A Proud Wifey

A few weeks ago, Tim and I joined the Southern Arizona West Point Society to celebrate the founding of the United States Military Academy. As much as I was exhausted from attending a military event almost every week over the past six years, I'm surprised to find myself missing this community since we've been living the civilian life in Tucson. 

Although the military takes my husband and my children's father to war, despite the fact that his Army jobs require his attention around the clock, and that Uncle Sam usually has the final say-so in our household, I'm glad we've chosen to stay with the Army. Yes, I just said that, Honey. I never thought I'd utter those words during the years leading up to this decision.

I want our kids to be raised near our families, I want to know Tim is safe, and I want to feel in charge of our lives. Those things aren't possible in the military. But watching my husband speak on Founder's Day reminded me that this is God's plan for our lives, and His plan is always far superior to my own. 

At the Founder's Day event, the speakers included a political figure, the oldest graduate, the youngest graduate, and the Superintendent of West Point (impressive!). Tim was asked to speak as the young grad and he blew the room away, earning a standing ovation. One of the West Point Society board members told me that Tim gave the best young grad speech the man had ever heard. And several times, the superintendent mentioned Tim's success (as a speaker and soldier). 

I walked away in awe of my husband that afternoon. Tim is a sensational leader, soldier, husband and father. I'm ashamed to say that sometimes in the hum-drum of everyday life, I forget what a standout man I married; I hope I'm not alone in this. I can get caught up in the errands, and chores, and scheduling, and weekend plans, and finances, and kids, and lack of sleep, and forget about how it all started--with the AWEsome man I fell in love with over a decade ago. I'm thankful on a daily basis that Tim is my husband and the father of my children and I always praise him for such, but sometimes, with the previous mentioned mindset, he's just that--my husband. I forget that he almost died in battle serving our country, that he is one of the most successful leaders I've encountered, that he is respected and admired by everyone who works with him, that he faithfully puts his family first, that he has been accepted as an instructor at the number one college in the country (ranked by Forbes in 2009), and most importantly that he is an honorable man of God. 

So, long story long, I feel blessed that God gave me the opportunity to fall in love with Tim all over again and that He reminded me of the wonderful man He planned for my life. To all the military spouses in the trenches, I praise you for what you're braving right now, and encourage you to remember the man you married, which can honestly be hard to do when they're called to put Country first. I pray you feel God's peace and trust His plan, especially as many of you prepare to endure yet another deployment in the upcoming months. You're miraculous women; I respect you and I miss you!