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The Deployment Balancing Act – Day of the Deployed
The Day of the Deployed is always a bittersweet remembrance for me because my husband has deployed several times. While I am so grateful he isn’t deployed today, I know that thousands of spouses still wait, life on perpetual pause, hoping their spouses return safely. I never know how to summarize the experience of deployment for those outside this military community because it’s such a complex experience. We miss them as husbands, and we miss them as friends. We miss help with baths, bedtimes, homework, housework. While we struggle with anxiety and fear, we simultaneously live for every phone call or email and struggle to live at all. It’s this…
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Memorial Day Grace & Perspective from an Army Wife
Before 2005, Memorial Day wasn’t really on my radar, even coming from a family of servicemen. It was the beginning of summer, BBQs, and I could wear white shoes again. But wasn’t really tangible for me until I kissed my young man goodbye and sent him to war. Luckily when I gave my heart to a soldier, he came home to me. (Heaven not Harvard is as a participant in affiliate programs including the Amazon Associates Program. As an affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases.) Not every service member comes home, and I cannot speak for their families. I can only speak for my heart on this issue. About a…
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Bloom in Any Season
Last Sunday, I held this beautiful rose in my hand as it bloomed defiantly in November. I heard God’s quiet whisper, “Even this rose can bloom in any season.” What wonderful encouragement! I have been truly relying on God during this difficult season in the Army, tired but coping. And isn’t that when the bottom falls out? the minute we think we have it all together? the minute we try to do it ourselves . . . God was encouraging me after the month we’ve had. My husband has been gone 18 hour days, 6-7 days a week, most Army related but some hunting, and selfishly, I get tired of…
