Several weeks back we had we had Shane Hudella on You Served Radio from the charity Defending the Blue Line (http://www.blogtalkradio.com/youserved/2011/10/05/episode-162-defending-the-blue-line-kerry-kachejian).

Defending The Blue Line (DTBL) a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization in the spring of 2009 to help military families with the high costs of hockey and help ensure that children of military members are afforded every opportunity to participate in the great sport.

I have personally seen the benefits for military families from this organization. Well they recently announced that they are in the running as one of 20 finalists that help military families. The White House is looking to pick one of the twenty to recognize for the great support they do. They are looking for America to vote and I ask that you take the time to check them out and cast the vote for DTBL. You can learn more about DTBL at their newly revamped website at http://www.defendingtheblueline.org/

Defending The Blue Line was 1 of 20 national finalists in a White House competition to recognize a non profit that supports military families. The White House is leaving it up to America to vote for the winner over the next 30 days, similar to the contest we recently supported for the VA here in MN.

Please log on and vote via the following link, and ask your friends to do the same. Better yet, add it to your Facebook, Twitter, or other social media page. Make sure you go to the site once a day for the next 30 days to vote. When you get to the Joining Forces Community Challenge Website, type Defending The Blue Line in the search box.

Vote here now: http://joiningforces.challenge.gov/submissions?page=1

I love contests.

Even if I don’t win it’s exciting to enter and then to watch the person who does win get all excited!

I am not entering this one for obvious reasons, but if my hubby was still in I would drop my name in the box! Check it out!

Operation Sweetheart – Win a Dream Date or a Deployment Cake!

Posted on January 23, 2012 by Sarge

Many of you remember Troy from the Hike for Heroes, or Drum Hike  that spanned across the US last year to raise money for military members and their families. The Hike continues to this day.

Take a look at what he’s raising money for this time. Donate if you can, and pass the link on to as many people as you can.

Active Heroes is a non-profit charity whose mission is to further spread word that our military heroes are fighting just as hard at home as they are overseas. With great programs like Hike for Heroes, Active Heroes has helped thousands of military families since 2009. Now in 2012 we are conducting Hike for Heroes relays in cities across America, Charity hikes at National parks and encouraging you all to set up a fundraising page and get ACTIVE. Whether you run, walk, hike, race, or ride you can help out. Simply hit the “Start fundraising” button and join your city’s effort or join a special program and start promoting your page on social media and emails to help. “Be a hero, help a hero!”

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE AND CONTRIBUTE

The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund (VVMF) is pleased to offer a “Welcome Home” to members of the U.S. Armed Forces returning from war in Iraq, and pledges that when completed, The Education Center at The Wall will honor the men and women who have served in all wars and are part of America’s legacy of service. VVMF and its founders emphasize that the planned Education Center will include and honor those who bore the burden of service in Iraq and who are currently fighting in Afghanistan.

“Veterans of the Iraq war are men and women who served with pride and bravery,” says VVMF President and Founder, Jan C. Scruggs. “Much like the heroes who served in Vietnam, they have done their best for their country, for each other and for the people of Iraq. They will be rightly honored at the Education Center.”

As the war has now ended in Iraq, plans are already underway for a fitting tribute. “This process will take considerable time and deliberation. However, the sacrifices made by veterans of the war in Iraq and other wars, like Afghanistan, must be honored now,” Scruggs said.

The Education Center at The Wall is designed to be a place for us all to reflect about who we are as citizens, as a people, as a country. Future generations will connect with those individuals who died for their country, ensuring that military heroes’ sacrifices will always be treasured… and that their names will never be forgotten. As currently planned, visits will begin with a walk through a history of America’s conflicts, from Bunker Hill to Baghdad. The price of freedom will be honored in the Education Center and patriotism will be shown to be timeless.

Scruggs adds that he has met with key Members of Congress, and assures that there is broad support for honoring the more recent veterans. He continues, ”But until then, their sacrifices will be remembered at the Education Center.”

Congratulations to Stacey J who is the winner of the 1001 Things to Love About Military Life book! Stacey’s name (and coroborating number) was drawn by the random number generator at http://www.random.org/

Stacey said in her comment: “My favorite part is all the wonderful, amazing people I get to meet. I have so many friends, some I have been neighbors with , some I know only through my computer.”

Stacey I totally agree! The military family is tightly knit, but yet always expanding! I know you will enjoy this wonderful book! Please send your mailing address to claire@cmwives.org

Thank you all so much for the wonderful comments! I had so much fun reading them and hearing what you love about military life!

About 2 months ago we had Jay Platt on You Served Radio. He was on the October 11th show (http://www.blogtalkradio.com/youserved/2011/10/12/episode-163-jay-platt-and-happy-new-year-film) telling us about how he has raised money for  and awareness of our wounded warriors. He told us how he was planning to swim across the Mississippi  blindfolded, handcuffed and shackled. Oh did I mention he has a rare form of Cancer and has already lost eyesight in one eye? Jay is very inspirational and really puts feeling sorry for oneself into perspective.

Check out the video below to see more about this particular swim, how he did it and in Jay’s words, why.

