Summer 2011; Let it begin!

Where to begin?? I pondered on writing my first blog with my life story, but for your sake and mine, I won't. Number one its a loooonnnnggg story and I just don't have the time. I have 2 (sometimes 3 kids when my stepdaughter is here), 2 labs, and a husband who would starve and go naked if I wasn't available to cook and do laundry!!! So if you read my profile you would know that I am an army wife of just under a year. We have been here in NC since January. Number one we have thee most amazing neighbors! I have instantly bonded and made friends with them. We exchange children nightly. If I yell out to Maddy, "Come on Maddy, get inside, time to take a bath!" I will have at least one little girl asking if they can have a bath too. If we come back from an errand, as we are unloading a neighbor kid (whether it be across the street or next door) well be yelling "Can Maddy come out and play??". We got really lucky for this being our first duty station. I have a family member who is also in the army and his wife had some opinions about army wives. She warned me about the drama and how army wives are "snotty and stuck up." That was not the case at all here in NC. I told myself before leaving Ohio that I would approach this new chapter of our life with an open heart. I washed away any misgiving or misconceptions I had about the army and NC. I think its all about how you approach it. If you come in here upset about leaving home, your husband being gone and you believe the stories about evil army wives, you are going to be miserable. If you approach the army with the understanding of sacrifice, ever changing scenery, and try to make the best our of it; I can bet you will be happy. Andy and I are so grateful for our neighbors. In the short time we have known them we have grown to love them, their children and even their dogs! We celebrated Easter this year for the first time away from home with our "Army family". And that is what it really is. When you find a group of people who you click with and are there when you need it, that is family. I can say I love every single member of my "Army Family." I makes it easy to forget how much you miss home when you have great neighbors!