Tis The Season

Daniels Company During Basic- Hooah!Daniel during Basic Training on one of his last weeks!

Daniel getting ready to go into the gas chamber...he looks thrilled right?

This Christmas will be drastically different than my last. It is amazing to see how life changes in 1 year. This time last year I was getting ready to welcome Daniel back from Basic Training. Now we are in the first few weeks of our first deployment...like I said...crazy!

I am doing my best to enjoy this holiday season. I can't be a total grinch...My soul can never deny the happiness I find at Church on Christmas Eve or seeing my grandparents every Christmas day for the past 21 years, or driving to Gaddys to see the Christmas lights. That is what my Christmas is, not the presents...not the hysteria that surrounds it. It is the people, and the love they give.

Once again, every day I am amazed at the extended love I recieve from people since this deployment has begun. You are all amazing. You are the reason I am not a total grinch for Christmas. I know Daniel wouldn't want me to not enjoy Christmas either. Like other wives have told me...it is only another day, it to shall pass.

So in my mind the season for Christmas officially begins DECEMBER 1ST! haha So tomorrow I will really get into the swing of things.

But I hope everyone has a VERY Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! I hope they are both filled with blessings and good times.

argh.

Tonight is one of those nights that are just a debbie downer for me. I've held myself together pretty well in the past 2 weeks...but for some reason tonight is just getting to me. I am already tired of going to bed alone and waking up alone. I am tired of trying to force myself to be happy and enjoy all the Christmas excitment when I could care less.

It is helping being home this first month of deployment...I am not getting any time to really think about how much I miss him. But I am waiting for it to hit me like a ton of bricks...

I've always heard these first deployments are the worst, they will either make or break you. I can now fully understand why they are the hardest...because I have no bloody idea what the hell is going on or what to expect. I like to know. This whole Army life hasn't left much in my control and I will admit I am still not a huge fan of that.

I have never wanted to rush a year of life before...I just want this next year to be over with like a week ago. But I keep telling myself you aren't the only woman that has gone through this and you won't be the last and I am not doing it alone...I have all of the other wives of Daniels unit going through the exact same thing. I applaud all of them, the ones that have kids...I don't exactly know how I would handle having to explain to kids why Daddy won't be there. Hats off to you ladies...you are my heroes.

It's funny how life stands so still for you but outside of your bubble keeps magically going...your world seems to have come to a complete hault and before you know it days...weeks...and months have gone by.

All in all...I have been very lucky and will be very lucky during this deployment. I have got a support system that is like no other. From Texas to Georgia I know I have someone that is supporting my husband and I during this year. It is humbling to know that.

1st Care Package(s)

Well...first week means first care packages are completed and on their way to the sand box. It hasn't really set in yet. It seems like yesterday we just moved to Fort Hood. Now we are thousands of miles apart. It is surreal. Luckily our internet connection is far better than we expected. Also...much cheaper than I expected.

My emotions are in check for now...i've told many people that I kind of scared myself how well I did after he left. I get sad and down when I realize he isn't coming home after 5:00 or when the dogs jump up when they hear a car door slam thinking Dad is home. That stuff does break my heart. But what can you do? You put on your big girl panties and you move on.

A year is a long time but then I think about where I was a year ago...and it kind of shocks me. It has gone so fast. But then again I wasn't counting the days.

So the prayers will be appreciated and the love and support has been amazing. I've had people come out of the wood work to give me their support. It is inspiring. It makes me have hope for the human race when people become so compassionate. I thought some people would become very distant, but they haven't.

It is only the beginning but I have things planned and to look forward to. That keeps me motivated. My husband is my biggest motivation. I miss him but he is safe. THAT is what is most important to me, his safety.

I have the best family and friends in the world. I have been blessed beyond belief. Thank you Thank you Thank you.

Happy Veterans Day!

Thank you to all Veterans but especially to my favorites my grandfather and husband! You both are my heroes!

Why should you use coupons?

Lately there has been a huge hype surrounding extreme couponing. I am not into that. I am in the couponing thing to save a buck in my household. So here is my spill on the whole thing!

Coupons=Free Money!

So why wouldn't you use them? Ever wanted to have a tree that grows money...well instead your newspapers does that in the place of coupons, every Sunday morning too!

Now the trick to using coupons is not to use them just because you have them...wait for a sale on something or if you ACTUALLY need the item. My husband has this issue in the grocery store with junk food, he thinks just because we have a coupon we can buy a $10 bag of chips ( hang with me here). Not happening.

Now the whole issue with stock piles, I think it is brilliant. Kind of... Well it would be brilliant for me, but since it will only be me and the 2 mutts for a whole year, stock piling isn't going to work for me right now. But I do have an endless amount of shampoo for the next year...and toilet paper. I may stock pile on dog stuff...it goes quick here and if theres a deal I am going for it.