Bravo to authors: Tara Crooks, Starlett Henderson, Kathie Hightower and Holly Scherer on the fabulous job they have done putting 1001 Things To Love About Military Life together!

I am so excited about this book and reviewing it, and I am excited to offer our You Served Spouse and Family readers the chance at winning a copy of this marvelous read! So, take a moment to read the review and at the end of the review are instruction on how to enter to win! 

Those of you who have read my articles on marriage and military life know that I am a strength’s based person. What does that mean? It means that I live my life looking for the strength in any given situation. I do this because of two principles I have discovered:

1. We often focus on what is broke and ignore what is not… and in doing so we forget that we have actual qualities, strengths and resources to overcome obstacles. I think this was beautifully illustrated in the movie Apollo 13. When the Apollo crew radioed  to mission control that they had a problem, what was the response? The leader at mission control said “Tell me what IS working on the ship so we can problem solve!” Why would he waste his time focusing on what’s broken? We can’t always fix the broken, but we can certainly work with and build on that which is functional! This is a wonderful perspective for living !

2. Many years ago the World Health Organization (WHO) determined that illness (or dysfunction) and wellness were not being properly measured.  They concluded that health and illness lie on two separate continuums. Before this we thought they were on the same continuum at opposite ends. Now we understand that a person can actually be healthy and still be battling an illness… and a person can be free of disease but be very unhealthy. It also means we can focus on one of the continuums… instead of trying to prevent difficulties, we can actually build up our wellness (and in this case mental and emotional wellness). This ties back in with the first principle in that the stronger and healthier we are the better we can overcome difficulties.  I also remind myself that no matter how hard and difficult life gets, struggles do not mean my life is absent of joy and happiness!

I bring up these two points to illustrate what I LOVE about this book. It is a strength’s based perspecive. It’s general message is not negating that mlitary life is difficult and and presents some unique challenges, but rather it’s asserting the life affirming message that there are many things to love about military life!

The layout makes it very easy to read! It’s fun, dynamic, poignant, uplifting and well written! It’s not just a book you read through, but it’s a book you get into while you are reading it — and it’s the kind of book you keep around for a lift-me-up when you need it!

I was touched when I read reason #437: “The fun of hanging Christmas tree ornaments with memories of each place you have lived.”

We had started this tradition before we were a military family, but continued it since. We have all kinds of ornaments (and this year some from Germany from my visit with my son and his wife at Graf). My all time favorite ornament is one I got my husband 2007. He had been in OCS’ HHC for months as the Army was trying to figure out what to do with him after he snapped his leg in two. He was also trying to figure out what to do with the Army at that time. He would text me once a day (not always allowed to call) and he would say “Groundhog Day.” I knew he was referring to the Bill Murray movie, and everyday for two months life felt like that for him. A few weeks before that Christmas he came home and I found the perfect ornament for him… you guessed it, a groundhog! I found it on a Punxsutawney Phil website, and he was holding a sign. I wrote “HHC” on the sign as a reminder. What was painful then is quite humorous to us now when we hang our groundhog on our tree each year!

So, that is one memory that has been preserved for us in our own ornament tradition! You can find more like this in the book!

You can find this wonderful book at Amazon by clicking HERE. Consider giving this great gift of uplifting encouragement to a military spouse you know!

Now onto the contest! 

Post below your favorite ‘thing’ (memory, occasion, place to live, etc, etc) to love about the military life! This contest is open to US Service Members and their families (including parents!) I will draw a winner at random on Monday 19th at 0800!

COMMENTS are moderated. So please only comment one time. I will approve comments a few times a day! Thank you! 

This  week I am doing a book review on the newly released book “1001 Things to Love About Military Life” The new book is written by Tara Crooks, Starlett Henderson, Kathie Hightower, and Holly Scherer.

Come and read the review and we have a copy to giveaway to one luck You Served Spouse and Family reader!

I will post the review and instructions on how to enter the drawing on Wednesday morning! Good luck!

Here’s the write up on Amazon:

Book Description

Publication Date: November 2, 2011

For the first time, runners and walkers alike will be able to experience the thrill of crossing home base at Fenway Park – and supporting returning Iraq and Afghanistan veterans and their families – as they join in the 3rd annual Run-Walk to Home Base Presented by New Balance currently being planned for Sunday, May 20, 2012.

The 2012 Run-Walk to Home Base Presented by New Balance raises funds to support the Red Sox Foundation and Massachusetts General Hospital Home Base Program, which provides clinical care and support services to Iraq and Afghanistan veterans and families affected by combat or deployment stress and traumatic brain injury (TBI). Today, wounded veterans who are clients of the Home Base Program joined other military and officials from the Red Sox Foundation and Massachusetts General Hospital to announce the new Run-Walk to Home Base which will occur on Sunday, May 20, 2012 at Fenway Park. In 2012 for the first time, both runners and walkers will be able to participate in the fan-favorite event that ends with crossing Fenway’s famous homeplate.

