Reintegration: The Road Back After Korea - Part 1 - The Beginning

AWC > Military Life > Reintegration:  The Road Back After Korea

As most or all of you know, my husband spent the last year at Camp Hovey in South Korea.  As most people would be, I was so excited for my husband's homecoming that I forgot, that one of hardest part was yet to come.

A hardship tour is a lot different from a deployment in a lot of respects because during deployment there are reintegration meetings and FRG's are there to assist you with anything that you might need right before a deployment ends.  However, during a hardship tour you don't have any of that.

100th Post - Poem- The Military Wife Can Handle

AWC >Military Life > Poem - The Military Wife Can Handle


It's our 100th blog post on AWC.  I think this poem is fitting for the 100th post! It's been around for years.  I had to share it.  If anyone ever finds the author, let me know.  I'd love to give them credit!

Blended Families - They're Here!

AWC >Blended Families > They're Here!

Here are the kids arriving with Grandma at RDU for their Christmas visit with their dad. I just love how they switch to hug each of us.

CLICK HERE TO FIND MORE POSTS ABOUT OUR BLENDED FAMILY EXPERIENCES

• Military Stepkids - Why They Love XBOX
• Blended Families - Personalizing Christmas Cards
• Blended Families - They're Here!
• Blended Families - 12 Days of Christmas
• Blended Families - Anything is Possible at Walt Disney World
• Military Stepkids - Flying Unaccompanied
• Military Stepkids - It's Fashion Show Day
• Military Stepfamilies: July the Month of the Military Stepchild?
• Blended Families - Stepkids & Summer

Review & Giveaway - "Now You Tell Me! 12 Army Wives Give the Best Advice They Never Got"

I was contacted by Arundel Publishing to write a review about "Now You Tell Me!  12 Army Wives Give the Best Advice They Never Got".  They gave me a copy of the book to read, and Army Wives Club is going to give that book away to one of our followers. 

When I got the book, I was skeptical.  I was worried that the book was going to be a regurgitation of MWR, ACSS, and other military programs.  I was pleasantly surprised.  The 12 Army Wives that Sheridan Scott, B.K. Sherer, and Donna Lyons spoke to were extremely candid.   

Soldier flies home when his pregnant Army Wife goes into coma

AWC > Make A Difference > Soldier Flies Home When His Pregnant Army Wife Goes Into Coma

UPDATE: Bringing Home the Browns: The Last Brown is Home!

"At 34 weeks pregnant, while her husband, Sean was in Afghanistan, Heather slipped into a coma and the baby was taken by emergency C-Section. " 

• Website ----> http://keepdreaming76.wix.com/heather-brown#!home/mainPage
• Facebook--> https://www.facebook.com/BringingHomeTheBrowns
• Donate-----> Heather &John Brown Fund, C/O Austin Bank, PO Box 1464. Gladewater, TX 75647
• Email-------->  bringinghomethebrowns@gmail.com
• Cards/Gifts-> The Brown's , PO Box 644, Gladewater, TX 7564

 Read Our Other Blogs about Bringing Home the Browns

• 08/01/2013 - Bringing Home the Browns: The Last Brown is Home!
• 10/26/2012 - Bringing Home the Browns

Make Difference by reading the blog posts below

• Be The Match
• Hope For Alyssa - Army Kid Needs Heart Transplant

TTC - RE Docs Secretly Vampires??? Blood Draw & Results

In August I went to get a million vials of blood drawn for my infertility testing.  I started wondering if my RE Doc was a Vampire.  Ok a million is exaggerating.  It was only 10. 

©Disney's Armed Forces Salute Returns!

It's TRUE!  ©Disney's Armed Forces Salute has returned! Below is the Press Release and link for the website.

• Press Release
• © Disney's Armed Forces Salute Website

There are a lot of choices of where to stay.  I encourage you to explore many options.    Here are a couple to get you started.

• Shades of Green
• Armed Forces Vacation Club

Military Disney Tips has a plethora of information, links, and blog regarding Military Discounts & Travel for ©Disney.  Check them out!

We personally want to thank Disney and all the companies that provide these opportunities to military families.  We appreciate your support.

To Bee or not to Bee

     I've lived in Fayetteville area since 2008.  My allergies have been horrendous ever since I've moved here.  I've heard mention that local honey can cure what ails me.

     Yesterday I went to 'Sun Asian Market'.  Besides picking up some goodies to make Sushi, (Salmon, Sushi Rice, Sushi Seasoning & Sesame Seeds) I found local honey!

     

     I purchased it for $10.  The whole family had some with a biscuit this morning.  It was DELICIOUS!  I'll let ya know if Honey curing my allergies is to be or not to be at a later date.

