Army Household6

Today is Hunter’s 21st Birthday!! Please feel free to leave him some birthday wishes at his website! : )

If you’d like to send him a birthday card –

Hearts for Hunter
#2130
395 Sawdust Rd.
The Woodlands Tx, 77380

Well last night our family attended the Military Family Appreciation Dinner at Walter Reed Med. Center (WRAMC). It is part of the a week long celebration celebrating Army families at Walter Reed and all over.

We were nominated as an Exceptional Military Family For Headquarters Company,  WRAMC Brigade by one of SGT Daddy’s friends, SGT Z. I’m was surprised that we were nominated as I know there are lots of other awesome Army families there in Headquarters Company. SGT Daddy and I were completely blown away that is was our family that received the honor. I

It was a wonderful event, very laid back for the Army LOL (lots of kids where there too) and the food was awesome. Even Becca ate the food and she’s super PICKY! We were seated with the several members of the Brigade Command Team, including the Brigade Commander COL Roberts, so I was a bit nervous that my kids were going to act up like little bratty kids. They did great and listened really well. I’m really very proud of them.  : )

The Army photographer took some pictures of us and I’ll be posting them as soon as I get them. While we were there, our whole family were also interviewed by the Pentagon channel during the event which was very cool. (I don’t have the link to video on the web yet but I’ll post it just as soon I do)

I thought that girls would be nervous by the camera but they LOVED it!  As soon as the camera and the lights went on, they were very chatty and interacted with the reporter from the Pentagon channel. They are such New Media Kids… wonder where they get it from?? As soon as the camera went off, they went back to being shy. (I wonder if we should start a video podcast for them?? hmmm )

After everything was over, the USO and Army MWR people passed out all our cool schwag! We got TONS of stuff like backpacks, stuffed animals for the kids, phone cards, t-shirts and even a $50 gift card to use at the PX. The thing I’m most excited was that I got our family was given a Commander’s coin.  : )

It was an awesome way to end an already wonderful day!

I know the election is over and we have a new president-elect, but I just came across the video (Hat tip : Spouse Buzz ) of the teacher talking about the elections, Obama and McCain. I understand talking to children about the political process and teaching them how it all works. I believe in teaching them all about the process. Heck, we did this with our own kids and had an indept conversation on the elections, why it was important to vote,etc. I am completely in favor of a “mock election” for them to cast their vote and to have an open, generic discussion about . I think it can be done in a very neutral, benign way.

This however is an example of WHAT NOT TO DO

The Cumberland school district in Fayetteville, NC (where this occured) has issued a written statement on their website as the Superintendent issued this video statement via YouTube

I’m thoroughly infuriated by this as a military parent! I can’t imagine what those kids were thinking and feeling especially that one girl whose father was a US Soldier. Military life can sometimes be hard enough and then you have to endure this at school! There was no need at all to bring up that point especially in the manner that the teacher was saying it.

This is just one more thing to add to the “pro ” pile for homeschooling both of our children next academic year. We were planning to homeschool our oldest due to some special needs and anxiety issues but I’m seriously considering both kids now.

I’ll be posting updates as we come across them… Let’s hear your thoughts, opinions,etc.

We just recently found out that we were nominated as an exceptional military family for Headquarters Company, Walter Reed Medical Center Brigade.  Thanks so much to SSG Z, SSG E and CPT L for the nomination.

The award dinner (as part of the Hospital’s Military Family Appreciation Week)  will be held on Thursday November 13 at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. The hospital newsletter, Stripes, is doing an article on all the winners.

I’m not usually one to toot my own horn, but I’m really excited about this. Of course , SGT Daddy told me that I would be the one giving the speech.

I’ll post an update about it next week as well as some pictures. (maybe even video)  : )

I spend a lot of time at Walter Reed Army Medical Center doing Family Readiness Group (FRG) work and its also where my husband works. Their motto is “home of warrior care”. They do just that every single day, not just one month a year.

I’ve seen it as a visitor and I’ve also seen it as a patient.Warrior Care is just not for our active duty/reserve/Guard servicemembers .. it is also meant for their family members too. I was diagnosed with a super infection that was contained within in my arm. They took awesome care of me, even keeping me an extra day to make sure the antibiotics were working.

The Department of Defense and all the different military branches has declared November as Warrior Care Month. They are trying to bring awareness to all their various medical and non-medical services.The VA department has created a website that highlights some of the programs and resources out there no matter if the patient is one of our warriors or one of their family members.The focus however is always placed on our wounded warriors, for they have made great sacrifices for our freedom. .

Click here for their website, WarriorCare.mil

Speaking of Wounded Warriors and their families, if you would like to be part of the rapid reaction time to

Happy Halloween to all! Can you believe it’s Halloween already? Wow time is just flying by! We will be packing up our stuff in just 3 short weeks! Dan starts out-processing on Monday. WOOHOO!

