YOU CANNOT ESCAPE YOUR FIGURE

   I'm the type of person who is never satisfied with "good enough".  I admit it freely.  I also admit freely that it is an enormous character flaw and one which I never seem to make any headway in rectifying.  If I received an A-, I only ever thought, "It's not as good as an A".  If I came in second in a competition, race or contest of any sort, my thought was always, "It's no first place" as I looked on with mixed emotions of jealousy, sorrow and anger at the winner.  I'm a perfectionist and I strive for perfection in everything.  It makes me a difficult person to get along with, let alone live with.

   It should come as absolutely no surprise then, that the same has always applied to my body.  I know that every woman has looked with longing at old photographs, wishing for their old figure (you know, the one you used to despise because it was "so fat").  I think that, likewise, a woman who has lost a lot of weight often looks at herself in the mirror and thinks, "I'm still not that skinny."

   Why are we like this?  Why is it that the amount of weight lost, while awesome, is never quite good enough?  I think there are two reasons.  The first being, our sex is one of endless comparisons.  We don't often compare our current body with the body we had two years ago, rather, we compare it with the women we see on TV, or the ones ahead of us in line at the doughnut shop who look as though they've never eaten so much as a grain of sugar in their life, let alone a doughnut!  And the second reason ties in with the first, it's because we don't realize that our figure is our figure.  Regardless of whether we gain or lose 50 pounds, our trouble areas will never not be our trouble areas.

   Case in point.  For the majority of my post-period life, I've nestled comfortably and uncomfortably on the scale between the low and high 150's (pant size 10 to 12).  When I married, I was recovering from an illness which brought me all the way down to the mid 130's and I was ecstatic.  But, even as my pants continually fell off my hips, I thought to myself: "You still have a few more pounds to go."  Then, my health returned and as the weight piled on quickly, I looked back at those wedding pictures with a sigh in my heart.  ("How could I think that I was fat then?!  NOW, I'm fat!!!")

   With the birth of baby Wyatt last March, I weighed 179 the day of delivery.  Almost an entire year later, I've lost nearly 60 pounds (fluctuating from the low to mid 120's).

That weight loss is due entirely to  breastfeeding, regular exercise, portion control (helped by a high dose anti-depressant which thoroughly kills my appetite) and finally by having John out of the house these last 7+ months for training.
   In my life, I've never even dreamed of weighing so little.  I never thought it humanly possible for me to be in the 120's.  I always thought that once I was in the 120's I would look as skinny as an actress.  Correction, I always thought I would feel as skinny as an actress.  But, the truth is:  NOBODY CAN ESCAPE THEIR FIGURE!

   I want you to say that out loud and let the eternal truth and reality of that statement sink into every fiber of your being.  YOU CANNOT ESCAPE YOUR FIGURE.  Period.  End of discussion.  While very skinny and parading about town in pants ranging in size from 2 to 4, I still feel as big as I did when I weighed 155.  I cannot escape my figure.  What is my figure?  I have been either blessed or cursed (depending on who you talk to) with the figure that gains weight all over, for the most part.  My trouble spots are my thighs, hips and butt.  They were my trouble spots when I was in the 150's and they've remained my trouble spots now in the 120's.  If you're like me, and you find yourself often wishing for a smaller number on that scale, repeat to yourself: "I cannot escape my figure".  If you're pear shaped, you'll always be pear shaped.  If you're shaped like an hourglass, you'll always be shaped like an hourglass.  If you're top heavy, you'll always be top heavy.  I honestly thought that if my scale ever read 122 while I was on it, I would magically have stick legs, a petite waist and small breasts.  Imagine my surprise when this wasn't the case.

   But, where does the wishing end?  I weighed in this morning at 126 pounds, and while I always thought I would be in heaven at 126 pounds, this morning, I found myself still cursing my muffin top (a constant reminder of the physical cost of motherhood).  Then, I went to Kohl's to take advantage of a coupon, and bought a new outfit (yes, it was from the clearance rack).  When I got home and took a couple of pictures to show John, I saw just how tiny I actually am.

   My hips are my hips are my hips.  They'll always be the widest part of me.  But, the problem doesn't lie with my hips, it lies with me.  As difficult as it is, we women must fall in love with the figures with which God blessed us.  It does us no good to pine for a smaller body, when in reality, a smaller body won't do one darn thing to make you feel better about your actual figure.

