And unfortunately, we can't begin to change that. We can't take away pride and prowess, but what we can do is infuse a deep understanding and respect into our lives and our cultures. 

It's okay to be different, and it's okay to not agree. It's just a matter of finding that comfort zone for everyone to be happy where they are so that war wouldn't be necessary. 

And I think the fundamentals of plenty of religions would have to change, because unfortunately tolerance isn't a tenet of all of them.

All we can do is not start out own individual wars and hope that someday that leads to peace all-around.

*This photo is my husband serving in Iraq, circa February 2008. He's still there. We still miss him. But he's not there fighting a war, he's there supporting his family. His Army family. If you could only hear what he talks about - meeting with sheiks, drinking their tea, learning their universe. At least he's using it as a learning experience. 

I have a lot of movies like that.

The Holiday. How To Lose A Guy In 10 Days. 13 Going On 30. Sweet Home Alabama. And my newest addition isn't really a movie, it's my first DVD of a TV show season. Army Wives. I am so wrapped up in the show. Currently, season 2 is running on Lifetime, and I can't believe how addicted I am to it. I wouldn't dream of missing a single episode. This season has so much character growth, and I can't help but wonder what happens next.  I feel a piece of me in each of those women, and I can relate to them all. After all, I am an Army wife. Lately, every other facet of my identity has been swept away, and I'm only just now taking myself back. 

I married my husband, and he is without a doubt the love of my life. We got pregnant, I stopped working. I haven't worked in over a year. I went to college and have yet to utilize my education. And I'll be honest, it's hard to when you move so often. It's also hard to get up every day and do the same thing. Repetitive behaviours really drag me down. Don't they do that to you? 

Anyway, I find that my reason for watching these movies OVER AND OVER AND OVER again isn't just because I enjoy them. That's where I find myself. In each of those movies is a part of me I feel I've lost, and I just can't seem to get it back. And with Army wives, well, that's the stage I'm at right now, and it's nothing short of a coping mechanism. 

This is why, in part, I have decided to go back to school. I'm about to start my Masters degree in History with a concentration in American History. I need to find myself again. And beyond that, I need to make myself useful here. My passion is learning and helping others learn. Have you ever had the pleasure of seeing that one-of-a-kind look of discovery on a child's face? It's priceless. And addictive. Another one of those repetitive behaviours. I just can't stop reaching for that reaction to learning. I'm looking forward to getting back into the classroom once I finish my MA. I can't wait. 

I don't think I can recall a time that I didn't have this habit. Surely God intended me to be a lizard or an owl with my nocturnal habits. I guess I got in the wrong line.

I feel like life is just too precious and too short to spend it sleeping, if you want to know the truth. I'll sleep when I'm dead. 

Every time I see the sunrise or the sunset, every time I look at my beautiful son, every time the rain falls or the snow comes, I know that God exists. 

I love to garden. It's my way of giving the little peace of heaven God let me borrow back to him better than I found it. Plus I love to attract butterflies. They're so majestic and so simple.

I feel like life isn't worth living unless you leave your mark here, and my mark is a contagious passion for learning. I can't stop learning. Ever. I feel wasted when I'm not reading or studying or engaging someone else's mind. 

I am far too emotional for my own good.

I suffer from road rage because I just don't understand what the big hurry is. I think people forget that 2 tons is a lot of metal to be shoving around like a bumper car. I have a kid in the back of mine. Precious cargo.

I suffer from an intense and far-reaching anxiety disorder. To date, nothing has helped to diminish it. I still pray for relief even though I don't think I'll ever get it. 

I love black and white photographs of my husband. He's so beautiful, and his essence is captured so perfectly without the distraction of color.

It's my mission to leave the world better than I found it. If I could do math, I'd be working on a way to make my car run on banana peels. Since I can't, I just eat the bananas and hope somebody else will figure it out soon.

If you're curious, feel free to probe around.