Sunday Jan. 1st,2012! Happy New Year

Happy New Year! I hope each and every one of you got your kiss in at midnight. May you all be blessed with a terrific New Year. Be careful and don't Drink and Drive.

My New Years kiss will come later in the year. But oh how I look forward to that amazing day.

Jon my love,

I love you so very much. All I thought about tonight was what we would be doing if you had been home. I miss being in your arms baby. This year will be a long one, but I hope that it passes quickly.
I love  you, Happy New Year baby

My Awesome Mom and Dad... 12/23/2011

Friday Dec. 30th, 2011

Tonight the girls, mom and I had PSP class. I taught all four of them how to use masks, make animated text and add borders and frames to their pictures! It was so much fun. The girls had a great time, and grandma took notes so she could remember the steps later. For me it was fun, I had to remember the steps without my computer in front of me. Usually I'm sitting at my laptop and don't think about the steps to do any of it. This time I didn't take my laptop to the kitchen. I still enjoyed it though.

So tomorrow night is the big night of the year; New Year's Eve. My resolution? To try to remember that I am not the only one that has a gaping hole in my life where Jon should be. Is that my only one? Nope, I hope to have lost 15 pounds by April. How do I plan on making that small hope into reality? Usually starting in March I hit the streets walking, this year I plan on hitting the gym until it gets nicer weather. Then I will take to the streets to enjoy all the views of our city.

Fifteen pounds and I have just at 4 months to accomplish that goal. I can do that! Here I come gym!

I love you Jon,

Until later

My Darling Jon...

Yesterday, today, and tomorrow; you are always in my heart. Every day is spent thinking of you and about you. Our future is bright thanks to you, there will never again be dark skies. I love you

Tuesday Dec. 27th, 2011

Well, how was your Christmas? Ours turned out to be awesome! My sweet Jon was so excited about what we had gotten the girls, that he couldn't wait to see their faces light up. He had me wake them at 4:30 AM our time, so that he was able to be on Skype watching them unwrap their gifts. Three sleepy young ladies all just wanting to crawl back into bed, didn't make for shinning faces. It was almost a let down at the time. That is until they woke back up later in the day and it hit them just what their dad had done for them.

Jon had planned for months what he wanted their gift from him to be. He got each of them a new laptop! They had never had their own before. They had been using their grandma's laptops. Now they don't have too. They also received a digital camera from me for each of them. Now they don't have to play with grandma's really expensive camera anymore. Along with laptops and cameras they each got new headphones with mic so that they can Skype  with their dad and listen to music without interfering with the others. They each got a new mouse for their laptops.

All in all it was so much fun seeing their reactions after they woke up later in the day. My gift this year? Being able to have Jon here with us; even if it was via Skype. We talked for hours after the girls went back to bed. I finally went to bed after 8 AM Christmas morning. I didn't care, I wasn't sleepy I wanted to spend as much time as I could talking with Jon. Having him watching the girls unwrap their gifts almost felt like he was home.

That was the BEST gift he could have given me.I will never forget this Christmas. Who needs expensive or for that matter inexpensive material things? Not me, just give me my family all around me and I am one very happy lady. There aren't many Christmas's left that the kids will all be at home together with me at the same time. Before long they will be grown and have more important things to do than spend it with mom. I cherish all these little times we get to have together.

I'm looking forward to next Christmas when Jon will be back home, and by my side as our girls open their gifts. I will not forget to thank my lucky stars that my husband is home safe next year. Every day I'll have with him and the girls together will be my miracle.

Jon love,

Thank you for spending our Christmas morning with us. It meant the world to me to have you able to see the girls opening their gifts. I appreciate the fact that you took the time to watch the girls opening their Christmas gifts, out of your busy day. I love you so much for spending a few hours with me; it made my day so much brighter. It's all those small things that you do, that make me so very proud of you. I know it was hard on you watching the girls Christmas morning. I know it was hard not being able to be here in person.You have no idea how much that meant to me and the girls that you did that for them and me.

You still continue to amaze me, I appreciate the man that you are. I love the man that you continue to show me that you are. I admire that about you, you have a way of always putting us first and making sure we know that we matter to you. I'm so very proud of you love.

I love you

Until later love...

A Poem From my Daughter Rose 12-23-11

This poem was written by Jon and I's 14 year old daughter. I have always told her that she has an "old" soul. She knows and understands life much better than most adults do. She has lived the life of an 80 year old in her short life.

Here is part of her views:

America we stand

America we stand America we breathe America all I feel and all I see.

The sky so blue the grass so green America we are free.

The day so blue when your not here The night so lonely and filled with tears.

I know you are, fighting for our country, miss America, we are here.

The song so loud the water so clear I wish that you could be near.

Today we wait worlds apart as the war goes on I can imagine your fear.

The flag so tall the bell so gold What you hold deep inside is very sad and very bold.

Our American soldiers, our hero's at war, our mothers and daughters, our fathers and son's.

Tonight the stars are very dim the dogs howl with pride and I wish I was by your side.

Tomorrow I will wake, and hope for your sake the war we all fight, deep inside will be small left over movements, from this big earthquake.

The moment I see you standing so proud in front of me on American ground I will bow and smile and say, Our great American your home to stay.

                              America we stand.    ~Faith Rose~

 

She is an awesome writer! I love reading everything she writes. If you want to follow her blog, her link is on the left; A Soldier's Rose. She would love to hear from others what they think of her writing. Keep it positive please, she is only 14.

As for me I'll be back on Monday December 26th with an updated blog. I'm going to try my best to enjoy the next two days with my family. Merry Christmas to you all and may your holiday be a safe one.

Jon,

Christmas is here baby. It's hard to believe that I will be spending it without you this year. I know that you are overseas, but at times it feels like you are right here with me. I hope that you are right here with me the next couple of days. I'm going to need your strength to pull me through this holiday. Remember you have my heart right there next to you every moment you are there. I love you baby, stay safe my love

Until later love,

Your wife

Thursday Dec. 22nd, 2011

As 2011 rolls to a close, I have been thinking and over-thinking what this year has meant to my life. I'm not one that usually thinks to much about a year closing and another beginning. For the most part each year just seems another year closer to my kids being grown, and my getting still older than I am. I guess you could say that I am a pessimist.

This year however, I have had so many things change. Some of which I am so extremely grateful for, others I could have done without. I'm not really one for lists either; so I won't bore anyone with a list of top ten or bottom ten. Most of you here reading this blog will already know my top and bottom of my "list".

Meeting Jon was absolutely the top of my list of amazing changes for the year. I know having Jon in my life will forever be the number one blessing every year for the rest of my life. He has given my life so many things. You never know how empty your life really is until you meet that one person that fills your life to an over flowing fountain. Life never seemed to give me a break. I learned this year from meeting Jon that it wasn't life that was short changing me, it was me. Jon has this way of making me see that life can't screw with you unless you let it.

Tuesday Dec. 20th, 2011

Christmas is almost here! Okay, really it is here. Last minute things to take care of. Jon and I can't wait to see the looks on our girls faces. That to me is huge part of Christmas. It is about seeing the look in your children's eyes, about family and being together. Our family is a little spread out this year, but our hearts are still very close together.

As we work to get past this holiday, our hearts here at home are trying to not let our sadness rule our holiday. Jon doesn't want us to let our missing him to cast a shadow on the girls day. Some where in the back of an army duffel bag, I will pull out my happy face and get through this.

On the up side, the girls and I are going to spend Christmas Eve with my Aunt and Uncle. Hopefully my little brother will also show up as he said he would. I so hope that he does, I have yet to meet my nephew. It's going to seem so strange going to visit with them as last time we were there, Jon was with us. It felt so perfect having Jon at my family's home. This time he can't be there although he sure wishes he could be. He has been looking forward to meeting my little brother.

There will be lots of photos taken, and maybe a video or two. I want for it to be as if Jon were right there as we all remember why we have this freedom to enjoy the holidays as family.

Well, I have more work to get done before Christmas morning. Who knew it would take so much prep work? Where is Calgon when you want it?

My dear Love,

My heart aches for the day you will return to us. Each day feels an eternity. I promise to make Christmas a day the girls will enjoy. My Christmas will get here when you make it home. I love  you so very much love. Be safe, be well and know that my heart is with you.

