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Wednesday, December 31, 2014

Christmas Catch Up

Hey everyone! I hope you each had a lovely Christmas. I know I did. I got to see family I hadn't seen in so long. We even had some crazy laughs. My sister got me a Lego onesie that had a connector on the top! It was probably hands down my favorite gift I got. We couldn't stop laughing about it.

On a different, not so happy note, my friend was buried while we've been home. It was rough, but I'm working through it. I also had a close family friend pass away on Christmas day, as well as my grandmother having to stay in the hospital.


But I'm super stoked for New Years! I'll be spending it with some old friends! What about you all? What are you doing for New Years?

Friday, December 19, 2014

Tragedy Hits Close To Home

Today was an absolutely terrible day. On the way to work, a friend of ours died in a car accident. What hurts me the most is the fact I drove past the accident, but never knew it was him. I saw the car, mangled and destroyed, being lifted on the tow truck. I prayed  for the driver as I passed by, not realizing that it was actually someone I knew. And we were supposed to hang out with him before we went home.

When Cody told me, I fell to the ground sobbing. It's so hard to believe that this happened. That the terrible wreck I saw, was the one that killed him. I cried all day, until Cody got off work. I ran up to him and gave him the biggest hug. Tragedy makes you realize how lucky you are and how precious life is.

So tonight, just take a moment to call your parents, hold your kids tight and tell your loved ones how much they mean to you. You never know what could happen and when they will be gone forever.

Thursday, December 18, 2014

Home for the Holidays

I realize that I haven't told you all much about me other than my intro, so I figured I'd let you know some things that are going on in my life.

With Christmas just around the corner, my husband will be taking Holiday Block Leave  (HBL). We will be leaving tomorrow to go home! I'm so excited to see my family and friends, but I'm definitely not looking forward to the 16 hour drive there.

On a happy note, because our anniversary is on the 27th, we'll be stopping in Gatlinburg, Tennessee to rent a cabin for a night. It'll be nice to have a place away from everyone else, in the mountains, just the three of us (Cody, our dog Edmond, and myself).It'll be an early Anniversary gift for Cody, from me. We'll get the chance to see Gatlinburg decorated for Christmas, which I'm super excited about especially since Cody's never been before.

I hope you all have a fantastic holiday!

Wednesday, December 17, 2014

Things to Love About the Holidays

The holidays are here and I can honestly say, this is my absolute favorite time of year. I just love everything about it. So what are the things that I love most about the holidays?



SNOW!!

Snow may not be as fun as it once was, when you were a kid and got out of school for the day, but that doesn't mean it's not something to love about this time of year. Snow leaves everything looking beautiful and with it comes a sense of calmness.

Sweaters

What's not to love about sweaters? They're warm and cozy and soft. Basically all around awesome. They can be super cute with lots of patterns and colors or an Ugly Christmas sweater, covered with pompoms, for a party. Either way, sweaters can't be beat.


Family

For many of us, the holidays are the one time of year that we get to see our family.

Decorations

With the holidays, come beautiful decorations. Not all are store bought though. I'm definitely a DIYer and this time of year lets me bring out my craftiness, whether i be making cookies or ornaments.

Movies

November and December is the time that movie studios release their best movies of the year!
Not only that but this is the one time of year where it's acceptable to watch Love Actually and Elf everyday.

Music

Sometimes the Christmas music can become annoying, especially with how early they have begun to play it. But who doesn't love Mariah Carey's All I Want For Christmas Is You? The catchy song will have you dancing along with it every time it's played.


Friday, December 12, 2014

6 Things Never to Talk About On Military Spouse Pages

Social Media is a big part of today's world. This allows there to be many different "support" groups for military spouses. These groups allow wives in the same area, or sometimes far apart, get to know those that are facing similar issues and understand the difficulty the military can bring within a family. While these groups can be quite helpful, they can also be drama filled. So I've learned what topics you probably shouldn't discuss in these forums.



