Chaplain Struecker

I haven't gotten a chance to share with you yet but on the 4th of July Chaplain Struecker spoke at my church. The man's story is amazing! He was in the Battle of Mogadishu. For those who don't know about that watch Black Hawk Down. During that mission he was a 24 year old Sgt who was the squad leader and asked to go out and rescue some of his fallen comrades. He said he had to drive very slow through the city to not further injure the soldier he saved. Along the way it seemed like every window had a machine gun pointed at his convoy. His gunner was shot down and killed he said it seemed like the back of his humvee was painted with this soldiers blood. He got to the safe point and was told that he would have to go out on another mission before he goes in the heat of Africa and no running water he needed to clean the back of the Humvee or his soldiers would be scared. As he cleaned the humvee in the sweltering heat he was paralyzed with fear of going back out there. He told God he was going to die that day and to take care of his wife he left back home. He led the next mission and actually made it back safe and he said he had no fear. Later that day his fellow soldiers were asking so tell me how did you do that? How were you unafraid? Tell me about your God? Pray with me please? Let me tell you. He's so moving if you ever get a chance to hear him speak go... If you read books read his book! Its amazing. You can hear his sermon here http://sermon.net/willowbrook

Clique, spoiled Brat, stuck up B**ch, and Snob

You think you have a clique but really your just pretentious snobs. If you think your bad ass who are weeding out the "weak" take a look at yourself in the mirror. So you pretend like your better than everyone else thats why people don't fit into your clique, group or otherwise known as snob community. Undeserving of your attention. I know how this works I am well aware. You put on your padded push up bra, your fake bake tan, your CZ diamonds, and your expensive clothes you bought on credit. Pretending to be someone you aren't. Desperate Housewives of New Jersey/Atlanta/Orange County... Um all that is .. is a bunch of drama. Why would I want to be part of your clique? So if I don't fit into your world then I can just take notes from Bravo Channel programming? haha. You don't like me why? Because I keep it real? I don't wear expensive clothing? have a boob job... and I don't feel like putting on my Bare Minerals make up everytime you see me because I don't feel the need to IMPRESS you. Oh excuse me the only impressions I make are on my husband in the privacy of my home and God. Your not my ticket into Heaven. Avoiding you will probably get me there faster actually. In the Army Life some of us know that we have our own bunch of drama. There are some wives that cheat on their husbands. I don't want anyone to think we are all that way  however that a good precentage are this way. They aren't. But some are. I also know some Military Wives that create their own sources of drama just to keep their lives interesting. Like the stupid crap I had happen to me on Facebook this week. I have also been ostracized from stupid Military Cliques because my husband wasn't their husbands MOS or I am supposedly a rank whore because I haven't been married to my husband for his length of his career. Oddly enough I wasn't dissed much because of his rank and I know that is a problem for alot of people. Maybe he was in enough middle ground haha. I don't wear his rank, his MOS, his time-in... anything. I wear my Army Wife Patch proudly. I am proud of what **I** have accomplished. I am proud of what HE has accomplished seperately and together. Mommy Groups, Mommy Meetups, Mommy Cliques... You name it they are all nothing but a clique. I pride myself on the group I run myself. I have been running for 10 years because I think we are very varied and I am pretty receptive to all walks of life. Matter of fact I LOVE it except ignorance. Even that can be entertaining. Okay so off track.
You maybe shouldn't leave your group for strangers to join. Perhaps you should recruit from within if your going to be that stuck up. If I don't get dressed up once a week to go to the meat market with you ladies and drink your expensive wine... I am sorry its not the way I roll. If the way I roll makes me ghetto... fine. I laugh though considering the life style I was raised in. Maybe I am anti-snob.
Wait I now interrupt this program for a broadcast emergency system....
Define Snob:

Main Entry: snob



Pronunciation: \ˈsnäb\


Function: noun


Etymology: origin unknown


Date: 1781


1 British : cobbler


2 : one who blatantly imitates, fawningly admires, or vulgarly seeks association with those regarded as social superiors


3 a : one who tends to rebuff, avoid, or ignore those regarded as inferior b : one who has an offensive air of superiority in matters of knowledge or taste

We now return you to your reguarly scheduled programming

So I guess I don't get it. You pretend to be someone your not, You act spoiled so some people can't stand to be around you, You disregard others and disrespect them by being unreliable. You have to tire yourselves out putting on your best, loading up your credit cards, and stealing precious time away from your loved ones (Like Children, Husbands, Military Members, RELIGON)... So because I keep it real and I don't pretend I don't belong in your clique? Oh I keep it real and I don't stab people in the back and lie that makes me not worthy of your friendship? At what point do you have a meeting of the secret society of stuck up bitches to decide that I am not good enough. I mean I don't think I smell bad, I am not gross, I am on my best behavior (sans alcohol), My kids are nice to your kids, My husband is unsociable but polite? So what's your fucking deal?

