This morning I was debating waking up early to see the Royal Wedding. I really wanted to, but I knew I had a late night with the Milblog Conference and I didn't want to be overtired. But, it ended up being, I was awake anyway. Why, you ask? My husband.
Journey's Don't Stop Believin' blasts my eardrum out... my husband's ringtone. My cellphone is always set loud so I will hear my alarm(s) and wake up, but my ringtones are somehow louder than my alarm. I jump up panicked and realize it is my phone, not an invasion of an 80s reunion tour in my bedroom, at barely 6am.
"Sweetie. Wake up." "Ryan...what? I'm awake. Sort of." "Well wake up. Do you see a black key on my dresser?" "...yes." "Ok, I need you to bring it to me." "... Are you f-in kidding me!?"
So at 6am I am throwing on jeans and CNN watching Kate Middleton process into Westminster Abbey. As I got dressed I saw the ceremony up until they were officially 'man and wife' post-vows and thought it was really awesome to hear the crowds outside cheer! Then I drove in rush hour on 295 to South East DC to drop off a key, turn around, drive back in more rush hour, and get dressed for work. By the time I got home, close to 7, I saw the end of the ceremony and watched them ride to Buckingham Palace. The kiss happened while I was at work. We all bought in muffins (I made chocolate chip ones, first time!) and I thought it was beautiful. We need some good news in this world, why not a happy occassion like a wedding to lighten things? I am not saying forget the troubles of the world, my heart goes out to all those in the South ravaged by tornadoes and those in war torn countries and other horrible things, but seeing a good news story... well it felt nice too.
And she went with Sara Burton/Alexander McQueen. I knew it!!!! And I totally called the lace sleeves. She looked stunning. The second evening dress was gorgeous as well. And she and Pippa (looove that name) are tiny. Dear Lord!
Of course the kiss(es) were sweet... Obviously not my picture...stole from AOL homescreen.
Anyway, work was crazy today and I just got home, showered and I am now about to get ready to metro over to the Milblog Conference! EEEK!
Yup, that would be the back passenger side of my door. A stupid mini van of vacationers wouldn't move, I was blocking traffic in the garage, and I had to go. I hit the concrete pole on the side. Fail. Then the helpful garage attendents come tell me I need to make a wider turn there.
Ya think!?
And the mini van guy did nothing, just drove off without a care. Whatever.
Long day, cannot wait to go home.
Oh, did I mention I got stuck in the elevator too? It was only on the first floor and luckily the door managed to open after a few minutes of me pushing to "door open" button, but geeze Thursday, work with me here!
Anyone getting up for the Royal Wedding tomorrow? I think I may sleep through it and watch the highlights. All day. :P I do have to make muffins for the mini wedding party we are having at work tomorrow though. I have to admit, I am pretty excited to see her dress!
For my link up with Goodnight Moon I needed a feel better song... what better than Huey Lewis and the News, the Power of Love? It is from my favorite movie (BTTF) which also helps!
Also, enter one of my favorite blogger's contest, it is amazing. For chocolate. I'm serious. Michelle at A'etonu Family Adventures is serving in the Army in Germany with her husband and adorable daughter and she has yummy German chocolate to share! Enter now!
Those little beauties arrived at the office today as a gift from corporate for Administrative Professionals Day! We also got some chocolate on chocolate ones to go with the red velvet. Sweet. I looooove red velvet cupcakes!
Easter was nice, sadly I forgot my camera so I have ZERO pictures from our first married Easter. Sigh.
It took us six hours to drive up to NJ, when it should have only taken three and a half! When you and your husband spend that much time in the car, you learn things. Like my husband knows all the words to Love Shack. I mean, every single word. I was slightly impressed and intimidated all at once!!
