Who or what is the one thing or person you can't live without?
For Paula (a little late I know lol): Why do adults who are out of high school still act like teenagers?
13 April 2010
12 April 2010
open post...couples & heros!
Add a small photo & why.
Who is your hero? (Male/Female) (if military: branch) (living/dead)
Add a small photo & why.
06 April 2010
quickie!
its been a crazy day. I'm glad its over & with no more quaken! My girl Paula gave me a great idea for an open post topic & it will go up first thing tomorrow! I've been slacking on my posts...forgive me it won't happen again. I love my readers! I love my girls...we can get through the next 6 or so months of work-ups & underways together!
01 April 2010
I joined the Blogger Brigade!!
28 March 2010
open post
hmm lets talk about in-laws...
most of you know im not too fond of mine...
how do you feel about yours? why?
most of you know im not too fond of mine...
how do you feel about yours? why?
27 March 2010
open post/vent
tonight lets talk about neighbors...
i hate my neighbors! they slam doors all throughout the day & night. they stand in their front door & fight for everyone to hear. tonight we went outside & found 3 cigarette butts in front of our house...we dont smoke...they do. it was like they smoked right in front of dwight's car & just tossed he butts on our front step. who does that?? i have a lovely blue scratch on my car...they have a huge blue van. they've put drinks on our cars & spilled them on our cars too.
okay there is my rant...your turn. love your neighbors or love to hate them? if the latter...why?
i hate my neighbors! they slam doors all throughout the day & night. they stand in their front door & fight for everyone to hear. tonight we went outside & found 3 cigarette butts in front of our house...we dont smoke...they do. it was like they smoked right in front of dwight's car & just tossed he butts on our front step. who does that?? i have a lovely blue scratch on my car...they have a huge blue van. they've put drinks on our cars & spilled them on our cars too.
okay there is my rant...your turn. love your neighbors or love to hate them? if the latter...why?
26 March 2010
24 March 2010
101 Small Pleasures You Can Enjoy Every Day {open post}
Okay our open post today is a little different. Today I want you to go through this list & pick your favorite...Then add one to the list. That's it for the day...Enjoy & have fun ladies!
1. coloring (yes, grown-ups can do it, too)
2. crisp cotton sheets
3. soft skin
4. old family recipes
5. the first daffodils of spring
6. sleeping in
7. an exercise endorphin high
8. window boxes
9. a perfect cup of coffee
10. a genuine compliment (giving or receiving)
11. the way babies smell
12. a handwritten letter
13. waking up in a good mood...for no real reason
14. singing in the shower
15. finding a couple forgotten dollars in your pocket
16. doing something nice for your neighbor
17. a home cooked meal
18. laughing
19. movie theater popcorn
20. playing hookey
21. a bubble bath
22. swimming
23. an afternoon nap
24. street musicians
25. your favorite song
26. saying thank you
27. helping someone in need
28. old fashioned photo booths
29. fresh whipped cream
30. inspiring blogs
31. a glass of wine
32. rainy afternoons
33. the funny things kids say
34. a novel you can get lost in
35. finding the perfect piece of clothing...on sale
36. clean laundry
37. the wind in your hair
38. treating the person behind you at the drive-thru
39. sharing an umbrella
40. the smell of lavender
41. a long walk that clears your head
42. a bear hug
43. The Beatles
44. smiling at a stranger
45. eating with chopsticks (Chinese food optional)
46. butterflies
47. staying in your pj's all day
48. singing along to the radio and knowing all the words
49. fresh herbs
50. ordering in pizza
51. happy endings...even if they're fictional
52. flying a kite
53. puppies
54. root beer floats
55. holding open the door...
56. ...or having someone hold the door for you
57. fountain soda
58. white, fluffy towels
59. sunshine
60. spending an afternoon at a museum
61. really great advice
62. green lights all the way home
63. the sound of rain hitting the windows
64. sitting in a booth
65. holding hands
66. a great hair day with no effort
67. building a fort with your kids
68. when someone falls asleep with their head on your shoulder
69. fireflies
70. the perfect taco
71. geraniums on a windowsill
72. slow dancing
73. the smell of fresh-baked bread
74. cheesy, uplifting musicals
75. great stories
76. the smell of gasoline
77. the cold side of the pillow
78. love letters
79. old friends...
