Mike D's Army Mom

In Honor

2012-09-11T23:45:00.000-04:00

Never forget those lives that were taken on 9-11, as well as those that enlist in our military to defend our country...knowing that we are at war...and knowing the risk. They honor those that have died while defending our country, both on our own soil and on enemy soil...and especially those heroes and innocent lives lost on September 11, 2001.

Never Forget

2012-09-08T13:19:00.000-04:00

I've mentioned my boyfriend's son before and explained what this month is. Well, today is THE day.

Three years ago today, Brent started living the nightmare of being a Gold Star father.

Three years ago today, four American heroes lost their lives in an ambush in the Ganjgal Valley in Afghanistan. We do our best to keep their memory, and especially the memory of James "Doc" Layton, alive by sharing whenever the opportunity presents itself.

This tribute video to the heroes of ETT 2-8 can be viewed here. James, Aaron, Michael and Edwin will NEVER be forgotten as long as I'm able to talk, write or even just draw pictures (if it comes to that).

September is not the greatest month around here

2012-09-01T09:30:00.000-04:00

I'm not sure if I shared this here, but my boyfriend's son was a Corpsman killed in Ganjgal, Afghanistan on September 8, 2009. This was a very controversial battle. James was part of an ETT, and Embedded Training Team, that was comprised of Army, Marines, and Afghan National Army. The ETT was ambushed, the Army refused to send in air support that had been promised prior to the mission and 5 men died. Dakota Meyer was one of James' good friends and the one that went in, against orders, to find him and the 3 other Marines he was missing with. He found them all, dead and stripped of gear...and then proceeded to get their bodies back to where they could be flown out of there. Dakota kept the Taliban from getting them and doing God only knows what to desecrate their bodies, and he allowed the families to bury their loved ones with the dignity and honor they deserved.

Part of the actions of those involved were outlined in Bing West's book "The Wrong War", published in 2010. And now Dakota and Bing West have written a book detailing Dakota's life and that controversial battle. It will be out September 25.

The next month is going to be a very stressful time in our world. September 8 will be the 3rd anniversary of James' death. That's always hard for his family. And Dakota's book coming out adds an extra bit of stress, since certain people involved in this battle have been trying to make their own buck at Dakota's expense. I'll be sharing some of that, as I've been actively debunking their lies as they publish them.

I'll also be sharing links to Dakota's book. Everything Dakota does is to honor those that he feels he didn't do enough to save. He keeps their memories alive and shares them with everyone he can. I want to help him do that. James was an amazing American hero. He was honored with a Bronze Star with a V for Valor, posthumously, for his actions in that battle. Sharing him with the world is the least I can do for him.

Another deployment over with.

2012-08-31T11:55:00.000-04:00

Mike is back from his last deployment. It happened way faster than I expected. He actually came home a week earlier than I expected so I never even got to get into a real "final countdown" mode. I don't care. I'm just glad he's back in the United States.

He told me it was a vacation and he was right. All the pics he showed me looked like he was working (ok, some playing too) but they didn't have that same stress factor in their faces. Not like the Iraq pics where they were tired and worn out and just waiting for something to happen.

And...now he is talking about the next deployment already. This is the big one. The one I will be terrified of the entire time he's gone. Having to look at my living room wall, our memorial to James, will make this really hard to bear. But, someone has to do it, right? Someone has to stand up and do what's right.

Before I get myself distracted from work, I'll let this go for now. I'm sure I'll have plenty to say about it later.

Deployment Lite

2012-06-04T14:22:00.003-04:00

My kid is leaving for another country! He's not heading to Afghanistan but he's still deploying to do his job for the Army. The fact that he keeps saying it's a vacation funded by Uncle Sam doesn't really make it better.

Afghanistan happens soon enough, so I guess this is kind of a practice for stressing over a long deployment to a hostile land. *sigh*

that didn't really help either.

I just realized he's going to be able to see this too. :-D He'll be totally embarrassed when he realizes I blogged about him while he was in Iraq. I think I told him but he wasn't able to see the blog then. So, Mike...when you see this...sorry, but I'm gonna blog, you're gonna deploy. We both have to do what we have to do.

So now the blog is officially dusted off and back in business. I'll see you all tomorrow. Consider yourself warned!! lol

the Marine Corps Ball was awesome!

2011-11-13T18:50:00.001-05:00

We attended the Marine Corps ball with our great friends from Bravo Company, 4th Landing Support Battalion last weekend. Lake Tahoe's Harvey Resort and Casino was fun and awesome as always!

