My Craft Fair Treasures

Today we went to the big craft fair here on post. We found some great treasures! I was so excited, it's one of the best ones I've ever attended. There were lots of nice things and they were not overly priced at all like we've run into in the past.

We found yummy jams and lots of fun crafty items. I wish I was far more crafty but I can appreciate those who have that talent.

Here are two of my favorite finds!

Just Because I Love Him

Today I snapped random pics of my husband taking some online training just because. I'm sure it wasn't as much fun for him as it was for me but luckily he loves me for all my craziness.

Controversial

I typically try to stay away from politics or anything overly controversial on our blog since I like to keep our blog family friendly. But these are two topics that have my mind working overtime the past couple days. On both topics, I have been one with an unpopular opinion, which I don't mind because after all, I, like everyone else, is certainly entitled to my opinions.

The first topic is that of those killed and wounded in the Fort Hood shooting should receive Purple Hearts. I do not agree with this. I am the first to say this was a tragedy (one I feel could have been prevented but that's another blog entry). This is not the first account of Soldiers killing Soldiers and not even the first one where someone of Muslim faith was involved and disagreed with their role in the War on Terror. I am not belittling any of these deaths, but in these previous incidents, Soldiers were not awarded Purple Hearts. I do think that it's sad but I think it's a political move. In one article I read that it was being proposed so that the families could receive the max insurance. Regardless they would still receive the max insurance, with or without the Purple Heart.

http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/11/17/fort.hood.medals/index.html

I love the Army, I care about Soldiers, I was blown away by the incident at Fort Hood, (that was our home for 5 years, I have been in the very building the shootings took place). But I think it will be an injustice for those who have received a Purple Heart in combat. As it is, I think they already hand out the Purple Heart too easily in some cases.

The second topic would be the young Soldier who refused to deploy to Afghanistan because she didn't have anyone to take care of her baby. I say discharge. I know the media is having a great time with this story, poor girl being stripped from her child. Well let me tell you how this works. When that young Soldier found out she was pregnant, she was called in by her commander and counseled. During that counseling she was given the option to stay in the Army or to get out. Obviously her choice was to stay in the Army. She was counseled then that she would need to have a Family Care Plan in place and failure to have one could result in discharge. So it's not like this is a shock. I get that her mom said she was overwhelmed...I can't say I understand it since she takes care of other people's kids all day and would turn away her own flesh and blood (oh, was that judgmental?). So, yes..it sucks that she would have to leave her child and it's a tough situation I know. But here's the bottom line. She had options, she had choices, and now she is going back on her obligation. So no, I do not feel sorry for her because she created this situation. I say discharge and move on. I think the Army has been playing the nice game too long. We have people trying hard to get in the Army who can't, so let's get rid of dead weight and bring in someone who will fulfill their obligation.

http://www.armytimes.com/news/2009/11/ap111609_singlemom_deploy/

And for the record, I had all 3 of my kids in the Army, never missed movement and left my children behind when duty called. I fulfilled my obligation and chose to ETS (finish my term) and get out when I felt I could no longer be a good Soldier and a good mother. I have no regrets for my time in uniform.

4 Months

Today, Kevin has been home for exactly 4 months! Where does the time go and why doesn't it go this fast when they are deployed? We have been blessed with LOTS of family time. He went to work officially for the first time today. It was kind of weird. I felt sad and lonely...he wasn't even a mile away from me. I'm not usually so sappy but today was just weird. I loved having him come home though, give me a kiss and nothing is better then seeing your sexy man in uniform!

I feel blessed for the family time that we have had. I look forward to more family time during our assignment here. I know this is where we are supposed to be.

That's My...I mean OUR kid...

Let me start off this entry by saying, I am very grateful to have my husband home with me. The words I am about to type are real life after deployment and lots of separation.