Until later love,

A Soldiers Song

Thursday Dec. 15th, 2011

Well tonight is one of those nights where sleep isn't an option for awhile. We all have those nights where we can't sleep for one reason or another. I have been having more than my share of them lately. One would think that having children would be a part of what keeps me from sleep. However they have never kept me up.

I can't even blame my insomnia on Jon being overseas. Of course I think about him all the time, even when I am sleeping my thoughts turn to him. However my nerves about him being there aren't the cause of sleepless nights right now anyway.

So what keeps me from sleeping? It starts off with a muscle twitch here or there. Then it progresses to not being able to feel my limbs. Usually my legs, but on occasion my arms. After the numbing feeling begins, it's the not being able to MAKE my limbs move. No matter how hard I focus on trying to get them to move, they just refuse.

Freedom is never free....

I found this poem tonight as I went in search of military images I could use in a project I am working on. This poem holds so true and I thank and give credit where it belongs, to the original Author.

Freedom Isn't Free

I watched the flag pass by one day.
It fluttered in the breeze
A young soldier saluted it, and then
He stood at ease.
I looked at him in uniform
So young, so tall, so proud
With hair cut square and eyes alert
He'd stand out in any crowd.
I thought how many men like him
Had fallen through the years.
How many died on foreign soil?
How many mothers' tears?
How many Pilots' planes shot down?
How many foxholes were soldiers' graves?
No Freedom isn't free

I heard the sound of taps one night,
When everything was still.
I listened to the bugler play
And felt a sudden chill.
I wondered just how many times
That taps had meant "Amen"
When a flag had draped a coffin
of a brother or a friend.
I thought of all the children,
Of the mothers and the wives,
Of fathers, sons and husbands
With interrupted lives.
I thought about a graveyard at the
bottom of the sea
Of unmarked graves in Arlington.....
No -- Freedom isn't free!!

...Cadet Major Kelly Strong
Air Force Junior ROTC

 

 

Enough said for tonight.

Facebook and My Love Wedding Ring.com

December 12th, 2011

I don't ordinarily post links here to Websites around the internet. However today is an exception. I Love Facebook for many reasons, one being that is how I kept in contact with Jon when we first started seeing each other.

I had the pleasure of "Liking" a wonderful Page called "My Love Wedding Ring". They have some of the most gorgeous jewelry I have ever laid eyes on. They have a Holiday Sweepstakes going on right now. Twelve days of Christmas. I entered the Contest hoping to win matching Wedding bands for Jon and I. That part of the contest you were to enter what you would have inscribed inside each band.

The inscriptions that I came up with were as follows:

For his band: Two hearts intertwined
For my band: Will forever beat as one

The voting for those entries is still on going so if you want to help a couple out that is just starting out you can go vote for Jon and I by clicking on this link:

https://apps.facebook.com/contestshq/contests/169245/voteable_entries/35924654

Now besides the fact that they have stunning jewelry I have one other reason for loving them as much as I do. They made me a winner of one of their gorgeous rings! I was the winner on Day 4 of the giveaway. This is the stunning ring I won and it came in the mail today!

That is a stunning Amethyst and diamond ring! That small gold band you see there? That is my amazing engagement ring that Jon let me help pick out. I asked for something small and tasteful. Nothing to big as I am always afraid that I will lose it or worse it would be stolen. I am so very proud to be wearing my engagement ring.

Marrying my true best friend and love of my life is a privilege that I will never forget. I am so very lucky and blessed to be able to marry my soul mate.

Jon my love,

I will never forget the evening we talked about getting married. I was so thrilled. When you came back home after your training and we went in search of the perfect ring, I was excited. The night you asked me to marry you is a night I will treasure for the rest of my life. The day we are able to say I do, will be the greatest day of my life.

I know without any doubt that I am so privileged to be able to marry my best friend, the man of my dreams. I look forward to you getting home so that we can finally say in front of God and anyone there, that our hearts will forever beat as one.

I love you my sweet love
Until later love

Saturday Dec. 10th, 2011

Well it's been a few days since I posted last. I haven't been in the mood to do too much lately. I thought staying busy would help. The first day or so that I tried to it did help. Now though, not so much. It seems like no matter what I do or how much, I'm still missing Jon more every day.

I have intentionally stayed away from watching the news; for good reason. Seeing that we have lost yet another troop is heart breaking. It also makes one worry even more than you usually do with having a loved one overseas. Tonight however, I read a news article where we lost three troops. The part of that besides the obvious, was that they were from Ft. Bliss. Or had at least trained there.

Wednesday Dec.7th, 2011

I am so very excited! We had our first donation a few days ago over at Operation We Send Love. To know that we are on the right path of being able to not only shine a little brighter light for our troops, but also to show their children that they haven't been forgotten is an amazing feeling. Our troops deserve to have our respect, admiration, and our love and support. I feel like part of showing them respect is o help make their children's lives a little less lonesome.

So as you can see, I have been busy trying to stay busy. I can't sit around here and feel sorry for myself forever. It took a sweet woman to point out that I can't lose myself because my husband is overseas. If anything I have to step up and show him that I can make it without him needing to worry about me. So that is why for the last week I have been working so hard to make OWSL a reality.

The last thing I want Jon worrying about while he is overseas is me. To a degree I know he will always worry; I just prefer him not to have any more worry put on him. Jon is a wonderful man, and he is very good at what he does. He has been doing his job for many years now. He always has shown time and again that he is just as bad as me; he is a worrier. If I can take his mind off of the worry even just a little; then he can concentrate on his job better.

Our girls and I are doing okay. We miss him terribly, we can't wait for the day he comes home again. We aren't just sitting around feeling sorry for ourselves anymore. It's time that I got active doing something. In January I am joining our local health club. I have a few too many pounds that I want to be able to shed once and for all. I would like to have that accomplished before Jon gets home. I know I can with hard work and determination.

I plan to look much different for our homecoming next year. At least feel different for myself. I know Jon loves me no matter what. I can't wait to see his face when I am twenty pounds light though.

Well enough rambling for tonight.

Peace everyone,

Betty

Operation We Send Love is LIVE!

Hello friends,

Operation We Send Love is now LIVE! That's right, we have our Blog up. We have our Twitter account up. We have our FaceBook page up. And you can now Donate to our Organization!

We are kicking off our Show Some Love Event.

Please help us spread the word that Operation We Send Love is now open to helping our Troops and their Families! We are so very excited about this new endeavor. Our goal is to reach as many troops and families as we possibly can. We have set our goal for the Show Some Love Event rather high. We KNOW we can make our goal. With your help we will do just that. Who knows maybe we can surpass that goal!

Help us to help our Service members and the families left at home who also serve us every day.

Share our links with your friends and family. Let them see what a great support
Operation We Send Love is.

Thank you all.

Operation We Send Love

My mother-in-law (mom) and I are starting our own organization.

Welcome to: Operation We Send Love!

We are taking donations to send care packages to our troops overseas.How is our organization different from others out there? Well, maybe we aren't. Why have another organization then? Here's the way we look at it.

No matter how many organizations are out there that send care packages to our troops, there is NEVER enough. Our troops need some comforts of home. Not all troops have someone at home that can send packages to them. That's where we want to help. No soldier should ever have to go without having their name called during Mail Call. Hearing their name being called to get their mail, raises each troops spirits.

No one organization will ever be able to supply each troop member a package. That's why it is imperative that we have many organizations. The more organizations the better in our book! Let's all pitch in and give our love, support, and appreciation to our service men and women.

Until I get our website up and running, if you want to help out by sending care packages, please feel free to contact me. Or you can visit our New Blog....

http://operationwesendlove.blogspot.com/

Our Email address is: 
Email Us

We need our soldiers to keep us safe; and they need us to help support them while they are doing so. The soldier's families also need our support. Being left at home as our soldier's go off to defend our country isn't easy on those at home. They need our appreciation and support as well.

Operation We Send Love is an organization that understands that all of those affected by a soldier's deployment need this country's support. Together we can all make a difference in someone's life. Make a difference today.