Have you tried honey to ease your allergy woes?  If so, did honey work for you?  Know of any great places near Army Posts that provide local honey?  Comment Below!


--Jenn

Warning:  Children under one year old should not eat honey.  You can read more about Infant Botulism in the Mayo Article, "Infant Botulism:  Can it be Prevented?"

Father/Daughter Dance & Jommy/Son Date Night

June 22, 2012, was the Father Daughter Ball at the  Fort Bragg Club.  It was an amazing event.  I only know this because my 10 year-old daughter came home and told me all about it.  She raved about the punch fountain and the ice cream cones.  The highlight of her night was dancing with her daddy.  I'm thrilled that the MWR puts on these events.  A perfect night for a princess and her dad!  

Blended Families - Stepkids & Summer

AWC >Blended Families > Stepkids & Summer

It's the time of year!  The time when stepchildren descend onto military posts everywhere!  Some children are lucky and remain near both of their parents. That is a rare occurrence in military life.

Summer visits are different. Our kids visit for 5 weeks.  Other friends of mine have the whole summer with their stepchildren. Our lives go from a childless home to the pitter patter of feet.  It's 0-60 in one day!  It's also doubles our house size and consumption.  During the summer you almost lose track of when they return back to their mother.  We get an opportunity to really get into the groove of family life with them.

What's your Deployment/Redeployment Song?

While my husband was deployed to Afghanistan, I had a favorite song.  It was one I could listen to over and over.  Sometimes it made me cry.  Sometimes it made me smile.  Whether happy or sad, I felt more connected to him when I listened to it.


My song was:  Drifter by Amie Miriello

What's yours??? Comment below!  

Want to know what Army Wives and S/O's are Vloggin' about on YouTube?

Want to know what Army Wives and S/O's are Vloggin' about on YouTube?

Check out Army Wives Club's Featured Playlists on YouTube!  

Playlists are updated as content becomes available.  We are always looking for new vlogs.  Email ArmyWivesClubPage@gmail.com if you have a You Tube channel you would like us to subscribe to.   Your content may end up in one of our playlists!  

Below are our Playlist topics: 

• AWC:  The Frugal Life!
• AWC:  Trying to Conceive 
• AWC:  Entertainment Reviews
• AWC:  Health & Fitness
• AWC:  Make-up, Hair, & Fashion
• AWC:  Weight Loss Journeys
• AWC:  Army Life Vlogs
• AWC:  Pregnancy Vlogs
• AWC:  Welcome Home Videos

Army Fiancee Scam!

Attention all spouses, girlfriends, fiancees, and family members of Army personnel. There is currently a scam being sent out. It is targeting Fiancee's of Soldiers. 


To be clear there are NO third party companies that process changes to a service member's death benefits.  If you or a soldier receive this email, delete it.  If a soldier is interested in changing a death benefit, they need to contact their personnel office (S1).

Bank of America: Museums on Us® April 7th & 8th

If you have Bank of America Debit Card and you are like me, you know about the "Museums On Us" but you always forget when it is.  IT'S THIS WEEKEND!!!!!!!  


For those of you who have no clue what I am talking about, visit "Museums on Us® - Bank of America" to find out the below:

• Participating Museums
• Participation Details
• Dates offered

Now get out there and explore!

Note:  This is not a paid endorsement.  I think it's a really great and affordable opportunity to check out some museums. 

Looking for some new Recipes?

I'm all about promoting other Army Wives businesses, blogs, and other happenings.  When it's something about food with  pictures of some cheesy bacony dip (Is bacony a word?), you know I took notice!  

See!!! It looks tasty, doesn't it?


I stumbled upon "I'm Dippin' Again!" by CBess83 in her Tumblr blog "Cook and let Afghani 'stand' for 9 months".  She posts recipes weekly with tons of mouth watering pictures.  The blog shows pictures of ingredients, during the creating, and the final product.  CBess83 walks you through the recipes and then sprinkles some touching stories about her and her hubby Tyler.


You don't need a Tumblr account to read her blog.  Join Tumblr and follow her, or bookmark her in your browser.


Thanks for sharing your delicious food err I mean receipes with us CBess83!


--Jenn

What are some of your favorite recipes or online recipe blogs?  Share in the comments below!

Fort Bragg: It's time to Play!

I'm a doer.  I like to be out and about.  Kids are no different.  Fort Bragg has so many great spaces for your kids to play. There are tons of parks and playgrounds on Ft. Bragg.  Here are my favorite two! They are Wilson Park & Throckmorton Library Playground.

