We Have a Winner...

It took us a while to choose a winner for the December "What's Your Story" contest, but we finally have one! After you read the winning essay, I think you'll agree that it's appropriate we're publishing this after Christmas.

Say It. Get It.

Today's the last day to submit your essay for the December "What's Your Story" contest. Details here. We've received some great essays, so competition will be fierce. I'm hoping we can have all of the submissions read and voted on in time to get the winner's gift package out before Christmas, but no guarantees.

While you're at it, don't forget to sign up for the SpouseBUZZ 411, which will make its debut in 2008.

What's Your Story: Holiday Edition

We've been slacking with our What's Your Story contest, but we're bringing it back just in time for the holidays.

December's title: Holidays, Military Style.

Tell us how you plan to spend the holiday season, with or without your spouse. What you plan to do or what you've done in the past. How a military style holiday is different than a civilian one. The topic is totally open for interpretation and you can choose which direction you go. There's no right or wrong way to write about it.

The winner will receive a fabulous prize package courtesy of USAA and Military.com. Just ask our previous winners how great the package is!

Submission rules are as follows: 

And the Winner is.....

We had a fierce competition on our hands for June's "What's Your Story Contest." The topic was, "What I want civilians to know about my life as a military spouse." All of the entries were excellent and we ended up with a tie. We had to wait for one of our judges to surface from a PCS move to break the tie.

This month, we decided to publish the essay of the finalist, along with the winning essay.

Congratulations to Karen Coulson, who submitted this winning entry:

What's Your Story: June Edition

The television series Army Wives has spurred a lot of discussion here at SpouseBUZZ. Leading up to the premiere episode, and right after the premiere, many milspouses were concerned with how real Army wives would be perceived by civilians as a result of on-screen performances. June's What's Your Story topic was inspired by that concern.

In our podcast with Marna Krajeski, Marna offered some great advice to those of us who are placed in largely non-military towns where the civilian population have little exposure to military life, which makes milspouses feel like caged animals on occasion. But, as Marna pointed out, when we can use opportunities to expose civilians to military life in a positive way, and become "emissaries" for the military, it serves all of us well.

With that in mind, the topic for this month's What's Your Story Contest is "What I want civilians to know about my life as a military spouse."

What's Your Story Winner - April Edition

Due to SpouseBUZZ LIVE San Diego, we didn't announce a topic for the monthly What's Your Story contest in May, but we're back on track now. April's topic was, "How I Make a House a Home." Our winner was Stephanie Abbott. Stephanie is a new milspouse and below is her winning essay:

I am new to the military lifestyle. I have yet to experience the "joy" of a PCS since my husband is still in training and isn't due to finish until July. So, I may not be qualified to answer this. But, perhaps I am.

In the almost 6 years we have been married, we have moved 4 times. We’ve lived in a tiny, one bedroom apartment, a 20 year-old mobile home, a house with a sunken floor, and finally to our current home... a beautiful 2 bedroom with a huge backyard and a covered porch complete with swing. We rented this house with the idea that we would possibly buy it next year. Finally, after moving from place to place, I thought we were home. In my mind, a home is where you put down roots. It's a place that you raise a family, grow old, and never leave. Home is supposed to LAST. I thought we were done with moving and at last, we were home to stay. Then, as I was mapping out my vegetable and flower garden for next summer, my husband says to me, "Honey, I want to enlist." What?

What's Your Story - April Edition

When I landed at Ft. Hood, I was a brand new milspouse, and I had moved three times in less than a year. I have to admit, military life wasn't looking too appealing. I missed my family, I missed my friends, I was already tired of moving and I was plopped in the middle of Texas where I didn't know a soul. Thankfully, I plopped for over three years, because the thought of another move, even to a fabulous destination (which has yet to occur), was enough to make me reach for the pepto-bismol. But, as is usually the case, as time went on, I made friends, I began to embrace military life and I came to love Texas.

I met one of my dearest friends while at Ft. Hood. She and her husband received orders before we did. On the day she left, she gave me a little framed picture that reads, "Side by Side or Miles Apart, Dear Friends Are Forever Close to the Heart."

Two Winners

February's "What's Your Story" contest has produced a tie. So, there's only one thing to do - declare two winners. Milspouses Linda and Jennifer tell us what happens "When PCS Moves Go Bad."

