Seriously?! Like Really...

Do you ever listen to the people having conversations in front of you in line at the grocery store? I'm terrible at it (another fancy trait I inherited from my momma...I'm sure she's cringing as she reads this. love ya mom!!). And then there are the people that talk loud because they want others to hear what they're saying...and that's exactly the point of this post.

So, here I am standing in line waiting to pay for my pop before class (I was CRAVING a pop...like real bad) at the corner gas station. The lady at the front of the line was giving the cashier some big long story about how she couldn't afford to pay her mortgage this month...but here she is buying $275 worth of lottery tickets! What the crap?! My mind was blown...not really, but seriously what is she thinking. People like her annoying the heck out of me...and she was one of those that turned as she was talking to be sure everyone in line heard her. If she was looking for sympathy she wasn't getting any. I just wanted to grab her lottery tickets and rip them up, because that's exactly what she's doing with her money.

Money management is something more people need these days...especially fools that spend their entire paycheck on lottery tickets. I'm pretty sure she has a better chance of getting struck by lightening than she does of winning the lottery. Anyway, that's my rant for the night.

Hope everyone had a fabulous Tuesday...goodnight blog friends :)

Today I Became A MacBook Owner!!

I've never been one to jump on the technology bandwagon...I'm always the one a few years behind the times. I got my first smart phone in college, a laptop shortly after, and I've always bought used. My mom was the first one in our family to get an iPad, and I thought it was the dumbest thing to spend $400 on something that little...until my husband bought me one. Before he deployed, he bought me an iPad so we could FaceTime, and I couldn't comprehend why he felt the need to spend that much money on something I would never use. Here I am months later, and I use my iPad EVERY SINGLE DAY! I love it and now when I look back, I don't know how I ever survived without it (well I do, but I don't ever want to go back). I've had the same laptop for the past 7 years, and just recently it decided it wanted to stop working and give me the pink screen of death (I always thought it was a black screen, but news to me, it's pink). I've been saying for years that I would buy myself a MacBook, but never could talk myself into getting one...call me crazy, but paying the mortgage was more important in my mind. My husband kept telling me to just buy one because I keep asking for one...and we'll...today was the day!

I met my mom for lunch at Noodles and Co. (which just opened) and it was fantastic! They have a futuristic pop machine and its literally the coolest thing ever! I could have played with it all day if mom had let me. You could pick any kind of pop you wanted. For example: Mom had Diet Coke, so when you pushed the button, there were like 10 options to pick from (lime, cherry, lemon, caffeine free, etc). It was so dang cool!

After lunch, we decided to stop at Best Buy to "look" at MacBooks and price them out...and what do you know, they were on sale! As my husband always tells me, just because something is on sale or you have a coupon doesn't mean you have to buy it. In this case, I had no intention on actually buying a computer today, but somehow it just happened. Mom and I (mostly mom) talked to the sales guy, mom was texting my dad and youngest sister (both owners of MacBooks and live by them) to make sure we were getting a good deal, and I was trying to get in touch with my husband to get the final "ok" to buy the Mac. Since there's an 8 hour time difference I didn't think there was any way my husband would still be up, but surprisingly he answered, and told me to just buy it. I painstakingly swiped the credit card and became a the proud owner of a MacBook Pro! Yikes :)

Now I just have to teach myself how to use it! Thanks to my mom for dragging me into Best Buy and the hubby for letting me get my birthday present early! Happy birthday to me 6 months early :)

Return to Sender

The only thing worse than being sick (thanks mom) is coming home to see a returned box I sent my husband sitting on the front porch. I wanted to cry I was so dang upset. The letter on the box signed from the embassy said it was returned because I had shipped liquid drops you can add to water for flavor. Thank goodness I checked the box "return to sender" on the customs form (the post office insists I'm crazy and they keep telling me I don't need a customs form...don't they know it requires one if going overseas???!!! duh! I stand and watch them put the form on the box before I leave...for instances such as this). Not only was I ticked that I got the box back, but they rummaged through the whole thing...and it came back with less contents than I had originally packed (you can do the math...not cool).

