My Life.. My Mind .. Day In And Out

And I miss you when you're gone, that is what I do.

And time goes by, so slowly, and time can do so much. Are you, still mine?

Empty spaces fill me up with holes, distant faces, with no place left to go. Without you, within me, I can find no rest.

You're my life's one miracle.

Can we pretend that airplanes in the night sky are like shooting stars? I could use a wish right now.

Guess I must be wishin' on someone else's star.

The long and winding road that leads to your door will never disappear.

There ain't nothing that I wouldn't do, to make you feel my love.

When you're dreaming with a broken heart, the waking up is the hardest part.

One more day, one more time, one more sunset I'd be satisfied, but then again I know what it would... Leave me wishing still for one more day with you.

There's a possibility, There's a possibility that all that I had was I was gonna get.

But I swear, you'll be blessed... And you, you'll be blessed. You'll have the best, i promise you that. I'll promise you that I'll pick a star from the sky, pull your name from a hat, I promise you that you'll be blessed.

And I'll take with me the memories, to be my sunshine after the rain.

Just yesterday morning, they let me know you were gone.

I'm trying to put this thing to bed, I drugged it in it's sleep. There isn't many memories I'm comfortable to keep.

Staring out, depressed about the words I have to bleed, so torn apart. Crying, desperate, fighting questions, scared to let go.

I can take the rain on the roof of this empty house, that don't bother me. I can take a few tears now and then and just let 'em out. I'm not afraid to cry every once and awhile even though going on with you gone still upsets me, there are days, every now and again I pretend I'm okay, but that's not what gets me. What hurts the most, was being so close.

I hope you're doing fine out there without me, cuz I'm not doing so good without you.

If I could be like that, I would give anything. Just to live one day in those shoes.

I'm so tried of being here, suppressed by all my childish fears... And if you have to leave, I wish that you would just leave, your presence still lingers here and it won't leave me alone. These wounds won't seem to heal this pain is just too real, there's just to much that time can not erase.

And do you know the silent sorrows of a never ending journey through the pain? Do you see a brighter day for me, another day, a day... Do you wonder what's in store for me, the cure for me, the way? I look down, see the tears I've cried, lives I've lied and deaths I've died.

It's just tears and rain.

Ten Tough Things About Being A Military Wife...

1. DeploymentsThese are I think the number one reason to dislike being a military wife. Nobody likes deployments, worrying about our husbands and being lonely at home, but we all have to go through with them.
Ways to Deal:
As a lot of people said in their posts yesterday, deployments are a way to help us grow. Ways to deal are to seek support of others: from God, friends, and church. It's still not easy, but it definitely helps to have support!

2. Being Away From Friends and FamilyHere is on that has been tough for me. I really miss being away from friends and family. I miss Florida so much, and get sad when I see people on facebook, who get to go to Florida all the time. I know it's part of the military life, but that still does not make it easy.
Ways to Deal:
I don't think anything can make up for your own friends and family, but making new friends where you are stationed helps a lot.

3. LonelinessBecause we are away from friends and family, I find that loneliness can creep in a lot. Loneliness is especially bad when your husband is gone as well. Sometimes just being home alone all day just makes for a rough day.
Ways to Deal:
Talk to God. Tell Him you are lonely and remember He is always with you. Spend time with friends as you can, that helps a lot and keeps your mind off the loneliness.

4. MovingFor military members moving is a part of life, and sometimes that can be difficult after moving so many times, or moving while you have kids. It's hard to adjust each time, and hard to leave friends behind and make new ones.
Ways to Deal:
Make it fun, and have a good attitude!

5. Work ScheduleMy husband is on call a lot, and that means he can get called in at anytime day or night. We have been in the middle of church and had to leave, and he almost missed Easter Sunday as well. It can be very frustrating.
Ways to Deal:
Have a good attitude and find other stuff to do do keep busy if he has to work.

6. Finding Your Place After a MoveAfter moving so many times, it gets hard to each time make new friends, find a new church, and find your place in the community. Sometimes it only takes a little while other times it can take months depending on where you live.
Ways to Deal:
Reach out to others, volunteer, find military wives groups.

