My Vegan Adventure

For one week, I will become a complete vegan. No animal product of any kind will pass through my lips, and I will place an emphasis on gluten-free, organic meals as well. I will be cooking and baking everything from scratch.
What prompted this (extreme) challenge? The vegan lifestyle has always intrigued me, but I have long hesitated doing anything about it. Well, the time has come, everything has lined up, and I have no excuse not to! I will be using recipes exclusively from Angela Liddon at http://ohsheglows.com/, and reviewing each one.
I feel like my body needs a bit of a cleanse, and a re-charge. I want natural energy, rather than a coffee dependency. I want to feel good about the foods I am eating, and strong and healthy.
I think the hardest part will be devoting a large portion of my time to preparing all of the meals, but I am up for the challenge, and hopeful that this is the beginning of something wonderful and healthful!

I am also going to be starting p90x, eek! I am totally nervous for this challenge, but my body needs exercise and a gym membership is not in the budget! I am telling you this mostly to keep me accountable, that I will actually do it, every single day!

Cheers to a wonderful week!

If you really wanna know...

The Silent Ranks
I wear no uniforms, no blues or army greens.
But I am in the military in the ranks rarely seen.
I have no rank upon my shoulders, salutes I do not give.
But the military world is the place where I live.

I'm not in the chain of command, orders I do not get.
But my husband is the one who does, this I cannot forget.
I'm not the one who fires the weapon, who puts my life on the line.
But my job is just as tough. I'm the one that's left behind.

My husband is a patriot, a brave and prideful man,
And the call to serve his country, not all can understand.
Behind the lines I see the things needed to keep this country free.
My husband makes the sacrifice, but so do our kids and me.

I love the man I married. Patriotism is his life.
I proudly stand among the silent ranks known as the military wife.


Warrior

I never wore the uniform,
no medals on my chest.
The band it doesn't play for me,
I am not among the Best.
I do not march in cadence,
I do not rate salute,
I stand among the silent ranks,
our devotion absolute.

If you've not worn my shoes,
you do not know my story.
I live a life of sacrifice,
my reward a private glory.
I've wept many silent nights away,
and I've kept the home fires burning.
I've worried and I've waited,
as world events were churning.

I've moved more times than you could fathom,
left more people than you've known.
I've planted gardens 'round the world --
Very few that I've seen grown.
I've grieved with new-made widows,
and had my share of scares --
when a ship or plane or man was down,
and all I had were prayers.

I'm not asking for your sympathy,
(although appreciation can be nice)
I did it quite on purpose though --
I chose to sacrifice.
I'll tell you a secret now,
one you'd never guess.
About the one glory that is mine,
it's just enough, no more, no less.

When you and I stand together
as our national anthem plays,
I'll fill with reminiscences
of how I spent those days.
I'll know the pain and joys again,
I'll know that freedom isn't free,
I'll know I've helped to pay the price

and that the anthem plays for me.

Elizabeth Soutter Schwarzer




"Distance is not for the fearful, It is for the Bold. It is for those who are willing to spend a lot of time alone in exchange for a little time with the one they love. It is for those knowing a good thing when they see it, even if they dont see it nearly enough.." -Unknown

When you feel alone, just look at the spaces between your fingers, remember that in those spaces you can see my fingers locked with yours forever!

Recipe for a Military Spouse
1 1/2 cups Patience
1 cup Courage
3/4 cup Tolerance
dash of Adventure
1 pound of Ability
To the above ingredients: Add 2 tablespoons elbow grease and let stand alone for one year. Marinate frequently with salty tears. Pour off excess fat and sprinkle ever so lightly with money then Knead dough until payday. Season with international spices. Bake 20 years or until done. Makes unlimited servings
SERVE WITH PRIDE

