Thirty June

11 years--5 states, 7 homes, 2 year long deployments,  new jobs and new beginnings, a dog who showed us the meaning of crazy, a daughter who makes everyday better, and more love than I could have ever imagined.  We've grown--man, we've grown!--and I am so proud to be a part of our team.   

"I can't take the chance that you don't know how much it means to me, you carrying my hopes like precious cargo, and traveling with me to dreams come true...so I will tell you again and again, as if it's the first time, It is an honor, it is a privilege, it is a joy, to share with you the path."

Father's Day 2011

“The most important thing a father can do for his children is to love their mother”.--Theodore Hesburgh

Tony is the most honest, kind, caring, hard working, patient, honorable, and handsome man I know.  He is an excellent example for Samantha of what a man, husband, and father should be.  His love for our family is inspiring.  He continually makes me want to do better, be better, love better.  We are so fortunate to call him "ours". 

Tony requested that we didn't do anything elaborate to celebrate Father's Day.  He just wanted to spend time together and enjoy some delicious food.  This is the first Father's Day we have spent together since Tony became a dad.  In the past, the Army has had other plans for Tony on this special day but this year we were finally able to celebrate as a family.

Helping dad prep his truck for his Father's Day gift--a bed topper.

"Squirt it right here, dad!"

Helping dad with the Simple Green.  One parent has a little more patience than the other.  Can you guess who?

Hint: Every night Samantha's prayers include the following: 

"Help me to be a good girl, give mommy patience,

and daddy energy". 

Standing on top of the new topper and high five'ing for a job well done!

Ready to go out to eat for a special Father's Day dinner.

Talkin' it over...

I would LOVE to know what Tony was whispering about at this moment. 

Sharing a brownie sundae.

That girl can eat some chocolate!

Samantha's favorite place to be.

Daddy's girl.

Samantha tends to cover her mouth when she laughs really hard. 

The happiest little lady I've ever met.

I love you, Tony.  I couldn't imagine a more perfect father for Samantha.  I feel so fortunate to be on this ride together.  xox

How?

A few weeks ago I heard the devastating news that 6 soldiers from our former unit, 2-327 Infantry Regiment "NO SLACK", had been killed in an intense fire fight in Afghanistan.  These soldiers were literally weeks away from returning home to their family and friends after an incredibly difficult deployment.  The friend who shared the news closed her message with, "Remind me again why, or really how, we continue through this way of life".  She knows the answer well but it was one of those dark days we all have when it's all just too much to bear.  So, my friend, here is my gentle reminder of "how".

How?  How do you do it?  If I had a quarter for every time I have heard this... 

The simple answer for us is it's a part of who we are as a family. 

We live this way of life knowing we are ultimately helping to bring peace to the world.  I guarantee you that no other family prays for peace more passionately than a military family.  However, I do believe that sometimes war IS the answer and that is okay with me.

We do it with the grace of God and with a belief in putting other American families before our own. 

We do it because we know we are giving our children a better understanding of selfless service, of what it means to respect our nation and our flag, and for the beauty that comes from being a part of something much bigger than oneself. 

We do it because every once in a while we get the opportunity to be a part of an organization like "No Slack", where the Soldiers are family and the unit is home.

We do it with the support of the Soldiers and Families who walk beside us.  We lean in hard when times are unbearable and the load we carry is much too heavy.  The unspoken understanding of what it means to live this life, to bravely send your loved one to war, and to hold it all together while he is gone turns new friends into family almost overnight. 

We do it by looking to leaders who hopefully provide an example, inspiration, integrity, and mentorship. 

We do it because of an heartfelt obligation to those who came before us--to honor their service, their commitment,  and their incredible sacrifice. 

Really, we do it the same way other American families do it.  With hard work, determination, humor, sweat, and tears.  We aren't special but the mission sure is.

More than anything, we live this way of life because we were chosen to.  I know without a doubt that Tony was made for this work.  I am equally certain that I was chosen to be his wife and that this is the life we were meant to live. 

We feel fortunate to be an Army Family.  We don't want sympathy or pats on the back.  We want you to pay it forward.  To find what it is you can do to leave this world better than you found it.  Be aware of what is happening in the world around you.  When you hear of service members who have made the ultimate sacrifice, remember their names .  Pray for their families.  Tell your children about them.  Honor them.   Remember that behind that name and picture may be someone's son, husband, and father.  And they just laid down their life for us.  For you and me.  Can you even imagine? 

U.S. Army Specialist Brit B. Jacobs, a combat medic from Sarasota, FL, Task Force No Slack, 101st Airborne Division, gives a farewell kiss to the helmet of one of his fallen comrades during a memorial service for six fallen U.S. Soldiers at Forward Operating Base Joyce.  (Photo by U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Mark Burrell, Task Force Bastogne Public Affairs)

Rest in peace, SFC Arrechaga, SSG Adamski, SSG Burgess, SPC Feldhaus, SPC Lindskog, and PFC Faulkner.

NFS!

Pass the frosting, please.

