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Westgate Resorts, Gary Sinise and Gov. Ron DeSantis Host Thousands of Military Family Members in Orlando

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Westgate Resorts, Gary Sinise and Gov. Ron DeSantis Host Thousands of Military Family Members in Orlando
KISSIMMEE, FL – MAY 04: Alyssa Raghu performs during the Westgate Resorts Military Weekend 2018 at Westgate Vacation Villas & Town Center Resort on May 4, 2018 in Kissimmee, Florida. (Photo by Gerardo Mora/Getty Images for Westgate Resorts) *** Local Caption *** Alyssa Raghu

Westgate Resorts will honor 1,500 U.S. military families, veterans and Gold Star families from across the nation with a free vacation at Westgate Vacation Villas & Town Center Resort in Orlando, May 10-12.

Westgate Resorts, Gary Sinise and Gov. Ron DeSantis Host Thousands of Military Family Members in Orlando
KISSIMMEE, FL – MAY 04: Westgate Resorts Military Weekend 2018 at Westgate Vacation Villas & Town Center Resort on May 4, 2018 in Kissimmee, Florida. (Photo by Gerardo Mora/Getty Images for Westgate Resorts)

The event continues Westgate Resorts’ and CEO David Siegel’s eight-year tradition of encouraging our nation’s heroes to spend quality time with their families.

Westgate Resorts, Gary Sinise and Gov. Ron DeSantis Host Thousands of Military Family Members in Orlando
<> at Westgate Vacation Villas & Town Center Resort on May 4, 2018 in Kissimmee, Florida.

Representing all branches of the military, more than 5,500 guests from 41 states, and Puerto Rico and Washington D.C., will enjoy complimentary accommodations and activities, including an inaugural 5K run, a resource fair featuring 25 military organizations, and admission to Westgate’s Shipwreck Island Water Park.

The event will culminate with an outdoor concert and fireworks show featuringGary Sinise & The Lt. Dan Band, with special appearance by Grammy-winnerLeeGreenwood.

2019 Update!

Westgate Resorts
Gary Sinise & The Lt. Dan Band entertains the crowd at Westgate Resorts Military Weekend. Gary Sinise and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis visited with thousands of military families on Saturday, May 11, 2019 in Orlando, Fla. For its eighth year running, Westgate Resorts hosted military families, veterans and Gold Star families from across the nation with a free vacation at Westgate Vacation Villas & Town Center Resort. (Scott Iskowitz/AP Images for Westgate Resorts)

Westgate Resorts, Gary Sinise and Gov. Ron DeSantis hostedthousandsofmilitary familiesin Orlando on Saturday. For its eighth year running, Westgate Resorts honored military families, veterans and Gold Star families from across the nation with afree vacationat Westgate Vacation Villas & Town Center Resort.

Representing all branches of the military, more than5,500 guests from 41 states, and Puerto Rico and Washington D.C., enjoyed complimentary accommodations and activities, including an inaugural 5K run, a resource fair featuring 25 military organizations, and admission to Westgate’s Shipwreck Island Water Park.

In total, the Westgate Resorts Foundation contributed$50,000to military nonprofit organizations.

The event ended with an incredible outdoor concert and fireworks show featuringGary Sinise & The Lt. Dan Band, with special appearance by Grammy-winnerLeeGreenwood.

Westgate Resorts
Gary Sinise visits with veterans before performing at Westgate Resorts Military Weekend. Gary Sinise and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis visited with thousands of military families on Saturday, May 11, 2019 in Orlando, Fla. For its eighth year running, Westgate Resorts hosted military families, veterans and Gold Star families from across the nation with a free vacation at Westgate Vacation Villas & Town Center Resort. (Scott Iskowitz/AP Images for Westgate Resorts)

It’s awesome that Westgate Resorts continues to support both active duty and retired military personnel, military families, and first responders through its annual giveaways and discounts. Whether you’re looking for free vacations for military families, or some greathotel discounts for military, Westgate Resorts has some great options.

