Update!

Well, it's been a while...
a long while...
and I apologise.

I have been uber busy recently!

I just started a new business called "Stuck On You Decals". I am making decals for cars and plan to expand it into other things. Right now I am mainly focusing on military, but I have a few things that aren't military related. I also take ideas and custom designs. I am so excited about my business starting up! I have a passion for scrapbooking and designing things so it's perfect for me! Not to mention, I am a people pleaser! haha. You can find me on facebook as of right now (website to come).

I have also been super busy working. I am working at a scrapbooking place right now, but I have an interview at a bank on Wednesday! I am so happy! This is my chance to start my career off with a bang! I love working with numbers and I've always wanted to work for a bank, so I am stoked! Please pray for me!

Some more exciting news is that we may have found a church that is perfect for us! There was a guy that came into work the other day telling me about this church that I had been contemplating on going to since Sept. Everything that he said sounded exactly what we are looking for. God is great.

Then, once 2011 got here, my family surprised me with a visit that totally caught me off guard. However, it was okay that I didn't have groceries in the house because they expected me not to and took care of it! :) I am so grateful for them! It was such a nice visit. My brother-in-law came down also, so my husband was so happy!

Well, that is all for now. Hopefully this year I can keep up with my blog a little more!

Milspouse Friday!

Here it is! Another MilSpouse Friday, courtesy of Wife of a Sailor!

1. Are you a night owl or an early bird? Well, I don't like to get up early and I like to stay up late, so I guess I'm a night owl. However, I am more of a cheery morning person then a cheery night person, just ask my husband. Hahaha. He hates me in the mornings! lol!

2. What makes you jealous? Jealousy...hmmm. I get jealous when I see my friends having a great time when I'm unable to be there because I am so far away. I know I'd be included if I were there, but it's hard not being able to have a good time with them.

3. Have you started Christmas/holiday shopping yet? When will you finish? (There’s only 63 days left!) Haha. No...not that I haven't thought about it. I usually get my shopping done early. I need to get on the ball! Thanks for the reminder!!

4. What would you have a personal chef make you tonight? Oh my! I would love to have some parmesan chicken with a side salad and some bread sticks! mmmm!!

5. Where was your first kiss? My first kiss?!? Oh no. My first kiss was at my (then) boyfriend's house when I was about 14. It was on new years eve and my head was laying on a pillow in his lap.

Blessed

Laying in bed tonight, with my husband by my side, I started thinking about how I got in the position I am today. How did I manage to end up with one of the greatest men on Earth? And, how did I get where I am today? Why aren't I out on the street, or homeless? (Of course, I was (and still am) wide awake and high on caffeine).

I was unable to come up with any other logical answer to those questions, other than that I had been blessed. I truly have been blessed my entire life.

Since the minute I was born into this scary world, I have always had someone to take care of me and make sure I was happy. I am so thankful for all of the people in my life, I could never ever express my gratitude.

My parents are the most caring parents I know. They've always been there for me and my brother. They're still there for us, and now my husband. I am so thankful that they were able to give me the life that I have been given.

I know some people look at their family, and the way they were raised, and think "when I have kids, I want them to have a better life then me". That's what my parents did for my brother and I. They truly gave us a life better then theirs. They went through tough times in their life, as most people do, but they turned it around and proved to the world that they could conquer life and show their children it could be done. They never quit. They never quit on us, and they never quit on each other.

See, that's what I want. I strive to be like my mommy and daddy. Most people wouldn't say that, or wouldn't like to admit to that, but I do. I want to be just like them and I want my kids to have a life like mine.

I will never quit on my husband, my marriage, my family or my lifestyle. I think that's how our military lifestyle has been so 'easy' and not ended in a divorce or a separation, like some people. The life that we live is not easy at all. It's not easy on me and it's not easy on him. You have to have a one-of-a-kind love and work as a team in order to get through the times of separation.

As I get older and start to think about having children, I do question if I'll be a good enough mom, but then I look at my parents and my confidence comes back. I know I'll be okay, and if I'm not, at least I have them to help point me in the right direction.

And my husband? I don't really know how I ended up with him, or how he ended up with me. I know I'm a tough one to handle sometimes, and I don't think I'd be able to handle me. It just goes to show I am so blessed. He has a huge heart.