For the majority of our marriage, Kevin and I have been separated. It seems like for much of the past 10 years, Kevin would come to visit us for a while and then off to his next adventure. Because of that trend, I have gotten used to doing things on my own and doing them my own way. For most of the past 10 years, he has not been around enough to really disrupt our life too much. Well we are going on 4 months straight of Kevin being home uninterrupted and looks like that could be the new trend as we are in an assignment that promises to have him home more. I am very grateful for that.

Let me be honest though..this is a very hard transition for me. Having someone else in the house playing mean grown up is a blessing and a challenge. It's funny because we have always talked about how we are going to raise our kids, what our expectations are and even how we are going to discipline, but for much of the past decade I have been the main person to put it into action. Don't get me wrong. When Kevin is home, he is very hands on, he is a wonderful father and amazing partner, he just hasn't been here much due to Army mission.

So now we are embarking on the next part of our Army journey and I am overwhelmed with having him home. I'm trying to let go and let him be an active part of our lives...here physically. I hope other military wives will understand this next sentiment, sometimes I feel like telling him to stop yelling at my kids. But these are our kids, and I know this. Letting go is harder then I thought it would be. I was so caught up in the joy of being a family together again, I didn't think about how hard the adjustment would be. And while we are at it, let's throw in a move, new unit, new schools for the kids and not really knowing anyone while going through all of this.

Let's also add that mom kind of gets kicked to the curb. I have been sole physical supporter for much of these past few years and have enjoyed all the time I have gotten to spend with my boys. Sometimes I have to smile through the pain when one of my boys chooses to be with their dad over me. I know they don't do it intentionally but it still bites. I love watching my kids interact with their dad...I just want them to remember that mom is still around...the possibilities with both parents home are endless.

This is real Army life..in the Bible it says that you can't know joy without knowing sorrow and I suppose in our case we can't be truly grateful for what we have without having experiencing the sacrifices we've made.

I love my husband and I am thankful to have him home. I feel blessed that we are able to be in one place..together, to raise our kids. I am thankful to have him as a partner because he really is a great father.

I just hope I'm as good a mother as he is a father because if I'm half of what he is, our kids are pretty darn lucky.

Veterans Day 2009

November 11, 2009 was the first Veterans day since 2005 that I got to spend time with my favorite Veteran. My husband has either been in Iraq or preparing to go to Iraq for the last 4 years. I am grateful for his sacrifice and so grateful that I got to see him and celebrate him in person.

Veterans Day. I personally think that everyday should be a day where we honor those who protect our freedoms and liberties.

We kept it low key. We attended the local Veterans Day parade and got pummeled by candy...seriously, I should have borrowed Kevin's body armor. It was neat though, it was awesome to see the different Veterans and all the local organizations supporting our military. I'll be honest, I kept glancing at my husband, smiling and feeling blessed to spend time with him.



After the parade, we had lunch at Applebees and enjoyed our free entrees (Kevin and mine were free since we are Veterans). We had a great waiter who was so nice. We didn't have a long wait or anything and had a great meal.

We concluded our days honors by visiting the post Cemetery. Each of the boys placed a flag on a tombstone. I am amazed that there were not flags there before. (Have some ideas for next year).

I loved watching my boys walk through and read all the tombstones. I admire their reverence and their desire to honor.

We spent the rest of the afternoon/evening together talking about what Veterans Day means to each of us.

We usually do things bigger and grander but simplicity works too. We are grateful for those who have served and continue to serve to protect our freedom.

To my husband, I love you and am blessed by your sacrifice.

God Bless the Fallen of Fort Hood 11/5/2009

I wanted to write while emotion was still fresh. Attending a military memorial service has to be one of the hardest things I've ever done. Sadly, I've attended a few. Watching a live stream was just as real as sitting in one of the pews at the chapel. I admit that I had some reservations about watching it, I am not into the dog and pony show that sometimes occurs when "big names" attend such events. I wanted to keep in my own perspective what this opportunity was about. To allow closure for many, a chance at a goodbye. Sometimes we get caught up in the "event and protocol" of it all that we lose sight of what really matters. What mattered today was honoring these 13 Soldiers who lost their lives tragically. The news continues to call one a civilian which technically he was, but upon further research you find out that he is a retired Soldier and therefore I will respect him in that manner because "Once a Soldier, Always a Soldier" (I credit a milblogger for that term).

