Fabulous Army Life

This group of ladies provided much laughter, comfort, advice, and friendship throughout our week together at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.  We gathered to learn more about our upcoming volunteer roles in the Army and came away with all that and much, much more.  Thank you for a wonderful week ... and for wonderful new friendships!

Joshua volunteered to be a part of the McLean Bible Church Kids Serve weekend and was excited to be a part of the fun this morning. He handed out programs, held the door, greeted guests, and took up the offering. His group was assigned to the Edge community so Nate and I decided to worship in that area. I am so proud of this boy and so excited to see him start to settle in to life in Virginia. It's been a tough adjustment for him and his fabulous church and school have been instrumental in making him feel a little more at home here. That's something this mom can celebrate.  

 Bev and Tracey steam table runners. Kim irons dozens of table runners. Ethel is handy with an iron, too!

At the end of our Red Dragon Spring Fling, we honored volunteers from each battery with a certificate signed by the battalion commander and battalion CSM. Ladies received a unit charm necklace. Gentlemen received a unit coffee mug or t-shirt. All the kids received a "I Love my Red Dragon Soldier!" arm band in honor of the Month of the Military Child. We have some amazing Families in this unit and it was a joy to honor them in this way.

Every month, the 1st Cavalry Division honors volunteers from all the battalions within the division. It is a nice time to say 'thank you' to those who give so much of themselves for our Soldiers and their Families. Our battalion always has a fabulous volunteer recognized at these ceremonies and I'm so happy to be among such amazing good-hearted people. This month, the volunteers for our battalion were the "Ladies of Legacy" ... a group of ladies who travel from Legacy Church (in Round Rock, Texas) to Fort Hood once a month to help out with children's activities during battalion-wide FRG Meetings.  They were absolutely phenomenal and I was thrilled they could make it for this appreciation ceremony. Our FRSA with Rachel, Sandra, Elizabeth, Cristy, and Nate and me. Wonderful volunteers with COL Peeler and CSM Maunakea The ladies got to know our Rear Detachment Commander pretty well over the course of the deployment and came with a gift for him to c...

April is Volunteer Appreciation Month and there's no volunteer like an Army volunteer! Our unit has an fabulous group of volunteers that are always available to lend a helping hand.  They do amazing things and work hard at keeping our unit Families informed and supported.  Off the top of my head, here are a few of the many things they do ... At any given time, a volunteer in our unit could be: making phone calls to unit Families planning meetings to keep Families in the information loop decorating for unit events wrapping gifts at the PX during the holidays putting together baby bags for the babies in the battalion baking goodies to sell at bake sales or just to give to Soldiers for their birthday taking all the training required to be able to bake goodies to sell organizing fundraisers taking and posting photos of unit events updating their unit Facebook page completing all required training for leaders in the FRG attending optional but beneficial trai...