7. Having to go to the Military Doctors.I could go on and on about this one because I have a lot to say on the matter after having a lot of problems with the Doctors we see here on this base, but I won't. I do like the health care coverage, but I wish we were allowed to go ahead and choose our own doctors who are not part of the base and who have more schooling.
Ways to Deal:
Pray. Be patient. Pray.

8. Not being able to Plan AheadThis is a big one for me, because I am a person who likes to plan ahead. The military just does not let you do that. You cannot plan too much because anything could change at anytime, any number of times. It's just the way of military life and I have come to expect it.
Ways to Deal:Know that you cannot always plan, and be prepared for change no matter what.
9. Drama
I did not realize how much drama was involved with being a military wife or even having a husband in the military. I do my part to stay out of it, but even my husband tells me stories of things that he deals with and it amazes me how drama is even in the military!
Ways to Deal:
Stay away from it, and know that drama will probably be there no matter where you go!
10. Being Supportive
I know this may sound weird, but sometimes with all the things we go through like those that I mentioned above, it sometimes gets really hard to be supportive of your husband. Especiallyafter he mentions he is going on another deployment, going back to work after he just got home, or is going to miss a certain even because he will be working or deployed.Ways to Deal:Ask God to help you be supportive no matter what. Remember that he needs the encouragement just as much as you do!

military wife survival tips..

1. Learn to be independent. Odds are, your spouse will spend time away from home for various reasons. This means you will be in charge of bills, cooking, cleaning, childrearing, etc. If you can't handle this without your spouse, you will never be able to survive as a military wife. This is true whether or not you work outside the home.

2. Be prepared for things to happen. Your spouse leaves for an extended period of time. All hell breaks loose in the house. This can include any or all of the following: illness of you or kids, car breaks down, anything in the house breaks down, death and natural disasters. The important thing is to go with the flow. Know that things happen. Don't live your life in fear, but don't be surprised when things happen.

3. Know that you will move every few years. It is the rare military person that spends years in one place. Know that you will move, and if they military pays to move you, as opposed to you moving yourself and the military paying you, that things will probably get broken or damaged. There's an old joke about military families buying all their stuff at Wal-Mart, because they have to replace things all the time. As has been stated: things happen. Be prepared to move at a moment's notice.

4. Perhaps the most important thing is to keep a sense of humor! If you don't have a sense of humor, you will NEVER be able to be a military wife. A sense of humor will get you through the hard times: illness, moving, problems, etc. One day, you will look back on your experiences. It is better to laugh about them to look back and lament the things that went wrong.

These 4 tips will help you make the adjustment from being a "normal" civilian to being a military wife. The military life is never easy, but it is never boring, either. It's a different way of life, but one that can be lived with much enjoyment!

The Do's & Don'ts while in uniform

The military service etiquette we abide by today is steeped in several hundred years of U.S. history.  Many rules change over time as the military updates codes of conduct to reflect new attitudes and etiquette.  However, some traditions still exist that may seem a bit antiquated (or even unfair) to you, the spouse.
When reviewing the list below, keep in mind that maintenance of these rules allows service members to project professionalism.  These rules apply to your service member anytime he is in uniform, but many also apply to you when you are you attending a military function or in public with your uniformed hubby.

Do:
Walk on your husband’s left side so he can salute others.
Refer to your spouse by his first name or nickname, or as “my husband.”  Do not refer to your husband as “Capt. Smith” or “the Captain.”
Stand at a public function or ceremony when the senior officer enters and is announced.   This applies to everyone in attendance.
Offer your husband an umbrella in the rain, but only if it’s black. He’s not allowed to carry any other color.
Push the baby carriage or stroller so your spouse doesn’t have to.  It’s considered “unmilitary” to do so while in uniform.
Help your spouse carry any packages or bundles to make it easier for him to salute.  (Are you wondering if a man made up these rules so that wives would have to do all the heavy lifting?)
Don’t:
Show public displays of affection, except at homecomings and goodbyes.  This includes kissing and holding hands.
Offer your spouse a piece of gum.  It is not “military” for him to chew it.  The same goes for smoking while in uniform.
Allow him to put his hands in his pockets unless he is placing or retrieving an item.
Refer to your husband’s orders as “our orders” unless you are a service member yourself.
Offer him food or drink while he’s walking.  He should not be eating, drinking or using a cell phone while walking in uniform.
Refer to others in the service as “sir” or “ma’am,” even if your spouse does.  Refer to them by their rank and last name (“Capt. Smith”).
Allow your child to wear your spouse’s uniform for Halloween.  Uniforms bearing insignia, badges and tabs should be worn only by authorized personnel.

