I'm having fun

I started planning my good friend Amy's baby shower today. Oh man I forgot how much fun it is to plan a party!! Its lots of fun too that she's having a girl!! She's doing the decor' in lavender butterflies, which will also be the theme of my baby shower for her. If any one has any great ideas or website, please feel free to share. I've found some really cool ideas already all involving butterflies. It's going to be really great!!!

You know what I don't understand, is how it can be so hot/humid down here, and just the other day it was snowing back home. Now thats crazy. My roomie and I were joking last night that I'm going to go from frying eggs on the sidewalk to snowboarding...lol. What a busy end of the week I've got, which is WONDERFUL! It's def. going to make the days go faster!! Tonight I'm going birthday/baby shower/baptism shopping. Tomorrow a good size group of us will be attending the Latino Fest Carnival here at Fort Gordon after work. Friday evening, I'm going to be helping the Steeb's set up for Crimson's 2nd Birthday party, Saturday is Crimson's birthday party and then possibly going to the carnival again with the Steeb's after the party. Sunday is Mischa's baptism here at the chapel, and then a bbq out at the lake (I get to go get Zeke from CH Munson's and bring him too!! YAY!!!) Wow...what an exciting weekend I've got coming up!!!

What do you have planned this weekend?

It's Another Roller Coaster Day today...

My anxiety levels are high again today. Jackson's 1st Birthday, Russell's Homecoming, Kati's Graduation are all creeping up on me. It makes my stomach churn to not know if I will be home for these events or not. So, after talking it over with my Chaplain, I'm going to give myself a security blanket and buy the plane tickets home for that weekend. That way, if Uncle Sam hasn't yet released me, then I can fly home. If he has then I'll make it to where I can use the tickets for a different destination later on this year. I wish this all would end. And end soon.

Oh What A Concert!

Let me just start off by saying HOLY WOW!!! Saturday night I went up to Columbia, South Carolina with my good friend Shirley, and her husband Brice. We saw Kenny Chesney's Poets & Pirates Tour. It was really awesome!

First up we saw Luke Bryan, Gary Allen, LeAnn Rimes, Brooks & Dunn, and then Kenny Chesney.

My highlight of the night was during the Brooks & Dunn show. They were singing "Only In America" what a beautiful song! Towards the climax of the song the video panels showed 4 Servicemembers marching in a line. Next thing I know, I see them walking onto the stage. Shirley and I both jumped to our feet (tears are filling my eyes now remembering the scene!) anyway, we were soo busy screaming and cheering that it took me awhile to notice we weren't the only ones. All 44,430 plus people were on their feet screaming, clapping and cheering. The entire evening, no set of applause was as defening as when those servicemembers simply marched onto stage, saluted the audience, dropped their salute, turned and marched back off stage. Nothing was said to them, no one asked everyone to stand or even asked them to send their respect. They just did it. At the end of the song it hit me.

AMERICA STILL LOVES US

Us as the Soldiers, Sailors, Air Force, Marines, Veterans.

They LOVE, RESPECT, CARE for us.

America is so wrapped up in disliking the war, that they forget about the individuals who strap on their uniforms day in and day out, regardless of how we feel about the war. We put on our uniforms and we do what we have to to ensure our missions are complete. I am so proud of my brothers and sisters. Overseas, At the War, At Home, In Recovery. I love them more than I could ever put to words. I always have loved them, but joining the ranks and earning the title of Soldier made me love them even more.

Next time you see a service member, Retired, Injured, Part Time, Full Time, Active, Reserve, Guard, Veteran. Remind them that you still love them. Don't mention the war, just say thanks. I've yet to meet a brother or sister that when I've said thank-you, they didn't smile. Isn't that what life is about? Being happy? Loving it while we have it? Make someone's day.

I challenge you today. Make 1 person smile. That's all!

SPC Woodard

I'm bored...so...here's my 'Bucket List'

Emily's Bucket List
(my list of things I want to do before I kick the bucket)



I'd really really like to attend a Wrestlemania!!!


