Torn in Half

We all know it but it comes down to actually saying it out loud for me. Being separated SUCKS!!!! My husband and I are on a volunteer "deployment." Before anyone gets any thoughts that my husband is state side and happily studying his butt off to do better in the Marines, it is me who is on a volunteer deployment.

At the end of May my wonderful brave sister in law (SIL) was put on restricted bed rest at a hospital in Atlanta while pregnant with my newest nephew. I was asked to come home and help take care of my 5 year old nephew and 3 year old niece. I flew into ATL airport at the end of May. I have been in Georgia since (minus a few days for the Independence Day).

Now I am three days from going back to my life in California and time cannot go fast enough. It also is a glimpse into what my future will hold. I believe that I have been able to handle our separation better then some could. Given I have had a 3 year old and 5 year old to keep my mind of things and a wonder family that supports Christopher and I every step of the way. But I believe that this feeling of emptiness will be this same whether is am on a "deployment" or he is. Are we meant to always meant to feel half empty.

Half my heart will always be separated from me. I  have given my husband a part of my heart and he will always have it, but our family has the other half. I always feel like I am torn in pieces. I am never with my whole heart at once. Does anyone else have this issue?

A Wife full of Pride

I wear no uniform, no deserts, no greens but I am in the US Marines, for in the ranks rarely seen. I have no rank upon my shoulders. Salutes I do not give. I'm not the one who fires the weapon, who puts my life on the line. My husband makes the sacrifice, but so do I. I stand among the silent ranks known as the USMC wife. I pack, I move, I follow. Why? What for? How come? You may think I have lost my mind. But actually, I've lost her heart. It was stolen from my by a Marine. A man who puts duty first, who longs to deploy, who salutes the flag & whose boots in the doorway remind me that as long as he is my Marine Husband, I will remain his USMC Wife and I love my life. Ooh Rah.

Lord,

Give me the greatness of the heart to see, the difference between duty and his love for me.

Give me understanding so that I may know, when duty calls he must go.

Give me a task to do each day, to fill the time while he is away.

When he is in a foreign land, keep him safe in ur loving hands.

When duty is in the field, please protect him and be his shield.

When Deployment is long, please stay with me n keep me strong.

Amen

Marine Tribute, Things that make me Proud

My Husband makes me so proud and I am so glad we have become a part of our family the USMC. Anytime I see anything Marine related I swell up with pride. I don't know if my husband knows how proud I am for him but I want the world to know that my Husband is a proud United States Marine and it is the life he was meant to lead. We have made great friend that we will keep forever and I look forward to always being a part of this small but strong family. We are the Few, the Proud, the Marines. Ooh Rah!!!!

Water Colors

You once painted a beautiful picture of colors

I only dream of seeing in my lifetime.

You make it possible for me to enjoy the colors

Seeing my world in a whole new light.

Sometimes when I am sad I take out my painting

Allowing the colors to wash over me.

Its warmth covers me with a blanket of comfort.

I think my picture you paint is made of water colors.

Every time it starts to rain down on my picture the colors begin to wash away.

The beautiful blues, yellows, reds, violets, and greens all run together.

Making a horrible mess of black, gray, and brown.

Why do the colors of my painting fade?

Why is that you can always bring my colors back?

The beautiful picture that we share is always so bright for you.

Have you ever seen the colors fade?

Do you know what happens if it rains on the picture?

I love my picture you painted for me.

And I proudly to wear my colors every day.

But just sometimes I feel the pain of the painting, the beauty that can never truly be.

My painting is perfect and I love that you are the one that paints for me.

But how do I know that it will last forever?

How can I believe that you will always be here to help paint me more beautiful pictures?

I love our painting because you are the one to give me the imagery.

You are the one to holds me tight when my painting starts to fade.

You are the one to always repaint my picture when I lose my sight.

You are the one

Do you know that?

Did you know that you are the one that keeps me alive?

You are the one that, I hope and pray will never leave my side.

I love you for loving me

And I am proud to be in your beautiful picture with you.

Water colors may wash away.

But I have you to always repaint.

Not Fat, Just Happily Married

I will be the first one to admit that I have gained a significant amount of weight since my wedding last September (over 30 pounds). I am not going to say that I am proud of that but I am not surprised by it either. I read somewhere (Cosmo I think) that the average woman will gain up to 30 pounds in their first year of marriage. A lot of factors goes into to this but that would could turn into a whole different Blog. My contributing factors are simple Birth-control, eating the same portions as my husband, slight depression, and limited activity.

I guess the reason I am writing today is because I have realized this has to stop the weight gain before I become unhealthy. So here is the start to my personal weight loss challenge. My plan is to loose the 30+ pounds I have gained and hopefully some extra. And then continue to maintain a healthy weight after that. I am going to aim for 5 pounds every two weeks.

I have no idea how I am going to start this but I am going to and that is all I can do. I believe that a good beginning would be to eat healthy and take baby steps working out. This walking challenge I also found in a Magazine will be a good first baby step to being healthy...

