Happy Birthday to my Mom!

March 1, is my mom's Birthday. I'm making plans to go to Meridian, Ms. ( where she lives) and we are going out to lunch and Shopping, It's become a tradition for us to spend the day together. It's our special time. I didn't get to do it last year and I felt so bad, So this year is going to be great. I don't tell her often enough how much she means to me.
 My whole life I guess you could say I was a Papaw & daddy's girl. But as I've gotten older I have really gotten to know her in so many ways she was always a wonderful mother and always worried for her children.  She never wanted to see us get hurt for any reason. There was a really bad time in my life and I didn't think I would make it thru but there she was her arms wrapped around me tight telling me it was going to be okay. She and Dad have always been there when I needed them. I thank God every day for them both.
  Mom has always had a heart bigger then she was. I remember growing up Dad and her bringing children home because their parents maybe having problems or sick and they would take care of them for awhile. I remember one day they went to work and came home that afternoon with a new Son, an we've had him ever since. That's the type of person she is, she has so much love that there is room for everyone.
  I wish I could be more like her, I love you very much, I look forward to spending the day with you...........

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM!!!!!

To Love A Soldier

To love a soldier is to me the toughest job there is. You have to be strong at all time. Preparing for schools , Training Camps, and Deployments. It's a non stop roller coaster ride. The time you are able to break down is when your alone because you don't want to worry him. You wake up every morning next to him, Knowing it's another day of him wearing the uniform that he is so proud of. Of course I'm very proud also. But there are days when you want to look at him and say " please don't put it on, I just want you to be my normal husband and for us to be a normal family for one day.
See that's the thing with military families we are not your everyday normal families. We are always making sacrifices in one way or the other, I like the fact that the Military calls us the Silent Ranks because that's what we are, we vent , get mad an no one hears us. I depend on my family to help me get Thur like many other military spouses do. But what about the ones who have no one. Those women and men are the true silent ones. My heart goes out to them and I support them 200%.
Ever since my husband decided that this was to be his career. I also jumped at the chance without really knowing the sacrifices I was in for. It's been a long and hard road to go down. An believe me when I say I wouldn't change it. I'm very proud of him and the job he does. He's my rock and I am his.
If I had to give advice to someone who's new to the military life it would be to take it one day at a time and always expect the unexpected. Never make plan to far ahead, Because they always change. An last, Love your soldier more everyday...

Missing My baby...

My days without the Hubby

 It's been a long week so for. I' ve been so busy with organizing my house and trying to start up a new business. On top of all this trying to deal with John not being here. It's tuff but I'm staying very busy and time is just flying by so fast. I talk to him last nite thru email. He's doing fine. Just ready to get home of course.
One of my projects was to rerange my living room, Here some photo's of what I did.

Honoring My Husband, So proud of him

Here are some thing I did to honor my Husband. An to say think you for all you do.

I sure know how to honor my Husband... LOL!

I'm so tired of protesters

I have something that has been on my mind for a long time, It's about our soldiers and the protesters. I saw on the news where a funeral was going now with all these protesters outside shouting with bullhorns screaming baby killer, Burn his body, and you got what you deserve, also words I'm not repleting . I just don't understand how they can call themselves Christians. How could you do that to theirs Families. What do you think your doing to them. I have to say thanks to all the wonderful bikers who attend these Funerals of our fallen Hero's. They stand up for our soldier and keep the Protesters at bay.
First off you call your self Christians well if your were reading the bible then you would know that Christ would not like what your doing at all. You are the ones that are going against his teachings of love one another. We have fought wars in the pass that were about nothing but Freedom of Religion. And you seen to love those war. I also heard one protester yelling you got what you deserved. One that is judging another human being. God is the only one who can judge. My Husband is serving over seas right now. These people will strap a bomb to there Children for 70 virgins. What is that!!! plus they will go into towns and kill everyone in them then leave their heads on poles as a warning!
When 9-11 happened I stopped and couldn't move. I just screamed we are going to war and my first thought was my husband is going to be leaving. I new from the start. When you protest at these Funerals you might as well spit in our faces and try to make us feel that what our Husdand , wives, childern have had to do, they died guilty of murdering others. It just makes me sick everytime I see it on the News. I really don't know what has happen to this Country, We stand on grounds where blood was shed by our loved ones. I just want everyone to start repecting our soldiers. How can you protest at a soldiers funeral when they were the ones who had to go out and do a job that you were to weak to do yourself! I really pray every night that this stops. I don't want my husband to go thru what other soldiers went thru in the pass. So Just Stop it!!!!!!

