Christmas is ON!!!

So today...my son came HOME. I say home because he is finally home. OK, I think some need a back story. My son is a military brat, through and through. Some may say he is a "Global Nomad" having lived on 4 continents before the age of 12 I believe the definition is. It was probably the best thing we ever did for our son. To expose him to different cultures. From the Asian perfection, to the Spanish flair to the extreme poverty of living in West Africa where rich is defined in family values and not superficial things. He has seen a lot in his 18 years. For my long time followers you know my son is a Midshipmen at ASU in ROTC Marine Option. He finished his freshmen first semester (the killer) with a 3.95 and as #1 Ranked Midshipmen, he busted his arse for that, and it was no small feat, trust me. Imagine college with 18 credits along with 0600 PFT every Monday, Wednesday and Friday with 60 motivated Midshipmen all wanting to be the best, and our son was. I can't tell you what a sense of pride that is. While all the other were telling the SNSI (Senior Naval Instructor) they wanted to fly planes, they wanted to be Seals, they wanted fixed wing...my son was saying "I want to be a Marine" ...we are proud. It does help on the rare occassion he gets to come home he gets to train with his dad and the best Grunts in the Marine Corps...Shout out to the Darkside! But he is so self determined and motivated. A son, a sense of pride, that everything he has accomplished that has come hard won. His father and I are so proud. But ok, enough of the mushy stuff our boy is home for Christmas. He went to North Carolina first, he wanted to go to what he thought was home...we moved the day after he graduated high school and he felt like it was his home and he had to go there ... we didn't want him too but we knew he needed too. He stayed with his best friend in High school and his parents, they were awesome to him, he visited friends and went to his old JROTC and he came to the conclusion he wasn't home, that he wanted to be with us. His mom, his dad and his dog. That was were his heart was.....and I hoped that would happen and it did. He is truly a Marine Brat and a future Marine Officer that gets, Home is where the Marine Corps sends you. I am looking at his sweet face right now, feeling so content as he sleeps in our new home, but our home none the less. My Christmas gift wrapped in a 6 foot 2 package with ginger hair and the sweetest face I ever seen. He has more muscle, more confidence and he is just as amazing as the day he was born. Not my baby to the world but to me always my baby...welcome home son, and Merry Christmas. We love you and we have missed you.

MilSpouse Friday Fill In

1. What is the best gift you have ever received or given? Well I think my favorite gift is actually attached to one of my favorite memories. When I was about 11 years old me and my cousin Gussy (we're Italian)were given calculators shaped like Mickey Mouse Faces. We thought they were the coolest things ever. Well we grew up in Philadelphia (in the same neighborhood the movie Rocky was filmed)and on Christmas day it was snowing. So we decided we had to have batteries for these calculators. The memory of she and I walking in what was a blizzard to go get batteries for calculators on Christmas day and her and I laughing all the way and in pure joy of a 9 and 11 year old will be with me forever. We didn't have an easy childhood so the memory of that day will always be with me and make me smile.

2. Do you celebrate holidays differently when your loved one is deployed/gone or do you keep tradition?The Christmas before last my hubs was in Iraq and it really was hard for us. We are like the 3 musketeers and with one of them gone it just didn't feel right to do anything. I remember on Christmas morning we skyped while we opened gifts and I really don't think we cared at all about those gifts just being able to see one another since skyping was a rare treat. Last year hubs came home from Aghanistan on Thanksgiving night at about 1130 and we didn't have turkey or anything but we all were happy later that night with bowl of Ramen and one another. When you spend holidays away from your loved one you really get it that it's not about the food and gifts but about the family. Nothing else really matters.

3. If you celebrate Christmas, do you put an angel, star or something else on the top of your tree? It has changed over the years but in recent years it has been an angel.

4. What are your three favorite websites? Facebook, Twitter, and Enlisted Spouse

5. On your man do you prefer... boxers, briefs or boxer briefs? Or commando?
What about thongs? Well I like boxer briefs but my hubs lives in green silkies, my fellow Marine Wives you know what I am talking about, those little green silkie PT shorts for those of you who don't. Apparently while in theater and in the field the silkies are preferred for "dropping trou" in my hubs words not mine. lol

Mil Spouse Weekly Round Up #15

I'm so happy to be hosting this week's round up...hope I don't mess it up too badly. Not as tech savvy as I would like to be but I try! Thank you to Ines for picking me this week. I love her blog she's a great milspouse to follow so if you don't click on her name and view her great blog The Few, The Proud, The Wife.

We are all pretty busy and sometimes we are just too busy to read every post out there of the million and one blogs we follow. SOLUTION: MilSpouse Weekly Roundup. This weekly roundup allows you to post your favorite post of the week and catch up with other MilSpouse bloggers.

With that being said please excuse me for posting a day early, I forgot I have a long day tomorrow doing my Family Readiness Advisor role..wrapping gifts for our Battalion kiddies so it should be fun but wanted to get this out since it was my turn.

So, all you have to do is: Simply link your favorite post of the week on the linky below and read the others that have already linked up.

Next week Elizabeth at The Young Retiree
will be hosting and I am so grateful since it is Christmas and everyone is so busy but she was such a sweetheart to do it. So please go visit her blog. It's funny, and very real and she say's what she thinks and it's very refreshing. Thank you Elizabeth!

Running Etiquette

OK fellow bloggers, I have a question. I have recently decided to really give my heart and soul back to this Couch to 5k thing. I started to do this on our awesome mile and a half PT course here at beautiful (lol) 29 Palms. The course is about the size of a sidewalk for you city folk, maybe a bit wider. It goes out for a mile and a half and you have to go back a mile and half to get back to your car so if you go out..your coming back. Something I should have kept in mind when in the summer in about 90 degrees I decided to walk it against hubs better judgement and just about had heat stroke and thought I was going to die. So you run/walk, c25k whatever you want to do, so depending on time of day, you could potentially be out there while others are at various points coming and going. I never go during morning PT time, remember this base is the majority infantry Marines and they PT hard, morning afternoon and night so best to stick between 9-11 am and that is what I do but still there are some people out there. Here is my question. What is the proper thing to do when you are face to face passing another runner? You are coming one way, they are coming the other..and then you either do a little wave, some say a little hello, and some just ignore you like your not there?? I am confused, I don't want to be rude, sometimes I am on my way back and all I can do is muster a little wave but still feel like you should at least acknowledge this other person, right? I mean maybe it's just me. I have been greeted by Marines, other woman, so it's not a black or white issue..like Marines ignore, woman say hello. So I ask you my fellow blogger runners...is there a hard and fast rule? LOL just something light for the weekend.

