Deployment time

Not for Sal, nobody panic-ALTHOUGH, I know he would deploy tomorrow if he could, BUT deployment "season" is upon us and we have many friends and loved ones that are prepping for this. Our son leaves soon for the sandland and this will be his first deployment with his wife, Megan and the boys, Nicholas and little Dominic. I thought id blog about this because I think we get caught up in the paranoia aspect of prepping for a deployment and dont realize to calm down and realize there are MANY things "WE" need to do to help make the deployment go a little more smoothly.. Yes, these deployments suck, BUT this is our life as military spouses and PART of the reason that soldiers exsist.. They typically dont like leaving their loved ones, BUT MOST are ready to deploy. Soldiers need to know that their families are ready for this and capable of the MANY things that could happen during a 12 month period.. Mr. Murphy LOVES to rear his ugly face during a deployment-so be ready for him.. It is QUITE possible that your dryer and car will both break during a deployment and 1 or more of your kids will indeed get chicken pocks-USUALLY either right before or right after RR.. So here are some tips from me to you in order to assist you in making sure you are ready to hit the deployment head on and win..

*Get POAs(powers of attorney) Call all your credit companies, banks, credit unions, etc and see what they require if you need to do business during this deployment-AFTER you find out what they need, GET IT DONE... Not today or tomorrow, but yesterday... MANY businesses, including finance will require you have a specific POA, so you may end up with 5 or 6 or more POAs. Keep them in a binder(I have a cute pink one :))

*Make sure your information to your bank and creditors are current.

*If you have more than 1 car, but will only be needing 1 of them-store the other and call your insurance company and change the policy to storage mode(it will save you money)

*Get a copy of the deployment orders

*make sure you have a copy of his will and that YOU have a will as well (yes this isnt a pleasant topic but a real one..

*Have THE TALK with your soldier, the dreaded what if talk.. Burial, etc... Again, not a fun topic, but MUCH needed.

*Have a plan for if something happens to you and your children need to be cared for until you can or your soldier can get home(hospitalization, etc) Many states will keep your kids in foster care, should something happen to you until a family member can come and care for them. Jag has a form you can fill out to give POA to a friend or family member in this case, Your FRG or FRSA should know who to contact for this.

*Sit down and make up a budget for this deployment, with your soldier... Ie, how much he will get out of your account and put on his/her eagle cash card or cash.. Since they need very little over there, May I suggest 50.00-75.00 every 2 weeks..

*They typically have to pay for internet and it can range from 40.00-100.00 a month, so be ready for that.

*attend frg pre deployment briefings..

*get his/her unit info, address, rear d info

*know his/her social security number

*get the Red Cross information and keep it in that fabulous binder of knowlege

*contact ACS and find out what you and your kids are eligible for during the next 12 months

*If you leave town, please, please, please leave contact info with the rear d, frg and a friend-I cannot stress this enough.

*Realize that once soldiers hit downrange, they wont have much contact initially-DONT panic.. NO NEWS is GOOD NEWS...

*bad news will not be given to you during the middle of the night, if something happens the correct people will contact you(unit info in particular)

*spend time with your soldier, BUT know that the closer it gets, the amount of time spent with families gets shorter and shorter. Try and realize this and enjoy the time when you get it and TRY not to complain to the soldier and be naggish.

*READ - the emotional cycles of deployment, wash, rince, repeat..... as needed

*make sure you have your circle of trust ready.

*Let family members know that YOU will update them on things until the soldier can

*during RR, we know that private time is important, but its also important for the soldiers family members to see and hug and hold them as well, so be understanding in that..

*Its okay to have pajama days every now and then, but I promise you will feel better dressed and ready to rock and roll

*Make a goal sheet foor yourself during the 12 months, only put a couple of things on there and work on them, keep this promise to yourself.

*Cry when you need to, be mad when you need to and *gasp* its okay to be happy during the deployment

*Keep traditions alive during the deployment, dont go into cacoon mode because your soldier cant be there(he/she will be relieved to know that normal life does infact exsist and that YOU kept it going.. YOU kept the homefires burning, YOU did it!

These are just a few things that I HIGHLY encourage spouses to do during this 12 months, they really help and really work.. We are not weak and wilted flowers.. We are steel magnolias and are the heart of the military.. WE CAN DO IT!!!!

Happy New Year!

