Atwell Adventures

back to school for G

Gary is officially a student again!

This week G began online classes through Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary.  Its something he has prayed and talked about doing since I’ve known him and I’m excited to be able to stand beside him as he begins this adventure.

As with anything new, I’m sure there will be challenges and adjustments to be made, so I’m praying that we both handle things like champs {and I’m praying mostly for myself in that area, the dramatic one in our marriage}.

I can’t wait to see how the Lord uses this in our lives!

Atwell Adventures

my first Atwell picture i.d.

Well, it finally happened.

I changed the name on my license to Atwell.

A few months back I made the social security card switch.  It was an easy process, so I crossed my fingers and hoped the license switch would go just as smoothly.

I called to find out what all I needed to bring to not only get my lost license replaced {because sometime during or after our move I lost my license}, but also change my name on said license.  

After getting all the documents together this morning I decided I would go ahead and take care of it today.  The only problem was that I hadn’t had a shower and wasn’t planning on getting one until this afternoon after my run.  So just to be sure I wouldn’t be pictured in my scrub look, I called and asked if I would have my picture taken or if they would use the old one.

My friend Alan told me they would just be using my old one.

So off I went in a baseball hat, puffer vest, and a few swipes of mascara.

And thankfully everything went smoothly.  I had all my documents.  They didn’t charge me for the update. And just as I was getting comfortable in my chair, the attendant told me I needed to look at the camera.

Sayyyyy what???

But Alan said I wouldn’t have to have my picture taken!

She then explained, the computers won’t let them out of the system if they don’t take a picture.

Noooo! It was like I had gone to school and forgot it was picture day!  Except I really didn’t forget, but rather someone had lied to me!  {And I would have never looked like this at school!!!}

So in a moment of panic, I asked if I could go to the bathroom to at least try to fix my hair, which hadn’t been washed or dried properly in about 36 hours and was currently under a baseball hat.  My hairstylist sister is probably cringing.

I went into the bathroom took off the hat, gave my hair a quick fluff, pulled it half back, and realized it looked like I had a mullet.

Not good. So back in a pony it went. {Still not good, but not a mullet.}

And about two minutes later, through gritted teeth and sleepy eyes, I had my first Atwell picture i.d.

IMG_3242

Thanks for all your help, Alan.  You got me good.

Atwell Adventures

e.a.s. day

Today’s a big day in the Atwell house! It’s Gary’s End of Active Service {EAS} day!

This past month G has been on terminal leave but today marks his last official day in the United States Marine Corps.

EAS Day 1 | Atwell Adventures

Never would I have thought that I would be married to someone in the military.  But the Lord knew exactly what I needed, and that was G – military status and all 🙂

I still remember on our very first date in May 2012, when G casually {and I mean casually} mentioned that he was going to deploy sometime that fall.  Since he had JUST returned from Afghanistan, I thought for sure he was joking, and in fact, I probably asked him if he was joking a million times.  Although he didn’t have to deploy after all, from that moment on I took our relationship even more seriously.

It wasn’t going to be easy. It was scary. But it was so, so worth it.

I’m thankful to have walked alongside him during his last 20 months in the Marines {7 months as his girlfriend, 7 months as his fiance and 6 months as his wife}.  And as much as I’m happy to see him a “civilian”, I have been and always will be proud of the time that he gave to serve our country.

EAS Day 1 | Atwell Adventures