I'm Such a Terrible Blogger!

I have been so busy with everything lately, I'm graduating soon (and the fact that I don't have internet at home doesn't help) I have so much to do!

Although I haven't blogged that does not mean I have forgotten about my personal project or anything to do with the military.

I really wanted to bring attention to something I saw by chance called Project Pin-Up. Photographers donate a 4x5 to someone who has a loved on that is deployed. I'm still finding more information about it myself but I did manage to get on a list of photographers and THAT'S exciting. :)

Veteran's Day is coming up here on Friday and I just wanted to put a couple of links up for Military members because that is a day where the rest of us really want you to know we appreciate the things you do for us every single day. There are sooooo many businesses and companies that offer things like this but these are a couple of my favorites:

Applebee's - Free Meal

http://www.applebees.com/menu/vetsday

Free Car Wash

http://www.graceforvets.org/

Go to this website for tons more offers

http://www.military.com/veterans-day/veterans-day-discounts.html

So cute and awesome!

http://armywife101.com/2011/09/buy-huggies-camo-diapers-and-help-support-military-families-in-need-huggies-camo-diaper-giveaway.html

I don't have children but seem to be obsessed with the denim diapers that Veggies put out but this is even more fun. Camo diapers! Check out the link I found on www.armywife101.com she is awesome to read and I love that she shared this!

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Reminders of September 11th

brett kallusky - September 11th (2001)

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Hurricanes Can't Even Break Army Tradition

Tomb of the Unknown Soldier Defies Hurricane Irene, Stays Open - The Daily Beast

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Oh The Things That Can Change...

Well today is August 23rd, yesterday my boyfriend was supposed to leave for Marine Corps Boot camp but again some things changed. This is the second time this has happened and all the up and down is a lot to handle. I can't imagine what it's like on his end!

A friend found this image and every time I open it I just want to cry. It's Hawkeye and he misses his Navy Seal like no one could ever imagine.

Day of the Deployed

Day of the Deployed call to action: contact your senator to co-sponsor S. Res. 253 with Senator John Hoeven. 

HOEVEN CALLS FOR NATIONAL “DAY OF THE DEPLOYED”
TO RECOGNIZE SOLDIERS’ SACRIFICES

Soldiers’ Angels Thanks Hoeven for Introducing Senate Resolution

Soldiers’ Angels gratefully announces the support of Senator John Hoeven for a national Day of the Deployed. Senator Hoeven recently introduced S. Res. 253 in the U.S. Senate to designate Oct. 26, 2011 as Day of the Deployed in recognition of the sacrifices of U.S. servicemen and women currently deployed around the world. Today he called on his fellow Senators to co-sponsor the resolution.

In 2006, Soldiers’ Angels asked then-Governor Hoeven to sign the first ever Day of the Deployed proclamation in honor of deployed warriors from North Dakota. A growing nationwide movement, Day of the Deployed has been celebrated every October 26 since 2006 with events, parties, governors’ proclamations and pomp and circumstance in support of our nation’s deployed troops and their families. Americans have used the Day to reaffirm their patriotism and allegiance to our flag and country, and to honor our brave men and women in uniform who are selflessly putting their lives on the line to protect and preserve our way of life.

Soldiers’ Angels encourages patriotic Americans to support S. Res. 253 by communicating the importance of this national day of honor to their state senators by letter, email or phone call requesting they co-sponsor S. Res. 253 with Senator John Hoeven. Contact info for all senators is available at www.senate.gov/general/con​tact_information/senators_​cfm.cfm

The Day of the Deployed proclamation has received the support of 40 governors across the nation who signed their own state proclamations honoring service members in the state they governed. Soldiers’ Angels is proud to see this declaration of troop support honored state by state, but believes it is time to make Day of the Deployed a national day of honor and `welcomes Sen. Hoeven’s role in bringing that about.

