Being alone can be ok.

Hey Everyone,

    I guess I have been writing lot of blogs this week it is kinda nuts. Posting two in one day hopefully is all right. I have been typing them up and publishing them when I have internet and time.  Well I have come to realize I am getting better at doing things by myself. I used to hate doing anything by myself, grocery shopping, eating somewhere, going cloths shopping, going to public places in general. Recently I have been doing more things with out other people and I feel pretty good about it. I still get anxiety a little bit not having a buddy but it is good to learn to be all right being alone. I feel like I am staring to understand myself more and getting to know myself again. My head has been cloudy this past year and I feel like I am growing and the sun is coming out again.
    This week I went to Reptile Gardens without anyone which was strange since I usually have someone from work come with me. So I went and I took pictures and it was really strange I had time to stop and enjoy the reptiles and animals. I wasn’t on anyone's schedule and could just relax. I went to a few of the shows and before the Gator wrestling show my mom called me. We talked for a few minutes about my day. I told her I was at Reptile Gardens by myself and she was like that's great that you are learning to do things by yourself. I guess I never realized that I was adjusting to it until we talked about it.  It is a crazy thing when you start understanding the things that cause you anxiety and you can slowly learn how to deal with them. I know that my anxiety about things will never  go away however learning to deal with it and growing.

Sisters:Built In Best Friends

Hello Everyone,
    So I had the pleasure of working with my sister while she was out here at Storm for a few weeks. At work we didn’t get along so hot all the time. However after work we were fine. We went on so many adventures even if they were little. Now that she is gone I am missing my built in best friend to go hang out and do things with. I mean I can go do stuff by myself but it is always better to have a buddy to go with. We did some of our favorite things from when we used to live here like going to Keystone for taffy, Chubby chipmunk, Armidillos for ice cream, driving the long way  to get places because it was prettier view. We also tried to go horse back riding but got rained out so hopefully next we have the chance we can. So now I sit here wishing I had someone to go hang with I realize  I am pretty lucky to have a wonderful sister.  Even though after she was two weeks old I asked my mom if we could take her back.  We have had our growing pains like most siblings but she has helped me get through so many things. Now
she is back to college and I am so proud of all the things she is doing!! 

Love you Jess!

This New Army Wife Thing.

Hello wonderful people,

    So I am most likely the worst blogger on the planet since I rarely do it, however now  I have some time on my hands again I can get some done I suppose. As many people know I am moving to Alaska at some point ( at least I hope so). Austin has been there with out me living on base and doing his field training. Which has been pretty rough on both of us.  It is a weird feeling thinking I could leave to go up there in two weeks or so , but I am not holding my breath but I have been say good bye for the last 3 months. Since they seem to love to mess my paper work up and not put me on his orders ( I might be getting a little mad about that). In this long transition period I have been traveling around seeing all my friends and spending time with my families. Which was working pretty good to keep my mind off Austin being away. Now it is getting pretty bad again so I am trying to deal with all of this and keep my head up.  I know I need to be positive and think that things are all great,but they aren’t and I quit thinking positive about it. I would rather be ready for the worst and be surprised that things actually are going as planned. I know I am a little backwards in thinking I just need to do it so I don’t get my hopes up.
    I also have been reading other Amy wives blogs to see if I can get answers or some kind of help….. turns out I am NOT  A STEREOTYPICAL  ARMY WIFE.   For reference  A typical Army wife is also married to the Army, Loves the army, runs all the events on base or attends all of them, can be slightly gossipy, and some think the rank of the spouse is also there rank so they think they can rule over the rest of the spouses. Which none of that applies to me!!!!!  I mean not all of them are like that .  I like hanging with the boys anyways. I really only have a few girl friends that I can stand. Most women drive me nuts.
    I get asked a lot why I married Austin if I am not so in love with the Army. Truth is folks I married him because I love him and he is my best friend. I support him in what ever he does.  I don’t have to love it I just have to be ok with it. Honestly the Army has been his dream since I first met him. I know he is not the kind of guy that would just sit around in a desk , or do manual labor for the rest of his life. That is just not who he is at all.
    So I have came up with a acronym for myself  with the help of my fantastic mother in law Brenda . NSTAW ( Non-Stereotypical Army Wife). So apparently I need to find a friend when I get there like me because Brenda says I can’t just have  four legged friends. So I think I might just place an add some where when I get there and I think it will go something like this:

    Army wife 21  searching other Army spouse  who is a NSTAW who loves dogs, wine, adventures, being one of the guys, who doesn’t gossip and is a tom barbie.

    Hopefully I will find a friend who is like me or I am just getting a bunch of dogs because they are pretty much what I look for in a human friend minus the wine part. Plus I will actually be able to talk to Austin and hang out with him when he is off work so maybe just dogs and Austin will be all right.

Also I never really know how to end a blog so hope you guys have a great day!

Higgins/Hendricks Mgee

Hello World,
This is a fair warning some of this blog might make a few people upset but I really needed to get this out in the world.
So I haven't blogged much lately and I mean like at all. Well my life as usal has been a world wind and really I have had no where to turn but hide under a rock until I was really ready to come out and just deal with things.  I have lost people, got married, my parents, moving a few times, figuring out life.Now today I am finally happy and ready to move on with things. I am glad I have people in my life who know me and not the fake me. As many people know I grew up a church kid living in pastors kid world living in a fish bowl. Only far and few really know who I am. Yes I am part of that world but in reality I am my own hannah montana life. I honestly could never go on a date with out running into at least 5 people from church, I couldn't never relax and, be me with out worrying it would affect my church life or my families life. Well now that I am all grow up and I don't have to live in my fish bowl world any more moving far away from South Dakota and North Dakota I finally feel free. Not that I don't love it here and all the people who have helped me grow learn and have been my friends. It is just hard when people don't actully know you and  just your dad.  I mean yes I did meet Austin through church events, but I could be real with him from the day I met him. It is hard to deal and feel things when you are being watched all the time. Now I have a few friends whp get me and I am so greatful for it. It makes me realize it is ok to be me in my own skin. I also know so many fake it until they get home. What happens behind closed doors never makes it out in the open. People pretend all the time. I am glad I am finally in a wold where doors are open and people talk and share who they are and it isn't a puppet game.

