The Military Wife

There are many good "military wives" who support, encourage, and love their husbands. These "husbands", who are directly responsible for the freedoms Americans experience everyday, past, present and future, as well as bringing peace and comfort to people in far off lands around the world. May God bless the "Military Wife" who sacrifices daily in support of her husband.

The Military Wife

The good Lord was creating a model for military wives and was into his sixth day of overtime when an angel appeared. She said, "Lord, you seem to be having a lot of trouble with this one. What's wrong with the standard model?"

The lord replied, "Have you seen the specs on this order? She has to be completely independent, possess the qualities of both father and mother, be a perfect hostess to four or 40 with an hour's notice, run on black coffee, handle every emergency imaginable without a manual, be able to carry on cheerfully even if she is pregnant and has the flu, and be willing to move to a new location 10 times in 17 years. And, oh, yes, she must have six pairs of hands."

The angel shook her head. "Six pairs of hands." The Lord continued, "Don't worry, we will make other military wives to help her. And we will give her an unusually strong heart so it can swell with pride in her husband's achievements, sustain the pain of separations, beat soundly when it is overworked and tired, and be large enough to say 'I understand' when she doesn't and say 'I love you' regardless."

"Lord," said the angel, touching his arm gently, "go to bed and get some rest. You can finish this tomorrow."

"I can't stop now," said the Lord. "I am so close to creating something unique. Already this model heals herself when she is sick, can put up six unexpected guests for the weekend, wave goodbye to her husband from a pier, a runway, or a depot, and understand why it's important that he leave."

The angel circled the model of the military wife, looked at it closely and sighed. "It looks fine, but it's too soft."

"She might look soft," replied the Lord, "but she has the strength of a lion. You would not believe what she can endure."

Finally, the angel bent over and ran her finger across the cheek of the Lord's creation. "There's a leak," she announced. "Something is wrong with the construction, I am not surprised that it has cracked. You are trying to put too much on this model."

The Lord appeared offended at the angel's lack of confidence, "What you see is not a leak." he said, "It's a tear."

"A tear? What is it there for?" asked the angel. The Lord replied, "It's for joy, sadness, pain, disappointment, loneliness, pride and a dedication to all the values that she and her husband hold dear."

"You are a genius!" exclaimed the angel. The Lord looked puzzled and replied, "I didn't put it there."

Sisterhood

I am a military wife. A member of that sisterhood of women who have had the courage to watch their men go into battle, and the strength to survive until their return. Our sorority knows no rank, for we earn our membership with a marriage license, traveling over miles, or over nations to begin a new life with our military husbands.

Within days, we turn a barren, echoing building into a home, and though our quarters are inevitably white-walled and unpapered, we decorate with the treasures of our travels, for we shop the markets of the globe. Using hammer and nail, we tack our pictures to the wall, and our roots to the floor as firmly as if we had lived there for a lifetime.

We hold a family together by the bootstraps, and raise the best of "brats" instilling in them the motto, "Home is togetherness", whether motels, or guest house, apartment or duplex.

As military wives we soon realize that the only good in Good-bye is the Hello again, for as 'Salesmen for Freedom', our husbands are often on the road, at sea, or in the sky, leaving us behind for a week, a month, a year on an assignment. During separations we guard the home front, existing until the homecoming.

Unlike our civilian counterparts, we measure time, not by years, but by tours married at Pendelton, a baby born at Lejeune, a special anniversary at Yuma, a promotion in Okinawa. We plant trees, and never see them grow tall, work on projects completed long after our departure, and enhance our community for the betterment of those who come after us. We leave a part of ourselves at every stop.

Through experience, we have learned to pack a suitcase, a car or hold baggage, and live indefinitely from the contents within and though our fingers are sore from the patches we have sewn , and the silver we have shined, our hands are always ready to help those around us.

Women of peace, we pray for a world in harmony, for the flag that leads our men into battle, will also blanket them in death.