80. ...new friends
81. a pull-through parking space
82. a baguette -- crisp on the outside, airy on the inside
83. when a dog licks your hand
84. sitting at the counter at an old-fashioned diner
85. using your favorite dishes
86. reading your child a bedtime story
87. Girl Scout Cookies
88. flossing
89. kissing someone you love
90. the smell of onions and garlic cooking
91. hot chocolate
92. jumping in puddles
93. old photographs
94. birds hopping on the sidewalk
95. Ella Fitzgerald
96. a spoonful of peanut butter straight from the jar
97. your softest t-shirt
98. a new magazine in the mail
99. fireplaces
100. having exact change
101. bacon and pancakes cooking on Saturday morning
2. crisp cotton sheets
3. soft skin
4. old family recipes
5. the first daffodils of spring
6. sleeping in
7. an exercise endorphin high
8. window boxes
9. a perfect cup of coffee
10. a genuine compliment (giving or receiving)
11. the way babies smell
12. a handwritten letter
13. waking up in a good mood...for no real reason
14. singing in the shower
15. finding a couple forgotten dollars in your pocket
16. doing something nice for your neighbor
17. a home cooked meal
18. laughing
19. movie theater popcorn
20. playing hookey
21. a bubble bath
22. swimming
23. an afternoon nap
24. street musicians
25. your favorite song
26. saying thank you
27. helping someone in need
28. old fashioned photo booths
29. fresh whipped cream
30. inspiring blogs
31. a glass of wine
32. rainy afternoons
33. the funny things kids say
34. a novel you can get lost in
35. finding the perfect piece of clothing...on sale
36. clean laundry
37. the wind in your hair
38. treating the person behind you at the drive-thru
39. sharing an umbrella
40. the smell of lavender
41. a long walk that clears your head
42. a bear hug
43. The Beatles
44. smiling at a stranger
45. eating with chopsticks (Chinese food optional)
46. butterflies
47. staying in your pj's all day
48. singing along to the radio and knowing all the words
49. fresh herbs
50. ordering in pizza
51. happy endings...even if they're fictional
52. flying a kite
53. puppies
54. root beer floats
55. holding open the door...
56. ...or having someone hold the door for you
57. fountain soda
58. white, fluffy towels
59. sunshine
60. spending an afternoon at a museum
61. really great advice
62. green lights all the way home
63. the sound of rain hitting the windows
64. sitting in a booth
65. holding hands
66. a great hair day with no effort
67. building a fort with your kids
68. when someone falls asleep with their head on your shoulder
69. fireflies
70. the perfect taco
71. geraniums on a windowsill
72. slow dancing
73. the smell of fresh-baked bread
74. cheesy, uplifting musicals
75. great stories
76. the smell of gasoline
77. the cold side of the pillow
78. love letters
79. old friends...
80. ...new friends
81. a pull-through parking space
82. a baguette -- crisp on the outside, airy on the inside
83. when a dog licks your hand
84. sitting at the counter at an old-fashioned diner
85. using your favorite dishes
86. reading your child a bedtime story
87. Girl Scout Cookies
88. flossing
89. kissing someone you love
90. the smell of onions and garlic cooking
91. hot chocolate
92. jumping in puddles
93. old photographs
94. birds hopping on the sidewalk
95. Ella Fitzgerald
96. a spoonful of peanut butter straight from the jar
97. your softest t-shirt
98. a new magazine in the mail
99. fireplaces
100. having exact change
101. bacon and pancakes cooking on Saturday morning
23 March 2010
Six Things Every Military Family Should Know
http://momofbrats.blogspot.com/2010/03/six-things-every-military-family-should.html
Military families face a huge challenge staying up-to-date on all of the information and resources available to them. New legislation, programs and resources are constantly being created to improve the lives of military families. Here are six important things that every military family member should know about this year:
1.The Military Spouses Residency Relief Act
In 2010, legislation was approved allowing military spouses the option of claiming the same state of residency as their servicemember husband or wife. In the past, military spouses have had to change their state of residency with each new move thereby causing the spouse to re-register to vote, change their driver’s license and re-register any vehicles in their name. This act benefits spouses of servicemembers by eliminating the hassle and paperwork involved in transitioning these items and, in some cases, eliminates multiple state tax preparation for working spouses. Individual states are still in the process of working through the details of the Military Spouse Residency Relief Act (MSRRA); however, spouses should familiarize themselves with how this important change impacts them. Up-to-date information on the status of MSRRA can be found on the Facebook group “Military Spouses Residency Relief Act”.