I would like to meet both John Cena and Hulk Hogan but even one would be awesome enough!!


Get a tattoo on my ankle in memory of my Grandmother and my service with the Army


Get Married!


Have a baby!


Take a Disney Cruise!


Visit the Statue of Liberty


Spend a St. Patty's Day in Chicago


Visit NYC at Christmas-time


Return for a camping trip at Alder Dunes!! I loved that place when I was little


Return to Estes Park, Colorado and hike up to Emerald Lake and take another freezing swim!


Visit Moorea and stay in a grass hut over the ocean!


Visit all 50 states at least once...(at least 32 down, 18 to go)

I'm sure there will be more to come, but for now this is all I can think of!! Stay tuned!

Theres good news coming our way...

So, my Chaplain, bless his heart has been diving in full force to get me some answers...and he has emerged victorious. Turns out in the begining when they said it'd be 2-3 weeks they were giving me false information. Go figure right? Well last week the Surgeon General of the Army came down (lots of stars...he's one of the top guys of the Army) to check things out. Anyway, he had two things he really didn't like about our wounded warriors. Well one was that we were getting false information. Anyway, my Chaplain found out that my orders were cut on the 18th of April. And now it really should be 2-3 weeks til I get them and can start the 10 day process of getting out of here.

Exciting: YES
Stressful: YES YES

Turns out that would put me on or around the week of my departure is about when my nephew turns 1, and my mini-me (Kati, my cousin) graduates from High School. This makes me REALLY nervous. These were 2 huge events that I really need to be home for. No, it wouldn't end the world, but I'd be quite sad missing that. Please pray that we can get the orders and work out a plan that I can be home even the day of or the evening before Kati's graduation so I can be present. Oh, shhhhh if it comes down to real close and I know I'm going to make it, I think I'll tell Kati a little fib and surprise her.

Welp...I'm goin home...for the day :-(

Went down to the doctor today, he says I have strepp throat. I was going to try to stay at work, cause well, they need me. But I'm feeling yucky. So I'm going home. to the barracks...

On a happier note, the Army got free tickets to the Kenny Chesney, Leann Rimes, Brooks & Dunn, Luke Bryant concert I think its the Poets and Pirates tour, anyways a group of friends and I got tickets...and Saturday night I'm going to be in Columbia SC rocking out!! I'm SUPER EXCITED!!!!

Have a beautiful day! I'll catch you all tomorrow!

Working towards a goal...

My DDD (degenerative disc disease) currently prevents me from running...I hate that! I hope one day I can be cleared to run again. But this year is the 2nd Annual Brett's Run, in Genoa. Its a 5k (3.1 miles) I'm going to register to walk it. Any takers on walking it with me? It'll be in June, right around the time of Genoa Days. I'm going to start training now, to walk it real quick. The Army standard for a female of 22-26 years of age to walk 2.5 miles is 37:30. My goal is to be around that time frame for the 3.1 mile walk. That gives me just about 12 minutes per mile. I think that is def. an attainable goal. Wish me luck, better yet, anyone wish to join me? Even if you run it?

A lil humor to start off a new week...

Hello Friends,

I've begun to psych myself up again. Sorry its been awhile since I updated. Last week ended really hard. The guy I was closest too decided this whole process of waiting was too much stress on him and ended the conversation with "call me when you get home." I told myself as I closed my eyes to rest, "If you can't handle me at my worst, you sure as heck don't deserve me at my best." unknown...that's how I'm feeling right now. Yes I'm a ROYAL PAIN IN THE ARSE to be around right now, but if you can't understand what I'm going through and that my meds increase my crazi-headedness then you don't deserve the best of me. I love the Rocky Balboa movie...theres a quote in it that goes "Its not about how hard you hit, its about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward." I will keep going. And I will be amazing when I make it outta here. Those that stick with me through this yucky process...will see it was all worth it in the end. I'm a great person. Just sometimes the stress helps me to not act like the great person that I am...My co-worker took the following photo of me. I laughed when I shared it with a few other co-workers as it now rests as my background on my computer...we laughed as we agreed that "if I make it out of here with any sanity left...it'll be a miracle." Enjoy a laugh with me!

