A Homecoming

I’ll take any opportunity to give a shout out to a veteran-owned/military spouse owned business. I just will. Its something that a lot of us do, and it really sets our community apart from so many others. I am so blessed in return by our community. Our amazing photographers are also dear friends who donated their time to us. If you are in the Maryland, Virginia, DC area and are looking for a photographer check out Gronde Photography!

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Military Monday: Rhe’s Bookshelf Reviews ‘blue stars’, by Emily Gray Tedrowe

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blue stars, by Emily Gray Tedrowe
summary:
Blue Stars: A Novel brings to life the realities of the modern day home front: how to get through the daily challenges of motherhood and holding down a job while bearing the stress and uncertainty of war, when everything can change in an instant. It tells the story of Ellen, a Midwestern literature professor, who is drawn into the war when her legal ward Michael enlists as a Marine; and of Lacey, a proud Army wife who struggles to pay the bills and keep things going for her son while her husband is deployed. Ellen and Lacey cope with the fear and stress of a loved one at war while trying to get by in a society that often ignores or misunderstands what war means to women today. When Michael and Eddie are injured in Iraq, Ellen and Lacey’s lives become intertwined in Walter Reed Army Hospital, where each woman must live while caring for her wounded soldier. They form an alliance, and an unlikely friendship, while helping each other survive the dislocated world of the army hospital. Whether that means fighting for proper care for their men, sharing a six-pack, or coping with irrevocable loss, Ellen and Lacey pool their strengths to make it through. In the end, both women are changed, not only by the war and its fallout, but by each other.
review:
I feel like there is a part of me that still hasn’t decided how I feel about this book. I wanted to love every single page of it, but I had a difficult time really investing myself in this book. Knowing many of these amazing families (families of wounded) myself I was really hoping to see a more accurate description of their lives. I’m not sure if it was the hyper-political feelings that came through in the book or the fact that while I am sure there are family members that are very similiar to the characters in the book, I felt like these were an extreme portrayal with very stereotypical and somewhat negative personality traits. Having never been through the experiences myself, I guess I can’t actually say for certain. The meat of the book was really those pages inspired by the controversy at Walter Reed in the mid-2000s. That part of the book was very well portrayed, but I felt it got lost. I just wasn’t quite sure how I felt about this book, mostly because I think I had such high hopes for it. While the author herself isn’t a military spouse, she is the sister of Marine. I had no inkling that the novel would be discussing injury either, it took awhile to figure out the direction of it. I had never read a novel about military life, that wasn’t a romance before, so perhaps maybe I was excited to see a part of my life come out from the pages of this book. 
I give this book 2.5 out of 5 stars. 
**I received an Advance Reader’s copy of this book. I was not compensated in any other way; and as always my thoughts and my opinions are my own. 

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Military Monday: This Land, supporting American Made Products *2014 Holiday Gift Guide*

Boy, its been a long time since I’ve done a #MilitaryMonday post. Since Christmas is upon us I thought I ‘d do some combining and share a possible gift guide item with everyone. I just recently came across this company on the page of a friend of mine. And while I don’t know a ton of the details of where the proceeds that do go to Veteran’s go to, I will do some digging around and find out more. What I do know is that the owner comes recommended, and it is a veteran owned business and I can get behind that. Plus, when you’re talking about support American-made products, that’s even better!  So lets get on with it.

What is This Land

A clearinghouse of amazing American Made products for you home and your body! All made here in this beautiful country of ours by local craftsmen. How cool is that? And a lot of this stuff is really affordable. Usually I’m scared of buying American Made, because even though I know the price is worth it, its still terrifying. But this stuff isn’t scary one bit.

Some of my favorite items

They even have toys!!
Check this link for gifts under $50
“Inspired to reconnect with America’s spirit of craftmanship….” I love that! If you want something hand-made, with love and passion…sometime to be treasured check out This Land and support local artisans and this great country of ours.

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Military Monday : VA Caregiver Support

On this “Military Monday” I am excited to bring to you some information about VA Caregiver Support. Its a fairly new thing to come across my “desk” and I was excited about sharing the information with you. Having several Caregivers in my life I have seen the intense effect that the life can take on them. I can’t even begin to imagine what it must be like. Thankfully, there are so many new programs and groups are taking shape to really drive the education and care concerning the caregivers of our Veterans. While the Elizabeth Dole Foundation really has emerged as a non-profit really revolutionizing how we view and care for caregivers, the VA is also taking a multifaceted approach. And while I haven’t done extensive research on their programs I found it interesting enough that I wanted to share with you all.

