Happy Birthday Marine

The Marine hasn't figured it out yet, and quite frankly, I just realized it when I saw the date on my computer. Today is the Marine's personal Marine Corps Birthday. The day he went into boot camp. The day he got off the DI's bus, stepped on to the yellow footprints and became a man. Okay, well started the journey. He was only a lowly worm recruit, but a short time later he received his Eagle Globe and Anchor and earned the name Marine.

A name he has honored for the last 26 years and I have no doubt will continue to honor it. Even when he is 80 years old and addled minded. He'll still know enough to stand at attention for the National Anthem and the Marine's Hymn.

I have learned a lot from him over the years. Leadership, attention to detail, integrity, hard work, you quit when the job is done, not when it's 1630, trust in your gear, training, and fellow Marine, or in my case Marine Wife. Those traits have gotten us through a lot of deployments, separations, (because of training, schools, and exercises), and many moves.

The Marine with Recruits 1 and 3. Daddy's girls.

People ask how I feel about certain political situations. Sometimes as a Marine Corps family there's not a lot of time to argue politics. We are too busy caring for those around us, strengthening and uplifting our children, our Marines and their families.

It's been a good life, one I wouldn't trade. It is one of sacrifice, and in the middle of deployments sometimes it seems too much, but in the end we are stronger, learn to dig deeper, and love harder than we might have ever been able to otherwise.

His leadership in the home, at church and in the Marine Corps is part of who he is. The man is not separated from the Marine, the Marine from the man, or the Priesthood holder from either. He is still on his journey and as retirement looms in our not so distant future, I know there are adventures still to be had.

Happy birthday you old gungy gruff, wonderful stubborn infuriating and valiant man! We are a little thicker than when we started down this road, but I'm glad we are still traveling it together!

Love,
The Wife ~
PS you can only call me THE WIFE until midnight tonight. After that I get to smack you!

The Marine and his STUFF

The Marine has a new title. Well new since Thanksgiving weekend 2011. He is now a Marine AND our Bishop. I'm married to a Bishop. Go ahead and a take a moment. I know right? It's hard to believe that in spite of me, the Lord called him to serve in such a humbling, responsible, and incredible calling. It has been a beautiful blessing in our family and it's an experience like no other. I'm trying to be good, really I am. I don't want to make things harder on him. BUT, there are some things that will never change.

For instance, The Marine's complete anxiety at me touching anything mechanical or electronic of his to include his TRUCK and his computer stuff. Typically when the Marine's truck decides it needs to take some sick days, it does it when he is gone. It's one of the few things I get "the look" for. Even if it's not my fault, which most of the time... it's NOT.

Today however was a fabulous day in church; great talks, good friends, and right after church the youth and parents gathered in the Relief Society room to watch the video/slide show we had put together that was shown at youth conference this past week.

Before that could happen I had to run home during the third hour and get a lap top. I had forgotten it. The closest one and the easiest one to grab was THE MARINES. Oh yes I did.

One of our Stake Presidency members and his fabulous wife visited us today and when I got back I found my Bishop Marine husband chatting in the very first classroom I had to pass. I had his lap top under my arm.

He was distracted for a moment wanting to know where Recruit 2 was. (I had taken him home, we are all suffering from head colds/allergies or something equally nasty). I hadn't told him I was taking Recruit 2 and expected an eye brow raise, but then he spied it. His Toshiba -  under my arm.

THEN I received the eyebrow raise. One would think I would play it off what with our special guest and all sitting right there. Nope, not me, stuff just happens. Instead of being meek and humble I hugged it tighter to my body and said "oh yeah, that's right, I'M TOUCHING IT" and then I sashayed away.

In the end my brief victory was thwarted as I couldn't get the movie to play and the Bishop husband had to take over and make it work. eh, it happens.

Pretty much the eyebrow looks something like this, but only a little less friendly....

Summer 2011: Trip back home

When we went home for the summer, we took Luke and Scratch. I was heading home with the kids to welcome Recruit 1's baby boy to earth! We took our time driving the 1500+ miles. On the road trip out it was just Grammy, (my mother in law) Recruit 4 and Recruit 6. And of course the pups!

I stopped early enough thinking it would be an adventure to let the boys swim some before dinner and we could all get a good nights rest. What I didn't count on was LUKE freaking out in the hotel room. Our room's window faced the pool, so I opened the window. Now he could see his boys in the water. Um, yeah, anyone wondering if I had forgotten he's a full blooded, home grown LABRADOR. Water is one of his greatest joys. And his boys are just over a fence in water. Without him.

 He tentatively put a paw out. I admonished him and slunk back into the room. See the dark head in the picture below? Old Scratch was wanting to check things out too.

There's Recruit 6 who was getting concerned about the dogs. I was just annoyed. Not only was Luke trying to get to the pool, he was being very vocal about it. Not a manly bark either but a yippy puppy bark.

Old Scratch couldn't get up in the window. His hips are bothering him. He did however manage a random old man dog bark. Just think of what James Earl Jones would sound like if he were a lab. That is who I think of when Scratch finally deems something bark worthy.

There's Recruit 6, who is the main reason I felt we needed some down time. 25 hours in a car with him isn't always conducive to good mental health.

But seriously, look at that face. He and his brother were both wonderful on the trip out there.

Recruit 4 finally couldn't stand how upset the lads were getting so he climbed through the window to comfort Luke.

Grams was hanging out by the pool the whole time while I ran between the window and the pool. I was glad to have her on the trip!

Recruit 6 thought it was safe to get back in the pool, that Luke understood he couldn't join him.

Yeah, Luke was right back up there ready to leap out. He's spotted other folks in the pool, he was quiet for about 2 minutes. So we ended pool time earlier than we meant to. Fortunately the time we did spend outside unwinding from a day of driving was just enough to have the desired effect. Recruit 6 was passed out which meant a restful evening for the rest of us!