Since I've been sick, I slacked on sending a box this week. I had planned to put one together this weekend, and so I though what the heck, let's do TWO! :) I put one together tonight that I'm taking to the post office first thing tomorrow. Since I swiped some stuff from my mom and went to Hobby Lobby yesterday, I had plenty of options to pick from for decorations. Since I'm dreaming of springtime and summertime, I picked bright paper and a few pictures from last summer. The pictures are ones my mom and sister took last year at a nearby park, and the other one is from a Cubs game. 

(At least they sent the card back with the box...I'm resending it :))

Tomorrow's box will be all sorts of green for St. Patty's Day!! I'm not fancy enough, or motivated enough for that matter to put together color coordinated boxes...maybe for the next deployment (because I'm sure there will be one). I figure my husband is going to devour whatever I send him, regardless the color scheme or meticulous packaging. As long as he gets pop tarts and drink mix he's set. 

Hope everyone had a fabulous Friday!! :) 

HobLob Lovin'

I worked at Hobby Lobby (craft store central) when attending college, and absolutely loved it!! I would dream up things I wanted to design and create, but never found the time or motivation to do it. I would spend most of my time helping old ladies pick out fabric designs, scrapbook paper, flowers, and any other supplies they needed for whatever project they were working on. It was a pretty neat job, and gave me some extra spending money, so it was a win-win.

Today I was attending a conference, and it just so happens that HL was right across that street, so I hopped on over on our lunch break. I immediately went to the scrapbook department to see if I could find some fancy paper and stickers to decorate some more boxes this weekend. It was pure heaven, and the best part was that I went in the middle of the day so it wasn't crowded at all!

I have so much stuff to box and ship over to the hubby and his guys...I really need to stop buying stuff very time I go to the store. It's like a disease..oops :)

And I leave you with a beautiful Florida sunset sent via my dad...wish I was basking in the sun right about now!! I'm so over winter and this white crap they call snow. Summer can come anytime!! :)

Wordless Wednesday

Life as a military wife poses challenges I never knew a human would ever have to endure.

The Unemployed Veteran(s)

If you asked me 5 years ago what I would be doing, I probably would have said working at a bank (which ironically enough was my first job), not in Human Resources OR manufacturing. But here I am...working in HR and in manufacturing. My job comes with countless responsibilities and demands, and my primary job being hiring the best employees for the company.

I'm sure you're thinking how dang hard can it be to find people who want to work? With the thousands of unemployed people out there, I've found that very few actually want to work hard. Our industry is extremely labor intensive, and we have many people who go through the interview process, take their drug screen, do all their paperwork, and quit after one week because the job is too hard. I receive a lot of applicants that are currently enlisted in the military, some that have already served their time, and some retired. With the variety of experience they have and training they receive, I always find it odd that they have a hard time finding employment.

It struck me today while interviewing a past Army Rifleman why (I think) so many are struggling to find employment. The first thing he said was, "I was in the military and I saw stuff you wouldn't understand" (I wanted to say, "ya, my husband has too...along with thousands of other guys"). I have a great level of respect for anyone who serves/served and dedicates their time and life to our country, but flaunting it isn't something I'm too fond of. He had great character, seemed to be hard working, and could be a great employee, but he kept referring everything to the military. This got me thinking about my time a few weeks ago when our company attended a job fair. Of the multitude of people we met, there was one person that stuck out. She was a disabled veteran, and made sure to tell everyone she talked to why she was disabled. She didn't talk about any job experience she had, the contributions she could make to a company, or what her career path was...but made her entire speech on what happened to her and why she was disabled. She kept telling me that companies discriminate against disabled veterans, how she fought for her country, and in her mind, all companies should want to have her work for them. She didn't know I had a husband away serving, or that I have a long line of military in my family. Maybe she didn't know what else to say, or talking about it made her feel at ease...I don't know. I was honored of her dedication to our country, but the fact that she kept bringing up her disability was off-putting. 

