Adventures of a Semper Fi Family

Tuesday, April 16, 2013

Meet Our Military Child, Kyli

Today I introduce you to our first born, Kyli. A little over 18 months after her father joined the Marine Corps, she debuted her pretty little face to this world. This girl will only know her childhood as a military kid. A fact that worried me to no end for a very long time. The more I've talked to adult military kids, the less I worry. I have met few children with military parents who feel the military lifestyle impacted them negatively. I will talk more later this week on the things we've done to help ease the burden of military life stressors on our kids.
Kyli is the only child I forbid to enter the military or marry into it. I say this knowing she is the most likely to find a connection to the military, given the simple fact I don't want her to. I will admit the day I overheard a conversation with her bestie in which she said she wanted to marry a Marine...my heart broke a little. Thankfully we aren't there yet and I may move her to a deserted island before she starts dating. Right now we can focus on the only Marine in her life...her father. And find out the perspective of a 12 year old military child.

Q: Your dad is in the military. Do you know what branch of service he is in? And what his job is?

A: Marine. He tells people the right way to fix helicopters.

Q: Do you think that is a cool job?

A: Sure.

Q: If you were in the military, what branch would you choose? And what would you do?

A: Marine. Be an officer.

Q: If you joined the military, what do you think you would be the best at?
A: Telling people what to do. (Typical oldest child answer, right?) And running.

Q: What do you think would be the most difficult part about being a Marine?
A: All the hard physical training they have to do and going to war [and stuff].

Q: Of all our duty stations, which has been your favorite? Why?

A: I liked both Japan and California. My favorite things about Japan were the sightseeing places, the giant arcades, and the giant malls. My favorite things about California are all the amusement parks, my friends, and the beach.

Q: What was your least favorite part about living in Japan?

A: The earthquake because it was scary.

(Poor girl was stuck on the second floor of a metal building at the time of the earthquake.)

Q: What is the hardest part about having a parent in the military?

A: When they go on deployment.

Q: What helps make deployment easier for you?

A: I don't know. I just got use to it.

Q: What do you think makes the military so special?

A: They serve their country. They fight wars.

Q: What do you think makes military kids so special?

A: They get to move to places other kids might not get a chance to go to.

Q: Do you think you will ever be a Marine?
A: No.

Sunday, April 14, 2013

Meet Our Military Child, Zac

April is the Month of the Military Child. Not really sure what that means, except Camp Pendleton will have a big Kids Fair with free stuff and bouncy houses. And MCCS will post signs that say "April is the Month of the Military Child". Otherwise, I'm not quite sure what happens. To make this special month a bit more celebratory, I thought I would take this week to share more about our military family.

The challenges I experience as a Marine wife are probably similar to other military wives. Deployment, constantly changing schedules, and being a part of a fluid community. These are the top stressors I deal with. As difficult as these things are for me, I can't help but worry how they affect my children.

I decided to sit down with each child and do a short interview regarding their life as a military kid. I was just as interested to hear their answers as you. As a military family, you always wonder if the choice to live this life will have some negative impact on your kids.

Zac was more than happy to talk with me. He has been bugging me to start his own blog for months. How cute is that?!? Zac is our second child. He was born on Camp Pendleton three days before his dad came home from deployment. A true military child! He loves to dress in camo, wear his dad's dog tags, and play army guys. He may never join the military (because he doesn't like running) but he will always be a fan of his dad!

Q: Your dad is in the military. Do you know what branch of service he is in? And what his job is?

A: What's a branch? ( I tell him.) Oh...a Marine. His job is fixing helicopters.

Q: Do you think that is a cool job?

A: Um...I don't know. (Which probably means no but he is too kind to say that).

Q: If you were in the military, what branch would you choose? And what would you do?

A: Air Force. Fly jets. (Psst...don't tell your dad!)

Q: Where is the best place you have ever lived? Why?

A: Between Japan and California both were awesome. My favorite things about living in Japan were Tokyo Disney, fire burning festival at Mt.Fuji, and our base school. My favorite things about living in California are Disneyland, our school, and having good friends here.

Q: What was your least favorite part about living in Japan?

A: The earthquake because it was scary. (We were there for the big one in 2011)

Q: What is the hardest part about having a parent in the military?

A: They get deployed and you miss them.

Q: What helps make deployment easier for you?

A: Um...just trying to feel better and thinking of something else. And doing fun stuff while your parent is deployed.

Q: What do you think makes the people in the military so special?

A: They help people.

Q: What do you think makes military kids so special?

A: They sacrifice by being away from their parent(s).

Stop by tomorrow to meet another military kid.

{Gratitude Journal}

Friday morning brought on a hum drum feeling of melancholy. Do you ever get that feeling? You aren't sad or mad but you aren't happy either. That feeling annoys me. I try my hardest to escape it. Mostly because I predictably fall into an irritated mood quickly after melancholy sets in. My husband and I decided to fit in a mini-date before the kids got out of school. In two hours, we picked up a quick lunch and headed to the beach. A surefire way to beat a mediocre mood.

We walked half way down the jetty before finding a perfect overlook. We sat facing the harbor with the noise of the waves behind us. In that moment, my inner dialogue started sputtering "thank you's".

My husband is home. He is in amazing spirits. His treatment plan is worked out (dependent on one more CT scan). We have time without the kids. The sun. The breeze. The ocean.

The ocean has this calming effect on me. I can't help but feel God's presence there. The enormity makes it difficult to believe the ocean was created by chance. It covers 80% of the Earth's surface. It's deeper than any mountain is high. It's powerful enough to destroy. Yet it sustains life. For me, the ocean is a glimpse of how amazing our God is.

Thursday, April 11, 2013

Fallbrook Gem & Mineral Museum {Part 2}

It's not your typical play date for 9 year old boys but a rock museum is surprisingly enticing. We ventured over to the Fallbrook Gem & Mineral Museum last week to see what it's all about. The two small rooms are quite impressive. I never knew rocks could be so entertaining. Two hours later, we were pushing the boys out the door.

A few glimpses: