-
5th Group Leading Generations Training December 2022
Leading The Next Generation: Pulled from over a decades amount of research, this new training on the impact of generational shifts on the military culture put a new perspective on leadership. Participants learned about generational differences, why families are not attending social and family readiness events, new ways to distribute information, and more.
-
-
-
Quantico, VA Commanders Conference October 2022
Leading The Next Generation: Pulled from over a decades amount of research, this new training on the impact of generational shifts on the military culture put a new perspective on leadership. Participants learned about generational differences, why families are not attending social and family readiness events, new ways to distribute information, and more.
Strengths Event: A fun, interactive event using the Gallup StrengthsFinder. Participants discover their unique strengths, learn to release and manage weaknesses, and value the differences of others.
-
-
General Officer Spouse Command Conference- Quantico, VA September 2022
Reconnect 2.0: Using The 5 Minute Check-In©, participants will learn to use this powerful tool to process some of their deepest needs, experience the power of community, and communicate assertively.
-
160th Spouses Strengths Retreat- Fort Campbell, KY September 2022
Strengths Event: A fun, interactive event using the Gallup StrengthsFinder. Participants discover their unique strengths, learn to release and manage weaknesses, and value the differences of others.
-
Sharpening Our Senses
“The only thing consistent is inconsistency”.
My husband and I coined this phrase 7 years ago when he left patrol for a full-time swat position. It has now become our family motto.
It never ceases to amaze me how unsettling this lifestyle can be. Just when I think I’ve figured it out, just when I think I have all of the tools and all of the motivation…I find myself maxed out and stretched well beyond my limits.
Like most supporting spouses, I love the good ole’ illusion of control.
Structure makes me feel safe. Predictability helps me keep all of my bases covered. If you’re familiar with the Gallup StrengthsFinder, Consistency is number 34 of 35 on my list. To explain that bluntly, I’m terrible at being consistent…in anything.
In my daily life, I have found two things that help me circumvent my lack of consistency:
- Personal accountability, and
- Routine (Not to be confused with a schedule).
But what’s a girl to do when my number one personal accountability partner is absent and his service-filled lifestyle bombs my best effort to establish a routine?!
Answer: scream and beat the tar out of a punching bag, cry, throw up and then watch Sleepless in Seattle all at 3 am.
In all seriousness, I can tell you that when I am at my worst and overloaded with the waves of sabotage this lifestyle hurls at me,I quickly reach for change as an answer.
“If only we could just quit.”
“If only we could have a normal life.”
My perspective focuses inward and my expectations become unrealistic.
What exactly am I wanting? If I’m honest…I’m longing for a life free of suffering, pain, and hardship.
I want things to be easy…I want them to be the way I dreamed they would be when I was a little girl fantasizing about home and life and marriage.
When things get hard, I want solutions. I grasp at ways to control and when I can’t seem to find them, I turn to self-pity and resentment.
But what if I choose a different lens?
Life doesn’t turn out the way we dreamed or even the way we think it should go.
But what if that’s okay?
What if we stop trying to get rid of the things that disappoint us and instead hold them alongside moments of joy?
What if I told you that your marriage could get better BECAUSE of the hardship the job brings?
It is in the darkness of life that our senses can sharpen. We can learn to listen more closely, love more deeply, laugh more heartily. It is because of the hardships we can grow into something beautiful.
So what can I control?
I can control my emotions, my actions, and my words.
Controlling my emotions doesn’t mean not feeling them. It actually means I need to be aware of them.
Controlling my words doesn’t mean I don’t speak up. It means I need to figure out ways to communicate clearly, and kindly what is true.
Controlling my actions doesn’t mean putting all my wants and desires on the back burner. It means making wise choices with my time and recognizing the season of life I’m in.
Growth never comes without pain.
Sometimes forging a new path or creating better habits involves the exposing and tearing down of old ones. Sometimes, to gain deeper intimacy, we must confront hard truths.
Rather than seek to anesthetize the discomfort, let’s seek to hold it, sharpen the senses in our marriages and be better for it.
….and still punch a punching bag every now and then.
-
Fort Hood, Tx SHARP Strengths Event June 2022
Strengths Event: A fun, interactive event using the Gallup StrengthsFinder. Participants discover their unique strengths, learn to release and manage weaknesses, and value the differences of others.
-
Fort Hood, Tx Air CAV- Leading Generations Training May 2022
Leading The Next Generation: Pulled from over a decades amount of research, this new training on the impact of generational shifts on the military culture put a new perspective on leadership. Participants learned about generational differences, why families are not attending social and family readiness events, new ways to distribute information, and more.
-
USASOC Senior Spouse Conference- Strengths & Leading Generations
Leading The Next Generation: Pulled from over a decades amount of research, this new training on the impact of generational shifts on the military culture put a new perspective on leadership. Participants learned about generational differences, why families are not attending social and family readiness events, new ways to distribute information, and more.
Strengths Event: A fun, interactive event using the Gallup StrengthsFinder. Participants discover their unique strengths, learn to release and manage weaknesses, and value the differences of others.
-
Empowering Future Leaders at Quantico 2022
Leading The Next Generation: Pulled from over a decades amount of research, this new training on the impact of generational shifts on the military culture put a new perspective on leadership. Participants learned about generational differences, why families are not attending social and family readiness events, new ways to distribute information, and more.
Strengths Event: A fun, interactive event using the Gallup StrengthsFinder. Participants discover their unique strengths, learn to release and manage weaknesses, and value the differences of others.
-
Fort Hood Chaplains: Leading Generations Training 2022
Leading The Next Generation: Pulled from over a decades amount of research, this new training on the impact of generational shifts on the military culture put a new perspective on leadership. Participants learned about generational differences, why families are not attending social and family readiness events, new ways to distribute information, and more.
-
1st Group Spouse Strengths Retreat
Strengths Event: A fun, interactive event using the Gallup StrengthsFinder. Participants discover their unique strengths, learn to release and manage weaknesses, and value the differences of others.
-
Breathing Life Back Into the Blogosphere
Are blogs dead? That’s the question we’ve been asking at Lifegiver recently. And honestly, I don’t know. More than that, I’m not sure I’m the best one to answer that question.
