The Saga Continues

Horatio graduates from his Masters in International Public Policy at Johns Hopkins’ SAIS in five days and still does not have a job to go to the next day.

Of course there is solace in the fact that he will continue to get a paycheck, regardless of where he goes the day after graduation, but to a highly motivated, country first, guy, not having a mission is a hard pill to swallow.

For now, we have to assume we will be headed to Asia in the summer of 2014 and Horatio will spend the better part of the next year training for the position.  We still hold out more than a little hope, though, that an opportunity close to home will come up so we can stay here.  A board meets in the fall to assign specific jobs for his line of work, so we will wait to see what happens before we start brushing up on our Mandarin.

For the most part, I calmly accept our fate in the Navy and go about my daily business, but I get a tell-tale pain in my neck and shoulder whenever I start talking about moving away from here.  I know that no matter what happens, we will be happy where the Navy sends us, but getting there is stressful beyond measure.

Four kids with four different temperaments will handle the news differently.  I hate to think of disrupting their happy lives, but they too will persevere and thrive, no matter where we sleep at night.  Getting them from point A to point B will be a challenge I’d rather not face, but as a faithful Navy wife and mom, it is my job to get us through it all and that I will do, with a smile on my face… most of the time.

I cope with the prospect of change by focusing on the positive and keeping it all in perspective.  If we move overseas, the boys will go to a fabulous International School and will make friends and memories that will stay with them forever.  Our third culture kids will adapt before we know it and are aware that moving overseas again is always a possibility.  We are lucky that Horatio has a steady income and if not a place to go, a job nonetheless.

For now, we go about our lives as usual.  We adopted a dog last week and are busy tking him on walks and happily making him part of our family.

Zack and Westley

A Father’s War

 

Guest Post By Author Judith Sanders:

In His Stead: ‘A Father’s War’ by Judith Sanders                      

“The true soldier fights not because he hates what is in front of him, but because he loves what is behind him.” English writer G. K. Chesterton

                Those words were written a long ago but are just as true today. During long separations what keeps the fires burning between hearts apart are thoughts of what is waiting at the end of a deployment. Coming through that time is stressful for the soldier returning to hearth & home just as much as it is for the love ones who are waiting.

May is Military Family Appreciation month. And while I have never been in the military, war has been the backdrop of my life and has influenced both my career as a nurse and as a writer. I lost high school friends in Vietnam… my brother in-law was an Army sniper during that war…My husband is retired Army…. I worked as a civilian nurse for the Armyand I have two grandnephews now serving; one in the Army & another in the Marines. Both have just returned from their first tours in Afghanistan.

I have put all of the adventures and emotions garnered from my loved ones into my new novel. In His Stead is the story of a retired Army Ranger & father who will do anything to protect his last son, even if it means taking the boy’s place using a law that has not been invoked since the Civil War. For this Army Ranger protecting his family is what life is about.

I wish all the best to our military families and friends. And I hope anyone reading this will give a special thank you to our military families: they have moved multiple times, constantly need to make new friends, celebrate holidays without love ones, and for months at a time give up part of their own hearts so that the rest of us are safe.

Something special:

Proceeds of my novel go to benefit HeartsApart.org. a charity for military families. Free of charge, they take professional photographs of families who have a member deploying. The family receives a set of photos FREE to keep at home and the member deploying receives a vinyl, war proof, trifold card with the same pictures. Did I say it’s FREE?

Please go to HeartsApart.org and check out this FREE service! While you are there enjoy the fantastic pictures!

See the book trailer for In His Stead: A Father’s War at:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C2V_djSTXzc&list=PLTc4hhX3H0IpPvzo_SZigd1VOAnLfKYOk&index=1

We Love Goldfish!

Pepperidge Farm is a company that cares about military families.  In perfect timing for the month of the military child, to honor those who serve in the U.S. Armed Forces and their families, the Pepperidge Farm® Goldfish® brand announced a $25,000 donation to the Fisher House Foundation.

Fisher House will use the donation for Scholarships for their Military Children program which helps U.S. military families worldwide pay for their children’s college expenses.

Since its inception in 1990, the Fisher House Foundation has served more than 180,000 families, providing “a home away from home” for families of patients receiving medical care at major military and VA medical centers.

Pepperidge Farm has also introduced limited edition packages of Goldfish® crackers that celebrate the Armed Forces with special military-inspired graphics and the Fisher House logo. Military commissaries and exchanges will sell the special goldfish packages domestically and abroad.

Design Your Own T-Shirt!

I’ve been a fan of buildasign.com for a few years and they now have a sister site, called DressUnited.com, where you can design your own, original t-shirt or hoodie.