Indivisible With Sarah Drew and Justin Bruening

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Indivisible With Sarah Drew and Justin Bruening

A few weeks ago I was able to screen a copy of the new movie Indivisible, starring Sarah Drew and Justin Bruening. This movie is a story about a military chaplain, his family, his marriage, his deployment, and his faith.

INDIVISIBLE is based on the extraordinary true story of Army Chaplain Darren Turner and his wife Heather. With a strong, faith-filled marriage, the Turners are ready to follow their calling: serving God, family, and country.

Fresh from seminary and basic training, Chaplain Turner and his family arrive at Fort Stewart. Yet before the Turners can even unpack their new house, Darren is deployed to Iraq. Heather is left taking care of their three young children alone … as well as serving the families of the other deployed soldiers.

Despite a desire to stay connected with their loved ones, the harsh realities of war take a daily toll over the course of the Battalion’s extended deployment. Meanwhile back home, babies are born, kids keep growing, and nerves are frayed with every late-night knock on the door.

With deeply etched battle scars, the soldiers’ long-awaited homecoming is much different than any of their families anticipated. Carrying burdens the other can’t comprehend, the Turners must decide if they’re willing to face one more battle: the fight to save their marriage.

From the director of THE GRACE CARD and the studio that brought you FIREPROOF and WAR ROOM comes INDIVISIBLE, the story of one marriage … one family … under God. In theaters this fall, the movie stars Sarah Drew, Justin Bruening, Jason George, Tia Mowry and Madeline Carroll.

What I liked most about this movie is how they would go back and forth between the soldiers in Iraq and the families back at home. To tell the story of the soldier and their family, we need to be able to see what everyone is doing and they did that well.

Indivisible With Sarah Drew and Justin Bruening

Heather Turner (Sarah Drew) looks on proudly with herchildren (L to R) Ellie (Samra Lee), Meribeth (Abigail
Hummel) and Samuel (Lucas Boyle) during an awardsceremony in INDIVISIBLE–in theaters October 26, 2018.
(Photo courtesy of © 2018 Provident Films LLC and TheWTA Group, LLC. All rights reserved.)

There were many times during the movie, that I started to tear up. From seeing what FOB the soldiers first went to in Iraq (my husband had also been sent there) to a lot of the emotions Sarah Drew’s character felt as the spouse of a service member.

While this movie is faith-based and has that element, it is also a very military family-based too. They had many different characters who experienced the deployment to Iraq a little differently and I think a lot of military families could relate to at least one of them.

Indivisible With Sarah Drew and Justin Bruening

Jason George plays Michael Lewis in INDIVISIBLE–intheaters October 26, 2018. (Photo courtesy of © 2018
Provident Films LLC and The WTA Group, LLC. All rightsreserved.)

That being said, this movie might be hard to watch. The movie does deal with PTSD, and what can happen in a war. It takes place in Iraq in 2007, and during that time, things were so very difficult over there. So please, keep that in mind before going into this movie.

What one service member or military spouse can handle is different from another so use your best judgment when it comes to this movie. And plan to bring your tissues if you go. You will need them.

What soldiers and military spouses go through can be so complicated and fragile. To portray them on screen isn’t easy and they might not always get everything right. I really appreciate when movie studios want to make a movie about our lives as military service members, families, and spouses. This one gives us some pretty real and raw scenes that can hit you emotionally and I feel as though they did their best to show us what one family went through during a deployment to Iraq as well as what life was like when they came back home.

Indivisible With Sarah Drew and Justin BrueningL to R: The Turner family, Heather (Sarah Drew), Meribeth(Abigail Hummel), Samuel (Lucas Boyle), Darren (JustinBruening) and Ellie (Samra Lee), pose after an awardsceremony in INDIVISIBLE–in theaters October 26, 2018.(Photo courtesy of © 2018 Provident Films LLC and TheWTA Group, LLC. All rights reserved.)

