This Is My Blog - Featured Blogger

Whenever I check the stats on the blog I am always amazed at how many people in so many different countries read the stories of our family. I am amazed at how many people from all over this world want to hear this story either because they can relate to it so much or because they can't. I feel so blessed that for whatever reason, people want to share in our journey.

When I look at these stats the country that views our story the second-most is Canada. When C was in Kandahar he worked with Canadians every week. For a brief period they lived at the same facility.

When this Canadian Army Wife emailed me I was SO excited to get to 'know' her. First off, she's hilarious. Second off, she's real. Probably two of my favorite things in a blogger. I asked her to email details about herself so that I could feature her and she made me laugh while I read them. I want to share a few of them and then I want you to hop over to her blog and visit her "about me" page which introduces her far better than I ever could.

Here is what she told me:

I am a Canadian military wife. (Yup, we totally have an Army here.  True Story.) 

We’ll call my soldier DH.

We’ve been married 10 years.

We’ve got 3 kids, I call them Freckles, Drama and Monster.

I planned to have a career, I really did.  But for now I’m a mom.  Which is much harder than the career I planned.

DH has recently decided he is a career soldier.  I could have told you that years ago, but it’s nice that he knows that now too.

So my Canadian readers, THANK YOU for reading and for sharing in our story. If there are other wonderful Canadian bloggers out there please leave your blog url in the comments and hop on over and enjoy This Is My Blog!

Featured Blogger - The Adventures of a Bee and a Dragonfly

I am so excited to introduce this Different Perspectives blogger! I found her through A Creed and a Psalm and I am so glad I did. She and her husband are new to the Air Force life, to marriage, and to blogging. They entered into this special life together and I can't wait to read how they settle in. When I asked her to be a featured blogger I told her that she must show that she has a determination to thrive in this life to which she replied, "No Problem!" Gotta love it. Head on over to The Adventures of a Bee and a Dragonfly , welcome her and show her PLENTY of comment love. Welcome, Dragonfly! So happy to have you. : )

Featured Blogger - A Creed and a Psalm

I have said before and I will say again that one of the greatest blessings from this blog has been connecting with other military spouses. It has been amazing to hear stories from seasoned spouses who "remember when," mothers who have found a place to better connect and, especially, new spouses who are just beginning this journey. It has been more of a blessing than I can say. So often, you guys email and it's like looking in the mirror. So often stories are similar and struggles and victories are the same. We live a very unique life - but so much of it between us overlaps. There is a comfort in that - to know that so many others feel or have felt or will feel the same way.

AB emailed me her blog and I was amazed by her story and her outlook. She has a kind heart and grace about it that is allowing her to ease into this new life. I wish I had had the same strength of mind and heart  as she does when I began this journey. It took time for me. I invite you to hop on over to her blog A Creed and a Psalm and become re-energized by her unwavering determination to thrive. Thank you, AB, for sharing with us. 

Featured Blogger - Douglass Diaries

You all know that C is home and that we are experiencing a different part of the cycle. I know that so many of you are just starting out on deployments - or are in the thick of it - and when you are in that it is very comforting to read someone else's journey as they go through it at the same time. 

Brandi didn't choose the Army life when she chose her husband. They entered into this life when their youngest had just turned one. Eleven years later they are still walking the path. : ) Please check out her blog Douglass Diaries and encourage her and be encouraged. She is blunt and she doesn't hold back. Gotta love that in an Army Wife. Thanks for sharing, Brandi! 

The Nitty Gritty - A Guest Post by Amanda

Amanda sent this to me some time ago but I have just been so busy I haven't gotten it up. It can be hard to stand a few months into a deployment - or even at the halfway point - and not think "We have so much left." Thats when you buckle down, have a good cry, and keep moving forward. Amanda does a great job of putting into words how that time can feel. Read her guest post and then jump on over to her blog Manda's Musings and show her some comment love. : ) Thanks, Amanda!

I knew this time was coming, I just didn’t know it would be so soon.

It’s the middle-of-deployment slump.  I’ve been here before; it happens every time.  It’s just more encouraging when it comes later on.  It’s when you realize how long it’s been since you’ve seen your spouse, but you realize how long it is until you’ll see them again.  It’s when you realize you are used to an empty bed, and you instantly hate that you’re used to it.  It’s when you realize you have completely established your own routine, without a partner, and you know how much longer that routine has to last.

It’s when you ask yourself why you’re doing it at all.

Deployments are a lot like races: The beginning is when you are motivated, you are positive, and you are just ready to get going and kick this deployment in the butt.  The end is when you are excited, rejuvenated, and you are determined to “finish strong”.  But in the middle it just all wears on you.  The burden seems so heavy.  The end is nowhere in sight.  The initial push of support has started to wear off, though you know if you just had the courage to reach out for help someone would be there in an instant.  But wasn’t it easier when they were always there – without asking, without being told, and maybe without you wanting them anyway? 

“stay busy”

“be positive”

“countdown”

“exercise”

I know all the “tips and tricks”.  And they do help, they really do.  But the middle needs something more.  The middle needs a renewed sense of value for the purpose.  I am doing this because my marriage is worth it.  I am doing this because the man I’m waiting for is more incredible than any other man I could have, even if I’d have the other man all the time.  I’m doing this because it’s so small in comparison to what he is sacrificing.  I’m doing this because we are in it together – for better or for worse.  And I wouldn’t know how great “better” is if I didn’t have a small taste of “worse” to compare it to.

So here’s to the middle.  The nitty gritty.  The part of the race when we find out who is in it to win it and who doesn’t have what it takes.  I know I do, I just have to bite through the pain and do it.

Featured Blogger - America Dreams

PCS.

Oh, we've all been there. Again and again and ... again.

Meet Natalie. She is currently preparing for her second official PCS (spanning 2100 miles) and will be undergoing a partial dity. For those of you who don't think you can handle a DITY (or PPM, now, I think) we've done both a full DITY and a partial. You CAN do it if you are prepared. Follow along while her and her husband undergo the process and take notes. Welcome, Natalie, and good luck!

http://americadreams.blogspot.com/2011/07/home.html