 VA Caregiver Support Logo

Please spread this info around. The more hands it is in the more good it has the potential to do. Do you know a Caregiver, encourage her/him, ask how you can best help them, pray for them if you are the praying type. Offer to participate in support activities (like the ones listed below) with them.

November is National Caregiver’s Month (as well as National Military Families Month) and in recognition of that the VA Caregiver Support Program is holding meditation calls throughout the month. A social worker will be online four times a day to go through the process with you and other caregivers who call in.

There is also a great series entitled Care for the Caregiver, designed to aide caregivers in establishing tools and strategies to balance the demands of caregiving. This is so exciting as well. From the limited experience I have with the Caregiving community I know their lives are a whirlwind, and can be extremely difficult. I notice an upswing in available programs, research, education and support in this area, even from several years ago.  I would be interest to see if what I notice is correct, so please share if you have first hand experience. I wonder if many caregivers have the ability or even the thought process to sit down and participate in these types of things; or if they really are that new that caregivers even from a couple years ago didn’t have knowledge or access to these types of things.

I almost wish that military spouses could, and would be encouraged to, participate in things like this. Being prepared for anything would be so beneficial. Granted, you don’t know how you will be when you are in the throws of a life-changing event, but at least a little information could go a long way.

For more information on the VA Caregiver Support programs I mentioned here, and others visit the VA’s website here. You can also visit the tab up top with compiled information for caregivers and families of the wounded.

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Rhe’s Bookshelf – A Military Monday Book Review

   

Today’s #MilitaryMonday post is also a Rhe’s Bookshelf post.  I am thrilled to be reviewing On Which We Serve, Part 1 – Where Life-Lessons Are Learned, by Edward Atkins.  Edward Atkins grew up in New Jersey and went on to serve in the United States Navy in WWII.  He continued his connection with the military throughout most of his life.  This book is part of a trilogy of books about life on an Aircraft Carrier, as well as life in the MIlitary, during WWII.
Summary: The title, “On Which We Serve” is an anthology of values and virtues as derived from the activities taking place on the flight deck of a WWII fleet aircraft carrier as experienced by the author. This book consists of 355 full-page National Archive photographs, each of which has a half-page caption that seamlessly segues into a half-page discussion of life-lessons learned on that flight deck based on First Principles. These topics are such as responsibility, accountability, respect for others and self, earned self-esteem (those who have such will “never” do anything antisocial), empathy, trustworthiness, and similar values and virtues. The title also embraces the Navy motto: Honor (to see one’s duty), Commitment (to do one’s duty) and Courage (to fulfill one’s duty). This book is truly unique in that it is one of a kind for all time (first person) as well as being timeless.

What I Thought: As a military spouse and the granddaughter of both a Korean War Veteran and a WWII Veteran, books like this can be extremely thought provoking and emotional for me.  They have the ability to transport me through time and try to imagine what it must have been like for those that served during this time.  Things were so different back then, and to get an inside peak at what that must have been like from someone who was there is a priceless piece of history.  These are truly life-lessons for all of us, and they should be passed on to our children and grandchildren.  The author talks about the carrier at times, comparing himself at time to the carrier.  It is clear he has a deep love, understanding and respect for not only the ship, but what he is doing on it.  That comes through in his words clearly.  At times it seems as though my grandfather is speaking to me – talking about hard work and doing the right thing.  Things it sometimes seems as if our society has lost sight of; stopping to think about something other than themselves.  Aside from being an extremely well documented history piece, it is clearly a deeply personal one.
I would recommend this book to anyone who particularly enjoys this time in our countries history, but servicemembers would do well to read such accounts.  A kindred bond can be felt even decades later.  
This book also contains amazing pictures that coincide with his story, and life on the ship.  It’s really the pictures that move me the most in this book.
5 out of 5 stars – I truly love this book.  Between the beautiful, yet deeply realistic picture of life on the ship and the beautiful photographs that further tell the story, it is a book that every household should have.  The greatest generation, as they so fondly have been called, is an intrical part of our countries history, and one which is quickly leaving us.  Holding on to stories and images like this is vital for going forward.  This I believe whole-heartedly.
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