Our Military Brat Treasury

These are items from some of our members in a treasury to go with our Storque article Etsy is doing on teams.

ME!

I was in a particularly fun mood this day. I had just been out to lunch with one of my best friends. We have been friends since 9th grade. Wow! My middle child is going into 9th grade this year. Wild!

New Blog for Brats

This is my dad in his Naval uniform, my mom and me wearing my dad's cover. This was taken in August of '69. Saying bye to daddy. We were at the airport.

I belong to Etsy's Military Brat Street Team. We have a new blog site. All of us have/had a parent or parents who are either serving or have served in the Military. Be sure to check us out!

http://etsymilitarybratteam.blogspot.com/2008/07/what-is-brat.html

Feeling better

I have survived my pity party. Hooray! What a downer. Guess I had to get it off my mind and chest.

We went to my younger son's end of summer school barbecue this evening. We watched a really cool video of the kids throughout the six weeks of school. A lot of great team building activities. It was really neat seeing my son and his friends in the video. I also introduced myself to his girlfriend and ex-girlfriend's mothers. The ex-girlfriend's mom had just met my son today. That is kind of weird. This was middle school boyfriend/girlfriend. A lot of texting and instant messaging. Oh yeah, and many hours of phone time. The awkward thing about this is the ex-girlfriend introduced my son to her friend and now they are "together." Okay. The ex's mom says her daughter is the resident match maker.

I have been keeping busy with "tagging" other members on the Etsy Military Brats Street Team. If you look through my shop in the descriptions you will find links to the other member's shops. It has been fun looking through their shops and mine for items that compliment each other.

http://www.lizedgar.etsy.com/

I am feeling better. Deep breath and smiling.

Changes

I have the boo-hoos today. My cousins are all getting together in our family state of Utah. My mom, grandma and aunt live there as well. As kids we spent a lot of time together. As adults we have gone our separate ways. One cousin and his family live in Nebraska. The other three live in Utah, but don't keep in touch with each other very often. It is actually sad. Their mom and dad have passed away. They do have their in-laws. We just seemed to be much closer as kids.

My sister, her son, my kids and myself went up to visit a year ago January. Only one of our cousin's made time to see us. We don't talk as often as we could, but we do keep in touch. She is a sweetheart. As for her brothers I just don't understand them. I am disappointed that they are so distant. Almost seems selfish. Although I do know that the loss of a parent can change a person. And to lose both, I can only imagine.

Today is a barbecue at my youngest son's school. It is the ending of summer school. Yesterday they went on a field trip to Misison Bay. He got to try out surfing. He had a blast. He really loved the wet suit. He came home and told me he wants to get a board and suit. Today is the first day of summer vacation that I have really slept in. I have been moving around and putting together furniture in my daughter's room. I think it all caught up with me last night. I slept for more than ten hours. I feel muddle headed. Too much sleep.

Got a letter from my oldest Tuesday. Seemed like forever since the last one. (I think it was a week ago.) His girlfriend is not pregnant. Just mother nature taking her time in bringing her monthly visitor. My son said he was disappointed. I was a bit, but more relieved. He is 19. He has at least 20 more years to have children. He is just starting his career in the Marines. He sounded humble in this letter. Even my husband noticed that when he read the letter. They are off to Pendleton for the next four weeks and then return to MCRD. He is set to graduate in September the day after my husband's and my anniversary.

I have a swirl of emotions going on inside me. I miss my mom. I am missing my cousins, or at least the cousins I remember from childhood. I am missing my grandma. She will be 95 in October. The kids and I have some free time before football and school start, but I am afraid to drive up there to visit. I don't know my way around Salt Lake. The last few times I have gone up there I have been with my sister. She knows her way around. She is planning to go up there the end of August before her son starts school in September. That won't work for us. We will be back to school and work. My husband is going to change jobs in the next few weeks. He will be going from being a district manager of eight automotive stores to managing one. At least it is down the street from us. Saves of fuel and wear and tear of the vehicle.

I am scared. Scared of losing my grandma. Scared of my mom's health. Scared of my husband changing jobs. Scared the new job is not all it is cracked up to be. Scared the owner of the new business is going to screw my husband over. Scared of being scared. Scared that I have put weight back on and won't be able to lose it again.

Sounds like I need to step out of the hole I am digging and fill it up. This has been a rocky summer for me. We went into it with the hopes and dreams of buying a house and my oldest leaving for boot camp eventually. We ended up not qualifying for the down payment the same day we received the final okay from the seller's lenders. Then a week later the company we had our mortgage loan preapproved with went under. It was a blessing in disguise. And hard to let go of the dream of having our own home. My son was scheduled to leave for boot camp this September unless an opening came up. He ended up leaving the day after his 19th birthday, June 23rd. His letters say he is doing well.