2.Expanded Homeowner’s Assistance Program
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) temporarily expands the Department of Defense’s (DoD) Homeowner’s Assistance Program (HAP) to include servicemembers required to permanently relocate during the home mortgage crisis. HAP is designed to help eligible homeowners who face financial loss due to the sale of their primary residence homes when they are required to make a Permanent Change of Station outside of a 50 miles radius of their former duty station or home port. The expanded version of HAP provides assistance to those servicemembers who received reassignment orders between 1 February 2006 and 30 September 2010 for property purchased before 1 July 2006. For more details visit: http://www.hap.usace.army.mil/.
3.Post 9/11 GI Bill
The Post-9/11 GI Bill, which went into effect on August 1, 2009, expands previous education benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Individuals who serve at least 90 days aggregate military service after September 10, 2001 are eligible to receive a percentage of the maximum benefit of this education support bill based on their active duty service time. Highlights of the Post-9/11 GI Bill include tuition and fee coverage, a housing stipend, and a books and supplies stipend. This education support bill also allows the option for an eligible servicemember to transfer benefits to family members. For more information call 1-888-GI-BILL-1 or visit http://www.gibill.va.gov/.
4.TRICARE Case Management Services
Managing healthcare needs can quickly become overwhelming when a family member has a complex health issue that requires ongoing physician care. Telephone calls to discuss insurance coverage and referrals can be frustrating when dealing with multiple customer service representatives who are not familiar with the situation. Fortunately, TRICARE, the health care program serving active duty servicemembers, National Guard and Reserve members, and their families, has established a case management system that can help eligible beneficiaries navigate their healthcare issues. Case Management Services, staffed by nurses and social workers, is designed to help patients and their families manage complex heath care and support systems. These services are available to TRICARE beneficiaries receiving care for chronic health issues, high risk/high cost situations or for catastrophic or terminal illnesses. To find out if you qualify for case management, contact your local military treatment facility or regional TRICARE contractor. For more information, visit http://www.tricare.mil/.
5.Military OneSource
The number of Web sites that are developed to help military families can be overwhelming, making it hard to know where to start when trying to find answers. Military OneSource was established for active-duty, Guard, and Reserve servicemembers and their families as a springboard to information and services on almost any topic of concern. From tax filing services to Webinars on weight management, MilitaryOneSource.com has an incredibly array of information and links to resources. Additionally, military families can contact a Military OneSource consultant via phone or email. For more information visit http://www.militaryonesource.com/ or call 1-800-342-9647.
6.Discounts and Deals
The number of discounts and deals available to military families continues to grow! From free admission to the Museum of Modern Art in New York City to discounts on dinner at favorite family restaurants, military families just need to show military identification to start saving money at retail stores, restaurants, museums and attractions. Sometimes discounts are not posted, so be sure to ask before beginning your transaction. Here are three deals that military families should know about:
Spring break is coming! Walt Disney World has always welcomed military families with great deals and 2010 is no exception. From January 3 to July 31, 2010, military personnel may purchase a 4 day Base ticket for themselves and up to 5 family members or friends at $99 per ticket, plus tax. This provides access to 1 park per day but can be upgraded for a fee. For more information, restrictions and to purchase tickets, visit Shades of Green at http://www.shadesofgreen.org/ or your local military base. Need a place to stay while on vacation? Visit the Armed Forces Vacation Club (AFVC) for incredible deals on over 200,000 accommodations in over 100 countries. Search the Space-A section of the site for hotels that are typically $369 per unit per week. For program requirements and eligibility visit http://www.afvclub.com/ or call 1-800-724-9988.
The DoD has contracted with the YMCA to provide free family memberships and respite childcare to select DoD Title 10 Military Groups. For more information and eligibility guidelines visit http://www.militaryonesource.com/ or call 1-800-342-9647.
Looking for a babysitter or childcare provider? Funded by the DoD, Sittercity membership is available to military servicemembers and their families for free. Sittercity is an online tool for finding babysitters, nannies, childcare providers, dog walkers, housekeepers, tutors and more. For more information, visit http://www.sittercity.com/.