Well tonight is the last night of 2010 and I cant believe how fast this year has gone by. 1 year ago today I was at home, without the love of my life, because he was in Iraq. Many New Years have we spent it apart so I am savoring him being home. So much has happened in the past 12 months, in our family. Nicholas got married to Meagan and they had a baby(nicholas II), they pcsd to Ft Bliss and he is now prepping for deployment. Ashlee and Blake ended 2009 with the birth of their sweet pea, Kaydence, Blake went to recruiting school, Ashlee graduated from college and they PCSd to Tennessee. Cassidy graduated HS and moved to Az, then moved back to Tx, worked, moved in with her girlfriend, Katie and we said goodbye to her as we moved to Alaska. Tony, started a new school, met some new friends and has really grown alot, he learned how to snowboard, and made the Varsity Basketball Team. Dom and Roman traveled through Canada, saw bison, went to Disney and think Alaska is the best.. Sal and I have again PCSd, reunited, survived another deployment, Sal got promoted and I got a job that I love! All in all its been a good year and I hope 2011 is even better. I love my family and our life. I hope all of you have a safe and happy new year and that everyone stays healthy and safe and special prayers for the soldiers still downrange and our civilian friends down there as well and their families (you are in our prayers each and every day) We also send out prayers to our military families who have suffered from the devastation of the tornado at Ft Leonard Wood and may 2011 be healing for them. I challenge all of you to do something nice for someone this year, something out of the typical nice realm.. Dig deep.. Volunteer some time to a retirement home, crisis nursery, soup kitchen, red cross.. We all depend on each other on this trip called life and we all need to take care of each other.. Peace

Feliz Navidad!

Had a super wonderful Christmas Eve and Day here in Alaska! Last night we had the Merciers over for a BIG Urzi Family tradition-Cookie decorating and homemade pizza making! Although we missed My sister and her family and Sals sister and her family, Ashlee, Blake, Kaydence, Nicholas, Meagan, Gbaby, Deuce, Cassidy and Katie and HOPEFULLY 1 day we can all be together, we still managed to have fun :) We decorated and decorated sugar cookies and I got to make our Pizza dough in my new bread maker (thank you Julie and Scott!!) we drank LOTS of vino and had some great laughs and made some great memories.. Roman and Dominic are now in love with Taylor and I think they will be sooo sad when he leaves, Roman is going to miss Kirsten-He must need a big sister fix(HINT HINT SISTERS LMAO) We went to Mass last night and watched the childrens play.. Roman kept thinking we were there to see a PLANE and wanted to know when these damn kids will be done so he can see the plane LMAO!! The young men in our house, woke us up at 0400 to open gifts-uggg, didnt they know that we-er, Santa was up until 0130 wrapping gifts and stuffing stockings??? Tony loves his customized Suns tshirt and his goodies, the little boys are IN LOVE with their bat cave.. Sal got a bar stool from Tony for his man cave and Tony gave me a stocking filled with all kinds of my fave things. It was a very nice holiday.

Remember today their are soldiers and families without getting to celebrate in the way we all have been blessed to this year. our warm thoughts go out to our brothers and sisters who are far from home this year. We send our prayers for your safe return..

HOLA

Helloo lovelies! It has been a while since I last blogged, sorry. Things have been busy with kids, work, Sal, work, kids, sal LMAO oh and Christmas. I have really got to get back on my blogging routine. Everyone is doing fine. Sal is trying to thaw out-hahahhah..Its been a wee cold, but the pretty outweighs it for me. Today is the kiddos' last day of school until the new year and im looking forward to sleeping in and having jamma days!!! Im nearly done with the Christmas shopping, with a couple exceptions, but they arent major. I need to get on the wrapping though.

Please send warm thoughts and prayers to our troops away from home and their families. Christmas is a time for family and traditions. Nobody should really apart during that time, but soldiers and their families sacrifice those wonderful things that some of us take advantage of. In honor of soldiers and their families, I challenge each of my blog readers to "pay it forward" this week before christmas. If possible for a soldier or their family, if not, then anyone in the honor of the military and their families. Cant think of something to do? I have lots of ideas:

*volunteer an hour or 2 of your time at the red cross

*donate to toys for tots

*buy an extra turkey and give it to a family of need

*volunteer some time at a soldiers retirement center or any sr center

*make a donation to one of the wonderful organizations that help military families, ie-Fisher House, wounded warrior project, etc..