October 26 is a day of honor originated by Soldiers’ Angels and recognizing our deployed service members and their families. Soldiers' Angels is a volunteer-led 501(c)(3) nonprofit with hundreds of thousands of volunteers providing aid and comfort to the men and women of the United States Army, Marines, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, veterans and their families. (Tax ID# 20-058-3415). Questions regarding Day of the Deployed will be answered at DayoftheDeployed@SoldiersA​ngels.org

Letter to your Senator:

Dear Senator [INSERT YOUR SENATOR’S LAST NAME],

I read about Senator Hoeven calling on his colleagues to join him in sponsoring S. RES. 253 to declare October 26 as a national DAY OF THE DEPLOYED in honor of our brave men and women in uniform who are selflessly putting their lives on the line to protect and preserve our way of life.

Please join him in honoring the many selfless actions demanded of military members and their loved ones across the globe, and the sacrifice being made in homes across America every day. Every deployment reflects the deep commitment of not only the deploying member, but of the many friends and loved ones who are Dear Senator [INSERT YOUR SENATOR’S LAST NAME],

I read about Senator Hoeven calling on his colleagues to join him in sponsoring S. RES. 253 to declare October 26 as a national DAY OF THE DEPLOYED in honor of our brave men and women in uniform who are selflessly putting their lives on the line to protect and preserve our way of life.

Please join him in honoring the many selfless actions demanded of military members and their loved ones across the globe, and the sacrifice being made in homes across America every day. Every deployment reflects the deep commitment of not only the deploying member, but of the many friends and loved ones who are left behind to aid in answering our nations call.

These heroes deserve our deepest respect and honor, so I hope you will stand with me and my fellow constituents by helping to make Day of the Deployed a NATIONAL DAY OF HONOR for them.

Sincerely,

[YOUR NAME]
[HOMETOWN, STATE]

Good Luck!

Also Good Luck to Andrew today! He officially swears in to start his journey of becoming a Marine.

Congrats Andrew I wish you the best!

Prayers to:

Every time I log onto my Facebook it seems like a friend posts one of these, I decided to start sharing them mostly because it's not all homecomings and phone calls and any prayers people can send this family's way would most be appreciated. 

"Dear God, sound the trumpets and welcome this hero home... Staff Sgt. Leon H. Lucas Jr., 32, of Wilson, N.C., died Aug. 1 while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to 3rd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Twentynine Palms, Calif."

It's been a while...

It has been quite a while since I've posted anything to do with this project or anything really. I wanted this to be a blog mainly for my project and photographs about the military wives, girlfriends and fiances but as I'm getting closer to my own boyfriend leaving ( 20 days ) it's harder to near the subject. I think it may be good to take little break from the subject and experience it from the opposite side.

I think it's hard for some of these men to realize what a change this really is going to be. My boyfriend has yet to realize how different it will be for me.  I'm not saying I am the important one, he, after all is the one going to boot camp and beginning his journey. But it's hard to imagine your daily life without someone when they are there 24/7! I've been reading and reading and researching on everything I can about the Marines and hearing so many personal stories. My favorite, and most recent, is that my friend Amanda now gets to plan a wedding! This is super exciting and I am so happy for Andrew and Amanda! Andrew chose the Marine Corps and now Amanda and I are in this journey together.

I wish nothing but the best for these two. <3

Sneak Peak!

I'm so excited I can't get the images edited fast enough! I had a great time shooting today thank you so much you guys. I hope you have a wonderful night and I hope your pizza was delicious!

First Shoot of the Project

The first shoot of my project could be happening anytime in the next 12 hours to a couple days. I'm super excited to capture a "coming home". My friend Kymber's husband is coming home on a 10 day leave from his deployment in Afghanistan. He has two little guys that I'm sure will be so surprised to see their daddy. We originally thought he would be home Saturday, then it was moved to today. So I left last night after work to be here. I'd rather have to wait a day or two than miss it. My favorite take aways from my conversation with the Kymber were the things Kirk is most excited for. All along he has been kind enough to be open to letting me shoot shoot his family. I found out today that he hopes I get the shots that I need but his priorities are 1) getting the hell out of the airport 2) getting pizza and beer 3) using an actual porcelain toilet. But come on I don't blame the guy do you? Can't wait to see Kirk come in and give his family big hugs. Thanks so much you guys for giving me this opportunity!

