Fort Drum events

Here is a GIANT list of events going on at Fort Drum in December!


12/1/09
5:30 – 6:30 pm
The Youth HIRED Program Open House
Open House for the January term. Teens interested in working may apply for an apprenticeship through the HIRED! Apprentice Program. Teens will work in selected FMWR facilities for 12 week terms. There are 4 terms per year. Youth are paid at the end of each term. Training is provided. Open to Military and DoD Civilian dependents ages 15 - 18. Rachael Mereand 772-0281

12/2/09
5:15 – 7 pm
Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony Join us at the Main Post Chapel for the Annual Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony. Enjoy Christmas Caroling, the official lighting of the tree and a visit from Santa. Following the ceremony join us in the Youth Center for a reception and pictures with Santa. Chaplain Chip Fields 772-8032

12/5/09
Sugar Plum Ball
The annual father and daughter holiday ball will be held at The Commons. Proceeds from this event support of the Samaritan Foundation and the Watertown Family YMCA. Samaritan Foundation 785-5745
12/8/09
5 – 7 pm
FMWR/AUSA Family Holiday Celebration
Celebrate the holidays with FMWR and AUSA at The Commons. Join us for a free pizza and pasta buffet, Christmas carols with the CYSS Chorus, special guest performance and pictures with Santa. Doors open at 4:45 pm.
Michelle Roden 772-6622

12/9/09
9 am
Trees for the Troops Distribution Begins
600 evergreen trees generously donated by The National Christmas Tree Association will be distributed on Fort Drum. Contact unit representative for distribution lists. Michelle Roden 772-6622

12/12/09
2 – 3:30 pm
Colonial Christmas Celebration at The Library
Step back in time and experience what Christmas was like in Colonial times. Parents and youth may share stories, crafts and refreshments from colonial times. This program is for youth of all ages. Space is limited to 35 people so registration is required. Contact the Library at 772-9099 or stop in at the front desk. Allen Goudie 772-9099

12/12/09
5 pm
Lights on the Lake Trip
Join us on a trip to the “Lights on the Lake” exhibit in Syracuse, NY.
The cost is $5 per person. Interested patrons must sign up and pay the non-refundable in advance. For more information about the Lights on the Lake, go to www.lightsonthelake.com
Gene Spencer 772-8222

Tuesdays
5 – 7 pm
Family Night
Dec 1 – Celebrity Reader
Dec 8 – Holiday Party
Dec 15 – Cookie Decorating
Spend the evening out with the kids at the Winner’s Circle. Each week there is a special fun activity for the children to participate in. The Pizza and Pasta Buffet is sure to meet anyone’s appetite. $6 for adults and $3 for children 8 and under.
Cindy Romig 772-6222

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December Post With The Most - Fort Hood Goings On

Fort Hood and Fort Stewart were our tied winners for the December Post With The Most. There is SOOOOOOOOOOO much going on at these two posts, but I'm about to tell you what's going on at Fort Hood!

The Williamson County Symphony Orchestra presents
“I’ll Be Home for Christmas”
to the Fort Hood community. Witness music come alive as over 85 musicians fill Howze Theater with the sounds of the season. Young and old alike will enjoy this spectacular music display, sure to put the cheer of the holidays in your heart.

The orchestra has been performing on Fort Hood each holiday season since 2004; a performance that is well-loved by all ages! All are invited to this free event on December 5 at 7:30pm at Howze Theater.

Tickets will not be sold; entrance is first come, first serve. Howze Theater is located on Battalion Avenue near 75th Street. For more information, call 254-286-5342.

Homefront Debriefing for Soldiers in Relationships
Homecoming, while joyous, often presents unique challenges to Soldiers and their spouses. Soldiers are invited to attend a free open forum discussion on topics such as:
• Coping with combat related stress
• Communicating with loved ones
• Adjusting to the community after deployment
FREE December 8, 9-11:30am
Oveta Culp Hobby Soldier and Family Readiness Center
For more information or to reserve your seat, please call 254-618-7827.

Second Annual Holiday Dash 5K Run/Walk
19 December, 8 am

Race begins at Abrams Physical Fitness Center
62nd Street and Support Avenue
254-285-5459

Free, Open to the Public
First 150 registrants receive a commemorative T-shirt. Trophies will be awarded to best overall male and female. Medals will be awarded for the top three finishers in each age group.

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AWN Holiday Treasure Hunt 2009

AWN Holiday Treasure Hunt Three Weeks of Holiday Fun! Starting Nov 30th with prizes awarded each week!

Army Wife Network wants you to win some great prizes! Go to http://www.armywifenetwork.com/?p=2014 to enter our new contest where you can win prizes each week!

Each week (on Monday) download our AWN Treasure Hunt Questions off of our website!Hint: The list will be a downloadable PDF so you can keep it and print it for reference.

Using the list search www.armywifnetwork.com, www.lovingasoldier.com, www.camosock.com, and/or www.oldglorysoldiers.com to find the answers to the five questions. Email your answers to holidayhunt@armywifenetwork.com by 5pm on the following Friday to be entered to WIN! Our winner(s)** will be announced on AWN Facebook Fan page and on our LIVE radio show, Army Wife Talk Radio December 7, 14, and 21st!

**Winners receive a Holiday Gift Delivery System, AKA CAMOSOCK from Terk Designs, LLC and a handpainted military sign from Old Glory Soldiers!

Special thanks to our wonderful sponsors!

Go to http://www.armywifenetwork.com/?p=2014 for this week's list of questions!

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Introducing....Me....Kelly Clark

Greetings to my fellow Army Wives! My name is Kelly Clark, a new addition to the Army Wife Network - Post with the Most team. I am so excited to join the group and look forward to learning and sharing with you all.

I thought I would take this opportunity to introduce myself. I have been married to my Soldier for 9 years and have two sweet girls - ages 4.5 and 3.5 (they add that .5 in these days!) Our Army journey has taken us from Ft. Stewart, GA (1-64 AR) to Camp Casey, Korea (2-72 AR) to Duke University, NC to West Point, NY (History Dept.) and back to Ft. Stewart and the 3rd Infantry Division. While the Army Life offers us plenty of frustration - it also provides us with some amazing opportunities and the best friends anyone could ever ask for - ARMY WIVES! I have been blessed along this journey to meet some amazing women who have become mentors, teachers, confidants, friends and my inspiration!




I am a teacher by trade, but have found myself in many different jobs over the years, some paid, many volunteer. I have worked as a Prevention Specialist for Family Advocacy, an instructr for the Red Cross, an AFTB Master Trainer, Moms & Tots coordinator, Womens' Club President, Parish Council Member, and Parents' Council Secretary.... whew, that's a bunch when I list it all out!

I love to read and spend time with my family. I am a jeans and clogs type of gal. I like to get dressed up for balls and such, but am happy to leave the starched shirts and suits hanging in the back of the closet! I love to cook with my girls and have no will power around chewy brownies. I try to live as 'green' life as possible and hope to make the gym more of a priority this year :) I can't tell you who's winning on American Idol or much about popular TV these days, but will happily share the newest trick I have learned with my digital photography software or recipe!