Happy Monday!

I've hit the wall...full speed...

My friends,

This blog is going to be short. I hit my worst of the worst for breaking points today. Everyone knows my situation. Zeke is going to be rellocated to one of my chaplain's houses. its a hard story...I dont really feel like going into it, it feels like all I've been typing are my whiny posts...so I'm leaving it at this...I've hit the concrete wall...face first, and I'm down...I just gotta make this into a stepping stone. I'm calling out my warriors, I need your help. Call me, txt me, email me, pls, just help me through this! I need a hug.

"To Cut Slingload"

This is a phrase used often in the Army, and very often in my office. I would define it as to rid yourself of something, i.e. extra baggage, a relationship, etc.

So I asked myself on the way to lunch today, what do I need to cut slingload on? I can think of a few relationships, I've become frustrated with and would at times, like to cut sling load on them. But faith and maybe even determination continually whispers, give it another try. And sure enough, the person or people involved, do something wonderful and it reminds me why I continue to carry on.

I'd also like to cut slingload on my weight. I never once thought enlisting in the Army and becoming a Chaplain Assistant would place me behind a desk. Sure I knew I'd have administrative duties, I just didn't think THIS much! Well, a lack of it here...shh dont tell my boss, I'm getting good at faking busy. Truth of the matter is, I'm so bored throughout the day and can't see the outside world (thanks to no windows!) that by the time I get off work, I'm lethargic and lazy. My battle buddy Irons and I were discussing what we were going to eat on the way into the chow hall, she wanted some dessert and soda for sure...I laughed told her she'd be asleep by 1500 (3pm) because she'd crash so bad from the sugar rush. I'm trying to watch my calories and begin dropping some of this weight, so I've stopped drinking sodas (except special ocassions) and have been limiting what I eat and trying to find balance in my meals even if they aren't prepped the way I'd like (most baked chicken and fish, and vegeies for that matter down here are just sitting and soaking in butter, its REALLY GROSS!) I watched the season finale' of The Biggest Loser Couples last night, I was rooting for Kelly and Ali, but more so Kelly. She had been the underdog from the get-go. And she stayed on the ranch the entire time...never once got eliminated as Ali did. But then when the show was prepping us for Kelly's final weigh-in, it was revealed that 6 weeks prior when she was released from the ranch, she wound up in the hospital with a herniated disc. A back-injury. Man, I'd love to have seen her pull of the win. Ali did though. She was the first female to ever win the Biggest Loser. I'm proud of her! She's so ity bity now. I want to end up in that spot, despite my neck-injury. I will make it. I don't like living in this body that I dislike so much. It's time to make a change. It's time to get my smile back.

I'm ready, I've got my blinders on and I will not fail my mission. I will have set-backs, thats just the way it goes. But I'm ready for them to knock me back down a few steps from my climb and then I'll continue on. Even if its 2 steps forward, 1 step back, I will complete my goal of a 50lbs weight loss, by this time next year. Help me in my journey friends. I'm starting off very fragile, my self-esteem isn't very high, but I know I've done amazing things before, and this is nothing new to me. I love challenges, they drive me.

I'll never forget what one of my NCO's in Korea said to me, after we finished the ruck march that through my neck into a tailspin...I had led the Soldiers, since I was the shortest for the march. There was a huge hill above us, and from there all we'd have to do is climb it, turn around and the walk back would be cake...When we got to the top of the mountain and were getting ready to start back down my 1SG replaced me as leader. Out of breath this NCO came over to me and said, "I've never known a Soldier to not only keep the pace when climbing any kind of hill, let alone gain speed as you did." Carrying all the weight on my back, I did just that, I climbed, I put my head down, and I went, I told myself one more step, one more step, and I watched my feet...I didn't look at the hill, and before I knew, the order was givin..."HALT!" I had made it.

