Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center, Twentynine Palms

Story by Cpl. Nicole Lavine

A women's ministry group hosted a luncheon and fashion show for military spouses at the Combat Center's Officers' Club Oct. 31.

Stonecroft Ministries, whose headquarters lie in Kansas City, Mo., hosted a "Heart-to-Heart" women's luncheon as part of their mission to connect women to their communities, to each other and to God, said Nancy Carter, the ministry's regional representative.

"We are a nonprofit, nondenominational organization with more than 1,100 other groups in 64 countries," said Carter, a resident of Desert Hot Springs, Calif.

Carter explained the purpose behind the ministry's visit to the Combat Center, which is something that has not taken place in almost 15 years.

"We're trying to be supportive of military women and wives and let them know it's not just their fellow military communities who appreciate and understand their sacrifices," she said. "These sacrifices are real and they are great."

To honor military spouses' hardships of enduring long-term deployments, frequent and unexpected moves and facing the fear their loved ones may not return from assignments, the women of the ministry hosted a luncheon with a fashion show sponsored by Kohls Department Store. They also provided musical entertainment, prize drawings and words of wisdom from a guest speaker who lived the military wife lifestyle for more than 20 years.

As spouses enjoyed their lunch, other volunteer spouses and children modeled autumn and winter outfits provided by Martha Mountain, the store manager of Khols in La Quinta, Calif. Mountain provided spouses and several children with the clothes, which they comfortably sported as they strutted across the Officers' Club dance floor in the main dinning room.

As each model made their entrance onto the floor, Mountain narrated a brief biography about the model, as well as the origin of the outfit he or she wore.

T.J. Roethe then took her place behind a wooden lectern and told her stories of living the adventurous life of a military wife.

Roethe, a professional organizer by trade, was married into the military lifestyle with her Navy husband who retired in the 1980s. Through more than 18 moves in 23 years,

Roethe had no choice but to stay organized and efficient for the sake of her family. While her husband was away, she was responsible for knowing the family's crucial information such as insurance, health care, mortgage payments, funeral details and emergency information. She kept all vital information in one three-ring binder which she named her "Just in Case" plan.

"The average person spends five years of their life looking for lost things," Roethe said in her opening statement to the spouses.

Roethe shared her practical, no-nonsense knowledge with the spouses, as well as how she integrates her faith into the everyday struggles most military spouses must face.

"I feel like I'm at home today with these young women," Roethe said as she looked around the dinning room. "This has been my whole life. I am so proud to have lived my life as an active duty military wife. I am a much, much better person for it."

After Roethe wrapped up her speech, cards with the attendees' names on them were drawn from a basket to claim $250 gift certificates, courtesy of Mountain.

Roethe thanked Mountain and her store for displaying such pro-military support in their personal time.

"I'm almost overwhelmed by the generosity of Khols," she said. "They are so supportive of the military community and of children."

As the event drew to a close, Roethe stuck around in the Officers' Club lobby to share last-minute words with gracious spouses, who received free gift bags put together by Kohls.

Many of the spouses who attended the event said Roethe's "Just in Case" plan opened their eyes, while her stories of faith and family touched their hearts.

"This was very inspiring," said Melissa Williamson, wife of Capt. Bobby Williamson, the training officer of Company C, Marine Corps Communications-Electronics School. "We really appreciate what they've done for us – coming to a place so far away to minister is a real blessing."

Christine Bouchard, the wife of 1st Lt. David Bouchard, a fire direction officer with Battery L, 3rd Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment, said the effort of the ministry did not go unnoticed.

"You can tell how much work it took to put this together," she said. "They are so kind for doing this and they're certainly welcome to come back."

Stonecroft Ministries involves its women with community projects once every month, and invites Combat Center spouses to join their events. The next "Heart-to-Heart" event will be held in March at the Doral Resort in Cathedral City, Calif. To learn more about the ministry, visit their Web site at http://www.stonecroft.org. To learn more about upcoming Stonecroft ministries events, call Carter at (760) 413-2531.

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