   Thomas S. Monson said (and I'm paraphrasing) "There's no such thing as an ideal pant size".  By all means, continue going to the gym, continue eating conscientiously and continue striving for your ideal weight, but you're fooling yourself (like I did) if you think it's going to magically change your figure or who you are.  At 126 pounds I feel the same inside as I did when I was 156.  My self-esteem may be a bit higher as I'm a little easier on society's eyes, but in every other way, I am the exact same person.

   Don't let what you want to look like, determine who you want to be or how you want to feel about yourself.  Until you're happy with the figure that you have, you'll never be content with the number on the scale or on your pants.  You simply won't.  Take my advice: work out hard at the gym, then come home and work out your self esteem too.  Take a moment to embrace those "trouble areas" and accept the fact that:  YOU CANNOT ESCAPE YOUR FIGURE.  And no, I'm not saying that like it's a bad thing!

Healthcare For Dummies

   Don't allow yourself to be confused or offended by the title of this post.  I am, in no way, implying that you're a dummy.  That being said, I think few Americans actually understand how Healthcare works, and therefore, few understand where the actual problems lie.  I'm not drawing this information from any talk show or radio network, but rather from my own experience from working in the healthcare industry.

   My last job before the one God gave me, was as a Chiropractic Assistant.  I remember sitting there that first week being trained by the girl I was replacing.  She kept talking about "auditing accounts" and I was so confused.  It wasn't until after she left and I was figuring things out on my own when I realized the truth:  

FACT:  A doctor doesn't collect the full amount billed to an Insurance Company.

   I always thought: "If my doctor bills the Insurance company $100 for my visit, and the Insurance pays 80%, they pay $80 and I pay the remaining $20."  Sounds logical, right?  How many of you understood it to work that way also?  Well, it's not the case.  When an Insurance says they'll pay 80%, it means they'll pay on the allowable amount.  You see, when a Dr. says: "I accept _____ Insurance" what he means is:  "I'm under contract with _______ Insurance company to accept their clients."  The Dr. and the Insurance company then come to an agreement as to what they'll pay/accept for various services.  So, if a Dr. bills $100 for an office visit, Insurance Company #1 says they'll pay no more than $50 for the office visit, Insurance Company #2 says they'll pay no more than $65 for the office visit, so on and so forth.  The Dr. can look at those reimbursement levels and has the option to say, "Insurance Company #1 doesn't pay me enough to keep me viable, therefore, if your Insurance Company is #1, I don't accept your Insurance."

   The Dr. I worked for received about $45 a visit from any given Insurance company (on average).  Did you know it is against the law to offer Cash patients a different price than patients with Insurance?  Isn't that messed up?  The man I worked for was of the very best caliber.  His way around this law?  He offered what he called "A same-day discount".  If you were going to pay for the visit at the time of service, your adjustment was a flat $35.  He offered Insurance Companies the same deal, but of course, they never paid on the same day of service.

MYTH:  "My doctor is rich and overpaid because he's corrupt and the Health Insurance Companies are corrupt." 

   Do you have any idea how much it costs to run a Business, let alone a Medical Practice?  Did you know that any employer must match your Taxes?  That's right.  That means the Government is double-dipping into your taxes!  If you earned $1000.00 in your last pay period, and the Government took  $400 of that, your employer also pays $400.  That means in a pay period the Government collected $800 on your behalf. I bet you didn't know that.  Think about how much it costs to run your household.  A place of business is very similar.  You have cleaning costs, utility bills, payroll, taxes, advertising, and student loans.  It's quite overwhelming when you conceive of the expense.

   I think the reason a lot of people carry an angst against Doctors is because they see them as opportunistic bad guys:  "I got sick, so I had to see a Doctor and it cost me $450.  He's capitalizing on my misfortune!"  It's easy to fall into this way of thinking, but it doesn't justify it.  Do you know how much time and schooling the Doctor took in order to help you in your moment of need?  Do you know much money he's paid to have the vital knowledge to return you to health?  I think it's safe to say that a majority of Doctors enter the field because they have altruistic personalities.  They want to help people.  End of story (i.e. "Do No Harm").  However, they also live in a very real world that has bills and overhead and student loans.  They have to collect enough money to pay off Student Loans and keep their business running and provide for their families in the meantime.

   I know what you're thinking, "But do they have to charge so much?!"  Sadly, the answer is yes.  And I'll tell you why.

