Life of a Military Wife

And the journey continues....

2011-09-26T17:52:00.002-04:00

The days are starting to go by a little faster, and I am starting to get into a routine. I still have my meltdown moments, but there are fewer. I am really enjoyed the new church I am attending. It's weird because every week the pastor seems to know exactly what is on my mind and in my heart, and that is what he talks about. I am calling it divine intervention, God Himself is leading me to where I need to listen. I am finding out, slowly but surely, who exactly I can depend on and who I can do without. I found this great quote "If your presence in my life does not add value, then your absence won't make a difference!" So very true. So often there are people in our lives who bring us down, treat us unkindly, or just don't add anything good to our lives. Those people need to go. We need to surround ourselves with good, caring, loving, people and not worry so much about those that would talk bad about us, gossip about us or start nasty Facebook posts. This is a lesson I am working on learning. For so long, I have depended on my husband to be my only true friend, and with him gone, it is hard to know who to trust and who not to. I am finding out though, that some people are worth the risk and others are not. When those others fall by the wayside, it doesn't hurt quite as much as I thought it would. I may not have TONS of friends to support me, but the ones I do have are pretty darn awesome! I will count this blessing and move on.
In about another move, I will be completing a forced move on my own, and crazy me, but I am doing a DITY move! Our house is being demolished and we are being moved to brand new housing. I am excited but scared at the same time. I have never done a move entirely on my own (without my military member) so it is a little overwhelming. I do have help though so hopefully it will go smoothly.

A new Sunday...going to church

2011-09-18T12:16:00.002-04:00

So today I decided to try out a new church. I am not a regular church goer, never have been. But this particular church has a marquee outside! I see it every day, and they always have the happiest thoughts posted. It always makes me smile, so I thought I would visit and see what it was like. I like upbeat churches too. I want my music to be uplifting, hand-clapping, tapping your toes kind of music. This church offers that. I got there, signed my daughter in to children's church and went to the main area. People were friendly, but not overly so. Maybe they just need to warm up a bit? Anyway, we sang some great songs and then the pastor started to speak. From the very first moment he opened his mouth, he seemed to speaking straight to me. He talked about people who say they are Christians, but don't REALLY have a true relationship with God. He talked about people who try to be good, but then end up throwing "snot" (his analogy not mine lol) on others. This is me!!! I have always wanted that glowing, faithful, uplifting relationship with God, but I have never had it. I have never taken that last leap and given myself over completely to the relationship. I DO believe in God, but do I depend on him all the time? No! I do pray, but usually only when I am stressed or in trouble. I want more than that in my life. So I sat there and cried. Not sobbing, but gentle tears on my face. I really felt like I was being spoken to. Part of me wanted to jump up and scream "Me! Me! You are talking about me!" But I just wasn't brave enough. It is a journey that I need to continue on I guess. I guess I also hoped that someone would have noticed I was crying and asked why. The pastor also talked about being seperated from your spouse for a lengthy period of time, which, of course, for me, brought more tears, as my hubs has just left for a year. All in all, it was an enlightening hour and gave me much to think about. I want a better relationship with God, I want that JOY! I just don't know if I will be able to find it!

Worth reposting again and again....

2011-09-15T21:28:00.002-04:00

A friend of mine shared this on her Facebook wall today and it was just what I needed to read! Therefore, I thought I would share it along! It is a great thing to read for those of us left behind while our spouses are gone. Enjoy.

Letter To A Military Spouse: Author Unknown

While I have never had the pleasure of meeting you or your husband, I felt the need to write you and express a very deep feeling that I have in my heart.

I, as a person, am not brave. I do not tackle things head on, as I hate confrontation. I will travel 100 miles out of my way just to avoid a conflict. I am an American woman that has no idea what is going on in the military other than what I hear on the news.

I have never had to let go of someone so that they could go fight for people that they didn't know, people that sometimes do not appreciate or understand what they are fighting for. I have never had a sleepless night of worry because of a report that another bomb has exploded and I still haven't heard from my husband. I have never had to wait for months on end to hold the one that I loved so. I have never had to tell my children that daddy wasn't coming home tonight because he was so far away fighting for something that they aren't yet old enough to understand. I have never had to hold my head high and suppress the tears as I hear that it will be at least another six months of separation before my loved one gets to come home. I have never had to deal with a holiday away from the one that I thought I would share every day of my life with.
And I have never had to feel the panic rising in my heart at the sound of a ringing phone or knock at the door for fear that it is the news that everyone is terrified of getting.

For the reasons listed above, I can not tell you that I understand how you feel. I can not tell you that you must be strong. I can not say that you shouldn't be angry, because you "knew what you were getting into when you married a military man". I can not say these things because I have never had to walk in your shoes. What I can say for certain is that because of your unselfish acts of bravery and your husbands willingness to stand up for those who see him as "just another soldier" - - I will never have to walk in your shoes.

I do understand that as a military wife you are expected to uphold a certain amount of control, but I never understood how you could do it, until now. I have figured out that you are not like other women. You are of a special breed. You have a strength within you that holds life together in the darkest of hours, a strength of which I will never possess. The faith you have is what makes you stand out in a crowd; it makes you glow with emotion and swell with pride at the mention of The United States of America.

You are a special lady, a wonderful partner and a glorious American. I have more respect for your husband than I could ever tell you, but until recently I never thought much about those that the soldier leaves at home during deployment.

Until this moment I could never put into words exactly what America meant to me. Until this moment, I had no real reason to.... Until I heard of you.

Your husband and his military family hold this nation close, safe from those who wish to hurt us...but you and those like you are the backbone of the American family. You keep the wheels in motion and the hearts alive while most would just break completely down. Military families make this nation what it is today.
You give us all hope and you emit a warming light at the end of a long dark tunnel.

Because of you and your family...I am able to be me. I am able to have my family. I am able to walk free in this great land. Because of you and your family, I can look ahead to the future with the knowledge that life is going to be okay. Because of you and your family, I can awake to a new day, everyday.

I realize that you are a stronger person than I will ever be because of these things and I just wanted to take the time today to say thank you to you and your family for allowing me that freedom.

I will never be able to repay this debt to you, as it is unmatchable. However, I hope that you know that no matter where you are...what you are doing...what has happened today...or what will happen tomorrow...Your husband will NEVER be "just another soldier" to me.... And you, dear sweet lady, will never be forgotten.

You are all in my prayer's everyday and I pray that God will bring you back together with your loved one safely.

