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“Celebrating My Birthday With Friends – Plus Giveaway!”
“Celebrating My Birthday With Friends – Plus Giveaway!”
By: Catherine Mann
Many of my blogs this month have highlighted military heroes. Today I would like to focus on another type of hero/heroine – military spouses! In writing my military romantic suspense novels, I put much thought into crafting the perfect partner for that person in uniform. No question, it’s a unique way of life, full of joy, stress, pride, stress, excitement, and yes, stress.
Thinking about military spouses brought to mind this recipe I’ve seen crop up often over the years:
Recipe for a Military Spouse
1 1/2 cups Patience
1 lb. Adaptability
3/4 cup Tolerance
1 tsp. Courage
A Dash of Adventure
Combine above ingredients: Add 2 tablespoons elbow grease. Let sit alone for one year. Marinate frequently with salty tears. Sprinkle lightly with money. “Knead” dough until payday. Season with international spices. Bake 20 years or until done.
As I look back on my husband’s twenty-plus years of service, I’m reminded of how military spouse friends helped me through so many times when my husband was away. We cried and laughed together. We kept each other company while our kids wore themselves out on the playground. We supported each other.
To this day, it doesn’t matter if it’s been years since we were stationed at the same place. Those friendships – those bonds – stay strong.
In keeping with celebrating with another military spouse, I want to take a moment to cheer for military romance novelist Jessica Scott. Most of the time we think of her as a soldier, but I believe she deserves double kudos for being a military spouse as well. I thoroughly enjoyed her debut novel, BECAUSE OF YOU, and look forward to the next book in her “Coming Home” series.
And what a perfect day to celebrate with another military spouse since today’s my birthday! A great big thanks to all of you who stopped by to join in.
Three commenters below will be chosen at random to win a copy of the latest book in my “Elite Force” series – HOT ZONE. Winners announced at the end of day, Catherine will choose & announce in this post – good luck!
Who’s been a source of support and encouragement when you needed it most?
***
Author Bio:
USA Today bestseller and RITA Award winner Catherine Mann writes military romantic suspense for Sourcebooks and Berkley, as well as steamy romances for Harlequin Desire. She lives in Florida with her military flyboy husband, their four children, and menagerie of pets. FMI, she can be found online at:
Website: http://catherinemann.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/CatherineMannAuthor
Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/CatherineMann1
That’s easy, my husband, for the most part anyway. He is male and easily distracted, but we’ve been married almost 28 years now, so yeah, it’s him.
Hi Amy! Congrats to you and your hubby on 28 years together – that’s awesome!!
I really appreciate military stories. Both of my nephews serrved in Iraq. I really love and admire my husband. He is a thoughtful and loving person. Thanks for the giveaway.
Thank you, Shelley, to both of your nephews for their service. And thank you for all the support I can tell you give them!
Ms. Mann, I sincerely appreciate the recipe that you posted on the Military Spouse. It is so true. While I, myself, am not a military spouse (my hubby was out of the Army by the time we go together); I have 11 Brothers and all but 3 served the Air Force, Navy, and my adopted Dad was a Marine in WWII. I have every branch of the armed forces covered except The Coast Guard 0_0 !
I’ve enjoyed a couple of your books and really enjoyed them. Thanks for writing such moving and honest stories! Happy New Year too!
Hi Merri Jo! Wow!! 11 brothers! I love big families – and I’ll bet those guys have fun at holidays “debating” which service is tougher. My hubby (Air Force) and my brother-in-law (Army)do that all the time.
Glad to hear you’ve enjoyed my books! Thank you!
Thanks Catherine for being here on R@R – congrats on your release & thanks again for your mention of BECAUSE OF YOU — & to all of the Military – Thank you & welcome home.
Thank you, Sue, for having me here! Always a delight to hang out with you!!
First off, happy birthday! It’s my dad’s birthday today, too, so my family is also celebrating. I’m not a spouse, military or otherwise, so I have to say the person who has been my best support has been my mom. Even now that I’m a (supposedly) mature adult and live halfway across the country, I can always call her to blow off steam, complain, or even whine, and get sympathy before she tells me to straighten up and deal with whatever issue I’ve got.
Hi Katy! Thanks for the birthday wishes – and happy birthday to your dad too!!
Time to pick the three winners of a copy of HOT ZONE! I had my oldest son pick the winners…I had him randomly choose numbers between 1 and 51 (the number of people who posted a comment!)
