Military Monday.....What is a Military Wife?

I had a friend give me this while my husband was on his last deployment.  It really brightened my day and reminded me that I was strong and definitely not alone.  I thought I would share with all of you!  I don't know who wrote it but I definitely find it inspiring.

What is a MILITARY Wife?


They may look different and each is wonderfully unique.


But what do they have in common?


They have THIS in common:


Lots of moving---
Moving.
Moving far from home.
Moving two cars, three kids and one dog--all riding with HER, of course.
Moving sofas to basements because they won't go in THIS house.
Moving curtains that won't fit.
Moving jobs and certifications and professional development hours.
Moving away from friends, moving toward new friends.
Moving her most important luggage; her trunk full of memories.


Often waiting---
Waiting, waiting...
Waiting for housing;
Waiting for orders;
Waiting for deployment;
Waiting for reunion;
Waiting for phone calls;
Waiting for the new curtains to arrive;
Waiting for him to come home for dinner--AGAIN!


They call her 'military dependent,' but she knows better.
She can balance a checkbook,
Handle the yard work,
Fix a noisy toilet,
Bury the family pet...
She is intimately familiar with drywall, anchors, and toggle bolts.
She can file the taxes, sell a house, buy a car, or set up a move--
All with ONE Power of Attorney.


She welcomes neighbors that don't welcome her.
Reinvents her career with every PCS.
Locates a house in the desert, the arctic, or the deep south and learns to call them all 'home.'
She MAKES them all home.


She is fiercely independent and somewhat hasty;
Leaps into decorating, leadership, volunteering, career alternatives, churches, and friendships.
She doesn't have 15 years to get to know people.
Her roots are short but flexible.
She plants annuals for herself and perennials for those who come after.


Military wives quickly learn to value each other.
They connect over coffee, rely on the spouse networks, accept offers of friendships and favors--and records addresses in pencil.


Military wives have a common bond.
The military wife has a husband unlike other husbands.  His commitment is unique.
He doesn't have a job, he has a 'mission'--he can't decide to quit--
He's on call for his country 24/7,
But for the military wife he is the most unreliable guy in town!


His language is foreign:
TDY
PCS
TRE
OPR
ACC
DCA
BDU
And so, a military wife is a translator for her family and his.
She is the long distance link to keep them informed, the glue that holds them together.


Military Wife has her moments--
She wants to wring his neck, dye his uniform pink, and refuse to move to Siberia.
But she pulls herself together.
Give her a few days, a travel brochure, a long hot bath, and a wedding picture.
And she goes.
She packs.
She moves.
She follows.


Why?
What for?
How come?
You may think it is because she has lost her mind.


But actually it is because she has lost her heart.
It was stolen from her by an amazing man
Who must put duty first
Who salutes the flag
And whose boots in the doorway remind her that as long as he is her Military Husband,
She will remain his Military Wife.
And proud of it.