tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-84849571689501959362024-02-18T21:56:56.213-06:00To Love a SoldierTo Love a Soldier...http://www.blogger.com/profile/03672150426036117704noreply@blogger.comBlogger273125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8484957168950195936.post-86893743227134912762016-10-04T07:10:00.000-05:002016-10-04T07:10:26.929-05:00Joy
I think there are moments, simple moments, that happen during grief that bring you to something vastly deeper. Moments that seem insignificant in their timing, or perhaps so significant that we almost try to ignore them.
To scar is to heal, to heal is to scar. Medically I have this thing that happens internally and occasionally externally when my body experiences trauma. My scar tissue To Love a Soldier...http://www.blogger.com/profile/03672150426036117704noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8484957168950195936.post-83017202159513298462016-04-26T20:07:00.001-05:002016-04-26T20:07:22.112-05:00Gift of Hope
My birthday was yesterday.
I have never been one for birthdays.
I love to celebrate others but for me, I never make a big hoopla. I don't dislike them, don't hold any negative stress over them, I just don't focus on my own very much.
One year I even forgot it until it was mentioned to me.
I am fortunate to have so many good friends who "gently" nudge me to To Love a Soldier...http://www.blogger.com/profile/03672150426036117704noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8484957168950195936.post-88738071411064112662016-03-24T21:00:00.000-05:002016-03-24T21:00:19.466-05:00Survive
He ran over to me at the picnic table with a dandelion in his hand. Hilariously, it was the second grade boys picking them up and making wishes at lunchtime while they yelled to each other, "You can't tell anyone your wish or it won't come true!" Logan closed his eyes and blew the tiny wisps of white into the wind. "Mom, I want to tell you my wish."
I nodded and he leaned in to whisper it To Love a Soldier...http://www.blogger.com/profile/03672150426036117704noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8484957168950195936.post-246660849033454212015-12-09T09:37:00.000-06:002015-12-09T18:49:35.277-06:00No Harbor for Hate
I went to an all-girl, Catholic high school. September 11th of my junior year our world changed. I walked into school late that morning and as I walked through the eerily quiet hallway I stopped just outside one of the physics labs to view the TV. The building was silent except for the low humming of the news coverage.
The next day of school, again walking the same halls, I paused To Love a Soldier...http://www.blogger.com/profile/03672150426036117704noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8484957168950195936.post-83395894131951395272015-12-03T21:21:00.000-06:002015-12-04T07:00:06.308-06:00For My Dad
A major event for my family took place earlier this week and I missed it.
My head has been spinning and life has been too much and I simply, and horribly, forgot.
On Monday, my dad retired after 34 years with the same company.
I look a lot like my father. I have his hair color, his nose-shape, his face.
I have his poor eye-sight and not-so-awesome skin.
We To Love a Soldier...http://www.blogger.com/profile/03672150426036117704noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8484957168950195936.post-29434670449882723782015-10-14T20:43:00.000-05:002015-10-14T20:43:04.720-05:00They Will Say They Knew You WhenFor L ...
I wish I could make the hurt go away, buddy. I know how lonely you feel. Thank you for sharing that with me. Thank you for feeling that you can come to me and talk with me about it. Thank you for letting me into your mind and your heart and your beautifully and wonderfully made self.
I'm sorry that it's so hard right now. I'm sorry that it's hard for some people to understand. I'm To Love a Soldier...http://www.blogger.com/profile/03672150426036117704noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8484957168950195936.post-36717559300457138952015-10-06T20:18:00.004-05:002015-10-06T20:18:53.764-05:00Dear National Guard Spouse (The Homefront United)
Dear National Guard Spouse,
I see you.
I see that you are just like me. That you fight back the same tears, straighten the same shoulders, and force that same last, little smile when you watch him walk away not knowing if that is the last time.
I see you hold those same little hands and hold those same tiny bodies when they cannot understand why “daddy has to leave.” I see that you fight for To Love a Soldier...http://www.blogger.com/profile/03672150426036117704noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8484957168950195936.post-25334946046140540412015-09-15T21:13:00.003-05:002015-09-15T22:01:17.366-05:00Little HeartsI watched as he bent down and kissed the little cheek of his baby girl one last time - she looked right at five or six months. I watched as his wife clung to that precious, little girl and kissed that same cheek as he walked away.Her eyes found mine and I tried to offer a gentle smile. "My youngest was the same age the last time we said 'See you soon.'""Yeah?" she answered, beginning to blot awayTo Love a Soldier...http://www.blogger.com/profile/03672150426036117704noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8484957168950195936.post-55565627370666261952015-09-11T07:00:00.000-05:002015-09-11T07:00:04.198-05:00Never Forget
Some days there just aren't any words.I will never forget.