I'm looking forward to sharing with you all and hope you'll check out all that's new on the AWN message boards and Post with the Most!

Army Strong! Kelly

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Happy Thanksgiving!!

To all of the Soldiers and their families who read this, please know that YOU are one of the things I am most thankful for on this day of Thanksgiving! I appreciate all the sacrifices you make to ensure we are safe!

For those of you who are unable to spend today with your Soldier, please know that both you and your Soldier are in my family's thoughts and prayers! We hope your time apart goes by quickly and that you are happily reunited soon!

I hope all of you have a wonderful Thanksgiving!!! Don't forget to take a few minutes and think about the things YOU are most thankful for!!

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i'm thankful for being a bad liar

this morning i woke up next to my husband and listening to the kids playing and i started thinking about how we got to this point. now, in my very first post, i gave a very brief account of how we met but i never explained what led me to the computer where i found him.

you see, not only have i been a bad liar my whole life but i was a late bloomer and my first real relationship was with a guy that my friends warned me about by saying "he's going to chew you up and spit you out". i had no idea what they were talking about because he seemed like such a great guy. as my relationship with him was turning very sour and almost abusive i began to understand what they had meant but was at a loss on what to do because i truly believed this new guy he had become was not really him. it wasn't until i found emails on my desktop he had been sending from my computer to other women that opened my eyes. in these emails he sounded exactly like he had in the beginning of our relationship. i was hurt, shocked, and incredibly ticked off. i broke up with him and it was rough even though he was a giant jerk. enter: one of my best friends.

my self esteem took a big, big hit. he would try to convince me that i was worthy of a good guy, and one night set up a profile online for me. i started to receive emails from a bunch of men and was thoroughly confused as to why. i was telling him about it and he copped to doing it. he and i read some emails together, and some were great for a laugh. i thanked him but told him that i would probably never write to any of these guys. until one night. i read one email and there was nothing profound in what he wrote, but i had to write him back. we wrote back and forth for a few months but i was still on the fence about meeting him. one night he asked for my number, i gave it to him, and minutes later we were on the phone. he asked me out and i lied about having prior plans. we talked for hours on the phone and towards the end, he asked me out again and asked if my friends would mind if i cancelled on them. i stalled and said i'd call them to see what they were planning on doing that night, he said he would call me an hour later to see if i wanted to meet him and go out. we hung up, and i decided i needed to figure out if i did indeed want to meet him. as the hour dragged on i decided against meeting him, but i did not really expect him to call back. he called exactly one hour later. as i started to explain that i was not able to get out of my earlier plans, i heard myself saying i WAS able to change my plans and looked forward to meeting him. my lying skills were seriously flawed.

the night we met, i was nervous and spoke to one of my friends before our date. she said "belle, you need to relax. it's not like you're going to marry the guy or anything." . *haha, famous last words.*

it's almost 10 years later, and i am thankful for: my friend who put a profile ad online; my kids who make me laugh and are amazing; my husband who found my ad and makes me wonder what i did right to deserve this wonderful, amazing man.

lastly i am thankful for being such a crap liar, because if i were a good one, i would not be here this morning with this man who has given me so much that my list of ALL i was thankful for would be almost never ending.

a very happy thanksgiving to you all, and a big thank you to all of you out there who are in deployment and missing your special soldier.

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Tis the season

Tis the season for giving. Today I helped my son’s first grade class deliver the canned goods they collected for the local food pantry. It got me to thinking if our kids can get out there and give then why don’t more of us? I feel that when you give of yourself it will always come back and give you a reward. If you don’t believe me …get out there and give it a try!! For those of you who already volunteer ....I thank you and praise you!!! You are Wonderful! As an Army wife I feel I am very blessed and especially during the holidays I want to spread my blessings to others. I encourage those of you who feel blessed this holiday season to adopt an Angel or give to the Food Pantry or volunteer at the soup kitchen….there are so many oppourtunites…..if our kids can do it….WE certainly can!!

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Friends For Life

Our November selection for Book Club is Friends For Life Strangers Brought Together by the War in Iraq by Jennifer MackInday and Patti Donahue. Patti and Jennifer both joined us for our on air segment of book club on Army Wife Talk Radio.

Friends For Life is a moving story of two very different women who were brought together because they both had loved ones deployed to Iraq. Patti's son and Jennifer's brother were both serving in the same unit in Iraq and both women were desperate for information

The result of the women's friendship is a unique book that offers a different perspective on the war in Iraq. The book is full of conversations between the two women and their soldiers ranging from weather and meals, to raw and candid conversations about PTSD and patrolling in combat.

Friends for Life also happens to have an appendix full of ideas for things to do when your soldier is deployed and has a comprehensive list of groups who are trying to help soldiers and their families.

Mackinday and Donahue bring to light the experiences of mother, fathers, sisters, and brothers of those serving their country in Iraq.

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Internet Public Library

Do you need to go to the library and the snow is blowing, or you have sick kids? This is a site to check out. It has a kids section with some stories, your can read newspapers, books, do research on topics, even ask a librarian for help! If your older child or teen needs to do a report, this is the place to go! http://www.ipl.org,

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Join Star as Guest (Not co-host this time)

November 20, 2009 at 9pm EST - Star Henderson will be visiting the CMW Talk Show with Ms. DJ Cupcake (Claire Shackelford). Star serves as co-host of Army Wife Talk Radio, Co-Author of Field Problems, and speaker at Field Exercises as well as Editor-in-Chief of Army Wife Network.

Oh.....and a LovingASoldier blogger.

She is a National Guard Army wife and Army veteran of full-time and Army Reserve components. Since leaving the military, she worked briefly as a budget analyst with the Department of the Army and later returned to school to earn her Master of Arts in Professional Counseling.

Star has been married to the military for 14 years and has two children with MAJ David Henderson, US Army National Guard Georgia, currently deployed to Afghanistan.

All I can say is...chillin' on a Friday night, Christian Military Wives, and someone said there'd be cupcakes...God is Good! Join us: It'll be a unique experience for me for sure.

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Imagine...holidays like Rockwell?

I was just thinking as I plan and prepare for the family to come together next week for our two in one holiday, what was it that I used to hold up as the standard for a great Thanksgiving and Christmas? A Norman Rockwell painting was my dream as a young married wife with children. I wanted the white starched tablecloth, the large turkey, the heads bowed in prayer of all those seated together at the table.Of course all those at the table got along and never complained that the gravy was lumpy or the children spoiled.

As time went on I was more at home with the reality...and now as a grandmother, I positively love the fact that it is not that way at all. It is a relative mystery and miracle that as we gather together with all the imperfections, lumps and bumps that occur in the festivities and the relationships, we all look back on it as the best time we ever had.

How do you look at the holidays? I know that when our son was in Iraq, everything took on a whole different feeling. Boxes were lovingly packed, the children encouraged to make pictures and things to send...but there was a loneliness that was just part of the day , as his place was not filled at home. The first time he went, we had Christmas in October...that little event made it into our second book for military kids:..."when winters chill was in the air, Christmas came again, our quiet little Christmas, was lonely without him." The second time he went, we sent the boxes.

