This is the final day of the blog carnival and today we are talking about where I find my strength. I often overlook that I am a strong woman. As a teenager I lived in a verbally abusive home that has greatly affected my own sense of self. But I do not that I find strength in three different sources.
My first source of strength is God.
By far, the main reason I am a strong woman is because of God. He has blessed me in so many ways and he helps me keep a positive attitude, even in negative circumstances. Through him I really can do whatever I set my mind to.
My second source of strength is my wonderful husband.
He is the reason I do what I do. It is our love for each other that is the reason I am an Army Wife. We are in this life together and we support each other. We keep each other accountable and help each other grow in the Lord.
And last but not least...
My third source of strength is other military wives.
It is wonderful to know that I am not alone. There are thousands of other wives out there going through the same things. We are each unique but there is a bond that can bring us all together. We can support and reach out to each other from across the country and across the world without ever having to meet in person. Thank you ladies for not letting me be alone.
And this, this is where I find my strength.
Click here to visit the blog that is hosting this blog carnival.
Showing posts with label WoF 2010 MilSpouses Rock Blog Carnival. Show all posts
Showing posts with label WoF 2010 MilSpouses Rock Blog Carnival. Show all posts
Saturday, May 8, 2010
Friday, May 7, 2010
MilSpouses Rock! Blog Carnival Day 7: Why MilSpouses Rock!
Oh there are so many reasons that I don't know where to begin...
Just as our husbands are special for answering the call to serve our country, we are special for committing our lives to someone in the military. We also cope to the constant changes that the military can throw at us on top of the everyday life changes. We are also special because we remain faithful through long, difficult separation. It is often said that wife is the hardest job in the military and I agree simply because it is never our only job. We have our own job and/or family to care for. But we also get to share in the pride of knowing that we are doing a wonderful thing for our country. Our soldiers need us. We help them do their job to the best of their ability and we help ensure that they come home safe by taking care of the responsibilities at home.
So hold your head up high ladies, even through the tears, and know that you are an important part of the United States Armed Forces! Happy Military Spouse Appreciation Day!!
Click here to visit the blog that is hosting this blog carnival.
Just as our husbands are special for answering the call to serve our country, we are special for committing our lives to someone in the military. We also cope to the constant changes that the military can throw at us on top of the everyday life changes. We are also special because we remain faithful through long, difficult separation. It is often said that wife is the hardest job in the military and I agree simply because it is never our only job. We have our own job and/or family to care for. But we also get to share in the pride of knowing that we are doing a wonderful thing for our country. Our soldiers need us. We help them do their job to the best of their ability and we help ensure that they come home safe by taking care of the responsibilities at home.
So hold your head up high ladies, even through the tears, and know that you are an important part of the United States Armed Forces! Happy Military Spouse Appreciation Day!!
Click here to visit the blog that is hosting this blog carnival.
Thursday, May 6, 2010
MilSpouses Rock! Blog Carnival Day 6: What's Cookin'
Today we are supposed to share our favorite recipe but this is kind of difficult for me. There are things I cook but alot of things I don't have a set recipe for. So here it goes...
Heath Bar Cake
Ingredients:
1 box Chocolate Cake Mix of choice
1 bottle of Caramel Ice Cream Topping of choice
1 container of Cool Whip (found in the freezer section)
2 Heath Candy Bars
Supplies:
13x9 Cake Pan
1 Plastic Straw (like from a fast food restaurant)
1 Sandwich bag with closure
Directions:
1. Place the Heath Candy Bars in the freezer. We will get back to those later but they'll be more cooperative if frozen.
2. Prepare the 13x9 pan per the Cake Mix's instructions.
3. Prepare the Cake Mix per the box's instructions and bake as directed.
4. After removing the cake from the oven, while it is still warm, poke holes in the cake with the plastic straw (I put the holes about an inch apart from each other) and pour as much of the bottle of caramel ice cream topping (depending on size I usually use half the bottle) evenly over the still warm cake.
5. Let the cake cool completely.
6. After the cake is cool, spread the cool whip topping evenly over the cake.
7. Put the, hopefully, frozen Heath Candy Bars in the sandwich bag and crush into pieces. I normally use a meat tenderizer hammer to crush the candy bars but the sandwich bag helps contain the crumbs. The bag might get small holes in it so be careful.