You see, I am a lover of all things old. Antique furniture, pioneer ways, run-down farm homes…if it’s old and decaying I love it. Lately, I have found myself feeling so nostalgic. From longing for my old hip hugger flares, to missing 90’s wispy big barrel bangs, my heart aches for the past.
I’m sure in some way or another, after these last two years, yours does too.
I remember the good ol’ days, before social media really took off, I would sit and read mommy blogs while nursing babies in the middle night. I laughed. I cried. I felt seen and known in the midst of postpartum depression and spit-up sweatpants. But somewhere in the spinning, rushing world of technology and progress those blogs faded away. In their place came to the point, how to’s.
Quick, concise, consumption.
Sure it was nice for a while, and those type of blogs still have their place, but what happened to conversation?
What happened to contemplation?
Am I the only one tired of the echo chambers and quick fixes? Tired of everyone vying to give me as a consumer want I want versus what I need?
Years ago, I was at the end of my rope with first responder life. It was 2016 and I remember googling “how to be a first responder wife”. You know what came up? Two things. The first, a to the point, three-step approach to packing lunches and getting sweat smells out of duty vests and the other, a very much drama-filled lament of a wife pining for the sound of Velcro in the middle of night so she could rest easy knowing her officer was home.
My first thought was “I can’t live like that” and so I trudged forward into the unknown of this life determined to not let it destroy everything around me.
When I look back and think of that woman, the one waiting for the Velcro, I can see past her lament now. Though her words were thick with theatrics, what she was really trying to communicate was that she just wanted to be seen.
She, like myself and many others who have lived this life, was desperate for anyone to see how hard this life can be. How not normal it is and how very lonely and isolating it can all be.
Does anyone know what it’s like to “hope” you make it to retirement with your serving spouse?
Does anyone see how often I am alone, the sole bearer of consistency for our children?
Does anyone feel that even if we physically make it to the end of this career… who in the world will we be?
We may escape physical harm, but what the heck is this all doing to us psychologically and physiologically??
And mostly, does anyone know how to make a duty vest not smell of sweat?!
First responder life is not for the faint of heart. Especially now. And even if blogging is dead, we as a community are behind the times anyway. For too long we have done this life alone, with little resource and little acknowledgment. We have been unseen.
My hope is that Lifegiver can breathe life back into the blogosphere,
Breathe life into the marriages of those who for too long have felt unseen and alone.
My hope is to bring contemplation and conversation to this lifestyle and offer more than any quick fix consumption could ever give.
Let’s not forsake the old and broken things, let’s breathe life back into them.
admin
-
Empowering Future Leaders at Quantico 2021
Leading The Next Generation: Pulled from over a decades amount of research, this new training on the impact of generational shifts on the military culture put a new perspective on leadership. Participants learned about generational differences, why families are not attending social and family readiness events, new ways to distribute information, and more.
Strengths Event: A fun, interactive event using the Gallup StrengthsFinder. Participants discover their unique strengths, learn to release and manage weaknesses, and value the differences of others.
-
PSYOPS Spouse Strengths Retreat
Strengths Event: A fun, interactive event using the Gallup StrengthsFinder. Participants discover their unique strengths, learn to release and manage weaknesses, and value the differences of others.
-
-
The First Responder Series with Sarah Foster
Lifegiver presents
The First Responder Series
Sarah Foster, wife of a SWAT team officer, takes over the Lifegiver Podcast to present a series that covers the complexities of the first responder lifestyle.
About
SarahIntroducing the Series
Sarah Foster is a SWAT wife and has been in the law enforcement community for 13 years. She is a mother of 2 boys, 2 pups, 2 barn cats, and an ever growing brood of chickens. She is a homesteader and homeschooler who loves books, books, and more books. Sarah finds joy in sharing God’s wisdom and grace with those around her. Though she may believe she was born in the wrong century and longs for the simpler days of yore, she finds peace and rest in the mountain views all around her Virginia home.
The First Responder Series
Part 1: So You're New Here
Sarah Foster, wife of a SWAT team officer, takes over the Lifegiver Podcast to present a series that covers the complexities of the first responder lifestyle.
The First Responder Series
Part 2: Kenny (Kennerd) and Sarah
Sarah Foster, host of the FR Series sits down with her husband to talk about what led him to join law enforcement, drives him to be his best for his teammates, and whether she forced him into homesteading. You might catch their dog Bullet in the background! Listen in as the couple talks about the pros and cons of the lifestyle and hopefully encourages more open conversations with your spouse.
The First Responder Series
Part 3: Friends Make All The Difference
In this episode, Sarah sits down with good friend and fellow LEO spouse Shauna for an authentic conversation on what it is really like to do life with a chaotic first responder schedule. Shauna shares how she and her husband navigate anniversaries and childrens’ schedules while she also juggles a full-time job. Most important, Sarah and Shauna discuss the power of friendship and how even long-distance friends who understand can make all the difference.
catch up on previous episodes with sarah...
catch up on previous episodes on the fr lifestyle
-
160th Fort Campbell, KY
Reconnect 2.0: Using The 5 Minute Check-In©, participants will learn to use this powerful tool to process some of their deepest needs, experience the power of community, and communicate assertively.
-
Project Sanctuary Team Training 2021
It has been an honor to create the new curriculum for couples and families that will attend Project Sanctuary retreats. I am proud of this organization and meeting/teaching the couples that will facilitate the new curriculum was inspiring & powerful. Getting to kayak down the Chattahoochee was just bonus (and a small taste of what PS does). If you are a family that is in need of respite and reconnection, Project Sanctuary’s retreats offer outdoor recreation, intentional care for kids and youth, and clinicians on hand for sessions when you need them. The new curriculum will launch 2022!!
-
Cannon Beach, OR with Hero’s Challenge
Co-Sponsored with Heroes Challenge, a ministry that focuses on the emotional and spiritual wellbeing for our nation’s combat veterans, first responders, and their families. Heroes Challenge successfully deals with struggling individuals by providing mentors, strong support networks, and healthy goals. This conference is designed to honor our troops, first responders and their families and to provide a safe, relaxing environment with practical resources, supportive connections, and Biblical solutions.
