Things About This Military Spouse

May 12 is set aside as Military Spouse Appreciation Day. As a spouse of a Marine, I have to say 'thank you' to the genius who decided that :) Just kidding! I don't have a super hero cape or a crown. I'm just a regular person whose life gets pretty complicated due to unforeseen twists and turns that get thrown our way. A spouse who feels like throwing in the towel once or twice a decade because things like communication and time are never guaranteed. I have most definitely pulled the crazy lady card during deployment. For all the military spouses reading here today, this post is for you! All the other sweet souls who stop by, I promise we are not crazy!

Here is the short story, I started the blog to connect with other military spouses. After 12 years of military life, I felt I had learned a thing or two I could share. Over the next five years, I continued to write about our military life. Sometimes I rambled and sometimes I felt like I hit the nail on the head. Here are a couple posts where I felt that happened...


The Funny Thing About Military Spouses

My Take On Military Life

Those times when I rambled were often mid-deployment or the beginning of a school year when I was balancing work/parenting/house/life crap in the height of Stressville and he was "away". Why is he ALWAYS gone in August?? I write this in May with no news of an impending training/deployment but just you wait!  It's always August :(

There have been some pretty cool things happen because of this military family blog. I've connected in real life with other military spouse bloggers. We had a lot of great adventures and we all were very lucky to have that time together. Here are some posts of our outings.

The Time We First Met
The Time We Went To The Winery
The Time We Got Our Hair Done
The Time We Ate Donuts and Made Care Packages
The Time We Had Amazing Mexican Food In San Diego :)

Since beginning this blog, my husband has been promoted, re-enlisted, and re-assigned permanent duty stations. That duty station just happened to be on the opposite coast. Well played Marine Corps!

The best part of this military life for me has been the travels. I spent the first 20 years of my life in Iowa. I traveled in summers to visit my dad and stepmom but other than that I was confined to the flattest state in America. I still laugh about how scared I was moving to California. I thought there would be gangsters on every corner as I drove down the street. I was so sheltered!

The military life has definitely afforded us the ability to experience different adventures and cultures. I think that will always be another part of our military experience I value. I do not think I would be as open-minded to others and differences. Nor would I be so brave to try new things or as adaptable to change.  

I can hardly believe we are almost done with this active duty military life. I remember our Sergeant Major and his lovely wife telling us in the beginning how fast the time would go. I may have disagreed until about year 7, then things really picked up. Time honestly goes fast once you start to build some seniority and rhythm for the lifestyle. When you consider the benefits of a 20 year career, the Marine made the right choice.

So, to all my fellow military spouses towards the beginning of this journey, I will be that older spouse sharing my wisdom. Your military life will pick up speed and be over in a blink of an eye. You will have so much of your life to live with some pretty amazing experiences behind you.

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Linking up with Jen at Marathons and Dog Tags

Ricardo A Breceda Sculpture Garden

We ran into our old neighbors from Camp Pen a few weeks ago here in town. It was a Friday night and they were "escaping" the confines of the base to try out a new restaurant. It's always strange to think no matter what size community you live in, there is a certain need to "escape" every once in awhile. No matter how lovely or how ugly the current life station is, we should be encouraged to make the most of it. Here is your encouragement ;)

It's no secret I have an adventurous side. On the regular, I may not necessarily need to get out of town but I want to see something new! When I'm on a break from work, I want to explore. It's the way I refresh. Recently,  I found some information about a local art display by Ricardo Breceda. This artist is a genius with metal. I first saw his work on Ramblings of a Marine Wife blog when she roadtripped out to the desert and posted these amazing pictures of his sculptures in Borrengo Springs. I was intrigued. Only recently did I discover he is a local artist with his own display nearby. I knew I couldn't convince my husband to take me on a road trip to the desert but down the road would be no problem.

On the outskirts, you will find the sculpture garden. It's not a large area but there is plenty to see. It took about 20 minutes to walk around the grounds. The kids were entertained and the adults too. A great way to break up a slow paced weekend day!

Mount Palomar Winery

Girl time. What is your pleasure? Coffee? Wine? Lunch? Movies? Shopping? When is the last time you made a point to hang out with a friend? Friend dates definitely default to the bottom of my priority list. I really have to force myself to make it happen. Life gets busy and I let so many things take precedence. It's easy to put ourselves and our needs at the bottom, isn't it? However, this year so many of us have vowed to make sure we get a little me time to refresh our energy reserves. So, here is your accountability...what have you done this first week of January to refresh yourself?

