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Our Favorite Military Mom Surprise Homecoming Videos

05/02/2016 By Kimber Green

We love military mom homecoming videos. Most of the time they make us cry or at least tear up a bit. It fills us all with such hope and happiness that even though we know we’ll cry, we click on the video anyway.

It doesn’t matter if our family members are deployed or home; we all have the same raw emotions. We are not alone in this when you see how many times a video has been viewed and shared.

What is it about homecoming videos that military moms and families can’t get enough of?

Maybe it’s the joy we can see in the faces of those surprised. A military homecoming is a wonderful time and surprise homecomings are the best.

This military mom was able to surprise her son at his high school graduation after being deployed for 9 months. It’s wonderful that she was able to work with the school board to arrange this terrific graduation gift.

Another military mom, who was deployed for almost 9 months as well, was able to surprise her daughter at a basketball game. The entire team was in tears as they shared their happiness with their teammate.

The beginning of this video shows something most don’t however, the nervous and anxious military mom waiting for her opportunity to be reunited with her child. We often look to the family members that have been eagerly awaiting their return. It’s nice to have an inside look in the perspective of the military mom.

This little boy captured the world’s heart when he threw military rules out the window and ran straight into the arms of his mother while she was standing in formation. Both of his parents serve in the National Guard. In December he welcomed his father home in a similarly excited way. Being a military mom is challenging and moments like this are precious. It had been 19 months since this little 3 year old had both parents together at the same time.

Military moms are thankful for the precious moments they have with their families. Just in time for Thanksgiving, this military mom was able to surprise her little girl at school. It was a teachable moment, one school official said. Being thankful for family and thinking about what is truly important in life is something we should all focus on.

There are 3 children that were thankful for a family homecoming at Christmas. They have been living with their great grandmother while their mom was at basic training and their dad was stationed in Germany. This new military mom was able to surprise the children at school and their father was able to surprise them later that night.

Watching all of these videos becomes harder and harder with each one. This video in particular pulls at the heart strings. It shows the best magic trick we’ve ever seen. This military mom and dad gave their little girl a show of a lifetime.

Some homecomings are small quiet family reunions and others are big. This military mom was able to surprise her daughter in a big way. Everyone in the stadium shared in the joy as these two were brought back together.

Santa does really bring the best gifts. All these boys wanted for Christmas was for their military mom to come home. Santa said that Christmas is magical and he was right. This is one very special Christmas gift.

There are many more videos like these being shared through social media sites and the local news. These homecoming videos warm the heart and bring a smile to faces across the world.

Military moms go through a lot of emotions being away from family. These ever so special moments bring everything back together.

How do feel about military homecoming videos? Do you love to watch them over and over again?

Purina® Partners with MilitaryShoppers to Support Dogs on Deployment

04/08/2015 By Michelle Volkmann

Have you seen this adorable military homecoming video?

For the last week, every time I scroll through my Facebook news feed, I see a friend liking, commenting and sharing this video. I can’t help but watch it repeatedly and smile to myself. This video reminds me that spouses, parents and kids aren’t the only ones to say goodbye during a deployment.  Ever wonder when you deploy, where does your pet go?

Our loyal pets also feel the void when their soldier, sailor, airman or Marine isn’t at home. These dogs miss their owners. And their owners miss their companionship during the lengthy separations.

That’s why nonprofit organizations, like Dogs on DeploymentDoD logo, are necessary for today’s military families. Since its inception in 2011, Dogs on Deployment has successfully placed more than 600 pets with foster families. That’s 600 pets that experienced the joy of a homecoming, like Mara in the video above.

But providing care for these military pets isn’t easy. Besides constantly searching for responsible and dedicated foster parents willing to share their homes, the organization also needs financial support and help getting the word out about its mission.

That’s why Purina® has partnered with MilitaryShoppers.com to support Dogs on Deployment. Like Dogs on Deployment, Purina® has a passion for pets.

Our passion for pets goes beyond pushing pet nutrition forward, and into forging partnerships in the pet welfare world and raising awareness of what pets truly need. After all, we’ve seen firsthand how powerful the bond with a pet can be, and the many unique ways that pets can strengthen our families and bring our communities closer. Purina logo

 

Through this partnership Purina® is supporting and creating awareness for this incredible nonprofit organization and service to our military pet owners.

Find out what Purina® products are on sale now!

Dogs on Deployment is a national nonprofit which provides an online network for service members to search for volunteers who are willing to board their pets during their owner’s service commitments. Dogs on Deployment promotes responsible, lifelong pet ownership by military pet owners by advocating for military pet owner rights, providing educational resources and granting financial assistance for military pet owners during times of emergency.