To all of our falling heros, May God bless you and your families.
Soldier you may rest " Job well done". You've done your best
Your mission is over, the job is done......

I'm supporter of my husband and all who serve, Thank you the job you do everyday.......

Prayers are needed please..

I'm asking everyone to please pray for my niece, her name is Chloe Lynn Hale. She just turned a year old on Jan. 7,2012. My sister had to carry her to the doctor the other day to have test ran because for about 6 or 7 months she has stay sick with either sinus trouble or chest colds and so on. The test results came back today and the doctor's office called her to bring Chloe back in. They told her that Chloe tested positive for Cystic Fibrosis. She was devastated. See she lost her first child from a rare disorder and he only lived about 30 mins. She also has a little boy  named Allen that is perfect in every way with his health. I don't understand why this is happening to her she is a wonderful person and a wonderful Mother  and would sacrifice anything for her kids. But it's not my place to question why. I just ask God to watch over her and to please keep her safe. She is the only granddaugther out of 6 grandchildren. So she is very special to us. Also she has a smile that will warm you heart just by looking at her. When you see her that is what you notice first ( is her smile). I'm post photo's so you can see for yourself how special this little person is. Please keep her in your prayers.

Our little princess

Her 1st Birthday...

She is so sweet

Those blue eyes and that smile just grabs my heart...

Just another thing that burns me up...

Those of you know who you are , you really need to read this.

I have something on my mind today, I have been reading alot of blogs from military spouses. They were talking about their military spouse and their service to their COUNTRY! Some of you don't approve of the things they say or the words they use ( like we are moving to a new duty station or we are going before the board today and some on) I guess it's the WE you don't like well I do like the word WE, it makes me feel that I am apart of my Husbands Career also. He will even say WE. I feel like we as Military spouses serve right along with them, They call us the SILENT RANKS! An that's just what we are. I mean REALLY people get a life! What is the big deal about how you refer to yourself when it come to your husbands/ wives career. Also what is such a big deal about you wearing his name or his Rank you are showing your support and they are proud when you do " I know my husband is"  I talk to our unit commander about this and he agrees with me. These woman and Men need our support and we need to show it every way we can. We have soldiers Dying everyday to protect our freedom to express ourselves and who are you to tell us we can't. A soldier can't even be buried in peace without protesters showing up at the funerals. I'm going to wear what I want and say what I want to show them all the support I can. YES! you do need to be careful about what you say because you could put them in danger. But this crap is so stupid. I'm sorry but it is. We have enough stress in our lives without junk like this. I'm sure I've made some people mad but that's why it's a free country.
I have a tattoo with my husbands Rank and Name. I got it before he deployed and I'm Da*m proud of it and so is he! My husband and I both live for the ARMY, That's our life and I wouldn't have it any other way...
Another thing that makes me mad is when you have someone who say they are not a military spouse,an their husbands/ wives only serve in the part time military. That's bull, you are a military spouse no matter how often your spouse puts on their uniforms. My husband served 12 years on the part time side and then Transfered to the Fulltime Army Reserves, When you say your not a military spouse you are discressing him/her and the uniform. Face the facts it doesn't matter if your part time or full time when your in a war zone, they are all putting their lives in danger so you can run your mouth. I got to stop here because I'm going to bust a vein if I keep going. You get the point and that is all that matters.

I wear his rank well

My gift to him.

John Made it Back...

Taken while John was home for R&R. Love you Baby.