-
2021 VMSS: Boundaries in Marriage? How Better Communication Leads to Better Relationships
Presenters: Patricia “Patty” Montes Barron, deputy assistant secretary of defense, Military Community and Family Policy; Corie Weathers, LPC NCC, military spouse and owner, lifegiver, LLC; Kelly Smith, LCSW, program analyst, Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Military Community and Family Policy
-
-
-
Evolve- A Virtual Strengths Event April 2021
I joined Pride and Grit for their first ever virtual strengths-based events fro season military spouses. It was a fantastic turnout and we inspired almost 80 “Seasoned” military spouses in their talent and purpose.
-
Affiliate Program Terms and Conditions
We have created these Terms and Conditions to ensure a smooth collaboration, by making our affiliate partnership requirements clear and upfront.
Please read the entire agreement. By joining the Lifegiver Affiliate Program you agree that you have read and understand this agreement and that you have the full right, power and authority to enter into and be bound by the Terms and Conditions of this agreement without the approval or consent of any other party.
Important notice: at the moment we can only accept applications from registered businesses or individuals acting as independent contractors.
Affiliate Program Terms and Conditions
Lifegiver Directory is a directory developed, owned and provided by US registered legal entity Lifegiver, LLC.
Hereinafter the term “Lifegiver” will refer both to the directory, as well as the legal entity owning it.
1. Registration
Your application to become a Lifegiver affiliate is subject to a manual review process in order to assess whether we’d make a good fit. The review process can take up to 5 business days and you will be notified via email with our decision.
By becoming an affiliate you agree to receive occasional emails from Lifegiver regarding changes in the affiliate program Terms and Conditions, news and updates or other information relevant to you as a Lifegiver affiliate.
You must provide us with accurate information regarding who you are, your business details and the website(s) and/ or platforms you intend to promote Lifegiver.
Reasons for rejected applications include but are not limited to any websites and/ or businesses that:
- promote or display violence, discrimination, sexually explicit materials, copyright and trademark infringement, spamming, scamming, or any other illegal activities;
- include in their domain name “Lifegiver”, its variations or misspellings;
- replicate or resemble our website design (explicitly or implied) in a manner which leads customers to believe you are Lifegiver or any other affiliated business;
- resell any of our products;
- are not aligned with our business standards or that are inappropriate for the product we sell.
Please note that this list is not exhaustive and that we reserve the right to decline your application at our sole discretion, without providing a rejection reason.
2. Commissions and payouts
Standard commission rate is 50% of each new Lifegiver clinician purchase made by customers through your referral link. The commission is applied only for the subscription’s initial payment. For recurring subscription payments commissions will not be generated.
Standard cookie duration is 30 days. Therefore, the customers have a 30 day time frame from the moment they clicked on your affiliate link to decide whether to purchase a package with Lifegiver or not. If they purchase after the cookie has expired, commissions will unfortunately not be registered (unless they use your affiliate link again).
Moreover, the commission will go to the first affiliate whose link was clicked (if the purchase is completed in the 30-day time frame).
Example: if the customer clicks first on your affiliate link and later on, when he decides to purchase, uses another affiliate’s link, the commission goes to you.
We have a 30-day money back guarantee, therefore we only pay commissions that are older than 30 days and are not subject to any refunds.
Minimum payout is 100 USD. Payments will be made in USD into your bank account monthly, between the 15th day of the month and the last day of the month. In order to comply with our laws, we need you to provide us with an invoice reflecting the respective amount due that month, by sending it via email between the 1st and 14th day of that month.
Example: by March 31st you have an amount of 250 USD accepted and unpaid commissions in your balance. Between 1-14th of April you send us an invoice for the 250 USD. We transfer the amount to your bank account between 15-30th of April.
If you wish to reach a certain higher amount before getting paid, you can wait up to 3 months before invoicing us.
You have the full obligation to comply with any laws and taxes you might be subject to in your country of residence as a result of rendering affiliate services to us.
We reserve the right to lower or increase our standard commission rates at any moment and for any reason. You shall be notified via email 30 days in advance before such changes go into force.
All commissions are subject to approval in order to be subsequently paid. Each commission’s status will be available in your affiliate program dashboard as “Pending”, “Unpaid”, “Rejected” or “Paid”.
You are not allowed to use your own affiliate link to purchase a Lifegiver package.
3. Promotion permissions & restrictions
The following promotional methods are permitted:
- Giving your affiliate link directly to your friends or potential customers that might be interested in Lifegiver;
- Writing a review on your blog or website about LIfegiver and linking to our product with your affiliate link (or other provided creative asset);
- Writing an article on your blog or website on a subject from the affiliate marketing niche and linking to our product with your affiliate link (or other provided creative asset);
- Using your social media accounts to share your affiliate link with your audience (side note: make sure this is a practice permitted by the respective social network and that you comply with their Terms and Conditions as well);
- Promoting your affiliate link in emails, so long as the recipient is already a customer or subscriber of your services or website and they have the option to remove themselves from future mailings;
- Podcast mentions of your affiliate link and/ or discount code.
There are certain promotional methods we do not tolerate and will have your account terminated, shall you engage in such activities:
- Spamming (in any form and/ or on any platform/ channel, includes but is not limited to: unsolicited promotional email, mass commenting on websites, posting your affiliate link on groups and forums where it’s not permitted, sending unsolicited direct messages etc);
- Misrepresenting our brand and product in any way (includes but is not limited to: misleading customers or using false information about our product, using fake testimonials, pretending you are an employee of Lifegiver or that you are Lifegiver, concealing or misrepresenting your identity or your affiliation to our business etc);
- Using paid advertising for your affiliate link;
- Placing your affiliate link and/ or discount code on any coupon websites.
Again, this is not an exhaustive list and we reserve the right to terminate your account whenever we consider your promotional activities are not aligned with our business values.
If you are unsure whether a particular promotional method is accepted, please contact us in advance for confirmation.
4. Account termination
Either you or we may end this Agreement at any time, with or without cause, by giving the other party written notice in the form of email.
Additionally, we reserve the right to terminate your account at any moment and without any previous notice, shall we consider that you breached any Terms and Conditions of this Agreement. Any pending or unpaid commissions that are subject to your violation of our Terms and Conditions will be withheld.
Final note
By registering and being approved as an affiliate to the Lifegiver Affiliate Program you agree to abide by the Terms and Conditions herein.
You agree that you are an independent contractor and that the affiliate relationship does not represent an employment relationship between you and Lifegiver, LLC. Moreover, you have no authority to make or accept any offers or representations on our behalf.