ANYWAYS I have probably saved over $200 since I have started couponing. Some may think well...that isn't that much. BUT it is. Because you have to think, they don't rarely EVER give coupons on fresh meat or vegetables, that bites a lot out on a grocery store trip.

But there are ways for you to do it and not dedicate ALL of your time!

1. How many times do you check facebook a day? While you are checking facebook check couponing websites, something is always bound to be new and something you need. It takes 5 mintues...seriously.

2. How many husbands OR wives read the Sunday paper or how many of our parents/grandparents get a Sunday paper? Ask them to save the coupon inserts for you! Every Sunday their is new coupons waiting for you, it becomes like a treasure hunt. I am a nerd, do not judge me. ( I now have my parents and grandparents in on it, so I should be hitting the jackpot on my arrival back to Georgia, woot woot!)

3. LOOK FOR DEALS! I track on facebook all kinds of different couponing websites and blogs. They do the hard work for you and when they post the good deal, happy shopping! They even do store to store matches for different coupons...it is intense stuff and more than I can explain in one blog post.

4. If you are super super super lazy...There are websites that you can buy all of the inserts from, since you are this lazy I will let you find those on your own...I don't use them because I don't have a need for them. Hehe!

**Here is some of the websites/blogs/and other things I use!**

On FACEBOOK:

Coupon Divas- LOVE THIS ONE! She also has a website. Google people.

SmartCouponing

Coupon Queen

WEBSITES

http://www.coupons.com/

http://www.smartsource.com/

http://www.redplum.com/

http://www.couponnetwork.com/

REWARDS

Anyone that knows me knows that I drink a TON of Coca Cola Products...more than I should yeah yeah...shut up. BUT for all those that do this as well. USE-----

MyCokeRewards

*You can get free stuff just by entering the code under the cap!* I have over 200 something points!* I am saving mine up, but you can donate them to the USO and support our troops, HOOAH!

PRODUCT WEBSITES

ALWAYS check out the websites of the products you use! Sign up and get emails! They send stuff to me all the time and I have gotten numerous freebies that include AMAZING coupons.

As ive said, this doesn't consume my life...but I enjoy it! I also save a buck everytime I go out. It allows me to enjoy other things that I don't always have a coupon for!

My Passion

When I was in high school and even in middle school I was always asked "What are you good at?" I never really had a great answer for that. I always just bs'd them with a great smile. (Har Har)

But as time goes on and time started to move a lot faster...funny how it does that, I think I have found it. The one thing that makes me smile on a daily basis...is my love for any breathing animal. I have always had a passion for them but never did know if that was my "thing". I am sure I annoy the hell out of all of my friends when I sometimes pay more attention to their pets and not them (please take no offense).

But their is something so effortless about loving an animal, probably because they never stop showing you love even on the worst of your days. You can't say that for most people...

I am excited to pursue this whole animal thing at risk of looking like the crazy dog or cat lady. But hey it is my passion. You can't deny it right?

So pursueing my veterinary technician degree is coming along...slowly but surely...medical math never played into my passion, hmph. Anyone want to be a math tutor for a lovely Army Wife? Please...

Besides that, I know starting in January I am going to foster or volunteer as much time as possible. The shelters around here use cold weather fosters for those nights it is just to cold for the pups to sleep in their cages. Would you want to sleep on cold concrete when its 30 degrees outside? Didn't think so. For all of those who have an opinion...NO I am not going to adopt another animal. But what is so wrong in helping when I have time?

(Also for anyone thinking of fostering, you can count that on your taxes :) Just saying! )

I love my dogs and they are great to me...except when they chewed my favorite vera bradley...I may have threatened to put one of my dogs on craigslist... I won't name names (QUINN)!

They do a lot for me...mostly provide me with a lot of happiness, and I feel as if I should give back for what they have done for me. And for all of my past pets that have done nothing but been my fury shoulders to cry on during some of my darkest times and been a reason for immesne happiness during the good times.

So you can say I found my passion...

“Don’t ask yourself what the world needs, ask yourself what makes you come alive. And then go and do that. Because what the world needs is people who are alive.” – Howard Thurman

Civi vs. Military

I was asked on one of these Army Wives facebook pages "What is the thing that annoys you the most about fellow civilian wives?" I could go and name probably 1o major things right off my head...but I won't be that mean to you lovely civilian wives.

I think the thing that boils my blood the most is when civilian wives miss their husbands and act as if their world is going to end if he is gone for a couple days, 1 week, or even 2 weeks. I am sure you miss him a ton, but really?

Now I am in no way saying us military wives are better wives than others. BUT I wish that some people could spend a month or even a year in our shoes when some of us don't get to lay eyes on our husbands for months or years at a time.

So next time you miss your spouse...think of a military spouse. Is your husband/wife being gone for a couple days on a business trip in any comparision to a military spouse being gone for a year fighting for your freedom?