by Meg FlanaganIf there is one thing that’s certain about military life, it’s that, at some point, your heart is going to be broken. And not just once. Military life just keeps on breaking your heart, over and over again.I still vividly remember my first military heartbreak: My then-boyfriend had finally earned one weekend of leave during OCS. I had traveled down from New England via train because I needed to get grad school work done, to see him for less than 36 hours.Keep in mind: I was not raised in a military-connected family. I had lived in the same small town since 1986. I Keep Reading...
How to Deal with Military Life Uncertainty During a Pandemic
by Meg FlanaganMovers were scheduled. Homecoming photographers were booked. Spring break was totally on track.Until basically the whole world shut down and everything stopped.Right now, everything is really up in the air and no one quite seems what’s happening next. Sounds kind of like military life all the time, huh?But this time, it’s literally everyone, everywhere around the whole world. We’ve still got to keep on, keepin’ on with military life as we all collectively lose our sense of future planning.It’s a lot to cope with, even when you’re used to handling the Keep Reading...
10 Ways to Be Patriotic in the Time of COVID-19
My friends, America needs you.America needs us.And Americans always answer the call of our country. Throughout history, Americans have responded when times have gotten tough. When they've been scary. When they've been uncertain. As a people, we've made sacrifices. We've banded together and fought injustices. We've innovated and created. We've used our ingenuity and our hard work. We've worked as a team and done amazing things.Think of all of the things Americans have produced and accomplished. The literature. The scientific feats. The music. The infrastructure. The architectural Keep Reading...
Beware of Coronavirus Info from Milspouse Groups: Use These Sources
In a time of fear and uncertainty, you need to listen to the authorities, not to a meme that someone shared. Not to your best friend's mom who got an A in high school biology. And not to your military spouse Facebook groups.Yeah, I said it.Sure, there are some folks in those Facebook groups who are sharing real, solid information straight from authorities. But most of it is a cesspool, y'all. And it worries me that many people are sharing information that is actually disinformation. It might not be intentional. But it still can be damaging.But no, you shouldn't drink bleach. Not if Keep Reading...
9 Reasons Military Families Need a Buyer’s Agent During a PCS
This post is sponsored by PCSCashback.com. All opinions and work are my own.It's hard to believe that John and I have been homeowners for nearly three years. Those three years have given us insight and perspective. How should we have done this? Or that? What seemed like a good idea then wasn't the best choice after all.You live and you learn.But there's one thing we've never questioned: having a buyer's agent. Even now, we find ourselves talking about how important it was for us to find a buyer's agent. And how lucky we were. Because we were first-time homebuyers, we kind of just Keep Reading...
23 Deployment Bucket List Goals for St. Patrick’s Day
Chances are, you probably have at least a little bit of Irish heritage in your family tree. And even if you don't, you probably don't mind too much when St. Patrick's Day comes around. On March 17, it seems that everyone is Irish. If you live near a city, you'll probably have ample ways to celebrate. If you're in a more rural area or living on base, the options might not be so plentiful.But here's the great news-- you can make your own celebration with your deployment bucket list.If you read Jo, My Gosh! a lot, you probably know that I am a huge proponent of deployment bucket lists. Keep Reading...
17 Irish Blessings Perfect for Military Families
Soda bread. Potatoes. Catholicism. St. Patrick's Day. Ireland is known for many things. For such a small island, their cultural presence is known and felt the world over, especially in March. It got me thinking... Ireland is also known for Irish blessings. Some of them are very well-known, while others are not. Some are funny, while others are serious. And many of them fit so well with military life.After all, who in the military community couldn't use a little extra peace, serenity, and happiness?Whether you need a toast, a saying for the inside of a card, or just a mantra for Keep Reading...
Can You Ship Alcohol in a Care Package?
Almost everyone who has been through a deployment has a booze and care package story. They colored the water and made vodka look like mouthwash. They sent tiny airplane bottles stuffed in socks. One of the bottles leaked and the smell (and soaked box) made it obvious to everyone what was in the box.The exact story doesn't matter. No matter the story, the incident becomes a funny anecdote once deployment is over and is shared (usually, ironically--or not-so-ironically) over drinks.I'll be real honest: John and I do not have one of those stories. In all of the tons of care packages I've Keep Reading...
10 Resources for Military Families Worried About Coronavirus
Coronavirus, or COVID-19, is taking the world by storm. Starting in Wuhan, China and spreading outward, the virus has been carried from country to country, person to person. As of this writing, the World Health Organization has not yet listed the coronavirus as a pandemic, it's likely that more people will get sick around our country and the world.And you know what else is around our country and the world? Military families.I thought it would be important to talk about the coronavirus as it pertains to military families because, honestly, I haven't seen anything (other than news Keep Reading...
49 Winter Goals for Your Deployment Bucket List
The middle of winter can be a little, well, blah (unless you're one of those lucky military families who gets to live in a tropical paradise!).Cold weather.Rain.Snow.Grey clouds.Weak sunshine.Not a hint of green around anywhere.And all of the really fun holidays are over.Add a deployment, and winter can feel insurmountable and depressing.I'm not gonna lie: I'm a huge fan of bucket lists as a way to manage deployment. (If you read Jo, My Gosh!, you know that already!) Creating goals (most of which do not have anything to do with the deployment) is a wonderful Keep Reading...
