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Pride in that Military ID
We just returned from a great vacation with many warm waters to swim in and sunsets to enjoy. It also included zip lining in a rain forest which was a great time(and kept us young thinking). But one simple event during our return travels made me feel great! As we entered the security line at a US airport I pulled out my military ID to prove that my name and picture matched the ticket for the friendly TSA agent at the beginning of a long line. Instead of a rudimentary proceed wave of the hand, I received a “Thank you for your Service”! I felt great to be recognized by…
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Spring Has Sprung
My Crocuses are in bloom. My Tulips are peaking out of the ground. My Daffodils are waking up from a long winter’s nap. The Hyacinth is getting ready to let out a giant stretch and a yawn of color. I love this weather! I have trimmed (aka whacked down) butter-fly bushes. I have cut dead flowers & branches off of last years plants. I have pulled plants I just don’t want anymore. I have thought through what flowers I want to plant this year. I started seeds inside. Life is a ray of sunshine right now! Last year it snowed in April. I hate to be the pessimist. But if…
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Happy St Patricks Day!
In honor of St Patricks Day I wanted to share this Irish-Blessing with all of our military friends and families… May the road rise to meet youMay the wind be always at your backMay the sun shine upon your facethe rains fall soft upon your fieldand until we meet againMay God hold you in the palm of his hand I got up this morning and was intent on making sure my boys had green shirts on … Yet, I walked out the door with a pink-shirt and jeans on. Why do I do that so often? Think of my own children and *totally* forget about me. I guess it is the…
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Penny Pinching
Penny-pinching … Don’t think of it has a burden. Think of it as a challenge! Some people are natural budgeters others of us find it a major stretch. Stretching the value of a dollar is important in this day and age. After all President Obama hasn’t included *MY* household in his stimulus package. Although, I sure could use a few thousand dollars if he finds any extra in his pocket-book. All this money-talk though has me thinking about ways that we can save money, a nickle at a time, even. I can’t be the Joneses (or the Wendts, for that matter). I have wonderful neighbors all around me. One of…
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Mrs Obama’s Visit to Fort Bragg
I realize I’m preaching to the choir on this one … but I was reading an article this morning about Michelle Obamas visit to Fort Bragg and it struck a chord with me. “I encourage everyone out there, within the sound of my voice, to reach out on your own — through schools, PTA, Little Leagues, churches, workplaces — and find out if there’s a soldier or a soldier’s family right there in the community who needs a little extra support,” Mrs. Obama said in her speech. “They’re there. Something as simple as offering help with car pool duty can make the world of difference to a parent who’s trying…
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A Special Sesame Street Presentation
Sesame Street and PBS present “Coming Home” – Military Families Cope with Change on April 1st. The flier says 8:00pm but doesn’t mention a time zone, so be sure to check your local listings for the right time. We had this video series given to us from Military OneSource. My boys enjoyed watching Elmo and friends discuss deployment. I think it helped them knowing there are others out there that are in the same boat! If your spouse is deploying (whether for the 1st time or the 10th time) and you have young preschool age children be sure to order the video series for FREE from Military OneSource. You can…
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Is it April yet?
Is it April yet? *Hubby* will be home for good in April. He told me the guys he is with are all getting antsy. They are a little bit “short” with each other, patience is way down and they aren’t exactly “being all they can be”. I think they are ready to get home too! As for me I am READY! He’s been a little short with me too on our nightly web-cam calls. Not in a mean way, just in a ‘bleh… this web cam is getting old & I’d much rather kiss your face goodnight then stare towards the computer at you’ kind-of-way. I’m with him on that.…
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March Military Family Newsletter: The PCS
I am an Air Force Brat. My father retired after 30 years-of-service in 2002. I attended his retirement ceremony at McChord AFB, with my husband and was about 8 weeks pregnant with my first child. It was a bit of an emotional time because I realized a HUGE chapter (or more like entire book) in my life was closing, even though ‘technically’ I was no longer his dependent. I wear the term ‘Air Force Brat’ like a badge. Today, I live in a bustling suburban city in northwest Ohio. My closest base is the Cleveland Coast Guard Station. There isn’t a commissary and their BX is not worth travelling to.…
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A Breath of Fresh, Unhurried Air
I almost didn’t go this morning. I have felt *very* overwhelmed the last 10 days and the thought of sitting around with friends and fellow-moms at a MOPS meeting wasn’t appealing. After all, it is Monday. I lost an hour of time this weekend (thanks to Daylight Savings Time). Getting the boys out of bed, dressed, lunches packed and the kindergartner on the bus was a little tougher than usual this morning. Plus, I have had a few job responsibilities shifted onto my plate while my fellow bloggers are on a well deserved vacation… and to top it all of my *Hubby* returned back to the sand-box about 10 days…
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Planting Seeds
Our annual-spring garden is in the works! We hit the store yesterday and my two younger boys each got to pick out two seed-packets. I did veto the Lima beans but other then that their choice was completely on their own. (I picked up an additional 3 packets because I love the garden just as much as they do.) So this year we will have: Green Peppers Tomatoes Cucumbers Radishes Peas Green Beans and Carrots We pulled out the trays today with the little dirt-pods and took turns putting a seed in each pod. Then we closed the lid up and look forward to peeking in every day to see…