Mil Spouse Friday fill In

1.What do you see your life like in 10 years?
Happy, Healthy. My son will be well into his military career. We will be either still in or retired depending on what the future holds for my hubs in the Marine Corps. I just wish to be happy still like I am now and content with what I have like I am now. Maybe content isn't the right word, that is almost like I have settled somehow...peaceful, maybe that is a better word. I also hope the Wars are many years behind us at this point 10 years down the road.

2.What do you like most about your job?
Well since I am currently not employed and I am not technically a SHM since my son is a freshman at college. I would have to say I am a happy Family Readiness Advisor and it isn't keeping me as busy as I would like it too but that will pick up when are guys go forward.

3.What are three things you do every day, no matter what day it is?
Feed my dog
Exercise
Eat

4.What would you do with an extra five hours in your day today?
I usually do...see # 2 and I usually just clean, read or run errands.

5.What is your favorite Christmas (or whichever holiday you celebrate) cookie recipe (please share!)?
Pillsbury Sugar Cookie Dough..sorry no real cooking in this house :(

Mil Spouse Weekly Round Up #13

Don't forget to head on over to Taryn at maine-lytaryn for this weeks round-up.

Mil Spouse "Friday" Fill In #23

As you may have noticed I put Friday in quotations because I always try to get it done on Friday but seldom do. But I do love it and thanks to Wife Of A Sailor it has become one of my fave traditions on my blog.

1. If you were given $1,000 right now, how would you spend it? On my pops, he needs some home improvements and I would love to have them done for him.

2. If you had to choose a movie title (a real one that already exists) for your life story, what would it be? The Philadelphia Story. It's an obvious choice since I was born and raised there.

3. If you were a teacher, what subject would you like to teach? Easy, Social Studies and I would make current events a huge part of the class. I had a social studies teacher and every day for homework we would have to cut an article out of the paper and right about it. It encouraged us to read as well as to know what is going on in the world.

4. Has being a MilSpouse changed how you view holidays or how your holidays are celebrated? If so, how? If not, what hasn’t changed?
Well it didn't really until the Wars started and we were apart during the holidays and all the decorations, presents and trees didn't really mean all that much because the important part (us being together) was not in place. So now I am always grateful when we will all be together and this year even more so since our son has been gone at college and we will all be home under the same roof.

5. What is your favorite Christmas (or whatever holiday you celebrate) memory?
As a kid it would be me and my cousin not being able to sleep and drinking Nyquil to go to sleep. And one time we received Mickey Mouse calculators and we needed batteries and we walked in a blizzard about a mile to a store that was open to get batteries. As an adult with my own family it for sure is when my son was small giving him oatmeal to feed the reindeer before he went to bed, he would throw it all over the backyard and it would always be gone..birds maybe? And him and his dad making a gingerbread house, that is their tradition and he and I making cookies. I hope he doesn't think he is too old to do that this year..but I have a feeling he won't.

Time Just Slips By

I can't believe I didn't blog about it, or even remember it for a minute. Funny how your mind seems to file things away in the "oh let us just forget about that" file or "that was so awesome you'll never forget it" file. Well I have my files all mixed up apparently. It could have been because I was just over the moon about a different type of homecoming, my freshmen coming home for the first time for Thanksgiving that it just completely slipped my mind (file failure). On Thanksgiving just last year, I watched as the buses pulled up to the French Creek Community Center to bring home my soul mate from Afghanistan. It was cold, it was late, there was no turkey, no cranberries, no pumpkin pie but it was the BEST thanksgiving ever. I remember the buses rolling up to some cheesy patriotic song (sorry don't mean to offend but ask most Marines they will call them the same) and just having a heart full of love so big it just about burst by the time I laid eyes on my man. I had done this before, sometimes in summer, sometimes in winter, sometimes it was the first day of school...so the fact that is was Thanksgiving made no difference except it had given a whole new meaning to the word giving thanks. There were families from my husbands battalion that were sitting around the table for the first time without their loved one, and their were families spending their Thanksgiving in the hospital with their wounded warrior, but here I was, standing in the cold with my son ready to greet my Marine..I was and remain the luckiest girl on the planet.

Mil Spouse Weekly Round Up #17

Another great blog and host for this weeks round-up please go check out Life of An All American Army Wife's blog, thank her for hosting this week. Enter a fave blog entry you want people to check out!

LOVE MARINES

This is a photo of my son being taught how to drive a stick shift by my hubs Commanding officer in his Mustang Shelby just because its important for a man to know how to use a stick shift and we don't have any cars with a stick. This is why I love Marines.  We are all family. We all look out for one another. 

Make Sure to Give Thanks

Today I am pretty much doing the happy dance. My son will be home for thanksgiving in a few hours and it will be his first time home since leaving in August for college. I am ecstatic, I am on cloud nine, life is good. But as I feel all these emotions and I am overjoyed my thoughts can't help but go to those mothers who will have an empty place at their table this year, and it may be for the first time or it may have been for the 10th but it is empty regardless. I am thinking of the mothers who will be missing a child that was lost because their child paid the ultimate sacrifice for us, so we could sit around the table of freedom and give thanks for all our blessings, because they did that for us. I know there are also those who lost husbands, boyfriends, girlfriends, sister and brothers and their grief is deep and lonely and I know they also will be missing their loved one but as a mother, who is missing her child, and who is blessed enough to have him home with me in a few hours that is who I am thinking of, the mothers. So tomorrow as you give thanks for your family and your blessings and your life, please give thanks for those who laid down for us their lives and think of the Gold Star Mothers who will forever look across that table and feel an ache in their hearts.

Milspouse Friday Fill in #22

Thank you to Wife of a Sailor once again...I am so sad I missed the secret santa..I love secret santa and I don't know how I wasn't in the loop. I look forward to hearing all about all of you lucky folks that are participating.


1.If you had to be shipwrecked on a deserted island, but all your human needs – such as food and water – were taken care of, what two items would you want to have with you?
My hubs and my son...if I had them I would have everything. But it would be unfair to my son since he'd be bored..but that is my answer and I'm sticking to it.

2. If you were a salad, what kind of dressing would you have?
Ceaser for sure..

3. If you had to live on a ranch, what kind of animals would you raise/own?
If I had to live on a ranch I'd be screwed. I am a city girl born and raised, and I would have no clue what to do with farm animals. I could have a herd of cats and dogs.???