Stand Beside Our Soldiers 11/29/11

This week has gone a little easier than the previous weeks have. That is in part to the fact that I am trying to get past where my head has been stuck. I won't apologize for how I have felt since the loss of our twins. I will however apologize for  how I made others feel because of my feelings.

This week I have begun the long process of trying to figure out where I fit into this whole military life. With not being "legally" married to Jon, I don't fit into the category of "family". Yeah um okay whatever. Yes the military has their own rules and regulations. However they need to step up and realize that "family" involves more than parents, spouses, and kids. Family includes; girlfriends, fiancee's, grandparents and the list goes on and on.

Missing My Man

There isn't a lot to post about today. It's been a dreadful day. Nasty rainy and cold. Spent the biggest part of my day in bed. Rain and cold = pain.

Knowing that the Holidays are coming quickly and my soldier will be overseas also makes for a long and lonely winter. Knowing that he has it thousands of times worse than I do makes me wanna cry. Jon deserves the best and I know he doesn't get it over there. That makes me sad beyond words.

Knowing that our girls will be so excited about Christmas and yet also sad that their dad isn't here, breaks my heart. Jon is a terrific dad and our girls love him so much. We know he loves them too and that is the part that makes this whole situation so sad. He deserves to be able to be here with the girls and they deserve to have their dad here with them. We know he wants to be here but can't be right now. And that alone makes this even harder.

Operation Help a Soldier-- Special Post

As my husband is away longer every day; I am trying to find something, anything really to keep my mind from worrying so much. It's not an easy task. I enjoy researching things online. I seem for whatever reason to have the ability to find out a lot of information online. Locating things that we as a Nation can do to help show our support to our troops; is something that I find very rewarding.

Our troops deserve not only our support but our admiration for their sacrifices. Have you ever seen a service member in your town; and just walked up to them and said thank you? You would be surprised what that small little gesture really means to our troops. It lets them know that what they do for us every day is appreciated and not forgotten.

Saturday Nov. 26th, 2011

I've been sitting here thinking about what I wanted this blog to be about. Then I remembered the conversation that I had today that had a profound effect on me.

Miscarriages and what causes them.

I still have no clue what has cause me to miscarry 14 times in twenty years. The likelihood that I will ever know is slim. Having a conversation about pregnancy and the chance of yet another recurrent miscarriage made me stop and think just how many women do lose a pregnancy. So I went in search of answers. Unfortunately there really is no clear answers.

Some doctors believe that a Chromosome abnormality is a high cause of early miscarriages. Some believe that that abnormality is the cause of more than 50% of first trimester miscarriages. That seems like a very high number to me. Why isn't there testing to make sure that Chromosomes aren't causing a couple to lose their babies? Some studies say that the rate of chromosome abnormalities in women age 35 and older may be the cause of closer to 75% of miscarriages in women that have a history of recurrent pregnancy loss.

Wednesday Nov. 23rd, 2011

I didn't write yesterday at all. I have not been feeling very good the last two days. Well really it's been more like a few weeks but; the last two days has been impossible. Between dealing with emotional issues that you all are aware of already and; having a medical problem that is becoming more of a problem I have been downright miserable.

Let me explain just a little here. I have MS- Multiple Sclerosis. For those that don't know what MS is let me help explain. MS is an autoimmune disease that affects the brain and spinal cord. It affects women more so than men. It is usually diagnosed between the ages of 20 and 40.

Here is a link where you can learn more about MS-
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001747/

Just a few of the symptoms that I have been suffering from lately include:
Loss of Balance
Muscles Spasms
Pain and Numbness in arms and legs
Problems getting my Legs to move in the mornings
Feeling like my hands and feet are on fire
Memory Loss
Dizziness
So Sleepy it isn't funny.

Monday Nov. 21st, 2011

The days just seem to keep getting harder instead of easier. I don't know how much more I can take right now. My nerves are shot. My heart can't take much more heartache. Each day that moves me forward also seems to knock me back a few steps. When does it start to get easier?

This morning started out about normal. I knew that I had a doctors appointment today so I got ready and left. The doctor that I went to see was my old doctor. I was supposed to see a new lady but she was called out of the office so my old doctor took my appointment time for her.

The lab tests came back on twin B today. Unfortunately there wasn't much that the test proved. They proved that there was no abnormal defects in little Haylee. The tests couldn't determine what caused her heart to stop or if it had stopped prior to the miscarriage. There was no reason physically for the miscarriage to have happened.

Sunday Nov. 20th, 2011

Every little girl has a dream of what her wedding will be. She envisions what every detail will look like. She can tell you what her groom looks like in her eyes. She can tell you every detail of the wedding. From the dress she will wear to the colors she will choose to what the cake looks like. She knows how she wants every part of her dream day. A fairy tale wedding of her dreams. To be that princess at least for the day.

I've been married more times than I care to admit. Not once until now have I ever married because I loved the person. The wedding ceremony never matter to me before now. I didn't ever care where I would get married. I never cared about any details. All I wanted to do was get it over with. Until now.

I finally found the man that I had dreamed of when I was a little girl. All of those little details that I dreamed about now matter. This is the marriage that I know I will spend the rest of my life being thankful for. This is the marriage that matters to me. I have never been so happy in my life. I have never felt so complete.

So some of you may know that Jon and I are not yet married. I consider him my husband without hesitation. I love him with every thing that I am. We weren't able to have our wedding before he deployed. We wanted to but circumstances prevented that from happening at the time. Now circumstances are finally changing and we will have the wedding that I have always wanted.

Saturday Nov. 19th, 2011

Well today I began working on a new book. Yes! Another book. I know what you are thinking, why another new book? Why don't you just take one of the five or so that you have already got started and actually finish one of them? Well there in lies my problem. I wasn't in the mood to work on one of those books. LOL

Yes I know I am insane. It's okay so is my family!

This new book is going better than most of the other five did. I have only been working on the book for about four hours. Now out of that four hours you have to take away the times that I went out to smoke. You also have to take into account that during that time I was also installing a new Hallmark card program that took thirty five minutes. then there was about another half an hour that I went to the front of the house to talk with Mom and the girls.

So out of four hours they may have been about two and a half of actual writing time. With that all being said, I have 4,171 words written! I am enjoying writing this book. It's funny because I was just browsing online when I decided that I had a story to tell and began writing it.

So I am cutting this blog short tonight so that I can keep my mind on the book. I don't want to get the words from the book confused with this blog tonight.

Later!

Friday Nov. 18th, 2011

I know that my darling husband will be reading this blog tonight after work. So tonight my blog is to him.

When you and I met July 4th, something about that day made me feel like a teenager again. As I got home that night I couldn't believe that I was acting so childish. Why did a man that I knew little about excite me so much? Nonetheless I felt unbelievably excited when you responded to me on Facebook and then to text.

When we set up to see one another the next day to go out to the lake, I literally had butterflies. I hoped that you agreed because there was something about me that you liked as well. I hoped that you didn't agree just because you wanted something to do.

It felt so right just sitting out there talking to you. I enjoyed getting to know you. By the time that we left there that evening, I knew that you were someone that I wanted to get to know even better. Going home that evening was strange.I was excited yet nervous as all get out. I talked to the kids about you coming over later that night. The girls seemed okay with it, none of them acted upset. Rose had a few questions but, I just explained that you and I wanted to get to know each other better and the only way to do that was for us to have time to sit and talk. She seemed okay with you coming over after that talk.

Special Post Nov.17th, 2011

As a family of a soldier I can tell you that I have begun to pray a lot. I need all the strength I can find to get through this deployment. I need all the prayers I can find in me to find that strength. I have to once again be mom and dad to the girls, I once again have to get through the next year of my life as a single mom. Now don't take that wrong, in no way am I saying I'm single. I'm not, I am very happily married to the greatest man in the world.

With your husband overseas away from your family, you have to somehow step up and be two parents. You have to step up and learn to live without the other half of your heart. I don't have a clue how to do that. I don't want to do that either.

I find ways to keep Jon in my families every thought. Now that doesn't mean that he isn't in our every thought. It just means that no matter what we are doing I want Jon to be in the thought at that moment. I believe that is how we can get through this. I believe that keeping Jon in every second of our family's time will keep him in close contact with us.

