What's in a name? (Link up)

I came across My Very Own Modern Family through another real life friend who write blogs at She Can't Shut Up. I decided to do this link up (even though I'm late!), just because I needed to write, and this was something I love. Names.... I have two girl names and a boy name picked out in case something happens and God decides to give me another child. One name my husband will never let me name my girl though, so I've secretly named my Pilot that name. LoL!

So here I am...names...my name, my husband's name, my kids' names. I love them all. My cat's name, not so much, but it suits him somehow. Names are a huge part of life. It seems as though we name EVERYTHING. Like I stated above, I've even secretly named my car. My parents name their cars too. My dad's Jeep is Jose. I don't remember what my mom's Jeep is, but I know she has a name. We even have nicknames for some of our friends and whatnot (some that those friends should probably never know, though that's not the case with my friends...they all know what we nicknamed them IF we have a nickname for them).

Let's start off easy. My name. My mom had been set on naming me Karen Francis for awhile. She loved the name. That is until...dun dun dun...my Mimi (dad's mom) pointed out the initials... KFC.. That ended that name and they moved on to another...Stephanie Eileen. Stephanie was my mom's FAVORITE girls name. Of course...hardly anyone knows me as Stephanie. Why? My dad nicknamed me Stevie at birth. My parents and brothers are really the only ones who can get away with calling me Stephanie without me getting furious at them. Of course, in professional life (doctors, banks, etc.) I am Stephanie and I live with it. I've thought about changing my name legally to Stevie, but it's really just too much of a hassle and it really doesn't impact me too much since really, almost no one knows me as Stephanie. I think even my in-laws were surprised at first to find out Stevie was a nickname and not my real name.

From www.sheknows.com
The meaning of Stephanie is:

Crown; victorious.

Category: French, American, Greek

 

The meaning of Eileen is:

From a surname derived from the Old French 'aveline' meaning hazelnut.

Category: French, American, Greek, Irish, Latin 

 

My husband's name is Joshua Michael. I'm not sure how his name came about or anything else about it in his parents' eyes. There is a huge story behind Josh's family and I really don't feel I can or should go into it, especially in this entry. Maybe someday, if I get his permission I can explain his family that I love so much.

 

The meaning of Joshua is:

A savior; a deliverer.

Category: Biblical, American, Hebrew

 

The meaning of Michael is:

King Henry IV, Part 1' Sir Michael, a friend to the Archbishop of York. 'Henry VI, Part 2'...

Category: Biblical, American, Hebrew, Shakespearean

Now onto our own children's names. I picked out Caralyn Mae when I was in 10th grade. I loved the name Carolyn (my kindergarten teacher's daughter's name...I used to babysit her and her brother, Chris on occasion when I was old enough to), but I wanted to be able to shorten it, so I switched the 'o' to an 'a'. It worked for me. I still loved it when I found out I was pregnant with my first child. Our boy's choice was Connor Donovan. We had picked that name out when we were still dating. Josh didn't mind the girls name I had previously picked out so we kept that as our first girl name. I didn't know the meaning of the name then, and it wasn't that important to me when I was pregnant either. But I loved the sound of the name flowing together with our last name...it sounded so much better with our last name than it did with my maiden name (which I used when I picked it out...I named my "Crying Baby" from Child Development class Caralyn Mae since I had no clue if I would ever have children of my own.

The meaning of Caralyn (taken from Carolyn) is:

Feminine manly.

Category: English

The meaning of Mae is:

Bitter.

Category: Hebrew, American, Anglo-Saxon, English, French

Since I picked out Cara's name I let Josh pick out the names for our second child. His girl name was Aria Skye and his boy name was Alaric Stefan. I helped with middle names, but he just couldn't choose/find one he liked with the first names, so I gave him some suggestions and he picked from them. We researched for Alaric's middle name for a couple months until he decided upon Stefan. I gave him a couple weeks to choose differently since Stefan was so close to my real name and I didn't really want family names (come to find out, Mae is a family name, but I didn't know that at the time of naming her). So Alaric Stefan it was. It took awhile to get used to Alaric...my mom HATED it, but now she's good with it.

The meaning of Alaric is:

Leader of all.

Category: German, Scandinavian, Teutonic

The meaning of Stefan is:

Crown.