How is your family coping with holidays if you have a loved one deployed? If your all together this time, what things do you do that make it special?

Hoping that all of you will be blessed and that you will find joy in the midst of the imperfections!

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The German Christmas Gingerbread House

Well, the furnace went out and so the fire in the fireplace is not just for show tonight! The grandchildren came over and we made the gingerbread house we had been talking about. I felt a little bad about not doing it from scratch, but it seems not to matter to them! We ate too much candy as we decorated, and the kids were head to toe frosting!

Our son (their Daddy) is going to Germany for three years. We decided that Christmas will come two days after Thanksgiving and so the preparations have begun!

A big turkey dinner on Thursday, put the tree up Friday, and Sunday the whole works, stockings, gifts and a German meal to give the kids a taste of where Daddy is going.

Here are the proud creators of the gingerbread house, and then to get you in the mood for Christmas, our beautiful Colorado mountains (I went snowshoeing this week!)

Happy Thanksgiving... and to any other military families with an early holiday...Merry Christmas!

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Travel Plans?

For most of us military families, the holiday season usually means one thing: TRAVEL! One of the downsides of being in the military is that we tend to be geographically separated from our families, thus requiring some pretty lengthy road trips or airplane rides to be with the ones we love during the holidays.

Now that I'm a BIG two year old, Mommy and Daddy have to buy me a plane ticket when we fly. Well, after a few weeks of looking at airline tickets they came to the quick realization THAT wasn't going to happen! Just for the three of us to fly home it was going to cost over $1500!! CRAZY! Therefore, we are going to attempt a ROAD TRIP! All I really care about is being at my Grammy's house...even if it does mean lots of time in the car!

For those of you more seasoned travelers, can you please give us some tips? Have you ever stayed at the on-Post hotels while traveling? Was it worth it? What kinds of things do you take in the car to keep everyone happy and occupied? Thanks for your help...Mommy needs all she can get!!

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Position Taken

I was loading groceries in the car the other day when a kind man helped me load a particularly heavy item in the back of the car. My six year old piped up in the back and said, "Excuse me sir, but she already has a husband, he's a soldier."

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Move That Bus

Between four kids, deployments and seven moves, I have not taken the best care of myself, translation, I have packed on some pounds.

So one of the deployment silver linings is it is the perfect time to lose some weight. I do not have to cook dinner every night and I can eat dinner when I am hungry not at 2100 when my husband drags himself home.

I used the day he left for my cutoff date, and I started the next day. I have already lost almost thirty pounds. I am feeling so much better, and I know that I am avoiding the temptation to eat or drink to make myself feel better during the deployment. I also know that at the end of the year I will be healthier and happier.

I can't wait for the big reveal, you know that moment on that Home Makeover show when they say "move that bus," and everyone screams and cries because the house is so fantastic. I can't wait to see my husband's face! Fortunately every time I put on pants that are a size smaller I get the "move that bus" feeling just for myself!

I want so badly to thrive during this deployment and not just survive. Plus I am doing something for myself everyday, and that feels great! Who's with me?

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Don't know what to bring to the table? AAFES Knows!

My daughter and I are going to try this next week while the kids are out of school. We've been invited to have supper with another family, and we just don't know what to bring, so I thought I'd share...

And there's a contest too...see below!

OREO TURKEY RECIPE SUPPLIES:

OREO COOKIES
REESE’S MINATURE PEANUT BUTTER CUPS
WHOPPERS MALTED MILK BALLS
BRACH’S CANDY CORN
CHOCOLATE FROSTING
WHITE FROSTING
ORANGE FOOD COLORING (for feet)
TOOTHPICKS

Place Oreo Cookie as base and place a dab of chocolate frosting on top to attach mini peanut butter cup.
Place a dab of chocolate frosting on top of the peanut butter cup to attach the malted milk ball for the head.
Place candy corn in the edge of the second Oreo cookie (tail).
Place a dab of chocolate frosting on the widest part of mini peanut butter cup and attach to Oreo (tail).
Break off the white tip of a candy corn and dip in chocolate frosting and place on malted milk ball for the beak.
Use toothpick with icing to add eyes and feet.
Your turkey is complete!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING
FROM THE AAFES FAMILY!

Have other creative cookie, cake, or cupcake ideas?
Share it for your chance at $2000 and inclusion in the Patriot Family's 2010 Holiday Creations Baking Guide.

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USAA: "Every day is Veteran's Day!"

SAN ANTONIO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--More than 18 million U.S. military veterans and their 17 million family members who are looking for competitive alternatives to their current insurance, banking and investment providers now can take advantage of USAA and its 87-year record of strength, stability and performance in service to the military community.

Citing steady growth in financial strength and operational capacity, USAA announced that effective immediately, membership now is open to all veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces who served honorably, regardless of years of service.

The change expands USAA’s potential customer by an estimated 35 million, including 18 million veterans, and 17 million spouses and children who also would be able to access USAA services after their veteran relative becomes a member.

“We believe everyone who served honorably in the armed forces should be able to manage their financial well-being with USAA, a company committed to caring more about the unique needs of the military community than any other,” said retired Army Maj. Gen. Joe Robles, USAA’s President and CEO. “Today, USAA is stronger than at any time in our 87-year history, and we are thrilled to open our doors wider to offer the benefits of USAA membership to more military families than ever before.”

USAA began as an officer-only association in 1922, opened to enlisted personnel in 1996, and today serves 7.3 million current and former military members and their families. Throughout its history, USAA has played an important role in helping military families with their financial security, providing them with insurance, investments and banking products as well as financial planning and advice.

Operating without commissioned sales agents, the company has earned numerous customer service accolades, including winning BusinessWeek’s #1 Customer Service Champs award in 2008 and 2007. USAA is the only company to be ranked in the top two each year since the list’s inception in 2007.

More recently, through innovations such as the banking industry’s first mobile check deposit service, USAA Deposit@Mobile™, USAA is leveraging technology to enable its eligible customers to manage their finances anytime and from anywhere a mobile signal is available.

“Having served as an Army private and many ranks along the way to major general, it gives me great personal satisfaction to know that another 35 million former service members, their spouses and children now have access to all that USAA offers,” said Robles.

Who is eligible for USAA P&C Group membership?

Military personnel •All current members of the U.S. Armed Forces, active duty, Guard and reserve, as well as those who retired or honorably separated in the past, regardless of dates or branch of service (Army, Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard).
•Cadets, midshipmen, and officer or warrant officer candidates in government-sponsored programs leading to a commission.

Family members •Adult children, widow(er)s, and un-remarried former spouses of USAA members.
•Widow(er)s of officer and enlisted personnel who were killed in action while eligible.
Additionally, USAA life insurance, investment, retirement and deposit products are also available to members’ extended families and others who are not eligible for USAA membership.

