Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
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Our life over the last year and a half in Clovis has been nothing short of challenging. Difficulties started the moment we found out we were moving here because my father then passed away from cancer. From that point on the craziness didn't let up. While packing out our house I began to develop pain and light sensitivity in one of my eyes. I spent four days in TLF with all the blinds closed, the lights off, in constant pain, while watching a toddler and baby. Luckily it was spring break and my sister and her family...
Clovis is an interesting place. There aren't very many trees, the terrain is about as flat as can be, the elevation is over 4,000 feet and when it comes down to it not very many people live here. All these factors combined make for an incredible opportunity, the opportunity to enjoy the beauty of the night sky. All my life I grew up in midst of large urban populations. Looking up to the sky at night meant seeing a hazy light polluted brown expanse with maybe a couple of bats flying by. Although I could see the moon most night...
I would like to say that our house runs like the proverbial well-oiled machine. Every morning our kids pop out of bed with no problem and get themselves ready for school. They never forget to do their homework and chores. It would also be nice to add at this point that they are so well behaved in public that I am heaped with praise for my awesome parenting as we walk down the aisles of the grocery store. At our house, the sound of my children's voices are like the songs of angels. There is no talking back or teasing of...
Thanksgiving will not be the same for my family this year. For the first time in over 117 years, one of the greatest football rivalries of all time will not take place. Wherever we lived in the country as my dad was transferred from base to base, without fail he would be able to find the Texas vs. Texas A&M game on TV. He was a dyed in the wool maroon Aggie, who had attended A&M back when there were no women and everyone was in the corps of cadets. As a teenager I used to love looking at his college yearbooks; so many handsom...
On November 11th we set aside a day to honor all those who are serving or have served in the military. It is a chance to recognize them for making the sacrifices that enable Freedom to continue for the rest of us. Those sacrifices can range from giving up a comfortable bed and hot shower to the loss of life or limb. When it comes to honoring those who serve, taking a moment to reflect on the many unmentioned sacrifices is warranted. Those who serve are often at the mercy of the military when it comes to the city they live...
On November 11th we set aside a day to honor all those who are serving or have served in the military. It is a chance to recognize them for making the sacrifices that enable Freedom to continue for the rest of us. Those sacrifices can range from giving up a comfortable bed and hot shower to the loss of life or limb. When it comes to honoring those who serve, taking a moment to reflect on the many unmentioned sacrifices is warranted. Those who serve are often at the mercy of the military when it comes to the city they live...
As a military wife that frequently has to move, there is one show on TV that terrifies me. In it I see some of my darkest fears manifested in the lives of others. That show is "Hoarders" and it scares me because I come from a family of packrats. My grandparents grew up during the depression and raised kids during the rationing of World War II. Because of those two factors my grandmother never threw much out. She pretty much lived by the motto "Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without." At one point as a child I spent...
For our little of family of seven there is something especially great about Fridays. Around our house it's not just called Friday but Fabulous Friday. It didn't start out that way but over time it has become an enduring weekly family tradition, born out of a sense of parental desperation. At some point my husband talked me into to buying a game system for our family. While it was just him playing, things seemed fine. Then our kids got old enough to want to play also. With one wanting to play there was no problem, but as soon... Full story
Recently a study published online in the Journal of Family Issues found that despite all the stress faced by military members with constant deployments their rates of divorce were the same or less than the civilian population. There have been so many stories in the news recently that paint a picture of military marriages and families in crisis. It is not easy to forget the stories of husbands that come home from the trauma of war and take it out on their family members, or the accounts of spouses who do not remain faithful... Full story
While growing up my childhood was punctuated with the sounds of the news. Whenever my father was home our television was always tuned in to current events and documentaries. I as a child assumed adults just watched 'reality' TV and that the realm of cartoons was only for children. While sending time with my Dad and the shows he watched, I learned more about the Iran-Contra Affair , World War II and Vietnam than the average kid. It did give me an advantage in history class but at the same time I learned early in life how...
When realizing we were going to move to New Mexico one of the first things that my husband got excited about was the Albuquerque Balloon Festival. As a child he had attended a Balloon festival in Colorado Springs and desired greatly to share that experience with his own children. So our very first October weekend in New Mexico we took our little brood and headed to Albuquerque. My little buddies riding in the car could hardly contain their excitement. During the day we wandered the grounds, ate yummy food, watched balloon... Full story
There are times I truly envy my husband and some of the things his job in the Air Force allows him to do. When we got married I had been to more countries in the world then he had. Now that is not the case. He has roamed far and wide. As for me I have mostly had the kind of adventures you have at home, with little people constantly in tow. When he is gone we frequently communicate by Skype. I talk about what the kids are up to and he talks to me about food. Why food, well because a lot of the other stuff he is involved in is...
