Just Give a Crap!

I am one of those people who tend to be very independent. I am also one of those people who takes care of others. I know quite a few people like this and we all seem to have to the same “beef.” We seem to get forgotten about quite often. Every difficult, or even happy, situation I have gone through in my life, I feel unimportant. I know we should not compare our lives to others, but it is disheartening to watch other people be encircled by their friends, co-workers, and family during these times when I am not that fortunate. Don’t missunderstand me, I am super grateful to those few who have been there for me. I also think it is awesome that people have that kind of support; the reason I am jealous!


Being a military member or spouse makes this situation all the more difficult for a few reasons:


(1) Normally, you do not have family near you to attend those happy moments or support you during the tough ones. The active duty other half’s unit becomes your family (or not, depending on the climate). Sometimes they check in on you (like the same day of the month to fill a quota), but what someone really needs is for those little things to be noticed; maybe like that day you are trying to hide your flushed face after crying or an over-exuberant smile because you are just busting at the seams with good news.


(2) You get a new best friend and friends every time you PCS (move) or your friends PCS. Sometimes you will go months or even years without either because the fit just isn’t there. I am in that boat right now. My latest best friend for the last 2 plus years PCS’d the same month my husband went on his remote tour. My newest friend went TDY (temporary duty) two months after. Now, I am without a local friend.


I often wonder when people stopped caring about people. I hear songs that talk about –if you call me, I will drop everything and be there-. Where are those people? We are a society of “keep your nose in your own business” when we need to be aware of others in a positive way, not a negative way like calling child services on your neighbor because YOU feel they were too mean to their kid that one day. Or, sorry my life of perfect dinners and TV is WAY more important than your need for support. Maybe, we could encourage each other a little more and make the world a better place; MAYBE.

This post is dedicated to Jarred! Thank you for bugging me to write another post :)

Give of Yourself to be Happy

"I don't know what your destiny will be, but one thing I do know: the only ones among you who will be really happy are those who have sought and found how to serve." - Albert Schewitzer (Philosopher, Physician, Nobel Peace Prize winner)

Time to Get Busy - Fix that Bathroom!

"If you want to make an easy job seem mighty hard, just keep putting off doing it." - Olin Miller

I have been staring at my demolished bathroom for almost a year now. The story behind this destroyed bathroom is this:

Celebrate Good Times....and choose to be happy!

Holy Cow! It is 2014 already! I am sure most folks are already making their New Years Resolutions. I am no different. My first order of business is to choose to be happy and have more fun. I have already started working on that.

Tis the season...to outrageous expectations!

"I think there must be something wrong with me, Linus. Christmas is coming, but I'm not happy. I guess I don't feel the way I'm supposed to feel. I just don't understand Christmas, I guess. I like getting present and sending Christmas cards, and decorating trees and all that, but I'm still not happy. I always end up feeling depressed." - Charlie Brown

kenlevine.blogspot.com

DIY - I'm No Canning Genius, But I Have Some Tips

Oh how I love my canning jars. I am pretty sure they are one of my most prized possessions. I love to can and I can whenever I can. <---try to say that 10 times fast. I know I will never be able to have a pantry full enough to never go to the grocery center aisles every again (until my kids move out), but I sure do try. I am not the perfect canning woman, but I do have some lessons that I have learned over the last two years.

My Journey-Open Letter to My Friends

I am 35 and I have moved at least 25 times in my lifetime. Only about 12 of those times were during my military career. I had switched schools 15 times when I was a youth. I was in the social services system for a total of about 18 months off and on. The longest I ever lived in one house was 5 years. The shortest time I have lived in one house was 4 months. I have lived in 7 states, 3 countries, and 10+ cities. So, it would be a fair assessment that it has been difficult to make and maintain friends. I learned early on to move on with my life in every way. That does not mean that the friends I did make during all of those "stays" are not near and dear to me. Some of those friends I have reconnected with on Facebook in a surface type friendship, others I cannot find, and some I am trying to be a better friend to right now. I decided to write an open letter to all of my friends and hope that through the 'net it will reach many of them.