Today, with heightened concerns about the economy and the solvency of financial institutions, USAA is recognized for its conservative approach to financial management. In 2008, the company’s net worth increased to $14.6 billion, and USAA earned $423 million in net income. In addition, USAA’s Property & Casualty Insurance Group maintains the highest ratings for financial strength from Standard & Poor’s, A.M. Best and Moody’s rating agencies, making USAA one of a small, elite group of companies to retain the highest possible ratings. More current mid-year 2009 results are available on usaa.com.

About USAA

USAA, a diversified financial services group of companies, is among the leading providers of financial planning, insurance, investments, and banking products to members of the U.S. military and their families. For the past three years, BusinessWeek magazine ranked USAA among the top two “Customer Service Champs,” highlighting its legendary commitment of providing highly competitive financial products for 7.3 million members. For more information about USAA, or to learn more about membership, visit usaa.com.

Photos/Multimedia Gallery Available: http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/mmg.cgi?eid=6089464&lang=en

Feel free to share the news!

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Crock Pot-luck

Tonight we are hosting a crock pot-luck for our November coffee. I know alot of you out there have some fabulous ideas that you do for coffees so I thought I'd post this as an opportunity for us to share!

At this event, everyone is bringing a dish made in their crockpot with copies of the recipe to share! I know this morning when I made mine up it smelled (and tasted) heavenly! I figure as long as I don't burn it ...I'm golden!

What kind of fun ideas have you done for coffees or meetings?

Apple Peanut Crumble (Crockpot)

Ingredients
• 5 Cooking apples -- peeled and
• Sliced
• 2/3 c Brown sugar -- packed
• 1/2 c Flour
• 1/2 c Quick-cooking rolled oats
• 1/2 ts Cinnamon
• 1/2 ts Nutmeg
• 1/3 c Butter -- softened
• 2 tb Peanut butter

Preparation
Place apple slices in slow-cooking pot. In medium bowl, combine sugar, flour, oats, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Mix in butter and peanut butter with pastry blender or fork. Sprinkle over apples. Cover pot and cook on low for 5 to 6 hours. Serve warm; plain, with ice cream or whipped cream.

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A Story Before Bed Time - Military Promo

http://www.astorybeforebed.com/

Military servicemember coupons
http://www.astorybeforebed.com/milpromo

"The idea behind A Story Before Bed is that you choose one of the stories in their library, then you record yourself reading it using a webcam. You can then send a link to your child's caregiver, who can then open the book on their computer, and watch as you read the story to them. They see the full pages of the book with your face inset, and the experience even includes animated page turns. To make sure that what you are reading relates to the page being displayed, the video of you reading is actually split up on a page-by-page basis, so you can only ever be listening to the correct voiceover for a given page.

A Story Before Bed is not a free service, but recording a story is free. The service charges $6.95US if you want to keep your recording so that you can pass it along to the young people in your life."

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Army Wife Life: November 16, 2009

This edition of Army Wife Life discussion is brought to you in partnership with Lucky Army Wives! (www.LuckyArmyWives.com)

Please leave your answers to the questions below by commenting on this post. Listen for Tara & Melanie's answers on Show 240: Week of Nov 16, 2009 using our AWTR Player in the right sidebar!

Excerpt blog post: Congratulations! You've made the move from the thong to "Big Girl Panties"! The bottom line (aren't we witty?!) is that you own your decision, actions and resulting consequences. Be true to yourself, but also be mature in your adventures! And here is how the adventure started.........

Pearl and Mercedes became lucky Army wives as follows – sound familiar?

You fell head over heels in love.

Your soldier proposed to you in a wonderfully romantic manner.

You married – and possibly exited the chapel under an Arch of Swords.

You put all of your dearest possessions into the trunk of your car (or truck – lucky you!) and the precariously attached U-Haul trailer.

You moved to a completely unknown geographic location (eg. Ft. Wuchuka, Ft. Polk, etc.) rarely referenced in travel magazines.

You devoted years to understanding and navigating military jargon, traditions, and events (although – to be honest – you still struggle to differentiate among companies, batteries and troops).

You were nominated – without any deliberate intent on your part - as your post’s “Volunteer of the Year” due to your significant commitment to your husband's unit.
You managed to have and rear children and/or raised one hell of a well trained dog.
HOOAH! Welcome to the Army, Mrs. Jones! And, by “Army”, we’re specifically addressing you and your soldier/family.

Discussion Point 1: Dolphin, heart or butterfly tattoo?

Discussion Point 2: Plan or spur of the moment?

Discussion Point 3: What is your favorite place you’ve lived? Least favorite? Where do you hope you never have to go?

Discussion Point 4: If you volunteer for the Army family, what/where/how do you serve?

Discussion Point 5: I support my soldier always – even when I’m completely stressed that he can’t seem to make it home prior to 10PM. Did I really sign up to be a single parent?

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Fort Carson Spouse Field Exercise........ Read All About It

USAA Enlists Army Wife Network to Encourage and Empower
Fort Carson Military Spouses
Fort Carson’s military spouses will be the target audience for Army Wife Network’s deployment survival workshop and care package extravaganza this Military Family Month. To empower military spouses, USAA enlisted Crooks & Henderson, the two founders of Army Wife Network, to facilitate an event where spouses can share information, trade ideas, network, and learn about resources, which Army Wife Network recommends and has contact with daily.

The two identical events are November 30th 5-9pm and December 1st 10-2pm. Space is limited, so reserve your seat for either, now through the Army Wife Network’s homepage. Visit ArmyWifeNetwork.com, click Events, and click Register for Field Exercise™.

(Download the flyer here.)

Registered guests can expect numerous giveaways and well-stocked gift bags (for them and their soldier) provided by a variety of sponsors and supporters that include USAA, AAFES, Kaplan University, K12, Marcal, Military By Owner, TriWest and more. These groups are all working to combine a night of appreciation and pampering with real life solutions for our “heroes at home.” A complimentary meal, dessert, and refreshments will also be provided.

The previous success of Field Exercises™ is measured by the rave reviews of prior attendees. “The goodies were fabulous, but the 'icing' has to be the 'normal' showcased in our shared experiences,” said one Fort Bragg attendee. With many years of deployment experiences of their own, Crooks & Henderson blend the perfect amount of fun and information to encourage spouses and guide them to become empowered for this military lifestyle.

“USAA is extremely proud to support military spouses through events such as the Field Exercises™ and our hope is they will take advantage of this fulfilling evening,” said Mike Kelly, director of military communications at USAA. “The bond – the feeling of family - between military spouses is unmatched and USAA is happy to be included in that family.”
END

About USAA
USAA, a diversified financial services group of companies, is among the leading providers of financial planning, insurance, investments, and banking products to members of the U.S. military and their families. For the past three years, BusinessWeek magazine ranked USAA among the top two “Customer Service Champs,” highlighting its legendary commitment of providing highly competitive financial products for 7.3 million members. For more information about USAA, or to learn more about membership, visit usaa.com.

About Army Wife Network
The Army Wife Network (AWN) is devoted to changing the lives of our warriors and their families through a sincere desire to help military spouses where it matters most – in the field. Tara and Star both sport a lengthy and diverse background as members of the military community leadership, and understand firsthand the challenges faced in traversing the journey of life as a military spouse. AWN is also the home of Army Wife Talk Radio, the only internet talk radio program for Army wives, by Army Wives.

