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Posts By: Retired Blogger
Tuning Your Radio: Part 1

Tuning Your Radio: Part 1

by | Feb 11, 2020

Every month, without fail, I struggle to think of what I should write about.

What kind of profound piece of enlightenment can I possibly share with AWN readers?

My personal Jiminy Cricket strikes again, offering a moment of clarity (usually, right after a moment of absolute chaos). Lately, I have noticed many of my decisions and reactions are hugely impacted by what kind of environment I am surrounding myself with, as well as the useful or harmful voice in my head. What shows am I watching? What books am I reading? What music am I rocking out to?

And most importantly, what people am I allowing to infiltrate my tiny spot in the universe? Each answer can have a precise impact on how my mood, mindset for decisions, and general outlook on life.

Loving the Invisible Spouse

Loving the Invisible Spouse

by | Feb 7, 2020

Don’t let the title fool you, my husband isn’t really invisible. But I’m going to be completely honest here—it sure feels like it at so many points in this military life.

He’s a true superhero. He jets off right in the middle of a toddler meltdown to save the world. Who could be mad at that? People swoon over superheroes.

So why, at times, have I felt as though I spend more time with the bagger at Kroger than my own husband?

Letters to Juliet

Letters to Juliet

by | Feb 5, 2020

‘Tis the season of love.

Valentine’s Day is right around the corner, which means it is the perfect time to tell you about Juliet. Yeah, that Juliet. You know, Romeo’s gal? The one that committed double suicide with her young lover because her parents didn’t approve. 

Eek…. I guess that escalated quickly, so let’s scratch the ending and focus on the loving part, shall we?

One of the really neat things about being stationed in Europe is that you can find the lesser-known things.  When you come for a 10-day trip from the United States, you tend to want to capitalize on your time and your money, so you stick to the really big and cool places: Rome, Venice, Milan, anywhere in Tuscany. 

Living here, however, you get this incredible opportunity to spend a day in some of the lesser known cities and pay a fun visit to Verona.

In the Midst of Chaos: Rapid Deployments

In the Midst of Chaos: Rapid Deployments

by | Jan 30, 2020

“Letting you know… I’m deploying on Friday.”

This was the text I received one morning as I was getting ready to begin my day. My friend, Catherine, along with so many others, would be deploying somewhere overseas for who knows how long and doing who knows what.

Her text was one of many. By the end of the first week, I was on a roller coaster of “guess what?” I saw couples rushing to the PX to pick out wedding bands. Another friend of mine bought a very early birthday cake for her daughter. My little ones were coming home from school sharing their sadness with me, almost daily, about the news of yet another friend gone.

Deployments have a way of moving families around the globe.

5 Ways To Keep Your Marriage Army Strong

5 Ways To Keep Your Marriage Army Strong

by | Jan 27, 2020

Slowly, I peeked out through my fingers that covered my eyes. I felt the wind blow hard against my face.  My legs dangled from my body, with the ocean 1200 feet below. The harness was tightly secured around my body, but I felt anything but secure. My adventure-seeking boyfriend was strapped next to me, completely relaxed with a big smile on his face, but I was too busy fighting flashbacks from my last parasailing adventure.

See, I was traumatized from the last time I parasailed when I was 15 years old. All was going well during that ride until the driver of the boat slowed down and decided to dip me down into the water. Seems fun, right? Well, little did he know that I was being submerged into a school of jellyfish! I started waving and flailing like a crazy woman, trying to signal to lift me back up, but he thought I was just having a great time and waved back. Thanks, Mr. Boat driver, for the bazillion jellyfish stings! Thus, I vowed to never parasail again.

Thoughts from a Guardsman Spouse

Thoughts from a Guardsman Spouse

by | Jan 23, 2020

We hear it all the time. “It’s only once a month! It’s not that big of a deal!”

Truth is, it really is a big deal. Because those weekends are the worst.

Those are the weekends that all the ballgames, family commitments, and kids getting sick will happen.

Those are the weekends when the kids will throw every ‘tude known to man both at you and at each other.

Those are the weekends that all Hades breaks loose everywhere. Oh! And something always breaks!

Those are the weekends you question yourself the most.

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