Congrats to:
Kathy L – Post 5
Joanne B – Post 13
Lisa B – Post 40
Please send me an email at catherine@catherinemann.com with your snail mail address so I can send your prize.
Thank you SO much, everyone, for a great birthday celebration!!
My sister has been my biggest support person. I’m the one who wants to help everyone else out and she is the one who forces me to think of myself first. She’s 7 years younger than I am, but the difference doesn’t matter. We are each others back-up.
Tanja, sisters are special, aren’t they?! I’m very close to my two sisters too. Just wish they lived closer!! Thank goodness for the phone!
My husband. He is my rock!
I hear you, Claire! My hubby knows me better than anyone.
I am not a military wife and I’m not sure that I fit the “recipe” either. To be separated from my hubby for extended periods of time would be a challenge for me–he’s my rock. My mother also was very supportive when I needed her–13 years ago when I was being treated for leukemia, she left her home to move into the hospital with me.
Hi Catherine – What a wonderful mother you have! So glad she could be right there with you when you needed her most…
My biggest source of support has been my friends from school. It has been almost 14 years sicne I graduated high school and 10 years sicne I moved from jersey. i still speak to my closest firends from home. They are always there for me and know me best
That is so cool that you keep in touch with your friends even after you’ve moved away! Friends are treasures to be kept, for sure!
My childhood friends have always been my support. they know me best through all the good and rough times. Even though its been over 10 years sicne I have been back home, they are only an emnail or phone call away.
Im not a spouse but my whole family, dad, brother, mom aunts uncle and gpas.. all served,, But my rock is my boyfriend
Trudy – Thanks to all your family for their service!!
Trudy, many thanks to your family for their service!
My mother more than anyone else.
I read Jessica’s book and it was great, especially for a debut author. I was even motivated to post a review on Good Reads.
Hi Anne! So happy you posted a review of Jessica’s book on Good Reads. Those reader reviews are super helpful – Jessica certainly deserves the kudos!!
My sister. She was a big help to me when my husband passed away. Even though she lived in another state, she did everything she could to try to make me feel better.
Joanne, I’m sorry to hear you lost your husband – so glad you had family support when you very much needed it most.
Time to pick the three winners of a copy of HOT ZONE!
Congrats to:
Kathy L – Post 5
Joanne B – Post 13
Lisa B – Post 40
Please send me an email at catherine@catherinemann.com with your snail mail address so I can send your prize.
Thank you SO much, everyone, for a great birthday celebration!!
As a Marine officer I found it really frustrating when I saw things that said “Marine Wife, Hardest Job in the Corps”. Then, after my discharge, I married a sailor. I found out being a spouse is hard, just in a different way. I still think being a Marine, Soldier, Airman or Sailor is far harder but I completely sympathize with the spouses. It’s hard and frightening to be left at home, not knowing what they’re doing and if they’re safe. It can be really hard when they come home and the pattern of life you had while they were deployed changes on a dime. Kudos to all those who served or who waited at home and thanks to writers who can share that with those who’ve not lived it.
Jeanne – Sounds like you and Jessica are definitely kindred spirits! I’m amazed at the strength of those who serve and are military spouses as well. Thank you for your service to our country!!
My husband of 20 years has always been there for me through good times and bad. He always has great words of encouragement and support. Happy Birthday Catherine! A big THANK YOU to those in the military!
Lori, congrats to you and your hubby for over 20 years together!! Very special that you are both there for each other.
For me one of my biggest supporters is my mother. Even with all the things going on in her life she always seems to be there for me when I need it most. She is a huge inspiration for me and one day I hope to be just like her. The other major support I have is my husband. Though currently over seas in Kuwait, he still can cheer me up when i need it most. He is an amazing man and very generous. I don’t know what I would do with out him! Plus he is a wonderful daddy to our two little girls!
Hi Amanda! I’ll bet your mother’s so happy to see you passing on her legacy of supportive parenting.
Happy Birthday, Catherine! My husband is my biggest supporter–he believes in me way more than I believe in myself. We’ve been together almost 23 years and I don’t know what I’d do without him.
Thanks to all those in the military and their families at home, you’re all heroes!
:::waving::: Hi Robin! Your hubby sounds like mine!
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I would have to say that I have two. My sweetie pie hubby and my bestie! When ever I need a shoulder to lean on or an ear to vent to one of them is always there for me.