Saturday Ryan took my brother for a rousing five mile run while my best friend Sam and I had girl time at the hair salon and lunch. I got some subtle highlights for spring and summer, the last time I got them was a week before my wedding! They've lasted that long with no problem so maybe I can get them again at this time next year. :P
We went to mass Saturday night after a big turkey dinner care of my Dad. Sunday we did our traditional Easter basket hunt. My family makes you work for your basket! We wake up with an egg, and in that egg is a clue. That clue leads you to your next egg and another clue and so on until you find your basket. Instead of three separate hunts this year my dad the Easter Bunny had Stefan, Ryan and I work together. Our eggs were very difficult to find, including in our pool liner, a hollow tree, Stefan's rabbit cage, and the mailbox of the farm store down the street before we found them in my Dad's trunk. Whew. I got Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows on DVD, some black licorice jelly beans, chocolate, and other little fun goodies.
Easter Dinner was at my Babci's and Poppy's with the family, most of whom were surprised we were there. Ryan and I also walked over to my brothers' house since it is so close to my grandparents now. I loved being able to see my family and stuff myself with Polish food!
Monday my mom was off so she and Ryan and I had a long talk out on the deck before we went and got my brother from school and went for a late lunch. After that it was rush hour so we went to the park to hang out. I watched Ryan and Stefan act like kids, climbing trees and kicking the soccer ball around... it was cute (:
Around 7:30 we at last packed up the car and made our way back to VA. My parents are moving from NJ to NC this summer, and I know my visits to my childhood home are numbered. I definitely cried from my house to the highway, and Ryan just passed me a tissue and told me some jokes to calm me down a little (:
We played word games in the car like the alphabet category game. Our first category was fruits/flowers. I did A for Apple, Ryan did B for Banana, I did C for cornflowers etc. Then at the end of the alphabet we swtiched letters so he was A I was B... we did fruits/flowers, Cities with their States, Cars and Colors, and Boy/Girl names. Man I love my husband!
I cannot believe Sunday will be our first wedding anniversary! What was I doing at this time last year? April 27, 2010... apparently I was making goody bags for out of town guests, baskets for the bathrooms, and doing my Wedding Weather Updates! At this point it was saying there was a chance of thunderstorms and it would be 85! Luckily it was a beautiful day, sunny and upper 70s, but I was panicking then!
I ordered Ryan's present yesterday so I am hoping it gets here in time! We both went traditional and got 'paper' presents. In case Mr. Snoopy comes on here I won't post what I got him yet, but I'll tell you all Monday!
We have the top of our wedding cake in the freezer... I have some more planning to do, but stay tuned!
PS - We're still pending, just in case you thought I may be holding out on you!
This is the first Good Friday I have ever had to work. Ever. So not liking this. I miss being able to go to the children's passion play, the solemn 3pm mass, and the 7:30pm Living Stations of the Cross. We may, just may, make it to Jersey in time for hte Living Stations, but not looking good.
My boss is trying to let me go early so I can go pack with Ryan and start the drive North, but if we inch too close to rush hour we're both just going to be tired and cranky in the car way longer than necessary.
Oh, and Happy Earth Day as well.
One week til the Royal Wedding.
Still pending.
And then, there is this video. It may or may not have just made my morning!
And I found out yesterday partly why we are still pending. The Lt Col who is on the board and needs to approve the package has been on leave. The past two weeks. He is supposed to be checking his inbox. He hasn't. And I bet my bottom dollar if this man has spent the last two weeks on leave he will not be back before Easter, so another whole week of waiting at least. If we're lucky.
Yes I know Marines work hard and deserve their leave, but dude, our future is kind of depending on if you check your email. Which apparently you're supposed to. It is a tiny little thing. Just glance! Take care of the important stuff, a reply here a signature there, and go back to your sangria on the beach or whatever it is you may be doing. (Man that sounds soooo nice! A little jealous.)
Argh.
Anyway, head over for your Thursday Link Up with Goodnight Moon.
This week I am not doing country (shock I know) but a little blast from my past... anyone else remember Disney in Concert??? Oh my I thought this group was awesome when I was 11!
