Open When: Letters of Encouragement for Military Spouses

by Lizann Lightfoot

Dear Military Spouse,

I wrote these letters to encourage you throughout your military life journey. Whether you are celebrating a milestone, surviving an unfamiliar challenge, or feeling unheard, you are not alone.

I am here with you, from the first moments of falling in love with your service member, to attending your first military ball, giving birth while your spouse is deployed, and moving across country (or an ocean) on short notice. I know what it's like to be making new friends—again and again, finding strength to support other spouses in the community, preparing to leave active duty, and many other military life moments in between.

This collection of Open When letters is meant to deliver that special message from a friend who understands, whenever you need reassurance, helpful ideas, or a simple reminder of your own strength. We've got this!

With love from a fellow military spouse,
Lizann Lightfoot
The Seasoned Spouse

256 pages, Paperback

Published September 21, 2021

Reviews

[Jocelyn Green]

Open When by Lizann Lightfoot is a must-have resource for any military spouse. It’s so much more than a book, and it’s even more than a collection of letters written for any circumstance you’ll encounter in your military journey. Within these pages, you’ll find a friendly, honest conversation seasoned with hard-earned insights. A lifeline of support. A healthy, positive perspective that will recalibrate your thinking. So grab your coffee and your copy of Open When, and open it now. You’ll be so glad you did.

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Starting out as a military spouse can be intimidating, and Lizann's book "Open When" is designed to take some of the guesswork out of it. Relying heavily on her personal experiences -- which span over a decade of military life -- she is able to offer first-hand advice on some of the more common situations military spouses find themselves in. It's hard to write about every possible situation and difference between the services, but Lizann is able to provide her reader with information, confidence and a foundation on which to build. This book makes a great gift for a new military spouse or any spouse along this journey of military life.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lizann's words are a conversation with a good friend exactly when you need kind words the most! she doesn't share her experience and tell you to be like her, rather her words are compassionate as if she is listening to you and walking you through ways to cope or even celebrate. Her wisdom and encouragement are uplifting to anyone. While many chapters are military specific, her advice can be applied to civilians too. Her stories and advice have helped me to understand what my military friends go through to help me be a better friend. Definitely an incredible gift, which I will be sending my military friends!

[Sabrina Johannes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Boy does the military like to throw curve ball after curve ball at us!! And just when you think you have learned how they pitch, they throw in a new pitcher.

Military life is hard, and full of unforseen challenges. This book written by The Seasoned Spouse is a warm hug when the days get challenging. From basic training, pcs, deployment, and retirement. Knowing you aren't alone, or the only one having to venture through the challenges is refreshing.

This is a book any military spouse going through the trenches needs, no matter what part of the challenge you are in, and a great gift for new spouses just getting

[Nicole Otto · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very encouraging and comforting knowing someone else has went through similar scenarios, situations and struggles as I have! Highly recommend to military spouses.

[Adri C · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is super encouraging for all Military spouses, from new to those who have been one for decades. It shows us that we all feel the same in most areas of our military spouse life. It's not easy, but we are never alone in this.