So, God, thank you so much for giving me such an amazing family and such a great husband. You have blessed me with so many things and I am forever grateful.

The Boys of Fall

For all those country music lovers and sports lovers out there this post is for you...

I was watching Kenny Chesney's music video, "The Boys of Fall", today and I can relate to it in more ways then one. It actually really hit home.

I played multiple sports in high school including soccer, basketball, and men's tennis. I was a stud, for the most part. I always had league honors and was always a starter on varsity. Of course I wasn't the best at everything, but I always did my best.

Soccer was my first love. Every time I'd step on that field I would turn into a someone different. My heart was there and I was a leader. I was emotional. We'd stand there and listen to the National Anthem and my heart would beat out of my chest, my stomach would fill with the fluttering of butterflies, and my legs couldn't stop moving. I was the same way on the basketball court. Always. I played soccer for 14 years and basketball for 10 years. I loved them both. I loved the team. They were my sisters. (I'm number 3 below).

I really miss all of those things and I'd give anything to put on that Wildcat jersey and play a game. Just one.

So to all of those who are reading this and are currently a part of a team sport. Remember how it makes you feel to step on that court/field because that feeling will only come back a couple more times in your life once your sport is over with. That guy in the music video is right. It does come back when you get married. It'll come back very seldom. So cherish these moments in your life. Don't take them for granted.

Saying all of this I got to thinking and I have actually applied to a coaching position for soccer here in Beaufort. Fingers crossed!

Who I want to be

Here I am...

Sitting. Thinking. Sitting. Thinking. Sitting some more. Thinking some more.

Who am I? Who do I want to be? When someone says my name, what will they think? What do I want them to think?

I want my name to be a good name. I want to be thought of as a good person. I want to make an lasting impression in someones life. I want to make a difference -and- be a good person at the same time. I want to be a role model. I want to be someone that someone else looks up to or admires.

I know I can't be the perfect person, but on a daily basis I try to be the best person that I know how to be. I do not do this just for the people I love, but for people in general. Everyone needs to be loved and everyone needs to be cared about.

I try to live by the "golden rule". Treat others the way you want to be treated. By all means, I am not perfect, I have my days, and I recognize this, but I sure put every effort into making people happy as much as I can.

I care about people a lot. That may be where I falter and get my heart broken or my hopes too high. I have lost a lot of friends. Friends that I did care and still care greatly about. Whether they care about me is a different story, and frankly, it doesn't matter to me.

I want to be cared for too, but I would give all of my love for someone before ever asking for love in return. I hope people see this in me because it's truly how I feel. I wear my emotions on my sleeve and have love for others engraved in me.

I want to be known as a good person. A person who cares about others.

I'm not sure why I wrote this, but I have just been thinking about a lot of things recently.

For instance, One of my good friends just deployed to Afghanistan and I found myself really caring for how he felt before he left and now I catch myself worrying about him and thinking about him. A lot.

Also, I have had dreams with my Grandfather appearing and every time I wake up I remember the message that was said the day of his funeral. And the preacher said, "What will your name mean to others?"

I hope I have made a difference in someone's life and if I have not, I will. That is my goal in life. That is who I am.

Hormonal, much?

So the last 3 months since my husband has been gone, I have lived with a woman who is expecting her second baby. She is about 33 weeks along and I have found that it is in fact true that there are sympathy pains! I wasn't so sure of the whole theory until today!

I've been around her 24/7 and we are very good friends.

She's pointed out that I have had some cravings, but I didn't really think much about it. I have been really craving lemonade and chocolate. No, not together, but nonetheless. ha.

Anyway, today, I was very very moody and I got extremely stressed out. All we did was go out with several ladies around lunch for several hours. They all had their children and we didn't really have a time schedule or anything to accomplish. While with them I just wanted to lay in the floor and give up. I was stressed! I don't know why, but I do know that I was ready to kick some butt. Whether it was the lady behind me in line who kept touching me and saying "sorry hun" or the old man moving so slowly in front of me pushing his shopping cart. It was insane.