May God Bless You!
(Author Unknown)

Couple days down...many more to go

2011-09-09T13:25:00.002-04:00

So a few days have gone by and I am starting to find things to do with my time. Both my daughters are in school all day now, so for the first time in 6 years I am home alone all day. It is weird! I am trying to get things sorted because before you know it, a year will have gone by and we will be moving...again! I am missing my husband but he calls often, so that helps. I figure today, instead of complaining, I would count some blessings! So here goes....
I am so blessed that my husband is deployed in this day and age. We have Skype, VoiP, email, Facebook, Google+. Back when he first joined the AF, we had 1 15 minute phone call per week, and the only other way to communicate was to send a letter. You never had enough time on that phone call to talk about everything, and it always left me more frustrated than happy. So I am super blessed that there are so many ways to communicate now. My husband always makes it a priority to get his internet set up, and make frequent phone calls to us! No matter where he is sent, he always finds a way. I am lucky to have him, and that he thinks that way. I know there are many spouses who don't get the same. The first thing my husband does is call as soon as he is able. He has stayed up late missing out on sleep so that he could talk to our daughters about their first day of school, and gotten up early and walked for miles to find a wireless connection so he could speak to me. I thank God that I have a husband who takes communication with me so seriously and understands that, sometimes, hearing his voice is all I need to make it through another day! So today, I am going to smile and be thankful for my husband and the technological age that we live in. I am going to be glad that I get to hear his voice and talk to him regularly! :)

Labor Day...what's so great about holidays anyway?

2011-09-05T17:59:00.002-04:00

So today is Labor Day, yes my first holiday without my husband. Granted it is not a big one, but a holiday none the less. It sucks! Everyone is having bbqs and get-togethers, and I am home...ALONE! I guess everyone forgot about me. I haven't had a single phone call, text...nothing. That is the thing that sucks about holidays while your spouse is deployed, you usually don't get invited places. I don't know whether it's because it's awkward just inviting 1 part of a pair, or that people are so busy with their lives that they forget you are alone. Who knows? I just know that I am a little jealous of all the people out bbq'ing, celebrating, spending time together!
On another note, tomorrow is the first day of school. My youngest is flying the nest and headed off to kindergarten. We have spent the whole day preparing (including running to Walmart to pick up last minute school supplies! Note to self: Never do that again, man that place was CROWDED!!!) I am sad...she is growing up so fast! For the first time in 6 years, I will be home all day by myself! I don't know what I am going to do. I have lots of ideas, but not sure I have the motivation to get them started! I cannot believe she is old enough to head off to school for a full day. Seems like just yesterday she was born, and we were marveling over how tiny she was! I am hoping that she has a GREAT first day, and that she loves kindergarten as much as she loved preschool!
With a final thought, I will close this post. I am praying...every day. Not something I normally do, but something I feel I need to do to get thru this year. I hope God understands, because my thoughts aren't exactly coherent when I am praying. I tend to wander all over the place, but at least I am praying and getting it all out. Til tomorrow.

1 day down...many more to go!

2011-09-04T16:51:00.004-04:00

Today wasn't so bad...I had my moments but overall it has been a pretty decent day. I found my way to the NEX all by myself! Usually I just go to our local BX, but the NEX at the Naval Base has a Hello Kitty section that our little one wanted to check out. So I drove there! First time on my own, and I didn't even get lost! I was really proud of myself. My moment happened on the way home... My husband made me a CD of music before he left. It was all songs that I requested. Well before he left, he told me that he had added a few songs that conveyed how he feels and he wanted me to listen to the words! The one that got to me the most was "Wait for Me" by Theory of a Deadman. Such a beautiful song and I can hear him singing it to me. It tore me up, but also made me smile, because it shows just how much he loves me. I did get to talk to my husband on the phone which always makes things better! I have to take this one day at a time, or I will never get through it!

And the countdown begins.....

2011-09-03T16:39:00.002-04:00

Today was probably the hardest day of my life. I had to send my husband off for a year and watch as our 6 year old melted down as he walked down the airport concourse. It was hard enough letting him go, but seeing our daughter cry for Daddy for hours was worse. It breaks her heart for him to be gone; the two of them are so very close. We drove home and went back to bed for a while, as we were up super early to drop Daddy off at the airport. The hardest thing to deal with is the fact that life goes on. As my heart is breaking and I am feeling totally alone in the world, everyone else is going about their daily business. Noone else's world stops just because mine has. To everyone else it is just another normal day. Coming home to an empty, quiet house is probably the suckiest thing! I miss everything about my husband! Today I don't want to be strong, I don't want to buck up and carry on! I want to just dissolve into tears, heaves and snot and feel sad! Alas, I still have kids, pets and a house to take care of. This is going to be one hell of a journey for me. I have been through many deployments and I swear, each time it gets harder and harder to say goodbye! For now, I will just hold on til I can hear his voice on the phone, which even though he is far away, somehow makes things a little better!

Tears of joy, and tears of pain

2011-09-02T11:32:00.002-04:00

Today is my hubby's pack-out day...they have come to box up his stuff and ship it off to his destination. His time left with us is extremely extremely short. No spouse should ever have to watch their significant other's stuff get packed. It is heartbreaking...to say the least. Watching strangers pack everything you and your husband share into boxes headed to another country. I may be weak, but I just couldn't watch. I took myself upstairs to the bedroom to silently break down. I try not to cry in front of him, I don't want him to feel bad about having to leave. It's hard enough for him to leave us for a year, without me making him feel worse. I just didn't know how hard it was going to be to watch them pack up his life! Watching them pack made it all the more real. I know plenty of people go through this and its just as hard. I wish that our men and women in the Armed Forces didn't have to leave for such long lengths of time. It makes me want to be totally selfish and scream "Why do these other countries need us? Let our men and women stay home and take care of their own country!" I am tired of saying goodbye to the man I love. I am tired of being without my best friend. I am tired of my children learning first hand what loss means, as they have to wipe away their tears and say goodbye to Daddy yet again. It just isn't right! Dads are so important! My youngest starts kindergarten this year, and her Dad won't be here for Dad Patrol or the Daddy Daughter Dance. Our oldest graduates high school. Her Dad won't be here for her last Homecoming, Prom, Spring Musical, college acceptance letters, or graduation! I know he has to go and I know I have to deal with it, but that sure as hell doesn't mean I have to like it!

The clouds are gathering.....

