It's been 11 months since my last post, so being a little busy with the many changes in life is an understatement... The biggest thing to happen to my family since last year would have to be our separation from the Military life.
This happened back in March of 2011, but it wasn't until 2 months ago that I felt the full effect of transitioning back into the real world...
Prior to August 2007 If you asked me what the military was or what they did I honestly wouldn't have been able to tell you a single thing, which looking back is very sad. I knew that my grandpa was buried at a veteran's memorial, and that I lived right next to Nellis Air force base, where my dad took me for a couple golf lessons. And that was about the extent of anything I knew about the armed forces, and all that they did. Even after the tragedy of September 11Th I had no idea what that meant for our country and the men and women that served it. It wasn't until my boyfriend of three and a half years and I decided that we needed a completely different life, in a completely different place... and well, that's exactly what we got. We got married, celebrated our son's first birthday, and after testing, contracts, and 4 months of training we were officially a military family. And at 21 years old, a baby in tow and a new adventure ahead we moved to Fort Hood, TX... for the first time away from everything we knew. 6 months later my husband was deployed to Iraq, while I gave birth to our 2Nd son, and a year and 3 months later he was deployed again.
Through our 4 years with the Army and stationed in Texas I found this whole new world... I saw first hand what the military was and everything it entailed and it changed me forever. Where every one's husband is either coming or going, where women take care of their children on their own, work, send care packages, attend FRG meetings, clean the house, and somehow keep their composure and a smile on their face. The friends that I made at fort hood are like NO OTHER! the bond that you form when you are going through this whole new life is remarkable. Those genuine, selfless women that are there for each other and give each other the strength during the darkest of hours. That will come to your house at the drop of a hat with medicine for you sick child, that will come to your house with what you need because you just got home from having a baby and are all by yourself, that will pick up the phone every time you call, weather it's to laugh about your crazy life, or cry because you haven't the slightest clue how you're even making it through it. The support system you have is one of a kind. You can call them to watch your kids and not feel bad or feel like you have to pay them, because you know that you'll be returning the favor in the near future, especially when R&R and homecomings roll around ;)
Military life is a whole other world and something that I never would have understood without actually experiencing it. The sacrifices that the men and women make for their country is truly extraordinary. Every missed holiday, anniversary, birthday, milestone, birth of a child... is all for their duty and for what they believe in, and what they've been trained to do. The bonds that your husband makes while in the military are like no other, and the bonds that the families make are ones to last a lifetime. Even if I never see my close friends from Texas ever again for the rest of my life, I can whole hearted say that they will have a solid special place in my heart forever.
As we close out of a month where we have reflected what we are thankful for and been grateful for the many things in our lives I just want to take a minute to say how grateful I am for my experience as an army wife, for my husband coming home safely every time he had to leave, for the amazing friends that I made and will always treasure, the strength that experience has given me to take on the rest of my life.
There are things that I miss about the military life, and things that I don't miss... but when all is said and done it taught me so much that gives me a huge amount of strength and confidence to handle everything life throws at me from here on out. Weather it's planned or unexpected, transitioning out of the military life is far from an easy task, but to know what you're capable of and have survived makes it all that much easier to (as another strong woman I admire likes to say) "Keep calm & Carry on". The hard times always pass, and life goes on. We live and learn and somehow come through okay. I will always be thankful for what the last 4 years have taught me and my family, the unforgettable people we've met along the way, and the strong family and friends that stuck by us through it all.
I will always be patriotic and have pride in our country, and appreciative to everyone that serves it. Grateful for the families that hold the glue together back home and support their brave soldiers. We are forever in your debt and you are always in my prayers!
As I close this chapter of my life and keep the many things I've learned and grown from, I am thankful for the last 4 years, and thankful for the future that lies ahead... and that whole other world of incredible people that make it possible.
♥When the good Lord was creating military spouses, He was into His sixth day of overtime. An Angel appeared and said, "You're having a lot of trouble on this one. What's wrong with the standard model?"
The Lord replied, "Have you ever seen the regulations? It has to be completely independent, must be sponsored to get on base, have the qualities of both mother and father during deployments; Be a perfect hostess to 4 or 40, handle emergencies without military orders, cope with the flu and move around the world, have a kiss that cures anything from a child's torn valentine to a soldier's weary day, have the patience of a saint when waiting for the unit to return stateside, and have six pairs of soft hands." The Angel shook her head slowly and said, "Six pair of hands? No way!" And the Lord answered, "Don't worry. We'll make other military spouses to help. Besides, it's not the hands that are causing the problem - it's the heart. It must swell with pride, sustain the ache of separation, beat soundly when it's too tired to do so, be large enough to say 'I understand' when it doesn't, and say 'I love you,' regardless."
"Lord," said the Angel, touching his sleeve gently, "go to bed. You can finish that tomorrow." "I can't," said the Lord. "I'm too close to creating something unique. Already I have one who can heal itself when sick, feed unexpected guests who are stuck in the area due to bad weather, and wave goodbye to its spouse from a pier or runway and understand it's important to the country that the spouse leave." The Angel circled the model of the military spouse very slowly. "It's too soft," she sighed. "But tough," the Lord said excitedly. "You cannot imagine what this being can do or endure!" "Can it think?" the Angel asked. "Can it think? It can convert 1400 to 2 p.m.!" the Lord said. Finally, the Angel bent over and ran her finger across the cheek. "There's a leak," she pronounced. "I told you that you were trying to put too much into this model." "It's not a leak," said the Lord. "It's a tear." "What's it for?" asked the Angel. "It's for joy, sadness, pain, loneliness and pride," the Lord said. "You're a genius," said the Angel. The Lord looked somber and said, "I didn't put it there." ♥
