Milspouse Matters

On this special bonus episode, I'm speaking with Amy Palmer, the president and CEO of Soldiers' Angels, who's sharing what Soldiers' Angels offers and how you can support them or even request services.

Soldiers' Angels is a national 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides aid, comfort, and resources to the military, veterans, and their families. Founded in 2003 by the mother of two American soldiers, hundreds of thousands of Soldiers' Angels "Angel" volunteers assist veterans, wounded and deployed personnel and their families in a variety of unique and effective ways. Their motto is:

"May no soldier go unloved † May no soldier walk alone † May no soldier be forgotten † Until they all come home."

Learn more at soldiersangels.org and find them on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube, and Instagram.

If you're looking for a way to give back, volunteer, or support military and veterans, there are opportunities, even during this time of COVID! Find out more about the Soldiers' Angels programs.

CLICK HERE FOR RESOURCES MENTIONED AND THIS EPISODE'S SHOW NOTES

• Get Jen's book, You Are Not Alone: Encouragement for the Heart of a Military Spouse
• Connect with Milspouse Matters on Instagram
• Christian Military Spouse Facebook Group

On this episode, I'm talking to Kaci Jones of Yellow Ribbon Box. Kaci is a veteran and also the spouse of an active duty Air Force member. When she decided to separate from active duty herself in order to spend more time with her daughter, she knew she wanted to continue to give back and serve. That's when she decided to start a small non-profit supporting military spouses and military spouse and veteran owned businesses.

Yellow Ribbon Box, which is a 501c3 Texas Non-Profit Corporation, has a mission to support military members, veterans, and their families. One way they do that is through their Yellow Ribbon Box care packages. These care packages not only boost the morale of military spouses but they also showcase products created by military spouse and veteran owned businesses!

Kaci shares the story behind Yellow Ribbon Box, along with some tips for getting through deployment!

CLICK HERE FOR RESOURCES MENTIONED AND THIS EPISODE'S SHOW NOTES

• Get Jen's book, You Are Not Alone: Encouragement for the Heart of a Military Spouse
• Connect with Milspouse Matters on Instagram
• Christian Military Spouse Facebook Group

Was military life not something you'd planned on? Has it taken a toll on your marriage? Then you'll want to tune to this week's episode.

Today, I'm joined by Navy spouse Bryce Langley, who's sharing some great thoughts and wisdom about military spouse life, military marriage, tips for getting through deployments, the importance of mentorship, and so much more. (Along with some ways that spouses' groups can better reach out to male military spouses!)

Bryce and his wife Tracy had been married nearly a decade when she decided to go into the Navy. As you'll hear, Bryce came to military spouse life very reluctantly! He'd been raised near Fort Bragg, NC, and saw firsthand the effects military life can have on families, and he was not quite ready to sign up for that.

They've now been married over 13 years, and you'll hear about how Bryce came to not only accept military life, but embrace it. He talks about how he decided to support Tracy's career as well as connect with other military spouses through the Family Readiness Group. He's completely honest about the journey so far, and if you're struggling too, I think you'll be so encouraged by his experiences!

CLICK HERE FOR RESOURCES MENTIONED AND THIS EPISODE'S SHOW NOTES

• Get Jen's book, You Are Not Alone: Encouragement for the Heart of a Military Spouse
• Connect with Milspouse Matters on Instagram
• Christian Military Spouse Facebook Group

This episode is for parents of military members. If you're not one of those, I think you still might find some helpful resources, and at the least you can pass it on to your OWN parents and in-laws.

My husband had served on active duty for over 25 years when our oldest son announced that he'd decided to join the military, too. It came as a bit of a shock to his father and me, as he'd always discussed other career plans before that time.

So whether you're a military-spouse-turned-parent-of-military-member like me or you're just looking for information to help you in this new world of being a military parent, I'm sharing some things I've learned over the past few years, along with some suggested resources.

Next, stay tuned as I share the brand new single release "God And Country" from country music recording artist and former U.S. Army intelligence Sergeant, Jenny Leigh Miller, which will be available on all digital retail and streaming outlets on Friday, November 6, 2020. Reflecting on her decision to join the military at the age of 18, the emotional track chronicles Miller's early life chapters and her calling to serve God and her country.

Jenny joins me to discuss the story behind the song, some of her thoughts about military service, along with her parent's reaction to her decision to go into the military right after her high school graduation. She also has a message for those with deployed loved ones!

Click here for show notes and resources mentioned on this episode.

• Get Jen's book, You Are Not Alone: Encouragement for the Heart of a Military Spouse
• Connect with Milspouse Matters on Instagram
• Christian Military Spouse Facebook Group

On this episode, I'm sharing about our homeschooling journey, and how it fit in with military life!

Let's talk about some of the common fears and misconceptions, and some of my favorite resources and tips from over 20 years as a homeschooling mom.

We homeschooled our four now grown children, who've all gone on to college and careers. I embraced a hands-on and literature-based method of learning and education, and combining kids in studies where possible. It was also important to us to set our kids up for success and independence.

Our military family homeschooled all four of our now grown children. Our oldest child moved 3 times during his high school years, and our youngest moved so often that staying in one place for 2 years seemed like a long time.