8. Sprinkle the crushed up Heath Candy Bars evenly over the cool whip on the cake.
Refrigerate until ready to serve. Also refrigerate left overs. This is because of the cool whip.
Enjoy!
Click here to visit the blog that is hosting this blog carnival.
1 box Chocolate Cake Mix of choice
1 bottle of Caramel Ice Cream Topping of choice
1 container of Cool Whip (found in the freezer section)
2 Heath Candy Bars
Supplies:
13x9 Cake Pan
1 Plastic Straw (like from a fast food restaurant)
1 Sandwich bag with closure
Directions:
1. Place the Heath Candy Bars in the freezer. We will get back to those later but they'll be more cooperative if frozen.
2. Prepare the 13x9 pan per the Cake Mix's instructions.
3. Prepare the Cake Mix per the box's instructions and bake as directed.
4. After removing the cake from the oven, while it is still warm, poke holes in the cake with the plastic straw (I put the holes about an inch apart from each other) and pour as much of the bottle of caramel ice cream topping (depending on size I usually use half the bottle) evenly over the still warm cake.
5. Let the cake cool completely.
6. After the cake is cool, spread the cool whip topping evenly over the cake.
7. Put the, hopefully, frozen Heath Candy Bars in the sandwich bag and crush into pieces. I normally use a meat tenderizer hammer to crush the candy bars but the sandwich bag helps contain the crumbs. The bag might get small holes in it so be careful.
8. Sprinkle the crushed up Heath Candy Bars evenly over the cool whip on the cake.
Refrigerate until ready to serve. Also refrigerate left overs. This is because of the cool whip.
Enjoy!
Click here to visit the blog that is hosting this blog carnival.
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
MilSpouses Rock! Blog Carnival Day 5: A Letter to My Military Husband
Dear Husband,
In twenty days we will have been together for four years. It has been a wonderful four years even with training and a deployment. In the beginning, so many people had doubts about us but we just believed in each other and God and look at us now. Now, we are married and expecting our first child. God blessed me when he brought you into my life and he has continued to bless us as a couple. God has set up perfect timing to be there for each other even when we were miles (or seas) apart.
I never thought there would be someone who was so sincere in their feelings for me. You wear your heart on your sleeve just for me. We allow ourselves to be vulnerable to each other but stand strong together against outside forces. I wouldn't trade a single moment of our lives together.
And now we're heading toward another new chapter together. I am sure as we become parents, our love for each other will change and grow in ways we can't prepare for. I am looking forward to seeing each other in a new light and seeing the life God created in me.
I will never be able to express to you how much I love you but I will definitely try for the rest of our lives. You have made me so proud. I have never been ashamed or slow to admit that I am an Army Wife. Times can be tough and we both have our bad days but with God we can survive anything. I love you so much!
In twenty days we will have been together for four years. It has been a wonderful four years even with training and a deployment. In the beginning, so many people had doubts about us but we just believed in each other and God and look at us now. Now, we are married and expecting our first child. God blessed me when he brought you into my life and he has continued to bless us as a couple. God has set up perfect timing to be there for each other even when we were miles (or seas) apart.
I never thought there would be someone who was so sincere in their feelings for me. You wear your heart on your sleeve just for me. We allow ourselves to be vulnerable to each other but stand strong together against outside forces. I wouldn't trade a single moment of our lives together.
And now we're heading toward another new chapter together. I am sure as we become parents, our love for each other will change and grow in ways we can't prepare for. I am looking forward to seeing each other in a new light and seeing the life God created in me.
I will never be able to express to you how much I love you but I will definitely try for the rest of our lives. You have made me so proud. I have never been ashamed or slow to admit that I am an Army Wife. Times can be tough and we both have our bad days but with God we can survive anything. I love you so much!
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
MilSpouses Rock! Blog Carnival Day 4: Ten Tough Things About Being a Military Wife
1. That moment in the airport when you watch your soldier walk away and then you have to walk out of the airport by yourself.
- I always try to hold back my tears until my husband is out of site. My husband knows I'm upset but he doesn't need to see my fall apart.
2. Fearing that our children will hold their father's military career against him.
- This is not something we can handle just yet since I am just now pregnant with our first child. I'm sure it will be an ongoing process as our children grow to help then understand why soldiers do what they do and that it doesn't mean that they love their family any less.
