It’s the time all of us left at home fear, the time our men and women in
uniform train so hard for. If you asked my husband, he would say that he looks
forward to deployment. The chance to get to serve his country excites him. It fills
him with purpose. It is the reason he became a soldier in the first place and is the
reason why he chose to stay in year after year-contract after contract. That passion
and purpose from our service men and women is what makes our country so great.
Their desire to see a better world, and to make a difference in their own lives and
the lives of those around them. They are what make me extremely proud to be an
American.
So how do we deal with that on the home front? I am the first to admit that
deployments are hard on families. It is hard on relationships and it’s very hard on
our children. Seeing our loved ones pack their bags with no promise of return... it
never gets easier on any of us. So, we keep ourselves busy. We plan trips, we take
up crafts, find hobbies, and try our hardest to make friends with other men and
women who are going through the same trials that we are. On top of an already full
plate, juggling kids and their schedules, bills, house chores, work, family, and
friends, we fill our calendars even more in attempt to pass the time. We find solace
in family, self-care, religion, and all the things that help us find a semblance of
comfort to get us through it.
The good news is this: you turn a corner at any military base, and you can
find a spouse who has been there, sometimes many times, as well as, those going
through it at the same time you are. Go find them. They are your family. Odds are,
they need you just as much as you need them. They say, “find your tribe and love
them well.” Between FRG's, Bible studies, get togethers, coffee outings, hiking
groups, and so much more, military bases have a lot to offer spouses to give them
an outlet to make friends, get out of the house and mingle.
Good luck and god speed friends. I have been where you are now, and my
heart is with you. Believe me that our prayers are with you and your families. Please
feel free to reach out if you need someone to talk to. Written by: Amanda Baird (Secretary of the Board)
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