The Next Greastest Generation

     Last Sunday was, without a doubt, the hottest day of this summer.  It was also mush more than that.  It was the 10 year anniversary of September 11.  It just so happens that the Puyallup Fair was also going during this time.  The fair had contacted the Air Force base and the Army post and asked for 2 people who's accomplishments outshine all others.  Matt was selected as one of these people.  We were expected to attend the fair and that evening the city, a local church, and the fair would present him with an award in honor of remembering 9/11.  So on the hottest day of the year we venture to the fair with all three kids in tow, ready to brave the crowds.  What a day!  Vincent begged to ride a roller coaster the entire time, so eventually we gave in to his persistence and paid the $20 for ride tickets.  We waited in the line and eventually the boys were buckled in ready to ride.  After one lap, both boys, with tears down their checks, were screaming to stop the ride.  I guess their not real thrill seekers.  Ben's only request was to ride "the messed up horsey" aka camel.  While standing in line Matt spots a stand selling roasted corn.  I turn and no Matt, he's already chomping on the ear of corn, which leaves Ben, the messed up horse, and I.  We ride 2 laps on the camel, which was all I wanted to muster, and then get off ready for the next event.  We walked sampling all of the food, corn dogs, donuts, elephant ears, lemonade, and fried Twinkies (Matt still thinks the Twinkies were money well spent). 

     At 4 o'clock Matt leaves to get in his full dress uniform and get ready for the concert.  The kids are tired and through with the magic of the fair.  We head to the stage and wait.  The event was somber, all in remembrance, with veterans, children, parents, all people effected by the tragedy.   Maci was tired of sitting and threw everything she could onto the floor.  Ben was seated to a veteran in a wheelchair.  Each time the man would nod off Ben would release the brake on his chair, laughing and giggling the entire time.  Vince was tired of being my little helper and could only worry about having a train tattoo airbrushed on his arm (tough I know).  So the routine went, find something for Maci to play with, reassure Vince that he'll leave with a stellar tattoo, reach down picking up Maci's entertainment whiles she screams about it, and sit up just in time to catch the wheelchair as it wakes the veteran.  "I must've nodded off."  He says each time his head bobs from being stopped and rolled back into place.  I finally had to take the boys away to play behind the bleachers, and left Maci , with Nikki a fellow K-9 wife, who knows first hand the struggle of balancing military wife, with busy mom.  After what felt like hours Matt received his award and the crowd cheered for him.  The boys were ecstatic.  They yelled, "that's our Daddy, everybody loves him!"  A gentleman in his late 80's or so leaned into them, and said, "You right everyone does love your Daddy, he's one of a few."  and then touched my shoulder to make sure he had my attention and said , "Enjoy this struggle, and remember the whole country is taking notes.  You and your husband are the next greatest generation."

     If you've read the book, The Greatest Generation, or have the pleasure of knowing the people from that place and struggle in time, you will feel what has touched me.  It was an honor to placed in such a category.  Matt and I have the honor of knowing, loving, and growing up with our relatives from The Greatest Generation, and pray we can do half the job they did.  So from this day forward I have a new view of the hard days, and can't wait to look back on them with pride.

“For every thing you have missed, you have gained something else; and for every thing you gain, you lose something” - Ralph Waldo Emerson