I am approaching this goal as I did that hill and every hill I ever walked, marched, and ran, I will put my head down, and tell myself just one more step, one more!

What a blessing this wait is...

How funny of it that just a few days ago I was saying how hard it was. Things have continued to change as I await my release. And yet, I've found my Prince of Peace. I blogged a little bit ago about wanting to lose weight. I want to do it the right way this time, I'm not limiting myself to non-sweets...that just makes me miserable. No, this time I'm just watching my calorie intake and exercising, the progress is going to be slower, but the progress will last longer! I joined www.sparkepeople.com and have fallen in love with that site! There are teams formed that support eachother, I'm finding myself praying for strangers, encouraging others. And, I've found people with DDD (Degenerative Disc Disease) like mine! They are losing weight and banding together. Its awesome to know I'm not the only one in pain everyday, but we are not only stepping on that stone in the road, but we're going over it and continuing on!

So much is happening. My Colonel Chaplain, and my company commander are both doing research into what and why this is taking so long. How blessed am I? I didn't even have to ask for help. They saw the stress I'm going through and willingly struck out to try and help my situation. These are just two of the amazing men I work under. I thank God for them. I can't imagine how hard it'd be to go through this whole process without what I've started telling myself is Team Emily...or if the office would name it...Team Auntie Em. I want all of you to know, that you mean the world to me. Not just those here with me helping me through it, but everyone back home and yes, even my friends online. You all are doing amazing! Thank-you, you're all the answers to my countless prayers for God to send his mercies down. What an amazing God we serve that He would send me such an amazing team of angels. I truly thank God for each and every one of you!

Wake me up when the Army is ready to let go...

Thats the themes of my Myspace and Facebook lately. I really am disliking the weekends now. They take too long and bring absolutely no opportunity for me to hear if my orders have come in or not. So, I'm happy its Monday!! I really have nothing much to say today, so I think I'll make this a short blog. But I just wanted you all to know, I'm feeling better. I look at this process as a divorce. When I was determined to lose the weight to get into the Army, I told myself I was engaged to the Army. I married the Army when I signed my contract and my honeymoon was the lovely basic training in South Carolina (I'm typing all of this with a huge smile on my face) and now, we're going through a divorce. We've decided its better on both of us if we split now instead of prolonging the inevitable...

Ok I've lost my mind, but its a fun way to think about it...if you think about it :-p

Its been a rough 24 hours...

Well like the title suggests, I'm having a down spell again. Mom called last night and informed me that my Great Great Uncle Fred passed away on Tuesday. We weren't really close, but we did share our special dances at the family reunions. I'm going to miss that. That news was enough of a weight to break the camels back, or tip the scale over, which ever terminology you prefer to use. Anyway, I cried and cried and felt just awful inside. I fought myself on calling someone, and then I realized I needed to call someone. So I called one of my Chaplains that I'm quite close to. He quoted some scripture, reminded me of the good times, and even had me laughing. I talked to Nick when he was done with dinner, more tears fell. And then I fell asleep and slept the whole night through and only woke at 0430, 0545, and then when my alarm went off at 0620...thats quite an improvement compared to what I'm used to sleeping on that awful mattress in the barracks.

I'm drained, mentally exhausted, physically exhausted, and for some reason my back has decided to start hurting again today despite the fact that I'm on my pain management meds...this vaccums!

I'm so thankful of the awesome support system I have online, on phone, in person! I am so blessed!!

Happy Birthday Manda!!

We all have friends in our lives that have always been there and will always be there for us. For me that is the entire Wigant family. Amanda is like the sister I never got to have. She's such an amazing woman. She and I can go for weeks, months, even a year or more without talking much at all, and as soon as we see eachother, its huge hugs, maybe a few tears, and then its like we never stopped talking. Her friendship continues to bring me through each new day. If I don't get a txt or an email there's a comment on my myspace page, just letting me know I'm missed and that she loves me. She's one of the coaches for the Senior Comet's squad and has helped keep me involved with all of the Comet's teams. She's been my cheerleader while I've been away with the Army, always providing a sound board (so-to-speak) for my rough days, and always willing to give cheerful advice when its needed and more than anything has always been open arms for the hug that I needed.

