MilSpouse Friday Fill-In #70

No matter how long the winter, spring is sure to follow.
~Proverb

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1. What’s one thing in the past month you would have changed? I would have changed my 14 year old beating himself mentally at the state wrestling tournament! He's always so hard on himself and when he second guesses himself, he loses focus.

2. What was your favorite thing that happened in March? It's a tie! Celebrating 16 years of marriage and my oldest son's 16th birthday!

3. Check your phone… who was the last person you called and what is your favorite thing about them? My husband...and my favorite thing about him is his smile...he has the best smile!

4. If you were a crayon, what color would you be and why? I'd be green because it is my favorite color and it represents so many things I love...the Army and beauty of the earth!

5. What are you looking forward to in April? Hopefully my son's Eagle Court of Honor and Family pictures!

MilSpouse Friday Fill-In #68

Loving is not just looking at each other, it’s looking in the same direction.
~Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, Wind, Sand, and Stars, 1939

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1. What is your favorite winter memory?
I went to high school in Idaho and had the pleasure of taking Driver's Ed in the middle of a really bad winter. At times it was scary driving through literal tunnels of snow but most of the time, myself and my classmates in my group had so much fun going out and driving and torturing our driver's ed teacher!

2. What is your current favorite TV show?
This is a hard question because I don't watch much TV and I don't really watch anything that I fret over missing. I suppose Grey's Anatomy.

3. What was your favorite thing that happened in January?
Watching my youngest son place first for the first time ever at a wrestling tournament, he was ECSTATIC!

4. What is the best sound in the world to you?
My boys laughing together (seriously, I am almost crying just thinking about it!)

5. What is the biggest lesson you have learned as a MilSpouse (or significant other)?
Flexibility and patience! I believe the two go together. This lifestyle is unpredictable and we have ourselves set with too many expectations and are unwilling to be flexible, we can find ourselves experiencing a lot of disappointment!

Milspouse Friday Fill-In #66

An optimist stays up until midnight to see the new year in. A pessimist stays up to make sure the old year leaves. ~Bill Vaughan

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1. One of my New Year’s resolutions is is lose enough weight to feel healthy

2. One thing I’d like to happen next year is to get a job when I start looking seriously

3. One thing I’m looking forward to next year is watching my kids start to make life changing decisions about their future

4. One change I’d like to see next year is the government start to really think about "the people!"

5. My plans for NYE include hanging out at the USO serving snacks and mingling with the Soldiers who couldn't go home for the holidays with my family

Milspouse Friday Fill-In #58

The difference between perseverance and obstinacy is that one comes from a strong will, and the other from a strong won’t.
~Henry Ward Beecher

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1. Right now, our weather is getting a little chilly hanging around 45-55, but what I’d really like is for it to stay around 60-65.
2. I like to let my hair down and dance all crazy and sing loud while home alone cleaning.
3. Mommy Rambles made a post about heroes… my hero is my BFF Nita, because she has handled the death of her husband in Iraq with such grace and dignity and has spend the time since she was notified honoring him.
4. It’s a weird combination, but I swear Cheetos and lime juice are a perfect pair!
5. Some may see the glass half empty and others may see it half full, but I say if it's half anything, go ahead and fill it up!
   

Milspouse Friday Fill-In #56

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A life without love is like a year without summer.
~Swedish Proverb

1. My plans for this weekend include canning, cleaning and hanging out with my family, but what I’d really like to do is sleep all day!
2. I consider the Labor Day holiday as a day to relax with the family.
3. My favorite meal for cookouts is carne asadas with fresh corn on the cob, but my dog wouldn’t agree.
4. So far, my favorite part of summer has been watching my boys interact with one another and support each other in all of their activities.
5. When it comes to deployments, my philosophy is that we all have a choice, we can choose to be miserable or we can choose to make the best of it and work on growing as an individual and as a couple.

Milspouse Friday Fill-In #52

Don’t let yesterday use up too much of today.
~Cherokee Proverb

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Give a man a fish and he’ll eat for a day, teach a man to fish and and your house will stink all the time.

1. It is amazing what you can accomplish if you quit watching daytime TV.
2. If you can’t stand the heat move to Antarctica.
3. What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what might be lying under your mattress as night!.
4. Well behaved women seldom rarely have fun!. (thanks This American Wif and Every Branch for this last quote!).
   