My Hero Comes Home

     Matt has made it home!  Friday Matt called my phone and said, "Sorry Babe, but plans have changed again.  I won't behome Monday, I'll be home Saturday!"  It was so good to hear and almost unbelievable.  Thank God for Sara!  She kept my mind busy all day long and helped me chase ofter the kids and try to rein in their excitement.  The day flew by and finally it was time to go.  Matt was so overwhelmed on the phone when we talked, I was unsure of how this reunion would go.  Matt was told he'd be greeted by the officals and was quickly feeling overwhelmed.  The kennel Master asked that people hang back if at all possible and give him his space to adjust.  This was such a relief.  Matt had asked that I not even bring the kids because of feeling overwhelmed and now hw was more comfortable seeing them.  The boys were so excited to be a part of the excitement. 
    We got to the airport and waited.  I stood searching with my eyes.  Up and down the escalators, down the halls, through the people.  Finally, I spot him.  We locked eyes and head straight for eachother.  The boys followed behind with grins from ear to ear across their faces.  Matt and I tookour time walking towards eachother, but never breaking our stare.  It was almost unbelievable to see eachother.  This reunion was unlike any other before.  We usually see eachother and smiles spread, we rush towards eachother, and kiss, before the was nothing but smiles not a single shead tear.  This was very different.  We took our time, we could each see the pain in our eyes.  When we finally reached eachother we burried our faces in eachothers necks and began to cry.  We both could feel a relief.  Matt knew better than I how close we were to having a very different reunion.  He whispered in my neck through \tears,"I didn't think I'd ever hold you again, and here we are."  "Here we are." I reponded  He looked in my eyes and said, "I'm home.  I made it.  Breathe again, the only one that'll be knocking on our door his me when I get home from work."  He then bent down to great the kids.  While everyone was greeting Matt I was able to say hello to Basco.  He was so thin and missing hair, he was worn. I bent down and pet his ears.  I hugged hugged his neck and told him thnak you.  There is no animal I hold more dear.  Basco was there when I couldn't be to comfort him, to entertain him, and to make sure he and countless others made it home.
    So many people had asked if I was excited....I was, but the feelings of relief were so much greater.  He made it.  We made it.  I see the way people look at him and treat him now.  I'm so proud to be on his arm.

Coming Home

      Here it is again...the time has come.  The kids and I are counting down the days till we're in his arms again!  After 3 deployments the homecoming is always filled with same routines and feelings.  Words can't describe the goodbye and they can't give justice to the homecoming.  The butterflies will flutter, you have a glow, the children are tingling with excitement.  The house is spotless, the lawn freshly mowed, his favorite foods awaiting, the banner ready and the flag hung.
     Each time I go out to hang the flag the day he returns.  I stop, recounting the heartache since he's been gone.  Each time my eyes weld up and know each sacrifice our family made was worth this flag hanging with pride.  I take my first deep breath and smile, knowing another goodbye will come, but today is not the day to dwell.  My first deep breath, I can breathe again, all is well, he's safe and I know his eyes are welding as he hits US soil.  I can feel his relief from so far away still.
      I have 4-7 days left, and each bit of energy goes into the homecoming.  I will clean, cook, mother, and go as normal, but inside I know it's coming....fast.  It's exciting and hard to reunite and the anxieties are almost overwhelming.  Will he be distracted, will he feel comfort, will he be able to slow, will he be the man I said goodbye to...We'll work through it we always do.  What excitement is bustling in our home....for now we will have him home where he belongs till next time duty calls....

"Not everyone hears is.  It's just a few, but there's no denying it once you do.  When your country calls you do your part.  So H is for Honor in the American Heart."    

Peace

     It's 5:15am when my phone rings.  After a week of worry, I hear his voice on the other end.  By the time we're done talking the sun has rose and I can see that it's snowed.  We say our goodbyes and reluctantly hang up.  He's told me some of the dangers he's faced that week, but says I don't need to know anything else.  "I've been shot at a few times but it could be worse." Most might pause if their spouse tells them that this was the best part of the day.  I don't even think he noticed how odd that statement actually was.  I lay in bed looking out the window at the snow, white and peaceful.  Not a noise around except an occasional wrestle of a child turning in their sleep.  I think of how totally opposite his surroundings are.  I try and imagine the noise and can't come close knowing only the sounds that I hear from over the phone.  So instead I try to take in as much of the peace that surrounds me and send it his way.  Now the babies are waking up and crying as children do upon waking, and I think of a conversation we had weeks ago...."Baby, can you just set the phone down and go about your day as usual?"  I set the phone down as I got the kids dressed and fed,  all while Matt listened on the nearby phone.  I know that the sounds of our family is what brings him peace.

Good Bye NuNu

This morning I decided it was time to say goodbye to Benjamin's NuNu (pacifier).  I've tried so many things and nothing has worked.  Cutting it till he couldn't suck on it anymore, tying it to a balloon and letting them lose, donating them to other babies, nothing.  This idea jumped into my head and I went for it.  It's working so far so I had to share it.  Sometimes the key to success is finding what motivates your child, and mine is motivated by Daddy. 

Dear Daddy,
This morning I woke up and Mommy said that she needed my help.  She told me how sad you sound and anout how much you miss us.  I was concerned and wanted to help you.  I asked how I could make you happy.  Mommy told me how there are no NuNus in Afghanistan.  I know how happy a good NuNu makes me.  So, I decided to send you all of mine.  I searched the house high and low and found all that I have.  I wrote them a goodbye card and told them they'll be in good hands.  I hope my NuNus cheer you up.