“As our troops come home from the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan, many of us want to honor and thank our veterans for their service and sacrifice,” said Red Sox chairman Tom Werner. “By adding a walk component to the 2012 Run-Walk to Home Base Presented by New Balance, we can accommodate more adults and families who can show their support for our service members, veterans and families, while sharing the rare experience of running through Fenway Park, the oldest and most beloved ballpark in the country in its 100th year of operations.”

For the third year in a row, the presenting sponsor of the Run-Walk is global athletic shoe and apparel company New Balance.

“As a Boston-based company and official military apparel and footwear provider, we are proud to return as presenting sponsor of this unique event that enables valuable support services for New England servicemen and women returning from Iraq and Afghanistan,” says New Balance President and CEO Rob DeMartini. “We look forward to welcoming both runners and walkers at iconic Fenway Park on May 20th in support of our country’s service members.”

Registration and event information for the 2012 Run-Walk to Home Base Presented by New Balance is available at www.runtohomebase.org. All donations made in support of runners in this charitable fundraising race are tax deductible and will be directed to the Red Sox Foundation and Massachusetts General Hospital Home Base Program. Donations via check can be sent to the Red Sox Foundation/Home Base Program, 4 Yawkey Way, Boston MA 02215.

Participation in the 2012 event is limited to a maximum of 4,000 participants. Runners must be 16 years or older, but Walkers can be any age as long as accompanied by a fundraising adult. All Runners and Walkers 16 years and older must commit to raise a minimum of $1,000 to participate in the event and complete registration requirements online at www.runtohomebase.org. For the first time, children under age 16 will be allowed to participate in the 3-mile Walk event.

Walkers age 6 to 15 are required to commit to raise or pay $125 each and must be accompanied by an adult fundraising walker who raises the adult fundraising minimum. All walkers and runners age 16 and older must raise $1,000. The 9K Run portion of the event is 5.6 miles.

In honor of their current military service, the event organizers will announce at a later date how up to 500 full-time active duty military will be able enter the Run-Walk for just a $50 registration fee.

Over the past two years, Run participants raised over $5 million to support the Red Sox Foundation and Massachusetts General Hospital Home Base Program.

The Red Sox Foundation and Massachusetts General Hospital Home Base Program provides clinical care, counseling and support services to Iraq and Afghanistan service members, veterans and their families affected by combat or deployment-related stress, and traumatic brain injury (TBI). In addition the program provides community education to the public on these “invisible wounds of war” and supports research in the understanding and treatment of Post Traumatic Stress (PTS) and TBI.

“Thanks to the generosity of last year’s Run to Home Base participants and sponsors, we have been able to expand the numbers of veterans and families in care regardless of insurance coverage or ability to pay, and make significant progress in training first-responders like clergy, school nurses and educators on the needs of military families,” said John A. Parrish, MD, Director of the Red Sox Foundation and Massachusetts General Hospital Home Base Program, and a Vietnam veteran who served as a Navy medical officer with the Marine Corps.

Other official sponsors include BAE Systems, a NH-based defense contractor and major supporter of the Home Base Program; Our Family for Families First, a Rhode Island based nonprofit that provides scholarships to veterans and their families; and NESN, the Red Sox television broadcaster.

Friends and family members of participants in the 2012 Run-Walk to Home Base are invited to Fenway Park on race morning to cheer from the stands and watch the runners cross homeplate. Other activities will include a Military Appreciation Zone presented by BAE Systems and The Family Fun Zone, located in the Fenway Park concourse areas, where supporters of all ages will make and send care packages to military members on duty abroad.

More than 2.2 million men and women have served in U.S. military during the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan which began as part of the 2001 War on Terror. It has been estimated that one-third will experience post traumatic stress or traumatic brain injury. Some 800,000 service members have been deployed to combat more than once, and the multiple deployments have taken a toll on many military families. The Massachusetts Office of Veterans Services estimates that 37,000 Massachusetts residents have served during the past 10 years as active duty, guard and reserve. Some 13,000 Massachusetts children have a parent currently serving in the military.

Fundraising prizes will be given to run participants in several categories. For information about corporate sponsorships, please contact Gena Borson at the Red Sox Foundation at 617-226- 6614 or via email at Gborson@redsox.com or Tracy West at Massachusetts General Hospital at 617-643-6789 or email tawest@partners.org.

Course and race consulting for the 2012 Run-Walk to Home Base is provided by DMSE, Inc, while the fundraising website design and operations is provided by Forte Interactive, Inc. The Red Sox Foundation and Massachusetts General Hospital are grateful to Boston Mayor Thomas Menino, the City of Boston and the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation for their expert assistance with the event.

I wanted to let our readers know of a week of giveaways going on at Christian Military Wives this week! Day one and two have passed, but today will be another brand new giveaway and a new chance to win a great prize for a military wife! The first two days were different books, but other prizes are going to be announced! Check it out today for their new giveaway!

Good luck and if you win, let us know!

To kick off this season of giving and thanksgiving, Christian Military Wives and Wives in Bloom are giving away one prize every day for the first full week of December!  Visit Wives in Bloom (click) daily for the announcement and for your chance to enter! Entry is by comment only, no need to register at the main site. Enjoy!