... "I cannot promise you every night of my life. I cannot promise to be beside you for every difficult moment, every trial, and every hardship. In truth, I can promise you that I will not be with you for most. I will leave you at inconvenient times. Any special date to us may be tainted with the anniversary of the death of one of my friends. I will ask you to take over whatever life we have built together for months and years at a time, and will then crash back into that life that you have used your sweat, your tears and your heartache to keep together, and try to take it back as I knew it before. I will shut you out at times because it will be the best way for me to hold it together at that moment. I will lie to you. I will tell you I don't know things when I do. I will not always tell you where I am going, when I will be back, or who I am with. I may not call you for weeks and months and you will not be able to call me. You will ask questions that I won't answer. You will know answers to questions that you will hope you never need. I will share things with my brothers that you will never understand. They will know things about me that you never will. They will be a support to me in some things that you cannot be...
I will miss birthdays. I will miss anniversaries. I may need time to process things that seem natural to everyone else. It will seem that someone - or something - will always take precedence over you. You may lose me long before you ever thought possible. I will uproot you and ask you to re-establish our family anywhere in the world, in any season, at any time - over and over again. Sand and mud will be tracked through your halls from the boots I am too tired to take off. I will leave you when you beg me not to. I will stand at attention while you cry beside me. I will not turn my head and I will walk away. I will knowingly break your heart. And I will do it again - and again. I cannot promise you all of me. I cannot promise you much of anything. But if you will have me, I can promise that as I march away from you, it is not without sharing your heartache. I promise you that every time I break your heart I will be breaking mine. Every time that I cannot answer you I will be protecting you. Whenever you want to call and you have no number to dial, I will be wanting to do the same. I will protect everything that we have created together with every fiber of my being while you do the same back at home. I will honor you in everything - every moment that we are apart and every moment that I am with you. I will fight harder and push further knowing that I do so for you. And I will carry you with me in everything, until my sandy boots once again sit just inside our door. "
Shared on FACEBOOK by one of our Military Spouse Support Groups, written by :http://toloveasoldier.blogspot.com/2012/01/military-mans-promise_26.html
Showing posts with label Military Wives. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Military Wives. Show all posts
Sunday, November 6, 2011
Sunday, August 14, 2011
The Five Stages of Being a Military Spouse
I love when people share things like this that can make you laugh in my Military Spouse Support Groups...this is just too funny, and ACTUALLY somewhat true. I have been lucky though...we have had it really good.
The FIVE Stages of Being a Military Spouse
1. Denial- Well yeah, he’s in the Army but… it won’t be so bad! We will live off post and we’ll have our weekends…. It won’t be that different from him having a regular job. I can keep my job and the Army doesn’t have to be THE focus of our lives.
2. Anger – WTF? Still no BAH? Let me talk to your supervisor. What do you mean you can only talk to my husband? The waiting list for housing is HOW long? Great now another NSF because he had to work another 16 hour day and couldn’t get to the bank. We have to move where? ARE YOU KIDDING ME? I don’t want to live THERE! in a WEEK? Man this Army stuff BLOWS.
3. Bargaining – Ok please just let him deploy AFTER Christmas/our child’s birthday/our anniversary ok? Let him be here for Christmas/our child’s birthday/our annivesary? I promise I’ll volunteer for FRG and won’t complain anymore about the million ways that the Army screws my family every single day. Just let him be here for Christmas/ our child’s birthday/our anniversary!
4. Depression – Doesn’t everyone keep a bottle of Vodka or Prozac in one hand and a cell phone in the other, even when showering/running errands/sleeping while he’s deployed?
5. Acceptance – Using "hooah" in any part of conversation. Buying a wall hanging/plaque/pillow that says "Home is where the Army sends you". Referring to everyone as "Sir" or "Ma’am", even the clerk at the bank, check out girl at the store, and your hairdresser. Saying "when" he deploys again, not "if". Going into a public place and automatically standing in line patiently. Noticing your purse feels heavy and finding that you have started carrying around everything you need for dealing with the Army bureaucracy: military ID, husband’s paperwork, orders, POA, games, books, a snack, water, a cell phone, and a mini bottle of liquor. or 20.
The FIVE Stages of Being a Military Spouse
1. Denial- Well yeah, he’s in the Army but… it won’t be so bad! We will live off post and we’ll have our weekends…. It won’t be that different from him having a regular job. I can keep my job and the Army doesn’t have to be THE focus of our lives.
2. Anger – WTF? Still no BAH? Let me talk to your supervisor. What do you mean you can only talk to my husband? The waiting list for housing is HOW long? Great now another NSF because he had to work another 16 hour day and couldn’t get to the bank. We have to move where? ARE YOU KIDDING ME? I don’t want to live THERE! in a WEEK? Man this Army stuff BLOWS.
3. Bargaining – Ok please just let him deploy AFTER Christmas/our child’s birthday/our anniversary ok? Let him be here for Christmas/our child’s birthday/our annivesary? I promise I’ll volunteer for FRG and won’t complain anymore about the million ways that the Army screws my family every single day. Just let him be here for Christmas/ our child’s birthday/our anniversary!
