Lazy Saturday

A week ago yesterday we added a new member to the family. 

Everyone, meet Remington aka Remi

Our friends dogs had an accidental liter and well, here she is. 

The first night was interesting. She cried and cried. Which broke my heart. But she has the hang of it now. 

We're crate training her. 

She still isn't 100% in love with the crate, but we just got her a new one and I think she will be more comfortable in that tonight. I guess we will find out. 

She is otherwise an incredibly sweet girl. 

A little mouthy- in the sense that she bites and chews and tries to eat our carpet. 

But we signed her up for puppy classes, so hopefully we can get all that in check! 

Charles is doing great with her. 

He lets her know he's the man. But, surprisingly, he hasn't ripped her head off like I thought he might. 

He has been more snuggly with me. Which I am grateful for. 

Little shit never wanted to snuggle me! 

He is laying at my feet as I type!

I also think more trips to the pet store are in order. 

We took the two of them there today and they have done nothing but nap all damn day. 

I think seeing all the other dogs, being "aww"ed at and pet by complete strangers tired them out. 

I like them tired out. teehee!

Hubs and I watched We're the Millers tonight on our apple tv. 

Funniest. Movie. 

Seriously, I couldn't stop laughing. 

You all should see it. 

And probably watch it again if you already have. 

It helps that Jennifer Aniston plays a hot stripper. 

She sure has aged well. 

4 days until Christmas!

Happy Holidays :-)

Nah, fuck that. 

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!! 

Spreading Kindness this Holiday Season

Friday morning my husband and I went out early to shovel the driveway. 

Normally I don't help with shoveling/snow blowing, but our snow blower belt broke and I figured it would be much faster if I went out and helped the best I could (I can't do too much because I have a bad back). 

Maybe 45 seconds had gone by and a man with a plow drove up into our driveway and plowed for us. 

I asked my husband to run in and find some cash. 

When he tried to pay the guy (who we found out was actually a neighbor), his response was "You didn't ask me to do it. Just go get ready for work." 

He finished plowing and headed out. 

Throughout the day the snow just kept coming. 

And as I was just finishing up cleaning off my car, the woman parked next to me came out. 

Her car completely covered in ice & snow. 

My car was all ready to go. Warmed up, deiced & cleared off. 

But it was nasty out. 

Thinking back to that morning, when I needed to get ready for work, someone was kind enough to take the time to help me.

I thought, this is my time to return the favor to someone else. 

I am sure she wanted to get home... or at the very least, get into a warm car. 

So, I helped clean off her car. We chipped away at the thick ice together. 

She thanked me several times and said I didn't need to help her. 

I simply explained that someone that same morning had helped me and it's the right thing to help others out. I just asked that she do something kind for someone else. 

It's the holidays. 

It's a time where we should be slowing down. 

Enjoying our friends and family. 

And helping others. 

I don't know if it's because of my brother moving away and joining the military that has cleared up my mind, but now more than ever, I want to help spread happiness and joy to others. 

And the holiday is the perfect time to start. 

Kindness is infectious. 

That one kind gesture that started in my driveway, and continued on into my work parking lot, and then onto who knows where, is a start to a beautiful cycle. 

If only more people were willing to stop and help others. 

Could you imagine what the world could become?

This holiday season, I urge everyone to do one kind thing for a stranger.

Or maybe a co worker who is having a hard time or is over worked. 

Or a family member who is stressed out with their kids and hasn't had a date night with their spouse in weeks. 

I can guarantee your unexpected, spontaneous, genuine act of kindness will start to spread a cycle of pure joy. 

And isn't that the best gift you could give to someone this time of year?

** Special Thank You to the incredibly generous and kind stranger that bought my brother his Starbucks in the airport in between flights after his leave. It is your act of kindness that has humbled my heart. And I know my brother appreciated it too. 

*** Special Thank You to a friend who was kind enough to send my family & I well wishes this season. 

"Meghan you always have the greatest posts! I enjoy following your page! Keep it up! We are praying for you and your brother and family this holiday season! We thank him for supporting our country and freedoms and we thank your family for supporting him! God bless and happy holidays!"

THANK YOU JACKIE. 

Until Next Time....

My last blog was about saying "see yah later" to Jake. 

However, I got ANOTHER surprise. 

Monday came and he decided instead of flying to Kentucky he would stay home for his full 10 day leave. 

He called his duty station and whoever he talked to there basically told him he may not get to come home at Christmas time and it would probably be in his best interest to stay home. 

So he did. 

I am very thankful for the extra time with my brother. 

During the day Monday, I called off my regular 9-5 job because I anticipated taking him to the airport.

I didn't want to miss seeing him off to his next venture. 

But like I said, he decided to stay home. 

So I went into my night job still. 

Tuesday & Wednesday I didn't see him at all. 

I figured everyone had been up his ass the whole weekend because we didn't think we would get much time with him. 

So, now that we had more time, I wanted him to just relax. Sit on the couch. Play Xbox. Love his friends. Love time all alone. 

Just sit around and be a normal 20 year old kid with minimal responsibilities for a few days. 

Thursday was awesome. 

Amanda's family invited us out to dinner at this amazing restaurant, Compane Bistro. 

Delicious food if you're in the area. 

We celebrated their engagement and met her family for the first time. 

I have to say, they're amazing people. 

It was so nice to sit at a table and feel so much love and support for Jake and Amanda. 

I love Amanda. Very very much. 

She is such a phenomenal woman. 