The Military Spouse

When the good Lord was creating military spouses, He was into His sixth day of overtime.
An Angel appeared and said, "You're having a lot of trouble on this one. What's wrong with the standard model?"
The Lord replied, "Have you ever seen the regulations? It has to be completely independent, must be sponsored to get on base, have the qualities of both mother and father during deployments; Be a perfect hostess to four or 40, handle emergencies without military orders, cope with the flu and move around the world, have a kiss that cures anything from a child's torn valentine to a soldier's weary day, have the patience of a saint when waiting for the unit to return stateside, and have six pairs of soft hands."
The Angel shook her head slowly and said, "Six pair of hands? No way!"
And the Lord answered, "Don't worry. We'll make other military spouses to help. Besides, it's not the hands that are causing the problem - it's the heart. It must swell with pride, sustain the ache of separation, beat soundly when it's too tired to do so, be large enough to say 'I understand' when it doesn't, and say 'I love you,' regardless."
"Lord," said the Angel, touching his sleeve gently, "go to bed. You can finish that tomorrow."
"I can't," said the Lord. "I'm too close to creating something unique. Already I have one who can heal itself when sick, feed unexpected guests who are stuck in the area due to bad weather, and wave goodbye to its spouse from a pier or runway and understand it's important to the country that the spouse leave."
The Angel circled the model of the military spouse very slowly. "It's too soft," she sighed.
"But tough," the Lord said excitedly. "You cannot imagine what this being can do or endure!"
"Can it think?" the Angel asked.
"Can it think? It can convert 1400 to 2 p.m.!" the Lord said.
Finally, the Angel bent over and ran her finger across the cheek. "There's a leak," she pronounced. "I told you that you were trying to put too much into this model."
"It's not a leak," said the Lord. "It's a tear."
"What's it for?" asked the Angel.
"It's for joy, sadness, pain, loneliness and pride," the Lord said.
"You're a genius," said the Angel.
The Lord looked somber and said, "I didn't put it there."
~Author Unknown

Aaaand rounding out the end with my current favorite:


The Military Spouse: Sexually deprived for your freedom!

A blog effort of monumental proportions?

I always have something to say. This is true whenever I am talking with someone, or a group of people. I never run out of things to talk about, and always have an opinion to express. So why are putting words down on paper (keyboard?) so much more difficult? I know I have things to say, and plenty to talk about. Once I start a new post, inspiration always comes. My problem is clicking the button that takes me here. I guess sometimes I don't really feel like opening up and sharing, it takes too much effort. I don't know.

Seven days.

One week down, and a seemingly endless amount to go. I do feel rather accomplished about this first week, though. No major breakdowns (just a couple teeny ones :), no temper tantrums or (major) pity parties.
Breathe in, breath out.
Take it just one day at a time.

I constantly work on remembering the bigger picture, and why I am going through such a tough phase. My husband has answered a higher calling, and it is my duty to encourage him and release him into that role; to allow him to leave me for long periods of time, fighting for and ensuring the peace and security of our nation, and the same for others. In many ways I feel like the lucky one, what an honor it is to be in this position, to be the wife of such a noble man. I am continuously proud of him.

It seems like the phrase we military spouses hear from civilians more than any other is, 'You signed up for it.' Excuse me, no I did not. The paper I signed bound me to my husband. He may have signed up for it, but I signed up for him. No amount of research or practice can prepare you for this lifestyle. Jumping in feet first is the only way you can do it, and learn how to swim along the way. Of course there are certain things you know ahead of time that come with the territory; moving around a lot and deployments being a no brainer. Even still, it is a constant learning curve, and I believe that the successful spouses are the ones who learn and embrace just rolling with it.

Anyway, one week down. It's something.

From a missionary to the military.

In my early twenties (not that I'm so far removed from that, lol) I spent three years as a missionary. The organization I worked for, Youth With A Mission, has bases all over the world, and the one I was attached to was in Los Angeles.
Looking back, I see a bit of God's plan for my life, and how he used that time to prepare me for becoming a military spouse. I'm not saying that that was the sole purpose God had for me in me joining the organization, but it is pretty awesome to compare everything that I learned from that time, and how directly it applies to me now:


Living a transitional lifestyle-
In the missions world people are constantly moving here and there. They are coming back from a trip, or moving to another country. Moving every few years in the military is actually one of the (pretty much) constants. Over time I have learned to adapt to saying goodbye, and how to say hello. Saying goodbye never gets easier, but I have learned to accept it as part of my life, and really, the world is such a small place that you never know when you will run into people again, and I can attest to the fact that it really does happen! Unfortunately I think I am a little too good at saying goodbye, and not good enough at saying hello, to reaching out and making new friends.

Different cultures-
Experiencing different cultures has taught me the value and beauty of people and traditions that are unlike my own. Just because I do not understand something does not invalidate it, and every single time there is something to be learned. Accepting and celebrating differences can add a richness to life. Every base we go to has something to teach us, and all of the people we meet we can learn something from.

