MilSpouse Friday Fill-in #39!

It's FRIDAY! That means MilSpouse Friday Fill-in time :) Jump in and join the fun!

Hosted by Wife of a Sailor

1. Have you and your spouse agreed to live in separate locations (a geographical bachelor tour) knowing that the short-term inconvenience would have long-term benefits for your family? How did it work?

-We considered doing this when we thought there was a good possibility of us going to a duty station worse than where we were in Louisiana, because we knew wherever we went, my husband would be deploying within 6 months of us getting there. I had just started school and I knew I was in the top of the applying class for nursing school, but when we found out our actual location, I threw that to hell. I had a great friend up here and I wanted to be with him. Granted, it's taking me a lot longer to get my degree, but being together as a family is important to me.


2. What is your favorite thing about being a MilSpouse?

-I would have to say the pride of knowing what my husband does and the sacrifices that we make because of it. The sacrifices are by no means easy, but knowing that my husband is one of those 1% of men and women that protect the remaining 99% of Americans makes me extremely proud.


3. If you could still have your spouse and your family, but take the military life out of it ... would you?

-This is the only life I have ever known, as I was born into a military family. I have no idea or real concept of what "civilian" life is like. However, we have had the option to leave this military life behind and we chose not to. I guess that's the answer, no.


4. What have your homecoming experiences been like after a year long tour of separation?

-At our first duty station, we got to watch the plane land on the airfield and walk over to put their gear down, officials then usher us back into the hanger, and the band starts playing, the doors open and our Soldiers walk in. I tell you, that moment is one of the greatest moments that I could never fully explain without doing it the justice that the moment deserves. You're on the verge of tears with joy, relief and pride and you're only minutes away from touching them and kissing them without the fear that they're leaving any time soon. I would honestly put it on the same level of the moment I first held my son in my eyes and saw him.

Our first kiss at the end of our first deployment together, his second.

Our first kiss at the end of our second deployment together, his third.

5. Why did you chose your child's name?

-On our second date, my husband told me if he ever had a boy, he would be giving him the family name. So, when I was 23 weeks pregnant and we found out we were having a boy, I already knew his name. Hell, I knew what his name was going to be the moment we found out we were pregnant and should we end up having a boy. It made it so easy.