SNEAK PEAK-ABC Extreme Home Makeover Premiere for Army Tankers Wife Readers

 WOW it is a 2 hour premiere! Let me tell you what this was a very moving episode of ABC Home Makeover, I think the best ever. Not only did I get to help volunteer in person on this project in July but I get to see it before it is released on Sunday Sept 25, 2o11. I even saw myself on TV, I was lucky enough to be in one of the filming episodes called the Honor Walk, where we bring in the first piece of the house. Check it out Day 4, I am in the front can’t miss me, I walk RIGHT BY THE CAMERA! LOL
 
I was contacted yesterday to preview the season premiere of Extreme Makeover Home Edition, releasing Sunday September 25th, 2011. This was a special link for ArmyTankersWife Blog only! So my readers and VIEWERS get to hear some sneak peak things.OMG I have had the BEST YEAR OF MY LIFE!

This was a powerful episode and I believe this was the best, well put, thought-out episode I have ever seen. There are endless surprises that happened on this show, I only knew of ONE big surprise which was Mrs. Michelle Obama, but OMG I know there were at least 5 different surprises that I didn’t even know of.  I AM SO PROUD to be from Ft Bragg, and part of the 82nd AB and 18th AP Corps. Hearing the Army song and music just gets me excited, I feel like a kid again. The military really stepped up and showed support for Barbara Marshall and the Steps-N-Stages Jubilee House. Now I am not going to ruin it by telling you ALL the surprises, but the one you know about was Mrs. Obama, she was so wonderful in helping out. Ty and the team built a garden and greenhouse for the Jubilee House, that uses a VEGGIE TUBE! WOW that is on a whole new level! Amazing, fresh vegetables, year round, this comes in handy with the First Lady’s “Let’s Move” initiative!  The Jubilee House makes sure women veterans aren’t homeless, and helps women veterans get on their feet.  This 7 days that they built the house in was just so patriotic. They had a parade in Disney World for her, and she got several surprises while there. Just say one surprise was very moving, and when you are in the military and you don’t get those good surprises often.

 The amazing support from the US was just terrific, there were people from New Orleans, to Minnesota, to the Wish Upon a Hero guy walking across the US to raise money. Just made me feel all MS. America right now. I can’t describe the happiness I get when I see these stories of hope, and encouragement. These extra-ordinary citizens were helping participate in her charity by donating money and sending words of encouragement. Just makes me feel really warm and just excited that there the public hasn’t forgotten about military families and what we do.

ABC does a really good job at telling stories about families that need help, and Barbara Marshall’s story is just that. She has a remarkable story to tell and needed help to continue to tell her story. Like I didn’t realize that her husband had passed away in March 2011. That’s really recent and she has a son to take care of. Yet she still carries on with her torch of hope for these women who need her, and I am sure that’s what her husband wants. Being a military family is so full of ups and downs, and it gets super hard sometimes. But then there are stories like these who just make it all better.

There were so many corporations like Blue Ridge Log Cabin Builders and Sears who just amazed me. I was fortunate enough to meet Chip Smith the president of Blue Ridge Log Cabin Homes and he was so down to earth and humble.  You know the community of Fayetteville really rallied behind this and made this happen, the volunteers were out here building and lending a hand. I was so amazed that SEARS even put on a Career Expo Day for Women Veterans, giving them the things they needed to become successful. You know when you look good and feel good about yourself, things really do change and look up for you. It really makes and impact and with the military training these women have had, they can make a really big impact on the civilian world. When life gets turned upside down, all you need is someone to just help you get on your feet and that’s what Barbara Marshall does.

So like I said I am not going to give away all those surprises but it was really amazing to see a Grammy Winner Recording Artist here in Fayetteville to just talk to women veterans, and show that they really do care.  You all need to tune in Saturday Sept 25, 2011

Speaking at the NC PTA Conference

On May 13, 2011 at 6pm I attended the NC PTA Conference at the Holiday Inn at I95. I spoke briefly at the NC PTA Conference here in. It was a great experience! It was really nice to be able to let my voice be heard and thank the families for what they do. You know children move on average 6 – 9 times during their K-12 school lives. It really affects them, and being able to draw attention to that and let these wonderful parents and teachers know how to help them, is great! I got to reach out to the families and civilians in the communities and let them know how they can help our military families. Check out my video below! I enjoyed every moment of it. Thank you NC PTA

So I know I have talked about Careers before but…

Ok so you all know for about a month now there has been a hiring freeze in the Federal Government. Or maybe you didn’t know, there is a HIRING FREEZE in the Federal Government. I am working in the federal government as an intern, and looking for a job when I graduate.

Which is terrible for me because I am looking for a job not necessary a job but a career. When I was in my early 20s I decided to take the family route, instead of pursuing my career. It wasn’t a hard decision, I met my husband, I fell head over heels in love with him and was like we can make anything work, just as long as we have each other! HA HA so not saying I regret that decision, I should have not waited so long to go back to graduate school.

Here I am in my early 30s and I am at this road again in my life, where I am about to graduate with no job perspectives what so ever! NONE, for one the hiring freeze is severely affecting my ability to get a job. (2) Not having a competitive criteria in the federal hiring is another, I can be qualified out the wazoo but if I don’t have a special appointing authority (already in the system, a milspouse with EX orders 13473 or 12721, it won’t help me a spouse who has been stationed at Bragg since 2006, a veteran, or disabled veteran) I can’t get a job.

There are no jobs even in Fayetteville, and I am back to where I started 10 years ago, at square one, which makes me think I am the smartest un-employed person ever. Now I can get volunteer positions, but a paying position uhhh…no one wants to pay me a salary! Go figure I don’t even ask for insurance or benefits I ask for just a salary..