Family Time

Spending time together as a family whether it is through family dinners, working, or vacations, is a very important thing to remember as your soldier gets ready to deploy. My husband's unit has an amazing commander that values the family. He has encouraged us as families, no matter what form, to spend some special time together before they deploy. We are getting ready for a week-long family vacation to Hawaii. It will be our kids' first time flying. We have arranged for, hopefully, everything that is needed. Sunscreen, swimsuits, animals left home. We have been planning this trip since December. We booked it in January. It never ceases to amaze me at how fast time flies. We are all very excited for our family vacation to come but that date arriving also means that another not so fun date is almost here. I have had a little taste of my husband being gone since he left in November for training in Oklahoma. He was able to come home for 9 days during Christmas. He came home the 1st week of April just to leave 2 days later to join his unit for their annual summer camp which lasted 3 weeks. We now have him home for about a month and already a week is gone. We all know how vacations fly by so there will be another week. My son was able to complete his Eagle Scout requirements and will have his court of honor along with extended family party and pictures the next week. And pretty soon, that day has arrived. The day when my husband will be serving our country. I am so very proud of him. I know his unit and the guys he will be serving with are amazing. It still is such a scary thing but most of all the unknown. If I could plan everything out I would be set. The unknown is always scary. When I attended the Military Child training they called it the "new normal". So we will enjoy this time we have with our dad and husband and then get ready for the coming all too quick "new normal". As you stop at the end of your day today, say a little prayer for all the soldiers and for their families. We could use all the help we can get. Thank you for your support!

Free Signs for Troops

Build a sign is supporting our troops by giving away signs, you only pay shipping. Go to: http://www.buildasign.com/Troops and create your own sign. I ordered a 3ft. x 6ft. sign for my hubby and also got a bumper sticker. The shipping was $23.

Spouse Scholarship

Are you eligible? Visit this website https://aiportal.acc.af.mil/mycaa to see if you quality.

Yellow Ribbon Event

Sunday, May 15 at 8 am - Cedar City - Yellow Ribbon. Activities for the whole family including parents. This is a day set aside to teach families about the resources available to help them and their soldier during a deployment. A Day Full of great information.

***Our soldiers need our positive support. They need to hear that we love them and support them. They are under a lot of pressure and busy training hard. Please be patient with them. Negativity, Complaining and Rumors can demoralize soldiers along with ourselves. Please keep your guard up, protect your family against unnecessary emotional roller coasters by avoid them. Most importantly—KEEP YOUR CHIN UP!!!! - A-Battery FRG leader

State of Utah supports our troops!

Did you know that when you license your vehicle and you are on active duty orders that the State of Utah waives your property taxes? Yep- as we were renewing our vehicle and it was out of state with my hubby on active duty the gal helping me at the DMV informed me that if I was to come back with my hubby's orders that they would waive my property taxes. Yep... $50 is worth a second trip. I love the state I live in!

MCEC: Military Child Education Coalition

Course Description: The MCEC Living in the New Normal (LINN) encourages families to ensure their children have tools to bounce back from life’s storms, and “stressors”, fosters community support efforts, and provides concerned adults with information to help support children during times of uncertainty, trauma, and loss. The MCECs LINN efforts are predicated on the belief that children’s inherent attributes of courage and resiliency can be strengthened through deliberate encouragement.

I had the opportunity to attend this training last week. Visit the JSS website to see when they are in your area. Absolutely invaluable training for parents and ANYONE who works with kids from all types of backgrounds. I found this training could be applied to all children. -Amanda