Dear Military, I Thank You

Today, I am proudly hosting The Wife on the Roller Coaster from Riding the Rollar Coaster.

I am so Thankful for this blogger. She is an inspiration to me. A strong woman, positive and knowledgeable about the military lifestyle and all it entails. I know that whenever I need a pick-me-up, I can visit her blog or her Facebook page and I'm sure to leave in a better mood. She's my morning coffee.

When Riding The Roller Coaster said she would guest blog for me, I was more than excited. Her posts always make me smile, make me think.. and I always feel a connection with her words.

When asked, "What are you Thankful for when it comes to the Military?", This is what "Reese Barrymore" had to say:

Dear Military: I Thank You

Dear Military,
Thanksgiving is once again upon us.  In between mouthfuls of turkey and stuffing, cranberries and mashed potatoes, we remind ourselves of all the things we’re thankful for. 

There are the obvious big things, like our families and our health, the houses we live in and our steady paychecks.  There are the little things, like a much-needed day off from work and the turkey that emerged from the oven perfectly cooked.  And then there are the surprising things, the things we have no idea we’re thankful for until we give our souls a good searching and discover they are so pervasive in our lives that we can’t imagine living without them.

Military, my surprising thing to be thankful for is you.

At one point or another, we mil spouses complain about the lifestyles you force upon us.  The multiple PCS’es.  The crazy hours our spouses work.  The hurry-up-and-wait philosophy.  TRICARE.  And, of course, deployments.  I’ve been on this roller coaster for almost a decade now, and yes, I’ve often wished the ride wasn’t so bumpy and unpredictable.  But when I look back over the years, I can’t imagine a life any other way.  And I thank you for that.

I am thankful that you have given my husband the opportunity to pursue a career he loves. 

I am thankful for the places you have taken me.  If not for you, my husband and I probably would have settled down in one location and stayed there forever, oblivious to what else is out there.  We certainly would have never had the chance to live in Japan!

I am thankful for the people you’ve introduced me to.  Most of my friends are military spouses.  They get me.  They understand my ups and downs.  They know the right words to say.  They sit right there next to me on this crazy ride.

I am thankful for the lessons you have taught me.  You have forced me to think for myself, to embrace the unknown, to persevere through challenges, and to make the best of difficult situations. 

I am thankful for the way you have molded me into the person I’ve become.   I was practically a kid when I met you.  Now I am a strong, independent woman.  And I’m confident that if I can handle everything you’ve thrown at me, I can handle anything. 

I am thankful for the pride I have in my country.  I’m proud of my husband and all the other service members whose sacrifices secure our freedom.


But as thankful as I am for the role you’ve played in my life, please don’t take offense if I don’t mention you as I sit before my Thanksgiving feast and take my turn sharing with my family what I’m most thankful for.  I’ll tell my husband how thankful I am for his love and our marriage.  I’ll tell my children how thankful I am to be the mother of two happy, healthy, intelligent kids.  I’ll share my appreciation that my husband is home to celebrate this holiday with us, that I have a challenging and rewarding job, that my children are thriving at their schools, that I have loving and supportive family and friends who are only a phone call away.  But I’ll likely forget to add you to that list. 

The lifestyle you have given me is all I know.  And sadly, I tend to forget to appreciate those things in my life that are so easily taken for granted.  So Military, I wanted to take this opportunity to thank you.  I can’t imagine my life without you.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Love,
Wife on the Roller Coaster