Happy Birthday to the United States Marine Corps!!! And thank you for all you do for us!

Wedding Dress Essay Contest

2011-03-23T00:37:00.000-04:00

Due to a donation from a lovely bridal boutique, Soldiers' Angels has on hand sixteen gorgeous wedding dresses that will be awarded to sixteen lucky military brides! Dresses will be awarded by contest, with the brides who write the best essay about their own love story receiving their choice of dress.

Dress sizes range from 6 to 14, with a size 24 and a size 42 as well. Some are brand new, others have been rented, but all are clean and in superb condition. Most are very detailed, with additions of lace, cutouts or sequins, and styles vary greatly.

Originally offered to a high school drama department who refused them for lack of room, the dresses came to Soldiers' Angels thanks to Patreece, whose husband heard about them through his civilian job on a military base and alerted her. She took home all 16 dresses, cataloged and photographed them, and shipped them to San Antonio for dry cleaning and distribution.

For contest eligibility, procedures and more information, click here.

Contest ends April 21, 2011.

Half Staff American Flag Widget

2011-03-14T14:15:00.000-04:00

Do you ever wonder why the flag is at half staff?
Do you want to properly display your flag?

This half staff American flag widget will automatically display the American Flag at half staff on the days that it is appropriate to fly the flag at half staff. It will also give the reason why the flag is at half staff.

Click here to read the rest of what is on the website for the Half Staff American Flag Widget and download the widget. Not sure you want it? You can see it in action in the side bar of my blog.

Author Supports Soldiers' Angels

2011-03-14T12:22:00.002-04:00

From the Soldiers' Angels website:

Elementary school principal and author Megan Egerton-Graham is donating 5% of her individual book sales to Soldiersí Angels!
Egerton-Graham is fast becoming widely-known among military families in both Canada and the United States as a great resource for tips, insight and information that helps children and parents cope. Her "While You Were Away" series of books and journals are designed to support families experiencing periods of prolonged absence or deployment, moving, re-integration or just life as a military family
All of the proceeds from Egerton-Graham's books are donated to military support organizations such as Family Readiness Groups. She approached Soldiersí Angels after she was tapped as a keynote speaker at this summer's Blue Star Mothers (BSM) conference and the president of BSM suggested she reach out to support Soldiersí Angels and assist military families that way as well.
Besides school principal, Egerton-Graham has been a teacher and guidance counsellor for 15 years, teaching every grade from Kindergarten to 12. In addition, she brings to the table her experience teaching on military base schools and life as a Canadian military wife and mother of two.
For more information, see the While You Were Away webpage or purchase her books on Amazon.

Shop for a Cause!

2011-03-13T22:13:00.000-04:00

Before you make your purchases (whether it be for something personal, or for filling those care packages to your adopted Hero), you might check out this list of vendors that support the troops and Soldiers' Angels through your purchases (either because you follow the link, or you tell them you are part of Soldiers' Angels) by donating a portion of the sales to Soldiers' Angels, or offering discounts to Soldiers' Angels shoppers. There's all kinds of things to choose from: cooling gear (the weather's changing over there!), coffees (multiple vendors), flowers, jewelry, books, clothes, food, the list goes on! So, if you're shopping anyway, maybe help Soldiers' Angels out while you're at it!

What does a Gold Star mean to you?

2011-03-07T00:23:00.004-05:00

For me a Gold Star means pain. It means broken hearts. Dreams that will never come true. The end of innocence. It means that somewhere, some family has just been given the worse news anyone can get.

If you aren't aware of the meaning, let me start with explaining the service banner. A Blue Star Service Banner is a small flag that families with an active duty member of the military displays in their home (usually hanging in a window). The Blue Star banner has a red border and a blue star in the middle. When a hero is killed in action, that family's blue star is covered with a slightly smaller gold star, leaving the edge of the blue star showing.

The Gold Star banner lets people know that the family has lost their hero and should demand the highest respect for their sacrifice from all of our nation's citizens. However, that's not realistic to expect when most people don't even know what the Gold Star means.

I've spent this last week thinking about this alot as I prepared myself for the last two days. I wanted to be as supportive as possible while I accompanied my best friend to a Gold Star Family Reception. After spending a couple of days with the families here, my goal of educating as many people as possible about what a Gold Star means is even more important to me. These people are strong and many work hard to make a difference in the lives of others. They heal themselves and others while honoring the memory of their loved ones. I am in awe of some of the amazing Gold Star family members I've met over the last few years. They absolutely deserve the respect of America's citizens and that can only happen if people know what the Gold Star banner represents.

