Rock The Vote (Is It Still Cool To Say That)

  It's the small things in life that can make you happy. 

  We do our voting absentee style.

  That means I do not get an "I voted" sticker.

  I'm a little unhappy that I don't get to sport that today. 


Every other post on Facebook today has been about voting and I think that is awesome!  I can't imagine living in a country where I didn't have that freedom. 

It made me think about the first time Steven was deployed to Iraq and how he was helping the Iraq government set up and conduct their voting system.  His story about their elections was published in the Field Artillery Journal.  You can go here to read about it.   Steven's article

I remember seeing the pictures of Iraqi men and women holding up their inked purple thumb or finger to show they had voted.  They were so excited!

So wear that "I voted" sticker proudly today!  Be glad you live in a land that you can vote for who ever you want.  Even in Illinois, where you can vote for the 'Nard Dog.  (Yes, this is a real ballot from Kendall County, IL)

If Absence Makes The Heart Grow Fonder....

The Millers November 2012

... then fonder has begun.  Words penned by my husband on his way to Afghanistan.

I really debated on blogging or even taking pictures of our farewell this morning because they can be kind of a private thing.   The more I thought about it, I thought the world needs to be reminded that there is still a war.  There are still Soldiers deploying.  There are still families waving good-bye until the buses are out of sight.

This is our third go around with deployments.  It's been different each time.  The first time, Steven signed in and was told he had 15 days and he was leaving for Iraq.  We had a 5 month old baby at the time.  Communications were very limited.  A few emails.  Rarely a phone call, but never a good connection when we did receive one.

The second deployment Steven commanded and it was a complete whirl wind.  We had more notice than 15 days and our baby was now 3.  Communications were better.  More frequent emails and the phone system seemed to have less of a delay. 

Our third deployment has been interesting.  We stood on a field not far from the where we stood 6 years ago.  This time our baby is 9 and we've added a Dude, 4.  Emails will probably be multiple times a day.  There may even be Skype!  But there is still that strange emotion between sadness and missing, but this is now old hat because it's away of life. 

I watched newly weds say tearful good-byes, other kids hold on to their mom or dad for one last hug (we had about 4 one last hugs), parents from far away coming to see their sons or daughters off.  So many of these Soldiers are now on the third, forth or even fifth combat tour.

The war has now been put in the back of people's mind because it's gone on so long.  It was barely mentioned in the presidential debates.  The homecomings aren't quite what they used to be.   My husband is a writer and during this deployment he is going to do his best to remind America of the men and women who are deployed.    And as a blogger, I'm going to share my story, as well as my fellow Army families. 

 

It's not the easiest life, but I wouldn't have chosen any other

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We love you!!

Lucky Me

Welcome to the Army Mrs. Miller.

… with those words spoken and sword across my bum, I was welcomed into this crazy military world.

13 years (13 ½ for those who know the whole story) have gone by so quickly and here we are getting ready to go back to the place where it all started for us.

In 13 years we have:

Moved six times

Had two children (me, not him)

Two Iraq deployments and an upcoming deployment (him, not me)

One trip firefighting in Idaho (him, again)

NTC (all him)

Bought 6 Ford vehicles (I think.  The number gets fuzzy around 2007) 


I would say countless adventures, but honestly, our everday life is an adventure.

The list could go on and on of what we’ve done over the last 13 years.

I could not imagine doing any of this with anyone but my very best friend.   Through the good and the not so great, I would do it again in a heartbeat.

Once again, the Army has foiled our plans to spend an anniversary on a beach somewhere, but some day we will get there. 

I’m lucky I’m in love with my best friend.  "Our" song.

Thirteen years ago with my best friend.

Thirteen years later and I still like him a whole lot!

The Real American Idols

For those who live under a rock, American Idol 2012 ended this week.  America chose its idol - a 21-year old young man who is super talented and I hope does well with his gift of playing and singing. 

Honestly, all these young people who were on American Idol didn’t have it too hard. They were allowed to do something they loved, stay in a mansion, meet celebrities, and I’m sure much more.  The only downfall is you may not win the multi-million dollar contract in the end.

It’s interesting what we as Americans consider an idol.

Let me tell you about a few real American Idols.  They are the men and women who chose to do something that isn’t always popular.  It isn’t always fun.  There’s not a lot of money it and certainly no mansions.  They chose to do something selfless.  They chose to do something that most of us wouldn’t want to do.  They chose to leave their families to fight for a country they love, never knowing what the outcome might be.

I have walked through the cemeteries at West Point and Arlington and I’ve seen the graves of the 21 year old American Idols. 


They are more than just names written in stone. They are sons and daughters. Husbands and wives. Mommies and daddies. Mentors. Best friends. Battle buddies. Names we should never forget.

Today we honor them and the families who love them.

