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Tuesday, March 9, 2010

Goodbyes . . .

Most people go through life living in the same town they grew up in with their family, friends and support system close by. Never realizing what they have right near them and often taking it all for granted. Goodbye isn't in their vocabulary and if it is it's only for short business trips or vacations. Goodbye doesn't mean months or years. Goodbye is only something you say as you head out the door to go home after enjoying a nice meal with your loved ones.


Deployments, separations and goodbyes are a part of every military wife's life. It often feels like she is always saying goodbye to someone; her husband, family and friends. She can prepare and expect these things but when the reality hits, it's never easy. How can it be?

I've said goodbye to too many people in my life and it never gets easier. Sometimes the goodbyes are said without any real idea of when you will see a person again. Sometimes it's to loved ones that you would give anything to live near. Other times it's to friends that mean so much to you it hurts. It seems like the only constant in my life is goodbye.

It won't be long and I will have to say my goodbye to my husband who will go on a deployment. We have done this before. In fact shortly after getting married we were apart for 6 months and again when we lived in Germany.

This isn't new stuff; but this time it's different. Now I have two innocent little children that have to say goodbye to their daddy. How do you prepare a child for that? How do you explain to these innocent little ones that their daddy won't be home and will miss so many holidays and both birthdays? It's not just my goodbye now, it's theirs too.

I know we will get through all of this. I will pull strength from all the women that have done it before me. I will think of my grandma that had 4 boys and an Air Force pilot that was never home. She was left with a heavy burden and she carried on.

But right now, today...I'm sad. I'm sad for my kids and my husband who will miss so much. I'm sad that most people go through their days and never once think of the military men and women who sacrifice so much of themselves for the good of their country. Today, I'm just sad.

But tomorrow; I'll be strong again. Strong for my husband and my kids. That is my role and even when I feel like my heart is breaking on the inside I will put on my brave face and endure. Just like every other military wife around. I am not different and I am not special. I am just one of the many military wives that do this every single day.


The Military Wife . . .

Military Wife

Lots of moving...
Moving...
Moving...
Moving far from home...
Moving two cars, three kids and one dog...all riding with HER of course.
Moving sofas to basements because they won't go in THIS house;
Moving curtains that won't fit;
Moving jobs and certifications and professional development hours.
Moving away from friends;
Moving toward new friends;
Moving her most important luggage: her trunk full of memories.

Often waiting...
Waiting...
Waiting...
Waiting for housing.
Waiting for orders.
Waiting for deployments.
Waiting for phone calls.
Waiting for reunions.
Waiting for the new curtains to arrive.
Waiting for him to come home,
For dinner...AGAIN!

They call her a 'Military Dependent', but she knows better:
She is fiercely In-Dependent.

She can balance a check book;
Handle the yard work;
Fix a noisy toilet;
Bury the family pet...

She is intimately familiar with drywall anchors and toggle bolts.
She can file the taxes;
Sell a house;
Buy a car;
Or set up a move...
.....all with ONE Power of Attorney.

She welcomes neighbors that don't welcome her.
She reinvents her career with every PCS;
Locates a house in the desert, The Arctic, Or the deep south.
And learns to call them all 'home'.
She MAKES them all home.

Military Wives are somewhat hasty...
They leap into:
Decorating,
Leadership,
Volunteering,
Career alternatives,
Churches,
And friendships.
They don't have 15 years to get to know people.
Their roots are short but flexible.
They plant annuals for themselves and perennials for those who come
after them.

Military Wives quickly learn to value each other:
They connect over coffee,
Rely on the spouse network,
Accept offers of friendship and favors.
Record addresses in pencil...

Military Wives have a common bond:
The Military Wife has a husband unlike other husbands; his commitment is
unique.
He doesn't have a 'JOB'
He has a 'MISSION' that he can't just decide to quit...
He's on-call for his country 24/7.
But for her, he's the most unreliable guy in town!
His language is foreign
TDY
PCS
EPR
SOS
ACC
BDU
ACU
BAR
CIB
TAD
ABU
And so, a Military Wife is a translator for her family and his.
She is the long- distance link to keep them informed;
The glue that holds them together.

A Military Wife has her moments:
She wants to wring his neck;
Dye his uniform pink;
Refuse to move to Siberia;
But she pulls herself together.
Give her a few days,
A travel brochure,
A long hot bath,
A pledge to the flag,
A wedding picture,
And she goes.
She packs.
She moves.
She follows.

Why?
What for?
How come?
You may think it is because she has lost her mind.
But actually it is because she has lost her heart.
It was stolen from her by a man,
Who puts duty first,
Who longs to deploy,
Who salutes the flag,
And whose boots in the doorway remind her that as long as he is her
Military Husband,
She will remain his Military Wife.
And would have it no other way.

--Author Unknown

Sunday, March 7, 2010

Spring . . .


Is there anything better than green grass in the spring?

Phoebe Turns 2 . . .


My little girl turned two and I took her in for her check up and she is healthy as can be. She has finally passed 20 pounds!! She weighs 21 lbs and is 31.5 inches. That's about the size of the average 1 year old. She isn't on the growth charts at all but she never has been so the doctor isn't concerned. The doctor was impressed with her vocabulary and her agility. She can climb like a monkey and can get her message across!!! This little girl just melts my heart!