Milspouse Friday Fill-In #49

Obstacles are those frightful things you see when you take your eyes off your goal.
~Henry Ford

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1. If you could have a private concert with any singer, who would it be? submitted by An Air Force Wife’s Blog Michael Buble...LOVE him!
   
2. Is there anything you do to supplement your family’s income? submitted by Our Life, One Adventure at a Time Not at this time, but I am looking into some possibilities. Fortunately we are in a very comfortable position as far as our income goes.
   
3. During your pregnancy (whether past, present, or future), what did you nickname your unborn baby before you knew the sex? submitted by Explosions of Love We did not really have nicknames for our babies.
   
4. Have you ever won a blog giveaway? If so what did you win? submitted by Mrs. O’s Life Nope, but I don't really participate in any
   
5. If I looked into your refrigerator right now, what would I find? submitted by Married to the Army Depends on which fridge you looked in (we have two). In one it's mainly condiments, sandwich meat, fresh veggies, cheese. In the other we have our juice, milk, fresh fruit, yogurt
   

Milspouse Friday Fill-In #47

I like to see a man proud of the place in which he lives. I like to see a man live so that his place will be proud of him.
~Abraham Lincoln

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Have you (spouse) ever considered joining the military and what do you think of dual military couples? submitted by Project Army Wife My husband and I were dual Military for over a decade. It's difficult and it comes with a lot of sacrifice. As much as you want to be a really great parent AND a great Military member, something has to give. I know many who find a balance but it's hard to be "there" when you aren't physically there. I got out to be a stable force for my family, to be the parent who would be there all the time since early on we spent a lot of time away from our kids. Thankfully I had my parents who were always there for us and our kids.

What is your idea of a perfect Sunday afternoon? submitted by A Few of My Favorite Things Hanging out with my awesome family, relaxing and maybe a nap.

What do you usually do for the 4th of July holiday? submitted by Anchor’s Away We usually go to the fireworks on post and have a great time.

If they could make an Olympic event JUST for you that you know you’d medal in, what would it be? submitted by Pants are Confusing Unintentionally offending...seriously I have quite the knack for that.

What have you been doing to get yourself bathing suit ready for the summer? submitted by Not Just an Army Wife

Sadly, not a whole lot, trying to cut out extra snacking and soda.

Milspouse Friday Fill-In #46

Weekends don’t count unless you spend them doing something completely pointless.
~Bill Watterson

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Are you a different person than you were five years ago? submitted by Sisterly Thoughts

Yes, I am. I truly believe that our life experiences change who we are. They may not always be drastic changes but we do all evolve. 5 years ago when Kevin was deployed to Iraq I went through a very big change in who I was and the way my thought process worked.

If you could go on Amazing Race, who would you take with you as your partner and why? submitted by Thoughts from a Poekitten My husband because he is the person who puts up with me the best through all my moods!

Does Facebook or Twitter actually bring more stress or good in to your life? submitted by Just an Arizona Girl Neither really, I have a great technique to help eliminate stress from FB or Twitter and that is utilizing the "Remove from Friends" and "Unfollow" options when needed!

June is National Soul Food Month- what’s your soul food? submitted by NH Girl Displaced Mashed potatoes, they make everything better!

If you could live in any other era than the current, which one would it be & why? submitted by Sugar in My Grits

I think I'd love to live in the 1800's when life was much more simple. The work was harder but family time was a priority and people knew what work really meant.

Milspouse Friday Fill-In #45

Is the glass half empty, half full, or twice as large as it needs to be?
~Author Unknown

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Underwear Parties, how old is too old? submitted by Wookie & Co.Uhm.....I'm not really sure what that is...lol. In regards to underwear, apparently many adults, both men and women seem to think it's okay to run around showing theirs off...lol

What was your favorite class in high school? submitted by Adventures of M-Squared
Government, I really enjoyed learning the history and how our government works (or is supposed to work!)

Have you ever convinced packers/movers to pack something they aren’t supposed to for a PCS? submitted by Ground Control to Major MomNo, we just pack whatever they tell us not to in the bedding box that they leave open for us (terrible but hey...nothing has ever gone wrong and we know it's our responsibility if it does, lol)

Blogging plays a growing roll in the media. If you were asked to embed as a blogger with a deployed military unit, would you go? What do you think your blog would be like? submitted by To the NthI would, in a heart beat. I would imagine it would be from the perspective of a Veteran/Spouse and it would be honest!

