According to Dana Manciagli of Forbes Magazine “Active duty military spouses face a 24% unemployment rate. And over 31% are working part-time even if they would prefer to work full-time.” This statistic has been higher than the national unemployment rate for civilians for quite some time. While several initiatives are now taking place to help military spouses with employment…
October is Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness month. This is a topic that is very near and dear to my heart and always will be. I personally know how devastating losing a baby can be. Grief has no timeline and a loss is felt deeply no matter how many weeks along you were in your…
There is a learning curve for adults and children alike when it comes to military culture. Who is Sam the Soldier?is a book that helps to break down important aspects of military life in simple yet understandable concepts. It is written by Erin Morris, an Army Veteran, who devotes her time to supporting other veterans. …
Strength 4 Spouses is a place where military spouses, veterans, and those who support the military can find encouragement, inspiration, and resources to help them find their strength through the ups and downs of all phases of military life. While there are many ways to find strength in this lifestyle, Strength 4 Spouses focuses on…
I absolutely love the 4th of July holiday. It’s the time of year to celebrate independence and patriotism with friends and family, July is the halfway mark of the year, and the weather is nice and hot in the south. I have always considered myself patriotic, but being a military spouse has made me even…
Synopsis: Born Under Fire is a historical novel that takes place during the 1930’s. It paints a wonderful picture of what life was like when Jews were forced to flee the rule of Hitler and escaped to Israel. As you follow the life of the main character, Shula, you learn about the deeply embedded traditions…
Pregnancy and infant loss are two of the most devastating situations moms can face. It takes so much strength to recover from that type of tragedy. When a woman does get pregnant again after loss, how is the next pregnancy for her emotionally? This month’s post in the “Finding Your Strength” series will detail what…
Did you know “The unemployment that affects military spouses as a result of the military lifestyle costs the U.S. economy almost one billion dollars a year” (Blue Star Families). Underemployment and unemployment are two key issues that have been a hot topic for years. Instant Teams is doing their part to open doors to portable and remote careers…
This book is written by Chandelle Walker and illustrated by Joshua Allen. To learn more about Chandelle or to order your copy of her book, click here. Disclaimer: A free copy of this book was issued in exchange for an honest review. Daddy Left with Mr. Army approaches the topic of deployment and the…
Since the year 1986, thanks to Secretary of Defense Caspar Weinberger, April has been dubbed Month of the Military Child to celebrate these amazing kiddos located all over the world. Throughout the month, you can expect to see special activities at installations nationwide, online giveaways and contests, as well as tributes to these brave little…
**Guest Post by Kara Ludlow** It wasn’t supposed to be this way. After all, I had selected the word, “brave” as our family’s word for the year. Grace, my ten-year-old, had painted the word in gold letters on white cardstock and artfully framed it with fabric backing. BRAVE hung on the wall in the…
This book is written by Leslie Zimmerman. She spent time as a combat medic in the Army and exited service at the rank of Sgt. After watching the impact deployment had when her sister deployed, she was inspired to open up the conversation of deployment for children through her children’s books. To learn more about…
This year was InDependent’s 3rd annual virtual Military Spouse Wellness Summit. This is an online summit with speakers, a wellness lounge, and giveaways especially geared to the military spouse and first-responder spouse community. This year consisted of a fantastic line-up of 12 different speakers that all had expertise with the theme “Living a Life with…
Each year, I am so fortunate to meet a male military spouse within the military community. They are becoming increasingly common as females serving in the armed forces has also increased and their opinions are valuable. It is my absolute pleasure to share their stories and viewpoints in a special series titled “The Male Military…
*Guest Post by Heather.* As we head into the new year, everyone has the best of intentions for “new year, new me”. I disagree with this philosophy. Most of the time there isn’t anything wrong with the “you” from the past year. If you look back at all the things you accomplished, there is a…
College can be such a wonderful experience, but it can also be tough juggling school, work, and family. What most college students don’t realize is that graduating with a high grade point average can set you ahead of the competition and come in handy as you further your studies in the future. When I first…
Synopsis “All Eyes on Alexandra” is a children’s book that details the story of a migrating crane family. Alexandra is the curious crane, known to wander. Her curiosity about the world sets her up to be a great leader in the migration journey, once she gains the trust of her concerned family. This children’s book…