2011-08-16T14:55:00.005-04:00

So my husband has an assignment to go to Korea for a year. For months it has been up in the air due to medical issues. They would say he wasn't going, then they would say he would. He even had to get an extension on his RNLT date so that he could finish his medical clearance. Well we got news today that everything has been finalized and he is totally cleared to go! Total hard hit to the heart for me! I guess somewhere deep down, I was hoping it would get cancelled. I get that my husband has to do this, its his job. I get that tons of military spouses go thru this every year...but, he is my best friend! My husband is EVERYTHING to me. He is the one I talk to, lean on, etc. I do have friends, but I depend on the hubs for everything. I can't talk to anyone else the way I talk to him. I am trying to hold it together and not be an emotional mess for his last few weeks, but on the other hand, I just want to fall apart! Life is going to be so different without him. And its a whole year.... :( I only have 1 friend here that I feel I could depend on for everything. That's not a lot. And she could leave at any time. Then what am I gonna do? I know it sounds like I am having a pity party, which I guess I am, but I just cannot be strong all the time. Sometimes you just gotta let it all go and be sad. I just cannot imagine life for a year without my best friend!
I also have to move to a new house by myself. We are being force moved and originally they said they would move us before he left, but now they are saying no. It's just a lot to take in for me! So much to do and be responsible for, and noone to lean on while I go through it all! It just sucks! Well that's my rant for the day. Through it all, I am still proud of my man and still proud to be a military wife!

Pre PCS pms'ing

2011-08-02T13:50:00.001-04:00

I don't know if other husbands act like this, but I think my hubs might be having a pre-deployment/pcs pms kind of time. He was supposed to leave this coming Saturday to go to Korea for a year. Well the AF messed up his medical clearance and he had no orders, so he applied for a one month extension. He now leaves in a month. Ever since that extension got approved, he has been acting differently. He snaps at the slightest thing, he jumps down my throat, he is being harder on our children, and he is so damn defensive. He asks my opinion, then gets pissed off when I share it! Then if I go the other route and say I have no opinion or nothing to say, he gets pissed then too. Do other husbands act like this right before they leave? Anyone else notice it? Tonight, when he came to kiss me goodnight and say I love you, when I responsed with "I love you too" he came back with "Yeah sure you do!" Now I am pissed over that. I didn't even do anything. All I said before that was that I did not want to have yet another argument over our teenager and what she has done or hasn't done today. And I get "Yeah sure you do!" when I say I love you too. The worst thing is that tomorrow morning he will wake up and act like it never happened. But I can't do that. When my feelings get hurt, I need an apology at least. I did try and ask him if he was stressed about the upcoming move to Korea (for him) and if that was maybe affecting his mood, and all I got in return was "Why are you on me so much lately? Why I am to blame for everything?" So I gave up asking. I don't know...if this is how the whole month is going to go, then it can't go by fast enough! If your hubs acts like this too before leaving, please share. At least that way I know I am not alone.

Keeping my mouth shut....

2011-05-16T01:17:00.002-04:00

I have always been a very honest and upfront person. You get what you see. I have never been one to keep quiet or keep my opinions to myself. This has ALWAYS come back to haunt me. People say they appreciate honesty, until they get a dose of it, then they get pissed off. The past couple of weeks (after being honest about my feelings and getting burned for it) I have decide to just shut up. If someone pisses me, hurts my feelings, or does something I don't like; I am just not going to say anything at all. I am tired of being tried and convicted because I like to be totally honest and upfront. I am tired of all the drama that comes from being honest. Yes, really, being honest causes drama. There are always those people whose "little feelings" get hurt because you ACTUALLY told them the truth. Then they get pissed off and have to run off and tell someone else how you hurt their feelings, and that my friends, is how the drama gets started! And you know what, these are ADULT WOMEN that I am talking about. It goes against the grain of everything that I am to keep my mouth shut and NOT talk about how I am feeling, but it is necessary. I am tired of all the drama that comes with it. I am tired of getting the blame just because I tried to be honest about how I felt or what kind of hurt someone caused me. For now, and for the near future, I am just not going to say anything at all, and we will see how that works it. Who knows? It may fail. But for now, the lips are zipped. Let all these crazy people go find their drama somewhere else.... I don't have time for it in my life anymore!

3 more months and my life falls apart.....

2011-04-27T11:51:00.003-04:00

So in a little over 3 more months, my husband is going to leave on a remote tour for a year. In and of itself, this is not that big of a deal. My husband deploys so much at this base, that it has become the new "normal" for him not to be home. So one more tour away is not going to kill me. What is going to kill me is the fact that HE is my BEST FRIEND. He is the only person I talk to about things, the only one that is always there for me, and the one that I know I can always depend on. This is not to say that I don't have "friends". I do, but not the kind of friends everyone else has. At least not at this base. I am not the girl people call to hang out with, go out with, have a movie night with, get pampered with etc. I am the girl you call when you need a favor. I am the girl you call when you need something done quickly and efficiently. I am the girl you call for a favor. I am the girl who never says no. I am the girl you make plans with, but then don't show up for, because you just forgot. I am not important enough to be remembered unless you are in desperate need of something. I have made friends at this base, that is true. But a lot of the time, it is a one sided friendship. I am there for them, to help, listen, offer assistance, do favors; then when it is my turn to need something or someone, the world is empty. Everyone is busy, or forgot, or just can't. I know that I am strong, I have survived many many years of deployments without my husband. But somehow, imagining a WHOLE YEAR with no one to talk to, laugh with, have fun with etc, is just so heart-breaking. I have never been good at making friends. I am brutually honest and way too sarcastic for most people. But my husband gets me, he understands me and loves me for who I am. Life will not be the same without him, and I will truly be all alone. The short list of women that I know I could count on in a pinch are both PCSing this summer, right before my husband leaves. I just don't know what I am going to do. I am not asking for pity... I just had to get all this off my chest before I totally lost it. I don't know why people don't want to hang with me and do all the girlfriendy stuff. I think I am a pretty decent person and I have a lot to offer a friendship. If only people would take the time to get to know the REAL me. It is going to be a very lonely, long year. I guess that I will have to depend on Skype a LOT and emails and phone calls! Hopefully the years goes by fast!

Assignment to Korea

2011-01-10T17:21:00.003-05:00

So the other day my hubs calls me and tells me he has an assignment. I am already freaking because our daughter graduates high school next year. Then...he dropped the bomb. The assignment is only for him, he is going to Korea for a year, and he leaves in the next 6 months. I know that I shouldn't complain about this. Lots of spouses have to go through it, matter of fact, I have a dear friend that is going through it right now. However, my husband has barely been home at all since we were stationed here. He has missed holidays, important birthdays (Sweet Sixteen), school programs and special days, entire summers, and many milestones. I have lived here for 2 years, and he has maybe been present for 1/4 of that! It sucks! Our littlest daughter is totally attached to him, and is going to be devastated that he has to leave for a WHOLE YEAR!!!! He will miss our oldest's high school graduation! It just is not right. He is my best friend and I cannot imagine a whole year without him. People keep telling me that I will get through it, and that I am one of the strongest women they know, but you know what? I DON"T WANT TO BE STRONG!!!! I want to scream, cry, stomp and throw a baby fit! I want my husband to stay home for more than 6 months instead of always being gone. I want more hellos and less goodbyes. I want to share our children's achievements and milestones with him face-to-face instead of via email and Skype! I want someone else to go! I do not want my husband to go away for a WHOLE YEAR! There will be alot of changes during that year: our oldest graduating high school, our youngest starting kindergarten and many more. I don't want to be the only parent that sees these things. I am tired of people assuming I am divorced because they never see my husband! AAAAARRRGGGGHHHH! Sorry just had to get it all out. This is the crappiest news ever!

