It really is an adventure!

     Well once again, it has been about 10 years since I posted a blog.  For those of you that read this, I apologize.  Life has been a little chaotic, at best, recently.  Since June, we have moved back to the States from Japan, lived at my parents' house in Little Rock for 3 months, and are now starting our next chapter in life in Fayetteville.  Wow, that makes me sleepy just thinking about it.  During our time back in the States, we have spent a lot of time driving back and forth between Little Rock & Fayetteville.  We are so glad to be settling in for a while now. 

     As you may or may not know we received some amazing news for our family a month or two ago.  We found out that we had won our appeal for Kenny to be medically retired, not just separated from the Air Force.  This is HUGE on many levels!  Kenny had his last day to report to work with the USAF on September 17.  Due to the fact that my amazing husband is a work-a-holic, he had a ton of leave (vacation) saved up, so he is now on vacation until the end of the year when he will officially retire.  In the military, we are on what is called "terminal leave".  Don't ask me why it's called that because I have no clue!  Kenny now gets to hang out with Austin and me every day until he starts the Walton MBA program at the University of Arkansas in January.  I always knew he wanted to be a Razorback instead of a Sooner!  ;)

     Our family is going to be undergoing a major lifestyle change come January.  Both Kenny & I have felt very strongly about making more financial sacrifices to allow me to continue to stay at home with Austin.  I am not saying that being a working mom is bad at all!  We just feel that this is the right thing for our family. While we are very confident in our choice, we have both been a little concerned about how we were going to make ends meet while he is in school. 

     One day my mom mentioned to me that she saw on TV that Mary Kay Cosmetics was one of the best home businesses.  Like any typical daughter, I let it go in one ear and right out the other.  I mean really, will we always be teenagers at heart on these things?  Mom was definitely on to something because she knows how much I LOVE skin care and makeup.  A few weeks later, my friend Kellie asked if I would talk to her about Mary Kay.  Initially I really did not want to, but after talking to Kenny, I decided I would hear Kellie out. Listening to Kellie and her director talk, I was really starting to like the idea of selling Mary Kay.  The biggest hang up for me was the fact that I have always been a makeup snob.  So, I gave the products a try, and I am in love with them!  The best thing about it is even at retail prices, I am paying less than HALF of what I was paying before.  At this point, I was sold!  I am now officially a Mary Kay Independent Beauty Consultant.  Most of you are probably thinking that you love what you use, I know, I've been there, but I promise you that if you give Mary Kay a try you will be hooked.  Your wallet will thank you!  Mary Kay is a great company.  Selling Mary Kay is giving me the opportunity to provide for our family without taking me away from my family 40+ hours a week.  Mary Kay operates under the policy of God First, Family Second, and Work Last.  Tell me how many places you can find that in today's world?  If you want to know more about Mary Kay products or how you too can earn some money for your family, please call me or email me at rbierman1@marykay.com.

     As I was sprucing up the old blog a little today, the title of it caught my eye.  Bierman Adventures  When I named this blog I thought it would just be about all of the fun we were going to have in Japan.  Trust me we did plenty of that!  I never imagined that our adventure would now include our life adventure of transitioning out of the military into the civilian world. 

     Kenny, Austin & I are nervous and excited to see what the Lord has in store for us.  He is definitely taking us down a path that we never would have chosen on our own.  We are resting in the fact that He is in control, and He has a plan for our lives.  Friends, if you ever make your way up to Northwest Arkansas, be sure to give us a call!




    

Ready Or Not, Here We Go...

We're going to America!  Yep, that's right, after living in Japan for the last 3 1/2 years it is time for us to pack up our house and move back to the good ol' USA.  I have learned that things are never 100% for sure in the Air Force until it is happening, so I am going to say that we are 90% sure that we will be leaving Japan on June 20.  =)  There are very few things that could delay us, but it is always possible. 

Last week was a bit of a rough one at the Bierman house.  Poor Austin was the most sick that he has been in his short little life.  It started on Tuesday with croup, and then turned into pneumonia by Wednesday.  I loved all of the extra snuggles, but it absolutely broke my heart to see my little man so sick.  To add to the excitement of the week, Kenny called on Tuesday and said that we were going to be leaving Japan in 2 1/2 weeks!  That meant that at the time I had a little less than 2 weeks to get my house ready for the movers to come pack it away.  YIKES!!!  While we knew this day was coming, it was still a bit of a shock when it finally came.  I am overcome with emotions right now.  We are so excited to be back in the States, and can not wait to see our family & friends again!  At the same time, my heart is so sad to be leaving my Yokota family.  Words can not express how amazing these people are!  I am sad to leave the home that we brought our son home from the hospital to, and the friends that have known him his whole life. 

