Becoming Parents - Whitney Hanrahan

Almost 9 years ago we became first time parents. I watched my husband really embrace fatherhood and it gave me the opportunity to see all of the things I loved about him in a new light. He is someone I am proud to have my kids call "daddy".

This past week we celebrated Father's Day, the kids and I took my husband out to brunch and then spent the day at our family's cabin. He was completely in his element fishing and relaxing in the sun with our kids.

In those moments, watching my husband love our children was one of the most beautiful things in this world. He makes me want to be a better wife and mother. He makes me want to be the best that I can be.

I am grateful for him and the fact that he absolutely adores our children and would do anything to protect them. I also can't wait to see what new adventures they have as they grow. 

9 Years and Counting

This week my husband Kevin and I celebrated our 9th wedding anniversary. Usually every year we go on a Location
date, just the two of us. This year we decided to celebrate as a family. We went out to eat, then to our favorite ice cream shop. We weren’t ready to go home yet so Kevin suggested that we go for a walk in the park like we did on our very first date 10 years ago. We watched the sun set and enjoyed the beautiful scenery of Wisconsin. It was simple, sweet, and the perfect way to spend our anniversary. I cannot believe how fast time has flown by. This wonderful journey has been filled with many memories, blessings, trials, and joyful tears. We’ve learned a lot, grown together, and experienced more than any couple should ever have to go through. We are one of those love stories that face seemingly impossible odds, fight through it together, and ultimately come out on top. When Kevin was injured in Afghanistan, we knew our lives would never be the same. His recovery and learning to adjust to our new normal, was challenging at times, but we constantly pulled through. We’ve always been devoted to one another, find strength in the togetherness, and work hard for each other. Here is to many more anniversaries with the man of my dreams! I can’t wait to spend forever with him.

What's Going On?

These past few months have been full of terror and heartache on our magnificent planet. What's going on? It is so hard to sit here and see all of the lives that are being ruined and altered because of the actions of a few bad people. The feeling of hopelessness sets in as we stand by and aren't able to help everyone. We can do our best, but it's near impossible to help and save EVERYONE. We can pray for those families who have lost or injured loved ones, we can keep them in our thoughts, we can donate our time to help offer emotional support, and all of those things are wonderful, but sometimes that feels like it's not enough.

What IS going on? I guess that's going to always be a mystery. Have you ever heard the saying, "There can not be peace without war."? But there has always been war, war is everywhere. We can choose to ignore it, but it's always there, no matter what we do, say, or see. Those men and women who choose to run into the flames when everyone else runs out, truly know the meaning of the word "war". They fight a war within themselves to be strong enough to fight a war that impacts so many people in the world.

These heroes are the silver lining to all the bad that is going on, all the awful things that have happened in the past few months. There can and will be war, it is ugly and gruesome, but we have strong brave individuals willing to fight for peace, and all that is good in the world.

We can do something ourselves as well. We can come together as one entity, one race, one species, one person, and be strong for one another. If we did that, there would be less terror and fear. We could be strong and fight for one another, and ourselves, while we fight the "bad guys".

With that all being said, our thoughts, our hearts, our prayers, our everything are with the people of Britain during the multiple bombings and shootings these past couple months, and with the recent shooting attack in Alexandria, VA on Rep. Scalise, his aids, the police, security detail, and their families.

We should, can, and will stay strong. Not only for us, but the men and women who willingly fight for us.

Memories in the Summer - Whitney Hanrahan

Summer is finally here! Mouthwatering aromas coming from the grill, baseball games, lazy days, fun at the lake, and most important, time with our families.At least that’s how it should be, but many of us get swept up in the hectic schedules we create. It’s not intentional, but sometimes we neglect those memory making moments.

Often as parents we forget that we only have 18 years before our kids leave the nest, every year will fly by faster than that last one, whether we are ready or not.

Summer break is the perfect opportunity to be present and soak in all of those moments that really matter. The time we have together as a family is our most valuable gift we can give to our children. Whether the family time is spent on a road trip, eating good food, or trying something different. Summer is for taking a break to focus on what is really important.


Be Spontaneous….

One important element for memory making is the ability to be spontaneous, however that is somewhat hard for me, since I like our household to be extremely organized. But, some of our most meaningful memories have come along by accident.




This summer my husband and I plan on making as many unforgettable memories with our children as possible. Since he was injured in Afghanistan we try to make every day count and this summer will be no different. We can’t wait for movie marathons, sharing stories, fishing, and discovering new places.

Thanks to the Heroes Thanking Heroes Program I am able to work from home which makes my job extremely flexible. I am still able to be a full time caregiver to my husband, and continue to make memories with my family that will be cherished for years to come.


Make the most of your summer with your family. If you can, take a trip, visit a park, have a picnic, listen to live music, and be around the people that mean the most. The time spent investing in your family bond is priceless.

Summer is here and summer is for making memories!