Lately, there have been so many things going on in my life. On the surface, it's USMC Sisters all the time. And, I am okay with that. I get up in the morning and I get on my computer, ready to face the day. I answer all the questions, have impromptu meetings with different people, handle that drama coming from the different chapters because, let's face it, we're girls and at some point, there is going to be drama. USMC Sisters, as a whole, is drama free. However, when you are on the top of it all, looking down on all of it at one time.... Well, there is drama. However, we (my Executive Board of Directors and myself) try to keep any drama out of the limelight and behind the scenes. It is very difficult. I don't know what I would do without them. My Cabinet members of the Board of Directors is the same way. They are all busy doing their own thing, but when the tough times are upon us, they are there to help pick up the pieces. Why? Because we believe in this.
We believe that USMC Sisters can be a group of "elite" women, trying to make a difference. We aren't looking for the regular woman. No way! It takes a special person to be in USMC Sisters! We have very high standards and goals. However, we just make the rules. We don't judge you if you can't or won't uphold those standards. We realize that this group is NOT for everyone. We are okay with that. We want the women who WANT to make a commitment to their Marine and us that they will be the best woman they can be. We do also understand that most women today can't just be a "homemaker". We understand that you all have lives and we wouldn't dream of keeping you from it. We do, however, ask that you give us some of your time and effort if you are going to be a part of us.
We do have meetings. (Some are chat-style online!) We do have fundraisers. We do have events so that everyone can have fun! We are NOT a regular Facebook group that women just sit on their computers all day and rant and rave about how bad their lives are and how bored they are. We don't gossip. Either you are with us or you aren't and as long as you are holding up your end of the deal when you accepted our standards, we don't care what you do. Your life is your life.
USMC Sisters is MY baby. I founded it... I dreamed it up. I created it out of nothing and I helped set the standard for what women SHOULD be. No, I didn't just think it up in my own head, either. I also went to one of my favorite books... The Bible. Proverbs 31 will tell you all about the perfect woman. Are we perfect? Absolutely not. Do we try? We do, even if we fall short EVERY DAY. Why? Because women have come so far! And, yet... the standard for women gets lower and lower.... In this day and age, it's okay for a woman to do whatever she wants... Why? Because she is a woman... That is madness on the face of it!
Do you know why women are "respected" these days? Because we MADE people respect us. Especially our men. However, 50% of military marriages end in divorce. 50%! I think I know why. Because women try to FORCE their men to "respect" them.... So, once the men respect the women.... Love isn't there. Women need love and men need respect. That is how we are wired. Emerson E. Eggrichs Ph. D. has a whole series of articles and a book called the "Love and Respect Conncection". I suggest you read it. It was a great way to discover just how differently men and women think and feel. Just the way we see things in different ways! It's astonishing! They say that men are from Mars and women are from Venus...... No way.... It's more like... Men are a lightning bug and women are the classic board game, Monopoly... They are COMPLETELY different!
That is one of the convictions I had when starting all of this. I needed to start a "group" of women who think and feel like women can be something more than a pretty face with curse words flying and talking about fighting and all of that nonsense. Women who want to be the best version of themselves.... Who want to embrace the art of being a woman, while showing their husbands (boyfriends) that some women can be different. Some women can be strong, but still loving and caring. Some women can hold their tongue and choose their words carefully. (Though, I must admit, I need to work on this.) There are women out there who still can take care of their men and don't just do it our of duty.... Oh no... We do it because we WANT to. There are women out there that DO respect their husbands, even though sometimes they don't deserve it. (Working on that one, too.)
I think USMC Sisters can become a group of women who want nothing more than to celebrate being a woman and loving their men. We keep ourselves busy with community projects and fundraisers, meetings and just getting together and making friends that have the same goals. We believe that women are special. To be treated as gold by their men and be the reason their men have for going to work and doing the things they do.
Maybe I'm just old fashioned.
BUT..... I like the fact that my husband thinks I'm weak, but knows I'm strong enough to make it if he wasn't here. I like that he feels like my hero. I like that my husband brags about me to his buddies about my cooking. That shows that he is appreciative and does love me!
I just wish every girl knew how it felt to be treated this way and I know that there are some men that even if you do EVERYTHING correctly and how HE wants it done, (which can never happen because we aren't perfect) he will never be happy. He will never show you love the way you need it to be shown.
That is another reason we are here. We strive to lift everyone up and build them up. We want everyone to know what love feels like. Whether your husband treats you like gold or garbage, we will be here to stand tall for you and be your celebration team when you are on top of the world, your shield when it's all raining down at once or your fortress to hide behind, when you need to, so you can have some peace.
We have rewards when you participate and lasting friendships, too. (Double rewards! Haha.)
We get to help each other out and help our communities, too.
We get to have fun and help make this world a better place!
