I Am A Military Wife

Author Unknown

I am a military wife - a member of that sisterhood of women who have had the courage to watch their men go into battle, and the strength to survive until their return. Our sorority knows no rank, for we earn our membership with a marriage license, travelling over miles, or over nations to begin a new life with our military husbands. Within days, we turn a barren, echoing building into a home, and though our quarters are inevitably white-walled and unpapered, we decorate with the treasures of our travels, for we shop the markets of the globe.

Using hammer and nail, we tack our pictures to the wall, and our roots to the floor as firmly as if we had lived there for a lifetime. We hold a family together by the bootstraps, and raise the best of ’brats’, instilling in them the motto: "Home is togetherness", whether motel, or guest house, apartment or duplex. As military wives we soon realize that the only good in "Good-bye" is the "Hello again". For as salesmen for freedom, our husbands are often on the road, at sea, or in the sky, leaving us behind for a week, a month, an assignment.


During separations we guard the home front, existing until the homecoming. Unlike our civilian counterparts, we measure time, not by years, but by tours - married at Petawawa, a baby born at Gagetown, a special anniversary at Uplands, a promotion in St Jean. We plant trees, and never see them grow tall, work on projects completed long after our departure, and enhance our community for the betterment of those who come after us.

We leave a part of ourselves at every stop. Through experience, we have learned to pack a suitcase, a car or hold baggage, and live indefinitely from the contents within: and though our fingers are sore from the patches we have sewn, and the silver we have shined, our hands are always ready to help those around us. Women of peace, we pray for a world in harmony, for the flag that leads our men into battle, will also blanket them in death.

Yet we are an optimistic group, thinking of the good, and forgetting the bad, cherishing yesterday, while anticipating tomorrow. Never rich by monetary standards, our hearts are overflowing with a wealth of experiences common only to those united by the special tradition of military life. We pass on this legacy to every military bride, welcoming her with outstretched arms, with love and friendship, from one sister to another, sharing in the bounty of our unique, fulfilling military way of life.

Mommy Meltdown Solution: Just Vacuum it Up!

When you say "I do" to a guy who dream of being a pilot in the military (and in the military in general), I don't think you really know what you're getting yourself into. At least, not until you've lived it! Then, you think, "Let’s have a baby!" Again, how you thought it would go in your brain isn't how it goes at all.  It's a different story for you than for your friend who has her Mom or family to take the baby now then, giving you some time to yourself.  I get a break at nap time or when my husband can spare some time from his busy schedule - usually not until the weekend if he's not studying and rarely no more than a few minutes during the week.  Am I complaining, absolutely, because I don't think others realize what military wives and people in similiar situations go through. For type-A women - yes, I finally consider myself a woman after all that I've lived (no longer a young lady or a girl), it seems realizing that things aren't how we "planned" it a little harder to accept and adjust to accordingly. You see, "this was how it was supposed to go!!! I'm supposed to be able to do this - possibly even it all."
Last night, I had another awakening. I was planning on making stir-fry, so I went to the store to grab a couple of things off of my list, of course. When I got home, I pulled the pot out to make rice, and no rice. Ok. How bad do I need this? Well, no rice, no stir-fry. Decision made: We have to go back to the store for rice. William begins to wine (his new favorite noise when he wants anything). I took my deep breath, thought, if I have him a snack while we go to the store, we can do this. Alright, grab the bag of strawberry wheat-nutons and go: I'm proud of myself for stepping back and assessing the situation then finding a solution. When we got home for the second time, I heated up green beans from the night before and put them on the table for William to eat while I finish dinner. He decided to turn the plate over, so I corrected him and returned them to the plate. After the second time, I thought, "I'm not fighting that battle, no harm in eating them off the table, go ahead." He started putting them in his lap, no problem. He started putting them on the floor, no problem. I can't believe I'm letting him doing this, but again, I'm not picking that battle tonight. Did I mention I have the flu with all the fixin's??? William begins asking for the green beans on the floor (aka wining for them), and I decide they're staying there until Casey gets home. By this point in the day, he's had his serving of fruit, meat, & whole grains. He needs the rest of his vegetables and milk. This one's hard for me because I make sure he gets all of these each day, but I think, other kids don't, it won't hurt you. I put Cheerios on the table for him. I continue cooking and checking on him, and the Cheerios start making their way to the floor in fistfuls & he starts fussing. I walk back into the kitchen with my already running nose and the tears start to fall...When is Casey coming home? Do you think I could call a family member to drive 5.5 hours? When is this flu going to go away? I hate that this makes my back and neck hurt even worse. Why didn't I take the chicken & rice soup and throw the marinated chicken away? William starts to cry.....INHALE, EXHALE, INHALE, EXHALE....I CAN do this! I walked to the back, got out the vacuum, comforted him, and started cleaning the floor. I had a flash of Michael Keaton from an 80's movie vacuuming up after the kids' breakfast. What the heck!?!? It's allover your lap, I'll vacuum that too. And in your seat, and on your butt, and on your leg and hands, and the table too!!! I just vacuumed it all up. I wiped his hands down and mouth and he was happy to be out of his seat. PROBLEM SOLVED and dinner finished.
I never dreamed of being that kind of Mom, but you know what, it worked, and I did what I needed to do. I'm sure I won't make it a habit, but I was invigorated with finding a solution to my meltdown. I had a happy baby and was a happier Mommy.

William's 1st Pumpkin Carving - Mickey Mouse

Daddy started carving the pumpkin, and when he lifted the top to show Will the insides, Will's jaw dropped.  Then, Daddy went to work!  "Mop" and "Da-Da" put a light in the Mickey pumpkin and William smiled.  When we sat him next to it, he was more interested in picking Mommy's flowers.

It's time for William's 1st Hair Cut: We are just having a hard time bringing ourselves to do it.

Book Worm Videos

A Lion at the Pumpkin Patch

We headed to the Pumpkin Patch with our LUNA Mom's group.  It was William and Mommy's third time there, but we had a good time like always.  Daddy didn't go to work until later in the morning, so William had a little time with him before.

Colson Country Farms Pumpkin Patch

Today, our LUNA Mom's play group went to the Pumpkn Patch at Colson Farms in Caldonia, MS.  It was great!  The  kids had so much fun playing with the pumpkins and running around the property.  There were even wagons to pull the little ones.  William immediatley ran up to  the cinderella pumpkins and began hugging them, trying to pick them up like he does my fake pumpkins at home.  He was adorabley straining,
"uh!"  We paid a dollar each to ride the hay ride, which was very relaxing for the moms but apparently a little scary for some of the kids.  Some of the kids held on tho their moommy's pants, and Willliam held my hand.  After a little while, they began to play with the hay.  We finished off, playing with the corn bins.  William wasn't sure about it at first but after he got comfortable in it, he allowed his legs to be burried and even tried to lay in it. I thought it was better than sand.  The little John Deer tractors were great too:  I can't wait till he can fit on them. It was hard to decide how many and which kind of pumpkins to get.  There were so many to eat and ornamental.  The huge pumpkins are really huge and great, and their prices were so inexpensive too! I'm excited to go back an take pictures in our costumes on later in the month.