When I sit and think about him, I can feel him here with me. When I lay my head down at last every day, I can feel his arms wrap around me. I believe that is because he is never out of my mind. No matter what I am doing, I talk to Jon. It may sound strange, but Jon and I always talk about everything together. Even with him being away from home right now, I want Jon to know everything that is going on. So I talk to him, walking through the store or driving down the road.

It's my way of keeping him close to me. Another thing that I do, is I sit and look over all the photos we had taken in the two months before he left. Those photos help me to talk to him too. It's easy to just talk when you are looking him in the eyes. Those eyes make me fall in love all over again. I can truly see his soul through his eyes. And that means more to me than I ever thought possible.

I play around in PSP (Paint Shop Pro) a lot. I have gotten where I take our family photos and see what I can do with them. Tonight I made one that I know will help me in getting through these next months. I wanted to share that photo here.

Jon, my loving husband. Dad to our three girls.

This photo just screams prayers to me. I can tell you, I certainly do feel his love for me. He is such an amazingly loving man. I know he worries about us here at home. I wanted him to know, we are okay. It is difficult having him so far from home, but we are survivors. We will make it through. We know our rock is coming home as soon as he can. That gets us through each day. We feel your love baby. I hope you can feel ours too.

Later love,

Betty

Thursday Nov. 17th, 2011

Being the wife of a soldier is a long and difficult road. It's a life full of uncertainty, fears, sadness, and loneliness.  One minute you are so happy to be hearing your soldiers voice and in the next instant you are in tears because he has to say "later".

In my family we don't say goodbye at the end of our communications. Goodbye is too final. So instead we just say later, or we'll talk later. For me it's because I can't say goodbye. Goodbye means there isn't a later.

When my sweet Jon had to go for his training times, I refused to say goodbye. I felt like if I did use that word, that I wouldn't see Jon again. I explained one night to Jon that I just couldn't say bye. Since then we say later every time we are about to leave the conversation.

I count myself as a lucky wife. Jon has had contact with me every day since he has been gone except one. He would have that day but it was a day of travel. Not every soldier is able to stay in communication with their loved one as often as others.

I know that we too will have days and weeks without communications. Those are the days of this deployment that I do not look forward to. How does a wife get through the not knowing and being scared every time that the phone rings or there's a knock at the door? I don't know but I do know that we get through it somehow. We have to right, if we didn't there wouldn't be so many wives of soldiers.

I know I am not the only woman that is going through these same emotions right now. I know I'm not the first to have to deal with a deployment. Hell there are women that have gone through many many deployments with their loved ones. They are very strong women, because I don't know that I could handle more than one.

I believe that God only gives us what we can handle, but I also believe that God tests how much we can handle. I have been tested many times, I guess I have handled more than I thought was possible. God brought Jon into my life, there is NO other way to explain it. Yes we were in the right place at the right time. But who brought us there at that time in that place?

I don't believe that God would have brought Jon into my life and our daughters lives only to take him away from us so soon. So with that in mind, I know that God is going to bring Jon home to us as well.

I don't normally go into discussion about how I feel regarding God or other religious beliefs. And I apologize now if anyone takes offense to my blog post today. To get me through this deployment I have to believe in a higher power. I have to believe that someone is watching over our troops, keeping them safe.

As the Holidays are getting closer and Jon and other troops are getting more involved in their duties, we stop to remember that we will not always be able to have contact but it only means he is busy with his job. We stop and remember to be thankful for what we have now, we have our family; we have our freedom. We have freedom thanks to our troops that sacrifice their comfort, their family time, and for far too many, their lives.

My family and I will not forget the many sacrifices that are made every day to protect our freedom. We will remember that freedom isn't free, it's paid for by men and women that sacrifice every day. We will keep in our prayers not only our troops but, their families and loved ones that also sacrifice every day.

To all of the men and women both overseas and here at home, thank you from my family to yours for what you give to us every day. The freedom to sit and worry about our loved ones that are giving yet another family their freedom.

My loving husband,

Thank you my love. I know what you have sacrificed to be where you are doing what you are doing. You and every troop member there, have my appreciation and my gratitude. You are all over there protecting our daughters rights and their freedom. For that love, you have my undying love.

I won't lie and say it's not hard to have you away from us. That would be a huge lie. I will say though that no matter how hard it is, we will survive this deployment together. There isn't anything that we can not overcome, as long as we face it together.

I know having a family has been a new change. It's also what will bring you home. I hope that in some small way, you can feel our love for you from there. Thank you love, for everything you have so unselfishly given the girls and I. You gave us the one thing all four of us needed, love. I can tell you that we have felt that love every second since you gave it.

I love you my love,

Later,

Betty

Wednesday Nov. 16th, 2011

There are some people in this world that were given a gift. They are able to see things that most people don't have the ability to see. Some would call that a gift, I used to think it was too. There are times when you see awful things that you don't want to be able to see.

I've known two people in my life that have had this ability. One is a very dear friend of mine. She is awesome with her ability, she even works with her local law enforcement to help solve cases of missing people. The other person I know pretty well also. She has never worked with law enforcement and she doesn't let many people know of her ability.

For the most part she tries her best to not use that ability at all. For her, the fact that she tries to ignore the gift seems to work for the most part. Although there are times when she will see something that hits too close to home for her.

I've always wondered how these gifted people deal with seeing something that affects their lives. If for example they see something that has to do with a loved one, how do they cope? Do they tell the person that it is going to affect? What do you tell them? What if they have seen their loved one die? Do you question how true your interpretation is? Do you hold back the information in hopes that you are seeing things wrong?

I know not everyone believes in things such as this. I however do, I've seen for myself how accurate some of the things these people see really is. I think in part though it depends on how well they are able to figure out what they are being shown. I would be scared to death to share something if I wasn't sure without a doubt that I was able to understand what I saw.

When these people do share with others what they have seen, do they tell them they might very well be wrong in how they saw it? Do they go into detail about what they saw exactly? Is there really anything that could be done to prevent whatever they saw from happening?

From what I have learned about this type of thing over the years, not everyone has learned to decipher the images they see correctly. There are those that have learned very well how to figure out the images and their meanings.

So if you as a person that can see things, and you see something about your loved one do you tell that loved one? If you do tell them, how much do you tell them? How do you cope if you have been shown how that person is going to die and when it will happen?

I know for me, if that were the case I would shut down. I wouldn't want to talk to anyone, all I would do is sit around bawling my eyes out.

Another thing is, how do you explain why you can see some things and yet not see other things? How can you see things that affect one loved one yet not another loved one?

I know I will be getting a lot of email telling me I'm crazy for believing in any of this type of thing. That's okay I have been called crazy for years. At this point in my life I know I am crazy, I've had a lot of things that have happened to me over the years that have made me that way.

My recent troubles with my life and things that have gone on have led me to question things such as this post. How can someone see the death of one loved one yet not the death of another loved one? If you can see it, can it be prevented if it hasn't happened yet?

Tuesday Nov 15th, 2011

I took the day off from blogging yesterday. I needed the day to myself. I spent the day unpacking from my recent trip, getting laundry done, and just having time to sit back and think. It was a long day. It was one of those days that had Jon been here with me I would have felt so much better.I did get a lot done though, and spent time to myself which I badly needed.

Today was not such a great day though. I had a lot of things I had to get accomplished. I managed to get everything that was of importance finished. My last stop for today took a lot out of me. There was a lady in the place that was holding a small baby. Someone asked her how old the baby was, one week old born last Monday. I was standing there listening in a strange way. I started bawling when she said that her daughter Annisa was born on Monday.I grabbed what I was there to get and ran out of the building.

I don't know how I am supposed to live with the fact that my babies won't ever get the chance to be born. I won't ever get the chance to proudly tell people that the twins are a week old, or how much they weighed. I won't ever get the chance to see Jon talking to them or playing with them.

I feel like an idiot for running from the store the way I did, at the time I couldn't get out of there fast enough. It's been just over a week ago now that I lost our babies, it's not getting any easier. I have moments where it doesn't cross my mind, then all of a sudden something makes it hit me. I'm tired of the pain every day, every minute of  the day.