3. Being a reserve wife, the changing income and insurance coverage is tough sometimes.
- We stay faithful to God and tithe. Tithing is the one thing that God gives us permission to test him in and He is definitely proven himself in our lives.
4. Sitting alone in church.
- This one really doesn't have a solution. Its hard to not have your husband their beside you.
5. Some days, all of the questions.
- Friends and family constantly ask questions to find out what is going on. Most days it is not a bad thing and you feel blessed to have people who care. But on "bad days" it can be hard to talk about how far away your soldier is or when the last time you saw him was.
6. Possible change.
- Anytime a couple is separated for an extended period of time, each person will change. Depending on the length of separation, it could be mild change or drastic change and once you come back together you must learn what has changed about each other and how to deal with it.
7. Scheduling or sometimes lack there of.
- The military is all about schedules but when it comes down to it, the schedule usually changes at least once if not many times. There are parts of the schedule that others are not allowed to know and nothing is ever set. Sadly, you just have to learn to be patient and flexible.
8. The acronyms.
- Learning and more importantly REMEMBERING all of the new terms and acronyms that the military uses.
9. Deployment.
- The obvious answer even to civilian families. The fears, separation, limited communication and OPSEC all work together to make the year a tough one. Usually the Army does twelve month deployments but hubby being reserve there is extra training prior to the actual start of the deployment which makes it longer. You just have to take every new day as it comes and trust God.
10. Last but not least, Marriage.
- This one often gets overlooked. Every marriage requires work but the military often complicates an already delicate situation. Dealing with all of the above and being adaptable requires extra work on the part of the soldier and the spouse at home. Neither party should be solely responsible. A healthy marriage requires both parties to invest themselves.
Click here to visit the blog hosting the blog carnival.
- I always try to hold back my tears until my husband is out of site. My husband knows I'm upset but he doesn't need to see my fall apart.
2. Fearing that our children will hold their father's military career against him.
- This is not something we can handle just yet since I am just now pregnant with our first child. I'm sure it will be an ongoing process as our children grow to help then understand why soldiers do what they do and that it doesn't mean that they love their family any less.
3. Being a reserve wife, the changing income and insurance coverage is tough sometimes.
- We stay faithful to God and tithe. Tithing is the one thing that God gives us permission to test him in and He is definitely proven himself in our lives.
4. Sitting alone in church.
- This one really doesn't have a solution. Its hard to not have your husband their beside you.
5. Some days, all of the questions.
- Friends and family constantly ask questions to find out what is going on. Most days it is not a bad thing and you feel blessed to have people who care. But on "bad days" it can be hard to talk about how far away your soldier is or when the last time you saw him was.
6. Possible change.
- Anytime a couple is separated for an extended period of time, each person will change. Depending on the length of separation, it could be mild change or drastic change and once you come back together you must learn what has changed about each other and how to deal with it.
7. Scheduling or sometimes lack there of.
- The military is all about schedules but when it comes down to it, the schedule usually changes at least once if not many times. There are parts of the schedule that others are not allowed to know and nothing is ever set. Sadly, you just have to learn to be patient and flexible.
8. The acronyms.
- Learning and more importantly REMEMBERING all of the new terms and acronyms that the military uses.
9. Deployment.
- The obvious answer even to civilian families. The fears, separation, limited communication and OPSEC all work together to make the year a tough one. Usually the Army does twelve month deployments but hubby being reserve there is extra training prior to the actual start of the deployment which makes it longer. You just have to take every new day as it comes and trust God.
10. Last but not least, Marriage.
- This one often gets overlooked. Every marriage requires work but the military often complicates an already delicate situation. Dealing with all of the above and being adaptable requires extra work on the part of the soldier and the spouse at home. Neither party should be solely responsible. A healthy marriage requires both parties to invest themselves.
Click here to visit the blog hosting the blog carnival.
Monday, May 3, 2010
MilSpouses Rock! Blog Carnival Day 3: Ten Great Things About Being a Military Wife
1. Being able to serve my country in my own way.
2. Getting to see my husband in uniform.
3. Being able to support my hubby through his calling to serve our country.
4. The friends I have made.
5. The gifts from overseas :)
6. The feeling of seeing my hubby again after a long separation.
7. Knowing that even in hard times, you are not alone and there are others all over the world who know how you are feeling.