Patti – Isn’t it awesome to have someone who will just listen when we need to vent?! a real gift!!
My husband, that was too easy. When you’ve been married 32 years you depend on each other on the most basic levels an you only realize it when something goes wrong. He’s always been there for me and ditto for me.
Diane, how fantastic to be so in synch with another person that way!!
Shout outs to our Military Families – you all rock! I work as a Civilian Federal Employee in a DLA facility – so we have lots of military folks here –
My mom is my number one supporter, and my son, too – who will be 28 on New Year’s Eve – and then there is my BFF Lori –
– I cannot choose just one! LOL
Hi Felicia! Happy Birthday to your son!!!!
Aww, happy birthday Catherine! And thanks so much for the nod. It’s so funny because you mention that yeah, I’m a military spouse but I so often don’t even think of myself that way b/c I identify so strongly with being a soldier myself.
And your receipe for success for military spouse? Oh yeah, spot on. It takes a special person to thrive being a military spouse and you hit the nail on the head. There are def tough times but also, a whole lot of good times, too.
Like standing on Cooper parade field on Christmas Eve and watching my husband kiss his little girls, yeah, I was all wife and mom.
Y’all can see a little bit about my husband’s homecoming here. It’s so so good to have him home. http://www.foxnews.com/us/2011/12/24/last-combat-troops-out-iraq-arrive-at-fort-hood/
Thanks Catherine!!
Jessica, those homecomings certainly are emotional!!!! Grabs you tight around the heart. My husband’s first homecoming (Iraq War 1) our daughter was an infant when he left and she learned to walk while he was gone. When he picked her up, she looked at him like he was a stranger. Broke my heart…. but then he sang a riff from a Jimmy Buffett song he’d always sung to her and her face lit right up. Just thinking about that moment still gives me goosebumps.
(And yes, for those of you who’ve read HOT ZONE, the Jimmy Buffett thing may sound a little familiar.
Thanks, Jessica, for sharing the link. And most of all, thanks to you and your husband for serving our country and for both being military spouses!
That would be my husband of 21+ years. We are each other’s best friends and have been standing by each other and behind each other from the beginning. His 24+ years of service to the Army has not hindered our relationship, it has made us stronger. We talk every day even during deployments, car pool together to work, and are there for each other no matter what. I can’t imagine life without my greatest supporter. I thank God for him every day.
Happy birthday Catherine and happy New Year!
Tricia
Tricia, that’s awesome how you and your husband have made such an effort to stay connected even through stressful times – sounds like it has paid off for you both in a beautiful marriage! Really awesome when life works out that way!!
Happy birthday, Cathy! God bless you throughout the new year!
I’ve been blessed with many angels to support me through the tough times. My mom, my aunt, friends Stefanie and Tracy. Most recently, a friend, Chelle has been an inspiration. Chelle is a Marine Mom, whose son, Garrett, gave his life in March 2010 in Afghanistan. God has used the horrible tragedy to show His glory through Chelle.
God bless our service men and women and their families!
Cari, my heart, thoughts and prayers go out to your friend over the loss of her military son Garrett.
Happy Birthday!
I just finished reading Cover Me and want to take a quick moment to tell have much I enjoyed it. You take military heroes to a higher level. Your characters are amazing and the setting was icing on the cake. It was an awesome read an I look forward reading read Hot Zone.
Thank you for your reading suggestion. I am always looking for new authors to read and look forward to reading Jessica Scott’s Because Of You.
My biggest source of support and encouragement is definitely my husband Joe. We have been through a lot together and are always there for each other. Although we may not always agree or see eye to eye, he is always there for me, respects my beliefs and supports me in my decisions.
Thank you so much, Chris, for the birthday wishes and the cheers for COVER ME!!!!!
Happy birthday to you! I love your recipe! But where can I get the ingredients?
My family and boyfriend are supporting and encouraging me whenever I need them!
Happy New Year to you and your family!
LOL, Claudia!! Too cute!! Wouldn’t it be fun to have an extra supply stocked up to check out.
Happy Birthday! Since my cousin has been over in Iran and other places helping soldiers moral and with problems at the home front, I’ve met some wives of soldiers and even a husband taking care of the household, I’ve been sending care packages but also just listening to a few to lessen the burden..I feel they are heros themselves,my cousin has helped a few from losing their house or giving them a break from the stress, he is one busy man and so glad that he has given me something worthwhile until I get more kids in my daycare.I’ve met some wonderful ladies and their husbands have been serving our country. They are my heros!