Category: Polish, American, Greek, Swedish, Russian, Scandinavian, German, Slavic

 

I also want to reference my book "The complete book of baby names" by Lesley Bolton and the experts at mostbabynames.com in some baby name meanings

 

Stephanie: (Greek) Feminine form of Stephen; Crowned in victory

 

Eileen: (Gaelic) Form of Evelyn, meaning "a birdlike woman"

 

Joshua: (Hebrew) God is salvation

 

Michael: (Hebrew) Who is like God?

 

Caralyn: {Taken from Cara, where Caralyn is found in their alternate names} (Italian/Gaelic) One who is dearly loved/A good friend

               {Taken from Caroline, where Carolyn is found in their alternate names} (Latin) Feminine form of Charles; a joyous song; a small, strong woman

 

Mae: {Taken from May, where Mae is found in their alternate names} (Latin) Born during hte month of May; form of Mary, meaning "star of the sea/from the sea of bitterness"

 

Alaric: (German) A noble ruler

 

Stefan:{Taken from Stephen, where Stefan is found in their alternate names} (Greek) Crowned with garland

It's amazing to me how many different meanings and "categories" you can find for some names. I liked my book better than the websites for the most part. It didn't overwhelm me for the most part. I guess really, you just never know truly what a name means or where it's from, what variation is it of what name originally, etc. Different sites say different things. Different books say different things.

I won't go into the meanings of the names I like for a boy and girl if I ever have another baby. I just hope I can someday use my names in some manner. Like I told my husband...if I could be guaranteed I'd have another boy, I'd totally have another baby. With my luck, I'd have another girl and she'd be even sassier and headstrong than my first. I couldn't handle that.

What are some of your favorite names?

MilSpouse (first) Friday Fill-In

If you're a MilSpouse and would like to participate, please check out Wife of a Sailor! Remember to link up after you're finished so we can all check out your answers! Have fun!

 

1. What’s one thing in the past month you would have changed?
I don't know that I would've changed anything. Maybe I would've spent some more time with a couple friends in Michigan, but I think January went very well for me.

2. What was your favorite thing that happened in January? 
I started it out in Michigan with Josh, Cara, Ric and our families. It was so nice to start the year that way.

3. What are you looking forward to in February?
Starting my workout plan for this year, spending some quality family time with Cara, Ric and Josh too. This will probably be the last month that happens for awhile.

4. What are your plans for Valentine’s Day? 

I don't really celebrate Valentine's Day. My grandma passed away in 1999 on Valentine's Day and it hasn't really meant much to me since. Josh is happy about this, but we do still give cards to each other just about every year.

I think my biggest plans are for the day before. I'm hosting my church's Mom's & Friend's Group's Valentine's Party. I still have NO clue what to do for it, but I'm working on it slowly but surely.

5. What is your best advice for a MilSpouse whose spouse is deployed for Valentine’s Day?
Go out anyway! Take yourself out on a much deserved date! Go out with a friend if you don't want to be alone. Just because they're gone doesn't mean you're not loved, it just means you're apart for now.

Sleeping Arrangements

I made a huge mistake when Caralyn was a baby. I let her sleep with us. At first it was because I couldn't hear her breathe even though she was 5 feet from my head. Then it was because it was easier to nurse at night with her already in bed with us. It was also easier to give her the bottle for both of us when she was in bed with us.

The bottles ended not long after Alaric was born. We did try putting her in the crib when she was a little over a year old. She got super sick a week later and was back in bed with us. Alaric has never really wanted to be in bed with us. He likes his own space and doesn't like being touched while he's sleeping, except recently he's wanted to crawl into bed with us at 6AM to sleep an extra hour or two. If Josh has left for work, I let him. It lets me sleep just a little longer in the morning.

Caralyn is four years old now. A little more than that. This past Monday we decided she was going to start sleeping in her own bed. I was a little hesitant because Josh had to work the next morning so I would be left to do all the work after we went to bed. Four years, One month, Two weeks we slept in the same bed together (she slept alone for a total of about two weeks in the 4 years 1 month and 4 weeks she had been alive...just 3 days shy of a full 2 months). I think it's been harder on me to let her sleep in her own bed than it is for her to sleep in her own bed.

The first night, she woke up twice. I was in her room a total of maybe 3 minutes between those two times. She woke up again around 6:30AM I believe and I brought her into my room so she would go back to sleep with me. Josh wasn't home so it wasn't a big deal. I wasn't ready to be up yet.