JJ_DodPurina_May

Are you planning to deploy and need a foster home for your pet? Plan ahead by registering with Dogs on Deployment today.

Visit Dogs on Deployment on Facebook and be sure to like their page to follow along with all of their amazing efforts!

Want to watch more heartwarming homecoming videos from Dogs on Deployment?

8 Signs You Were a Military Brat

04/05/2015 By Rachel Tringali Marston

Nearly 29 years ago, I was born in a hospital on Shaw Air Force Base and started my journey as a military brat. For the next 18 years, I was dragged (sometimes kicking and screaming), through the military lifestyle from one side of the world to the other and back again. Plus, a couple of moves here and there stateside.

At the time, I thought military life was tiring, stressful and sad, especially for the “see you laters” when the military would send my dad away. But, I’ve come to realize that the experience made me value every little thing and embrace the lifestyle as a military spouse.

Besides being moved here, there and everywhere, there are a handful of unique qualities that military kids share.

8 Signs You Were a Military Brat

Photo Credit: Lauren Nygard Photography

You know you’re a military kid when…

  1. You don’t know how to answer, where are you from? Yes, I was born in South Carolina, but PCSed to the Philippines when I was 2 months old. 8 Signs You Were a Military BratAnd let’s not get me started on all the other moves afterward. Answering where are you from becomes a huge and elaborate monologue. Now, I just say Texas. That’s where my parents are and that’s where I graduated high school. Good for me.
  2. You have friends and family all over the world. With each move, our family grew. It’s so wonderful to have people that are from and live in so many different parts of the world. It gives the opportunity to learn from so many different cultures and traditions. And that brings me to my next point…
  3. You love adventure! I like to think that being a military kid gave me wanderlust. I desire and enjoy exploring and seeing new places and things. The military kind of forces adventure on you, but at the end of the day, despite how scary it can be, military life is also thrilling. Once my father retired, we still visited installations around the United States and managed to vacation at some awesome hotspots.
  4. You have a strong sense of pride. When my family settled in Texas, I attended a civilian school because we lived about 20 miles from base. It wasn’t a common occurrence to have military kids in your classroom. I was very proud and still am about my dad’s service and my mom’s support. They both are wonderful role models to me and I look forward to them being strong role models for my own military kids, when the time comes. The pride overflows to the whole military community too. Even before I met my husband, I always had that respect for men and women in uniform.8 Signs You Were a Military Brat
  5. You can “go with the flow” better than your civilian counterpart. Change is difficult. But, resilience is one of the strongest virtues of military kids. We’re young, adaptable and understanding (for the most part…). And because we have to, we learn to go on and appreciate what we have and love it.
  6. You LOVE (or in my case, loved) Take Your Kids to Work day! I know this depends on your school district, but when I was a kiddo, I loved going to my dad’s work! We got to see fighter planes in action and pretended to be a part of briefings, not to mention walk on the tarmac. How cool was that? Sorry Mom, accounting wasn’t nearly as fun.
  7. You own a wardrobe for every climate (or it’s a work in progress). Down coat, check! Galoshes, check! Board shorts, check! Tank top, check! Before we moved to Texas, we were in Utah, where the snow would exceed my height. My parents made sure to keep everything (within reason) that would benefit another move to the cold. You never know!
  8. You think homecomings are the best thing ever. I don’t know about you, but I think homecomings are awesome times a thousand. 8 Signs You Were a Military BratNo matter what, who, when, where…even if it’s just with friends you haven’t seen in awhile. There is just something beautiful and perfect about seeing a loved one after an extended amount of time. It’s the most amazing feeling in the world.

Were you a military brat? Did we miss anything on this list? Tell us in the comments section.

Frozen Heart? Photos and Quotes to Melt Away Frosty Feelings About Military Life

02/27/2015 By Michelle Volkmann

Do you ever need a little military life pick-me-up?

Maybe you’re glued to the news about the Homeland Security budget negotiations or you’re frustrated with the proposals to cut military benefits. Your husband’s homecoming is delayed. Again. Your hairdresser is PCSing across country. Your friend asks how your children are  handling the deployment. When you tell her it’s a struggle, she suggests your husband “leave the service so you don’t have to deal with that anymore.”

Sigh.

Despite these real-life struggles, there are many moments to cherish being married to the military. Despite what you see on the national news, there are many happy military couples. Think of that retired service member and his wife who celebrated 40 years and 25 moves. They know their love is rock solid. Think of those newbie spouses who promise to love, honor and cherish and then say goodbye as their husband goes to Korea for a year unaccompanied. Every day apart is building that rock solid marriage. And for everyone in-between, they are using the tools of date nights and frequent communication to keep their spark alive.

