Rachel Carpenter
Rachel has been an Air Force spouse for 17 years. Her husband's career had taken them to many assignments around the world, and she currently lives in Hawaii. She is a mother of four children; their ages range from fifteen to four years old, so her life is often exciting and challenging. She holds a BA in English and a MA in Management. When not busy with work or her family, she enjoys volunteering within the military community and has even been a Key Spouse at two stations. Rachel has always enjoyed writing and literature, and she is happy to find this community to combine these interests. She has been featured on We Are The Mighty, Her View From Home, AMSE, The Beautifull Project, Hand-in-Hand QC, and other publications - but The Military Mom Collective is her home. :)
Friday Favorites – Rachel’s Picks for “Winter” in Hawaii
Welcome to our newest series. In “Friday Favorites,” our team will share a handful of favorite items. These can range from clothes to beauty products to recipes to books and anything in between. Disclaimer:...
The New Normal: A School Shooting Threat
My day had begun pleasantly.
My kids were at school; my husband was at work; I was preparing for my day. I was getting ready for work and left my phone downstairs on a charger....
October Book Club: Miracle Creek by Angie Kim
Miracle Creek starts with a trial - the trial of a mother accused of murdering her son. But, as we quickly learn, the trial and the alleged murder are not so simple.
In Miracle Creek...
Dear Meghan Markle: We Are Not OK Either
"Not many people have asked if I'm OK.”
Meghan Markle, Duchess of Sussex and wife to HRH Prince Harry, made this simple yet honest statement. She spoke candidly in an interview for a documentary on...
September Book Club: The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides
Alicia Berenson loved her husband. This is obvious in the opening chapter of the "The Silent Patient" by Alex Michaelides, which is an excerpt from her personal journal. All she wants to do is...
August Book Club: The Library Book by Susan Orlean
When you hear the word library, what is the first thought or image that comes to mind?
I picture shelves upon shelves of books. I see people of all ages and backgrounds. I see the...
To Self-Publish or Not: An Interview with Claire Cain
Here at Military Moms Blog, we LOVE to write. Whether it is sharing our own experiences; finding resources for fellow moms; or researching new assignments and locations; writing is something we are passionate about.
It...
July Book Club: Nine Perfect Strangers
When I think of a luxury wellness resort, I conjure up images of calm and serenity. I see spa treatments and carefully curated, nutritious meals. I imagine yoga, meditation, and an overall sense of...
Goodbyes Are Never Easy: Teenagers and PCS Season
My oldest daughter had a rough week. She said goodbye to her first boyfriend, as his family moved to another state. She also said goodbye to her best friend. This has been a long...
June Book Club: The Immortalists
The Immortalists: It is 1969 New York City, and the Gold children are looking for a little fun. Word had spread through the Lower East Side of a psychic woman who can read fortunes....
Dear Family: Please Visit Us
I enjoy visiting home. My husband and I are from the same hometown in Iowa, and most of our family still resides there. I love taking my kids around the area. It is fun...
May Book Club: Educated by Tara Westover
Imagine that your very first day of school was at the age of seventeen.
This is the age that Tara Westover, the author of Educated, entered her first classroom.
Tara and her six siblings were raised...