On Love and the Past

"Honey, you know that stores do sell toothpaste with the flip-up caps, right?" "Well, yeah," I answered, astonished how easy that solution was.  Patrick and I were just having a conversation about relationships.  I am a huge chicken when it comes to this topic.  My entire life, I've had nothing but dysfunctional relationships.  Growing up in a home infected with domestic violence, I never knew what a healthy relationship looked...

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Last Outstation Visit

I am currently at another location, far from my camp.  I brought with me a backpack stuffed with a few days' worth of clothes, meds and toiletries.  A smaller pack that held my camera and laptop sat with me on the helicopter.  We would only be at this location for a short time to fulfill one mission. The helicopter ride is always fun.  I'll never get tired of it.  I really love the part where the aircraft starts.  The...

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Prayers

Prayers are interesting.  Reading that, my Christian brothers and sisters might be thinking, “What do you mean ‘interesting?’ Prayers are incredible!”  And yes, they are incredible!  But for the new believer and for believers who forget, prayers are indeed interesting too.  Throughout the bible, you will find that when people have prayed they “cried out” to God.  And God listened.  They had a remarkable relationship...

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C H R I S T M A S!

So this year's Christmas was different.  The whole week prior to it, I have felt nothing but tired and homesick for my kids.  We were doing so many projects trying to spread Christmas cheer not only to our troops but to the local community as well that I actually found myself Tweeting something along the lines of "Christmas blows.  Can't wait for it to be over."  I was tired!  When we weren't actually doing the projects,...

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Daily Bible Reading Plan

A couple of ladies and I decided to start a bible reading group.  Wherever we were in our bible reading, we wouldn't stop our progress but we would all stick to one new reading plan so that every time we met, we would all discuss what we learned.  It's meant to add to and not replace, our growth with God.  After our first meeting, I was so excited and relieved to have someone to share my faith with!  I felt really connected...

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My Brother's Keeper

If you read Hitting Is Unacceptable, you'd already know that No Hitting is a big lesson I had to teach Caden.  He took to this lesson so well that he even corrected me after I swatted Charlie on his butt once.  Hitting is not acceptable in our house, period.  Of course, that means outside our house too.  No spanking either.  I believe there are always more effective ways to discipline and/or cope...

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Operation Santa

Not many people are familiar with my deployment location.  When I was outprocessing my base, I got many looks of confusion about what I was to bring with me.  It is not a common deployment, so I was asked lots of curious questions none of which I could answer.  I even got the “Oh you’re going on a vacation!  That’s no deployment!” But being out here is no vacation.  It’s not shaking with mortar attacks, but it sure as heck...

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Joke of the Week

So I came across an old joke I read years ago.  I swear I almost piss myself everytime I read it.  So I thought since we're in the spirit of giving that it would be wise to share it with you.  Heads up, it's a long one-- but it's SO worth it.  I promise.Texas Chili ContestFor those of you who have lived in Texas, you know how true this is. They actually have a chili cook-off about the time Halloween comes around. It takes up a major portion of a parking lot at the San Antonio city park. The notes are from an inexperienced chili...

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Shopping for the Troops

Recently, I got a chance to do a big shopping trip for the troops that are deployed in my location.  Of course, we couldn't get individual gifts for everyone so we had the idea of putting together care packages for different offices and outstations.  The gifts I bought were basic quality of life stuff like hygiene items and snacks.  Simple things, I know, but we deployed folk are simple people with simple desires.  Shopping...

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Boots Off!

Sometimes in the middle of our deployments, we are allowed a few days off.  It helps troops refresh themselves mentally, physically and emotionally.  It's an essential priviledge that is intended to help our people maintain their sanity so that they can maintain focus on the mission.  It is an awesome treat! So I recently got to go on my little vacation.  I went back home to see my mom, sister, and other relatives I haven't seen...

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The Gizmo Project

Being away from my kids is really hard.  For all of us, not just for me.  Although they're very well taken care of and absolutely loving their aunts and uncles, they still wonder where their mommy is.  A part of me feels really terrible about this, as if I've abandoned them.  The first month I was gone, Caden would randomly say "My mommy is at work."  He'd be playing and would just stop and say that.  And I knew without...

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