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Second Book Read - Confessions of a Military Wife By Mollie Gross

I've recently read Confessions of a Military Wife By Mollie Gross and it was particularly interesting to me because she is specifically a Marine wife so it was nice to hear some things about the Marines. Whether you are a Marine wife, (girlfriend etc.) or Navy wife or even Army I recommend this book.  It's good for a great laugh. Mollie Gross is known for her Military Wife Comedy.

(here is her website if you would like to look into her more: http://www.molliegross.com/)

She says in the beginning of the book it's not mean as a guide it's meant for humor and laughter and the book is written to be able to skip around and doesn't have to be read front cover to back cover. I really liked that she says it's in part because of her personality and I loved it! I think one of my favorite stories is one where her hubby tried to surprise her by coming home from the field early and she attacked him with strawberry body spray in the laundry room. I was laughing hysterically out loud by myself. If anything this book will give you something to laugh about.

Must See!

It is now spreading amongst my friends that I am working on a project like this. A friend of mine passed on this video from a Kansas City Royals baseball game and although short it is cute and will leave you feeling happy for this woman!

Here you go: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q6SsQ0cAI8Y&feature=player_embedded#at=65

Sometimes Those Facebook Ads Are Interesting....

 Check this out!

http://www.survivalstraps.com/

Officially Registered!

After reading the book in my previous post I noticed the author refers a lot to the website that she founded. It took a while for me to actually go to the website and check it out. Information can be accessed without registering but I think it really is beneficial to register and access everything you possibly can.

So I am officially registered and cruising around this site. It looks so cool so far :) I especially like the section titled Newbies and Brides.

First Book Read and Hopefully Many More to Come

In researching this project as in most other subjects I thought it would be good to start with books. (I will be listing these books on the right side of my blog under the "Books" section.) I searched Amazon for relevant, used books to start. The first one came a couple of weeks ago, it is Married to the Military: A Survival Guide For Military Wives, Girlfriends, And Women In Uniform by Meredith Leyva.

This book is sort of an eye opener I also found it a good book to begin with in research about this subject. It really covers everything you need to know. Things that I never would've even thought about until the time came up. For example, it lists things like what to wear for certain events, how to greet people, the steps to take after women make it official and get married. There is a whole chapter designated to moving your family across the country or even over seas. I would say at the least it should be considered helpful. It really is a survival guide!

The author of the book, Meredith Leyva, is also the founder of the site cinchouse.com. She explains in the first chapter is stands for "Commander in Chief of the House". I just pulled an image off of Google so you can see what the cover looks like. Sometimes it's easier to find when you get to see the cover.

I was talking this book up to a friend of mine, Amanda. Her boyfriend has recently joined the Air Force and she really found it interesting as well. I love how it caters to all branches and not just one. The author tries to mention any differences between branches as well when covering a specific subject.

Post From My Specialization Class Blog

You Have To See This!

So the whole thing that inspired this project was a military image I saw of a woman holding a baby in front of a laptop and on the laptop was her husband. They were skyping until the baby fell asleep. And the caption said something along the lines of "although my daddy is far away he's still here in my heart" because they got to see each other. I can't find the image but I am still looking.

Today I logged onto my Facebook and saw this picture. This is Gavin, his daddy is away on a 400 day deployment. He has a 1 year old brother and they miss their daddy soooo much. I love this image. This is exactly the types of things I want to photograph. I couldn't think of how to explain it before but it's coming along. I want to show the little things (and larger scale things) that these families do in times like this. In this case, just making a little pillow with the father's picture on it so Gavin can see him when he goes to sleep. It's such a small thing, but it helps this little guy.

* Just to verify again. This is not my image but an image my friend and Military Wife Kymber took of her son.