4. If your life was was portrayed as a movie, who would you choose to play you and your significant other?
Wow that is a tough one. I'm not sure??? It would have to be someone no nonsense for me like Angelina Jolie...not that I look anything like her but she seems to shot straight and so do I. I am not brutally honest, I think that term is just an excuse to be rude, I am honest and if you ask me my opinion you'll get it but I don't feel like being honest needs to be brutal. So, as far as someone that could come across as strong and soft ya I'd pick her..again the looks not so much. My hubs is one of a kind and I couldn't think of anyone to play him that could pull off his charm. He is the most wonderful human being I have ever met, smart, sexy and confident. If I had to pick one person probably Will Smith since they are both hilarious. And I have always said my hubs was the white Will Smith.

5. What was the last thing you put a stamp on (envelope, duh, but what was in the envelope)?
My sons car payment. Can you believe in this day and age there is still a company that has no online paying option..yep, check and stamp and envelope...crazy.

United States Marine

His emotions are impenetrable yet his shoulders are soft for those that need someone to lean on. His hands are firm yet know exactly where they need to be. If he has his arms wrapped around you, you're either in the last moments of your life or the safest place you could ever be.He's stubborn but will let you have your way just to see you smile. He's deadly with a rifle and gentle with a child. He plays poker with the devil but guards the gates of heaven. He curses like no other but is a perfect gentleman. He has a thousand yard stare but when you look into his eyes it's the most comforting thing you've ever felt. The Marine Corps trained him as a weapon but raised him as a lover. He knows every part of an M-16 and he knows every curve of his woman. There is no other man like him. Whether you love him or hate him both is a privilege. He could be your worst nightmare or your sweetest dream. He is a United States Marine.

Oldie But Goodie....

This is easily one of my favorite pics of the hubs and me. It was taken in Africa at our ball quite a few years ago when we were on MSG duty. It was before my hubs had his PRK and still wore his glasses. It was taken by my BFF Robyn, and I think she just really captured the essence of "us". My husband looks at me like I am the only women in the room, always has and still does. I love this man completely, with every cell in my body. He has never said one single mean word to me, he has never in anyway disrespected me and he has taught me one thing I know for sure, love does not make you feel bad.....period. I have had previous relationships, I know what I used to think what love was...boy was I wrong. I don't know what I have done to deserve the love this man shows me everyday, after more then 16 years there isn't a second in the day that when I think of him my heart doesn't swell with love. His love for me and mine for him. I am a lucky girl, and this love is more than I could have ever of wished for myself. Thank you love of my life for letting me be me, for loving me even when I am having a hard time loving myself. Thank you for showing me that there is good in the world, and for modeling that for our son so one day his wife will feel like the luckiest girl in the world too. Thank you for showing me that I can do whatever I put my mind too and supporting all my crazy ideas and for teaching me that I can take care of myself but for wanting to take care of me yourself.

“I love you not only for what you are, but for what I am when I am with you. I love you not only for what you have made of yourself, but for what you are making of me. I love you for the part of me that you bring out.”
Roy Croft

Mil Spouse Friday Fill In #21

Be sure to go over to Wife of A Sailor...register your blog.

1. Were you named after anyone? I was named after the street I was conceived on..Heidi Lane

2. What color, if any, are your toenails usually painted?Right now silver for the ball but usually blue or purple.

3. How do you flush a public toilet? Hands? Feet? Something else?My Hand with toilet paper on it, same way I open the door when leaving.

4. When you were a little kid, which TV character did you have a crush on?I was in love with a cartoon character, Marine Boy. I remember being sat down and explained too that he wasn't real, only a cartoon and I was devestated.

5.Let’s say you had to lose one of your five senses (sight, hearing, touch, taste, and smell). Which one would you choose? Why? Taste for sure, imagine how easy it would be to lose weight!

David Letterman - Russell Brand and The Marines

Mil-Spouse Weekly Round Up

Hosting this week is My Marine and Me
So go on over and register your fave blog post so we can all link to it!!

Ball Pics!

Ok, first off let me tell you I had the best time at the ball. I always do, it is something I look forward too every year when my hubs is not deployed. Last year he was so this one was extra special. It was in Vegas at Bally's and all and all we had a great time. We hung out with some great people, hit some fun bars...if you are ever in New York, New York check out the Irish Pub it was a great time..no pics from those but trust me it was a blast. So here are some pics..I didn't care that I was way to over weight this year..I loved my dress, my shoes were great but killed my feet..walking around the strip the night before just set my feet up for failure but who cares..I sucked it up, got the bitch out of my heart as one of my hubs Marines would say and had a blast. Hope you enjoy the pictures!



This is Mary and I. She is such a great lady, and don't have a clue about the shark but it was there so why not get a pic right!

This is our Company Commander and his fantastic wife..she is preggers and they are great people.

Mary, me, Katy (our FRO), and Dawn. I look like an amazon among these ladies but could care less. These are girls, girls..no bitchy or drama here!

The beautiful Mary and her boyfriend Nick, he is my hubs Company Gunny and is a great guy.

Lima Company AKA.."The Best"..SNCO's my hubs is second from left.

My hubs and our Battalion XO..he is the greatest guy, and don't let his size fool you, he is an amatuer UFC fighter and hard corps.

The Darkside 8999's.

Hubs and Weapons Co. 1stSgt..another great guy!

Me and the hubsters....my hair looked so good from this side..lol

Us again!

Vegas Baby

Shutterfly Give Away

SHUTTERFLY GIVE-AWAY FOR BLOGGERS

Well I just learned from one of my fave blogs about Shutterfly Christmas card give away. If you go over to Shutterfly and check out the offer I think it is well worth the time. We used Shutterfly forever, especially when we were overseas it was a great way to order pics and send them to family. They offer some of the cutest Photo Books and Cards I highly recommend checking them out!

235th United States Marine Corps Birthday Message

Mil Spouse Friday Fill In #20

Ok so it's been awhile since I have participated in the Milspouse Friday Fill-In and it's about time to get back. It's a wonderful idea and if you would like to visit the wonderful Mil-Spouse that has started it please go visit her blog , if I haven't thanked Wife of Sailor I am doing it now!

1. A different twist on last week’s question. This week, the first question is: what’s the nicest thing a MILSPOUSE has ever done for you? (brought to you from navy_smurfette)

I can't really narrow it down to any one thing because I have been around a while and have had some wonderful friends that have done some wonderful things for me. Probably the best would have to involve child care in a pinch when my son was young and I worked. It's always nice when you are in a bind to have someone that is willing to get your child to school or pick them up and watch them when you have to work late or take them to practice. Those are the nicest things that I can think of. Nothing has ever been as important to me as caring for my son so anyone that has reached out to help me has been a god send.