Do you think for once that you should just be yourself? I am not into your games and drinking. I don't mind having a good time with some nice girl friends. Just ask about the last Moms Night Out I had, and the one before that. HA I even did it with people in your stupid stuck up clique.. I am so freaking tired of Mommy Groups who aren't supportive and Military Wives weeding out the weak... Honey if they military weeded out the weak then your ass would have been long gone for starting drama long ago. Another blog for another time but the Military is about Politics and Politicians are back stabbing enough they don't need your help. When I go to a play date, a moms night out, a military function. I go to meet NICE people who are honest and true. That have things in common with myself, my husband or my children. I don't even have to like them! As long as my child has fun I am happy. Why do women have to act like overgrown children? We have a hard enough time keeping men from regressing back to the age of 5!

Ugh I have terrible writers block tonight but I got really irritated by this weeks Facebook Drama, A stupid Meetup Group and some people in General. Quit acting entitled and spoiled maybe people will be more honest with you!

A week with Bailey.. Quite the adventure

Bailey and his fabulous neckwear. I think it comes off today. YAY for Bailey.
He'd better not bite his foot anymore!!

Last week most of you know I was watching my neighbors dog. Bailey (the dog who is a Collie Mix) seems to have some confusion. He thinks **I** am his mate. He's a silly thing...

A few months back Brittany (my neighbor) and I were out going for a walk with the babies. Bailey isn't well trained on a lease he actually does better without it. He got his foot tangled with the tire to my stroller. A few seconds before we reached the house he started whining at the pavement. I thought it was just too hot. We reached the door and poor Bailey started bleeding out.
Eventually the bleeding stopped but for months Bailey has chewed at his foot and it got infected. So he was sent to my house with loads of antibiotic and steroids and a cone on his head.
My cats stayed terrified and lived on the second floor which one of them does 99% of the time anyways.
Bailey can't go upstairs because of his cone he's not very graceful with it. He wanted to only eat off the floor, drink water out of the baby pool and only go potty back in his own yard LOL.
(Thank you Bailey for not making my yard dirty)

So I don't know who this is embarrassing for its just a funny story. I was in the living room a few yards but with clear sight of my husband who was in front of my desk in the office/family room/ formerly a dining room. He misjudged my chair and fell down. I laid where I was standing and ROFL (literally). Bailey covered my head with his big ole cone and started sniffing me and licking my face to make sure I was okay.

Now ask me about getting Bailey to take his medicine lol.

Again I wanted to share Bad Ass Marine.

This still has the same effect on me as the first time I saw it. I wish President Obama would listen if he hasn't. This poem refueled the fire that I thought had kindled down after 2 deployments and leaving the Army life behind and seemingly to get the cold shoulder from others.
I know my passion to serve never died. I have wanted to join the military since I was 18 and tried to join three branches of service myself. 9/11 was what made me stop actually in all honesty I was going to MEPS the next day.
What is your opinion on the poem?



Lyrics (from BadAssMarine.com):
Free

and She called...
Blacks, Whites...wait
African Americans and Caucasians, Asians, excuse me.
Vietnamese, Philipenes, Koreans and Jamaicans or
Haitans, waitin' Hispanics y'all.

Please be paitent
Mexican, Puerto Ricans, Venezualean, Cuban, v Dominican, Panamanian Democrats
I beg your pardon, you partied with the late, great Reagan?
Republican, Independent, Christian, Catholic,
Methodist, Baptist, 7th Day Adventist, 5 Percenters,
Hindu, Sunii Muslim, Brothers and Sisters who never seen the New York city
skyline when the twin towers still existed.
But still She called.

From the bowels of Ground Zero she sent this 911 distress signal.
Because She was in desperate need of a hero,
and didn't have time to decipher what to call 'em,
so she called 'em all Her children.
The children of the stars and bars who needed to know nothing more than the fact that she called.
The fact that someone attempted to harm us
this daughter who covered us all with her loving arms.
And now these arms are sprawled across New York City streets.
A smoke filled lung, a silt covered faced,
and a solitary tear poured out of her cheek.
Her singed garments carpets Pennsylvania Avenue and the Pentagon was under her feet.
As she began to talk, she began to cough up small particles of debris
and said, "I am America, and I'm calling on the land of the free."
So they answered.