The rest of the nights she's slept until at least 7:00AM, many times later than that. Last night was a different story. She woke up enough to warrant me getting out of bed three times. A fourth was needed because Alaric woke her up at 6:00AM when he cried because I wouldn't let him in bed with me and put him back in his bed. She went right to sleep and is still sleeping at almost 7:20AM.

Alaric...now that is another thing we changed. He has been able to climb out of his crib for a month or two now. He's never been hurt or anything, but after we came home from Michigan we decided we wanted to make a change. That change didn't happen too fast, but it finally happened. Again, on Monday night, we changed his crib into a toddler bed. I was only hesitant because I had seen so many horror stories about the transition from crib to big kid bed. I lucked out. From day one he has slept all night in his bed, never getting out for anything. He still does his morning "crawl out of bed and go to mommy's room" ritual, but if it's too early, I put him back into his own bed. If it's not (or if Josh is already gone for work), he stays in bed with me and cuddles, sometimes falling back to sleep.

I feel so blessed by this. Caralyn isn't happy that she's sleeping alone, but she's got her flashlight, Pinkie (the scentsy pig she renamed) and Fluffy (a pink stuffed bunny) in bed with her, so she's good. She also has her Tinkerbell nightlight and the Dora projection nightlight on for her. She does very well and even puts herself back to sleep if the bad dream isn't too bad. Alaric is just amazing. He sleeps with his Mickey Mouse nightlight (I need to get a new nightlight for him...I don't like this one), his giant Mickey Mouse stuffed animal (Thank you Uncle Kacee!), his Scentsy Monkey and his owl. He doesn't get out of bed until morning. He doesn't fight us at bedtime (neither does Caralyn). I have some pretty darn good kids.

The only other thing I have to add is...it feels really weird being in a queen size bed with just one other person, who doesn't take up all the room in the world. Though, I haven't gotten away from my edge of the bed and he has decided to take the middle of the bed to be closer to me. I'm not sure how I'm going to do with his next underway. I haven't slept alone since I was pregnant with Caralyn, even then Sparrow usually slept with me. Sparrow has taken to sleeping in one of the kids' rooms at night or on the couch...he's not too interested in sleeping with me anymore. I think I may need to get myself a giant stuffed animal before he leaves.

Meggie

I read this blog this morning. It is from December 18, 2012, but it is a post that should be read by every parent or parent to be. It is a very sad post, so please, if you're anything like me, have some tissues near you when you read it. My sweatshirt sleeves are soaked at the wrists.

Meggie's Story

Today I will be thinking of everything I need to secure in my house. I don't know if it will ever get done, but I think once I tell Josh this story, or let him read it, whatever, he will very well do it on his own. With a 4 year old and 2 1/2 year old who love to climb on the dressers and toy box, I think this will hit home with him too. I know our main toy box is already attached to the wall...the plastic one is not. That one will be gone soon anyway, with another of our "main" ones being put in an attached. Their toy collection is growing rapidly and we need more space for them to put them. I may get rid of their plastic drawer bins and get more of the top part of their main toy boxes. I do not know yet.

In Ric's and Cara's rooms, I will be securing their dressers to the wall. They don't climb Cara's dresser...yet...but there is a chair in her room (which they aren't supposed to be in unless Josh or I are in there anyway...Cara still sleeps with us every night thanks to night terrors and nightmares) for them to climb on to get to whatever they want on top of her dresser. Ric's dresser they climb themselves for whatever reason. Ric's is diaper changes. I haven't seen Cara on top of it for a long time. The other dressers in Ric's room (the ones for his actual clothes) have never been climbed. Those ones definitely need to be attached to the wall though....they would tip over in an instant if he or Cara ever tried to climb them.

Our TV in the living room is secured to the wall...the TV in my bedroom is secured to the entertainment system, but that is not secured to the wall. We are getting rid of it sometime soon, so I'm not worried too much about that one. Josh's dresser needs to be secured to the wall though...it's even almost fallen over on me while putting clothes away, but the room is closed off to the kids so I've never worried much about it before.

Please, keep your children and any other child that comes into your home a little safer.

Happy New Year!

2013

That beginning of the New Year. For me, that means a clean slate and time to start making myself happier and healthier. I have made resolutions for the first time in my life this year. I would really like to keep them, so please, if you know me or see my lacking in them, tell me so I stop being lazy about them and keep them.

My resolutions are fairly simple...or they should be anyway.