2. How often do you drive faster than the speed limit?

Living in the states I never drive over the speed limit. The last thing my husband needs is to see my name on the blotter. Yes ladies, if your name appears on the blotter it can hurt your hubs. At the very least it can lead to a nice ass chewing for them so try to stay off it. I did speed on occasion in West Africa but I don't know if that counts because can your really speed if there aren't any posted speed limits?

3. Did you have a nickname in school? If so, what was it?

If I did I never knew it. I was super tall so my cousin used to call me the Jolly Green Giant of Kensington but no one else ever did.

4. If your life was a book, what would the title be and how would it end?

What a great questioning. Let's see....maybe..From Trials to Triumph? I didn't always have an easy life, but really how many people do? I firmly believe it isn't how you start it's how you finish. My life is amazing now, I am loved by my husband and son and the feeling is mutual let me tell you. I hope it would end with me sitting on a porch swing after a long day of playing with my grandchildren, possibly great grandchildren watching my husband walking them to the car when my son comes to pick them up and just drifting off to sleep with a huge smile on my face with a heart full of love.

5. Look back (in your planner if you have one) to September 14th… what did you do that day?

LOL I have no planner, I have a calendar on my cell phone and I am pretty sure I probably was at the gym, maybe food shopping..not really sure since my cell phone is upstairs and it's really early Sat morning and I don't want to go wake the hubs..lol.

A Year Ago Today

Wordless Wednesday

Ok so a few words. A few weeks ago the hubs went to talk to his sisters class about Patriotism. Today my SIL sent me this pic...how incredibly sweet.

FIRST VOTE

Today my son cast his first ballot. I am proud I have a son who not only exercised his right to be heard but that he went to vote as an informed citizen. Congratulations son!

CAX LINKS

Today I had the opportunity to attend a CAX LINKS. It is put on by MCCS for Family Readiness training and for any spouse and or family member that would like to know more about the Marine Corps. It is a great training and even if you are a seasoned spouse like myself or a brand new spouse (which it is geared toward) it is still a great place to go to meet people and you may learn something you didn't already know. CAX LINKS is not offered a lot and it's a break from the regular class room LINKS. You actually get to go out and have fun while learning the information. Our CAX was hosted by an Artillery Battery from 3/11 and it was very interesting because I didn't really know a lot about artillery except that they had big guns! Over all it was a nice day and I met some great ladies. I would recommend doing it if you haven't, I promise you, it will be worth your time.

3/11 Cannoneers

3/11 Command Center (Brains)

3/11 getting ready to fire

Climbing into the 7 tons, not as easy as it looks.

Does this flack make my butt look fat? LOL

We couldn't help but laugh.

Eating our MRE's..while the Marines ate Pizza!

This looked safe enough..

The obstacle course..ugh.

PMO came out with the dogs..it was awesome.

Explaining the different uniforms.

Presenting the colors.


I also heard the answer to what I had already thought to be true. Question was, "What is appropriate attire for the Marine Corps Ball?" The answer from protocal was, "A floor length gown is appropriate, not short."...so there ya go!

Marine Wife...Not The Hardest Job in the Marine Corps

This is why the next time I am in a long line at the commissary I won't complain...

For My Friend, Happy Birthday Dennis

Today was Dennis's Birthday.
LCpl. Dennis Veater
(reprinted from TheTimes-Tribune.com, March 19, 2007)
A funeral instead of a wedding
CLARKS GREEN — Given the occasion, it was a sadly appropriate hymn.“You shall cross the barren desert, but you shall not die of thirst,” the Church of St. Gregory choir sang while mourners took their seats Saturday at the funeral of Marine Lance Cpl. Dennis J. Veater.“You shall wander far in safety, though you do not know the way,” continued the lyrics of Jesuit Bob Dufford’s “Be not Afraid.”Lance Cpl. Veater did, after all, cross the barren desert — as a Marine truck driver in Iraq — but the Jessup resident did not survive what was to have been his last convoy. The 20-year-old, whose gear was already packed for home, died March 9 in a Fallujah military hospital from wounds suffered during that mission in Al Anbar province. Military officials have not released details, citing the safety of troops still in the region.“I will dream of him, and tell everyone about him,” his sister, Patti Cowan, said. “He’s my baby brother. He’s my hero.“May he rest in peace.”Four of Lance Cpl. Veater’s siblings, along with his fiancee and her pastor, eulogized the fallen Marine on Saturday during a Catholic funeral Mass celebrated by Monsignor John H. Louis of St. Gregory, his family’s parish.The youngest of six children, Lance Cpl. Veater was alone among the pack in following their father, retired Sgt. Major Donald G. Veater, into the Marines.“The words, ‘looking up to Dennis’ gave us a new meaning a couple days ago,” said his twin brother, Adam Veater, who was born shortly before Dennis. “We will always be looking up.”His oldest sister, Karen, echoed that theme, saying she often felt Dennis “was my protector,” even as children.“I always imagined this day would come, like 60 years from now,” Miss Veater said. “My brother was taken too early to show all of us everything he could have and should have become.”Lance Cpl. Veater, a 2004 Abington Heights High School graduate, was assigned to the Marine Forces Reserve’s Wing Support Squadron 472, Wing Support Group 47, 4th Marine Aircraft Wing at Wyoming in Luzerne County.He was due home Wednesday to plan a May 26 wedding with fiancee Angalene Snipes, 21, of Jessup. The couple met during their freshman year at Penn State Worthington Scranton in 2004.At his betrothed’s request, he will be buried wearing a wedding ring.Miss Snipes sat in the front row Saturday with the couple’s son, 14-month-old Dominick, only feet from the flag-draped casket with a Purple Heart medal pinned to it.“He used to say, ‘I wish you could see what I’m doing over here,” Miss Snipes said. “I told him, ‘I don’t need to see. I know.’ ”Like his siblings, she praised a young man who leaves a legacy of love for his country and his kin.“I’m so proud of him for the man he is,” she sobbed. “For the man he was. And for the man our son is going to be.”Whatever that little boy may someday remember of Saturday’s funeral, history will record that his father was bade farewell in a ceremony colored by centuries of well-honed military decorum and millenia of Christian tradition.For that, one need look no farther than the powerful sight of uniformed Marines among the congregants, kneeling in prayer and taking Holy Communion side by side with civilian mourners.Lance Cpl. Veater’s burial was postponed due to Friday’s snowstorm, but elements normally reserved for graveside burial were carried out Saturday.Sacred music and readings were complemented by a Marine honor guard, playing of the Marine and Navy hymns, and outside the church, there boomed a traditional rifle salute and bugling of taps.The Marines were kind enough, Donald Veater said, to provide two U.S. Flags and two Purple Heart medals — one set for himself, one set for Dominick. Countless muffled sobs broke the silence of hundreds as a Marine presented a crisply folded flag to little Dominick, cradled in his crying mother’s arms.In his homily, Monsignor Louis meditated on life as a gift which God gives freely and takes back equally freely, often inexplicably to the human mind. He reminded the faithful that, according to Christian belief, physical death is not spiritual death.“Human life is not destroyed, it’s changed,” Monsignor Louis said. “It’s changed into the marble of God himself.”Michael Cantando, pastor of Faith Baptist Church of Peckville, where Angalene and Dennis worshipped, reiterated the resurrection message during his eulogy: “Though family and friends are experiencing loss,” he said, “God is experiencing the presence of Dennis for ... work well done.”He also praised those who molded the young man’s character, especially parents Donald and Donna.“Make no mistake. The lion’s share of who Dennis is, who Dennis was, was because of mom and dad,” Pastor Cantando said. “It is a credit to their parenting. It was this Dennis, Angie fell in love with.”About that, she left no doubts.“No matter what he did, it was always about someone else’s happiness,” Miss Snipes said.

