Blog

Continued from last week… I was so excited to be sent up to Labor and Delivery after a challenging pregnancy. I was over being pregnant. I was huge and incredibly uncomfortable, and with my diagnosis of polyhydramnios, not only was I carrying around a large baby, but I was also carrying around a baby’s Olympic-size...

Hi, again. It’s me, Shannon. After a two-year hiatus, I’m bringing back the blog. For those of you who may be new to reading, welcome! To catch you up: A few years ago, I shared my experience as a new military spouse. I documented my life leading up to that point, my wedding, my first...

When was the last time you took part in an MWR-sponsored activity? Have you checked out MWR rentals lately? What about an MWR-sponsored getaway? During this holiday season, take advantage of everything your MWR office has to offer. Hosting a party? Could you use additional tables or chairs? Check out your MWR. It often has...

Military voters often don’t live in the place they call home — so where do you vote? You can only have one voting residence at a time, and it may not be where you are currently stationed. For example, if you’re now at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, but the last place you registered to vote...

“Your life is insane. You know that, right?” my coworker (and fellow therapist) declared over her cup of coffee. I had just finished outlining my family’s tentative plan for the next two years that included such notable features like PCS, selling or renting a house, a new job (for me), several TDYs for schooling (for...

Something very important is happening tomorrow. Tomorrow is the deadline for commenting on the proposed changes to the Department of Defense’s (DoD) Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP). The DoD is making some important changes to the EFMP program, and they need YOUR input. So far, there have only been 44 comments received. There is still...

Don’t let the holiday rush get the best of your wallet. Spend smart with these tips from MFAN advisors. 1. Plan ahead via GIPHY If you’re playing host this year, plan out your menu and create your shopping list in advance—that way, as sales start rolling in you can buy items on sale. Check out...

Post courtesy of Kristine Schellhaas, MFAN Advisor. Click here to read the original post from kristinespeaks.com. Most days, I’m on fire. I love my Marine, love living on base, love this life. I’ve spent years supporting military families by volunteering in my husband’s unit, through chaotic deployments and workups, supporting wounded warrior charities, and helping non-profit...

When our daughter, Bethany, was four-years-old, she came running in the house sobbing uncontrollably. I smoothed her blond curls and held her, “What’s wrong, Bunny?” “I don’t want to leave you and go to college!” Her chubby arms held my neck tight. “Um, well, Bunny, you don’t have to go to college any time soon!”...

There is a lot of confusion about how recommended changes to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) may impact urgent care for TRICARE Prime beneficiaries. We, too, were confused. So, we thought we’d try to clear a few things up: Question: Will the proposed changes to the NDAA prevent TRICARE Prime beneficiaries from using urgent...

MFAN advisors are knowledgeable, solutions-oriented leaders with a common goal — to support and empower military families. We do not create new programs—our focus is communication, and accessing our network to communicate to the military family community. MFAN focuses on … Communicating with each other to understand the challenges that face our families Communicating with...

Have you heard of the Congressional Award? The Congressional Award is open to all ages 14 to 24 and all U.S. citizens in that age group living overseas, regardless of physical or developmental disabilities. This military-friendly program — which promotes volunteerism, personal development, expedition, and physical fitness — can be completed no matter where you...

This month’s featured advisor, Rebekah Sanderlin, is an Army spouse, mom, and author. Rebekah’s areas of focus within the military include deployments, relocations, and financial challenges. As a mother of three, Rebekah saw first-hand the challenges that military kids face, so she co-created the Home Is Where book series, designed to help military children overcome...

“At our first in-person meeting of the MFAN advisory board, I looked around the table at a few familiar faces. Other names were familiar, or I knew them by reputation, but this was a group that felt different from the outset. It was certainly not the “first rodeo” for most of us, but collectively we...

“Military families have always come first for us, and we show it. The greatest aspect of being an advisor for the Military Family Advisory Network has been the convergence of experiences among us. No matter the question or issue before us, someone has a creative, compassionate direction for finding the solution. I have looked forward...