Military-Family Blog from MilitaryAvenue.com

Military Saves Week 2012

noreply@blogger.com (Leanne) — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 14:46:00 +0000

Because financial-smarts is a necessity to the overall well being of a military-family I wanted to be sure you all knew about this ...

Military Saves Week is Fast Approaching!

The official date for Military Saves Week is February 19-26, and more than 120 military installations, financial institutions, and non-profits have already signed up! View the complete liste of participants here.

Check with the Family Readiness Center at your command exact dates and news about this important event!

Be sure to read through MilitaryAvenue's Money and The Military Resource Guide as well. We will be posting blogs throughout the week of February 19th to keep us all thinking about our financial health. How about you?

- Leanne from MilitaryAvenue.com

The Heritage of a Military Brat

noreply@blogger.com (Leanne) — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 18:28:00 +0000

*E*, 9 years old, came home very excited. "MOM! We have a big project at school and it has to be about our heritage, where we come from. I want to do the country of Iceland!"

What is interesting is *E* is about 25% Hungarian, 12.5% Norwegian, a splash of Irish, Danish and French and the rest German. Icelandic? There is none in his blood. But it does run in his veins.

I lived in the country of Iceland from 10th grade through 12th grade at the now closed Naval Base in Keflavik. My dad flew helicopters out of the 56th Rescue Squadron with the US Air Force. So when I talk about my younger years and where I came from a lot of times Iceland is mentioned. I never really thought about my heritage in terms of being a brat. I knew it influenced who I was but influenced my own children? I was suddenly excited to think that my 'brat-hood' had an impact on my own children and making a dent in their sphere of a world-view.

For his project he chose to do a diorama. I called my mom to get some props. She dug out the old photos of the scenery from our tour in Iceland. She scanned them and emailed them to us. (Isn't modern technology great?!) We did a little official research on the computer about the country and we found a recipe to bring in. (Part of the project was making a food to share with the class.)

E and I talked about Icelandic hot dogs (pylsur) and the special sauce, fish drying-racks, even shark meat and "Rocky Mountain Oysters". We talked about how the sun didn't fully rise in the winter and that summers were a balmy 50 degrees. We discussed the lava rock fields, the Blue Lagoon and geothermal pools through out the country. I relived spelunking, watching puffins land at Vestmannaeyjar and seeing the most beautiful of waterfalls, without any type of safety guard-rail or fencing. Parts of the country are pure uninhabited beauty.

I couldn't help but wonder how many other kids were getting a first hand-account about a country of their heritage. I did talk to the teacher before we dove in and made sure that his lack of Icelandic blood-line would not be a problem. She seemed excited. I knew I was. And E, he was over the top ready to dive in.

We thought about doing pylsur (hot dogs) for the food part of his project. After doing some research we found that (a) no one in northeast Ohio has them or can make then and (b) it would cost over $100 to have a package of 8 shipped and imported. Scratch that. On to food choice #2.

Icelandic Pancakes

(Ponnukikur)

E, pouring the batter to make the crepes

He made about 10 crepes and then we cut them all into thirds for his class.

A Viking was with us as we prepared our dessert

Making the whipped cream topping

Each filled with a jelly of our choosing and topped
with whipped cream topping

The finished product, enjoyed with afternoon
coffee or tea. YUM!

It was a great lesson for all of us. E was the only one in his class to do Iceland. He was probably the only one with the heritage of a "Military Brat as well. For that I am extra proud. So for all of you dads and moms of military-brats be proud of your children and know that they will continue the legacy. The legacy is deep rooted in our veins and carries through from generation to generation.

- Leanne from MilitaryAvenue.com

A Time for All Seasons - DoD Blogger Roundtable

noreply@blogger.com (Colonel K) — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 21:48:00 +0000

Pentagon Press Secretary George Little

"Put Me in Coach"!

World and national events make this "A Time for All Seasons" and there is a reason that Friday is a favorite weekday of most! But it was with trepidation that MilitaryAvenue dialed into the DoDLive Bloggers Roundtable Friday afternoon to talk with Pentagon Press Secretary George Little and DoD Spokesman U.S. Navy Capt. John Kirby. Why? - you wonder? We were about to discuss the new 2013 budget proposal from the Pentagon. The subject always seems to be one of the tough issues that never please anyone. Which programs are being cut this time, manpower reductions, aircraft and naval vessel numbers slashed, Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) recommendations, etc.? Do the needs of the military drive the budget or does the budget drive our military needs is always the question?

This Roundtable was a fine example of those discussions. Great questions from bloggers and answers from the Pentagon. But they left me wondering what the message these media experts were sending to us and you. “Refocus attention on skill sets”, “pay growth may slow”, “no commitment to be broken for military retirement”, “F-35 is aircraft of our future”, new BRAC (Base Realignment and Closure) proposals, airlift cuts to match troop cuts in Army and Marines, …

The Secretary of Defense announced his budget priorities and these men were explaining those priorities and how they would impact the military community. Troops coming home from Europe, fewer troops (80,000 soldiers and 20,000 Marines), a BRAC like commission to review military retirement (grandfathered for all currently serving), emphasis on special forces and maintaining the number of big deck carriers, - the intent? Save $259 Billion over the next five years and $487 Billion over the next 10 years. Having been a program element monitor (PEM) warrior at the Pentagon, it was apparent that not much has changed since I departed active duty. The discussions will focus on keeping programs in each service, protecting the turf but always looking for ways to save money.