How To Pray For Your Military Man..

HOW TO PRAY FOR YOUR MILITARY MAN

The Bible tells us that “The prayer of a righteous man [or woman] is powerful and effective” (James 5:16). So what are you praying for? Most, if not all of us pray for our husbands. But do you know exactly how to pray for your military man’s unique needs? I asked Chaplain (Capt.) Scott Koeman, currently in Afghanistan, for some specific things we can be praying for. Here is the insightful list he shared with me:

Pray that he would have the Peace of Christ with him — especially if he travels outside of his Forward Operating Base (FOB)

Pray that he will depend on the Love of God to keep him from bitterness at others (who needlessly make life difficult on their subordinates especially when they aren’t the most competent leader).

Pray for Protection. Psalm I25:2 “As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the Lord surrounds his people both now and forevermore.”

Pray for that he will be vigilant if he is called upon to fire upon the enemy. Psalm 144:1-2 “Praise be to the Lord my Rock, who trains my hands for war, my fingers for battle. He is my loving God and my fortress my stronghold and my deliverer, my shield, in whom I take refuge, who subdues peoples under me.”

Pray that the enemy will be turned back. Psalm 40:14 “May all who seek to take my life be put to shame and confusion: may all who desire my ruin be turned back in disgrace.”

Pray that our Soldiers will be fulfilled in their jobs. Without purpose time out here is extremely long and difficult.

Pray that Soldiers/their husbands will resist lowering themselves to low levels of conversations and instead seek to be examples of goodness and righteousness.

Pray that Soldiers/husbands find “good and solid” Christian brothers to have fellowship with.

Pray for the leadership in Platoons, Companies, Battalions, Brigades ….depending on what level the Soldier/husband works. Leadership can make or break a man. They have the biggest impact.

If you're not in love with a solider you wouldn't know any of these..

          IF YOU'RE NOT IN LOVE WITH A SOLDIER

 If you're not in love with a soldier, you can't know adventure. You don't

 know smelly gray PT uniforms that require a daily washing.  You can't

 understand green and brown camouflaged bags flooding your bedroom floor.

 If you're not in love with a soldier, you can't understand the meaning of the

phrase "going  to the field" and the weeks you spend away from each other.

 If you're not in love with a soldier, you can never imagine the hole in your

 heart when that phone call comes? "Honey, I am leaving tomorrow to go

 overseas.  I don't know how long I will be gone or exactly where I am going,

 but I want you to know that I love you - always!"

 If you're not in love with a soldier, you don't know what it's like to say

 that final good-bye. You don't know what it really means to be glued to the

 television. You don't understand fear and you can't possibly understand the

 sleepless nights of endless crying wondering if you will ever see the love

 of your life alive again.

 If you're not in love with a soldier, you can't know the immense joy, the

 uncontrollable smile, or the butterflies in your stomach when you see your

 soldier march into the family waiting area upon redeployment.  You can't

 understand the self-control it takes to stand on the other side of the room

as some higher-up gives a seemingly endless welcome home speech while all

 the soldiers stand in formation. You don't know what it's like to have

that second first kiss or what it's like to experience puppy love all over.

 If you're not in love with a soldier, you can't truly understand how to make

 every moment count because you never know when that phone call may come again.

 If you're not in love with a soldier, you can never really understand how

 very delicate life really is!

 

The Silent Ranks...

The Silent Ranks

I wear no uniforms,
 No blues or army greens.
But I am in the military
In the ranks rarely seen.
I have no rank upon my shoulders.
Salutes I do not give.
But the military world
Is the place where I live.

I am not in the chain of command,
Orders I do not get.
But my husband is the one who does,
this I cannot forget.
I am not the ones who fires the weapon,
who puts my life on the line.
But my job is just as tough.
I am the one that is left behind.