There are countless businesses that operate primarily to find employment for disabled veterans. To me, using the military as a crutch is wrong. There's a time and place to bring it up, and using it as an opening line to a job interview isn't one of them. Every person is different, and some are more proud of their service then others. For example, my husband rarely tells people he's in the military when they ask what he does (as if the haircut doesn't give it away). I'm a firm believer in true character, but agin, using your veteran status shouldn't be a main driver in you selling yourself. Call me crazy, but using "I'm a disabled veteran" as your opening line probably isn't the best. There's a time and place for everything.

***These are all my own opinions based on my experience in the field I work in. We have countless military personnel, retired military, and disabled employees working for us...discrimination is not in our culture.***

What are your thoughts?

Sunrise and Music

Indiana sunsets are beautiful, especially during the summer. My dad would always tell us as kids to look at the setting sun, and as predicted every time, they were beautiful. Today on my way to work, I was fast enough to snap a shot of the sunrise...

Song of the week is...Wagon Wheel by Darius Rucker. I love this song, like nearly every other song I hear play on the radio. What's your song of the week?

Weekend Recap

This weekend was one of the best I've had since the hubby has been gone...and I owe it all to my wonderful family (minus the baby sister...she's too busy learning how to be heart surgeon). Saturday I got my hair cut, and on my way there I stopped at a world famous bakery (famous in a small town sort of way) to get some fattening breakfast. Girl has to eat...and man was it delicious!

After my hair cut I went home to get the baby (Kali) and headed to my parents for dinner. My middle sister has literally every kitchen gadget designed and I made her show me how to make "pop" with one of her toys. In the midst of her amazing me with technology, she reminded me that I announced to the blogging world that I was trying to give up pop, but I don't classify this as pop so it was okay...I think?

My lovely sister modeling her gadget

My mom has a bad case of collecting scrapbook stuff, so I had a plan to swipe a few things for decorating care packages to send the hubby. She has a scrapbook room filled with anything and everything scrapbook you can imagine!

Moms scrapbook room (my baby sister organized it...she would never let me forget it if I gave my mom credit for the organization. I got your back B :))

Every bin is a different scrapbook my mom is working on...serious scrapbooker! She's part of a scrapbooker gang club (it's funny to think if 50-something ladies huddled around a table comparing pages they designed and gossiping about the world) called the Gems. Cute huh :)

Now if only I could organize the care package room like my moms room!

I got some pretty sweet stuff to decorate boxes, and the best part is I didn't have to pay a dime, just spend some time bonding with the family. Don't mind if I do! :) We watched a movie and by the time it was over I was too lazy tired to drive home, so I had a sleepover and stayed up too late watching Sabrina the Teenage Witch with my sister. Love that show!

My parents and I have a date with McDonalds every Sunday in the summer so we drove the 15 minute drive to the nearest one and celebrated the coming of summer (early I know) and had our usual, hot cakes and pop (yes, I had a pop...oops). It was nice to just talk with my parents and have someone to spend my weekend with. Always cherish the little moments in life!

Overall, it was a fabulous weekend...and I didn't spend it sitting in front of a computer all weekend! I hope you all had a great weekend, oh and happy Monday :)

Pets are the Best

Our fur balls are the best...they love unconditionally and are there for you always. Both are shelter animals that were unwanted and would eventually be put to sleep if we hadn't taken them in. I don't know what I would do without them! 

Nala and Kali :) 

Have you ever adopted a pet in need of a home? It's one of the BEST feelings! 

Happy Sunday everyone :)

Locks of Love

Years ago I grew my hair and got over 12 inches cut, which I then donated to Locks of Love. My family has been plagued with bouts of cancer, so any charity and organization that helps with research and making life easier for patients are near and dear.

I started growing my hair a couple years ago, and kept growing it so I would be able to do something fancy with it for our wedding. When I went to get my hair cut today, I knew I wouldn't get it chopped off, but didn't think about Locks of Love until I was paying. I've had the same stylist for years, so she knows how long I've tried to keep my hair growing. I'm set on getting it cut short again so I can donate it to those suffering, but just not sure when I want to chop it off.