As I watched, I was able to keep myself in emotional check. I thought the sentiments of the speakers were nice. I'll leave it at that as to keep the integrity of my post. I braced myself for what was to come and was grateful that I was in the privacy of my bedroom because I admit that Final Roll Call, the 21 Gun Salute and TAPS always does me in.

If you have never had the honor of attending a military memorial service or funeral, you can't understand the emotion that comes with it. I think inside we all become a little idealistic that perhaps someone will answer when their name is called and the silence is so deafening it cuts into your soul. And as if that cut isn't deep enough the shots ringing out in tribute pierce through your heart and just when you think there is no more emotion left in you, the sound of a silent bugler playing the notes to TAPS sucks away the very last bit of composure. Or at least it does for me.

Yes, I could avoid such emotion but it is the LEAST I can do to HONOR these great Americans for their sacrifice. They chose as many stated today "something bigger then themselves". They didn't know me but they willingly provided me with my freedom and that alone is reason enough to take the time to honor them.

Honor...it's one of the 7 Army Values..along with Loyalty, Duty, Respect, Selfless Service, Honor, Integrity and Personal Courage. If you have taken the time to listen to the stories and the sequence of events from November 5th, you'll capture all of those values within the actions of the Fallen, the Wounded and the responders...THAT is what this Army life is about, THAT is why I am proud to call myself an Army Veteran, an Army Wife, an Army family and an Army supporter. That my friends is what the statement ARMY STRONG truly means.

Please, take a moment...read each name and pay tribute with HONOR the 13 Fallen Heroes of Fort Hood. God Speed Soldiers, you have been redeployed to Heaven

MAJ Libardo Caraveo, 52, Woodbridge, Va.

SPC Frederick Greene, 29, Mountain City, Tenn.

CW2 (Ret.) Michael Cahill, 62, Cameron

PVT Francheska Velez, 21, Chicago

PFC Aaron Thomas Nemelka, 19, West Jordan, Utah

PFC Michael Pearson, 31, Bolingbrook, Ill.

SPC Jason Dean Hunt, 27, Frederick, Okla.

SGT Amy Krueger, 29, Kiel, Wisc.

PFC Kham Xiong, 23, St. Paul, Minn.

LTC Juanita Warman, 55, Pittsburgh, Pa.

CPT Russell Seager, 51, Racine, Wisc.

SSG Justin DeCrow, 32, Fort Gordon, Ga.

CPT John Gaffaney, 56, San Diego, Calif.

Huh?

That's how I feel. Still after a couple days, I am still in disbelief at the events that occurred at Fort Hood. I'm a mix of sadness and anger. I've tried to stay away from the media because I find that it makes me angry. There are many things I am disappointed about. I'm disappointed about those who are just stepping forward to say "oh I always wondered about him". Yeah, now? A little too late don't you think? I'm mad about those who think that PTSD is contagious...(go HERE to read an excellent post on the matter). I'm extremely disappointed in how our CinC reacted or rather his lack of reaction. I do admire former President Bush and his wife for their visit without the fanfare to the wounded and their families.
I have a lot of thoughts on the matter, oh trust me my brain has gone through many scenarios and what ifs. Of course, in the end, I'm one of those helpless fools who can only grieve and offer prayers of support.

I'd like to share some blogs that express some of what I am feeling. *WARNING- some may display explicit language*

A wolf in sheepdog's clothing

My Opinion This Morning

And last is a wonderful article by a Muslim Soldier currently serving in Iraq

In Iraq, the Fort Hood attack hit home

I'd like to point out that there were many heroes that day. Many Soldiers who performed the Army Values to a "T". They displayed selfless service and loyalty. That ladies and gentlemen is what a true Soldier does. Obviously the man wearing the uniform that day who brought harm to others who wear the same colors did not know the meaning of LDRSHIP.