Our Military Kids, Inc..

I don’t often advertise for various businesses, but I do like to support a lot of charity organizations.  Our Military Kids, Inc. is a non-profit organization that helps raise money to provide scholarships to the children of deployed soldiers to do everything from attending summer camp, music lessons, or (as in the case of my Little Monster) play soccer.  Please take two minutes and vote for this group and help support the little guys.

Day 215

“Experience is a hard teacher because she gives the test first, the lesson afterwards.” –Vernon Sanders Law

Many of us are learning this lesson right now. I just want you to know you’re not alone.  We have all made mistakes.  Not one of us is perfect.  Sometimes it’s hard to look past mistakes and move forward, especially when those mistakes have such a great impact on ourselves or on the lives of those around us.

I will admit that I have done things I’m not proud of, but I have no regrets.  My mistakes have all taught me something different and all have furthered my belief that we should not judge one another.  It’s easy to point the finger when you see someone else do something that seems “wrong”…it’s easy to see a situation and assign blame…what’s hard is to admit that you’ve made a mistake, pick yourself up, mend fences/build bridges, and move forward. 

I am still learning to forgive others, so I understand if other's aren’t quick to forgive me.  I’m learning that I can’t assume to know another person’s motives.  My goal is to not judge others based on their past mistakes, I know people can change.  If I can learn from my mistakes, I know others can learn from theirs, so I need to be more understanding and forgiving.

“You gain strength, courage and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You are able to say to yourself, 'I have lived through this horror. I can take the next thing that comes along.' You must do the thing you think you cannot do.” –Eleanor Roosevelt

Day 214

I love this song.

My Guy–Mary Wells

I grew up on oldies music; everything from Big Band Music (Kay Keiser, Glenn Miller, etc.) to Buddy Holly, and I still love that music today.  I will be honest though, I never really “got” this song until today. I am happy to say that this song perfectly describes my attitude towards my marriage and towards my husband.

“No muscle bound man
Could take my hand from my guy
No handsome face
Could ever take the place of my guy
He may not be a movie star
But when it comes to being happy we are
There's not a man today
Who could take me away from my guy”

There is a lot of worry in the military about women who leave or cheat on their husbands while they are deployed and men who do the same.  It seems a lot of experienced service members perpetuate or—that’s not the word I’m looking for—they increase the worry felt by newly enlisted members by telling stories of so-and-so who’s wife left him for a Jody while they were down range.  When my husband first left for several months with the Army he said something about me not needing him. It’s true, I don’t need him, but I want him. I could have anyone, but I choose him. Over and over again.  So I like to make sure my husband knows that I want him.  I ache for him.  He is my “one and only.”  I love that my husband has worked to reassure me of the same.

I am anxiously awaiting the day he returns so we can begin the rest of our lives together, again.  There is so much to look forward to; I am excited to see what the future brings.  Until then, I will wait patiently, and busily, for his return…

“Be conscious of the impact of your words.”

I think most of us probably played that game "telephone" growing up. The whole point of the game was to teach us not to gossip. I am saddened by how many adults I've seen spread rumors and say horrible things about people without having any confirmation of the accuracy of their words... and sometimes they down-right lie about other people.

I have seen careers, friendships and marriages ruined over rumors and gossip.

We all hear about national "anti-bullying" campaigns in schools and online, but we adults need to set the example for children to follow. Gossip is another form of bullying.

If you've gossiped, if you've spread rumors...you are a bully.  I won't pretend I haven't been a part of gossip and I won't pretend I've never shared a rumor I've heard, but I will admit that I am ashamed of myself for doing so. If I've learned anything the last 5 years it's that words carry a lot of weight and it's hard to erase lies from your memory.

"Whoever gossips to you will gossip about you."
Spanish Proverb

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