9.30.2010
The Frugal Navy Wife rocks!
She is having a FANTASTIC giveaway! You really should go check her out and enter in! If you start following her let her know that Brittany Sommer sent you in a comment! So go follow The Frugal Navy Wife :)
G-I-V-E-A-W-A-Y!!!
I reached my 100 followers goal for the first giveaway hast night! Hooray! So I am going to start small with the giveaways. I am working on what I want the giveaway contest to be so just bear with me! I am going to start with the picture frame. It's not real big but it is SO cute. For those of us who's men are in the Navy, work with water or just LOVE lighthouses/beach scenes, you will love it! I personally love it too :) Here it is!
Be on the lookout in the next few days because once I figure out what the contest will be I will post it up!
9.29.2010
Who wants me to host a giveaway?!
I really REALLY want to have one when I hit 100 followers but I want to get some kind of response now! So, let me know if you would enter! I have a brand new journal, an adorable picture frame and a purse to give! I just need people to give them to!
Have you ever thought to yourself..
I am a REALLY strong woman! Being able to go through a deployment and being a part of the "Homefront Club" is a pretty tough job but someone's gotta do it right?! We as military spouses don't often give ourselves the credit we so deserve. We spend countless hours moping around, questioning why we are doing this to ourselves and (some of us) going day to day as if a black cloud is just hanging over our heads constantly. I can say that I, myself, have been through MANY ups and downs during this deployment already and he hasn't even been gone for 2 months yet. Sometimes I scold myself for being so selfish. I would think about how much I miss him and how much this hurts me far more often then I would think about what it is doing to him. I have since gotten past all that. I have come to the realization that it hurts both of us in different ways, on different days and in different hours.
Chicken Soup for the Military Wifes Soul
It was just another harried Wednesday afternoon trip to the commissary (grocery store on military bases). My husband was off teaching young men to fly. My daughters were going about their daily activities knowing I would return to them at the appointed time, bearing, among other things, their favorite fruit snacks, frozen pizza, and all the little extras that never had to be written down on a grocery list. My grocery list, by the way, was in my 16-month-old daughter's mouth, and I was lamenting the fact that the next four aisles of needed items would wait while extracting the last of my list from my daughter's mouth, when I nearly ran over an old man.
This man clearly had no appreciation for the fact that I had 45 minutes left to finish the grocery shopping, pick up my 4-year old from tumbling class, and get to school, where my 12-year-old and her carpool mates would be waiting.
I knew men didn't belong in a commissary, and this old guy was no exception. He stood in front of the soap selection staring blankly, as if he'd never had to choose a bar of soap in his life. I was ready to bark an order at him when I realized there was a tear on his face.
Instantly, this grocery aisle roadblock transformed into a human..."Can I help you find something?" I asked. He hesitated, and then told me he was looking for soap.
"Any one in particular?" I continued.
"Well, I'm trying to find my wife's brand of soap." I started to loan him my cell phone to call her when he said, "She died a year ago, and I just want to smell her again."
Chills ran down my spine. I don't think the 22,000-pound Mother of all Bombs could have had the same impact. As tears welled up in my eyes, my half-eaten grocery list didn't seem so important. Neither did fruit snacks or frozen pizza.
I spent the remainder of my time in the commissary that day listening to a man tell the story of how important his wife was to him -- how she took care of their children while he served our country. A retired, decorated World War II pilot who flew missions to protect Americans still needed the protection of a woman who served him at home.
My life was forever changed that day. Every time my husband works too late or leaves before the crack of dawn, I try to remember the sense of importance I felt that day in the commissary.
Some times the monotony of laundry, housecleaning, grocery shopping, and taxi driving leaves military wives feeling empty -- the kind of emptiness that is rarely fulfilled when our husbands come home and don't want to or can't talk about work.
We need to be reminded, at times; of the important role we fill for our family and for our country. Over the years, I've talked a lot about military spouses...how special they are and the price they pay for freedom too. The funny thing is; most military spouses don't consider themselves different from other spouses. They do what they have to do, bound together not by blood or merely friendship, but with a shared spirit whose origin is in the very essence of what love truly is. Is there truly a difference? I think there is. You have to decide for yourself...
Other spouses get married and look forward to building equity in a home and putting down family roots. Military spouses get married and know they'll live in base housing or rent, and their roots must be short so they can be transplanted frequently.
Other spouses decorate a home with flair and personality that will last a lifetime. Military spouses decorate a home with flare tempered with the knowledge that no two base houses have the same size windows or same size rooms.
Curtains have to be flexible and multiple sets are a plus. Furniture must fit like puzzle pieces.
Other spouses have living rooms that are immaculate and seldom used. Military spouses have immaculate living room/dining room combos. The coffee table got a scratch or two moving from Germany, but it still looks pretty good.
Other spouses say goodbye to their spouse for a business trip and know they won't see them for a week. They are lonely, but can survive. Military spouses say good-bye to their deploying spouse and know they won't see them for months, or a year, or longer. They are lonely, but will survive.
Other spouses, when a washer hose blows off, call Maytag and then write a check out for having the hose reconnected. Military spouses have to cut the water off and fix it themselves.
Other spouses get used to saying "hello" to friends they see all the time. Military spouses get used to saying "goodbye" to friends made the last two years.
Other spouses worry about whether their child will be class president next year. Military spouses worry about whether their child will be accepted in yet another school next year and whether that school will be the worst in the city...again.
Other spouses can count on spouse participation in special events...birthdays, anniversaries, concerts, football games, graduation, and even the birth of a child. Military spouses only count on each other; because they realize that the flag has to come first if freedom is to survive. It has to be that way.
Other spouses put up yellow ribbons when the troops are imperiled across the globe and take them down when the troops come home. Military spouses wear yellow ribbons around their hearts and they never go away.
Other spouses worry about being late for mom's Thanksgiving dinner. Military spouses worry about getting back from Japan in time for dad's funeral.
The television program showing an elderly lady putting a card down in front of a long, black wall that has names on it touches other spouses. The card simply says, "Happy Birthday, Sweetheart. You would have been sixty today." A military spouse is the lady with the card, and the wall is the Vietnam Memorial.
I would NEVER say military spouses are better than other spouses. But I will say there is a difference. I will say, without hesitation, that military spouses pay just as high a price for freedom as do their active duty husbands and wives.
Perhaps the price they pay is even higher. Dying in service to our country isn't near as hard as loving someone who has died in service to our country, and having to live without them.
God bless our military spouses for all they freely give.
This man clearly had no appreciation for the fact that I had 45 minutes left to finish the grocery shopping, pick up my 4-year old from tumbling class, and get to school, where my 12-year-old and her carpool mates would be waiting.
I knew men didn't belong in a commissary, and this old guy was no exception. He stood in front of the soap selection staring blankly, as if he'd never had to choose a bar of soap in his life. I was ready to bark an order at him when I realized there was a tear on his face.
Instantly, this grocery aisle roadblock transformed into a human..."Can I help you find something?" I asked. He hesitated, and then told me he was looking for soap.
"Any one in particular?" I continued.
"Well, I'm trying to find my wife's brand of soap." I started to loan him my cell phone to call her when he said, "She died a year ago, and I just want to smell her again."
Chills ran down my spine. I don't think the 22,000-pound Mother of all Bombs could have had the same impact. As tears welled up in my eyes, my half-eaten grocery list didn't seem so important. Neither did fruit snacks or frozen pizza.
I spent the remainder of my time in the commissary that day listening to a man tell the story of how important his wife was to him -- how she took care of their children while he served our country. A retired, decorated World War II pilot who flew missions to protect Americans still needed the protection of a woman who served him at home.
My life was forever changed that day. Every time my husband works too late or leaves before the crack of dawn, I try to remember the sense of importance I felt that day in the commissary.
Some times the monotony of laundry, housecleaning, grocery shopping, and taxi driving leaves military wives feeling empty -- the kind of emptiness that is rarely fulfilled when our husbands come home and don't want to or can't talk about work.
We need to be reminded, at times; of the important role we fill for our family and for our country. Over the years, I've talked a lot about military spouses...how special they are and the price they pay for freedom too. The funny thing is; most military spouses don't consider themselves different from other spouses. They do what they have to do, bound together not by blood or merely friendship, but with a shared spirit whose origin is in the very essence of what love truly is. Is there truly a difference? I think there is. You have to decide for yourself...
Other spouses get married and look forward to building equity in a home and putting down family roots. Military spouses get married and know they'll live in base housing or rent, and their roots must be short so they can be transplanted frequently.
Other spouses decorate a home with flair and personality that will last a lifetime. Military spouses decorate a home with flare tempered with the knowledge that no two base houses have the same size windows or same size rooms.
Curtains have to be flexible and multiple sets are a plus. Furniture must fit like puzzle pieces.
Other spouses have living rooms that are immaculate and seldom used. Military spouses have immaculate living room/dining room combos. The coffee table got a scratch or two moving from Germany, but it still looks pretty good.
Other spouses say goodbye to their spouse for a business trip and know they won't see them for a week. They are lonely, but can survive. Military spouses say good-bye to their deploying spouse and know they won't see them for months, or a year, or longer. They are lonely, but will survive.
Other spouses, when a washer hose blows off, call Maytag and then write a check out for having the hose reconnected. Military spouses have to cut the water off and fix it themselves.
Other spouses get used to saying "hello" to friends they see all the time. Military spouses get used to saying "goodbye" to friends made the last two years.
Other spouses worry about whether their child will be class president next year. Military spouses worry about whether their child will be accepted in yet another school next year and whether that school will be the worst in the city...again.
Other spouses can count on spouse participation in special events...birthdays, anniversaries, concerts, football games, graduation, and even the birth of a child. Military spouses only count on each other; because they realize that the flag has to come first if freedom is to survive. It has to be that way.
Other spouses put up yellow ribbons when the troops are imperiled across the globe and take them down when the troops come home. Military spouses wear yellow ribbons around their hearts and they never go away.
