What it's Really Like

I just wanted to put a few of my thoughts down in writing and so therefore, ya'll get to read them. :)  I know it has been some time since I've posted anything, but life has been good.

A series of events, such as listening to the song '19' by Waycross, working at a restuarant and having one busy week and the next week slow all because of military payday, walking through Walmart and being surrounded by young Marines, and sitting at traffic stops and seeing men and women in uniform all around me, because of these things (and many others), I am daily reminded that I live in a military town. 

If any of you have been long time followers of my blog, lifetime friends of me, or even have known me for a shorter period of time, you may know that I have always had a passion for the military, our country, and patriotism.  I always had a heart for our military and was always super thankful for them.  Then, I married a Marine.  I was not looking for a military man, but look awesomeness God gave me! :)  Now, not only do I live in a military town, shop on base at the commissary, and live off military pay, but....I AM A MARINE WIFE!!!

Until you are in the military, marry into the military, or have a close family member or friend serving, will you truly understand what it's really like.  Unless you have seen the fence along Hwy 24 with signs that loved ones have put up welcoming their Marine back from Afghanistan, or have talked to a young girl who's husband is gone for 6 weeks training at 29 Palms to prepare for 7 months of combat, you really won't understand. 

Last year in my communications class I learned the difference between sympathy and empathy.  Sympathy is where you feel for someone going through something.  Empathy you feel WITH someone, you've been in their shoes.  I've always sympathized for military wives, now I empathize with them.  Not that it's a big pity part.  Oh heavens no!  Those military ladies are tough!  Yep, we cry.  Yep, we don't want to see them go.  But we do it and we can stand on our own two feet while they are gone.  We pay the bills, keep the house up, keep working, and stay busy.

Okay, now that I've patted myself on the back for today, I want to share this video that brought this all to mind.  This song is fact.  While not every Marine was going to play for TN, they all had dreams.  They all put them on hold.  They all fight with all they've got.  They all protect every freedom that you have.   If you feel the desire, please pass this on.  Send it as an encouragement to a military spouse.  Post the video on facebook so others can thank our troops.  Reread it and realize how much each person in the military sacrifices daily for your freedom. 

Oh, and if you really really really want to know what it's like?  Marry a Marine. :)  By the way, just to put this out there, I'm really proud of mine.

~Bethany~

Vacation, Celebration, and Relocation

So....it's been a while.  Life was working on getting itself back into a routine.  Wake up at 4:25 AM, make breakfast, pack a lunch for Daniel, send him off with a kiss and a hug and head back to bed until I feel like waking up (about 7:30ish).  I clean, find things to do, etc until he gets home around 4:30 and we eat dinner, enjoy time together, and go to bed.  Granted, I always found things to do.  We've found a wonderful church here and they've been keeping me busy. :)  I have found a job too and I plan to be starting there within the next week or so.  That is good, because....Daniel left for California today for about 6 weeks so I need to keep busy. Please pray that he has a safe trip there, and that I can maintain my sanity.  Thank the Lord for wonderful friends that I have met down here in NC.  :)

So....Daniel had a 96 (ie, about 96 hours of vacation time) over the 4th of July.  Monday after he got off around noon we packed up and headed down to Parris Island South Carolina.  Parris Island is where Daniel went to boot camp and I'd never been there before so it was something we both really wanted to do.  We got a pretty awesome hotel room with a jacoozi (did I just toally spell that wrong) and enjoyed a few days in the hot, sultry, humid, South Carolina.  Ok, we stayed inside most of the time. :)  We did walk around base and got to visit the museum there.  It was really neat to see what all the recruits go through to become Marines, and to watch my husband reminisce. :) Anyway, so we headed back to NC on the 4th around noon, making it back to Camp Lejeune in time for the celebrations to being there.  We met up with a bunch of people from church and sat out on the grass with hundreds of other people enjoying the music (live, recorded, and the Marine Corp Band), and awesome fireworks!  It was a great evening.  Then on Thursday, we started cleaning a trailer that we moved into on Saturday.  So yes, it's been pretty crazy around here. :) 

Anyway, here are a "few" pictures from the last few days.  Hope you enjoy them!

