6 Ways to Teach Your Kids about Veterans Day

By Sarah Martin HoodNovember 7, 2016November 4, 2018 gold star family, motherhood military, veterans day 8 Comments

Military holidays can be tough when it comes to kids. Thematically, Veterans Day and Memorial Day and other significant days in history like Pearl Harbor Day — aren’t exactly family-friendly. They can prompt questions about…

A Civilian Salute

By Sarah Martin HoodOctober 4, 2016November 4, 2018 gold star family arlington national cemetery, gold star families, gold star mom, gold star mothers day, tomb of the unknown 3 Comments

I’ve been watching my parents salute the flag my entire life. For years, I’ve attended promotions and graduations and retirements and other ceremonies, and there they were. In formation and in uniform. I am thoroughly…

Let me tell you about my brother

By Sarah Martin HoodOctober 14, 2015November 4, 2018 gold star family 1LT Tom Martin Memorial Foundation, tom 7 Comments

This is one of my all-time favorite photos of us. It is utter nonsense. We were supposed to clear plates after dinner one night, and one of us decided it would be fun to do…

A Green Story

By Sarah Martin HoodMarch 17, 2015October 2, 2016 gold star family, motherhood colt, st. patrick's day, storytelling, tom, uncle tom Leave a comment

Most nights when I tuck Colt into bed, he asks me for a story. My go-to strategy is to tell him a story of my childhood. Sometimes it’s just a snippet of a memory, but…

A Story to Tell

By Sarah Martin HoodJune 25, 2014September 18, 2016 gold star family #ahamoment, 1LT Tom Martin Memorial Foundation, Aha Moment Tour, fayetteville arkansas, Keeping TIME, Mutual of Omaha, tom 6 Comments

I wear the same bracelet every day, but it’s anything but a fashion accessory. After wearing it every day for almost seven years, my feelings about it have evolved. At first, the story was fresh….

Take a Hike

By Sarah Martin HoodOctober 22, 2013September 18, 2016 gold star family, hiking, northwest arkansas 1LT Tom Martin Memorial Foundation, arkansas, becky, buffalo river, colt, crazy aunt laura, hawksbill crag, Keeping TIME, tom, whitaker point Leave a comment

“Let’s do the hike out to that pretty rock,” she said. So we did. As soon as my sister Laura confirmed she could come to Fayetteville for a weekend in October — we made plans….

Friendly reminder

By Sarah Martin HoodMarch 22, 2013September 18, 2016 gold star family, personal reflections tom 4 Comments

Though I had plenty of work to do and anticipated a late night, I spent some time last night reading back through a few old blog posts after texting with a new friend about how…

5 years.

By Sarah Martin HoodOctober 15, 2012September 18, 2016 gold star family 1LT Tom Martin Memorial Foundation, cabot, colt, jeff, Larry's Pizza, tom Leave a comment

Traditionally, I’ve written a reflection of Tom, family, and sacrifice this week. This year, it felt natural to do something else, so instead of forcing a post that wasn’t heartfelt I focused my attention on…

It’s about time

By Sarah Martin HoodOctober 14, 2011September 1, 2016 gold star family tom 1 Comment

I kinda hate the phrase 'Time heals all wounds'. It suggests that the mere passing of time will help you get past any amount of pain or grief, that marking days off a calendar will…

American Summer

By Sarah Martin HoodJuly 6, 2011September 17, 2016 gold star family colt, tom Leave a comment

I couldn't help but overhear. We were out for supper this weekend and two tables directly behind us struck up a conversation with each other. After a few minutes of listening in, I stole a…

This is what remembering feels like

By Sarah Martin HoodOctober 14, 2016November 4, 2018 gold star family tom 2 Comments

For 9 years now, this has been a hard day. And for nearly every one of these 9 years, I’ve lived this heavy milestone day thinking, “next year – I’ll be ready. Next year, I…

What Gold Star Families Want You to Know

By Sarah Martin HoodAugust 1, 2016November 4, 2018 gold star family gold star families, tom 66 Comments

“You can’t do it wrong.” I have said those words many times. I have said them to people I just met, and I’ve said them to myself in the mirror. “You can’t do it wrong.”…

High on the Hogeye

By Sarah Martin HoodApril 8, 2015September 18, 2016 gold star family, northwest arkansas, running 1LT Tom Martin Memorial Foundation, becky, colt, crazy aunt laura, fayetteville, half marathon, hogeye marathon, jeff, Keeping TIME, The Hogeye, tom 2 Comments

This was my fourth Hogeye. In 2012, it was my first marathon. The course and the hometown location were the familiarity I needed for my first go. In 2013, it was my first run with…

Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.

By Sarah Martin HoodOctober 14, 2014September 18, 2016 gold star family, motherhood 1LT Tom Martin Memorial Foundation, colt, Keeping TIME, tom 9 Comments

7 years ago today, everything turned upside down. I had known I was pregnant for all of 13 days, and I got the worst phone call you can get. My big brother Tom had been…

A little bit Rock ‘n’ Roll

By Sarah Martin HoodNovember 26, 2013September 18, 2016 gold star family, running #RnRSA, 1LT Tom Martin Memorial Foundation, dad, half marathon, Keeping TIME, mom, Rock 'n' Roll Marathon Series, San Antonio, tom 8 Comments

Do you remember my favorite sentence? It’s a great thing when you realize you still have the ability to surprise yourself. – Lester Burnham, American Beauty Well, it turns out I might just come by…

October

By Sarah Martin HoodOctober 18, 2013September 18, 2016 gold star family, personal reflections colt, let it go, lyrics, tom, zac brown band 8 Comments

Well, I suppose I’ve stared at this blank page long enough. It’s halfway over by now, but — around here — October is the gift that keeps on giving. And by “gift” I actually mean…

What do you say?

By Sarah Martin HoodDecember 17, 2012September 18, 2016 gold star family, motherhood colt, jeff, tom, wreaths across america 1 Comment

It’s an old Reba song, but I still hear it on the radio sometimes. So what do you say in a moment like this When you can’t find the words to tell it like it is…

Veterans Day 5K

By Sarah Martin HoodNovember 13, 2011September 17, 2016 gold star family, motherhood, running colt, tom 1 Comment

I know! I said I wasn't doing anymore 5Ks for a while… Getting ready for the half marathon… Longer runs on the weekends… I know! But some friends were talking about running a local 5K…

Beautiful Day

By Sarah Martin HoodOctober 4, 2011September 1, 2016 gold star family, running tom Leave a comment

Chances are you've never heard of Chris Kirstein. And until a few weeks ago I hadn't either. I woke to my alarm on a chilly Sunday morning, still pretty sore from running the day before,…

A Day to Remember

By Sarah Martin HoodMay 27, 2011September 17, 2016 gold star family, personal reflections tom 1 Comment

It means more than a day off of work, and a weekend at the lake. It means more than enjoying a beer while hosting the first real BBQ of the season. It's more than the…