Maxwell salutes spouses this week Published May 10, 2013 By Rebecca Burylo Air University Public Affairs MAXWELL AIR FORCE BASE, Al -- Spouses were reminded Monday that laughter is still the best approach for life's mishaps as Kat Fadok, wife of Lt. Gen. David Fadok, the Air University commander and president, kept the crowd smiling with relatable tales and a strong message at this year's Military Spouse Appreciation Week luncheon inside the Maxwell Event Center. Though a week was dedicated to spouses and their sacrifices, Col. Trent Edwards, 42nd Air Base Wing commander, told those in attendance that Maxwell celebrates spouses each day for the important job they do. "This is your day. This is your week. But really it's more than just a day or a week to celebrate you," said Edwards. "We celebrate you every single day of our Air Force careers and as Americans. What you do is so very, very important and so this is just a small token of our appreciation." "A Salute to Maxwell Stars," this year's theme, was a way for Maxwell to shower genuine appreciation for the many difficult situations, stress-filled moments and tragic times spouses find they must tuck away in their life's "rucksacks," according to Fadok. She charged them to take those experiences and step into the lead role of their lives, realizing that they set the tone of their life's story with the power of transforming tough times to humor with a little bit of laughter. "We are in charge of writing our own story. All these things and challenges that we have to go through, things that we tuck in our 'ruck,' they're events that happen to us," Fadok said. "Our stories are about what we do with all that stuff. And we're in charge of our own." If they had the chance to take those situations and craft them into a unique story, Fadok asked the attendees, what story would they write? Their attitude and choices will determine the direction their life will read, she told them. Even when life seems overwhelming because of a tragedy or "a thousand little things," Fadok implored them to keep writing and to take advantage of the services the Air Force and Maxwell offers, such as key spouses, first sergeants, the Airman and Family Readiness Center, Miltiaryonesource. com and each other. "You have to remember, looking around this room, you got people that want to help you," Fadok said. "You got to see the people that you necessarily don't really know very well, but they are there for you because there are things in your rucksack that are similar to their rucksack." This week of appreciation allowed spouses a chance to pen good memories as the community treated them to a Zumba class, child daycare, vendors offering lotions, cosmetics and jewelry, shooting range opportunities, crafts, free life classes at the A&FRC and golfing specials and daily meal and bowling deals