Col K

Why is this discussion important to you?

Pentagon budget discussions translate into real life changing events. Think not? Ask that soldier or Marine and his family what they think when 100,000 folks are told “thank you for your service” but it is time to look for other employment. I have seen the results of selective early retirement boards on folks too. Kids in college? Sorry, we want you to retire anyway. Planned to stay till you were at 20 or 30 year point with a sick child for health care reasons? Maybe not? BRAC closing the base where your commissary, exchange and health care is located? Closest one is now 300 miles away. Smaller troop numbers, Brigade rotations to Europe, fewer aircraft will result in longer and more frequent deployments – can not imagine that? Wish it were true.

I asked about health changes for the retiree population. Another MilitaryAvenue team member listening to the Roundtable suggested I sounded a bit emotional and I guess I did. When the media team suggested that retirees under 65 had a second job and other health insurance I cringed. According to their comments little impact! Another blogger (thank you Gail Harris, writing for Foreign Policy Association ) backed me up as a military retiree under 65 relying on Tricare insurance. Besides, if you think that it will have little impact why make changes? The retirees paying more for health care are offsetting other program cuts and that means a lot of money from their pockets. Mr. Panetta said in a press release that, “But let me be clear that even after these increases, the cost borne by military retirees will remain below the levels in comparable private-sector plans.” Please Mr. Secretary, when did we ask civilian/private sector personnel to fight our wars, deploy multiple times, do crazy dangerous things like fly over the top of underground nuclear tests, pull 7 gs flying aircraft, work for 38 hours + non stop, hike 20+ miles in one night, get shot at, bombed and miss that Christmas, anniversary, child’s birth? My list could go on sir! When we asked the American corporate world to make those type of sacrifices on a daily basis, then we have a fair analogy.

So Mr. Secretary, these are not just numbers when you talk about people and lets put actions in place to support rhetoric that we are taking care of the troops. These budget changes will create life changing events. But I return to the thought at the beginning: "A Time for All Seasons." Let’s take a look at where this budget goes and see if it supports our national defense, takes care of those patriots who do the mission and those who support them on the home front. Maybe it is time for a change, a smaller military, less benefits, reduced health care. As long as the interests of the nation come first, fit a strategy that protects our resources and people, a military with a smaller extended reach and capability I say, "Put me in coach"! But let’s all play the game with the same rules and not change them during the game like some advocate.

A big thank you to DoDLive and Secretary Little and Capt Kirby for this Blogger Roundtable discussion. You can find a transcript and listen to an audio of the Roundtable at DoDLive Bloggers Roundtable.

Follow Col K on twitter at @MilAve_Col_K.

Photo Credit US Department of Defense

Snowmen Hanging In There

noreply@blogger.com (Deborah) — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 10:10:00 +0000

Tuesday has to be the best day, my favorite day; it is Esther and Jacob day. For a few hours I have them in the center of my attention. Their voices, bursting energy, spontaneous laughter and curiosity are with me. This is a recipe for a successful day: mirth.

Tissue falling everywhere!

We cook, create with playdough, design with pastels and paper and we chatter. Songs that I love to sing fill the car on the way down to the house only to be interupted by counting buses, both school and rapid transport. Seseme Street's Count vonCount would be oh so proud of my charges.

Snipping corners for the perfect look.

Each week we create some 'homework'. Work that they take home. Oft times this is a plate of cookies, cupcakes, scones or some tasty delight. This week the morning was filled with 'snow' and knock knock jokes. Tissue paper snow and 'Knock, Knock. Who's there? Tissue. Tissue who? Tissue! I don't even know you. It really wasn't too funny the first time... but they were keeled over with laughter at their own humor. This is a lesson I have learned: laugh, even if no one else gets it. Laugh and laugh and laugh with others. It just feels good being united with mirth.

January brought us snow, took it away, brought it back and now... it is hanging in there by a patch or two.

Proud of his work.

Hang in there snowmen!

There are two fantastic snowmen hanging in Michigan. Eyes are on winter, safe guarding the joy of putting it all together. There is also glue on my chairs, table and counter... paper under the rug in the wash and glued to the floor. And there are songs still playing in my head, and a joke that still makes me smile. Tuesday's snowmen are hanging in there and looking good!

Pinterest and the Military Family

noreply@blogger.com (Leanne) — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 14:50:00 +0000

Hours ... I have lost hours to Pinterest. But maybe lost isn't the right word because Yes! I have successfully re-created some of the great ideas I have found. Dinner has become more exciting, I've discovered the many uses of vinegar, and it has helped me on my quest to keep "2012 the year of Organization."

I also created some resources that you, the military family, might find useful. There is a sea of information out there and this is a great way to keep it organized. Find what you like, pin it to your own board and you'll have it when you need it (or have time to read it!)

Military - Loving the Life
Army Wife - Air Force Brat - and Director of Research and Development at
MilitaryAvenue.com. Yep, the military-family is pretty important to me.

Military Life - The PCS
Been there - done that - and here are some things I've learned...

Saving Money here, there, and everywhere
My husband is the saver, I'm the spender. Somehow we are learning to meet in
the middle.In the mean time here are some resources to keep me on the straight
and narrow.

Military Life - Deployment
Deployment survivor and time will tell when we do it again.