This isn't a new thought for me. Since my son's deployment to Iraq in 2008, I have presented a few families with a Gold Star banner during military funerals. I can tell you that handing a grieving parent a Gold Star banner is not always an easy task. Reading the presentation is even more difficult to accomplish. However, it's not the emotional hurdles of the presentation that are hardest to get over. The lack of knowledge you discover when dealing with the people in charge of assisting the family during the days that follow being notified of their loved one's death is what really gets to me. As hard as it is to believe, even many Casualty Affairs Officers are often not aware of the meaning of the Service Banner.

The need for awareness is growing and it's up to those of us who know the meaning to share it with everyone we can. It's the least we can do for those who have sacrificed their loved one.

I realize that I can not educate everyone. But I sure can start somewhere. And guess who I'm asking to help me? Yes, you go it. YOU! It's not so hard to do. Here's what I propose to everyone reading this:

Now that you know what a Gold Star banner is, when you see one on a car or at someone's house, let them know that you are grateful that their loved one was an American Hero that sacrificed their own life in order to protect the freedom of those who live in this great nation. Make sure anyone and everyone with you understands why you just did what you did. If the person with the Gold Star banner isn't around, or you happen to be doing 55 down the highway, still take a moment to educate everyone around you.

If you are a Gold Star family member, please know that I am personally grateful that your loved one lived as an American. There are still people in this country that realize and appreciate that we are free because of Heroes like them. Display your Gold Star Banner with pride. I know that ignorance of the meaning of the banner has led to pain and frustration. Educate those who don't realize what it is, if you are up to it. If not...leave that to the rest of us. We'll take care of it!

Wiihab

2010-12-05T15:16:00.000-05:00

Last month, the community of milbloggers raised $95,205 for Soldiers' Angels Project Valour-IT. While this project started out with the goal of providing laptops with voice-activated software to severely wounded troops, it has since expanded to include other technologies. Personal GPS systems help build self-confidence and independence by compensating for short-term memory loss and organizational challenges related to severe TBI and severe PTSD. Wii video game systems provided to medical facilities to assist with physical rehabilitation.

You might wonder how a video game would help with physical rehabilitation:

Using the game console's unique, motion-sensitive controller, Wii games require body movements similar to traditional therapy exercises. But patients become so engrossed mentally they are almost oblivious to the rigor, Osborn said.

"In the Wii system, because it's kind of a game format, it does create this kind of inner competitiveness. Even though you may be boxing or playing tennis against some figure on the screen, it's amazing how many of our patients want to beat their opponent," said Osborn of Southern Illinois Healthcare, which includes the hospital in Herrin. The hospital, about 100 miles southeast of St. Louis, bought a Wii system for rehab patients late last year.

"When people can refocus their attention from the tediousness of the physical task, oftentimes they do much better," Osborn said.

This kind of therapy seems ideal when working with wounded troops:

The Hines Veterans Affairs Hospital west of Chicago recently bought a Wii system for its spinal cord injury unit.

Pfc. Matthew Turpen, 22, paralyzed from the chest down in a car accident last year while stationed in Germany, plays Wii golf and bowling from his wheelchair at Hines. Turpen says the games help beat the monotony of rehab and seem to be doing his body good, too.

"A lot of guys don't have full finger function so it definitely helps being able to work on using your fingers more and figuring out different ways to use your hands" and arms, Turpen said.

At Walter Reed Army Medical Center, the therapy is well-suited to patients injured during combat in Iraq, who tend to be in the 19 to 25 age range ó a group that's "very into" playing video games, said Lt. Col. Stephanie Daugherty, Walter Reed's chief of occupational therapy.

"They think it's for entertainment, but we know it's for therapy," she said.

While the big annual fundraiser by the milblogs may be over, the need for our wounded troops is always ongoing. If you can, please consider donating to Project Valour-IT.

Dinner with Warriors Cookbook Order Page

2010-11-26T22:05:00.000-05:00

Dinner with Warriors Cookbook

Brent's son, HM3 James Ray "Doc" Layton is honored in this book with a favorite recipe, as well as Susan's son GySgt. Aaron Kenefick. The cookbook features recipes loved by those wounded and fallen Heroes within it's pages.