8. Hope that my children may have a better understanding of why we have the freedoms we have.
9. Having Army brats :)
10. Last but not least, my husband is the best part of being an Army spouse!
Click here to go to the blog who is hosting this carnival.
2. Getting to see my husband in uniform.
3. Being able to support my hubby through his calling to serve our country.
4. The friends I have made.
5. The gifts from overseas :)
6. The feeling of seeing my hubby again after a long separation.
7. Knowing that even in hard times, you are not alone and there are others all over the world who know how you are feeling.
8. Hope that my children may have a better understanding of why we have the freedoms we have.
9. Having Army brats :)
10. Last but not least, my husband is the best part of being an Army spouse!
Click here to go to the blog who is hosting this carnival.
Sunday, May 2, 2010
MilSpouses Rock! Blog Carnival Day 2: My MilSpouse Bible Verse
2Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. 4Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
James 1:2-4
I have heard this verse many times in the short time I have attended church but it wasn't until I became an Army Wife that I realized how important in would be in my life. This verse reminds me that it is up to me to choose my attitude. I can either let the frequent separation from my husband fill me with constant sadness, or I can let the pride and respect for my husband shine through. During my hubby's deployment I often got comments about how people expected me to act sadder. Neither my hubby or I wanted me to mope around the whole deployment. We both knew that my job of the Wife meant that I needed to be strong. If I couldn't be strong for myself, how will I be strong when I have children to take care of during a deployment? But the main thing is that I let God be my strength and peace. Whenever asked, I was quick to tell people that God thinks I'm strong enough for this and I refuse to doubt him. Did I have sad days? Sure. But trusting God and realizing that this deployment could have a positive outcome helped me keep a positive attitude in my husband's absence. This verse is still written on my bathroom mirror with expo marker.
Click here to visit the blog that is running this blog carnival.
James 1:2-4
I have heard this verse many times in the short time I have attended church but it wasn't until I became an Army Wife that I realized how important in would be in my life. This verse reminds me that it is up to me to choose my attitude. I can either let the frequent separation from my husband fill me with constant sadness, or I can let the pride and respect for my husband shine through. During my hubby's deployment I often got comments about how people expected me to act sadder. Neither my hubby or I wanted me to mope around the whole deployment. We both knew that my job of the Wife meant that I needed to be strong. If I couldn't be strong for myself, how will I be strong when I have children to take care of during a deployment? But the main thing is that I let God be my strength and peace. Whenever asked, I was quick to tell people that God thinks I'm strong enough for this and I refuse to doubt him. Did I have sad days? Sure. But trusting God and realizing that this deployment could have a positive outcome helped me keep a positive attitude in my husband's absence. This verse is still written on my bathroom mirror with expo marker.
Click here to visit the blog that is running this blog carnival.
Saturday, May 1, 2010
MilSpouses Rock! Blog Carnival Day 1: My MilSpouse Story
My MilSpouse Story: How I met my husband and how I became a Military Wife...
My Military Spouse story starts in high school. My junior year I became really good friends with three people in my U.S. History class taught by my all time favorite teacher, Mrs. Duggin. Two of the three people were also in JROTC (my hubby included). As the year went on and the relationship I was in started to fall apart, one friend in particular was really supportive. Jesse let me vent to him and he tried to give me advice that would keep me and my boyfriend together. Well things came to an end with my boyfriend and I decided to tell Jesse that I liked him as more than a friend. Jesse, my now loving husband, told me he had no interest in dating me and that he planned to leave for basic and never look back. Well after spending every evening talking to each other on instant messenger, Jesse asked me out. For our first date we went bowling and then walked on the Greenway together. And so our relationship began May 25, 2006.
We had two lovely months together before he left for basic and AIT. Before he left, I promised to wait for him. Meaning I would be faithful and not see anyone else. In early December, I rode with his parents to Missouri to watch him graduate from AIT and then we brought him home. He was home a month before going to Dahlonega, Georgia to start school at North Georgia College and State University (which is also part military school). Once school started in January of 2007, I saw him most weekends and during Spring and Summer break.