You agree that this is not a legally binding relationship and as a result you may not take legal action against Lifegiver, LLC.
Last but not least, these Terms and Conditions are subject to change and you will be notified in advance about such changes.
You have the right to opt-out of our affiliate program at any time, by notifying us via email.
If you have any questions regarding the Terms and Conditions herein, please contact us.
Last updated: 06.05.2020
-
-
BONUS USO Series: Intimacy
The USO is launching a new virtual series with Corie and Matt Weathers on how military families can stay strong while apart. Corie and Matt Weathers will share how they are keeping their military marriage strong through a season apart – as well as tips for how you can do the same.
Tools and concepts discussed during the series apply to all types of military-initiated separations; from deployments and trainings, to geo-bachelor tours, unaccompanied tours, and even third shift schedules.
Intimacy is a HUGE topic, especially for service couples. In this episode, Matt and I address sexual intimacy and many of the other types of intimacy couples can use to connect. Believe it or not, experts say there is between 5 and 40 different types of intimacy. We take some of the most popular questions surrounding intimacy, especially for couples who have to spend time apart. Don’t miss this one!
To access the Series dashboard, including the videos and handouts: https://www.uso.org/campaign/mvp-youre-leaving-again
Part 1:
Part 2:
-
BONUS USO Series: Parenting as a United Front
The USO is launching a new virtual series with Corie and Matt Weathers on how military families can stay strong while apart. Corie and Matt Weathers will share how they are keeping their military marriage strong through a season apart – as well as tips for how you can do the same.
Tools and concepts discussed during the series apply to all types of military-initiated separations; from deployments and trainings, to geo-bachelor tours, unaccompanied tours, and even third shift schedules.
This episode answers some of your biggest questions about parenting- especially while apart. Regardless of which stage you are in, there will always be times where you parent out of an imprinting from your own childhood or clash with your spouse on parenting techniques. Listen in as we share some of what we have learned.
To access the Series dashboard, including the videos and handouts: https://www.uso.org/campaign/mvp-youre-leaving-again
Part 1:
Part 2:
-
BONUS USO Series: Holidays Apart
The USO is launching a new virtual series with Corie and Matt Weathers on how military families can stay strong while apart. Corie and Matt Weathers will share how they are keeping their military marriage strong through a season apart – as well as tips for how you can do the same.
Tools and concepts discussed during the series apply to all types of military-initiated separations; from deployments and trainings, to geo-bachelor tours, unaccompanied tours, and even third shift schedules.
This episode covers how you as a couple can stay connected and on the same page during especially difficult Holidays, whether it is Christmas, Birthdays, or even an Anniversary. Listen as Matt and I authentically share how we are doing and what tools we re using to stay connected.
To access the Series dashboard, including the videos and handouts: https://www.uso.org/campaign/mvp-youre-leaving-again
Part 1
Part 2:
-
S6 Bonus: USO Series Ripping the Band-Aid
The USO is launching a new virtual series with Corie and Matt Weathers on how military families can stay strong while apart. Corie and Matt Weathers will share how they are keeping their military marriage strong through a season apart – as well as tips for how you can do the same.
Tools and concepts discussed during the series apply to all types of military-initiated separations; from deployments and trainings, to geo-bachelor tours, unaccompanied tours, and even third shift schedules.
This episode talks about the feelings that come with having to say goodbye. Everyone knows it is hard, but what if you feel a little bit of relief? Is that wrong? How do you set your sights forward and get on mission? Plus a special guest joins in the discussion…
To access the Series dashboard, including the videos and handouts: https://www.uso.org/campaign/mvp-youre-leaving-again
Part 1:
Part 2:
-
S6 Bonus: USO Series The Tension Before You Go
The USO is launching a new virtual series with Corie and Matt Weathers on how military families can stay strong while apart. Corie and Matt Weathers will share how they are keeping their military marriage strong through a season apart – as well as tips for how you can do the same.
Tools and concepts discussed during the series apply to all types of military-initiated separations; from deployments and trainings, to geo-bachelor tours, unaccompanied tours, and even third shift schedules.
This episode is about “The Tension Before You Go”- So many couples struggle with tension and emotions all over the place before you rip the bandaid to spent that time apart. Matt and Corie cover what they went through and what many other couples describe as one of the most challenging times a couple can go through in the military.
To access the Series dashboard, including the videos and handouts: https://www.uso.org/campaign/mvp-youre-leaving-again
Part 1:
Part 2:
-
Corie Weathers Joins TACK-F
FEBRUARY 3, 2021 IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
AMERICAN SNIPER WIFE EXPANDS FOUNDATION TO REACH U.S. MILITARY AND SERVICE COMMUNITY DURING COVID-19 CHALLENGING TIMES
- The Taya and Chris Kyle Foundation – Service Family Strong, formerly known as the Chris Kyle Frog Foundation, announced today that long-time foundation Ambassador, Corie Weathers has been named as the organization’s new National Clinical Director of Programming.
- Founded by Taya Kyle in honor of her husband ‘American Sniper’ Chris Kyle, the Taya and Chris Kyle Foundation is devoted to serving the nation’s defenders, veterans, and first responders, by creating unique programs designed to enrich the marriage and family.
- Executive Director, Taya Kyle enlisted Weathers at a pivotal growth point for the foundation, selected for her deep understanding of military and first responder culture as an advocate and licensed professional counselor spanning over 20 years.
“Corie brings an unmatched set of credentials to TACK-F and her own unique talents to serve the TACK-F mission.”, Taya Kyle shares.
- The addition of Weathers comes after an even more challenging year for service families and the country. The global pandemic and national tension towards first responders has significantly increased the need for mental health support and innovative programming for those who have continued to serve and protect the nation without pause.
“2020 was an incredibly difficult year for service families. Relocations, deployments, and the need for our first responders did not slow down for the pandemic. If anything, it added more stress to an already exhausted community.” – says Corie Weathers
- With COVID-19 restrictions still in place for many service members, TACK-F will provide resources accessible from home or while deployed for couples to access together. That also includes programming that will specifically be tailored for the spouses at home juggling the family.
“I am honored to join an amazing team that is dedicated to serve these families with evidenced-based resources that will restore and heal in some truly innovative ways. They deserve our very best and we aim to breathe life back into their home and family.” Weathers states.
