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Day 3: Your Best Military Wife Moment

Welcome to our third annual Military Spouse Appreciation Blog Carnival!
TOPIC FOR TODAY: Accentuate the positive: Describe your best military wife “Hooah!” moment (or, you know, “Oorah!” or “Hooyah!”–whichever word works for your husband’s branch of service!). You know it–now share it with us!

The only two blog carnival rules you need to know:

Rule #1: Write a blog that goes along with our topic for the day and comment under that specific day’s topic with a link back to your own blog post by the deadline.

Deadline: Post no later than midnight Pacific time. (That means 11 p.m. for Alaska gals and 9 p.m. for our friends in Hawaii. Those of you in Europe and Asia can look up time zones here but I know you’ll be able to figure it out–we are military wives, after all! )

Rule #2: Include a link to Wives of Faith in your blog post.

Write every day for the week, or pick and choose any days you like, but each day you comment on the Wives of Faith site during our MILITARY SPOUSE APPRECIATION BLOG CARNIVAL, you’ll be entered to win in our daily drawing!

Today’s PRIZES:

koriyates.com

Olive Drab Pom-Poms by Kori Yates, our own Wives of Faith MarriageCare Director!

and

My So-Called Life as a Proverbs 31 Wife by Wives of Faith co-Founder and President, Sara Horn. This is her memoir telling the story of how she learned what being a Proverbs 31 wife really means.

Today’s winners will be determined by random drawing from all eligible blog posts.

Today’s prizes are open to residents of the United States and Canada.

Sponsors/Giveaways: We still have some openings for giveaways. If you’re a milspouse with a direct sales business who would like to participate, please contact me (pattie@wivesoffaith.org). Be sure to indicate your shipping availability.

Feel free to add our special carnival blog button to your blog. The Blog Carnival button this year was designed by Wives of Faith member Jolene McNutt. She blogs over at Tree of Life Creative.

Grab our button for your blog using this code:
<a href=”http://www.wivesoffaith.org/third-annual-wof-milspouse-blog-carnival”><img alt=”" height=”125″ src=”http://www.wivesoffaith.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/2012MSABlogCarnivalSmall.jpg” title=”2012MSABlogCarnivalSmall” width=”100″ /></a>

It looks like this:

Isn’t it adorable?

 

 

 

 

When you post your response in the comments each day, please post the distinct URL for your post for that day, rather than the general link to your blog itself. For example, instead of posting www.wivesoffaith.org each time, you would post http://www.wivesoffaith.org/military-spouse-appreciation-blog-carnival which links directly to that particular post.

Please let us know if you have any questions, and happy writing–AND thank you so much for your service to our country and to God by being a military wife!

Popularity: 4% [?]

Day 2: The Dream Sheet

Welcome to our third annual Military Spouse Appreciation Blog Carnival!

TOPIC FOR TODAY: We all know there’s a “dream sheet” for our service members to indicate where they’d choose to be sent if possible. But what about you? What duty stations or locations would be on YOUR dream sheet?

The only two blog carnival rules you need to know:

Rule #1: Write a blog that goes along with our topic for the day and comment under that specific day’s topic with a link back to your own blog post by the deadline.

Deadline: Post no later than midnight Pacific time. (That means 11 p.m. for Alaska gals and 9 p.m. for our friends in Hawaii. Those of you in Europe and Asia can look up time zones here but I know you’ll be able to figure it out–we are military wives, after all! )

Rule #2: Include a link to Wives of Faith in your blog post.

Write every day for the week, or pick and choose any days you like, but each day you comment on the Wives of Faith site during our MILITARY SPOUSE APPRECIATION BLOG CARNIVAL, you’ll be entered to win in our daily drawing!

Today’s PRIZES:

koriyates.com

Olive Drab Pom-Poms by Kori Yates, our own Wives of Faith MarriageCare Director!

and

Tour of Duty: Preparing Our Hearts for Deployment

Tour of Duty: Preparing our Hearts for Deployment by Wives of Faith co-Founder and President, Sara Horn!

Today’s winners will be determined by random drawing from all eligible blog posts.

Today’s prizes are open to residents of the United States and Canada.

Sponsors/Giveaways: We still have some openings for giveaways. If you’re a milspouse with a direct sales business who would like to participate, please contact me (pattie@wivesoffaith.org). Be sure to indicate your shipping availability.

Feel free to add our special carnival blog button to your blog. The Blog Carnival button this year was designed by Wives of Faith member Jolene McNutt. She blogs over at Tree of Life Creative.

Grab our button for your blog using this code:
<a href=”http://www.wivesoffaith.org/third-annual-wof-milspouse-blog-carnival”><img alt=”" height=”125″ src=”http://www.wivesoffaith.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/2012MSABlogCarnivalSmall.jpg” title=”2012MSABlogCarnivalSmall” width=”100″ /></a>

It looks like this:

Isn’t it adorable?

