Overseas

Fall is my favorite season – I love the beautiful colors of the foliage, the cooler temperatures, and the calm in the schedule before the hectic pace of the holidays begins.  We’ve been stationed in Europe for the past 2...

We were stationed in Stuttgart, Germany for two years. The plan was to be there for three, but of course, plans are for losers. It took awhile to adjust. I arrived six months pregnant and was suddenly not working. Then...

One of the most stressful decisions we make as parents is where to send our children to school. If you are a military family, you do it more often than our country holds presidential elections. Our children start a new...

Gone are the days when I can just pack a small carry-on, drink my coffee, and read a book while I wait for my next flight snuggled up against my husband. I used to watch traveling families and smile as...

Unless you've been living under a rock (pun totally intended), you've probably heard about or seen The Kindness Rocks Project (or one of its MANY offshoots) in action.  The concept is simple -- brighten someone's day by painting rocks, hiding them...

A long time ago, I was told that I was trying to fit a square peg into a round hole. I wanted something in my life to go a certain way and, well, it just wasn't. As a particular...

In terms of military assignments, I’ve been pretty fortunate. Even for some locations with mixed reviews, I have always found something positive about my time there. Bloom where you’re planted and all. What I never expected was to instantly and...

As moms in the military community, it's important to educate ourselves on Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). If left unchecked or untreated, it can potentially lead to substance abuse, violent behavior, or suicide. What is PTSD? Everyone has painful memories, right? But not...

So you received orders to move overseas? You may be scared of the unknown. You may be sad to sell your house or leave behind your friends. If you have kids, you may be dreading the fact that they...

First, a story: I was traveling from Dallas to Miami to visit my mom for Easter. I had my three children — ages 10, 6, and 2. I had my backpack. Each kid had a backpack crammed with lollipops...

Call me crazy, but I absolutely love PCSing! It is a great opportunity to purge all the junk in our house, find a new place to call home (usually with more space, maybe a pool, and better appliances), redecorate/buy...

"Because getting there is half the fun. You know that." -- Clark W. Griswold (National Lampoon's Vacation) Sometimes I feel like this quote from one of my favorite movies should really say, "Getting there is half the work ..." When it...