I finally got an email from John he made it back to the base, He said it had been a long few days, And he had only got about 3 hours sleep since he left on the 7th. I felt so bad for him he works so hard and this war doesn't help. I feel helpless being here at home and there's nothing I can do to help him beside be there to listen and give him my support. I'm so use to being by his side in everything he does, It's hard to think any differently. He knows that he can count on me day and night. We only have for months left of being apart. The first 6 months were "well I'm just going to say it" Hell. There is no other word for it. When you are away from the person you love that's exactly what it feels like. But there was only two things that got John and me thur it and that was GOD, Every prayer I said he answered I give him all the credit. The second was Family and Friends. They all have been very supportive. There were times I felt very alone because John wasn't here with me I felt I had no one. I WAS WRONG! At the time I was so depressed I couldn't see it at all. John and I have been so blessed. An I have to thank the Lord for that. I love him more then any words could decribe. I had forgotten that for a long time but never again.
John if you get to read this I love you baby and I pray everyday for your safe return home. Talk to you soon......

The Lord's Name

What the Lord's name means to me, See how many things you can list.
1. Love                   11. Witness       21. Kindness       31. there are so many more
2. warmth            12. Answer s     22. mighty
3. salvation          13. affection     23.miracle
4. cleansed          14. Hope            24.Godly
5. rebirth              15. Home         25.goodness
6. happiness        16. joy              26.Faith
7. forgiveness      17. learn          27. Family
8. light                  18. Glory         28.Eternal
9. son                    19. Gentle        29.Courage
10. heaven           20. Joyful       30. Beautiful

The words of our Lord:
The parable of the Mustard Seed

Matthew 13: 31,32
31 Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed, which a man took and sowed in his field.
32 Which indeed is the least of all seeds: but when it is grown it is the greatest among herbs and becometh a tree so that the birds of the air come and lodge in the branches thereof.     

Dear Lord I come to you in prayer today to ask please keep my family safe in your arms and to thank you for all your wonderful blessings you have giving me. I love you with all of my heart. In your name I pray,  Amen....

Finding Hope, Faith and Love in God.

First off I want to give Credit for this post to my Cousin Jenn she has a blog called ( Mother of three). Her post are about Faith , love  for her family and the love she has for the lord.  It is a wonderful blog to read  if you feel you are slipping away from God. It has really lifted my spirit and made me realize just how far I have moved from the lord. That is the one thing people need to realize that we are the ones who moved from him, GOD DOES NOT MOVE. He's always right there when we need him. I'm proof of that, John was deployed in Sept. 2011 and we lost our dog ( who was more like our child) in November 2011, I almost lost John in December 2011, and last was in Jan 2012 I almost lost my Dad. I prayed like I've never prayed before every time. I'm here to tell you God answered every prayer. He is so amazing. I haven't been in Church in a long time. I got away from him. But my cousin has helped me more then so she knows with her blog post. She has a kindness for people that I haven't seen in a long time. We all could use that in our lives now days.
  I feel like we have forgotten what our parents , grandparents and so on have in stilled in us long ago. This country was founded on Faith in God. We have forgotten what it means for us to stick together and stand for what we believe in. They have taken God out of Schools, Businesses and even the government. I feel it's time for everyone to take the time and reflect an ask ourselves if this is the kind of country we really want our children to grow up in. We all need God in our lives. He is the only one who can guide us down the right path and our children.

Always Remember what he went through for us.

Give him all your praise.

John went back today..

     Carried John to the airport this morning he got off okay. He just kept telling me that we only had 5 more months to go. It's true, but it doesn't make it any easier to say goodbye. I'm a strong woman and that is the thing a military spouse has to remember. The love I have for my family keeps me going. John, Crockett, Sadie, Festiss and Lil Puss are my family and I have to be strong for them. I also love my family and John's family they have all been great and very supportive Thur all of this. I didn't realize before just how many people truly cared about me, I feel so blessed. The love God has given me I give all the thanks to him. He is the one who will help me get Thur these next 5 months.