Up first it's Wilson Park!  This is the all ages, all abilities playground.  The playground itself is wheelchair accessible.  An individual utilizing a wheelchair can get onto portions of the apparatus via the yellow ramp.  It has two rock climbing walls.  My 9 & 10 year were not disappointed.  If you have a toddler there will be things to do, but you will not be sitting.  You will be right next to them due to your toddlers access to apparatuses that are built for the bigger kids.   


There are bathrooms.  BRING YOUR OWN TOILET PAPER because they were out when we visited.  I'd give them a B- on cleanliness but make no mistake, they are WAY BETTER than a port-a-potty.


Parking here is limited when it's busy. 


There are grills and covered picnic tables with a lake view.  Perfect place to picnic and play!

View of the whole playground 

View from the back of the park. Brown Building on left are bathrooms

Note: There is a toddler playground  at Wilson Park but it is on the other end of the lake.. You will be walking over lots of ground and pine needles.  There isn't a side walk that connects the two of them.  Your best bet is to hop back in the car and drive to the other parking lot.

My second favorite park on Fort Bragg is the playground that sits next to the Throckmorton Library on Knox & Randolph.  It's diagonally across for FORSCOM and across from the Track.  This park is wheelchair accessible. However, sometimes the mulch goes over the rubberized walkway when it rains.  This may make it difficult to maneuver through the park with wheelchairs.

This park is great for families that have toddlers and older children.  The Toddler Playground and "Bigger Kids" Playground sit right next to eachother.  It's a park that allows you to entertain every age of child.

Parking is plentiful here.  Park in the Library parking lot.

Bathrooms are in the Library which a short walk.

In June and July Throckmorton hosts a Summer Reading Program..  They have many events!  Keep them in mind for your summer plans.  It's an inexpensive way to entertain your kids.  Remember to bring your military ID in case you want to check out some books or movies.

Older kids Playground

Toddler Playground

Toddler Playground

Send a Deployed Soldier a FREE Photobook

Send a Soldier some memories of home for free! USO and RocketLife have teamed up to make this happen! 


CLICK HERE to launch the site and begin creating a 20 page personalized photobook!

National Military Family Association: 2012 Operation Purple Camps -APPLY NOW!

Apply Now through April 19th!  1 Free week of camp!  There is a $25 per child charge to hold a spot if your child is selected to attend.


Click Here for more information about National Military Family Association: 2012 Operation Purple Camps  


Click Here to Apply Now!

Don't Post Dates!

I've seen it over and over again.  More so on Tumblr & Twitter.  Ladies are counting down the arrival of their soldiers. Saying they are going to pick up their soldier tomorrow.  Don't do it.

  

I didn't post a date.  I said I'd be picking up my soldier this week. 

OR I didn't post a date.  I posted a pic.

Twitter, Tumblr, Facebook, and many other sites you use, timestamp your posts.  It's not hard to deduce what it means when you say, "I'm picking up my soldier tomorrow or this week."  Same thing for photos! It takes little information to determine if that photo is recent or old from the information you blog about your life.  

What about when I drop him off to leave?  They announced it in the Newspaper, what's the big deal?

Don't post pics of your goodbye until you know the troops have safely arrived down range.  Yes, I know troop deployments are announced, however, actual date of arrival is not.  When you post the pic that you just dropped off your soldier at a hangar or field and he's leaving, you've just told the 'bad guys' that our soldiers are coming.

What about when he comes home?

I know. I know. he's home.  So you think what harm can that do?  Well is he the last soldier coming home?  Brigades do not arrive all in one flight or one day.  Unless your soldier is the last one home, hold your information until all soldiers have arrived safely.  

Army Wives Club, seriously, like the bad guys can find my blog....really?

Yes!  It's quite easy.  Look how our website reposts your pictures and things you say.  If we can find your blogs, photos, and videos, so can they.  AWC does it  for sharing, fun, and friendship.  I doubt this will be the intention of the 'bad guys'.

In closing..

We know you love your soldier.  We know you want to shout it from the rooftop when he/she's home.  We know you want to share what's going on in your life during deployment. Remember to error on the side of caution.  It's better to be safe than sorry.

Please follow the OPSEC Rules. If you are unaware of what these are just ask. Please do not post any information regarding your loved ones deployment or redeployment dates. This is for our soldier’s safety as well as yours.

--Jenn

Welcome Home Banners! Don't Miss out!

Is your soldier coming home soon? Don't miss out on this great deal from Build-A-Sign. I've used Build-A-Sign to create a beautiful banner for when my Husband redeployed in April 2010. The quality is great. You can't beat the price! 


Check them out! http://www.buildasign.com/Troops Thanks Build-A-Sign!


 --Jenn