Learning the Lessons God Teaches

2010-11-17T23:29:00.002-05:00

So this past summer when my hubbie was gone (again) I had to learn a few hard lessons. There were some ladies that I thought were my close friends, women that I thought I could depend on for anything. Turns out, sadly, that I was wrong. Now normally, I would be devastated by this. Not this time around. This summer without my husband was a journey for me. I have realized that God puts every person into your life for a reason. Some of them are meant to be blessings, life long friends that you could not do without. Others, well they are there to teach you lessons that you need teaching. They are also there to show you your own weaknesses. I know now that I am strong. Being a military wife, I have to be, and sometimes that is just how I have looked at...like I have no choice. However, I realized, I do have a choice. I can CHOOSE to be strong! I can choose to remove people from my life that do not fit. I don't have to like everyone, and I don't have to accept shoddy friendships. I am worth good friends, friends that I can count on, trust, and believe in. The military life is such a unique journey for the spouses...why shouldn't we surround ourselves with strong like-minded women? Women that have the same goals as us... and I am not talking about career or child raising, etc. I am talking about the goal of supporting each other, and being there for one another. I am talking about believing in what our spouses do and standing together in that. Yep! Everyone I come in contact with is put there by God for a reason, the lesson to learn is that not all of them have to stay. I can learn the lesson they are providing and move on! For all my military spouses out there that have been there for me, and do exemplify the kind of military spouse I want to be... I LOVE Ya! And keep on!

Homecoming and Heartache

2010-10-29T16:08:00.003-04:00

My hubby is home! You don't know how happy this makes me! When he is gone, I feel like a significant part of me is missing. I am not a whole without him. His homecoming was wonderful. I was able to keep it a secret from our girls, and surprise them both at school. It was priceless. The looks on their faces when Daddy popped out from behind the door was amazing! It was quite possibly the best homecoming ever!
On to the heartache part.... while I am super duper happy that my husband is home, I have found out something that just broke my heart. What I thought was a close friend, recently told me that she cannot feel sorry for me or understand my struggles when my husband is gone because he is not usually gone as long as her husband. She feels that she would be able to handle my deployment length easily and therefore I have no right to complain or to ask for help. This really upset me! I was not aware that getting support from friends and fellow military spouses was based on the length of the deployment. I think that all deployments and TDYs are stressful regardless of their length. Things go wrong, you are on your own, and without your partner; no matter how many days, months, etc. I was really surprised to hear that she felt this way. I always considered her a really close friend until now. To basically say that what goes on in my life is unimportant because my husband is only gone X months versus your husband being gone XX months, is just ridiculous to me. I think if we are going to support one another, it should be across the board, not based on deployment length or destination. We are all in the same boat, ship, plane, humvee etc regardless of where our spouses go and for how long. We should all be able to depend on each other no matter what. There should be no conditions, or stipulations for that support!
Just had to get that out there. The hubby is home, and I am blissful in his presence. I am going to enjoy my time with him and our family, because before you know it, another deployment will be looming on the horizon!

Father's Day 2010

2010-06-20T13:32:00.002-04:00

So today is Father's Day... unfortunately we have noone to celebrate it with, because Dad is away! So Happy Father's Day to all the dads out there that are away from their families this father's day! Know that we are thinking of you, and missing you, and that the day just is not the same without you. Sweet dreams of breakfast in bed, sticky fingers, jelly kisses and hugs with small tickling fingers. Sweet dreams of fingerpainted pictures, macaroni frames, and screams of "I love you Daddy, you are the best in the whole wide world" Prayers that you are here for the next Father's Day and many more after that. We miss you, we love you and we are proud of you... each and every one of you fighting, driving, flying or just plain working across the world away from your families!

On a Journey with God....

2010-06-18T11:34:00.002-04:00

So since my hubby is gone, and I have lots of time to fill, I have decided to begin exploring my relationship with God. I have never been a committed church-goer, bible reader or prayer person. I do believe in God, and I believe Jesus died for our sins; however, I have never felt that connected to God at all. My friend, T.D. says, I just haven't had my God "a-ha!" moment yet. I think she may be right. I have always been a little envious of those who have a strong faith and just trust God some completely. They seem so much more at peace with decisions, crises, and things. I want that! So I have been attending a bible study with a couple of my military spouse friends, and I am learning... little by little, but still learning. We are currently studying the ten commandments, and I admit, there is still some skepticism in my heart. I agree that the ten commandments should be followed, but I also believe there is room for interpretation in each and every life. I have been through a lot in my life, and I am not one to forgive easily. Small things yes, but the big things, no! I don't find it necessary to go to church, but I am starting to realize that it is true that when people are gathered in God's name, there is a different feeling. My problem with church is not God, but people. Everytime I think I have found a good church, some human goes and does something that turns me off the whole thing! Is this God's fault? NO,not at all, but it does keep me from attending church. Somehow, I don't think that churches today were what Jesus intended back in the day!
Any how, let me get to the point. The past few days have been a financial nightmare. Several things have come up that needed to be paid for, and if there is anything that I stress over majorly, it is MONEY! Especially when the hubs is away, because we really can't sit down and discuss a solution. So I have had all these things come up, and I have worried myself sick about them. There never seems to be enough to go around. So after bible study, I discussed it a little with my hubs and then decided to offer up a little prayer. Unusual for me, because I don't feel like I should be asking God for money! But I just asked that He help me figure out this whole financial snafoo. This morning, I woke up and it was all figured out in my head! I felt more calm about it, and I figured out a way to work it all out and get it all paid! Amazing! Then in answer to prayer (as if figuring it all out wasn't enough of an anwser) I go check the mail, and there is a check for me in there, that I totally was not expecting! It wasn't a massive amount, but enough to give me some perspective. So maybe prayers can be answered after all, if you offer them up for the right reasons. I feel at peace now with the finances, and it feels good! So thanks to T.D. for helping me start this journey and Thanks be to God for showing me that with Him all things really ARE possible!

Deployment Blahs....