With all the changes and challenges of military life, their education was one of the constants! One benefit that came out of our decision to homeschool was the flexibility to PCS at any time without disrupting their education.

Visit this episode's sponsor, Magical Order of Brave Knights, and use coupon code SIRWILLIAM for a 15% discount.

Resources mentioned and show notes for this episode.

• Get Jen's book, You Are Not Alone: Encouragement for the Heart of a Military Spouse
• Connect with Milspouse Matters on Instagram
• Christian Military Spouse Facebook Group

Military spouses, we've all been there. We roll into a new duty station, the dust settles after the travels and unpacking, and we find ourselves struggling to make connections.

One company that is trying to make a difference is Military Wild, an outdoor military community whose goal it is to connect military families with each other as they pursue outdoor adventures together! Today, I'm so excited to be speaking with Kailey Brown, co-founder and the current Vice President, who says that, even if you don't feel like an athletic person, throw on your tennis shoes, connect with Military Wild, and find some new friends!

Visit this episode's sponsor, Magical Order of Brave Knights, and use coupon code SIRWILLIAM for a 15% discount.

Find resources mentioned and the show notes here.

Get Jen's book, You Are Not Alone: Encouragement for the Heart of a Military Spouse

Connect with Milspouse Matters on Instagram

Christian Military Spouse Facebook Group

On this bonus episode, I'm sharing a little bit of the story behind Milspouse Matters, why I started it, and my heart about it all.

We're also discussing who or what you're allowing to speak into your life and who you're looking to for guidance in your military spouse journey! Is what you're hearing uplifting and positive? Is it realistic? Is it putting pressure on you that you don't need?

Here's a reminder for you today--the loudest voices, whether on social media or in real life, are not always the most accurate or wise sources.

If this episode encourages you, please leave a 5-star rating and review!

Find resources mentioned and show notes here.

Get Jen's book, You Are Not Alone: Encouragement for the Heart of a Military Spouse

Connect with Milspouse Matters on Instagram

Christian Military Spouse Facebook Group

Have you lost your job or been furloughed during the pandemic? Facing financial difficulties due to PCS move delays or extra expenses? This episode is for you!

I'm talking to Mark Steffe, CEO and President of First Command, and he's sharing some great information about what First Command offers military families, along with some tips and advice for military families facing financial challenges during the pandemic, quarantine, and job furloughs, as well as some ideas for preparing before a financial challenge.

Click here to learn more about First Command.

CLICK HERE FOR SHOW NOTES AND RESOURCES MENTIONED

Get Jen's book, You Are Not Alone: Encouragement for the Heart of a Military Spouse

On this episode, I'm talking to Stacy Allsbrook-Huisman, and Amanda Trimillos, who are the co-authors of Seasons of My Military Student: Practical Ideas for Parents and Teachers.

You might remember Stacy and Amanda from Milspouse Matters episode 37, Easing Transitions for Military Kids, and they were so gracious to come back again and talk about helping our military kids through all the changes we're going through right now. 2020 is such a crazy time and constantly changing, but one thing we know is that the pandemic and ensuing quarantines are impacting our military kids' education. Whether you've just moved, are dealing with virtual schooling while you also work from home, doing a hybrid school where your kids are attending part time, or something else—let's talk about getting through this time and setting military kids up for success!

They've both also recently gone through a PCS move and have school-aged children of their own, so they are right there with you, figuring this all out.

SHOW NOTES AND RESOURCES MENTIONED

Get Jen's book, You Are Not Alone: Encouragement for the Heart of a Military Spouse

Connect with Milspouse Matters on Instagram

Christian Military Spouse Facebook Group

Hello everyone! On this special bonus episode, I'm so glad to be talking to Jessica Strong, an Army spouse, mom of three, and the Co-Director of Applied Research at Blue Star Families.

Blue Star Families was founded by military spouses in 2009 to empower military families to thrive as they serve. Their groundbreaking research and their annual Military Family Lifestyle Survey are raising the nation's awareness of the unique challenges of military family life.

Jessica shares some insights on what past surveys have revealed, how this year's survey looks different in light of COVID-19 concerns, as well as their push to get the widest sampling possible. The survey is the largest gauge of the challenges active-duty and veteran members and their families are facing each year, and it's crucial to have high participation in order to drive solutions. This year, they're especially encouraging families of color to participate in order to have the most diverse representation possible.

The 11th annual Military Family Lifestyle Survey (aMFLS) was launched on September 8th, 2020. For six weeks, members, families, and veterans of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, National Guard, and Reserves are encouraged to participate in the most comprehensive survey that highlights and analyzes the experiences and challenges facing military families today across the country. The survey closes on October 16, so please don't wait to voice your opinion and share your story! As Jessica says,

"Take the survey. People are listening. And the people who are making changes are listening and looking for this. If you have something to say, this is where to say it. Don't say it in a Facebook comment, because it won't get where it needs to go. Say it in the survey."

CLICK HERE TO TAKE THE BLUE STAR FAMILIES ANNUAL MILITARY FAMILY LIFESTYLE SURVEY

SHOW NOTES FOR THIS EPISODE

Get Jen's book, You Are Not Alone: Encouragement for the Heart of a Military Spouse

Connect with Milspouse Matters on Instagram

Christian Military Spouse Facebook Group