I am Sam.
Sam I am.
Do you like OPSEC and ham?
I do not get it, Sam I am.
I do not get OPSEC and ham.
We must use it here and there.
We must use it everywhere.
You CAN share it in a car.
But you CANNOT in a bar.
You CANNOT share it in a text.
You CANNOT share it at the NEX.
You CAN say it in your house.
But should NOT tell a random spouse.
You CAN say it in the shower.
But do NOT go sharing at happy hour.
DON'T make the Ombudsman sweat.
DON'T post it on the internet.
You CANNOT share it in a tweet.
That would not be very sweet.
Beware of Facebook and Myspace too.
It's tempting to let your feelings through.
You Cannot tell it to a friend.
NOT even at the very end.
It is a privilege to know a date.
DON'T tell ANYONE or they may be late!
Oh, I get it, Sam I am.
Now I get OPSEC and ham!
I will not tell anyone. I will keep hushed until they're done!
I will not tell him or her. I will not tell my dog with fur.
I will not tell my child's teacher. I will not tell any creature.
Thank you, THANK YOU, Sam I am.
Thank you for clearing up OPSEC and Ham!!!
**If I ever have to tell you that I cant tell you information about Jon and his location and things that are going on, this is the reason. Its not because I just dont want to tell you, its because I cant. So please dont get upset with me :) **
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
He's Phony, She's fake....Thats the type of people I hate....
I don't know where to start. The last 3 days have been rough, long, and tiring....and I cant actually say that I've done anything productive! They've just been emotionally draining. And I'm so done with it all. And if my Facebook was just this group of people then I would most definitely delete it but its not so that's a lot easier said then done. With getting married, I feel like I get a fresh start. I'm in a new place with new people and as of right now its time for me to move on completely from what used to be. This whole wedding has caused a lot of ugly truths to come out and people have showed sides of themselves that aren't very nice nor true. I have a great husband and great friends but as this week has come to show I think I now know who the real and true ones are.
I know this will probably go against what I will be talking about but lord knows ill never be on the level that all of the drama/crap has gotten to. Its not in my personality. I am not a drama bringing person...I try to stay away from drama but somehow it just seems to chase me.I just want to have friends who I can have a good time with and friends that where ever and no matter anything I do will always be there for me to support and love me. Ive done that and more for all of my friends and I think its the least I expect back. Weddings are supposed to be a fun and excited time for everyone involved. It shouldnt be a time for friendships and relationships to go south but I do realize it happens.
I married a wonderful man. He is always there when I need him and he always says the things I need him to say at the right time. He may not be "christian" to your standards but he has shown more love and compassion and generosity than many christians I know ever have. Because of the way Ive been treated the last month it has shown me a lot of true colors of a lot of people and it just really makes me mad at how they just go judging and shunning other people out because they feel they are living in sin...one thanks for judging instead of coming to me to ask about the truth because not everything is as it seems and two, arent we supposed to love the sinners? we are supposed to treat them as we would treat everyone else. Now if Ive ever done or said anything to you that would or did offend you then by all means delete me from your friends or confront me but if ive just stayed in my own business and lived my own life and never had ever affected your life or your walk for the things that have been done and said...I guess its just time for me to realize that this part in my life and these certain people in my life, its time for me to just move on and get on with my life without you and with my husband...
So i guess what needs to be said now is Thank you :) Im opening a new chapter in my life and I like the outlook. I love you Jonathan Dowling!
I know this will probably go against what I will be talking about but lord knows ill never be on the level that all of the drama/crap has gotten to. Its not in my personality. I am not a drama bringing person...I try to stay away from drama but somehow it just seems to chase me.I just want to have friends who I can have a good time with and friends that where ever and no matter anything I do will always be there for me to support and love me. Ive done that and more for all of my friends and I think its the least I expect back. Weddings are supposed to be a fun and excited time for everyone involved. It shouldnt be a time for friendships and relationships to go south but I do realize it happens.
