For Dads

I don’t think many guys read my blog.  In fact, I’d be surprised if any other man than The Man and an elder from church (Hi T!) stop by on a regular basis.  But I have something I’d like to share with the guys, especially those of you who are dads to daughters.  Wives, if you agree with this, please share it with your husbands.  I belive the message is important.

I read this article that a friend posted on Facebook and it made me cry.  Here’s the article.  Take a minute and go read it.  I’ll wait….

It made me cry because my dad did the things that the author talks about.  After 32 years, with my dad gone for 4 months, I still believe and know the things he often told me.  I know he loved me.  I know he was proud of me.  I know that I’m still his little girl.  And I know that I’m beautiful.  How do I know these things?  My daddy told them to me.  He told them to me often. 

When I got to the hospital and met his doctors for the first time, they told me, “Your dad had talked about you! You lived in Asia for awhile.  How did you like that?  And you’re now living in WA, right?  How do you like the West Coast?”  Even as my daddy lay dying, he was still talking about how proud of me he was.  And they didn’t know these thing because he just told them, they had heard over and over again about me.  At doctor visits, at other hospital visits…he loved to talk about my mom and I.  At the wake, I had people come up to me that I had no idea who they were and they knew about things I had done.  They knew because my daddy talked about me.  He loved me and was proud of me.

What a gift this had been.  There were times growing up that I had heard it so often that I would just say “Yes, dad, I know.  I love you too!” and not think too much about it.  But now, after he’s gone I treasure those words.  I know that they are true, without a doubt.  I can hear him saying them to me in my head…and I’m thankful for that.  So thankful.

I married a man like my daddy. And while my dad could drive me crazy like no one else, He was a good man, a godly man. I married a good man, a godly. A man who loves me, takes care of me, who tells me when I’m wrong, who wants me to grow, who makes me laugh, who drives me crazy and a man who I’m thankful will by munchkin’s daddy. 

So dads, don’t underestimate your influence in your daughter’s life.  Tell your daughter that you love her.  Tell her that you’re proud of her.  Tell her that you think she’s beautiful.  Even when she rolls her eyes, tell her again.  It will sink it.  She hears it.  I promise.

 

*I know nothing about the church or the blog where this article is from.  I don’t know if agree with their beliefs or not.  I am not promoting their church, blog or beliefs and they don’t know I wrote this post.  This article touched me and I wanted to share.

Improv

Food hasn’t been sounding very good to me for a few months now.  Thankfully it has started sounding better.  Not good but better.  Duty days are the worst cause I only have to worry about myself and I’ve started to forget to eat.  Until I get nauseous and realize it’s been hours since I last ate.

Anyway, I was thinking about what I could easily make while The Man was at work.  I realized that we had lettuce, tomatoes and bacon.  Everything I needed for BLT’s…score! The Man doesn’t like raw tomatoes so I can only have them when he’s not around.  I was excited until I realized that we have no bread.  I was feeling lazy and not wanting to go out to buy any.  What’s a girl to do?

Improvise, that’s what!  So I took the lettuce, laid each leaf out and put a slice to tomato on it.  I topped it with a piece of bacon and wrapped the lettuce around it.  I secured it with a toothpick.  They were delicious!  The only way they would have been better is if they had had a dab of mayo on them.  We were out of that too.  Boo….I’ll add it to the grocery list!   

In case you wanted a visual of the deliciousness in all it’s glory:

Step 1: Layering the tomato on the lettuce

Step 2: Adding a slice of bacon

Step 3: All wrapped up waiting to be devoured

What do you do when you want something to eat and you’re missing an ingredient?

15 Weeks

I’ve always wanted to be a women who enjoyed pregnancy.  I always expected that I would be.  Imagine my surprise when I realized that I wasn’t enjoying it.  I don’t know if it was the nausea, the frequent trips to the bathroom, the heartburn, the cramping, the constipation, the aversion to food (all food, not just certain things) or the exhaustion.  And don’t forget the waking up in the middle of the night and not being able to fall back asleep.  All of that equals not fun.  The end result will be worth it but when you’re in the middle of it, the end seems so far away.  I guess an upside was the weight loss and the fact that I’m able to fit into pre pre pregnancy jeans.  Well, I was…they are tight again.  The size up is still too big and when I wear them I end up pulling up my pants every ten minutes.  So I’ve switched to maternity pants and they are much more comfortable. 

I’m hoping the second trimester brings a relief to the symptoms like I’m told it will!  Most of them are getting better but food is still not sounding good.  At least I can cook now.  I’d be perfectly happy to not eat except that I know that I and munchkin need me too.  I’ve been living on cereal, grapefruit, orange juice, Carnation Instant Breakfast and chocolate cake. 