Time for a gratitude list. I am grateful for:

my health - cancer free for two years

we have a place to live

an empty sink - no dirty dishes piling up

clean cat box

healthy kids

healthy kitties

fans

water

clean clothes

toothbrush

gas in the gas tank

flowers

friends

babies

my husband

my kids

laundry soap

computers

electricity

being able to pay utility bills on time

money in the bank

comfortable shoes

my teddy bear from my sister

I wish I could cry. That is really hard for me. I miss my dad. Or at least the dad I wish I had. This is not the most happy of entries, but it is how I am feeling today. Things I am going to work through.

(the picture came from an artist on Etsy)

A better day

After talking it out with my sister and husband, there is a possibility that my son is telling the truth. Could I really be a grandma? Could he really be a father? Oh my! Only time will tell.

Today my daughter, her friend, and I went out to lunch with my best friend and her little guy. He is already a month old. Man, time flies. He is still so adorable. I am very happy for her. We went to Mimi's for lunch. The food was good. The waitress was rude. She rushed us through the entire meal. I wasn't even half way through my meal and she brought the check. I moved the check to get it out of the way and she swooped over to collect. I spoke to the manager and she brought out the general manager. I was offered a gift certificate. I said I didn't think I would be coming back. It was just really rude.

My sister is on cloud nine. She and her boyfriend are back together. He is lucky I like him. JK. He has asked her several times if I am mad with him. Yes. Mad that he her hurt her feelings. I figured he had cold feet. It was not as though they were going to get married, just the commitment scared him. He has taken care of his ailing father for years. His father just passed and will be dearly missed. I wish the two of them well. They are a great couple.

Life is good. Who knows I might actually be a grandma. (smile)

Taking a walk does wonders

I have been in a slump the last two days, and a few more, over the house business and then my oldest son. My youngest son has football practice every weekday. Some days he has it twice a day. He has asked me a few times to come and walk the track. I figured he wanted me to walk the track while he hung out with friends. So, I wasn't too intested. Yesterday he asked again. I told him no and gave him the excuse that I was hungry and my shorts had gotten wet at the pool. I had been watching my daughter and her friends at the complex pool and had my feet in the water. I changed my clothes, put on tennies and surprised him. He surprised me, too. He and a friend he knows from elementary school were already walking the track and joined me. It was cool. I think we went around four times. I felt so much better afterwards.

I had high hopes that my oldest would miraculously change after being at boot camp for just two weeks. Nope. I am working on accepting that is who he is. It upsets me that he doesn't tell the truth with a lot of things. A lot of them are really serious like his girlfriend being pregnant. I just don't understand why he does that. Perhaps I never will.

My husband's aunt used to tell me, "Chin up, boobies out." Made me laugh then and makes me smile now. Reminds me I want to give her a call.

Taking a walk does do wonders. It is even more fun when your fourteen year old walks with you even though the junior varsity and varsity girls' cheer team is running/walking the track at the same time. Priceless.

I tell ya...

Yesterday we signed cancellation documents for the purchase of the house. Originally we were preapproved for a mortgage loan and a down payment loan in April. In May our broker told us there were some changes with the requirements. Okay. Nothing more said. Last Monday we received written approval from the seller's second lender. Happy dance, right? Nope. Our broker called and told us the approval news and then that we no longer qualify for the down payment loan. The requirements had changed the week prior. (Thanks for the heads up.) So, there we stood with dual approval and no down payment. I asked her didn't we qualify. Yes, she said. I asked how we qualified for the mortgage loan without having the down payment. I am guessing I am just naive. From the way she explained it to me is sounds like she had written up the loan with the assumption that we had the down payment money from a relative. Nope.

I was doing our banking last week and saw a pending charge for the appraisal. She told me she had post-poned the appraisal. I didn't understand. Today I emailed her and she said the fee is paid upfront. My blood was beginning to boil. Pardon my french, but what the hell? I asked to have it refunded. She replied and said she took care of it.

I think when we go down this road later we will find a different broker. Ugh. Maybe that is how all of this works, but I don't like the not knowing. Thank goodness our realtor was more helpful.

On the upside, sort of, I got two letters from my oldest son who is at his second week of boot camp. Funny thing is I had just mailed off my first letter to him right before checking the mail. He says he is doing well. He has put on weight which is good. He was really lean when he left. He says he misses us. That was nice to hear. Then he drops the bomb. Mind you he is great with the shock and awe factor. He is not so great with telling the truth about a lot of things. I have told him he ought to become a writer since he is so imaginative. Back to the news he had. He asked me to please bring his girlfriend (on and off) with us to his graduation in Sept. Says that I am going to be a grandma in 9 months. What?! Says he is happy and hopes I am too.

I called her mom. She said that was news to her. Her daughter still lives at home. She hasn't been acting any different. Says she will ask her when she gets home. A little bit ago her daughter/the girlfriend calls me. No, she is not pregnant. Says this is the third time my son has done this to her mom. Idk. So frustrating. Had a scare a few years back. Turned out yes the girl was, but it wasn't my son's. Grrr. I am so hoping the military is an opportunity for him to realize the truth is the way to go. Just frustrating.