Cooking with the Troops opens NASDAQ

2010-11-26T22:01:00.002-05:00

Dinner with Warriors Cookbook Order Page

2010-11-03T20:19:00.000-04:00

Dinner with Warriors Cookbook Order Page is now up on the website!

Dinner with Warriors is the perfect Christmas gift for your military family!

The recipes in this book are lovingly given to the publisher by families of the wounded or fallen so that organizations can help American Service Members and their families.
Browsing through the book will take you on a journey into the lives of these brave men and women who selflessly defend our country, defend our freedom, and paid the price...sometimes paid the ultimate price.

New TShirts from Ranger Up to benefit Soldiers' Angels!

2010-07-15T17:10:00.000-04:00

This was sent to me and it's on the From Soldiers' Angels site. I totally wish I had the resources to make shirts like these. These are freaking AWESOME!!!!

Original link here

New T-Shirts Mean New Sale

Ranger Up is holding another charity day for Soldiers Angels--and this time it's doubling the support with TWO whole days in honor of its new Soldiers' Angels t-shirts!

A veteran-owned business known for military-themed clothing designs and gear, Ranger Up will be donating 20% of the price of everything they sell this weekend (July 17-18, 2010) to Soldiers’ Angels! In addition, another 20% of the cost of Ranger Up's three new Soldiers' Angels t-shirt designs will be donated to Soldiers' Angels.

The new shirts include a men's t-shirt featuring a fierce male Angel and the "May No Soldier Walk Alone" line from the Soldiers' Angels motto on the back. The new women's t-shirts feature a powerful female Angel in a light design or dark design, both with the "May No Soldier Go Unloved" line on the back.

This is the second charity day Ranger Up has held for Soldiers' Angels. As CEO Nick Palmisciano says, "Our first charity day was a success, but we wanted to do even more, so we are holding a full Soldiers' Angels charity weekend and simultaneously launching the new shirts. We think this will be out most successful Soldiers' Angels event yet!"

Charity Day is the latest in a rich history of Ranger Up support for Soldiers' Angels. Last year the company created the popular Soldiers' Angels Protector T-shirt and added the Angel logo to its Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) fighters' shorts. "We aren't in a position to simply donate millions of dollars (yet)," says Palmisciano, "so we focus on raising awareness by asking our MMA fighters to wear the Soldiers' Angels emblem when they get in the cage, designing new shirts that make the Soldiers' Angels community proud while simultaneously raising money for the organization, incorporating Soldiers' Angels into the new EA Sports MMA video game promotion and holding charity days."

Encountering Soldiers' Angels while visiting military hospitals with its MMA fighters inspired Ranger Up to join the Angel team. "We found that every time we asked a troop who was taking care of him the best he said, 'Soldiers' Angels.' Every. Single. Time," Palmisciano reports. "Even as Soldiers' Angels grows, it maintains the 'boots on the ground' feel. Angels are writing troops, visiting troops, giving back - each and every one of them. No one is sitting in a corporate office simply thinking about the strategy of taking care of soldiers - each person is doing it, and candidly that's what we love the most."

Soldiers' Angels salutes Ranger Up for their continued service both in and out of uniform, and encourages all Angels to spread the word about these exciting new shirts and this great sale!

Text “Soldiers” to 20222

2010-07-14T13:00:00.000-04:00

Soldiers' Angels official message:

Posted By: Shelle Michaels

To: Members in Soldiers' Angels (OFFICIAL)

Text “Soldiers” to 20222
Soldiers’ Angels proudly announces a new way to support the troops just by using a cell phone! Patriotic Americans can now text “Soldiers” to 20222 to donate $5 toward care packages, assistance for wounded warriors, and support for veterans and their families.

Soldiers’ Angels has a long history of using high tech and social media platforms to motivate volunteers and donations. From raising hundreds of thousands of dollars through military and political blogs to winning a Twitter-based “Social Media Makeover” competition last summer, Soldiers’ Angels has demonstrated a continuing commitment to using all available technological resources in its mission to support the troops.

“We are so excited to give Americans this great, cutting-edge way to help make sure our heroes receive the support they need in this time of war,” says founder Patti Patton-Bader. “Five dollars really is a modest amount of money, but it adds up so quickly and means so much to our efforts. With text-to-donate we are continuing to use the latest technology to draw more Americans into this important work.”

