It's never goodbye, it's always I'll see you later.

So today was a sad day. It was yet another day they don't tell you about when you sign on the dotted line to become a Milspouse. Today wasn't the day that my husband left for training, it wasn't the day I moved away from family to be with my husband, it wasn't even the day that he deployed for war. Today was the day that my first friend left island to soon be followed by others, and then myself.

Today was the last day we will all be together here at this duty station together. It was the last day we will all live down the street from each other and take nightly walks, day trips to the beach, or have lunch in the Keys (Waikiki).

Mrs. G. is the first to go. She is so sweet and kind. She's a fresh breath of air and the kind of friend you hang on to. I already miss her and she's just at the airport.

This is the part of this life they forget to tell you about. The part where you are always making great friends for a lifetime, then moving away. And they don't tell you that you won't always be the one leaving. That would be easier. To pick yourself up and move your family is easier. They don't tell you that sometimes you will be the one left behind. That's harder. Soon I'll be the leaver, but today I'm being left. And it sucks. But I'm proud to tell you that I didn't cry.

At least not until the door closed behind her.

A Different Breed

They've got shiny cars and polished nails
Yeah, those girls they've got everything right
They've got fancy clothes, perfect hair, steady lives
But I don't

They're the first to send out thank you notes
They've got well kept homes to entertain
They'll do anything just to please you
But I won't

If these are the girls that you choose
What make you think I'd be good for you

Can you tell me baby
What do you see in me
I'm a FAST RIDE I'm a crashing tide and
I'm crazy
Can you tell me baby
What do you see in me
You've loved a long line of consistency
I'm a different breed

This is an excerpt from "A Different Breed" by Carter's Chord. It's a great song. I enjoy it because let's be real, 90% of the time I live in a pony tail. Other women curl and flip with their hair. I like Volunteer t-shirts and Soffee shorts when home, they wear high heels. But that's ok, cause my hubby loves me for my frazzled, stressed, waits for the laundry to pile up and I do it all at once, me.

Sometimes we forget that we don't always have to be perfect, or always be trying for others to like us. To impress those around us. We can just be ourselves. If you are always yourself and never trying that hard then you don't ever have to worry about disappointing others when they see the real you. :) Just some food for thought.

Free Christmas Cards??? YES, PLEASE!!!

So, it's finally that time again! The wonderful fun filled, activity packed, Holiday season! In our household, all before the end of January, we have Thanksgiving, Mom's birthday, Christmas, my birthday, brother-in-law's birthday, Dad's birthday, my husband's birthday, and our Anniversary! We have a very busy and expensive few months. But as a blogger, with Shutterfly's help, things just got a little bit easier!! Currently if you are a blogger, and LOVE Holiday cards, they have a deal for you!You can check out their choices, and sign up yourself HereThey have some GREAT options! My favorite so far is:

I like a simple card sometimes.

My husband's favorite is:

And one last GREAT idea from Shutterfly?? Take that Beautiful Christmas card picture you had made and turn it into art! That way your Christmas Card can hang in your house, too!!

Hope these ideas help your Holiday season run a little smoother!!!

The finality of mortality

Finality: The fact or impression of being an irreversible ending.
Mortality: The quality or state of being mortal.

In church this morning, the Chaplain asked those in the congregation who would soon be deploying with 2nd Battalion 3rd Marines (My husband's battalion) to come forward so that as a congregation we could pray for the safety of them and their comrades. As I sat in my pew, comfortable next to my husband, I was safe and content in my knowledge that this time my husband isn't going. I was elated that finally our time has come that I didn't have to beg and plead for time to pass slowly before he leaves and quickly once he was gone. And I was guilty, as I am fully aware that although my husband is grateful he is not going, a rather large piece of him wishes he was going because he feels like he is leaving his brothers to head into danger alone, and that does not sit well with him.

Looking around at the congregation, I was struck with the realization that every single person in the Chapel has felt the same as me. They have stressed, worried, probably cried over the unfairness that is deployment; and they have relaxed when others left as they realized they or their loved one was not counted amongst those leaving. I felt companionship to those wives sitting in the pews around me, and understanding for those Marines and Sailors who were only in those pews temporarily. I realized that some of the people around me might not come back from their next deployment. That some of the people sitting around me previously didn't come back. It was a grasping of my own and my loved ones mortality for me. These people were so close, yet so far.

And the closest, sitting directly in front of me, a young Navy couple with 3 small children and 1 more on the way. As Dad held the two little girls, one in each arm, little brother stood tall and strong at his side. No more than 5 he was the spitting image of Dad's structure and calm, leading by example for his two little sisters. And as Mom dug through the baby bag for a juice I was unfortunately graced with an image of Dad overseas. I realized he, along with all our other Soldiers, Marines, Sailors, Coasties, etc. live in a world of hand grenades while dreaming of sippy cups.

It was the finality of the moment for me. The this is really what this life is like, part. It's not all glamorous Dress Blues and formal dresses. It's much more than that. It's learning to live in the here and now while praying for a future that may never come. It was praising the Lord in that moment knowing we could be seeing Him face to face the next.

It had nothing to do with the glory of being a military wife, and everything to do with the sorrow of it.

Books Galore

So Everyone who knows me knows that I am obsessed with books. My husband intends to build me a library to house my mountains of books. Because he loves me.

So today, while perusing the used book store, my husband holding my chosen treasures, I considered the fact that I would LOVE to own a bookstore. A used bookstore where people can trade in books they don't care to keep and buy books at a discount. Because sometimes books are just too darn expensive.

While this might be a distant dream intended to only ever exist as a dream, what is reality without dreams??

Halloween Blunders

So for Halloween this year, the hubs and I had people over and we had a "Party". Parties for us are not typical and this time consisted of us, and our friends sitting on the front porch in costume greeting Trick or Treaters. We know we're lame, we accept it, and we're ok with it!

But, there is a growing danger in Trick or Treaters nowadays. Do you know what that danger is? Getting the costume wrong. Here are a few of our BIGGEST blunders.

Me to little boy: Oh, a Power Ranger!
Little Boy: *stamps foot* I'm Bumblebee the Transformer!

Husband to young teenager in all black street clothes: What are you? A robber?

Mrs. G: Oh look Tigger!!! (Once she see's tag on costume) Oh, I mean Garfield....

Little Kids: Trick or Treat
Mr. G: Smell my feet, give me something good to eat, if you don't I don't care.... (realizes he has to talk about children's underwear and stops)

Just a few laughs for you today!

Secrets, Ball, Halloween (with loads of pics)

So It's finally that time! This has been a very busy weekend for our crowd! On Friday we went to a late movie, didn't even start til 9:30!!! That means we were up past midnight on Friday. Wow. :)

Saturday found us prepping for, and attending the ball. This year it was at the Sheraton Waikiki, so the hubs and myself got ourselves a room at the Hale Koa. So the big surprise is about to be revealed. I changed my hair color! (I know, kinda a let down for some of you, but momentous for me!)

You are looking at Mr. and Mrs. R on the left. Mr. and Mrs. G in themiddle, and the hubs and myself on the right! (No more blonde!!)

The view from the balcony at our hotel.

So guess where our table was? That's right, front and center. Literally

So that made Saturday also a night past midnight. :) (wow, 2 in a row!)

Then came Last night, Halloween. :) We had peoples over and that made night 3!!!

Clearly my husband, the cowboy, and me! Belle, my favorite!

 Unfortunately of all the pictures of Mrs. R. and myself this was the closest to "good" I could find. haha. So here we are shoving our faces. lol

Hope you enjoyed my weekend!!