All personal differences set to the side
because right now there was no time to decide which state building the Confederate flag should fly over,
and which trimester the embryo is considered alive,
or on our monetary units, and which God we should confide.
You see, someone attempted to choke the voice
of the one who gave us the right for choice,
and now she was callin.
And somebody had to answer.
Who was going to answer?

So they did.
Stern faces and chisled chins.
Devoted women and disciplined men,
who rose from the ashes like a pheonix
and said "don't worry, we'll stand in your defense."
They tightened up their bootlaces
and said goodbye to loved ones, family and friends.
They tried to bombard them with the "hold on", "wait-a-minute's", and "what-if's".
And "Daddy, where you goin?".
And, "Mommy, why you leavin?".
And they merely kissed them on their foreheads and said "Don't worry, I have my reasons.
You see, to this country I pledged my allegience
to defend it against all enemies foreign and domestic.
So as long as I'm breathin, I'll run though hell-fire,
meet the enemy on the front lines,
look him directly in his face,
stare directly in his eyes and scream,
"I AM AMERICA! WE WILL NOT BE TERRORIZED!
WE WILL NOT BE TERRORIZED!
I REFUSE TO BE AFRAID!
I'LL FIGHT YOU ANY COUNTRY, ANY CONTINENT, ANY TERRAIN.
I'LL FIGHT TO MY LAST BREATH!"

And if by chance death is my fate,
pin my medals upon my chest,
and throw Old Glory on my grave.
But, don't y'all cry for me.
You see, my Father's prepared a place.
I'll be a part of his Holy army standing a watch at the Pearly Gates.
Because freedom was never free.
POW's, and fallen soldiers
all paid the ultimate sacrafice
along side veterans who put themselves in harms way.
Risking their lives and limbs just to hold up democracy's weight,
but still standing on them broken appendages anytime the National Anthem was played.
You see, these were the brave warriors that gave me the right
to say that I'm Black. Or white.

Or

African American or Caucasian,
I'm Asian, excuse me.
I'm Vietnamese, Philipene, Korean, or Jamaican.
I'm Haitan, Hispanic

Y'all, Please be paitent.
I'm Mexican, Puerto Rican, Venezualean, Cuban,
Dominican, Panamanian, Democrat
I beg your pardon, you see I partied with the late, great Reagan.
I'm Republican, Independent, Christian, Catholic,
Methodist, Baptist, 7th Day Adventist, 5 Percenters,
Hindu, Sunii Muslim,

Brothers and Sisters We're just Americans.
So with that I say
"Thank You" to the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marines,
for preserving my rights
to live and die for this life
and paying the ultimate price for me to be...FREE!

BadAssMarine.com

A story about a marriage

Marriage (please take a few minutes to read)Share. Yesterday at 9:41am
When I got home that night as my wife served dinner, I held her hand and said, I've got something to tell you. She sat down and ate quietly. Again I observed the hurt in her eyes.

Suddenly I didn't know how to open my mouth. But I had to let her know what I was thinking. I want a divorce.. I raised the topic calmly.

She didn't seem to be annoyed by my words, instead she asked me softly, why?

I avoided her question. This made her angry. She threw away the chopsticks and shouted at me, you are not a man! That night, we didn't talk to each other. She was weeping. I knew she wanted to find out what had happened to our marriage. But I could hardly give her a satisfactory answer; she had lost my heart to Dew. I didn't love her anymore. I just pitied her!

With a deep sense of guilt, I drafted a divorce agreement which stated that she could own our house, our car, and 30% stake of my company.

She glanced at it and then tore it into pieces. The woman who had spent ten years of her life with me had become a stranger. I felt sorry for her wasted time, resources and energy but I could not take back what I had said for I loved Dew so dearly. Finally she cried loudly in front of me, which was what I had expected to see. To me her cry was actually a kind of release. The idea of divorce which had obsessed me for several weeks seemed to be firmer and clearer now.

The next day, I came back home very late and found her writing something at the table. I didn't have supper but went straight to sleep and fell asleep very fast because I was tired after an eventful day with Dew.

When I woke up, she was still there at the table writing. I just did not care so I turned over and was asleep again.

In the morning she presented her divorce conditions: she didn't want anything from me, but needed a month's notice before the divorce.
She requested that in that one month we both struggle to live as normal a life as possible. Her reasons were simple: our son had his exams in a month's time and she didn't want to disrupt him with our broken marriage.