The hardest part of the process was deciding exactly what to do with the blank canvas that is the front of a t-shirt.  I don’t usually wear shirts with words on the front, so I focused my attention on my boys.  Twelve year old, Dwight, had been complaining that he needed new shirts, so I decided to let him help design one for himself.  Dwight is creative and has had his own sense of style for as long as I can remember, so I knew he’d enjoy the process.

First, Dwight chose a color.  There were plenty to choose from, but he has always loved orange and he looks great in it, so he chose a deep orange colored t-shirt.  You can upload your own image, write your own text, and/or choose from the site’s clip art.  The site is incredibly easy to use.

We browsed the net, looking for ideas and talked them through.  He got excited about having a t-shirt that made a joke from Rick Astley’s song: “Never Gonna Give You Up.”  He’d seen pictures on iFunny, so we found an image, tweaked it a little bit and uploaded it to the Dress United site.

Navigation on the site is so well designed that once we decided what Dwight wanted his shirt to look like, it took less than two minutes to make the shirt!  After the shirt was designed, I just had to enter our shipping and billing information and put the order through.  The whole process took only minutes and the order was followed up with an email link to the image of the shirt.

Dress United would be a great site to use if you are organizing a group doing a 5K or school event, or even a birthday party.   They gave me a code to share with my great readers.  Use BLOG30OFF4U to save 30%!

The Uncertainty Continues

I’ve written about the uncertainty of the military career path on more than one occasion in the past and I’ve been drafting posts about it in my head over the past few weeks because Horatio is about to graduate from his masters program and we have absolutely no idea where he will go next.

Part of the uncertainty has been due to the promotion board.  The way it works in the military, for officers, is that, each year, boards meet to determine who will get promoted to the next rank.  Based on seniority and experience, a certain number of officers’ records are looked at each year, at various times, based on rank.  Horatio was “in zone” to be looked at for promotion from Commander to Captain in the board meeting in January.  The board members meet in secrecy.  No one knows who they are until after the meeting has convened.

Once the board has adjourned, the list of men and women who have been selected for promotion remains secret as it moves from point to point, being approved as it goes.  Worried men and women watch the progress on the Navy website, waiting with bated breath, hoping for the release of the list as each day passes.

The uncertainty can really weigh on a person and his family, as it did on us.  Not only did we have no idea if Horatio would be promoted, but his current assignment ends on May 23 and we have no idea what will come next.  Not knowing if he would be a Commander or a Captain made it so that he could not even pursue jobs.  No one wanted to talk to him about placement until he had that basic, but key, bit of information.  It felt like his future was completely out of our hands and we had no way to set it on a path.  We were more worried than ever because, due to budget cuts, the number of promotions is at a low point.  Only a handful of men and women would actually be on the list.

Not a day passes without someone asking me where we will be going next.  Everyone I know knows that I want to stay here.  After moving from St. Louis to Scotland to Virginia Beach to Hawaii to St. Louis (during Horatio’s first Operation Enduring Freedom deployment) to Washington State to St. Louis (during Horatio’s second Operation Enduring Freedom deployment) to Kansas to Washington DC to China to here, I am ready to be settled.  I’ve had it with moving.  We all love where we are and want to stay.  We are a few months shy of the four year mark here, which is very unusual for a military family.  We’ve put down roots and built our community.  We are getting a dog! We want to stay.  As my favorite child hood book reads:

“I love my house, I love my nest, in all the world, my nest is best.”

I know it isn’t realistic to think that we won’t ever have to leave, but I hold out hope nonetheless.

So, for more than three months, we waited with a cloud of disquiet over Horatio and our family.  Every day that passed in April brought more anxiety and fretting.

Finally, on Friday, April 19, the promotion list was released and Horatio’s name was on it.

Relief!

Pure joy.

Horatio has worked incredibly hard for the past twenty years; I am so proud of him for achieving this milestone.  I’ve worked hard supporting his career, so it really is a big moment for both of us.

The first question many of our friends and family ask, upon hearing the news, is, of course: ‘so does this mean you have to move?’

We still don’t know, but at least now Horatio can focus his search for Captain jobs.  Military officers don’t have much control over where the job takes them.  Home is where the Navy sends us, I just hope they let us stay here.