We love cupcakes.  Seriously, LOVE them.  Everything about them is so perfect--the ratio of frosting (buttercream only, please) to cake, the size, the colorful sprinkles, the cute wrapper that surrounds them.  They're girlie and fun and best enjoyed while soaking in a hot bubble bath.  A few weeks ago we went up to Hello, Cupcake in Tacoma.  It's an adorable little place with a great selection of delicious cupcakes.  Samantha loved everything about our trip.

 

Waiting on the goods to be delivered.

 Gettin' down to business.

Waiting for people to pass by the shop's window...

 ...so she could wave and say hi.

If you were passing by you might see...

...this chocolatey little face waving hello!

Samantha is definitely her mama's girl.  We can't really be bothered with too much "cake" in our cupcakes. 

So just for today...

via



Funky fish and sugar overload.

My parents and my brother and his family came up to spend Easter weekend with us.  The weather was beautiful on Saturday so we headed out to Woodland Creek Park for a little fishing. Samantha LOVES to fish with Tony and we knew our nieces and nephew would love it too.  The kids caught a total of five fish in the couple of hours we were at the park. When we came home, Tony grilled a couple of them up (the ones who swallowed the hook just a little too deep) and I thought my mom was going to lose her lunch.  It was sick.sick.sick.  Now we didn't have any problem eating prime rib for Easter lunch so don't sign us up for PETA just yet, but there was something about those grody little fish that made you feel kind of sad.

Samantha loves the bait.

 Who said fishing can't be cute?!?

Waiting on a bite.

Cousins Tyson and Madison.

Up early on Easter morning to hunt for this...



 

 "'S' is for Samantha!"

 Jelly beans:  the breakfast of champions.

Samantha and her cousins with all of their Easter loot.

Loaded up on sugar and ready for church.

The message at church was a great one.  My favorite part was when the pastor said, "Speak silk".  Meaning let the words you speak to others be a positive reflection of where you are headed and not of the hurt and difficulty you have faced in the past.  What a great reminder.

 Back at home and ready for the egg hunt...because it's 12:00pm and surely the kids need MORE treats!

Opening eggs...

 ...and a little more snacking!

It sure was a great weekend. Watching the kids hunt for eggs brought me so much joy.  I said, "This IS what life is all about".  It doesn't get much better than seeing life through the eyes of your child.

After everyone headed back to Oregon, we snuggled in to watch our DVR'd episodes of Parenthood and Modern Family.  The season finale of Parenthood was a tear jerker.   Actually every episode is a tear jerker.  If you don't watch it already, check it out here.  It ties with Friday Night Lights for the best show on TV.  It will make you bawl your eyes out so prepare yourself.  I sure hope y'all had a wonderful Easter. 

Havaianas, Lilly, or The North Face?

Waiting, waiting, waiting.  I feel like that has been the story of our life for the past few weeks. 

Those who know me well know that patience has never been my strong suit.  Its gotten better since the birth of Samantha but generally speaking, I could use a bit a lot of improvement.  When it comes to the Army--where we are going to live, when will we be moving, what's it going to be like when we get there, will I find friends that "get" me, will Tony's job be what we thought it was going to be--I'm straight up lousy.  I get so excited to know all about our new adventure.  I want to make plans, BIG plans.  I immediately want to figure out what my house is going to look like.  Do I need to buy new stuff? Yes. Always. Should I downsize? No. Never.  Where is the nearest Nordstrom/Target/Gymboree?  What is the feeling of my new hometown?  Do we have friends who are already stationed at our new post?  What's their take on the area?    The list could go on for days.

Recently, we have been anxiously waiting to hear if Tony was selected for an exciting new job in his career.  It's something that he has been working towards and hoping for for years.  If he was so fortunate to be selected, where would we be headed? 


Would I get the chance to add to my collection of these in a paradise like Hawaii?

Or would we be making our way to the South and the land of Lilly Pulitzer where no one thinks twice when you show up to a function in something like this.

 Could it be to a place like Alaska where this is nothing out of the ordinary?  Please, God, let the answer be "no". 

The answer for us is "somewhere in between".  Literally.  Our new home will be Fort Riley, Kansas.  Middle America.  A place where you get the chance to wear your Uggs, Hunter rainboots (Sam and I will need matching ones like these), Havaianas, and cowboy boots all in the same year.  A post filled with history, tradition, and beautiful, old limestone homes with screened in porches.  The kind of porch that begs for hanging Boston ferns and a brand new Old Glory. 

via

I pray our life will improve for the better at Fort Riley as it has at each duty station in the past.  I'll ask for the sense of adventure we experienced as we began our married life at Fort Benning, GA, for the pride and love we felt for what I consider to be our "forever home" at Fort Campbell, KY, for the growth in our marriage that we experienced at Fort Irwin, CA, for the time of rest we had at Fort Leavenworth, KS, and for the safe, successful deployment and growth of our family here at Fort Lewis, WA. 

We've taught Samantha to stick her pointer finger in the air and yell "BIG RED ONE!'  We'll work on the 1st Infantry Division song next.  Tony will experience tanks and Bradleys up close and personal, Sam will start pre-school, I will make our house a home, and we'll make our way through what we hope will be one of the most rewarding experiences in our life as an Army Family.  We feel blessed and so fortunate.  And I'm sure proud of that man of mine.