Did you know… Mission: Milspouse published its 3000th blog post in 2023 and is still growing!
Making Changes
This time of year, there are always lots of expectations to make resolutions and plan big changes to your life. However, when your everyday life is already filled with a good deal of uncertainty, planning even more changes is likely the last thing you want to do to kick off the new year.
How I Discovered I Was “Home”-less
For the entire month of February, my family and I took off to my parents’ house for 25 days. Now, mind you, my family consists of an 8-month-old infant and two 50-pound dogs, and my parents’ house is definitely only built for three grown adults and zero animals. It’s been a challenge, but we’re making it work.
To the Struggling Military Spouse: We See You
This life isn’t an easy one. As military spouses, we’ve given up a lot of opportunities in exchange for marrying a service member.
We’ve sacrificed our careers, our roots, time away from our extended families, consistency, and the ability to plan, while accepting the job of solo-parent and helpmate and harnessing the burden of household duties on our own shoulders.
To the struggling military spouse, we see you.
6 Ways to to Love Your Duty Station
“What’s been your favorite duty station?”
For a long time, my saccharine answer when asked the above question was, “Wherever I live!” In an effort to set a good example and not complain in front of my kids, put my best foot forward, and keep a positive attitude, it was a mantra I’d learned to live by.
He’s Only On Loan
If I could travel back in time and tell my newlywed self something, it would be this: “He’s only on loan.”
Self Care in the Form of a Sabbatical
People might think I’m a little odd. Not, like, Steve Urkel odd (child of the ’80s here; however, I don’t look good in suspenders), but I like to think more “unique.” I do things that make good stories. Because, why not?
I’m not just “different” because I went to (and subsequently graduated from) Missouri Auction School during Spring Break my senior year of college. It isn’t that I wore duct tape to senior prom in high school (it was for a scholarship contest… don’t judge. And yes, we rocked it). My uniqueness doesn’t come from my love of inky pens and journals or my affinity for analogies.
You CAN Vacation on a Military Budget
Like many of you, my family loves to travel. I don’t have many hobbies, but perusing for our next spot to visit is near the top of my list. Spectacular travel resources is one of my favorite perks of being connected to the military (like a free National Park Pass!). Today we’re talking military-only resorts run by the Armed Forces Recreation Centers (AFRC). They can really help us vacation on a military budget.
If you’ve been around the military long enough, you’ve no doubt heard of these resorts and maybe even been to a few. If you’re newer, let me give you a quick run down of what they are.
Mission: Milspouse is a
501(c)3 nonprofit organization.
EIN Number: 88-1604492
Contact:
hello@missionmilspouse.org
P.O. Box 641341
El Paso, TX 79904