Our new link on that site is http://www.milblogging.com/listingDetail.php?id=5037
Friday, April 29, 2011
Another Milestone!!
So the blog was officially added to Milblogging.com today!!! It's the world's largest index of military blogs! I am so so excited and hopes this brings lots of new followers! In the meantime, PLEASE share my blog and invite your friends to follow!
Our new link on that site is http://www.milblogging.com/listingDetail.php?id=5037
Our new link on that site is http://www.milblogging.com/listingDetail.php?id=5037
Milspouse Friday Fill-In!
1. Have you and your spouse ever agreed to live in separate locations (a geographical bachelor tour) knowing that the short-term inconvenience would have long-term benefits for your family? How did it work for you? submitted by When Good People Get Together.
No. I still lived in Auburn while he was in OTS until I moved to Pensacola in February to set up house here, so I did the commuting thing 3.5 hours away to Auburn whenever I had classes, but decided for monetary reasons not to keep the apartment we had up there. Now we are permanently in P'cola but I just finished classes today (graduation in a little over a week! woohoo!!)
2. What is your favorite thing about being a MilSpouse? submitted by Sarah Ruth Today.
Well today it was Case Lot sales!! lol, but seriously. In general, probably the pride I feel whenever I see any uniformed serviceman/woman these days, or how I love it when someone thanks BE or I for our service, or the amazing friends we have already made at our new station. It really is a great family (and people actually know what you're talking about!!)
3. If you could still have your spouse/significant other and your family, but take the military life out of it...would you? submitted by Trust. Love. Believe. Bake..
Well, a few weeks ago this would have been an emphatic YES YES YES!!! But lately, with BE having to go through this new flight physical here shortly and there always being the chance of not passing, we confronted the question of "what would we do if..." and when I thought of moving back home and him getting a "normal job" and us not being in the military anymore, I actually froze and panicked. So, would I take the military life out of it? No. Would I take any chance of my husband getting hurt/killed and me potentially being left alone because of the military out? Yes.
4. What have your homecoming experiences been like after a year long tour of separation? submitted by Army Soldier, Army Wife, Army Life :).
We haven't had to be apart for more than his 3-month TDY to OTS, but with that being the first thing ever it was hard and the homecoming was wonderful in ways and terrible in ways. He was different, and was really picky about everything from being scrutinized so much - it was like he literally couldn't settle down, even to watch a movie with me. He would rather be dusting. But it was nice to get to go out to dinner and see him face to face, or to wake up in the morning and him actually be there. I can't imagine a whole year apart and I hope I never have to do it.
5. If you have a child(ren) why you chose their name(s)? If not, why you would name your child something? submitted by Tiaras and ACU's.
Well, we don't have any children (other than our adorable Buster Brown furbaby), but I like Kaleb, Noah, and Inman for boys' names and Olivia and Sofia for girls' names, so maybe one day!
No. I still lived in Auburn while he was in OTS until I moved to Pensacola in February to set up house here, so I did the commuting thing 3.5 hours away to Auburn whenever I had classes, but decided for monetary reasons not to keep the apartment we had up there. Now we are permanently in P'cola but I just finished classes today (graduation in a little over a week! woohoo!!)
2. What is your favorite thing about being a MilSpouse? submitted by Sarah Ruth Today.
Well today it was Case Lot sales!! lol, but seriously. In general, probably the pride I feel whenever I see any uniformed serviceman/woman these days, or how I love it when someone thanks BE or I for our service, or the amazing friends we have already made at our new station. It really is a great family (and people actually know what you're talking about!!)
3. If you could still have your spouse/significant other and your family, but take the military life out of it...would you? submitted by Trust. Love. Believe. Bake..
Well, a few weeks ago this would have been an emphatic YES YES YES!!! But lately, with BE having to go through this new flight physical here shortly and there always being the chance of not passing, we confronted the question of "what would we do if..." and when I thought of moving back home and him getting a "normal job" and us not being in the military anymore, I actually froze and panicked. So, would I take the military life out of it? No. Would I take any chance of my husband getting hurt/killed and me potentially being left alone because of the military out? Yes.
4. What have your homecoming experiences been like after a year long tour of separation? submitted by Army Soldier, Army Wife, Army Life :).