24th MAU They Came In Peace: 1983 Marine Barracks Bombing

I was living on Camp Lejeune when this happened with my sister and her husband who was is a Marine. It was like 9/11 on board base. I will never forget, we should never forget.

Personal Observations...Before the Wars

I was sitting here thinking about something today..dangerous I know..lol. But really I was thinking about our lives in the military "before" 9/11 and our world and everyone elses was turned upside down.
I am not sure how many of my readers were Mil-Spouses before 9/11 but if you were you may know how I feel and if you weren't maybe someday you will. Before the wars we were a bit anonymous us military folks. No one seemed too much interested in us, or what our spouses did. No one would get up and "shake" my husbands hand when they would see him wearing a Marine Polo or t-shirt. There were no great out-reaches to make sure everyone was taken care of when they were in the field or on an operation. I'm not complaining mind you, but our Marines, Sailors and Soldiers and Airmen have always been out here, always putting themselves on the line for this country and always targets of terrorist ie, Beirut, Embassy's, Cole, I could go on. But no one seemed to notice. Seems to me since the Wars so many people have such a great interest in my husband, and his Marines and what they do and how they are and that is really great, it really is. The Department of Defense has now more than ever been concerned with our quality of life..thank you by the way. I just hope, when all is said and done and we bring the last of our troops home from Iraq and Afghanistan that the country will not again forget that our bravest have been before and will be after, somewhere out it the world walking the post for them, for us. Just a thought.

Excuse Me While I Pat Myself on the Back! Day#5

I did it!! I made it through the whole 5 days of 9am classes this week. I am so proud of myself. I especially proud since this morning I was HURTING and I laid in bed for about 15 minutes trying to convince myself why it would be ok to just "skip" today. And to make it even worse my workout partner texted me and said she was nursing an achy back and decided to cut down to 3 days a week...I HAD MY OUT. But being me, and being hard headed as I am, I got out of bed, took some Tylenol and went to Glutes, Core and More! It was fun. It was challenging and I realize I have to really work on my push ups. I have tons of lower body strength..meaning I could kick the crap out of someone but for upper body lets just say it's a work in progress. But I am on my way and it feels good to feel good again.
Don't worry I will not bore you every day with my workouts but I did this week to hold myself accountable and motivated. I'm going to start my weigh in every Monday. I was 188 (yikes I know) when I weighed in this Monday so fingers crossed I will see a little movement in the negative. I am 5'11 and would like to be about 160-165 that is where I am really comfortable. But no more crazy crash diets that wear me down and make me feel like crap, I am doing the healthy way and in a way I can maintain.
Oh and the hubs is coming home for the field today so I am just all in all in a GREAT mood. Hope you all have a fantastic weekend!

Marine Corps Embassy Security Guard - How far will you go

This was a great experience for my husband, our son and myself. We love Embassy Duty and the friends we made all over the world.

I'm Still Upright..Day #4

I am so sore..but it's the good kind, the kind when you know that all your hard work is paying off. Last night my gym buddy called, she skipped class yesterday and felt like she wanted to do something so we went and did a Couch to 5K run. I was soooo proud of myself for actually doing it since I didn't miss the gym and was a bit wore out from the workout. But I did it! Last night it was tylenol and lights out at 9pm! I slept really well. This morning we did the Muscle Mania class and it was really good. Mostly a lot of upper body and some legs but not a lot of jumping around which was a welcome break, I don't think my butt could have taken it. Tomorrow is Glutes, Core and More..can't wait to find out what the more is. My hubs is coming in from the field tomorrow so this weekend will be great. I can sleep in and have my hubs with me too..at least until he returns to the field Monday and I return to the gym...ugh.
It is amazing how working out again has really lifted my spirits and made me feel like I am actually being productive. It's also a great place to meet people from the battalion. When you sign in you are asked your husbands unit and today a young wife came up to me and asked me if I was from 3/4 because she seen my name and I looked familiar. So it was awesome to be able to chat with her and tell her about some volunteer stuff we are doing at the battalion..networking is important for meeting people. I really feel good this week.

Police: ASU student was fatally shot during botched robbery

Police: ASU student was fatally shot during botched robbery , My heart goes out to this young mans family and to my son and all the ASU students that will mourn for this loss. I have to tell you as a parent this is MY worse fear. It is so scary to send your child off to college and when something so SENSELESS happens right on your door step it really brings it all home.

DAY #3--Step Class

I made it !! Day 3. Despite losing my work-out partner and getting less than 5 hours of sleep I made it to the class. I know my partner wanted to come but she was sore, and so am I but she is smarter then me and decided to not stress her body too much. Me..I am a bit more hard headed and just decided to go, despite my body screaming for a break. Hopefully I will not be too crippled tomorrow. I didn't get a good nights sleep, not sure why but I just couldn't turn my brain off. Nothing is going on, just wheels spinning. So I went to Step class today and I did OK despite the soreness and exhaustion, not too shabby. I didn't make it through every exercise admittedly and the 3 minute cardio challenge, well lets just say we parted after the 1st minute expired, next week, maybe I will make 2 minutes ;). What I love most about the 9 am classes is that everyday they are different so I won't get bored and my body won't have time to adjust to the same old same old.
My hubs has been in the field since Monday and I miss him terribly, I really do. But it has been nice having something besides my loneliness to keep me company. Baby steps. You would think after 16 years of this I would be used to it. Do you ever really get used to it? Who besides myself thinks it actually gets worse? I don't pine, but I do feel the absence and it really leaves a void. I guess I am lucky because I married my best friend but it truly is a double edged sword...
But enough of that. Tomorrow is Abs, Glutes, and Core. Sounds scary! But I can't wait. I can't wait to tell you all about it!