Military families face a huge challenge staying up-to-date on all of the information and resources available to them. New legislation, programs and resources are constantly being created to improve the lives of military families. Here are six important things that every military family member should know about this year:
1.The Military Spouses Residency Relief Act
In 2010, legislation was approved allowing military spouses the option of claiming the same state of residency as their servicemember husband or wife. In the past, military spouses have had to change their state of residency with each new move thereby causing the spouse to re-register to vote, change their driver’s license and re-register any vehicles in their name. This act benefits spouses of servicemembers by eliminating the hassle and paperwork involved in transitioning these items and, in some cases, eliminates multiple state tax preparation for working spouses. Individual states are still in the process of working through the details of the Military Spouse Residency Relief Act (MSRRA); however, spouses should familiarize themselves with how this important change impacts them. Up-to-date information on the status of MSRRA can be found on the Facebook group “Military Spouses Residency Relief Act”.
2.Expanded Homeowner’s Assistance Program
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) temporarily expands the Department of Defense’s (DoD) Homeowner’s Assistance Program (HAP) to include servicemembers required to permanently relocate during the home mortgage crisis. HAP is designed to help eligible homeowners who face financial loss due to the sale of their primary residence homes when they are required to make a Permanent Change of Station outside of a 50 miles radius of their former duty station or home port. The expanded version of HAP provides assistance to those servicemembers who received reassignment orders between 1 February 2006 and 30 September 2010 for property purchased before 1 July 2006. For more details visit: http://www.hap.usace.army.mil/.
3.Post 9/11 GI Bill
The Post-9/11 GI Bill, which went into effect on August 1, 2009, expands previous education benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Individuals who serve at least 90 days aggregate military service after September 10, 2001 are eligible to receive a percentage of the maximum benefit of this education support bill based on their active duty service time. Highlights of the Post-9/11 GI Bill include tuition and fee coverage, a housing stipend, and a books and supplies stipend. This education support bill also allows the option for an eligible servicemember to transfer benefits to family members. For more information call 1-888-GI-BILL-1 or visit http://www.gibill.va.gov/.
4.TRICARE Case Management Services
Managing healthcare needs can quickly become overwhelming when a family member has a complex health issue that requires ongoing physician care. Telephone calls to discuss insurance coverage and referrals can be frustrating when dealing with multiple customer service representatives who are not familiar with the situation. Fortunately, TRICARE, the health care program serving active duty servicemembers, National Guard and Reserve members, and their families, has established a case management system that can help eligible beneficiaries navigate their healthcare issues. Case Management Services, staffed by nurses and social workers, is designed to help patients and their families manage complex heath care and support systems. These services are available to TRICARE beneficiaries receiving care for chronic health issues, high risk/high cost situations or for catastrophic or terminal illnesses. To find out if you qualify for case management, contact your local military treatment facility or regional TRICARE contractor. For more information, visit http://www.tricare.mil/.
5.Military OneSource
The number of Web sites that are developed to help military families can be overwhelming, making it hard to know where to start when trying to find answers. Military OneSource was established for active-duty, Guard, and Reserve servicemembers and their families as a springboard to information and services on almost any topic of concern. From tax filing services to Webinars on weight management, MilitaryOneSource.com has an incredibly array of information and links to resources. Additionally, military families can contact a Military OneSource consultant via phone or email. For more information visit http://www.militaryonesource.com/ or call 1-800-342-9647.
6.Discounts and Deals
The number of discounts and deals available to military families continues to grow! From free admission to the Museum of Modern Art in New York City to discounts on dinner at favorite family restaurants, military families just need to show military identification to start saving money at retail stores, restaurants, museums and attractions. Sometimes discounts are not posted, so be sure to ask before beginning your transaction. Here are three deals that military families should know about:
Spring break is coming! Walt Disney World has always welcomed military families with great deals and 2010 is no exception. From January 3 to July 31, 2010, military personnel may purchase a 4 day Base ticket for themselves and up to 5 family members or friends at $99 per ticket, plus tax. This provides access to 1 park per day but can be upgraded for a fee. For more information, restrictions and to purchase tickets, visit Shades of Green at http://www.shadesofgreen.org/ or your local military base. Need a place to stay while on vacation? Visit the Armed Forces Vacation Club (AFVC) for incredible deals on over 200,000 accommodations in over 100 countries. Search the Space-A section of the site for hotels that are typically $369 per unit per week. For program requirements and eligibility visit http://www.afvclub.com/ or call 1-800-724-9988.
The DoD has contracted with the YMCA to provide free family memberships and respite childcare to select DoD Title 10 Military Groups. For more information and eligibility guidelines visit http://www.militaryonesource.com/ or call 1-800-342-9647.
