A Letter For You

May 27, 2013

Dear Reader,

Hello! How are you today? I am fine. Today is Memorial Day. As a military family, you better believe we take time to honor those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice. It's a personal story for us. We have personally lost Marines in battle and cried with their families. We've attended the services and shed tears. It's a sad day and a proud one.  It's wonderful to be a part of something so meaningful and important.

Today is also my birthday. Yay me! I like birthdays. And it's actually a bit annoying when others blow their day off as 'just another day'. I feel like everyone deserves at least one day to be celebrated. I like to drag it out as long as I can. We usually make a weekend out of it. Mostly because it's a holiday and the unofficial start of summer. You can't help but feel festive. I couldn't imagine if my birthday was at Christmas time. I might have to declare a birthday month! I hope you December babies do that!

As you can see I'm a rambler. I just go off on tangents and talk about random crap no one cares about. It's been brought to my attention several times. To stay on track, I really need to get back to the point of this letter. To thank you.

Thank you for taking time to stop by this blog and read along with this silly life I lead. I'm not sure what brings you back but I hope it's worthwhile. I could never imagine how life changing blogging could be. But I tell you, the person writing this blog today is not the same person who started it. I have found my voice through writing. Thank you for listening.

And thank you for your comments and your interaction. You give this blog dimension. You validate my emotions when I think I'm losing my mind. You laugh with me over my crazy children when I want to scream. I am so lucky to have you all. I hope you stick around for part two (or year two) of this journey. And don't be afraid to throw a comment or two my way! It helps me know I'm not talking to the wall like I feel around here.

Lots of Love,

The Ugly Side of Me

Today is an exercise in humility. I think the above picture is a good start. Not the most flattering. Plus it's a good illustration of what life is really like when parenting tween-agers.

The Every Day In May prompt: list your 3 worst traits...On your blog. You know, for all the world to see, friend and foe alike. I can just see the people who dislike me nudging their friends whispering "See I told you!"

For someone who struggles with opening up about normal chatty stuff, I am going way outside my comfort zone. I must admit the more I do, the easier it gets. I keep putting myself in a position to be judged and I'm getting to the point where I say "To Hell With It". I think this birthday creeping up next week is giving me attitude. I'm feeling old-er. I'm losing my glossy finish.

Back on topic... here is the dirt...on me.

My biggest character flaw is my cautious approach to life, to people. I am cautious to a fault. It works for me because I don't make hasty decisions I regret. Which also means I can't make spontaneous decisions either.  I keep everyone out of trouble. But I'm also the wet blanket. I make friends slowly. I'm a great acquaintance or friend but rarely the BFF. This is a trait I have tried to work on. I really dislike this about myself.

#2 I have high expectations. I hold myself to a high standard. I hold others to a pretty high standard. It's a lot of pressure for everyone involved. I don't expect anything I'm not willing to give. No double standards. And I am super supportive when everyone is trying their best. But when someone wants to take the easy way out, I'm the first to call them out. Bad bad quality. I will say when it comes to my kids I think am realistic in my 'high expectations'. Nobody is stressed usually. Thank you Ms. Davis for setting me straight all those years ago. I have mellowed out tremendously. 

My third worst trait is my memory. My brain was designed to hold on to all kinds of things. You can probably guess where this is going. My poor husband. Anyone really. Arguing is pointless. I've got a mental log of everything you've ever done, said, or thought about for the past 30 years. And I will bring it up.

There you have it. I'm not perfect. I have flaws. I'm not proud of them. But I have the best of intentions...mostly...except when I argue. Then I usually just want to make the most valid argument.

My Favorite Blog

The blog world is a strange world. It only takes a matter of minutes to get sucked in. Whether you read one or 100, you probably understand what I mean. Somehow, someway, you start to feel a connection with certain bloggers. Their lives become an interest to you. Daily reading is a must. It all borders very closely to obsessive and creepy. Yet, it's completely acceptable in the blog world. I say ride this wave as long as we can until we're all get arrested or have restraining orders against us! Ok, no one wants that to happen. We will just stick to calling it Bloggy Love. Here are mine!

My number one favorite is the first blog I started reading. I stumbled across Erin's blog, Sunny Side Up, as I researched ideas for organizing my home. Erin is a master organizing. It didn't take long for me to get pulled into her life. I appreciate her honesty and candor. I love the energy she puts into her home, her marriage, and raising her children. I found myself strangely encouraged to be a better person from reading her blog. She has such an energy and enthusiasm for life. It's endearing.
Another thing I love is despite her popularity, Erin has always kept it about blog writing.

I am confident Erin's blog speaks for itself. Go have a look!

Sunny Side Up

A close second is this military spouse blog...

Website

I'm not sure how long I've been reading Kara's blog, Ramblings Of A Marine Wife, but I was hooked instantly.

After spending three years in Japan, I miss all it's wonderful quirky things.

This blog is full of pictures of Kara's adventures in Okinawa.

If you want to know what life in Japan is like for military families, Kara is spot on.

You go girl!