Then, my husband calls. I'd been waiting an hour and a half longer then I do on a daily basis to hear from him. He knew something was up. I told him that I was picking up pregnancy sympathy hormones and I was stressed, so he mockingly/jokingly said he was stressed from the same thing. I snapped! I told him I wasn't in the mood for his BS. It was bad! Then, shortly after I apologized. He had been so good to me throughout the entire day, there was no reason for me to act that way. I knew I was wrong and felt horribly. :( He did accept my apology and I promised I'd be better the next time we talked. I was. :)

It was just insane to me that I could be picking up these hormones from no where. Well, I guess it's not "no where", but still! It's insane! I guess it could essentially be based on the same thing as hanging out with a bunch of women all the time and starting your period simultaneously.

So I had to share. Has any of you had the same thing happen? How about with your husband? Has he had sympathy pains through your pregnancy? I mean, I've never been pregnant, I've just had this experience and I wonder what it'll be like when I do get pregnant. :)

Getting to Know Me

1. What kind of athlete has the hottest body?

I would have to say that soccer players have the hottest bodies!! Those abs, back and legs!! Mmhmm. :)

2. Are you a planner or a procrastinator?

Okay, so over all I would have to say that I'm a procrastinator! As much as I try to plan things out just right, I usually wait to the last minute. The Marine Corps also hasn't helped matters much! Haha...they wait til the last minute to tell us anything, so maybe it's becoming a habit...sigh.

3. Diet or regular (soda)?

Regular. Oh and I call it pop hahaha.

4. What's your one "must have" for Fall?

Hmm. I really haven't thought about it. I'd love to have some cowboy boots or maybe a new purse. Really, I'm not sure.

5. What's your favorite fast food restaurant?

Arby's! I'd choose that over anything else, but after living on the west coast, I've come to find out that Jack in the box is great too!!

6. What do you think is the sexiest profession for a guy?

A Marine, duh!! Those uniforms are so sexy! Haha.

7. Did you wear braces?

Yes! For the longest time ever! Like 7 years! GEESH!

8. Would you rather have a guy that's super sexy or kind?

Super kind. Personality always outweighs body.

Milspouse Friday!

I found this on Mrs. S' blog, but make sure you go check out Wife of a Sailor so you can link up and read about other milspouses too!

1. What is your spouse’s best feature?

I'm going to assume this is physical? So, I'm gonna tell you that my hubbys best features are his back, soft lips, and his soft hands. :)

2. Mild, Medium or Hot sauce?

I am a medium hot sauce chick! I can't deal with the heat of hot and mild isn't enough for me....so stick me in the middle and you get medium!!

3. What is the worst uniform you had to wear for a job?

The only job that I had to wear a uniform for was a soccer referee. That wasn't so bad. I can say I hated working for DHL in the sort center where I wore a cut off shirt, basketball shorts, and steel toed boots every day during summer. Talk about gross.

4. You have invisible powers… where is the first place you would go?

I would probably go check out what it's -really- like in the Marine Corps. My husband says I don't know what it's like, so I'd like to go check it out myself! ;). Plus, if he got in trouble, I think it'd be funny to watch him without his knowledge. LOL. Don't judge me! :-p

5. What’s left on your “to do” list for this summer?

Really, there's not much left on my "to do" list for this summer. We are getting a PDS soon and I will have to do some researching on places to live before we get there, but that's about it (besides trying to find a job, but what's new).

A Loneliness from Hell

Have you ever felt like your world was, per say, crashing down around you? Or that you weren't worth anything to anyone? How about being so lonely that you don't even see a single soul around you?

Well, I've been having one of those weeks. I know, it's only Tuesday. It could only get better from here. Let's hope.

I just have been so discouraged recently. I'm not sure if it's because I just got done seeing my husband a couple weeks ago, and being without him has been a little tough, or what. Fact-of-the-matter-is, I'm still an emotional wreck.

I can't find a job. All I want to do is help my husband support our family. I have tried for nearly EIGHT MONTHS to find a job. I've applied everywhere! My degree that was thousands of dollars is USELESS. I'm useless.

I feel alone in a crowd of people. I always seem to be out of place with no words to help me. I feel lost with an opinion that doesn't matter.

My husband does everything he can do, but he is thousands of miles away. He's the only one that knows the deep crevices of my mind. He's my best friend.

I just don't know what to do. I don't know who to talk to or what to talk about. It's hard for me to open up to someone and not feel like I'm being exposed to the world, and just judged. I'm pitiful and I miss my husband. A lot.