Looking for a babysitter or childcare provider? Funded by the DoD, Sittercity membership is available to military servicemembers and their families for free. Sittercity is an online tool for finding babysitters, nannies, childcare providers, dog walkers, housekeepers, tutors and more. For more information, visit http://www.sittercity.com/.
When Mama Ain’t Happy…
By Alane Pearce, Military Spouse and Founder of Wings for Women Military Spouse Conferences
Military life can be hard. Our military personnel make great sacrifices to protect our country and others around the world. They work long hours and spend extended periods of time away from their families to fight for the freedoms that allow us to enjoy an American lifestyle. What many don’t realize is the stress and strain that this puts on the military spouse.
Military spouses are strong, but they can’t bear the burden of military life alone. The pressures of deployment, single parenting while married, tight budgets, lack of continuity and other stresses bear down on this strong woman’s soul.
This is why I founded Wings for Women Military Spouse Conferences–to help military spouses deal with the stresses of military life. The Wings for Women Conferences–two-day events that will run in military cities across the nation (as soon as we have funding for them) feature general sessions, dynamic speakers and military lifestyle breakout workshops designed to inspire and encourage military spouses towards emotional healing.
In 1967, Thomas H. Holmes and Richard H. Rahe, from the University of Washington, did a study on the connection between significant life events and illness. As part of the study, they compiled a chart of 43 major causes of stress. In 2006, that chart was updated to include 55 major stressors. Here is a list of the top seven.
•Finances (having enough to get by)
•Work (overwork, a spouse working too much, or the inability to find work)
•Family (health and family changes such as adoption, relocation, and job changes for just one family member can cause stress for all)
•Personal Concerns (such as how the workload at home is shared)
•Personal Health and Safety (affected by being alone and PTSD in a loved one)
•Personal Relationships (friendship, marriage)
•Death
In any given moment of any given day, the military family is dealing with not just one of these top stressors, but many. They:
•Struggle with finances because of low pay
•Get passed on much-needed employment because of a resume filled with time gaps from frequent moves
•Feel the burden of managing the home and the children alone because of the military member’s long hours and/or deployments.
A deployed military member leaves behind a family who is stressed by being home alone and a spouse dealing with long distance marriage, a lack of close friendship bonds and the constant fear that her husband may not return from war. When the military member finally comes home, the spouse and family are greatly affected by the military member’s new personality traits because of war and post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Imagine how you or your spouse might feel if put into one of these situations; yet the military spouse deals with these high stress triggers all the time. Every year. Every month. Every day.
These are the facts in the life of a military family.
A study published in January (2010) in the New England Journal of Medicine reinforces Holmes’ and Rahe’s theory of stress leading to illness by specifically looking at military families. The Journal study reviewd electronic medical data for almost 85 percent of the nearly 300,000 women whose active-duty husbands were deployed to Iraq or Afghanistan from 2003-2006. They found that 36.6 percent of those women had at least one mental-health diagnosis such as depression, anxiety or a sleep disorder. And this only counts those who reported problems.
“My husband is in Iraq for the 4th time,” says one military spouse on Facebook. “You are right, it doesn’t get any easier. In fact, this deployment (my third) was the hardest for me so far…It’s nice to be among those who understand and can relate to what you’re going thru.”
Jacey Eckhart of Military Money Magazine shares about the life of a Navy spouse: “But spouses? Man, they rip the veil off your head, ship you off to a city where you may not know a soul and expect you to be able to handle a deployment, say, a week later. Spouse boot camp often is self-taught. We manage. More importantly, we adapt.”
Wings for Women Military Spouse Conferences is addressing this and more by providing an opportunity for military spouses to be with those who understand and can relate to military life. Even more, the conferences will provide tools and resources to help spouses deal with these issues to improve their lives and subsequently the lives of the military family. We know from experience that as long as women have a place to gather these things will happen.
Our conferences kick off this year in Colorado Springs, CO May 14–15th with nearly 300 participants–many of whom are coming to Colorado from New York, North Carolina, Alabama and Texas.
The conferences will help spouses improve their relationships with themselves, their husbands and their children and increase their self-worth. We will provide valuable military and community resources to ensure that the spouse becomes engaged and supported by those around her after the conference concludes. As a result the spouses will be more aware of her purpose and mission, more connected with others like her and also with those who want to help. She will be refreshed and energized about her military lifestyle.