We also get a place to call OUR OWN!
Like it says on that oh so famous USMC poster.... "We don't promise you a rose garden!" Well, USMC Sisters doesn't, either. It's going to be some work. We will have people who don't understand us and want to tear us down. However, you never get to see the rainbow if you don't endure the storm for a while. Keep that in mind.
For things going on, not on the surface, my family back home is having some issues. My grandpa has just been diagnosed with cancer... and it's in his whole body. In his bones... Obviously, grandma isn't dealing well with that... I can't be there for them... It makes me sad.
And, I know this may sound so silly, but I miss my best friends. You know, the ones that knew everything about me and still wanted to be my friend. Lol. I miss them. One has gotten married and I didn't get to go to her bachelorette party OR her wedding... and now, another one has gotten engaged and I can't even be around for any of that. It just makes me sad. We are all getting older and I wish I could be there to see it.
Between USMC Sisters, my family illness and missing my friends, there isn't much else to talk about. Oh yeah.... Wonder what I'm going to make for dinner. Hahaha.
Have a good one, ladies and keep your heads held high! There is a light at the end of that tunnel! Keep pushing through!
<3 Lots of Love!!
Jess
From the Desk of Jessica Starwalt...
Thursday, February 3, 2011
Saturday, January 1, 2011
New USMC Sisters FB page!
The link to the new FB group page is... http://www.facebook.com/home.php?sk=group_172913069397197&ap=1
See you there!
Jessica
See you there!
Jessica
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Operation Santa!
I am so proud to write, tonight, that my USMC Sisters in more than one chapter, have gotten together and adopted a couple platoons of Marines for Operation Santa! Great job, Sisters! Now, we are letting you all know that we are taking donations of these items, in order for our Marines to know that they are loved, appreciated and being thought about:
Jelly beans
Disposable camera
Rice Krispie treats
Altoids or mints
Beef jerky
Snack mixes
Sunflower seeds
Chewing gum
Nuts
Little Debbie's snacks
Ziploc bags (for keeping things airtight, watertight, and fresher)
Coffee
Gatorade (powder)
Jaw breakers
Playing cards
Dice
Dominoes
Canned food items
Footbag/hacky-sac
Smoked oysters and sardines
Squeeze butter
Pringles chips
Individually-wrapped licorice
Microwave popcorn
Ramen noodles
Cereal bars/granola bars
Microwave pasta that doesn't need refrigeration
Hot cocoa/apple cider mix
Soup mix
M&M's (plain or peanut)
Koozies to keep water bottles and cans cool
Stress relief squeeze balls
Sewing kit
Baby wipes
Hand warmers
Razors
Juice boxes and drink pouches
Ink pens
Notepads of paper
Word Puzzle books
Air activated heat wraps for sore muscles
Foot massager
Icy hot patches
Microwaveable plates, bowls, paper plates
Foot powder
If you would like to donate any of these items, we have addresses to ship to! Easy Peasy! We have 276 Marines, so let's start giving! I can't wait to go shopping!
Email me if you are interested. usmcsisters@ymail.com
Jessica
Jelly beans
Disposable camera
Rice Krispie treats
Altoids or mints
Beef jerky
Snack mixes
Sunflower seeds
Chewing gum
Nuts
Little Debbie's snacks
Ziploc bags (for keeping things airtight, watertight, and fresher)
Coffee
Gatorade (powder)
Jaw breakers
Playing cards
Dice
Dominoes
Canned food items
Footbag/hacky-sac
Smoked oysters and sardines
Squeeze butter
Pringles chips
Individually-wrapped licorice
Microwave popcorn
Ramen noodles
Cereal bars/granola bars
Microwave pasta that doesn't need refrigeration
Hot cocoa/apple cider mix
Soup mix
M&M's (plain or peanut)
Koozies to keep water bottles and cans cool
Stress relief squeeze balls
Sewing kit
Baby wipes
Hand warmers
Razors
Juice boxes and drink pouches
Ink pens
Notepads of paper
Word Puzzle books
Air activated heat wraps for sore muscles
Foot massager
Icy hot patches
Microwaveable plates, bowls, paper plates
Foot powder
If you would like to donate any of these items, we have addresses to ship to! Easy Peasy! We have 276 Marines, so let's start giving! I can't wait to go shopping!
Email me if you are interested. usmcsisters@ymail.com
Jessica
Monday, November 8, 2010
November 8, 2010 7:11am
My best friends, back in the day.