I want to do something, but I don't know what. I can't seem to motivate myself to do anything either. I love to scrapbook, but I haven't made time for it. I haven't been busy, I just don't do it, and I make excuses in the process.

I'm scared, alone, confused, and just miserable. 45 days. I pray I can handle this.

God wouldn't give me anything I cannot handle. I know this.

Marriage

I came across something today that made me open my eyes to a wonderful little thing called marriage. It made me realize that my husband and I both need to appreciate one another more.

I've learned that we not only need to appreciate one another, but we need to cherish the little things in life. Instead of focusing on the big things in life, like how much money is in the bank, or how much gas is in the car, we need to focus on the little details in life.

Someone also asked me this week how I liked marriage.

Let me tell you, I don't fit the status quo of someone who "should be" married. I'm young. I didn't let that stop me from being with the love of my life.

Also, being married to a Marine is lots different then being married to a civilian. Marines are trained to hold in emotion. My husband does not exalt as much emotion as he used to, or as much as I'd like, but I love him with my whole heart and I wouldn't change anything. I have nearly learned how to tell the difference between his love for me and his job. That's a challenge within itself and a whole different story.

I love being married, but it is a battle sometimes.

Marriage is hard. Very hard. It's probably one of the hardest things you'll ever go through. I've always been told there's a few things that will test and try your life and they are; 1) getting married, 2) buying a house, and 3) having a baby.

I've been married almost a year now and we have had our ups and downs. Sure, we fight, but who doesn't. I'd be lying if I said we never fight and we have a fairy tale marriage...pffft...yeah right.

Marriage is a battle of giving and taking. It's not a constant -give give give- on one person's side and a -take take take- from the other person. How would that be fair? I think this is the hardest thing to grasp as husband and wife. It's still hard for us to wrap our mind around, but if you understand the concept your relationship will be awesome in the end.

If you both take the time to listen when you don't necessarily want to it will make things so much easier. I cannot express how vital communication is. Not only listening, but talking. Tell each other what's on your mind. What's bothering you? How can you fix it? Don't place blame, but work it out fairly, fix it together. Give and take. Have patience! Marriage will test and try your patience to your last straw!

Don't forget to say I love you every day. Evan and I say I love you every single day, a million times a day. And, don't let it become habit. Stop yourself and tell your spouse, "hey, I really meant that". Remind them how special they really are to you.

Don't ever go to bed mad, upset, angry, or whatever you like to call it. From day one we have promised each other that we won't ever go to bed upset. If you do, it only causes for a bad night and a bad morning with a bad day following. Don't stir on your problems, resolve them. I'm only speaking from experience.

Also, if you are religious, try to make God the head of your household. This is something that my husband and I have struggled with. We are both Christians, but because we have moved around a lot, we haven't been able to find a church. This isn't an excuse, and it isn't excusable, but I will admit, we need to work on it. Christ is so important in a household. He will get you through any problems you may have.

Lastly, remind one another that you need them in your life. Tell them that you are proud of them. Show affection in not only the way you touch them, but in your words. Mean everything you say and do. Love one another.

Day 11: Picture "Post It" Perfect

Welp, on comes day 11 of my 30 Day Project and it's also Post-it Note Tuesday. So I haven't exactly been real good at keeping up with my blog. I have enough trouble keeping up with my own -real- life! haha. That was funny, you should at least giggle. Okay, so maybe it was lame? Anyway, I figure I can do both of my little memes in one post...so here goes nothin'!

Day 11 suggests that I post a recent picture of myself. Well, I have lots of pictures of me, but I'm always with someone, so here's a picture of my brother and I. He just received his High School Diploma in May and I am holding my degree that I received in December. :) This was taken when I went to Ohio a couple weeks ago.

Alright. On to Post It Note Tuesday....

Day 10: 10 Years Ago, Anyone?

A photo (pic; hence the title) taken of me over 10 years ago is day 10 of the 30 day project. And here it is;

Wasn't I such a cutie?!

And just for fun, here's a picture of my husband over 10 years ago;

He was such a handsome little boy!

Blog Hop!

I'm a 21 year old Marine Wife.

I married Evan October 12, 2009.

He truly is the best thing that has happened to me.

I grew up in a hicktown-blink-of-an-eye "village" in Ohio.

We claim we're from Cincinnati, because it's just easier that way.

I live in California currently.