4. Depression – Doesn’t everyone keep a bottle of Vodka or Prozac in one hand and a cell phone in the other, even when showering/running errands/sleeping while he’s deployed?
5. Acceptance – Using "hooah" in any part of conversation. Buying a wall hanging/plaque/pillow that says "Home is where the Army sends you". Referring to everyone as "Sir" or "Ma’am", even the clerk at the bank, check out girl at the store, and your hairdresser. Saying "when" he deploys again, not "if". Going into a public place and automatically standing in line patiently. Noticing your purse feels heavy and finding that you have started carrying around everything you need for dealing with the Army bureaucracy: military ID, husband’s paperwork, orders, POA, games, books, a snack, water, a cell phone, and a mini bottle of liquor. or 20.
Saturday, July 2, 2011
Sunday, June 19, 2011
OPSEC Rules...please read
As a Military Wife, I have learned through my husband and through other wives about OPSEC, BUT there are still some that either do not care, do not want to care, or are just...you know, I do not know how to explain them...lol.
SO...if you don't know about OPSEC, here's a little information to help...if you just DON'T CARE...I have nothing more to say, except...get off my page please, and thank you. OPSEC is for the safety of ALL of our SOLDIERS, so please understand how important these rules are. Thank you to the spouses who helped and taught me as well in regards to learning more.
OPSEC Rules for blogs, forums and chat
Operations Security can’t be summed up in a brief list of rules and regulations and be expected to cover every possible situation. However, many forum, blogs and chat rooms need to set certain standards and guidelines in order to promote good OPSEC practices. These guidelines are often referred to as “OPSEC Rules”, and must be acknowledged before an account is created.
This article will provide a basic set of OPSEC rules for free, unrestricted use on any site or forum. Please note that this is not an inclusive list, and should be modified to fit the requirements on the medium.
OPSEC Rules:
1-Do not post exact deployment dates or redeployment dates
2-Do not reveal camp locations, including nearby cities. After the deployment is officially announced by Military officials, you may discuss locations that have been released, normally on the Country level.
3-Do not discuss convoy routes (“we travelled through Takrit on our way to X”)
4-Detailed information on the mission, capabilities or morale of a unit
5-Specific names or actual nicknames
6-Personnel transactions that occur in large numbers (Example: pay information, powers of attorney, wills, etc)
7-Details concerning security procedures, response times, tactics
8-Don’t discuss equipment or lack thereof, to include training equipment
9-Don’t speculate about future operations
10-If posting pictures, don’t post anything that could be misconstrued or used for propaganda purposes. A good rule of thumb is to look at your picture without your caption or explanation and consider if it could be re-captioned to reflect poorly on coalition forces. For example, your image might show your Soldier rescuing a child from a blast site, but could be re-captioned to insinuate that the child being captured or harmed. (it’s happened!)
11- Avoid the use of count-up or count-down tickers for the same reason as rule #1
12-Be very careful if posting pictures of your loved one
.
13-Avoid images that show significant landmarks near their base of operations, and black out last names and unit affiliations
14-Do not, ever, post information about casualties (coalition or enemy) before the official release of the information.
15-Do not pass on rumors (“I heard they’re coming home early”, etc)
If you have any questions, contact your (or your sponsor’s) unit OPSEC manager.
These OSPEC rules aren’t meant to limit your free speech or restrict your liberties- that’s exactly what our Men and Women fight to protect. However, they are designed to help ensure the safety and security of the Service Members in your life.
Remember, no matter your affiliation, status, rank or age- you have a part in the security of your Soldier!!!
**THIS INFORMATION WAS GATHERED AND RE-POSTED FROM http://www.opsecprofessionals.org/articles/OPSEC_Rules.html
SO...if you don't know about OPSEC, here's a little information to help...if you just DON'T CARE...I have nothing more to say, except...get off my page please, and thank you. OPSEC is for the safety of ALL of our SOLDIERS, so please understand how important these rules are. Thank you to the spouses who helped and taught me as well in regards to learning more.
OPSEC Rules for blogs, forums and chat
Operations Security can’t be summed up in a brief list of rules and regulations and be expected to cover every possible situation. However, many forum, blogs and chat rooms need to set certain standards and guidelines in order to promote good OPSEC practices. These guidelines are often referred to as “OPSEC Rules”, and must be acknowledged before an account is created.
This article will provide a basic set of OPSEC rules for free, unrestricted use on any site or forum. Please note that this is not an inclusive list, and should be modified to fit the requirements on the medium.
OPSEC Rules:
1-Do not post exact deployment dates or redeployment dates
2-Do not reveal camp locations, including nearby cities. After the deployment is officially announced by Military officials, you may discuss locations that have been released, normally on the Country level.