 Driving is so much fun!  The drive to SC was about 6 hours.

 In our room on our bed.  Ahhh....it felt good to lay down!

 Yes, I did take a picture of our KING sized bed at the hotel.  lol

 Isn't he so good lookin'!

 The swamps of Parris Island.

 The sign entering base.

 Driving along on base.

 Aren't the trees awesome?

 That's their trademark.  On Parris Island, They Make Marines. :)

 A bunch of recruits.

 This says it all.

 Traveling back, we stopped at the ruins of an old church and got some pictures. :)

 Our pizza from the night before warming up on the car engine.  Guess what, it worked!!!

 4th of July celebration with several young couples.  Let's see from left to right, been married 5 months, 6 months, 6 months, 2 years. :)

 Families from church enjoying the 4th of July

 Fireworks!!!

 So yesterday I woke up to see wild turkeys in my front yard.  Totally made my day. :)

 Pretty cool, huh?

Our new kitchen/dining room.

 Our new living room.

 A second view of our living room.

 We have an extra bedroom!!!

 View one of our bedroom.

 View two of our bedroom.

We have a front porch!!!  With a rocking chair!  :)

Hope you enjoyed the tour!  Have a fantastic day.

~Bethany~

Thoughts from Paul Harvey

This is a speech that was presented on the radio by Paul Harvey in 1965.  I heard it the other day and thought it was an interesting tidbit to share.  By the way, this was 47 years ago.

If I were the Devil . . . I mean, if I were the Prince of Darkness, I would of course, want to engulf the whole earth in darkness. I would have a third of its real estate and four-fifths of its population, but I would not be happy until I had seized the ripest apple on the tree, so I should set about however necessary to take over the United States. I would begin with a campaign of whispers. With the wisdom of a serpent, I would whisper to you as I whispered to Eve: “Do as you please.” “Do as you please.”   To the young, I would whisper, “The Bible is a myth.” I would convince them that man created God instead of the other way around. I would confide that what is bad is good, and what is good is “square”.  In the ears of the young marrieds, I would whisper that work is debasing, that cocktail parties are good for you. I would caution them not to be extreme in religion, in patriotism, in moral conduct. And the old, I would teach to pray. I would teach them to say after me: “Our Father, which art in Washington” . . .

If I were the devil, I’d educate authors in how to make lurid literature exciting so that anything else would appear dull an uninteresting. I’d threaten T.V. with dirtier movies and vice versa. And then, if I were the devil, I’d get organized. I’d infiltrate unions and urge more loafing and less work, because idle hands usually work for me. I’d peddle narcotics to whom I could. I’d sell alcohol to ladies and gentlemen of distinction. And I’d tranquilize the rest with pills. If I were the devil, I would encourage schools to refine yound intellects but neglect to discipline emotions . . . let those run wild. I would designate an athiest to front for me before the highest courts in the land and I would get preachers to say “she’s right.” With flattery and promises of power, I could get the courts to rule what I construe as against God and in favor of pornography, and  thus, I would evict God from the courthouse, and then from the school house, and then from the houses of Congress and then, in His own churches I would substitute psychology for religion, and I would deify science because that way men would become smart enough to create super weapons but not wise enough to control them.

If I were Satan, I’d make the symbol of Easter an egg, and the symbol of Christmas, a bottle. If  I were the devil, I would take from those who have and I would give to those who wanted, until I had killed the incentive of the ambitious. And then, my police state would force everybody back to work. Then, I could separate families, putting children in uniform, women in coal mines, and objectors in slave camps. In other words, if I were Satan, I’d just keep on doing what he’s doing.

~Bethany~

Where am I in the World Today?

My life is crazy.  Ok, so from the 8th through the 20th of May I was rushing all across the state of Michigan enjoying time spent with FFA members all over for their end of the year banquets.  What a blast!  Lots of good food and excellent company!  BTW, I'm always amazed at the accomplishments of the members in this great organization.