I married a wonderful man. He is always there when I need him and he always says the things I need him to say at the right time. He may not be "christian" to your standards but he has shown more love and compassion and generosity than many christians I know ever have. Because of the way Ive been treated the last month it has shown me a lot of true colors of a lot of people and it just really makes me mad at how they just go judging and shunning other people out because they feel they are living in sin...one thanks for judging instead of coming to me to ask about the truth because not everything is as it seems and two, arent we supposed to love the sinners? we are supposed to treat them as we would treat everyone else. Now if Ive ever done or said anything to you that would or did offend you then by all means delete me from your friends or confront me but if ive just stayed in my own business and lived my own life and never had ever affected your life or your walk for the things that have been done and said...I guess its just time for me to realize that this part in my life and these certain people in my life, its time for me to just move on and get on with my life without you and with my husband...
So i guess what needs to be said now is Thank you :) Im opening a new chapter in my life and I like the outlook. I love you Jonathan Dowling!
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
Settling Into Life
Growing up I was kind of a messy kid..Ive been watching the show Hoarders, and thinking I could NEVER be like that but i remember how my room was before my dad would have to come in and help me clean it up! It was bad but not THAT bad but I swore that whenever I moved out and had my own space that I would never live like that! Since the whole wedding and all the stuff of moving in and getting things cleaned up and in a place its been hard!! We have come to realize that between the 2 of us we had a lot of stuff!! It was a lot easier to fill up this apartment that I thought it would be, I dont really know if thats really such a good thing lol cause we are running out of space lol but just means we need to go through things because honestly when I moved Jon into the apartment, he was out to sea so there were quite a few boxes that he never and still hasn't gone through. So maybe when I can get him home for longer than a day we can get some things gone and maybe sell them lol we could always use some extra cash on the side to pay off the credit card! ha
Today I feel accomplished though! I got up this morning and went and worked out, finished paying all the bills (somehow I managed to lose the water bill somewhere! I know I saw it when it came but then when I went to find it, definitely couldnt find it anywhere so had to go ask), cleaned up all the trash in the house, and have now started making dinner.... Hopefully it wont be a dinner for one tonight but if it is its all good, Ill just snuggle up on the couch and watch some netflix! Oh the fun timessss lol
Last night was a good night though, Jon had duty yesturday so I was alone all day but my friend Amy Tortoriello who was the first wife our the division to take me under her wing! During one of the guys deployments, she took me under her wing. It was my first 4 month deployment and I honestly had no idea what to expect then. But she helped...BIG TIME! we spent a lot of time together and started going to spin class about once a week (which is a GREAT workout if youve never tried it before)! but anyway Amy helped that deployment not be as terrible for me as it could have been. During that deployment, her husband Joel made cheif and they got orders to another boat in New Hampshire!!! It sucked! Big time cause she was one of my very few navy friends but she was the one I definitely talked to all the time who helped the most! and she left me (not by choice) lol she came into town this week and I was dieing to see her! so we went to Peppers out in Yulee and one of the guys bought a round of tequila...Im not a fan of tequila lol but i took the shot anyway and I can honestly say...Im still not a fan lol But it was great to finally hang out with her again...its always a great time. One thing we talked about last night that I wont forget is she feels like she helped shape me into a navy wife and honestly she did! She was a major help in helping me understand how things work and how to help Jon and what not and I dont think I can thank her enough nor do I know what I would do without her and it was so good to finally see her again!
