Do you miss your Army life?

The Thanksgiving weekend gave us time to see some good friends. Some were friends of Mike's from high school and some were friends of ours from Fr. Bragg. Since we were in a group of "mixed company" the subject of army life seemed to come up. Several times they asked if I missed my old "army life". In short the answer is ABSOLUTELY NOT! Not for one single second! I surprised myself when I realized how strongly I felt about not missing my army life. I don't miss shopping at the commissary, I don't miss the terrible service we received when trying to access health care on post, I don't miss being forced to socialize with wives of other officers simply because it's what's expected, I don't miss having to patiently listen to the constant wining from the wives of younger soldiers about why their husbands aren't home (this is a total stereotype but it's also very true), I don't miss getting random phone calls and emails from women whom I've never met that insist that they should be receiving child support and demand that I assist them, I don't miss the constant stress that permeates every aspect of army life, I don't miss the constant judgement, the pressure to always be at your best, ready to support your soldier at all costs, I don't miss the phone calls at all hours of the night, the "go bag" in the hallway closet.

Lest you think that I'm completely bitter and cynical....I have made some wonderful friends in my army life. I treasure their friendship! I am not used to people looking twice at Mike when he's wearing his uniform because they are so unaccustomed to seeing someone in camouflage. I am lucky though because we moved back to New Orleans and I had friends and family and sorority sisters and colleagues all here to welcome me back. In a lot of ways its been like moving home. I do think that 9 years of active duty military life takes its toll on a family and I know I speak for all of us when I say we're enjoying the refreshing change of pace.

In the end the grass is always greener and I'm sure I will be ready to jump back into all things army in a few years. In the mean time we're enjoying the break!

Makeover

I didn't get a makeover but the blog did! Courtsey of the family photo session we had with MckMamma this past spring. . I posted a few of my favorites last spring and I just found the CD from our photoshoot again and couldn't help myself....

Oh and for those of who who liked the Thanksgiving picture I created it using a free program called My ScrapNook. Super easy to use! I loved it so much I had a little fun playing with it again tonight.

My friend and her journey

I met Tricia when we were living in Colorado. She's a former teacher and a briliant writer. We continued a virtual friendship as we moved and Olivia started speech therapy. It was a path that her older son had also gone down and it was comforting to know that someone else understood what it was like to help their child find their voice.

Our lives have changed drastically since we meet in 2006 at a book party. Tricia has a blog that I read faithfully, Teaching Tuck and Ty. I will never forget the day I checked her blog last December after updating our blog. I am very protective of my virtual friend, especially given her journey since last December. Her story was recently featured in 5280, Denver's Magazine about all things going on in and around the mile high city. Please read with care, and compasion, as Tricia says, "the words are her very heart"....Wife, Interrupted.

Gobble Gobble

Mike is thankful that he's not deployed and he's able to be with his family this year, that he has a job and is able to provide for his family.

Olivia was thankful for all the yummy food and the extra tickle time that we had while Peter was napping.

I am thankful that I have a job that I love and the wonderful nanny that we've found here.

Peter is thankful for Buzz Lightyear, trucks, and cupcakes (although we're all a little unsure about where this is comming from since he hasn't had a cupcake lately but he insists that he's very thankful for them).