We haven't had to be apart for more than his 3-month TDY to OTS, but with that being the first thing ever it was hard and the homecoming was wonderful in ways and terrible in ways. He was different, and was really picky about everything from being scrutinized so much - it was like he literally couldn't settle down, even to watch a movie with me. He would rather be dusting. But it was nice to get to go out to dinner and see him face to face, or to wake up in the morning and him actually be there. I can't imagine a whole year apart and I hope I never have to do it.
5. If you have a child(ren) why you chose their name(s)? If not, why you would name your child something? submitted by Tiaras and ACU's.
Well, we don't have any children (other than our adorable Buster Brown furbaby), but I like Kaleb, Noah, and Inman for boys' names and Olivia and Sofia for girls' names, so maybe one day!
Case Lot Sale...Success!!
So my neighbor (also an AF wife) and I got up this morning bright and early to head to the case lot sale here in Pensacola, just to find that the Navy apparently sets them up waaaay differently than AF bases do...we stood in line for four hours just to get to the start of the case lot tent!! It was crazy! And it got up in the 80's today (sunburn...unfortunately, yes) and we finally got to the tent and I was so overwhelmed! These things are so cool! I had a list with me (which of course I only minimally followed) and was literally amazed at the savings they offer. I already liked the commissary as compared to my old civilian favorite Kroger, but now I'm IN LOVE!! We had three heaping carts between us by the time we got to the register. When I got home I went back through the master list and figured out my savings. If I would have paid regular price for all of the items I got, I would have spent $458.19, but I only actually paid $239.02!!! That's a (drumroll please)..... 52% SAVINGS! Say WHAT?!?!?! I was more proud showing the hubs that list than I have been of anything in a long time!! We have enough toilet paper to wipe our butts for a year, enough macaroni elbow noodles to last the rest of our lives, and also the all-important Oreo's (for BE, to soften the blow of my spending lol). I was soooooo excited! I don't think I will ever miss a case lot sale, and even though it took us almost 6 hours total, it was so worth it to get that much stuff and literally get half of it for free.
My dad called while I was there and I was telling him about it and he says to me, "You know, my tax dollars are paying for that!" to which I replied, "well then I thank you for being such a good citizen." haha and he just thought marrying me off was going to mean he wasn't paying for me anymore!! It definitely is a benefit though.
On another note, I have been SO surprised how few restaurants offer military discounts around here, right next to a base. I have begun compiling a list, and I plan to write letters to the companies (my hubs is hoping we get free stuff or at least coupons out of it) that will more or less be "I'm disappointed in you" ramblings. I'll let ya'll know how that turns out!
In sad news, they finally released the names of the 8 NATO airmen who were killed over in Kabul. My heart aches for these families. I dread every single day going to my front door and seeing men in uniform there, and when the news came out two days ago, I broke down into tears. When BE asked me what was wrong, all I could get out was, "right now, we're sitting here enjoying a beautiful day, and cooking dinner, and making beach plans for the weekend, and there are families who right this minute are having their lives destroyed." I feel like I can't even pray for them hard enough. I know these things happen sometimes, but still, they are all so young and one even had a newborn, and that just makes me so unbearably sad. It could be any one of our guys at any time, and even though they love what they are doing, it doesn't make it any easier to hear the doorbell ring.
Please also keep praying for Alabama... I had a lot of friends who either had families lose homes or knew people who lost their lives. Most of the state looks like a total disaster area, and the National Guard has even been called in. I was up there for classes when all the weather hit, and it was scary enough to hear our sirens going off in town and looking out the window to see trees that minutes before were blowing all around suddenly still as glass, and knowing that's not good. I'm glad to be back home in Florida now, but I wish I could be up there to help with cleanup efforts. If you can, please donate to the Red Cross HERE or "Like" Town & Country Ford on Facebook (they are donating a dollar for everyone who likes their page) HERE.
My dad called while I was there and I was telling him about it and he says to me, "You know, my tax dollars are paying for that!" to which I replied, "well then I thank you for being such a good citizen." haha and he just thought marrying me off was going to mean he wasn't paying for me anymore!! It definitely is a benefit though.
On another note, I have been SO surprised how few restaurants offer military discounts around here, right next to a base. I have begun compiling a list, and I plan to write letters to the companies (my hubs is hoping we get free stuff or at least coupons out of it) that will more or less be "I'm disappointed in you" ramblings. I'll let ya'll know how that turns out!