And while I was cleaning today I finally went through a box of hangers that was given to me by my good friend Nicole Hawkins who took me under her wing after Amy left cause the guys went out on another deployment 3 months later and she helped me stay busy too we hung out a lot! But they were in the process of waiting for her husband to get orders to transfer to shore duty so I lost her too...but in their moving process she finally found a box of hangers that she had been saying whenever she found it she would give it to us cause they didnt need them anymore i was thinking it was going to be a little box but it was a cup box that was hugee and there were a tonnn of hangers in there...I have NO need to go buy hangers which I am extremelyyy thankful for lol
Ive met some great people so far in my military experience and I would love to meet more and make new friends because unfortunately a lot of the friends I have made have moved away :(
Overall its been a pretty good week :) I turned 21 and got to see a friend who I havent seen in a while and I feel quite accomplished today lol
Now the only thing that would help make this day even better.....would be my husband coming home ;) lol
Today I feel accomplished though! I got up this morning and went and worked out, finished paying all the bills (somehow I managed to lose the water bill somewhere! I know I saw it when it came but then when I went to find it, definitely couldnt find it anywhere so had to go ask), cleaned up all the trash in the house, and have now started making dinner.... Hopefully it wont be a dinner for one tonight but if it is its all good, Ill just snuggle up on the couch and watch some netflix! Oh the fun timessss lol
Last night was a good night though, Jon had duty yesturday so I was alone all day but my friend Amy Tortoriello who was the first wife our the division to take me under her wing! During one of the guys deployments, she took me under her wing. It was my first 4 month deployment and I honestly had no idea what to expect then. But she helped...BIG TIME! we spent a lot of time together and started going to spin class about once a week (which is a GREAT workout if youve never tried it before)! but anyway Amy helped that deployment not be as terrible for me as it could have been. During that deployment, her husband Joel made cheif and they got orders to another boat in New Hampshire!!! It sucked! Big time cause she was one of my very few navy friends but she was the one I definitely talked to all the time who helped the most! and she left me (not by choice) lol she came into town this week and I was dieing to see her! so we went to Peppers out in Yulee and one of the guys bought a round of tequila...Im not a fan of tequila lol but i took the shot anyway and I can honestly say...Im still not a fan lol But it was great to finally hang out with her again...its always a great time. One thing we talked about last night that I wont forget is she feels like she helped shape me into a navy wife and honestly she did! She was a major help in helping me understand how things work and how to help Jon and what not and I dont think I can thank her enough nor do I know what I would do without her and it was so good to finally see her again!
And while I was cleaning today I finally went through a box of hangers that was given to me by my good friend Nicole Hawkins who took me under her wing after Amy left cause the guys went out on another deployment 3 months later and she helped me stay busy too we hung out a lot! But they were in the process of waiting for her husband to get orders to transfer to shore duty so I lost her too...but in their moving process she finally found a box of hangers that she had been saying whenever she found it she would give it to us cause they didnt need them anymore i was thinking it was going to be a little box but it was a cup box that was hugee and there were a tonnn of hangers in there...I have NO need to go buy hangers which I am extremelyyy thankful for lol
Ive met some great people so far in my military experience and I would love to meet more and make new friends because unfortunately a lot of the friends I have made have moved away :(
Overall its been a pretty good week :) I turned 21 and got to see a friend who I havent seen in a while and I feel quite accomplished today lol
Now the only thing that would help make this day even better.....would be my husband coming home ;) lol
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
Love, Marriage, Children, and the Bible
To set this up, 2 weeks before my wedding I had a sit down conversation where someone told me that because my husband isnt saved, He will not be able to truely love me, he wont be able to love me with an everlasting love which is also know as agape love. I was also told that Ive not only robbed myself, but I have robbed my children of a strong spiritual leader in the household...Im sorry but I wasnt very happy when someone told me this...in fact my feels were hurt and it was rather inappropriate for the person in the position they were in to say this...Im sorry 2 weeks before, are you trying to scare me from my marriage? if that was the goal, it didnt...not even a chance! But it did change the way I feel about this person...
after a lot of talking with my parents, my husband, and friends I was encouraged to basically ignore what that person had said but to also know that yes because he isnt saved we are possibly going to have a tougher road ahead of us...which is understandable and I accept that...
I would like to thank Nicole Sundstrom for showing me this bible passage, it is very encouraging and just what I needed :
1 Corinthians 7: 13-16
And the woman which hath an husband that believeth not, and if he be pleased to dwell with her, let her not leave him.
14For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband: else were your children unclean; but now are they holy.
15But if the unbelieving depart, let him depart. A brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases: but God hath called us to peace.
16For what knowest thou, O wife, whether thou shalt save thy husband? or how knowest thou, O man, whether thou shalt save thy wife?
