I wake to a dark room. I fumble for my watch on the bedpost. It reads 6:00 a.m. Our temperatures outside are still lingering in the 80s by day, but winter is creeping in through 60-degree nights and pitch-black mornings. I want the cool. I want sweater weather and pumpkin spice, and soon twinkly lights and carols, but I forget that the tradeoff is precious sunlight. I am not ready for the change. The coffee pot is already humming when I come downstairs, but instead of pouring a cup, I reach across the kitchen counter for my peppermint oil. I uncap it and breathe it in, rolling my neck from si ..read more

I am washing dishes when I start to survey the state of things. There are piles everywhere. I attempt to peek through our kitchen window into the living room to see the kids, but I can barely make them out on the rug below. There is a candle, a felt board (still in it’s box), a granola bar wrapper, tin of formula, a teetering baby bottle drying rack, and more in the way. I turn to dry my hands and sigh at the counter space next to the oven. It is filled with sweet potatoes I’ve been meaning to roast, and pears I’m hoping to mash for the baby, more dishes, a jar of peanut butter, and always- cr ..read more

Why isn’t there a comprehensive moving guide out there for military families that breaks down an overseas move AND provides encouragement for the hearts of those families? Well, now there is. You can access the Moving Overseas for Military Families guide right here. For free. And it will be free forever, because I believe in leaving our community better than how we found it. If this can even help one family on the move- it will be worth it. We are an Active Duty USMC family and we have done 4 Overseas PCS from South Korea to Hawaii, Morocco, and even South America! Let’s get moving ..read more

The baby wobbles in front of me at the edge of the mint patch. Everyone told me not to plant it last year. “Keep it in a pot,” they said. “Mint is invasive.” They were right. It has taken over much of the plot I placed it in. It dares to go beyond its borders too. One of its green leaves reaches out to us, snaking across the brown and yellow tufts of grass. The baby squeals and reaches back, batting at the mint with his fingertips.  It is 60 degrees today, a gift in the depth of winter. From morning till late afternoon we push the sliding glass door to the back yard, open and shut. First ..read more

“I feel the most brave when I’m the most scared- but I’m not letting that fear hold me back.” Katie Haahr takes us on her path from the east coast of America to the west coast- from telework to landing a new job, and then getting let go by the company and starting her own business. Katie Haahr is now the Founder and CEO of KatieHaahr.com where she helps women in their early twenties figure out all the “non-sexy but essential” life skills that no one really talks about (aka: adulting). After graduating from college nearly a decade ago, Katie moved to a new city and realized she knew very littl ..read more

15 voices from across the nation. Mamas hailing from Georgia, Virginia, Alaska, Hawaii, New York, Spain, California…the list goes on. 15 writers capture their experiences in the times of COVID-19 on The Choosing Brave Podcast and offer them as pieces of their hearts that breathe hope. Meet the Writers in order in which they appear on the podcast:  Tamar Rachel Mekredijian resides in the Los Angeles area with her husband, daughter, and son. Writing helps her look at the world closely and understand her place in it as a woman, wife and mother. Her work also appears at Mothers Always Write ..read more

Amanda is a military spouse and veteran who served in the Air Force for six years as a Civil Engineer including a deployment to Afghanistan. She traded in her combat boots for a diaper bag to stay home with her two boys and follow her husband’s military career. She is the host and creator of the Women of the Military Podcast sharing the stories of women who have served or continue to serve in the military.   “(My) Podcast has been a healing journey for me. There was a hole that I didn’t know was in my heart (that is now) filled up because I get to talk with other women about their milita ..read more

What does love require? Join host Lindsay Swoboda for this special edition of The Choosing Brave Podcast, dedicated to Military Appreciation Month.  “Love has required sacrifices and strengths I could have never imagined. It doesn’t stop requiring it. Somehow I learn to keep giving, as all military spouses do.” Connect with host Lindsay: @upliftinganchor on Instagram, and at her website: http://www.upliftinganchor.com/ LISTEN NOW Anchor Breaker Google Podcasts Radio Public Spotify Apple Podcasts Show Notes Micro Essay on Instagram 1 Different Post, Different Purpose Encourage Each Other ..read more

September 2018: her head fell soft but heavy on my shoulder. I set mine down against hers. A robin landed on the roof above us, cocking his head to look down, and I imagined his view:  our dusty blonde hair blending together, pale foreheads nuzzled, knees pushed together on the outdoor sofa, coffee cups steaming in our hands. “I’m glad you’re here,” she said. Her hair smelled like rosemary mint conditioner. I squinted into the rising Texas sun, my eyes blurring from heat and tears. I placed my palm on her freckled arm- noticing again how small she is compared to me. Little sister, big si ..read more

Mallory from @mamas_onthe_move is Army wife of eleven years. Her family has moved 9 times in 11 years and they have lived in 11 homes (and the number keeps on growing). She utilizes this experience to help military families with their own DITY (Do it Yourself) moves. She has a master’s degree in Psychology with a specialization in marriage and family therapy and is currently a stay at home mom to 3 precious kids. Her perspective on moving her life so frequently is refreshing and encouraging. “I have to actively remind myself to search for good and the beauty in each place and the opportunit ..read more