kyrenedenise

[kyrenedenise]

(via twloha)

If only you could sense how important you are to the lives of those you meet; how important you can be to the people you may never even dream of. There is something of yourself that you leave at every meeting of another person.

Fred [Mr.] Rogers

[kyrenedenise]

There comes a time when you have to choose between turning the page and closing the book.

[kyrenedenise]

We Share a Common Bond

They say that military children are like dandelions. In fact, some consider it to be the flower of the military child. Why you might ask? Because dandelions have the ability to grow in whatever soil they may find themselves, and not only do they grow, but they flourish. This post goes out to my fellow "brats."

You might be a brat if......

If moving every couple of years makes sense

You didn't know what a grocery store is

Eating in the mess hall was a norm

Not having your parent around for special days was no big deal'

Eating MRE's was to be expected 

If the terms zero dark thirty and 1500 make perfect sense

If you drop everything at 1700, face the nearest flag and get a little annoyed when others don't. 

If freaking out about losing your ID card happened when you turned 20 and then turned into mourning on your 21st birthday, and considered staying in school longer just to keep your ID card has seemed like a good idea. 

Or if the first song you could sing was the national anthem or a cadence and you learned your alphabet by the phonetic alphabet (Alpha, Bravo, Charlie, Delta, Echo....) 

Checking your car for bombs made perfect sense (seriously though)...

OPSEC was one of your first words,

Literally living in a fishbowl especially if your parent was higher enlisted or officer)

Making friends came easy, but keeping them...not so much. 

You can't hang out with certain groups of military people for fear that they probably are under your dad's command

One Word: Tricare

Your blood BOILS when you hear people talk smack about our military

There is a HUGE difference between Hooah and Oorah

Inter-service rivalries are a way of life. Does the term Chair-force ring a bell?

Your non-work clothes are referred to as civvies

When you were little, you accidentally called another soldier daddy/mommy

Wait...the national anthem playing before a movie isn't normal?

                                     ^That's me--attempting to Salute^ As some of you know, November is the month of the military family, but I think too often the sacrifices that we make go unnoticed. It's not about the fame or the glory of being members of a unique community, however, we have all paid a price to be apart of this community. While it's said that behind every successful man is a successful woman and vice-versa, I think that children also play a role in their parent's success. People don't always understand how we can be so close, and relate to each other in a way that no one else can, but I think that it's a unique bond and I think if you ask most military brats, they wouldn't trade it for the world. Up until recently, I did a little bit of digging into where the term "brat" originated from. For us military brats it's a term of endearment, but for those on the outside they are quite confused as to why we call our friends and peers brats. According to a book that was found in the library of the National Defense University, the term brat came from the 1920s when the British military were given assignments and they could take their families abroad with them and so came the acronym B.R.A.T. British Regiment Attached Traveler--it makes sense right? Not sure if this is the legit term, but it would make sense.  Military brats are some of the most resilient kids that I know, and we share a common respect for our military and their families. One of the perks is that there is a pretty good chance that at any given time you'll have a friend on any continent and there is an open invitation (most of the time) to go visit them and vice versa. While brats have a pretty unique upbringing, while there are a lot of pros, there are also some cons. For some kids, their dad will be gone up to 15 months of their lives at a time, and not just once, or twice but I know families who have been through five or six deployments and that's just the norm. Often times it just becomes a question of when are they leaving again? They don't complain, they pick themselves up by their boot straps and carry out the mission at hand. Then some kids, their other parent has to work to make ends meet. So while these kids are worrying every second of every day that they are going to get a dreaded call/visit and they aren't sure when they are going to hear their loved ones voice again, they also have grades to keep up, sports to play, instruments to practice, commitments to keep. All the while, never complaining. Sometimes, military brats have to pay the ultimate price when they lose their parent in combat. Not to sound insensitive to people who have lost their parents, but there's something different about losing your parent in combat. (I can't specifically relate, but I do know a few kids that have gone through this, and its so hard to watch them deal with it) It almost makes you feel like they were taken from you in a horrid way by an enemy that you've never and will never meet. There's one special brat I want to tell you about. Her name is Katie and shes a sophomore this year. She lost her daddy when she was just a little girl, and she lived through a moment that no one should ever have to experience. (Whenever your parent is deployed, you never ever want to hear a knock on the door and look out to see men in dress blues standing there). She is one of the most incredible, resilient, brave and unique girls that I know. She's in her school's color guard, was in the homecoming court, has incredible grades, loves Jesus and has a fantastic head on her shoulders. Her dad has missed her growing up, and she can't do anything to bring him back. I see the pain in her eyes when her dad isn't there to watch her perform, or celebrate her birthday, or meet the boys that she brings home. How it feels to hear people bash the war and the soldiers that have fought in it. The most impressive part? She doesn't hate the people who killed her dad, she isn't angry over it. That's more than I can say if I roles were reversed.              