To learn more about the TACK-F mission for marriage, visit www.ckffdn.org
To interview Taya Kyle or Corie Weathers, email: ANGELA BLAIR, ANGELA@CKFFDN.ORG W: 424.332.6319
ABOUT TAYA KYLE: Taya Kyle is an American author and military veteran’s family activist. Known as the widow of US Navy SEAL Chris Kyle, she was portrayed by Sienna Miller in the 2014 film American Sniper about her husband’s life. Kyle is the author of American Wife and American Spirit. She also launched a jewelry brand bridging fashion and faith in 2020, Warrior Collections.
ABOUT TACK-F: The Taya and Chris Kyle Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded by Taya Kyle to honor the life and legacy of her husband, “American Sniper” Chris Kyle. Chris and Taya knew first-hand the challenges military families encounter from their lives of service. They experienced their own trials as both individuals and as a couple and were blessed to know many other couples in both the military and first responder communities. Prior to Chris’ untimely passing in February 2013, he was developing his vision for TACK-F programs to support military and first responder communities. Today, Taya and the team are fulfilling Chris’ vision through the development and delivery of life-changing, impactful programs and services to support communities across our nation.
ABOUT CORIE WEATHERS: Corie has spent over 20 years in the mental health field serving primarily military and first responder families. In 2015, Corie was named the 2015 Armed Forces Insurance Military Spouse of the Year where she advocated for mental health issues and served as a media correspondent writing online and print publications, consulting for command teams, and speaking to groups on issues like PTSD, grief, and marriage. Weathers also traveled with the Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter overseas in 2016 visiting troops in Turkey, Iraq, Afghanistan, and the Persian Gulf. Corie authored Sacred Spaces: My Journey to the Heart of Military Marriage and has devoted her time encouraging families through her inspirational podcast, traveling globally to speak to military spouses, and helping service organizations build sustainable, high quality, programming that makes a true impact.
-
S5 FINALE: Know When to Hold’em, Know When to Fold’em
How do you decide when to hold steadfast and persevere? When to walk away? When to run away? Life is a gamble, a risk. We do everything we can to make good, right decisions with what we have in the moment. Yet the hardest thing to do is walking away and saying “no”. It feels like too big of a risk. Yet, this year has gotten too big for all of us- asking us to make a choice. You can’t do it all and neither can I. Listen in for updates on how 2020 affected me and what I am doing with the cards I have in hand.
Interested in Joining Fight Club- A Virtual Support Group for Military & First Responder Spouses? Starts Jan 11, 2021 Apply here: https://forms.gle/RCf8jYnq5bdkEZiHA
The Gambler, by Kenny Rogers
On a warm summer’s evening
On a train bound for nowhere
I met up with the gambler
We were both too tired to sleep
So we took turns a-starin’
Out the window at the darkness
The boredom overtook us
And he began to speakHe said, “Son, I’ve made a life
Out of readin’ people’s faces
Knowin’ what the cards were
By the way they held their eyes
So if you don’t mind my sayin’
I can see you’re out of aces
For a taste of your whiskey
I’ll give you some advice”So I handed him my bottle
And he drank down my last swallow
Then he bummed a cigarette
And asked me for a light
And the night got deathly quiet
And his face lost all expression
Said, “If you’re gonna play the game, boy
You gotta learn to play it rightYou’ve got to know when to hold ’em
Know when to fold ’em
Know when to walk away
And know when to run
You never count your money
When you’re sittin’ at the table
There’ll be time enough for countin’
When the dealin’s doneEvery gambler knows
That the secret to survivin’
Is knowin’ what to throw away
And knowin’ what to keep
‘Cause every hand’s a winner
And every hand’s a loser
And the best that you can hope for
Is to die in your sleep”And when he’d finished speakin’
He turned back toward the window
Crushed out his cigarette
Faded off to sleep
And somewhere in the darkness
The gambler he broke even
But in his final words
I found an ace that I could keepYou’ve got to know when to hold ’em
Know when to fold ’em
Know when to walk away
And know when to run
You never count your money
When you’re sittin’ at the table
There’ll be time enough for countin’
When the dealin’s doneFind resources for your service marriage at www.life-giver.org
Interested in joining the Lifegiver Facebook group to discuss this episode and more? Click here.
Music by Rudy Vaughn
-
S5 E21: S5 E21 A CURE to the Habit Cough: The Weinberger Method
What if I told you I found the cure for the common cough? Well, it actually wasn’t me, but after our son fought an “Asthmatic cough” for four years we finally came across Dr. Weinberger and the “Habit Cough”. Joining me for this episode is Dennis Buettner, a Cough Research Director for Dr. Miles Weinberger, MD. and a veteran that works with NASA. Dennis’s daughter Bethany went through the same thing our son did- coughing up to 5,000 times a day with no answers. Like many of you out there who are trying to find answers, both of our families went through endless doctors, diagnoses, and medications before doctors finally threw up their hands with nothing left to offer.
Dennis finally stumbled on some research about a pulmonologist who found the cure for the cough through suggestive therapy- teaching kids to be attentive to their bodies and stopping the cough in as little as 10 minutes! Bethany was able to stop her cough, so was our son, and now Dennis is spreading the word about how if you or someone you know can answer one question of his- you can stop the cough too.
Seriously, Dr Weinberger has changed our lives. More importantly, he gave my son back his.
For more on Dr. Weinberger and the Habit Cough: https://www.habitcough.com/Find resources for your service marriage at www.life-giver.org
Interested in joining the Lifegiver Facebook group to discuss this episode and more? Click here.
Music by Rudy Vaughn
-
S5 E20 The Fear of Transition: Derek Abbey Pt 2
Derek Abbey, PhD joins me again! I enjoyed my last conversation so much with Derek, I invited him back to share his research on transitioning into the veteran space. Derek says that there are important stages we should all go through in order to help us mature as well-functioning adults. The military sets the perfect conditions by providing almost everything we need as adults. It provides community, a way to progress through rank and accomplishment, and makes many of our decisions for us.
Although the military “saved his life”, Derek shares what he has learned from helping veterans take the next big step in their lives in higher education and helping veterans take the next big step in their lives. The result was a fascinating conversation on what we all need to do to evolve to a better version of ourselves.
