I'm just an Army Wife

This about sums it up!

You don't know, but I'm the girl who cries every night, and hopes every morning for his safe return.

I'm the girl who drags herself out of bed every morning so that he will be proud of her when he comes home.

I'm the girl who lies in bed longing for him to be lying next to me.

You don't know, but I'm the girl with a million things to say, but not one will come out without the thought of him.

I'm the girl who stops and stares and wishes for him to return soon each and every time another man in uniform walks by.

What you don't know is that I know love on an entirely different level from most.

I know the love that spans time and space; that love that most people are constantly searching for.

I'm one of the girls who waits months for a single kiss; a kiss that will make the months apart worth every second.

A kiss where everything in the world stops and for what seems like eternity, you can see into that person's soul and know that without them, life is not worth living.

You tell me I don't even understand what love is, I tell you, I know more love in one homecoming, than most know in a life time.

You don't know that every time he leaves, part of me goes with him and part of him stays with me.

You tell me that people change and I tell you, true love will always remain constant and steady.

You tell me you know how I feel and that you understand what I'm going through; you have no idea.

What you don't realize is that I understand the true meaning of not only love, but of longing and anticipation.

You don't see, but I'm one of the few who gets goose bumps as my heart fills with pride every time the National Anthem is played.

I'm one of the girls who will stand tall and stay strong on the outside, but be dying on the inside.

I am one of those girls who will make friends with complete strangers for only they can even begin to understand what I am going through.

You don't understand that I picture his face everywhere I go and that he is with me in everything I do.

You think I don't cry anymore, that I have gotten over it, but what you don't know is that I just hide it better.

You don't know the feeling the first time you hear the word deployment or the feeling of his hands as it slides out of yours for what could be the last time.

You don't know what that last hug or kiss means and how important that goodbye truly is.

I'm the girl you see walking by with a disheartened face staring silently at the ground.

What you don't know is, that I know true love and that no matter what obstacles we have to face, our love will live forever, that only we know.

You tell me that you support the troops; I tell you, I'm in love with one.

I'm one of the silent, but outgoing; weak, but strong; scared, but grateful.

What you don't see is that without me, he is nothing and without him, I am nothing.

I'm one of those girls; the girl who stands tall behind her Soldier, stands proud behind her Hero, stands strong behind her man, watching silently as he serves and defends our country.

--Author Unknown

I need to get stuff out!

So I have been trying to keep busy while Chris has been gone. We have passed the 2 month mark and he will be home in 4 months for R&R. I have work during the week and on Saturdays some of us girls get together for shopping or dinner. We end up back at one of our houses and play games and watch movies all night. Sundays are always errands day. So I keep pretty busy. I get to talk to Chris on a pretty regular basis too. Saturday night while at a friends house we both got an email about a loss of one of our soldiers. He wasn't in Chris' company , but he was in his batallion. He was a victim of a roadside bomb. Please keep his family and our Brigade family in your prayers. I didn't get to talk to Chris until Sunday which was the longest wait ever. As soon as something like that happens they cut off all communication for soldiers so nothing gets out before next of kin is notified. So it is pretty scary not getting word from your loved one even though you would already know if something happened to them. So needless to say it has been a rough holiday weekend. You know war is real , but it hits you really hard when it's so close to home. I just can't wait until they are all home and he is safe with me!

We are moving on post in April. I have to do the move without Chris so I have already started packing. The Army will move us , but I need to pack. I'm excited to get on post.

We are going on vacation to California in June/July. I'm really excited to see family and get some time with my husband. The beach will be nice too! =)

Please keep me and the others in your prayers.This deployment is going to be tough on the soldiers and their families. It's already showing that....

I'm still here!

It has been a while since I have posted! I haven't posted since Chris was gone to JRTC...I'm not sure where to begin....Well while Chris was home we went to a miltary ball. It was more of a Pre deployment get together... here are some pics!

Chris and I

Sheila and I were dancing to Jimmy Buffet

The girls...apparently I thought something was funny

My wonderful hubby and myself

3 of my friends out here... they are some really great girls!

The closest friend I have out here... we work together

The men

I love this group :)

So after the ball we had to start preparing for this deployment. First thing was first.... I needed a puppy!
I searched and searched ....finally I found a lady who was selling a 2 yr old Yorkie. They were PCSing somewhere and could only have 2 pets ( I counted 6 that they had)....We were going to get the female until they found out she was pregnant so we bought the male. His name is Ziggy and he is the sweetest little guy ever. He has really kept me company.
Chris left last Sunday for overseas. He will be gone a year... give or take. It has been a pretty tough week without him here , but it will get easier. He has gotten to call a couple times and that is always nice. He has finally reached his destination where he will be for the whole year... they had to stay somewhere else for the first few days to get them briefed and all that.
I still love my job. I feel it will keep me busy while Chris is gone. I am still working on my AVON so if any of you ladies want to order anything ;) Let me know!
I'm dreading Christmas shopping! I have no idea where to start....

I've been slackin...