2010-06-15T16:29:00.002-04:00

For some reason, this deployment is affecting me much worse than any of the others. I am old hat at this, I have been through TONS of deployments. I don't know what is wrong. Maybe it is because this is summertime. Maybe its because my hubby and I are closer than ever and it just hurts too much for him to be gone. I just cannot shake the doldrums. Every day is hard. Going to base and seeing men in uniform sucks even more, because it just reminds me of what I am missing. I can't avoid base...there are doctor's appointments and commisary trips. My children are driving me nuts this time around, and I feel bad being short with them. I just feel like I am on the edge all the time. I want to cry, but can't. I want to scream, but that would be inappropriate. It just really sucks. I don't want to unload it all on my hubby, because I know his end isn't much better. I don't want to feel like a burden. Sometimes it is hard to try and appear happy all day long, it feels like such a chore. Keeping myself busy just isn't working as well as it has in the past. I have friends, and I have things to do, but it is not making things better.

Finish the Sentence

2010-06-11T23:43:00.003-04:00

Finish the Sentence

I took this from my amazing friend L.C.'s blog I follow :) You finish the sentence!

I love... my children, my husband, my parents, my playgroup, and books!

Right now I want... my house to be organized, my husband to be safe, and for my husband to come home soon.

I feel like... a truck ran over me. All these workouts at the gym hurt! But the end result and the look on my hubby's face when he sees me after all those months will be worth it.

I hate it when... I am apart from my husband, when we fight, and when people are just untruthful!

I fear...that he is going to leave the world before me, and I won't be able to live without him. ... that something terrible will happen to my children.

I'm lonely without...MY HUSBAND!

I need... a kiss, a hug, new towels, and a paid personal organizer!

Today I... am fixing to go to bed and read.

Tomorrow I'm... going to see DAUGHTRY LIVE at the Hampton Coliseum!!!!!!!!!

I just... watched my baby fall asleep on the couch. She was just so tired.

I want to meet... anyone and everyone that I can in life. Every one has a different story.

I'm hungry for... white chocolate. Gonna get some at Target tomorrow!

I love it when...my husband is home, my baby laughs, my teenager says something nice to me.

I'm afraid of... my husband leaving me, dying, being alone in the world, being forgotten.

I'm listening to... the AC run, my baby sleeping, and me typing.

I'm wearing... jean capris and a white shirt.

I wish I was in... Italy...times were simpler then.

I want to get... a free ride to my husband's current location.

I can't... wait til my hubby comes home. Reunions are the best.

I'm nervous to... go places by myself, meet new people.

I feel happiest when... my husband is around me, when my baby hugs me, when my playgroup mommas help me keep it together when my hubs is gone.

And the days go marching on.....

2010-06-07T22:43:00.004-04:00

So the past few days I have been keeping busy. I try to schedule myself time out with friends, or fun for my kids so that I don't have to be at home and think about the fact that my hubby is gone. My housework does suffer, but I would rather live in a messy house, then be home.... lonely and crying. I have to say, I love the military spouses that I am friends with. When someone's hubs leave, they totally gather round and start taking care of you. Whether it be dinner, a night out, or just relaxing at someone's house, it all makes the time go by and gets my mind off the fact that I won't see my husband for months. The other night, my 4 year old starting crying for Daddy, and she told me "But I need him, cause he reads the best books!" It near about broke my heart. She really doesn't get the concept of time yet, so it is hard for her to understand just how long it will be til she sees Daddy again. I try to explain, but her little mind just doesn't grasp it. It is so hard for her. I try to think ahead though, to the great feeling she is going to have when he comes home. That will be worth it.
My oldest is the opposite. She sees that Dad is gone, and she tries to break every rule that he usually enforces. She seems to think that since he isn't here his rules don't apply. I hate having to punish her, because I know it makes her mad and more willful, but respect doesn't end just because someone deploys. You know?
I realized today that I am blessed to have my husband in the branch of the military that he is in. I usually get to Skype with him every day, and he calls me a couple of times a week. Another friend of mine, whose hubs is in the Navy, gets ONE Skype video call the entire time he is gone. Sometimes weeks go by without her hearing a word from him! I don't know whether I could handle that!
Well off to bed, more things to do tomorrow.

Thought it might be fun to share a little about me, so I am lifting this idea from Tara @Life of a Newly Wife.

A - Age: 37

B - Bed size: Queen

C - Chore you hate: Cleaning the carpets

D - Dog's name: No dogs, but we do have cats.

E - Essential start your day item: hugs from my baby girls, and hubby when he is here.
F - Favorite color: greens and browns

G - Gold or Silver or Platinum: white gold

H - Height: 5'5''

I - Interesting fact about yourself: I don't like pictures of faces in magazines. I always feel like they are staring at me. Weird, I know.

J - Jewelry you wear everyday: wedding ring and some star shaped earring my little one gave me.

K - Kids: 2: ages 4 and 15.

L - Living arrangements: Live in Base Housing, and I am blessed with a great house.

M - Mom's name: Dodie

N- Nicknames: My hubby calls me Baby. My parents called me Pumpkin. My Mimi calls me by my first and middle names.

O - Overnight hospital stay other than birth: nada

P - Pet Peeve: Dishonesty, two-faced people and backstabbers.

Q - Quote: To the world you are noone, but to someone you are the world.

R - Right handed or left handed: Righty

S - Siblings: 1 younger brother

T - Time you wake up: 5 am on weekdays to get my daughter up for school, then back to bed til 9 or 10.

U- Underwear: love me some boy shorts. gotta have full coverage

V - Vegetable you dislike: spinach, brussel sprouts.

W - Ways you run late: my kids!!!!

X - X-rays you've had: too many to name

Y - Yummy food you make: Chili Rice, Cheese and Potato Pie, Cheeseburger and Fries Casserole, Bacon Crackle Corn Bake.

Z - Zoo favorite: giraffes and emus.

Day 2 of many many more

2010-06-03T21:16:00.002-04:00

So today started off really well. I was woken up by the sound of my husband's ringtone. (Yes, I have a special ringtone just for him) He was calling me from his mid-point to let me know he was safe. It was AWESOME to hear his voice. If I can't see him, I can at least enjoy talking to him. I got to talk to him several times before he boarded the plane to his end destination. It started my day off right!!! Surprisingly my children were really good today too! My 4 year old listened, and my 15 year old listened and cooked dinner!!! I had asked her to start dinner since I had to go and pick up my neighbor's son from work. When I returned, she had dinner almost completed! I was surprised, and she didn't even give me any attitude.
I also made it to the gym today. I didn't want to go, but knew I needed to. I did Pilates and Abs with two of my friends and it was a good workout. I also get to leave my 4 year old in childcare for 2 hours! So I got at least a little alone time. I hadn't been to the gym in so long, because I had been spending every minute I could with my husband. I am sore, but it will be for the best in the long run.
I won't miss my husband any less, but hopefully all of this will make the time go by faster.

Day One of many.....