Do you think kids should attend year-round school? submitted by Marrying the Navy No, I don't. I like that my kids get a break. We continue to work on different projects throughout the summer and try to keep some type of routine so they don't get too lazy :).

MilSpouse Friday Fill In #43

In summer, the song sings itself.

~William Carlos Williams

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1. It’s now June (woot!)… what plans do you have for the summer? We are just relaxing for the most part...we have Cub Scout/Boy Scout camps. I'm the camp director for the young women at our church and we are spending a week camping. One of my BFF's is coming to visit in July and I cannot wait!
   
2. What is your favorite summer memory as a kid? Honestly I don't really have any great summer memories, we never did anything or went anywhere. Maybe just hanging out at the pool with friends.
   
3. If wild animals could be made pets without fear of them ever being dangerous, what kind of exotic animal would you want as a pet? I would want a gorilla...I just think they would be fun!
   
4. Is there anything about deployments that you do like? Control of the TV...lol
5. I’m starting to run out of questions again… so please give me a question you’d like to see (off-the-wall will most likely make it because we seem to have used a lot of the “traditional” ones). What is one of your guilty pleasures? What is one item in your house that holds the most sentimental value and why?
   

MilSpouse Friday Fill In #42

A hero is someone who has given his or her life to something bigger than oneself.
~Joseph Campbell

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1. Do you think civilians, in general, understand the meaning of Memorial Day? I think they try but unless they know someone in the Military or who have known someone who has lost their life for Freedom, they don't fully comprehend the true meaning. On that same note, there are many in the Military who don't fully understand either, I'm always amazed at how disconnected some Families or even those who serve can be.
   
2. What are your plans for the Memorial Day Weekend? We are going to visit the Engineer Memorial and do rubbings for some of the people we know. We are helping out at our USO with a Family Game Night. Tomorrow my husband and one of my sons will be going to Joplin to help deliver items our community has collected. Monday we will volunteer at the USO and visit the Veterans Cemetery here. And we will remember what this weekend is really about.
   
3. What skill/talent do you wish you had? I wish I knew how to play the piano...perhaps by the end of the year I will learn that new skill.
4. Which came first: the chicken or the egg? Uhm....I don't really care...lol
5. What is the best thing about your post (base)? The worst? Our leadership, we have amazing Installation Leadership who truly care about the Soldiers and their Families. FLW doesn't get enough credit for what an amazing community we have here. As far as the worst...the mentality some of the Spouses get here, and the crazy lines drawn between Officers/Enlisted created by them....

MilSpouse Friday Fill In #40

So it's Saturday...sue me!

None of us is as smart as all of us.
~Ken Blanchard

Which was the best day of your life- Wedding day or Homecoming day? submitted by Pink Champagne, Gatorade & MREs

These two events are like apples and oranges...wedding day was special for it's own reasons and was the beginning of the journey in our book of life...homecoming is a chapter of that book. Both intense, emotional and overwhelming but for many different reasons.

Were you a part of the joining the military question or did you sign up for the relationship when your man was already in the military? submitted by Cammo Style LoveMy husband and I met in the Army and were dual Military for a few years. So I guess I signed up for it when he was already in.

What is your favorite Disney movie and why? submitted by Raising Roscoe
Pollyanna...because she always wanted to be happy and make everyone else happy.

What is your favorite family activity to do on the weekends? submitted by Destination: RN!Usually just hang out, maybe explore something new...anything we do together is fun!

Where do you secretly wish you could be stationed with you/your SO’s line of work (realistically speaking, not everyone can be stationed on NAS Fiji)? submitted by Wookie & Co.

Honestly, there has never been a place we wanted to be. We know that wherever we go is where the Lord sends us and we're there for a reason so we make the best of it. We feel that we have been blessed to go everywhere we've been including the places that we've been deployed because it has built us into the people we have become.

MilSpouse Friday Fill In #39

A long marriage is two people trying to dance a duet and two solos at the same time.
~Anne Taylor Fleming

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1. Have you and your spouse 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

After being apart so much (we just lived for the first time in 14 years together consecutively for an entire year!) we have decided that no matter what we will always be together, no matter what if we have the choice.