*fingers remain fiercely crossed that pending changes soon*
Northern Virginia has been nothing but rain the past few weeks. We have those rare days where it is sunny and warm but then it rains for a few more days and gets a little chilly. Now I don't mean to be complaining about the weather, I know we have it pretty good, but does anyone else feel like they have been waiting for Spring a little longer than normal this year?
What it boils down to I think is that I am tired of being cold.
All winter I have just been cold. At work the heat doesn't flow where I sit, so Sarah and I shared a space heater. I wore long underwear and socks with my heels. Seriously. By the time my car heats up I am at my destination. My apartment gets overheated due to living right above the boiler room so we had windows open or the airconditioner running all winter. I am tired of layers and jackets and shivering. I am ready to step outside of my apartment and be hit with warm air and sunshine.
The DC area is fickle. It will be cold for ages, then a week of "nice" weather, then hot. Then it will be hot for a looong time. Then there will be one more week of "nice" and then back into the cold. There is no equal spread of seasons. Spring and Fall get bled in with Summer and Winter. And it gets annoying.
When I was younger I loved the snow. I loved playing in it and missing school and just the peaceful stillness that accompanied it. Now you know once you're an adult and have to go to work regardless and drive in it and scrape off your car... it becomes less mystical. We didn't even have much snow here this winter, just bitter bitter cold.
This winter was a hard one for our family. I think that may be what makes it feel so long. We encountered heavy loss, illness, uncertainty, and worries that are carrying over even into the Springtime. Losing Ryan's grandfather in January was incredibly difficult. Ryan still wishes he could talk to his Papa, ask advice on big issues in our lives, and he misses him. I miss him too. My surgery in February was a little rough, but it was something I wanted and hoped for and Ryan supported. It did make for some uncomfortable weeks though, during healing. Then this whole re-enlistment business has been over our heads like a dark cloud for months now. Attempt after attempt has fallen though. Plan A obviously stopped, but Plans B, C, D, and even E are floundering. We are still pending.
I love my husband and the support we are giving eachother is amazing. Nothing, especially not cold weather, will change that. We are keeping our faith. We are still waiting and hoping and praying every day.
I know in about two months I will be posting about how ungoldy hot I am and how I wish we could have cooler weather, but for now I am sticking to my guns. Bring it on Spring. Bring. It. On.
Can I just add (on a totally different note since this made me smile today), I really wish I could do this??? (The juggling and the travels!)
I just got my ticket!!! I am only going to the opening reception Friday night (since it is our first wedding anniversary that weekend) but I hope to see some of you there.
Who's going???
Also friends in the Carolinas.... I hope you're doing alright! I saw the pictures of the damage and my prayers are with you!
Beckie over at Turn for the Nurse was my partner for this Spring Swap and I am so excited by my goodies!! We exchanged emails for ideas and Beckie totally hit the nail on the head with me.
Everything was in my favorite color, blue. It was cute with springy tissue paper and even a gorgeous little spring card. (My swap partners always show me up with packaging and cuteness, but I am trying to get better! She also satisfied my chapstick addiction with Pomegranate Burts Bees, the best kind! I also got some springy blue candles, which Ryan loves as he is tired of my cinammon/fall ones. There was a book, Hummingbird Lane, that I am going to read during my lunch breaks in the near future! Beckie said it was about a pediatric surgeon, so I will be sure to let her know what I think! Then my inner chocoholic danced for joy! A box of chocolate goodies (like chocolate covered pretzels), chocolate peanutbutter frogs, and a Truffle pig candy bar. SCORE. So loving the chocolate!
Thanks for sending me a great bit of Spring Beckie! I hope your package gets to you soon (parts one and two, I finally got the thing I got you on etsy and in the mail yesterday!) and that you like them.
