I’m sure everyone says this, but time does fly by the older I get. My husband is almost at his 6-year mark with the Army and I don’t know where the time has gone. While I did grow up an army brat, nothing really prepared me for life as a military spouse.
We have been living at Ft. Wainwright, Alaska for almost one and half years and this has been our 3rd duty station; we were previously stationed at Ft. Stewart, GA and Ft. Leonard Wood, MO. But after 6 years, 1 deployment, and 3 moves with the army, here are some of the things I have learned.
- Never buy anything to expensive. You are taking the chance that the item will never make it to your next home in one piece. We have been lucky and never lost anything in a move, but we have had a few pieces come back to us damaged beyond repair.
- Nothing is ever 100%. We have had to cancel many plans because of last minute changes with the army. Vacations you never make it to and date nights that must be cancelled. But I have learned to embrace the change. Things are never boring.
- You will make some of your best friends. Most of the women that I am closest to now all are military spouses. While I stay in touch with a few friends from back in high school and college, it is hard for them to understand certain things that come with being a military spouse.
- You will grow closer with your spouse. Knowing that my husband will be gone from days to weeks at a time, I have grown to appreciate all times we do have to spend together.
- You are stronger then you ever imagined. While my parents raised me to be pretty independent, it’s a whole different story when you move across the country from everyone you know and your husband leaves you for a 2-month exercise in -40F weather and everything breaks (that’s a story to tell a different day). Newton’s Law of Deployment will happen.
It definitely has not been an easy road, but I wouldn’t change it for anything.
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