3-Do not discuss convoy routes (“we travelled through Takrit on our way to X”)
4-Detailed information on the mission, capabilities or morale of a unit
5-Specific names or actual nicknames
6-Personnel transactions that occur in large numbers (Example: pay information, powers of attorney, wills, etc)
7-Details concerning security procedures, response times, tactics
8-Don’t discuss equipment or lack thereof, to include training equipment
9-Don’t speculate about future operations
10-If posting pictures, don’t post anything that could be misconstrued or used for propaganda purposes. A good rule of thumb is to look at your picture without your caption or explanation and consider if it could be re-captioned to reflect poorly on coalition forces. For example, your image might show your Soldier rescuing a child from a blast site, but could be re-captioned to insinuate that the child being captured or harmed. (it’s happened!)
11- Avoid the use of count-up or count-down tickers for the same reason as rule #1
12-Be very careful if posting pictures of your loved one
.
13-Avoid images that show significant landmarks near their base of operations, and black out last names and unit affiliations
14-Do not, ever, post information about casualties (coalition or enemy) before the official release of the information.
15-Do not pass on rumors (“I heard they’re coming home early”, etc)
If you have any questions, contact your (or your sponsor’s) unit OPSEC manager.
These OSPEC rules aren’t meant to limit your free speech or restrict your liberties- that’s exactly what our Men and Women fight to protect. However, they are designed to help ensure the safety and security of the Service Members in your life.
Remember, no matter your affiliation, status, rank or age- you have a part in the security of your Soldier!!!
**THIS INFORMATION WAS GATHERED AND RE-POSTED FROM http://www.opsecprofessionals.org/articles/OPSEC_Rules.html
Monday, May 16, 2011
Can You Ship A Cake Overseas To Your Soldier ???
Can you ship your hubby a cake overseas??? Does a BEAR, POOP in the woods??!! Okay, ewwww, gross...LOL!!! Why YES!!! I love baking, I love cooking, and anyone that truly knows my husband, knows this because apparently he dotes on this gift I have. Baking is my most fond thing to do,(well, ONLY when he's away...hahaha), BUT we all know baking can be BAD!!!! LOL!!! I collect Cookbooks, so that can make it worse...BUT I don't let it. I love sending him care packages, AND he sent one to me!!! It takes about 5-7 days for it to arrive there or here, and even though I wish I could afford to send him one every day or every week, I think bi-weekly or once monthly, he appreciates it more. PLUS, I am not sure if the other soldiers get care packages, and I wouldn't want to make them feel bad.
Oh back to the can you ship a cake overseas? YES...and I am sharing the recipe, that was shared with me!!!
ITEMS YOU NEED:
1 package-WIDE mouth canning jars with lids(make sure you sterilize them, and boil the lids prior to usage)
2-ANY FLAVOR Cake mix ( I used three boxes, and it made 10 jars)
3-COOKIE SHEET to place the jars on to bake in the oven!
*****GREASE the JARS liberally with any NON-STICK SPRAY*****
INSTRUCTIONS:
1-Preheat the oven to 400 degrees
2- Mix the cake mix according to the directions on the box
3- POUR mix into jars ONLY HALF WAY!!!! (this allows the cake to rise within properly)
4-Bake approximately 30-35 minutes in the jars placed onto a cookie sheet, use a toothpick to check if ready, comes out clean, READY!)
5-Remove the jars from the oven and immediately and carefully place the lids/rings onto the
jars tightly
6-AS the cake COOLS in the jars, you will see moisture and the lids will self seal, making a "PING" sound
7-once cooled, and sealed, your cakes are ready to ship.
FYI~USE BUBBLE WRAP when placing them into your shipping box!!!
8-SEND FROSTING!!!! I send one can per 4 jars...and probably some utensils!!!
So, YES, you CAN ship a cake overseas!!!
Oh back to the can you ship a cake overseas? YES...and I am sharing the recipe, that was shared with me!!!
ITEMS YOU NEED:
1 package-WIDE mouth canning jars with lids(make sure you sterilize them, and boil the lids prior to usage)
2-ANY FLAVOR Cake mix ( I used three boxes, and it made 10 jars)
3-COOKIE SHEET to place the jars on to bake in the oven!
*****GREASE the JARS liberally with any NON-STICK SPRAY*****
INSTRUCTIONS:
1-Preheat the oven to 400 degrees
2- Mix the cake mix according to the directions on the box
3- POUR mix into jars ONLY HALF WAY!!!! (this allows the cake to rise within properly)
4-Bake approximately 30-35 minutes in the jars placed onto a cookie sheet, use a toothpick to check if ready, comes out clean, READY!)
5-Remove the jars from the oven and immediately and carefully place the lids/rings onto the
jars tightly
6-AS the cake COOLS in the jars, you will see moisture and the lids will self seal, making a "PING" sound
7-once cooled, and sealed, your cakes are ready to ship.
FYI~USE BUBBLE WRAP when placing them into your shipping box!!!
8-SEND FROSTING!!!! I send one can per 4 jars...and probably some utensils!!!
So, YES, you CAN ship a cake overseas!!!
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