If you are a fan of Grey’s Anatomy you will recognize “April” and “Matthew” and I think they work well together as a couple, no matter the setting. Jason George, who plays “Ben” is also in the movie as a fellow soldier. I loved seeing these actors again as well as other actors you might recognize, Tia Mowry, Michael O’Neill, and Eric Close.

Indivisible comes out October 26th, 2018 and hopefully will be coming to your local theater.

Have you seen Indivisible? What did you think?

A Super Long List of Military Themed Movies and TV Shows

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A Super Long List of Military Themed Movies and TV Shows

Being a military spouse, I get asked all the time if I watched Army Wives. There is something about military themed movies and tv shows that can show our civilian friends a window into our world. Some of these are really good at showing our military lives and others, not as much.

A Super Long List of Military Themed Movies and TV Shows

Most of the military themed movies and tv shows out there focus on the service member. Either showing a war, life after war, or a humorous take on it all. Some include the military spouse, and of course, we have Army Wives.

When watching some of these movies, we might laugh at how wrong they are wearing their uniform, or cry at how real they were able to show the emotions of those dealing with deployments and everything that comes with military life. We might get excited to see our favorite actor putting on a uniform, or watch with nostalgia, a movie or television show we remember watching when we were younger.

Whether you love them, or they drive you nuts, here is a super long list of military themed movies and tv shows to watch:

A Super Long List of Military Themed Movies and TV Shows

Military themed tv shows and miniseries

Army Wives

The Astronaut Wives Club

Band of Brothers

The Brave

Generation Kill

Enlisted

Hogan’s Heroes

The Last Ship

The Last Post

The Long Road Home

Jag

Mash

McHale’s Navy

NCIS

The Pacific

The Unit

A Super Long List of Military Themed Movies and TV Shows

Military themed movies

12 Strong

13 Hours

American Sniper

Black Hawk Down

Born on the 4th of July

Brothers

Captain America

Coming Home

Courage Under Fire

Dear John

Dunkirk

A Few Good Men

Forest Gump

Full Metal Jacket

Fury

Good Morning Vietnam

Gone With the Wind

The Great Escape

Green Zone

Hacksaw Ridge

The Hurt Locker

Jarhead

Lone Survivor

Love and Honor

Lucky One

Max

Megan Leavey

Men of Honor

The Patriot

Patton

Pearl Harbor

Private Benjamin

Three Kings

Sand Castle

Sands of Iwo Jima

Saving Private Ryan

The Shooter

Stop Loss

Thank You For Your Service

Top Gun

We Were Soldiers

Unbroken

White Christmas

Zero Dark Thirty

What would you add to this list? What are your favorite military themed movies and television shows?

As Bright as Heaven by Susan Meissner

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As Bright as Heaven by Susan Meissner

*This post does contain affiliate links!

I am always a fan of a good historical fiction book. I love learning more about the past within a fictional story. Susan Meissner is one of my favorite authors that does a good job of this. Her latest book, As Bright as Heaven, is coming out February 6, 2018, and I got the chance to review the book through NetGalley.

About the book: In 1918, Philadelphia was a city teeming with promise. Even as its young men went off to fight in the Great War, there were opportunities for a fresh start on its cobblestone streets. Into this bustling town, came Pauline Bright and her husband, filled with hope that they could now give their three daughters–Evelyn, Maggie, and Willa–a chance at a better life.

But just months after they arrive, the Spanish Flu reaches the shores of America. As the pandemic claims more than twelve thousand victims in their adopted city, they find their lives left with a world that looks nothing like the one they knew. But even as they lose loved ones, they take in a baby orphaned by the disease who becomes their single source of hope. Amidst the tragedy and challenges, they learn what they cannot live without–and what they are willing to do about it.