Derek Abbey, PhD is a retired Marine and CEO of Project Recover.
Find resources for your service marriage at www.life-giver.org
Interested in joining the Lifegiver Facebook group to discuss this episode and more? Click here.
Interested in giving back? Donate a couple of dollars to the podcast at Patreon.
Music by Rudy Vaughn
-
S5 EP19 & E20 with Derek Abbey, PhD
S5 E19 Legacy with Derek Abbey, Project Recover
Derek Abbey, PhD is a retired Marine and CEO of Project Recover joins me for a fascinating interview where we talk about the importance of leaving a legacy and how Project Recover is healing families’ stories.
Project Recover, an international nonprofit that uses the latest in science, technology and archival research, with a mission to find and repatriate the remains of fallen American troops.
Derek Abbey says there are 82,000 Americans in uniform missing in the world today. Around 7,000 of those are from the Korean War, with another 1,600 missing from Vietnam and Southeast Asia. A staggering 72,000 are missing from World War II, a conflict in which sixteen million Americans served or about 12% of the population.
Here is a little of what we cover:
- How his 23 years of military service, including his deployments to Iraq and the Far East as a fighter pilot, saved his own life and have influenced him to support the mission of finding and returning fallen service members home. Derek holds more combat hours than hours in peaceful skies, and also served with the Marine Raiders in Afghanistan.
- How families can be impacted by loss for generations after a war has ended
- Examples of how Project Recover leverages technology and partnerships with University of Delaware and Scripps Institution of Oceanography at the University of California San Diego in an attempt to find MIA soldiers
- How Derek’s values centered approach guides his professional and personal life
Find resources for your service marriage at www.life-giver.org
Interested in joining the Lifegiver Facebook group to discuss this episode and more? Click here.
Interested in giving back? Donate a couple of dollars to the podcast at Patreon.
Music by Rudy Vaughn
11/9 S5 E20 The Fear of Transition: Derek Abbey Pt 2
Derek Abbey, PhD joins me again! I enjoyed my last conversation so much with Derek, I invited him back to share his research on transitioning into the veteran space. Derek says that there are important stages we should all go through in order to help us mature as well-functioning adults. The military sets the perfect conditions by providing almost everything we need as adults. It provides community, a way to progress through rank and accomplishment, and makes many of our decisions for us.
Although the military “saved his life”, Derek shares what he has learned from helping veterans take the next big step in their lives in higher education and helping veterans take the next big step in their lives. The result was a fascinating conversation on what we all need to do to evolve to a better version of ourselves.
Derek Abbey, PhD is a retired Marine and CEO of Project Recover.
Find resources for your service marriage at www.life-giver.org
Interested in joining the Lifegiver Facebook group to discuss this episode and more? Click here.
Interested in giving back? Donate a couple of dollars to the podcast at Patreon.
Music by Rudy Vaughn
-
S5: Ep18 The Insanity Cycle: Matt and Corie
In this webinar Matt and I teach on the Insanity Cycle that happens too often in marriage conflict. It was a two hour event, the first hour public and the second a private Q&A over Zoom with registered participants.
This is the first hour where Matt and I walk you through why couples find themselves looping sometimes on the same argument- for years. It is common for couples to get into an unhealthy pattern of triggering each other. Getting out of that pattern is the hard part. Once you start triggering each other, it is hard to get out of that downward spiral we call the Insanity Cycle. Are you ready to change the way you and your spouse fight? Are you ready to end the unhealthy patterns and get back to respecting each other?
Here is some of what we cover in this episode:
- A walk through the Insanity Cycle and how couples stay stuck in it
- How a couple tends to include a Pursuer and a Withdrawer
- How you are both feeling and saying the same thing but not hearing each other
- How the Pursuer and Withdrawer trigger each other to continue the Insanity Cycle
- Ways you can stop the Cycle of hurt and destruction in your marriage
- How you can play the “Maturity Game” speak lifegiving truth to your spouse
If you would like to hear Part 2, where we take your questions and dive deeper, you can find it on the LG Shop! This digital download includes Part 1 & 2 Videos as well as a listening guide to help you apply it to your life and marriage. While you’re there, take a look at some of the other digital downloads as well!
Find resources for your service marriage at www.life-giver.org
Interested in joining the Lifegiver Facebook group to discuss this episode and more? Click here.
Interested in giving back? Donate a couple of dollars to the podcast at Patreon.
Music by Rudy Vaughn -
BONUS: Anthony O’Neal, College & COVID
It’s a BONUS episode of The Lifegiver Podcast! We knew wrapping up the parenting series would not be complete without talking about our youth and college age kids. There is a lot of anxiety on returning to college during COVID season and that is on top of the stress families already have about paying for college!
Anthony O’Neal, author, speaker, and Dave Ramsey Personality joins us to talk about how right now could be one of the best times to go back to college debt-free. Anthony wrote the best-selling book, “Destroy Your Student Loan Debt” and travels the country talking with parents and college students about how they can avoid the mistakes he did.
Listen in as he shares his story, tells you how college is way more affordable than you think, and how you can take advantage of this season to make it more affordable. By the way, Anthony also grew up as a military kid with his father in the Army and understands the stressors of military life!Find out more about Anthony O’Neal Here: https://www.anthonyoneal.com/
or listen to his show on Youtube here: https://www.youtube.com/user/aonealministries
Find resources for your service marriage at www.life-giver.org
Interested in joining the Lifegiver Facebook group to discuss this episode and more? Click here.
Interested in giving back? Donate a couple of dollars to the podcast at Patreon.
Music by Rudy Vaughn -
S5 E17 Parenting Series: Corie Talks Raising Teens
It is the end of the Parenting Series on the Lifegiver Podcast! There have been so many wonderful guests during this season and Corie wraps it up with an episode about raising teens. Reflecting on Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, Corie explains how you can help your child through the difficulty of establishing better routines in the chaos of COVID and school as well as how helping them find their place of belonging can mean everything.
Here is the Awareness Wheel, created by Couples communication that is referenced in this episode.
Find resources for your service marriage at www.life-giver.org
Interested in joining the Lifegiver Facebook group to discuss this episode and more? Click here.
Interested in giving back? Donate a couple of dollars to the podcast at Patreon.
