One of my best friends

This month Tiffany at Bloggy Moms posted a Blog Challenge for the month. Pick a friendship and blog about it. I could blog about nearly any member of my family, and I would be on topic. I chose a member outside of my family though. :)

I won't reveal her name, in case she doesn't want her name given out. For the purpose of this blog, I'll call her Brooke. I've used that name when talking about her in other locations, so she'll know who I mean. I met her when I was 16. I'll be 25 this year, and we're still friends. We're not a typical long term friendship...I haven't known her since kindergarten, and she's not just 5 minutes from me.

I met her at a church my then boyfriend took me to. She was a lot different than me...dressed very trendy, had a spunky attitude...I had my own unique way of dressing, and my attitude at the time verged more on rebellious than spunky at the time. She went places and did things, and from my home in TX, the farthest I'd been was....Oklahoma & New Mexico.

Since we met, she introduced me to new worlds...I got to see the Dove Awards 2x, and from there I was introduced to what was then called the Seminar In the Rockies. She got me to try coffee multiple times, trying to find one I'd like. My wardrobe added some trendier pieces to it's eclectic collection.

Later on, I had a bad marriage, and didn't see much of her. Even further on down the road, I joined the military and saw even less of her. But every time I came home, it was like we had just seen each other 2 days ago. We'd have tons of catching up to do, but there wasn't any awkwardness.

Now I'm out of the military, but I'm still a military spouse. I live in Georgia, many miles away from her, but thanks to the Internet & text messages we can keep in constant contact. And thanks to an odd craving during one of my pregnancies, we can now enjoy coffee together when I come home.

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Seeing Like A Man

Recently, I got into a discussion with my Mom about self-image vs. how our husbands see us. I hope you have husband like we have. I really do. You see, my ex-husband wasn't like that them. Not only did he not discourage my view of myself, his view was worse.

My Dad calls his house from work, and asks to talk to "that hot woman." My Mom does what many women out there do...she rolls her eyes and tells him she hasn't seen one, but she'll be sure to keep an eye out. My husband, when I ask for an opinion on what I'm wearing, says I look beautiful, no matter what the outfit is. They sincerely see us as beautiful, no matter what. Big & pregnant, dealing with post-pregnancy belly-sag, sick with the flu...their opinion doesn't change.

How about yours? I know mine does. I have days where I manage to find the shirt that drapes perfectly to disguise the post-pregnancy belly, and I get my makeup just right, and the planets align just so, and I feel gorgeous. Then there's the other 364 days of the year, where I think I look just plain blah. But it occurs to me, in doubting our own beauty, we unintentionally insult at least 2 people.

Your husband is one. Just hear me out. Your husband loves you right? Chose to be with you for life? He thinks you're the most beautiful woman out there. When you think of yourself as ugly, or plain, or whatever your adjective of choice, you're subconsciously saying that you think he has bad taste. After all, he chose you, and you're not pretty..so he must just be crazy right?

The other, is our heavenly Father. He created you on purpose, for a purpose. He thinks of you as not only beautiful, but precious. By all means, workout, eat right, learn how to do your makeup right for your face, wear clothes that are appropriate for you & make you feel fabulous, but do not look in the mirror and despair. Remember how He feels about you, and make an effort to feel that way about yourself.

You are altogether beautiful, my love; there is no flaw in  you. - Song of Solomon 4:7 (ESV)

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Top Ten {Tuesday}: Ten Reasons Homeschooling Rocks!

1. If a student needs extra help with a subject, the teacher has enough time to do so.

With the public schools being overcrowded, it's good to know that at least some schools have students receiving the proper encouragement to make it through difficult subjects.

2. You can have pajama day whenever you want to.

You're in your living room, den, study, whatever....so long as the work gets done, who cares?

3. No school violence.

Unless you count  the latest sibling rivalry....

4. No shoes!

When the teacher doesn't wear shoes, it's really hard for the principal to enforce the "Shoes at School" policy.

5. A quality education for all involved.

You can read story after story of homeschool students who excel at testing, bees, college exams, etc. But it's not just the students...the teacher gets to relearn and in some cases learn things for the first time. And unlike a public education system, the teacher is learning in all subjects, because she teaches them all.

6. Anything is a learning experience.

Playing in the park becomes a botany lesson. Shopping becomes a  math lesson (budgeting & finances). Cooking lunch is home economics. And pounding your younger brother totally counts for PE right??

7. The subjects can all be inter-woven.

When I went through school, my Mom wound all the subjects together so they made more sense. The secular history was blended with church history, so you could see the effect they had on each other. American history & world history were connected as well. Did you know some of Mozart's finest works were composed during the American Revolution? You do now!

8. It's just fun to make fun of public schools.

I know it's wrong, but admit it! If you're homeschooled, you do/did it too. Anytime someone does something patently idiotic, you can blame their "quality" education. :) (If you're reading this and you were public schooled, we tease you in love! My husband was publicly educated, his dad was a teacher, as was my grandmother.)

9. The look of surprise on peoples faces.

When you launch into some amazingly detailed explanation on whatever topic is being discussed, and they ask in amazement "Where did you go to school?" Homeschoolers have a bad reputation sometimes. For every crop of homeschoolers that's kicking butt at the spelling bees, there's a random bad parent pretending to homeschool so they can abuse their child under the radar. Which one makes the national news the most?

10. When the principal sleeps with the teacher....you're getting a new classmate!!!!

Haha!!!!!

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Nights of a Military Wife

It's 0130 EST, and I'm wide awake...I'm watching him sleep. I know that probably sounds really creepy to most of you, but let me explain. We've been married less than a year....June we'll hit that mark. He's been gone since October, except for a brief return in April for Bunny's birth. Even in the brief time I had him, I grew used to the sounds of someone in my bed. It comforts me to wake up and still be able to see him "next" to me, and hear him breathing.

I thank God for the person who invented Skype. If it wasn't for it, none of the above would be possible. But because of them, even though he's a 14 hour flight away, I can see & hear him on a daily basis. It makes the year a little more tolerable. My  heart goes out to the women who's husbands are deployed to less technologically set-up locations. I know how that must hurt to not be able to hear from them more often. My neighbor gets a periodic phone call. I know my day is coming when I'll have to deal with that scenario, but meanwhile I'm grateful for the communication we have shared for our first year of marriage.

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Branching Out SpitFire Style

Hey Everyone!
I don't know if I've been missed or not, but here's what's been going on. I've been trying to get my daughter back for approximately 4 years now. I've had conflict after conflict, and finally early this year, I was able to find an attorney I could afford. We've been getting closer & closer to getting her back, and now I'm days away from the antagonist being served with papers informing her of a court date.

Meanwhile I'm plugging away at my medical transcriptionist training. I've decided to add the "medical editor" add-on. And then strongly considering taking medical coding training afterwards. I'll have a triumvirate of in-home careers that I can do.

Inspired by Redhead Riter, I've decided that I'll start at least one more blog, and it (or they) will be more focused. I've started a review blog that you can check out at Fiery-Reviews. We'll see what more comes out down the road.

I hope y'all check it out, and I hope y'all let me know what you think about it. :) Keep me & Jewel in your prayers, and pray for a swift reunion.

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