Military Lifestyle

Tim had a deployment when Jacob, our oldest, had just turned two. It was hard to know how to talk about it with him then—he didn't have the vocabulary or the understanding. Tim gave him a small stuffed lion and...

  How long have you been a part of the military? This doesn’t have to be as active duty. You also can be “just” the spouse or “just” the dependent. Whether it is one day or 30 years, you will...

I figured my mother to be a huge crime-book enthusiast as I was coming of age. She used to incessantly say that her biggest fear was of mistaken identity. Really!?! A 48-year-old single mother and middle school history teacher...

There are things in life to look forward to with eager anticipation; a deployment is not one of them.   For us, the dreaded deployment is underway and with each new document, training or additional uniform, there's greater awareness that the date is...

Spring is finally in the air, and Permanent Change of Station, better known as PCS season, is almost upon us! Are you one of the many military families that will be packing up your household goods and moving across...

Parents have completely ruined Easter Egg Hunts. Last year was the first and last time I will ever take my kid to an Easter Egg Hunt. She was 14 months old and had only been walking for just a few...

I vividly remember the day we got our orders for Oklahoma City. My husband just finished preliminary training and getting our selection that day was a big affair. His grades were so good that we had every reason to...

It was all about the title for our March book club selection, A Stranger in the House, by Shari Lapena. A little intrigue, a little mystery, and some good cover art really sucked me in - I could not...

Yes, that is the unofficial slogan for this West Texas town, population 115,930.  By the time we finally move this summer, we will have lived here for a total of 6, count them, SIX years! Join the Air Force, they...

I have three sons: 7, 4, and 1 1/2. I was unable to breastfeed any of them longer than eight weeks. I have what is called Hypoplasia/Insufficient Glandular Tissue (IGT), which means it is incredibly difficult for my breasts to...

I have been called Super-Mom on many occasions. I give a little smile and say “thanks” out of the side of my mouth. Of course, it’s nice for someone to notice all the effort I put into being a...

  I've never been extremely comfortable at the gym. For me, it feels a bit like visiting someone's house. Not really a stranger, but maybe a relative who has furniture you're not sure you can sit on. The machines can look...