THE WALKING CHALLENGE

Week One

Monday, Wednesday, Friday: Walk 3 miles in 60 minutes.
Tuesday, Thursday: Walk 10 minutes before each meal.

Week Two

Monday, Wednesday, Friday: Walk 2 miles and do a climbing session

Tuesday, Thursday: Walk 4 miles and try to finish in 60 minutes or less

Week Three

Monday, Wednesday, Friday: Walk 3 miles in 45 minutes and add a climbing session

Tuesday, Thursday: Walk 15 minutes in the morning and before dinner, trying to cover a mile each time.

Week Four

Monday, Wednesday, Friday: Walk 4 miles and a climbing session.

Tuesday, Thursday: Walk 2 miles in under 30 minutes.

Climbing Sessions: Outdoor stairs or hills in neighborhood. Work them into walk. After ever 5 to 20 minutes go up and down once. Try for 4 flights of stairs or 4 hills spread out throughout the walk. Stairs at home: hit the stairs at home at the end of your walk. Take them 2 at a time and then come down slowly. Repeat 4 times. No Stairs or hills nearby: Using a curb, step up and down, for about 10 minutes. Lead with your right foot for 5 minutes and then your left for another 5.

Weekend Walks: When the workout plans get sidetracked, just reschedule. Do your Tuesday walk on Saturday and your Friday walk on Sunday. As long as you fit in 5 workouts in a 7-day period, you'll be on your way to a healthy BMI. And those weeks when you stick to the Monday through Friday schedule, push yourself a little more and go for a really long walk or hike. (1 to 2 hours) on Saturday or Sunday. Then give yourself a well-deserved pat on your ever-shrinking backside.

The Marine Wife Pact

I am a Marine Wife. In other words, I have gone through Parris Island basic training. I have attempted and completed the Long-Distance Learning sector of Marine Corps boot camp, graduating from Recruit Wife, right along with my Devil Dog in his own platoon. I am proud to have earned the title of United States Marine Wife. Along with my Leatherneck, I have suffered, been broke down, and been rebuilt and designed as an entirely new person. I have unleashed a new patriotism to my country and my Corps.

Yes, I belong to the Corps because I am committed to my Marine, and he is committed to the Corps. There are no ifs, ands, or buts about it. The Corps is his life and I am his spirit. I have learned the hard way, as he has learned also. Wherever the USMC takes him, I will follow, whether it is in presence or in thought.

I will learn as much as possible about the Corps, because this is my duty. And I am always on Active Duty. I will always remain true to the Marine Corps Wife's Core Values, because just as my Marine is always presented under the image of the United States Marine Corps, so I am an example to all Marine wives everywhere.

I will always remain faithful: to my Marine, my sisterhood of Marine wives, my Corps, and my country. And when my Marine is called for duty, so I will be also. I will support him at all times and at all costs, support my MC family, and will always remain loyal to the privilege of being the wife of one of "The Few, The Proud."

I am a USMC ambassador; for while my Marine retains peace and order in faraway lands, I will keep watch over our home land, and always remain honorable, courageous, and committed. I am a United States Marine Wife!

A Wet Knot Cannot Be Untied

Its hard to believe that I have been married almost a year, September 26th is really not that far away. But our last year has not been like the first year of a civilian couple. My life was turned upside down even before I said "I do." Planning a perfect, beautiful wedding in less than four months was not ideal for either of our families But thankful we were able to get it done. Another flaw was that my husband to be at the time was only around for a month of the planning.

The week of the wedding Georgia decide that it wanted to give us a years worth of rain. I have always been told that rain is good luck for a wedding but this was pushing it. My dream wedding was to be outside at sunset with all my friends and family there with us dancing the night away under the stars. The prep work for the wedding was crazy trying to get everything done in all that rain. We couldn't do it done it without the help of our wonderful families and friends. They all pulled together and made sure that I got whatever my heart desired for my special day. But the wedding went off with out a hitch, for the most part. The day of the wedding it rain and it rain. I was starting to worry that we might have to make different arrangements for the ceremony, Lucky the rain stopped right before we started the procession. The evening was perfect and I even got to enjoy some unexpected fireworks during our first kiss. I am so happy that I have the family and the husband that I do and I wouldn't survive without any of them.

I am not sure why I am thinking about all this now. Maybe it is because we are separated or something else. But for now this is all I have.

In the Beginning

Well I would be lying if I say being married to a Marine is easy. My first year (not even a full year yet) has had its ups and down like any normal married couple trying to adjust to living together. I guess ours has been crazy with a rushed wedding, moving across the country, and trying to get on our feet together and separated. I guess I should start at the beginning.

My husband and I where married September 26, 2009 but we really started our relationship the previous April when my best friend at the time left for boot camp at Parris Island. Creating our everlasting love through letters allowed us to form a bond that very few understand. We became engaged through letters and so began our story.

We are now happily married and living in California, while my husband continues his education for the Marine Corps. More to come later but I hope this will help me get started. Let me know if anyone has any suggestions.