Incredible love...

It was a beautiful afternoon at the Naval hospital.  Boy #2 and I had just finished with his appointment, he was happily content in the stroller, and I had no place to be.  So I bought a small lunch from a little hospital restaurant and took it outside for a little picnic.  Truth be told, the Naval hospital is one of my favorite places for people watching because the people I see and the stories I infer (and imagine to be true) are so beautiful and inspiring.

I am inspired by the paraplegic and quadriplegic Wounded Warriors that are making their way through the corridors and courtyards of the hospital, proudly wearing their PT gear with "Marines" blazoned across their chests and a proud smile that displays no regret of the things that happened to them.

I love seeing the young veterans, and I especially love seeing the old veterans.  They are always so tickled by my little boys and always make us laugh!  I love the invisible bond that is present between the veterans and me and my sons, the military dependents.  Our experiences have been different, but the bond of the military family is always there.

On my most recent visit, I found myself staring at an exceptional couple.  I couldn't keep my eyes off of them.  Even while taking bites of my sandwich (yes, I ended up with mustard on my shirt),  I stared at them because I didn't want to miss a moment of a love so rare.  

A young man in an electric wheel chair was pushed out into the courtyard by his doctor.  It was obvious that this young veteran had suffered severe brain damage.  As he sat basking in the sunlight, a young woman continued her conversation with the doctor, and when he left, she gave the man in the wheel chair her full attention.  She put her arm around his neck, leaned in close to him, whispered in his ear, then continued to just press her cheek to his.  I quickly realized that this was the young man's wife.

How beautiful and inspiring it was to see her, the wife, with her injured Marine husband.  The tenderness and love I witnessed was something that I rarely see between "normal" couples.  And as if the wife's affection towards her husband wasn't enough, she was smiling the whole time I watched her. She smiled as she put her arm around his neck, while she whispered in his ear, and while she pushed him through the courtyard.  Here was a woman who stood by her man and her vows.  And she was doing it with a genuine smile on her face.  No doubt she was focusing on the fact that her husband was alive and not on the physical state he was in.

To have that kind of joy and peace and love in the midst of what is undoubtedly a difficult time for her is a lovely thing.  And it was a lovely thing to witness during my little picnic at the hospital.

My day of taking my healthy son for a checkup turned into a beautifully profound day.  And this is why the Naval hospitals are so inspiring to me.  Incredible people.  Incredible lives.  Incredible stories.  Incredible love.

Camouflage practice...

(Source)

{Top 5} Goals for deployment...

With Hubby's deployment on the horizon, I've been thinking a lot about how to spend my time during this deployment.  Some military wives have deployment bucket lists--a list of crazy/adventurous/unusual experiences.  Some military wives start a new job or go back to school.  Some military wives choose to go "home" to live with family.  Some military wives take up new hobbies or start big projects around the house.  All of these are great ways to help pass the time and enjoy a deployment.  But none of these ideas really appealed to me in this stage of my life.

In prayerfully considering how I wanted to spend this deployment, I decided on five goals--maybe vague, maybe boring (to some)--but goals that will help to keep my focus outward and off of myself.  No pity parties here!

1. Be a great wife from a distance.  I'll send lots of emails, care packages, and any other little thing I can give to Hubby to make him feel loved, appreciated, and supported while we are so far apart.   
2. Be a great mom to our little ones.  Being a militarily single mom is hard and stressful.  I don't want to let the stress of our family's situation inhibit the boys' enjoyment of childhood.  My goal is to be loving, supportive, understanding, patient, and joyful towards our children.
3. Be a great friend.  I will spend my extra time nurturing friendships, old and new.  Since I won't have date night with Hubby for a while, I'll have the chance to have more girls' nights out, send snail mail to old friends, and talk on the phone and text a lot.  
4. Be kind to others around me.  I have been the victim of more than one deployed wife whose emotions were unleashed on me.  The stress of deployment needs a release, but I will not allow myself to take out my life's stresses on others.   
5. Have fun.  Whatever that might be.  Yesterday, "having fun" was reading a book in bed and falling asleep early.  Today, "having fun" was taking the boys to the aquarium.  Tomorrow, I think "having fun" will be sitting in the backyard and watching Boy #1 collect rocks.  And who knows what kind of crazy fun we'll have the next day!

NIV Military Wives' New Testament with Psalms and Proverbs {Review}...

(Image from www.faithdeployed.com)

Jocelyn Green has compiled another wonderful resource for military wives who are looking for a bit of encouragement: NIV Military Wives' New Testament with Psalms and Proverbs.  This book offers 90 devotions embedded throughout the text.  60 of these devotions expand on a specific Bible passage by bringing God's Word into the context of and from a military wife.  30 of these devotions focus on the faithful lives of those on the home front.  Each devotion also provides insightful questions and a prayer.  The Military Wives' New Testament also offers ten Bible studies that encourage a deeper understanding of different Bible passages.

With a complete military theme, The Military Wives' New Testament is a wonderful resource that ministers to the lives and hearts of military wives.  We can be encouraged by the words of seasoned military wives coming alongside the Great Words of our Great God.  

The publishers of The Military Wives' New Testament are excited to offer a "Buy 1 Give 1 Free" promotion!

With every purchase of the NIV Military Wives’ New Testament with Psalms and Proverbs, you will receive an additional copy to share with a friend for free!

To get your free copy:

• Visit www.churchsource.com and create an account
• Add 2 copies of NIV Military Wives’ New Testament with Psalms and Proverbs (9780310421078) to your cart
• Enter promo code BD5W11 at checkout
• Offer Valid 5/1/2013 through 5/31/2013

Marine Times...

Like father, like son. :)