At one point, I considered deleting this blog altogether or setting it to private. But recently, I had a moment of clarity: my kids are now old enough to look back on this little corner of the internet and see the memories, stories, and adventures I once captured—especially the ones from our life as a military family.
My daughter (who is now 15—how did that happen?) told me she’s been reading through my old posts. That alone made me realize this blog still matters, even if it’s quiet most of the time. It’s a digital scrapbook of a life we lived out loud and with love.
Today, I’m feeling especially inspired to write again. A friend who works for a prominent military news site recently asked me to contribute a piece (more on that to come!), and the experience of putting my thoughts and feelings into words reignited something in me. It reminded me of this little corner of the internet, so I decided to log in and reconnect with this space.
So, I guess if I’m going to start posting here again, I owe you a (very brief) update. A LOT has happened since 2019, and I’ll spare you the long-winded details.
My last post was back in June of 2019. At the time, we had been stationed in Yuma, AZ for just under a year, and we were finally starting to settle in. Since then, a lot has changed, so here’s a quick bullet-point recap of the major milestones:
- In 2019, I applied for the Military Family Advisory Network’s Advisory Board—and to my surprise, I was selected! I ended up serving two terms over the span of four years. It was an incredible experience that allowed me to lend my voice to issues impacting military families, while also helping me explore what my “next steps” might look like post military and navigated post-college life.
- Do we need to recap 2020? I mean honestly? 2020 was survivable, because our home in Yuma had an inground pool. Social distancing and avoiding humans was easy when you have your own pool in your backyard.
- In 2021, we left Yuma and made our way to Monterey, CA. Nick applied to—and was accepted into—the Naval Postgraduate School’s MBA program in government contracting. This was such an exciting chapter for our family. Monterey quickly became a dream duty station, and I absolutely fell in love with the area. It was our first time living in base housing, and while we only spent 18 months there, it felt far too short. I often find myself dreaming of moving back someday.
- In 2022, I was offered a position with a small communications consulting firm, supporting the Department of Veterans Affairs’ largest mental health awareness initiative, Make the Connection. I consider this my first post-military “big girl job,” and truly, it is a dream role. It allows me to work remotely—an incredible gift for our constantly moving military lifestyle—and gave me the chance to do meaningful, mission-driven work that aligned with both my personal values and lived experience.
- In 2023, our family headed to coastal North Carolina where we purchased a home in Surf City. Nick received orders to Camp Lejeune (against our wishes), and this is where we have been since!
The move here from Monterey was incredibly difficult for me—I came here kicking and screaming, if I’m being honest. The area is much more rural than what I’m used to, and it’s been incredibly isolating at times. The shift in environment has been tough, but so has the cultural shift. We moved from a diverse, progressive community to a very conservative town where I rarely see people who look like me. The political climate here hasn’t done much for my mental health, either. I also need to add that we have friends from all across the political spectrum.
That said, there have been some bright spots. We genuinely love our neighborhood and the street we live on. I’ve gotten to know almost all of our neighbors, and everyone has been incredibly warm and welcoming. Our kids have also found their rhythm—they’ve jumped right into the community, found their activities, and made friends. Watching them adjust so well has been a huge comfort.
Nick has also been receiving treatment for traumatic brain injury (TBI) at Intrepid Spirit on Camp Lejeune for the past several months, and it has truly been a game changer for him. He’s currently on limited duty and is planning to retire from the Marine Corps in the next year. It’s a bittersweet milestone for us, but we’re adjusting as a family to what comes next.
In other news, Dannika got her driver’s permit, and we bought her a car! She’ll be driving solo this summer, and it’s such an exciting time for her. Honestly, I can hardly believe that she’ll be a junior next year. For those who have been following this blog from the beginning, you’ve watched her practically grow up right before your eyes.
So I guess that's our update in one little blog post. If you really want to keep up with our family and my shenanigans, follow me on Instagram @Semper.Ag or TikTok @Semper.Ag (unless it gets banned).