I'm tired of having to be so strong when all I want to do is have my breakdown. All I want to do is have my babies back where they are supposed to be right now, growing inside of me until their birth date. My sweet Jon was supposed to try to get his leave for the births. We had so many things we were going to do during his leave. Now it just seems like there isn't really a reason to take the leave. Of course there's the fact that I will get to see him for a short time, which is awesome in itself. Only then, I will once again have to let go for him to finish his time away.

Why in the good lord's name can't he just be allowed to come home? Our children died, Jon is needed at home. I need him here with me, I don't know how to get through any of this without him. I know he is doing what he has to do. I know he has no choice but to be there. I know if he could be he would be here at home right now. That makes it even harder to deal with this, because I know he is worried about me. I don't want to make his job harder on him. This situation is hard enough on both of us without him feeling bad about not being able to be here.

I don't blame him for not being here, I blame bad timing and my body for letting me down. I blame myself for not being woman enough to carry our babies to term. Jon keeps apologizing to me, it's so not his fault. It's mine. It was my body that rejected the twins, it was me that couldn't do what as a woman I was made to do.

Enough of this for now, I need a good long cry right now.

Betty

Sunday Nov. 13th, 2011

Tonight is a short night because I have a few things to get finished before trying to get some sleep.

As much as what this last week has been difficult, today for the most part wasn't too bad. My stomach pain is finally starting to subside somewhat anyway. The tears were still there albeit not nearly as severe. Now it is raining which makes for a long night. I can never sleep when it storms and it sounds as though we may get some minor ones tonight.

I've been busy working on finding the perfect gifts for our girls for Christmas. Jon is so excited! The girls are going to have the best Christmas they have ever had. I look forward to seeing their faces when they see what their dad has in store for them.

I have other writing to do tonight so I need to keep this short.

Jon,

I love you sweetheart, stay safe. Everyday that you are away from us here at home, please remember that our hearts are with you always. We look forward to seeing you safely home. I love you with all of my heart.

Your wife,
Betty

Saturday Nov. 12th, 2011

I feel like I am losing my mind. All I do is sit here on my bed crying all day and night. I sleep only when I am so exhausted that I can't keep my eyes open anymore. All I think about is Jon being gone and my babies deaths. I wake up from sleep seeing the pictures of those little babies in my head.  I don't want to see those anymore. No matter what I try to think about, the only thing that stays in my head is my first baby and how little he/she was. And the fact that my second little baby had no heartbeat left and was nothing bigger than a large blood clot.

Those pictures just won't go away. I keep replaying all day long how I lost them and how the nurse picked up the first baby and ran inside. I can't stop crying. I don't want to talk to any one, I just want to be by myself. Every time some one talks to me I just feel like punching them out. I'm sick of people asking if I'm okay. No I'm not okay, I'm heartbroken and I feel like I died inside.

I'm sick to death of everyone looking at me like I've got the plague. I know they are upset about me losing the babies. They were MY babies, no one gets the fact that I just had two babies die. Not only did they die but, they died a horrible death. They didn't deserve to be ripped out of me that way. They deserved to live, they had the right to be born. They had the right to grow up to be something special. they deserved to be loved and cared for.

I know people think they are helping me to not think about the twins. In reality though, they are making it that much harder. Those pictures in my head won't leave, they are there eating away at what is left of my sanity. The bad part is I can feel myself slipping further into this black hole that won't let me out. Truth be told, the black space lets me have one thing, silence.

I sit here in my room, thinking about the babies almost every second in one way or another. Some thoughts are about the babies and Jon. Like why Jon has to pay for me being a failure. Or how terrific Jon would have been as a daddy.

I need to know if we were having boys or girls. I need to be able to try to put names to those tiny little babies. Was the first one I lost outside the hospital Jonathan Jr or was it Haylee Dawn? Which one of my sweet babies did I lose right there as I was walking up to the hospital?

Over and over again all I see is my poor helpless babies being ripped out of me like they were some foreign thing invading a foreign country. Why did that have to happen to them? Why did my body reject those innocent babies? Why will Jon and I never be able to hold our precious bundles like we should have been able to?

Why can't I do just this one thing right? Why does it feel like I am slipping further into that black hole that I can't get out of? Why do I even care if I can get out of it? Why can't I have my babies back? Why do I have to go through all of this alone? Why can't Jon be here with me right now? Why am I being so selfish? Jon has a job to do I know that, but damn it I NEED him here. I do need him, Jon keeps me sane. Right now he is the only one that can even come close to understanding what I am going through. He lost those babies just as I did.

It's not fair that I have to face this all alone here. It's not fair that Jon is facing all of this alone overseas. None of this is fair. I wish I could fall asleep and wake up to last week. A time when my babies were safely tucked in my tummy where they belong. A time when I was laying in Jon's arms where I belong. A time when everything was right in my world.

Why do I have to go through this again? Alone. Yes I have my girls around and Jon's parents too. As much as they all want to help me through this, they can't even begin to understand. I love them I really do but, I need Jon.

Friday Nov. 11th, 2011

Today is the first time since this deployment began that I haven't heard from my husband. It sucks. I knew that there were going to be many days like this though. I know that this is just the first of many days I won't hear from him. I refuse to let my overactive imagination run away from me though. He is only busy with work. Silence doesn't mean anything is wrong, it only means he is really busy.

I'm not looking forward to a long deployment. I know that it is going to be very rough. Right now is even more so for me though. I'm trying my best to deal with Jon being gone from home, dealing with the girls, and dealing with the loss of our twins. It all seems to much right now. I would give anything to have my rock here beside me; holding me in his arms like he always does. Jon is not just my rock, he is the one person in my life I have always known that I can count on to be there for me no matter what I am going through.

This deployment has gotten in the way of that. Jon isn't able to be here right now although in his heart he is. I can feel his love every time that he calls or we Skype. I know without a doubt that his heart and mind are here with me as I cope with the loss of our babies. I don't know how so many families deal with the separation that deployment brings. Jon always tells me that I am strong, if only he knew how wrong that statement is. I am not strong, I can put on a good front most days. In reality though I am a crumbling mess. My heart is saddened. I feel alone and empty right now. Not only Jon being overseas, but the loss of our angels it all comes together to make me feel so lost.

I've been receiving e-mails from readers telling me to get over it. That I am just milking the situation for pity. Hello? Are you kidding me? Have any of you that have emailed ever lost a child due to a miscarriage? Let me tell you something, it is no different than your child dying. Jon and I lost our twins, they died. You tell me what is a good time frame for grieving the death of a child? Who are you to tell me to get over it?

If you don't like what I post about, get OFF my blog. I post about my feelings, if you can't understand my feelings you shouldn't be here. I will not apologize for mourning the death of two little angels. I lost our twins less than a week ago. I loved those babies with everything I have, they were a blessing that Jon and I were both so happy to have been given. They were loved and wanted. They are missed by many.

If I continue to receive those types of emails I will be taking a leave from blogging until I feel I can blog without expressing my feelings over the loss of our babies. Right now this blog is my way of trying to deal with the loss in a way that isn't harmful to my spirit. I need to be able to vent about having two little lives taken from me.

Jon my love,

I know that this has been hard on you with you being where you are. I wish that I could take that pain away for you. I wish that I could be there to help you through this horrible time. I love you with all my heart love. Stay safe and know that my heart is there with you.

Betty

Thurs. Nov. 10th, 2011

You know the old saying "Momma said there be days like this"? I think Mom may have sugar coated it compared to this day. She never told me that I would feel like my heart was ripped from my body. She never said that while being extremely upset about the death of two babies, that I would also be livid about not having their dad home with me.

I know Jon would be here if he could be, hell we tried everything we could to get him home now. My doctor (if I can call him that) ruined Jon coming home to be with me through this. The doctor decided that my case was not an emergency case and refused to tell the Red Cross that Jon was needed at home. Since he refused to say those things, Jon won't be given an emergency leave.

We need him here. I need him here, Jon is the one thing that keeps me sane. I don't have a clue how I am going to live with the loss of our babies without Jon here with me. I feel like the biggest failure in the world right now. I've always been good at messing up my life. Growing up mom always told me I was the biggest screw up. I have lived my life trying to prove that theory wrong. All I managed to do was prove it right in some aspects.

