Being a Military Mom

Being a Military Mom is a whole new world, even six years into it. It’s knowing that your young adult will not be able to share Christmas and Easter, birthdays, weddings or Mother’s Day and Father’s Day with you. It’s knowing that you no longer bake their birthday cake and watch them blow out the candles. It’s knowing that days turn into weeks turn into months without a hug from them. It’s knowing that “no news is good news” becomes your mantra when they are on deployment.

It’s also joy. Joy that your adult child picked a career to serve their country. It’s joy when you get four lines of an email while they are on deployment. It’s joy when you get the call “Mom, I’m on American ground again. The air smells so good. The sun on my back is wonderful.” It’s joy when a small package comes to your house sharing their love for you.

It’s a world of shared sisterhood of other Military Moms. It’s having them available immediately when one of us is having a bad day. It’s fun gabbing on the phone when the empty house seems so loud filled with nothing. It’s delightful when your hubby sends you away on Mother’s Day to be with other Moms to share in packing boxes for our young troopers we will never meet in person, but who become our “adopted children” for a month, and sometimes longer. It’s hugging anyone in a military uniform when you are in the airport or traveling. It’s sharing the pictures of our troopers in their new military homes, or with their new spouses, or with their new children. It’s a support group that is a gift from God. 

God Bless our Military Moms. Keep their families safe. Share a prayer with them and let them know you care.

By Carol Pigg/@carols_kitchen

Sandwiched Between a Rock and a Hard Place

What do BLTs, peanut butter and jelly, grilled cheese, and I have in common? Yep, we are all sandwiches. I generally think of myself as fried bologna with cheese (if you know me, you know about the cheesy part), happily ensconced between four buns (think about it), my elderly mom on one side and my college daughter on the other.

Being part of the so-called sandwich generation* just sort of showed up on my life menu one day and rather than spit it out with displeasure, I have decided to gobble it up with glee. Oh, sure, there are days when I would really like to send this sandwich back to the kitchen, but when I look at it through the eyes of the Master Chef, I realize it is nourishing me in countless ways.

For one, I am learning patience. I thought after serving 27 years in the military and having three children and a workaholic husband, I knew all about patience. Wrong! When my 89-year-old Mom moved in with us, I quickly discovered there were all new levels of patience I had yet to explore. After a year, I still don’t have the get-ready-to-go-someplace routine down pat, which is why you need to politely smile at us when we come slogging into church late, yet again . . . occasionally without our teeth OR our hearing aids. On the other side of the sandwich, our 22-year-old-soon-to-be-college-graduate-daugther is planning her June wedding and that, too, has taught me patience (“You don’t like the first dress we bought?!”) AND gratitude.

Gratitude, you ask? How can I experience gratitude when money is going out the door faster than cowboys at a heavy metal concert? Well, my heart is filled with thanksgiving that our daughter understands and fully embraces the sanctity of marriage; that she has found a Godly young man who shares her values and loves her unconditionally; and that all of her collections of Barbies, Beanies, and books will eventually be taking up residence somewhere else. I am also thankful that my Mom has gotten to be part of the wedding planning process, adding her nearly nine decade’s worth of wisdom and practicality to the mix.

Not surprisingly, the Master Chef has spiced up my sandwich life with other nutritional tidbits beyond patience and gratitude. Yes, there also has been a squirt of humility, a pinch of compassion, a sprinkle of steadfastness, and a double measure of joy in all things.

If you find yourself as part of the sandwich generation, chow down, friend! Sit back and savor the meal. One day soon it will be but a memory, so enjoy the rich flavors while you can.

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”

                                                                                              - James 1:2-4

*Those sandwiched between aging parents who need care and/or help and their own children and grandchildren.

By Sue Busler

Worst Picture Ever, or the Best?

Using a Digital Camera for the First Time

I know what you are thinking, and the answer is, "No . . . I am not a model."  I am full of joy, though, in the above picture, and to me, this is what matters the most.

This picture was taken over ten years ago by my hub.  We had just bought our first digital camera and laughed until we cried those first few days weeks months of use.  Gratefully, yes gratefully, this pic did not find its way into the "trash bin."  Instead, it has found a safe home in a file on the computer labelled "worst pic evah."  The angle of the photo allows for a full viewing of my double chin, silver childhood fillings, and my "five-pound tongue in a four-pound mouth" as my sleep apnea doctor has explained.  Whenever I stumble upon this picture, I cannot help but laugh.  Then, I usually call the hub over to look as well as my girls so that they can laugh, too.

I can remember being told once in order to take a good picture, one should look at the camera straight on, lean his/her face forward in order to eliminate any double chin, and look up so as to make the eyes appear as large as possible.  I have tried and failed miserably at these suggestions.  Usually, I still discover an aspect of the picture which I find less than flattering . . . a pimple, oily skin, chubby cheeks, and the list continues.  Then, the picture in question usually winds up in the "trash bin."   

While on vacation, I noticed a woman taking a picture of what looked to be her son and husband.  I offered to take the picture for her so that she could be in the photo also.  She replied, "Oh no!  I don't do pictures."  I giggled, replied, "I hear ya!" and kept walking.  

I decided to explore this topic further, so I e-mailed fifty-three women and asked each woman to contribute her worst picture ever.  Seven women responded, five of which sent pictures.  The odds here are definitely not in my favor (Hunger Games) for feedback, but to me, exemplifies the reality of how hard women are on themselves.  

