I’ve alluded to the BIG announcement on Facebook and Twitter so if you follow me over there you know what I’m about to say.

Several months ago, SGT Daddy decided to NOT re-enlist to continue his career in the Army. Today, he officially started with ACAP (Army Career and Alumni Program) as part of our transition out of the army. Yes by the end of the year, we will no longer be an Army family.

The BIG Announcement is that as of today I will not be continuing with my ArmyHousehold6 blog. (boy this  was hard to write ) It is with a heavy heart that I no longer will be blogging here at ArmyHousehold6.com. This blog has been a MAJOR part of my life for the last 5.5 years. It has been my saving grace through basic training, issues with Tricare for our kids, promotions, TDY’s,  3 PCS moves and of course the year long deployment.

I have made so many wonderful and close friends because of my little blog here. I love you all. I’ve been given so many wonderful opportunities and have been honored to be part of something amazing.   I truly never expected when I started “this blogging thing. ” back in November 2004.

Now I’m not giving up on blogging,  (did you really think I would ?) I’ll continue to blog about everyday life over at tammymunson.com. I hope that you follow me over there.  I will continue to leave ArmyHousehold6.com up as an archive for other army wives, girlfriends and family members looking for information, resources,etc.

I’ll still be involved with the military community through my volunteer work with Soldiers Angels and continue to support our troops, military families and of course  the milblogging community. As always, I’ll still be available to anyone of my military family member who needs help. I will always here for you.

I’m sure many people want to know where we are going. We will be moving to North Carolina (near Camp LeJeune area ) so I can work in the corporate offices of Jane Wayne, LLC. SGT Daddy (his real name is Dan ) will be getting a position in that area as well.

xoxo-
Tammy aka ArmyHousehold6

The story is about the Bennett family , a Navy family , going through yet another adventure-filled year . Grace is an awesome military spouse who supports her husband’s career choice , makes many PCS moves,trying t and making new friends while trying to stay in touch with old friends. They have 3 children who are also dealing with regular military brat lifestyle issues – missing their dad, getting used to living without him while he’s on the ship, etc.

I thought the book was just absolutely fantastic and well-written. It really showed what our military lifestyle is like and not something that can be wrapped in a 30 minute television show. It showed the true realities of being a military family that not everything is hunky-dory. There is happiness, tears, worry, etc.  I really loved getting a peak inside of a Navy family and what they endure during their deployments, which  are just as difficult as the ones that us Army families go through yet a bit different.

I recommend everyone- military and civilians alike – pick up this book and read it.

We decided to have dinner to catch up — We mutually agreed on Outback — since we all love it!

Of course the food was awesome as it usually is .. but the amazing thing was that it was like they never even left. I’d usually post a picture but we were so busy talking that I forgot to take any.  (we are so glad that they are here with us … once SGT Daddy is home we are ALL going out to dinner)

I think that is the thing about really good friends — that no matter how long you haven’t seen each other , it seems like it was yesterday. They are always there for you no matter where they are and what they are doing. You can trust them completely and  know that  have your best interests at heart.

SGT Daddy and I are so grateful for all the good friends that we have both here in our military family but also in our large internet family too.  (you know who you are ) As we endure this last phase of this deployment — We couldn’t have gotten through this deployment without you.

Over the next several weeks, as we near the end of this deployment– I’ll be focusing many of the posts on reflections of the last 11 months and of course looking ahead  to redeployment/reintergration.

Photo credit - Stock Xchange

Yep R&R is over and SGT Daddy is on his way back to “the Stan“. We really had a great time together.. did some shopping, ate out A LOT and just loved all being together.

So now we are officially in the last phase of this deployment … Can I get an AMEN?? It’s hard to believe that 10 months ago

we started this process , not knowing how the process would change us.

It did change us — that’s for sure. We learned a lot about ourselves and what we want in our marriage and our life.  I think even the girls learned a good lesson or too .. mostly not to take things for granted.

To our friends that are just starting this deployment journey (you know who you are ) –
My advice to you is simply take it day by day. Try not to think about how long it will be until you are physically together again. I know its hard but each of you can do it . Set milestones and when you reach them … reward yourself.

Usually I’m dreading the fact that another year has flown by… asking where did the time go?

As I said in the beginning of the year, that 2009 would be a year of change and self-discovery . I certainly wasn’t that far off.

So much has happened this year… so far we have –

• moved to a new state and got to know another Army community
• got familiar with independence and self-reliance once again
• dealt with deployment issues for myself, SGT Daddy and the girls
• stood up for myself as a blogger and citizen journalist
• advocated for our oldest daughter when the school wasn’t meeting her needs and began homeschooling her
• saw our marriage grow stronger right before our very eyes
• met some of our personal and professional goals

Now of course this doesn’t portray everything we went through this year… that would be the longest blog post EVER.

2009 was a year of change but it reminded us all of some of the things that we take for granted in our every day life.  I know 2010 will be another year full of change and new adventures but it will be good, positive change .

It also means that we will be complete once more.. for this summer — SGT Daddy will be coming home.

So what kind of changes have you seen this year? Did it make your outlook change? What resolutions or goals do you have for 2010?

Christmas without SGT Daddy was a bit depressing but we did what we always do, make the best of situation. I don’t know what we would have done if we didn’t have technology.

We got to see SGT Daddy in Afghanistan on Christmas Eve opening up his box of goodies. I don’t know if he was more excited about the Left for Dead 2 Xbox game or the HALO Encyclopedia. (yes there is an encyclopedia for a video game)

Also, Daddy got to hear the girls open up their gifts from Santa and us. (our webcam doesn’t work that great on his end) It was almost like he was home with us.