So, I'm in California now! I am pretty excited about it! However, I know that I am going to miss my girls from back home! These girls have helped me through a HORRIBLE marriage, a divorce, counseling, a chocolate business, a rocky relationship, boot camp, MCT, MOS schooling, doctor visits and so much more! We have seen each other through heartache, headache, stress, hate, love, tears of joy, tears of pain, tears of sorrow, lost grandparents, found loves, unrequited loves, sin, addiction, WAY too old guys, WAY too young guys, hopes, fears, dreams, crazy ex boyfriends, ugly ex husbands, dogs, cats, arch rivals, boot camp and soon to be MCT and MOS school. I love my girls more than anyone ever could and I know they love me, too. I know, without a shadow of a doubt that any one of my friends would take a bullet for me and I would do the same thing for any of them. Love isn't always a lot of work... Sometimes love just finds you, picks you up and holds you close, until you can stand on your own. I want to think my little sisters for doing that for me. Now, it's my turn to hold you girls up. I love you all very much and my life would never have been the same without you. You girls are the ones that I will have for my whole life and I couldn't be more thankful for you. I love you.
Xoxo -
Jessica
My best friends today, forever and always.
Monday, November 1, 2010
November 1, 2010 10:07pm
Well, this last few days have been the most hectic of my life! Now, after all of the packing and all of the people starting drama... I am on my way to be with the man of my dreams! How exciting! A new chapter in our life together! I will be there on Wednesday! Just thought I'd share! :)
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
October 27, 2010 7:05pm
Goodness gracious! This moving thing is scary and stressful! I just got off the phone with Orion. He and I had to do a lot of paperwork in order to get me moved there and everything. It looks as if I will be leaving on Sunday or Monday...
It is difficult, on this day.... One of my Facebook friends has lost her Marine. He stepped on an IED in Afghanistan and fought for his life, only to pay the ultimate sacrifice. My prayers go out to Katie Sheldon and the family of LCPL Honeycutt. He is truly an American Hero and I will keep you all in my prayers for comfort and peace in this horrible time of pain.
Ladies, hold your beloved close and tell them how much you love them, Marine or not. We are not guaranteed the next breath. Remember that. Say what you mean and how you feel. You may not get another chance...
Many prayers....
Jessica <3
It is difficult, on this day.... One of my Facebook friends has lost her Marine. He stepped on an IED in Afghanistan and fought for his life, only to pay the ultimate sacrifice. My prayers go out to Katie Sheldon and the family of LCPL Honeycutt. He is truly an American Hero and I will keep you all in my prayers for comfort and peace in this horrible time of pain.
Ladies, hold your beloved close and tell them how much you love them, Marine or not. We are not guaranteed the next breath. Remember that. Say what you mean and how you feel. You may not get another chance...
Many prayers....
Jessica <3
Monday, October 25, 2010
October 25, 2010 (2:25am)
My Goodness. I can't believe it is almost 2:30am! I didn't wake up until 3:30pm, so it still seems early. I was up until 5:30am yesterday, watching one of our local B&Bs get investigated by the St. Louis Ghost Hunter Society. It was pretty cool! I'm glad they had a live feed on the internet equipped with a chat feature so we could ask questions and they would answer us on camera. Pretty neat!
When I finally dragged myself out of bed, I talked to Orion on the phone. This whole moving thing is making me stressed out. He graduates from his MOS schooling on November 3rd.... What's going to happen if we don't have the money to do everything we need to do? Where is he going to stay? What if we don't have the money for a deposit on a place? If he does go somewhere... He won't have anything to eat or cook because I have everything with me... I guess I just don't know what is going to happen. And, I hate that. He is supposed to get leave as soon as he can and come get me... But, we need to fix our car before it will make it all that way. I need to get the dog updated on his shots... I need to change my license and SS card to my married name. So much to do in so little time with so little money! I'm definitely not having a good time with this. Yikes!
Since we will be moving away from both of our families, I have decided to make wish list registries on Walmart.com and Target.com, that way nobody has to call and ask us what we need for Christmas! However, if any of you are reading this, we are saving our money for this bed! Feel free to donate to THAT fund! :)
Well, it's off to bed for me! Xoxo!
When I finally dragged myself out of bed, I talked to Orion on the phone. This whole moving thing is making me stressed out. He graduates from his MOS schooling on November 3rd.... What's going to happen if we don't have the money to do everything we need to do? Where is he going to stay? What if we don't have the money for a deposit on a place? If he does go somewhere... He won't have anything to eat or cook because I have everything with me... I guess I just don't know what is going to happen. And, I hate that. He is supposed to get leave as soon as he can and come get me... But, we need to fix our car before it will make it all that way. I need to get the dog updated on his shots... I need to change my license and SS card to my married name. So much to do in so little time with so little money! I'm definitely not having a good time with this. Yikes!
Since we will be moving away from both of our families, I have decided to make wish list registries on Walmart.com and Target.com, that way nobody has to call and ask us what we need for Christmas! However, if any of you are reading this, we are saving our money for this bed! Feel free to donate to THAT fund! :)
LOVE IT!
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