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“"Tony and Penny Monetti encourage, equip, and inspire military families for the challenges faced by those “Called to Serve".” Congresswoman Vicky Hartzler, Missouri-4th District
" Called to Serve speaks from experience and offers hope like no other book geared toward military families. Picking it up might be the first step to healing. A must read ... " Karen Kingsbury, New York Times bestselling author of Unlocked and Shades of Blue
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"Very beautifully and thoughtfully woven together vignettes and lessons from their life to help other families navigating the always challenging paths of military life."
The Honorable Allen Clark, author Wounded Soldier, Healing Warrior
"...a “must read” for anyone involved with military life and families." Jonathan George: Brig. General, US Air Force, Ret., former Director of Strategic Capabilities Policy, National Security Council, Executive Office of the President, Washington D.C.
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Penny Monetti is a dynamic, humorous, and poignant speaker who presents family-strengthening workshops at military installations and organizations nationwide. She is a published author of several hope-inspiring books. Her most recent release, Called to Serve: Encouragement, Support, and Inspiration for Military Families is motivating warriors and spouses worldwide to victoriously overcome unique challenges and to passionately enjoy military life. Penny has been a guest on national radio and television talk shows and is also a member of the Advanced Writers and Speakers Association (AWSA), which is made up of over three hundred of the top Christian women communicators around the country. She is certified to help trauma and crisis victims, specifically combat veterans and their families dealing with post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) through the American Academy of Christian Counselors. As a member of the military advisory board for Congress woman, Vicky Hartzler, who serves on the House Arms Committee, Penny represents the voice of military families. She uses her experience as a nurse, counselor, military liaison, Air Force wife, and Army mom to inspire military families and organizations world wide to overcome lifes challenges and live life to its fullest. Penny is also a community leader in Missouri, where she resides. She founded Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS) of Johnson County and Connected Hearts, an agency that assists needy and homeless children. Her biggest achievement is raising three beautiful children-still in progress. Her heart is passionate for military families, especially the military spouse, and she is honored to share her life experiences drawn from the military life that she has lived and loved for over 24 years.
Lieutenant Colonel Tony Monetti, Director of Operations of the 13th Bomb Squadron at Whiteman Air Force Base, Missouri, is an Air Force Academy graduate, a combat veteran Command Pilot of the B-52 and B-1 planes, and presently flies the B-2 stealth bomber. His honors include the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Defense Meritorious Service Medal. The Discovery Channel, CNN, and MSNBC news featured his adventurous career as well as two military books, B-2 Spirit in Action and Boeing B-52: Stratofortress Units in Desert Storm. Tony is a sought-out Air Force spokesperson who motivates groups and top corporate organizations worldwide. His articles have appeared in several military publications, such as, Flying Safety, NATO’s Polaris Quarterly, and the Combat Edge. Tony was honored as Warrensburg, Missouri’s “2010 Man of the Year” for his outstanding contributions to the community.
Together, Tony and Penny founded Big Brothers Big Sisters of Johnson County, recognized as a national BBBS model for successful start-up mentoring organizations. Penny founded Connected Hearts , an agency that assists needy and homeless children uniquely identified by school coaches, faculty, and nurses within the school district. Tony founded and leads the Lions Lake Initiative , an organization working to preserve and restore the Warrensburg, Missouri, community lake. Tony and Penny also own a popular Italian restaurant named Monetti’s , which they utilize regularly to show appreciation for Armed Forces warriors and military families.
Raising three beautiful children ranks their top achievement—.......still in progress.
As a passionate speaking duo, Penny and Tony are eager to circuit military installations and organizations globally to share their riveting, humorous, and tenderhearted stories of faith to encourage families to overcome the unique stressors that military life imposes. They would love to visit your organization or military installation to encourage warriors and military families. Contact them at pennymontetti.com for speaking availability.
Contact Tony and Penny anytime. They love to hear from friends and military brothers and sisters.