Ok, so enough complaining about the yucky parts.  There have been some good parts, like the first ultrasound.  It was amazing to see munchkin.  It was equally amazing to hear the heartbeat.  The Man thinks it sounds like a diesel engine.  It was beating so fast and it’s just incredible.  It’s mindboggling to think that there’s this little person growing  inside me.  There are times when I can’t wrap my mind around it.  It’s so incredible.

I have a little bit of a bump.  A teeny tiny one.  You can only see it when I’m not wearing clothes and since this isn’t the kind of blog, you don’t get to see it yet.  I bug The Man every night by asking him if it’s any bigger.  He does a good job humoring me.  I also have a few stretch marks that showed up around 10 weeks.  I noticed the other day a few more have shown up. Joy…but worth it!

I’ve struggled a bit with the timing of munchkin.  I know that this is God’s timing.  We conceived about one month after dad went home.  I can’t help but think that daddy will never met his grandchild.  I’ve shed quite a few tears over it as I work through my grief.  In talking about it one thought has come up that has no theological basis whatsoever but it brings me comfort anyway.  I like to think that dad got to heaven and met munchkin and told him/her to take care of me and mom before they got sent on down.  Kinda like they tag teamed it.  Like I said, no theological basis at all but it’s working for me so I’m running with it.  Really though, it’s nice to have something to be excited and happy about, to have something else to think about.

For my mommy bloggy friends:

What was/is your favorite part of pregnancy?

Great Snow Day

I think that there are a few things that are necessary to have a great snow day.  They are:

~Not having to go to work.  Extra points if you find out before your alarm goes off and you can go back to bed

~Sleeping in and cuddling

~Puppies to play in the snow 

~Hot cocoa/tea/coffee

~Video games to play

~Comfort food in the crockpot

~A husband to shovel the driveway (I offered to help but he said I didn’t need too.  I like to think it’s cause of munchkin but really, we only have one shovel)

~Warm clothes, boots and gloves

~A good book to read and a warm quilt to curl up under

~Gorgeousness outside your window to enjoy while your husband is shoveling the snow 

 

What you need to have a great snow day?

World of White

There was silence as I was waking up this morning.  A glorious silence that only means one thing.  It was confirmed by the light.  The muted brightness that’s visible before you open your eyes.  As I slowly opened my eyes I could see the snow, the glorious snow.  Even as an adult, there’s a little leap of joy in my heart.  Especially since I didn’t have to go anywhere.  As a kid I would have jumped out of bed and begged to go outside right away.  As as adult, I turned over and snuggled closer to my husband and drifted off back to sleep.  The joys of snow as an adult….more sleep!

 

Quiz Time

So, everybody's doing it, so I decided to do it too.  The Milspouse quiz that it (get your mind out of the gutter!)  Seriously, this thing is like wildfire on Milspouse blogs so just visit a few and I'm sure you'll run into it again (if you haven't already.)  Don't worry, if you all decide to jump off a bridge I won't do that...promise!

1. How did you and your spouse meet?

We met online.  You can read a little but about our first date here (it's about the 3rd or 4th paragraph down.)  It moved quickly....we met, dated and were talking about getting married in about 2 months, we were officially engaged after three months and we would have been married sooner but there was a pesky deployment that we decided to get married after.  Silly deployments!

2. How old were you when you met?

I was 28 and The Man was 27.

3. How long have you been together?

We've been together a little over 3 and a half years and we've been married a little under two and half years.

4. Where are you and your spouse originally from?

I'm from MA and The Man is from Oregon.  

5. How did you feel about him joining the military?

He had already joined when we met so I never gave it any thought.  I had never really thought about dating/marrying someone in the military.  I fell in love with the man, not his job and he just happened to be in the Navy.

6. Where did your spouse go to basic training?

The same place that all Navy guys go.  I didn't know him then so it never played much into my life.

7. Has your spouse ever been deployed?

Yes, he did a deployment before we were married.  It was 6 long months but I got to plan the wedding while he was under water.  It worked for us even with the little to no contact.

8. Ever been to his promotion ceremony?

Nope.  Maybe someday!

9. How long have you been a military wife?

I've been a military wife our entire marriage...a little under two and a half years.  

10. Did you marry him before or after he joined?

After.  See #5.

11. How did your husband propose?

I knew it was coming but I was not expecting it this night.  We went on a sunset cruise in Newport, RI.  I didn't think he would do it then cause it was too obvious.  He surprised me and it was amazing.  He got down on one knee as the sun was setting and everyone on the boat was watching us.  Everyone clapped and crew opened a bottle of champagne for us.  We got to keep the cork and they wrote the date and the name of the boat on it.  It was perfect.