Along with text-to-donate, Soldiers’ Angels is rolling out its new Mobile Support Club
http://www.adz2mobile.com/acp/soldiers_angels/soldiermobileclub.html. Members of the Club will receive up to four monthly alerts and updates on events, projects, soldier stories, support needs and much more, right on their mobile phones. Supporters can sign up automatically by texting “Soldiers” to 20022 to donate $5, or by clicking on "Mobile Club" on the "Stay Connected" widget on the right sidebar of the Soldiers' Angels homepage www.soldiersangels.org. Join uswww.Facebook.com/soldiersangelsofficial.

Have a great day!

Wingtip-to-wingtip,

Patti Patton Bader, Founder
Toby Nunn, Operations Director
Shelle Michaels, National Communication Officer

Marines in Need

2010-07-14T01:39:00.000-04:00

If anyone wants to help spread the word on this, that would be great: http://bostonmaggie.blogspot.com/2010/06/listen-up-i-want-something.html

I know it's not specifically Soldiers' Angels, but the goal is to help out service men and women.

Maggie says: "So, what's the problem? Well, for one thing, the Marines have none of their own gear. Except for seeing the docs, they are sitting around bored silly. So, my BMCS has rounded up some stuff for them (cumshaw, anyone?); a TV, a DVD player and an X-Box. But he needs more stuff."

She's got a list of things they could use and you can contact her if you have any questions.

New online vendor donating to Soldiers' Angels

2010-07-14T01:33:00.002-04:00

Here's a chance to get some cool gear and support the troops at the same time! Online store Clynch House is having a big sale for the 4th of July Weekend with 10% of all revenue going to Soldiers' Angels!

ClynchHouse.com is a new store by Ranger Up partner Garrett Schemmel. The site partners with MMA official brands to meet the growing interest in MMA as a mainstream sport, and carries Ranger Up items as well.

http://soldiersangels.org/index.php?mact=News,cntnt01,detail,0&cntnt01articleid=596&cntnt01returnid=15

Why Do I Even Watch Things That Make Me Cry?

2010-06-18T01:30:00.000-04:00

As my husband came in here, I found myself trying to hide the fact that I was tearing up (oh hell, I was flat out crying really!) at a video by Craig Morgan (This Ain't Nothin'). I suspect that he thinks there is something wrong with people who cry. And there is especially something wrong with people who go out of their way to watch things they KNOW will make them cry.

I have noticed that by allowing yourself to feel sad, you actually expand something inside you...I'm not sure what it is, but it almost feels like the act of pushing past the fear and allowing the pain and sorrow to come out, parts of you grow. You grow stronger emotionally, you enable yourself to feel more joy, you allow yourself to start really seeing the things that are important. I think your heart grows in both directions - as you delve into the part that feels sorrow, you also make it possible to go the opposite way and experience as much joy as you do sorrow.

So when I hear Trace singing "Til the Last Shots Fired", Toby singing "American Soldier" or John Michael singing, "Letters from Home"...I'll still go turn it up. I'll get my girls to come watch because they "get" it. And we'll cry. We always do.

What Do YOU Do To Give Something Back?

2010-04-10T12:24:00.001-04:00

Some people just don't get what is wrong with our warriors when they return from war. Yes, you can use catch phrases like PTSD, but do you know what that really means? Do you realize that these guys and gals aren't "broken" but are quite simply doing what they are trained to do?

Our Warriors are warriors, that's all there is to it. Right? Well, sure, IF they remain in a military atmosphere where everyone else is trained the same. Oh, but don't forget those Warriors who were in combat and experienced their unit getting hit by firefight and walked away the only survivor. And don't forget those who were blown up, ambushed, had their sleeping quarters under constant fire, their water supply poisoned, and countless other situations that rock your foundation of security. Now, some of these Warriors get by just fine, and that is great. Maybe their threshold is higher and they can just hold out longer. But many others aren't holding out so well. I think while they are still in a military atmosphere the hold it together better because they have to.

What happens when they come home? Especially Service Members in the Army National Guard and Army and Marine Reserves. When the military doesn't need them, they get to go home and be civilians again until the next time they are needed. Do you have any idea how hard that must be to walk around with your survival triggers firing off in your head constantly. It has to be an exhausting endeavor. It's no wonder these Warriors think there is something wrong with them (because you know that is how everyone around them treats them). They are exhausted, from being "on" 24/7, don't sleep, if they do sleep they have nightmares...how do you feel when you are exhausted? Can't be rational? Small things set you off? Imagine how a Warrior feels in that position.