Other spouses worry about being late for mom's Thanksgiving dinner. Military spouses worry about getting back from Japan in time for dad's funeral.
The television program showing an elderly lady putting a card down in front of a long, black wall that has names on it touches other spouses. The card simply says, "Happy Birthday, Sweetheart. You would have been sixty today." A military spouse is the lady with the card, and the wall is the Vietnam Memorial.
I would NEVER say military spouses are better than other spouses. But I will say there is a difference. I will say, without hesitation, that military spouses pay just as high a price for freedom as do their active duty husbands and wives.
Perhaps the price they pay is even higher. Dying in service to our country isn't near as hard as loving someone who has died in service to our country, and having to live without them.
God bless our military spouses for all they freely give.
9.28.2010
By the way! Mili Mondays!
I have been soo busy doing nothing (lol) that I forgot to tell you guys that I was featured on Mili Mondays over at Life as a Sailor's Girl last Monday! It was really exciting for me! Click the link and check the blog out. For the lazy people, here's my post! :)
"True Life: I am a newlywed with a deployed husband"
As I sit here trying to figure out what to write, all I can think of is that silly show on MTV, True Life: (Insert life changing experience here). What was MY life changing experience? I married my husband 2 weeks before he deployed. We have our little fairy tale. He was my best friend for 2 years before he so cutely asked me if I would "go steady", we dated for 5 months before he popped the question and we became husband and wife at the end of July. He has been gone for a little over a month now and I miss him terribly every day. It has gotten a lot less rough though. Being newly weds while he is on deployment is... hard. I was left responsible for things I never had to be responsible for before. Between making sure bills are paid, cleaning the whole apartment by myself, trying to stay busy constantly, and sleeping alone, all the while missing him, wishing things were easier and YEARNING for his touch, it gets pretty tough at times. I could ramble on and on about how much I miss him but I am sure most of you already know how that feels.
Having said that, let me get down to the point of my blog. What is it like to be newly weds going through our very first deployment together? It's rough. I don't know how else to explain it. I have cried almost every day since he left. I know all deployments are rough whether newly weds or not but we aren't even out of our oh-so-in-love honeymoon stage yet. Not even close. I don't think what we are going through is any harder then any other deployment anyone else is going through, I just know how hard it is for me. How has is affected our relationship? Not much at all other then the seperation and him being awake while I am asleep due to the massive time change. We are still head over heels in love and we email eachother every single day. We constantly put the "I love you!" reminder in each of those emails. Communication is VERY important just in case some of you haven't gone through the seperation yet. Make friends, get hobbies and keep yourself busy and time is sure to fly! Speaking of time flying, if possible, visit your family. It really helps. I went to Indiana to visit my family for a few weeks and it helped me far more then I expected it to.
A few helpful hints and I promise I am done! 1: I know that time can be hard but you MUST stay focused on the positive future rather then linger in the negative present. 2: If you are a God fearing woman such as myself, KEEP ON PRAYING! Last one, I swear! 3: Surround yourself with positives. Positive people, a positive outlook and positive things are sure to keep your attitude positive!
"True Life: I am a newlywed with a deployed husband"
As I sit here trying to figure out what to write, all I can think of is that silly show on MTV, True Life: (Insert life changing experience here). What was MY life changing experience? I married my husband 2 weeks before he deployed. We have our little fairy tale. He was my best friend for 2 years before he so cutely asked me if I would "go steady", we dated for 5 months before he popped the question and we became husband and wife at the end of July. He has been gone for a little over a month now and I miss him terribly every day. It has gotten a lot less rough though. Being newly weds while he is on deployment is... hard. I was left responsible for things I never had to be responsible for before. Between making sure bills are paid, cleaning the whole apartment by myself, trying to stay busy constantly, and sleeping alone, all the while missing him, wishing things were easier and YEARNING for his touch, it gets pretty tough at times. I could ramble on and on about how much I miss him but I am sure most of you already know how that feels.
Having said that, let me get down to the point of my blog. What is it like to be newly weds going through our very first deployment together? It's rough. I don't know how else to explain it. I have cried almost every day since he left. I know all deployments are rough whether newly weds or not but we aren't even out of our oh-so-in-love honeymoon stage yet. Not even close. I don't think what we are going through is any harder then any other deployment anyone else is going through, I just know how hard it is for me. How has is affected our relationship? Not much at all other then the seperation and him being awake while I am asleep due to the massive time change. We are still head over heels in love and we email eachother every single day. We constantly put the "I love you!" reminder in each of those emails. Communication is VERY important just in case some of you haven't gone through the seperation yet. Make friends, get hobbies and keep yourself busy and time is sure to fly! Speaking of time flying, if possible, visit your family. It really helps. I went to Indiana to visit my family for a few weeks and it helped me far more then I expected it to.
A few helpful hints and I promise I am done! 1: I know that time can be hard but you MUST stay focused on the positive future rather then linger in the negative present. 2: If you are a God fearing woman such as myself, KEEP ON PRAYING! Last one, I swear! 3: Surround yourself with positives. Positive people, a positive outlook and positive things are sure to keep your attitude positive!
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