*Guest Post from Author Anna Levine* Moving on! Packing up and moving to a new home, a new country and an unfamiliar environment isunsettling. We can learn a lot from how animals adapt to changes. In my picture book, All Eyeson Alexandra, the flock prepares for their journey. “They clean their coats and dye their…
When I first heard of the MUTU system from a fellow military spouse, I wasn’t sure if it was for me since I do not have any children. She assured me that this program can help many women in all stages and ages of life whether pre-partum or post-partum. Being that I love all things…
Synopsis Karen Brown Tyson found herself laid off at the age of 51. While many feelings could have taken over and made her new path seem dark and bleak, she decided to take the time to trust in God, even when she did not understand the plan fully. Through this experience, she created a21-Day Devotional…
**Guest post by Author Karen Brown Tyson.** “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths” Proverbs 3:5-6 ESV. Life is full of trials. One minute everything is going smoothly and according to plan. The next minute we…
War Torn is a novel written by Wall Street Journal’s best-selling author Jeffrey Wilson. It follows the journey of a service member through pre-deployment, war, and the return home. The struggle with faith is intertwined into the storyline as Jake, the main character, has many questions for God that only he can find the answers…
When I left the military to become a mom and military spouse, I thought I was giving up my hard life for the good life. Being a mom looked like so much fun. It didn’t look lonely, stressful, or tiring. From the outside, it looked easy and fun. I had heard stories of parenting struggles,…
Military life is no doubt stressful for parents, but have you ever wondered how it affects children? In this three-part series, we will be taking a deeper look into the stresses of military life, how they impact kids, and strategies to help children cope and heal. Disclaimer: This is a sponsored post on behalf of…
It’s no secret that pregnancy loss can be devastating. What most people don’t realize though is that the healing journey is different for everyone. The time it takes to heal from such a loss is immeasurable. I have my days where I am full of hope, then I have other days where I long to…
My baby wouldn’t stop crying. Although my baby boy was six weeks old, it had been a tough six weeks. We had already been experiencing problems that had taken us to the doctor multiple times without a solution, but this time it was different. I could see the pain in his eyes. I went so…
When you are married to someone in the military, you realize how important a home cooked meal is for your spouse. My husband is like a growing child, he is always hungry. When he comes back from the field, I know he is ready to enjoy real food after eating MRE’s for days, weeks, and…
I was asked to share my story in hopes to connect with fellow military spouses who might be going through a similar situation. Sometimes, all it takes is that extra reassurance that no matter what, You are strong, You are a fighter, and You can do and get through anything that comes your way, even…
I was very apprehensive about taking part in this review for post earrings. I have not worn them since elementary school. This is when I found out they were the reason my ears got irritated, itchy, and infected. My skin is extremely sensitive and allergic to metals. In fact, I cannot even wear watches that…
Being married to someone in the military is not always peaches and cream. There’s the distance, unexpected schedules, moving rapidly, and the list goes on. Do you think milspouses just acclimated to this lifestyle or did their upbringing help to prepare them for this whirlwind life? To honor moms for Mother’s Day, I decided to…
May 11th, 2018 is Military Spouse Appreciation Day. It started back in 1984 by President Ronald Reagan and was declared to be celebrated on May 23rd. This date changed over time and is now observed the Friday before Mother’s Day each year. Why is Celebrating Military Spouses Important? There’s a difference of opinion when people…
Mother’s Day is all about showing appreciation for your mom and appreciating so many mothers all across the globe. However, there are many women who will not be celebrating Mother’s Day with their child or children this year. That first Mother’s Day after child loss is the most painful. In fact, most holidays and milestone…
Last Fall, I was honored to meet a male military spouse at Military One Click’s MilSpouse Fest. Due to the voice of male military spouses being one that is rarely heard, I humbly asked if he would be willing to allow me to interview him for the blog and share his story. He politely agreed…
**Guest Post by Lizann** Strength is… moving to another country where you don’t even speak the language. It is learning new things every single day. It’s bravely leading your children forward, when you have no idea what you’re doing. For military spouses, moving overseas can be one of the defining moments of their lives. It…
Making it to the Finish Line in Pregnancy
Making it to the finish line? I once thought, in terms of pregnancy, you are pregnant for nine months, make it to the glorious end, and out comes your precious new bundle on your due date. I never knew how difficult the end of a pregnancy could be until I experienced it for myself. It…
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