Two people, Lt. Colonel Tony and Penny Monetti, serve the same country from very different fronts, drawing from their twenty-three years of military life and strong faith to unite in one crucial mission: —strengthen and encourage those Called to Serve. In a refreshingly bold approach, Lt. Colonel Tony Monetti (USAF B-2 Stealth bomber pilot) and Penny (author, nurse, and mother of three) team with a military counseling “dream team” to equip individuals with insight and the needed tools to conquer the top stressors that wage war on the homefront. Through Tony’s passionate Brooklyn-Italian flair and Penny’s humorous, tenderhearted stories, the inspirational couple confront issues that military life presents from bot the warrior and spouse's perspective, such as : Fear, loss and grief, communication, addictive behaviors, transitions, and more. "Called to Serve "is perfect for small-group discussions for homefront spouses, battlefront warriors, and every American who prayerfully supports our military.
Over 2.9 million military personnel —facing serious emotional and spiritual challenges— serve in more than 150 countries. Thirty compelling, uplifting, and encouraging stories address the top identified stressors affecting military personnel and their families. Give yourself or a loved one a dose of encouragement today!
Get Ready Moms and Pre-teen Daughters! Fleeting time together transforms into life-long memories as you "Choose to Dance," or spend time, with Gods miraculous blessing each other.
"Choose To Dance" opens up sensitive topics like a floodgate. Slow-flowing mother/daughter dialogue cascades into Niagara-sized conversations. Through heartwarming stories, memory-making projects, and relationship bonding exercises, moms discover their daughters true feelings and self-perception. Pre-teens realize moms dont live on an alien planet but have experienced similar temptations and challenges. Daughters are encouraged to choose a godly stance on tough issues such as peer-pressure, purity, and self-image before they face real-life situations. Then, when moral choices do arise, daughters are prepared to uphold their pre-determined Christian values.
"Choose To Dance" is a wonderful tool for mentors as well. We all know the biological definition of a mother, but who is a mentor? She comes in a colorful variety. She is the foster, or adopted mother, who conceived her daughter in her heart. She is a compassionate stepmother or a loving grandmother. She may be an attentive aunt or a wonderful friend who God foreknew would serve as an anchor as well as a beacon in her preteens turbulent waters. Regardless of the ties, God transcends the bonds of DNA to create an everlasting kinship through His genetic bond love.
Whether you delivered your daughter in a hospital labor room or conceived her in your heart, life is too short to sit this one out. "Choose To Dance" today-a must for all mothers with pre-teen daughters.
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Get ready Moms and Pre-teen Daughters! Fleeting time together transforms into life-long memories as you Choose to Dance, or spend time, with God's miraculous blessing - each other. Choose To Dance opens up sensitive topics like a floodgate. Slow-flowing mother/daughter dialogue cascades into Niagara-sized conversations. Through heartwarming stories, memory-making projects, and relationship bonding exercises, moms discover their daughters' true feelings and self-perception. Pre-teens realize moms don't live on an alien planet but have experienced similar temptations and challenges. Daughters are encouraged to choose a godly stance on tough issues such as peer-pressure, purity, and self-image before they face real-life situations. Then, when moral choices do arise, daughters are prepared to uphold their pre-determined Christian values. Choose To Dance's fun, interactive website connects readers together to exchange creative ideas, unique experiences, and common challenges. Life is too short to sit this one out. Choose To Dance today.
Afterdeployment.org Provides self-care solutions targeting post-traumatic stress, depression, and other behavioral health challenges commonly faced after a deployment. Leading behavioral health experts from the Department of Defense, Veterans Affairs, and numerous civilian agencies conduct research and determine the best practices for delivering online mental health resources to service members, their families, and veterans.
Alcoholics Anonymous® is a fellowship of men and women who share their experience, strength and hope with each other that they may solve their common problem and help others to recover from alcoholism. The only requirement for membership is a desire to stop drinking. There are no dues or fees for AA membership; AA is self-supporting through their own contributions. AA is not allied with any sect, denomination, politics, organization or institution; does not wish to engage in any controversy, neither endorses nor opposes any causes. AA's primary purpose is to stay sober and help other alcoholics to achieve sobriety.
The Army Pediatric community has been active in developing DVDs for elementary age children (Mr. Po and Friends) and teens (Youth Coping with Military Deployment: Promoting Resilience in Your Family). These materials are available for free download via the American Academy of Pediatrics website, Support for Military Children and Adolescents.
Armed Forces Crossroads is dedicated to those military members and their families and friends who are separated due to deployments, remote assignments, extended TDYs, natural disasters, and professional military education requirements. The information and resources provided here can make the military separation a positive one for you and your family.