   At the end of the day, a hospital is a business; it's a very large, very extensive and expensive Business.  It has all of the workings of a major hotel and a restaurant and a doctor's office.  It's a pricey place to be.  It always was and it always will be.  If you think of all of the aspects of your last hospital stay, you'll soon become overwhelmed.  The utilities alone of such an establishment must be hefty, not to mention staff, medicine, laundry, food, supplies, equipment, and the never ending taxes on all of those employees! etc.  It also has to help shoulder the cost of the pharmaceutical and research companies.  Do you know how much money it costs to develop these new breakthrough procedures and medication?  There is a cost of having access to the best healthcare in the world.  It doesn't just spring out of the ground in a spout of knowledge.  It takes testing, patience, facilities, know-how and lots and lots of money.   

   Like a business, a hospital is forced to balance its books or it becomes solvent and guess how many people a hospital could help when it can't function.  But, for better or for worse, this Business can "do no harm".  It cannot reserve the right to refuse service.  So, if you're a complete jerk, they still have to treat you.  If you are a drug addict who tried to kill yourself, they still have to treat you.  If you have absolutely no money to pay for your visit, they still have to treat you!  But, if there are people that aren't paying for their services, the hospital has to eat the cost.  What's that?  The Hospital pays for you to come and be treated if you can't pay.  It's inherently impossible for a hospital to continue to do this for any length of time without it affecting every other aspect of care.  This means the more a hospital pays for your care, the less staff it can hire, the less money it has for equipment, food, medicine and beds.  Eventually, they have to make money somehow.  The answer lies in Insurance Companies.

   An Insurance Company will always have more money than the average patient.  So, a hospital can get away with charging the Insurance Company enough to make their books balanced.  For example, let's say (for simplicity's sake) that it cost $1 million to completely run X Hospital for one year.  But, they were only able to collect half a million from all of the patients they treated.  How do they make up the other $500,000? They ask for charitable donations from their worthy sponsors and affluent members of Society, but that still leaves a $250,000 hole in their bank account.  Remember, if they don't fill this hole, they'll go out of business!  So, they say, "we have to spread this $250,000 cost to all of our paying patients."  So, that means what would have cost you $200 becomes a $2000 bill.  Do you understand, yet?

   Did you know that most movies in Hollywood cost upwards of $100 and $200 MILLION dollars?!  Yet, how much money did you pay for your last movie ticket.  $10?  How much were paying for a movie ticket a decade ago?  The price to make a movie is increasing (as is inflation) so the price you pay reflects that.  Imagine how much money your movie ticket would be though if the first 100 people in line didn't have to pay for their ticket.  Your $10 movie ticket would instantly skyrocket to what, $20?  $30?  $50?  And how much money do you think an actor makes for each movie they make?  How about TV Actors?  No one accuses an actor of being greedy and corrupt but they'll never hesitate to throw their Doctor under the bus.  What about your favorite Sporting event?  How much money would you pay for a ticket to the Super Bowl?  What if only half of the people had to pay for their ticket, how much would you pay then?  How much does each player make?  Does it affect the way they play or the way you see them?

   I'm sure that there are corrupt and overpriced doctors.  I'm sure that hospitals are mismanaged.  But, never forget that behind all of these practices, hospitals, multi-million dollar corporations, etc. there's just a bunch of people.  And guess what?  Nobody is perfect.  Not your doctor, not the Hospital Administrators, and not the CEO of Google.  

   So, if you didn't get the whole point of this long post, it's that the reason your healthcare is so expensive, is because the number of nonpaying patients outnumber the paying ones.  It's because the industry itself has had to inflate their costs in order to remain viable.  It's because too many people go to the Emergency Room when they should go to Urgent Care.  It's because too many people live unhealthy lifestyles and crowd the hospitals with the consequences of their bad decisions.  

   "But, Jane!  My cousin has cancer, how dare you imply that they're in the hospital because of a bad lifestyle choice!"  If that thought (or something like it) crossed your mind, then you were looking to be offended.  In no way did I imply that all people who are suffering from an illness  automatically contracted it due to lifestyle choices.  I merely meant that a lot of problems seen in hospitals are due to lifestyle choices individuals make.  Capisce?

