When you think of the 4th of July what comes to mind? Probably fireworks, BBQs, maybe camping or boating. That's what used to come to mind to me as well. Now that I have been a military spouse for over 6 years, and especially now that my husband is deployed, everything has changed in my mind about holidays like Memorial Day, Veterans Day, and the 4th of July. Now these holidays aren't just an extra day off of work or some good food, they are true celebrations and sober reminders for me. Have you ever cried during the national anthem? I did for the first time during my brother's recent college graduation. The sacrifice that my husband and his brother are both making for our country right now made tears roll down my eyes. I've never felt more proud of being an American, but at the same time for the very first time I understand the true cost of it. It's easy to say, "Oh yes, that must be hard" or "oh I couldn't stand it". But you don't really *get it* until you're the one making the … [Read more...]
How to deal with stress
Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. - Proverbs 3:5 If you grew up in a Christian home like I did you've probably heard the above verse over and over and OVER again. It's easy to tune out on verses that you've been spoon fed your whole life but usually there's a reason that they are so well used and loved. It's because they teach something that is so simple, so important, and yet so very, very hard to put into action and really live! Right now my life is a crazy whirlwind of preparation for a long period of separation from my husband due to his job. Since we're dealing with the military/government for all of this plans keep changing on a daily, sometimes hourly, basis and it was really starting to stress me out and make me go absolutely batty! I'm the kind of person who loves for everything to be planned out, organized, and scheduled way in advance so I have plenty of time to mentally prepare myself for it. I think God had me marry my … [Read more...]
Behind the Name
The first part of this column's name, Sippy Cups, is blatantly obvious to any mother or anyone who has even been around a mother within the past ten years. The Separation part of it might not be so obvious, at least not to a civilian wife. As a military spouse separation is a word that defines your world. Every part of your life is touched by it, shaped by it. Whether it's being separated from your family who are back the state you think of as "home", separation from friends you make and lose with every unit change, or the worst of all--separation from your husband as he's continually gone serving his country, there is always some aspect of it effecting you. This is something that I have struggled with as a military spouse and had a hard time coming to terms with. As I mentioned in my introduction I spent the first 19 years of my life in the same house. Moving and separation from anything or anyone were not a part of my life. All of my extended family on both my mother and father's … [Read more...]
Reader Comments