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FeaturedFlames and Ashes: Thoughts on the Church
Recently, our family broke ground on a major house renovation. As we think about the space and feel of our future home, we are considering the entryway and the hall behind it. While hallways aren’t the most important spaces in a house, they do connect everything and can determine the “vibe,” as my teens would… Read more
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FeaturedThe End of the Watch: Military Retirement
[Chapter One] At the age of 17, I congratulated my boyfriend on his acceptance to the United States Naval Academy. “When do you leave?” I asked. And the clock began to tick, a figurative wristwatch attaching itself to me. Years later, our wedded bliss begins with the cadence of time… How many months until you… Read more
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FeaturedA Carrier Deployment is… so many things.
It’s spending six months counting down to Departure-Day. It’s saying hello and goodbye over and over and “Please don’t send me photos of your steak dinner in Fallon.” It’s the pit in your stomach as the green sea bags appear in your bedroom and the packing begins and “Why do they still smell like jet fuel??” It’s… Read more
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FeaturedRiding the Train of Resentment: a decision for military spouses
To the Resentful Navy Spouse- I see you online, commenting to other spouses about your gripes with Big Navy. I sense the acidic tone in your voice as you lament the pain of moving again and “putting [your spouse’s] career first”. I cringe at your words and feel a bit heartbroken for your state because… Read more
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FeaturedThe Parenting Hourglass & thoughts about graduation
Nothing lights a bigger fire under us than a short timeline…and nothing makes us more lackadaisical than infinite hours. Type B persons like myself can procrastinate, plan to do things “later”, postpone projects to next week, but if you tell me that guests are arriving in thirty minutes, I can accomplish an amazing amount of… Read more
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FeaturedGlittering Kindness: the way of the military spouse
There is something about the military moving process that makes me want to take a blow torch to all of my personal possessions. When two hundred boxes are casually dumped onto the ground like hotcakes I am tempted to recreate Burning Man and provide free fire and heat to our new neighbors. The entire process… Read more
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FeaturedUSS Deployment and my lessons learned
We knew the deployment was coming. We hauled our boat, USS Deployment, from the back of the garage where it had rested for a few years. Day after day we prepared, traded and packaged our responsibilities so we could be properly organized for the hour of departure. “Do you remember how to row?” my husband asked,… Read more
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FeaturedRespecting Military Families on Social Media
TO MY NON-MILITARY FRIENDS: Do you know what a CACO is? [Kay-co] My guess is no. It stands for Casualty Assistance Calls Officer. You know them from films as the impeccably dressed men in uniforms who arrive on the doorsteps of WWII widows to announce the news of the deceased (think “Saving Private Ryan”). We,… Read more
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FeaturedMilitary Spouses and the Invisible Backpack: a conversation about stress
“Congratulations on your wedding and welcome to the military!” he said. “Here is your dependent ID card, your application for DEERS and your invisible backpack. Slip it over your shoulders, tighten the straps and you will be good to go.” “Wait, what?” I said in confusion, turning around, trying to view my back. “You just… Read more
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FeaturedThe Heartache of Moving and the pieces of us we leave behind
[Note: These thoughts were written prior to COVID-19 which makes the heartbreak of a move even worse. Many of us have been robbed of the chance to say proper goodbyes, to thank our teachers and coaches, to hug our friends and visit our favorite haunts. We are cutting the strings without having the chance to… Read more
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FeaturedWords from a mom on the other side: your baby will be just fine.
Having a baby is no joke. You can never fully prepare for the experience before it happens and then BAM. Hit by a truck. My military husband once said that having a newborn was akin to Navy Survival School where service members are thrown into the woods and told to survive for a week alone.… Read more
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FeaturedA Letter To My Younger Self: A Navy Wife’s Reflection
Twenty years ago I sat in a stadium watching my future husband receive his commissioning in the US Navy. With a stack of blissful hopes and dreams we jumped into the military life and flew into the unknown. For that hometown 20-something girl, every single thing was an unknown. Dropped into a completely new world,… Read more
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Living the Messy Life
People say the kitchen is the lifeblood of a house. It’s where family and friends congregate and eat; it’s where parties linger, conversations flow and occasions are celebrated. I spend a significant portion of my day standing in my kitchen, which usually doubles as a home office because Mama needs a command center! As a… Read more
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Messy Kitchen Ministry 