Budgeting 101

Touro University Worldwide Recognizes Financial Literacy Awareness Month:

It’s Time To Better Control Your Money With Budgeting 101

 Guest Post

While most of us look at April as the time to begin our spring cleaning, it is also Financial Literacy Awareness Month, making it a great time to sweep the cobwebs off of your financial plan. One way to save money is to budget your education expenses, which is why online degree programs have become so popular. In general, online degree programs are more affordable and flexible for a busy lifestyle. That very consideration is one reason interested students will find Touro University Worldwide’s (TUW) newest degree program, a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and Management (BSBA), a perfect fit despite personal and financial demands. Below are some best practices for this month’s financial spring-cleaning:

 

1.       Make a budget. This is a critical first step in learning about your finances. Before you can do anything, you must know how much you’re earning and how much you’re spending. First, tally how much you make monthly. (For those whose incomes vary monthly depending on their hours and maybe monthly incentives or bonuses, do an average of 3 months to get a ballpark figure of your monthly income.) Next, add up all of your expenses. Bills, loans, and necessities should be figured into this total. Finally, subtract your expenses from income. Also take a look at where you are saving money. For example, Touro University Worldwide does not require their students to buy textbooks. They can budget the money they would have spent on books somewhere else. 

 

2.       Stick to your budget. You’d think this would be a no-brainer, but it’s not. At first, passing up that expensive restaurant, the extravagant vacation, or the collector’s item might seem difficult. But by staying on budget, you are demonstrating that self-will and self-determination to get control of your finances and your life. Consider the option of getting an online degree instead of brick and mortar.  It offers greater flexibility for you to work while you go school. By enrolling with an online school like TUW, it’s a great way to stick to your budget because you are cutting out a lot of the expenses traditionally associated with universities – dorm fees, parking fees, travel, meal plans, etc. All that saving should inspire you to stick with it!

 

3.       Create and/or maintain a savings account. According to the Corporation for Enterprise Development (CFED), nearly 31% of Americans have no savings at all which means no money for retirement or emergency expenses. Let’s say you start saving $100 per month at age 23 for 25 years. When you’re 48, there’s an extra $30,000 (plus interest) waiting for you. In addition, you could set up an appointment with a money manager and learn about IRAs, CDs, or stocks—all items that will help you put cash in your coffers. By consistently putting your money away, when you really need it, you will have a nest egg that will leave you feeling financially secure. Taking a class such as TUW’s Course: The Principles of Finance and Budgeting in its BSBA program can provide useful instruction on how to manage both personal and professional budgets.

 

 

4.       Pay off your debt. If there is a buzzword in the financial community that resonates with Wall Street, Main Street, and the playground, it is debt. Student loan debt has eclipsed credit card debt as the largest amount of debt Americans carry. Not all debt is bad debt. Some debt is a future investment, such as student educational loans, which can be paid back within a reasonable amount of time. Even so, it’s all about being smart choices. Be wise about how much debt you’re taking on, and an online degree can help with that. Students who can work while going to school typically have fewer loans because their debt is only going towards tuition and not towards living expenses. At Touro University Worldwide, there are administrators and advisors who can help you with this process.

 

5.        Establishing Credit. While it is dangerous to carry too much credit card debt, it is a good idea to show credit evaluation agencies that you can handle debt in order to improve your credit rating. Apply for a credit card where the creditor reports account activity to the credit bureaus. When you charge purchases, make your payments on time to clear your balance. If you want to calculate your credit to debt ratio, check out this how-to article.

 

 

Do you want to make an affordable investment in your future? To decide whether a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and Management (BSBA) from TUW is right for you, visit http://www.tuw.edu or call 888-586-5193 to learn how you can apply these principles to your life, get your degree, and take control of your financial health.

###

 

About Touro University Worldwide:

Touro University Worldwide is a non-profit organization established by philanthropic visionaries who are committed to developing a passionate, connected learning community that can help students achieve their individual academic goals. Students at Touro University Worldwide are committed to social justice, intellectual pursuit, and professional development. This philosophy is derived from the Judaic foundation on which the University was originally founded and a value system that welcomes all cultures and backgrounds.

 

About the Touro College and University System

Touro is a system of non-profit institutions of higher and professional education. Touro College was chartered in 1970 primarily to enrich the Jewish heritage, and to serve the larger American and global community. Approximately 19,000 students are currently enrolled in its various schools and divisions. Touro College has branch campuses, locations and instructional sites in the New York area, as well as branch campuses and programs in Berlin, Jerusalem, Moscow, Paris and Florida. Touro University California and its Nevada branch campus, as well as Touro University Worldwide and New York Medical College are separately accredited institutions within the Touro College and University System. For further information on Touro College, please go to: http://www.touro.edu/media/.

 

 

Peas of Mind

Peas of Mind, the health food for kids company, featured our family on their site today!  Show them your love!  You can find them in commissaries now!

The Peas Perspective

Navy Dudes…

Here’s a book my youngest wrote at preschool yesterday.  He did the illustrations and dictated to his teacher.

I believe he is ready to follow in my footsteps!

