The Proud American

Memorial Day weekend. To many, this is the unofficial start of summer, the 3 day weekend to enjoy the outdoors and BBQs. In all of this, the true meaning of Memorial Day weekend is often forgotten.  Memorial Day was originally known as Decoration Day, a day first enacted by former slaves to honor Union soldiers of the Civil War who had died in battle. After World War I, the holiday became a day to honor all Americans who have died in all of the wars. It also has, unofficially, become a day to thank those who serve presently.  So while the long weekend of road trips, BBQs, and time in the pool may be great, there is so much more to this weekend than that. Take time this weekend to remember all those who gave their lives to keep this country safe and secure. If you know a service member, active or retired, thank them. It could be their life that continues to keep this country safe. God bless our troops and God bless America.

Making Baby Bee

When I was younger I always had this idea that getting pregnant was really easy. Wasn't that why I had to sit through so many sex ed classes? I lost my virginity at 16 and I was always super careful because I was sure that one little slip up would get me "knocked up". Now I'm 24 years old, happily married, and ready to make a Baby Bee. Unfortunately, now I'm also realizing it's not quite as simple as having a "night of passion".
F and I have been using the method of "not trying, not not trying" since about February. I swore I'd be pregnant by now...I'm not. In the mean time, people on my Facebook are popping up left and right announcing their pregnancies. Albeit, some of them have been trying for quite some time but there are plenty who just happened to get pregnant, including some who aren't even married and just forgot to use protection. While I'm happy for every momma-to-be that I know, I can't help but feel jealous too. When is it going to be my turn?
Every month I try not to think about it and just go with the flow, but I can feel that little part of me deep down really hoping hard that something will happen. Then Aunt Flow shows up and the disappointment that I try to avoid creeps in anyways. People tell me I'm young and I have time and that it will happen, and I know they're right, but I can't help but still get frustrated when my attempts fail month after month. Statistics say that, if a couple tries, they'll be pregnant within their first year. We're over halfway to the first year so where is Baby Bee? I never realized how truly challenging getting pregnant really is. I'm more than ready for my turn.

Flashback Friday: Birthday Edition

In honor of my 24th birthday (which is today), a special birthday edition of Flashback Friday. At my birthday party back in 2009 when I turned 22. This was the day I met F. :) This year, for the first time since we met, F and I will be together for my birthday. He's on his way up to my hometown where I've been all week to celebrate with my mom and I. Definitely a great birthday gift. <3

Keep On Smiling

Not that long ago I was lurking around Facebook when I read a post that made me think. A military wife had more or less written a note about how miserable her life is. That same day I saw a different person's status (also a military wife) asking if anyone had ever lied about being truly happy with their life. All of that put together made me think. Being a military wife is a difficult lifestyle, I will never deny that. I will also never deny that there are times when I miss home, my family, my friends, etc. and wish we weren't a military couple. However, no matter what I may feel when, the truth is that I like being a military wife. I think it takes a very strong woman to be a military wife and I've had people tell me how they could never do what I do. While it may be hard, it's a life that I agreed to. When F proposed, I knew what I was getting into. I knew what being a military wife would entail and what kind of sacrifices I would have to make. I could have said no but I didn't. I accepted F's proposal and, with that, I accepted the United States Air Force.
Sure there are days where I miss Michigan but, I often find myself eager to get back to Wright-Patt when I'm not there. I also know that, if we were to move back to Michigan, it wouldn't be the same as when we left. Our life isn't there anymore. We plan on retiring there when F's career is done but I know it won't be anything like the life I left. And, to be honest, I'm okay with that. I'm okay with my life being on an Air Force base 4 hours from home. I'm already looking forward to wherever we move next and learning that area too. I love to travel and see new places so this lifestyle is actually rather perfect for me.
I can understand people missing home and not being thrilled with the military lifestyle, it's definitely not easy, but the people who do nothing but complain about it drive me nuts. Maybe it's just me, but I'm a true believer that life is what you make of it. If you complain about everything 24/7, your life will be miserable and, in turn, you will be miserable. When F and I first moved to base, I was very homesick and very unsure about this lifestyle. But then I learned to make the most of it. I got involved in the OSC (Officer Spouses' Club) and the Key Spouse program, I made it a point to go outside and meet my neighbors, I made friends and arranged to do things with them around the area, I mingled with F's coworkers, I joined F's unit's softball team, I drove around the base and around the city just seeing what all there was, etc. I made it a point to become familiar with the base, with the Dayton area, the people, etc. so that I would feel like Wright-Patt was more of a home than just a temporary stay.
F and I still have 3 years left at Wright-Patt but, I can tell already, that I will miss this place when it's time to PCS somewhere else. I have learned to like the military life and to like the people and places that surround me. I have learned to see the positive in this life and to make the most of it. Sure there are still times when I'm homesick, that's perfectly normal, but you will never hear me saying that I hate the military lifestyle. I am proud to be a military wife and I enjoy it. My husband pledged his allegiance to our flag and I pledge my allegiance to him. This lifestyle may be difficult but I wouldn't give it up.

Military Spouse Appreciation Day

F and I have been in Georgia since Tuesday so I haven't had much time to get on my blog but I wanted to take a second to wish a happy Military Spouse Appreciation Day to all my beautiful ladies. Always remember that this is your journey too and that we are the silent ranks that hold the homefront together while our men serve our nation. We should all be proud of who we are. Happy Military Spouse Appreciation Day! You all deserve it. :)

9.5 Years in the Making

September 11, 2001. I was a high school freshman, sitting in my 3rd hour Honors History class when the news came. The Twin Towers in New York City were under attack. I saw the playback a thousand times of that tragic day. I still remember listening to then president George W. Bush's declaration of war on TV as jets from Selfridge Air National Guard base roared over my house and the US/Canada border. Quickly Osama bin Laden was confirmed as the plotter of the 9/11 attacks. And, just like that, the American people went on a hunt for him.
Nine and a half years alter, the hunt is over. Osama bin Laden has been killed by an American bullet. I am no longer a high school freshman watching this unfold. Instead I am the wife of a 2nd Lieutenant in the United States Air Force. We laid in bed together last night, watching President Obama address the world. We got the notice from base that the security level had been heightened long before we even knew what was going on.
The initial feeling was a mixture of relief, joy, and pride. I watched the people cheering in Washington D.C.'s streets and I felt that overwhelming sense of patriotism that I felt nine and a half years ago when the nation came together. Except this time they were coming together in victory, not in agony. Knowing such an evil presence was gone from this world was a relief. I am not one to wish death on someone but he was a vision of Satan himself and I did not want him in this world.
Nearly a day later, the sense of relief is still there but there is now a new feeling...fear. Nine and a half years ago I feared for my country, now I fear for my own husband. I fear that there will be retaliation from Osama's followers. And I fear that that retaliation will be on our troops. Normally I would have this fear no matter what, but it hits home even harder when my husband is one of them. So many posts on sites like Facebook have said to pray for our troops. One of those troops is the love of my life; how could I not be praying?
So, while I am glad to see justice being served, I fear for our troops and I pray that God watches over them all and ensures that our troops come home safely.  God bless our troops and God bless America.