   There's also something I want to talk about that I read the other day. I'm so proud of our troops and their families. We have to have faith to see us through all of this. As military families we depend on one another for support. I read the other day that some spouses get mad when they see blog post where they say things like " we are going before the board soon to move up in rank or we are going on Deployment soon, and so on". They don't like the fact that they use the word we. Because it is the soldier who is doing all the work not the spouse. Well I don't agree with that and neither does my Husband who is a Staff Sergent. I went with him to the board for his E5 and there was a major there who was so impressed about my support for John. When John went before the board he said they all were bragging about me being there for him. He will tell people to this day that I helped him get promoted. We as military spouses are the one who take care of our families and are there to pickup the pieces when our husbands come home from wars that cause them to never be the same again. What they go Thur we go Thur with them. When they have to study for a school or work we are the ones there helping them to remember things they need to have to get the job done. We are the Silent Ranks that are forgotten alot of the times. But We have made the choice to stand by them and love them as much as we can. We are the ones left behind while they do their duty in serving their country. We serve right along with them. That's why I don't agree with the statements made. I am proud the be an Army Wife and I will always be an Army Wife long after my husband retires, Because That is who we are and always will be.

John's Leaving tomorrow

Well John will be leaving tomorrow and I'm sooo not ready for it. He only has 5 months left on his deployment. So far 6 months of it has  flown by. So I pray the rest of it goes by fast to. I'm going to miss him. This will be the forth time I've said goodbye to him since July 2011. I really get tired of having to say it. But this is our life and I am so proud of him. I'm trying to be strong and show him that I will be okay. Before he came home alot had happen. Blubell died and we almost lost Dad. This being our first deployment it was very ruff. But I feel that it is down hill now. This 5 months is going to fly by. My love for him will always keep me going.

Here is a photo I took tonight of John and Crocket

Crocket loves being clean

He loves his rub downs after a hard day of napping.....
It's hard to believe that crocket is 5 1/2 months old and already weights almost 50lbs.

So Glad to be home...

Well John and I came home today, We stay in Union for a week and had a wonderful visit with our families. We got to plant 22 fruit trees, trimmed my trees and finally got my weeping willow tree. I've been wanting one for so long. John planted it behind Katie and bluebell's graves so it will be big and beautiful over their graves. I know I sound like I'm talking about real children. Well I guess they are to us. They were more then just pets to us.
 Anyway everyone was so glad to see John and he was to. It was an adjustment when he first got home and he is a little different then he use to be. But it is understandable. He did tell me things that had happen over there. I just listen and be very understanding. That's really all a military spouse can do. He did bring back some really great stuff he got over there. He knows I love writing in a Journal so he got me one that is made out of Camel skin it's paper is really different from what we write on, it's very pretty. He also got silk scarfs that he bought for my mom, his mom , grandmothers and sister. He got my dad a really cool camel skin hat and there were a few more things really too many to list.
Here are some pictures of the Camel Skin Journal he gave me. ( it was my late Christmas present)

This the front of the Journal it has a map of Afghanistan.

This how the paper looks and it is very soft.

This is the back.

Visiting At Home

Well we have been home for 5days now visiting our family in Union. John has been busy showing his photos of Afghanistan. Also we have been planting fruit trees. We planted pecans, Apple, Figs, peach, pear, and many more so we have been working hard on our land. We are doing it now so they will be grown and producing fruit when we come back to build our home. John plans on retiring in 15 yrs and after That he says he's going to live the good life working his land and selling fresh fruit. While I sit on the front porch shelling pea or cleaning corn. Man I'll be glad when those days get here. NO MORE MOVING! Yay!!! We have everything planned out and we just stand on our land an can already see our home and our fruit trees blooming Life is good. That's what John and I see when we look around our place.
We have decide it will have a sign above the driveway. It will say:

The Old Home Place
      Skinner
   Est: ( the year his Great grandmother bought the property)
That's how we plan to honor his family and all the years of work that went into it.
I believe it is good to know where you come from and how things came to be. I also believe that is whats wrong with the world today. People have forgotten the years before when Families mattered to each other, They worked to together and prayed together. You got your food out of the land and hand made your clothes , Line dryed everything. Homemade jams & jelly's to Homemade soap. I love those days. An if you ever see the inside of my home you will see I love old country and primitive stuff.

We got this Pie Chest When my Husbands Great Aunt passed away.It belong to her Mother In law , so we figured it's almost 100 years old if not older.  It was in awful shape. My father in law wanted to throw it out. So I took it and restored it myself. It is one of my most prized piece.  

Some of my old Collectibles