2010-06-02T23:41:00.002-04:00

So today was the day I had to drop my husband off so that he can head out on his new adventure (my positive code word for deployment.) We were told to be there at a certain time, and we were. An hour later, the transportation still had not arrived. Then someone shows up to say, oh you weren't supposed to be here til this time. Needless to say, I was a little irritated because I could have had more time with the hubby! It finally came time to say goodbye, and it was so hard. I try not to cry too much, because I don't want him feeling bad about the job he has to do. Everything was fine til I got in the car. As we are driving away, my 4 year old starts crying hysterically that she just wants ONE MORE HUG from Daddy. I tell her she can't, he has gotten on the bus now, and we won't see him til he gets back. That did nothing to calm her. She was just distraught and cried all the way home. Once we get home, me and the hubs are texting back and forth as he is waiting to board his plane. Hours go by, and he still has not left. It eventually took 7 hours from the time I dropped him off til the time he boarded his plane. That really pissed me off. That was 7 hours I could have had with him. The entire time, he was just sitting in a hangar with no food, no drink and not allowed to even come out and give his little girl one last hug. 7 HOURS!!!! What the heck were they thinking? I know that as a military spouse, I have to be ready for things to change at a moment's notice and be delayed frequently. But 7 hours? That is like a whole day. We were only 15 minutes from each other, but could not see each other, and I just found that totally frustrating. He finally texted me to tell me he was leaving, and will call me when he reaches his destination. I feel so bad that he had to sit there all day just waiting.
I must say that I am blessed to be friends with other military spouses, who totally understand what I am going through. Two of my good friends, L.C. and T.D. came over tonight to keep me company on this first night alone. It helped so much! I really don't know what I would do without my fellow military spouses! L.C.'s hubby and mine have been on 3 of the last 4 deployments together, so I kind of feel like she is more family than friend. T.D.'s husband does not work with mine, but she has always been there to support me, and I would be lost without her help.
Well tomorrow is another day. I have to remember "Every day they are gone, is one day closer to them coming home." Pray for our troops!

Last few days

2010-06-02T00:59:00.002-04:00

The last few days have been the last I will spend with my husband for a while. All our great plans of spending time alone together doing what we wanted...gone out the window! We have kids, they have obligations, we have pets, they create havoc, we have lives, and they got in the way. Granted I did spend every moment of kids, pets and life getting in the way WITH my husband. He was with me for every second and I loved him being there. It just seems that we always make such huge plans for our last few days, and it never works out the way we plan. I want a PAUSE button! Then I could pause time, and spend those extra minutes just hugging him or having him hold my hand. Oh how I wish. I know it's his job, but my life is very different when he is not here. I am very honest and opinionated, and I tend to hurt peoples feelings unintentionally. He is my sounding board. He always help me to see things from other perspectives, and doing that over email, Skype or the phone just isn't the same. I sure am going to miss him.
On a funny note, he and I had picked out a new bedframe. It was perfect, exactly what we wanted and had been looking for. So tonight we go to buy it. He goes to look for a store employee to help us carry the box to the register. While he is gone, I am really checking this bed frame out. Suddenly I realize that it is not adjustable. It is built for a Twin and a Twin only, and we have a Queen! I go hunt him down to tell him! We were so bummed! The perfect bedframe and it isn't even our size! Luckily, we noticed this before we got it home and tried to set it up to fit our bed! LOL It was a funny moment. Memories of moments like that are what keep me going during the months he is away!

Deployments suck!

2010-05-31T17:40:00.002-04:00

In a few days, I have to, once again, say goodbye to my soul mate, my best friend, my husband. Whoever said that each time it gets easier, was LYING!!! It gets harder every time. Everytime I want to beg him to stay, get out of the military and just stay home with us. He heads off to another country, that I will never see, and I get to stay here and try to hold life together without him. I get to go to bed alone every night, with no one to talk through my day with. No matter how many people I surround myself with, no matter how many activites I schedule, at the end of the day, I still have to return to this house, that is not a home without my husband. Don't get me wrong, I am IMMENSENSELY PROUD of my husband and his continued sacrifice for his country. I am proud of the job he does every day, and I am proud of the person he is. All these things, however, do not make it any easier to kiss him goodbye, watch him board a plane, and KNOW that it will be months before I see him again. Months before he kisses or hugs me again. Months before I can sit next to him and just share my day with him. I try to be brave and not cry, but it is futile. As the day draws neared, the tears come unbidden. I cannot stop them. For you see, a part of my heart leaves with him everytime. I am not looking forward to saying goodbye, see you later, or ciao for now. But I will do it... for I am a military spouse and it is my job and honor to do what I have to do, so that my military member can do his job.

Higher Standards.... out the window!

2010-03-26T17:41:00.002-04:00

So I usually pride myself in living by a bit higher standards than the norm, because I am a military wife. I am counted on to keep it all together, and let my husband do his job unfettered by daily drama. I usually count myself as a pretty good wife, and a decent mother. However, recently that all fell apart! All the times that I have thought that I had a pulse on what was going on in my teen's life (I have a 15 year old teen daughter), I was wrong and it all got blown away in one conversation. The other night, my husband called our daughter down for dinner. Well when she hadn't come down after 30 minutes, he decided to go and check on her. She was asleep! So he wakes her up, and she joins us for dinner. I comment to her that she has been sleeping a lot more lately and acting really tired. She replies that she just has a lot on her plate. Then I ask her if she is pregnant. She freaks out and just says no over and over. So a little bit later, my husband and I are talking and he points out that she didn't say that being pregnant would be impossible because she hasn't had sex, she just denied being pregnant. I realize he has a good point, so I decide to go talk to her. Yep, then my world came crashing down. I go into her room to talk to her, and find out that YES she has had sex with her boyfriend (whom she is no longer dating.) I am just flabbergasted. I have no words at this point. I then find out that she had sex with him in his parents house (which is right next door) when his parents weren't home. So I decide to go talk to his parents. Yeah, that was a bad mistake. One thing about living in military housing, you can't decide what class of people you live next too. The parents were totally nonchalant about it and really couldn't give a crap less. So after I return from the parents house, I decide to have a further more in depth discussion with my teenager. Okay, another bomb drops and I was so not ready for it! Turns out, she had LOTS of sex, not just once or twice or even three times. It was many times, so many she can't count. I totally thought that I had a pulse on what was going on with her. I monitored her internet use, her phone calls, text messages, myspace account. I knew all her friends and their numbers. I knew what kind of music she listened which shows she watched, and I approved her clothing before she wore it. I totally trusted her and gave her freedoms I thought she had earned, but never too much. I always talked to my friends about how to raise a teen the right way, and then, out of nowhere, I TOTALLY GOT SLAPPED IN THE FACE! My daughter could be pregnant as well. Today I had to walk in Walgreens and buy a pregnancy test .... FOR MY 15 YEAR OLD! Something I never thought I would do. I am at a loss for words, truly and fully. I really do not know what to do anymore. So much for thinking I held my family to higher standards!