To the best of my knowledge no one on either side of my family ever lost a pregnancy let alone as many as I have. I guess that just goes to show, I am a failure at even the most simple things.

I am blessed and believe me I know how blessed I am to have the girls I have. I am proud to be their mom. They are super great kids. I'm 37 years old, in the past 10 years I have had three miscarriages. Since the birth of my last daughter in 2001 I have not used birth control in the last seven years. Yet I haven't been able to carry a pregnancy to term since she was born.

I am more than saddened by the fact that I can not for whatever reason have another baby. I would love to be able to carry a baby of Jon's to term. The reality that I will never be able to carry another baby in my arms has hit home. Why? Why can't I do something that for most women is so simple? I don't think I have failed at being a mom. The girls have matured as young ladies very nicely. They are smart, kind, funny, wonderful young women.

Everyone keeps telling me that I didn't let anyone down.They are wrong, I let myself down. I wanted those babies with every ounce of my soul. I would give anything in this world to have them growing where they belong right now. I let them down as well, they don't get the chance to live their lives now because of me. If they had a different mom their little lives would still be growing.

I wish I could have them back. Back where they belong, waiting and growing until the day they were to be born. Back in our lives so that they could be in our arms where they should be. For some reason they were taken from us. I wish I could understand why but, I don't have a clue where things went so wrong. Being a mom means everything to me, it has always been the one thing I wanted more than anything in this life. I wish that part of my life wasn't over but, it has shown me that it is.

I will always be heart broken for the loss of two  precious angels that we didn't get the chance to know. I'll always be mortified that I wasn't able to give Jon the gift of those angels. One day my heart may heal, that day won't be here for a very long time.

Wed. Nov 9th, 2011

Today started out okay I guess. I was trying to put one foot in front of the other and just get through it. Then the mail ran. My dear Jon had signed up for some baby things a while back. Today a mail order catalog came in from the place he had signed up. It was nothing but baby items in the catalog. I lost it.

I love that Jon had thought so much about having twins that he had signed up for those things. The catalog just came at a bad time. I don't know how long it will take to get over the shock of losing those babies. Everything had been going so well. The doctor was happy with how well things were going. I hadn't had any problems or complications, right up until the morning I lost both babies.

I guess that's part of why it hurts so much. I was progressing really good. Babies were growing, and I was gaining weight. Which I might add I never have done before while pregnant. I didn't have one little thing that would have made me wonder if I would get to term.  I just don't understand what went wrong. Why did this have to happen? Why were our babies taken away so horribly? Why can't I give Jon the baby (babies) that he most definitely wanted?

Jon keeps telling me I didn't let anyone down. He's wrong, I let myself down. I hear the disappointment in his voice, it may not be with me. He is disappointed though. Hell I am too. When I first thought I was pregnant, I kept telling him not to get his hopes up. Guess what? I got my hopes up instead. When the test turned out positive, I was so happy. I wanted to be able to give Jon a child that he would be able to raise from day one on. I wanted us to have a child together.

Jon understands why I said I can't  go through that again. Sure maybe things would turn out good and there would be a baby to love forever. But there is also a very real chance that I would fail at staying pregnant again. That is what I can't go through again.

I have seen so many doctors, no one knows why I have such a hard time carrying babies. There has to be something that keeps causing miscarriage after miscarriage.

At this point it doesn't matter the reason. Jon and I agree that I can't be in that place again. There will be no further chances, I will be getting a tubal sometime this coming year.

I am so out of it right now from what's happened that I don't want to be around anyone. I just want to be left alone for the most part. Thankfully my family has understood that, and leave me to myself. All I want to do is stay curled up in bed and cry. My heart hurts so bad. I feel so empty.

Tuesday Nov. 8th, 2011

Today has been difficult to say the least. It started out at 6 a.m. Jon called me to see how things were. I called my doctor last night to see if he would speak to the Red Cross about bringing Jon home. Our soldiers can come home if there is an emergency in their family. I think losing twins qualifies for that emergency leave. I need Jon here right now. I have called the doctor twice today. He says that he called and talked to the Red Cross. So I guess Jon's coming home on emergency leave is now up to them in a way.

They have to do their part to notify Jon's superiors. Then they have to decide if they are going to let Jon have the leave. I don't know if any of them have ever lost a pregnancy before or not. But I have. It is the worst hell I have ever gone through.

The physical pain of losing a baby is bad enough. I would rather give birth without any pain meds than lose a baby to miscarriage. Besides the physical pain there is a whole lifetime of emotional pain you go through. I have been questioning the why's of course. Why were our babies taken? Why did I lose them? Why can't I seem to do something that is so damn easy? Why does Jon have to suffer because of my shortcomings as a woman? He doesn't deserve to be going through this.

Along with the questions about why, there is also a whole side to miscarriage that most people don't think about. It's not just the loss of a pregnancy, it is the death of the child. Or in this case the death of two innocent babies. We may not have had the chance to see them or hold them. But we most certainly had the chance to love them. From the very day that we found out that we were pregnant we loved them.

I don't understand why this happens. I don't understand how some people want children to their very soul and can't have them. While other people don't want kids and have them without a problem. While still others can have child after child without caring how many they have.

Tonight I read where the Duggars are once again pregnant. This makes child number 20 for them. It breaks my heart. Don't take that wrong I am happy they are able to have children, they certainly love them and take care of them. The stories you read in the paper or hear about on television of another parent that has killed their child, break my heart. There are so many people that would love to take those children and give them the love they deserve.

Jon is such a loving man, he loves kids. Hell he is one in a lot of ways. That is one of the many things I love about him. He is a kid at heart which makes him amazing when it comes to interacting with kids. He would have been the most wonderful dad in the world to our twins. I know that he would have loved them with everything he has. He loved them so much for the short time that they were in our lives.

I feel like I let him down. He says I didn't but I can hear the disappointment in his voice when he talks to me. I know the miscarriage didn't change how he feels about me. I know that he loves me still. But I also know that he wanted those babies more than even he admitted. I wish that I could have given him that. He has given me so much, and I couldn't do this one thing for him. I failed at that.  I will never forgive myself for taking that away from Jon. He didn't deserve to be hurt so badly. For that I am sorry.

Monday Nov. 7th, 2011

Short night tonight.

Today has been the worst day of my life. This morning after 11 weeks of being so happy to be blessed with twins, I lost both babies. I woke up to heavy cramping and bleeding. It was the worst feeling ever. I don't know what happened. I was more careful than I have ever been while pregnant.

This evening I had the horrible job of telling Jon that I had failed as a pregnant mom. How do you tell someone something that you know is going to break their heart? Especially when that person is thousands of miles away. There was no easy way of telling him. My heart feels like it was blown up. I know that Jon is worried about me, I'm not handling this miscarriage very well. I'm more scared for Jon now though. He is having to deal with the news while he is way away from home.

I know that this is killing him inside because he wanted those babies so much. He was ecstatic from the day we found out I was pregnant. When we found out twins, he was so excited. And now, I had to break his heart. How do I live with that? I failed at one of the simplest things in the world, carrying babies to term. Why does this happen? In today's technological world, why do miscarriages still happen? Why can't they be prevented? Why do parents have to go through this? Why does this keep happening to me?

All I ever wanted was to be a mom. After I had my first daughter, all I wanted left in the world was to have a son. I have four wonderful daughters now. I am blessed I know.I would have given anything to have had a son. Now though, I can not go through one more heartbreak. I can not put myself in a place that this can happen again. Part of me dies every time. I don't have many more parts left. My heart is tired of pain. I don't want to go through this again.

Jon,

I'm sorry. I promise I tried to be very careful. I wanted our babies. I would have given anything not to have had to put you through this. I'm so sorry. I didn't want to tell you while you were there. But how could I not tell you? I'm sorry I let you down. I'm sorry I let the family down. But I'm even more sorry that there are two little babies that won't get to know what its like to have you love them.