Oh and there is so much more: All Things Blog, Recipes, Around the House. It goes on and on. (Oh dear, I'm feeling myself being sucked back in.)

Come on over and follow these military-life boards and watch the pins grow and the wealth of resources expand. I'll be sure to follow you back as I know you will also find some great resources that I can use!

- Leanne from MilitaryAvenue.com

Tasty Tuesday: Slow Cooking BBQ Chicken

noreply@blogger.com (Leanne) — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 13:00:00 +0000

A new baby, a sick family member, a recent (or upcoming) PCS, or 'just because!'; there are many reasons a gift of dinner is so appropriate and heart-warming. If you are looking for a great dinner to deliver ahead of time this is a great one to try. (Bonus is that you will have two to give and one to keep!)

Slow Cooking BBQ Chicken:

3 large unpeeled sweet potatoes

4 large green peppers
1 large red pepper
2 medium onions
3 tsps quick cooking tapioca
3 - 4 pounds chicken thighs or breasts
2 8-ounce cans of diced tomatoes
3 tablespoons packed brown sugar
3 tsps Worcestershire sauce
3 tsps yellow mustard powder
3 cloves garlic, minced
3 teaspoons salt

Chop, dice, cut ... into your preferred bite size pieces. Dump everything evenly into three one-gallon freezer bags (so you are making three meals with this one recipe). Shake it up, seal, label and put in the freezer.

When you are ready to deliver your meal (or two) to an old friend or new friends pull the bag(s) out of your freezer. They can keep it in their freezer until a night that works for their family. Cook on low in a slow cooker or Crock Pot for 8 hours or high for 4 hours.

Since I have three bags one is for my family, one for my new niece and her family and another for a family of my choosing. Who do you know that could use a home-cooked meal?

- Leanne from MilitaryAvenue.com

Financial Fitness in 2012

noreply@blogger.com (Leanne) — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 12:32:00 +0000

Welcome to a new year, military-families! We have so much ahead of us to look forward to: family time to spend, PCSs to plan, houses to buy, vacations to save for, retirements to plan for, new babies for some and others are sending our babies off to college (Yes, I would fall into that category). 2012 is going to be a great year!

Did you make any New Years Resolutions, or I would rather call Personal Goals? How is that going? My big one this year is to get my home more organized. You can read more about that journey and steps I am taking on our blog 'Our Letters to You', a military family blog: Personal Goals. So far I have stayed on track by taking baby-steps every day. Doing a little bit here and there every day has had a very positive impact on my well-being.

Speaking of keeping Resolutions did you know that Tuesday, January 17th, was 'Ditch the New Year's Resolution Day'? They can be hard to keep, especially if you set the bar high without much planning or vague notions of what you want to achieve. Take a look at what you want to do and see if you can chunk it down into obtainable goals. Sometimes baby-steps are the way to go.

If your goals for the year involved personal-finances then I would encourage you to keep pressing on. Financial Readiness trickles down into every aspect of your life, from your marriage, to your work life, to looking ahead to your future. We hope you can find some help in this month's newsletter to help you keep the pace.

Sarcoma Smarts

noreply@blogger.com (Deborah) — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 19:28:00 +0000

Some people know how to put exactly the right words down in writing so that your mind is able to take the jangle out of thoughts, desires, whim and fog.

I walk in those feelings often. Dale was diagnosed with a rare cancer which is under the umbrella of Sarcoma. This sounded like some troll out of our long forgotten heritage: a member of our family hidden on our family tree that we didn't know existed from an odd country. Sarcoma has come to visit and taken up residency in our thoughts and plans and tries to flick it's ugliness into our faces a bit too often. Sarcoma scares occur: an odd bump, an increasing constant pain, a questionable MRI. The scare is alive and 'unwell' and living with us.

Therefore it is time to clean house. Get rid of the welcome mat for this sarcoma 'fellow'.

We are working on our daily walk. Dale continues going forward with physical therapy for a joint that froze due to the constant elevation of his leg following cancer surgery. All part of the healing process, part of the newness of being a cancer survivor: scars.

Dale found the Internet to be of such great help. Being armed with knowledge he could read how others progressed. And here lies the inspiration for this account: http://sarcomahelp.org/friend.html.

Common sense cannot be over rated, or over used. Thank you Liddy Shriver Sarcoma Initiative for you work.

“Just do Something!”

These stirring words mean so much. The website lists 15 'no brainer' ways to extend your arms, and heart without intruding. Two of my favorites are finding humor (Hooray for laughter and encouragement. Laughter and silliness can provide a sense of balance for someone who spends a lot of time in the serious "cancer world." ) and the second, give a notebook to record this journey. Both actions are so very positive avenues to take.

Go ahead, visit the ideas on the site and tell us what else you can think should be added to the list.

Wordless Wednesday: The Wonderful World of Books

noreply@blogger.com (Leanne) — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 13:00:00 +0000

Veterans in the News

noreply@blogger.com (Colonel K) — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 15:46:00 +0000

I love to see relevant and factual stories about veterans in the news. Their service, patriotism, family touches and caring for others despite the tragedies of war are mentioned often. But why does the media insist on placing “Veteran” in the headline when it has no relevance?

Caring for injured Haitians DoD Photo

There seems to be a trend in the news lately. I am a fan of the news and freedom of the press in the US! It is one of our freedoms that makes this country great and allows us to keep up to date as citizens. By the way, I think that bloggers also should be protected by those same rules and given the protections that other media reps currently have (this is still being tested in the courts).

