Holiday Blog Swap 2011

The ever amazing Roller Coaster has organized this holiday blog swap among some amazing military spouses (and organizations)! We are all switching blogs for the day to share some of our favorite holiday memories, stories, advice... basically anything to do with the holidays. As always there may be that special military spouse twist to some, but you will have to read them all to find out!

My entry for today can be found on the lovely Amanda's blog so please go check it out and leave her some love!

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Now my guest post today comes from Christina at The Journey of a Navy Wife. In her own words, here she is!

My name is Christina aka "Married to a Sailor". I like to write about how I view military life - My Journey as a Navy wife. I'm pretty upbeat and positive when it comes to the challenges of military life. I take it as it comes, plan nothing and expect everything. I thrive in this lifestyle. I have only been a Navy wife for 3 years, but I have learned so much. I'm independent and I like to think my husband is the dependent one- he just makes more money ;) I have 3 obnoxious furbabies that keep me sane- I'm never "alone". I can be found at http://thejourneyofanavywife.com

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Christmas is my favorite holiday. I love the holiday scents, I’m like a little kid when it comes to seeing Christmas lights, and I love to decorate.

Thankfully, since starting my Journey as a Navy wife, my husband and I have not missed a Christmas together. In 2008 he graduated boot camp on December 19. He then had to fly to Pensacola to check in on the 21st and on the 22nd we drove down to bring him home to Tennessee just in time for Christmas. In 2009 the ship was in the shipyards, so we had no worries about being apart. In 2010 he had an underway just before Christmas, but was back just in time for Christmas leave to begin. This year, Thankfully, we get Christmas together again. And like every other year, it will be spent in Tennessee with family.

I’ve noticed that I have a lot of “Navy” themed ornaments, and decorations. It all started while he was at boot camp. I was SO proud and excited for him. I bought Navy stockings, Sailor snowmen ornaments.. Etc. Now, 3 years later, it continues. I’ve noticed every year we seem to have some sort of new Navy Christmas decoration. The Navy isn’t just his job, it’s a big part of our life- and my Christmas tree sure is showing it.

The down part to my husband being in the Navy or military in general, is having to travel to be with family for Christmas. I love spending the holidays with my family, but with the planning, the driving and saving extra money to drive 13 hours home and 13 hours back is sometimes stressful. Christmas is a time to be joyful, but slowly, I feel I’m turning into a Grinch! Ok, I’ll never be a Christmas Grinch, but sometimes I think of how wonderful it would be to spend Christmas in our own home, just me and my husband, or maybe family drive to spend Christmas with us. The big decision for us will be when we have children. Will Santa only come in Tennessee or in OUR home in Virginia. This will be something I’m really going to have to consider.

Growing up, my parents were divorced, and remarried. So, I had something like 12+ family Christmas get togethers to go to every year. I loved seeing my family, but my holiday break was so stressful - even as a kid! Now that I’m 24 (nearly 25, gasp!), I still have those same feelings I did as a child. I don’t want our children to feel stressed as I did, and do. Even my husband gets stressed when we go home. Leave is never long enough to see our huge families- but we feel obligated to visit everyone, leaving us very tired and absolutely drained (13 hours in a car doesn’t help!).

I know in his Career with the Navy, I’m not going to be lucky enough to have every Christmas, every anniversary, holiday or birthday. But I know when we do miss one, we will find a way to make it special. A care package, maybe a phone call, an email, or just knowing that he’s thinking about me at some point during his busy days, That’s all I need.

But this Christmas, I am excited to go home. This Christmas is about my mother. In 7-8 years, my mom has not had all her children together for Christmas- or any holiday. My brother left for the Air Force in 2003. In 2008, I married my husband who joined the Navy shortly after. In the past 4 years, I think I have seen my brother 1, maybe 2, times. My husband has only met him once. Now, he has a little boy who is about 8 months. I have yet to meet my nephew. My brother is stationed in Germany. All my siblings have grown up and we all have “other halves”. This year, my family will be together again, and my family of six, has grown to a family of 12. It will be amazing to see how much we have all changed. To see my mom when she sees all her kids in the same room, grown up and now, 2 grand babies. My brother’s choice of job and my husband’s choice of job has separated our families for holidays, but now, we will spend this Christmas together. This Christmas will be special to me, but most of all, It’s the best gift my mother could ever ask for. This Christmas is for her.

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