I'm sorry

Saturdy Nov. 5th, 2011

This is absolutely the most amazing man in the world. With everything he has going on in his life, he takes the time to try to make sure that I am doing okay. I'm not, but at least he tries to make things as well as they can get for me. A year is a long time. Everyone says a year isn't that long. In the grand scheme of life, maybe a year is just a drop in the bucket. But when you are a new couple, just starting out a year is forever.

My loving husband worried before he left. I asked him what was worrying him the most. He told me he was worried that I would decide that I couldn't take a year with him being gone. That I would leave and not tell him where I went to.

With everything that he should have worrying him at this time, he is worried I can't handle his being gone. I know I have not been handling it well. But the very last thing on my mind is going anywhere without the other half of my heart. Our lives were joined from the moment that we met. From that time on he had my heart in his hands. I want nothing more than to spend every moment that I can with him for however long I have left on this earth.

Life doesn't get any better than it has been since Jon has been in my life. After many years searching for the right man that I was meant to be with, I found him at a small park in a little town. I no longer have any doubts about where my life is meant to be. I know that I am meant to be Jon's wife. I know that deep in my soul.

Being without him for this year will be hell on earth. But I will survive it, because that is what is meant to be. Jon will come home, and we will live our lives together until I take my last breath. Jon is what makes my life worth living. He knows how to make me smile when all I want to do is curl up in a ball and cry. He knows the things he can say that melts my heart and makes me a big puddle of tears. He knows what not to say when I can't take hearing them. He also knows, that I never want to be left in the dark.

He tells me what he can without putting me at risk. The rest, well it is something I understand. There will be times that he can't tell me things. I understand that and wouldn't ask him to jeopardize his or any other soldiers lives. I won't ask him to share anything that could put his or anyone else's life on the line.


My dear Jon,

I love you so very much. I hated to see you leave, but I knew that you had to. I need for you to stay safe love. I know you will do all you can to hold to your promise. I'm sorry I was such a wreck. I guess I just needed a good cry. I promise every day you are away won't be as bad for me as the one's since you went away. I promise I will do better.

As for that question you asked me; I would never dream of being anywhere without you. I will be waiting for your return with open arms love.

Until I see you again,

Your wife,
Betty

Monday Oct. 24th, 2011

Well tonight is a short night. Mainly because I have a ton of things to do tomorrow.

Today was doctor day. It went great! The dr. is happy with how well the babies are growing. And the fact that I am still carrying them well, he is so thrilled. Of course he isn't nearly as thrilled as Jon and I are. We are truly being blessed with these babies. So tomorrow is a long day. I won't be posting here for a couple of weeks, but as soon as I can I will be back to posting daily again. I have a lot of things to get accomplished in the next two weeks. The girls school work is getting busy with a lot to do.

With their novels getting ready to get written starting on the first of November, we will be working very hard to get novels written and completed in just 30 days.

Like I said the doctor said that things are going well. I'll see him again in two weeks, then a month after that. OH yeah! We have a date for babies birth date.  They are going to be born April 21st of 2012! We are so super excited. New baby bump pics are up!

Jon,

Thank you for this blessing that you have given me and our family. I never thought I would have more kids let alone two at a time. To say that I am happy is wrong, I am ecstatic beyond belief. You have made my life so much fuller since you came into it. I love you with all my heart love. Baby bump pics up on the pic page love.

Betty

Saturday Oct. 22nd, 2011

Bear used with permission from www.creddy.at

Well, today has been a long day. Boring in every way. I haven't done much. I got a few programs installed on our desktop for the girls. Rose has been having fun playing with Paint Shop Pro today. The image above was done using PSP as well. I love those cute little bears.

I have been a PSPaholic for going on eight years now. I can remember a time before people on the net thought much about copyright. In PSP groups back then no one bothered putting the copyright information on their tags. I was around for the big change, when everyone started becoming more aware and using the © info on their tags. I was there when a lot of artists started going to Pay to Use (PTU).

I watched companies form and fade away that helped artists to keep their images safe. A lot of things have changed over the years in image creation on the net. I used to have so much fun with creating these tags. I stopped about two years ago when life just got to hectic. Now that things have slowed down, I am once again having fun with it.

The groups of the day (MSN groups) have been gone a few years now. You don't see the numbers of members in groups on other sites as what MSN groups had. I do miss my old group buddies. We hung out online all the time back then. We all learned PSP tricks together. We learned the © ins and out at the same time together.

It's fun working with Rose now teaching her what I learned all those years back when I started PSP. Lea and Boo now want to learn as well. Guess what? I feel a nice long art class coming up! Well, I have yet another blog to get to, and more playing in PSP. So I am cutting this post short tonight.

Jon,

I'm getting so excited! I can't wait to be able to see you again. There are so many things that I would love to talk to you about. I know though when I see you, talking will be the furthest from my mind. I just want to curl up next to you and listen to your heart beating. I love you my love.


Betty

Friday Oct. 21st, 2011

10-21-11

Well it has been exactly 7 days since the last baby bump pics. See how big I have gotten in just a week? The twins are the size of a green olive (1 inch long) right now. Between the fluid and them, I don't know how much room there is going to be here at the momma hotel. Today I have had the normal stretching pains that go along with pregnancy. It feels like they are trying to tear their way out already. Of course it's just everything stretching to make room for them.

So today has been a pretty boring day. Grandpa and I were busy today working on the front porch. We finally have all the plastic up and the door made and hung. The only thing left for tomorrow is to put the plastic on the door. Then it will all be finished. It looks a lot better now that its done. It's also a lot warmer on the porch. The kitten doesn't know what to think about being trapped on the porch though.

Jon has been a busy man again today. I know that part of it is that it is getting so close to time he will have to be away. Part of it is that they are working him to death.

Oh the speech that Obama gave this morning about bringing troops from Iraq home by the end of December? Every one I know had to call or text me to tell me that Jon may not be going overseas after all. Hello? Uh, did you ALL forget that he is going to Afghanistan? I know to us here it is all one in the same country right? No it isn't. I wish half of them would have remembered what I told them. Don't believe anything that you hear on the news regarding the troops. If you want to know if something that was said is true, wait I'll know if it is. Thankfully I have those that keep me as up to date as they can.

Jon tries to make sure I have some clue as to what is going on, for the things that he is able to share with me anyway. The FRG (Family Readiness Group) does their best to keep mom and I informed as well. Trust me when I say that if Jon were going to becoming back home instead of going overseas; he most certainly would let me know.

Now don't take all that wrong, I love each of you that called and texted to try to give me good news. I do appreciate it, but please know that while Jon is overseas I really don't want to know what Obama is saying about the troops. I don't believe half what that man says regarding our service men and women. He usually only tells the public what he thinks they want to hear. he doesn't tell you that when he says he is bringing 30,000 troops home; that he is also sending 30,000 more over there to replace those coming home.

Really I don't need the stress right now of Obama's lies. When Jon is going to come home, he or the FRG will tell me. I just can't get my hopes up every time our government says they are coming home. Thank you all for wanting to give me good news though. Right now the only good news I will be getting, is when Jon calls and says baby I'm coming home. I live for that call.

Jon my love,

Don't forget to take a look at the baby bump page. Can you believe it? That is after only one week! Yep I'm screwed. LOL In a good way, but still screwed. I love you baby and I miss you more than you can know. Hurry home safe and sound.

Betty

Thursday Oct. 20th, 2011

Jon being himself.

This is one of the many things that I love so much about Jon. He can just relax and be a kid at heart. He doesn't sweat the small stuff like so many other adults do. He knows how to sit back and enjoy life. I love that about him. There are times when it gets a little on the annoying side, like when I am trying to have a serious conversation with him. But for the most part, it's a refreshing change of pace.

Today has been one of those days where I haven't been able to get my energy level up. I went to bed super late. I woke up really late too. Once I finally rolled out of bed, I couldn't seem to get any motivation to do anything. By three I was ready to take a nap, but didn't. Here it is now shortly before seven and I have eaten dinner. I'm now totally exhausted but know that by ten or eleven tonight; I will finally have woken up. Then it will be a super late night yet again.