   So, what is the solution?  It's not Universal Healthcare, because then, overnight, the patient load increases while everything else stays the same.  What I mean by that is: what deters you from going to the ER when you don't have insurance but you do have a stomach flu?  The answer almost invariably comes back: "Cost."  If that cost were removed, how many more people would visit the ER in any given day for common ailments?  If you go to your Grocery Store, and they're having "Customer Appreciation Day" complete with a free hot dog lunch, do you stop and enjoy a wiener?  What if they had a "Customer Appreciation Day" lunch but now the hot dogs were $1?  Would you still stop, or would you find yourself thinking, "Meh.  I'm not really that hungry..."  

   In Universal Healthcare, the costs to run these Hospitals (which, in case you forgot, are private Businesses)  are distributed to the entire population (by way of a large increase of taxes). We'll see rationing of care, medicine, facilities and coverage as well as Government involvement in the care you receive.  In addition, what happens to medical research?  We'll see a decrease in new, innovative surgeries and medicine.  How many aspiring doctors will see the restrictive limitations and the decrease in salary to pay back their staggering student loans and choose to pursue a more lucrative career?  And honestly, who could blame them?  Again, I know it's a knee-jerk reaction to blame the Doctors ("They're so greedy!")  But would you do it?  If you are going to accrue upwards of $150,000 of Student Debt, would you still do it if there was a possibility you couldn't pay it all back?

   It's unfair and unrealistic to expect Doctors to treat you for free.  Would you work for free?  Could you? Exactly...

Master Bedroom Getaway

   Whether you're the type that believes your master bedroom is a sanctuary that should be kid and toy free or if you like to have those little bodies snuggled up next to you on a Saturday morning to watch cartoons, your Master Bedroom is a central part of your home.  Important things happen in your Master Bedroom and it should reflect the couple that thrives in it.  If the Kitchen is the heart of the home, the Master Bedroom is the soul.
 
   Just because you're in the Military doesn't mean you can't create the atmosphere you so richly deserve.  A bed can make a statement without the heavy, hard-to-move headboard and you shouldn't settle for a bed setup that you aren't in love with!

   Before our last PCS move, we sold our bed and most of our furniture to save on truck space as well as make a little money.  When we arrived, we had to start all over again with much of our most basic needs (like a bed).  While it was a bit of a drag, it was also an opportunity.  We got a great deal on a King Mattress and Box Spring ($500 from American Freight).  At the next paycheck, we bought a basic metal bed frame ($60 from Costco.com) complete with an excellent mattress topper ($100 from Overstock) on the third paycheck.

   Being picky and with this gorgeous new bed, I didn't want to settle for the typical, hideous, tacky, bed-in-a-bag set.  I was ready for an adult's bed.  The budget wouldn't stretch to afford a homemade quilt for quite some time, so one day, when I was out at Costco, I saw a flannel sheet set (for only $29) that would be a beautiful bedspread.  It was for a Queen, so I had to cut up the fitted sheet, hem it, and attach it to the flat sheet, but it turned out better than I even imagined!

   The next step in the process was to think of some kind of headboard.  Knowing that another move was inevitable in a matter of months, and again, with no budget for a physical headboard, I took a curtain rod we had lying around and purchased a pair of black, sheer curtain panels from Big Lots ($10).  The effect is absolutely stunning and best yet, will be incredibly easy to take down and move!

   Lastly, I purchased two unfinished dressers from IKEA ($70 for the pair) stained them in our favorite color (Jacobean) and set them flanking the bed as nightstands.  They're perfect for catching clutter, books and holding lotion, wipes and diapers.  Best nightstands EVER!

   I wanted a punch of color so I took a leaf I found lying on the road on one of my walks, pressed it and framed it in an old, barnwood frame purchased from Hobby Lobby ($10 on sale).  I then took an old frame, painted it green and placed it around a picture I painted.

I also took a lamp shade I purchased from IKEA in their As-Is section ($6) and attached it to a basic floor lamp purchased from Walmart ($7).  I stenciled a fluer-de-lis pattern on it in a light gray and voila.  The result, is we have an amazing, comfortable, elegant-looking master bedroom which is a sanctuary any time of the day or night  It was inexpensive, has a decided stamp of "Smiths" and will be easy to move!