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Behind Every Good Soldier...

is a good woman...sometimes it's his Army Wife, sometimes it's his Army Mom.





I handed off a copy of Elaine Dumler's I'm Already Home...Again book to my mother-in-law a while ago. She loved it. You know Mothers look for ways to connect with their little Soldier Boys as much as we do.

So, she had hilarious stories to share about doing the photo transfers backwards or having the sticky parts stick together and having to redo. But all-in-all, I thought this a valiant effort.

The book is the one we give out at our Field Exercises. (Just so happens we have one coming up at Fort Carson; Register Here!)

But if you can't come or you can't bring your mother (in-laws) with you, then I think you should click through and get one for awesome ideas to stay connected with your soldier. It'd make a great "Thank-you Mom!" gift or even a great Christmas stocking stuffer!

Elaine even has a more recent book out for you all who are going through a redeployment: The Road Home - Smoothing the transition back from deployment.

Have a great weekend!

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It's Veterans Day...the kids need to know

Veterans Day is a special opportunity to thank those who give so much, a token of thanks. We can never give back to the degree that they give, but a thank you means a lot.

Our children need to know that there are those that sacrifice daily for their freedoms. Teach them that as we mow our lawns, go to school, eat our peanut butter and jelly, people are protecting us.

As we sleep in cozy beds, others bear the heat, the cold. Children like them are missing a deployed parent, perhaps they are too. Help them understand the honor and the gratitude that Americans have for the warriors who stand and protect. Maybe you can tell them stories of those who have served, or maybe the kids can write a letter of thanks to be delivered to one who has served. Take them to hear the celebrations and speeches. Let them hear the songs, and see the waving flags. Have them experience the pride of being American.

To all who are veterans, of all generations, thank you, so much, from all of us.

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Happy Veteran's Day!

Dear Veteran's,

Happy Veteran's Day! Thank you from the bottom of my little heart for all that you have done, and continue to do, to protect this great country of ours! I spent the better part of this morning trying to think of something eloquent, something beautiful, something profound to say to you that might, in some small way, covey my gratitude. However, it all kept coming back to the fact that I am thankful, SO thankful for all that you do!

So, today and every day, know that you're appreciated for all that you do, for all that you sacrifice and for all that you stand for.

With Sincere Thanks and Gratitude,
DeDe

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Sweet Victory for Military Families!

STATEMENT BY THE PRESIDENT ON S.475

Today I have signed into law S. 475, the "Military Spouses Residency Relief Act". This Act, among other things, would provide that when a service member leaves his or her home State in accord with military or naval orders, the service member's spouse may retain residency in his or her home State for voting and tax purposes, after relocating from that State to accompany the service member.

When the military orders service members to move, spouses who move with them often have to pay taxes in a new State or locality and lose the right to vote in the place considered to be home. This legislation will alleviate these and other burdens on our military families. As the Congress has recognized, and as the legislative history reflects, this legislation is an important means of maintaining the morale and readiness of our Armed Forces and significantly enhances the ability of our military to effectively recruit and retain these highly valued service personnel.

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It's About Time

Don't know if you caught all the wonderful prizes that our 2010 HH6 was awarded last night on Army Wife Talk Radio. What a boon-doggle! There are so many great military supporters out there. Here's the complete prize package and links, so you can check out all that our special Janet was awarded.

 Family Manager University Scholarship
 Army Wife Network t-shirt & prize package
 USAA Diamond Merchandise valued at $500
 AttaGirl Bracelet
 thePatrioticWife Household 6 (HH 6) Sparkly Pin
 3A Watch Group w/ U.S. Army Watches

The last listed, 3A Watch Group, has invited us to extend their appreciation for military spouses and families even further. Janet and each of our HH6 runners up, Sherri and Kelly, all received watch sets from their new line of U.S. Army Watches.

They've asked us to award some other Army couples from now through the end of 2009!

We are happy to oblige with our next contest, "It's About Time!"

This contest will be much simpler, but no less meaningful. We think "it's about time" some of you are recognized for the ways you give back to the military community everyday. Tell us about your experiences and exchange your ideas in our message boards topic: Volunteering! From FRG to USO - it wouldn't get done without volunteers.

Share tips, advice, & ideas. Each week our team will recognize someone who has shared a great tip, inspired us, or engaged others in a meaningful discussion on Volunteering. Winners will be announced in the message board and on Army Wife Talk Radio.

3A is excited about this new line of U.S. Army watches, which will be available nationwide November 20th. The watches are INSPIRED BY OUR BRAVEST AND GREATEST AT HOME AND ABROAD. We know that includes not just the soldiers, but their spouses as well.

Best of luck; we're looking forward to hearing about your volunteer efforts!

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Happy Birthday Sesame Street!!!

As some of you may already know, today Sesame Street is celebrating it's 40th birthday! Here at our house, we really love Sesame Street, particularly Elmo and Ernie! We are especially grateful for the work Sesame Street has put into creating the deployment video for military families. Any company or organization that helps make deployments easier on military families gets 2 HUGE thumbs up in our book!!!

Who is your favorite Sesame Street character? Do you remember watching the show when you were little? I love to watch Ernie sing his song about living on the moon with my Mommy!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SESAME STREET!!! Here's to 40 more years of great shows and support for military families!

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Military Spouses Residency Relief Act awaits the President’s approval

Washington, DC –Tuesday, November 3, 2009. A comprehensive military family legislation, the Military Spouses Residency Relief Act (S 475 and HR 1182), which will legally recognize military spouses by providing them the option to claim the same state of domicile as their active duty spouse, passed through the House and Senate with strong bipartisan support, and is now being brought before the President to become a law.

The bill was introduced by Congressman John Carter (R-TX), who represents Fort Hood, the largest military installation in the country. “This is fantastic news for our service families worldwide,” says Carter, who has been pushing the legislation for the last three years.

Senators Richard Burr (R-NC) and Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) introduced the companion bill into the Senate, which passed unanimously in August. The legislation will amend the Servicemember’s Civil Relief Act (SCRA) of 1940 allowing military spouses to share a home state with their spouse, the service member.

Currently, military spouses experience impediments in voting and property ownership as well as deterrents in employment and education. The bill offers fair treatment of the military spouse and improves the quality of life for military families by allowing the stability of a single state of domicile to call home.

Over 8,000 military spouses, friends and family members united to support the Military Spouses Residency Relief Act on Facebook. They shared their individual stories as they contacted Congressional representatives to ask for support. Initially, Army Spouse, Rebecca Poynter and Navy Spouse, Joanna Williamson, approached Congressman Carter with their request to petition. “It has been a grass roots effort by thousands of spouses across the country, who have campaigned to get this passed, by telling their stories,” explains Poynter.

“The support from Military Officers Association of America (MOAA) and the Veterans Service Organizations who testified in our support is greatly appreciated,” said Williamson, “and together we claim this victory for all military families.”

