emotions rule me but that I could hold both closely and mourn for this beautiful life we're moving on from. It's time for a new adventure. As my sister put it, "Look at all you've done so far! I can't wait to see what else you are capable of!" 

Since April so many internal things have continued to shed off for me and I know it's all in preparation for what is coming next and for the vulnerability that lies during this transitional time. Communication has been brought to a whole new level between Dax and I, I've discovered peace in what I felt like was complex, I found a deeper love for others and for myself, patience, and a lack of envy. It all keeps coming back to God's plan of happiness for me. Every answer I receive: being a disciple of Christ which I will dedicate a whole future post to, loving God and Neighbor before the reminder of the consequences of choices, temple importance, where I belong in His work and other inspirations and dreams. 

I'm settling into something beautiful that I'm letting God work within me that I would otherwise be to afraid achieve or even thought was possible almost eight years ago. 

We have all come a long way in our family and I couldn't be more proud. 

"To honor something is to be grateful for what has been received and to be humble towards what has been given."
So until we meet again, here is a list of the places we've enjoyed eating at where we've lived in the United States:


Placerville,CA
  • Enchanted Forest Dining Experience

Sacramento, CA
  • Gunthers Ice cream

Roseville, CA
  • Blue house Korean BBQ
  • Bambu Garden

Lincoln, CA
  • Mr. Pickles
  • Old Town Pizza

Grass valley, CA
  • Diego’s

Yuba, CA
  • Dancing Tomato
  • The Happy Viking

Anaheim, CA
  • The Pizza Press

Burbank,CA
  • Porto’s Bakery and Cafe (Magnolia Blvd)

Mesa, AZ
  • Nekter juice bar
  • Bosa Donuts
  • Krazy Sub
  • Mesa Frozen Yogurt
  • Rosas Mexican Grill
  • Papa Kelsis Pizza

Tempe,AZ
  • The Original Genos

Flagstaff,AZ
  • Pita Pit
  • Niomarcos Pizza
  • Fratellis Pizza
  • Tacos Los Altos

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