Americas Favorite Mom Is . . .

I was so excited when this was announced!  She is an incredible woman who cares so deeply about not only our active duty members, but the families left behind.  She is an inspiration to us all. She is the creator/founder of www.soldiersangels.org, which happens to be one of Wendy’s and my favorite charities! 

Picture and article from www.nbc.com

Patti Patton-Bader - Military Mom

My Mother Patti-Patton Bader
“May No Soldier Go Unloved” When I went to Iraq in 2003 my mom started sending me care packages everyday. When I told her some deployed soldiers weren’t receiving anything and I was sharing my packages with them she started Soldiers Angels (www.soldiersangels.org) now the nations largest all volunteer military support organization that has adopted over 200,000 Soldiers, Sailors, Marines, and Airmen. My mom has hepatitis C and fibrosis of the liver and is in pain most waking hours and does all of this from her bed. She works as a mom for all the military and their families from the time she arises early in the morning until the time she falls asleep from exhaustion.

Happy Military Spouse Day!!!

I hope everyone has a great day! 

 

     And to the wife that feels overwhelmed, to the wife that missed the phone call, to the wife that feels alone, and to the wife that cried today . . .you are never alone, and always in someones thoughts and prayers.  Thank you for everything you do and your strength.  You do not go unnoticed.

Know that you make a difference, however big or small it seems. 

Have a wonderful day!

Mother’s Day - Don’t Forget

If you haven’t ordered your mom flowers…..something….anything…..you still have time.

Consider this your friendly reminder.

Happy Mil-Spouse Day

Just a quick note to wish every mil-spouse a wonderful day tomorrow, “Military Spouse Appreciation Day”! Lots of bases around the US and Im sure overseas will celebrate with different events and possibly offer discounts. Check with your MWR/ ITT office or FFSC or ACS…etc. for open houses.

Not that we look for recognition or the limelight; however, it is wonderful to be acknowledged for sacrifices we make in our personal lives to support our spouses and to give back to the military families we know directly.

Your sacrifices do not go unnoticed.

Enjoy your day!

For Immediate Release
May 6, 2008

President Bush Commemorates Military Spouse Day
South Lawn

9:55 A.M. EDT

……It’s not an easy life being in the military, particularly when we’re at war, and I understand that. For many of you it means packing up your belongings and moving on short notice. I suspect a lot of you have been on the move much more than you thought you’d be on the move. (Laughter.) For others it means living in a foreign land, which can be exciting, but it also means you’re far away from your extended family, and that’s hard. And for many of you, it means missing a spouse as he or she serves on the front lines in this battle to secure our country and to spread freedom for the sake of peace.

The cameras are turned to President George W. Bush as he sits with Ellen Patton, left, and Colleen Saffron, two of the six recipients of the President’s Volunteer Service Award, during Military Spouse Day ceremonies Tuesday, May 6, 2008, on the South Lawn of the White House. White House photo by Joyce N. Boghosian Being left behind when a loved one goes to war has got to be one of the hardest jobs in the United States military. Talked to a lot of folks who have been in the theater, as well as spouses, and it is clear to me the harder job in many ways is to be the person at home taking care of the kids and having sleepless nights as you pray for safe return.

You’re carrying out the burdens — you’re serving our country. And it’s noble service. And it’s necessary service. And the United States [of] America owes you a huge debt of gratitude. And so, on behalf of our people, thank you for what you’re doing. (Applause.) the full story

Sick and Tired of being…. Sick and Tired

First I would like to apologize for being absent and non-existent on this board. It’s been an uphill trek the past few months.

For the past year my daughter has been 22lbs… really no give or take. She is now almost 2 1/2 years old, and since she was 1 year 2 months she has been the same weight. So naturally we’ve been concerned. We went to the base clinic at-least once a month about her weight and the only answer we got was that she was just petite (her eating habits were very odd, she would only take a few bites of food each meal). This concerned me, but when she got sick and was put on Amoxicillin and had an allergic reaction…. a severe allergic reaction and the base clinic brushed us off and gave her Benadryl, and we ended up in the ER two times. I said enough was enough and decided to switch to a civilian doctor.

Where are you from?

First I should say that if I havent been around as much in the past few days and continue to be slightly absent in the coming week its got a little something to do with my husband being on leave.  It kinda snuck up on us and we didn’t have much planned so we decided since we were already off to go visit both our respective families.  Fun I know!