I decided on a trim (2inches) and got a few more layers added

When I first donated my hair, you had to have at least 11 inches and it couldn't be colored or layered. When I asked my stylist today, she said the requirements have changed, and you only need to have at least 7 inches and they prefer hair of its natural color. If I got it cut today, my hair would be just below my shoulders (if I had known that before I got it cut, I would have just donated it today). You can find all the information here if you're interested in donating to Locks of Love. It's a great feeling knowing that you're giving a cancer patient the confidence they need to feel their best. 

Have you ever donated to Locks of Love? If so, what made you decide to donate? Whatever your reason, I commend you and thank you for your contribution!

Finally Friday :)

I've really struggled with my husbands deployment this week, so I'm glad the week is finally over. I'm getting my hair cut tomorrow, and I can't wait! I keep telling myself I'm going to cut it all off and go short again, but every time I sit in the chair I chicken out. I already know I'm just going to tell my stylist to give me the usual trim and deep conditioning treatment. I live for comfort, and don't like change, so having the same hair style (or lack of) fits me just fine :) Here's to hoping the weekend creeps by at a snails pace...they always fly by way too fast!

What are your weekend plans? Anything fun!? :)

Happy Day of LOVE

The past 2 years I've spent Valentine's Day with my lovely parents since my husband has been gone for either training or deployment. Although my husband is gone this year, he still managed to send me the most BEAUTIFUL bouquet of flowers. He did dang good!!

Flowers from the hubby and a card from Kali (my aunt sent it from the dog...her husband is in the Air Force so she knows what it's like to be separated from your loved one for long periods of time)

Last year, he gave me my two wedding bands, which was totally unexpected, but absolutely wonderful. Although it isn't jewelry (which for a girl is hard to beat), there's something special about receiving something from him when he's thousands of miles away. I don't mean this in a bad way at all, but the flowers are more touching than the rings he gave me last year.

A lot of you have been asking for close up pictures of my wedding ring...so here ya go :)

 I had to work late today, so I wasn't able to go to the gym with my mom, but I met my parents and middle sister for dinner at McAllister's (my mom's favorite restaurant). My dad is one lucky man with 4 girls (he knows it), and now that I don't live at home I treasure all the time I have to spend with both my parents. My middle sister is an amazing cook, and she made cake batter cheesecake with Valentine sprinkles, and let me tell you...it was to die for! It was delicious :)

My husband made a point to call me today just to wish me a Happy Day of Love...how cute :) He also informed me that the Valentine's Day care package I sent has arrived in the Embassy and is awaiting its pickup. What's absolutely hilarious, is everyone knows he has a package that's decorated with about a million hearts. I went ALL out...and I mean ALL out (there's literally about 100 heart stickers on the outside of the box...and yes I did this on purpose and mostly to get a smile out of him...mission accomplished!!). I'm putting another care package together to send the hubby this weekend and can't decide how I want to decorate the box...any suggestions?

Kali loves helping to package boxes for dad...she wishes she could go!

How dang cute is she??!! I'll answer for you...she's absolutely adorable :)

Struggling to Understand

I've told myself I would NEVER post about this particular issue that I'm about to, but I'm at a complete loss as to what to do (hoping my fellow military spouses and awesome readers can help to shed some light). I could literally write a book on this, so I'm going to TRY to give a condensed overview...here goes!

I met my husband through a mutual friend, and knew he was someone special (obviously since here we are years later and married) that I wanted to get to know further. After multiple attempts from my husband, we went out on a date and one thing led to another. I met my husbands parents after a few weeks, and wasn't totally sold, but it wasn't his parents I was dating so I didn't give much thought. Months later we were engaged, and happy as could be...except not everyone was happy. My family was beyond thrilled and couldn't wait to have him as a son (I'm 1 of 3 girls, so my dad was excited to have a guy around), while my husbands family reacted like we had just announced we committed a brutal crime. My MIL wanted nothing, and I mean NOTHING to do with the wedding (planning, picking out my dress, decorations, shower, etc.). I was devastated and immediately started questioning what I had done so wrongly to have her feel this way towards me marrying her son. We had multiple conversations with his parents as to why his mom hated the fact we were getting married...she made every excuse in the book and only justified her actions (there is no justification).