I love you,
"B"

Housewife to Handyman

     I had piles upon piles of laundry that had to be handled.  I started a load right before bed on Friday night.  Maci woke me for a bottle at a little after 5am.  I headed downstairs and figured while the water was warming I could switch over a load.  When I opened the the wash there was still water in it.  I thought it weird and restarted the cycle and headed back to bed.  I then got up again at 6am to shower and start my day before the boys.  Not waking before them can throw of an entire day.  I ran back ddownstairs to do some more laundry but still the wash was left with water.  At this point I knew we had a problem, but avoided it for the time being and got readt for Ikea.  After a long day at Ikea and a crazy ride home (I had to keep pulling over to put the boys in time out for throwing rasins at me while I was driving, never again will I bring raisins), we were back.

     It was time to start on the washer.  It's just Sara and I so we knew we would have to figure this out.  Sara jumped onto Google to get step by step instructions to fix this thing.  At one point we were stuck so I gave my Dad a call.  My Mom awnsered and Dad wasn't available.  She said, "You might need to just get a repair man."  We're military wives.  We don't have the money or the time to get a repair man.  That's one of our many jobs.  i grabed a screw driver and went to town after getting to the draining pump I could feel a sock clogging it.  What luck!  I've been searching for the match to this sock for quite some time!  I got the tube apart and the sock free.  It was all put back together and time to get on this laundry.  We trew in a load and went about my business.  I was standing at the kitchen table packing when I realized, "I'm wearing boot, so why are my feet wet?"  The kitchen had flooded with an inch of water.

     Emergency!!!!  I ran and unplugged the washer turned on the steam vac to start sucking up water.  Sara grabbed every towel in the house and a comforter to soak up the water.  Now on top of the public pool being in the house we had even more laundry to do!  I realized that I could fix the problem but didn't have near enough strength to get the metal collar back onto the tube.  So we looked for a friendly neighbor to help but to no avail.  So we got the kids out of the swimming pool and put them to bed.  Sara and I were at a loss as to what to do.  There was no way to get the clothes done, the kitchen was dry again, and the kids were sleeping.  There was nothing left to do but open a bottle of wine.

An Article on Military etiquette for The Spouse

Do’s and don’ts while in uniform
by Whitney Bailey


The military service etiquette we abide by today is steeped in several hundred years of U.S. history.  Many rules change over time as the military updates codes of conduct to reflect new attitudes and etiquette.  However, some traditions still exist that may seem a bit antiquated (or even unfair) to you, the spouse.
When reviewing the list below, keep in mind that maintenance of these rules allows service members to project professionalism.  These rules apply to your service member anytime he is in uniform, but many also apply to you when you are you attending a military function or in public with your uniformed hubby.

Do:
Walk on your husband’s left side so he can salute others.

Refer to your spouse by his first name or nickname, or as “my husband.”  Do not refer to your husband as “Capt. Smith” or “the Captain.”

Stand at a public function or ceremony when the senior officer enters and is announced.   This applies to everyone in attendance.

Offer your husband an umbrella in the rain, but only if it’s black. He’s not allowed to carry any other color.
Push the baby carriage or stroller so your spouse doesn’t have to.  It’s considered “unmilitary” to do so while in uniform.

Help your spouse carry any packages or bundles to make it easier for him to salute.  (Are you wondering if a man made up these rules so that wives would have to do all the heavy lifting?)

Don’t:
Show public displays of affection, except at homecomings and goodbyes.  This includes kissing and holding hands.  You can wrap your arm around his bent elbow.  This is proper.

Offer your spouse a piece of gum.  It is not “military” for him to chew it.  The same goes for smoking while in uniform.

Allow him to put his hands in his pockets unless he is placing or retrieving an item.

Refer to your husband’s orders as “our orders” unless you are a service member yourself.
Offer him food or drink while he’s walking.  He should not be eating, drinking or using a cell phone while walking in uniform.

Refer to others in the service as “sir” or “ma’am,” even if your spouse does.  Refer to them by their rank and last name (“Capt. Smith”).

Allow your child to wear your spouse’s uniform for Halloween.  Uniforms bearing insignia, badges and tabs should be worn only by authorized personnel.