Tuesday, September 27, 2011

Lucky in Love With My Best Friend

Where does the time go? It seems as if the past 3 years have flown by. It seems like my husband and I just said our wedding vows, but here we are. We are celebrating our third wedding anniversary together.

I guess it's true what is always said, "Time flies when you're having fun!".

I am having fun.

I couldn't imagine the past 3 years being any better, Even the days where things might have been hard for us, where we were challenged.. It couldn't be any better. Those hard times and the challenges, helped our relationship grow. You don't think there's more you can learn about someone when you've been with them a while.. even living with him before we were married. Marriage taught us so much about each other. Brought us even closer. He truly is my best friend. I know I have said he's my best friend a million times in blogs in the past, but it is true. My husband IS my best friend. I'm sure this blog post won't  be the last you hear me say that.

I can't wait to write about the 5 year mark, for us to get to the 10 year.. and the years and years to come.

I look at my grandparents, who just celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on Sunday, and I think, "I want to be like them".
I'm sure they've had their hard times.. I'm sure of it, they had 4 children, Had to be some hard times.. Looking at Nanny and Grandpa now, you would think marriage was easy. I want that to be me and my husband. When our grandchildren see us, when we celebrate our 50 years together, I want them to see the same thing in us as I do my grandparents.

I know it is probably bad to compare your relationship to another, but I see what others say about their husband or I see how their relationship pans out, I can't help but think how lucky I am, how awesome my relationship is. Three years of being married, and honestly.. I still feel like a newlywed. Feeling like a newlywed may have something to do with him only being home from deployment for 2 months. But at the same time.. I can't recall a time in 3 years where I didn't still feel like a newlywed.

I feel like the luckiest girl in the world. And this is where he would say, "It's not luck if it's meant to be.".

Friday, September 23, 2011

Guest Post-Military Veterans Can Take Advantage of Their Benefits with a Veteran Home Loan


I was recently contacted by Jessica for a guest post on VA Loans. As most of you know, my husband I recently purchased a home. We used a Veteran home Loan, also known as a VA Loan. If it weren't for the VA Loan, we wouldn't have considered buying any time soon. If you or your spouse has served, and you are considering buying a home, Consider the VA Loan! 

Military Veterans Can Take Advantage of Their Benefits with a Veteran Home Loan

Right now is a fantastic time to buy a new home.  Prices are low, lending rates are even lower, and many people have had their homes up for sale for a long time with no interest, and they are willing to make a deal.  Needless to say, it’s a buyer’s market.  In addition to prime market conditions, there is even better news for veterans of the US Armed Forces; if you are an honorably discharged member of any branch of the Armed Forces, you may qualify for a US Veteran Home Loan.  The benefits of these home loans are quite expansive and could help you and your family pay for the home of your dreams.

Because of their service and sacrifice for our country, honorably discharged members of the Armed Forces are entitled to certain benefits as part of their compensation package.  One of the greatest benefits that they can receive is the home loan benefit.  The government has provided guaranteed home loans for members of the armed forces that carry certain incentives that you can’t get if you aren’t a member of the military.

A VA Loan is a special loan that is guaranteed and insured by the government and can be issued by a specially licensed lender.  There is no required down payment for a VA loan.  Although there is a funding fee of up to 3.15% of the total loan amount borrowed, this amount can be financed and paid off over the life of the loan.  In addition, up to 103.15% financing is available, meaning that qualified buyers are able to borrow more than the amount needed to purchase the house.  This extra money can be used to make home improvements or changes to the home.  An additional $6,000 can also be borrowed as long as it is used for energy efficiency improvements.  Veterans who already own a home are able to get 20% funding for a second mortgage.