And Now....Day #2

OK, so last night Melanie and I decided to go for a walk around the track, we did 2 miles and that was after we did the class at the community center so we were feeling a bit tired. But we did it. This morning I woke up to a nice rain storm, lightening and thunder and rain...for about 5 minutes. Felt bad because I know the hubs is in the field getting soaked..Grunt life..lol. So Melanie came at 845 and we went to a kick-boxing class...let me tell you it was HARD. Man, this was a crazy workout and I didn't make it through every exercise but I didn't quit. Me and Melanie agreed we would never quit and just stick it out and we did and we were proud of one another. We had originally planned to go to a Pilate's/yoga class at ll30 but soon realized that just wasn't going to happen. We are already a bit sore from yesterday and now after getting our butts thoroughly whooped in Kick Boxing we decided to take it easy so we can move on to day #3....STEP Class. I have to say it is so refreshing to be working out hard again, you just never work as hard at home as you do in a room full of other women, at least I don't. Last night was the first time since we moved here in June that I was sound asleep before 10, I was exhausted and it felt so good. I think tonight I may not even make it until 9! I want to go walk tonight but I will have to revisit that thought again in a few hours. The sun is now shining so I need to go run some errands! Hope you are all having a great week, I am!

Putting My Best Foot Forward Day #1

OK so I did it!! Went to a Cardio pump class with a fellow 3/4 spouse this morning and it was actually fun. Hard but fun to clarify. It felt good to actually have a reason (besides volunteering) to get out of the house. Melanie (fellow spouse) was actually very cool and she's from my home state of Pennsylvania!
So we made it through the class without embarrassing ourselves which is always nice. Tomorrow we are going to do 2 classes!! Kick Boxing and Pilate's!
I think it is so awesome MCCS offers all these classes and they are free and there is such a great selection to pick from. I think they have different classes at 3 different locations at pretty much all hours of the day.
So that was my morning and I am happy to have already accomplished so much, a great distraction with our hubs in the field!

Moving Towards...Success

Ok, so as some of you know I have blogged about my attempt to lose the weight I gained since October (last year). To be exact I gained about 25 pounds. I know that's a lot. I have been working out, but have also found myself derailed more often than not. I am still trying and all that nonsense about the older you get the harder it is, well it's not a myth it is true. But it's doable so it's not an excuse it's just a challenge to work harder and smarter. So tomorrow I am going to our Community Center here on base to start a 9am class. Every weekday they offer a different class for exercise, from step, to core to kickboxing. I am excited because I met a new Marine wife (married in June) and she has been looking for someone to get together with to go to the gym and I said, "well here I am". So tomorrow we are going to go and check it out. I will blog this week to tell you how each day goes. Hubs will be in the field (I know what else is new?) and our hubs are both with 3/4 so it works out awesome. I have also decided to take my c25k on the road. Since the weather is now nice enough to be outside it is a perfect time to get out and run. I know not many people love 29 Palms, and I get it but I have always tried to "bloom where I am planted." That mindset comes from 16 years in this lifestyle and it serves you well to adopt it if you plan on sticking around. The positives I have found here are a lot of the services you pay for on other bases are free here. Free personal trainers! Free aerobics classes! Free movies (well it's a dollar but you get a free soda) so FREE! But not to discount the fact that there are a lot of challenges to being here as well..I will focus on the free stuff. LOL. So this week look forward to my daily workout blog.......
Wish me luck!

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY

School Spirit

I'm Still Out Here.....I Promise

Oh my poor blog, how I have neglected you. I am still here, I promise. I may have lost all my readers by now and for that I am sorry...I love you all....well all of you that aren't trolls (smile) and I have been neglectful. I started this blog to help myself get through some big life changes, hence the title and it has, it really has. I have gotten some great feedback to some issues and great support from those of you that relate and who also sympathise which I am forever grateful for. Honestly, I think this absence is a part of my process that I am going through in redirecting my attention from full time mom, to something else. Unfortunately I still haven't figured out what that is but I am definitely still trying to get there. I have been doing some training for my Family Readiness Advisor position, I have gotten to know our FRO pretty well and I have attended some meetings and I think it is going to be a good thing.
What has happened is my husband has hit the ground running with his pre-deployment training which takes him to the field about 80% of his time. And that is fine, this is something I have to find my way through, he can't do it for me and I know I have his support 100%. I am not feeling as sad, which is good. I have had no luck finding a job but if I were to be completely honest I haven't put my whole heart in to finding one. So I am making forward motion to figuring this all out. I am losing weight ..on purpose, and I am working out regularly again. So as you can see..I am moving closer to the new me everyday. I am still a mom, I am still needed, my son is still my baby and I know that will never change. I am in love with my husband, which as odd as that sounds is a great big bonus after 16 years and I am loved back, these are the things I know for sure. So those of you that haven't abandoned my blog, thank you. I am still here.

Did I Mention I Have a Son?

I think I may have mentioned a time or two that I have a son (LOL). I think I also may have mentioned he is a Plank Owner at Arizona State in the Reserve Officer Training Corps (LOL) and I think I may have even mentioned briefly he is a Marine Option Midshipmen. Of course I have!! Anyhow, for all of you who aren't bored to death with my ramblings about our son, here is the picture that was recently taken of the ASU ROTC Plank Owners. If anyone doesn't know what a Plank Owner is here is a brief description:

A "plank owner" (or plankowner) is an individual who was a member of the crew of a ship when that ship was placed in commission. Originally, this term applied only to crew members that were present at the ship's first commissioning. Today, however, plank owner is often applied to members of newly commissioned units, new military bases and recommissioning crews as well.(Wikipedia)

We are so proud of our son, of course. He wanted to go to Arizona State University specifically to be a part of this new ROTC Unit. Recently he was named a Platoon Sgt. at the unit so we think he made the right choice for himself.

Well I just wanted to share this with all my readers who have been with me from the beginning.
I am headed up to ASU for family weekend tomorrow. My hubs can't go since he is in the field but that just means we get to get back up on Columbus Day!!
I think I am finally gaining some footing here, not sure on the job front since I can't seem to even get an interview. I have heard rumors of some shenanigans going on with hiring practices here that I am hoping are just that but I am starting to believe they are slightly true. I will get back to you all when I do some digging. Anyhow hope you are all having a great day!

