Joining Forces... for Kae, S, T Hamm, Kim and Katelyn!

I've got a core group of girl crushes (not the least of which is my sist) in my life who are married to the military. With the bro-in-law departing again soon, I have been thinking a lot about the toll deployments, and the military lifestyle in general, take on military spouses. And it seems my thought process coincided well with Michelle Obama's this week via the launching of the Joining Forces campaign.

Katie and Justin in Guam

Justin is stationed in Guam now... GUAM, people! That means my sister is in Guam as well. Do you even know where Guam is? No, you probably don't, because it's a dot in the Pacific Ocean. It takes her at least 24 hours of travel to get to me. Katie is, of course, there by choice. She married the military- this is the life they lead. And yet, we take for granted the things these military wives have to give up. For Katie it meant putting her career on hold, leaving friends and family and her horse, and trying to build a life in a location that is completely military focused. It has meant spending his deployments alone on Guam, an island 7 miles wide. For my friend Kim, it has meant a lot of months of pregnancy and raising two small boys (1 and 3) with their daddy away.It was up to her to raise the boys with no breaks and keep the home in order. In a few months her family is relocating to Puerto Rico (I am blocking this out) and she is about to make the ultimate mom sacrifice for that move- buying a minivan. Katelyn moved to Germany at 7 months pregnant and had her first baby in Germany. She and her husband are raising Sophia with no family around to help. T Hamm spent the first 9 months of her marriage away from her new hubbie then left her life-long home for the other side of the country. S has at least a week a month where she is alone with a 4 month old and a 2 year old, both of which are often sick. Her back went out during her pregnancy and she had to deal with that solo as well. And she has also put on hold her own (much loved) career and dreams.

None of these women are complaining. All went into this life with their eyes open. And it's a beautiful, rewarding life is so many ways. But I think it's important to take the time to remember the additional daily struggles these women take on while their husbands protect all of us. We could all take the time to give a little and lighten their load now and then in thanks for their sacrifices, as well as their husbands'.

Aury, Shannon, Escher and Chip in Boston

Katelyn, Dan and Sophia in Germany (As an aside- Katelyn and I were separated at birth and the universe is petrified to but us back together.)

Grant, Trey, Grayson and Kim at Grayson's first b-day

John and T Hamm at their wedding

The next time you see a man or woman in uniform, think about stopping to thank their spouse! The better halves of military service members deserve a lot of credit as well.

Yes I'm Am!

Nathan says, "Yes I'm am," all the time. As in, "Yes I'm am a robot, Auntie." Or, "Yes, I'm AM your nephew!!" I think it's just so damn cute.

I decided I'm make a Yes I'm Am list today.

Yes I'm Am...

An Auntie! This seems like a logical place to start seeing as I stole the topic of this post from the 3 year old nephew. And I can prove this by my membership at SavvyAuntie.com!

A dog spoiler. I can't help it- look at that face! I was scolding myself for my lack of will power against Van's pleas last night. I almost always lose. And Katie has already submitted a list of no-nos for when I keep June Bug (It may be my fault she sleeps on furniture...)

A wine drinker! If you're reading this blog, I doubt I need to explain this.

An LSU Football fan! I'm also of the crazy, over the top variety.

A horseback rider! I grew up doing it and have not done much since I lost my horse a few years ago. But I want to get back into it. And I live in the land of the cowboys now, so surely this can't be too hard.

A pirate... three hundred years too late...

If you missed the Jimmy Buffet reference here you are fired from reading my blog. Also, I'm not really a pirate. I am just playing one in this picture because AC is a pirate.

A fisherwoman. I freaking love fishing! And I will kick your ass any day.

A sister! There's no better job.

A Mama's girl

Still a child. I sleep with my rabbit every night.

Also a major Daddy's girl!

Refer back to dog spoiler...

A reader! I always have a book with me. If there's no book in my bag, it's probably not me.

A new resident of The Woodlands, Texas and loving it!

A lover of all things margarita!

A massive T Swift fan

And a Jennifer Nettles (but no so much Rhianna) stalker.

