Even if your military family has PCSed several times, when you get orders overseas, things will be different. How different? Let me explain. 1. You need a passport… or two. When a service member gets PCS orders overseas, the military will pay for and process passports for the entire family. This is called a no-fee […]
Articles by Lizann Lightfoot
Here’s How to PCS-Proof Your Priceless Heirlooms and Keepsakes
When PCSing, most military families prefer to hand-carry their most precious items. Even if military movers pack up the rest of the house, families will carefully load heirloom items into their vehicle to drive them to the next duty station. That is generally the safest way to guarantee that your treasures will arrive in one […]
When ‘Staying Busy’ During Deployment Isn’t Enough
Military spouses hear it all the time: “The best way to get through a deployment is by staying busy.” “If you are feeling sad during deployment, just keep yourself busy and distracted.” Maybe you have even given this advice before, in an effort to encourage another military spouse who was struggling during a tough time. […]
Do You Collect These Items From Duty Stations?
(Photo: Joint Multinational Readiness Center, Sgt. Jacob Sawyer) Whether they are exotic locations or boring towns in the middle of the desert, military bases certainly give you a unique glimpse at different parts of our country and the world. By the time you leave that post, you are going to have a lot of memories. […]
5 Lies About Having a Baby Overseas (and the Truths Behind Them)
When our family first moved overseas, my husband and I knew we wanted to have another child someday, but we figured that having a baby overseas would be an adventure too wild and dangerous for us. But. . . after living there for a year and meeting lots of other moms who had a baby […]
Here’s How Military Spouses Define Success
Hey you, military spouse, here’s an interesting question: How do you define success? What does it mean to you to succeed at this military life? It’s a question worth considering. We spend so much time keeping our heads down and moving forward, just hoping to survive the next military life challenge. Do you ever stop […]
To the Spouse Who’s Always Stone-Cold Sober
Though I’m not opposed to an occasional drink, I have spent the majority of my adult life sober. As a teenager, I made a promise to myself not to drink until I was 21. I wanted to set an example for my future children, but I also grew up with way too many alcoholic relatives. […]
Here’s the History Behind These Popular Military Wedding Traditions
(Photo: Courtesy of Lizann Lightfoot) Even though we met and started dating before boot camp, my husband had been in the military for several years by the time we were engaged and married. Although many of his Marine friends married before us, neither of us had been to any military weddings. It is common for […]