In sad news, they finally released the names of the 8 NATO airmen who were killed over in Kabul. My heart aches for these families. I dread every single day going to my front door and seeing men in uniform there, and when the news came out two days ago, I broke down into tears. When BE asked me what was wrong, all I could get out was, "right now, we're sitting here enjoying a beautiful day, and cooking dinner, and making beach plans for the weekend, and there are families who right this minute are having their lives destroyed." I feel like I can't even pray for them hard enough. I know these things happen sometimes, but still, they are all so young and one even had a newborn, and that just makes me so unbearably sad. It could be any one of our guys at any time, and even though they love what they are doing, it doesn't make it any easier to hear the doorbell ring.
Please also keep praying for Alabama... I had a lot of friends who either had families lose homes or knew people who lost their lives. Most of the state looks like a total disaster area, and the National Guard has even been called in. I was up there for classes when all the weather hit, and it was scary enough to hear our sirens going off in town and looking out the window to see trees that minutes before were blowing all around suddenly still as glass, and knowing that's not good. I'm glad to be back home in Florida now, but I wish I could be up there to help with cleanup efforts. If you can, please donate to the Red Cross HERE or "Like" Town & Country Ford on Facebook (they are donating a dollar for everyone who likes their page) HERE.
Thursday, April 28, 2011
Milspouse Friday Fill-In!
How many pets do you have and what type?
We are the proud parents of a huge pitt bull/hound that I adopted from the pound my freshman year of college (despite the protests of my mother....who now owns a shirt that states, "Ask me about my Granddog"... enough said.) and he has been my best friend ever since. He's the Super Dufus of dogs, and is very happy that we have a huge backyard at our new place, which he's never had before since I always lived in apartments. But yes, that's our baby. When BE is gone, you can find Bus laying on his bed next to Daddy's recliner... the whole time.
What are you favorite projects to do while Hubby is away?
I love love love to scrapbook! I am currently working on one putting in pictures from OTS and BE's commissioning ceremony. I also am a big quilter, and have a king-sized quilt in the works for our bed. It's going to be fabulous. Other than that, I cook and bake all the time! I even have a blog where I post my family's recipes as well as stuff I make up on my own! you can find it at THIS LINK.
What are the must-haves in your deployment care packages?
Well, BE hasn't deployed yet, but when he was at OTS, his favorite things to get were Clif bars and cake balls! The guys in his flight really went crazy for those. Also, five-hour energies, a picture, and a letter :)
If you could star in any tv show, which would it be?
hmmm. I would LOVE to be behind the scenes on Coming Home. That show makes me bawl like an absolute baby. A lot of weeks I can't even make it through the whole episode. But helping set that up would be amazing (or having it happen to me! I love surprises lol).
What was the biggest hurdle that you faced during your significant other's first deployment?
Well, like I said, luckily we haven't had to do any deployments yet. I know they're coming though :( For OTS it was hard because we had never before been apart for more than a week, so going three months really stunk. It was hard to need him for something or have big news or a bad day or just need to ask where I should go to get the oil changed and not be able to call him. The biggest hurdle of OTS though was the move. I had to move stuff from his home in NC to my parents' in Atlanta to our apartment in Auburn, and THEN to Pensacola. Whew!!!
If you want to participate in the weekly Fill-In, you can go visit Wife of a Sailor @ THIS BLOG. It's a great blog too!
We are the proud parents of a huge pitt bull/hound that I adopted from the pound my freshman year of college (despite the protests of my mother....who now owns a shirt that states, "Ask me about my Granddog"... enough said.) and he has been my best friend ever since. He's the Super Dufus of dogs, and is very happy that we have a huge backyard at our new place, which he's never had before since I always lived in apartments. But yes, that's our baby. When BE is gone, you can find Bus laying on his bed next to Daddy's recliner... the whole time.
I love love love to scrapbook! I am currently working on one putting in pictures from OTS and BE's commissioning ceremony. I also am a big quilter, and have a king-sized quilt in the works for our bed. It's going to be fabulous. Other than that, I cook and bake all the time! I even have a blog where I post my family's recipes as well as stuff I make up on my own! you can find it at THIS LINK.