Thank you, Carole, for all you do to support the military servicemembers and their families!! It’s very much appreciated!!!
thats tough… i recently made the decision to move halfway across the country to move in with my boyfriend.. and my mom has been awesome about it!! his family has been really great and supportive as well.. helping me through the not finding a job thing..
Alaina – cross country moves are tough!!! So much change in so many ways – hope all goes well in your job search!
Happy Birthday Cathy! May all your dreams and wishes come true
My best friend served as a paratrouper in the German forces and I have a lot of friends who served themselves or have/had family members who are/were part of the US troops. So I definitely love military stories.
The big rock in my life is my Mom, we had some hard times to get through, but we are always there for each other.
Thank you for the birthday wishes, Danny!!! I hope my daughters and I always have as close a relationship as you and your mom do!!
I’d say my hubby, but that seems to be the easy answer. But also, my big brother, who I rarely get to see, but know he’d be here in a sec if I needed him!
And Happy Birthday!!
Great answer, Sue!! Your brother sounds like a winner!
Hi Cathy, HAPPY BIRTHDAY!! My greatest supporters are my 3 daughters, all USAF Vets. They were there for me when my husband )USAF, Ret) of 34 years passed away in 1995 and were my rock before then and since. I’m thankful everyday for being blessed with 3 wonderful daughters.
Nancy, you must be so proud of your daugthers!!
Happy birthday, Cathy! God bless you throughout the new year!
For me my biggest supporters is my mother and my sister.
Thank you for hte good wishes, Filia!
Happy Birthday! As stated before, husband seems to be the answer. For me, too, but my daughter and son have been my support, also. I also have a loving extended family, so I’ve been blessed in that respect.
Thanks to all who have served and are serving now; my grandpa was Army in WWI, my dad was Army in WWII, and my hubby was Coast Guard in Vietnam.
By the way, I LOVE your books!
Hi Cindy!! Thanks to your family for all their service – and thanks too for your sweet words about my books.
Aloha, Catherine! Because I write about military families (plus romance reading), my blog followers have been a source of encouragement!
Mahalo for your service as a “spouse”!
Hey there, Kim!!!! Thank YOU for all the great work you do through SOS! you’re amazing!!
Love your books and Jessica’s too! Can’t wait for the next one to come out!
Happy New Year!
Thank you for being on the look out for mine and Jessica’s new books on the horizon!!
My family as a whole is always there for me when I need them. I don’t know where I would be without them!
Susie, family support really is an awesome gift!
Believe it or not my online friends really kept me sane this year. I needed to vent more than once over the past 12 months. They let me whine and gave me encouragement along the way.
Happy birthday Catherine and thanks for the book recommendation. I haven’t read that author yet but her book (and yours) sound awesome!
Stacie – Isn’t the internet fabulous?! My critique partner Joanne Rock lives far away – I don’t know what I’d do without our daily e-mails and phone calls!
Happy Birthday, I hope you have a great one. I have to say my Mom. She’s been there for me through tough and good times. Now that she has passed away I’ll have to think back on her words of advise. I miss her but know she is still in my heart and still inspiring me.
Delores, I’m so sorry that you lost your mother – how special that she and her wisdom live on inside you!
Hi Cathy, just wanted to stop by and wish you a Happy Birthday. Love the post about military spouses. I commend them on their bravery as well. Once someone becomes military personnel, it’s not just them joining, it the whole slew of people in their lives. Thank you for being one of those people, andmkudosto Jess as well.
Don’t count me in for the contest. Just wanted to share some love for you.
Peace and love,
Paula R.
Hi Paula! Thank you for the birthday wishes!!! Thank you for your service! And thank you for being such a dear friend!
Happy Birthday!! My youngest just turned 9 Christmas eve and mine is sneaking up on me in about 12 day Jan 10th. They get sneaky as we get older don’t they lol.
My husband is my biggest support and that’s not easy as he is a truck driver and gone A LOT. We use a lot of phone time. I met him when we were both in the Army is Saudi Arabia for Desert Storm in 1990. We’ll be married 20 yrs June 2012 and i have no idea where those years have gone but he’s been my best friend for all of them. Nothing much i can’t say to him and be afraid of being judged so that that’s pretty great.