We can see daily where the freedom of the press can influence world events such as the Arab Spring, Wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and even the military response to the Haiti disaster. A piece of the 1st Amendment and Bill of Rights made freedom of the press a right of every US citizen. Our veterans for generations have fought, been injured and died to protect this freedom that many others do not have. It appears that some in the media choose to forget this fact.

But our freedom of the press which we should take very seriously sometimes allows personal biases and agendas to come forth at inappropriate times. I challenge some of the news folks to identify what is critical and what is not to a story. Tagging headlines such as Navy Veteran Kills Wife (example only) needs to be re-assessed. What relevancy did the veteran piece have to do with this story? Was he suffering from PTSD? TBI? Or had he been a veteran that was in trouble before he was released from military service due to misconduct or anti-social tendencies? We do not have a rash of military members killing their spouses but Americans unfamiliar with the military community might wonder what veterans are up to after seeing that headline. With so much information to digest, I doubt if they read the article deep enough to find out the murderer served 20 or more years ago and was an addict. Notice that I am not calling for any government intervention, no court challenges, just good old American responsibility to readers and ethics that should be considered part of the media’s persona.

Another example, if an individual served in the Marines, 15 years ago, is it relevant to the story headline if he kills someone? (Probably not; unless it was an old Marine buddy who came to see him and got killed for the experience.) Instead of digging for relevant material the reporter/writer/editor do a google search and find out that the person served in one of his country’s military service and then makes that lead the story. They fail to report that the service ended up dishonorably or that they were the mayor of their town 10 years ago.

Here is an example of a news story that the veteran status is important and fairly covered: http://www.foxnews.com/us/2012/01/16/father-calif-killings-suspect-is-also-homeless/ No headline about his veteran status but the story expands on his homeless status and the facts of his service seem to point to a service related issue with his mental health. I get this one! The fact that father and son were both homeless is relevant to the challenges they faced.

I am proud of my military service and tired of headlines making all military personnel out to be psychopaths when a bank is robbed, someone is murdered, etc. There are many veterans who need our support and sympathy and identifying their needs and writing a story about those needs would be wonderful. Most reporters do write fairly and accurately but at times we can do better for the troops! Some media do this for political or partisan reasons. Anti-war; pro or against this or that country, alliance, ethnic group, religion or other rationale makes it easy for them to make the troops targets. This negative vision of our military was an epidemic during the very un-popular Vietnam War but I see it creeping back into the news and I would hate to see it grow any further. The national media probably have fewer veterans than our current Congress and Executive officials which is at an abysmally low percentage. Sometimes an ability to empathize is critical to a story.

Do you like to read about news for the military community? MilitaryAvenue provides a great way to keep up with current, relevant information and articles from great resources. Find out more on Military News and from Our Reading Room!

Tasty Tuesday: Slow Cooker Goulash - Make Ahead

noreply@blogger.com (Leanne) — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 13:00:00 +0000

I love Pinterest. Especially when I find something that looks doable and then I do it! I've been able to mark a few things completed. I cleaned out my sink-drains with baking soda and vinegar. We have turned an old dresser into storage shelves in our basement. Most recently I made Freezer-Ready Crock Pot Goulash, a great recipe for my family and also to give as a gift to a family with a new baby.

This is a super easy recipe for goulash and I made three two-gallon freezer bags of it, each with 5 cups of prepared, but not cooked, goulash in it. I put it together this afternoon and then can cook it in our slow-cooker a day in the next month or two.

Make Ahead Slow Cooker Goulash

3 cups chopped onions (2 large onions)

2.5 cups coarsely chopped green sweet peppers (2 green peppers)
3 cups of carrots (I chopped 4 large carrots)
4 cloves garlic, minced
3 pounds beef stew meat, cut into one inch cubes
1 6-ounce can tomato paste
4 teaspoons paprika

1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper

2 bay leaves

Needed for the day of the meal:

4 cups hot cooked noodles

1/2 cup sour cream

Wash, peel, cut, chop and mix all of the ingredients. It took me about 15 minutes to do it all.

After your food is all mixed place in gallon-bags and squeeze out any air. Plop in your freezer. When you are ready cook this meal in your slow cooker put your frozen mixture in your cooker and cook on high for 4 hours or low for 6 to 8 hours. Pour over noodles and top with sour cream. YUM!

By the way, I made this particular batch for my brother, sister-in-law and their brand new baby. When the time comes it will be an easy meal for them to pull out and prepare. What are some of your favorite meals to give to a new-family?

- Leanne from MilitaryAvenue.com

PS: The secret to some awesome cooking? A glass of wine (and I don't mean in the recipe) :)

1/24/2012 - We cooked up our delicious Goulash yesterday and thought I'd share a picture of the cooked meal. It smelled good all day. I put it in the cooker frozen at 11am and it was ready by 4pm but we didn't eat till 5:30. The extra hour and a half didn't hurt a thing.. It tasted good, very tender and the right amount of spice. It was truly very good!

Military News

noreply@blogger.com (Leanne) — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 20:40:00 +0000

Over at our parent site, MilitaryAvenue.com, we share lots of great things including Military Discounts, Installation Information, and Current Military News from sources like the Department of Defense, USAA, Military Community and Family Policy and so much more. This is news that you can use as a military family!