What are the must-haves in your deployment care packages?
Well, BE hasn't deployed yet, but when he was at OTS, his favorite things to get were Clif bars and cake balls! The guys in his flight really went crazy for those. Also, five-hour energies, a picture, and a letter :)
If you could star in any tv show, which would it be?
hmmm. I would LOVE to be behind the scenes on Coming Home. That show makes me bawl like an absolute baby. A lot of weeks I can't even make it through the whole episode. But helping set that up would be amazing (or having it happen to me! I love surprises lol).
What was the biggest hurdle that you faced during your significant other's first deployment?
Well, like I said, luckily we haven't had to do any deployments yet. I know they're coming though :( For OTS it was hard because we had never before been apart for more than a week, so going three months really stunk. It was hard to need him for something or have big news or a bad day or just need to ask where I should go to get the oil changed and not be able to call him. The biggest hurdle of OTS though was the move. I had to move stuff from his home in NC to my parents' in Atlanta to our apartment in Auburn, and THEN to Pensacola. Whew!!!
If you want to participate in the weekly Fill-In, you can go visit Wife of a Sailor @ THIS BLOG. It's a great blog too!
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Defining Love & Bad Weather
Funny story. So we were having company over the other day and I had errands I had to run to prepare (of course). So I asked BE if he would please give BB (Buster Brown, our pound mutt) a bath. I even told him there was dog shampoo under my sink, or he could use the Pantene Pro-V in the shower. I come home an hour later and there is a strange aroma filling my master bedroom and bathroom, so of course I holler for BE and ask where Bus is... about that time here comes our huge pitt/hound mix barreling around the corner to greet mommy... and he smells like Old Spice. Reeks of Old Spice. People in Canada could smell the Old Spice wafting from my dog. And all I can do is look at BE and say, "Really?!? Seriously?!?" as he looks at me with the biggest grin on his face, and simply replies, "But babe, all the chickies will love him now. You can't expect him to get any smelling like Pantene." And such are the moments that define my relationship. Much like the time he was in OTS and had no access to TV or radio and the first text I had gotten through to him in almost a week contained the starting lineup for the Boston Red Sox this season (since like a good devoted wife I had stayed up waiting for it to get released) and the response I got back (mind you, it had been a week since we had spoken) was "oh my gosh, I love you. So so much." Yep, those moments. :)
Also, I must ask everyone to please pray for everyone in Alabama tonight. I am back up in Auburn for my last few classes of undergrad (woohoo) and we are getting hit with tornado warning after tornado warning; sirens are going off downtown and the National Weather Service just listed this as a Particularly Dangerous Situation (which apparently they don't do often) and told us to "Take shelter now". So here I am, holed up and blogging lol. Cullman, Arab, and Tuscaloosa were all hit today and there are over 30 confirmed deaths so far, with those numbers expected to rise. I might be a tried-and-true Auburn fan, but no one deserves to have to watch their lives and possessions be destroyed. As I sit here praying Psalm 91 over those of us here in Auburn, I'm also sending out prayers for those who are facing a very long night tonight with either no power or no home, and I hope you will all join me in that. Keep safe tonight everyone!!
Also, I must ask everyone to please pray for everyone in Alabama tonight. I am back up in Auburn for my last few classes of undergrad (woohoo) and we are getting hit with tornado warning after tornado warning; sirens are going off downtown and the National Weather Service just listed this as a Particularly Dangerous Situation (which apparently they don't do often) and told us to "Take shelter now". So here I am, holed up and blogging lol. Cullman, Arab, and Tuscaloosa were all hit today and there are over 30 confirmed deaths so far, with those numbers expected to rise. I might be a tried-and-true Auburn fan, but no one deserves to have to watch their lives and possessions be destroyed. As I sit here praying Psalm 91 over those of us here in Auburn, I'm also sending out prayers for those who are facing a very long night tonight with either no power or no home, and I hope you will all join me in that. Keep safe tonight everyone!!