Is it possible to have a car that is good for a large family and fun? That question is being asked a whole bunch around our house right now. We have known families with two or three kids that drive fun cars. Things like Mustangs, Jeeps, Camaros and the occasional European sports car. Well, we have a family car called a Honda Pilot. There's nothing sporty or flashy about it, just a good car with seating for eight. We have as a family of six had occasion to fill every single seat in our family vehicle. Our other vehicle is a...
The year I turned 18 and became an adult seemed like a pretty big milestone. I was in high school and found it interesting that from now on I was no longer legally considered a kid. Little did I know that my expectations of 18 were exceeded by someone else's. My father had plans for me, big plans. It was at that age that I was initiated into a very important family tradition: Voting. For my father, voting was a responsibility, a pleasure and a right. He valued the power he felt when he expressed his feelings about the world...
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A few months ago my husband returned from a deployment, right before he left we found out a new baby was on the way. Three months of single parenting combined with intense morning sickness didn't make me feel any better about his impending departure. It was his job, he had to go and sometimes life is tough. The moment he walked out the door, I remember thinking to myself, time to make a survival list. I am now on the other side, he is home, the kids are still alive and morning sickness is over. While it was happening I...
A few months ago my husband returned from a deployment, right before he left we found out a new baby was on the way. Three months of single parenting combined with intense morning sickness didn't make me feel any better about his impending departure. It was his job, he had to go and sometimes life is tough. The moment he walked out the door, I remember thinking to myself, time to make a survival list. I am now on the other side, he is home, the kids are still alive and morning sickness is over. While it was happening I...
Growing up, I only had sisters. I had no frame of reference for what it was like living with boys. When I was pregnant for the first time I assumed that I too would start out with a girl. I was wrong. My first baby was a boy, followed by a second boy and then a third boy. We were an-all boy family. There was no pink or princess anything in our house. I was unique and special as the one and only female. When asked if we would ever have a girl, I would say we only had one formula: Blonde, boy and crazy! By this time I had learn... Full story
Growing up, I only had sisters. I had no frame of reference for what it was like living with boys. When I was pregnant for the first time I assumed that I too would start out with a girl. I was wrong. My first baby was a boy, followed by a second boy and then a third boy. We were an-all boy family. There was no pink or princess anything in our house. I was unique and special as the one and only female. When asked if we would ever have a girl, I would say we only had one formula: Blonde, boy and crazy! By this time I had learn...
A while back, I read a book that stuck with me. It was the almost unbelievable story of Louis Zamperini called "Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience and Redemption." His story, as written by Laura Hillenbrand, fascinated me with its depictions of life during such an intense period of American history. Louis, a juvenile delinquent, overcomes his restless nature to become a top Olympic athlete at the Berlin games. Before he gets a chance to compete again the war breaks out and he joins the effort as a... Full story
A while back, I read a book that stuck with me. It was the almost unbelievable story of Louis Zamperini called "Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience and Redemption." His story, as written by Laura Hillenbrand, fascinated me with its depictions of life during such an intense period of American history. Louis, a juvenile delinquent, overcomes his restless nature to become a top Olympic athlete at the Berlin games. Before he gets a chance to compete again the war breaks out and he joins the effort as a...
A while back, I read a book that stuck with me. It was the almost unbelievable story of Louis Zamperini called "Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience and Redemption." His story, as written by Laura Hillenbrand, fascinated me with its depictions of life during such an intense period of American history. Louis, a juvenile delinquent, overcomes his restless nature to become a top Olympic athlete at the Berlin games. Before he gets a chance to compete again the war breaks out and he joins the effort as a...
Rebecca Adling, an Air Force wife, writes a weekly column in Cannon Connections, our weekly military publication. Here is her latest effort: A while back, I read a book that stuck with me. It was the almost unbelievable story of Louis Zamperini called "Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience and Redemption." His story, as written by Laura Hillenbrand, fascinated me with its depictions of life during such an intense period of American history. Louis, a juvenile delinquent, overcomes his restless nature to... Full story
Rebecca Adling, an Air Force wife, writes a weekly column in Cannon Connections, our weekly military publication. Here is her latest effort: A while back, I read a book that stuck with me. It was the almost unbelievable story of Louis Zamperini called "Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience and Redemption." His story, as written by Laura Hillenbrand, fascinated me with its depictions of life during such an intense period of American history. Louis, a juvenile delinquent, overcomes his restless nature to...
There seems to be a push in our society to eliminate among children the role of competition. Instead of having ribbons for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place my kids usually just bring home participation ribbons. Taking home something to remember the day is wonderful, but a ribbon implies ranking. Children are much smarter then we give them credit for. An adult I know tells the story of his experience being on a T-ball team when he was six. His parents had signed him up, took him to a couple of practices and the first few games, but... Full story