February "What's Your Story" Contest

The topic for this month's contest was inspired by the first book we're reading as part of the new SpouseBUZZ Book Club, Household Baggage. Many of us have had at least one disastrous, zany PCS move during our "milspouse career." I wrote about my first move several months ago. Note to new milspouses: ask lots of questions before the move...

February's topic: "When PCS Moves Go Bad."

I look back on some of my "worst" PCS moves now, and laugh. Though they didn't seem funny at the time, they are hysterical now and contributed to the overall experience of being a military spouse. As airforcewife is fond of saying, "you have to laugh because if you don't, you're going to cry."

Submit an essay on the topic (900 words or less). We'll take submissions from now through February 19. If you don't want to participate in the contest, leave us a comment and tell us about your experiences with PCS moves. Every milspouse I know has at least one story that garners laughs - or gasps. What's yours?

January's Winner

Our monthly "What's Your Story" contest has been an amazing success and we want to thank you for your participation. Each month, the essays have amazed and inspired the SpouseBUZZ authors. Each month, it's been difficult to choose a winner because the entries are just that good. January was no exception.

January's topic was "What I've Learned About Myself Since I Became a Milspouse." The winning essay was written by Stephen.

Contest Reminder

Just a reminder that today is the last day to submit your essay for this month's What's Your Story contest. We'll accept submissions through midnight tonight.

What's Your Story?

From today through January 15, you can submit your essay for the January "What's Your Story" contest. The topic for January: "What I've learned about myself since I became a milspouse."

Entries should be no longer than 900 words in length. Click here to email your story.

Good Luck!

December's Winner

SpouseBUZZ was overwhelmed with responses to our December "What's Your Story Contest." The topic was "Surviving Deployment." We received more than 150 entries. The SpouseBUZZ authors were amazed at the number of entries and spent a lot of time trying to choose a winner. It was a very difficult decision.

Before we announce the winner, we wanted to extend our thanks to USAA for donating a high-tech "gadget" to the prize package that our winners receive. I won't give away the surprise, but it's a very nice item. Not only is USAA providing this item to December's winner, they have generously donated twelve, one for each month of 2007. My husband and I are USAA members. When my husband deployed, USAA mailed a nice deployment package which included, among other things, a "Family Reference Guide" to deployment. The deployment guide was a wealth of information. You can download the guide, and find other deployment resources, by clicking here.

Now, onto the winner....

December Contest

We're no longer accepting submissions for the December "What's Your Story" contest. We received over 150 entries this month. It's going to be very difficult to select a winner! Thanks for all of the great entries. We'll announce the winner, and read the winning entry, on January 2.

Surviving Deployment - What's Your Story?

The topic for December's What's Your Story contest is "Surviving Deployment." We've discussed the subject of deployment many times here at SpouseBUZZ. Each of us have our own way of dealing with the emotions that surround a deployment, and learning how to pass the time. Some scrapbook, some redecorate, some pour themselves into work, some travel, some reorganize, and on and on....

Tell us how you've survived, or are surviving, deployment. Don't forget about the upsides to deployment, if you found any. Many of us discover just how strong we really are during the deployment phase. Whatever your story, please share it with us and be as creative and humorous as possible.

We'll accept stories from now through December 16. Stories should be no more than 900 words in length. The SpouseBUZZ authors will read all of the submissions and choose a winner. The winning submission will be published on SpouseBUZZ on January 2, and the winner will receive a fabulous (not kidding) goodie bag. 

Click here to email your story.

And the Winner is...

...click "play" to find out.

Introducing the "What's Your Story" Contest

SpouseBUZZ wants to hear from you, so we're introducing a new monthly feature, the "What's Your Story?" Contest. Each month, the SpouseBUZZ authors will choose a topic; deployment, reintegration, homecoming, TriCare, life as a milspouse, etc.. We'll throw the topic out and ask you to submit your stories. Stories should be no more than 900 words in length. We'll take submissions from the 1st through the 15th of each month. The SpouseBUZZ authors will vote on the submissions and choose a winner. The winning submission will then be published on SpouseBUZZ, and the winner will receive a goodie bag. Be as creative and humorous as possible.

November is Military Families Appreciation Month. Expanding on that topic, SpouseBUZZ wants to know what being a milspouse means to you. November's topic - "My Life as a Military Spouse." I discovered this funny story before our contest began, but I think MJ deserves to be an honorary winner.

We're looking forward to reading your story.

Click here to email your story.

Good Luck!