An Open Letter to My Husband

Dear Husband
Well here we are, another birthday for the best husband a girl could wish for. Seventeen Birthdays together, most celebrated apart but celebrated non the less. Another year, another candle, marking another 365 days in the life of the most fantastic human being I have ever been lucky enough to know let alone be married too. How many celebrated together? In the same place? At the same time? Not enough. Always your duty calls, and I wish the best over a phone, an email, a text message. Some years we just had to wish on the same star, not able to speak but speaking volumes with our odd connection not many understand. I love you, today more than yesterday, but not as much as I surely will tomorrow. Tonight, under those same stars know I am thinking of you and wishing you the best birthday in the world. I love you.
Your Wifey

Hartings Happening

Well a lot of busy work is going on in the Harting Household. I have been doing some volunteer work since I was appointed our Family Readiness Advisor. We have a new family readiness advisor and she is brand new and trying to navigate her new job. This isn't a job any degree can prepare you for so as per MCCS there is a lot of training for her, and I and all the volunteers. Official Volunteers are appointed by the command and with that comes a lot of training, and honestly it's nice to have a purpose. I am still hoping to get back to work full time. I am finding this a challenge here in 29 Palms. I not sure what you have to do to get an interview here but once I find out I will be happy to let you all know in case you find yourself coming this way! Hubs is busy at work on yet another predeployment work up..lots of hours at work and in the field, he will be gone for about 2 weeks starting next week and will miss family weekend at ASU which is really a bummer but what can you do. He is really busy and I can not wait for the holiday season to have our son home and he has some time off so we can just all be together again.
Michael is doing really well so far in college. He is thriving in ROTC and a matter of fact he is getting his dress whites today and MarPat (he is Marine Option) down at the UofA and I can not wait to see him in his new uniforms. He has decided to minor in Political Science since he seems to love the Global Politics class he took on a fluke. He has also made the ROTC Color Guard so you all might get to catch him on TV if you watch college sports.....GO SUNDEVILS!! We are so proud of our midshipmen. He is having some challenges with his roommates. Seem they came to school to party and that is fine....but when Michael has to get up at 5 a.m. to Pt with his unit it doesn't go over well. I think they are working it out and trying to find a compromise. The good thing is they all like one another and the boys came to his swearing in and they respect his goals but come on, 18 year olds...girls....college..party. Michael always was a serious kid with big goals and like my hubs said, he will adjust.
So that is what has been going on in the Harting household..kind of a crazy adjustment, I am still finding myself with too much time on my hands but hopefully that will change soon. Hope all my blogger friends are enjoying the slight weather change wherever you are!! I love fall.

9-11

Please remember the heroes of 9-11. Remember those that came before, remember those that came that day and remember those that are still fighting.

My Life and Missing People

Last night I was sitting on the couch watching the telly and started thinking about how often in my life I have spent missing people. Not the missing like when you don't see a friend for awhile, or a distant family member, but missing someone that should be in your life everyday. When I was born my father was shipped off to Vietnam, after being in country for a few weeks he was killed. Does an infant miss a parent that they don't even know should be there? Is it ingrained in our DNA that we should have two faces looking down on us, protecting us, making us happy? Did I know even at 9 months old that someone in my life, my dad was gone? Did I miss him? Well I'm not sure, I do know when I was old enough to know I did miss him. Even though I later had a wonderful step-father, who I still adore and who always raised and loved me like his own, I still "missed" the dad I never knew. So I think "missing someone" was something I started out in life doing and it occurs to me it has never stopped. My sister Lisa was killed by a drunk driver when I was 14, she was 11. It was devastating and I still miss her, I missed her sweet face when I woke in the morning and I miss it still now. My older sister met and married a Marine when I was 12 and she left home, and it was just me, sisterless. I turned to myself all my life. It is like "missing" someone is as natural to me as breathing. Is that normal? When I met my husband he told me he was going into the Marine Corps, I knew what that meant, and I wanted no parts of it. But I relented because I adored and loved him more than any human being on the planet and I set in course another person I had to miss on occasion. Flash forward to last year, our son graduating, preparing to go to University and I figure, it will suck but I can do this, nothing new..just another person I am going to "miss". To be honest, this ache is deeper, and more complicated. Complicated because although I miss him, I know he is exactly where he should be, and I am proud...but still the ache. In the past when my husband left for various reasons relating to the Marine Corps, I had distractions, I have distractions now while missing my son. But than last night, the reality that when my hubs deploys next year....I will be missing both of them at the same time, for the first time ever. UGH. I know my hubs is having a bit of a war with himself, I think this next deployment weighs heavy on him because he doesn't want me in this position, alone. But after thinking about it for awhile I was thinking, I got this. It's literally in my genetic makeup. I can compartmentalize this and "miss" them both. But in that "missing" I am reminded of how lucky I am to have people in my life that mean so much to me that their absence can cause me physical pain. My favorite quote, "love knows not it's own depth until the hour of separation." G.K. never rang so true.

Mil Spouse Friday Fill In #11

1. What is a weird/funny superstition that you have? (from A{muse}ing Mommy on a Pink Park Bench)

My grandmother was very superstitious; I think she passed most of them on to me. She thought eating coconut before bingo made you lucky (always searching for her Mounds Bar), and all kinds of crazy rituals. But the one that has stuck with me the longest was never crossing someone on the stairs, its bad luck you see. If someone is coming up and I am going down I will wait, and even if I am half down I will go back up..I just don’t do it. 2. What are your hopes and dreams for the years AFTER the military? After all, we aren’t in it forever! (from Stetsons, Spurs and Stilettos)

Not sure about that one, we have a few ideas. We still have about 6 years to 22 and my hubs may stay longer, depending on what he is doing at the time. If he is happy and still able to look out for Jr. Marines I think he might stay longer. But we are looking into the State Department after retirement, we love travel, living overseas and with no chirpies in the nest well we can do pretty much whatever.3. Since [this] month is National Apple Month (no really!), I’d probably ask: What is your yummiest apple recipe? (from NH Girl Displaced)Red Delicious Apples straight out of cold fridge is only way I will eat an apple.4. How long have you gone as a military spouse without talking to your husband/wife during service? (from A Navy Princess and Her Little Sailors)

Well it’s a toss up, when he went to Iraq in those early days he would have to stand in line for hours to use a phone so I think it was at least 2 weeks. But I am thinking last year in A-stan it was longer, can’t really remember, I just remember coms were horrible and he didn’t even have good writing tools. I got a post card written on piece of a card board box, couldn’t believe they delivered it!