 A few of us at Fremont!

 Two of the best friends I've made while in FFA....I'm going to miss them like crazy!

Visiting Grant!!!

Then at the end of the week my whole state officer team got to tour DTE energy (over on the east side of MI, consumers takes care of the west side) and got to see some pretty cool stuff in there.  Then that evening we got to stay in their suite at a Tigers game at Comerica Park!  Ok, I'm not a huge baseball fan but I couldn't complain.  It was 72*, our suite was right over home plate, it was sunny, we had all the food we could eat, and the Tigers won the game 6-0.  Cool stuff. :)  Then that night we stayed in the nicest hotel I've ever been in.  Anyway, it was a great way to end a great year.  It has been quite the experience getting to know 10 other girls and 1 guy and serve our state association members together.

What a year it's been!

On Saturday evening I headed back to Tekonsha to load up my car with the rest of my belongings, said goodbyes to my family and headed to Ohio.  There I picked up some other essentials (such as farm fresh meat) and said goodbye to everyone there in Tedrow.  Then off I headed to Columbus where Daniel's aunt and uncle were kind enough to let me stay the night.  Early Sunday morning (like 4:30 early) I woke up and hit the road, making it to Jacksonville NC by 3:30 PM.  So I am officially moved to NC and am enjoying the time we can spend together.  

Life is always changing and I'm not always sure where it will take me.  Being a Marine wife makes planning a challenge and I never know what is exactly going to happen.  But with God, unselfish love, and dedication to each other we will make it.  BTW, there are more details coming on this.....

Oh, and so on the 20th, my Dad, sisters, and Ben went to the first goat show of the year.  Things went fantastically to say the least.  My doe Thea (a three year old) went Grand Champion 2x and then Best in Show 2x as well.  This finished her (a doe needs 3 Grand Champions to finish), making her our first finished champion!  What an exciting weekend!  My 2 year old doe Athena was also looking great and went Reserve Champion 1x.  Elizabeth's doe kid out of Gala also did quite well going Grand Champion 1x.  Anyway, it was a good way to kick off the year there.  My dad also informed me that they are planning to head to Colorado now for the National show!  Sounds like fun to me....and hopefully our does will look good!

 Abigail cleaning up Athena.

 Elizabeth with our CHAMPION!  She showed her and did an amazing job.  Aren't they both beautiful! ;)

Anyway, so that's just an update on what my life has been like lately.  I'm starting to get into a bit of a routine and am still looking for a job (hopefully nannying).  God has been so good to me and I'm so thankful to Him.  To Him be the glory!

May you all have a blessed day.

~Bethany~

Spring Break 2012

Last week my sister came to visit us in NC over her spring break!  It was so fun to show her around our new place and all the wonders it holds.  :D  We did get out to the beach one day and here are a few of the pictures we took.

 The beautiful lady!

 Gone crazy!  lol

 This person must already be crazy.

 We look like two wild women. :D  The wind was amazingly....um....windy.

 The future looks so bright!

 I am an epic fail at jumping.

 I love my man!!!!

 Such a lovely lady!

I just thought this was a cool picture.  I love the footprints, the reflection, and the bare feet!

Hope all you students had an awesome spring break!  

~Bethany~

Our home!

Greetings from North Carolina!  I know it has been much too long since I've posted anything on my blog.  Since then, Daniel and I have moved to a little cottage on a "lake" (that's what those around here call it, as a ex-Michigander I object).  Anyway, here are some pictures of our new home!!!

 Our bedroom. :)

 The bathroom!

 Living room.

 Another angle of our living room. :)

 Best part of the house, the kitchen!!!

 An attempt at seeing the whole kitchen, dining area, and living room together.

 The laundry "room".  (In our bedroom)

Our view outside!

 From outside.

That's us!!!! :)

So you are probably wondering a little about the blog name change.  Guess it's kinda obvious, but anyway I figured it's about time.  Asher Acres is still part of my life but not primarily.  Thus the name change.

Well, I've got more photos coming but I'm going to close for today.  Enjoy a wonderful day!

~Bethany~