I love to visit our local wineries and sip a glass of wine while chatting it up. The setting is so cozy and each winery has its own unique theme. This time of year is most appealing to me because the weather is just a bit cool. The colors are rich autumn tones.  And since this is Southern California, the tourists are at home cozy and warm :) Locals rule

The Paint Barrel

I think the theme of my summer has been getting in touch with my artsy side. First the sewing projects and now painting. Can't imagine what else I'm capable of! I was so excited to get the chance to attend a painting class.  I joined a group of friends last week at our local studio slash wine bar. I really had no expectations besides to have fun because I really don't consider myself artistic. So when I walked into the studio and say this wall, I was a bit overwhelmed. But I vowed to try my best.

The instructor picked out the birds on a wire painting and everyone in the room learned how to paint that particular picture. For two hours, the instructor walks you through each step of how to create this painting to look somewhat professional. Ok, maybe we can't go as far as saying professional. But it's decent. 

Here is a little peek into this particular studio.

Our group of six painting our lovely birds on a wire. Everyone puts their own creative touch on their painting.

Here I am demonstrating the goal of a painting class that serves wine. Never put your brush or cup down. At least that was my goal!

And because I am such a good little Marine wife I thought it only appropriate to add a CH-46 on the horizon. My husband was so impressed. I kind of was too. That thing is on point! Maybe I should teach these classes?!? I kid, I kid. 

Overall, great girls night out. I'm curious if any of you have tried this and if you enjoyed it? Or if you thought it was still difficult despite the instruction?

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Making B Your A

One of my most favorite things about military life is the chance to see the world. Many many years ago when I was a naive gal freshly transplanted from small town Iowa to big city California, I thought we would spend our life moving. Knowing my life would be full of adventures and three year stints in every region of the country made me excited! I couldn't wait until our three years was up and we would be off to the East Coast.

True to military life, this young spouse found out pretty quickly the lifestyle is full of surprises. Murphy's Law of Military Spouse Expectations... if you want A then you get B. My A was moving every three years and my B was his career spent at Camp Pendleton, California.

Almost 15 years spent on one base. 11 years with the same squadron. Luckily our one other duty station was Japan which pretty much trumps New River any day. Things could be worse, I guess. We could be in 29 Palms! Joking aside, our immobility just wasn't what I imagined for military life. We never really thought California was the right fit for us. We still don't. But we quit fighting against the Plan. We are suppose to be here. At this point, we are so far into his career it wouldn't make sense to try to leave. Of course, the Marine Corps always  decides. Any day my husband could receive orders anywhere in the entire world, accompanied or unaccompanied. We pray that won't be the story.

How do you make the most of military life? You start with buying a house. Second, get a great job. Last, send your kids to a ginormous off-base school with a bigger student body than your hometown elementary, junior high, and high school combined. You lay down roots so when it's time to leave, you won't. Slow down. I don't honestly know if I recommend any of those things. What I do recommend is embracing whatever the military throws your way. You cannot control anything about this lifestyle, you just have to roll with it.

Most people who know me would probably guess I like living in California. People might even assume I prefer to live in this state. The honest answer is I don't. There are things I like. The weather. The location. The openness to differences among people. Other things. It's not my perfect but  I am going to embrace California. I am going to see everything I want to see. I'm going to sit on the beach watching the waves roll in on a Friday night. Just because. I'm going to hike the mountains. Tour LA like I lived here my whole life.  I'm going to enjoy these moments.

When his four years are finished, we will move on to a better fit. Perhaps, take some time to see the country since the Marine Corps didn't want to foot the bill. I imagine we will settle some place less polluted, less populated, and less developed. Do those places still exist? Any time I get lonesome for California, I will pull out my albums filled with pictures of our adventures. Get my little Marine Corps/ Cali fix and go back to breathing fresh air in small town America.

However, until the retirement ceremony we are going to keep checking off the Camp Pendleton Bucket List. The little things, big things, and even the repeats on the favorites all are getting checked off. Ehm...Disney. I think the best thing a military family can do is embrace the B, even when they really wanted the A. Just go with it and pretend it was your plan all along.

Goodbye 2013!

