Avoid the rock throwers.

"I had the opportunity to tour the district of Marjeh and see what our Marines are accomplishing. They are doing amazing things and they live true to the (Marine Corps) saying, "No better friend, no worse enemy". Of course, I'm leaning to the front part of that statement. Over the past two days, I have seen over 500 kids from the ages of 2-12 run up to our convoy and give us a thumbs up. I asked if this was good or if the kids meant something else by it - if it was vulgarity or something. I was assured that this was a good sign, minus the one kid who threw a rock. But, 500 thumbs-up and 1 rock... I hope that is a sign of what your Marines are doing. We will see how those numbers increase tomorrow. Semper Fi!" -Facebook status update from my deployed husband (with a few minor editorial corrections by his English major wife who has grammar/punctuation OCD.)

 

I love this. It's a great reminder that even when you're doing the very best you can, you can't please everybody. There's always going to be that one "rock thrower" who will question your motives and protest your efforts. The important thing is not to let them bring you down. The important thing is to remember there are still five hundred other people who want you to succeed. Failure is not an option. (And all that other "moto" stuff. Moto = motivational phrases Marines use to psych each other up. See also: "Oorah", "Semper Fi", and "Get Some".) I don't want this to become a motivational blog post where I'm saying cheesy lines like "Believe in yourself" and "Be the best YOU you can be". Not that those aren't important life lessons, of course. It is important to believe in yourself and to have strong convictions that what you're doing is right. We're not all lucky(?) enough to have children running after us, cheering us on and giving the thumbs up. And sometimes the rock throwers are going to make a louder noise. But the supporters are still there nonetheless.

 

Even if the only supportive voice you hear is your own, telling you to just.keep.going.  

Have you hugged a Veteran today?

Yesterday was the 236th birthday of the Marine Corps and today is Veterans' Day. Normally, this would be the time of year my in-laws would visit and we would all get gussied up for the Marine Corps Birthday Ball. (Or the Marine Prom, as I like to call it. It makes me giggle. The husband says, "The Marine Corps isn't funny." I believe there's humor in everything.) It's basically the same thing: guys getting all dressed up in their finest, girls trying to outdo each other in sparkliness, loud music, crazy dancing, and a lot of "Really? He brought her?" But, sure, there are some differences. The Birthday Ball has Generals giving long (often boring) speeches, a video of Marines in far-off places (which, really, I'm pretty sure they show the same video every.single.year), a giant cake being cut with a sword (Okay, that's actually cool. We even did that at our wedding.), a lot more weapons, and a lot more shiny medals. I like to say if you've seen one Marine Prom, you've seen them all. And I've seen a lot over the years.

Our first Marine Corps Birthday Ball, 2002.

(Apparently, I needed really blonde hair for such an occasion.) 

Photo session before the Prom, 2006.

   My inlaws get in on the action.

"Once a Marine, always a Marine."

This is how we roll in SoCal.

Now, don't get me wrong. I actually enjoy attending the Birthday Ball every year and I'm a little sad to be missing it for the first time since Dan's last deployment six years ago. I love buying a pretty formal gown. (Does my husband attempt to convince me that I can wear the same dress twice? Yes. Does he tell me about the dress swaps the wives have on base? Yes. Do I allow him to take away my excuse to shop? No. No, I do not.) I have enough pairs of sparkly high heels to last me through a lifetime of Birthday Balls, but I'll use any excuse for new shoes. But most importantly, I love seeing my husband in uniform. Not only does he look handsome, but it reminds me of the kind of man I married. It's the courage he has to do his job, whether he's on the homefront or Over There. I see the dedication he has to his country and the hard work he's done over the last 10+ years to get promoted all the way to Major. I love meeting new Marines and old Marines and other spouses who can relate to everything I'm saying. (Moves from one coast to the other...and then back, long separations, camouflage all over the house, children...er, cats...forgetting they even had a dad in the first place.) It's a necessary event for Marine families to gather together and remember there is fun to be had and important work to be done.

I'll even leave a Buckeye football game already in progress

to attend the Birthday Ball.     

It also reminds me that there are men and women fighting for our freedom all the time, all over the world. I may not know their names or see their faces, but I know they're there and our world is better for it. Would I want all wars to be over and my husband to be home? Absolutely. But we do not live in a perfect world and it will never be perfect until Jesus returns. And because I don't think that's happening anytime soon (I would still like to have children, Lord! Wait just a little bit longer, mmkay?), I'm SO thankful we have people volunteering to protect our freedoms.

Awesome people like this.

You're welcome, America.