Blood may be thick but waters run deep

We've all heard the saying. Blood is thicker than water. But why exactly are we supposed to follow it? I have had some very nasty words for family members. More so than I have had for friends. I have had friends who have stood tall at my side during heart wrenching times when family has turned away. As an Army wife I have created bonds that many will never understand. When you go through the tough times a military wife can it's bound to happen. The "family" I created for myself does not have a single drop of blood in common. My best friend, who really should be called my sister, has been by my side for nearly 23 years. Through every stupid, sad, happy moment of my life. Besides my parents I can't say that about blood relatives. Friends know the real me. Family know who I was when I was 6. They dont make you who you are. YOU make you who you are. The adventures you take. The people you gather in your heart along the way. Not the people you are told you have to respect and love because they are so and so son. When my son passed away my friends were the one to watch my other children. He had more friends at his memorial then family. They were too busy to be there. Yes, actual words. I can not and will accept people who do drugs, drink way too much, and have a lack of heart for others to be my or my childrens legacy. The water that runs around me is filled with people who hold their heads high even when the chips are down. People who want to teach their children morals and manners. They have an understanding that life is not always fair but you make of it what you can. I love them for who they are because they love me for who I am. Now I can't forget the people who made me this way. Namely my Mother. Oh trust me I've done wrong in my life and I have never turned my back on someone just based on the fact they have. We all make mistakes. It's the constant lack of compassion that did it for me. But my Mom taught me to be strong and stand up for who I am and what I believe in. I am proud to be her daughter and live with the morals I have due to her. My temper may also be a reflection but it makes me stronger in my ways. Thank you to those who are my "family". You are a hodge podge of nuts, peace, fury, and laughter. Beautiful in your own way and graceful through lifes ups and downs. You help form my world and I am lucky to have you :)

Explaining the world

There is a rule in my house. The boys can watch TV while eating breakfast but it must be the news. So yesterday morning they learned of Osama Bin Ladens death. With tears rolling down my face (from remembering the pain he caused the USA) I explained to them 9/11 and the sickness that is bin Laden and the people who choose to follow his beliefs. Neither of them were born yet and I, just the same as every American, remember where I was and what I was doing at that moment. My husband who was, and still is, in the Army was the first thought in my mind and heart. My kids have never known the world without the hatred of bin Laden. Although I try not to rejoice that he was killed, I am pleased that the head of the snake was chopped off. All over facebook I am seeing people talk about how sick it is we find pleasure in the murder of this man. I can only justify their reaction by believing they don't have a loved one who has deployed. Or worse yet died because of him. My husband has spent years away from his children due to him and his followers actions. We've watched him say goodbye not knowing if he was coming home. It's painful and strikes a fear in your heart that can not be explained. By no means is the war over. And wont be for some time to come. Another man full of hate for America will take over. Another man will die at a military mans hand. And we once again will rejoice. I do not chastise you for your belief that an eye for an eye is no way to live. So do not bad mouth my husband and his fellow members of the Armed Forces for protecting you! These men and women are homegrown heroes. And you should be honored they care about you without knowing who you are.

Babies: past and present

Sorry for the LONG break. Sometimes we need them. Especially someone as opinionated as I. But lets move on from that and catch you up :) Today marks a somber day for my family. 5 years ago our youngest son passed away from complications of a heart defect. He was 1 month old and the light and joy we needed. Even in his passing he gives us strength to go through every day with our heads held high. Dont get me wrong the pain was, is, and will continue to be unbearable at times. But I would rather suffer this pain then have a single person I care about have a moment of it. I am okay with this cross to bear for that reason. Today also marks a joyous moment. I am 18 weeks pregnant. This baby has given us a MAJOR scare already. And with the hopes it's a girl the drama only seems fitting. Life always keeps us on our toes. Our children even more so. They drive me up a wall, but they are the reason I stay grounded. My oldest and his personality that can only be compared to mine and his love of Lego building. Oh, how his mind works! The current youngest at home and his life is grand thought process. Constant laughs with that one. Our son who passed and his strength and will to fight. We all could learn lesson from his gentle soul. Then there is our soon to be next. May he/she find happiness in this crazy world. I know they will only bring more to mine :)

Back to drivers ed. you go!