Harold

Wounded Veterans Eligible for Free Adjustable Beds

More than 50,000 Americans have been combat-wounded in Iraq or Afghanistan since 2001. According to Defense Department accounting, more than 16,000 of those injured have been classified as severely wounded and of those more than 1,600 have had limb amputations.  These soldiers spend months, and in many cases years, in the hospital before being released to go back home.   Once home, these soldiers’s wounds and injuries make sleeping on flat beds difficult and painful. Many come home to beds that are old and uncomfortable and often times these veterans wind up sleeping in separate bedrooms from their partners because of their pain and sleep issues.

To help these wounded soldiers Easy Rest Adjustable Sleep Systems, a leading national retailer of adjustable beds that are made in America, has created a program to help wounded veterans rest easier by donating new adjustable beds to injured service members through their “Beds For Our Troops” program. Each month a new service member receives a free adjustable bed from the Company.

“Quality rest and sleep is an important component in the journey to wellness,” stated Jeff Mowrey, Chief Operating Officer for Easy Rest.  “A good nights sleep helps improve mood, performance and concentration, all of which are necessary for rigorous therapy or the completion of everyday tasks.  We are honored to be able to help these brave men and women with this gift and thank them for their service to our country.”

Adjustable beds allow users to adjust the head or foot of the bed to just the right position to temporarily alleviate pain or pressure on specific parts of their bodies so that they can maximize the amount of sleep necessary for healing.  The Company’s beds come with relaxing massage features that may help to ease the stresses, aches and pains associated with recuperation.  Easy Rest’s adjustable beds can be attached to the users head and footboards and when they are in the flat position they look like any other bed on the market. The mattress quality compares to all of the major brands sold in the United States.

Program recipients can choose the bed size of their choice allowing them to once again sleep with their partner.  Veterans who have received beds through this program report a significant increase in the amount of sleep they are able to achieve. They report that they are waking with fewer aches and pains and are able to handle their waking hours better since receiving their new beds.

Army Sergeant Justin Bond is one of the veterans helped by this program.  He and his wife have both benefited from sleeping in an Easy Rest Adjustable Bed and he reports that he had to dust off his alarm clock for the first time since being injured after receiving his new bed.  You can read more of his story here.

Veterans interested in the program can fill out the information on the Beds For Our Troops home page.  The company will send a packet of information out to them to fill out and return.

 

 

How to Effectively Study with Children

Guest Post: By Shavonne Ruffin Faculty Member, Child and Family Development at American Public University

Being a successful college student is a challenge. Adding children to the equation can make the challenge even greater. Many parents who return back to school face the difficult task of balancing studying and parenting. A few tips can move this task from a challenge to a to-do.

Involve your child in your studying.

Often times, parents are too eager to get rid of their children during study time. However, getting them involved will allow your child to be a part of the process.

For younger children, make it a game and ask them to help you study. Allow your child to highlight your book or place stars on important information. Toddlers are extremely inquisitive and want to learn.  Teach your child what you learned, even if it is physics or calculus. Chances are he or she will not understand it, but reciting the information will help you retain it.

With school aged children, study together. Pick a spot and a time to study each night. This will teach your child that you value your education and he or she should value it as well.

Make it fun. Prepare snacks for you and your child and take study breaks. Using a cooking timer often is a fun method for younger children.

Ask for your child’s help in preparing your time to study.

For younger children ask them to draw a “Do not Disturb Sign” to hang on the door. They can hang the sign up for others who may disturb the studying.

Ask your child to help get your books and studying materials. Children really love to help. So, allow them to get your pens, highlighters, and favorite study snacks. Also, make sure they get their books, crayons, and a juice box as well. They will get a kick out of studying just like mom or dad.

Reverse Roles.

Parents often use positive and negative reinforcements to direct their children in school. Surely, your child has received positive rewards for getting good grade on an assignment or making the honor roll.  Reverse the roles; have your child give you a positive reward for an accomplishment. Make a deal with your son or daughter that if you get an A they will wash dishes for a week.

Keep the communication and studying ongoing.

Discuss with your children why you are going back to school. Often times, it has something to do with providing a better life for them. Most of the time, children only know that mom cannot be bothered or dad is busy. However, if you explain to your child why you are studying chances are they may better understand the importance.

Juggling school and parenting can be a very difficult task. However, involving your child in your education will lead to a greater reward when you achieve your goals. You will have the gift of sharing your accomplishments with your child.

About the Author:

Shavonne Ruffin is currently a mental health coordinator working in the field of family and child development.  She will be graduating with her doctorates degree in the field of generalized counseling.  Currently, she teaches courses in the area of family and child development and helps her students face the challenges of balancing education and family life.