Giving Thanks: Honoring Those Who Serve

by Noel Meador

I invite you to imagine with me for a moment...After 12 long months of deployment, you finally get to come home. Pure excitement sets in as you think of wrapping your arms around your spouse and kissing your babies cheeks. You can hardly wait to walk in the door and be celebrated. Yet, after the hugs and kisses, you realize that things have changed. Your family has been living day-to-day without you for 12 months. Your spouse is used to living without you and has connected with your kids in ways you haven't...shared special memories while you were thousands of miles away. After facing stress and trauma from war, you now feel lost in your own home. You don't know how to put the pieces back together and your family is struggling. Your marriage--distant.

This is a story that is about to repeat itself over and over again. After nine years in Afghanistan, and seven years in Iraq, there is a surge of new, young veterans and active-duty soldiers coming home. These men and women are returning home after multiple deployments in often unstable and violent environments. Many come back to the U.S. with physical injuries or post-traumatic stress, only to find a depressed economy where jobs are scarce. However, the most tragic part is that more often than not - they return home to a hurting family.

Reaching out to Low Income Families
by Krista Fogelson

Ask most engaged couples if they think marriage will be hard...will it take work? They'll likely answer yes, of course. Then they'll look into each other's eyes and share how "he'll make it easy," or "with her it will never be as difficult as they say." After the honeymoon wears off, most couples realize that a successful marriage takes work, time and access to sound advice, as well as a strong support system. For many, this support is easy to come by and counseling is readily available. However, what happens to lower income families who don't have access to support, or where affordable counseling isn't an option? Many couples are doing their best just to make ends meet, much less find time for each other. Can their marriages survive?

Keep reading to learn how, at the invitation of the YMCA, we're using the message and tools in our Oxygen for Your Relationships Program to provide low-income couples with education they need to create better communication in their marriage and create a support system to keep their family strong.

Geoffrey Castle Celtic Christmas Celebration

Don't miss the 4th Annual Celtic Christmas Celebration!

This concert features electric six string violinist Geoffrey Castle. Geoffrey will amaze you with his spirited stage presence and dynamic musicianship. With several critically acclaimed releases of his own, Castle has managed to share stages with an illustrious group of musicians world-wide. You won't want to miss it.You'll not only be investing in your family, but you'll also be participating in the work of strengthening marriages and families all across our community. A portion of the proceeds will directly benefit the work of Stronger Families.

Be sure to come early for a featured art exhibit. Stronger Families will have an exhibit there as well and we welcome you to stop by and visit us.