1. What is your favorite thing about being a MilSpouse? submitted by Sarah Ruth Today

The amazing emotions you feel, the pride that cannot be defined in words.

1. 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.

Nope, I truly believe that experience makes us who we are. My husband and I would not have met without the Military...

1. What have your homecoming experiences been like after a year long tour of separation? submitted by Army Soldier, Army Wife

They are wonderful naturally but they are also hard. During our 2005-2006 deployment, we lost good friends. That homecoming was extremely bittersweet. I had a hard time being excited when my best friend would not be able to experience the same homecoming.

1. If you have a child(ren) why you chose their name(s)? If not, why you would name your child something? submitted by Tiara’s & ACU’s

Our oldest son is named after my husband's brother who passed away when my hubby was 13. He also happened to be born on his birthday. His middle name is after my youngest brother. Our middle son is named after Kevin's middle name and his middle name is after my dad and brother. Our youngest son's name is named after the Elton John song Daniel. For real...we had no other family names we wanted to use and so it was hard coming up with a name. When I was pregnant with him, I must have heard that song a million times so Daniel sounded like a good name to me! His middle name sounded good with it.

MilSpouse Friday Fill In #38

For every minute you are angry, you lose sixty seconds of happiness.
~Author Unknown

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How many pets do you have? And what type? submitted by Life and Times of a Displaced Jersey Girl

We have two spoiled dogs. Sapper Princess is a long-haired chihuaha and Zoe is a beagle/chihuaha mix.

What are your favorite projects to do while hubby is away? submitted by my-inspired-nest

Volunteering and coming up with new projects. Each time he is gone I tend to come up with some new thing to do. Once my friend and I started a deployment club. Another time I "walked" to Iraq with a group of girls trying to get healthy. We walked over 7,000 miles (maybe I need to do that again and lose some weight!)

What are the must-haves in your deployment care packages? submitted by Christine’s Little Blog

Handwritten notes and pictures! Oh and maybe something crazy...usually I send something like bubble gum or bubbles with a disposable camera with the order that Soldiers must do some kind of contest and it must be recorded. We have the best pictures from those cameras.

If you could star in any TV show, which would it be? submitted by Just a Girl

Super Nanny....I'd just like to tell parents to quit ruining their kids with their bad habits!

What was the biggest hurdle that you faced during your/your significant other’s first deployment? submitted by The Pavlik Perspective

Compassion for other spouses in our unit. Being a Soldier myself, it was hard for me to deal with a lot of the whininess. I didn't want to be the mean person so I spent a lot of time in prayer trying to understand their perspective.

MilSpouse Friday Fill In #36

For every minute you are angry, you lose sixty seconds of happiness.
~Author Unknown

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What romance movie scene reminds you of your s/o or spouse and the LOVE you share? submitted by Simply Sunshine and Daisy’s

The scene in the Wedding Singer where Robbie sings to Julia on the plane going to Vegas. "I Wanna Grow Old With You"

If you were allowed to deploy with your husband to a war zone would you and why? submitted by I & J

No, having watched numerous couples deploy together I have seen the stress brought on by being together so much. There isn't anywhere to really get a break. The lack of your own space (have you seen how small the trailers are that our Soldiers live in) and the added stress of the OPTEMPO causes so much friction. I have seen many couples come back and separate and divorce. I just couldn't do that and besides someone has to stay home with the kids :)

Have you ever done anything (intentionally, or unintentionally) to embarrass your spouse/significant other in front of his military cohorts? submitted by Marrying the Navy

Would this fall in that category?

What is your most irrational fear? submitted by Eights on the Move

That I will lose my entire family when my husband and all three of my boys are traveling together in the same vehicle due to a horrific traffic accident.

If you could only live in one kind of climate for the rest of your life, what would it be and why? submitted by Many Waters

I could live in an area with dry heat. I can't deal with too much cold and snow or rain. I can deal with dry heat better than humidity.

MilSpouse Friday Fill In #35

Today, give a stranger one of your smiles. It might be the only sunshine he sees all day.
~H. Jackson Brown, Jr.

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What is your must have gadget? submitted by Flying High With My Flyboy
Definitely my cell phone, it keeps me connected to everyone. Anyone who has been through extended separation and has missed a precious phone call will understand taking the phone with you EVERYWHERE and the stress when you leave it home.

