Army Wives
I had the amazing opportunity to visit my son, his wife, and my 3 granddaughters recently in Texas. We are a military family, though it all started after 9/11. My husband felt strongly after the attack that he should do his part in protecting our freedoms and joined the Navy. He was 36 at the time so this was not our initial plan, but it turned out to be the right one. Through his service and multiple deployments, he instilled a legacy of honor and courage within our children and today each one plays a different role in patriotism because of him. Our oldest daughter has been actively involved in human rights and fighting human trafficking. Our oldest son is serving in the Army in Texas and our middle son is in the Coastguard currently serving on the Mississippi River. We are truly proud of them all. But what this blog is really about is the connection I witnessed on my recent visit.
Having only been there a couple of years and in a small cul de sac on Post, my son and his wife are joined by several families facing the same uncertainties and concerns as their own…will they be deployed, will I be a single parent for a year or more, will they be transferred, where will they be called up to defend or fight, and many other personal concerns, but this one Friday night a couple of weeks ago during my visit I was privileged to see beyond their fears when they let me have a peek at their unique friendship.
These 5 women come from all different backgrounds, ethnicities, and religious beliefs, but are bound together in an unwavering strength. From a woman with a nose ring and no filter, another with crazy tattoos, one with 2 special needs children and is adopting another, to one woman who adopted her nieces and saved them from a drug house. Once a month they meet at one of the houses in their circle and amongst the cricket crafting machines, piles of cardstock and lamination…jokes, laughter, smiles, some tears, and plenty of chocolate surfaces throughout the night. They create gifts for the woman who is pregnant down the street and has no family here, gifts for their children, their husbands, their families, and even new acquaintances.
Their examples of friendship without limitation and love beyond boundaries are inspiring to me and I thank them for allowing me a glimpse into the goodness that still exists amongst the chaos.