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VICE PRESIDENT BIDEN TO ATTEND FORT LEWIS MEMORIAL SERVICE

TOMORROW, Tuesday, November 10, 2009, Vice President Biden will be in Fort Lewis, Washington.

At 1:00 PM PST, the Vice President will attend a memorial service at Fort Lewis for U.S. soldiers who were killed on October 27th in Afghanistan. The soldiers were assigned to the 1st Battalion, 17th Infantry Regiment, 5th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division. The Vice President will deliver remarks. The memorial service will take place at the North Fort Chapel.

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Army Wife Network Names Top Military Family Manager, Household 6

For Immediate Release
November 9, 2009

Lawton, OK — “America’s Family Manager” Kathy Peel and Army Wife Network (AWN) has selected a brand new Certified Family Manager Coach to-be, with a twist. The winner of Army Wife Network’s “2010 Household 6” scholarship contest, Janet McIntosh, will also serve as the online and on-air Coach to AWN, a community for Army wives, by Army wives. Janet is a 13 year military spouse and mother of two. She competed with scores of other military spouses for this honor. All contestants were worthy opponents with many years of service and commitment to their Military Wife Life.

“My goal as a spouse is to reach out to other spouses…. I want to be able to encourage those spouses and let them know that they always have someone they can turn to!” said Janet on her application. She will be introduced formally November 9th, 2009 on Army Wife Talk Radio. Her duties will include participation in Kathy Peel’s Family Manager Course and serving as top Household 6 to AWN for 2010.

Army wives are “Household 6s”, a military inspired term citing them as the one in charge of the Household. Upon Janet’s completion of Family Manager University (FMU) courses, Army wives will be mentored in the ways of time and scheduling, home and property, special events and other FMU Family Manager Departments. To reward Janet for her efforts and acceptance of 2010’s HH6 position, military friendly business like USAA, U.S. Army Watches, AttaGirl and the Patriotic Wife bestowed on her special prizes and services.

“Janet has been selected to assist the network, but also to lead the way for other military spouses interested in an exciting home-based, portable business like coaching. We saw Family Manager Coaching as an extension of ‘duties already assigned’ to a typical military spouse. Through Kathy Peel’s program, spouses can be given the tools and become certified to assist others in running a ‘happy, organized,’ military family,” says Star Henderson co-founder of Army Wife Network.

Military spouses are invited to join Janet and get their own coaching certification started this month. Family Manager is offering a $200.00 “Recession Discount.” Follow Janet during her reign as 2010 Household 6 on Army Wife Network and monthly on her Army Wife Talk Radio “Household 6” segments. To listen to the live announcement and interview of Kathy Peel and Cari Pemberton, Director of Family Manager National Outreach, tune in November 9, 8-10pm, EST to www.BlogTalkRadio.com/AWTR.

---END---
Kathy Peel is known as America’s Family Manager. She is founder and CEO of Family Manager Coaching, a company that trains women worldwide to build strong families and happy, organized homes. She has written 20 books, which have sold over 2 million copies. She writes a weekly Family Manager blog for AOL’s ParentDish and serves on Parenting magazine's Moms Squad Board of Experts. She is a popular conference speaker and media personality with repeat appearances on programs such as Oprah, Today, The Early Show, and CNN Headline News. Check out http://www.familymanager.com for helpful downloads, organizing tools and tips for being a great Family Manager.

Army Wife Network is the internet’s leading Web site for Army Wives, by Army Wives. We boast the only internet talk radio show designed specifically for military spouses – Army Wife Talk Radio – in its fifth year of broadcasting. To find out more about AWN’s history and interactive empowerment tools please visit our Web site at http://www.ArmyWifeNetwork.com. Crooks and Henderson, co-founders of Army Wife Network, have been featured in several media outlets such as CBS Evening News, FOX report with Sheppard Smith, Armed Forces Press, Military Spouse Magazine, American Legion Auxiliary, USAA Magazine, MOAA Magazine, Army Times, Stars & Stripes, and Guard Times.
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Veterans Parade

This is Artillery Amber again…..wow how this year is flying by…..it’s almost Veterans Day! If you are near Fort Riley……Manhattan has a wonderful Veteran’s Day parade which will be on Wednesday, November 11th at 9:30AM…..if you are able I encourage you to go and support this wonderful event!


7:00 a.m.Biscuits & gravy breakfast at American Legion Post #17,
114 McCall RD,Manhattan, KS 66502.
9:30 a.m. Parade on Poyntz Ave.
11:00 a.m. Post Parade Ceremony at Manhattan City Auditorium / City Hall
6:00 pm Veterans Day Recognition Honors Banquet, American Legion Hall

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Just Wondering

I have watched with aching heart today what has been going on at Ft. Hood. I felt inspriation and pride as I heard General Casey talk about the resiliency of the Military Family, and the fact that the Army Family takes care of their own.

Then... the reporters get their turn. The first questions are things like "Are our troops stretched too thin?" "Are the stresses of deployment casuing these things?" I don't know about you, but I felt annoyed. No doubt that deployments are difficult, but no one points out that this creep who shot our warriors did not even experience a deployment! He was never put into the kinds of situations that many of our fighting men are.

It just feels like they want to blame someone...and it must be the fault of the military that this guy hates everyone. I am sure that we will never really understand the motive here, but it is NOT reflective of the men and women who serve this nation.

I just don't get it.

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Gates Orders Silence for Ft. Hood Victims 1:34PM CST

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Nov. 6, 2009 – Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates has directed a moment of silence throughout the Defense Department today to honor the victims of yesterday’s attack at Fort Hood, Texas.

Twelve people were killed and 30 others were wounded when Army Maj. Nidal Malik Hassan allegedly opened fire in the post’s Soldier Family Readiness Center. One of the wounded victims died overnight, bringing the death toll to 13. Malik was wounded and is in custody, Army officials said.

The attack occurred at 1:34 p.m. CST yesterday, and Defense Department personnel around the world will pause and mark the moment of silence at that same time today, Pentagon Press Secretary Geoff Morrell said. For example, those in the U.S. Eastern time zone will observe the moment of silence at 2:34 p.m. local time, while those on the West Coast will observe it at 11:34 a.m.

Gates is at the White House this morning discussing the situation at Fort Hood with President Barack Obama, Morrell said. Army Secretary John McHugh and Army Chief of Staff Gen. George W. Casey Jr. are at Fort Hood conferring with officials there.

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Operation Homefront Toy Shop-Register Today

Spouses of deployed servicemen have an opportunity to receive a little extra help for this Christmas season. If you have children between the ages of 1 and 10 and a spouse that is deployed click on the subject line and register today!

Thank you Operation Homefront!

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horror at fort hood

well, a few minutes ago, i was busy making dinner when my husband called me to turn on the news. he is still at work and said he was hearing that there was a shooting at fort hood and wanted me to find out what i could as we still know many who are there. the only thing known about the gunman is his name, and his rank, what is not known is the why. even after we find out the why, i doubt it will make much sense to anyone. as spouses, when our husbands are home we trust (as we should) that he will return safe at the end of the day. how sad for the families involved. it's a sad, sad day for the army.