   If you're looking for a way to spruce up your Master Bedroom or if you're a newlywed couple looking for furniture, first things first, decide what you like, then get creative!  Go shopping in your home to see if there are any accessories that will better compliment your new retreat.  Stay within budget and spread the costs over several paychecks to avoid going into unnecessary debt.  DIY projects are always a great way to save money as well as maintain control over the end result.  There's no reason you can't enjoy a sanctuary of your own!

Stores I Love and Why You Should Too!

In Econ 1010, you learn that there's rarely ever a fixed price for anything.  Those who provide services or goods have a target price they'd like to receive for their goods as a whole rather than individually.  You don't see a Fortune 500 Company creating staff meetings about how much they want to make for each little product, rather they set a dollar amount for what they'd like to collect at the end of the fiscal year.
   If ever you've traveled on an airplane, and you ask those around you how much they paid for their tickets, you'll find that some paid their proverbial arms and legs, while others practically fly for free.  How is this?  Because at the end of the day, businessmen know that some profit is better than none at all, and they'll take the highest amount from whomever is willing to pay that price.  What this creates in the market place (or rather, should, if a free market is left to its own devices without government interference) is that you can shop around for the same product from several different merchants before acquiring the best deal.  Now that the econ lesson is over, here's my list of favorite stores, and why you should love them too!

COSTCO:  You may be thinking, "I'm not paying $55 to a store just so I can shop there!"  That kind of thinking is both absurd and asinine.  Costco will refund your membership fee at any time if you are unsatisfied.  Costco offers an amazing American Express card with 3% cash back on all purchases.  We shop using the card and then pay the bill off each month and then at the end of the year, we receive 3% back in the form of a check.  We always get more than enough to pay for the next year's membership and by being a member, you become privy to all sorts of amazing deals.  You might be thinking, "I don't own a business, what on earth would I do with that enormous can of black olives?"  Costco is more than a store full of oversized canned goods.  Costco carries different merchandise based on location, so each time you PCS, each store will carry its own unique perks.  Costco's brand (Kirkland) carries the best baby wipes on the planet (no, that's not my opinion, it's fact).  You can get a box of 900 wipes for $20.  Let me tell you something about these wipes.  I've been known to accidentally wash a wipe or two and they come out of the dryer strong as ever.  I've found myself holding it up thinking, "What is this washcloth?"  That's how strong and amazing they are.  In addition to wipes, Costco carries both Kirkland brand diapers and Huggies.  These big boxes of diapers are the same price ($39 a box) but they almost always have one brand on sale at any given time (for $32/box).  If you're pregnant or already have babies in the home, you'll want a Costco membership.  In addition, they have monthly coupons that are outrageous.  They have everything at Costco!  Furniture, amazing food at amazing prices (did I mention you can get a hot dog lunch with a drink for a buck fifty?!), pharmacy (which accepts Tricare ExpressScrips) as well as Gasoline that is always cheaper than market value.  "I don't need Costco gasoline, it's cheaper at the PX."  True, it usually is cheaper at the PX, but the Costco membership card travels with you.  If ever you need gas and there's not a PX around, Costco will still save you money.  And in case you already forgot, if you get an American Express Costco Card, you receive cash back on every purchase!! So, get a Costco membership already!!!

TARGET:  Walmart's better looking and nicer cousin, right?  "Duh, Jane.  Everyone already knows that!"  But did you know that Target offers a Debit card which gives you an automatic 5% off your total purchase at checkout?  I know the cashier has already talked to you about it, and if you're like me, you instantly heard white noise and said, "Not interested, thank you."  But the next time you are at Target, ask them for a pamphlet so you can read all of the fine print at your leisure.  It's a Target Debit Card which connects directly to your existing Debit Card/Bank Account.  It's not like a credit card, there's no APR or annual fee or anything like that.  If you're already using a debit card at Target, for heaven's sake, do yourself a favor already and get the Target Debit Card!  It's free, and you save an instant 5% on every purchase (in store or online AND you get free shipping)!  I absolutely love it!!!