Totally Distraught and Just plain PISSED!

2010-03-02T12:44:00.002-05:00

Well today's thoughts were going to be about Tricare, but as usual with the military, worse news has shown up. Today my husband told me that the chances are high for him to go on the next deployment. Usually I am pretty good about deployments, it being his job and all. But this one just comes at the absolute wrong time. While he is gone, he will miss several huge milestones: our niece's graduation from high school, our daughter's Sweet Sixteen, and our other daughter's 5th birthday. Normally, I would not be so upset, but Sweet Sixteen is a huge deal, and we have already rented the venue and paid for everything! When he told his supervisor about it, his supervisor's response was "Yeah, I missed my kids birthdays before too!" But this is SWEET SIXTEEN!!!! You only get one of those. It is a big deal! We wanted to move here to the East Coast, we asked to come here. However, he has been gone more since we have been here than any other time in his military career. We have been here just over 18 months and in that time he has been gone 10 of those months. I know in the grand scheme of things, I am in the same boat as many other military spouses. I understand that! But that does not make it easier to handle. It SUCKS!!!! I don't want him to leave! I don't want to do all these important things without him. I want him here..... I don't know what I am going to do with myself! Sure, I have lots of great friends here, and a great support system, but in the end, those do not take the place of the person that knows me best. He is my best friend, my soul mate, the other half that makes us a whole. I am just a shell without him. I know that it is his job, and I refuse to make him feel bad about it, but inside I want to scream. I am tired of doing all the important things on my own. I am tired of having to explain to my children that no, Daddy will not be here for their important days, events etc. It is so hard! It is made even harder by the fact that they told him he wasn't going, then we make all these big plans and they CHANGE THEIR MINDS!!!! I don't understand why he has to go on EVERY SINGLE DEPLOYMENT! Where are the other military members???? Why can't they go this time? I know people whose spouses have NEVER deployed and I just don't think that is fair. If one has to go, all should have to take a turn. I am sure that I will be fine in the long run, and I will get through it all, but right now it just sucks, sucks, sucks!

Don't Ask, Don't Tell...my thoughts therein

2010-03-01T00:38:00.002-05:00

This has been on my mind for sometime, and my feelings about it are very strong, so if you are easily offended, you should stop reading now. I was a big Obama supporter. I campaigned for him, wore my T-shirts, buttons, bracelets, etc and even took my kids with me to vote for him. I cried buckets when he won. I was sure he was going to be the greatest President ever, until he came up with the idea to abolish the "Don't ask, don't tell" policy in the military. For those of you that don't know... "don't ask, don't tell" basically means don't tell us you're gay and we won't ask, and nothing will come of it. Good policy in my mind. Recently President Obama has come up with the idea to abolish that policy. NOT A GOOD PLAN! First off, prejudice is going to come about. In my mind, military and gay do not go together. Second off, men and women who are in the field in war times, cannot be worrying about what their military counterpart who might be gay is thinking. They have to keep their minds on their jobs and soley on their jobs, or they could die!!! Not knowing is better than knowing. If I am down in a foxhole, and my partner is a lesbian, but I don't know that, and she hasn't told, then I won't be distracted thinking about it. But if she is out in the open, I might very well worry about her checking out my butt, and then I might end up getting myself killed. I am in NO WAY saying that gays and lesbians should not serve in the military. I am sure that there are many fine homosexual people out there that do a wonderful job serving our country. All I am saying is that they should keep it to themselves. It does not need to be paraded around, spoken of on the job, and made a big issue. If we get rid of the don't ask, don't tell policy, I think that it will create more problems, rather than fix things. I am sorry if this upsets anyone, but that's what blogs are for. Speaking your mind... FREELY! My husband is in the military, and personally I would not want a gay male in the foxhole with him. I think he would be uncomfortable, distracted and possibly at risk of making a fatal error. Everytime his hypothetical gay foxhole sharer looked at him, he would be thinking "Is this guy looking at my butt?" Pats on the back would be interpreted in a whole new way!
Anywho, just my thoughts, its been on my mind for a while, so I thought I would get it out there and out of mind. Thoughts on TRICARE coming next! LOL

Trials and Tribulations of Military Life

2010-02-27T22:49:00.002-05:00

Making friends is hard, no matter where you are in life. It is made even harder when you are in the military. You move constantly, or your friends move constantly, and it is hard to maintain lasting relationships over long distances. I don't have enough fingers, toes, or other appendages to count the amount of friends that have come and gone in my life. Every once in a great while, you meet people you REALLY connect with and that is a total blessing in its self. Then again, every once in a while, you meet people that are desperate for friends, and while you feel bad for them, you just don't connect with them on that level. This week has been very hard, as certain situations caused friendships in my life to be tested, and other relationships caused strain and drama. As if, being a military wife, there wasn't already enough stress and drama!!!! I love the friends I have here in Virginia, and when someone comes along who threatens those relationships, I am like a momma lioness! I just wanna roar and strike out. I know that everyone needs friends, and relationships! I get that. But sometimes there are people you just don't click with. I guess what I am trying to say is life is frustrating enough without added drama! I want my friends for ME!! I don't want to share. I don't want anything to change. And watch out, those that threaten my relationships with my friends. LOL In the military, your friends are what keep you sane, they are what keep you going, when your spouse (aka best friend, other half, partner, lover etc) is gone. That makes these relationships all the more important than regular friendships outside the military, because they are short, they are fleeting, but they are also precious, blessed and oh so appreciated.

Close Friendships

2010-02-13T23:46:00.003-05:00

It has been a really long time since I have had a close group of girlfriends. Tonight I was thinking, the last time I was this tight with a group of women was in high school. In the military life, it is really hard to get to know someone really well, much less have them get to know you really well. You move every three to four years, and while you may make some lasting friendships, noone ever really knows the REAL you. Not so here in Virginia! I have a core group of about 5 woman that really know me! I spend a lot of time with them, and we do things together often, so I guess that helps us to know one another better. Sometimes it is hard to believe that I have bonded so quickly with these 5 women, but I have. It is going to crush my heart when one of them has to leave. They know me, understand me, and totally get me! That is super hard to find, not just in the military, but anywhere. I usually find it very hard to be myself around others, but with these women it is so..... easy and natural. They are my rocks, my comforts, my friends and my sisters in the military. Today I am truly grateful for their friendship and companionship. We always have such a great time together, and we know that we can depend on each other no matter what!

Life continues on, day after day.

