How to Manage Pain When Traveling

We are headed into the high season of traveling, and as a person who has struggled with chronic pain in the past, I know this struggle all too well. There was one year my hip was so cranky, I could not even think about driving across the country for our move from California to Georgia. Instead, I sold the van and bought a plane ticket. We do what we need to do to get by! So today I have an […]

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“Settling in” 7 Months After Moving

I know some of you are so tired of me writing about moving you could puke. Sorry, guys. It is such a big deal. The impact of moving cannot be stated generously enough. All these back-to-back moves have brought so much stress that I feel like if I could simply harness the stress, it could be a mighty power source. We could light up New York City with the stress of all the military wives, I am quite sure of […]

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Where to Next? The Trust of a Military Child

Where to Next?

When we moved this past summer, it went differently than I thought it would. The vibe of the moving day exit of our beloved neighborhood was not at all the vibe that I expected, but in a good way. Last time we left Virginia, in 2014, when we drove the boys away from this place so dear to our hearts, there was so much drama about it. One child was brave but sad, hugged everyone as expected and said his […]

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Exciting Weekend Ahead: 4 Months into the Move

Our sprouts are growing. Each stalk of our beings is figuring out where the room to stretch out to the sun is. Before you know it, there will be new leaves, buds, and even flowers. Maybe we won’t even wait for spring. We’ll be like the early daffodils of late February, always showing up before you were quite expecting them.

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Of all the places, which one did you like best?

of all the places, which one did you like best?

This year we moved AGAIN. Did I mention that already? Maybe I’ve brought it up too much. Sorry about that., but moving is everything. Where you live and who you’re surrounded by, that’s your life setting. I was at the eye doctor this week because I’d run completely out of contacts and haven’t been to the eye doctor since 3 states ago. The eye doc asked me many of the usual questions, including this one: Of all those places you’ve […]

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Tour of Homes from 17 Years of Army Life

One of my favorite parts of this strange life we lead is choosing my next house. With each one, I say, “Such and such a thing is killing me. Our next house will DEFINITELY have…. -sidewalks -a bigger master bedroom closet -4 bedrooms -more kitchen cabinets!! It’s always something. I love getting to see new places and try new set-ups. I don’t even mind redecorating, though it takes so long to get a house looking the way I want it […]

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The 10 Friends You Need at Each Duty Station

Maybe you can relate. Here are a few of my favorite kinds of friends. Which one are you? Which one am I for you? I think I’m different ones for different people, depending on their circumstances.

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Coping with the Move Part II: Less Solitaire

Coping with the Move Part II: Less Solitaire

Two weeks ago I blogged about how I cope with the move, most of it in the form of counterproductive coping mechanisms. I was playing Solitaire and Jeopardy all day, in between chores and meal serving. The kids are still home all day for the summer, so obviously I was also doing my share of microwaving corndogs and settling petty disputes. I vowed to do better. More healthy coping strategies! I will talk it out, blog, and not hide away […]

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What Coping Mechanisms Work for You?

What Coping Mechanisms Work for You?

Sadness got to me a little bit this week. Moving can be mentally hard. I can say that today without feeling too embarrassed about it because I feel like we turned things around by Thursday or Friday, and we had a good weekend. There’s an unhealthy, or as goodtherapy.org put it “maladaptive”, behavior I engaged in far too much this week: playing hours of Tri-Peaks Solitaire and the World Tour Jeopardy app on my phone. These are coping mechanisms I […]

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The “New People” Version of Ourselves. This isn’t Really Us.

The "New People" Version of Ourselves. This isn't Really Us

Each move is unique, and I gotta say. I am definitely getting better at this. This is the first move that I can remember not retreating deep into my shell. We’ve been visiting the same church for three weeks now, and I’d say I’ve been almost regular April, the real me, not the new-kid-in-town version of me.
Do you know what I mean? I first used that term, “new people version of us”, while talking to some new friends in Georgia

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