Oh… Military Life! This is likely what brought you to Mission: Milspouse in the first place. It is what binds the military community together with its wildly unique lifestyle.
Whether you are here to learn how to better live in this military life, how to support a loved one who is living the military lifestyle, or to see if this lifestyle is something you may like to be a part of, you have come to the right place.
Here at Mission: Milispouse the military lifestyle is what inspires us, drives our home lives, our moves, and our service member’s career, and gives us a camaraderie like no other. So welcome friend, take a seat and read more about all things that make us who we are and make the military lifestyle a life like no other!
It’s the last month of 2020. I’m making an educated guess here, but I’d say more than 75% of the people you know are ready for a new year. We might have to dig deep, but there are lists of positive things that 2020 has delivered to your doorstep. My personal favorite has been the slower pace and increased family time.
Living at a small military base overseas, I feel like it is only natural for everyone to know everyone.
The housing communities are small and nestled into local German towns and villages. It is a wonderful experience but can also feel isolating. I have to say, in our nearly five years of living overseas, this has been one of the most welcoming and close-knit communities we have ever been a part of. You run your errands on post or on the local economy, and you are bound to find someone you know and are bound to strike up a conversation.
For a long time, during our bedtime routine with the kids, we’d ask each one to share something they were thankful for that day. It was always intriguing to hear what was on their hearts.
Sometimes, it was quite serious for them: “I’m thankful I didn’t cry when I got my poke [immunization] today.”
Sometimes, it was a bit comical: “I’m thankful my hair is growing like Rapunzel.”
Sometimes, it was reflectively wise beyond their years: “I’m thankful we had food to eat today because the children in Venezuela don’t have much.”
Confession:
The holidays are fast approaching, and I’m not feeling the holiday spirit this year. More like I’m feeling the Holiday Blues.
Anyone else with me? Here at Fort Wainwright, we’ve had more than two feet of snowfall in the last two days. Before that, the temperatures dropped to -30, then the next day turned around and it was nearly 30 degrees. It feels like we straight up skipped fall. It lasted less than a month, and that was back in August.
I blinked and suddenly winter was here.
It took about one minute after saying goodbye to my husband for it to feel like my entire world was turned upside down.
Living just the two of us and our dog in our tiny condo, I had grown accustomed to having him almost within an arm’s reach the majority of the time. We spent almost all of our time together, and once he left, I found myself doing our usual routine but becoming overwhelmingly saddened by his absence at every point during my day.
What comes to mind when you think of Veterans Day?
Is it a barbecue with friends and family?
Is it remembering to wear red, white, and blue and taking family photos?
For me, Veterans Day brings a few thoughts, each from a different time in my life.
The first, a Charleston County-wide essay contest for middle school students that begged the question, “Is Freedom Really Free?” The winner read her essay in front of hundreds of middle schoolers who just wanted to board the USS Yorktown to see all the “cool stuff,” as we called it.
Mission: Milspouse is a
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EIN Number: 88-1604492
hello@missionmilspouse.org
P.O. Box 641341
El Paso, TX 79904