A deployed soldier's comments are featured in the Nov. 23 Spouse Calls. He wrote to take issue with a statement made by a Ann, a military wife, whose story was related in the Oct. 19 column.

The soldier was offended by some of Ann's remarks, particularly when she said, "We forget that the Army takes our loved ones and turns them into mass murders, with no conscience or hope. We forget that they either find God or turn their backs on him. The become a large ball of anger and hate that only sleeps, eats, and does what it is told. They have no other way of living and forget that there is something other than war."

Some people may have read the Nov. 16 Spouse Calls about the effects of military brat-hood and thought I had changed my opinion about how growing up in the military affects one's life. I have not changed my mind about how it affected me, but when I received the question in this week's column  (Click here to read) I knew I needed a perspective different from my own.

I am happy that I grew up in the military and have chosen the military lifestyle as an adult. Most of the grown up military brats I know are active duty military themselves, or spouses, so our points of view tend to be similar.

I just returned from a women's conference where the keynote speaker was a published author known for her storytelling style. We heard some wonderful and inspiring stories in the formal sessions of the conference.

I met another lady that week with a story to tell.

Annemarie is a petite white-haired lady who lives in the village near the conference center. She conducted a tour of her local church during our free time one afternoon.

She met us -- seven or eight Americans -- at our hotel, walked us to the church, lit the candles, relayed some town history and encouraged us to sit in the pews and sing hymns in English and German.

It's the morning after the biggest candy binge of the year ... Halloween! Anybody have a tummy ache? Anybody have more candy than one family can (or should) consume?

Tawny Campbell, founder of Project Rudolph, will be happy to relieve you of your unwanted candy. She doesn't have an overactive sweet tooth, just a tall order to fill: 7,000 Christmas goodie bags for deployed and injured service members to be delivered by Christmas.

Those in the Kaiserslautern Military Community in Germany can bring their extra Trick or Treat candy (or any candy) to the Ramstein Base Exchange today or on Nov. 22 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.