COMBAT FAITH
DE OPPRESSO LIBER - FREEDOM FROM OPPRESSION
Combat Faith is a Christian encouragement and education site for individuals who wish to strengthen their faith in God; for those with challenging and serious issues related to relationship struggles, substance abuse, and alcoholism; and also for veterans with PTSD from combat experiences.
www.easterseals.com As the largest provider of disability-related services, Easter Seals offers military and veterans systems of care to augment current reintegration efforts, providing military members, veterans, and their families supportive services and workforce development opportunities. Additionally, Easter Seals has tailored their exceptional therapeutic recreation and camping services programs and facilities to accommodate veterans with disabilities and their families.
The War Within : Finding Hope for Post-Traumatic Stress is a four-part online video series that encourages veterans and their loved ones whose lives have been drastically changed by war.
Christian Military Wives is a multi-denominational, Bible-based ministry of Christian Military Fellowship and was established by a group of Bible-believing military wives committed to wholeheartedly serving Jesus Christ through assisting military wives and their families. The group proclaims liberty to the captives and freedom for the oppressed, while providing a place of encouragement, growth, acceptance, fellowship, support, prayer, and the like for fellow military sisters in Christ.
Diakonos Counseling This organization believes in healing lifes problems through integrating sound Christian principles for the mind, body, and spirit. They offer compassionate care in the Kansas City, Missouri, area for those struggling with painful emotions, distorted thinking, and troubling behavior, as well as those desiring personal growth and more satisfying relationships. Their therapists are comfortable to talk to and experienced at integrating clients religious and spiritual beliefs with the therapy and healing process. Therapists are available to lead conferences and speak on topics of interest to churches, businesses, or organizations.
DCoE assesses , validates, oversees, and facilitates prevention, resilience, identification, treatment, outreach, rehabilitation, and reintegration programs for psychological health and traumatic brain injury to ensure the Department of Defense meets the needs of the nations military communities, warriors, and families.
Every Mans Battle is a website through New Life Ministries (NLM) that offers online support groups, workshops, and other resources to help win the war on sexual temptation one battle at a time. In response to the loneliness of the soldier who is away from home, NLM created the Every Soldiers Battle campaign, which provides military personnel, both home and abroad, with resources that will help soldiers who choose to maintain sexual integrity and sexual purity. Kits cost fifty dollars, of which thirty dollars is tax deductible. NLMs goal is to provide ten thousand soldiers with an Every Soldiers Battle kit.
Family Of A Vet gives advice on how to cope, survive, and thrive the aftershocks of combat including PTSD and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). This difficult subject matter is explained in easy laymans terms.
The twenty-four-hour, toll-free hotline number is (866) 966-1020. Many of the websites listed in the Resources section were created by the Department of Defense to assist combat veterans and their families.
diakonos counseling believes in healing lifes problems through integrating sound Christian principles for the mind, body, and spirit. They offer compassionate care in the Kansas City, Missouri, area for those struggling with painful emotions, distorted thinking, and troubling behavior, as well as those desiring personal growth and more satisfying relationships. Their therapists are comfortable to talk to and experienced at integrating clients religious and spiritual beliefs with the therapy and healing process. Therapists are available to lead conferences and speak on topics of interest to churches, businesses, or organizations.
Family of a Vet gives advice on how to cope, survive, and thrive the aftershocks of combat including PTSD and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). This difficult subject matter is explained in easy laymans terms.
Hopefortheheroes.com . Home to 411God. The Center for Bible Engagement, a Ministry of Back to the Bible, offers hope to combat warriors and PTSD sufferers by making it easy to communicate with and learn from others dealing with similar feelings and past experiences. The 411God Hope for the Heroes Project is free and uses mobile phones to deliver encouragementstraight from Scriptureinto the hands of soldiers, when they need it most. Making best use of social networking tools like Facebook, Hope for the Heroes is helping returning warriors help themselves and reconnect with other people and with God.
ICISF is a nonprofit foundation dedicated to the prevention and mitigation of disabling stress. ICISF provides leadership, education, training, consultation, and support services in crisis intervention and disaster behavioral health services to the emergency response professions, other organizations, and communities worldwide.
www.military.com/military-fitness. You can spend an entire day on this site surfing through the array of special fitness programs, diets, and tips to achieve optimum health. The site is geared to accommodate everyone from kids to Special Operation Forces.