As a result, I had no desire to plan the wedding, didn't care who was there, and just wanted the whole thing to be over (not what I had envisioned the happiest day of a girls life to be like). Thankfully, I have a wonderful family who jumped right in and took over. I admit, I pushed back but when I look back it was all because I didn't feel I deserved anything as nice as what my family provided for the wedding. My mom made all the flowers, decorated the tables, planned the food, and organized everything...it was amazing.

When the big day came, my family was there on time and ready to go. My husbands family was late, and segregated themselves from my family. His mom didn't talk to me and his dad followed her command. Our reception was in the same church we got married in so it was super nice and nobody had to drive anywhere. Before the reception was over, his parents evaporated. No congratulations, no goodbye, no nothing...and they didn't even give us a card!! I felt bad for my husband, and even more embarrassed when people asked where his parents were.

As a supportive military wife, I had a BIG going away party for my husband and invited all his friends and family to our home. It was a get turnout :) Despite his family's feelings towards me, I invited his entire family and most showed up. Nobody talked to anyone from my family, they didn't say a single word to me or thank me for the invitation (when I said hi they walked away...real mature), and they sat huddled in the living room obviously avoiding anyone who wasn't family. I knew it was going to be a long deployment with no support from his family, but I had my own family and that was more than enough. I made a commitment to myself that day, that I wasn't going to let his mom dictate our marriage.

So here we are today...and absolutely nothing has changed. In fact, it's only gotten worse!

My husband left shortly after our wedding for Camp Lejeune and was only home a handful of weeks between May and December, before he deployed. His mom didn't call or send him emails, she didn't ask when or if he would be home for Thanksgiving or Christmas, or even care to ask when he was leaving the country and for how long. I would get so mad and upset that I would cry over how unloving a mother could be to their children. I was raised to be kind, have an open heart, and love those closest to you because you never know when their last day will be. I just didn't get it! Christmas came around, and I wasn't even invited...yes that's right, I wasn't invited! I had found out when Christmas was from my husbands brothers wife (if that makes sense...and her husband is also deployed) and still up to the week of Christmas I hadn't heard a word as to when they were celebrating the holidays. My husband returned home just days before Christmas, and due to the circumstances we spent Christmas with my family (we didn't even visit his). Days before my husband was to leave again and this time for many many months, I called his mom in a rage of anger. I didn't yell, I didn't scream, but I my emotions were running high as I asked her why she hasn't called, emailed, or let alone come visit her son before he was to leave the country (they live 20 minutes from us, so it's not like they have to drive hours to see him). She got mad and hung up on me, yes a grown women hung the phone up on me. My husband made plans with his dad for all four of us to have dinner before he left, and it was a silent dinner (she would have preferred me not be there so it would be just them and my husband). She didn't say a single word which didn't bother me, but what did was that she didn't even hug him goodbye. He left the next day and hasn't talked to them until today, which brings me to why I'm telling you this big long story.

My husband tries to call me once during the week to see how I'm doing, and I praise him for it. My weeks are long, so it's something I look forward to very much. In the middle of our conversation today my husband told me he talked to his mom...silence fell and tension filled in the air. I don't understand the relationship between my husband and his mom, and I'm not sure I ever will. The thought if her irritates me, and maybe it's because she's caused a lot of tension between my husband and I, or maybe it's because she makes known that I'm not welcome in their home, or because she discloses that she doesn't care for me. I don't know...but what I do know is I refuse to let her ruin our marriage. We are better than that, and much better than her petty little games. I'm beyond lost for words, and don't know how to overcome the feelings I have towards her. I never thought getting married would be this challenging, or emotional...and all because of one person...the MIL. The saddest part of all this, is she treats her other daughter in-law the exact same way (her husband is currently deployed with the Army).

