This collection of letters for military spouses offers encouraging words and practical advice throughout your military life journey. Whether you are celebrating a milestone, surviving an unfamiliar challenge, or feeling unheard, you are not alone.
Choose the topics and letters to read when you need guidance tailored to the military life situations you are facing at the time, from planning a military wedding, to attending your first military ball, giving birth while your spouse is deployed, or moving across country (or an ocean) on short notice. Author Lizann Lightfoot knows what it’s like when you are challenged to make new friends—again and again, find strength to support other spouses in the community, prepare to leave active duty, and many other military life moments in between.
Lizann’s Open When letters deliver that special message from a friend who understands, whenever you need reassurance, helpful ideas, or a simple reminder of your own strength.
Lizann Lightfoot
Marine Corps spouse Lizann Lightfoot is the author of Open When: Letters of Encouragement for Military Spouses, a collection of encouraging, informative letters for military spouses to read when facing specific events or challenges of military life. In the military community, Lizann is known as The Seasoned Spouse for her blog where she shares her military family life experience with other military spouses.
Midwest Book Awards – Gold
“…a must-have resource for any military spouse.… a friendly, honest conversation seasoned with hard-earned insights. A lifeline of support. A healthy, positive perspective that will recalibrate your thinking.”
—Jocelyn Green, coauthor of The 5 Love Languages Military Edition and Faith Deployed: Daily Encouragement for Military Wives
“…feels like a tight hug from a friend who gets it.”
—Becky Hoy, founder of Brave Crate, cofounder of PILLAR.
“Every letter in this book is unbelievably relatable to every chapter in my life as a military spouse.”
—Jen Pilcher, Navy spouse, founder of MilitaryOneClick and MilSpousefest, and CEO of Patriot Boot Camp
“The perfect gift for every military spouse in every walk of life. Truly a MUST READ.” —Noralee Jones, writer and creator at Mrs. Navy Mama
“… Lightfoot weaves the words of healing many of us military spouses are continually seeking.”
—Jessica Manfre, LMSW, AFI 2019 Coast Guard Spouse of the Year
“…[I]f you are a brand new military spouse seeking advice or recommendation or a seasoned military spouse, there is a letter in this book for you.
—Brittany Boccher, 2017 AFI Military Spouse of the Year and founder of Discover Your Spark
“From nuts and bolts basics of military life to bigger issues of relationships and challenges … I recommend this book for any military mom.”
—Elaine Brye, author of Be Safe, Love Mom: A Military Mom’s Stories of Courage, Comfort, and Surviving Life on the Homefront
“Open When is the transcription of a phone call to your military best friend/mentor whom you call when you are struggling or uncertain with an area of military spouse life. ”
—Richelle Futch, LICSW, creator of Her Ruck
“…first-hand advice on some of the more common situations military spouses find themselves in.”
—Rebecca Alwine, Army wife
“I would call this a book of love letters—each one full of loving advice from a seasoned spouse to the reader. ”
—Sally Ann Zoll, EdD, CEO of United Through Reading