So I know....why have a blog if I don't update! Ugh! Last week kicked my butt.... those kids are a handful! From a kid trying to bite me .....to screaming for no reason.... to  the same little boy going potty on the carpet right before the end of the day Friday. All week I've gotten home around 4, eaten, taken an hour nap, watch tv, and bed by 10 ....haha. I'm pretty used to it now and the whole getting up part. I really enjoy my job though ....and the schedule is perfect :)
Other than working I have been trying to get ready for Chris to come home. I've had a 3 day weekend so it has helped. I've got the apartment cleaned, took his car and got it washed/vacuumed, and got groceries (also all the stuff I need for the Welcome Home dinner I plan to make. I'm making this cheesy bbq chicken ( chicken breast, bbq sauce, swiss cheese), loaded mashed potatoes, and some sort of bread. I need to think of another side. I'm thinking broccoli with cheese.... can't have too much cheese! :) For desert I am making a camo cake...inside and out! Pics will be posted. He should be home sometime mid-late week. I'm so very excited to have him home! I've been lonely.
I hung out with Sheila and Claire this weekend... even when the guys get back we are going to have our girl nights. I think this is a great idea!
Tomorrow I may go in to town again. I'm wanting to get into sewing/crafts. I've got to get a sewing machine first though! I have seen so many cute military and non military stuff that I want to make! I need to hunt down a quilt rack too. Anyone know where to get those??
The sunset was sooo pretty tonight...Wish I would have went up on a hill somewhere and watched it!

The weather tonight is so perfect! =)

Girls Night

So yesterday I sat around waiting patiently for a call from the Devin Center for my job offer. It was nearing 4pm and I was starting to worry about it. Around 4 the lady called to officially offer me the playground/lunchroom aide job for 12.5 hrs a week..... She then mentioned she had another one she would be calling me about ,but didn't have the paperwork ready so she couldn't officially do it. She pretty much said she would be offering me the one I wanted....so I declined the first one. About 15 mins later she called and offered. OBVIOUSLY I accepted :). I start Monday at 8 am! It is a Mon-Fri job 8am-330pm . I will be put in a classroom to help a teacher with her kids and give special attention to the kids that seem to fall behind/or take just a little longer to understand. I will also be working with my friend Sheila. I'm pretty excited!

After the call I headed over to Sheila's for our girls night. Her, I ,Claire, and Sheila's two kids ( John and Naomi) went to dinner at Famous Daves....yum yum!! Both Sheila and Claire's husbands are with Chris at training and will be with him in Iraq. So glad I found a few friends ! After dinner we went back to the house and played Rock Band with the kids. There is nothing funnier than listening to Sheila sing a Beastie Boy song....she butchered it and still got 100%! After the kids went to sleep we made mojitos and watched a scary movie.... the movie we picked was Asylum. Definitely not scary haha..... it was pretty poorly done actually. We got a good laugh out of it. After the movie it was 3 am so we all found our beds and past out.

Today I headed to Salina KS to do a little shopping for work clothes. I really wanted to go to Kohl's cause they have great sales and I have't been to one since before the wedding.....I was highly disappointed =( I did find a mall though and got some dress pants then headed to Target and got a cute cardigan to wear and another pair of flats ( most my dress shoes are heels and I don't want to have to wear those all day).

Now I am home and getting ready to work on my AVON. I am going to put little packages together and toss them tomorrow in a neighborhood. I am hoping since AVON will be my only income until Oct 20 ( school pays monthly and the last day of the pay period for the Sept 20 check was Friday) I will do pretty good these next 4 campaigns. I use the money I make from my job for my car payment and Chris uses his for our other bills.... good thing I still have 6 days pay coming from Wally World....

Well off to work on AVON =)

Interview tomorrow...

So I got the job that's only 12.5 hrs....I've been stressing. Well Sheila called yesterday and told me to go down to the Devin Center and request a transfer to Custer Hill to be a paraprofessional. I went down and talk to Ardena and she said since I was in a temp position that my app is still active. All I had to do was go home and update my app to an elem. para then let Custer Hill know I was interested. Well Sheila told me Custer Hill really wanted me for an interview on Thurs, but still go to improcessing today so if they do hire me I can start right away. Well the school called and scheduled the interview for 230 tomorrow....so I will go to the job I have now since I get off at 130 there and then go to the interview =) Hopefully this time tomorrow I can announce that I am a full time para!! Keep your fingers crossed. The only thing I don't like is that they only get paid once a month on the 20th. The check you would get on 9-20 pay period ends Friday so I will get a check on the 20th , but only for 3 days...I won't get a full one til Oct 20... it will be worth it though when it's all said and done though =)
I've been lucky enough to talk to Chris the other night and get a few texts here and there. I really miss him! Only 2.5 weeks left..... Come on already!!
I bought some Halloween decorations today and some stuff to make a wreath =). If this one turns out well I am making a red white and blue one next ....who knows maybe it can be a side project/business =).....May do better than I am with my AVON sales... my website isn't seeing much business lately... =(

I got the job!!

So I had my interview today. It went really well and I got the job. I went back this afternoon for a briefing and was told we would be starting Wednesday. I had originally planned to work both there and Walmart until I got more hours, but since I start so soon I can't give Walmart time to switch my schedule. So.... looks like I am going to quit Walmart. I hate not giving people a notice , but I think they will survive. I am going to do the lunchroom/playground aide and hopefully some subbing for the paras. Hoping I can be like a friend of mine and transfer to a full time para. Tomorrow I have to go get a TB tst and then Wednesday I get processed. Keep your fingers crossed. I just hate not having Chris here to discuss this with. I just don't want him to be mad at me =(. I am also going to woke extra hard on my AVON business and website. Hopefully I can get it going and start doing better.
These days just keep dragging on and on . I am fine during the day , but the later it gets the more I miss Chris.Less than 3 weeks til he's home though!!