We are still pending. Every day this week has been agonizing. I am jumping at every text from my husband hoping it is something. After having such a bubble of hope on Monday I feel it slowly deflating. And now since it is the weekend we have another garunteed 48 hours of no news. UGH. Do they not realize how frustrating this is?! How our entire future is hanging in the balance here?? Just give us something here.
Every night this week we have made it to mass and I am proud of us for that. I even made confession Monday night! It has helped us greatly. The entire mass we're in our own thoughts and prayers but physically together... holding hands, his arm around me, my head on his shoulder, something. Although it is hectic to race home from work, eat and get out the door less than an hour later to drive up there in rush hour, it has been nice. Our church offers nightly mass every weeknight through Easter, and I may push for us to keep doing this the next week or two. After that there is an evening mass each Wednesday, so maybe we can do that.
Faith is what is keeping me from falling completely to pieces over this. Faith and my wonderful husband.
Enjoy your weekends all! Keep your fingers crossed for us for just a little longer.
And the girls in the background crack me up too. They keep looking at this kid like, "What is he doing??" He's having fun. And knows all the words. Awesome.
Until he gets busted by the po po Apple Genius.
Oh. Apparently I am loving the viral videos today. This one is amazing!!
(And just so you know, at the end she does agree!)
Of course Ryan's package is still pending. Do they not realize the agony this causes?! Ugh! Just give an answer already. End the will they/won't they internal battle my husband and I are both in the midst of. We're still going to church every night, praying as hard as we can. We make sure to mention at each mass how thankful we are for everything we do have... each other, our home, our family, friends, cars to drive, clothes to wear, food to eat. We know we are so blessed. But we still pray for good news to come of this re-enlistment.
Sigh.
Anyway, make sure you vote for your favorite Best U.S. Spouse Military Blogger! Make sure you leave the URL or it won't count. I want to go to the conference sooooo badly. It isn't too far from me. Is anyone else going????
And of course, my song link up for this Thursday with Amber at Good Night Moon.
Why?
Because last night as I am getting ready for bed my husband is messing around with his phone. Suddenly this song starts playing. I look at him, a tiny bit confused, but Ryan comes and wraps his arms around me and we slow dance in our bedroom to this entire song. My husband is pretty darn awesome.
I cannot thank you ladies enough for the kind comments you left me. It has been hectic crazy, but I plan on going through my email soon and replying to each and every one of you. (Also: I did not mean to imply anyone who wants to EAS does so in a negative manner. I know there are people with families who want to get out and do a different line of work or go to school, I did not mean them. It is more something that is very prevalent at 8th and I where a lot of people just have no desire to be there and cannot wait to just get out. They have given up on the Corps and are very negative towards it. )
We went to church yesterday and I kneeled down and prayed harder than I had in a long, long time. I think the last time I prayed so hard was when Ryan was in Iraq. I saw my husband praying too. I paid attention the entire mass, no wandering thoughts for this girl. (You know, sometimes when the sunbeam hits the priest's head in just the right way and reflects off and you wander with the sunbeam... it happens!) Ryan had his arm around me or held my hand the entire mass. We prayed together. For an answer, a solution, something to get us through.
During mass they discussed an upcoming retreat and Ryan shocked the hell out of me when he said he wanted to go. Sadly when we looked at the information table we saw it was the weekend of our first wedding anniversary and decided against it. But I had another idea. Lent is a time of abstaining, sacrifice, and alms giving in the Catholic church. Ryan already gave up all alcohol for lent (gotta love my Baptist husband, I never expected him to do this with me!) except for wine (because Jesus drank it) and I gave up soda.
Well we agreed this week we were going to give up wine as well. Sacrifice/Abstaining. And we decided to go to the 7pm nightly mass every day this week. Also a sacrifice of sorts. We also grabbed an bag to make an Easter basket for newborns and moms to bring back next week. When we went to the commissary we loaded up on newborn diapers (Ryan was shocked at the price... oy), wipes, lotion, bottles, and pacifiers. Alms giving.