I’m so glad that we can cross one more holiday off the list. You see, Christmas was sort of a personal milestone for me.

I told myself right after SGT Daddy left, that all I need to do is make it until Christmas. I knew if I could make it to Christmas,  I could make it for the year.

So now our next milestone is his upcoming R&R .. which is only a couple of months away. All of us are super excited about it and are looking forward to it.

So to all my blog readers, family and friends… Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Thursday was not only Thanksgiving – but it was also SGT Daddy’s birthday!  I was a little worried that he wasn’t going to receive his present on time…  but he got it the day before! WHEW!

It was a special day for another reason.. you see SGT Daddy received a coin from  Dr. Joseph Westphal,  Under Secretary of the Army – and Major General Scapriotti, Commander of the Combined Joint Task Force 82- Afghanistan.

Here are some pics–

]]> http://armyhousehold6.com/2009/11/30/update-on-sgt-daddy-2/feed/ 4 http://armyhousehold6.com/2009/11/16/beer-bread-is-good/ http://armyhousehold6.com/2009/11/16/beer-bread-is-good/#comments Mon, 16 Nov 2009 21:59:10 +0000 Tammy http://armyhousehold6.com/?p=1611 I don’t normally blog about things I cook or bake (only because there is usually lots of OTHER stuff to blog about ). I was so proud of this one I just have to share with all of you !

I decided to try making some beer bread from scratch  – tried it at a craft show and it was soooooo good!

Here is the final outcome :

picture taken with my cell phone .. sorry it's fuzzy!

I think it turned out looking pretty darn good considering our resident baker (aka SGT Daddy) wasn’t here to tell me what I was doing wrong/right. : )

Want the recipe – let me know! (sorry all samples are GONE)

Image courtesy of Momlogic.com and Getty Images

November 5th, 2009 will be one of those days that I never will forget where I was or what I was doing. In ways, it reminded me a lot of my thoughts and fears of September 11, 2001. It brought back images of desperately searching for information, hoping it wasn’t what you thought it was, and praying for those families affected.

I first heard of the shooting at Fort Hood on Twitter, I immediately thought, “Well, Fort Hood is certainly no stranger to violence.” There have been numerous shootings and murders in and around Fort Hood over the last several years. It must be something along those lines.

But as information began to emerge on Twitter, Facebook and the major news channels, my thoughts went to: “Oh my goodness, this is actually happening.” I felt an immediate heaviness in my heart and wondered if we knew anyone directly who was there. I began searching for those that we know in Texas and luckily none of them were any of the families directly impacted by the horrific tragedy at Fort Hood.

It was also a role reversal as well. Usually, it is my deployed husband telling me what is going on over there where he is stationed in Afghanistan so I won’t worry. Yesterday,  he was calling me to find out what happened so he wouldn’t worry. It was the middle of the night for them, and there wasn’t a whole lot of information

As the information and speculation began to explode all over the internet, I found myself glued to the internet and television just like I was on September 11th. I was not only worrying about those who were getting that knock on their door from official military personal, but about our own personal safety.

One of the reasons so many families live on a military installation is the safety factor. It is so much safer to live on “post.” You feel safe here. You see the MP’s patrolling the streets on foot and in their vehicles. You have security at the gates, so you must have a Dept. of Defense sticker and an ID to gain access. One man, an Officer in the US Army, took that feeling of being protected and safe away from us.

Of course I’m not paralyzed with fear or anything, but it does make you stop and think. Are we really “safer” here on post? Was that something we tell ourselves so that we can make it through the various deployments? I don’t think any of us will be that naive any more. If it can happen at Fort Hood, it can happen at just about anywhere.

The horrific tragedy that occurred yesterday was magnified I believe by many in the mainstream media and others. There was ton of speculation and assuming of unproven facts. I thought that they were supposed to report the FACTS. But I know that mainstream media has a long history of sensationalizing stories to make things more news-worthy.

This was not the time to do that. Family members of Fort Hood soldiers were desperately searching for information about their loved ones and what they were finding was lots of speculation and “talking heads” jumping to conclusions. They needed fact and truth.

All in all, the people of the United States did what we do best. We rallied around those who were affected by tragedy and we will continue to be there for them until they no longer need our love, prayers and support.

Originally posted  at http://www.momlogic.com/2009/11/the_fort_hood_tragedy_through.php#ixzz0W88nMOJ5

image courtesy of FoxNews.com

My thoughts and prayers are with all of our military family at Fort Hood as well as those affected directly by this horrific act. If any of my readers at Hood need ANYTHING, please let me know and I’ll make sure to get you what you need!!!!

I just want to update real quick about what’s happening at Fort Hood.. these are the facts. I’m not going to speculate on ANYTHING (unlike certain members of the MSM)

• LTG Cone said all suspects were SOLDIERS!
• No kids were harmed .. they believe the situation is now under control. (at 3pm MT)
• The initial shooter (an Army major) died and the other 2 are now in custody.

Please remember – let’s not jump to conclusions on the speculations or rumors that we are hearing about. Let  CID, MP’s and FBI do their job and research the backgrounds of these guys before we start jumping to conclusions about the who and the why!

Now – as far as Obama’s press conference about Ft Hood. I think it was severely mishandled but what can you expect with someone who doesn’t have much leadership experience.

UPDATE
LTG Cone stated that MAJ Hasan was the ONLY shooter and that he is in fact ALIVE. Also – 13 people (including 1 civilian) have died and 31 wounded.

According to Fox News –

Survivors of the rampage that killed 13 and wounded 30 said the suspect, Major Nidal Malik Hasan, shouted “Allahu Akbar!” — “God is great!” in Arabic — before opening fire, base commander Lt. Gen. Robert Cone said.