Something told me to buy that extra Christmas stocking. I’m so glad I did.
It was a couple of days after Christmas, and I had some gift certificates burning a hole in my pocket. My boys were little (4, 6, and 8), and we desperately needed to up our Holiday decorating with matching Christmas stockings, so this was top priority on my shopping list. I walked into Kohl’s (with that glorious Kohl’s cash in my wallet nearing expiration) and headed straight back to the holiday clearance section.
In this week’s MEM Sharita gives us tips for maintaining milspouse mental health during the holidays. Her tips can help you to fully enjoy your holidays.
This year will be the 16th Thanksgiving my husband and I have been married and the eighth one we’ve had to celebrate separately because of geographic separation. While our sons and I look forward to spending Thanksgiving in Dallas with dear friends while my husband is deployed, it reminds me of how our military lifestyle has shaped and molded us into what spending the holidays together looks like for military families. You make the most of whatever situation you’re in at the moment!
Simply put, Thanksgiving is all about being thankful and having a grateful heart, but I’m getting a little bit crazy with the holidays coming.
I’m filling the calendar, scheduling time with friends, thinking about turkeys—the ones on sale? stuffed or unstuffed this year?—remembering to find recipes, making lists of ingredients, and pulling down fall decoration boxes from the garage, only to take a deep breath when I see the Christmas boxes next to them.
It’s obvious my mind is like a merry-go-round, whirling with things to do.
For some, this is the year you’re ready to invite friends and family to celebrate the holidays. For others, you’re just looking to stay ahead of the holiday crush from your immediate circle. Either way, there’s definitely calm in the chaos if you add a little holiday prep and organization to the mix this fall.
Use these tips to help you get ready for the holiday season; no matter if you’re preparing for four, eight, or 12, there’s helpful advice curated just for you.
There is nothing better, nothing more joyous, than giving during the holidays. The sparkling eyes of children under the tree tearing into packages on Christmas morning; the laughter at grandma’s house as gifts are opened. It all makes your heart swell with joy—except for the holiday spending.
Along comes January and the bills and that joyous heart suddenly drops.
Every year, Oct. 26 is celebrated as the National Day of the Deployed, a day where we honor all of those who have deployed in service to the nation, as well as the sacrifices military families must make while their loved one is overseas. Since 2012, every state in the U.S. observes the day.
And they should.
We’re currently stationed on Okinawa, a place pretty well known for ghost stories. I never paid it much mind, except for when our cats are staring at things that aren’t there and chasing invisible apparitions into the “ghost closet,” as we lovingly call it. But, spooky October is here and has brought with it some ghosts of duty stations past.
In this week’s MEM Annie brings us her tips for road trip success. Using Annie’s tips will help turn your next road trip into a victory for the whole family.
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