How many people have gotten lost on the way to visit their parents?  I’m not talking about missing your exit on the interstate or anything, I’m talking no clue how to get to their house. This happened to us a couple of years back on the way to my inlaws. And to clarify… I was not the one driving. 

I was thinking about this when a friend asked where flyboy was from.  My standard response to this question seems accurate enough, “oh all over I suppose”.  My dear husband was himself a military brat, his father was also a career Marine Corps aviator.  (and just so you know he HATES that term “military brat” with a passion) But really where is he from?

We met in high school because it was close to his dad’s last duty station.  Now that his parents have moved back to where they are from it almost seems like flyboy doesn’t really have a place to go “home” too.  If you ask him where home is he says where we are stationed now.  If you can believe it he’s lived there longest then anywhere else in his life, that and to him, home is where our family is. Very romantic I know.  I’m the exact opposite in some ways.  Home is of course where we live now, after all we are starting our own family and our own traditions, but I also have a home where I grew up.  I spent such a large chunk of my life in one place and only one place.  When I go home to visit my family I am coming home to where I feel familiar and comfortable.  Things have changed over time but the feeling is still there. It’s odd to me that my husband doesn’t have that same comfortable feeling.  He doesn’t seem to mind so much, just like for me with where I am from, growing up that was all he knew.  And he seems relatively well adjusted.  Relatively being the key word….

All I hope is that this time we dont get lost trying to find his parents house! 

Great News!!

My last post I wrote about a little boy named Dillon that really needed our prayers! Well, today he went for his scan and it came back CANCER FREE!! I was so happy to hear about the good news!

You can read about it on his Mother’s blog. Just thought I would give everyone an update. I am just so happy for their family! What a day of rejoicing for them!!

The USS Florida departs on first deployment

Ariticle and picture from www.kingsbayperiscope.com

 

USS Florida (SSGN 72 departs Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay April 26 for its first operational deployment after undergoing conversion from a ballistic missile capable submarine (SSBN) to a guided missile submarine (SSGN). The normal patrol for an SSBN is about three months. As an SSGN, Florida will be deployed for approximately twelve months. Florida departed with her blue crew, led by Capt. William Traub. The blue crew will rotate duties every three months with the gold crew, led by Capt. John Litherland, during the deployment. The use of two crews allows Florida to have a greater forward presence and the conversion from ballistic missiles to guided missiles allows for greater payload capacity and mission flexibility. Photo by MC2(AW/SW) Kimberly Clifford

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The USS North Carolina is commissioned

Photo from navytimes.com

Click here for the story

She doesn’t look like Hannah Montana . . .

Before

Ok, She got it!

Ummm. . . "After"

My little girl turned 6 last week.  She is IN LOVE with Hanna Montana.  She sings her songs, she quotes the TV show, and asks for everything under the sun that has to do with Hanna Montana.  If there was stock to buy in “Hannah Montana” my husband would have invested thousands and we would be set for retirement.  Makayla or “Kay” as we call her wanted one thing in particular this year.  She wanted to “be” Hannah Montana.   How do you do this, you might be thinking?  Well, you can get clothes that look like Hannah Montana and of course the jewelry and guitar, but the most important part of who Hanna Montana is, is the blond wig that she wears.  For those of you who are not familiar with the story line of the Show.  Let me fill you in.  Hannah Montana is really a sweet brunette girl named Miliey Cyrus( Yes, Billy Ray Cyrus’s daughter).  She  puts on this blond wig so that no one will recognize her and goes by the name Hannah Montana when preforming.  It’s a cute show and it’s every little girls dream to be normal preteen by day and a superstar by night.  So, what does my little brunette want!?  The wig.  I look all over and find it.  It was the “favorite present” until my husband saw her with it on. . .He seems to think she looks like a . . .well,  he doesn’t think she looks like his sweet little girl and doesn’t want her strutting through the store with it on and wearing her plastic high heel play shoes.  I have to admit that it does look a little strange.  Especially if you see her and don’t know who Hanna Montana is.  Her is a before and after for all of you to see what the fuss is about!  I think it is cute and will let her wear it to dress up, but I don’t know if she will be walking through the grocery store in it.