Military Wife

Got this the other day and couldn't help but post!!  Gotta love being a military wife!!

Military Wife 

Lots of moving...
Moving...
Moving...
Moving far from home...
Moving two cars, three kids and one dog...all riding with HER of course.
Moving sofas to basements because they won't go in THIS house;
Moving curtains that won't fit;
Moving jobs and certifications and professional development hours.
Moving away from friends;
Moving toward new friends;
Moving her most important luggage: her trunk full of memories.

Often waiting...
Waiting...
Waiting...
Waiting for housing.
Waiting for orders.
Waiting for deployments.
Waiting for phone calls.
Waiting for reunions.
Waiting for the new curtains to arrive.
Waiting for him to come home,
For dinner...AGAIN!

They call her 'Military Dependent', but she knows better:
She is fiercely In-Dependent.

She can balance a check book;
Handle the yard work;
Fix a noisy toilet;
Bury the family pet...

She is intimately familiar with drywall anchors and toggle bolts.
She can file the taxes;
Sell a house;
Buy a car;
Or set up a move...
.....all with ONE Power of Attorney.

She welcomes neighbors that don't welcome her.
She reinvents her career with every PCS;
Locates a house in the desert, The Arctic, Or the deep south.
And learns to call them all 'home'.
She MAKES them all home.

Military Wives are somewhat hasty...
They leap into:
Decorating,
Leadership,
Volunteering,
Career alternatives,
Churches,
And friendships.
They don't have 15 years to get to know people.
Their roots are short but flexible.
They plant annuals for themselves and perennials for those who come after them.

Military Wives quickly learn to value each other:
They connect over coffee,
Rely on the spouse network,
Accept offers of friendship and favors.
Record addresses in pencil...

Military Wives have a common bond:
The Military Wife has a husband unlike other husbands; his commitment is unique.
He doesn't have a 'JOB'
He has a 'MISSION' that he can't just decide to quit...
He's on-call for his country 24/7.
But for her, he's the most unreliable guy in town!
His language is foreign
TDY
PCS
OPR
SOS
ACC
BDU
ACU
BAR
CIB
TAD
ABU
And so, a Military Wife is a translator for her family and his.
She is the long- distance link to keep them informed;
the glue that holds them together.

A Military Wife has her moments:
She wants to wring his neck;
Dye his uniform pink;
Refuse to move to Siberia;
But she pulls herself together.
Give her a few days,
A travel brochure,
A long hot bath,
A pledge to the flag,
A wedding picture,
And she goes.
She packs.
She moves.
She follows.

Why?
What for?
How come?
You may think it is because she has lost her mind.
But actually it is because she has lost her heart.
It was stolen from her by a man,
Who puts duty first,
Who longs to deploy,
Who salutes the flag,
And whose boots in the doorway remind her that as long as he is her Military Husband,
She will remain his military wife.
And would have it no other way.

--Author Unknown

Thoughts on Service

So, this month is focused on Service for Activity Days.  The 2 activities we had this month are my favorite that I have planned for the whole year.  I thought I would share our lessons.

The first activity was a washing feet party (I did receive permission from the bishop!).  The young women wanted to join us for this activity, so we had about 35 girls.  We had the lesson first.  My biggest desire with the lesson is that they realize the importance of the one act that Jesus Christ did.  I explained that in that time the servants usually are the one that washed the feet of the guests.  I then asked the girls if Christ was their servant.  They all answered quickly and loudly with a no.  I paused for a minute and told them that it was a trick servant.  Christ may not have been the servant of the building but he was a servant of our Heavenly Father.  We are all servants of our Heavenly Father.  We are to do the work that he wants us to do.  The single act of washing of the apostles feet proved to us that nobody is exempt for service.  It doesn't matter how much money we make, how big our house is, our job we have or where we are at in our life.  We are all comanded to serve others.

The 2nd activity was about the sacrament.  We took the first 20 minutes and mixed bread.  Enough for 2 loaves.  We put them in the bread pans and let them rise while we had the lesson.  The missionaries taught the girls about the Sacrament.  When it was introduced (before the washing of the feet), why it was introduced and what it means in our lives.  They even had a great object lesson.  The girls all listened intently.  You could have heard a pin drop.  They answered questions, they participated and enjoyed themselves.  When the missionaries finished, I talked to the girls for a minute.  Do people always know when we perform a service for them?  No.  I explained that sometimes the only one that knows the service was performed is us.  But, our Heavely Father and Jesus Christ always know what we do.  They are the only people that we need to know.  This coming Sunday, when the deacons pass the sacrament, they will be passing the bread that we made.  I explained to the girls that most people who partake of the sacrament will not know that they made the bread.  But, they will know.  It may be a small detail.  People probably won't know any difference.  All of that doesn't matter.