Cincinnati Bearcats basketball is the best.

Ohio State football rocks.

NFL team is the Bengals. WHO DEY!

MLB is of course the reds.

I am Cincinnati all the way.

I was 5th in my high school class (out of 148).

I have my Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Management.

I am a Christian.

I love the color green.

I was in 4-H and FFA growing up.

I showed livestock at the fair, including hogs, feeder calves, and market turkeys.

I met my husband at DHL sorting boxes (before they made our community lame).

I am fortunate and blessed that I had an amazing home life.

I have a younger brother who is my world.

I want 3 kids.

I have a 3 legged cat named Tator and a kitty named Bentley.

I'm a scrapbooker.

I love to travel. I've been to France, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, and Liechtenstein.

I love Paris----France.

I am a sports fanatic. I rocked soccer. I rocked at defense for basketball.

I played mens tennis in high school. I played women's tennis in college.

I'm too tall and too thin. My metabolism is too fast.

I got named "biggest appetite" for senior best, not a joke.

Lost is my favorite TV show ever.

I try to be an optimistic person.

I try to walk a mile in someone else's shoes before I jump to conclusions.

I love my country. I am very patriotic.

I love my husband.

The end. :)

Being a Marine Wife

While surfing blogs today I came across a blog that caught my attention. It's Married to a Sailor: The Journey of a Navy Wife. She is hosting a competition, and I'm all for competitions! So here we go, my assignment, write about what being a military/Marine wife is like for me...

What being a Marine wife is like for me;

It's a blessing in many ways, but can be very stressful. I wish I could sum it all up in one word, but I really can't. Although we have only been married for 7 months, I have felt like we've been married a million years. Throughout the entire time of his enlistment, I've grown, we've grown. This all means we have grown closer and our marriage can survive. With lots of couples they don't make that "long distance relationship" status. We don't have that problem, we know it will work. It's nice to know my husband is such a great guy and has so much courage. He is one of the few good men. Ha. I love that saying!

Though it can be a struggle when he's gone, it's an amazing feeling to see him again. It's like meeting him for the first time and sharing more memories in different places around the world. Traveling is awesome and I love to see different places and being able to spend that time with my husband in a new location is the best ever! When he is gone, I find myself checking my phone a million times a day, I keep it on loud wherever I go, just in case I do get a phone call.

It's a since of pride being the wife to a Marine. Seeing him in that uniform melts my heart. When I'm on his side and we're in public I beam with a smile and glow with pride. I would shout to the world that my husband is in the Marine Corps if I could. He's a true American Hero and he's one of a kind. Whenever I hear any kind of patriotic song, whether it's the Star Spangled Banner or America the Beautiful, I swell up with emotions. I even get teary eyed. Whenever I look at an American Flag I beam with pride. I have an extreme amount of pride for our amazing country. I even get chills when I see a Marine Corps billboard or see a commercial. That sexy voice that says "The Few, The Proud, The Marines" is the best sound ever.

I may travel all over the place throughout an enlistment term, but I get to meet new people. These people become my very best friends. They are a one-of-a-kind group. It's nice to have people that understand, and have been there, and walked in my shoes. However, military spouses know not to get too close, be able to leave those and continue to stay in contact with the amazing friends that you have met.

Being a military/Marine wife means that I won't see my family or friends from "home" as much as I like. It means I have to adapt, but it's good to get away from the friends that "pretend" to be your friend. You weed out the true friends to the fake ones.

It also means I have to be careful about when to plan for a family. We do not have kids right now. Although many great women have had children with their military husband, I'm not sure if it's the right thing for us just yet. I want children badly, but when he's set to deploy and we don't know what's next in his career, we aren't sure if we should have children just yet. It's a tough decision and we're unsettled on it right now.

On the financial end...oh man. It's nice to get those discounts and get nice tax returns. Or just go to the commissary and get tax free groceries, especially when you live in a bankrupt state with high sales tax. Oh, and the gas, on base, is always 10 cents cheaper then off. It's nice to be able to have the health care that we have, and all of those great benefits.

Although we will and have spent a lot of our relationship apart, it always tends to make our relationship stronger. Being a Marine wife means being tough and standing by his side no matter what. It's holding on to the memories for an amount of time and it means always having a countdown. I stand amongst the silent ranks, and I am a very proud Marine Wife.