It’s been the Millers' great honor to know some of these American Idols personally.

MAJ Bill Hecker

CPT Christopher Petty

CPT Jason Blake

CPT Sam Luke

SFC Stephen White

SGT Johnny Peralez

PVT Robbie Mariano

So today, take a moment and remember these men and so many others who have given their all.



The Petty Family 2005



Madelynn adored Chris.

Chris playing with Madelynn and Oliver

Wesley honoring Chris at our last visit to Arlington. 

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Oliver and Madelynn placing flags at Chris' grave.

Jason and Steven were more than just battle buddies, they were best friends.

Richelle and Bill Hecker

Steven and Madelynn honoring MAJ Hecker, Steven's mentor.

Where's The Good in Goodbye? Part 1

These next few weeks begin the hardest part of the military life.  It’s not the packing or the moving or the not having a house to live when we get to our destination.  No, those things are just inconveniences.  The hardest thing is the goodbyes. 

While living this military adventure, we develop close friendships.  And wouldn’t you know it, those people find a place in our hearts and become not only become our friends, but apart of our family. 

Our military family

This past Friday began the first of the goodbyes.  We had a little get together with some of our military family.  I can’t even begin to say how wonderful these people are.  They are more than just friends, they truly are our family.  Fortunately, we do not have to say goodbye to the Wilsons.  We are taking them with us to Texas.  Rebecca, Deb and Melissa (who is in Afghanistan) have been like aunts to the kids and they have become some of the dearest friends.  I’m truly going to miss getting together on a whim on Friday nights.  We are already making plans for their Texas visit

Wesley and "Aunt" Rebecca

I don't even know. 

My girls.  I'm going to miss them a ton.  Well, except Yvette.  I'm bringing her with me.

Our latest goodbye was this evening - Madelynn had her last piano lesson with her fantastic teacher, Ms. Chi.  Over the last three years, Ms. Chi has watched Madelynn grow and change and not just musically. Similarly, we have watched Ms. Chi’s life change. With a new house, a new husband, and a baby due in July the transformation in both Madelynn and Ms. Chi has been something to behold.

Ms. Chi-McCain and Madelynn

As Madelynn walked out of this last lesson, she tried (unsuccessfully) to hold back tears knowing she had to say goodbye. 

As hard as goodbyes are for adults living this military life, they are even more difficult for the military child.

Most have heard the cliché “Grow where you are planted.”  This can be good advice for many, but for a military child it can be painful.  These little seeds do grow where they are planted, which is wherever the Army sends their family.  They grow roots and begin to bloom in what may be wonderful soil. They are then dug up (without their entire root structure like piano teachers) and replanted in another piece of land to try and grow again. 

These military seedlings are a hardy group.  They are able to be replanted and grow again.  While it can be tough, they turn into beautiful and strong flowers, able to adapt to most of what life gives them.

This is just the beginning of our goodbye blogs, it’s not meant to be sad, but to let everyone know how much they mean to us and that our goodbyes are more of a, “See ya later.

Oh The Place You'll Go

My mom used to read the Dr. Seuss book Oh The Places You’ll Go when I was little.  Now, many years after those readings, Steven and I could rewrite it and call it Oh, The Places the Army Will Send You.  So, you ask me where is the Army sending you next?  Well, I’ll give you a few hints:  Speed limits are 75 mph, Blue Bell ice cream is sold at every grocery store, and we’ve been stationed there twice before.  Have you guessed?  If you said Fort Hood, Texas, you are exactly right!!  The Millers will be returning to Texas for a little while. 

While Fort Hood was not at the top of choice list since we’ve been there twice before – we were hoping to go out west this time – there are far worse place to be stationed.  Like, Fort Polk, LA (The Army’s armpit), Fort Bliss, TX (a suburb of Mexico and they be killing folks down there) or Korea (not to found of having nukes pointed at me).  Did I mention that those were our other choices?  You can see why we are quite happy with Fort Hood.

There are other reasons to be happy with Fort Hood.  Blue Bell ice cream!  Need I say more?  Killeen has a Chik-Fil-A! Once again, need I say more?  It’s also the home of Dr. Pepper.  That makes Steven very happy.  We probably won’t get 6 feet of snow like we had here in NY.  Also, we will be living near family.  Steven’s brother and his family are also stationed at Fort Hood.  Madelynn is beyond thrilled to live so close to her only girl cousin.  Not to mention all of our friends that live in Killeen, Harker Heights and Copperas Cove and other parts of Texas.

While this wasn’t where we thought we would be again, we realize God’s ways are bigger and better than ours.  Even though the Army thinks this is what they gave us, we know this is all God’s doing.  While we don’t see that what His plan is yet, we trust Him fully

So follow our blog and roam along with us on this next adventure in our lives.