 

 

 

 

When you post your response in the comments each day, please post the distinct URL for your post for that day, rather than the general link to your blog itself. For example, instead of posting www.wivesoffaith.org each time, you would post http://www.wivesoffaith.org/military-spouse-appreciation-blog-carnival which links directly to that particular post.

Please let us know if you have any questions, and happy writing–AND thank you so much for your service to our country and to God by being a military wife!

Popularity: 4% [?]

Questioning God

I’ve heard many stories of the person who suffers and is praised by those around her for not asking why a particular hardship happened to her. Praised for just accepting that hardship because that is what God allowed—no questions asked. Those stories always make me feel guilty because, good or bad, I find myself constantly asking God questions: Why did you choose to bless me this way? Did you have to accomplish Your purpose that way? As I’ve been asking God many questions lately, He has answered me back by saying, “If you don’t ask questions, how do you ever expect to get answers?”

The most intimate human relationship you have (with your husband) only grows because you each ask questions of each other, demonstrating a desire to get to know one another on a deeper level. I argue that the same is true with God. How will we ever have an intimate relationship with God if we don’t ask questions of Him? Questions are indicative of a desire to be in relationship with another.

This line of thinking set me to dig into the Bible to learn about righteously and faithfully questioning God. Did anyone else in the Bible ever question God? And if so, what form did those questions take? What was the questioner’s attitude and circumstances?

As it turns out, the Bible is full of faithful people who questioned God (Whew! It’s not just me!). One of the many examples I studied was David. Psalm 13 chronicles David’s questioning of God about how long a hardship in his life would persist. Though a short psalm, it is dense with a righteous example of questioning God.

1. Even in the midst of questioning God’s plan, David accepted that plan. David questioned God, but he didn’t ask “Why?” David asked, “How long?” In asking “how long” his hardship would last, David was actually accepting that God allowed that hardship in his life. He didn’t say, “Why is this happening to me?” He said, “Since I accept that you are allowing this to happen to me, how long will I have to suffer?” If we understand that God works good for those who love Him, it becomes easier to accept what is taking place in our lives. And once we can faithfully accept God’s plan, we are free to ask Him more about that plan. Why did this happen? Why didn’t that happen? How long will this last?

2. David maintained his faith in God. David felt abandoned by God because of his suffering. Yet, despite his feelings of abandonment, David still knew that God hadn’t actually left him. Even while crying out to a God he thought wasn’t there, David’s words imply that his heart and soul knew that God was still present. David asked if God would “forget” him and if God would “hide” from him forever. These words imply that David understood that though God might not be actively blessing him, God was still right there. He just concealed himself temporarily. David’s line of questioning wondered why God seemed far away, though David faithfully believed that God was still present.

3. David praised God through his hardship. After David asked God to answer his prayer, he transitioned to sincere praise of God’s goodness. “But I trust in your unfailing love…” (Ps. 13:5, emphasis added). Despite all of the hardship that David experienced, and in the midst of his questioning, David praised God for His unfailing love.

It’s ok to question God. David did, and God included the questions in His Word. David’s questioning led him to be in conversation with God—asking Him questions, praying and waiting for an answer, and praising Him the whole time.

If hardship in life has left you wondering why or how long, bring those questions faithfully before the Lord. He desires for us to seek Him and to know Him more. Asking questions is a great way to get to know someone, even God.

Ask. Pray. Praise.

Popularity: 3% [?]

Day 1: You Know You’re a Military Spouse When…

Welcome to our third annual Military Spouse Appreciation Blog Carnival!

TOPIC FOR TODAY:

“You know you’re a military spouse when . . . ”

The only two rules you need to know:

Rule #1: Write a blog that goes along with our topic for the day and comment under that specific day’s topic with a link back to your own blog post by the deadline.

Deadline: Post no later than midnight Pacific time. (That means 11 p.m. for Alaska gals and 9 p.m. for our friends in Hawaii. Those of you in Europe and Asia can look up time zones here but I know you’ll be able to figure it out–we are military wives, after all! )

Rule #2: Include a link to Wives of Faith in your blog post.

Write every day for the week, or pick and choose any days you like, but each day you comment on the Wives of Faith site during our MILITARY SPOUSE APPRECIATION BLOG CARNIVAL, you’ll be entered to win in our daily drawing!

Today’s PRIZES:

koriyates.com

Olive Drab Pom-Poms by Kori Yates, our own Wives of Faith MarriageCare Director!

and

A $10 gift card to Starbucks, donated by our Web Content Editor and resident Coffee Addict, Pattie.

Today’s winners will be determined by random drawing from all eligible blog posts.

Today’s prizes are open to residents of the United States and Canada.

Sponsors/Giveaways: We still have some openings for giveaways. If you’re a milspouse with a direct sales business who would like to participate, please contact me (pattie@wivesoffaith.org). Be sure to indicate your shipping availability.