5. I occasionally watch When I was 17… on MTV. So, what was something that was significant about your 17th year of life? (fromAshley Amazing)

Oh goodness. Well it was a while ago..so..hmmm. Probably the birth of my first nephew??? He’s now a W.O. in the Army and I helped take care of him since my sisters husband was on UDP (he was a Marine too. I was and still am very close to him.

MY FAVORITE. NON FAMILY PICTURES FINALLY HUNG

Finding My Footing

OK. so it has been a few weeks since we dropped our son off at college and I am slowly but surely finding my footing. It's amazing how much of my time I find myself having these days. My house is always cleaner, there isn't as much laundry or dirty dishes. And not that I minded taking care of those things, it did take up a lot of time. My husband is so supportive. He is like, work, don't work, just be happy. I have been able to talk to him when I am feeling off, like how our house feels a bit cold, and not home like----yet. We need to get things up around our house to make it our home. It's easy in our lifestyle to sometimes get a "squatters" attitude. You know the feeling, "I'm not sure how long we'll be here so why bother?". We have done that before, and really it wasn't the way we should have approached things. It is always better to make your house your home and put things up that make you smile no matter how long your going to be there. I have a lot of reasons to be happy and I am happy, just feeling a bit off my game but I am slowly getting my footing. This past week I was attending training because the SgtMaj is unmarried so he asked me to fill a billet on the Family Readiness Command Team and I accepted. It's a volunteer position but I was going to volunteer regardless so what a great way to be a big part and make a difference than this right! The training was OK, you know how it goes, too much time and could have been shorter but it was just nice to get out, meet some of the other wives and start networking for next year when our guys are forward and I already have people I know here. Next month I am going to sign up for CAX LINKS, which is LINKS training (for the none Marines this is part of our volunteer track training) that is not a classroom traditional links but an actual go out in the field with the Marines and play with all their toys while learning Links! I am so excited, the space is limited but I really hope I get to go. I really do hope to find a job but jobs here are not easy to come by so I will keep looking and until then I will do what I can to stay busy. I am going up to see our son end of September for a family weekend and we are going to a football game, so I am stoked about that..GO ASU! Well until next time folks, hope you enjoy your holiday weekend and all my east coast friends and family, hope you get one day of sunshine...dang Earl.

Calling On My Favorite Blogs...

OK so you know who you are..I do not need to name names! So our Battalion is gearing up for yet another deployment and I have been asked personally to chip in with some Family Readiness stuff and of course I am all in. It will be nice to help out and give me something to do while I figure out what my new life direction is going to be...actually this will be part of it. I want to take some of the energy I used to direct toward my sons needs and re-direct to our battalions family readiness. I have already met our Family Readiness Officer, she is a fellow Marine spouse and I think we are on the same page and want to move in the same direction with how exactly we envision getting our ladies ready and motivated up and through our upcoming deployment, I know I said ladies, it's an Infantry Battalion so we have no male spouses.
So we were thinking about our Newsletter. I proposed to work on a portion of the newsletter that would point wives in the direction of the blogosphere and social networking sites that will offer up "positive" help in dealing with deployment and other things milspouse friendly. I would also like to highlight our spouses own blogs with a "blog roll" and highlight maybe one spouse blog entry a newsletter or maybe more than one if we have a lot of wives blogging. What I would also like to do is from time to time introduce the wives to some of your blogs, of course I would never do that without asking your permission in advance but I read some great stuff and I want to share.
I think a lot of times some of the newsletters I have seen are really out of touch with what is going on with the military spouse, and social networking in general. I want to highlight the positive aspect of this because I know there are a lot of blogs out there that are less than supportive. A lot of our spouses will be dealing with their very first combat deployment, as most of you know it never gets easier but the first one is hard, not having any idea what to expect. I think I have a great bunch of blog friends and I think you could all help so much.
So wish me luck with my new project...and I look forward to introducing the ladies from our battalion to some of you!

This Sums up My Sunday

Terminal Lance and Knife Hand

I will from time to time post the comic strip off of Terminal Lance. First I clear it with the hubs because he has a clearer perspective than I do in some of his strips...this kid gets it right 90% of the time, the other 10% I say he lacks the big picture..but here is a good one..

Milspouse Friday Fill In #10

 

1. What secret indulgence do you act on while your spouse is away? (from Devil Dog Darling)  Hmm..not sure if it is an indulgence but I go on nutrisystem.  Ya, I know it isn't indulgent in taste but it's expensive and when hubs is gone I can do it without it breaking our bank and since this time it will just be me it will be even cheaper.  It's a great way for me to get back to eating right and the food isn't horrible, and it really makes me feel better.  I am a "happy" eater, and when hubs is gone I am not too worried about eating all the time.When he is home..It's a food fest, we love to eat out and go out on dates and we just enjoy life.  When he is gone I just use that time to get back in shape.  I have actually started to do that regardless because it's not healthy living the way I have the last 8 years.  I have always exercised and taken care of myself that way but not always have I made the right food choices.

2. If you were a spice, what would you be? (from New Girl On Post)  I would say vanilla, the only reason for that is because I LOVE all things vanilla, candles, perfumes and ice cream.

3. Where do you go for support when your significant other is deployed? (from Texas Meets Washington)
I have a few best friends that I rely on tons ...one is  a military spouse and one works for the State Department.  We have been through thick and thin with one another and we are always there for one another.  I also have a few great twitter friends that I know I can count on no matter what.  Our last deployment was tough and without those ladies and a gentleman...I don't know what I would have done.  It was also sharing homecomings with the ladies as each one of our spouses returned home.

4. What is the oldest thing you own? (from A Troop's Girl) I have an initial ring my mother gave me when I was 11 years old.  I still wear it every day.  And I have only had to have it resized once!  It is literally a part of my body; I don't know what I would do without it.  It's rose gold and it's just a very sentimental piece of jewelry that I love.

 

5. How did you vision your future pre-military? (from Daddy's Duty) Well growing up around the military my whole life I had a pretty good idea what life would be like.  I didn't know I would get to travel the world too.*thank you MSG Duty* and really who would have predicted 9/11 and our lives changing in a way we could never have planned for.  As Marines you deploy during peace time as well, and that is hard but there is no comparison as to when your loved one deploys to war.  So even though we had been through the separations I never thought it would be so my hubs would go fight in a war. My mother had such reservations about us girls marrying Marines, since she was a young war widow.  But she passed before 9/11 so she had no idea that we would know what it felt like.