Oh the life of a night owl. It's great staying up late for me because the house gets really quiet and I have time to think. It's the time I use to be able to talk to Jon. I know he isn't here to listen to what I have to say, but in a way he is. He lets me talk without interruptions since he isn't here. I don't mean that as if he interrupts me when he is here. What I mean is, I can talk to him while he is gone and I can get everything I want to say out. I don't have someone yelling for Jon at the other end of the house. Most of the time, people pretty much leave me to myself. The girls included in that.

I get to sit and think, or work on my blogs. Sometimes I use my time to just sit and think about where my life has turned over the last few months. Trust me when I say my life has never been better. Honestly half the time I can't believe how much life has gotten so amazing. I never would have dreamed that life could ever be so fulfilling. It is truly an awesome feeling.

Today Jon has been really busy at work. I knew that he would be today, so I have left him alone. He called for a short minute or two this afternoon. He just wanted to check on me since I hadn't texted him all day. I just didn't want to get on his nerves as he was working.

I can't believe that my trip is coming so quickly. I still have a lot to get finished. It seems like I am packing to move, not go on vacation. Yes we women are bad about taking too much when we travel. Really though, I am only taking the things I have to take. Plus the things that he asked me to bring with me. Right now I have two bags packed into a third bag so that I only have one to carry. It however is very heavy so I may not do it that way after all. On top of my two bags inside that one, I also have a camera bag and tripod to take videos of Jon talking to our kids. I also have his cowboy boots and him a change of clothes as well. I can't forget that I also have to bring his cowboy hat. Yep I love it when he dresses as a cowboy for me, he fits that part well.

I haven't packed my shoes yet ( two pair are going in the bag with everything else) plus I have the dress I want Jon to see me in that first day still hanging up. So I have quite a bit to finish getting ready. Oh and I can't forget the external hard drive and the laptop. I'm going to need an extra six months just to make sure I have everything ready in time.

I hate packing, and other than to move I have never needed to pack for a trip. So this is new for me. The train ride is going to be new for me as well as leaving my girls behind while I go on this trip. I know they will be taken care of though. If I didn't know that I wouldn't leave them here. Grandma and grandpa are great with the girls though so I know they are in good hands.

Well, I guess I should end this blog post for now so that I can finish getting things ready. Problem is, I have no energy to get anything done tonight. Oh well, it won't hurt to wait a day or more LOL.

Jon,

Before much longer I will be back in your arms again curled up next to you. I will be able to feel your heart beating next to mine.  I will be able to feel your breath against my skin. I will continue to look forward to the day when I can hold you in my arms and know that you won't be leaving again. Until then my love, be safe and well.

I love you,

Betty

Wednesday Oct 19th, 2011

My sweet Jon and his mom.

This photo was also taken by our daughters. It was taken the day of Jon's Deployment Ceremony. I love this picture because it is one of the very few that we have of the two of them together. Jon actually smiled without it being a goofy one. Mom looks so happy.

Today was a pretty boring day. I woke up to a strange set of messages from Jon. I think that he was half asleep as he was texting me. I texted him back with a good morning. He called just a few minutes later. I love talking to Jon, and we always find a lot of interesting things to talk about. His buddies think it's strange that we can sit on the phone talking for hours at a time. I don't think it's weird. We love one another and enjoy talking. We also learn new things about each other all the time.

The girls are having a fun time getting their characters down for their upcoming novels. Today they worked on the supporting characters. They now have their supporting players and the main characters too. Tomorrow they get to work on the villain's in their stories.

Well, tonight is a short post night. I have another story to get written before it gets too late.

Jon,

I love you baby. I'm going to get started on the other nightly story. I love you and I want to say thank you for everything today. This mornings conversation was very nice. I'm glad that we talked as openly as we did. It helped me out more than you know. I know you have no idea of my plans for our time together. I will just say that we are going to have a great time.

I miss you love,

Betty

Tuesday Oct. 18th, 2011

My sweet husband Jon doing what he loves- computers.

This is another photo taken by one of our girls. It was taken the day that we went to visit my Aunt and Uncle. Jon was scanning old family photos into my uncles computer so I would be able to have copies of them. He spent over an hour making sure I was able to get copies of every photo I wanted. Aunt Diane was awesome toward Jon. She kept saying he was a keeper. And that Jon is a handsome man.

We had fun that day. Jon was able to try tomato dumplings. He liked them pretty well I think. I know the girls all loved them. I have missed having tomato dumplings for a long time. I really loved spending time with my relatives again. Having Jon and our girls there to share that with me was the best feeling. My new family meeting my old family. It was great.

I had hoped that my little brother would be there too but that turned out not to happen. Some day, I hope to be able to catch up with him. I haven't seen him in many years. I miss just being able to talk to him like I used to.

I'm learning there are a lot of things that I missed and still miss now. I never thought how empty my life was without family in it. I always thought that I was content in my life.Yeah boy was I wrong. Sometimes there is nothing better than having someone that knows you being around. I realize now that I missed feeling like I was a part of something. We didn't have a close family growing up. I didn't grow up around my aunt and uncle really. I saw them maybe a dozen times.

Having my new family has shown me how close family should be. I can't imagine my life without Jon, mom, dad, or the girls. They all fill my life full of happiness every day. I can't remember a time when I have laughed so much. I can't remember a time when I have felt happy before.

I can honestly say that I am happy. I don't think I ever have been before meeting this wonderful family. I feel blessed, I feel happy, I feel complete. Oh my goodness, I feel stuffed. We just finished eating dinner. We had pork chops and potato salad. Between eating and these babies, there is no more room left in the stable.


Jon,

 I love you so very much. Thank you for everything you have helped me to become. You are the light at the end of my tunnel. Some days I wonder how I ever thought I was living before you came into my life. Then I realized I wasn't living, I was just existing. Since we met I am now living the life I always wanted. I'm happy, truly happy love. Life can't get much better than it has these last months.

I want you to know, you are my life. My reason for waking up everyday. You and our kids are my everything. I love you so much love.

Betty

Monday Oct. 17th, 2011

Jon and I Deployment Ceremony Day

I love this picture even though it has that dark spot on it. It was taken on his Deployment Ceremony Day. I hated that he was leaving, but I was thrilled to see him again. It had only been two days since I had seen him. I was only about 4 weeks at the time. I looked huge already. I started showing early with this pregnancy. I am so glad that we had the girls taking these pictures. They are learning a little at a time how to take good pictures.

Today has been a little stressful. I had a lot of things to do today. I woke up late after not getting to bed til after four a.m. Less than five minutes after getting out of bed, Jon called me. It was great being able to hear his voice first thing in the morning. Then I had to run to Wal-Mart to pick up razor blades for Jon. Then back to the house I went to get them boxed up with some other things I had to ship him. Next it was off to the post office to get the package mailed off. Then back to the house to pick up negatives to take to Wal-Mart to have them put onto disk.

After that back home to wait two hours for Wal-Mart to get the DVD done. Then back to pick it up. Once back home I had three sets of pictures to go through that we have had taken over the last three months. Going through those was time consuming. I had to make sure that all pictures that I had in 5x7 size, I also had in 8x10 size. Mom gets the 5x7 and Jon and I keep the 8x10's. Then I had to make sure mom and dad both had wallet size of as many of the poses as I had wallets of.

After all of the pictures were taken care of, it was time to get back on my laptop to get things uploaded onto the external. It has been a long day, but everything is pretty much finished at this point. Now I am able to sit and breathe and try to get this post put up. Tomorrow is another long day. Girls school work, and getting as much printed for them as I can. That way they will have plenty to work on while I am on my little vacation.

Then since mom will be taking care of their school work while I'm gone, I will need to sit down with her and go over what I need them working on everyday. Somewhere in the middle of all of that, I need to find time to get my hair cut and colored. I'm going to have my hair short again. I have been putting it off because Jon likes it longer. Now it is just getting to long for me, and well lets face it at thirty seven I have more gray hair than I like. So coloring it is a necessary to do on my list.

It will be a busy day, but one that I am looking forward to. It means that my trip is getting closer. I am getting more excited by the day.

My dearest Jon,

I love you so very much. I can't wait for you to see my new hair color. It will be different than you are used to seeing me in. I know you aren't going to like how short my hair is going to be, but honestly I can't stand the length of it anymore. I hope that it doesn't upset you being that short. I do love you my sweet husband.


Betty