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we are all the same.

For a while my eyes have been opened to the debate about vaccinations. To vaccinate or not to vaccinate or to do an adjusted vaccination schedule or to get some vaccinations and not others. It's a large debate that isn't widely publicly known yet, but it's there, specially among military families.

Recently I've seen some wives be horrible to other wives because of their preference when it comes to vaccinating their children. It breaks my heart because aren't we all in the same boat? Don't our husbands fight for the same country and our same rights as Americans living in this beautiful country? At the end of the day we are all trying to do what's best for our children right? Than why are we fighting?


I believe that your vaccination preference is right up there with your choice to breastfeed or bottle-feed or to go to public school or home-school. At the end of the day we are all trying to do what we feel is best for our children, there are no right or wrong answers so we need to support and respect each other as sisters-in-arms. Our husbands are fighting for this country whether they are stateside or in the Middle East. Back here at home, we are constantly reminded about what our husbands do because we live it every day, and it is only when we lean on our family or our military neighbors or FRG sisters that we get any kind of relief.

So remember that please? Remember that we are all in the same boat, and our beliefs are our beliefs and no one else's, and we shouldn't judge each other based on them. We have enough WAR in our lives, let's just love each other and help each other out and make sure that the wife down the street doesn't feel more alone than she has to since her husband is already deployed. Our husbands fight for our freedom, and that's the beauty of our choices and our beliefs, is that we are free to believe what we chose. We should take pride in that instead of fight each other on it because like I said, at the end of the day we are just doing what we feel is best for our children, so let's worry about them and not about telling another wife that she is wrong in what she is believing. Hooah!

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Pride In The U.S.A. Website

As a Blue Star Mother, I get some great e-mails passing along things like this: http://prideintheusa.net/catalog/# here you will find some jewelry specially made for Military wives! Check it out and see if there is something that you hope Santa might bring you!

Check out all the categories even if they don't seem to pertain to you, under Blue Star Moms you will find a great ring that can be any ones (does not say "mom" on it), very modern star design. There are necklaces, rings earrings and bracelets and things specific to each military branch. There is a necklace that says"Army Wife", some with a flag. Then there is this offer, and free stuff is always interesting , right?

We will electronically send you a booklet titled: The Happy Contagion: Story of the First Military Wives Club when you register to receive periodic promotional emails from PRIDE IN THE USA (less than one per month and we will never, ever give your email info to others.)

History buffs will enjoy learning the 200 year history of how and why military wives formed the first club, what they did and how they did it.

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Veteran's Day Special at Build-A-Bear Workshop for all Military ID Holders

Build-A-Bear Workshop® Offers Discount to Military Families

For all of us who LOVE Build-A-Bear Workshop®, they are offering a special to military families! This would be a great gift for any soldier over-seas or any child with a parent in the military. More information about this special below.

Build-A-Bear Workshop® is showing support for all military families in honor of Veterans Day. Members of the armed services including the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, Coast Guard, and Reserve Officer Training Corps will receive a 20% discount on any one transaction at Build-A-Bear Workshop stores with the presentation of a government issued military identification card.

WHEN: Wednesday, Nov. 11 through Sunday, Nov. 15, 2009

WHERE: Build-A-Bear Workshop stores in the United States

WHY: Build-A-Bear Workshop offers a variety ways for Guests to salute their favorite military heroes. The Camo Bear ($18) complete with a Build-A-Sound® ($8) for Guests recording a 10-second personal message, is great for servicemen and women and their families. Other products inspired by the armed forces available at Build-A-Bear Workshop include:
· Army Officer Uniform
· Marine Outfit
· Naval Outfit
· Air Service Uniform
· Coast Guard Work Uniform

For more information or to see a photo of any of the Military Uniforms available visit www.BuildABear.com.

Happy Veteran's Day!
Mandy Culver

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Army Wife Life November 2, 2009

This edition of Army Wife Life discussion is brought to you in partnership with Lucky Army Wives! (www.LuckyArmyWives.com)

Please leave your answers to the questions below by commenting on this post. Listen for Tara & Melanie's answers on Show 238: Week of Nov 2, 2009 using our AWTR Player in the right sidebar!

Excerpt blog post: No the day you left middle school was NOT the end of it. One of us is still on medication for the stress inducing peer pressure of high school and the shock of discovering that college had nothing to do with academics and everything to do with one’s mastery of the Greek alphabet.

Sadly, for our self-esteem, and happily, for the plastic surgery and retail industries, there is no obvious end to the pressure we affect upon ourselves of trying to fit in. And, we don’t just want to fit in, we want to fit in PLUS (plus being the operative word). To illustrate, I’m in with all the fun girls PLUS my car is a little nicer, PLUS I work out a little bit more, PLUS I went shopping for (and bought) a beautiful new summer bag, PLUS I’m on all the important committees, PLUS my children are brilliant, PLUS my soldier is “the man”, etc.

One would think that with the days of youth slipping quickly by and the wisdom of age and experience factoring into our self-perception, we’d be able to move beyond this conundrum. One would think. Our soldiers love us, our children think we’re wonderful (generally speaking), our true friends accept us no matter if we botch the coffee or leave them off of our change of command invite list. So what’s up with us? Why am I trying to be like (or even, gasp!, competing) with you – when did Polish Pottery acquisition become paramount?!

Discussion Point 1: What color is your minivan – white or champagne?

Discussion Point 2: Your friends would never guess that……….

Discussion Point 3: What purchases are you willingly sacrificing to maintain your Posh Spice Short Asymmetrical Haircut?

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A Very Thank-full Care Package!

Traditionally, November brings us Thanksgiving — a time to give thanks for the harvest and express gratitude in general. And who better to give thanks to than your deployed servicemember.

When your loved one is deployed on Thanksgiving you want them to feel the love and the family togetherness the holiday is known for but it can be difficult to do across the ocean. Don’t despair. I gathered the perfect ingredients to make your servicemember’s very “thank-full” care package.

Let’s start with a Thanksgiving meal:
Canned turkey
Turkey jerky
Instant mashed potatoes
Potato chips
Box of stuffing
Homemade bread
Gravy in a jar
Pumpkin or apple pie
Can of corn
Green bean casserole (canned green beans, canned mushroom soup, fried onions, & powdered milk)
Can of cranberry sauce
Craisins (dried cranberries)
Sweet potato chips
Can of yams
Roasted pumpkin seeds
Candy corn
Apple cider or spiced tea
Pumpkin spice coffee creamer
Cookies (pumpkin, spice, or his/her favorite)
Pre-cooked rice

Then we’ll spice up the package with some creativity:
Celebrate Thanksgiving early and video tape it from the chair that they usually sit in
Create a “why we are thankful for you” book
Pictures of Thanksgiving’s past
Leaf rubbings done by you or your children
“Hand” turkeys made by you or your children
Pilgrims hat
Paper leaves
A printed story of the first Thanksgiving
A homemade CD of Thanksgiving songs (search the internet for some pretty funny ones)

Add a Thanksgiving poem to your package. Here’s a great list to get you started: http://www.poemsource.com/thanksgiving-poems.html.