Quite possibly certifiable insane. At the very least completely crazy!

OK, that was fun! what "am" you??

I Hate Bugs

My nephew always tells me, "Auntie, we don't say hate!" when I say that I hate things. And you know, he's right. Hate is a very overused word. (Of course, his mother taught him this phrase when he informed her that he hated her after watching Mad Madam Mim on The Sword in the Stone. He has no idea what the word actually means.) But let me just tell you- I really, truly do hate stomach bugs!!

I spent the entirety of Friday evening after about 9:30pm and all of Saturday morning on the floor of my bathroom crying and writhing in pain. It was horrid. Saturday I felt like crap and slept all day due to the lost sleep on Friday night/Saturday morning. Sunday I recovered. I will spare you the details, but it was awful. Luckily for you, hedgehog antics combined with lying prone on the floor combines for a nice story. Thus, the weekend was not a total loss... at least not for you.

I was unaware that hedgehogs hid things. Then again, I was unaware of most things about hedgehogs when I adopted Little Brown Noser. A few times when I get up to use the bathroom at night (she is currently roaming freely in the apartment. I can't find her a large enough cage that I can afford and feel too guilty keeping her in the Tupperware container. That's another story entirely) I hear her fiddling with things in the apartment, and now and then I'll find my work bag drug across the apartment. But I never really thought much of it. I heard they like to get in bags, so I figured that's all it was.

Well, Saturday morning when I was lying flat on the floor (in my living room this time, trying to at least watch some TV) I noticed a bright pink bag under my TV. I made a mental note, but didn't move because movement wasn't an option at the time. Sunday, I finally got around to getting the bag out. It was a birthday gift I bought at the rodeo a month ago for a friend. I thought I'd lost it. I looked everywhere in the apartment and my car. I spent about 3 days looking. Finally, I figured I must have left it on the bench at the rodeo while consuming a baked potato the size of my head. Turns out, Little Brown Noser actually stole it and hid it away somewhere. But here's the clincher- I moved the TV cabinet and cleaned under it last weekend. So it wasn't there then. It also wasn't under the sofa because I cleaned there. And I moved the coffee table. And I looked for the bag under my bed weeks ago. That covers all the furniture where she could have hidden it. So I have no idea where this pink bag has been for a month, but it's here now. And thankfully in time to mail the gift. Ironic twist: the gift is for her former father. So she either got over her ill will at being adopted out or was holding it for his birthday.

That, my dears, was the highlight of my weekend. Anyone know hedgehogs were hoarders?

And don't tell Nathan, but I truly do hate stomach bugs!

Treasures: a Rambling

Yesterday, Chris Hodges at Church of the Highlands tweeted Luke 12:34; Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.

I haven't been able to get it out of my mind since. I do a lot of reading (as you might have noticed) and the authors I love most are the Christian authors that are able to see that sometimes there is more to a Bible verse that its initial meaning. Donald Miller and Phillip Yancey are great at this, FYI. When I read this yesterday, my mind didn't go where you would think. It immediately jumped to Niki... then AC and S... then Lorelei, Nate, Escher and Aury...and my family... and so on.

Jesus certainly meant, in this verse, that your treasures are in Heaven and so the desire of your heart should also be Heaven. There's no disputing this. But there are often multiple, or additional, meanings in Bible verses and stories. And I'm wondering if there isn't one here. (Interlude to the rambling: Can I tell you how much I want to use the Grinch's line here and say, "Maybe (Christmas) the Bible verse, she though, means a little bit more...")

We aren't talking about your pirate ship treasures, here (Sorry, AC). We're talking about the real deal- what really matters. These are the treasures that make your world go around, your life worthwhile, your days bearable. Are our treasures not only in Heaven waiting for us, but from Heaven and with us now? Are the people God surrounds us with part of our inheritance? I think it may be so. We can't take our belongings with us when we leave this earth. King George puts it pretty well when he says (cheesy country music alert), "I've never seen a hearse with a luggage rack." But you're friends, your friendship... that's not physical. It's spiritual and emotional. There are some physical manifestations- a hug, fun gifts, a note in the mail. But really, that friend, your sister, my Mama- they are emotional ties. And those get to go to Heaven!