Emilitary.org. This site is the military candy store for website links pertaining to every aspect of family life. They offer a great relocation guide for before, during, and after moves, for every branch of Armed Forces Service.
Militaryhomefront.dod.mil. Its worth the trip to wind your way through this site. Click on Troops and Families, Deployment, and then Deployment Connections. This site offers many resources that can help military members, spouses, and families cope with the challenges and thrive during deployment or reserve mobilization.
www.militaryministry.org. It is said that there are no atheists in foxholes. This is certainly true. Whether in peace or in war, American troops need faith to anchor their souls. Military Ministry serves military members, veterans, and families through direct ministry and partnerships with chaplains, churches, and organizations. Military Ministry offers marriage seminars, chaplain retreats, online devotionals and a prayer page, rapid deployment kits, military support resources, and leadership training to equip churches to be bridges to healing for returning warriors, veterans, and their families.
www.militaryonesource.com . 800-342-9647. A 24/7 resource for military members, spouses, and families that deals with education, relocation, parenting, and stressyou name it. Available by phone or online, the free service is offered by the Department of Defense for active duty, guard, and reserve service members and their families. The service is completely private and confidential, with few exceptions. Military OneSource offers three kinds of short-term, non-medical counseling options to active-duty, guard, and reserve members and their families. MilitaryOneSource, in conjunction with the Children’s Television Network, developed several DVD resources to assist preschool children and adolescents cope with deployment-related stress. The Sesame Street video “Talk, Listen, Connect” covers deployments, homecomings, changes, and grief. Find it at www.sesameworkshop.org/initiatives/emotion/tlc.
Militarysos.com . This is a support and information resource for military spouses and significant others of all Armed Force branches, around the world. The site addresses all aspects of the military life, from basic and boot camp to relocation and retirement
milspouse.com . This is a fantastic site that encompasses all service branches and aspects of military life. Forum topics span from emotional eating to the right amount to tip a commissary bagger. Here, military spouses share fears, gather information, and receive needed encouragementconfidentially.
Ptsd.va.gov . The National Center for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Department of Veterans Affairs, addresses the needs of veterans with military-related PTSD. Click on For Veterans and the General Public, and then Return from War. The page that comes up, Returning from the War Zone, addresses transitioning from the warfront to the home front, and identifies signs that you or your war buddies might need some outside assistance, and where to go for assistance.
www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org. War experiences and reaction to combat stress can lead depressed people to think about hurting or even killing themselves. If you think you or your family member may be feeling suicidal, contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-TALK (8255)
Notalone.com. Not Alone is a resource center and meeting room where warriors and spouses can confidentially meet online with other veterans and families for counseling and to discuss PTSD and other related topics with fellow veterans and family members. Operation Foxtrot Papa (OFP) is a group that meets weekly online for spouses and significant others of warriors who have come home from deployment. Trench Talk is a place for military spouses, girlfriends, and significant others to meet online informally in a quiet, confidential setting to discuss common (and uncommon) problems. Parent Group is an online meeting room for parents and other family members that focuses on reestablishing healthy relationships with their returning warriors. The eClinic is an immediate help, 24/7 call line and online support center for warriors and family members. To contact the eClinic for help or to learn more about counseling programs, call (866) 781-8010. The service is confidential and free of charge.
Operationhomefront.net (scroll down to Wounded Warrior Wives under Our Services). Through on-site support communities, and a virtual community that includes an online discussion forum, Wounded Warrior Wives provides female caregivers with opportunities to build relationships, access resources, and enjoy brief moments of rest and respite from their care-giving responsibilities.
Operationmilitaryfamily.com. This site helps military couples battle ready their relationships. It offers a couples check-up, family assessments, and a battle-ready action plan. Operation Purple Family Retreats www.operationpurplecampinfo.com. Operation Purple Family Retreats are Easter Seal retreats designed to allow military families to reconnect after experiencing the stresses surrounding a deployment and reintegration.
Odb.org . This organizations mission is to make life-changing wisdom of the Bible understandable and available to all. Military members and families can sign up for inspiring daily devotions that relate to everyday life, which are delivered daily via e-mail, podcasts, mobile phones, Facebook, or through booklets mailed the old-fashioned way.