I understand the bible says not to be uneually yoked, but I believe that a marriage is possible when you have love and Christ out on the table and open in the household...which my household is that way! I dont appreciate someone asking personal questions about my personal life and saying that those personal questions were between me and the church...you are HEAVILY mistaken!
And I plan on talking to you in person but I just wanted to enlighten other people about some of the things the bible says...not just small excerpts taken out of context :)
Im sorry if this offends anyone but its also something I needed to get off my chest
First week of Marriage!
Anyone who has been married to a man in the military can know how difficult it can be because the military doesnt work around your schedule...you work around theirs lol We arent taking our honeymoon until November and hopefully we will be able to do it because the boat is currently in dry dock and there is honestly no telling how long that can take! This whole week Jon pretty much worked 12 hour days and had 24 hour duty on every 3rd day...what that means is that Jon basically came home to sleep....I was pretty bored and he wasnt in a very good mood each day he came home but we learn to deal with it...and work through it...Jon has never had to go through an MMP with someone to come home to and I am definitely not used to him working long hours like that not knowing when he will be coming home because I would only hear from him randomly throughout the day...there are some days I dont hear from him until he is on his way home cause obviously there is no cell phone service in a giant submarine! IM not complaining...just explaining :)
Luckily this weekend was a great weekend!! Saturday he had duty so I went to Jax and spent the day with my parents...SIDENOTE: Ive been to the commissary on base here in GA and its smallll!! I went to the NEX and Commissary at Mayport and oh my gooodness!! It was sooo much bigger and from what Ive heard, the one at NAS JAX is even bigger!!! definitely jealous lol!!
Sunday I had Jon all to myself and Because Monday 8.15.11 was my 21st birthday, we decided to celebrate on Sunday because he had to work Monday...we had a GREAT day! It was just what we needed...a day together with just US...we went to the zoo and had a great time there grabbed some lunch and then went to MOSH and ended up at the town center for some dinner at Maggiano's...it was just a great day all round and it reminded me of why I fell in love with him all over again...we just have fun together and I love him more than anything and wouldnt trade him for the world :)
Luckily this weekend was a great weekend!! Saturday he had duty so I went to Jax and spent the day with my parents...SIDENOTE: Ive been to the commissary on base here in GA and its smallll!! I went to the NEX and Commissary at Mayport and oh my gooodness!! It was sooo much bigger and from what Ive heard, the one at NAS JAX is even bigger!!! definitely jealous lol!!
Sunday I had Jon all to myself and Because Monday 8.15.11 was my 21st birthday, we decided to celebrate on Sunday because he had to work Monday...we had a GREAT day! It was just what we needed...a day together with just US...we went to the zoo and had a great time there grabbed some lunch and then went to MOSH and ended up at the town center for some dinner at Maggiano's...it was just a great day all round and it reminded me of why I fell in love with him all over again...we just have fun together and I love him more than anything and wouldnt trade him for the world :)
Marriage so far = AWESOME :)
Our Wedding! Saturday August 6, 2011
On August 6 at 3pm in the afternoon at East Pointe Church, I married my best friend Jonathan Dowling! I met Jon almost 2 years ago on October 17, 2009 and we went on our first day on October 18...and lets just say the rest is history! We got engaged a year later on October 18, 2010 on a mini vacation in Gatlinburg, Tennesse! It was such a great trip and we had a great time and we brought home a ton of memories!
Wedding planning was fun! Its always fun planning a wedding when the United States Military is involved!! And when I say fun I mean its a terrible idea!! lol We originally planned for October 15, 2011 then Jon said that there was a possiblity that he would be out of town around that time and you cant have a wedding without a groom! So we racked our brains and the wedding date just kind of lagged for quite some time...secretly I was certainly hoping that October would somehow work out!! So Jon went back out to sea in December and I atleast continued planning things you could do without a wedding date and we tentatively planned the things you did need a date for! So planning was going pretty good for the most part...In an email I got from Jon he suggested maybe picking a date sometime in July! But my Mom definitely didnt want me to do it then...(Moms lol) It definitely would have been ideal looking back on it now but we then figured we could do August 6. I told Jon about it and he said it sounded good but then kind of took it back saying he honestly had nooo idea when we would be able to get married! Definitely doesnt make wedding planning fun! So I changed all of the dates to August 6 just to make sure if the date stuck, we could have somethings...especially a venue! The guys got home in May and we were FINALLY able to nail down the August 6 was going be our wedding date in June! We had 9 weeks to finish planning this wedding! You would think it was a 9 week period of madness but luckily it wasnt! Everything went smoothly, we had a few AHHH moments but luckily we were able to quickly and easily fix them....