We believe that supporting the military spouse allows her to support her husband and children in a way that only she can. When the military spouse has the tools and resources she needs to thrive in the military lifestyle, the warrior has less stress as he does his job in the field and the children are more confident in the absence of their fathers.
In short, helping the military spouse helps everyone.
For more about Wings for Women, please visit our blog at Wings4Women.wordpress.com or our website at Wings4Women.org. To donate to Wings for Women, or to sponsor our conferences please contact Alane Pearce at wings4women@gmail.com
Military life can be hard. Our military personnel make great sacrifices to protect our country and others around the world. They work long hours and spend extended periods of time away from their families to fight for the freedoms that allow us to enjoy an American lifestyle. What many don’t realize is the stress and strain that this puts on the military spouse.
Military spouses are strong, but they can’t bear the burden of military life alone. The pressures of deployment, single parenting while married, tight budgets, lack of continuity and other stresses bear down on this strong woman’s soul.
This is why I founded Wings for Women Military Spouse Conferences–to help military spouses deal with the stresses of military life. The Wings for Women Conferences–two-day events that will run in military cities across the nation (as soon as we have funding for them) feature general sessions, dynamic speakers and military lifestyle breakout workshops designed to inspire and encourage military spouses towards emotional healing.
In 1967, Thomas H. Holmes and Richard H. Rahe, from the University of Washington, did a study on the connection between significant life events and illness. As part of the study, they compiled a chart of 43 major causes of stress. In 2006, that chart was updated to include 55 major stressors. Here is a list of the top seven.
•Finances (having enough to get by)
•Work (overwork, a spouse working too much, or the inability to find work)
•Family (health and family changes such as adoption, relocation, and job changes for just one family member can cause stress for all)
•Personal Concerns (such as how the workload at home is shared)
•Personal Health and Safety (affected by being alone and PTSD in a loved one)
•Personal Relationships (friendship, marriage)
•Death
In any given moment of any given day, the military family is dealing with not just one of these top stressors, but many. They:
•Struggle with finances because of low pay
•Get passed on much-needed employment because of a resume filled with time gaps from frequent moves
•Feel the burden of managing the home and the children alone because of the military member’s long hours and/or deployments.
A deployed military member leaves behind a family who is stressed by being home alone and a spouse dealing with long distance marriage, a lack of close friendship bonds and the constant fear that her husband may not return from war. When the military member finally comes home, the spouse and family are greatly affected by the military member’s new personality traits because of war and post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Imagine how you or your spouse might feel if put into one of these situations; yet the military spouse deals with these high stress triggers all the time. Every year. Every month. Every day.
These are the facts in the life of a military family.
A study published in January (2010) in the New England Journal of Medicine reinforces Holmes’ and Rahe’s theory of stress leading to illness by specifically looking at military families. The Journal study reviewd electronic medical data for almost 85 percent of the nearly 300,000 women whose active-duty husbands were deployed to Iraq or Afghanistan from 2003-2006. They found that 36.6 percent of those women had at least one mental-health diagnosis such as depression, anxiety or a sleep disorder. And this only counts those who reported problems.
“My husband is in Iraq for the 4th time,” says one military spouse on Facebook. “You are right, it doesn’t get any easier. In fact, this deployment (my third) was the hardest for me so far…It’s nice to be among those who understand and can relate to what you’re going thru.”
Jacey Eckhart of Military Money Magazine shares about the life of a Navy spouse: “But spouses? Man, they rip the veil off your head, ship you off to a city where you may not know a soul and expect you to be able to handle a deployment, say, a week later. Spouse boot camp often is self-taught. We manage. More importantly, we adapt.”
Wings for Women Military Spouse Conferences is addressing this and more by providing an opportunity for military spouses to be with those who understand and can relate to military life. Even more, the conferences will provide tools and resources to help spouses deal with these issues to improve their lives and subsequently the lives of the military family. We know from experience that as long as women have a place to gather these things will happen.
Our conferences kick off this year in Colorado Springs, CO May 14–15th with nearly 300 participants–many of whom are coming to Colorado from New York, North Carolina, Alabama and Texas.
The conferences will help spouses improve their relationships with themselves, their husbands and their children and increase their self-worth. We will provide valuable military and community resources to ensure that the spouse becomes engaged and supported by those around her after the conference concludes. As a result the spouses will be more aware of her purpose and mission, more connected with others like her and also with those who want to help. She will be refreshed and energized about her military lifestyle.