As Bright as Heaven is the compelling story of a mother and her daughters who find themselves in a harsh world not of their making, which will either crush their resolve to survive or purify it.

As Bright as Heaven by Susan Meissner

My thoughts:

I didn’t know too much about the Spanish Flu and this book takes place right in the middle of it as well as the Great War (World War I.) The way the characters are immersed in that world makes you really feel for them. I found myself wondering how I would be acting as a mother if I had to deal with that with my own children.

As with any book that takes place during a war, it is always interesting to me to read about how things were so different back then, but also how some other things are still the same. Saying goodbye to someone going off to war is difficult whether it is to Europe in 1918 or Iraq in 2017.

This was also the first book I have read of Susan Meissner’s that did not have a connection to present time and I admit that I missed that part of her books. I like how she ties that in usually. That being said, this book was still so enjoyable.

There are quite a few points of view as the story is told from the perspective of a mother as well as her three daughters. Susan Meissner does an amazing job of weaving all these stories together and giving each of them their own voice, even though some of them are children.

If you are a fan of historical fiction, if you are looking for a good book to dive into this winter, or you want something to get lost in during your spouse’s next deployment, order your copy of As Bright as Heaven (you can do so on Amazon) or check out any of Susan Meissner’s other books she has written. You won’t be disappointed.

What Adam Driver, Former US Marine, Does For the Military

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What Adam Driver, Former US Marine, Does For the Military

What Adam Driver, Former US Marine, Does For the Military

What Adam Driver, Former US Marine, Does For the Military
By Dick Thomas Johnson from Tokyo, Japan [CC BY 2.0], via Wikimedia Commons

Have you seen the Last Jedi yet? If not, go, I loved it! And I have a house full of boys that do too. If you are a fan of the Star Wars movies you might know a bit about the actors that play in those movies. One of the new villains in these recent movies is Kylo Ren, played by the actor, Adam Driver.

Did you know that before he started acting, Adam Driver was in the Marine Corps? He joined after 9/11 and served for almost 3 years. He injured his sternum while mountain biking and was medically discharged. After that, he went back to school, ended up at Julliard, and started acting in New York City both on and off Broadway.

His first movie was J. Edger in 2011, in 2012 he started his role in the HBO show Girls and in 2014 was cast as Kylo Ren for the upcoming Star Wars movies.

What Adam Driver, Former US Marine, Does For the Military

By Dick Thomas Johnson from Tokyo, Japan [CC BY 2.0], via Wikimedia Commons

Even though his career in the military ended years ago, his support for the military did not. In 2008, he founded Arts in the Armed Forces (AITAF.) This organization’s goal is to bring high-quality theater programming for active duty service members, veterans, military support staff, and their families.

AITAF perform’s domestically and around the world and chooses plays that feature diverse themes as well as ages, ethnicities, and experiences. This creates a unique experience for the audience. After each of their performances, the actors will interact with the audience, answering a Q & A and having an informal time to talk to everyone.

The first performance of 2018 will be at Joint Base Charleston in South Carolina on January 5th and 6th. They will be doing a reading of Top Underdog.

In celebration of their 10th year, Arts in the Armed Forces announced the Bridge Award that will grant 10K to a playwright who has or is serving in the military. In addition to the money, they will also stage a professional reading of the play that was submitted. All entries must be received by March 1st, 2018. The winner should be announced around May 1st, 2018. Go to their website for more information.

As you can see, Adam Driver and Arts in the Armed Forces want to bring amazing theater to the military as well as support the talents of those who serve. This is such an important thing as the military is made up of people with all different strengths and talents. Arts in the Armed Forces is one way to help support that.

Thank You For Your Service

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Thank You For Your Service

This post contains affiliate links!

Thank You For Your Service

In August of 2006, my husband deployed with his Unit out of Schweinfurt, Germany to Iraq. In January of 2007, President George W. Bush increased the number of American troops to provide security to Baghdad and Al Anbar Province. He extended the tour of most of the Army troops and some of the Marines.

