For those of us who are married to a service member, we too are members of the military. We may not have a government issued weapon, or fatigues that allow us to blend in with our surroundings, nor have we seen our brothers/sisters shot before us. We have not seen the atrocities first hand in countries like Afghanistan and Iraq, children with weapons, women asking for help just to blow up our Soldiers. We aren't those members, but we have our own burdens. We may now sleep with a gun in our nightstand because it is up to us to protect our children with our husbands gone. We are now targets in certain towns, we now have to see people [AMERICANS!] exercise their freedom of speech by interrupting a funeral for one of our American Heroes. We are now mother and father, 100% of the time. Every decision is made by us, and occasionally we have the opportunity to tell our loved Soldier what it is we are up to. Not only do we have the normal stress of life, but we also have this deathly fear of cars in our driveway that we do not recognize...that knock at the door when you are expecting no one. We hold ourselves at night, for there's no one else to hold us. We may not be the first line of defense, but we too are members of the service. We allow our Soldiers to focus on their dangerous jobs by handling both of ours in the family. We allow Uncle Sam to move us every four years for the benefit of the Army. We allow our friends to be ripped from us, and our kids to restart at a new school repeatedly. We allow it because of our love for our country. We weren't the one's who signed on the dotted line, but without us, those who did sign wouldn't be the Soldier's they are. Man does not go to war for hatred of what is in front of him. He goes to war for the love of what is behind him.

We all have our uniform of "normalcy". We try to blend in so that no asks how we are, or where he is, or when we've last heard from him. We are single but married. We cannot date, and we are looked at oddly when we go to bars with friends. We are scrutinized for dinners out with male friends, or even events throw in our homes. We become public figures, simply because we continue to live life. But, I tell you what....its worth it. I wouldn't change my life for anything. I am an ARMY SPOUSE, and I am damn proud of what he does, and what we do for him. I am DAMN PROUD to move my kids every three or four years, and I make it my personal mission to ensure they have the social skills to cope with life in the Army. Their vocabularly is limited though. They only have limited definitions of Aunt, Uncle, Cousins, etc. They have only met these types once or twice. They spend a week a year with Grandma or Grandpa, and they spend tons of time with "fake families" that we cultivate whenever we move. It is a sacrifice, but its one I would make repeatedly.....
 

there's a lot to be said for the men and women that stay behind to hold down the family fort while loved ones are out protecting our country and our freedom. I think it is a job that is not easily held. I miss my sister very much and my niece and nephew as well but i wouldn't change how her life or theirs has turned out because of it. She is a STRONG woman with great kids and good friends. Don't get me wrong i am PROUD of what my brother in law does for me and my freedom, nothing can match up to that. Thanks will never be enough, but I am glad he chose to marry my sister who is a soldier of her own homefront.


SUPPORT OUR TROOPS!!! SUPPORT OUR TROOPS FAMILIES!!!