At the end of his third semester, at his routine drill in April of 2008, Jesse was told that he might be deploying later that fall. After talking it out, we decided we would not tell his parents until we knew for sure and we wouldn't get married until after he came home (which would have been the 25th of this month!). In May we took a weekend trip together to Chattanooga and he proposed while we were at Rock City. At his July drill, he was told that orders had been issued and he would be mobilizing in November of 2008. We told his parents that he was deploying and took a day trip to his school for him to withdrawal and out process from the Corp of Cadets.
October rolled around and his predeployment training began. He spent October in Ocala, Florida which is where the unit he deployed with is located. While he was in Florida, we decided that we would get married before he deployed. He came home October 29th, and the afternoon of October 30th, 2008, we had a small ceremony at our church. He left for Ft. McCoy, Wisconsin on November 2nd and came home again on November 22nd. He was home for the week of Thanksgiving and then I rode with his parents to take him back to Ocala, Florida. While we were there he became active duty and his deployment officially began. We came back home without him and he stayed in Florida a few days before going to Ft. Dix, New Jersey. He came home for Christmas and for one weekend in February before leaving the country.
He completed his first deployment and I picked him up from our local airport on November 23, 2009. Now that he is home, we are finally adjusting to being married and living together. In February, a few days before valentines day, we found out that we are expecting our first child and I am due October 21st (the day before my wonderful hubby's birthday).
We have definitely experienced some ups and downs and have many more to come but I wouldn't have wanted anything to go differently. Being married is hard work and the Military does not make it any easier but I am so proud of what my husband has done for our country and will do during his military career.
To visit the blog that is running this blog carnival, please click here.
My Military Spouse story starts in high school. My junior year I became really good friends with three people in my U.S. History class taught by my all time favorite teacher, Mrs. Duggin. Two of the three people were also in JROTC (my hubby included). As the year went on and the relationship I was in started to fall apart, one friend in particular was really supportive. Jesse let me vent to him and he tried to give me advice that would keep me and my boyfriend together. Well things came to an end with my boyfriend and I decided to tell Jesse that I liked him as more than a friend. Jesse, my now loving husband, told me he had no interest in dating me and that he planned to leave for basic and never look back. Well after spending every evening talking to each other on instant messenger, Jesse asked me out. For our first date we went bowling and then walked on the Greenway together. And so our relationship began May 25, 2006.
We had two lovely months together before he left for basic and AIT. Before he left, I promised to wait for him. Meaning I would be faithful and not see anyone else. In early December, I rode with his parents to Missouri to watch him graduate from AIT and then we brought him home. He was home a month before going to Dahlonega, Georgia to start school at North Georgia College and State University (which is also part military school). Once school started in January of 2007, I saw him most weekends and during Spring and Summer break.
At the end of his third semester, at his routine drill in April of 2008, Jesse was told that he might be deploying later that fall. After talking it out, we decided we would not tell his parents until we knew for sure and we wouldn't get married until after he came home (which would have been the 25th of this month!). In May we took a weekend trip together to Chattanooga and he proposed while we were at Rock City. At his July drill, he was told that orders had been issued and he would be mobilizing in November of 2008. We told his parents that he was deploying and took a day trip to his school for him to withdrawal and out process from the Corp of Cadets.
October rolled around and his predeployment training began. He spent October in Ocala, Florida which is where the unit he deployed with is located. While he was in Florida, we decided that we would get married before he deployed. He came home October 29th, and the afternoon of October 30th, 2008, we had a small ceremony at our church. He left for Ft. McCoy, Wisconsin on November 2nd and came home again on November 22nd. He was home for the week of Thanksgiving and then I rode with his parents to take him back to Ocala, Florida. While we were there he became active duty and his deployment officially began. We came back home without him and he stayed in Florida a few days before going to Ft. Dix, New Jersey. He came home for Christmas and for one weekend in February before leaving the country.
He completed his first deployment and I picked him up from our local airport on November 23, 2009. Now that he is home, we are finally adjusting to being married and living together. In February, a few days before valentines day, we found out that we are expecting our first child and I am due October 21st (the day before my wonderful hubby's birthday).
We have definitely experienced some ups and downs and have many more to come but I wouldn't have wanted anything to go differently. Being married is hard work and the Military does not make it any easier but I am so proud of what my husband has done for our country and will do during his military career.
To visit the blog that is running this blog carnival, please click here.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)