My husband is a patriot,
A brave, a prideful man
And the call to serve his country,
 Not all understand.
Behind the lines I see the things needed
to keep this country free.
My husband makes the sacrifice,
but so do our kids and me.

I love the man I married,
Soldiering is his life.
But I stand among the silent ranks
know as the Military Wife.

In Honor of My Husband (Joseph A. Precup)

Military Girl HandBook....

MILITARY GIRL HANDBOOK

1. Don't count on anything!

2. Don't listen to ANYONE on the outside. All you will get is negative remarks, which will make things harder for you to deal with.

3. When he becomes stubborn and a royal pain in the ass, just remind yourself he's probably had a bad day, and being away from you is hard on him too. So just let him rant and dont take it personal.

4. When youre down, treat yourself.

5. Learn how to listen if you dont know how! He will need you, you will be the one he comes to when he needs to bitch, but dont bitch back...that is what the Navy/Girlfriends/Fiancées/ Wifes are for! This is a hard time for our men and they NEED us much more than sometimes they think they do!

6. Love your Sailor be truthful, and reassure him, even if he is deployed he'll have someone to come back too!

7. He will try to pull away at some point. Whether directly telling you to move on, not wait for him or just becoming distant. It's a way they try of dealing, stick with him cause he really does want (and need) you there.

8. When he is away for a long time, or even just a couple hours away, write a lot of letters! Communication is key to a relationship.

9. Some of his friends will probably be morons - expect this.

10. You arent the only woman in his life (his mom misses and loves him too!) so make sure she is updated on what is going on with him.

11. He needs to feel important so don't hold back on the compliments - remind him how proud you are of what he does.

12. Chances are they won't call when they say they will (that especially applies for deployed!).

13. Don't buy that nonrefundable airplane ticket too early. 

14. When eating with a sailor you either finish your "chow" in 15 minutes or less or be stared at until you are finished.

15. Never take one single minute with them for granted. Live each day with them like its the last one you'll have for a while, because with the Navy, it just might be!

16. Take lots of pictures, so you can remember what each other looks like!

17. Don't even TRY to compare your Sailor to ordinary men. You can no longer bitch about broken plans, that phone call you were supposed to get but didn't, missed birthdays and anniversaries, his snoring (hey, at least he's sleeping BESIDE you), spending more time with "the boys" than you, etc., etc., etc...

18. Always look on the bright side of things. How many of your gal-pals get their first encounter, first date, first kiss from their men over and over again??

19. Gotta be able to keep up with your man. We give our Sailors a whole new meaning of PT =)

20. Even if he says he will, he probably won't. Maybe really means probably not OR probably not when he said he would (example: "I might be able to call you tomorrow" but he can't find the time to call until a week later or "I might be able to come home next month for a week"...that might turn into 2 weeks)

21. Being a Sailor's girlfriend/fiancée is the toughest job in the Navy. You have to deal with stress similar to the wives, without the promise of forever or the benefits and support they get.

22. We find ourselves using military lingo. "I'm gonna go get my room squared away", "It's chow time", or using military time

23. Patience is the biggest key to making the relationship work... you have to wait a lot but in the end, waiting is what made it all worthwhile.
(I didn't write this)

The price You Pay Loving A Seabee...

The Price You Pay for Loving a Seabee

Loving a seabee has a high price to pay.
It's an ache in your heart while he is away.
It's being alone with nothing to hold,
It's being young, yet feeling so old.

It's having him whispering his love to you.
And whispering back that you love him too.
Then comes a kiss and a promise of love,
And knowing that you have been blessed from above.

Then reluctantly, painfully, letting him go.
While your dying inside from wanting him so.
Watching him go, with eyes full of tears.
Standing alone with your hopes, dreams and fears.

It's sending a letter with the stamp upside down,
To a far away love in a far away town.
It's going to church to kneel and pray,
And really meaning the things that you say.

And all the while that he is away,
You just keep on loving him more each day.
That love will bring hope and foster your dreams,
And lift you to Heaven where his love light gleams.

