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The Many Benefits of a Garden
We had our first taste of spring here in Northeast-Ohio this week. Windows cracked, doors open, breathe in that fresh air! With this taste of weather to come brings thoughts of my summer garden. I have bought the seeds, diagrammed what and where I am going to plant, and dreamed big thoughts about this upcoming summer’s produce. The Garden, my passion, on so many fronts. It embodies good health, good stewardship, and good eats! Emotional Have you ever picked up a hoe and pounded the dirt? Got down on your knees and ripped out weeds with gusto? Cut flowers from around the garden for a beautiful bouquet in your kitchen?…
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Emergency Preparedness
Disasters like Japan’s recent earthquake and then tsunamis are hard to shake. You may not be in an area that has to worry about tsunamis (my closest body of water, Lake Erie, is certainly not a threat) but there are other emergencies that may send you into a flight-pattern. Just in this past two weeks my own home has been threatened by flood (emergency phone call from the school saying they might not be able to get the kids bussed home) and fire (neighbors house)! All of this has me thinking about how my own family is prepared for a natural disaster. Are you prepared? An Emergency Kit – or…
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Hello, I’m an Information Junkie
I admit it. I love information. I love reading about what is going on around me. I love being in the know. I am discerning though… and there are a few GREAT resources for staying in the know that I thought I would share with you: MilitaryAvenue Newletter Military OneSource Newsletters Better Business Bureau Newsletters Military Saves Newsletters If you like being in the know like me we have two great ways to sign up for MilitaryAvenue’s monthly-military family newsletter (We won’t overwhelm you; once a month, usually the third Thursday of the month.) Enter your email in this box:Receive YOUR Military Family NewsletterEmail: Or click on this link to…
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Eight years old, going on 16
I admit it. Saving money makes me feel good. We do a pretty good job of it around the house. Although, sometimes it takes a bit of creativity and willingness to learn. But I’m always up for a challenge. One of the big ways we have saved over the years is investing in hair clippers. Once a month the ‘Kocsis Household Barbershop’ opens and everyone gets ready to be sheered cut and styled. Some ‘customers’ are easier then others. My husband is hair-follicle challenged (Yes, he is bald.) so he is easy. *C*, 5 years old, starts to ‘itch’ before I’ve even turned the clippers on and swears to high-heaven…
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Week in Review: March 6 – March 12, 2011 (Military News) #MilitaryMon
Popular Military Family Articles for the week of March 6th – 12th on MilitaryAvenue.com Deployment and Finances: Deployment … Changing of the Guard … Total upheaval … “Change” doesn’t even begin to describe what deployment was for my family. I was juggling so many balls while my husband was gone for a year that they could have put me in the circus… (or possibly the funny farm?) One of those proverbial balls: Finances. The family budget and bill paying are somethings that my husband does for the family, and he does it well! Bills are paid on time, the budget is allocated correctly, and interest-payments are kept to a minimum.…
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PCS: Charleston, SC Get Out Of the Gate!
I know of folks who live in gated communities. My immediate thought is a place set apart, a well cared for location, protected homes, secure families. Yes, I guess that is a military installation description! It is a wonderful way to live, however it can be confining. Life can get stagnant when it is all there at a short drive’s distance: work, school, commissary and Exchange. GET OUT! You can do it! Drive toward that gate and adventure into town! MWR has a gazillion ideas for you to use. Remember. People actually travel to your new PCS for vacations, shopping and adventure… and lucky you! You get to live there.…
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The Big Metal Tube
“I was in the tube for more than 2 hours. Going in the technicians did their preflight, got their gear all set up and the passenger (me) was ready to fly.” Life experiences make us who we are. Blessed with a career flying Air Force aircraft (11 of them) for 30 years I was not really ready to retire but certainly did not miss the middle of the night calls from the command post, late nights, long days, extensive tdy schedule and many other minor irritants. What I did miss was the aircraft. My last aircraft was a C-17 and standing in the aircraft it looks like a big metal…
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A Light at the End of the Tunnel
THIS is a picture of peace – because you can’t have peace without turmoil. And we had turmoil. (Read “The Rubberband Effect“) Last night I put my strong-willed, “I will ONLY sleep in your arms”, Baby Boy in bed an hour earlier than usual. I turned on his CD player. I kissed his sweet little head and I whispered good-night. For three-minutes he let us know that HE WAS NOT HAPPY! but then… there was silence. Sweet silence. Sweet peace. Sweet “There is a Light at the end of the Tunnel!”. Baby Boy *L*, put himself to sleep. HE did it! Mom and Dad rejoiced! We struggled with the whole…
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Military Spouse Fellowship
Military Spouse Employment. It’s a hot issue. Military Spouses as a majority /want/ a job. They want to contribute to the family finances. They want to get out of the house and have a world outside of home-life. I get it! When you are moving every two years though; it is hard.When you are dealing with deployment, having to be a temporary-single mom; it is hard.When you just aren’t sure what is out there to help get you on your feet; it is hard. But military spouses are resourceful and there is help out there! If you enjoyeducating … counseling … helping and you have a knack for finances here…
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Deployment and Finances
Deployment … Changing of the Guard … Total upheaval … “Change” doesn’t even begin to describe what deployment was for my family. I was juggling so many balls while my husband was gone for a year that they could have put me in the circus… (or possibly the funny farm?) One of those proverbial balls: Finances. The family budget and bill paying are somethings that my husband does for the family, and he does it well! Bills are paid on time, the budget is allocated correctly, and interest-payments are kept to a minimum. So what was one of my major stresses in the months before and after he left? How…