So take some time to spray paint your best friends in gold, dip your mom in bronze, bedazzle your dad with diamonds (mine would probably actually go for this), and cover your sister with rubies. Because they are your treasures and where the desires of your heart are.

And I'm thinking, they're a little taste of the treasures we'll get in Heaven!

Better Late Than Never

I'm late with Lorelei's B-day pics! Bad, I know. But my camera battery died and I kept forgetting to charge it. Oops!

Last Saturday, Niki had Lorelei's 1st Birthday Party! And you know- the kiddos eating that first cake is just the best.

Oooh, cake and fire!

This cupcake is nice... but can I have all of them?

Happy girl with her cake face

Big bro digs in too (really, are their faces not the cutest??)

cake fingers!!

We all had a blast. And after 15 or so adults and their children (10 total) I took a 2 hour nap!

Since I didn't have a blog when Aury was one- here are pics from her first birthday (she's almost 3 now, but whatever!)

Yep- we gave her chocolate.

She used her toes as well as her fingers. And I'm pretty sure we ruined the hotel towel!

I feel like Aury was worse- but maybe it's because we didn't have her in a chair and we gave her chocolate. She certainly got her entire body involved, though!

And can we talk about her hair for a sec- did she not look like a 20s-era babe with that cutie do?

I ADORE my nephews and nieces. Can you tell? Is it odd to be so obsessed with other people's children?

ACMAs - songs and fashion

I had every intention of posting about my weekend today, but time ran away without me. So a quickie post before I head out to enjoy this beautiful evening.

I watched the ACMA (Academy of Country Music Awards) last night because I love me some country. There were some rocking performances! Def check out Rhiana with Jennifer Nettles of Sugarland. So cool AND- James Taylor with the Zac Brown Band was really beautiful.

Carrie Underwood also sang with Steven Tyler. He sounded better singing her song than she did. Not that I don't love me some Carrie. I do. But sometimes her clothing??? Weird. And I just feel like she has an odd personality at times. Like the time I read her talking about eating and she said she ate normally- she usually had a power bar for lunch. Umm... NOT normal! But over all I think she's pretty cool and incredibly hot. But this outfit was just odd. Although I have done pink hair- so I can't comment there.

The Osmonds are just weird, OK?

Martina will always, always be a hottie. I adore her. She was my First concert!

I want to BE Jennifer Nettles. If reincarnation is real, I want to come back as Jennifer Nettles. I am obsessed with these purple pants!

Is it possible not to love this precious gem of a thing? Love me some T Swift.

First of all, this is a ridiculous pic of Kicks Brooks (or is he the Dunn?). Second, he sounds exactly the same in his new "solo" career seeing as his former singing partner only ever sang backup.

In general, I am not a fan of leather pants. But if you've had 3 kids and can wear them on stage... well, you go Sarah Evans!

One more Sugarland/J Nettles shot because I really am obsessed.

Texas Bluebonnets

Niki and I took the kids to see the Bluebonnets last night. It was incredibly beautiful, and a great afternoon! Sunny, 70 degrees, my kids, my Roommate, Van Geaux. I even brought Little Brown Noser, but she totally hated it. Note to self: she is an indoor hedgehog!

I had the hardest time choosing photos! I literally just has 60+ printed at CVS. But here's a few collages.

How amazing is my sweet Vannie G?

I don't even know what to do with how cute Niki and her kids are!!

The entire afternoon truly gave new meaning to God, "clothing the fields of grass." Wow! Post photo shoot, Nate played on the playground and Lorelei and I played in the grass. Van did this:

Can you believe my dog? I don't know one of those kids! They were riding by on bikes, stopped, dumped the bikes, and ran over to cuddle Van. This happens to her everywhere we go. Seriously. She's a ham! 

Hope your Thursday was as amazing as mine!