Sleep Alone

We chose this life and are strong enough to handle it

I am seriously frustrated lately with people outside the military and their lack of understanding or knowledge on how life works as a military wife, couple and family. Everyone seems to have an opinion on how we should live our lives, what decisions we should make, what we should do. But oddly enough those people that are so willing to give their opinions, they sound like complete imbeciles with what they say and suggest, as they have no idea what they are talking about. If you can't stand behind us and be there for us no matter what, then honestly, we don't need you and your meddling ways in our lives. How can you say you are behind us and support us, and then when there are things we have to do, chose to do or want to do, that are best suited for us and our family, you decide that we are wrong and you try to step in and tell us what we should do instead. Uh, excuse me? Do you even know what you are talking about? Do you have any idea why we are doing these things or why we made these decisions? Do you even understand how important it is for us to make these decisions and to fight for our family and fight to be together and to pursue the things that will allow us to be as normal a family as possible? Being in the military is hard. It's a lot of work. It requires so much of each service member, each spouse and each child. And we have to fight for each little thing, that you as a civilian family take for granted. But just because we are in the military, doesn't mean we shouldn't enjoy those things too. We deserve as normal a life as possible and will do whatever we have to do to make that happen and to be together. Yes, being a military family is hard. Being apart is hard. Having separate lives is hard. Having pets and a home and kids to care for alone is hard. Being away from your family for months on end is hard. Being in a war zone and laying your life on the line is hard. But you know what people? We chose this life. We willingly chose to be part of this life and support our spouse as they walk this path. We chose it with them, and understood all it would entail. We are proud of our spouses and the decision they made to serve their country...and we are proud of ourselves for our decision to stand beside and behind them. It's not easy for them, nor is it easy for us...but we don't even look at it that way. We knew what would be required of us before we ventured down this path and with open arms, we have welcomed all the joys, pain, trials and triumphs that we continually encounter along the way. Each day makes us stronger. Each day builds our resolve. Each day we find new joys and new beauty in the little things. I think we see life more clearly than a lot of people in the civilian world. We have stopped taking the small things for granted and no longer focus on the inconsequential things that once frustrated or tore us apart. Instead we focus on the good things, the little blessings, the beautiful moments. We are well aware of all the trials that life throws at us (more often than not there is something we are dealing with), but we are well equipped and ready to face each trial head-on and find a solution to each one. We refuse to let it get us down or to focus on the negatives. We can't. Time is too precious and life is too short to not fight for what we have, to not live every day to the fullest, to not love with all we have and to not cherish each moment we have with our spouse. It doesn't matter if they are right by our side or halfway across the world...the little things become the most beautiful and knowing that you are capable and strong each on your own and even stronger together, that security, happiness and knowledge cannot be replaced by anything else. So if you can't understand that, or if you want to try to pretend you understand what our life entails and tell us how we should do things, you can step off your high horse, walk a mile in our shoes and then see if you are so high and mighty with your opinions and grand ideas. Not to be cruel, but I imagine that those people wouldn't be able to do what we do...it takes a lot of strength, a lot of determination, a lot of perseverance and a strong will to fight for even the littlest thing. Especially if it means being a family and keeping us strong, happy and together, then we will do it, no matter the cost, no matter the fight. In our minds there is not other option...we military families and spouses, like our soldiers, marines and sailors...we understand our mission...we have accepted it with pride and determination, and we will see it through to the end, regardless of what may stand in our way. We are strong. We are proud. We are military spouses and families, damnit! And we won't be defeated or downtrodden by your ignorant and meddling ways.

Beautiful Truths

I love this! I am going to make a canvas in Heritage Makers and put our names and wedding date at the bottom! I love every single word and think it fits Greg and me perfectly! :)

Proud of Who I Am

I have been thinking a lot the last few days about who I am, what defines me, what has made me the person I am today and what I really hold dear. I am very proud of the person that I am. I am proud of my morals and my high standards. My ethics and how I live my life.

I am grateful that my parents instilled in me such a strong sense of family and of faith. They taught me how to be strong and proud of who I am and of the values that I consider important. They gave me the self confidence to be comfortable being different from everyone else and to take pride in standing up for my ideals. They taught me to never compromise and to never feel bad for standing firm in what I feel and know and hold true. I am not easily swayed and I never have been. If someone doesn't like me or what I believe in, then I am ok with that...I don't need their approval and I certainly don't need them in my life if they are going to judge me or try to ostracize me for what I believe. Really, go ahead...because when it comes down to it, I really don't care what you think. I know who I am. I know what I believe. I know what I hold dear. Very rarely will you find me compromising those things; it's just not me...who I am and what I believe is a part of me to my very core. I have the morals and values I need instilled deep inside me to take comfort in knowing that no matter what, I have the decency and self control to stay true to who I am and what I believe. I know what I want in life and what I expect of myself and of others. I am proud of who I am and those that really love me, love me for being exactly who I am and they know that my pride, my love and and my strength are what make me who I am.

I am a strong willed and strong minded person. If I don't want to do something, I don't do it. If it is outside my comfort level and it isn't something I want to try or be a part of, I have the clarity of mind and the inner strength to stand up and say no, and rather than feeling ashamed of being different, I feel a sense of pride knowing that regardless of the circumstances, I have held my ground and not compromised who I am or what I believe or want. On that same token, if I do want to do something and I have set my mind to it, there is no stopping me...I have seen my goal and I will achieve it, come hell or high water.

Thanks to my parents, my upbringing, and my faith, I feel that I am a very kind, genuine and hard working person. I am dedicated and live and love wholeheartedly. I learned to put others interests ahead of my own and find myself most happy and fulfilled when I am helping and serving others. I take care of those I love and protect them with a vengeance. I take pride in who I am and what I offer to myself, to my husband, to our families, friends and even strangers I come in contact with. I am not perfect by any means, but I do feel that I am a good person and that I am dedicated, faithful, loyal and true. Not only to those I love and hold dear, but to myself, my ideals, my beliefs and most importantly...my faith. I am glad that I am so strong willed and that I have such a strong sense of family, country and faith. I will never compromise or change who I am and I am grateful for those in my life who helped influence and shape me into the person I am today.