With the final days upon us in 2013, it seems only appropriate to reflect on this past year. For our Semper Fi Family, this year has posed its fair share of challenges. Yet I sit here on the last day of the month and the year, I can't help but feel really grateful for where we are.

I can almost put myself right into the place I was on December 31, 2012. Alone with three kids. A husband deployed. Trying with a half heart to ring in a new year. Trying with earnest to put my mind in the right place. To think positively about the new year. I can't lie... it's on the blog afterall... but I had a rough start with my positive outlook for 2013.

I think deployment got the best of me in the first few weeks of the new year. Then I found my groove and before I knew it my husband was coming home. His medical issues were definitely not the highlight of the year. I'm so very glad we made it through. After his clear diagnosis in May, we went into overdrive with life. He decided it was time to buy a house. A decision I was very much against. But I was done having the same argument day after day and gave up my fight. I figured there were more important battles in life.  We bought a house in June and moved in July. My husband was promoted to Gunny. Soon after, I was finally employed and took a promotion 6 weeks later. Safe to say at some point things turned around.

The past couple of months have been adjusting to a new schedule. And now, at the very end of this month, this year, I feel our lives are on track. Improving. This entire year of downs and eventual ups are all blessings in my eyes. I can't help but thank God for what is most important. We are all here. Together. Healthy. And regardless of all the other amazing and extravagant things we could be experiencing... that is the most important.

I'm eager to start 2014. Eager to make my list of resolutions. We leave that for tomorrow.

Tonight we celebrate. And give thanks for everything that came our way this year.

Cheers to you my friends! Stay safe tonight as you say Goodbye 2013!

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Best of Instagram 2013

If you are an Instagram user, I am sure you've seen the cool Statigram montages many have created. It took my daughter and I forever to figure it out. Little did we know there is no Statigram app, we were in desperate need of a Statigram tutorial. In case, you are not tech savvy here is how you make your own Statigram video clip. 

Visit www.statigram.com. From there, the website is so user friendly anyone can figure it out. After providing your Instagram user name and password, the website accesses your top five "liked" photos are creates a short video. I have loved watching everyone's snippets and plan to create one for myself. My only complaint is there are no explanations for the photos. I want to know more!

This is when I think everyone should have a blog so they can tell me a little background story on each photo. Wouldn't it be nice? While I wait patiently for those without to start blogs, I thought I would do the whole explanation thing here.  Just in case you are like me and want to know all the details of... well... everything! 

Here are the semperfifam top 5 pics on Instagram for 2013 with details!

#5 

This picture was taken in Summer 2013 during my husband's promotion ceremony. Never in his whole career (14 years) had I pinned rank on him. I didn't know it would be so difficult nor have so much pressure about placing those chevrons in the exact right place. Our friend standing next to me is coaching me along and trying to stall while I try my best to get that sucker through the fabric. My husband seems to have a look of endearment on his face. However, I know him well enough to know it is more of a "hurry up your making everyone wait" face. But we can pretend!

#4

Homecoming with the kids. My husband came home early from his MEU deployment in February 2013 for medical reasons. It was a rather quick turn around from when he called me from the boat to when he arrived at the San Diego airport. I missed out on an official homecoming with all the hoopla. Cute outfit, signs, spazzing out with your girl friends who waited just as long as you did. Seeing your man in cammies after 7 months of nothing. Yay! 

We had rain and weird staring from other passengers as we reunited at the terminal.

But it still felt good to have him home. 

And no matter where or when homecoming happens, you can't mistake those homecoming smiles. 

#3

This year I choose to Rent the Runway for the Marine Corps ball. I can not say enough about this website. I don't believe I will ever buy a ball gown again. It was easy. Cheaper. And the styles and quality of dresses would be out of my price range otherwise. 

Still in love with this dress!

#2

I hope I have not made a name for myself given my frequent "toasts" on social media. This particular toast was long overdue. After almost a year of job searching, I landed a pretty sweet job.  I can not explain the relief when someone finally picks you. It deserves a social media champagne toast. 

I'm glad you all agreed!

#1

Me and my marine. Marine Corps Ball 2013. 

Always so impressed to see that bling on his chest. 

They don't just hand that stuff out. You gotta work for it.

When it come to the birthday balls, I worry each year won't be fun. I fear the older we get the more out of our element we will be.

This year we proved we can still hang with the young uns!

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