Did you know… Mission: Milspouse published its 3000th blog post in 2023 and is still growing!
The Retirement Count Down Is REAL!
In less than two weeks, my husband and I will be moving for the last time in his military career. I’ve been looking forward to this move (and his retirement) for quite some time, but as it gets closer, I’ve been feeling surprisingly emotional!
Current Situation: Chris Stapleton
Last week, my civilian neighbor stopped by with a bottle of wine and asked if she could (and I quote) “be on my Deployment Team?” My neighbors here in Texas (mostly civilians at this duty station) are aware that my husband is downrange, but this was a first for me.
I asked her what she thought my “Deployment Team” was, and she replied, “You know, the one that cooks for you, watches your kids, and just keeps you from crying all the time.”
An Open Letter to Myself
Do you ever allow the uncertainties of your future to impact your present? You probably do. As a military spouse, one of the easiest times to do this is when you know orders are coming soon.
For my husband and me, we thought we already had those orders, and now I find myself dwelling on the possibilities. Currently, dwelling on a negative possibility.
This is the first time we have to ask for Command Sponsorship–essentially asking if I’m cleared to go with my husband during this upcoming PCS.
WAVES and the Women Who Made Them
A great deal is asked of us as military spouses during our service member’s time in service.
We leave our families, homes, friends, and all we know to support our spouse’s career. We raise our children alone for long stretches of time, experience new lands and people from all over the world, and handle both the joys and heartbreaks of life with as much grace, resilience, and perspective as we can muster. Some days are better than others.
Strong Bonds Can Lead to a Stronger Marriage
If you’ve been a military spouse for a few years, you’ve probably heard about Strong Bonds retreats offered by your installation’s Religious Services Organization. If you’re newer to the milspouse life, then this may be new for you. No matter how long you’ve been married to your service member, if you can attend a Strong Bonds retreat, I highly recommend it.
My husband and I attended our first Strong Bonds retreat in August. It was such a great experience for us. We both went into the retreat hoping we could learn something, despite not having any glaring issues in our relationship.
But we did learn how to connect better.
You Start By Not Knowing and Then Trying
In the spirit of inspiration this month, I caught up with Elyse Braner of Arlington, Virginia.
Elyse seems to be everywhere, donating her time. She is a runner, running coach, and leader of Girls on the Run DC. I like to think of Elyse as being the person who does not conform to regular training runs, but seeks creativity in order to make things better for those she encounters.
7 Tips to Get Organized for a New School Year
If you PCS’d this year like we did, then you aren’t only sending your children off for their next level of education, but you’re sending them off to a new school, with new friends, and new teachers all while you’re trying to get settled into your new home. When you think about it like that, it seems a little crazy to manage! There’s no need to worry. I’m sharing a seven tips to get organized for a new school year.
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