We believe that supporting the military spouse allows her to support her husband and children in a way that only she can. When the military spouse has the tools and resources she needs to thrive in the military lifestyle, the warrior has less stress as he does his job in the field and the children are more confident in the absence of their fathers.
In short, helping the military spouse helps everyone.
For more about Wings for Women, please visit our blog at Wings4Women.wordpress.com or our website at Wings4Women.org. To donate to Wings for Women, or to sponsor our conferences please contact Alane Pearce at wings4women@gmail.com
22 March 2010
another monday
sorry for not posting sunday!
monday isn't a fun day is it? work seems to just be piled up when you come in & it just keeps coming. oh well it could be worse...it could be a duty day or an underway...or a deployment. i suppose monday isn't really that bad when you look at it that way. it could be the first day of the best week you've had for all you know...just have to wait & see what comes.
did everyone have a good weekend? i had a pretty good one. i did learn a very good lesson...never just stop taking medication the doctor put you on. i feel awful! it is no fun...jittery & queasy. thank goodness i was able to go pick it up this morning...kinda made me mad though because after i got back to work CVS called me to tell me it was ready to pick up...its like really? ive been calling all weekend & you now call me & its already been picked up? oh well i got a reminder in my calendar now so i wont forget.
i finally got dwight to watch chicago. he liked it...i figured he would. i love how he says "oh i dont like musicals" but he always likes them when we watch them. my parents watched the princess & the frog...they loved it too. disney is finally getting its grove back lol. up & the princess & the frog have been some of the best lately. they are fun & just make you feel good.
Spouses of servicemembers no longer have to change their state of residency for voting or tax purposes when they accompany servicemembers to a new state due to military orders. how great is this ladies?? this will be such a huge help for all of us when we pcs! i havent had to pcs yet but i am looking forward to it...it will be a whole new adventure...sure it will be hard to leave home but you have to live your life...cant hide from it.
monday isn't a fun day is it? work seems to just be piled up when you come in & it just keeps coming. oh well it could be worse...it could be a duty day or an underway...or a deployment. i suppose monday isn't really that bad when you look at it that way. it could be the first day of the best week you've had for all you know...just have to wait & see what comes.
did everyone have a good weekend? i had a pretty good one. i did learn a very good lesson...never just stop taking medication the doctor put you on. i feel awful! it is no fun...jittery & queasy. thank goodness i was able to go pick it up this morning...kinda made me mad though because after i got back to work CVS called me to tell me it was ready to pick up...its like really? ive been calling all weekend & you now call me & its already been picked up? oh well i got a reminder in my calendar now so i wont forget.
i finally got dwight to watch chicago. he liked it...i figured he would. i love how he says "oh i dont like musicals" but he always likes them when we watch them. my parents watched the princess & the frog...they loved it too. disney is finally getting its grove back lol. up & the princess & the frog have been some of the best lately. they are fun & just make you feel good.
Spouses of servicemembers no longer have to change their state of residency for voting or tax purposes when they accompany servicemembers to a new state due to military orders. how great is this ladies?? this will be such a huge help for all of us when we pcs! i havent had to pcs yet but i am looking forward to it...it will be a whole new adventure...sure it will be hard to leave home but you have to live your life...cant hide from it.
For the Members of Our Armed Forces
Heavenly Father, grant Your comfort & aid to those who have dedicated their lives to defend this nation & its citizens. With grateful hearts, we beseech You to give them wisdom, courage, & strength to remain steadfast in their faith & to fulfill their duties bravely & professionally. Give them & their families peace & hope. Send Your holy angels to keep them safe; guard & protect them until they are brought safely home. Amen.
{sorry for no new post yesterday ladies! it will be done today!}
{sorry for no new post yesterday ladies! it will be done today!}
20 March 2010
open post
okay this one is about kids...
how many of you are moms? becoming moms?
for the mothers...how old were you when you had your first child? looking back to that time what would be your advice to new mom's?
for those becoming moms...how do you feel...physically & emotionally? what was your reaction when you found out?
for those of us that arent mothers...what do you think you'll do when you do get pregnant? i know i want to surprise dwight when i find out...get him something that says "daddy" or maybe a baby toy...something cute that will tell him our big news.
okay ladies post away...i hope this is fun for you...give me topic ideas too! <3
how many of you are moms? becoming moms?
for the mothers...how old were you when you had your first child? looking back to that time what would be your advice to new mom's?