WALMART:  Not as nice or clean as Target, I know, I know.  But they're always busy, aren't they?  Why is that?  They have good prices, sure, but the competition has caught up with them, and there's really not that much of an edge for shopping at Walmart as opposed to, say, Target.  However, I will say this for all you Walmart snobs.  Over Christmas, we were in the market for a TV after Porter took a crayon to our existing one.  Being myself, I shopped around online, in stores, etc, looking for the absolute best TV for the best price.  I found one.  It was a 47" Vizio 3D, SmartTV.  It was a beaut.  It was amazing.  It was incredible.  It was refurbished.  It didn't work when it arrived, regardless of everything we tried.  When we returned it to the store, we found they had one in stock.  The difference between this new one and the refurbished was a mere $100.  We decided that it was worth paying the difference.  But, oh no.  Walmart exchanged the TVs so we paid exactly $0 extra dollars for a brand new TV!!!  That's Customer Service that keeps a business on top.  Furthermore, at another Walmart trip, I purchased an HDMI cable.  It was a Vizio and the tag said $14  (what a steal!)  When I checked out, the final price sounded much too high so after reviewing the receipt, I saw that the cable was $24 as opposed to $14.  Dismayed, I immediately took it to Customer Service and explained that I thought the tag said it was $14 and that $24 for an HDMI cable was just too rich for my blood. The Customer Service rep asked if I'd like to return it, or if I'd just like the difference.  She explained that if Walmart has something marked at a different price from what it rings up as, the Customer gets it for the marked price (in Monterey, they give it to you for the marked price and an additional 3% discount).  That is why I continue to shop at Walmart...

OVERSTOCK:  Overstock simply has amazing prices and what else, is they have flat rate shipping ($3) and free shipping on any purchase over $50.  Like anything, Overstock has better deals in some areas as opposed to others.  I always purchase our memory foam mattress toppers from Overstock because they're priced so well.  In addition, they have great quality dining chairs at a fraction of the cost of what you'd spend at the Exchange or any other store.  If you've not yet visited this site, do so!  You'll never know what you'll find!

KOHL'S:  The reason I love shopping at Kohl's is because they always have sales.  My mom says they artificially raise their prices so that when they tell you, "You saved $250 today!"  It sounds better than it actually is.  But, keep in mind, that Kohl's has a better priced clearance section than even Target.  If you sign up for Kohl's emails, you're almost always guaranteed an additional 15-20% off your entire purchase, and if you get a Kohl's Credit Card, you'll often receive an extra 30% off with an opportunity to earn Kohl's Cash...which is exactly what it sounds like).  I always buy the boys' clothes for the following season from the clearance rack (shorts and pants go for about $2 a pair.  That's about on par with a thrift store, but they've never been worn!)  Lastly, I love Kohl's because each month they get a new stock of children's items called "Kohl's Cares".  Everything in this section is $5 and 100% of the proceeds go to Children's charities.  This month, their special is Dr. Seuss books and stuffed animals.  We bought "Green Eggs and Ham" and two others that have now slipped my mind, all for $5 each (hardback!)  Trust me.  Kohl's is one you want to add to your repertoire!

IKEA: If you've yet to experience the glory that is IKEA, you owe it to yourself to drive to the nearest one and find out what you've been missing.  John and I like to eat before we shop.  They have an amazing cafeteria (try the Swedish Meatballs!).  IKEA is also one of the most family-friendly stores in existence.  They have a nursing room, complimentary diapers (should the need arise) a bottle-warming station, a children's dining area, as well as play stations throughout the entire store.  If your child is potty trained, they can even spend time in Smaland (a supervised play area while you shop).  What can you expect to find at IKEA?  Everything from furniture to toys to home decor and dinnerware.  But best of all?  You can expect INSPIRATION.  Upstairs, IKEA consists of what they call the Showroom.  You walk along a curving path throughout the store seeing entire rooms constructed with IKEA products.  You can physically lie down on a bed or sit on the couch, or work in the Kitchen to see exactly what you like and what you don't.  If you have a hard time figuring out what your style is, IKEA offers a bit more of a hand's on experience than say, HGTV.  Also, what I love about IKEA, is  that you can find inexpensive stuff for your college dorm or your newlywed pad OR spend a little more for your brand new home.  For every level of your life, IKEA will be there.  As one of my all-time favorite stores, I've been known to drive 4 hours just to spend the afternoon indulging in the IKEA experience.  Sounds extreme, right?  Check it out for yourself, then you'll understand!

Post-Apocalyptic Nomadic Warriors: A Duck and Cover Adventure

   I realize it's been a while since I recommended one of my "Good Reads" and for that, I apologize (honest!).  If you're looking for a good book, something that is often overlooked are the Indie Authors that are booming with the increasing popularity of ebooks.  They're a dime a dozen.  It's easy to feel overwhelmed by what you see and it's hard to know what will be a good read, and what won't be worth your time (or your money!)