Flexible, Adaptable, Teachable- (but let's call it phat, not FAT! :)
This is the motto of a successful outreach in a foreign nation. I can not stress the importance of these three words as the military dictates several aspects of our lives. Remaining flexible is invaluable; it seems to me that the military likes to throw curveballs, and learning to roll with the punches makes for a much less stressful life! Being adaptable means that no matter where we may live, we can learn to thrive, whether it is the below-zero temperatures at Minot AFB in North Dakota, or the humid temperatures at Anderson AFB in Guam. Maintaining a teachable heart ensures a rich life full of growth. No matter what circumstances we may find ourselves in, finding the lesson learned, and applying it to other situations in life will enhance our roles as spouses and parents, allowing others to do the same.

Going to foreign locations-
Having visited a few different countries has allowed me a rare opportunity to relate to my husband, as his job takes him around the world as well. I understand the feelings of culture shock, of confusion and just wanting to go home! I also know what it feels like after it is all done and you have returned to America again, the feeling of wanting to go back; because no matter how hard it was, it became normal, and there is a comfort in that. (I also want to say that I understand that I will never truly understand. I may relate on a very-tip-of-the-iceberg level, but the only people who will ever know exactly what he is going through are the people who went through it with him.)


Valuing the importance of the work-
While missionaries and the military have some very different goals, both are equally important. Remembering the bigger picture when all I want to do is curl up in a ball and cry has been, so far, invaluable to me. It has given me a sense of peace instead of wanting to rip my hair out.

Leadership-
For much of my career as a missionary I was a leader. I staffed two schools that taught tools for ministry development, I also was a staff member of the core training course for the organization. Some of my responsibilities included the physical and spiritual well-being of the students, organizing and leading two-month outreaches for groups, and helping run a weekly summer outreach program that saw hundreds of students come through in the space of two and a half months. It was a lot of responsibility (imagine being in charge of twelve passports and 12,000 in cash, while traveling to new locations every week across Asia!) While none of those will be my responsibility as a military spouse, often times I will be running the household while my husband is away on field exercises, deployments, and short trips. What am I saying, I run the household even when he is home. :) When we have children, and if he deploys then, I will have to learn to step up and be both the mom and the dad as well.


Some tools I have learned throughout the world:

South Africa- You are not in charge of the timeline. Roll with it. You'll be happier. South Africans have a saying: 'just now'. It can mean anything from one minute to five hours later. There were many times when our team would be ready and waiting to go...only to keep waiting, and waiting, and waiting. We don't get to dictate when our spouses work, where they go, how long they are gone for, how long we get stationed somewhere. Accepting this is crucial to your happiness and success, I believe.

Nepal- Valuing the protections and freedom offered by America, and our soldiers. As a woman, it was not safe for me to travel alone, even to the corner market; I always had to have a male chaperone. And a woman, so it wouldn't look improper, since men and women do not socialize together unless they are married.

Thailand- Don't take things at face value. There is always something deeper at work. I spent my time in Thailand teaching English to women who worked at the bars; they learned various other skills as well, as a means to earn income, rather than selling their bodies. The stories we learned about the women we encountered was deeply impacting.  (When you don't understand the orders he's been given, or the way the system works, remembering there is more to the story is crucial.)

Philippines- The beauty of all people, no matter how different from you. We are a family. Filipino culture is all about family, and the people I stayed with certainly became my family. The military is also a family. You don't always like it, but you're in it, and they (the friends you make, the people you work with) are always there for you and understand in a way no one else can.

It's kind of crazy to think that these two lifestyles have so much in common; I am so glad to have been/be a part of both, I live a very blessed life indeed. :)

Deployment is a four letter word...?

Deployment. It really is an ugly word. I would like to run and hide from it. Unfortunately, it's knocking on my door, and I can avoid it no longer. Tomorrow I will say 'see you later' (never goodbye!) to my husband, as this word takes him far from me for a time. From the very beginning, I knew this day would come. We have been given quite a reprieve of it, until now. As newlyweds, we have been able to experience all of the firsts together; first Christmas, birthdays, anniversary, and what a gift that has been. Now I must relinquish him to a higher cause, and try to keep my chin up and my perspective positive. What a feat. I have been so incredibly blessed with the support system around me; other military wives, my friends, my family. They are all my backbone right now, and I am so so grateful I can lean on them right now, knowing I am surrounded by so many people who love me and want to take care of me. I couldn't do it alone. Maybe it's appropriate that on this last day I woke up so early in the morning, for I think that is the best time for thinking, and plenty of time for arming myself for the day with strength and positivity.
I don't want to go through these next several months. This lifestyle is extremely difficult, and sometimes I wish I could run from it. I do hope that by the end of it, I will be a better person. A better friend, a better daughter, a better wife. I know there are many positives to come out of this, if I choose them. I hope I do.

