How lucky are you?

March 2011

Dear Families,

In March, St. Patrick's Day provides an opportunity to garner hope that "the luck of the Irish" will rub off on us. Traditional symbols of good luck include a four leaf clover, rabbit's foot, lucky penny, wishbone, or a falling star. But for those of us in the military, symbols of good luck are a little different. Military spouses feel lucky when they:

· Get a short line (or no line) at the Commissary

· Find front row parking at the Exchange

· Actually find a house on an overnight trip to the next duty station

· Score last-minute drop-in spots at the CDC

· Have their Marine home for childbirth

· Get waved on to base the day they forget their military ID

· Move next to a neighbor who is willing to housesit, dog sit, and babysit

· Get orders to a tropical, beautiful location (like Yuma, AZ...?)

A famous quote by Seneca says, "Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity." Marine Corps Family Team Building is committed to the "preparation" of your luck. Our classes prepare military families for the unique challenges of the military lifestyle.

Whether luck is a matter of superstition or a true measure of success, the military life provides many opportunities to encounter good fortune in unexpected ways. Marine Corps Family Team Building doesn't just wish you good luck, we prepare you for it. May you find good fortune this month and, if you're superstitious, a few four-leaf clovers in BLOOM.

                                                                     Your MCFTB Team,

                                                    Kate, Bekah, Brooke, Sarah, & Jenny

Calendar of Events

All classes are free, include free childcare, and are located in Building 598 (next to Commissary) unless otherwise noted. REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED! Please call us at 269-6550.

Hearts Apart Deployment Support

Little Hearts Apart (Ages 3-5): Every Wednesday, 10-11. Building 699. Weekly class for children with a deployed parent. Kids will learn strategies to cope through games, stories, crafts and other fun activities.

Hearts Apart for Kids (K-5th): New sessions can be added to meet demand-please call! Every Wednesday, 4:00-5:00, Building 699. Weekly class for children with a deployed parent. Kids will learn strategies to cope through games, stories, crafts and other fun activities.

Hearts Apart: Coffee Hour: A weekly gathering for spouses and significant others with a deployed Marine. Meet new friends, discuss deployment issues, and gain insight and support from others. Every Wednesday, 10-11am. Building 699 (Registration not required). Interested in a group that meets in the evenings? Please call!!

March

4 Lenses for Couples: Understand personality differences, including your own, and learn how to better connect to your spouse. March 9th, 6-8pm.

Basic Spanish and Yuma Culture: Learn basic Spanish words and phrases and get introduced to the local Yuma culture. Four part series. March 1, 8, 15, 22, 9-11am.

Tell Me A Story: Each child will receive a free book and an evening of fun activities and food that align with the story. SgtMaj Stanford is guest reader! March 11, 5-7pm. Community Center.

Spa Night: Stress and Coping: Recharge and relax. This fun night will equip you with ways to thrive despite the stress life throws at you. March 15, 6-8pm.

Who Moved My Cheese? A class on conquering change based on the bestselling book. Perfect for military families facing moving, deployments, and other life changes. March 29th, 6-8:30pm.

April

CPR/First Aid: Become fully certified in CPR and first aid by our own MCAS Yuma Fire Department. April 1, 9am-4:30pm

Family Care Plan: Create a plan for your children in case of an emergency. This legal document ensures your children will be taken care of in the manner you choose- Every Marine Family needs one! April 5, 6-8pm

Friday Fit Club: Friday Fit Club is back by popular demand. Get a great work out and have fun in our friendly group exercise class. Free childcare available with registration! Every Friday April 8-29th, 9-10am at the Station Gym.

Long Distance Love Affair: Do you find keeping the love alive difficult when your Marine is away or just works too much? This fun night will give you new inspiration on how to nurture your relationship whether you are together or apart. April 13, 6-8pm.

Safe at Home: Women's Self Defense: Get tough! Learn important self defense moves as well as tips on how to stay safe at home, in your car, and when you travel when your Marine is here or deployed. 3 Part Series April 21, 28, May 5, 6-8pm

L.I.N.K.S.

L.I.N.K.S. Volunteer Mentor Training: March 24, 8am-12pm

L.I.N.K.S. for Marines: March 17 & April 12, 9:00am-4:00pm

L.I.N.K.S. for Spouses: March 22 & April 2, 9-5pm

L.I.N.K.S. for Kids: A monthly club on Monday's. March 7 & April 11 , 2:30-4:00pm

L.I.N.K.S. for Tweens & Teens: A monthly club! March 8 & April 12, 5:30-7:00

4 Lenses for Couples

Marine Corps Family Team Building is pleased to offer 4 Lenses for Couples- a workshop designed to help strengthen relationships and families. 4 Lensesis a proven personality test that will help individuals uncover their personal strengths, weaknesses, joys, and motivations. This workshop provides an opportunity for participants to discover their own unique spectrum of personality traits and how it relates to their partner's. Understanding the differences and similarities of personalities and how they interact is a crucial part of successful relationships. On March 9^th, a certified 4 Lenses trainer will offer a workshop for couples interested in learning about their relationship and how they connect. The workshop will be offered in Building 598 (next to the Commissary) from 6-8pm. Childcare will be provided with registration. To register, contact Sarah at 269-6547.