So we have our plan. We're still calling in our favors with anyone who many know anyone. One of my clients at work today said a retired Major General was willing to talk to Ryan and see if he could help. I get the number and go to call Ryan. No answer.
Then I get this text message: I got Ground Radio Technician. Don'y know where yet and nothing is in writing. It has been verbally stated by headquarters that I am approved!
!!!!!!!
What does this mean?
Well, it is 95% certain my husband can stay in the USMC. To be in this MOS basically the Head of it told his Career Planner he would take Ryan if he had taken Algebra in high school. Ryan took Algebra I and II. So Ryan got his transcript, the Career Planner got his package together, and it was sent to the head of Radio Ops. The Career Planner is hoping to call Ryan by 16:30 with more information.
Nothing is in writing yet. We don't know the when or the where yet, but to quote my husband, "Things went from looking really, really bad to pretty damn good."
We still plan on going to church all week, if not for the original intent of prayer for hope for our future but in thanksgiving.
Ladies, thank you so much for your good thoughts and prayers for our family. Please keep them coming a little longer if you can.
And of course once I know, you will know.
On a different note: As many of you know the "A Final Goodbye" post from {mis}adventures of an army wife has been circulating the military spouse community. According to comments left on her blog Jessica has been located and is safe, received treatment. Bloggers, I hope you all know anytime you feel alone and need to reach out to anyone, I am here. Email me anytime at imyewneek@yahoo.com. You are NOT alone and you ARE loved.
26. I work for an Executive Office Suites company. 27. 98% of the time I enjoy it. 28. Our clients are (for the most part) very kind and fun. I was shocked to get Christmas presents! 29. I smoke. Yes. I know. Ick. 30. I am addicted to chocolate. Milk chocolate, especially when combined with peanut butter, is ah-mazing. 31. My husband proposed to me during Illuminations: Reflections of Earth, the fireworks show at EPCOT. I love fireworks. 32. I took painting classes and drawing classes as a kid. 33. Which led me to be a scenic painter throughout college. 34. But I am not very good. 35. My grandfather, Papa, was though. He used to watch Bob Ross and paint along.
36. One of his paintings hangs in the hallway of our apartment right near the front door... my Papa, not Bob Ross. 37. I love baseball. I bleed pinstripes (Go Yanks!) and support the Nationals as a new home town sort of thing over the past 5 years. 38. I may as well add, Go Giants! Go Gamecocks! Go Devils! 39. I love to read. My kindle rocks my socks off. 40. Ok so I am a total dork for loving Harry Potter. 41. But in my defense I started reading the series when I was 11. 42. And I read the 2nd book first because that one for some reason I think was released sooner or more available in the US. 43. My mom sneaked it into my trunk for sleep away camp. She told me it was about a “Boy who is a wizard and a detective”. Not quite mom. I didn’t want to read it, but I got bored and opened it and was hooked from then on. 44. I even like the movies. If I don’t compare them to the books too much in my head! 45. So I must must MUST go to Harry Potter World. Soon.
46. My car is a 97 Ford Taurus with over 227,200 miles on it. His name is Terrance. 47. I absolutely abhor being micromanaged. 48. And I do not take criticism, even constructive, very well. 49. I am a berry fiend. Strawberries are the best of the best, but I am also a lover of blackberries, raspberries, mulberries, blueberries… any and all berries. 50. I met my best friend in sixth grade during a Girl Scout sleepover. 51. We were making swordfish bead keychains and I couldn’t get the sword part of mine right. So Sam helped me. 52. I never knew how to wear make up when I was younger. The first time a girl tried to help me I put concealer on my lips thinking it was lipstick. Hot. 53. Actually, I still have no idea how to do make up very well… 54. But I do like my eyelashes. On the rare occasion that I wear mascara they look cool. Except when I can see them on the top line of my vision. That gets old. 55. I drink one sugar free redbull a day to get myself going. 56. My husband recently got us a berretta 9 mil. We go shootin’
57. I love playing Words with Friends on my iTouch. Play me! imyewneek 58. Cold weather and I are done. I am so ready for summer. 59. But I do love wearing my boots! 60. Same goes for rain. And my galoshes with the little cherries on them. 61. I have fifteen first cousins. Two of whom have recently had babies. Kimmie and Gabriel. Aren’t they precious??