12. Where did you get married?
We got married in MA at a country garden.  It was small and perfect (even if it didn't go perfectly.)  And a fun trivia fact:  we were married on a Tuesday.

13. How old were you when you got married?

I was 29 when we got married.  I was older than I thought I would be but he was well worth the wait!

14. Did he wear his uniform on your wedding day?

Yup and he looked wonderful.  I'm not a fan of enlisted dress whites so he wore his dress blues.  In August.  That man loves me a lot!  Amazingly, he didn't melt!  It wasn't that bad actually (he'll say that if you ask him, promise!)

15. Where are you and your spouse currently stationed?
We're in the beautiful PNW.  The Man grew up in Oregon and he's made me a convert.  I'd be perfectly happy to live here for the rest of our lives.

16. Do you live on base?

Nope, not anymore.  We lived on base when we were first married but then we bought a house cause we want to live here for the rest of our lives.  We had a two bedroom townhouse and it was quite nice.  I didn't enjoy the fishbowl feeling but that's just me.

17. How long were you married when you had to go through your first separation?

I'm a spoiled Navy wife.  We were married 8 months when he left for a TDY for 3 weeks.

18. What is your favorite base so far?
The PNW since we want to live here forever. (Anyone noticing a trend?!?!)  While we dated he was in Groton and while Groton isn't the prettiest I like it cause it's close to family.

19. Do you think your spouse looks good in his uniform?

Yup.  He makes the uniform look good!

20. Do you think military life is more advanced than civilian life?

I have no idea what this question means or is asking.  It's different.  It's not better or worse...just different.

21. Do you like the benefits you receive as a military spouse?

Sure.  They're nice.  But they're benefits that come with the job, just like any job.  I like the "perks" but they're extras and we're not entitled to them.  I hate it when milspouses expect the discounts and extras.

22. Do you have a lot of military wife friends?

I have friends that are military wives.  Most of them are in the bloggy world but I have several IRL ones from church.   

23. What is the hardest part of military life?

The uncertainty drives me CRAZY.  I can handle it but it's draining.  I know he hates it as much as I do.

24. Do you own military wife stuff?

I just got a Navy Wife sweatshirt for Christmas.  It's too big and I need to return it.  Other than that....nope. I used to have a I love my Sailor magnet on my car but it was stolen.

25. Do you support your spouse being in the military?
I do.  I super proud of him and the job he does.  I'll still be proud of him when he gets out and goes reserve.

I Don’t Understand

I get that there are just some things that I won’t ever understand.  I’m cool with that.  One of the more current things I just don’t get is the hatred for Tim Tebow.  I know I used the word hatred.  It’s such a strong word but that’s what I see in the media, on Facebook and Twitter.  I just don’t get it.

I get that you might dislike him as a quarterback or as a person but where is this hatred coming from?  How many of you that hate his have actually met the man and can honestly say you don’t like him?  I can’t tell you how many statuses and tweets I saw that said something along of lines of “Time for a Tebow takedown!”  Like all the Patriots were taking on Tebow all by his lonesome.

I guess I really don’t have to think all that hard about it.  I think there is so much hatred because he is living his faith.  Not only his he living his faith, he’s using actions and not just words.  He’s visual about praying.  He’s not hiding it but daring to do it out in the open.  I’ll be the first to admit that I think it’s annoying that it’s called “Tebowing” instead of praying but that’s a whole other rant.  I’m also not surprised by it.  Jesus told us that the world would hate us (his followers) because they first hated him (John 15:18).  How can you hate a guy who inspires others and gives of himself?  Check out this article….what an amazing guy!

So if you’re one of those who hate or strongly dislike Tebow, by all means, go for it.  It’s hurting no one but you.  And it makes you silly and petty.  So even though the Broncos got their butts kicked by New England, I’m hoping they have a great season next year!

National Delurking Day

Today is National Delurking Day.

So you…yes, you….the one who reads and doesn’t comment.  Can you do me a huge favor?  Can you leave a comment and let me know you’re there.  Just say hi…there’s no need to be shy!  I promise I won’t ask you to leave a comment again for a whole year.  365 days.  I promise.  With whipped cream and a cherry on top.

If you need something to comment about, how about a picture of some spoiled rotten puppy dogs?



And if you have an extra couple of minutes....would you click on the button on the left that says Top Military Blogs?  It has an American flag and militaryblogs.com on the bottom...that's the one to click.  And then can you hit the boost button on the next page?  Thanks so much!  And if you blog, you should add your blog if you haven't already!