NEWS FLASH! None of our service members have asked for war, but rather have done what is asked of them. So BOOM. She and others like her deserve our utmost respect and thanks. There are probably alot more gold star children and families around than what you realize. This November and this Veterans Day and this holiday season, take a second and think about how lucky you are to have your loved ones and to be able to spend time with them. Thank the service members and their families when you see them...their families deserve your thanks and respect just as much as our service members do.

[kyrenedenise]

Best. Christmas. Present. Ever. To include a GOP Elephant cookie cutter! 🎄🎅❤️🇺🇸🍪🐘🎂😍#readyforelectionseason #gop #republicangirlsdream #merrychristamastome

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Best pillow pet EVER! It'll match my huge USMC blanket. Thanks Buckley fam! 😍❤️💛🐶💁👌 #happykyhappylife #usmcpillowpet

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New GenJ track jacket for the win! 😄 💙❤️👌 #sostoked #genjfashion

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It's that time of year again! Ky's bakery is in full effect 😉 Trying to cook with my mom around is like having a small child. I can't turn my back without worrying about what she's gotten herself into 😆 😋💦🎄🎅🍫🍪🍰🎂🍦🍭🍬

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Working on our marketing plans for our final tomorrow! Graduation is in about 3 weeks! Woot woot! 🎓💁🙌 #marketingsndpr #seniorstatus #finalproject #idneverthoughtiwouldsaythat (at Drury University Ft. Leonard Wood-St. Robert Annex)

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My positivity poster! Things that make my heart happy! 👌

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Selfies with bald eagles for days! ❤️💙🙌 #moaa #armybrats #officerskids #merica

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Team Guardians of the Galaxy! Probably the BEST van on ground in Arkansas. I'm glad someone on our team has long arms or this selfie wouldn't have happened. Blessed and honored to be working along side and serving these youth this week. I couldn't have asked for a better group of youth to be on my team! 😄🐘🇺🇸👏 #selfiesinspringdale #tomcotton #argop #mymunchkins

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So honored to meet, Rep. Tom Cotton. He has a heart to change this country and make America a better place & he's a combat veteran who believes in funding our military! Thank you sir for your commitment and service to our country! #genjsats #tomcotton

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Happy Halloween! 🎃👻💁💞 #1920s #flappergirl #halloweenshenanigans

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Said "see you later" to this girl today. After watching her grow up the past few years, I can't believe how much she has changed. She has the biggest heart and cares for everyone around her. God has such big plans for her. I know a lot in our youth group will miss her, and she's made an incredible impact, but I would encourage all or you other youth that she has had an impact on, to turn around and do the same for someone else. I will ALWAYS be here for you and I love you Reesanne! I'm so honored to be called your older sister 👌 And who knew that Air Force brats weren't as bad as I first thought 😉✈️💞🙈🙌

[kyrenedenise]

Getting my hair cut and colored tomorrow! Prepare to be surprised, people's! 😏💁

[kyrenedenise]

It's been a LONG time since we've all been together! Fun memories! I was reminded once again of how Sam is the coolest Stayer kid 😏 🙈 Too bad @dana_lynn0926 wasn't here when this was taken. 😩 #ilovethem #childhoodfriends