Threats & Racial Slurs - NO toleration!

**this post is for my army wives page and I'm putting it here for easy reference**

I know that I can't tell people what to say or do and really don't try to either. On my page I will tolerate some things and give warnings. Like if someone is being exceptionally rude I will ask them to chill out a bit. I know we all have bad days and some times we all get a little bitchy. Some times a few of our discussions and debates get a little heated and people might call names and act like kids...once again, I will issue a warning.

There are a few things I won't issue warnings for and will simply ban you without notice. Two very important things to me.
1. threats of violence
2. racial slurs

1. If someone physically threatens you on my page, send me a message and tell me where it is so I can handle it. I will ban them on the spot. I ask you to send me a message b/c I don't read every single post and comment on the page, I would be there all day. If they send you a personal message in your inbox, my advice is to block them and not engage with them. You can send me a message and tell me who it is so that I may watch them on my page. I can't control what people write to you privately but I can control it being on my page.

2. I really can't believe I have to even address racial slurs!! But sadly, I do.. Again, I can't control what people send to you in a personal message. So the best you can do is block the idiot and let me know who to watch out for. However, people who make racial slurs on my page when directed at someone specific to put them down and hurt them, will be removed. I will ban them and not think twice about it. No warning at all. This is not acceptable, we are all humans and bleed the same. ((same goes for gay bashing, but I haven't seen this yet on the page))

If I have to ban for the reasons I stated above, I will also do a few other things. If I see racial slurs, before I ban you, I will take a screenshot and copy your profile url and report you to FB and send them the info. My kids are half black and I don't appreciate the ignorance. If I see a personal threat to someone on my page, I will screenshot it, get your info, ban you and send what I need to the nearest police station. Threats will not be tolerated.

That's all =)

By the way, I SERIOUSLY HATE I EVEN HAD TO ADDRESS THIS CRAP!!!

My husband, the jokester!

This morning I went to WalMart to pick up some school supplies for the kids...which isn't cheap by the way lol... and I come out to my car to find something I thought was a bit creepy. First I notice on my seat is a business card that had some writing on it but I couldn't make out what it said b/c the pen looked like it was out of ink.. I go to put the stuff in the trunk and my daughter brings me a piece of paper that she said was "under the rain keep away things" - haha gotta love her...

Anyway, I was all excited b/c I thought someone saw my Scentsy stickers on my window and was leaving a note for me to contact them. Nope, my excitement flew out the window when I saw it wasn't what I hoped. It was actually "someone" telling me they thought I was sexy and left their number! So now I was totally creeped out b/c I thought about the business card IN my car and now this note!

I get in the car and call my husband to tell him about it and he starts laughing at me and asks me was the guys name "Sean" and was it written in brown marker? Yeah!! Then it dawned on me that HE did it!! He called me while I was in WalMart so he knew where I was... he stalked me down just to mess with me! I hope he knows this is war...lol

Beautiful Skies

On my drive back home from New Jersey I hit a few thunderstorms that made me want to pee myself! I HATE driving in the rain when you can't see 5ft in front of you... although I love the lighting and the beautiful skies that follow... here is a pic I wanted to share... I love it when the sun shines through like this...

♥Friends♥

The more I think about what is important in this lifestyle...the army lifestyle... I think of my friends..Without them, I would go completely crazy!!

Yesterday I went to take Fran her "Penny the Pig" Scentsy Buddy and she wasn't home. So I texted her and found where she was and lovingly stalked her down at the PX lol... Fran is amazing.. I love that woman!! Fran will do anything she can for you and would give you her last dollar if you needed it. I actually came across Fran when I was hosting a jewelry party with my MIL and she wanted to order because she saw my event on facebook...I'm so glad she did b/c meeting her has brought joy to my life...

Today I spent some time with Staci... I went over around noon, thinking they would be up (they just came home from leave and were adjusting to the new time zone again and from driving hours and hours) but they weren't. I told Eddie I would come back but he said it was okay and to come in... Staci made coffee and it was so comforting to sit with my best buddy, drink coffee and fall back into our routine of when the guys were gone. They came over for dinner and we had some laughs and good food... I met Staci when our mutual friend Aimee asked me to help her when they first got to Stewart... I showed up on her doorstep the day the movers were there and she hasn't been able to get rid of me since! lol... a part of my heart will go with them to Carson when they leave in Sept... *wipes tear*

I also spent some time with Jennifer today!! Now that hookah is my homie!! LOL No, she really doesn't sell her ass, "Hookah" is just our pet name for each other lol... She came over tonight for dinner too, along with Staci, after she was done her meeting... she kinda had no choice to come over since I had her kids, bwahahaaa...lol.. She stayed for a bit and we laughed at the stupidest things.. Thank gosh she will still be here when Fran and Staci leave b/c I will need someone to let me cry on their shoulder... we will cry together...