1. Start writing on this blog and/or opendiary.com at least 3 times a week.

Since I can write on opendiary.com  from my iPad fairly easily (is there an app for blogger?) I have a feeling I'll be writing there a little more often than here. I don't know why I can't write here while using Safari, but it kept giving me error messages when I tried yesterday. It's kind of annoying. I hope it's not the normal thing.

2. Lose 50 - 60 lbs by January 1, 2014

I struggled to lose 8 lbs this year. I have kept the 8 lbs off for the most part for 4 months, but I'm stuck at 8 lbs lost. No matter if I worked out at the local pole dance studio, at home, or just sat on my butt, I couldn't get myself below 180 except for a day. I think I saw 179.5 only 2 times in the last 4 months. It's kind of sad. I have been eating much better than I was before this and I'm going to continue on trying to eat better.

On top of my eating habits, Josh and I will be looking into a family membership at the local YMCA (and see if I can use it ONLY at the local one or it I can use it nation wide in case we go traveling and are near another one). Child care is almost $4 an hour, but for a class that's an hour long, it's only $8 total. I think I can afford that a couple times a week. Then the kids will also get use out of the pool and be able to take swim classes finally. When Josh is gone I can put one in child care while the other takes a lesson.

I am kind of nervous about leaving them at the child care center since they won't know the people taking care of them and neither will I, but that's the overprotective mom in me. I'm good at being overprotective. No one was left alone with my oldest until she was about a year a half old. It will be my struggle more than theirs I think. I don't like to feel like I'm slacking in my responsibilities as a parent by letting others take care of them.

Then with the gym, I will also be taking my pole class at least once a week. That is a mommy and me class so I get to have my kids there, free of charge, and get to work out and make myself stronger and feel more confident.

Losing this weight is mostly for me, but also for my kids and husband. It will make me healthier and happier with myself. I miss being a little skinnier, but a healthier weight is more my goal than what size my pants and shirts are.

If any of you are near me and would like to join for walks and maybe VERY beginner running, please let me know and we will meet up sometime and figure it all out. I know it's the winter right now, so I'm figuring once it reaches 50 and just light rain again in the spring is when I'll start adding the walking.

I hope all of your 2013 is wonderful! I will be back sometime, hopefully soon...maybe not until I'm back home from vacation though...we shall see.    

True Love

1. How long have you and your significant other been together?

We started dating on October 17, 2002...so almost 10 years :) We met only 2 days before!

2. How did you meet? {What's your "love" story?}

One of my best friends liked this guy...she invited me out to a local bar and grill to meet him to get my opinion on him. I brought a guy I was interested in too...though I didn't care what she thought of him, I was secure in my own judgement of men, unlike her. Two days later she invites him to go to the club with us. I tried getting out of it (I had just danced for 6 hours straight and had a feeling about what would happen). I was the only one with a license AND car together...so I drove, picking up a few of my other friends along the way. Towards the end of the night it was just me and him on the floor (the others went to get some water, was hoping he would go to since he had just said he was thirsty and I had been avoiding him all night). We went to a different part of the club and he ended up kissing me. The rest is history. (The friend and I are still friends...though she was mad for a couple months at me. She realized he really wasn't the right guy for her and is still searching for Mr. Right)

3. If married, how long have you been married? If not, is this the guy you hope to marry? {do tell}

On December 30, 2011 we celebrated (though, we had to celebrate early again this year) 6 years of marriage. The first couple years were hard, but we pushed through and are happy, though still working hard every day to continue to be as happy as we are. No one ever said marriage was a piece of cake...it takes a lot of hard work to make a marriage work :) I wouldn't trade it for the world though!

4. If you are married, where did you get married at? Big or small wedding? If not, where would you like to get married? And will it be big or small?

We were married at Zion Lutheran Church in Monroe, Michigan. We invited 350 people and at least 85% showed up, so it was a big wedding. I've never seen so many people attend BOTH a wedding and a reception in my entire life! I felt so loved, and still do.

The first picture is the church before anyone arrived. Wasn't it gorgeous? The second picture is the front portion of the church (maybe 1/4 - 1/3), almost every pew was at least partially full all the way back. It is a really big church.

5. Do you have any nick-names that you call one another? Do share!

I call Josh my Wookie. He's a hairy guy...and he can do the Chewie sound pretty much perfectly (along with both of his brothers, one an octave higher and one an octave lower) and my son (who is higher also).