2010-02-10T13:14:00.003-05:00

Well all I can say right now is..... SNOW, SNOW, SNOW! It seems as soon as the latest round of snow melts, more is on its way. Last night it poured down rain, then this morning it was snowing. The ground is blanketed in white, and area cancellations and closings are rolling in. Don't get me wrong, I love snow, but when you have a 4 year that LOVES to attend school and you have to tell her that school is cancelled, yet again, it is no fun! Hannah misses school. That is all there is to it.
On another note, Chris is working mids now, and I have to say that it sucks. It is almost like he is deployed, but still in the same house. He does nothing but sleep and work, and I feel like I never see him. We pass by each other as I am on my way out, and he is on his way to bed. Weekends, he still sleeps most of the day, so that he can stay on his mids schedule. So time together is sparse. But I guess that is part of the military life. Sometimes I think there should be an extra stipend for military wives. I mean, hello, does the government realize how much us military spouses do? We keep EVERYTHING together while our active duty counterparts work. We pay all the bills, do all the cleaning, do all the kid stuff (carpools, appointments, conferences, homework help, counseling, etc), we wake them up, we wash their uniforms, we pack them up for deployments, and on and on the list goes. Ummm, hey Congress, I think I might need a raise too! LOL I love my job as a military spouse and wouldn't trade it for anything, but I do think that I should be compensated, and not just with medical benefits and housing allowance!
Well that's enough for today. I have to get Hannah working on her Valentine's for her class party and Jade should be home from school soon to tell me whether she has to go to play practice tonight. The life of a military spouse never stops.... it's go, go go!

Things I am thankful for....

2010-01-17T14:10:00.002-05:00

Yesterday we celebrated Thomas' 3rd birthday here at my house. My friend Tamara lives in a really small apartment, so I loaned her my house for the party. We had a really great time. Thomas was so cute opening up all his presents. Tamara did a fantastic job with the party. It was a Wubbzy party and she made a cake, centerpiece, craft and treat bags. It was all very crafty and beautiful. After the birthday party, we all met at 3 Amigos Mexican Restaurant for dinner. It was a little chaotic but good to get out as families, together. And hence, the reason I am writing this blog today.
In military life, I find myself without my husband regulary. Whether it be deployments, TDYs, late shifts, rotating shifts or just him being busy with his job, I am alone a lot more often than I would like. That is why I am so thankful for my moms group and all the wonderful friends that I have in the group. They are my support, my comfort, my shoulder to cry on and my ear to listen if I need them. I am lucky to belong to a group of women that mesh really well together and compliment each other. Sitting at dinner last night, I just realized how blessed I am to have them all in my life. Each and every one of them plays a different part in my life, but my life would be missing something if just one of them were to leave. They are my friends, my sisters, my partners in crime, my therapists, my babysitters, and sometimes they are just there! My job as a military wife and mom is made easier by their presence! I love you all, Tamara, Victoria, Rhiannon, Olga, Leah, Cara, Sandra, Kristine, Jessica, Meghan, Leslie, Jeanine, Maria, Ashley, and all your children as well. Thanks for being a big part of my life and sharing your lives with me! :)

Big day for our little moms group!

2010-01-15T23:09:00.002-05:00

Today was a huge day for our moms group, Military SAHM of the Peninsula. I subscribe to a magazine that is carried in all Walmarts called All You Magazine. Every month, they send out an email asking questions about story ideas. A couple of months ago, they sent out an email asking about what people were doing to save money during the recession. I wrote in and told them about our group and the babysitting co-op that we host every month. Basically, 2 moms host each month at a different moms house, and the rest of the moms get to drop their children off and have a few hours out. This is very important to us, especially when our husbands are gone. It gives us a much needed break. One of the magazine writers wrote back and said they were interested in including our co-op in the story they were doing and needed to ask me a few questions. I answered the questions and thought that was it. Then, surprisingly, a few weeks later, she writes me again and says that the editor liked the military angle of our group and wanted to do a feature article on us and our babysitting co-op and would we mind? I immediately wrote back and said of course we wouldn't mind. She then sent me another list of questions to answer and I responded. Once again, I thought that was the end of it. Well, right before Christmas, she wrote me yet again, and said that her editor liked our story so much, that they wanted to send a professional photographer here to get photos of us and our children to include with the article! We were all ecstatic! For our little group of 20 women to get an opportunity like this was amazing! Today, at our monthly babysitting co-op, a professional photograher came and photographed us and our children. It was so much fun! All the children were smiling and posing, just lapping it up! Our article will be featured in the April 2010 issue of All You magazine and can be purchased at Walmart! Please check it out!

The Gall, I just cannot believe it!

2010-01-15T22:41:00.002-05:00

So today, stories were flying about an attempted child abduction in our military housing area. Supposedly, the 9 year old little girl was grabbed by a man as she stooped to tie her shoes. She fought back and got away. Police were called, news cameras arrived and the entire community was in an uproar. Parents were scared, and standing at bus stops waiting for their children. The people who run our community printed out thousands of fliers printed with the information about the crime and a description of the supposed attacker. This little girl described her supposed attacker in minute detail, down to the jewelry he was wearing. Parents were frightened. Then tonight.... out it comes that the little girl made up the entire story!!! No reason is given for why she did it, and police are not even going to charge her! It is unbelievable. I don't believe in spanking, but if my child told a whopper like that, and got everyone all riled up and working hard, I think I would have to spank! Granted, I am glad that the story was false, and that nothing like that really happened in our neighborhood, but I am angry as well, at all the wasted man hours, paperwork, worries, etc that were wasted on this lie. The military gets enough crap as it is without some little girl bringing more bad publicity to our military. All I can say, is that I hope her parents give her a good talking to, and teach her a good lesson about lies and how they can harm people!

Finally in Virginia

2008-10-27T15:01:00.003-04:00

We are all settled in at Langley AFB, and we love it! We have been able to go home and hang with friends and family twice now, and even be there for my niece's birthday, for the first time in a long time! We love our house. Yes, we have base housing, but it is beautiful. It is two story, 4 bedrooms, 2 1/2 baths, with plenty of storage and space! We live in an enclosed military area, so our kids are safe and have lots of freedom that they wouldn't otherwise have. Jade is settling in nicely at her new school. Hannah and I have found a playgroup that we like so far! Chris seems to like his job, and doesn't complain much. We are looking forward to a real fall and winter, with Thanksgiving and Christmas right around the corner.

Moving to Virginia

2008-02-17T13:52:00.000-05:00

Well, we finally got orders out of here, and we are going to Virginia. We could not be happier! We wanted to be on the east coast so bad, so that we could be closer to family and our dearest friends. We cannot wait to see green grass again. Air conditioning will be nice to have too. Now we just have to sell this house (which we are not having much luck at) and get out of here. Only 3 more months til we leave! Yippeeeee!