How many people can say that at 20 years old, they were ready to be completely selfless and stand by their man while they sacrificed their own life & freedom to defend our country?

A service member with a full support system is ideal. 

In Jakes case, I can say I am truly thankful to have SO many people standing behind him.

Including Amanda and her family. 

They're such wonderful people. 

And I now understand where her unconditional love and support comes from. 

My favorite brother & I.

The newly engaged couple & myself.

On Friday after work, I met up with my brother to head over to our grandparents house. 

They really wanted to see him one last time before he left for Kentucky. 

It was nice just hanging out and spending time with them. 

After our grandparents house, Jake headed to the tattoo shop. 

Our entire family is tattooed at Physical Graffiti by Gooch. BEST tattoo artist. Ever. 

Gooch was kind enough to cancel two of his appointments to get my brother in before he left. 

Thank You Gooch for taking the time to get Jake in. 

My brother got a sick tattoo. It's a start to what I can only assume will turn into another sleeve piece. 

Finished product. 

It came out awesome. 

After the tattoo we all met back at my Moms house and just hung out. 

Justin (Jakes long time best friend), Amanda, Joey (my hubs) and myself just hung out and had a few drinks. 

My mom and step dad came home after the hospitals holiday party and joined in. 

We just hung out. Laughed and had a nice night. 

And then today came. And it came way too fast. 

I feel like I get quiet on days like today. 

Where I have to say goodbye. 

I just kind of sat on the couch. 

I didn't say too too much.  

Putting on his boots

Snuggling his puppy before he has to leave.

My Mom, Paul, Joe, Kayla, Jason, Amanda and myself headed to the airport to see him off. 

We were fortunate enough to get boarding passes to get through security to see him to the gate. 

However, poor Amanda left her ID at the house and wasn't able to go back. 

We stayed out behind security until the last possible second. 

The airport wasn't very busy today so we got through security pretty quickly. 

As we walked toward the gate, Joe, Jason & Amanda came to the glass to see him off one last time. 

Saying good bye to his future wife through the glass.

As I walked down concourse B, tears started welling. 

I did not want to do this again. 

The memories from Syracuse started to all flood back. 

It was a quiet walk. 

I just wanted to stop and hug him. 

But I kept walking. 

I knew I couldn't hug him forever. 

He had to go. 

And I didn't want to make it any harder on him. 

We got to his gate and he left to hit up the bathroom quick and I just cried. 

I had to let it out. 

I wanted to try and get it out before he came back. 

I wanted to keep it together. 

But then I would look over at my Mom. 

She just kept welling up. Her only son. Leaving. Again.

It's just tough. 

 2 minutes later they asked for active military to board. 

Just like in Syracuse I lost my shit. 

I just hugged him and said, "I love you so so much. Please squeeze me."

I wanted him to hug me super tight one last time. 

So he did. 

He got teary eyed but he didn't let the tears fall.

I  apologized for crying and said "I don't mean to make this hard for you."

We walked over to the gate and watched him hand over his ticket. 

Then it happened. 

He turned around, waved, and said "Love you guys." 

And then he was gone. 

I cried and cried in the car until I felt I couldn't cry anymore.

It's weird. 

I feel like if I go over to the house, he should be there. 

He should be down in the basement playing grand theft auto.

But he wont be. 

He's back to work. 

And I can't wait until I see him next. 

What this weekend has meant to me

I don't know if this weekend has been so joyful but difficult because this was Jakes first time home since he left in August. 

I don't know if this will ever get easier. 

I don't know if I will ever become comfortable with the fact that he will be away from home more than he will be home. 

This surprise was such an incredible blessing. 

All my life I have been taught family is everything. 

I have been taught when everything around you crumbles, 

you will always have your family by your side. 

I don't think I have ever taken my family for granted. 

This weekend has really reminded me just how much they mean to me. 

That I would give up my own happiness to make sure they were happy. 

It was so nice to see my brother home, comfortable, smiling. 

It was so incredible to see him today hanging out on the couch with all his buddies. 

It's so nice to hug him. 

To tell him, to his face, that I love him. 

And I don't want tomorrow to come. 

I don't want to go to the airport tomorrow and "see yah next time." 

I don't want him to go to Kentucky. 

But I do. 

Because that's what he wants to do. 

It's his dreams he is living out. 

So, even though my selfishness wants him to stay here so I can hog him, 

I don't want him to stay here. 

I want him to go be everything he was made to be. 

I want him to excel and be amazing in everything he does. 

This weekend was a huge weekend for Jake. 

He came home. 

He proposed to the love of his life, Amanda. 

He bought his first big boy car; a 3 series BMW. 

All of these choices he has made are huge, monumental choices. 

But they're fantastic choices. 

I couldn't be more proud of the choices he has made. 

And that's how you know the Army has made him grow up so fast. 

He no longer sees his life as the same anymore. 

He no longer wants to wait to do big things. 

He has come to the realization that each day is a gift and we should take it and run. 

Do big things. 

And that's all I ever hoped for him, 

To do big things. 

Straight Chillen

Filling out the paperwork to purchase his first car! 

Standing with his new BMW! 

Holding his keys to his new whip!!

At game night, we ate shredded chocolate. 

Love this kid!

Boss.

Jake and his Fiance! 

Bros 

Jake & Dad

My world. 

For the people who read this blog, 

If I can tell you anything and hope that its sinks in; 

I really hope you take away that family is everything. 

Put them above all else. 

For if you stand behind them through it all, 

they will be sure to stand behind you.