In April of 2007, we got the news that our husbands would not be home in June, but that they would be a part of this surge. My husband returned in November of 2007 after a 15-month deployment.

On October 27th of this year, the movie Thank You For Your Service will be coming out starting Miles Teller, Haley Bennett, and Amy Schumer. The movie, which is directed by Jason Hall, is based on the book by David Finkel, Thank You For Your Service.

Finkel was embedded with the men of the 2-16 Infantry Battalion during the surge in Iraq where he wrote his best-selling book, The Good Soldiers. Thank You For Your Service is about these same men when they returned home after their 15-month deployment.

The movie is the story of soldiers returning from war, dealing with the aftermath and trying to move forward. Miles Teller plays SGT Adam Schumann, a soldier who leaves Iraq as a broken man and Haley Bennett plays Saskia Schumann, Schumann’s wife.

From the previews I have seen, this movie looks to be very good, yet will be hard for a lot of us to watch. Even as I type this, I am getting emotional thinking about that deployment and everything the men and the spouses went through and are still going through, 10 years later.

I think this is an important story for all Americans to hear about. To know what those who have served have been through and what really can happen after the homecoming. That not everyone returns from a war the same and that there is so much that has to be worked through, especially after such a long deployment.

And for those of us that can identify with this on a personal level, I hope we can talk to others about what we have been through, and find support through one another.

Thank You For Your Service will be in theaters October 27th.

10 TV Shows You Should Binge Watch During Deployment

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10 TV Shows You Should Binge Watch During Deployment10 TV Shows You Should Binge Watch During Deployment

During deployments or even during drill weekends I have found that binge-watching a television show can really make things a lot easier. I can get lost in the show, lost in the characters and that can take away those lonely nights missing my husband. Focusing on something else always works and watching a good tv show is a great way to do it.

With Netflix, Hulu and Amazon, binge watching couldn’t be easier. Back during our 2007 deployment I either had to get DVDs from the library or watch shows on YouTube, 10 minutes at a time. Not ideal I know. I much prefer Netflix these days.

So…if you want to get lost in a story, check out these binge-worthy television shows:

One Tree Hill

One Tree Hill is about a fictional town in North Carolina. It’s the story of two brothers, both raised in very different families and small town life. Basically, normal teenagers, trying to figure out life, love, and relationships. This show has 9 seasons and a lot of fans like to rewatch over and over again.

Gossip Girl

Gossip Girl takes place in New York City and is narrated by the “Gossip Girl.” Another show about teenagers but this time they are from the Upper East Side. They have money, a lot of money and all the problems that go with money. Gossip Girl has 6 seasons and will keep you guessing about who the “Gossip Girl” is the whole time.

Gilmore Girls

Gilmore Girls is a fun show about a mother and daughter living in a small town in Connecticut. This is a quirky show with a ton of fun supporting characters. There are 7 seasons and Netflix just came out with Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life that you must watch once you finish with the regular seasons.

The West Wing

I am a HUGE fan of The West Wing. This show is all about President Bartlet and his staff. They take on real issues and each character has their own situations they are going through. I have already watched this show twice and would love to start a third round. There are 7 seasons.

Vampire Diaries

Vampire Diaries is an exciting show about a town in Virginia, Mystic Falls with Vampires and other supernatural creatures. Elena is a regular old high school student who loses her parents in a car crash. Then she meets Stefen and Damon, vampire brothers. And everything changes. There are 8 seasons and a spin-off, the Originals.

Pretty Little Liars

Pretty Little Liars takes place in Rosewood, Pennsylvania. Four friends try to figure out what to do after their friend Alison is allegedly murdered. This show will keep you hooked because you just want to find out what is going on. There are 7 seasons of PLL.

