Decisions: Learning to Put People Before Logic

Army Wives, family, military life
This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay downpour lives for our brothers.

****This post is part of the series The Real Army Wives, appearing every Monday on storiesofourboys.com. For the first half of the book, click here. For last week’s post, click here.***** When I was 22, it felt like there were decisions to make at every turn. Sometimes I chose unwisely. I tried to make the best, most logical plans. What I learned that summer was that sometimes people and emotions count for more than practicality. Did you watch the Star […]

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How To Overcome Your Stress Ball Ways

answered prayer, Bible, Bible verses, big family life, faith
How To Overcome Your Stress Ball Ways

***Ad disclosure: This post contains links to Crystal Paine e-courses. I do earn a profit when you sign up for these courses.*** I can be a serious stress ball. If there’s a problem, it’s a “crisis.” When things go wrong, I feel like it’s all my fault. Self-chastisement is my specialty. Getting the kids off to school in the morning is my #1 flip-out trigger. If you don’t believe that I am capable of total lunacy, you have clearly not […]

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Funny Fridays: Taking 6 Kids to an Art Museum & Other Stories

4 kids, big family life, family, funny stories

When we went to D.C. this summer, I insisted we go and visit my favorite painting in the world, which happens to be at the National Gallery of Art on the National Mall. While we were there, we perused the collections, along with our friend Amy and her children. I thought the day was going amazingly well. We took 6 kids through a museum where you are supposed to be quiet, and I felt like we did a heroic job. […]

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ALL the Israel Posts PLUS Our Best 10 Israel Photos

Israel, travel
ALL the Israel Posts PLUS Our Best 10 Israel Photos

Going to Israel this year was the most exciting thing that ever happened to me. Yes, I know it’s a big statement to make. I like to make my statements GRANDE!!! Other than my wedding day and the births of my children, this was the BEST!!!!! I wrote, and wrote, and wrote about it, but I have yet to put all of that information into one source, so that’s what I am announcing today. All of the articles I wrote […]

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Military Finances: Newlyweds on 2 Separate Continents

Army Wives, deployment, funny stories, military life, Real Army Wives, war letters
military finances for newlyweds on 2 continents-- Real Army Wives

*******This post is part of the series, The Real Army Wives. For last week’s post click here.******* Guest Post from Cloe Real Army Wives: The Mystery Checks Today’s post is written by a good friend and fellow real Army wife of mine who is the inspiration for the character, Cloe. You can read more about her on this post. When I mentioned this to Alan, he said, “Oh yeah, Rob! That dude had to shave his face twice a day.” Oh, […]

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Hey, Mom with the Messy House, It’s Okay. Be Thankful

4 kids, attitude, parenting
Your house is the stable, and your kids are the oxen.

Here is a tiny peek into my own messy house: My coffee table is covered in children’s books, a box of Legos, my Bibles, a box of crayons, a sippy cup, and ALL the little Lego men that I swept out from under the couch this morning. There’s also a few preschool crafts and the remote control to the t.v. Then there’s the center piece, all buried in there. It’s supposed to be an ornate pedestal bowl of THREE ornamental […]

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Letters to War June 24, 2003: The Teaching Test Troubles

Army Wives, Real Army Wives, war letters
Letters to War June 24, 2003: The Teaching Test Troubles

******This post is part of the Real Army Wives series which runs every Monday on storiesofourboys.com. The series follows our journey through the 1st year of the Iraq war, 2003-2004. ********** June 24, 2003 Dear Alan, ……Operation Iraq is getting more news time now. The big issue is the mounting amount of coalition troop deaths since the official end of the war. Just this week there were at least 6 British troops killed, and American lives are constantly lost.

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New Friends, The Beefcake, & My Nemesis the Lawnmower

Army Wives, attitude, military life, Real Army Wives
New Friends, The Beefcake, & My Nemesis the Lawnmower

One day in May, Alan called from Tikrit, Iraq, where he was serving with the 1/22 Infantry. When you only hear from your spouse every two weeks or so, and then only for short conversations, maybe 20 minutes at the longest, you cherish it. You cherish it so much you hang on their every word. Everything meant more. Everything. Alan called and gave me a general idea of who he was working with and not much about what they were […]

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When My Last Baby Turned 4

parenting
when my last baby turned four

This summer my baby, John David, turned FOUR. He was quite pleased with himself. Was I sad that my last baby is not so much a baby anymore? Well, no, not really because I have babied the stew out of him. Basically, he still looks like a baby to me, so it hasn’t hit me yet. It was completely different when my oldest child, 7 years ago, turned 4 years old. I wasn’t the least bit sad. I was ecstatic!! […]

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Real Army Wives: Sarah, Short and Cute

Army Wives, deployment, military life, Real Army Wives

***This post is part of the series The Real Army Wives. For last week’s post about The Coffee Group, click here.*** Okay, you may or may not get my title reference there to the children’s book, Sarah Plain and Tall, which you should totally read to your children. It’s such a great book. I still vividly recall the day I met Sarah. (I even have some adorable photos of Sarah…..but I left town for Hurricane Irma and didn’t pack my photo […]

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