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Let’s Have some Summer Time Fun! Blue Star Museums and So Much More! DoD Blogger Roundtable
Military family on a nature trail“I feel like I ran through this blog with the enthusiasm of an 8 year old playing baseball or soccer this summer!” What is active living for the military family? It certainly must include activities across the reach of age, interest and new found geographic areas to explore after a PCS. Parenting can be a challenge before, during and after a PCS due to all the stressors impacting the whole family. But a fitness routine can help the whole family work through some of the stress involved in every day military life. A new trail, an old trail; a new workout routine, an old workout…
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NORAD and ReindeerCam.com
I am constantly reminded how things change through the years. Computers and Internet have changed communication, from hand written letters of many years ago to nightly Skype conversations with soldiers and children, airman and wives, marines and husbands, sailors and moms, coasties and dads (and any of that mix you can imagine). This Christmas season I am so happy to have our family whole but we are still glued to the computer. There are two new loves. (Don’t get me wrong: family is more important then these fun tools. However, you can certainly take the time to watch these as a family and create memories if you are together!) ReindeerCam.comSanta feeds the reindeer, Mr…
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Change of Command: Celebrate Parade Rest
Although geese fly in formation, they did not waddle on the parade field at Scott AFB. No goose steps. The left feet hit the turf on the beat of the bass drum. Flights, squadrons, groups and wings presented polished top notched personnel, as always, ready to shine and report to General Welsh, the Chief of Staff of the Air Force. Our military has a time honored tradition to uphold precision and honor in a way that showcases the challenge of working together. The step by step, in step march of men and women blends the missions the training and the esprit de corps of individual squadrons, groups and wings: they…
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Small Business Saturday: November 24, 2012
I am really intrigued by this idea of “Small Business Saturday”. The premise is the Saturday after Thanksgiving you go to your local family-owned, small business stores to do your Christmas Shopping.I got this ‘chain email from my mother-in-law a couple weeks ago. Usually I immediately hit delete on chains. I get over 100 emails a day so the delete key is my friend. But this one caught my eye and hits right along the Small Business Saturday concept: As the holidays approach, the giant Asian factories are kicking into high gear to provide Americans with monstrous piles of cheaply produced goods — merchandise that has been produced at the expense…
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The Marines Invaded Cleveland
and the people loved them. The people of Cleveland were in for a treat this past week. It was Marine Week! 800 Marines came to town to give the people of northeast Ohio a small taste of “OORAH!” My boys climbed inside an amphibious assault vehicle. They tried on a helmet. They felt the weight of a vest. They climbed up onto the gunner’s turret and sat in the driver’s seat as well. They were amazed that this “tank” could go on land and in water. We watched the Marine Corp Band based out of Quantico perform right outside of Progressive Field, home of the Cleveland Indians We sang along to some great music, tapped our foot to the beat and enjoyed the men in uniform behind…
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A few Social Media ‘Patches’ for our Military Families
In keeping with the military-tradition of patches MilitaryAvenue created some for our family members that you can wear on your favorite social media sleeves (like on your blog, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest). Just click on your patch to save, like, pin or tweet, (such fun verbs!). Proud Wife of a US Navy SailorSource: facebook.com via Military on Pinterest Proud Wife of a US MarineSource: facebook.com via Military on PinterestProud Wife of a US Coast GuardsmanSource: facebook.com via Military on PinterestProud Army WifeSource: facebook.com via Military on PinterestProud Wife of a US AirmanSource: facebook.com via Military on Pinterest And this is only the beginning. We have Veteran, Husband, Brother, Sister, Girlfriend, Boyfriend, Mom, Dad, Grandson, Granddaughter and a whole…
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A Very Special Valentine’s Day
Today we are happy to share a guest post from Maya Szydlowski, community manager for Veterans United Home Loans: Valentine’s Day is just around the corner, and for moms with kiddos that means trying to round up cards and candies for your kids to hand out to their classmates. While grabbing a classroom list is no hard task, trying to get your kids to simply scrawl names on cards can be a little more difficult as the work hardly keeps their attention. To make Valentine’s Day a little more fun and creative for both you and your kiddos this year, consider giving a few of the following craft ideas a…
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What is essential …
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…
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Personal Goals
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…
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Tracking Santa with NORAD on Christmas Eve: Don’t be surprised, Be Ready!
How Fast is Santa’s Sleigh? Official NORAD response: Santa’s sleigh travels at Starlight Speed according to military trackers at NORAD’s headquarters in Colorado Springs. Don’t be surprised! Be ready; know when Santa is coming!This was so much fun! Let’s start from the beginning with a quick explanation from US Navy Lieutenant Commander (LCDR) Bill Lewis. Bill is part of the North American Air Defense Command (NORAD) responsible for Tracking Santa on Christmas Eve. Bill said that 1,200 volunteers work the mission for 23 hours to ensure children worldwide know where Santa is going next. Some have done this as a family for 10-15 years and it is now part of…