Do something that lets military families and soldiers know that they are thought of and appreciated. This is to include military families helping others as well. WE as military families need to also make sure to serve our communities and give back. We are the BEST advertisement and recruiting tool there is..

Kaydence Marie

So today, our gorgeous grandaughter, Kaydence Marie, turned the BIG 1!!! Happy birthday, beautiful girl!!! She is our 2nd grandchild, but 1st grandaughter. She is so funny and precious and has a cute sense of humor. I am hoping she gives her mom a run for her money as she gets older, for PURELY payback purposes.. Ashlee wasnt an "easy" child-she just LOVED to rock the boat and see how far she could push things.. Happily she has turned out FABULUOS and now has a wonderful husband and daughter.When she was pregnant with Kaydence, she was all by herself because Blake was in Iraq, she did wonderfully though and we are just so proud of the mom and wife she has become. Kaydence is such a cute mesh of Blake and Ashlee and I know she brings them such happiness and good times.. I wish we could be together little girl, for your 1st birthday, but know that Boss and MiMi love you and are so happy you are in our lives. As you grow up you are going to meet challenges and hills, but be honest and try really hard-ask for help if and when you need it. Never be too proud to ask for assistance. Always do your best and never give up or give in. Life is hard, but your family will help to see you through. I cannot wait to see you again.. Smooches my little love..

checking in

doesnt Tony looked thrilled in this photo?

How is everyone doing on this Glorious Tuesday? It is Tuesday, right? Is it not a good sign that for the past 3 days it feels like a Monday??? Not in a bad way, just feels like this week wont move on and the REASON I want it to is because I get Wed, Thur, Fri and Sat off!!! Friday we go wine pouring and Saturday I have a hot date with a very fabulous man-UMM YES, im speaking of Sal, hahhahahah.. My insomnia is back-boooo! BUT last night I started back to NO TV at bedtime and I actually slept really good, not long, but good. Last night Sal and I started watching RESTREPO, heart wrenching... Sal is one to appreciate having nothing during a deployment and making do, but what they went through was beyond and I think EVERYONE should watch this documentary for several reasons..

1- to appreciate what people do VOLUNTARILY for this country(im not sure I could be sold on joining the military)

2-for soldiers to appreciate what they DO have during a deployment

3-for spouses to appreciate what they DO have during a deployment AND to not add drama into a soldiers life as much as possible when they are downrange.. I cant for the life of me imagine Sal trying to stay alive and worrying about my bitchy ways and NOT being focused on trying to stay safe and keeping his soldiers safe.. Soldiers need to know that their household 6 can handle things back home..By that, I dont mean that you should EVER keep your emotions or whats going on back home on lockdown.. I think soldiers NEED and WANT to know whats going on back home in every aspect AND need to know your feelings... But dont be overly dramatic and handle your business..

4-watching this last night made me even more appreciative of EVERYTHING that I have been given in life and to enjoy the people that are in our lives, as we dont know how long those gifts will be here.

Ill be honest, while watching that, I kept thinking to myself " Mary, thank GOD that Sal didnt have to go there" "thank God, that wasnt us" I know that is wrong and bad and I feel guilty for even having that thought, BUT im fairly sure we ALL have that "glad its not me" feeling in most situations. So, for that I feel very guilty and I am sorry.

On a lighter note, I have some more fun reasons its interesting living in Alaska.

*We plug our cars in to keep the engine blocks from breaking

*people in alaska take trips to Hawaii-ALOT

Many Blessings

Happy Thanksgiving. Today while you are enjoying your fabulous friends, family and food-Take a moment to remember the troops who cannot be with their families on this beautiful day. Today all over the world there are husbands, wives, kids and other family members, missing a very important person at their table. Today that soldier isnt carving the turkey or watching the parade or sneaking nibbles from the kitchen. Today many soldiers are downrange helping another country figure it all out. Today a soldier is attempting to enjoy a thanksgiving meal with other wonderful people that while fabulous, is still not the ones they would prefer spending this day with.. To my fellow military spouses that are going through a deployment right now, HUGS and thanks.. I know today its hard cooking those special dishes that are the faves of your soldier, its heartbreaking to see an empty seat. Stay strong and remember its one day closer..