Angie Andrews

An Open Letter to Myself

September 3, 2018August 13, 2021 Angie Andrews 1 Comment encouragement, military spouse

Do you ever allow the uncertainties of your future to impact your present? You probably do. As a military spouse, one of the easiest times to do this is when you know orders are coming soon.

For my husband and me, we thought we already had those orders, and now I find myself dwelling on the possibilities. Currently, dwelling on a negative possibility.

This is the first time we have to ask for Command Sponsorship–essentially asking if I’m cleared to go with my husband during this upcoming PCS.

Career & Education Experience Military Life

Across 13 Augusts

August 3, 2018August 12, 2021 Angie Andrews 0 Comments career, military spouse

Back in August 2006, I was thrilled to be overwhelmed with slightly nervous excitement. It was near impossible for me to understand the full impact of accepting a job in my chosen career field—elementary education. I was going to be a first grade teacher!

Experience Military Life PCS

Redefining Home

July 3, 2018August 11, 2021 Angie Andrews 1 Comment Military Life, PCS

When I was 5 years old, my family relocated for my father’s company consolidation. In preparing for my first-ever move, I told my mom I didn’t want to go because I didn’t want to leave my best friend. She was understandably confused. She couldn’t pinpoint one friend that was my favorite or that I’d spent the most time with from preschool or our neighborhood, so she had to ask. “Who’s your best friend?”

Very emotionally, I replied in all seriousness, “My house!”

Experience Military Life

Happy Birthday, Army: Thanks for Bringing Us Together!

June 3, 2018August 11, 2021 Angie Andrews 0 Comments Military Life

During college, one of my friends always had the best birthday celebrations. I remember how I thought his birthday was my favorite birthday (even more than my own!) because it was always such a good time.

Thinking over why this might be, it can of course be attributed, in part, to the friend we were celebrating, but my bigger reason for always loving his birthday best was because it brought people together. It never failed, we all wanted to be there having a great time when it was this guy’s birthday.

Experience Health & Fitness

Emotional Awareness: Understanding Disappointment

May 3, 2018August 10, 2021 Angie Andrews 2 Comments mental health, military spouse

I only have a few specific memories of kindergarten, but I’m pretty sure I know why this particular one stuck around.

One day, my friend Amy and I were playing inside a gray stand-alone tube on the playground. It was just a tube, and I have no recollection of what was so fun about it, but it was big enough for two little kindergarteners to hide inside and that’s exactly what we chose to do. When the recess whistle blew, we didn’t hear it, and our class left without us. In fact, all of the classes left the playground by the time we got bored with playing in that tube.

Experience Military Life Relationships

Bypassing Barriers to Friendship: Remove the Labels

April 3, 2018August 9, 2021 Angie Andrews 1 Comment advice, friendship, Military Life, military spouse

I love being married to my husband, and I would never want to know what life would be like if we hadn’t decided to get married. As you know, he’s in the military and being married meant leaving my friends just three-ish months after our wedding.

“See you later, friends. This wife is off to a new adventure!”

Experience PCS

PCSing with Pets: A Cat’s Point of View

March 3, 2018August 13, 2021 Angie Andrews 0 Comments Military Life, PCS, pets

Let me curl up here and tell you a story.

It’s been weird around here for a few weeks now. My humans are always busy, and I only get to cuddle them when they sink into the giant blanket-covered sleeping spot.

Experience Relationships

Getting to Know your Spouse Through Q&A

February 3, 2018August 6, 2021 Angie Andrews 0 Comments holidays, military marriage

“It’s a trap!” my husband warns himself.

“No, it isn’t. I mean it when I say I don’t care to celebrate Valentine’s Day. I’m really that girl, and you married me. Thank you for marrying me…”

There is a pretty good reason why I don’t care to celebrate Valentine’s Day with my husband. We met four days after Valentine’s Day, and every year, that day, that’s the important day. It’s my favorite day of the year—the day-that-we-met day. I would so much rather celebrate our day than Valentine’s Day.

Experience Military Life Relationships

Thinking of Champions

January 3, 2018August 6, 2021 Angie Andrews 0 Comments Military Life, military marriage, military spouse

I started playing fantasy football in much the same way that I became a military spouse. A guy I really liked asked me a question, and I said, “Yes.” He had to ask about fantasy football more than once—big deal. At least with that, I had an inkling of what I was getting into.

Across my almost five years as a military spouse and my three seasons as a fantasy football contender, some of the lessons I’ve learned apply to both experiences and, well, let’s just go for it—life in general.