Tell Me A Story

Looking for a fun family night out? Join us Friday March 11^th when Marine Corps Family Team Building and the School Liaison Program hosts the family program, "Tell Me a Story". This event will be held at the Community Center from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. for parents and children (K-5^th grade).

Sergeant Major Terry Stanford will be reading Night Catch, a story about how a father and son plan to stay connected during deployment by using one of the family traditions (playing catch in the park) and turning it into a game of catch with the North Star when the father is deployed.

The story reminds us that even when we are separated by many miles, the things we do as families become our family story and keep us connected. Free crafts, pizza and drinks will follow the story and every family goes home with a free copy of the book Night Catch! This is a family event so children must be accompanied by a parent. Free childcare for children 4 and under is available. Call Jenny to register for the event and childcare. 269-6553

March Happenings in Yuma

Spring time in Yuma is especially fun with great weather and so much to do both on base and out in town. Here are a few events that are going on this month.

Field to Feast Tours: March 1, 3, 15, & 17. The tour includes a narrated coach ride through the fields, a food safety lesson, and the best part: you head into the fields and pick the goods for your gourmet lunch. Call 783-0071 for more info.

Midnight at the Oasis: March 4-6. Yuma's classic car and nostalgia festival. www.midnightattheoasis.net

Yuma Lettuce Days: Friday March 11-Sunday March 13. Yuma's signature event - this event celebrates Yuma as the winter lettuce capital of the world. www.yumalettucedays.com

Shake! Rattle! & Roll! CASA's Tribute to Elvis: Friday March 11, 7pm Headlining this music event will be Disneyland performer Scot Bruce. He has also appeared on TV and in music videos as Elvis. Click here for more information.

Village Jazz Series: Thursdays in March, 6-8pm at Yuma Palms Mall. Free jazz concerts each Thursday night in the Village area (in front of Harkins) of Yuma Palms. www.yumajazz.com/village/

Cocopah Speedway Races: Saturday March 5 & 26. For more information email speedway@cocopah.com or call 928-344-1563.

Yuma Air Show: March 26th, MCAS Yuma. Gates open at 9am. Don't miss this great event! www.yumaairshow.com

Yuma County Fair: March 29-April 3. www.yumafair.com Buy your booklets of ride tickets at a discount. 30 tickets for $15. On sale at Tickets and Video in the Exchange until March 9^th. 269-5300.

Who Moved My Cheese?

Who Moved My Cheese? is a workshop based on the #1 international best selling book that provides a simple parable about how we react, respond, and adapt to change.

Who Moved My Cheese? focuses on four "mouse" characters that live in a "Maze" and look for "Cheese" to nourish them and make them happy. Each "mouse" in the "Maze" has a different approach to coping with change, so workshop participants can identify with each of the characters. The "Cheese" is a metaphor for what you want to have in life and the "Maze" is where you look for what you want. The training will focus on group activities and discussions, analyzing the "Cheese" and the "Maze" in our personal lives. The purpose of this training is to help military families gain change skills to help them overcome the unique challenges of the military lifestyle. Who Move My Cheese? is offered March 29^th 6:00-8:00pm in Building 598. Registration is required by calling 269-6547.

Bloom This Month

Calendar of Events

4 Lenses

Tell Me A Story

March Events

Who Moved My Cheese?

MCFTB classes and events are always free. CHILDCARE is also available FREE of charge with advanced registration.

Registration for our classes is required by calling 269-6550 or by emailing us here!

Hours & Location
8am to 4:30pm Monday-Friday Bldg. 598
(Next To Commissary)

Visit MCFTB at www.mccsyuma.org

MCFTB Facebook: Coming Soon

MCFTB is almost ready to launch its new Facebook site. Look for an email soon about how to "like" our page. You will also receive information about our giveaway- "like" the MCFTB page and have a chance to win!!

Twice is Nice Baby and Child Gear Swap

The Yuma Family Readiness Officers are hosting the second Twice is Nice Baby & Child Gear Swap. Donate your gently used items now and come on April 2 from 8-10am at the Community Center to find new treasures. Contact Christa at 304-8786 or email her for more information.

Volunteers

Needed!

Looking for a fun and flexible volunteer opportunity that provides childcare? Join the L.I.N.K.S. team! Call Brooke at 269-6503 for more information or to sign up for the volunteer training on March 24th from 8-12am.

PREP

Prevention and Relationship Enhancement Program (PREP) teaches newly married and soon to be married couples how to effectively communicate, work together, manage conflict, and preserve and enhance commitment and friendship. Offered monthly by the MCAS Yuma's Chaplains. Call 269-2371 for more information or to register