You can receive a daily synopsis of all the new articles we place on MilitaryAvenue.com. It is easy to scan, click on what you find interesting, share if you so choose, and then hit delete. (Fellow bloggers this can be a great source of information if wanting to write about current topics)

Interested? To sign up click here: http://feeds.feedburner.com/MilitaryAvenue and then on "Get MilitaryAvenue Recent Articles delivered by email" (see image below).

How to Subscribe - Click on the image if you need to enlarge it

A sample of what the email you receive will look like

- Leanne from MilitaryAvenue.com

Have your December credit card bills arrived?

noreply@blogger.com (Colonel K) — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 15:29:00 +0000

Has the New Year been a great start or are you looking at the bills from Christmas and the holiday season and shaking your head? Do you have credit card debt that is being carried month to month? Or do you have savings that you would like to invest for college or retirement? In either case, you should read this blog!

I had the privilege to interview the president of an organization that can help with your financial issues and their services are free! My excitement grew as I realized how many resources there were to help the military community. FINRA – (who said civilians do not have acronyms?) Financial Industry Regulatory Authority has an Investor Education Foundation with a military resource section. Gerri Walsh made time in her busy schedule to talk so I could help point you to their information and resources to make your lives better! End of purpose – not a sale, no agenda except to help you!

Gerri Walsh was friendly, well in tuned to military issues and was able to list off the names of the family services at each military service (do you know each one?) and a highly experienced financial expert and attorney. We talked for a long time and covered a lot of ground about your finances. I felt like she had walked the military life as we shared information.

Gerri Walsh, President FINRA
Investor Education Foundation

Let’s start with debt – the biggest mistake that military folks make is overspending and getting deep in debt. Walsh described it as an “endless cycle of debt” with “balances carried over” from month to month on credit cards, use of payday loans and other high interest loans to meet obligations. How do you track your spending? Do you know where your dollars are going? We recently purchased a new computer with software to track our personal spending but at SaveandInvest there are some handy tracking tools as well! She said, “we have resources” that are free and include Tips, Worksheets, Printable Budget Plans and Excel Products to track your spending. Did I mention this is free?

Let’s move on to employment! Gerri said that at the end of February/early March they will announce the 50 fellowships available for military spouses to learn and earn an Accredited Financial Counselor™ certificate. FINRA pays for the cost of training and military spouses then use an online program, webinars and two exams at the end of the program to earn this credential while supporting the military community with financial counseling. Great mixture of education, advancing your career and supporting the military at the same time! Interested?

Starting to think about moving on to that video game you received as a Christmas gift? Instead let's play "Moneytopia!”. The military money center at SaveandInvest describes it as a way to “…learn more about managing your money while having fun.” This game has the purpose to help you reach "The Big Dream” and has short tutorials on every type of financial transaction. This is a resource for young couples and singles wishing to learn more about their finances, reaching a goal and having fun while doing it. Or is military retirement or separation looming? Find out if you are ready or what income you will need from that next job to maintain your lifestyle.

Have you reached the point where you need to consider college plans for yourself or your family? Or do you want to save and invest for future dreams? After major headlines created by fraud and scams and the uncertainty of Wall Street where do does one turn? How do you avoid problems? The percentage of fraud and scams is very low according to Gerri who has extensive experience with the Security and Exchange Commission (SEC) but the impact if it hits you can be devastating! “ASK and CHECK” were her headlines for the investor. Is the broker registered and licensed? Reputation? How about a free tool to help to find out? FINRA BrokerCheck

Tough choices to be made in the age of frauds like Bernie Madoff; economic challenges with loss of employment opportunities; a housing crisis with foreclosure notices and of course the military personnel cuts that loom in the future too.

What is her biggest concern for scams/fraud? “Affinity Fraud”. A veteran sales person? Yes, and we did have this happen to us during an investment to save for our future. The veteran, the part time job, the spouse, etc can be the door opener for many sales to our community. She said to say “look beyond the sales pitch” and again, “ASK and CHECK”. The original funds that provided the Foundation resources were the fines that First Command and Fidelity Investment paid to the SEC for deceptive sales to fellow veterans.

Why should you be concerned about your finances? Did you know that the biggest factor for difficulties on security clearance approval? Eighty (80) percent of denials for security clearances are based on the members financial instability according to Gerri! Wow, and military personnel are so afraid to talk to mental health professionals to avoid problems with their clearances but instead should be talking to a financial counselor.

So let’s get ready for Military Saves Week from 19 to 26 February by doing the research, finding a method to control spending, invest in your future smartly and share this information with friends! You might save a career, a marriage (finances are one of the leading causes of divorce as well) or prevent someone from falling into the fraud trap! Send them a link to this blog or to more information at "Getting your Finances in Order for 2012" can be found in MilitaryAvenue's Reading Room.

Have a great 2012 financial year! A big thank you to Gerri Walsh is due. Your gracious attitude, helpful interview and concern for the finances for military families represent the best of America! Thank you from all of us at MilitaryAvenue and the military community.

Photo Credits: FINRA

Photo Credit: U.S. Navy photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Eric J. Cutright

What is essential ...

noreply@blogger.com (Leanne) — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 18:32:00 +0000

Three very different churches. Three very different congregations. Three different families.

But one common belief, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." - Jesus Christ, John 14:6

Worship today was once again a gift. It spurred thoughts and reminded me (this time) that we (my family, my church-home) are getting it right. I am blessed to have been raised in a Christian home and am raising my family in that same tradition, the same knowledge that without Christ we are nothing.