Recent events and my take on them

The Royal Wedding:

Yes, I watched, and yes, I was excited about it. As much hype as there was here in America, it seemed to me that most people didn't care and thought it was unnecessary to make such a big deal out of it. Well, we don't have royals here, we don't understand the historical context of it. While they have no real political power anymore, and are figureheads more than anything else, the fact that it is still such an integral part of life in Britain gives us a clue to it's importance. Britain was founded on the monarchy, it is a cornerstone of their country, and it actually infiltrates into our society more often than one might think. Remember that movie The Other Boleyn Girl? Or Elizabeth with Cate Blanchett? All about the monarchy. The King and Queen, and the new Duke and Duchess, play important roles in society, and we would be remiss to overlook that.
The news is filled with so much bad, it was nice for a change to focus on the good. Weddings are happy occasions, why not take one day and just celebrate love?


The killing of Osama Bin Laden:

This one is definitely more controversial than a wedding. I am a person of faith (conventionally, a Christian, but I don't really like associating myself with that word; more often than not negative images...need I say more than Westboro Baptist Church...come to mind when one hears that word, and that is not my brand of faith). I am sad that he will spend eternity apart from God, but I am happy that goodness prevails. I am so extremely proud of my country, and especially the men who took part in the operation. I feel like it hits a little closer to home than otherwise; my husband is in the military and preparing to deploy, a direct result of the actions of that man. At the end of the day, I am glad to be living in a world with just a little less evil...for now.

Friendship vs. Relationship

A friend is someone you can count on. Someone you want to share the good's and the bad's in life. They call you on you crap, and see the best in you. It really is like a relationship. And it takes work. A lot. If the person is worth it. Being a military family, I am mostly likely in for a lifetime of making new friends, and moving away from the old.
I think a mark of true friendship is the test of long distance. Unfortunately I am horrible at keeping in touch with long distance friends. I hate talking on the phone and avoid it at all costs (a leftover from my childhood epic shyness, maybe?). Thanks to Facebook and status updates, I feel more connected and up to date on my friends lives than I really am. Fortunately I am really good at meeting up with someone and picking back up exactly where we left off without missing a beat.
One thing I know, we weren't created to go through life alone. Living life with friends by your side is essential to healthy growth and development. And so, so wonderful.
I really feel like each and every one of my friend's is a gift, and I want to show them just how special they are to me. Perhaps just by listening rather than talking. Giving a hug unprompted.

I guess at the end of the day my goal is to be the kind of friend I want in return.

Sweet Valley Confidential: 10 Years Later

I read the Sweet Valley books when I was a kid/teenager, and revisiting this story line has been so nostalgic!
Reading about the Wakefield twins all grown up was a little disconcerting, there was always a sort of innocent quality to them and their lives, even wild Jessica. Not so in the latest installment! It is rather gritty in comparison. The layout of the story is classic and true to all Sweet Valley tales. I enjoyed the trip down book-memory lane, it almost makes me want to go back and read all of the books over again...almost!

Grateful.

I think too often the negative, overwhelming, awful things of life overshadow the good. What would happen if we all focused more on what we do have, and simply be grateful for it? I want to remember and focus on the good more than I do. 

Some things I am grateful for:

I am grateful for my family. Nothing matters more to me, and I have the best. :)

(and this is only mostly everybody!)

My faith. My center, and what I always go back to. Up and down, it has not always been steady, but is my absolute truth, and has taught me what true joy is, amidst life's challenges. 

My best friend. There really is nothing quite like the best-friendship. After ten years, I would say ours has stood the test of time, and having spent 6 of those years living in different cities, it has also stood the test of distance. I am a lucky girl to call her my best! 

My puppy. She has crazy energy, constantly challenges me, and brings me endless amounts of happiness. I finally understand the phrase man's best friend; with a husband who works crazy and long hours, she is a wonderful companion to me! 

(this was taken the day we got her, SO cute!)

My health. Lately I've been learning a lot about health, diet, exercise; and for the first time in my life, it's because I want to. I think this is an area we tend to take for granted until a scare or crisis happens. I want to learn to take care of myself now, so I can enjoy life longer, and not have to worry about those scares and crises! 

Last, and certainly not least, my husband, and I really don't think words are necessary. :)

These things I am grateful for today. There are so many more, but for now, these will do. I know I will be posting more on this topic again!