Military Spouse Network
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Whether you are a Christian, Buddhist or a Pagan — or even if you are not sure if you follow any religious faith — you can still pray. Prayer is a way to release thoughts, hopes and wishes out into the universe. Prayer is a great way to let things go, ask for help and let your wishes and stresses out.
Many military families will tell you that prayer is an essential tool for mental and emotional health. When you get to the point where you have done everything you can do and you are still left with worry or doubt, prayer can be a huge relief. It’s also a great way to speak your mind and work through thoughts and feelings you are not ready to discuss with anyone else yet.
Tutorials and pictures of elaborate nail art are all the rage these days online. I thought it would be fun to find the best military-themed nails and put them all in one place with some instructions and tips from the experts!
These nails are a lot of work, and are they aren’t usually for everyday, around-the-house wear. They might make a fun addition to a homecoming outfit or could be perfect for a military ball, with a bit of a glamorous touch. See More
Facing a deployment can be overwhelming. Just seeing the dates on the calendar, thinking about the months that you will be on your own can really make you feel defeated before you are even a few days into the deployment. The time seems to stretch on and on and there doesn’t seem to be a conceivable end. The problem is that these extended periods of time are really hard to conceptualize.
Nine or 12 months away seems like forever, but counting down the days is really a helpful coping mechanism for families.
One of my pet peeves is when people ask me if it is hard to love a military guy. Deployments are hard. Moving is hard. Worrying is hard. Other people will say, “I don’t know how you can do it.”
But loving someone in the military is easy as pie. Really.
Part of loving someone is supporting them and going through all the things that are hard about life, together. So, we make do. We face deployments and even when he is home he misses some birthdays and family events, but we make do.
We’ve moved three times, and each time we moved, he got called away at the last minute for duty right before moving day. I was left to juggle packing and children and movers on my own, but we make do.
I fell in love with a person who happens to be in the military. Being in the military is a part of who he is and I wouldn’t change that about him even if I could. So, we make do.
I have many requests recently for advice about helping your marriage in the military — here are the six essential pillars that help me “make do” when the times are rough. See More
This post is part of a two part series on the Military Ball.
Part One: 4 Clues to Cracking the Military Ball Dress Code
The military ball is the annual event that every service member looks forward to. As a night full of honor, food, drinks, laughs and dancing, it is hard to see why any military member and their guest would want to miss out. However, for first-time attendees, the thought of attending such an event can seem a bit overwhelming. To help you prepare for the event, here is a list of things to expect to see at any military ball: See More
The military ball is an event that’s looked forward to by military members and their dates alike. It’s a night where those who have so dutifully served are allowed to indulge in some longstanding traditions, great food and drink, and a whole lot of fun.
For those who will be first-time dates to this year’s military ball, here are a few tips to keep in mind to make sure that you look appropriate and stylish: See More
I’m very excited to introduce a new way to connect with Veterans United Network and Military Spouse Central. We will be hosting regular weekly Hangouts, or group video chats, on the Veterans United Home Loans Google+ page!
You will have an opportunity to participate in live video chats, ask questions and chat with us and other military spouses. I think this will be so much more personal, and we can really get to know you and answer questions that you have.
Our first Hangout:
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Suddenly, I transform into a woman I hardly know who frets and throws tantrums over dresses that “are all bunchy in all the wrong places.” I fall into the traps of I-have-nothing-to-wear and I-look-awful-in-everything-I-put-on.
It is important to remember that your welcome will be a great one, no matter what you wear. Your service member misses you. Homecoming is about love and you can’t do love wrong. But I don’t think there’s anything wrong with picking out a special outfit for homecoming and doing a little extra primping for your service member. The extra effort can help show significant others they’re special.
Over the last year lots of military spouses have asked me for advice on what to wear for homecoming. I am not a fashion expert, but here are some of my suggestions, examples, ideas and tips gathered from the military homecomings I ‘ve seen. See More
We asked our followers what they thought about the female airmen who breastfed in uniform for a photo op that promoted breastfeeding. We got some great responses, some even from female veterans who have experience breastfeeding their infants while they were in the military. Here is what they had to say. See More
The No. 1 requested item in a care package?
A letter.
It sounds simple but a letter is priceless to service members during a deployment or even training. I have never talked to a service member or veteran who didn’t think fondly of the letters they received. There is just something about a snail-mail, handwritten love letter. It is a physical reminder that you took time to sit down and write to your spouse. It is something tangible: your spouse can hold it, tuck it away in a pocket and revisit your words at any time.
I have written hundreds, maybe even thousands of letters. Sometimes I feel like I can write 50 pages and pour my heart out and other times I pull a blank. So here is some advice for when you are feeling less inspired and trying to craft that perfect love letter.
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