The Uncivil Civil War: Brothers in Arms

Percival Drayton, captain of the USS Pocahontas, was saddened that not only had the country become so divided, but this divisiveness made its way down to his family unit. His older brother, Thomas, loyal to his native region of the south, took up arms against Percy’s formidable northern charge for freedom for all. Although the brothers met as enemies at Port Royal, November 1861, they both survived the battle.

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Kindness from a Stranger

We recently made the big move from Germany to Fort Lee, Virginia. That on its own sounds daunting, but roll in the fact we did it with an 8-year-old and triplet 3-year-olds, and we were a walking circus! As with every move, there were highs and lows with emotions and all the frustrations that come from living out of a suitcase for months and packing and repacking more times than you can count. So, by the time we finished the first leg of our trip from Germany to Washington, D.C., I was an exhausted mother running on fumes and barely able to keep the smile on my face.

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The Seasoned Spouse: It’s Just Right

I’m a seasoned spouse. And here’s how I know.

My husband and I were sitting with some close family friends we’ve known for quite a while, talking over a bottle of wine. As we sat around laughing and sharing stories, I made a comment about a young spouse making an honest-to-goodness military misstep. To which my husband replied, “I don’t think you remember what it was like to not be the salty ol’ vet.”

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3 Tips for Making Friends

Watching my children making friends looks effortless on their part. They introduce themselves, and instantaneously, they’ve got a best friend. Me on the other hand, the uncertainty of the endeavor is always a challenge. It usually takes me a few months of getting the lay of the land to even attempt to make friends. If I do not have all my ducks in a row, it’s hard for me to concentrate on making friends.

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A Healthy Eating Journey

Healthy eating has been one of my goals for this year, and I’ve done well (by my definition) with it up until recently when I PCS’d. I’ve fallen back into my old tendencies of grabbing food to-go quite often, because I make the excuse that it is easier or that I don’t have time. In reality, it turns into a money pit, and I’m always left wondering how in the world I spent so much money on food.

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