My Favorite Photo

I would not call myself photogenic. I'm terribly critical of myself, especially in photos. The blog has really helped me face my physical insecurities. I have accepted who I am. I have good features and bad features. Just like the majority of people in this world. If a picture looks like me, then I will post it. Why should I hide behind my camera because I don't think I compare to others?

This is my favorite photo of me.

It's not a glamourous shot. 

I'm pretty sure it was an early morning after a birthday party involving a few bottles of wine.

Followed by a few miles of hiking uphill.

This picture is more about the unseen.

I'm in my comfort zone.

I've got my 'country' and city within reach.

  From this viewpoint, I can look out and appreciate both.

My Happy Places

Wow! Look who showed up on the blog! Please forgive my MIA status. I have been enjoying a little Life Unplugged. I had a great Mother's Day. I hope you did too. Monday I photographed a military homecoming for a couple of friends. I loved every moment of it! And Tuesday, was my husband's appointment when he got released from the Hematology Oncology department because he is CANCER FREE. Which is like the best news e-vah!

I dropped the ball with the Everyday in May challenge. But I'm picking up with a prompt I didn't want to miss writing about. Early this week, the challenge was to write about 10 Things That Make You Happy. What a fun topic to share with one another!

I like to keep an arsenal of simple pleasures which immediately lifts me from a foul mood. I would guess you do too.  Of course,  this is assuming negative moods are a part of life? I don't mean those fleeting moments when someone cuts you off or you watch something terrible on the news. I'm talking waking-up-on-the- wrong-side-of-the-bed mood. Or the aftermath of dealing with ridiculous people. In military life, when the plan changes 15 times in one day. Whatever triggers you to retreat into your head and get bogged down by your own thoughts.  Those inevitable moods annoy me. This is when I go to my little diversions to keep focused on what I can control... Me!

Coffee. 

A surefire way to put me in a good mood is a coffee date.

Coffee just isn't the same without a little company!  

There really is nothing to explain on this one.

I think naturally, wine is going to put someone in a good mood.

I don't need company to drink wine. 

I can get just as happy drinking alone!

I've talked about the ocean enough on the blog.

I'm guessing you understand why it's my happy place. 

Hiking or Walking.

This was my saving grace during deployment.

Exercise, fresh air, and scenery.
Instant mood booster.

Hello, random people in my pictures!
Don't you love when that happens?
 Anyways... I love Disneyland. Always makes me happy.
My husband is the only thing standing in the way of my annual pass.
He doesn't get the whole adults at Disney thing.
We'll just call him the Joy Stealer.

Oh yes, I have more.
A trip to Target or the bookstore or even just the library. Instant calming effect.
 Funny movies and music work too.
And I never discount the value of time spent with friends.
Or my kids...most of the time...when they are being sweet or silly.

That's my list. Ten things which make me smile (most days). Now, it's time for you to dish.

Do you feel these same moods? What are your secrets in combating them?

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My Bloggy Friends

Here is the thing. I don't actually have any bloggy friends. Even though, I think it's super impressive when I see people who have connected over blogging and become real life friends. Like.. come stay at my house... kind of friends. I don't understand how they get to that point. But, cool, nonetheless!

Don't get me wrong. There are some bloggers I feel more of a connection with based on what their posts or comments or how they interact in general through blogging. I imagine those bloggers would be friends... if we lived in the same neighborhood. But we don't...so this has the potential to be awkward because they have no idea I'm writing this. Which makes me feel like I've hit stalker status. Which I'm not. I promise.

Sooooo... Surprise! You're on the list.

Think of this as a 'you seem like a nice person' compliment...Yay You! And for the several others who I am not including, sorry, I really have to narrow this down because my time is limited.

In no particular order, here are my bloggy friends:

1. Jen from The Adventures of Our Army Life. The thing I notice and like about Jen is how encouraging she is. She is an avid commenter. Not only here but on other military spouse blogs I read as well. I just think it says so much about her character. I adore it. The girl is humble, down-to-earth, and seemingly as real as they come. Very sweet!


2.  Nichole from Just Some Jane. It's a little strange but of all the blogs I read I feel she is the most similar to me. I can't even put my finger on it. There is just something about her writing style, experiences, and the way she presents herself that seems familiar. I love her passion for God and her enthusiasm throughout her process of becoming Catholic. I love how she freely shares about the people she adores. And her journey in 'starting over' after divorce. Although, I think she couldn't be happier these days. In addition to all these things, we are the same age and share the same name. How could be not be friends?!?


3. Jenny from Creatively Blooming. This is one of my top 5 favorite reads. I love the enthusiasm she has for her children and her love for adventures. Boy, can I relate! I think the first post I read on her blog was a hiking recap which probably sealed the deal on being a favorite. Plus, she is a military wife so the automatic friend clause goes into effect. 

4.) Emily from Trailerhood Aristocrats. I adore this girl! She is one busy momma and I totally empathize (been there done that minus the traveling). Her children are adorable and she brings out my inner farm girl with all her ranch pictures. I think we could make great shopping/lunch pals. And I would totally be up for hanging out on the ranch letting her sweet little one show me the ropes! You will have to follow the in post link to meet Emily.
Of course, there are a handful of other people who I really wanted to include but I can only write for so long before my family calls me out for neglect. 

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