If you have young children and would like to introduce the meaning of Memorial Day to them while the barbecue is heating up, here are some activities, picture books and crafts…

How will you honor our fallen soldiers?
On Veteran’s Day in 2009, I wrote that I believe, as a nation, we have an easier time memorializing our dead than respecting our living veterans.
Except, of course, when the dead are our own.
The nation is still in the grips of a conflict, the price of which is abstract for the majority of our citizens.  Politicians who have never served and would discourage their own children from service determine when and where to use our nation’s military.  Talking heads with as little actual military …

Welcome to the Military Monday blogger link-up for May 23!

Well, it is almost my due date (May 25) and it is almost Memorial Day (May 30).

What do you have planned for Memorial Day? Family time? Recognition of our troops? Remember those who served and made the ultimate sacrifice? Learning activities with the kids?

When I started blogging my husband’s training in 2004, there were only a handful of military spouse blogs. I found an instant connection however, with the people who came to read the site.

I remember at the time being shocked that a couple of dozen people a day came to read about my thoughts, fears, and hopes.

Through the deployment, the birth of my first child, and our move from active duty in Texas to National Guard in New York, you have been there for me…

Memorial Day is the much anticipated start of the summer season–and we will definitely be firing up our grill. While we’re enjoying our weekend, though, we will definitely be thinking about our troops–those in harm’s way, those preparing to deploy, and those who served and made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedoms and way of life.

Check out this donation from EZ Grill–they are supporting the USO in their work to improve morale for troops and their families…

While I am on a brief maternity leave, I am featuring guest posts, like this informative post from Michelle Dudas, author of www.militarywivessaving.com.

The recent near-shut down of the government highlighted the need for families to hope for the best and prepare for the worst. Here are some tips to help ease the crunch and put more money back into your bank account…

Welcome to the Military Monday blogger link-up for May 16!

If luck is with me, I’ve either given birth or will in the next week. My children like to pick the least convenient times to show up.

Since I’m due May 25, I am pre-scheduling the carnival and guest posts throughout this month and would LOVE if you would help spread the word on your blogs, twitter, and facebook and also help support one another by reading and commenting on each other’s posts.

Stephanie, also known as Military Travel Mama, writes about travel destinations and her journey’s as a mom and military spouse. Read her blog and you’ll find yourself eagerly planning your next trip!

Share a favorite post of yours?

Hawaiian Foods You May or May Not Want To Try is my favorite post to date. I mention some of my island favorites in this post. I really miss the shrimp!

Welcome to the Military Monday blogger link-up for May 9!

If you are a mom or have a living mom or grandmother, I hope you had a wonderful time celebrating motherhood this past Sunday! I am looking forward to bringing a third little one into this world, hopefully sometime this month…

I don’t just shake hands with a hero–my hero is my husband.It has been an honor and a privilege to support him in his service these past seven years.

Like other heroes, though, he will tell you he is just doing his duty.

He left his job as a litigator at a New York City law firm to enter basic training and later accept a commission as a field artillery officer. In December of 2005, he deployed to Iraq…