i am an army wife.

it's been 49 days since the Hubs left for deployment.
49 looooonggg days!

i get up alone.
i get the kiddos ready for school alone.
i serve the babies breakfast alone.
i clean the house alone.
i put them down for naps alone.
i get the big boys off of the school bus alone.
i do homework with them alone.
i make dinner alone.
i eat dinner alone.
i get them ready for bed alone.
i kiss them goodnight and say bedtime prayers alone.
i go to bed alone.

yes, i share these days with our four beautiful children...how could i possibly feel alone?
one truly wouldn't understand until becoming an army wife.
it's lonely.

the life of an army wife is so much more than sending your hero off to war.
we pray.
we hold tight to our faith.
we pray.
we cry.
we pray.
we reach out to other army wives.
we pray.
we become mother and father all-in-one.
we pray.
we take on the household tasks of our husbands.
we pray.
we lean on our friends who may not fully understand but know us inside and out...and still love us.
we pray.
we look forward to the day we can hold the love of our life in our arms again.
we never stop praying.

despite the obvious *downs* to being an army wife i wouldn't trade this life for another.
there are a few *ups*.

we'll travel the country...if we're lucky, we'll travel the world!
we'll make friends from all over the world.
our children will experience more in their little lives than most adults have ever known.
and, it doesn't hurt that i get to see my Hubs in his uniform....oooh-la-la!!

being an army wife gives me a great sense of pride!
i'm proud of my husband.
i'm proud of his fellow soldiers.
i'm proud to call myself an american.
i get a lump in my throat when i hear the national anthem.
i want to photograph EVERY american flag...red, white, and blue have become my favorite colors.

i know this post was kinda all over the place.
these last couple of days have been a roller coaster of emotion...
for so many reasons.
too many really to list.
but, they all make me realize that there is a great need for army wives to stand up and be heard.
or, at least write about it for a sec.

next time you see a soldier, thank him!
next time you hear a wife say that her husband is deployed, thank her!
next time you hear of a soldier that needs prayer, pray.
or, how about you add those hard working soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines to your daily prayer?
pray for our men and women EVERYDAY!
they will feel it.
their families back home will feel it.
AMERICA will feel it!