On Veteran’s Day, I wanted to take this opportunity to say” Thank You” to all my Military Sisters out there and share a beautiful poem someone gave to me recently.

One of the greatest gifts my husband has ever given to me was not purchased with money but given to me over the years via the benefit of being a Military Wife.  For years I have been blessed with the opportunity to meet and get to know some of our country’s most incredible women.  Each one of them unique and precious holding some awesome qualities: strong, intelligent, resourceful, prayerful, funny, hardworking and proud of their soldier.

As the years have passed, my Sisterhood Circle has grown from what was a few close knit friends at Fort Hood to girls that are my “BFF’s” from every duty station we have ever had the pleasure of being stationed.  Through the years, we have stood strong together lifting each other up during deployments, illnesses, deaths, and holidays.  We have celebrated birthdays, anniversaries and births together.  These are the women who have been by my side when my husband and my family could not be there.  They are the ones who let me be 29 just one more year and never give away my true age, let alone remind me that we have children in their 20’s.  They are the women who have helped me celebrate more anniversaries and valentines day’s than my husband could, simply because he was deployed.  They have been my prayer partners in the coldest of waiting rooms when I really needed someone to hold my hand and pray with me and remind me to “Trust God.” They have been my birthing coach, my babysitter and the Aunt to my children. They were the first ones to call to offer a hand when one is needed and the last one to ever ask for anything ridiculous for themselves.

Each one in my Sisterhood Circle is precious to me for the simple gifts of blessing each other with a bond that can never be broken.  Much like the bonds that our husbands share from their combat experiences, our bonds are forged by the test of Military Everyday Life (deployments and all)!

I have so many wonderful memories that I have shared with my Military Sisters.  We share more than just a simple connection of our husband’s service.  We are forever bonded by the love that we have for our soldiers, our country and each other.  To my fellow Military Sisters, the ones I have yet to meet and the ones who I hold so dear, I hope you have a wonderful Veteran’s Day!

I am an American soldier’s wife
I stand with pride in my eyes
I know to my husband, there is a higher calling
that I will never fully understand
I am not a warrior, but I have the inner strength of one
Sometimes I am lonely, but I am never alone
I am one of millions, and the one and only
I stand by my husband’s passion for freedom
Knowing that his call to duty may come any time
I know he may die for what he believes in
And I know he is willing to sacrifice
For the betterment of the world, and what’s right
I am strong, independent, and capable
Sometimes I have to raise our children by myself
Sometimes I sleep alone
Sometimes I cry tears of worry
And sometimes I sit by the phone
The unknown can often fill me with fear
As I sit waiting for a single word to ease my mind
But I know sometimes no news is good news too
And that it doesn’t help anyone if I whine
I know I can make or break my soldier
And that my words can be the food for his soul
I write him when he’s gone and love him when he is near
And the good memories help me to stay strong
I don’t just think of patriotism as flags and fireworks
I live my patriotism each and every day
“God Bless America” brings tears to my eyes
And the “Star Spangled Banner” makes me cheer”
I know my part in life is important
As a wife a child’s mother, and a best friend
I have a strong sense of duty in all that I do
I know life is precious and can end
Sometimes the burden on my shoulders
can be so overwhelming to me
I feel I am always amidst a move
But even still, my love for my soldier holds true
It’s not always easy being a soldiers wife
but I do the best that I can
When people say they don’t know how I do it
To me it is easy to understand
I do it for passion, and for what is right
I do it for freedom and choices
And I do it for the soldier I love… the hero… who is my man