When we serve others, we are showing our love to our Heavenly Father.  The girls responded very well to the activities.  I am very pleased with the way the girls are learning and growing and I can see it happen.

Miracle Exist!

Go here and watch this video.  Then, tell me that God does not exist and that He doesn't love his children!

Olympics

Kids were supposed to be getting ready for bed.  Instead, this is what I found:

They are watching the pair figure skating.  They were amazed at how high they can jump and how far they can throw.  Nate asked me if I could do that to him.  Ha!

**Disclaimer - Maggie has been having an awful runny nose and that is why her finger is up her nose.  And, she was supposed to be picking out PJ's which is why she doesn't have any pants on.

A Year...

365 days.  What a differance a year makes.  I was just looking at pictures of Maggie after her heart procedure.  With tears in my eyes, I am so thankful that she is okay.  She is a stubborn and mean girl, but I sure love her.  She completes our family. The way she smiles with her head ever so slightly turned.  The way she gets her dad to do what ever she wants. 

As difficult as it is, I am complete.  I am blessed.  I am loved.  I have everything in my life that I desire - except a clean house.  I am so grateful to a loving Heavenly Father who knows exactly what we need! 

Thank you for being part of my life.  Thank you for all you do.  Near or far, know that you are in my heart!!

White Bread?

I need help again!  Next week, for our Activity Day's activity, we are talking about the sacrament.  Why it was started and the importance behind it.  Then, we will be making bread.  I will bring it home and bake it and deliver it to the Bishop.  That bread will then be used for the bread of the Sacrament the following week. 

In the handbook - it states that the Sacrament bread needs to be white and without crust.  I don't have a recipe for white bread.  So, if you have a recipe that you like, would you please e-mail me, Facebook me or post the recipe as a comment.  I would really appreciate it!

Thanks in advance!!
Sassy

Answer to below

To answer Laura's question and for any others wondering about my purchases below - it was at Fred Meyer.  So, those in Utah could go to Smith's Marketplace (I think) and those in Ohio could go to Kroger. 

Here's how I did it.  Fred Meyer has a deal for buy 2 games get 1 free.  Then if you go here and click on the link they have to be directed to the coupons.  You can use 3 coupons with your purchase because you are getting 3 games.  So you get an extra discount off the other items because 1 of your 3 games is free.  I did my games in 2 seperate purchases.  I grouped the 3 most expnsive ones together and then grouped the others together. 

The Ponies - I only paid for 1.  I got 6 of them and 5 were free.  Go to the same place and print the My Little Ponies coupons.  You can only print 2 coupons per computer, so find another computer that you can print 1 more coupon at.  If you take 3 coupons with you, With the buy 2 get 1 free deal at Freddies - you get 2 free.  Then - with the buy 1 get 1 free coupons, you get 3 more of the ponies for free.  Thus, only paying for 1 pony.  You can't beat that.  Can you say Birthday Presents?

When you are directed to the website to print the coupons, it will ask you to download a program.  It isn't harmful.  Just FYI. 

So - if you want to see if you can get this killer deal - check out your local add for Kroger/Smiths Market Place or Fred Meyer.  Hope that helps clear it up!

Super Shopping Trip!

I just returned from a SUPER shopping trip!  I wanted to share my purchases with you!

2 gallons 1% milk
2 gallons Chocolate Milk
6 cartons of Maggie's Milk (Soy)
1 Things game ($28 retail)
1 Taboo game ($30 retail)
1 Pictureka! game ($30 retail)
1 Scrabble Junior ($16 retail)
1 Clue Carnival ($16 retail)
1 Sorry ($16 retail)
6 My Little Ponies ($7.69 each)
1 Almond Joy mini pieces (my guilty pleasure)
3 Dinasour eggs (Easter Basket items - $7 normally)
3 dollar items for Easter Baskets
2 Strawberry Shortcake Dolls
1 Tag system animal cards (for a friend)

Grand Total - $125

Had I paid full price for all of these - my total would have been around $280.  A lot of the games and My Little Ponies are going to be gifts for birthday parties.  Never can get enough of those.  I am going to head back tonight or tomorrow to get some more.  Lots of birthday parties.

Question -

So, I was just talking to one of my best friends via text. We were talking about how stressed we were and how we could get it all done. We were both almost in tears (at least I was!) Out of the blue, she text me a question and then answered the question. I have known her for 8 1/2 years and I never knew this about her! Imagine that! So - my question to you is:

What do you want to be when you grow up?

I'll be the first to answer the question.  I want to be a high school math teacher.  Sounds crazy right?  Anyway, share with me what you would like to be.  It was fun thinking about something else for just a minute!  And, if you have a few spare minutes - (which I don't) check this out!!