How do I find peace and forgive someone that has done so much wrong? Have you ever experienced anything like this? Please tell me I'm not alone! (If you want to email rather than comment please do...I'll take any suggestions you can give)

Wedding Pictures

For all you gals (and the husband) out there who have been begging to see some wedding pictures, I posted some under the Our Wedding tab up top. There were like a million of them, so I picked some of the favorites! Enjoy :)

Kick the Can

Anyone who knows me knows I'm addicted to pop (thanks mom). As far back as I can remember, my mom has been an avid drinker of Diet Coke (needless to say, this is where I learned my sweet love of pop). When I was in college I would take a 2-liter of pop and a bag of rice cakes to the library for late night study sessions. I can still drink pop with the best of them...literally I can drink a 24-pack of pop a day, no problem. It's scary as crap to think of all the toxins I'm consuming, but its just soooooo good!

(I drink pop all weekend long as I work on school)

There are several days a week where I have to be in to work between 5-6am (I'm HR in the manufacturing industry and we run 3 shifts) so pop is my caffeine of choice. I've never drank coffee, and don't intend to start (sorry husband) so pop is my morning pick-me-up. I didn't realize how bad my reoccurring addiction had become until I had to change the overflowing bag of recycles this weekend...

Yikes!

I made myself  not buy any pop when I was at the store Sunday (I'm regretting it already) so I could slowly kick the can. I don't like buying bottled water because I feel bad wasting all that plastic, and lets face it, I would have to consume nearly a case a day to make myself not dream of pop. I've tried drinking tea, flavored water, anything and everything to substitute my craving of pop. Nothing works! I wish I could find something I love as much as pop...any recommendations? 

In world news, I made my FIRST ever visit to Starbucks when I was gone for work last week. Yes, you read that right, my FIRST trip and holy crap is it expen$ive! 

(Hot Chocolate...DELICIOUS)

Any recommendations on how I can kick the can? I will try anything (I should have added this one to my 27 before 27 list!!). 

Music Monday

Since the only time I have anyone to converse with is at work (school is one night a week so that doesn't really count and I don't count text messaging or emails) so I listen to a lot of music, and I mean A LOT. This deployment has been a roller coaster of emotions for me (some I didn't even know I had) so it's easy for me to relate my feelings and emotions to songs. Thompson Square must have written this song with me in mind (at least that's what I tell myself). I absolutely love it, and I'm born country so it fits just perfect! 

I dedicate this song to my loving husband...thank you for doing what you're doing :)

(If this video link doesn't work someone please let me know :))

What are you listening to these days?

27 Before 27

Yesterday my husband reminded me that I will be turning the big 2-7 this year (thank you husband). He won't be home to celebrate my turning of age, but I know he will be laughing from across the world as I slowly creep to my 30's (he's younger than me and thinks it's hilarious when I turn another year older). Here's my list of things I would like to have done before the big b-day rolls around (in no particular order):

1. Take Kali to the park (as long as it's not raining...wet dog isn't my favorite scent)
2. Run 3 times a week
3. Send at least 2 care packages each week to my husband
4. Hang all the pictures I've bought that are sitting in the closet
5. Organize our office (you don't want to see it...seriously)
6. Read a book a month
7. Make time for myself
8. Learn how to say "no" and mean it
9. Give up soda (I'll make a post on this)
10. Shop for my gown for the Marine Ball (I always wait until the last minute)
11. Grow my blog readership (thank you to all my followers :))
12. Visit my baby sister at IU (she's going to be a heart surgeon...smarty pants)
13. Stay out of a Harley Davidson store (sorry husband)
14. Run at least one race a month
15. Unplug from technology at least one day a week
16. Eat more vegetables
17. Plan a vacation for when the hubby gets home
18. Buy a new pair of running shoes...hint hint husband
19. Print our wedding pictures and get them framed 
20. Window shop for a treadmill...wishful thinking :)
21. Learn how to use a grill, this includes turning it on
22. See a movie at the theater
23. Stop buying toys for Kali (she has more toys than I have shoes)
24. Expand my work wardrobe to more than just black
25. Give clothes I don't wear to those less fortunate
26. Grow our saving account
27. Have no debt except the house-DONE :)

Chicago, Soldier Field 2012

Fish in the Sea

Since I started Grad School, my weekends are spent sitting in front of my computer typing papers (sounds fun I know). Yesterday I forced myself to finish all 3 of my papers so I could spend today relaxing and not thinking about school. My dad flew back from Florida today, so my sisters and mom surprised him for a late breakfast at ihop, and man was it delicious!

