Sunday Confessional: 7/7/13

This may come as a surprise to some people, but being a military spouse is not easy.  Marrying someone all ready in the military helps a little, but marrying them before leaves you totally oblivious to what being in the military means for you.

There is more to it than just deployments (which is hard enough).  There are regulations, sometimes moving constantly, making new friends often, being far from family and everything you once knew, acronyms for everything, schmoozing, learning your way around a new city or town, exercises where you hardly see your spouse, phone calls at any given time of day, rules about what you can say or know, doing more than your "given job," supporting those around you, and all kinds of other things.  It can be a very scary and overwhelming experience when your spouse enters the military or when you finally join them on their journey.

For how hard this lifestyle is, there are so many rewards to it as well.  Seeing many states or countries, reinventing yourself each move (if you so choose), meeting many different people from very different walks of life, the ability to teach your child adaptability and respect, being around the most patriotic people you'll ever meet, a sense of community you can't fathom (your new neighbor can turn into your military family over the length of a meal), knowing your spouse would give their life for your freedom, having the chance to help others,and so much more.

Confession: This is a rough lifestyle to say the least but I wouldn't have it any other way, it was specifically designed for me through a very creative man.