Wordless Wednesday

The fact that all four were by the bowls playing nice is a small miracle!

Sausage Squares

I know the holidays are over but I want to share a recipe of something we made on Christmas Eve.  You can make it anytime, it's not just a holiday snack.  We just tend to eat it at Christmas because that's when I think about it.  The Man LOVES them and I really should make them other times too but I just never remember.  Oh well.  They are super easy and yummy...you won't be sorry if you try them, I promise!

Sausage Squares

Ingredients:

1 small box Velveeta

1 Sausage thingie(we buy the Jimmy Dean)

1 Pumpernickel Cocktail bread (the little loaves of sliced bread)

Dried Sage (we buy the sausage with the sage already added so it saves adding this later)

Recipe

.5.  Preheat oven to 350.

1.  In a skillet, brown the sausage and break it into crumbles.

1.5. While the sausage is browning, cut the velveeta into squares.

2.  Add the cheese to the sausage and let it melt.  Make sure to stir to get the sausage completely covered in the cheese.

*I'm sure some of you are wondering if you should use the whole block of cheese.  How much cheese you use is up to you....if you want it super cheesy, use more cheese.  So add a few and then keep adding until you read your desired cheesiness.  There's no right or wrong amount to use.  If there's any left over blocks of cheese that I didn't use, I toss them in a baggie and find another use for them.

2.5.  While the cheese is melting, spread out the cocktails breads on a cookie sheet.  I prefer to use stoneware but a metal cookie sheet is OK too!

3.  Once all the cheese is melted and mixed into the sausage, take about a teaspoon and put it on each cocktail bread.  I use a 1 tsp scoop but you can eyeball it too.  Just get the cheese and sausage on the bread!

Before baking

*It's OK to have the breads touching.  I wasn't making that many here cause it was late and I knew I wasn't going to eat very many.  I just put the leftover sausage & cheese in the fridge and we had the rest a few days later.

4.  Place the cookie sheet in the oven.  Bake for 15-20 minutes or until the cheese just turns brown.

After baking...the cheese is brown

5.  Carefully remove cookie sheet from the oven.  If you want to taste test one to make sure it's ok, it's best to do it now before anyone knows they're done.  Carefully transfers the squares to a platter/plate/serving platter.  You might want to grab a few cause they are sure to go fast!  You don't get a picture of this cause we were too busy stuffing our faces.

6.  Enjoy!

What's your favorite appetizer?

Sneaky

Joey, Molly & Allen on the bed

Before we got Joey, Molly would always sleep in our bedroom.  More often than not she would lie on the floor closest to The Man and be perfectly happy.  Occasionally she would be to sleep on the bed with us.  Once we got Joey, that changed.  Joey was used to sleeping on the bed so that's naturally what he would do.  Molly was jealous of Joey sleeping on the bed so she would too.  I mean, fair's fair, right? If one dog sleeps on the bed the other should too.  That's all fine and dandy except that in our queen size bed we also have to fit two human adults and two cats.   Granted the cats don't take up too much space but that's 6 living creatures in one bed.  In our bed.

Joey & Molly getting daddy love before getting up

After a couple of month I had had enough.  I was sleeping well and I was finding it hard to get comfortable because I couldn't stretch out cause of the pups.  Finally we had had enough! We banished the dogs to the living room and their beds for the night.  Yes, they have their own beds.  I will admit that our bed is more comfortable but those poor beds shouldn't go to waste.

The first night was rough.  Joey whined and whined.  A muzzle helped.  He actually managed to get it off but when The Man went to take it off after about 15 minutes, he found Joey laying on his bed with it next to him.  Each night got better after that one.  Occasionally Joey will come to the door and whine and we tell him to go lay down and he does.  You can hear him kinda dragging his feet hoping to be called back but so far that hasn't happened.

All 4 of them touching me while we sleep

One downside to keeping the door closed to keep the dogs out in that it can lock the cats in.  The kitties don't like that too much.  They also don't like be locked out.  They will scratch and scratch until the door in opened.  Which is fine except for when it's 3am and they wake you up to be let out.  And when they wake you up again 20 minutes later to be let back in.  So once the dogs knew they were no longer welcome in the bedroom, we started leaving the door cracked for the cats.  Yes, maybe we are bad furbaby parents for letting the cats on the bed and not the dogs but oh well.  It works for us!  Plus the kitties get the most attention at night and in the morning.  Ig's become so much more affectionate since he's been getting more attention! I love having my kitty back!