I feel there is more we can do to make these Warriors realize we are here to help them, just as they've helped us retain our freedom for the last 234 years. I feel it's our duty to help them in any way we can. It's the least we can do. Really.

What can we do to help these guys when they come home? How can we possibly do anything significant enough that it might help?

Well...I happen to donate my time and talents to an amazing organization here in the Tampa Bay are that offers our Service Members a trip out on one of the boats to go sailing, fishing, just do nothing. They can spend time with others who have experienced what they have and they truly "get" it.

By spending an afternoon on the water, chatting, laughing, not worrying, being themselves...it heals them. It's an absolutely amazing thing to watch a Viet Nam vet cry because they feel like someone FINALLY understands them. They start to understand themselves! Watch a young Marine who can't keep his balance hunt for shells on the beach and be SO excited about what they find (especially a starfish as broken on the outside as they feel on the inside - and they realize that both are still perfectly beautiful) that their enthusiasm reminds you of a young kids first trip to the beach. These excursions really are healing. You have to see it to grasp the full effect but trust me, it's a beautiful thing.

*** The name of the non-profit water based company that was previously endorsed on this page has been removed and is no longer endorsed by myself and my Gold Star family. If you want some worthwhile non-profits that use donated funds for what they actually say they will use it for, I will be happy to provide a current list if you message me. **

With the word "Deployment" looming on the horizon...

2010-04-02T11:02:00.004-04:00

...and having not even recovered from the last one, my brain is starting to need an outlet again. I started working on my designs for my store. I miss doing that.

I got really preoccupied with some other duties and the things I love got sacrificed as a result. So now I have my family life back on track, farm working towards earning it's keep, and my business is heading in a positive direction again.

At least it was until Mike said that word. I'm going to just kind of ignore it for now though, because it's not an immediate thing. It's not even a bad thing. It's just something I don't want to think about at the moment.

So, I worked on designs and creating more items with existing designs. You'll be seeing those in the near future.

*** The name of the non-profit water based company that was previously endorsed on this page has been removed and is no longer endorsed by myself and my Gold Star family. If you want some worthwhile non-profits that use donated funds for what they actually say they will use it for, I will be happy to provide a current list if you message me. **

Once a Warrior, Always a Warrior

2010-03-27T01:16:00.004-04:00

I'm currently reading a book about transitioning from combat to "real life". Why? Well, as a parent I want to make sure I'm aware of what might be going on inside my son's head. Actually, I'm not real sure I've ever known what was going on inside his head, but it's always worth a shot, right?

This book, "Once a Warrior, Always a Warrior" by Col. Charles W. Hoge, MD is giving me a whole new perspective of PTSD, and other "problems" Warriors encounter when they try to meld back into non-combat life.

I've always been bothered with the idea that PTSD is a problem to be fixed. Col. Hoge explains it in a way that makes more sense to me. I've only actually just started reading but in the first few pages, he establishes that these "symptoms" that people will try to fix are nothing more than the skills a Warrior needs to survive and do their job. What they need is to learn how to navigate non-combat life with these skills that will never leave them.

Warriors aren't victims and they aren't broken. That sounds completely the opposite of all the stuff I've read so far. Which is really not much, because it hasn't been addressed all that much, at least not in a way that your everyday civilian will find it. Because I've had experiences with Warriors suffering different stages of PTSD, whether it was due to a TBI or just from the experiences during combat, and I've been trying to understand what I could do to help, I've been searching the bookstores for books that might make it make make more sense. It's hard to explain but sometimes you end up asking yourself things like: "When they get lost mid-sentence, do I bring them back to the same place in the conversation or give it up and move on" and "Should you give clues to things when they are obviously frustrated with their inability to remember something, or should I wait until they get it on their own?" "What can I do to help them, even if it means making them work at it?"

This book has been enlightening. Still no answer to my questions but it's made a positive difference already. The writing is very straight forward, right to the point: They aren't broken and navigating non-combat life is just another mission.

I'll be updating you on what I learn as I actually get into the book. This could be an amazing tool for Freedom Excursions. Hmmmm..... I've seen good reviews so far. I'm very hopeful.

If you want to check it out, the site is: http://onceawarrior.com

A New Year, A New Set of Goals...