We have a lot of cool upcoming stuff here on Army Household6 :

Operation HASMO (Help a Service Member Out) has its own home now, complete with blog. Check it out: http://www.helpaservicememberout.org .

A really cool contest to celebrate Veteran’s Day and to win the book, Mrs Lieutenant : A Sharon Gold novel . The contest details will start on Monday so make sure to check it out. I’ll even have an interview that I did with the author, Phyllis Zimbler Miller.

Speaking of Veterans, did you know that November is Warrior Care Month? So, I’ll have a series of posts in November about our veterans, celebrating Veterans Day and taking care of our veterans and wounded warriors. I might even had a video interview or two with some special guests!  : )

WHEW! All that before we pack up and leave! Of course, during our “adventure” across the midwestern plains to Colorado, I’ll be blogging and Twittering our adventures (and probably misadventures as well)  : )

Have a fun and safe night tonight and don’t eat too much candy! : )

Bryan (@thegrok ) and Chris (@chrisbrogan) are using social media to have some fun on Halloween and raise some money at the same time.

You can follow the rules HERE

The best part is that TOP 3 Companies voted on in the comments get the money that is donated! There are a lot of great organizations dedicated to helping our troops and their families like Homes for Our Troops, Soldiers’ Angels, Project ValourIT and many many more.

So get to it!

(Hat tip : @familyofavet)

DId you know that AUSA has a Free holiday book for military kids??

The name of the book is It’s a Family Thanksgiving! A Celebration of an American Tradition for Children and Their Families. The distrubution of the book is being sponsored by Raytheon. The book is being sponsored by Raytheon in partnership with AUSA’s Family Programs and Harmony Hearth.

If you’d like to get one, all you have to do is send an email  to familyprograms@ausa.org with your mailing address. First come, first served. Only 2 copies per request.

You can find more information at AUSA’s Family Programs website

Hunter had a visit with Gary Sinise today …

Just got an update from Blake:

Talked to Hunter today. He had an awesome time with Gary!! His visit definitely uplifted his spirits. He said Gary is just a normal guy.

He got to talk to him for about 45 minutes and even got some autographed stuff! Gary also invited Hunter and some other troops to one of his concerts in December. The concert is in Florida close to Disneyworld. Hunter said that Gary is going to fly him and others to the concert!!!

Awesome Huh…what a good guy!

I’d say that’s a really good guy! Can’t wait to hear that update!!

Want to leave a message of support for Hunter?? Check out Hearts for Hunter Foundation website

(Hat Tip : SpouseBuzz) I saw this on SpouseBuzz and thought it was a really cool idea! 

MILITARY WIVES FIND SUPPORT FROM EACH OTHER MILITARY WIVES CONFERENCE TO BE HELD IN NASHVILLE NOV. 7-8

Nashville, Tenn. – No matter whom Americans elect to the White House this November, military wives will still be coping with the ups and downs of military life, including deployments.

While many families throughout the United States will be welcoming their loved ones home soon, there also be those saying goodbye for year-long deployments. But they don’t have to be on their own.

Wives of Faith is a faith-based military wives support organization that was started by a Navy reservist wife and an active Army wife in 2006 to connect, encourage and support military wives who do not live near a military installation or lack the resources or knowledge they need to succeed as a military wife in their marriages, families and deployments when they apply. 

The group will hold its first weekend conference in Nashville, Tenn., Friday and Saturday, Nov. 7-8. The theme, “This is the Day,” encourages military wives – active, reserve or Guard – to embrace the day God has for them now, instead of always looking to tomorrow for happiness.

“So often, we look at the next week, the next month, the end of this deployment, the beginning of the next one, and we never quite know what to do with today,” said Sara Horn, a co-founder and the executive director for the organization, whose own husband was deployed for most of 2007. She said several wives from as far away as Washington state and Pennsylvania have already registered. “Military wives are often on an emotional roller coaster, and if you live far away from a family readiness group or your husband’s installation, you can feel very alone and civilian friends don’t always know what to say or how to help. Our goal is to bring wives together and connect them to help each other.”

Whether military wives are going through deployment or not, the conference is open to all active, reserve or guard wives. Conference speakers include Babette Maxwell, founder of Military Spouse Magazine; Marshelle Carter Waddell, author of Hope for the Home Front; Carol McGlothlin, author of Medals Above My Heart; Judith Fuller, a Ft. Campbell Army wife; and Sara Horn, author of Weekend Warrior No More.  Sponsors include Military Spouse Magazine, Financial Peace University and the Milton Hershey School.

Registration is $55 for the Friday night and Saturday event, or attend Saturday only for $35. Both rates include a one-year subscription to Military Spouse Magazine and lunch on Saturday. A childcare option is also available. More information and registration is available at www.wivesoffaith.org, or contact the Wives of Faith office at  (615) 302-1932