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holidays

First Holiday Season Together as a Military Family

by | Nov 22, 2019 | , , ,

This holiday season will be Trevor’s and my first together as a military family. Sure, we have been together for six years ,and it isn’t our first holiday season together, but as we are approach his two years of service mark, we have only had the chance to celebrate a few holidays physically in the same place since he joined active service.

This is the first year where we are 24-plus hours from where we grew up—last year, Trevor was halfway across the world, but I was able to spend the holidays (and some extra time) visiting family. It is going to be tough for both of us to not be able to see our parents and loved ones back home. I keep trying to come up with ideas for spending the holiday with our new friends and “family” we have added since moving away from home.

Back in our pre-military life, weekends this time of the year would be spent celebrating the holidays with our friends and family.

Celebrating the Holidays Far From Home

by | Nov 21, 2019 | , , , ,

We have entered that time of year when the hustle and bustle begins. Many of us are planning meals, travel by car or plane, what we’ll pack in our luggage, and exactly what is the best way to tackle a long-distance journey and maintain everyone’s sanity. 

But for some of you, you may live too far away to conveniently travel the distance, or your finances aren’t in a place to support hotel stays, gas, or plane tickets, or you may have new additions to your family and prefer to celebrate in the quiet of your own home or in your own way. Maybe it’s a combination of all three. 

Not everyone enjoys spending the holidays away from family—and for some of us, we feel a deep absence in our hearts. 

10 Tips for Handling the “Holiday Blues”

by | Nov 20, 2019 | , ,

For many service members, veterans, and their families, the holidays are a great time of laughter, cheer, and togetherness. However, we also know that for some of us, the holidays can be a difficult time.

We may remember family members, friends, and battle buddies who are no longer with us to celebrate the season. Although we feel the loss all year long, these feelings of sadness and loss are heightened during the holidays. This can mean an increase in depression and anxiety symptoms. If you experience these types of emotions during the holidays, please be honest with yourself and take the necessary actions to reduce stress.

To start, try your best to prevent an increase in levels of stress and depression. An article released by the Mayo Clinic recommends several tips to help prevent and reduce stress and depression during the holiday season

How You Can Support Military Families: Holiday Edition

by | Nov 18, 2019 | , ,

Over the last almost 10 years, I’ve been working in senior living communities. Most of my days are spent connecting with those who have lived 80 years or more. Ever since my first holiday season working with seniors, I’ve observed that there are two sides of their holiday coin.

On one hand, you have tremendous joy and gratitude—it’s a season of giving!

On the other, you have grief and longing.

In most of their long lives, they’ve had tremendous joy alongside tremendous hardship. I only began to understand these two sides as I experienced my own hardship while my soldier husband, James, was away on his first deployment.

Gratitude: Being Thankful

by | Nov 5, 2019 | , ,

I love the month of November. Fall is in full effect with the colors changing on the trees (or the cactus, depending on which state you live in), wearing sweaters and boots, and drinking hot cocoa.

I love this time of the year, where it seems everything is slowing down because it is dark earlier in the evening. Everyone is getting ready for Thanksgiving, and Christmas is right around the corner. Additionally, this is a time where many people are on social media posting what they are thankful for. I love it because it makes you pause and think about everyday blessings.

Where in the World: Venice, Italy

by | Apr 11, 2019 | , ,

While OCONUS living has its challenges, which I’ve written about in the past, traveling is not one of them. Actually, to rephrase, the logistical part of traveling in foreign countries can be ultra-challenging but actually traveling is pretty darn cool. In the little more than a year we’ve been stationed in Italy, we’ve seen and done things I only saw on Pinterest, tucked away in a file I named “Bucket List.”

14 Ways to Make Your Partner Feel Loved

by | Feb 7, 2019 | , ,

Whenever Valentine’s Day rolls around each year, it’s when most people take the time to show some major love to their partner. Be it with flowers, chocolates, jewelry, or other major purchases, you’re likely to see plenty of people in the check-out line buying last-minute gifts to show appreciation.

But these big gifts aren’t really necessary. And we don’t need to limit the celebration of our relationships for a few days out of the year.

Be Kindness

by | Jan 19, 2019 | ,

Did you know that Feb. 17 is National Act of Kindness Day? I mean, honestly, every day is “a day,” but how great is this one?! It’s better than National Walk Around Things Day, National Lumpy Rug Day, and National Paper Bag Day (yes, I kid you not, these are actual “days” held on April 4, May 3, and July 12, respectively), but I digress.

Back to something a little more personally fulfilling.

8 Holiday Travel Tips for Military Families

8 Holiday Travel Tips for Military Families

by | Dec 21, 2018 | , , ,

The holidays truly are the most wonderful time of the year, but that doesn’t mean that they aren’t filled with chaos. If you’re traveling over the holidays, then you know that the word crazy doesn’t even begin to cover it. As military families, we often travel home since most of us don’t get to live near family. So, each year, we pack way too much stuff, muster as much enthusiasm we think we need, in order to travel 300, 800, 2,000 miles, and we hop in the car or board a plane.

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