2010-01-03T13:49:00.003-05:00

As some of you know, I have a LOT going on here. I'm an Army Mom, which I'd not change for the world. I'm also the Vice President of the Tampa Bay chapter of Blue Star Mothers of America and I two very active competitive gymnasts at home still. I also homeschool. I run my own design/development studio and I have a small farm. I'm sure I've forgotten something here, but it's obviously not all that important right now.

An amazing woman I know posted a saying a few weeks back (thanks Greta!):

Give 110%,

Make a difference,

Expect nothing in return and

if you piss someone off

along the way,

it is their problem.

That got me thinking about everything I do more than I would have expected.

I can't give anything even 10% at the current pace I'm setting. I want to give my all to too many things so I've decided to focus on a few projects that are extremely important to me and the others will be set free to grow on their own, with someone else's help or to just cease to exist. I give the decision to the Universe, though. That's not mine to make.

This year I will:

Make sure my girls have all they need to be the best gymnasts they can be, as long as they enjoy doing it.

Support our troops by focusing on Freedom Excursions and the amazing benefits they provide to our troops and their families.

Be sure to have some sort of regular contact with horses. This might seem odd, but OMG!! I'm dying inside without horses around me. I'm sure this one will work itself out, as I'm not sure where it will fit in to the other items. But it WILL fit in.

ok, those are my basic goals, subject to additions later...

:-)

I hope everyone has had a great holiday and are rested up and ready to live their lives to the fullest. If the military has taught me anything, it has taught me to enjoy the moments you have with your loved ones and doing what you love, because you never know when the next one might be, if it happens at all.

Take care all!!

First Response Backpacks

2009-12-15T09:18:00.000-05:00

My name is SFC G and I am currently serving in Afghanistan.This past Friday I was MEDEVACed to the Hospital. While in transport my uniform was cut off me to allow the Doctors and everyone to do what they do best. Once I woke up in my hospital bed a Nurse handed me a bag from your Organization. At first I just thought that this was just the normal toothbrush, shampoo, and other personal hygiene items. I have never been so happy to be wrong in my life. I cannot tell you how happy I was to open a bag and find clothes that I could put on and feel human again. The weirdest thing was not getting the clothes, but rather the feeling of being at home again. Over here everything smells “Army.” You can ask any veteran and they will tell you that the military has a certain smell that comes with it. This bag for a few minutes helped me forget about the pain and everything else going on over here and made me feel like I was back home with my wife and kids. I had never heard of your group before this and I am in the process of informing my entire family about what you all do. Words cannot express my thanks to all the wonderful people you have working and volunteering to help all of us over here. It is because of all the people like everyone in your organization that allows us to do what we do. Once again thank you for your support and Merry Christmas to all of you!

With the utmost thanks and gratitude!

SFC G

To find out more how you can help, please visit www.soldiersangels.org

Posted By: Shelle Michaels
To: Members in Soldiers' Angels (OFFICIAL)
Text “Soldiers” to 20222 Soldiers’ Angels proudly announces a new way to support the troops just by using a cell phone! Patriotic Americans can now text “Soldiers” to 20222 to donate $5 toward care packages, assistance for wounded warriors, and support for veterans and their families. Soldiers’ Angels has a long history of using high tech and social media platforms to motivate volunteers and donations. From raising hundreds of thousands of dollars through military and political blogs to winning a Twitter-based “Social Media Makeover” competition last summer, Soldiers’ Angels has demonstrated a continuing commitment to using all available technological resources in its mission to support the troops. “We are so excited to give Americans this great, cutting-edge way to help make sure our heroes receive the support they need in this time of war,” says founder Patti Patton-Bader. “Five dollars really is a modest amount of money, but it adds up so quickly and means so much to our efforts. With text-to-donate we are continuing to use the latest technology to draw more Americans into this important work.” Along with text-to-donate, Soldiers’ Angels is rolling out its new Mobile Support Club http://www.adz2mobile.com/acp/soldiers_angels/soldiermobileclub.html. Members of the Club will receive up to four monthly alerts and updates on events, projects, soldier stories, support needs and much more, right on their mobile phones. Supporters can sign up automatically by texting “Soldiers” to 20022 to donate $5, or by clicking on "Mobile Club" on the "Stay Connected" widget on the right sidebar of the Soldiers' Angels homepage www.soldiersangels.org. Join uswww.Facebook.com/soldiersangelsofficial. Have a great day! Wingtip-to-wingtip, Patti Patton Bader, Founder Toby Nunn, Operations Director Shelle Michaels, National Communication Officer