Here are some of my favorite images and quotes that illustrate the love between a service member and their supportive spouse. Let it be your military life pick-me-up today, tomorrow or any day that you need it.

Photos and Quotes to Melt Away Frosty Feelings About Military Life

Photo Credit: Kelly Schwark

 Photos and Quotes to Melt Away Frosty Feelings About Military Life

Photos and Quotes to Melt Away Frosty Feelings About Military Life

Photo Credit: The Professional Army Wife

“Why do I do it? Because nights alone aren’t permanent. Because missing him reminds me that I’m lucky to have someone to miss. Because I am not afraid to make sacrifices for true love.”

Photos and Quotes to Melt Away Frosty Feelings About Military Life

Photo Credit: Sarah Elle Photography

“It doesn’t get any easier…You just get stronger.”

“I started missing you the moment you said goodbye.”

“The true soldier fights not because he hates what is in front of him, but because he loves what is behind him.”

Photos and Quotes to Melt Away Frosty Feelings About Military Life

Photo Credit: Powell Woulfe Photography 

“Love isn’t something you find. Love is something that finds you.”

“I didn’t choose to fall in love with someone in the military. But I choose to love him daily.”

Photos and Quotes to Melt Away Frosty Feelings About Military Life

Photo Credit: Photo Art by Lu

“Love is when he gives you a piece of your soul, that you never knew was missing.”

“Tears last for a moment, but memories are forever.”

“You want to know the best thing about a long-distance relationship? Every kiss is like the first.”

Photos and Quotes to Melt Away Frosty Feelings About Military Life

Photo Credit: Pictured Moments by April 

You can’t have homecoming photos without those military brats. Little ones screaming, running and hugging their deployed parent always brings a tear to my eye and a smile to my face.

Photos and Quotes to Melt Away Frosty Feelings About Military Life

Photo Credit: Soldier’s Wife, Crazy Life

Photos and Quotes to Melt Away Frosty Feelings About Military Life

Photos and Quotes to Melt Away Frosty Feelings About Military Life

Photo Credit: Soldier’s Wife, Crazy Life

Does your military family have a favorite photo showing your love and sacrifice? Submit your photo to MilitaryShoppers’ monthly photo contest for a chance to win a $50 shopping spree.

20 Moments to Cherish Being Married to the Military

02/11/2015 By Rachel Tringali Marston

Despite the roller coaster of emotion that comes with being a military spouse, I believe there are many moments that are wonderful and touching. What better time than now to reflect and cherish all those moments that make us proud to be married to the military.

20 Moments to Cherish Being Married to the Military

Photo Credit: Lauren Nygard Photography

Here are 20 military moments that take our breath away.

  1. Courthouse Weddings20 Moments to Cherish Being Married to the Military
  2. Waiting for their Plane to Land

    20 Moments to Cherish Being Married to the Military

    Photo Credit: Michaela Stuart Photography

  3. Homecoming Kisses

    20 Moments to Cherish Being Married to the Military

    Photo Credit: Michaela Stuart Photography

  4. Homecoming Hugs

    20 Moments to Cherish Being Married to the Military

    Photo Credit: Michaela Stuart Photography

  5. Slow Dancing at Birthday Balls
  6. Tears in Your Eyes During the National Anthem
  7. Watching Your Kids Put their Hands on their Hearts during the National Anthem
  8. Family Group Hugs
  9. Celebrating Promotion Ceremonies
  10. Growing Families

    20 Moments to Cherish Being Married to the Military

    Photo Credit: Lauren Nygard Photography

  11. Our Babies in Military Gear

    20 Moments to Cherish Being Married to the Military

    Photo Credit: Lauren Nygard Photography

  12. Exploring the World
  13. Dress Blues

    20 Moments to Cherish Being Married to the Military

    Photo Credit: Lauren Nygard Photography

  14. Proud Communities

    20 Moments to Cherish Being Married to the Military

    Photo Credit: Michaela Stuart Photography

  15. When Strangers Thank Service Members in Uniform
  16. Conversations between WWII Veterans and Today’s Active Duty Service Members
  17. Crafting the Perfect Care Package for the Right Occasion
  18. Knowing that They Will Receive that Care Package 
  19. Receiving a Special Unexpected Letter
  20. Lastly, that Moment Following the Homecoming Kiss. Keeping them close till the next time duty calls.

    20 Moments to Cherish Being Married to the Military

    Photo Credit: Lauren Nygard Photography

Now it’s your turn: What do you love about military life? Tell us in the comments section.

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