6. Name 3 things you love most about your honey.

This is hard. I love many things about this man, but I've been making lists in my head of things we need to work on more to better our marriage when he gets home from out to sea...so those things are sticking in the front of my mind right now.

I love that he accepts the fact I'm not a great housekeeper. He doesn't hate me that the house looks a mess many days. It's not all just because we have two very active toddlers running around here constantly (though that is a big part of it) but that along with me being very disorganized and easily frustrated when things don't go exactly as I plan it when I try to clean and declutter.

He is so supportive of all my endeavors. If I wanted to go back to school, he'd be right on board with it. If I really put my heart and soul into an audition I wanted to truly do, he'd support me fully and make it work so I could go do it. It doesn't matter what it is, he's on board if it makes me happy.

And lastly, I love that he can put his mind at ease while he's out to sea. I know many husbands who worry themselves into insanity over their wives while they're underway. My husband always says "Thank you for being you, for being strong and able to take care of yourself and our kids. It makes these patrols a little easier with one less thing to worry about. Oh and by the way, if I haven't said it lately, thank you and I'm proud of you for your strength." It makes my heart melt when he's gushy like this, though it doesn't happen often. I guess this patrol has been hard on him and a lot of the other men out there with him. His mind is at ease when it comes to home though because he knows I can handle pretty much anything and everything thrown my way. I think I proved that when I gave birth to our son while he was out to sea and didn't blink an eye over it. He's been much more at ease with me being home alone since then.

7. Tell us how he proposed? Or your ideal proposal?

No one knew he was going to propose. He had just picked the rings up that morning. He was going to wait until he knew for sure he was accepted into the Navy. He hadn't even gotten the chance to ask my parents' permission (which was important to me, even though if they had said no, it wouldn't have stopped me marrying him). On December 24, 2004 (my favorite holiday day...it always has been) we were at my Aunt JoAnne's house for family dinner and presents. After all the presents had been opened I got up, got a cookie and asked if he wanted to go downstairs to play pool and hang out. He said "in a minute" so I just chilled upstairs for a bit and ate a little more. Then I asked again and he said "In a minute, there's still another present." I was confused and was like "No there's not." but I went to sit in his lap anyway when he got down on his knee, with the ring box open in his hand and asked me "Will you marry me?" I instantly said yes and started crying and hugging him. My family thought he just hurt me when my cousin said "Get a camera! Don't you see the ring?!?!"

My family was furious that he didn't say anything to them so they could REALLY see the engagement, but they've forgiven him. I think partially because we've added two absolutely gorgeous little kids to the family.

And after all was said and done that Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, Josh sat down with my parents and apologized for not asking their permission, explaining that he hadn't actually planned on asking me that day, but it just felt right to him. They still raz him about it but love him like their own son.

8. Is he a flowers and teddy bear kind of guy for v-day, or strawberries, champagne, and rose petals?

Neither. He's not a holiday guy whatsoever. I always tell him "I don't expect anything but a card on any holiday and birthday/anniversary.", yet rarely do I even get that (even when he is home!). It's just the kind of guy he is. I don't really celebrate Valentine's Day anyway. 13 years ago my Grandma (who was a great friend to me) passed away. That year ended up being the WORST year of my life and a year I really needed her there for me. I've never fully gotten over it and Josh is actually happy that I don't make a big deal of it, though I still expect a card.

9. Are you a sunset dinner on the beach kind of girl, or pop a movie in and relax on the couch?

Movie all the way! Give me comfy clothes and a good show or movie and lots of junk food. Just how we like it.

10. Tell us one thing you'd like to do with your significant one day. If you could do anything? Go anywhere?

I'd love to travel the world with him. We are going to learn French, German and Spanish together, along with ASL and possibly other languages...that will help us get to the traveling part. I don't believe in going to any country without at least TRYING to speak their native language.

11. Tell us what you plan on doing on this Valentine's Day.

The only plans I had for today were taking my mom to the airport (she's been here 4 days shy of a month, only felt like half a week!). I ended up doing that, then my kids and I went to a friend's house to pick up some picture she took for me. After that me and my two little Valentines went on a dinner date to McDonalds and I got a pleasant surprise....I got to have a Shamrock Shake (my favorite!) which is exactly what I needed after today.

