THe Harting Family

THe Harting Family

Saturday, November 27, 2010

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.

Friday, November 26, 2010

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. 

Wednesday, November 24, 2010

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.

Saturday, November 20, 2010

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.

Thursday, November 18, 2010

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.

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

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




Saturday, November 13, 2010

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!

Friday, November 12, 2010

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!

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

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!












Saturday, November 6, 2010

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.

Wednesday, November 3, 2010

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.

Tuesday, November 2, 2010

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!