Grr! That's the reaction I feel every morning as I take my boys to school. They oddly go to different schools even though they are both in elementary school and they sit maybe 2 blocks apart. Most parents face the same "fun" drive as I do day after day. Dropping off the older then commuting to the youngest. Here is where the annoyance sets in! I understand that no one wants to get into an accident. But when the speed limit is 15 and the car is nearly a half a block away I think it'll be okay if you pull out. Oh and please turn on your blinker to let the rest of us who feel comfortable driving know where you're going so we can avoid you if at all possible. Also I understand that both the stop and yield sign have the same colors but listen carefully...THEY DON'T MEAN THE SAME THING! If there is no traffic you can legally cross the lane. Shocking isn't it?! Finally! We make it to school and the lovely drop off zone. Those of us who arrive early pull into the loop to wait for the bell. More could fit IF people would stop leaving just enough room to tease anyone who drives something bigger than a Vespa. Yes, you maroon Dodge Ram driver with the FL plates and Green Bay plate frame. BACK THE HELL UP YOU EFFING IDIOT!! That would be what I scream at him every single morning as I back up into his grill. Yes, it feels good and immature all at once :) And you lady who blocks the entire turn around area because you thing your little precious deserves front door service. KNOCK IT OFF! You're ignorant and more sadly more so...rude. Now if they would just listen :/

Killing myself to save the world

So I'm not really dying, nor am I saving the world. But I am doing the Relay For Life. A 24 hour event to help raise money and awareness for cancer research, survivors, and education. I have found that the treadmill is my new best friend and an enemy all wrapped into one cold metal sweat producing machine. Why am I working so hard for this cause? One I have family and friends who have lost loved ones due to this horrifying disease. But more importantly I myself have lost a child. Cancer was not the cause in his passing but I pray that one day I wont have to look another mother in the face and understand her pain. I will walk miles, hours, days if need be to help make this possible. Please find your local chapter and do what you can. Every dollar counts. Every step is one towards a cure. For more information visit: http://www.relayforlife.org/relay/

Victoria, I'm telling your secret

I would like to announce that NEVER do I think it's needed to wear sweats and or pajama bottoms in public. Is it truly that hard to choose jeans over the alternative? You hear me WalMart people! Now on the other hand there are a few moments where it is acceptable. Running kids to school, when not getting out of the car. To and from your workout, please stop flaunting your tight buns to me. And when flying. This is becoming more and more a must with it's see where you do and do not shave x-ray machines. My husband was not only patted down but put threw the machine a few times due to what they said "was his multiple zippers". Nice to know those could be assumed as weapons of mass destruction. A 7 and a half hour flight, not counting drive time to and from the airports, with a husband who would no doubt complain more then the kids required sweats! Only a day before our flight I stopped in Victoria's Secret to purchase a pair. I know this was a bad idea because no one should have to see "pink" stretched to that size across my back side but little did I know that would be the least of my worries. At some point during the flight I began to notice my hands turning blue. Slight panic, check vitals, seems fine, cross legs WHAT IS THAT?! My white Nikes had turned blue too! Pull up pant leg...OH MY GOD! I had turned the shade of denim! Oh!!! that's what that tag I ripped off them at 4am had said "wash before wearing...color will wear off" When finally able to take a shower at 11pm I had scrubbed my legs twice with a puff to no avail. Grabbed the WHITE wash cloth to only dye it in the process. It took approximately 3 more showers to return to my god given color. So your secret dear Victoria...you're trying to make the world more colorful...one set of legs at a time!

Trippin'

Over the holiday break we visited "the happiest place on Earth" aka DisneyWorld. Can you hear the sarcasm yet? It took about 1 hour to be over the giddiness of the childhood dream to be annoyed by my fellow tourist. Don't get me totally wrong. We had a fantastic time. My children laughed and smiled bigger than I had seen in years. The glow of the Electric Parade on their faces will be forever engraved in my mind. Cinderella's castle was far more magical in person than you can imagine and Minnie's float at the Animal Kindgom parade actually smells of chocolate! I only wish that as we walked through "Africa" I wasn't treated as a fish fighting an upstream battle. The lines were painful at times with it's wait. But the staff did it's best to always keep it moving along and sometimes telling us to pass the photo takers because it's their fault we are moving slow. I liked those workers! We tried the fast track pass but after the 3rd day learned they only sell so many a day leaving you out in the cold long lines like the rest. Speaking of the 3rd day. By then I was stopping every ragged mom to find out just where exactly she got that drink in her hand. And everytime they looked at me with the same look of despair and gave me such detailed directions the military would be proud. I danced in the streets to the Cupids Shuffle just to embrass my boys. I whirled the teacup at a blurring rate. I even narrowly escaped death by dinosaur. Yeah, I really did visit the happiest place on Earth. :)