When I sent out a request via the Spouse Calls mailing list for stories of unusual ways military families have spent the holidays, I expected to hear about sad days spent in lonely hotel rooms, empty houses or even in airport terminals. Instead, I got a collection of fun and imaginative ways to make holidays memorable any place in the world.

Life overseas is one of the nicest perks of military life, but can also be one of the toughest adjustments.

In the Nov. 1 Spouse Calls military spouses shared their advice about overseas life. The Nov. 8 column is all about getting there.

“We loved everything about living in Germany except being far from those we loved,” said Army wife Elisabeth Ridderhoff.