12. Are you asking for anything this Valentine's day?

I'm hoping he'll make up for not getting me a card by getting me a card when he gets home to express how much he missed me and loves me. Either that or when he gets some time off (like a long weekend or something) taking me out to Idaho to see his biological dad, brother, sisters and the rest of the family. I miss them sooooo much! Especially my sister in law Anna, who is expecting her first baby in September!

13. Give us one piece of advice of keeping a relationship strong and full of love.

Honesty at all costs and open communication. These are two things my husband and I will be working on even more when he gets home. We let it slip and take each other for granted way too much, and it's not healthy. We practically don't know each other anymore since having kids and that needs to stop before it can't be fixed.

14. Show us a picture of what love means to you.
Oh I have so many pictures of what love means to me....I'm only going to post a couple though!

I've never been happier in my whole life, and it shows!


This was every family member at our wedding (only two not by blood or marriage). That is love to me...family that truly supports you and is happy for you and loves you so much as to share in the most special of days! We are still in contact with pretty much all of them, keeping each other up to date on any and all life events...it wasn't just an occasion that you're supposed to be there for each other, they truly wanted to be there. Many of these people traveled many hours and had to stay the night at a hotel just to spend our special day with us. We are truly blessed and loved.


Because of our love, and the love and support of our family, we created life...twice (so far, we are still contemplating more kids...one more thing to talk about more when he arrives home and has more time with our ever changing toddlers). That is the ultimate in true love. That and being able to stay in love while the kids are growing and changing constantly, which gives very little time to working on yourself or as a couple. Again, we are truly blessed. I love this man!

Friday MilSpouse Fill In #68

Thank you Wife of a Sailor for hosting!

1. What is your favorite winter memory?
Making a snow man with my neighbor Jesse. He was an only child and treated me like a princess. He was my favorite "big brother" even though he wasn't related to me. He even saved me from his best friend (one of my actual big brothers) when we played snow football. Winters after he moved just weren't as fun.

2. What is your current favorite TV show?
I have so many! I still love General Hospital, then there's Switched At Birth, Make It Or Break It, The Lying Game, Covert Affairs, White Collar, Royal Pains, Sanctuary, Eureka, Burn Notice, CSI, CSI: Miami, Once Upon A Time, Grimm, Glee....oh there's soooooo many!

3. What was your favorite thing that happened in January?
My mom arrived in Washington for a visit! Granted, the first 2 weeks she was here we were all sick thanks to a relapse of the bug my kids and I had before she got here (so we were sick for a month...my mom for a week while here)...but she extended her trip until February 14 so we can still get some things done! YAY!

4. What is the best sound in the world to you?
A laughing child. I love hearing my babies laugh! My son has the greatest laugh in all the world, it melts my heart every time I hear it. My daughter has a high pitched laugh and it drives me insane sometimes, but hearing it, I know she's happy.

5. What is the biggest lesson you have learned as a MilSpouse (or significant other)?
Personally, I've learned that I can not fully trust almost anyone on the boat. I've found many MilSpouses to be lying backstabbers...and very childish and immature. I didn't accept that behavior when I was in middle and high school from my friends, now that I've been graduated from high school for 10 years, I will not accept it from my friends, no matter how much I need friends in my life. The ones that have been this way are all at least 5+ years older than me too...so they should definitely be grown up enough to treat others with respect instead of like they're in middle or high school. So I just keep my distance. Maybe I just expect too much from people though. It wouldn't surprise me since most of the people I wanted to be around, even as a very small child, were adults rather than other kids my age.

The other thing I've learned...if you truly click with another MilSpouse, even when they move away, stay in contact with them. I've not lost too many friends from South Carolina by moving here to Washington (and them to their stations) but I do not talk to the two ladies I really connected with enough. We always tell each other the important things in life, but it's not like when we were living so close to each other. And now one of my best friends has moved back to South Carolina (from here) and goes to Italy every once in awhile to be with her husband. I need to talk to her more often too...though...we are trying to plan a trip for me to Italy to spend time with her and her family! I really hope we can make it happen before his duty is up over there! Would be a BLAST!

I've been lucky in finding a few good MilSpouse friends. I also have a MilSpouse sister in law (2 of them, but I only talk to 1, the other and her husband (my husband's brother) decided against being part of the family when they got married, sad, but it's the choice they made) which helps a lot too. Even the ones I'm around now, we may not talk often, but when we do and when we get together, it's so nice to have them around. I don't trust easily anymore and it's nice that there are other women that don't HAVE to have constant contact to know what they mean to the other.