Music by Rudy Vaughn -
S5 Ep16 Parenting Series: Even the Bravest Kids Need a Knight
Sleep issues and separation anxiety are a real thing for so many parents. With today’s anxiety and fear during COVID and back to school criteria, children’s fears can manifest at night leaving you frustrated, exhausted and hopeless. Without a good night’s sleep, you and your children will struggle to function. In this episode, I talk with Colleen, a dedicated spouse of a veteran and mom of three boys with a master’s degree in psychology. After years of sleep deprivation and exhaustion with her own son, Colleen was inspired to write her first book about a magical knight- a bear that was determined to protect children from their fears. She wanted to help other moms and young children which led to the creation of Sir William the Brave Knight.
Listen in as she shares her story, hope for yours and some ways you can find your own peace and courage to help your children whatever they might be facing.
If you would like to find out more or order your own Sir William the Brave Knight: https://magicalorderofbraveknights.com/
If you are interested in strengths coaching, please make an appointment at www.corieweathers.com.
Find resources (including the Lifegiver Newsletter) for your service marriage at www.life-giver.org
Interested in joining the Lifegiver Facebook group to discuss this episode and more? Click here.
Interested in giving back? Donate a couple of dollars to the podcast at Patreon.
Music by Rudy Vaughn
-
S5 Ep15 Parenting Series: A New Way To Track Your Child’s ‘ESTEEM’
“Few things are as difficult for parents as watching their kids struggle. It’s especially hard not knowing how to help them!”
Now more than ever, mental health and behavioral issues are climbing which can be pretty scary as a parent. Many military and first responder families take the leap to get help from their child only to have to move or start over. Do you ever feel like you are wasting precious time waiting for all of them to communicate and start making progress? How many times has your child acted out on a weekend and you wish the professional could have seen it themselves but they aren’t open until Monday? Meet Tommy Black. He’s a clinician that teamed up with some other really cool professionals that made an app to get your child’s wellness back into your hands again. ESTEEM is an app that helps parents track their child’s emotional and behavioral challenges. Complete with resources, tracking software, and more, you can have complete control of your child’s healthcare at your fingertips. Receive automated goals that encourage progress. Celebrate small wins that add up to big improvements! ESTEEM also makes it super easy to have teachers, counselors, and any other other professionals share important information about how your child is doing in one place so you can make the best decision for your child. Join us as we talk about why he created the app as well as some really encouraging words about how you can parent through the COVID crisis. You will love this interview!
Download the ESTEEM App today: https://www.chooseesteem.com/
If you are interested in strengths coaching, please make an appointment at www.corieweathers.com.
Find resources (including the Lifegiver Newsletter) for your service marriage at www.life-giver.org
Interested in joining the Lifegiver Facebook group to discuss this episode and more? Click here.
Interested in giving back? Donate a couple of dollars to the podcast at Patreon.
Music by Rudy Vaughn
-
S5 Ep 14 Parenting Series: COVID & Public School
What kind of relationship do you have with the public school system? Does it give you anxiety? Do you feel like you are always trying to advocate for your child- especially if you relocate a lot? What if we could all work together (better) just a little bit more? What if (like any other relationship) we listened more and built a relationship of understanding?
I invited Dr. Keith Mispagel, superintendent of Fort Leavenworth School District 207 to the podcast. He has a doctorate in military child transition and studied what kids need to be resilient and thrive academically. Even more, his district transitions almost 1,200 new military families every summer for the Command and General Staff College that teaches some of our military’s most competitive officers To put it plainly, he is a rockstar leading his staff in welcoming and helping children of all ages transition only to do it all again the next year. I can honestly say it was the best year ever for my kids (who were weary of transition as it was). He is now teaching other districts how to build better relationships with military parents and kids.
Listen in as we talk about the school-parent relationship and what the public schools are going through to make the next year a safer one for our kids.
If you are interested in strengths coaching, please make an appointment at www.corieweathers.com
Find resources (including the Lifegiver Newsletter) for your service marriage at www.life-giver.org
Interested in joining the Lifegiver Facebook group to discuss this episode and more? Click here.
Interested in giving back? Donate a couple of dollars to the podcast at Patreon.
Music by Rudy Vaughn
-
Communicating Through Crisis
by Mariangela Gordon
Communication in marriage is imperative. Marriage is one of the most valuable relationships, yet we tend to let if fall by the wayside.
Communication during a crisis…during a transition… to reach a decision… to help resolve a problem… is even harder to do (and do it well). Trouble in the form of escalation will surface quickly if you aren’t careful.
Take a moment and ask yourself the following questions:
Do you and your spouse actually communicate? Or do you assume the other person knows what you’re. feeling, wanting or needing?
Do you expect your partner to know if you had a good day or bad day?
Does your partner know that “I got it” or “I’m fine” may be a call for help or reassurance?
Do you welcome moments of quiet once in awhile because your spouse has been communicating all day with colleagues?
Do you only talk about schedules, kids’ activities, or what’s for dinner?
Do you take the time to intentionally make room for communication?
In marriage, it is easy to assume too much and talk too little. Neither husband or wife is a good mind reader and in order to achieve a relationship’s full potential, both parties need to be committed toward respect and patience.
Small things will add up if healthy, loving conversations don’t exist. The mundane activities will begin begin to wear and the smallest comment will surely set us off. What should have been a conversation weeks – maybe even months – ago has now turned into a giant fight because solid communication failed to happen.
What would happen if both parties were willing to initiate communication… simply because they know it will be met with respect, love and assurance—not hostility or blame.
This is the type of communication that should exist in every marriage. By listening to one another, understanding what the other person is saying and acknowledging his/her feelings it will only create a more peaceful and satisfying environment.
As we are all experiencing a sense of uncertainty and fear in our current world, we are all asking,
“Are we going to send our kids to school face-to-face, or keep them home?”
“How will kids make friends in the times of Covid?”
“How will I make friends in a new environment and build my own support system?”
These are real worries that are affecting all of us right now. We are all trying to find answers that work for our families. However, by coming together, asking rather than assuming and making an effort with our spouse our families can be communicate through this hard time.
Here is an exercise that I want to challenge you to try with your spouse.
Set a time and date that is after the kids are in bed, (or on a summer evening walk) and commit to communicating what is in your heart. Turn off the TV and the music. Put away the phones and focus on each other without the distractions of the outside world. This is your time as a couple to talk and to hear each other rather than carrying those emotions and fears until they boil over.