62. Unfortunately I do not tan. I burn and then peel and somehow end up whiter than when I started. 63. I am a mutt. I am a mixture of Irish, Polish, Hungarian, Russian, Slovakian, and Czech. There is the possibility of a smidgen of Ukranian in there too. Basically all of western Europe and Ireland. 64. And I can sing ‘Happy Birthday’ in Polish. We do at every birthday on my mom’s side of the family. Sto lat! 65. But my husband is English, French and Cherokee, so our kids are going to be muttier mutts than me! 66. By the way, for the slight amount of Cherokee my husband has he does have to die for cheek bones! 67. My dream home is a Victorian. I want a wrap around porch, at least one round tower room, and a window seat. 68. When I was a kid I knew the name of almost every dinosaur. Including their scientific names. I wanted to be a paleontologist and at 6 would force myself to watch Jurassic Park. Just in case. Even if I was behind the arm chair with the TV muted while the T-Rex roared. 69. They are still one of my favorite things to see in museums. 70. Crossword puzzles are one of my favorite things to do. 71. Did I mention I want to travel? Ok I did, but I would love to have a job that allowed me to travel internationally. 72. And I want to win an Oscar. Dream big right? Haha. 73. Josh Groban reduces me to a puddle of mush. 74. I hated country music when I was a kid. I think because my parents played it on Saturdays when we would clean, so I associated one with the other. 75. On our second date this song came on in the car and I was singing along. Ryan was shocked since I told him I hate country music but I knew it. After that I gave it a chance and now it is all I listen too.
76. Once I won concert tickets on the radio. To Coldplay. I took Ryan and it ended up being his first concert. Ever. 77. My first date with my husband was to Ruby Tuesday’s in Chinatown and then seeing Baby Mama. 78. He called me at 2am the night after our date because he really wanted to arrange date number two. I had to pinch myself to make sure I was not dreaming. 79. My husband’s ringtone on my phone is Don’t Stop Believin’ – Journey. The first time he went home with me we were on the train and he was listening to my iPod and teasing me for not having the song. I had it on my laptop, just not the iPod. When my mom picked us up at the train station it was playing on the radio in the car. Anytime we got in the car that weekend it came on… it was a Journey tribute weekend. He’s had it ever since. 80. We already know what our first child will be named whether it is a boy or girl. Both names have strong family ties. 81. We also know what we want to name our first dog. Hint, it may or may not be a combination of our names in some way, shape, or form. 82. I took a cake decorating class with my mom and her best friend Fran before I went to college. We made my grandparents’ 60th anniversary wedding cake.
83. I want to learn to speak Italian. 84. I took Spanish from elementary school through college. I understand a lot more than I can speak. And that is still not a lot. 85. I love Etsy and I wish I was creative enough to have my own shop on there. 86. My mom told me I should be a flight attendant so I could travel. I think I would be the next flight attendant you’d hear about jumping off the emergency slide if I ever took that job. 87. Red roses and sunflowers are my favorite flowers. 88. Our apartment is right on top of the boiler room, so it is always hot in the winter. We never once turned on our heat and had windows open and the air conditioner running. All. Winter. 89. My first concert was when I was in 7th grade, N*SYNC at Giant Stadium. I remember BBMack was one of the opening acts. 90. I wanted to cry at my 8th grade dinner dance since no one asked me to dance. The last song of the evening I had gotten caught in the middle of the dance floor dancing with friends for a slow song when it changed. My friends paired off and I felt horrible stuck in the middle of the floor. Then Alex W. saw me and asked me to dance. I will never, ever forget that gesture of kindness. 91. I also had a double (inner and outer) ear infection starting that night and almost had to miss graduation so I could go to the doctor to get better. It was one of those half days that school was just graduation practice and I had to last til 11am to graduate that night. I laid in the nurse’s office for the majority of it. 92. My ears suck, I hope my kids never have them. I got swimmers ear at least twice a summer and had to wear ear plugs all the time. I still have to pour drops in my ears anytime I swim or I get an ear infection. I even perforated my ear drum when I was five since it was so bad. 93. Plus I had to have a pallet expander and braces and retainers. And I am missing my eye teeth. They never came in, as baby teeth or adult. Let’s hope my kids don’t get my teeth either. 94. My laptop in college was named Marty. As in Marty from Back to the Future. My iPod then became Marty Jr. When Ryan and I got a new laptop we named it Biff. 95. I can touch my tongue to my nose. Not the fake out way either, for real.
