Friday, November 27, 2009
35 Weeks
Thanksgiving 2009
We had a small Thanksgiving this year. It was us and another couple from MOBCOM. Reuben and Kristine Rivera. Though it was much smaller than we're used to, it was very nice. I didn't get any pictures of us enjoying our feast, but I got some of the food. That's the important thing right? LOL!!!
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
A tribute to Military Spouses
By Col. Steven Arrington
Over the years I have talked a lot about military spouses, how special they are and the price they pay for freedom too. The funny thing about it, 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? 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 immaculate living rooms and are 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 good-bye to their spouses 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 that they won't see them for a month, or for a remote, a year. They are lonely, but they will survive. Other spouses, when a washer hose blows off, call Maytag and then write a check for getting the hose reconnected. Military spouses will cut off the water and fix it themselves. Other spouses get used to saying hello to friends they see all the time. Military spouses get used to saying good-bye 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 new 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, birthday,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 troops are imperiled across the globe and take them down when 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 bout getting back from Japan in time for Dad's funeral. And other spouses are touched by the television program showing an elderly lady putting a card down in the front of a long, black wall that has names on it. The card simply says, "Happy Birthday, Sweetheart. You would have been sixty today." A military spouse is the lady with the card. The wall is the Vietnam Memorial. I would never say military spouses are better or worse than other spouses are. But I will say there is a difference. And I will say that our country asks more of military spouses than asked of other spouses. And I will say without hesitation that military spouses pay just as high a price for freedom as do their active duty husbands or 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.......And God bless America!
Over the years I have talked a lot about military spouses, how special they are and the price they pay for freedom too. The funny thing about it, 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? 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 immaculate living rooms and are 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 good-bye to their spouses 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 that they won't see them for a month, or for a remote, a year. They are lonely, but they will survive. Other spouses, when a washer hose blows off, call Maytag and then write a check for getting the hose reconnected. Military spouses will cut off the water and fix it themselves. Other spouses get used to saying hello to friends they see all the time. Military spouses get used to saying good-bye 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 new 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, birthday,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 troops are imperiled across the globe and take them down when 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 bout getting back from Japan in time for Dad's funeral. And other spouses are touched by the television program showing an elderly lady putting a card down in the front of a long, black wall that has names on it. The card simply says, "Happy Birthday, Sweetheart. You would have been sixty today." A military spouse is the lady with the card. The wall is the Vietnam Memorial. I would never say military spouses are better or worse than other spouses are. But I will say there is a difference. And I will say that our country asks more of military spouses than asked of other spouses. And I will say without hesitation that military spouses pay just as high a price for freedom as do their active duty husbands or 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.......And God bless America!
Happy Veteran's Day
May God bless and keep safe those that have served or are serving our country so that we may always fly her with pride and freedom.
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
HAPPY 234th BIRTHDAY USMC
This is how my Devil Dog went to the Ball. He has part of the WWI re-enactment ceremony. The Ball was held at Union Station here in Kansas City. Union Station had over 700,000 soldiers pass through during WWI, making it an integral part of the war. With help from the Red Cross, they were able to have a hot meal, mail a letter, or have buttons shown back on while waiting for their train to depart the station. Brandon had a great time playing this role. But apparently, older women like WWI soldiers. He had numerous offers for some "extra" entertainment that night. He said he couldn't get away from some of them fast enough. When asked what he was doing "later" he would answer, "Going home to my pregnant wife and five children." He said that some of them gave him a dirty look. And when I say older, I mean OLDER. 60's and up. Who would have thought?
I chose not to go this year for several reasons. One being that I'm so fat and uncomfortable. Near the end, I changed my mind, but there were no tickets to be had at that point. Being that it's MOBCOM's last Ball, they went all out and it was sold out months ago. Oh well. As long as there is a Corps, there will be more Balls.
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
The finished nursery
I think it turned out fabulous. I love pink and brown and blue and brown. It's been fun to be able to use them together. I'd like to get some blue circles, but I'm not going to kill myself to make it happen. Our crib, which was a crib/dresser/changing table, was recalled and we were very blessed to be given the crib, dresser, and changing table to replace the one we took back. We're totally set. All that's missing is our sweet little Sadie Bug.
Monday, November 2, 2009
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