Three very different churches. Three very different congregations. Three different families.

Our church is big. Hip to hip, four services each Sunday. Worship Band for some, choir for others. In a sea of people you have to make it a point to be involved in order to be 'noticed', which we have done through the church nursery, MOPS and a weekly small-group Bible study. My church is my home, a place we come to at least once a week.   I know that I am in the presence of God with a congregation of believers.

My parents' church home is small.  Families take up an entire row. Everyone knows their fellow congregation-members and a visiting person will soon be noticed and welcomed when walking through the door.  The church is truly the people. The body of Christ is well represented.

My in-laws' church is steeped in tradition. There are kneelers, genuflections, a quiet, calming presence of generations bounce off of beautiful stained windows. Amens, thanks, and peace ring through the hour.  One with the Body reflects on these parishioners. (I've talked before about how my husband's upbringing and my own is so different. It has added to our relationship with Christ as a couple and for that I am so thankful! 'Loving A Person')

The thoughts on baptism, communion, what music is going to be sung, even where the kids will be during worship are all very different at each of these churches. These points (and so many more) are all non-essential to my Salvation. Are they important? Sure! As one small example, I honestly am not sure I could go to a church that didn't have a nursery-program. I need that hour to worship without keeping a toddler entertained. But it has nothing to do with my belief in Jesus Christ. It is my choice, my liberty, to find a church that can accommodate my wants.

"What is essential should unite us, what is non-essential should give us liberty."

If you recently PCSed take the time in these coming weeks to find a new church to call home. It is one of the hardest parts of making a new-area home but in the end it is well worth it. Look past the non-essentials and find the presence of God the Father, Jesus Christ the Son. It will be good to find a church you can call home.

I think one of the advantages of being raised in the 'military-church', the non-denominational chapels on various bases, was the ingrained-thought that it isn't /how/ you worship. It is THAT you worship.

- Leanne from MilitaryAvenue.com

Pride in the Uniform

noreply@blogger.com (Leanne) — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 15:19:00 +0000

"Being in public when he is in uniform and feeling like the proudest person on the planet"

How true these words do ring! For me the public-uniform doesn't happen often as usually hubs changes right away when he gets home and doesn't make too many side-trips between duty and home. But if I get the pleasure of going with him to drill-weekends or military-events I swell with pride. (It's a good look on me, really.)

Getting ready to head out this past weekend

I do remember one particular autumn day. *E* had an afternoon soccer game and Hubs was on his way home from a weekend away. He had a choice. He could go home to change and miss all of his son's soccer game, or go straight from duty to the fields and catch the last 15 minutes of the game. In this case he decided to catch some of his son's soccer game. (He missed a lot this summer/fall because of being in uniform three out of four weekends, preparing troops to deploy.)

As I watched him walk across the field that sunny autumn day I couldn't help but smile. He stood with me, cheered on his son, and we prepared to head home. Then one fellow soccer-mom came up to shake his hand. We didn't know her. She just wanted to say 'Thank You'. She said it to him but somehow in that moment I felt Thanked too.

The Pride of the Military-Spouse is deep. The feelings are strong. The love is unflappable.

- Leanne from MilitaryAvenue.com

Relationships

noreply@blogger.com (Leanne) — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 15:04:00 +0000

What kind of nouns do you use to describe yourself?

If I were talking about myself I would include Mom, Wife, Co-Worker, Aunt, Daughter, Sister, Neighbor, Friend, Child of God.

Isn't it interesting that we define ourselves by our relationship with others?

If you are down, mad, offended, afraid, feeling blamed, powerless, alone... take a look at the relationships around you. How can you enrich them, build them up? Reach out, humble yourself, give the gift of love, grace, faithfulness. Aren't you starting to feel better already? I know I am!

- Leanne from MilitaryAvenue.com

Attainable Goals and the Sky-Blue Hue of Celery

noreply@blogger.com (Leanne) — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 18:15:00 +0000

It started as a simple experiment. My four-year old neighbor was over and she had never done the 'celery experiment'. Imagine that! So I dug in my produce drawer and pulled out two stalks. We put a piece in each cup and then added food dye to the water. Red and blue. We watched them through the day and we saw the change. We noticed how the celery was drinking the water as the celery turned from green to a shade of the color of its water. We talked about the importance of drinking and how, yes, even plants drink. Her eyes were widened at this thought. Then my mind started spinning as I looked at the celery and the very practical life application that was before me.

What are you filling your life with?

The celery in red-dyed water looked lifeless, wilted, drab. What it was taking in was directly reflected in the mix of green (celery) and red (food-dye). It was turning a dull brown.

What is making you feel drab and lifeless? The 'friends' you surround yourself with? The piles of mess around the house? The food you put in your body? The time spent on the internet instead of being in the presence of people? The attitude of 'woe is me'?

How can you change what goes into your life to reflect more of a beautiful sky-blue? I was amazed at how much more becoming and appealing the mix of blue-food dye and green-celery was. It reminded me of a cheery-disposition on a sunny cloud-free day. Lay out some goals today if you empathize more with the dull brown celery. (Who knew we could empathize with celery?)

Make some new friends. Learn about groups in your area that will lift you up, that are up your alley.

