I was researching for this blog post and came across the post I wrote last year. So, I decided to share parts of the blog post I wrote last year again. Hey – recycling is cool!

Well Milspouses, today is a special day, National Military Spouse Appreciation Day. This means the laundry and housekeeping fairies will show up at your house while the cabana boy will hand you drinks with umbrellas by the pool. OK – so it probably is going to be like every other day, but isn’t it nice to know that there is one “official day” set aside for us? You and I know the job of a military spouse is one of the toughest jobs out there (and if your spouse has a clue – he or she will tell you that every day LOL). So all I ask, is that you do something nice for yourself today!

The Military Spouse
~author unknown~

There he stands in camouflage….yet he cannot hide from you.

You can pick him out in a crowd, and can eye his stride among a formation.

There he goes, away from you again, off to do his part and be his best,

leaving you in his wake – never “behind” yet always longing for his return.

There you are, amidst boxes and paper and confusion, creating a home, designing a household, transforming a building into a loving, nurturing, comfortable environment. Memories will be made here. Events will be celebrated. Children will be born, graduate, grow, change. Your family will evolve. Your love will increase. Your marriage will improve. And you will then be asked to leave it all…again.

There are those who do not understand… Who cannot comprehend, what it takes to fulfill your role, to fill your shoes, to be all that you need to be.

They marvel at times.

Criticize at others.

Seldom appreciate.

Cannot imagine.

There are those moments, when you are where they are. When you marvel, criticize, lack comprehension, and are unable to muster understanding. And then he appears at the door, or on the phone, or through a rumpled letter addressed to “my love” and suddenly there is comprehension, and understanding, affirmation and conviction.

For by his presence, through his voice, in his message you KNOW that you’ve been beckoned to a noble calling, when asked to be a military spouse.

Invited to support a soldier who allows freedom, who guards democracy, who instills leadership. And in your role you see a slice of life that few others have the privilege to experience…

– flags appear more brilliant to you…

– parades draw out more emotion for you…

– a patriotic song is a musical message played just for you…

– a hand-over-the-heart is as stirring as an embrace for you…

– a parting kiss can hold you for months…

– a welcome-back embrace can fill you up from lonely months…

– a gravemarker is a stark reminder of the meaning of devotion…

– a tear shared is a stark statement on the meaning of sacrifice…

– a duffle bag on a baggage claim gives you pause and connection…

– an eagle’s soar gives you inspiration.

There you are…

The military spouse.

The one asked to be strong.

The one willing to belong.

The one who is often required to do it all.

The very one who is privileged to stand beside a true American – day in and day out.

How God has blessed us.

How He has rewarded us.

There are military spouses around the world, beside soldiers, airmen, marines and sailors. They share a bond, a unity and a duty- to be there, always for their hero.

There.

Said.

Done.

Deserved.

There are no better…anywhere.

The Military Spouse
~Author Unknown~

When the good Lord was creating military spouses, He was into His sixth day of overtime.

An Angel appeared and said, “You’re having a lot of trouble on this one. What’s wrong with the standard model?”

The Lord replied, “Have you ever seen the regulations? It has to be completely independent, must be sponsored to get on base, have the qualities of both mother and father during deployments; Be a perfect hostess to four or 40, handle emergencies without military orders, cope with the flu and move around the world, have a kiss that cures anything from a child’s torn valentine to a soldier’s weary day, have the patience of a saint when waiting for the unit to return stateside, and have six pairs of soft hands.”

The Angel shook her head slowly and said, “Six pair of hands? No way!”

And the Lord answered, “Don’t worry. We’ll make other military spouses to help. Besides, it’s not the hands that are causing the problem – it’s the heart. It must swell with pride, sustain the ache of separation, beat soundly when it’s too tired to do so, be large enough to say ‘I understand’ when it doesn’t, and say ‘I love you,’ regardless.”

“Lord,” said the Angel, touching his sleeve gently, “go to bed. You can finish that tomorrow.”

“I can’t,” said the Lord. “I’m too close to creating something unique. Already I have one who can heal itself when sick, feed unexpected guests who are stuck in the area due to bad weather, and wave goodbye to its spouse from a pier or runway and understand it’s important to the country that the spouse leave.”

The Angel circled the model of the military spouse very slowly. “It’s too soft,” she sighed.

“But tough,” the Lord said excitedly. “You cannot imagine what this being can do or endure!”

“Can it think?” the Angel asked.

“Can it think? It can convert 1400 to 2 p.m.!” the Lord said.

Finally, the Angel bent over and ran her finger across the cheek. “There’s a leak,” she pronounced. “I told you that you were trying to put too much into this model.”

“It’s not a leak,” said the Lord. “It’s a tear.”

“What’s it for?” asked the Angel.

“It’s for joy, sadness, pain, loneliness and pride,” the Lord said.

“You’re a genius,” said the Angel.

The Lord looked somber and said, “I didn’t put it there.”

c/p at Hooah Wife and Friends