Happy New Year!

Happy New Year! I cannot believe its nearly 2012!!! We have approx 3.5 hours until we reach 2012, so I wanted to blog a bit. This year has had its ups and downs and MANY learning experiences, had some disapointments, some struggles, some successes and failures. C'est La Vie! As my wonderful husband always tells me when I am being a negative Nelly-"Honey, its life and it isnt perfect, but its all good in the end." Boy, I hate when he is right but glad he reels me back in. One thing that never changes is my love for my family and friends, you KNOW who you are. You bring fun and love and happiness to our lives.

Im very proud of our 6 kids as well. Nicholas came back safely from Iraq and is now with his wife, Megan and their son, Deuce.They are all together at Ft Bliss and planting their roots. Our oldest grandson, Gbaby, lives in Missouri with his mom Paige and they are doing well too. Ashlee, Blake and Kaydence are still on recruiting duty in Tennessee and LOVING living there. Ashlee is training to be an optical tech and having a great time. Cassidy and her partner, Katie are doing awesome and have a cute apartment, new jobs and Cass is plugging away at college. Anthony is in his Sr Year and working hard to graduate, still playing basketball. He now has a girlfriend, Dana and we just love her to bits. They are really cute together and i'm proud of them both. Dominic and Roman are crazy as ever and always have me laughing or pulling out my hair, sometimes at the same time. They are both doing great in school and LIVE to be outside, even in this frozen tundra. They both got their first guns and are ready to shoot. Sal is awesome, he truly is the best man I have ever known and he makes me so very happy. 2012 will bring our 23rd Anniversary AND 23 years in the Army. Hard to believe 23 years for both. He is still hemming and hawing about retirement, LOL... Right now he is the Provost for the Ft Richardson side of JBER and also the Liason to the AF Security Forces, he really does enjoy it, but REALLY misses having soldiers to lead(He is so awesome at that) But maybe next duty station. I had a great 2011 in the working aspect. I got what I refer to as my 1st grown up job, LOL.. I've been a stay at home mama for 23 years, so working was VERY scary for me. I LOVE LOVE LOVE my job and who I work with, its a GREAT group of people and they have been patient and helpful to me. 2012 I hope will be a wonderful year for all my friends and family. I hope we all meet our goals, or have fun attempting, I hope we learn good lessons and realize what is important. I also hope 2012 brings home more soldiers to their loved ones. I am so over deployments!!! I wish for strength, patience and understanding to those spouses that are holding down the fort. Remember, each day that passes is 1 closer to the reunion. Keep strong and keep the faith.

So much..

Well, it's been a long while since I last blogged. I have been busy with the holidays, kids, work, helping out with events at work and consumed by some icky news. A few months ago I went to the ER for kidney stones and they found a mass in my abdomen, so I had to wait to get more images so they could see if it has grown and lucky me, it has. Later next week, I will be having a contrast MRI and then we will go from there. The Dr. Called the mass, suspicious-SIDENOTE, I dislike that word.. I really had a moment and still do from time to time, because I am an over-worrier. I worry about everyone and everything, it is a character flaw really. I keep thinking what ifs?? What if this was my last Christmas? What if I dont see my older kids again? What will happen to my sweetheart? etc.. Its ridiculous, I know, but it is what it is. I'm not scared to die-that is the Gods honest truth, I really am not. What I am scared of is leaving those I love. Who will be Julie's BFF? Who will be Ronni's big sissy? Who will make sure the little boys match their clothes? Who will buy Tony his pricey kicks?(It surely will not be Sal, he makes sure the 6 kids know they only have clothes and shoes because of me, LOL) So, enough of this nonsense and onto fun things..

To my friends with loved ones deployed, keep on keeping on. There is a light at the end of the tunnel and you are doing a wonderful job. It isnt easy to do this. It isn't easy to answer the questions from the little ones like "Why isnt mommy/daddy here for Christmas?, Why is mommy/daddy so far away? And the ever popular statement-" I want mommy/daddy, not you!!!" that is a heart breaker, but they don't REALLY mean it(not always anyway) Make sure you are having some "ME" time and some time with grown ups. Get away and have dinner with some friends, sans kids. It is worth the investment of a great babysitter!!! Don't be a martyr and try and "suffer" for this deployment. I can assure you your soldier wants you to be happy, get out and do things and keep your life as normal as possible. Those of you that have older kids and teens, they will at times TRY and manipulate you and your feelings. Hold strong and steady, they secretly want you to say NO, they want you to keep things the way they should, they want boundries, so stay strong!! Call back-up if you need to. Remember, while your soldier is the backbone of the military-you are the heart, the soul and the stability. Kisses...