Goodbye Again Soldier

He cried. The man I have only seen cry maybe once was crying. Tears rolling down his cheeks as he held our son and looked at him. He's a tough one, he doesn't let things get to him like many others do. But as we stood there, watching the minutes tick by to the time he had to finally let go he cried. We cried. He held me and our son for one last time before we were once again separated because of the military. But as many military families do every day, we said good bye and I drove away and the countdown begins and life goes on. This is forever the cycle of military life. Goodbye's, welcome home's, see ya later's and hello's.

Too Easy

To be honest, a lot of the time I am jealous of civilian marriages. Although there are definitely times that I love being married to a soldier, I mean that pride you feel whenever people talk about the "great" men and woman who serve this country or whenever someone thanks your hubby for his service is great. And lets be honest, he looks pretty amazing in his uniform. But there are days like today you wish you were in a civilian marriage.

Today is mothers day, and to be more specific today is my very first mothers day. But Zayne couldn't be with me today because he is still in Army Basic Training. Which, to be honest sucks. Like I am so very proud of him and what he is doing so he can serve this great country, don't get me wrong, but of course being away from him for so long with little to no communication sucks. (I did understand that was part of the deal when we decided after we were married that he should join.)

Anyways, back to my story. So it's my first mothers day and I think that they will for sure let them call us today. I was counting on it. I'm not even sure why I counted on it. I already no that you can't count on the Army for anything unless it is that the Army always comes first. (That of course is on anything personal. Of course we can count on them to keep us safe and to do the best they can in any task they are given) But I got my hopes up and waited by my phone all day. Jumping at any notification hoping just hoping it was a call from him. 21:00 rolls around and I know that is around the time lights are out for them and they are in bed and I come to realization that no, I am not getting a call today. No, I won't get to hear from my husband on my first ever mothers day.

So yes, today is one of those days I wish I was in a civilian marriage. But at the same time I know this is what God wanted for me and my family and it is the best thing for us. Sometimes the best things are the hardest things. So I'll just embrace the suck and remember that this is all for the best.

Dual Military Couples

Two different branches. Two different bases. Two different deployments. Two different people serving our country. But they are one family. One love. One dual military couple.

Dual military couples have the strongest of marriages. They live each day not knowing when their next deployment is going to be and whether they will both be deployed or just one. Not knowing whether they will be deployed to the same place or two different places, miles apart. That would have to be the hardest part of being a duel military couple. But having that possibility of being far apart makes the time they do spend together even more special.

But when a couple makes the decision to go dual military (if they were not both previously enlisted before they met) people seem to look down on that decision. Like when I first told my mom that I saw a career opportunity in the military that I was interested in the first thing she said was, "Yeah, but you don't want to do that. You shouldn't have both parents in the military and I don't like that kind of stuff for girls." and, "Remember your aunt was in the national guard and got deployed and your uncle had to take care of the kids?"

Now I love my mom and I respect her opinion but this is one area where I don't agree with her.

First off, a lot of people are married with kids and are dual military. It's completely possible; it may be tough at times but it is doable and if you think its what God wants you to do then don't let other people tell you its the wrong decision.

Second, the military takes care of its military families. They make sure you have a plan for if both parents get deployed and they make sure your child has enough food and support. The military does try to not deploy both parents at the same time but, sometimes that just isn't possible, and by joining the military both spouses understand that that is a possibility.

If others can do dual military so can I, and so can you if that what you feel is right for your family. It may be tough. There may be a lot of obstacles that you and your spouse will have to go through. But it is completely possible and is full of so many great opportunities that maybe other wise your family wouldn't have. So if you have the desire to serve this country and join the military then do it. If that's what God is telling you to do then listen. God knows all. He knows if you should join or not. So if you have the desire but are unsure if its right for your family pray. You will get your answer. Do what is right for you and your family, not what society tells you is right.

My Understanding (A post I wrote a while ago but never published until now)

Photo by: Rebekah Hatch, Hatch Photography
I’ve come to realize what this life is really like, (The military life) what it’s really about. It took me going to the hospital to understand.

I woke up at 3 in the morning with a stabbing pain in my chest and back. It hurt so bad I couldn’t breathe. Seeing me in so much pain scared my husband Zayne to death so he made me go to the hospital, practically forcing me. (If you know me you know I absolutely HATE going to a doctor of any kind.)

We get to the hospital around 5, since it took a lot of convincing to get me to go, and the hospital staff admitted me to the labor and delivery department. Since I’m 33 weeks pregnant they wanted to make sure it’s not labor related first. As I sat in the hospital bed, holding Zayne’s hand, I watched as the clock got closer and closer to 6:30. Why? Because it was drill weekend.

Why does something serious happen when my husband has to leave my side and go to drill? I’m only 19.. I haven’t got this being an adult thing down yet. I just wanted to cry. But the inevitable happened and he got in his uniform, kissed me goodbye and left alone in the hospital. I felt like crying but then one of the nurses said something that made me understand, She said to my husband as he walked out, “Thank you for your service, I’m sorry that you have to leave at such an inconvenient time.”

And then I realized it. Someone has to give up everything to serve and protect. Someone needs to be willing to put their life on the line for America. Ya it sucks that my husband had to leave me alone at the hospital to go to drill, but I’m proud that he is willing to do what most are unwilling to do but take for granted everyday. I’m proud to stand behind one of the great men that serve our country.

So thank you to every man and woman serving in our military. Thank you to their families who give up a parent, son, or daughter during hard times, holidays or just everyday life because they are at drill, or deployed. Thank you because your sacrifice of giving up that special someone give America another soldier to protect her rights and freedom. Because as we all know freedom doesn’t come free.