96. I can also fold my tongue into a clam/flowery shape. 97. My husband and I have been watching the Cosby Show on Netflix lately, and I feel like I keep getting glimpses of my future for my husband’s parenting skills… 98. Ryan and I are very opposite; he is the peanut butter to my jelly. In so so many ways. 99. I cannot for the life of me drive a stick shift. I hate it. Ryan is trying to force me to keep trying since his car is manual. Ugh. 100. I am a nervous wreck over this re-enlistment disaster.
Why is it whenever I go to the barracks I hear guys (and girls) complaining about how they hate being in the Marines? How they cannot wait to EAS and get out? They are just counting down the days until they can get out of there.
There are so many of those.
Yet my husband who loves being a Marine, wants to make a career out of it, works so incredibly hard, has a tremendous amount of pride and dedication... is getting screwed?!
It frustrates me to the point I want to just break down and cry. But I can't. Because that won't help Ryan at all.
No answers from the career planners at all. For my husband to remain in the Marine Corps would take an act of God at this point. Every single thing is full or there just is not time for him to go before a huge board and be told no.
So he went to the Army. He looked at this program they have called From Blue to Green. He got excited about it again. He contacts a recruiter who says... only Special Forces are getting accepted at this point. Which we think is untrue (especially after talking to the army guy who lives above us) and he just wanted to go home early and not deal with it.
Now what???
Air Force? Navy? Nonmilitary life? Prior service recruiters??
My husband wants nothing more than to be a Marine. He wants to continue to serve his country and keep doing what he is doing. But he can't. Yet there are hundreds of people in the Corps that would gladly take an instant EAS date if it were to be offered to then. Ryan never thought when he joined the USMC he would have to worry about job security. Ever. My husband graduated high school and was in boot camp three days later. He has wanted nothing more than this since he was thirteen years old. That was when he decided to join and has never once wavered on that. He has no idea what else he can do besides military service. There are no degrees to fall back on. This is his life. He wants it to be his career.
Pardon my language in this sentence, but this is fucking ridiculous.
I can see how it is upsetting him, how hard he is trying every option possible. I can see how he is keeping himself strong and positive regardless, but I am failing to do the same. I can go to a recruiter today and enlist with no problem, but he can't stay doing the job he has done so well for five years.
I have been praying and praying. I keep praying and hoping and wishing and it is doing absolutely nothing. I've never experienced a hopelessness or worry of this magnitude. That bothers me. Especially since it is for the one I love the most.
We need a miracle here. The rest of my husband's career is depending on it.
(Ok this part is not so Wordless... but I hit my six week mark post-surgery! Almost all the swelling has gone down and I feel great. And I can wear real bras! Now some of the pictures I know there is not a lot of difference. But remember in the befores I am wearing a bra that is about a cup size too small which impacts size. Some I think you can tell though! They are not the best pictures, Ryan helped me with the 'after' shots... so bear with me! The pictures you can reeeeally tell in I am not about to post on the internet, so here we go!)
