Valentine

This past weekend Brad told me in advance to pack my bags for a surprise weekend away to 'Peoria' as he kept calling it (For those of you who are far away, Peoria is about 20 minutes down the road). I had my suspicions that we'd be heading a little further north of Peoria.. closer to where the Red Rocks are!

We had such a sweet little getaway tucked up in Sedona at  our cozy resort with champagne and strawberries, not to mention being able to swim outside at night! We enjoyed lots of hiking and views seeing Sedona's red rocks and had a great jeep tour that Brad found on Groupon.

We also took a trip up to a little 'ghost town' called Jerome which is not too far from Sedona. It used to be a thriving mining town and we loved exploring all the history here too.

One of our favorite things to do together is to travel and try new things. This was such a sweet treat for both of us, especially since Brad had not seen Sedona or Jerome before. What a perfect getaway for Valentine's President's Day Weekend! ;)

A little behind the times

I suppose not much has happened in the lives of Shields to report since I recently glanced back at our blog and realized I'd not posted since March!

Since that time we have become involved with a fabulous small group close to home where we have been able to form some special friendships as well as people to pray with and help keep us accountable. We're so thankful and excited for that time to be starting up again this fall!

I have begun another year of teaching the first grade at the same school and Brad still at Luke, getting ready to pin on 1Lt (!!!) in a little over a week which we are so excited for.

As many of you know we are winding down our time here in Arizona and starting to plan (as much as we can) what our lives will start to look like in Dayton starting this July when we move up there for Brad to begin his Masters work in CE with the Air Force Institute of Technology. That of course will leave me with a decision to make as far as teaching (or not) and from there where to go with a job for the next year and a half while he finishes out that program!

Ah, life. :)

Oscar, meanwhile, has settled back into the routine of pouting when we leave for work, spending his lounging at home, and then excitedly greeting us when we get home and smothering us with kisses until we all go to bed only to repeat the same pattern the next day.

We're enjoying our fall so far with football and friends! How about yours?!

A Year Out

March 14. A year ago this very DAY, Hubs and I arrived to our new home in Arizona. Wow.

It's hard to believe a year has gone by since we packed up our life in the big yellow Penske and ventured out to our new lives here.

We didn't really know what to expect with life at our first Air Force Base, a new state to teach in for me, and just a new state altogether for the both of us... dry, cacti, scorpions... (which we've yet to see any in our casa - fingers crossed!).

We are so thankful for our family and friends who continue to love and support us from back home. Especially Josh, who helped us to get out here in the first place. We really couldn't have gotten out here without you man. It meant the world to us.

I was excited about this new adventure with Brad, especially to be out on our own... to be doing our own thing. I wasn't sure what to expect though or if I would really enjoy it as much as I wanted to. But like I was telling Hubs the other night, I'm going to be so sad when the time comes for us to leave Arizona for our next assignment. I have so loved our time here along with the friends and Arizona family we have found in the Air Force and even in some of my co-workers.

Happy one year to us today and here's to another! I'll leave you all with the first picture we took of our lovely home :)

Saying Goodbye

During my two weeks in Ohio with Brad in May, we were able to spend Memorial Day weekend with my maternal grandparents in my hometown of Findlay, OH. Grandpa Reamsnyder wasn't at his best when we visited... he had recently taken a small fall and couldn't walk or do too much on his own.

He is a man I've always loved and looked up to. He fought for our country with the USCG as well as the Army in WWII. He was one of the first to land in Okinawa. He had a great time telling Brad stories from his time there, show him 'souvenirs' he took from Japanese soldiers, and weapons he used to defend himself. Needless to say, my husband was in awe and fascinated the first time meeting my Grandpa shortly after we were married in August 2011.

It's hard saying goodbye to family, but I know he's in a better place now.

Love you, Grandpa.

Stuffed Shells

I picked this one up during my years at App,  and it's always been one of my favorites. I had yet to make it for Brad since we've been married (which shocked me a little!) so I decided to whip it up the other night. PLEASE try this, you won't regret it!

Ingredients:

• 1 box jumbo shells
• 1 lb ground beef
• 1 block of cream cheese
• 1 jar taco sauce
• 1 jar salsa
• Shredded Cheese

Directions: 

• Brown beef, drain and mix in cream cheese until melted together.

I added diced peppers to it too since I had some on hand!
Also, this time I used ground turkey instead of beef.. yum!

• Boil shells until soft; drain. (cool slightly.. they're hot!)

• Fill shells with beef and cream cheese mix using a spoon.

• Cover bottom of a 9X13 dish with salsa, place filled shells on top of salsa.

• Spoon taco sauce into shells.

• Cover with cheese and heat at 125 degrees for 20 minutes or until cheese melts.

• EAT THEM UP!

Hope you enjoy this dish! :)