Travis and I have now lived on or near four military bases -- Fort Stewart, Camp Henry, Fort Leonard Wood, and now Fort Campbell. Over the years, we've began to notice similarities. They all have their differences of course. Fort Campbell doesn't have giant live oak trees, but Fort Stewart didn't have beautiful fall colors. But there are a few things that they all seem to have in common. Things that give it away that you are near a military base. That's why Travis and I came up with this fun list! You Know You Live Near a Military Base When... You are wondering if you just heard thunder Continue Reading
Nothing is Official in the Military
When we announced we would no longer be moving to New York but instead would be staying here in Missouri, everyone kept asking if it was official. My response was always, "as official as it can be." You see, in the military nothing is ever official. Even after you receive orders, they can still change. In fact, I have even heard stories of people who have moved to their new duty station, started unpacking, and within two weeks their orders had been canceled. They had to move again. If there's one thing you'll learn from military life it's to be flexible. Things will change. A Continue Reading
On Being an Older Enlisted Spouse
Hello friends. I'll be taking a little blogging break, so I've gathered some blogging friends to guest post here. I wouldn't want ya'll to not have anything to read! My first guest post comes from Julie at Soldier's Wife, Crazy Life. I was 26 years old when my husband re-joined the Army. He went in as an E3 at age 30. A few months later, he promoted to an E4 and that is how he spent the rest of his time as an active duty soldier. A lot of people join the military at a younger age, 18-20 years old. Their spouses are young too. They work their way through the ranks and can make it to E5 Continue Reading
Ways to Bless a Military Spouse
Looking for ideas on how to show kindness to a military spouse? Well, you've come to the right place. As a military spouse myself, I have always been so thankful to those friends, family, and even strangers who have blessed me, especially when my husband is away. It means so much to know we are supported and cared for. Some of these ideas are my own, and I've asked other military spouses to chime in with their ideas too. Here are 10 ways to bless a military spouse. 1. Invite me over. It can be for dinner or just to watch TV and hang out -- I just want some company. Especially Continue Reading
6 Things I Learned as a New Military Spouse
I've been married for almost two years to a man in the military. Right after our honeymoon, I moved in with my husband who was stationed in Georgia at the time. Moving near a military base, spending time there, and listening to a husband talk about his job made me learn so much about military life. As an Army girlfriend, I really had no idea about so many of the things I know about now. Today, I'm sharing the six things I've learned as a new military spouse. 1. Revelry & Retreat Every morning, the American flag is lifted and Revelry is played over speakers throughout the Continue Reading
Top MilSpouse Bloggers You Should Follow on Pinterest
With my husband moving to South Korea soon, I have found myself feeling more like a true Army wife than ever before. Because of that, I have been eating up all the military-inspired blogs I can get. I'm so thankful that in this next year of challenges and adventures, as well as right now during our first PCS, I can look to so many of the beautiful military wives who have gone before me. Most of whom are still in the midst of it themselves. There is just something about knowing you aren't alone. Knowing others are feeling what you are feeling. Being in community. I'm grateful that I Continue Reading
FAQ — South Korea
Since announcing our big news of Travis moving to Korea, people have had many questions. So I figured I'd write out a post for those of you who are curious to know more. If you are in the military or in a military family, you will probably already know these answers. But many civilians just don't fully understand it all. Here are the most frequently asked questions and our answers. When does he move there? Travis has to report to his new unit by March 1. He will take a couple weeks of leave before he moves, so we will be leaving Georgia mid-February to spend a couple weeks in Continue Reading
When I Found Out My Husband Was Leaving Me
I had just got home from a weekend trip to Indiana to surprise my family. Travis and I were sitting at the stools in our kitchen, eating our supper and talking about my trip. And that's when he told me. "I got an email," he said. That one email completely threw me for a loop. It was unexpected and unwanted. And it changed everything. That email said my husband's name was put in for a position in South Korea. As a soldier in the Army, my husband can be sent basically anywhere in the world and he has to go. Even if that means leaving his wife behind to wait for his return. This news wasn't Continue Reading
Just a Little Something
My husband left about two weeks ago for NTC (the National Training Center) in California. He'll be gone for a month. I wanted to do something for him so he would feel my love even weeks into his training, especially when we couldn't have any contact. It's nothing special -- just a little something. So I bought a few treats for him to take and included little notes with each one. I bought him some of his favorite candy -- Sour Patch Kids, Sour Gummy Worms and Mamba Chews -- a package of Golden Oreos, his favorite Kind bars and some new Kind bars he hasn't had before. For each of Continue Reading
My First Army Wife Experience
I walked out of the gym, feeling great after my workout. And then I saw them. The tires on my car were low. Great -- of course this would happen once Travis is gone. My husband had left early that morning for two weeks in the field. Military spouses always joke that everything breaks or goes wrong when the service member leaves, but I had yet to experience it for myself being a fairly new Army wife. I got out my tire gauge and checked the air pressure. I couldn't even remember what the air pressure was supposed to be! I texted my dad who lives 800 miles away and asked what the tire Continue Reading
Reasons I Could Never be in the Military
He wakes up at 5:30 am. He works out for an hour. He can run eight miles. He can do 80 push ups. He can sleep anywhere, even on the hood of a HMMWV. He can eat anything including the egg omelet MRE. And he wears that uniform like it's his job. Because well, it is part of his job. He's in the military. I have so much respect for my husband. Not only because he is a kind, devoted, well-mannered man, but also because he is a hard-working patriotic soldier who makes sacrifices for his job and country. I have respect for all soldiers in the military. Most of all because I know I could never do Continue Reading
Things To Do When Hubby Is Away
As a military family, there are going to be many weeks or months or years where my husband is away. This week my husband has been in the field for training. Next month, he'll be gone a little longer. The month after that he'll be gone longer still. And a few months from now, he'll be gone for a whole month. I just keep telling myself that's nothing -- this isn't a deployment. But since we haven't been through a deployment yet, this kind of sucks. No matter how long your husband will be gone, it's totally OK to wear one of his shirts, eat cereal for supper, and wallow a little in your Continue Reading