About Rachelle

Rachelle began her Military Spouse career when her future husband proposed to her in a letter during Desert Shield. Mail took over a month to arrive back then, and they only had three phone calls with each other in the ten months they were separated. They were married at a small ceremony a week after he returned home. Rachelle's husband moved her to Ft. Bragg, NC, all of their combined possessions filling her small, two-door car. In 1992, they left active duty and moved back to their home state where she went to nursing school and he joined the Army National Guard as a traditional Soldier as he went to school. In 1999, Rachelle's husband was offered a full-time National Guard position in Arkansas, where they lived for eight years.

In 2002, their son was born (MFO Deployment) and in 2003, their daughter was born (OIF2). In 2008, they moved back to their home state to live close to family. Rachelle has been an active contributor with SpouseBUZZ since 2005. She currently works full-time at a physician’s office, and is active with her church and school's PTO. Her son has recently been diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome, a subject that she is exhaustingly studying and learning to work with day-by-day. In 2010, Rachelle's mother-in-law moved in with the family, and they added a German shorthaired pointer named "Poncho" to the tribe as well. Rachelle enjoys spending as much "down time" with her family as possible - usually something outdoors or movie nights. Her favorite foods are sushi, steak, chocolate, and coffee. Her special skills include being an awesome cook, identifying odd accents by state or country, having an incredible sense of smell (almost bloodhound-like), and watching people at airports during long, unexpected layovers.

8

Military Discount Card Arrivederci

I am a bad military wife, and currently only have a marriage license to prove I am one. I traveled to the recent SpouseBUZZ LIVE event at Davis Monthan AFB, the day after the lock down. Most of my … [Read more...]

8

10 years: I Am Angry

I am still angry. When I watch footage of people hanging on for their very lives that day, I try and imagine that level of fear. Did they think we could possibly save them, and did not bother? … [Read more...]

14

Media: Love Them? Hate Them?

The other day my Husband's unit had a send-off here in town.  I will say, the ceremony was wonderful and the venue chosen was beautiful.  At this point, we have done send-offs in about any venue you … [Read more...]

7

Phase One is Complete…

...and this trip on the Nile is weird! Phase one of deployment, "waiting for deployment" is complete.  Thank goodness. SERIOUSLY, too much notice, too much time to think about it, too much trying to … [Read more...]

24

It’s Like Bart Simpson Calling Moe’s Tavern

Last night, a facebook friend posted something that reminded me of about 100 conversations I have had. The unfortunate name game. The topic seems to come up at parties, or picnics. I mean, I am … [Read more...]

6

The Post in Which I Am My Own Psychologist, and Diagnose Myself

I have been having a lot of anxiety lately.  Situational anxiety, the acute kind, no panic attacks, but a looming sense of head spinning and feet with no traction. Deployment. So, I come to … [Read more...]

3

A Mother’s Open Letter to Her Daughter

You must see this Army wife's open letter to her daughter. "If she does marry a soldier, or any man in uniform, I want her to know what she's getting into." … [Read more...]

7

Never Use a Snowblower on a 40-Degree Ice Covered Incline

How many of you had the good fortune of being involved in the last blizzard? My guess is about 50%, since by all reports about 50% of the country was covered in snow. My DH is not deploying for … [Read more...]

2

As God is My Witness I Will Never, Ever Procrastinate Over the Holidays AGAIN!

Christmas seems to catch me off guard every single year. I am not sure why, after all I have been celebrating Christmas for the last 40 years. So tonight, I am promising myself (AGAIN) to avoid … [Read more...]

3

You’re a Mean One Mr. Grinch

Last year at this time, my children and I were jumping from one glorious activity to another to help us celebrate the Christmas season. We were almost too busy!   This year 5 out of the 5 annual … [Read more...]

17

Coming Out of the Autistic Parent Closet

Hello, my name is Rachelle, and I am the mother of a child who happens to have Asperger's syndrome. It was made official yesterday. Deep breath.... My child, Sir Rowland, is 8, and until this … [Read more...]

9

Break it to me Gently

We have had a long deployment break, in fact I am sure it is longer than the rest of my Spousebuzz cohorts. I won't even mention it out of fear of the stones that could be thrown. We at Spousebuzz … [Read more...]

4

Some of you make it look easy

A couple of ladies here at SpouseBuzz have posted recently about the lack of home decorating skills. Add me to the list. There never seems to be enough money, or time for the house. My biggest problem … [Read more...]

3

What if?

I am one of the lucky ones this year, my Husband is home at Christmas.   The blizzard conditions made it impossible for us to leave home, and frankly we were ok with that.  We are used … [Read more...]

5

And the guilt is lifting

It has been a while since I have had anything to add to the conversation here at SpouseBuzz. I think the last you heard from me, I was living in a state of perpetually broken down appliances. That … [Read more...]

5

If I can fix a toilet, anyone can

The old dog is learning new tricks.  Let me start by saying, I am not handy.  I call tools "thingys and dohickeys" and such.  So when things break around here, and DH is gone, and (I … [Read more...]

1

It is official, this house hates me

DH left again for a short TDY again. I resigned to the fact, and looked at the positives. Less laundry, less food preparation, chick flicks, I convinced myself all was well. Until.. … [Read more...]

1

Next time I buy a wash machine, it better have a neck

Part one of this saga begins here.The wash machine I so lovingly repaired and have cared for?This morning, I poured bleach into the machine, and then hit the power button. Nothing... … [Read more...]