Once Upon a Time

Once Upon a Time takes place in the fictional seaside town of Storybrooke, Maine. But who lives in this town? All your favorite fairytale characters, only they are under a spell and don’t remember where they came from. Emma, a bail bonds person comes to the town and learns she is the only one who can save it. This show has 6 seasons and is still going on with new characters added all the time.

Grey’s Anatomy

If you are looking for a mix of medicine and drama, Grey’s Anatomy is going to be your show. This show is on season 13 with more to come. Meredith Grey is the main character and as the show starts she is starting the residency program at Seattle Grace Hospital. You might think that it isn’t possible for one hospital to have this much drama but you don’t care because the show is keeping you entertained.

Doctor Who

If you love science fiction, time travel, British tv, you will probably like Doctor Who. I will fully admit this show is not for everyone but those that watch and fall in love with it can’t get enough. This show could be your deployment show as there are a ton of episodes to watch. You can go all the way back and watch some of the original show but I suggest starting with the newer episodes. There are 9 seasons of that, the 10th should start sometime in the near future.

The Office

The Office is such a great show to binge watch. This show is a Mockumentary about an office in Scranton, Pennsylvania. Some of these characters will drive you nuts, others will make you roll your eyes but you won’t be able to get enough of this silly show. There are 9 seasons to enjoy.

What shows do you love to watch during a deployment?

Amy Grant’s Tennessee Christmas CD Review and Giveaway

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Tennessee Christmas

Amy Grant’s Tennessee Christmas CD Review and Giveaway

Disclosure (in accordance with the FTC’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”): Many thanks to Propeller Consulting, LLC for providing this prize for the giveaway. Choice of winners and opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation. I did receive a sample of the product in exchange for this review and post.

I was about 12 years old when I discovered Amy Grant’s Christmas albums. I had them on cassette tape and used to listen to them all season long. This was back in the day when you had to have a cassette or CD in order to listen to the music you wanted when you wanted to. I think I wore those albums out!

When I heard that Amy Grant was going to come out with a new Christmas album this year, I was very excited!

Tennessee Christmas is one of my favorite songs. The song has changed for me over the years. Before, I was a teen growing up in Southern California. Now I am a mom of three raising my boys in Tennessee and there is just something about that song that makes me feel good about being here, especially during the Christmas season.

“Well they say in l.a., It’s a warm holiday; It’s the only place to be. But a tender Tennessee Christmas Is the only Christmas for me.”

Tennessee Christmas is on the new album as well as many other songs that you have heard before. Here is the list:

  1. Tennessee Christmas
  2. To Be Together
  3. Christmas for You and Me
  4. Melancholy Christmas
  5. December
  6. White Christmas
  7. Joy to the World
  8. I’ve Got My Love to Keep Me Warm
  9. Baby, It’s Cold Outside
  10. Christmas Don’t Be Late
  11. Still Can’t Sleep
  12. Another Merry Christmas
  13. O Come, All Ye Faithful

Besides Tennessee Christmas, some of my other favorites are To Be Together, Joy to the World and O Come, All Ye Faithful. I enjoyed all the songs and will be listening to this CD in my car for the next few weeks. The CD book is filled with the lyrics and photos from Amy’s life.

Tennessee Christmas

Amy is also asking fans to upload any videos they might have of surprising loved ones for the holidays. Have you ever done that? Have you ever had a Christmas homecoming?

If you have a video to share, you can share to your own social media using the hashtag, #TNChristmasSurprise! The videos that are chosen will be a part of a compilation video that Amy will share on her own social media outlets.

You can also find Tennessee Christmas on iTunes!

Now for the giveaway! One of my readers will be able to win 1 of Amy Grant’s Tennessee Christmas CDs.

Only one entrant per mailing address, per giveaway. If you have won a prize from our sponsor Propeller /FlyBy Promotions in the last 30 days, you are not eligible to win. Or if you have won the same prize on another blog, you are not eligible to win it again. Winner is subject to eligibility verification.

Just enter with the Rafflecopter below!

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