I really don't know what my point is... I'm a bit tipsy, I can admit that.. I'm feeling kinda a lovey... I just know that without my friends my life would be very lonely!! Especially when Darrell is gone.. My friends complete me... and as Staci said earlier today, "they are friends I will have for life, no matter how far apart in distance we are, we will always be together"... So very true...

So, if you have friends who have made your army life a bit easier and who are now like family, let them know how much they mean to you.. tell them how special and blessed you feel to have had the chance to have them in your life... I will..

"A hug is worth a thousand words. A friend is worth more."
- Sent by Jasmine Fitzwilliam

Great Adventures

Our adventures in this army life began in 2002 when my husband went off to Kentucky for BCT. I just KNEW it was going to be a piece of cake because he was only going to be gone for a few months. It was easy at first, but I had two toddlers to keep my busy. I soon found out that nothing was going to be easy about this adventure and everything I thought I KNEW was wrong.

You know that feeling you get in the pit of your stomach when you’re so excited you think you might burst? I had that feeling, magnified by 100, when I finally got to see my husband graduate BCT. The first time I saw him I was completely shocked. He had always been athletic, but he changed so much from the high school boy I knew, physically and mentally. Watching him graduate and getting to hold him again was one of the best feelings every…. Until I had to leave him there for AIT. The morning we left, I cried in the van for 3 hours because I couldn’t stand to leave him there. Lesson one for me: My teddy bear is a great comfort when I want to cry like a blubbering idiot. He muffles my tears and says exactly what I need to hear, nothing.

I joined my husband at his first duty station and was excited to begin our new life. The apartment we had was small and a bit uncomfortable but we made due. It was better than what we came from. During my first few weeks in Kansas I met some wonderful ladies from a military outreach church. These ladies ended up being my strength when all I felt was weakness. My husband came home one day, a few months after me uprooting and leaving everything behind with two toddlers and moving half way across the country, to tell me some news. He broke to me that he was leaving for Iraq for a year. I was devastated because he was suppose to be going to NTC, not war. We knew it would come, just not so soon. Lesson two for me: Nothing in the Army is for certain and can change anytime. They don’t have to give you notice for anything. Having friends is a must!! In order to survive, we need some kind of support network.

Fast forward to nine years later, present day, I have been through many big and small adventures during my husbands time in the Army. We’ve now been through 4 deployments, one of which was 15months long. I’ve been trying to spread awareness about PTSD with the military, but over the years I’ve noticed that soldiers aren’t the only ones who can suffer mental problems from war. I’ve seen so many wives suffer from depression and other conditions. I was one of them but I refused to listen to my friends and get help. I finally caved and sought counseling one year and I’m so much better for it. If you need help, get it. I kept thinking, “he is strong enough for the both of us” but I was wrong. We both needed to be strong for eachother. Lesson three for me: We, the wives/girlfriends/fiancés, may be the backbone of our men when they are gone (and here), but we ARE NOT superwomen! We are strong! If you need help, seek it. Admitting you need help and seeking it, only makes you stronger, not weaker.

What lessons have you learned about yourself or life in general since living this great adventure? I have tons, but not enough space here to share.

WildWood, NJ - fun times...

When I was a little girl the highlight of my summer was always going to WildWood, NJ. We would get wrist bands and ride the rides and do the water park until our legs felt like they were gonna fall off! When you go to WildWood, there are some things you just HAVE to do:

1. The Ferris Wheel - it's huge!! At the top of it when you're sitting there just swaying in the breeze (and you will sway lol) you can see far out over the Atlantic Ocean and everyone looks like ants on the ground. It is so peaceful and beautiful..

2. Walk the Boardwalk - if your legs don't feel like they're gonna fall off from going from pier to pier for the rides, they will after you walk the boardwalk! There are so many shops to shop in, tattoo/piercing shops, old time photo shops, games and food that you won't even realize how far you have walked...

3. The Tram Car - for those who fall out from walking, they have the Tram Car...for $2.50 you can ride it from one end of the boardwalk to the other. Those who are walking will constantly hear "watch the tram car please" - in the same electronic recorded voice they have used since I was 2ft tall...lol

4. Curly Fries - the boardwalk has the BEST curly fries ever!! If you've had them, you know I speak the truth...if not, you are missing out!

5. Salt Water Taffy - this chewy, sweet goodness was a favorite of mine as a child and many others... nothing like it in the world ...nom nom nom

Picture time!!

For those who have been to WildWood, they know that once you hit a certain area, there is this smell from the water that hits you like "omg I'm gonna puke" LOL...here is the spot & Darrell's face when we hit the spot hahaaa -

One of our fave rides is the TeaCups - I had our cup spinning so fast that Alexis's eyes were rolling in her head LOL -

The Boardwalk, games and Tram Car -

A classic, the Carousel -

Seaguls are everywhere -

Some rides on one of the piers at night & most importantly, the Ferris Wheel-

So, if you ever get to go to South Jersey, go to WildWood!! There are tons of Hotels on the strip and you will have a blast!!! The beach and ocean are right there, rides, food, entertainment and most importantly - fun times to be had by all =)