I have a scheduled date with the grocery store every Sunday, which is pathetic as crap, but it's my social hour. Once again, when I went to the store I went in for bananas and milk, and walked out with a cart full of crap healthy snacks to send to the hubby. I decided to get semi-creative and decorate the box and here's what I came up with:

My mom teaches in an elementary school, so I included letters some students wrote to the hero's they've never met. I also include a card and pictures in every package I send my hubby, which I'm sure he loves.

Maine 2012

Loving a MARINE...My MARINE

Besides the Marine Corps. Wife Prayer, this is one of my favorite quotes:

"Loving a Marine isn't hard.
The distance is hard, the worry is hard, and the sacrifices are hard.
But loving him...that's the easiest thing I've ever done."

Missing my husband more and more as each day passes.

Sharing My Time

My husbands dedication to the military has forced our marriage to take the back seat more times than I can count. Although my husband is a reservist, that doesn't mean his job is any less demanding than those on active duty. At times I wish my husband was active duty (I'm sure active duty spouses laugh at this) so he could have a normal schedule and we could actually make plans and they not get cancelled or moved around a million times. Deployment (the dreaded D word) is inevitable for anyone enlisted in the military, and as a military spouse it's something we will all have to face at one time or another.

Outsiders look at my husband and I and think we have a life of ease. We live in a beautiful home, drive nice cars, and have more than enough...but little does everyone know we own all our crap (hear that MIL...but I know you will keep judging us). The inconsistency of my husbands pay is beyond frustrating. The military can't ever seem to get their men and women paid on time and in the correct amount. Seriously, how hard can it be?! I run payroll for our company, and have no problem getting employees paid on time and what they're owed. They expect our spouses to fight and go through months of separation, but don't reward them for their dedication. I get tired of people looking at my husband and I and judging us for the hard work we've put in to get where we are.

With my husbands rank, there comes certain expectations and a high level of responsibility. There are several men that report to him, and with this, my husbands phone constantly rings. Rarely do we have an evening alone without him having to take a call and put out yet another fire. Just because my husband is a reservist, doesn't mean he has an easy job.

My husband and I share our marriage with the military. This isn't something that can be changed, and not something I thoroughly enjoy, but its our life. Everyone reminds me that I married into this, and I knew what I was getting myself into, but nobody told me it would be this hard. You can't flip a switch and make it all go away, but you can learn to accept it as part of what makes your life what it is.

Deployment Series

From the day my husband told me he was deploying, I knew I was going to have to have a hard time coping with the separation. I started this blog as a way to communicate with other military spouses, as well as my husband and family.

With the increasing number of questions I receive regarding deployment and life as a military spouse, I've decided to start a Deployment Series. You will slowly see additions to this in the tab labeled Deployment Series above. Stay tuned for updates and new additions!

If you have any questions you would like answered or are interested in being a guest blogger for Red, White, & Marine Wife email me at redwhiteandmarinewife@gmail.com :) I look forward to hearing from you!

Dad's Best Bud :)

As my sisters and I grew up, we always asked for pets (I wanted a dog and rabbit) and my dad's response was always no. He would tell us absolutely NO pets in the house...and I listened up until a few years ago :) When I was in college I adopted my cat Nala and a few years ago I adopted my dog Kali.

Aren't they adorable?!

Someone I worked with at the time had told me that there was a purebred black lab that was in need of a home, and if a home wasn't found she would be put to sleep. I had never had a dog before, and wasn't sure what I was getting myself into, but I knew I couldn't let her be put to sleep (she was only 6 months old). So there I was with a big decision...and I answered in literally seconds that I would take the dog. When I brought her home, my parents were shocked, yet happy I found a companion I could call my own. Since that day my parents have fallen in love with Kali, and my dad is the biggest sucker of them all!

I had to go out of town for work today, and my parents got to babysit the baby while I was gone. At home, Kali gets to sleep in the bedroom with me (I know she's spoiled). My dad always said he will never let Kali sleep in the room, she has a cage for a reason. And then I get this picture last night from my mom:

Dad and Kali...yes she's on the couch with my dad!