Why?  Why not embrace the joy found in the pictures and the memories the pictures capture?  Instead of viewing the photos with a critical eye, why not a grateful eye?

Song of Solomon 4:7

You are altogether beautiful, my love;  there is no flaw in you.

Thus, I am grateful for these women blessings who agreed to participate, no questions asked, and admire each of these beauties, both inside and out.  The captions and explanations are their own.

Thanks to my lovely Paige!  :)

Summer of 2013 - Well? There is THE worst picture EVER EVER taken of me by a friend.  If that wasn't bad enough, the twist of the knife stuck into my heart when she uploaded it and TAGGED me on Facebook.  I literally cried for weeks!!! Weeks I tell ya!!! I'm not exaggerating!

First, I'm overweight (no secret there), but this picture is just downright unflattering and not a true representation of what I look like. Right? Wait? Was it? IS IT?? Do I have an unrealistic view of myself?  Hmm?  Is that why I'm fat, because I don't really see it? 

Second, as my friend WHY on earth would she post this of me?  Does she secretly hate me? What did I do to make her mad?

Some major soul searching took place after this photo reared its ugly head, and I'm happy to report that we are still friends.  I'll be honest;  we actually haven't talked much since the summer because we are both busy with work, kids, and life in general, BUT I realized something.  I truly believe she doesn't see me like I see me.  Do I think she should have still known better than to post and tag me...YES! But do I fault her for wanting to share a weekend full of fun camping pictures and one just so happened to be a picture of me loving on my son while enjoying a boat ride...NO! 

She captured an ugly, beautiful, and genuine moment and ultimately I learned from it.  Hmm? Maybe I should send her a thank you note?

Nightgown Seduction Gone All Wrong

 

Pre-coffee Me

My Most Flattering Side

By Courtney Winkler
P.S.  If you would like to include your "worst pic evah," it is not too late.  E-mail RUBYMagazineTroyUMC@gmail.com.

G. and I making it fun.

Crazy Hair

Behind the piercings, tattoos, and hair is just an ordinary girl.

I wondered what I looked like when I made this face at my husband.

Child steals iphone.

Are Those Red Lines Ever Going to Go Away?

I scrubbed the bathrooms yesterday.  If you know me, you know this is quite the accomplishment.  Martha Stewart in terms of housecleaning I am not.  Yet, I am on spring break this week from teaching, so I thought, "Why not?"

Feeling a true accomplishment, I decided to make use of the sparkly tub last night.  Engulfed in bubbles, my youngest decided to come in and have a chat with me.  She was staring intently at my chest which was peeking through the foamy suds.  I knew a question was coming regarding my breast cancer, but I was not sure in which direction it would lead.  

She finally asked, "Are those red lines ever going to go away?"  The red lines she was referring to were the ropey scars which bisect each of my newly constructed breasts.  I answered honestly, "Probably not, but that's okay."  She asked (and not for the first time), "Why are they there?"  I told her this was where the doctor performed surgery on me to release the boo boos from my boobs.  My six-year-old thought about this for a moment and then said with a huge toothless front smile, "Remember when you had those tubes coming out of your body?"  I responded, "Ouch!  Yes, I remember those," and then continued to moan in exaggerated pain.  She giggled and giggled while discussing how I used to have to sleep only on my back while the tubes were in place.  Again, I groaned and whimpered in false distress, and her laughter grew louder.  She then asked the purpose of the tubes.  I told her it was to release the extra liquid (first I used "fluid" and then opted for "liquid") which had gathered during surgery.  This seemed to appease her for the time being, and she then ended with, "I am going to go downstairs and sing now."

This, of course, made me smile and caused me to give thanks to the Lord for my cherished children who fill my heart daily with such joy.

Serve the Lord with gladness! Come into his presence with singing! 
                                                                      -Psalm 100:2


 By Courtney Winkler

Eat, Read, Pray Book Club: Ann VosKamp's One Thousand Gifts Part 1

Last night was Eat, Read, Pray Book Club's initial meeting over Ann VosKamp's One Thousand Gifts.  The book cover serving as inspiration, snack included deviled eggs topped with a carrot "nest" filled with an olive "egg."

No reading was required; the group as a whole answered the following questions in order to think in terms of our abundance of God-given gifts:

What happened today for which you are thankful?
What did you see today which made you smile?
What made you laugh?
What was a delight to your eyes?
What brought you comfort?
What did you eat today which "hit the spot" and relieved your tummy grumbles?
What did you witness today which made you happy?
Did you receive an unexpected gift today (i.e. "thank you," hug, smile, assistance, wave, text, e-mail, phone call, letter, love note, etc.)?
Did you give someone a compliment today?
Who hugged you today?
Who did you hug today?
The term, eucharisteo, with all of its components- grace, thanksgiving, joy- was then discussed followed by the "Homework" assignment:  reading of chapters 1-4, documentation of 333 gifts, and the sending of a handmade card.

This card in question was then created under the direction of Miss Cathy along with the use of her many card-making supplies.  This was deemed our INTENTIONAL activity of thanksgiving.

Our next meeting is September 19, 2012 at 7:30 p.m. in the Oak Room at Troy United Methodist Church.  If interested, please e-mail EatReadPrayTroyUMC@gmail.com.