Find space in your house to breath. Declutter a cabinet, a drawer, a room. Small attainable goals are very fulfilling. Your house can transform one drawer, pile, room at a time.

Buy fresh fruits and vegetables each time you go to the grocery store to have on hand for snacks. Offer fresh fruits and veggies as snacks before offering sugary sweets. Do the same for yourself. (Some great ideas can be found at MilitaryAvenue.com, like, Tips to Help You Eat Vegetables)

Learn a new skill at a local Community College, on post Arts and Craft Center or at the Base Gym. Take a computer class, a Zumba class, a pottery class. What interests you?

Make attainable goals that compliment your life. What you put in will be reflected outwardly as well!

- Leanne from MilitaryAvenue.com

This Tattoo is Freedom's Call 2012

noreply@blogger.com (Deborah) — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 15:00:00 +0000

Got your 2012 calendar ready to ink up? Flip to Friday, June 29, 2012. The seventh annual Freedom's Call will recognize the contributions of our military veterans, their families and all American who support them with a spectacular presentation of flyovers, music, narration and fireworks. This is a free show at Wright Patterson AFB, Ohio guaranteed to raise your spirit of Patriotism to new heights!

Visitors are encouraged to bring lawn chairs, blankets and cameras. However, leave the coolers, backpacks, glasses containers, knives and pepper spray at home! No pets either... not the place for them. For security reasons, items may be inspected. Refreshments will be ready for purchase.

The word "tattoo" as it is used here is derived from the mid-seventeenth century Dutch Taptoe which was a combination of 2 Dutch words: "tap" meaning facet, and "toe" which meant "shut". The Tattoo or 'drum beat' at the end of the day was eventually expanded to include any sort of ceremonial drum heavy performance with marching units and military music.

Fireworks light the night

"Gates will open with pre-show activities at 4:00 p.m. The main event begins promptly at 8 p.m. and concludes with fireworks under the night sky. The AFMC Tattoo can be accessed at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base through the National Museum main entrance on Springfield Pike (Gate 28B), the Armory gate on Harshman Rd. and the gate at the intersection of Airway and Spinning Roads. Gate 22B will be open only for visitors with base identification."

The Tattoo is open to the general public. Admission and parking are free. Recorded event information is available by calling 937 255 7207

This tattoo is designed to be family friendly!

Information is provided on www.wpafb.af.mil/tattoo/history.asp
Photo credit: fireworks - indytransponder.blogspot.com
Charlie Daniels - soundentistry.com
all others - wpafb.af.mil

Photo credit: USAF

Just Wait, military spouse suicide

noreply@blogger.com (Leanne) — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 17:37:00 +0000

Spouses looking out for other spouses, Her War, Her Voice! has teamed up with Not Alone to combat military spouse suicide rates and to ensure there is a safe haven for quality help. Melissa and Christina of 'Her War, Her Voice!' continue groundbreaking holistic military spouse retreats, as well as Just Wait, a place where military spouses can empower, encourage, and inspire each other through their art and their stories.

Who do you turn to when you need help? Make a plan because when you hit that pit - and I know that pit, I don't know many milspouses that don't - you need a plan already in place. We are military-spouses and we are strong. But we can't do this alone. Get involved in your community, make new friends, join groups like MOPS, chapel programs, community organizations, and when life seems to be crashing down around you reach out.

We can't live this life. alone. When your spouse has been deployed for more then half of the last ten years. When your family lives across the country. When your best-friend just PCSed around the world. Who are you left with? What is your plan?

- Leanne from MilitaryAvenue.com

Send a Message to your Deployed Soldier, Sailor, Marine, Airman or Coast Guard

noreply@blogger.com (Leanne) — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 13:43:00 +0000

Once again Stars and Stripes is giving you the opportunity to include a Valentine's Message in their print edition or online. What a great opportunity for our military spouses and family members to share a little Valentine's love with their sweethearts overseas and far apart from our hearts:

Cupid is now online!

Stars and Stripes has launched its popular
Valentine's Day Messages website.
Send a message for free!

We are thrilled to offer you the opportunity to publish a love note in the pages of Stars and Stripes to your sweetheart stationed overseas! Your messages will be published in the European, Pacific, or Mideast edition of Stars and Stripes on Valentine's Day, February 14, and will also appear online at the Valentine's Day Messages website. Best of all, it's free to participate.

Wherever your sweetheart is stationed or deployed, don't miss the opportunity to share your love -

Upload your FREE message today!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Note: Messages must be received by January 24, 2012 to be published in the print version of Stars and Stripes. Any messages received after that date (or messages sent to U.S.-based recipients) will appear online and not in print.

Behold the power...

noreply@blogger.com (Leanne) — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 19:56:00 +0000

... of a clean wall.

As I mentioned in my post about personal goals for 2012 one of those is to get this house organized! (Personal Goals) It actually leaves me giddy with excitement to open up the calendar each day to see what needs to be done as I travel along the journey of 365 days to decluttering and organizing. Crazy, I know.

But today I 'decluttered the top of my cabinets' (which my cabinets don't have a top - they meet at the kitchen ceiling so I cleaned the top of my frig instead.) It was an easy two-minute job. Hmmm... I got looking around for something else to help me feel accomplished and I saw the dirt, grease, grime, years of splatters and fingerprints on my walls.