How does your adulthood compare to what you imagined it would be like when you were a little kid? submitted by L to the Third
I never thought I'd get married or have kids. My whole life was planned out and it involved serving in the Army for 20 years and maybe having a family but it wasn't a priority. I got married and had my first child at 19, so not quite like I planned. While I didn't envision this type of service I am still serving the Military community and I have an amazing family. I'm so glad the Lord knows me better than I know myself and what I need.

What is your favorite chocolate recipe? submitted by Our First Deployment
Brownie Pudding Cake...I will post the recipe on my Food Blog.

How do you deal with military life when it gets to be to much or to hard? submitted by Combat Boots And Pointe Shoes
I have a playlist on my iTunes that I will play as I sit or lay in my room and just pause for a while. I try the "gratitude attitude" and think of things that are great in my life or even just okay.

What piece of advice would you give a new Military spouse facing their first deployment? submitted by The Albrecht Squad
Build realistic expectations. Communicate those expectations before the goodbye. An example is the expectation of how often you might get to communicate. Realistically most people don't sit down every single day and talk for an hour or more with their spouse. Why do we suddenly have an expectation that when our spouse is thousands of miles away we should be be able to talk to them daily for an extended amount of time. Also, lay out expectations. I told my husband I wanted handwritten notes and expressed why they were important to me. I made sure in care packages I sent to him that he had what he needed to be able to grant that request. If I had never told him, he never would have known. Communicate and build realistic expectations.

MilSpouse Friday Fill In #34

It takes courage to grow up and become who you really are.
~e.e. cummings

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What are some of your ideas for staying connected with family…you know, those people we moved thousands of miles away from? Definitely the phone...that's our main means of connection and sending lots of pics of my boys. Sadly in my family that connection is pretty one sided, it can be pretty discouraging, I just need to remember to do my part.

What’s the most romantic gift you have GIVEN? Giving my husband three beautiful boys...I don't know what could be more romantic then carrying three little beings created out of our love.

Would you encourage your child, if they came to you and wanted to join the military? All three of our boys have expressed interest in serving in the Military. Being that both Kevin and I have served, we believe in duty and would never discourage them if they chose to join the Military.

What is your least favorite bill to pay and why? Grocery bill...we spend so much money on things that are gone way too fast and we don't get nearly enough for our money.

What is the proudest moment you’ve had as a military spouse? Wow, one moment....that's so hard...probably his last promotion when he gave the best speech ever about how he got to where he is, honoring our Heavenly Father and his family. He inspired his own Command Sergeant Major to call home and thank his wife.

MilSpouse Friday Fill In #33

The difficulties of life are intended to make us better, not bitter.
~Author Unknown

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1. During military separations (whether short or long) how do you keep yourself positive and motivated? I try to keep routine and remember that the separation is just a small part of the eternity I will get to spend with my husband.
   
2. What is your favorite concert you have ever been to? I think the Korn concert I went to with my friend Nita in TX. We just had a great time and had the most special girl in front of us who we thought was going to lose her head from headbanging so much.
3. What do you miss most about your “hometown"? I miss the small town atmosphere and that everyone really does know who you are.
4. If you could run in any race, which charity would you choose to support? Definitely the Wounded Warrior Project
5. You find out Willy Wonka is your father, what 3 course meal do you INSIST he create in that stick of gum? Steak, mashed potatoes and corn on the cob!

MilSpouse Friday Fill In #32

Motivation is what gets you started. Habit is what keeps you going.
~Jim Ryun

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1. Do you or your {spouse} ever wish your {spouse} was in a different branch of the military? No, we love the Army, both of us.
   
2. What duty station(s) are on your “No Way, Hell No, Not Going, Have Fun Unaccompanied” list and why? Nope, after enduring many separations and challenges throughout our marriage and time in the Army, we know that it's all about perspective and making the best of every situation. As long as we're together we can live anywhere. We are currently stationed at a duty station that most would fall onto that list and we love it...it's all about perspective.
   
3. If you could be one age forever, what age would you choose and why? 25, probably one of the best times of my life, I had my family, my career and life was great.
4. If you were a breakfast cereal, which one would you be? Cocoa Puffs - I'm coo-coo........for cocoa puffs!
5. What is your morning beverage of choice and why? I'm a water or what I call fake orange juice...I don't like real orange juice so we buy Tampico.