The million dollar question is, "Where are you going?"  Well, in a little twist we are heading back to Little Rock for a while.  Kenny is still on active duty while we are awaiting the results of an appeal on part of the MEB results.  The Air Force is medically PCSing (permanent change of station) us to Little Rock while we wait for these results.  As soon as we get the answer back, we will separate from the military.  We are so excited about the doors that God has opened for us!  Kenny will be starting the Walton MBA program at the University of Arkansas in January!  We are extremely excited about this opportunity. 

I know this is a bit of a random post, but my brain is just working that way these days.  I have a million things running through my head, and I am doing my best to keep half of them straight.  Get ready Arkansas, we will see you soon!!! 

Our New Adventure

God sure does have one heck of a curve ball.  Just when you get used to the fastballs of life, He throws you for a loop and tosses up the curve.  Why am I talking about baseball?  Well, it is the only way I can think of to explain how I feel right now. 

We have been thrown for the biggest curve that we could ever imagine.   We got the news yesterday that Kenny is being medically separated from the Air Force.  How did this happen?  Due to Kenny’s back surgery from last year, he had to meet a Medical Evaluation Board (MEB).  This process has been a long game of hurry up and waits.  Based on the facts, we pretty much knew that we were going to be out of the Air Force.  We had never planned to get out.  We were going to be career, and someday retire from the military.  Although we knew this was most likely going to be the answer, it hit us like a ton of bricks yesterday when we got the news. 

Where do we go from here?  Good question!  In a few months, we will be out of Japan and back in the States.  Our plan is to go back to Arkansas, but most importantly, we will go wherever we get a job.  Sorry Little Rock folks, but we are planning to make our new home in Northwest Arkansas.  We really feel that may be where we are supposed to set down some roots as a family, but don’t worry we will be visiting often!  It is scary to be moving back without a job.  Kenny has wanted to be an officer in the Air Force as long as he can remember.  He has been doing what he wants to do.  Now it is time to begin a new adventure as civilians.    

Introducing Austin Joseph Bierman

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Everyday Life

It has been pointed out to me that for someone who doesn't work, & doesn't have kids (yet!) that I am one busy girl!  Half of the time I don't remember what I've been doing, but I know I'm busy.  Between PWOC (our women's Bible study), worship practice, squadron spouses, & serving on the board for our Yokota Officer's Spouses Club (YOSC) some weeks I have a meeting or two everyday.  Don't get me wrong, I love to stay busy and I know that I got that from my Momma.  Sometimes I wonder how I'm going to squeeze all of this in and keep the house up when our little man gets here.  I know it will all work itself out, but I get a little overwhelmed just thinking about it every once in a while. 

In other news, I can't believe that our little man will be here in a little over 3 months!!!  WOW!  I was talking to my friends Karen & Lynn this week and said something about being shocked that he would be here in 4 months, and they quickly pointed out that it wouldn't even be that long.  I guess with all of that counting in weeks I lost track of the months.  Where has the time gone?  I am so excited that I get to see my family in a couple of weeks, & they can see my baby bell in person.  It just loses something on Skype.  =)

24 Weeks!

Ok in my effort to do better at blogging, I figure I should do a post even if I don't feel like there is really something big to write about.  For someone that doesn't work, this has been one busy week for me!  I had meetings on Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday along with a baby checkup.  Thankfully today is a change of pace, and to top it off Kenny should be home from work around noon & will be off the rest of the day and tomorrow!  I love getting to spend some extra time with that man.  The weather has been amazing here this week, so I think we'll head into Tokyo today to do some exploring.
We got a good report at the doctor yesterday for our 24 week check-up.  Baby Boy Bierman is doing great!  Everything looked good from our 20 week ultrasound, and he has a great heart beat.  That is my favorite sound in the world!
Well, that is really it for today.  I decided that I had to write something, or I'd slip right back into being a slacker.  =)

Japan has had one heck of a rough year!  Since March we have had a 9.0 earthquake, tsunami, nuclear disaster & a couple of typhoons.  Oh & don't forget the hundreds of aftershocks we have had & continue to have since the big earthquake.  Thankfully, we here at Yokota have been kept safe. 
I just wanted to note that Americans & most other countries in the world for that matter, could learn a lot from the Japanese people.  Throughout all of this, they have maintained order & respect for people and their property.  There have not been the robberies and murders like there are when hurricanes, tornadoes and other natural disasters hit places in the US.  It is so sad to see thieves in the States prey on people when they have just lost loved ones & almost everything they own.  The world should step back and learn a few things from the amazing people of Japan. 
That's really all I have to say.  I just wanted to give some props to this country that I am temporarily calling home.  Don't get me wrong, I love America & look forward to the day that we live there again.  I just wish we could bring a few things like this back with us.