The VA allows veterans to qualify for and receive loans that are larger than they would normally be able to receive if they financed with a traditional lender.  The maximum loan amount available depends on the location of the home being purchased, and the amount varies by county.  The maximum amount available with no down payment is $417,000, although in certain “high cost” areas funding up to $1,094,625 is available.  Finally, if there are any closing costs associated with the home sale, the VA requires that the seller pay these, providing that the total cost does not exceed 6% of the total home purchase price.  This will save the homebuyer even more money.  VA home loans also generally carry significantly lower interest rates than traditional mortgages, sometimes up to 1.5% lower, saving the buyer thousands of dollars over the life of their loan.

The benefits of a VA home loan are expansive.  It is in the best interest of all qualified veterans to look into buying a house with their VA benefits.  The combination of prime market conditions, low rates and huge money saving benefits all mean that there is money to be saved on the purchase of a home.  If you are a US Armed Forces veteran, look into a VA home loan.

Guest post by Jessica Gingham at MilitaryVALoan.com

Thursday, September 22, 2011

Ready for Round Two?

Last night was the first FRG meeting since deployment's end. It was nice to see the familiar faces of the past 6 months. 

We were introduced to the Ship's new Captain, who gave insight to the coming months, leading up to Deployment number 2, also the USS Enterprise's final mission. 

Deployment is set for this Spring. There are still people speculating as to IF the ship will go out- but it will happen. Some are just in denial. Although there are several months between now and D-Day, looking at the schedule of things to come.. What time is there? It's already time to start preparing.

Mentally, I feel I am prepared. I know it's coming- again. I know that preparing was the hardest to do with last deployment. Thankfully, in preparation for this deployment, I will have my husband a little more than the last. He is no longer TAD. 

I'm hoping things in the physical aspect will be more prepared. With my husband's previous schedule, and a time crunch- I was left to do a lot of what should have been done before deployment, during deployment.. and somethings that should have been done, didn't get done at all. Note to self: make him fix the Monte Carlo BEFORE he leaves, or it will sit there for 7+ months until he returns! 

Things I hope will be different this deployment: I'm hoping for NO irregular vet trips. All 3 of our Furbabies had Vet visits this deployment. That was $1,000+ in six months.
I'm hoping they figure out whatever is wrong with me medically before deployment. Having so many doctor appointments last deployment was no fun. 

This coming deployment, I plan to stay busy- just as I did the last. Maybe not completely as busy... I won't be buying a house without him home. I plan to volunteer more time with the FRG. I was pretty involved past deployment, but I'll step up more.
I plan to do A LOT  of home projects. Easier without my husband here because I get to pick everything (he's in his lazy stage right now, and if he can cut corners, he will.. I like taking my time to make things look nice!).

Between now and deployment, I will focus on my relationship as I did previously. I'm going to start preparing things Now, so that we don't "run out of time". Staring a "Deployment List" and checking things off one by one.

The Journey Continues! 




Monday, September 12, 2011

I Can't Wait to Have a Normal Life

Today, I go to thinking about Life after my husband is no longer an active duty service member. When the subject comes up- I always hear others say, "I can't wait to have a normal life again.". A "normal life" is what they look forward to.

Military life, to me, has become my normal. I'm use to this, I'm comfortable with it. I think about what it would be like when he's no longer in the military.. and I honestly don't know what it would be like. The change and adjustments.. I don't look forward to that. Yes, I would like my husband home more. I would love for him to not miss birthdays, holidays, etc. But I would miss all the benefits we have.

Is my husband getting out of the military? Who really knows.. We've talked about it time and time again. Like with any job, he has his good and his bad days. He, like a lot of people, has his, "I hate my job" days. I believe he's a lifer. We still have 3 years on this enlistment (he did an extended enlistment) and then he will enlist for shore duty (2 years). We have some time to talk and think about it. But honestly.. sometimes his uncertainty scares me. I like the security of knowing there's a plan.

He left for bootcamp just a month after we married. Exactly a month. So, Military is the life we've learned together. I really think he will retire from the Navy, but like today, I think about what it he doesn't?

How hard will it be to adjust? I guess it's another one of those things.. every person is different. I love military life, some hate it.

I guess, eventually, that will be another Journey. Really, this blog post should come in a couple years when I have, hopefully, more certainty of what's going on.