To Love a Soldier...http://www.blogger.com/profile/03672150426036117704noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8484957168950195936.post-61717799581206753582015-08-26T05:51:00.000-05:002015-08-26T12:58:43.547-05:00Dear Kindergarten Teacher ... From a Special Needs MomDear Kindergarten Teacher,
Tomorrow I will hold the hand of my littlest little and walk him to you. I am not the mom to cry on this day. I am very much the high-five, fist-pump, "go take on the world" mom on the first day of school (if that's a thing). I didn't tear up when my biggest kiddo walked into another kindergarten classroom in another state not too long ago. It was an exciting day for To Love a Soldier...http://www.blogger.com/profile/03672150426036117704noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8484957168950195936.post-79444308752100056092015-08-20T09:01:00.004-05:002015-08-20T09:03:34.851-05:00A Soldier's Promise (Repost)A Soldier's Promise ...
I cannot promise you every night of my life. I cannot promise to be beside you for every difficult moment, every trial, every hardship. In truth, I can promise you that I will not be with you for most. I will leave you at inconvenient times. I may miss the births of our children. Any special date to us may be tainted with the anniversary of the death of one of To Love a Soldier...http://www.blogger.com/profile/03672150426036117704noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8484957168950195936.post-63911930682287735482015-08-20T09:01:00.002-05:002015-08-20T09:02:23.527-05:00An Army Wife's Promise (Repost)An Army Wife's promise ...
I cannot promise that I will not become frustrated when you leave me and the world seems to fall apart around me. I cannot promise that I will not curse those who sent you when the dryer breaks, and the transmission needs to be replaced, and the dog eats the couch all in the same week - most likely the week after you deploy. I cannot promise that the sand and mud that To Love a Soldier...http://www.blogger.com/profile/03672150426036117704noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8484957168950195936.post-59354975268821878412015-08-12T09:16:00.000-05:002015-08-12T09:16:14.781-05:00Dread
"Does everyone understand this deployment can be extended to 12 months?"I slowly moved my head to watch the faces. I've read the orders and I know they say up to a longer date than the timeline we are going with. I didn't see surprise but I did see deep breaths being taken. It's a possibility but it's always a possibility.It didn't hit me until two days ago. It's so different this time around. To Love a Soldier...http://www.blogger.com/profile/03672150426036117704noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8484957168950195936.post-71251887547658997522015-07-29T09:39:00.000-05:002015-07-29T09:39:06.263-05:00Nothing to Fear
Sometime in the next week or two, very specific forms are going to be pulled out. I've seen them before. I know them well. But every time they leave, we must process them all again.Sometime in the next week or two, my husband will review his will. He will check back at names and details, remake decisions, decide again who would carry him home if the unthinkable became real.Details none of us&To Love a Soldier...http://www.blogger.com/profile/03672150426036117704noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8484957168950195936.post-56858311128989978742015-07-23T12:48:00.003-05:002015-07-23T12:55:07.545-05:00The House We Chose
"Which room does the crib go in?"
It caught me off guard. I knew somewhere in that truck was a very large wardrobe box with the baby swing I had just purchased after waiting for the "all clear" from my doctor. The LSU romper I had been carrying around for years just hoping. I knew in that box were the few things that were left, what friends had given me because we had so little still. Over the To Love a Soldier...http://www.blogger.com/profile/03672150426036117704noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8484957168950195936.post-64047620682336632732015-07-20T12:40:00.003-05:002015-07-20T12:41:09.660-05:00Speak Their Names
I've been at a loss for words for the attack on the protectors of this nation. I wanted our President to stand up and be strong for a nation. I wanted to see our nation fight for our troops for just once. I wanted to see our nation mourn. I wanted lives to STOP. I want a moment of silence. I want a televised address during prime time. I want a statement. I want a speech. I want condemnation. I To Love a Soldier...http://www.blogger.com/profile/03672150426036117704noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8484957168950195936.post-56990457336690497642015-05-30T15:53:00.000-05:002015-05-30T22:36:48.404-05:00Daisy
Your brother named you "Daisy".
When we told him that we lost you ... when we told him, he asked if we could name you. Through quiet tears we said he could choose.
He asked if you were a boy or a girl and we asked him what his heart told him.