Feel free to add our special carnival blog button to your blog. The Blog Carnival button this year was designed by Wives of Faith member Jolene McNutt. She blogs over at Tree of Life Creative.

Grab our button for your blog using this code:
<a href=”http://www.wivesoffaith.org/third-annual-wof-milspouse-blog-carnival”><img alt=”" height=”125″ src=”http://www.wivesoffaith.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/2012MSABlogCarnivalSmall.jpg” title=”2012MSABlogCarnivalSmall” width=”100″ /></a>

It looks like this:

Isn’t it adorable?

 

 

 

 

Blogging FAQs:

If you are new to blogging, you can create a new blog of your very own! Some free blog hosting sites are:

www.blogger.com
www.wordpress.com
www.xanga.com
www.livejournal.com
www.blog.com

When you post your response in the comments each day, please post the distinct URL for your post for that day, rather than the general link to your blog itself. For example, instead of posting www.wivesoffaith.org each time, you would post http://www.wivesoffaith.org/military-spouse-appreciation-blog-carnival which links directly to that particular post.

Please let us know if you have any questions, and happy writing–AND thank you so much for your service to our country and to God by being a military wife!

Popularity: 5% [?]

Third Annual Wives of Faith Military Spouse Appreciation Blog Carnival

Welcome to our third annual Military Spouse Appreciation Blog Carnival! 2012 marks our third carnival in honor of Military Spouse Appreciation Day, held the Friday before Mother’s Day in the United States.

Our blog carnival will be held the week of Monday May 7 – Friday May 11, ending on Military Spouse Appreciation Day.

Only two rules for our sweepstakes:

Rule #1: Write a blog that goes along with our topic for the day and comment under that specific day’s topic with a link back to your own blog post by the deadline.

Deadline: Post no later than midnight Pacific time. (That means 11 p.m. for Alaska gals and 9 p.m. for our friends in Hawaii. Those of you in Europe and Asia can look up time zones here but I know you’ll be able to figure it out–we are military wives, after all! )

Rule #2: Include a link to Wives of Faith in your blog post.

Write every day for the week, or pick and choose any days you like, but each day you comment on the Wives of Faith site during our MILITARY SPOUSE APPRECIATION BLOG CARNIVAL, you’ll be entered to win in our daily drawing!

WHO IS ELIGIBLE?

Any military spouse anywhere in the world can participate in the blog carnival by posting on her blog.
For winning a prize: All U.S. military wives are eligible, as long as you have an APO/FPO if you live overseas! No international shipping will be available. {Canadian eligibility will be determined by each donation and will be indicated on each post.}

PRIZES:

To be announced soon…keep checking back!
Winners will be determined by random drawing from all eligible blog posts. No purchase necessary.

Sponsors/Giveaways: We still have some openings for giveaways. If you’re a milspouse with a direct sales business who would like to participate, please contact me (pattie@wivesoffaith.org). Be sure to indicate your shipping availability.

***The FTC Disclaimer: Prizes were donated to participants free of charge, with no other aim than to bless the participants.***

 

TOPICS:

Monday:  ”You know you’re a military spouse when . . . “

Tuesday: We all know there’s a “dream sheet” for our service members to indicate where they’d choose to be sent if possible. But what about you? What duty stations or locations would be on YOUR dream sheet?

Wednesday: Accentuate the positive: Describe your best military wife “Hooah!” moment (or, you know, “Oorah!” or “Hooyah!”–whichever word works for your husband’s branch of service!). You know it–now share it with us!

Thursday: It’s been said that a picture’s worth a thousand words. Post a photograph you’ve taken. (And yes, you can describe it or tell the story behind it if you want to! The only stipulation is that it needs to be a photo of your own, so as not to violate copyright.)

Friday: Why I love being a military wife.

Feel free to add our special carnival blog button to your blog. The Blog Carnival button this year was designed by Wives of Faith member Jolene McNutt. She blogs over at Tree of Life Creative.

Grab our button for your blog using this code:
<a href=”http://www.wivesoffaith.org/third-annual-wof-milspouse-blog-carnival”><img alt=”" height=”125″ src=”http://www.wivesoffaith.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/2012MSABlogCarnivalSmall.jpg” title=”2012MSABlogCarnivalSmall” width=”100″ /></a>

It looks like this:

Isn’t it adorable?

 

 

 

 

Blogging FAQs:

If you are new to blogging, you can create a new blog of your very own! Some free blog hosting sites are:

www.blogger.com
www.wordpress.com
www.xanga.com
www.livejournal.com
www.blog.com

When you post your response in the comments each day, please post the distinct URL for your post for that day, rather than the general link to your blog itself. For example, instead of posting www.wivesoffaith.org each time, you would post http://www.wivesoffaith.org/military-spouse-appreciation-blog-carnival which links directly to that particular post.

Please let us know if you have any questions, and happy writing–AND thank you so much for your service to our country and to God by being a military wife!

Popularity: 3% [?]