The Big News

Hello People of the internet!

   So I have crazy amazing news. I am getting married in a month. Yes you did just see that I am getting married to my wonderful person Austin. It has been a crazy few months and well to top it all off we were like lets get married. Now many of you might be thinking  did we miss something? Like getting engaged? Well no we kinda just skipped that. We have come to the conclusion when you both know it is right, it is right.  Plus we have been talking about it for a long time.  I  am so excited and so is he. I can't wait to be HendricksMgee (haha). It is insane trying to plan a wedding in month to say the least but it can be done. Thankfully my family and Austin's family are pretty great wedding planners since we have so many contacts. So most of the things you need for a wedding are pretty much taken care of like
1. We got our rings
2. Went wedding dress shopping and found a dress that doesn't need to be fixed at all.
3. Have a photographer .
4. Have a musician .
5. A venue and pastor or two.
6. Know a wonderful lady who makes cakes.
7. Plus hobby lobby had a wedding sale so decoration are covered
8. Have great room mates who took our invite pictures
9. Seriously have the greatest parents and family and friends who are helping plan this thing.

So there is the big news I know many of you have been wondering what is going on so I figured a quick update would be awesome.

Talk to you all soon.

Spirit of the Hills Wildlife Sanctuary.

     Well since I have been out here I have had the chance to go one some adventures. One I recently went on was to the wild life sanctuary in Spearfish Called Spirt of the Hills with Austin's brothers.  Man did this place melt my heart. I love animals and all of theses animals have a story to tell. Not only do you learn about there story but about them but the individual animal species as well. The tour guides volunteer there time and help keep the place running and the sanctuary runs off donations, money from the tours and volunteers time to take care of it.  It is a non profit animal rescue that takes care of over 320 animals and 40 different species that call this amazing place home.  There are tigers , lions and bears (Oh my)  farm animals dogs,cats, and many more. The animals are not bread and or sold so it is there forever home to be safe and for people to learn about the animals.  This  place that takes care many animals that have been in homes, breading facilities, circus and etc. that just can't take care of them any more or rules changed on licensing or people who think that is awesome to own a big cat or other big animals that will eat you once it grows up. Seriously don't get a large dangers animal as a pet just don't.
     So I went to this place when I was a kid and I really wanted to go back before I went home. I grew up on animal planet as a kid and I have always been fascinated with animals and nature. This place was amazing to view the animal.You aren't aloud to pet them however, the fences are there for your safety but most the animals will walk up to them. I would recommend going to there night tour because the animals are up and moving around since most them are more active in the evening.  Plus in our group there wasn't very many people so we could ask lots of questions and spend time to get great pictures. As you are walking around  you can hear the lions roaring and talking to each other, and see tigers and bears playing with  each. The Mountain Lions are pretty amazing too. I know that we have them in the Hills and they can be pretty scary but they are beautiful and they really are more scared of us and try to leave us alone. It is pretty crazy to see one just sitting in a tree and trying to find them since they blend in so well. While I love animals tigers are my favorite and they have 10 of them there. I was madly in love and I took mostly pictures of them. A few of them were from a breading program and one that we heard about was from a circus. They were simply amazing. They also have a very rare lion his name is Hercules his bread  only has a hand full left in the world called Barbary Lion. The sanctuary also has lots of birds they take care of and some talk you and dance with you. They are so funny Austin's brothers had a fun time with them getting them to talk and dance. It was so much fun to experience these animals . I would really recommend going if you like animals or have kids that like animals.

Hiking Storm

Hello world,

Sorry I haven't been up to date with this blogging thing. I have been very busy working and having a bit of fun here and there . So one of great things I have done this summer was I climbed Storm Mountain all by myself. It was pretty strange going hiking by myself and making sure I was on the right trail. I wasn't racing to the top with a million other campers like have done in the past. I took my time to look around and take pictures and just breath in the fresh air. The only thing that made me nervous was when I had to rock climb with my back pack pulling me the other way. I got scared in a few parts but I also have been rock climbing before so I knew a few things to help me not freak out. Always have three points of contact with the rocks you are climbing. Plus I really  wanted to make it so I pushed my self. When I made it up to the top  it was a big relief and amazing feeling of accomplishment. I just chilled up at the top and looked around took some pictures and just took some time to myself to think. I also had a few turkey vultures who were circling me while I was up there which was cool but also made me a little nervous that I was going to be there lunch. It really was confidence booster for me to make it to the top and back down all by myself.  When I was coming back down  I also saw the most crazy thing,I was going to take a picture of this bee on a thistle plant and then all of a sudden a white spider jumped out and tried to grab it. Now for those of you who know me well I hate spiders with a burning passion. So for me taking pictures of this and not freaking out it was a miracle. So I captured it in a few pictures and ind it turned out pretty  awesome. I love capturing nature photos. Maybe one day I can do it for a living. I am so lucky to be living in this place, it is so beautiful and I am so glad I got to spend some time out here and enjoy it. It is crazy that it is my last few days up here. 

( If you don't like bugs, spiders don't  scroll and get a better look. However,it is cool and not that freaky.)