His heart told him you were a girl and after thinking on it for many hours, he came to me and told me he wanted to name you "Daisy".
Daisy is a To Love a Soldier...http://www.blogger.com/profile/03672150426036117704noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8484957168950195936.post-48971914153062766112015-03-30T23:01:00.000-05:002015-03-31T10:23:32.755-05:00Logan the (Bigger) Little Giant
I think I knew before I knew about Eli. Even when Dr. T told
me she wanted to evaluate our little giant, I knew.
So when the same doctor who leaned forward to give me the diagnosis for Eli, leaned forward again while Logan sat waiting beside me, the tears were few. I knew it for Logan. I didn't know it for Eli.
We weren’t going to tell you. We weren’t going to put it out there.
To Love a Soldier...http://www.blogger.com/profile/03672150426036117704noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8484957168950195936.post-30370958332416298012015-01-02T18:59:00.002-06:002015-01-02T21:59:59.284-06:00Where the War is Over
The husbands of two of our friends deployed to those places where the war is over last week. The day after Christmas, they walked out their doors with their duffles and rucks, and boarded separate airplanes to land in separate countries.
The day after Christmas.
To two counties that we are no longer at war in.
I heard "a military at peace" uttered by someone a few days ago.
A military at To Love a Soldier...http://www.blogger.com/profile/03672150426036117704noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8484957168950195936.post-69826567830067974282014-09-02T21:29:00.002-05:002014-09-03T08:51:39.209-05:00Not Ready to Miss It
I spent Wednesday of last week touring another Autism center with Eli. I think it is a good fit for him. Where he is currently is amazing. I love the staff. What they have done for our little giant ... I don't have the words for my gratitude. There is no form of repayment. Nothing I can do to give them what they have given our family. But it's time for a change. Something calmer, something our To Love a Soldier...http://www.blogger.com/profile/03672150426036117704noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8484957168950195936.post-63318417505454842812014-04-24T09:15:00.000-05:002017-06-07T17:23:57.004-05:00To the Senior Spouse ... I See You.
I see you.
I see that you are trying. I see the burden you carry, the responsibility you didn't ask for. I see it.
I see that you go to sleep most nights running through what you said wrong, what you did wrong, what intention didn't come across the right way. You are right more than you are wrong, your intention is always good. You may think people don't see that but I do.
I see that when To Love a Soldier...http://www.blogger.com/profile/03672150426036117704noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8484957168950195936.post-30546266050922411582014-04-11T13:01:00.003-05:002014-04-11T13:01:46.255-05:00It's Been A While
Knock. Knock.
Anyone there?
It's been a while.
A really, really long while. I'm sorry about that.
It's been quite a year for us. Quite a year. I had to step away. Our family had to step away. I think I'm finally ready to come back. Slowly I will share it all with you.
Let me break it down in simplest form and then we can go from there. Within a three month period (February - April To Love a Soldier...http://www.blogger.com/profile/03672150426036117704noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8484957168950195936.post-81024209201201912232014-04-11T13:00:00.002-05:002014-04-11T13:00:59.563-05:00Eli the Little Giant
All I wanted to do was get out of the store. I just wanted to leave. But for whatever reason my cashier was the slowest cashier, taking extra care to be sure everything was placed in the bag a certain way, very methodical, very precise.
Looking back on it now, the behavior seems familiar.
He wasn't remotely phased that my barely-three-year-old was screaming at the top of his lungsTo Love a Soldier...http://www.blogger.com/profile/03672150426036117704noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8484957168950195936.post-75638121183474688252014-01-21T15:12:00.001-06:002014-01-21T20:52:31.500-06:00What Military Spouses Know
Several weeks ago I watched my husband take a knee before a new widow and present her with a folded flag on behalf of the President of the United States, the United States Army, and a grateful nation.
The words are simple and heart-felt and somber. The act is heart-wrenching and humbling.
That memory gives me chills.
It will never leave me.
............................................To Love a Soldier...http://www.blogger.com/profile/03672150426036117704noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8484957168950195936.post-5781237332146388082013-12-03T14:50:00.001-06:002013-12-07T22:01:23.536-06:00To Do Without - Closing our Commissaries
(Photo courtesy of google images)
Nothing about this will be "popular opinion".
In fact, this time last year I would have been on the "popular opinion" side of things. Not so much today. Maybe because my family (personally) as a military family is in a different place than it was a year ago. We as a military community are in a different place than we were a year ago. Our force is To Love a Soldier...http://www.blogger.com/profile/03672150426036117704noreply@blogger.com6