Happy Military Spouse Appreciation Day!
Thank you, each and everyone of you military spouses. Your strength is admirable. Your courage is undeniable! Your sacrifices do not go unnoticed. So thank you, for all you do!
In honor of Military Spouse Appreciation Day, Wives of Faith is hosting a weekend long blog carnival. I am going to try my best to participate each day, but we have a busy weekend (complete with an FRG yard sale). So check out Wives of Faith and see what other military spouses are sharing during this blog carnival.
Today's topic is:
11 Things I love about being the wife of a soldier/sailor/airman/marine/coast guardsman/national guardsman/reservist!
First, let me share this picture of my hubby and me....whats not to love about him?? ;)
Here's my list:
11 Things I love about being an Army Reserve Wife:
11. The benefits - we have really good and affordable insurance....that is a big perk in my book.
10. Discounts - so many businesses and organizations are proud supporters of troops and offer wonderful discounts to service members and their families. They do not have to do that, but they do and to me, it means so much!
9. Phone calls in the middle of the night - when your the spouse of a deployed soldier, you do not go to bed (or anywhere for that matter) without taking your phone(s) with you. It does not bother me at all to receive a phone call in the middle of the night from my man. I actually got one last night and I seriously think I slept the rest of the night with a smile on my face. ;)
8. Support network - there are so many support networks out there for military spouses to connect through. Being a reserve family, we do not have the advantage of living on (or even near) a base so for me finding organizations online that have supported and encouraged me through deployments have meant the world to me. Wives of Faith has been such a source of support and encouragement for me. I am so glad I found it a few years ago.
7. Pride - I have so much pride being a military spouse. Proud of my husband's (and my brother's) service, pride of seeing a flag, pride hearing the national anthem.
6. Friendships - The friendships, both civilian and military, I have made are indescribable. I have wonderful friends who are with me every step of the way...during deployments, reintegration's, and everything in between. I am forever grateful for the incredible women God has placed in my life and for the impact they have on me.
5. Appreciating the little things - I think when your a military wife, you really learn (sometimes the hard way due to multiple separations) how to appreciate every single moment you have with your spouse. Appreciate having your husband sit next to you in church, appreciate someone to old your hand, appreciate every little hug, never taking for granted a single moment you have together. For us it made us realize how important family time is and how much we just want to be together (when we can)
4. Hand Written Letters - if there is something to love about deployment, for me it would have to be the hand written letters my hubby sends to me and to the kids. They are priceless. They are so comforting to pull out and read (over and over through tear filled eyes) on those days when I miss him so much.
3. Saved Voicemails - Unfortunately, I can not just call my husband anytime I want to because I need to/want to hear his voice...for that matter I can not call him at all. But, it is so nice to have saved voicemails that I can listen to over and over when I just want to hear his voice. To hear him say "I love you girl" I love it when he says that to me...makes me smile (though right now it is making me tear up thinking how much I want to hear that...think I need to go listen to that voicemail again)
2. Homecoming - the feeling you get as you prepare for and anticipate the arrival of your deployed spouse's homecoming...wow...the moment you see each other face - to -face and not on a computer screen. The moment when he wraps his arms around you...the butterflies in your stomach. AMAZING...not many moments in life can even begin to compare to that.
and the #1 reason I love being an Army Reserve Wife:
MY MAN IN UNIFORM =)
10 comments:
I know I've probably said this before, but you are just stunning! So photogenic :) I love your list, especially appreciating little things. And taking the phone to bed. I took my into the shower, too, and to check the mail, and yes, left the ringer on in church... I'm glad you got that call last night, too :D
thank you so very much Ebony! You are so sweet!!
Oh and I have left my ringer on during church before too... ;)
I love your picture! Your list was great. We all have so much in common don't we, I carried my phone with me everywhere and I never really broke the habit. :-) Thanks for sharing.
What a sweet post and so encouraging I am sure for all military wives!
@Amber - thank you so much! and your right, I don't think I have ever really broke the habit of carrying my phone everywhere either ;)
@Aimee - awe thank you so much sweetheart!
What a sweet post. I love the #1 reason...hilarious, but so true! Praying for you each day!
I love your #4. Those hand written letters were my life line when the war first started. I got to know my husband in a way I never had and we still write to each other when times are stressful and tough. There's just nothing like seeing your man's handwriting in the mailbox! I'm so happy I saw this on your blog:) I hope you have a wonderful Mother's Day!!! Thanks for always being so encouraging to me in your comments. I appreciate you!
You are such an amazing Army Reserve Wife & I love how much you encourage & blog to other women about it!!!
You are the best Mommy, too!! Hope your day has been wonderful. Thanks for the precious message!! Love you!
@Holly - thank you sweet friend! Praying for your sweet family each day too!
@Jhona - thank you! I always enjoy your posts. Hope your enjoying your mothers day as well!
@Nancy-thank you, thank you my sweet sweet friend. I hope your enjoying your day! love you!
Just found your blog and I am so glad I did. I am an army reserve wife, too, (hooah!!) and my hubby is on his 2nd deployment right now. Though this surely isn't our 1st rodeo :O) it still is hard for me and the kids. Glad to know that I am not alone. But God is faithful and is bringing me towards friendships and others who help the loneliness to ease a bit. Bless you and your family.
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