Rating: 
Summary: This book is a MUST for military wives...
Review: A friend sent me this book because we are currently on recruiting assignment and this is a very isolating experience. We are military, yet not connected closely with any of the support systems available to the military. There are tons of "how to help your family" books in the market, and NONE of them before this really spoke to the military members at home. Thank you, Ellie Kay, for writing a book that talks to all of us. We love the military and enjoy serving--but sometimes it can be a huge benefit to hear someone else say "good job" and give us information to make the road a little less lonely.
Rating:
Summary: Prep for Life
Review: As a woman engaged to marry an Air Force fighter pilot, this book was extremely helpful. My fiance is amazed by how much I've learned and how smoothly my gradual transition into military life is going.
Rating:
Summary: Been There, Done That
Review: Being a miliatry wife for over 21 years, reading this book was like looking at my life. I was reading stories of others who could have been my own.
I believe this book would be of great help to those wives of military members. Ellie Kay gives plenty of resouces that we as miliatry members have at our disposal to help us through diffiuclt times. I believe she personally holds a faith in God that has sustained her through many difficult situations. She shows that faith can uphold us when our husband or wife is away in harms way.
She does not candy coat the situations that arise while the military member is away. Ellie is candid in her look at our lives. It is true when the military member goes away the spouse is left behind and if it can go wrong it usually does. But that should not defeat us. Grab the reins and get back in the saddle. She shows that for all the problems that we do face the one underlying thing we all have in common is our love for a member serving God and Country. I believe this is a great calling and without those left behind handling themselves accordingly the military member cannot handle their duties effectively and safely.
I believe all miliatry families should read this book. Helpful ideas are presented. I especially liked the profiles of miliatry spouses and the I wish for you section. In that section she gives ideas for gifts for the deployed member that will keep them in our heart and us in theirs.
Rating:
Summary: Wonderful and helpful
Review: Ellie Kay's book not only educates spouses about the military, but family members as well. An entertaining read, she helps family members deal with deployments with an honest and down to earth approach. A must for all family members facing a deployment, new to the military, or with family members in the military.
Ellie gives concrete advice with contact information for each branch of service along with great ideas to help the entire military family cope.
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Summary: Great book for the new or experienced military spouse!!
Review: I absolutely love this book!! I have chuckled and nodded my head in agreement many times to the things that are written...they are oh so true!! I read this book as an assigment at my field placement for my degree, which I am working along side some very fine people at the Family Support Center at Elmendorf AFB, and I am glad that I have had the opportunity to read it; to get the word out to my fellow military spouse friends to read this book. Thank you for your words of inspiration and hope for the military spouse, the heroes at home!
Rating: 
Summary: Just what I needed
Review: I have been "married to the Marine Corps" for 12 yrs and still found this book to be helpful. At the time that I picked it up to read I was just getting used to having my husband home from a 9 1/2 mth deployment to the middle east and finding out that he is soon to go back. Needless to say, I was feeling pretty sorry for myself. Reading this book reminded me that I AM one of the "sisters" of military wives. I HAVE done this before and I HAVE and WILL survive. I really enjoy learning about how the other services do things because Marines do things in their own way. I found Mrs Kay's references to "the World's Greatest Fighter Pilot" highly amusing because I call my Marine "poster boy" because he looks just what you think a Marine would look like. I really didnt need some of the advise because I have been around the Corps a time or two, but it was the spirit in which it was given that I enjoyed. Reminding me to take a step back, thank God for the blessings I do have, and just doing what needs doing.
Personally I find other people's stories to be the greatest benefit to me. When I tell people about the time my husband was in Bosnia (and on a med float), I was working full time, had a sick baby, required to move MYSELF due to paperwork snafu's, my car breaking down (the BRAKES went out while driving!!!) being short on boxes, help and only having two weeks to do it all in, they can't help but to say Whoa! But at the time, I did not feel stressed, I just knew that stuff needed to be done and I was the only one here to do it, period. My moving helpers put things down where ever there was space so I ended up with tools on the stove and toys in the utility closet, but when it was all set up a few days later, I can honestly say it was the proudest moment in my life thus far.
Thank you to Mrs Kay for reminding me of what I HAVE done in order to show me that I CAN do this too!!
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Summary: An AMAZING support during deployment!!!
Review: I received this book as a gift when my husband was recently deployed. I was left at home with a collicky 4 week old baby. Needless to say, I needed all the inspiration and support I could get. This book provided it! This book is very well written. Ellie Kay feels like a best friend holding your hand and helping you keep your chin up during the tough times. This book may not tell you the protocol of military life, but during a deployment, that is the last thing I was seeking. This book is a gem! It is the ideal read for someone going through the difficulty of seperation due to deployment. I thank God for Ellie Kay's words of comfort and wisdom!
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Summary: Crisis Management 101!!
Review: In January of 2003, my husband was notified that his National Guard ("one weekend a month") unit was being activated. The individuals in his unit were given less than 48 hours to report for duty with no prior notice that a deployment was coming. My two daughters and I kissed him goodbye less than a week later. His unit has been notified that their deployment will last 14-16 months. They are currently serving in Balad, Iraq. After my husband deployed, we were given this book as a gift. It was just what we needed (along with all the suggested "helps" that Ellie recommends military families need from their friends, churches, and communities). This is a wonderful resource for national guard families who have NO CLUE what to expect from life during a military deployment. Thank you Ellie!! I also had the privilege to hear Ellie speak at the 2003 MOPS International Leadership conference. GREAT information....Ellie's resources are really helpful for persons in my situation!
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Summary: The best for military family finances!
Review: This book is absolutely amazing for any military family who is trying to find ways of coping with a spouse that's gone, OR trying to get their finances in order. I personally picked this book up when my husband went to boot camp, and it really helped me get over my fears, and take charge of my money. Ellie Kay is an amazing author with a wonderful sense of humor who keeps her writing fast paced, yet slow enough for the not-so-swift to understand. I recommend her to anyone who wants a better grip on their finances, yet doesn't know where to start.
Rating: 
Summary: Good, but not extremely informative.
Review: This book was good and a fast read, however it was very biblically based and had many religious references. It didn't take away from the book, but is something for potential readers to be aware of. It is definitely a book to put your mind at ease if you're currently struggling with military life. It very much normalizes the thoughts and feelings military wives have, showing you you're not alone and can face what the military sends your way. If you're a new military wife looking for a lot information I'd recommend Today's Military Wife by Lydia Sloan Kline instead.
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