This was agreeable to me. But she had something more, she asked me to recall how I had carried her into out bridal room on our wedding day.

She requested that everyday for the month's duration I carry her out of our bedroom to the front door ever morning.. I thought she was going crazy. Just to make our last days together bearable I accepted her odd request.

I told Dew about my wife's divorce conditions.. . She laughed loudly and thought it was absurd. No matter what tricks she applies, she has to face the divorce, she said scornfully..

My wife and I hadn't had any body contact since my divorce intention was explicitly expressed. So when I carried her out on the first day, we both appeared clumsy. Our son clapped behind us, daddy is holding mummy in his arms. His words brought me a sense of pain. From the bedroom to the sitting room, then to the door, I walked over ten meters with her in my arms. She closed her eyes and said softly; don't tell our son about the divorce. I nodded, feeling somewhat upset. I put her down outside the door. She went to wait for the bus to work. I drove alone to the office.

On the second day, both of us acted much more easily. She leaned on my chest. I could smell the fragrance of her blouse. I realized that I hadn't looked at this woman carefully for a long time.. I realized she was not young any more. There were fine wrinkles on her face, her hair was graying! Our marriage had taken its toll on her. For a minute I wondered what I had done to her.

On the fourth day, when I lifted her up, I felt a sense of intimacy returning. This was the woman who had given ten years of her life to me.

On the fifth and sixth day, I realized that our sense of intimacy was growing again. I didn't tell Dew about this. It became easier to carry her as the month slipped by. Perhaps the everyday workout made me stronger.

She was choosing what to wear one morning. She tried on quite a few dresses but could not find a suitable one. Then she sighed, all my dresses have grown bigger. I suddenly realized that she had grown so thin, that was the reason why I could carry her more easily.

Suddenly it hit me... she had buried so much pain and bitterness in her heart. Subconsciously I reached out and touched her head.

Our son came in at the moment and said, Dad, it's time to carry mum out. To him, seeing his father carrying his mother out had become an essential part of his life. My wife gestured to our son to come closer and hugged him tightly. I turned my face away because I was afraid I might change my mind at this last minute. I then held her in my arms, walking from the bedroom, through the sitting room, to the hallway. Her hand surrounded my neck softly and naturally. I held her body tightly; it was just like our wedding day.

But her much lighter weight made me sad. On the last day, when I held her in my arms I could hardly move a step. Our son had gone to school. I held her tightly and said, I hadn't noticed that our life lacked intimacy.

I drove to office.... jumped out of the car swiftly without locking the door. I was afraid any delay would make me change my mind...I walked upstairs. Dew opened the door and I said to her, Sorry, Dew, I do not want the divorce anymore.

She looked at me, astonished, and then touched my forehead.. Do you have a fever? She said. I moved her hand off my head. Sorry, Dew, I said, I won't divorce. My marriage life was boring probably because she and I didn't value the details of our lives, not because we didn't love each other any more. Now I realize that since I carried her into my home on our wedding day I am supposed to hold her until death do us apart.

Dew seemed to suddenly wake up. She gave me a loud slap and then slammed the door and burst into tears. I walked downstairs and drove away.

At the floral shop on the way, I ordered a bouquet of flowers for my wife. The salesgirl asked me what to write on the card. I smiled and wrote, I'll carry you out every morning until death do us apart.

That evening I arrived home, flowers in my hands, a smile on my face, I run up stairs, only to find my wife in the bed - dead.
My wife had been fighting CANCER for months and I was so busy with Dew to even notice. She knew that she would die soon and she wanted to save me from the whatever negative reaction from our son, in case we push thru with the divorce.-- At least, in the eyes of our son--- I'm a loving husband....

The small details of your lives are what really matter in a relationship. It is not the mansion, the car, property, the money in the bank. These create an environment conducive for happiness but cannot give happiness in themselves. So find time to be your spouse's friend and do those little things for each other that build intimacy. Do have a real happy marriage!

You can share this cos you just might save a marriage.
Many of life's failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up.

Mamarazzi Monday-- 4th of July

My friend Betty, Her husband Mike, and their 1 month old Mike Jr... came down for the Fourth. They brought Jacob and Noah too. Jacob and Noah are kids of a friend of theirs. Friday when they came down Betty and I went to the Commissary and then to see Eclipse. Saturday we went off shopping, went to the Space and Rocket Center and we hung out. Sunday we went to church. She said she loved it and it meaned alot! I love my church and I am super proud of it. Then we went shopping again haha. That evening we BBQ'd with my neighbors who are close to me and set off fire works.