Days go by and there's no mail for a spell,
You wait for some word to hear that he's well.
Then the letter arrives and your given to joy!
You're like a small child with a shiny new toy!

With fingers a-tremble and heart beating fast.
You tear open his letter and read it at last.
Yes! He is well! But he misses you so...
It's filled with the love you've wanted to know.

Weeks are now months, and months are a year.
You wait for the days when you'll have no more fear.
Time passes slowly, yet it's gone very fast,
You're barely aware it is here till it's past.

Yes loving a soldier brings bitterness and fears,
loneliness and sadness, and despondent tears.
Loving a soldier really isn't much fun,
But it's well worth the price when the battle is won.

Remember he's thinking about you every day.
He's sad and he's lonely being so far away.
So love him, and miss him, and hold your head high.
Be strong and have faith, wipe that tear from your eye.

No, he won't be the same when he finally comes home.
He'll be older and wiser than the man that you've known.
But you'll also have changed, being stronger and bolder.
That's the price that you pay for loving a sailor.

(I didn't write this)

I'm The Girl... The Military Wife

IM THE GIRL

You don't know but i'm the girl who cries every night wondering when his next return will be. 
I'm the girl who drags herself out of bed every morning so that he will be proud of me when he comes home. 
I'm the girl who lies in bed longing for him to be lying next to me. 
I'm the girl who sits queitly during class because all I can think about is that next moment when he will be safely in my arms again. 
You don't know but i'm the girl with a million things to say but not one will come out without the thought of him.
I'm the girl who checks my cell phone every five seconds to make sure I haven't missed his call or a text message. 
I'm the girl who stops and stares and wishes for him to return soon each and every time another man in uniform walks by. 
What you dont know is that I know love on an entirely different level from most.  I know the love that spans time and space. 
The love that most people are constantly searchiong for.
I'm one of the girls who waits months for a single kiss, a kiss that will make the months apart worth every second.
A kiss where everything in the world stops and for what seems like eternity, you can see into the person's soul and know that without them, life is not worth living.
You tell me i'm too young to be "so in love" I know that love has no age limit.  You tell me I don't even understand what love is, I tell you, I know more love in one homecoming than most know in a lifetime. 
You don't know that every time he leaves a part of me goes with him and part of him stays with me.
You tell me that people change and I tell you true love will always remain the same. 
You tell me i'm too young to be in a serious relationship, I tell you that i'm too in love to not be. 
You tell me you know how I feel and that you understand what i'm going through, you have no idea. 
What you don't realize is that I understand the true meaning of not only love but longing and anticipation.
You don't see but i'm one of the few who gets goose bumps as my hearts fills with pride every time the National Anthem is playing. 
I'm one of the girls who will stand tall and stay strong on the outside but be dying on the inside. 
I'm one of the girls who will make friends with complete strangers for only they can even begin to understand what I am going through. 
You don't understand that I picture his face everywhere I go and that he is with me in everything that I do. 
You think I don't cry anymore, that I have gotten over it, but what you don't know is that I just hide it better.
You don't know the feeling the first time you hear the word deployment or the feeling of his hand as it slides out of yours for what could be the last time.
You don't know what that last hug or kiss means and how important that good-bye truly is.
I'm the girl you see standing alone in the airport watching quietly out the window with tears rolling down my cheeks.
I'm the girl you see walking by with a disheartened face staring silently at the ground.
What you don;t know is that I know true love and that no matter what obstacles we have to face, our love will live forever.
You tell me you support the the men in uniform I tell you i'm in love with one.
I'm one of the silent but outgoing, weak but strong, scared but grateful.  What you don't see is that without me he is nothing and without him I am nothing.
I'm one of those girls. the girl who stands tall behind her soldier, behind her hero, stands strong behind her man, watching silently as he serves and defends our country.

"Friends Forever"

Forever Friends

Sometimes in life,
you find a special friend;
Someone who changes your life
just by being part of it.
Someone who makes you laugh
until you can't stop;
Someone who makes you believe
that there really is good in the world.
Someone who convinces you
that there really is an unlocked door
just waiting for you to open it.

From the bottom of my heart 

I thank you all for being my friends

I love you all

By: Natalie Precup