In Need of Blogosphere Besties
So this is my first ever blog about my life (I have one that I list family recipes on) and I'm nervous! Will people like me? Do people care? Will I really connect with others who I can relate to? I hope so! I had to be back up in Auburn for a week to do a mandatory review course for NCLEX (the nursing exam to get your license) and I'm not gonna lie... listening to the same woman drone on to me for 8 hours each day for 3 days when I have the book in front of me that word for word lists everything she's saying (gotta love scripts!) and am perfectly capable (I'm pretty sure) of reading it for myself, is driving me INSANE. Especially since BE leaves for IFS soon and I am wasting precious time!!! Sometimes everyday life really gets in the way, doesn't it? I knew I was a dependent person before the whole military thing, but ever since he was gone at OTS I've realized just how absolutely pathetically dependent I really am.
On a happier note, we finally have all of our pictures up and it finally feels like home! We are really enjoying life in the Sunshine State and I think BE is finally figuring out how to get around town. We had about 16 people over for Easter, and it was wonderful!! It was the first holiday I've ever spent away from my parents and grandparents so it was nice to have a full house. I cooked a 12-pound ham (I know!) and everyone brought things that were common at gatherings with their family, so we ended up with tons of great food! We are really blessed to have such a great Air Force family stationed with us down here that we can share such an important occasion with!! Because the real reason for Easter is CHRIST, as much as I do LOVE those Cadbury eggs.... but Jesus' sacrifice to face a horrible death so that we could all be saved despite our sins (of which I know I am grateful!) gives me SO much hope. Especially as a military wife, I know I am grateful every day that BE encouraged me in my faith and that we grow stronger in it as a couple every day, because I know that despite anything this world or this military life can throw at us, we will be together in the end because God triumphed!! And how incredibly comforting is that?? God is so, so good, ya'll :)
On a happier note, we finally have all of our pictures up and it finally feels like home! We are really enjoying life in the Sunshine State and I think BE is finally figuring out how to get around town. We had about 16 people over for Easter, and it was wonderful!! It was the first holiday I've ever spent away from my parents and grandparents so it was nice to have a full house. I cooked a 12-pound ham (I know!) and everyone brought things that were common at gatherings with their family, so we ended up with tons of great food! We are really blessed to have such a great Air Force family stationed with us down here that we can share such an important occasion with!! Because the real reason for Easter is CHRIST, as much as I do LOVE those Cadbury eggs.... but Jesus' sacrifice to face a horrible death so that we could all be saved despite our sins (of which I know I am grateful!) gives me SO much hope. Especially as a military wife, I know I am grateful every day that BE encouraged me in my faith and that we grow stronger in it as a couple every day, because I know that despite anything this world or this military life can throw at us, we will be together in the end because God triumphed!! And how incredibly comforting is that?? God is so, so good, ya'll :)
So how does this stuff work??
Hello everyone! I'm AM :)
I am a newlywed, soon-to-be college graduate, and now also the brand spankin' new other half to a 2d Lt in the US Air Force (those ranks still have that 'new car smell' too!). I moved us to our first PCS in Florida a few months ago and finished school long distance while my hubby went through OTS, and this is the result: one crazy, overwhelmed, stressed, but happy Airman's wife (who is also a VERY proud Auburn Tiger!). I decided to blog when I ran across a community of other military spouse bloggers and was relieved to find out that I was not in this alone. You can find the community here: http://www.household6diva.com/2010/06/military-spouse-blogging-community.html . So, here I am! More will come later when I figure this whole blogosphere thing out. I'll admit I've spent two days working on one of those "advanced templates" just to end up back at square one. This stuff is so frustrating, especially when you're as technologically ignorant as I am. Sigh. Well, see ya'll again soon!
I am a newlywed, soon-to-be college graduate, and now also the brand spankin' new other half to a 2d Lt in the US Air Force (those ranks still have that 'new car smell' too!). I moved us to our first PCS in Florida a few months ago and finished school long distance while my hubby went through OTS, and this is the result: one crazy, overwhelmed, stressed, but happy Airman's wife (who is also a VERY proud Auburn Tiger!). I decided to blog when I ran across a community of other military spouse bloggers and was relieved to find out that I was not in this alone. You can find the community here: http://www.household6diva.com/2010/06/military-spouse-blogging-community.html . So, here I am! More will come later when I figure this whole blogosphere thing out. I'll admit I've spent two days working on one of those "advanced templates" just to end up back at square one. This stuff is so frustrating, especially when you're as technologically ignorant as I am. Sigh. Well, see ya'll again soon!
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