Anywho, Joey figured out when night that the door was cracked.  It was a duty night and I woke up around 2:30 to the sound of a jingle.  That jingle sounded suspiciously like Joey's dog collar.  I stretched out my legs and hit something I couldn't easily move.  I looked up and there was Joey, all curled up on the bed pretending that he wasn't there.  I got him out and closed the door (only to have to get up again to let the cats in/out).  I told The Man about it and laughed.  Well, guess what happened the next night?  If you guessed that Joey tried again you would be right!  He thinks he's being all sneaky and that we won't see him.  Fat chance.  He's like a 50 pound weight on the bed that you can't move.  And it happened the next night again! 

I will say this for Joey, he's determined!  We want to allow them back in the bedroom but not on the bed.  Molly would be fine about this but I'm no sure Joey's going to go for it.  I'll keep you posted on how it goes!

Do your furbabies sleep on the bed with you?

Missing the Past

A friend who was in Viet Nam with me shared this video on Facebook and it made me homesick for Viet Nam.  I was also realizing that in June of this year, it will have been 10 years since I moved to China.  In August it will be 9 years since I moved to Viet Nam.



 As I watched this video I saw places that I spent time. The traffic is familiar and isn't it amazing that I'm still alive?  I remember less cars but still, it's crazy.  I would pray every time I got on the back of the motor bike!  And the scene where you see a bunch of people in plastic chairs on the sidewalk?  How I miss street food!  I try not to think about it too often otherwise I get a craving for it and it takes DAYS for it to go away.  Even though we have Vietnamese restaurants here, it's not the same.  But what I wouldn't do for a bowl of Pho Bo...

Even though I miss it and am so, so, so thankful for my time there, I am happy where I am right now.  I don't wish to go back.  That was then and it helped shape me into who I am today.  I miss my friends but am thankful for things like Facebook that help us keep in touch.  I just wish it wasn't so far away and cost so much...I'd love to go for a long weekend!  I can't wait to take The Man there some day and enjoy it with him!

Is there a place from your past that you'd love to take your SO to?

What were you doing ten years ago?

Book Worm

I love to read.  I've loved to read since before I could read.  I remember watching my mom read her novels as a child and wanting to read so badly.  I used to have the books that you could read along to with a record and when it would chime you turned the page.  I would "read" them again and again and again, so eager to learn to read.  I remember learning to read in 1st grade and being so excited.  Reading became one of my favorite things to do.  When I wouldn't do my chores, my parents would take my books away until they were done...needless to say, they usually got done quickly!

I knew I read a lot but had never really tracked it.  I tracked it last year for a challenge put together by Aubrie Anne at Who's Your Editor?  I read a 114 books last year.  I'm pleased that I came in third place and that by reading more books that Aubrie Anne, she will be displaying my blog button on her blog for 2012.  Since I had so much fun in 2011, I'm going to join again in 2012.

If you'd like to join in, just head on over to WYE? (Who's Your Editor?) and let her know you'd like to participate.  All you have to do is read and keep a list of the books you've finished.  There are some other small details (like the book must be over 100 pages and you can reread a book, plus books for school count!) but she has them all listed.  The competition is fun and lighthearted and if you don't get a long list, no worries!  It just about keeping track and having fun reading!  If you do decide to participate, I'd love to know so please leave me a comment.  Thanks!

If you would like to see my list of books for 2011 and see what I've read so far in 2012, you can click the WYE? Bookmark Challenge tab up at the top under the header.

P.S.  I've also decided to try and use Good Reads more often.  So I've joined a challenge there.  I'm going to try and read 115 books this year.  We'll see what happens!  Oh..I've link my 2012 read shelf to the bottom of my page here so you can check that out to in case you're wondering what I'm reading!

2012 Reading Challenge

Poekitten has read 3 books toward her goal of 115 books.

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3 of 115 (2%)

view books

C-C-C-C-Changes

2012 is going to bring many changes, both to my life and to this blog.  With Munchkin coming, working 3 part times jobs and enjoying the last months with just The Man and I, I'm going to take a small step back from blogging.  My new goal is going to be to post three times a week.  I was trying to post 4-5 times a week...well, that was before I disappeared cause I wasn't feeling good.  Anyway, hopefully you'll be seeing stuff from me 3 times a week.  I've missed the blogging world.  I'm looking forward to being back and really commenting again.  As always, if you're really missing me you can find me on Twitter.

Also, since I'm becoming a mom, you're going to see more mom related stuff.  I know that by doing this I'll probably lose some followers.  I'll miss you but since I blog about my life, Munchkin is going to be a big part of that.  And I'll probably gain some new followers, so it will be a wash.  And never fear...I'll still be posting about other stuff too.  I mean, the furbabies are still super cute!  I mean, who wouldn't think these faces are adorable?

I hope 2012 is treating you well so far!