   Well, look no further than "Post-Apocalyptic Nomadic Warriors: A Duck and Cover Adventure by Benjamin Wallace.

   As if the cover (and title) doesn't make you laugh enough, right?  This book is HILARIOUS!  It made me "lol, out loud" as Adrian Monk says.  It's awesome, OK?  It reads like a movie, won't interfere with your schedule too much, and you're not really in danger of developing any non-fictional feelings about fictional characters.  You'll just have a good time and when you're done, you'll think to yourself: "That was fun!"

   I really enjoyed this read, and I'm sure most of you will too!  If you have a Kindle or any other ereader, click here to read reviews, purchase ($5 or $0 if you're an Amazon Prime member) and enjoy!  If not, there's always the paperback price of $15.50.

Life and Death

   Something that only a Military family can understand, is that a Soldier (I say Soldier, but of course, I mean Marine, Airman, and Seaman too) gives their life for the country.  People mistakenly associate life with death.  When you hear someone say, "He gave his life for this country," you automatically conjure images of a flag draped casket.  You don't think of the day to day, mundane and wonderful aspects of life that a Soldier misses because of what he does.

   

    While your Soldier is off doing this:

   

He misses this:

   In short, he misses life.  He misses out on what makes life sweet for everyone.  Life is the ups and downs of family.  The spills, the poopy diapers, the late nights.  It's the moments you roll around on the floor with your kids, dance with them, kiss away their tears and get to look them in the eye and say, "I love you!"

   

   While dying for your country is the ultimate sacrifice, living for your Country is often overlooked.  Veterans are taken for granted because it's easy to think, "You didn't die, so what did you sacrifice?"  Those in the Military know that the answer is always: 'Everything!'  

   Those men and women in uniform sacrifice everything for their values, for duty, and for love of country.  The above pictures are moments taken in our life as John has been away these last 6 months.  John falls asleep without the precious goodnight kiss of a toddler.  John does combatives at PT and not in the living room on the floor with his boys.  John sat on duty during Thanksgiving, not at a table heavy-laden with food prepared with love surrounded by those he holds most dear.  

   Honor the men and women who have died for their Country; that have died for you.  "Greater love hath no man, than to lay down his life for his friends." (John 15:13)  Pray for their families and seek ways to help lift their burdens.  Thank God that someone cared enough about your freedoms to die for them.

   But, never forget that there are those who continue to sacrifice their time, their families, their very lives.  They freely give you moments they'll never get back, all for your freedoms; for your right to vote.  They do this so that you can enjoy your own family.  So that you can kiss your children.  And read to them. And dance. And sing. And play. And be silly.  They sacrifice their lives so you don't have to sacrifice yours!

   As a military spouse, how can you help your Soldier enjoy as much of life as possible?  I recently began a nightly journal to give John at the end of the year (for Christmas).  Any time he's away from the family for any training or deployment, I'll write a daily account of funny things the boys said and did.  I'm writing about the grievances, the trials, how much I love him, how much his life means to mine.  I'm illustrating the entries with snapshots taken of the boys doing their random things throughout the week.  All of this, so that when next he's in the field, he can feel connected to life at home.  

   I was told several years ago (while my brother-in-law was in Iraq) that he should be ashamed of himself for what he was doing.  That the Military is full of hate-driven, violent-loving, warmongering, red necks who love guns and big booms, is a popular belief held by many who don't fully understand that a Military is not about war, but about peace.  These men and women do what they do, not because they're driven by hate, but by love; not by what lies in front of them, but by what, and who, they're standing in front of.  

   May God bless you Military men and women as well as your families.

Free Giveway on Our Facebook Page!

  We're attempting to advertise our awesomeness via facebook.  But, instead of paying fb for an ad, I figure I'll let you do the work for me and give you the reward!  Be sure to like our facebook page (if you haven't already)

   So, we're giving you the chance to win a free $25 Gift Certificate to the restaurant of your choice!  Who doesn't love date night?!  I enter giveaways all the time and never win, but they're still fun.  Hopefully you'll have better luck than me!  

   Here's what you'll need to do:

1)- Like us on facebook

2)- Like the Contest

3)- Share the Contest

4)- Leave a comment with the restaurant name to which you'd like a gift certificate!

   The winner will be chosen on Thursday morning (via random.org).  Best of luck!