Kali got to sleep in the room with my parents, and she was behaved wonderfully! She's the best dog I've ever met, but then again I'm bias because she's mine. After all those years, my parents gave in, and my dad found a new best bud!

The Day I Said "YES"

Two years ago today I was blessed with the gracious gift I call my husband. The communication overseas isn't the best, but my husband still managed to find a signal and send me a much needed email reminding me that he hasn't forgotten the day he asked me to be his wife. I feel blessed beyond belief, and so very thankful for all I've been given. Even if it is from thousands of miles away, my husband still managed to make me smile :)

OBX 2012

Life as a Military Wife

Being part of the military poses a multitude of challenges. I can't even begin to count the number of times I've felt so completely alone and wondered if I was the only one who felt this way. I started this blog as a way to connect with my husband when he left for training on the East Coast, and its turned into so much more. I know wherever my husband is, he's reading and keeping up on all the happenings of home. In addition to connecting with my husband, I use this blog as a way to connect with other military spouses who have been/are in the same place as I am.

So often people are apprehensive to ask questions regarding my husbands deployment (as I'm sure many are), and fear that anything they say will bring tears to my eyes (there are days that this is so very true). It's not easy to be a military wife, and those who have been here much longer than myself already know that. Family is wonderful to have, but there's an emptiness that can't be filled by their presence. Having your spouse deployed, poses a whole new set of challenges that I'm not sure you can ever be prepared for. You're left with a sense of loss and abandonment that can't be filled regardless what you occupy your time with. The flood of emotions I experience on a daily basis rarely come with warning, and I'm often left fighting them off throughout the day.

Most of my time is dedicated to my job, and when I'm not working I'm home remembering what it was like to spend the evenings with my husband. I'm now in Grad School, which keeps me more busy than I could have ever imagined, but regardless how busy I get, there's always an emptiness that my husband once filled. I have no idea what day my husband will return, so I cross off the weeks that he's gone. Finding the support system to get you through is so incredibly important, and I'm so very thankful I have family as close as I do.

We have the most wonderful dog I know, and I look forward to coming home each day to her "smiling" face. She's the one thing that makes my day brighter, and loves me regardless. Sometimes I'm a world of darkness, laughing is all we can do to keep from crying. Live, laugh, and cherish all the small moments in life...because when we look back it's all the big things that matter.

Our Baby Girl, Kali :)

One Month Down

While talking to my husband today, he reminded me that its been one month since he's left the country (feels SO much longer). Although my days feel jam-packed at work and now with the addition of Grad School, the days still seem to drag on at a snails pace. I have no idea when he will be home, so counting down the days would be pointless...so I cross off the weeks/months that's he's gone.

I had this BIG to-do list all drawn out of things I wanted to have done before my husband gets back...and believe it or not, not one thing has been crossed off. And, I keep adding to the list, which makes it seem even more impossible to complete. Since we moved in to our house (close to 2 years) I've only hung my super handy dad has hung just a handful of things on the wall. I bought anything and everything I saw that I thought would look good on the walls, and it all sits in our hall closet where it's likely to remain. My problem is that I have no idea what I want to hang, or where I want to hang it. BIG problem I know! My husband would constantly remind me that we have a growing pile of pictures, yet none of them are hanging on the wall (which is where he thinks they belong). He's right in the aspect that I bought too much, and that everything sits in the closet, but we spent so much of our time (years, months, weeks) and effort painting the walls (we painted EVERYTHING...walls, trim, ceilings, and doors. I never want to paint anything ever again!).

Anyways, the point of this big long story is that while reading an assignment for my class, it talks about stress and how to manage it. As a military wife and left doing everything by yourself, things can get very overwhelming. One thing it talked about was not adding anything to your to-do list until you have at least 2 things crossed off. This will help me tremendously, as I'm sure it will for many others! By not adding anything to the list until I have done at least 2 things currently on the list, I can get more accomplished. I'm sure this will help so many others...and not just military spouses!

How do you organize you're to-do list and decide what takes priority?