Hope it’s a awesome birthday for you Cathy!
Lisa B
Happy birthday to you and your son, Lisa! and many thanks to you and your husband for your service!!
Time to pick the three winners of a copy of HOT ZONE!
Congrats to:
Kathy L – Post 5
Joanne B – Post 13
Lisa B – Post 40
Please send me an email at catherine@catherinemann.com with your snail mail address so I can send your prize.
Thank you SO much for a great birthday celebration!!
Happy Birthday Catherine! My biggest source of support is God, after that it is my husband. Not only is my husband my spouse, but he’s also my best friend! We are so in tune with one another that we often sense when something is wrong with the other before it is spoken aloud. Both me and my hubby come from military families (he was actually born in Weisbaden West Germany on a U.S. AFB) and I WOULD have been born on the base I grew up on had the maternity ward been equipped to deal with premature deliveries (I was a preemie). His father served in the Air Force and both of my parents served in the Army. Almost every male on my mother’s side of the family served in the military and my grandfather was almost killed in WWII and was decorated for it. I have the highest respect for those who serve our country and I feel blessed to live in a country that has the freedom it does because of our servicemen and women! God Bless!
Lora, what a beautiful post and point! And you remind me of another point about being the child of a military member – the children give up a lot as well to support their parents who serve!
Happy Birthday! I’d have to say that my mom and my boyfriend have been my rocks of strength and encouragement. I feel so lucky to have two people I can count on unconditionally!
Thank you, Erin!! I agree it’s a great gift to have people we can count on in our lives!
I am blessed with three sisters who I adore, and who are directly responsible for keeping me sane in my all male household.
May all your birthday wishes come true, Catherine.
cathy m
caity_mack at yahoo dot com
LOL, Cathy M! I’m one of three girls. My dad was the only guy in the house – we usually had male dogs so there was at least another male around.
Hello Catherine,
Happy Birthday and congrats on the new release. My support team include my family and friends, but my cousin is usually the person I go to first. I seek advice for many things include work related issues.
Jane, good mentorship and support in all realms of life is a great, great thing!!
Enjoy your cake and presents.
Thanks! We’re actually going to have a bonfire and make s’mores instead of cake. (My choice!) I guess I’ll blow out the blazing marshmallow!
Once again Happy Shared Birthday Catherine. I find that those who serve in the military are some of the most caring individuals I know. I speak from personal experience & people through the years I have worked with. Thank you to all who have served & still serving.
God Bless You All!!!
And thank YOU, Mary Ann, for those lovely words. That’s really kind of you to say!!
A BIG HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU and congrats on your new release. My sisters are my support when I need it. They are always there when I need them.
Thanks so much, Quilt Lady (love your screen name!!!!)
My mom always was a great source of support and encouragement, now I look to my older sister. She always gives me a pep talk when I need one.
Hi Barbara! Sisters do have a way of knowing just the right thing to say!!
My sisters have always been there for me. I am the oldest of 4 girls and we will drop anything and everything for each other.
My husband is so supportive of my relationship with my sisters that he often jokes “he has 4 wives” because we are always together.
I am blessed!
Amy, how wonderful that you’re all so close! I have 4 kids and I hope they will all stay close even after they all get married.
First off “HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!” My support team is my best friend of over 20+ yrs. I can call her and tell her anything and she will pretty much tell me what I already knew, and I do the same right back at her. My hubby is my second support system, everyday telling me he loves me and what a good job I am doing. I love that recipe might share that with some friends as well. Have a slice of cake for me.
Thank you for the birthday wishes, Carrie! It’s been a great one on so many levels.
And having all of y’all here to celebrate with has definitely been the icing on the cake!!
Hi
Family and friends. Our son was in Iraq for a year recently and I can’t tell you how many came and supported us as we waited for the year to be up and his safe return.
Happy Birthday and thanks
Pam
Pam, I’m glad your son is home and had so many people to celebrate his return!
Time to pick the three winners of a copy of HOT ZONE! I had my oldest son pick the winners…I had him randomly choose numbers between 1 and 51 (the number of people who posted a comment!)
Congrats to:
Kathy L – Post 5
Joanne B – Post 13
Lisa B – Post 40
Please send me an email at catherine@catherinemann.com with your snail mail address so I can send your prize.
Thank you SO much, everyone, for a great birthday celebration!!
Big congrats to all winners!
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