Disney has some great ideas, recipes, crafts and more at http://familyfun.go.com/thanksgiving/thanksgiving-traditions/.

Here are some Thanksgiving riddles: http://www.brownielocks.com/thanksgivingjokes.html and some Thanksgiving coloring pages http://coloringpages.net/thanksgiving.html.

Whatever you do, have fun with it. Your soldier will be able to tell the love and joy that went into creating their package!

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Holiday Shopping? Jingle All The Way!

USAA SURVEY FINDS MANY HOLIDAY SHOPPERS PREPARED TO ‘JINGLE ALL THE WAY’

Shoppers Planning to Use More Cash, Less Credit for Holiday Purchases;
Saving and Budgeting for Purchases Help Create Positive Outlook This Holiday Season

San Antonio, Texas – (November 2, 2009) – Under the shadow of a still-sluggish economy, many holiday shoppers are embracing healthier money management habits to help keep debt at bay, according to a new survey of 1,000 U.S. adults by USAA. In addition, this back-to-basics approach appears to have many shoppers feeling optimistic about this year’s holiday shopping with nearly half (48 percent) of survey respondents saying that the movie titles “It’s a Wonderful Life” and “Jingle All The Way” best describe their approach to this year’s holiday budget.

The ABC’s of Holiday Shopping

1. Accumulate: Holiday shoppers plan to spend an average of $682.74 this year according to the NRF, so it’s wise to save in advance for this big annual expense. Open a separate no-fee savings account to track savings throughout the year. If you’ve haven’t saved in advance this year, start in 2010.

2. Budget: Reduce spur-of-the-moment buying – including for yourself – by writing down what you plan to buy for the holidays and setting a limit for each item. Then stick to it.

3. Cash: Plan ahead to withdraw money from the bank, and use cash for holiday purchases to prevent overspending. This strategy works best if credit cards are left at home.

While the National Retail Federation (NRF) predicts a one percent drop in overall retail sales over the holidays, the positive outlook of many survey respondents may be linked to their plans to avoid debt by using cash instead. According to the survey:

· The majority (85 percent) of respondents plan to use cash to make holiday purchases this year.
· Two-thirds (62 percent) plan to use more cash than last year.
· More than half (56 percent) of the consumers who plan to use cash for holiday purchases have been saving either diligently or a little here and there throughout the year.
At the same time, many shoppers appear to be leaving their credit cards at home with more than half (55 percent) of respondents planning to not charge holiday purchases this year. Even among those shoppers who will use credit, the majority do not plan to pay interest on their purchases:

· 74 percent of those who will use a credit card to make holiday purchases plan to pay off the balance immediately.
· One in five (20 percent) say they will pay off the balance in a few months.
· Just seven percent say they will pay the minimum balance.
Most (64 percent) shoppers surveyed also plan to continue their tradition of typically creating a holiday shopping budget, and many (56 percent) plan to stick to it. One in ten (10 percent) respondents who don’t typically create a budget will create one this year to better manage their money.

“Saving money in advance, creating a budget and using cash instead of credit is the recipe for success when it comes to holiday spending because it helps you avoid debt,” said Joseph Montanaro, a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ with USAA. “The survey results highlight one of the key lessons of the recession, which is that reducing debt puts you on the road toward financial stability.”

However, some respondents are less sure about their ability to put healthy spending habits into place this year. More than one third (38 percent) of respondents said the movie titles “Surviving Christmas” and “Mixed Nuts” best described their holiday budget. In addition:

· Fifteen percent of respondents plan to charge more on their credit card than last year when making holiday purchases.
· Nearly one in five (19 percent) are not sure as to how they will pay for their holiday purchases.
· More than one in five (22 percent) of those who plan to use cash to pay for holiday purchases haven’t saved any money in advance.
· Nearly one-third (28 percent) of those who typically develop a holiday shopping budget spend more than they budgeted.
“The good news is that it’s not too late to put a realistic holiday spending plan in place,” said Montanaro. “While cutting back may be difficult, the best gift you can give yourself is not piling on more debt. Keep in mind that it would take more than five years to pay off $500 on a high-interest credit card by only paying the minimums each month.”

With respondents choosing paying off holiday debt as their least favorite holiday activity, Montanaro encourages holiday shoppers to “stay focused on the spirit of the holidays instead of overspending.”

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"WE Prevail", for vets by vets

Army Wife Network is honored to have been asked to help support our vets by spreading the word of a new, 6 week, anonymous, online mental health platform, which is being proven to build resilience and increase awareness in the vets who have participated thus far.

VetsPrevail.com has really come up with a smart program, kind of like Army Wife Network for vets.

It's multimedia component makes this training convenient and highly interactive engaging vets in cognitive behavioral therapy. It's support components allow those vets to reach out to veterans who have prevailed and the mental health personnel who helped them.

VetsPrevail's PR approach has included us in order to get the word out to our listeners' soldiers, so they may get advanced reserved slots for the Veteran's Day launch.

Please watch the video below, read the press release, and visit the VetsPrevail site. If your soldier has a need for this type of training and can commit to 6 weeks of online training, please send a note to star [@] armywifenetwork.com.



I've personally reviewed the site and some training modules and am glad to recommend it as an effective, unique delivery model for those veterans who wish to retain their anonymity but obtain quality assistance. Just have your soldier email me and I'll coordinate for up to 25 free access codes through the program's administrators. Your personal information WILL be confidential. Once you've received the code, I'm out of the loop.

Vets you deserve this training!

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FREE HolidaySpendingPlanner.com for Military Families!

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (October 29, 2009) The holidays are a time of food, family, and good cheer. But with a deep recession affecting our nation, many families—including those in the military—may find it financially difficult to get into the spirit this year. Luckily for them, some smart spending strategies can make this year’s holiday season bright, and they can find those strategies in a new free article from Pioneer Services entitled “Keep your spending on track this holiday season.”

Part of the company’s award-winning financial education program, the article offers several tips on how to save money and spend smart. Pioneer Services has also created a new website, HolidaySpendingPlanner.com, that offers free budgeting and savings calculators. Visitors to the site can save their information for future reference, compare their budget to their actual spending, and even create gift lists for their family and friends.

“Some people may be surprised how much they can do this holiday season if they budget well and spend wisely,” said Karen Von Der Bruegge, chief marketing officer for Pioneer Services and the author of the article. “The article gives tips on how to do that, and HolidaySpendingPlanner.com gives them the actual tools. It’s a great combination that can help every family have a fantastic holiday, no matter their income.”

Pioneer Services, the military banking division of MidCountry Bank, provides financial services and award-winning education to members of the Armed Forces. For more than 20 years, Pioneer Services has been a leader in military lending, offering military loans and award-winning financial education programs through a network of offices and on the Internet. Pioneer Services is proud to support military families and communities through a variety of partnerships, programs, and sponsorships.

To read the article, visit PioneerServices.com. To make your own spending plan, wish lists, and more, visit HolidaySpendingPlanner.com.

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