Thank-you Manda, for always being here for me. I love ya and can't wait to be able to coach side-by-side with you wearing our purple, black and silver!! I miss you, and don't worry, I'll be home as soon as they let me go!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SWEETIE!!!

A new plan...

Alright guys,

I've had it with looking at my pictures or looking at myself in the mirror and not enjoying what I see. Its time for me to start loving me, and to make healthier changes to help my body and prolong my life. A great friend of mine has lost an amazing amount of weight, and so I asked for her help. She pointed me to a web site...

www.sparkpeople.com

Its free and helps you track your progress, set goals, gives you meal and work-out plans, so YEAHHH I'm starting on my trip! I will keep you updated on how it goes from time to time, I also have a web page on their site if you'd like to check it out, the web address is listed below!

http://www.sparkpeople.com/mypage.asp?id=AUNTIEEMWOODARD

Have a healthy day!!
Here's to the new me!!

Hold Me Jesus...

I can think of nothing better to express how I'm feeling today than the lyrics of an amazing song I downloaded on my phone to help me through days like this...I'm fighting so hard to keep smiling, my subconscience has now started playing tricks on me in my dreams. Last night I dreamt I was riding a bicycle home, (however it was my home in Washington) anyway, I knew the way, and I just couldn't get there...It was taking me forever to get there...I awoke before I made it, I couldn't even see the house in the distance. Thats how I feel, like I'm never going to get there.

"So Hold Me Jesus, Cause I'm shaking like a leaf, you've been my King of Glory won't you be my Prince of Peace..."

Here are the lyrics...and my prayer today;

Well, sometimes my life
Just don't make sense at all
When the mountains look so big
And my faith just seems so small

CHORUS:
So hold me Jesus, 'cause I'm shaking like a leaf
You have been King of my glory
Won't You be my Prince of Peace

And I wake up in the night and feel the dark
It's so hot inside my soul
I swear there must be blisters on my heart

CHORUS

Surrender don't come natural to me
I'd rather fight You for something
I don't really want
Than to take what You give that I need
And I've beat my head against so many walls
Now I'm falling down, I'm falling on my knees

And this Salvation Army band
Is playing this hymn
And Your grace rings out so deep
It makes my resistance seem so thin

CHORUS

You have been King of my glory
Won't You be my Prince of Peace

this is song is sung by multiple artists, the one I have down loaded is Big Daddy Weave.

So Proud of the Comets!!

The Comets Cheer Squad (the one that I mentioned a few blogs ago I'll be helping coach next season) finished the year off with a huge BANG!! I'm so proud! They took 1st and 2nd places at their last competition...got a paid bid to National's (they aren't going this year, too short of notice and too much stress for the Seniors) and I hear made front page of the Sunday Chronicle...Check them out!! I'm so proud!!

http://www. daily-chronicle. com/articles/2008/04/06/news/news02.txt


Energym Comets Allstart Senior Squad Performing


The Comets get pumped for the trophy presentations!


Team-mates embrace the seniors after their last performance!


Senior Squad Coach Amanda Wigant, Director Sheri Wigant, and Senior Coach Kristen Heath embracing after the 1st place announcement had been made!

As Promised...

Here are the pictures from my trip to Washington DC!! What an awesome trip it was! This was the first trip that we wore our uniforms on, even though there were planned protests all around us on one of the days, Americans and even people from other countries, China, Korea, etc, were very adamant on showing their gratitude for these men and women who went to war and came back injured. It was unreal, and brought many of us to tears on many different occasions. Enjoy the photos!! If you double click on the slideshow, you will see the pictures full-size with captions!!