The week of the wedding came and everything was coming together awesomely! We handmade our wedding favors so we were finishing those and just getting things ready! The day before the wedding, August 5, we went and got our nails done and got things set up at the church for wedding and reception! All family came into town and it was just a great day of fellowship and hanging out the day before our wedding!
DAY OF WEDDING:: 3pm came so quickly! Makeup and hair were done, pictures were mostly done and it came time to walk down the isle to marry my best friend! I wont forget the way Jon kept staring at me and the whole day he wouldnt stop telling me how beautiful I was!
It was an amazinggg dayy!! We both has so much fun together and with our friends and family! I dont think the day could have been more amazing! We have a lot of great laughs and dancing all together! The cakes made by Monica Slegers were AMAZING and Jon's Corvette cake which was his grooms cake was AWESOME! (and delicious)
We spent the night at the Wydham hotel downtown...it was a good night ;) We got up and had breakfast with our families together!!!! and said our goodbyes before heading back to our home here in St. Marys, GA!!
It was definitely a day that will never be forgotten <3
Wedding planning was fun! Its always fun planning a wedding when the United States Military is involved!! And when I say fun I mean its a terrible idea!! lol We originally planned for October 15, 2011 then Jon said that there was a possiblity that he would be out of town around that time and you cant have a wedding without a groom! So we racked our brains and the wedding date just kind of lagged for quite some time...secretly I was certainly hoping that October would somehow work out!! So Jon went back out to sea in December and I atleast continued planning things you could do without a wedding date and we tentatively planned the things you did need a date for! So planning was going pretty good for the most part...In an email I got from Jon he suggested maybe picking a date sometime in July! But my Mom definitely didnt want me to do it then...(Moms lol) It definitely would have been ideal looking back on it now but we then figured we could do August 6. I told Jon about it and he said it sounded good but then kind of took it back saying he honestly had nooo idea when we would be able to get married! Definitely doesnt make wedding planning fun! So I changed all of the dates to August 6 just to make sure if the date stuck, we could have somethings...especially a venue! The guys got home in May and we were FINALLY able to nail down the August 6 was going be our wedding date in June! We had 9 weeks to finish planning this wedding! You would think it was a 9 week period of madness but luckily it wasnt! Everything went smoothly, we had a few AHHH moments but luckily we were able to quickly and easily fix them....
The week of the wedding came and everything was coming together awesomely! We handmade our wedding favors so we were finishing those and just getting things ready! The day before the wedding, August 5, we went and got our nails done and got things set up at the church for wedding and reception! All family came into town and it was just a great day of fellowship and hanging out the day before our wedding!
DAY OF WEDDING:: 3pm came so quickly! Makeup and hair were done, pictures were mostly done and it came time to walk down the isle to marry my best friend! I wont forget the way Jon kept staring at me and the whole day he wouldnt stop telling me how beautiful I was!
It was an amazinggg dayy!! We both has so much fun together and with our friends and family! I dont think the day could have been more amazing! We have a lot of great laughs and dancing all together! The cakes made by Monica Slegers were AMAZING and Jon's Corvette cake which was his grooms cake was AWESOME! (and delicious)
We spent the night at the Wydham hotel downtown...it was a good night ;) We got up and had breakfast with our families together!!!! and said our goodbyes before heading back to our home here in St. Marys, GA!!
It was definitely a day that will never be forgotten <3
Here are some unofficial wedding pictures taken by Jon's Aunt Saundra!
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