I'm Thankful for this Deployment

Today, I am hosting Samantha from Navy Doll.

I love Sam! She is a beautiful person, inside and out. I love that she holds NOTHING back, she stands firm on her beliefs.. while at the same time, she doesn't disrespect anyone else's beliefs. She and I don't always agree on things, but we never trample one another's beliefs. I have had the privilege of meeting her in Person a couple times now. I guarantee you.. there is no reason in the world for you to not like this woman.

<- Look at her! Gorgeous!

Even though most of mine and Samantha's friendship has been an online acquaintance... I consider her a true friend. She's a great listener and I feel like I always have someone to count on.

I asked Samantha, "What are you Thankful for when it comes to the Military?". I hope you enjoy her post:

"I'm Thankful for this Deployment"

Here we are, another holiday coming around the corner and it is just myself and my two kids. Where is my husband? In the middle of the ocean, thousands of miles away. I should be cursing the military for making him miss Thanksgiving again. I should be crying to myself because I have a 7lb turkey in my freezer that I'm not cooking until Christmas. I should be jealous that everyone else gets to go home and be with their families. I'm not.  It's not the military's fault. It's his job and I'm not even slightly jealous or angry. I'm happy for others. I'm thankful that my friends and family are able to spend this holiday together. I'm thankful for this deployment.
Yes, I'm thankful for this deployment.  I realize the love that I have. The family that God has blessed me with. I have strength that I never thought I could have. Although this isn't our first deployment, this is our first one away from each other with two kids and no family close enough to run to. It is very different from the last.
This time spent apart has made me come to learn the things that I am sincerely most thankful for.
Reading an email from him, getting a phone call every so often, and having someone from his ship update their facebook gives me piece of mind. I look around at what I have and I see my beautiful babies. I have them with me. I am most thankful for that. Their smiles and laughter give me hope for better days. They are healthy, happy, and loved. So loved. Even when he is so far away, he loves them. What more could I ask for?
I'm thankful for my friends and family who care and make this deployment easy on the both of us. When I need a shoulder to cry on or an ear to vent to, I know who I can turn to. I'm so thankful for you all. Those of you who make me laugh everyday or just say kind words out of nowhere, thank you.
I'm thankful for my husband. He has been my best friend for 4 years and never has he let me down. Each day he is gone our love grows stronger. We know no distance or time. Sure we feel the strain of being apart some days. But isn't the homecoming the greatest moment to look forward to? All becomes better when I imagine us four hugging on that pier.
Lastly, I'm thankful that this isn't forever. As much as I love being a Navy wife, I know that I will have to let that go one day. Someday he will reenlist for the last time, he will bid his farewell to the job he loved so much, we will wake up one day, and our new life as a retired couple will begin. Our children will be off to college (or the military themselves), our travel plans will begin, our romance will be rekindled, and we will laugh about all the problems we had when we were younger.
The future. That's what I'm most thankful for.

Written with love by,
Samantha McDonald aka Navy Doll