for those becoming moms...how do you feel...physically & emotionally? what was your reaction when you found out?
for those of us that arent mothers...what do you think you'll do when you do get pregnant? i know i want to surprise dwight when i find out...get him something that says "daddy" or maybe a baby toy...something cute that will tell him our big news.
okay ladies post away...i hope this is fun for you...give me topic ideas too! <3
lovely day
such a wonderful day today with my husband. things at first were hard for us...getting married & saying goodbye was horrible. i know God was watching over us as dwight left to serve his country. his ship was apart of the rescue of cpt philips from the pirtates last yr. we all saw it on the news...we all prayed he'd be brought safely home. many of us prayed not just for them but for ourselves as well. our family was out there too.
we went out today & spent the day at the mall. we had such a wonderful lunch. when we got home we let our kitten out...she is as much of our family as each other. she is an amazing little one. she just makes you smile when your sad. i know she'll keep me company when he deploys again.
we watched "the princess & the frog" last night...amazing! it was one of the best animated movies ever. it was so fun & there were so many references to disney movies that came out when i was a kid. it was a movie that made you laugh...just made you feel good.
well not much more today. getting ready to sign off...need to figure out the new "open post". good night everyone! <3
we went out today & spent the day at the mall. we had such a wonderful lunch. when we got home we let our kitten out...she is as much of our family as each other. she is an amazing little one. she just makes you smile when your sad. i know she'll keep me company when he deploys again.
we watched "the princess & the frog" last night...amazing! it was one of the best animated movies ever. it was so fun & there were so many references to disney movies that came out when i was a kid. it was a movie that made you laugh...just made you feel good.
well not much more today. getting ready to sign off...need to figure out the new "open post". good night everyone! <3
19 March 2010
open post
well ladies our topic tonight is...xbox! does it just rise your blood pressure a bit to hear it get turned on? our husbands spend all day together but they are so excitied to log on xbox & play games instead of spend a little time with us.
its always wonderful to have to with your man since you never know how much time you really have...
okay the post is open to just vent about life
enjoy!
its always wonderful to have to with your man since you never know how much time you really have...
okay the post is open to just vent about life
enjoy!
18 March 2010
open post
i'd like to invite anyone who reads to just leave a comment on what they wish the military offered more or even less of...what is your military life like?
dmv
well im sitting here at the dmv & i had a thought...the military should offer us some kind of service on base. my registration renewal never came from the dmv but of course theyll say its my fault & i should have known better. sitting here ive seen many other people who are military...think of how much easier it would be if we could just go to base for this then out in town. who knows...itll never happen but it was a good idea :)
17 March 2010
Navy
Well Dwight is doing very well in the Navy...Amazing in fact. I dont think I can honestly say I'll ever get used to the life style but I am so proud of him. My husband is my hero. He is serving our country making it safe for all of us to sleep at night. I come from a family with a long military history & I never thought I'd be a military wife. I guess not being one was never an opition when he enlisted.
He is a strong & brave man. I know being left behind is hard but I don't think I could be the one doing the leaving. When I hang that blue star in my window it means my heart is gone...But its not really because we are linked no matter how far apart we are.
I really do believe that God made military wives from a special model in heaven. We are in situations that just couldn't be handled without his helping hand. I have only known one person who is now a widow but I honestly think she is one of the strongest people I know. Going through what she has gone through is nothing I can ever imagine...or want to.
I dedicate this blog to those who's loved ones wont be home with them tonight...Or tomorrow. We are the lucky & unlucky...we know what it is like to see our men go to war & often not return but we are the ones who have the strength to carry on for the others left behind.
He is a strong & brave man. I know being left behind is hard but I don't think I could be the one doing the leaving. When I hang that blue star in my window it means my heart is gone...But its not really because we are linked no matter how far apart we are.
I really do believe that God made military wives from a special model in heaven. We are in situations that just couldn't be handled without his helping hand. I have only known one person who is now a widow but I honestly think she is one of the strongest people I know. Going through what she has gone through is nothing I can ever imagine...or want to.
I dedicate this blog to those who's loved ones wont be home with them tonight...Or tomorrow. We are the lucky & unlucky...we know what it is like to see our men go to war & often not return but we are the ones who have the strength to carry on for the others left behind.
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Angela: My husband is my hero. I love him so much. I couldn't imagine life without him. He is an amazing sailor. I am so proud of him.