Seriously, who has time to clean walls? (I am oh so delinquent in my cleaning abilities you will quickly learn in this series of posts.) Seeing as my 'job for the day' took less time then I expected I sprayed my cleaning solution on the grimy wall. Wow. Yuck. Egads. I watched as the dirt /ran/ down my wall. A couple of sprays more. A rag. Three minutes later I had two cleaner walls.

AH... what a difference five minutes can make! Do something out of the ordinary in your house today. You may be amazed at the difference, too.

- Leanne from MilitaryAvenue.com

Inner Strength Builds In the Battle

noreply@blogger.com (Deborah) — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 17:41:00 +0000

We were always taught that sports were so good for teens and t'weens. Agreed. The rules of the game and engagement are life lessons. Sports train us to go further than the body at rest wants to do. Certain venues change, once boxing was at the top of best selling tickets. News headlines captured America with upcoming bouts. We loved it. Teddy Roosevelt must have watched a few jaw breaking, sweat pumping matches before writing a commentary on life.

Words from a plaque on the wall next to my father's desk, encourage and echo the rhythm of each athlete in the game of life. My sister sent me the words in an email. I love the second line and she and Dad especially like the last line.

"It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doers of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again; because there is not effort without error and shortcomings; but who does actually strive to do the deed; who knows the great enthusiasm, the great devotion, who spends himself in a worthy cause, who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement and who at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly. So that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat."

Personal Goals

noreply@blogger.com (Leanne) — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 01:40:00 +0000

New Years Resolutions. A yearly tradition. A list we come up with to make us feel good, look good but easy to forget all about come March or April.

So instead of New Years Resolutions I have come with a list of Personal Goals. I make them and keep them for my work-life at MilitaryAvenue.com. It makes sense to do lay them out in my personal life; not just a way to make me feel better or look better but a means of lifting myself up.

These are five of my personal goals for this year:

1. Stay in better touch with my grandparents. Send Pop an email every week. Send a letter to Grandpa and Grandma every month.

2. Bake less out of a box. Make brownies and cakes from scratch. Enjoy the time in the kitchen with the kids and away from the ding of the computer.

3. Continue learning about gardening and build an even better garden this year. We love pulling tomatoes, corn and carrots from the freezer that I grew in my own dirt (and the fruits of my father-in-laws labor as well). I love knowing where the vegetables came from and the hard work that is behind them. We eat healthier, don't have to 'diet', and savor the moments around the kitchen table months and months after the harvest has been picked.

4. Always have a book on my night-stand. Reading, especially a good fiction book, is good for my imagination, makes me feel more fancy-free and more relaxed. A good book reflects on so many aspects of life. Now time to create a list of books I want to read.

5. Get organized! There is a whole blog-post coming up about this one. But this is the goal that I am looking most forward to wrapping my head around. It is going to be a great year!

What personal goals have you set for yourself?
- Leanne from MilitaryAvenue.com

Drink More ... Feel Better

noreply@blogger.com (Leanne) — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 16:04:00 +0000

It was a rough start to our Christmas Break. The night before the final day of school and my first-grader was thinking of a school field trip in the morning and a class-party in the afternoon. What a fun day it was going to be. He had a rough cough for the past week but I just knew it would go away. Eventually. As we were settling into our bedtime routine that Thursday night *C* lost it. Vomit, vomit, vomit. Gross, gross gross. He spiked a fever and I knew he was down for the count.

That cough stayed with him for another week. Cough medicine didn't touch it and I was desperately trying to get him a doctor's appointment. Our usually very accommodating doctors' office seemed to have started vacation early and I was told to visit urgent care or an ER if I felt it warranted immediate attention. I just didn't think it was that bad. (If for an instant I felt otherwise we would have gone!)

Enter the power of water. My boys all have their own water bottle; ones that matches mom's bright pink one but in different colors. We made it a contest. First person to finish their water bottle was the winner. No reward except to know that they finished their water. Now, I'm not a fan of competition (just not in my nature) but this was something I could get behind. After only two days, drinking our 24ozs each day, the cough was gone. The spunk was back.

Now a few weeks later *E* has slowly picked up the cough and we continue to drink. We will conquer this bug with water as our sword and an attitude of health as our shield.

I raise my water-bottle and toast to a happy and healthy New Year in 2012.

- Leanne from MilitaryAvenue.com

A Newborn Niece and Spring Mud Puddles

noreply@blogger.com (Leanne) — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 02:00:00 +0000

Today a niece was born, not just any niece but my niece. Sure she is a sister, daughter, granddaughter, cousin. But to me she is a niece and I am her aunt. She does however live far enough away that I can't just "pop over" to meet her. Far enough away that it's a road-trip to hold her tiny little fingers, marvel at her tiny little toes and most importantly kiss her chubby little cheeks (~~and tell her all about the troubles her dad caused during my childhood~~).

As a mother of all boys (and oh how I love them and I don't regret the hand I have been dealt for ONE SECOND!) my nieces are extra special. They remind me of tea parties, pink lipstick, baby dolls and flowered bike baskets.

Today in honor of you my newest niece I bought the most feminine pair of boots I ever did see!

They represent the spring garden, muddy soccer games, puddles in the front yard that echo laughter and joy. Dearest *L*, I hope that some day you can put on your favorite pair of rain boots, your pinkest rain jacket and your cutest smile. Then we can go splash in mud puddles together.

I can't wait to meet you sweet, sweet niece! Soon, very soon.

- Your Aunt Leanne