Pay Day

Don't ask what day your spouses paycheck will come through, even if there is a holiday. Most often this is seen as a "dependa" thing to do, why else would you be asking? Those reading your question and responding rudely don't care that you have bills that are due or that you need to go to the grocery store to feed your family. You know all the things that a responsible spouse would do?

Rank

I agree with this one. No one cares what the rank of your spouse is, so what's the point in bringing it up?

Admit that you're human and make mistakes.

The way people act in these groups, you will be thrown under the bus and told you're a terrible wife and mother. After all, we're never meant to make mistakes, right?

Your Opinion

Never state your opinion in these groups, regardless of the topic. There will always be someone who disagrees with you, and will try to start all kinds of drama.

Marital Issues

Be sure never to say that you are having issues with your marriage. You're with a military man and he's "protecting your country. Why can't you be happy with him?" Or perhaps "you'll cause problems that he can take on the front line."

Anything Name Brand

It doesn't matter if it's name brand shoes or a purse, never talk about it. You'll be accused of being a "dependa" despite the fact you saved up all year to buy it.

Thursday, December 11, 2014

25 Things Military Spouses Learn While Their Significant Other is Deployed



Every military spouse who has experienced deployment has learned a vast number of things. Here are what some spouses say were the biggest things they learned.


  1. "I learned how to be patient. Obviously with deployment you have to wait for your husband to come home."
  2. "While my husband was deployed, I learned not to take the little things for granted, like a five minute phone call. You never know when you'll be able to talk again."
  3. "I learned that things that may seem minor while they're home, become big things during deployment. I can't remember how many times I got a short email or Facebook message that simply said I'm ok. I love you."
  4. "You never realize how strong you are until you have no choice but to be."
  5. "You learn that it's okay to cry. It doesn't mean you're weak, it means you're human."
  6. "Murphy's Law will definitely take effect. Anything that can go wrong, will go wrong. But it's ok. You'll make it through it."
  7. "I'm stronger than I ever thought I could be."
  8. "I found my independent side that I forgot I had." 
  9. "I found that to keep myself sane, I have to rely on God. He will bring you through it." 
  10. "How to not only do the jobs a mother would do, but also the jobs a daddy would. I learned how to do yard work and do car repairs." 
  11. "That the distance and stress of deployment can make or break you. You have to allow it to strengthen your relationship. Focus on the good, not the bad. Remember, they miss you as much as you miss them."
  12. "I learned that in order for me to make it through the deployment, I needed to have a close knit group of friends and family. They helped me through so much."
  13.  "The time may seem to be going by slowly, but before you know it you'll look back and think Man, it's been that long already?"
  14. "I learned how much my family relies on my husband to do things. I've realized how blessed I am to have him in my life. I've learned how to appreciate the little things he does for us."
  15. " I learned to be patient. Not only with waiting for my husband to come back, but with my friends and family. They try to understand, but they don't because they've never been through it." 
  16. "The second he leaves, all hell breaks loose. But that's ok. I know I can handle it."
  17. "It's ok to cry! It doesn't mean you're not strong. It means you care." 
  18. "I've learned to draw near to God and focus on my relationship with Him. He will help you through it." 
  19. "Take advantage of the time apart. Go back to school, start a new work out, run a marathon. Just set goals for yourself. It'll help the time pass more quickly."
  20. "Homecoming is the most amazing day you'll ever experience."
  21. "The first time I saw him after deployment, all the problems I had experienced went away."
  22. "The day I saw his formation walk out onto the field after 10 months apart, I realized how lucky I am to have such an amazing man."
  23. "The first kiss is the greatest feeling in the world."
  24. "The hours leading up to homecoming are the most anxiety filled I experienced. But I couldn't have been happier."
  25. "The first kiss and hug after 9 months apart made all the distance and lonely nights worth it. He was finally home to me."

What are some things you learned while your loved one was deployed?