If you and your spouse can commit to making this a part of your weekly (or even daily) routine, I guarantee you will see positive and lasting effects of happiness and fulfillment
in your marriage… just by communicating. -
S5 E 13 Parenting Series: Back to school & COVID
Are you struggling with making a decision about whether your kids should go back to school with COVID numbers still climbing? This is possibly one of the most stressful decisions our culture of parents have ever had to make. If your kids have been in private or public school settings pre-COVID, how do you decide whether they go back when there are reports of children dying? In this Lifegiver LIVE, we talk about the questions I’m hearing in my sessions as well as questions you’ve submitted. We talk about
- How to talk with your kids about this decision
- Their opinions about COVID
- How schools are shifting standards
- How to calm your anxiety about this decision
If you are interested in strengths coaching, please make an appointment at www.corieweathers.com
Find resources (including the Lifegiver Newsletter) for your service marriage at www.life-giver.org
Interested in joining the Lifegiver Facebook group to discuss this episode and more? Click here.
Interested in giving back? Donate a couple of dollars to the podcast at Patreon.
Music by Rudy Vaughn
-
S5 Ep 12 The PROS & CONS of How The Job Changes Us
I couldn’t be more excited to have Sarah back with me for another episode of the podcast. Sarah joined me last season for the round table discussion and again on our faith based episode of Where is God in the Dark Places. Sarah is married to a SWAT officer and she shares some of what she wishes she would have known in her early days as a newly married LEO wife. Any job can “change you” and the service profession can definitely have an impact on a person’s way of handling life, kids, other people, and even our marriage. But in this conversation, Sarah shares how she has learned to embrace some of those changes as strengths and which have become an area she and her husband can work around or talk through if needed.
If you are interested in strengths coaching, please make an appointment at www.corieweathers.com
Interested in joining the Lifegiver Facebook group to discuss this episode and more? Click here.
Interested in giving back? Donate a couple of dollars to the podcast at Patreon.
Music by Rudy Vaughn
-
S5E11: Soul Recovery- Brian Flanery from ReBoot
I have been a long time fan of Reboot Recovery–
“REBOOT helps people overcome trauma through faith-based programs. Our courses, training and online community are open to anyone connected to military or first responders. If the same old therapy or medication has left you feeling hopeless, you’ve come to the right place. At REBOOT, we’re overcoming trauma together and can’t wait for you to join us.”
In this episode, Bryan Flanery a veteran who struggles with TBI, shares his story of trauma, faith, and how the genuine relationships of those behind Reboot changed his life. You will be changed by this episode. Contact Reboot for more on how you can get involved, find a small group and get the support you need as a military or first responder couple.
Hear more of Bryan’s story here: https://neveralonemilitary.com/stories/view/bryan-flanery
Interested in subscribing to the Lifegiver Newsletter? Subscribers get discounts on their first session with Corie and find more information on building a community of Lifegivers. Click here to subscribe.
Want to give back? Send a monthly cup of coffee to keep us going by being a supporter on our patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/lifegiver
-
Sponsorship
Light touch
Basic sponsorship by episode
Sponsorship by Episode$ 250 per episode-
45 second mid-episode endorsement
-
Endorsement from Corie Weathers authentically improvised based on copy provided by sponsor
-
Mention and hyperlinks in the Lifegiver Newsletter for corresponding episode announcements
-
Mention and hyperlinks in the show notes and website post for corresponding episodes
-
One cross-platform social media post corresponding with sponsored episode (2x per mo)
Available NowHighlight
Full episode sponsorship
Sponsorship by Episode$ 500 per episode-
Presenting sponsorship mentioned at the begining of episode
-
45 seconds mid-episode endorsement
-
All endorsements from Corie Weathers authentically improvised based on copy provided by sponsor
-
Mention and hyperlinks in the Lifegiver Newsletter for corresponding episode announcements
-
Personalized written endorsement and hyperlinks in the show notes and website post for corresponding episodes
-
One cross-platform social media post corresponding with sponsored episode (2x per mo)
-
*Episode exclusivity (no live-reads for or endorsements of any other products will be performed during a sponsored episode)
-
Sponsor will have advertisement exclusivity, however episode guests may mention resources or products during interview.
Available NowSeason Sponsorship
Full season sponsorship,$11500$ 10,000 full season, 20 episodes + bonus episodes-
Presenting sponsorship mentioned as part of the introduction pre-roll of each episode
-
15 second post-roll presenting sponsorship (i.e. "Don't forget, this episode is brought to you by...)
-
45 seconds mid-episode endorsement
-
All endorsements from Corie Weathers authentically improvised based on copy provided by sponsor
-
Full image card with text (provided by sponsor) and hyperlinks in the Lifegiver Newsletter for email subscribers
-
Personalized written endorsement and hyperlinks in the show notes and website post for all episodes
-
Cross-platform social media posts for all episodes during sponsored season (including any bonus content)
-
Social media accounts include links to sponsor for the season.
-
*Episode exclusivity (no live-reads for or endorsements of any other products will be performed during a sponsored episode)
-
Opportunity for collaborated content and guests selection.
-
2 full episodes/interviews with sponsor representative of choice to discuss programming, products, events, social impact, etc. (First episode of the season and 1 additional)
-
Logo placement on Season album cover and all episode covers
-
Sponsor will have advertisement exclusivity, however episode guests may mention resources or products during interview.
January 2021 -
-
S5E10: Tips & Perspective from a NG Spouse (Cierra)
My good friend Cierra joins the podcast to talk about her experiences as a National Guard spouse. We so often hear about the challenges of National Guard families- that they don’t have access to the programming active duty families have and that living in the civilian community can be isolating. So in this interview, Cierra shares her experience of deployment while living in the civilian community and the challenges National Guard life brings into their marriage. National Guard and Reserves are now deploying just as much as active duty and Cierra gives fantastic tips on how she has learned to manage the home, school, and work while also building a connected marriage.
Interested in subscribing to the Lifegiver Newsletter? Subscribers get discounts on their first session with Corie and find more information on building a community of Lifegivers. Click here to subscribe.
Want to give back? Send a monthly cup of coffee to keep us going by being a supporter on our patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/lifegiver