Yet we are an optimistic group, thinking of good, and forgetting the bad, cherishing yesterday, while anticipating tomorrow. Never rich by monetary standards, our hearts are overflowing with a wealth of experiences common only to those united by the special tradition of military life. We pass on this legacy to every military bride, welcoming her with outstretched arms, with love and friendship, from one sister to another, sharing in the bounty of our unique, fulfilling military way of life.

~~Author Unknown

Mom's Rank

When Dad's away, Mom's the Commanding Officer. When Dad's home, Mom's the Executive Officer, coordinating and executing actions for the Command Team. Keeping track of the kids, she's the S-1. Collecting the neighborhood news and relaying it to Dad she's the S-2. Making plans for the entire family and training the kids, she's the S-3. Stocking food and supplies for the family she's the S-4. She answers all the family correspondence and makes appointments for Dad; that makes her the Adjutant. Worrying about the family budget makes her the Comptroller. Paying the bills and accounting to Dad for the paychecks makes her Finance and Accounting Officer. Looking for a new place to live when we move, she's like a Billeting Officer. Assigning us chores to do, getting us fed, bathed, and put to bed; she's our First Sergeant. Serving the food and doing the dishes, she's on KP. Carrying small children, she's an Ammunition Handler. Driving the family to all our appointments she's a duty driver. Cleaning the house and making the beds, she's an orderly. Looking like a queen when she goes out with Dad, she's a Soldier's Lady. Doing all the things well, all the time, she's a true "BIG GUNNER!". Gosh, Mom's a whole a darned Marine Corps!

Service Wife

A service wife is mostly girl...but there are times, such as when her husband is away and she is mowing the lawn or fixing a flat tire, that she begins to suspect she is also a boy.

She usually comes in three sizes: petite, plump or pregnant. During the early years of her marriage it is often hard to determine which size is her normal one. She has babies all over the world, and measures time in terms of places as other women do in years. "It was in Hawaii the third child was born and the eldest had the chicken pox, in Virginia our baby girl suffered a broken arm. It was at 29 Palms he got promoted and we received word that his father had passed. In San Diego our little league team won it all."

At least one of her babies was born or a transfer was accomplished while she was alone, This causes her to suspect a secret pact between her husband and the service providing for a man to be overseas or on temporary duty at times such as these.

A service wife is international, she may be an Iowa farm girl, a French Mademoiselle, Japanese or a southern belle, but when discussing service problems, they all speak the same language.

She is a great actress. To heartbroken children at transfer time, she gives an academy performance. "Fallon is going to be such fun! I hear they have Indian reservations-and tarantulas-and rattle snakes," but her heart is breaking along with theirs. She wonders if this is worth all the sacrifice.

An ideal service wife has the patience of an angel, the flexibility of putty, the wisdom of a scholar, and the stamina of a horse. If she dislikes money it helps!

She is sentimental, carrying her memories with her in an old footlocker. One night she is a bigamist, sharing her husband with a demanding entity called "duty." When duty calls, she becomes # 2 wife. Until she can accept that fact, her life can be miserable.

She is above all, a women who married a serviceman who offered her the permanency of a gypsy, the miseries of loneliness, the frustration of conformity and the security of love.

Sitting among her packing boxes, with squabbling children nearby, she is sometimes willing to chuck it all...until she hears the firm steps and cheerful voice of that happy man who gave her all this.

Then she is happy to be...his service wife.

Prayer of the Marine Spouse

Dear God, I am proud to be wed to one who defends freedom and peace. My challenges are many and I pray for your love and guidance to meet them. Special to me are the symbols representing my religion, country, community and home. I pray for the wisdom and grace to be true to their meaning.

You are the symbol of my religious beliefs and the source of my strength. Because my life is full of change, I cherish the solid and constant spiritual foundation that you provide. Help me Lord, to be an example of your teachings.

My national flag represents freedom. Let me never forget, or to take for granted, the hope it shows to the world. Bless those who have made sacrifices for freedom.

As I enter the gateway to a military community, guide me to reach out to others and keep it a wholesome place. May my charity be given without thought of personal reward.

My wedding ring represents eternity and never ending love. Let me celebrate all of the joys of our togetherness and find comfort in them during times of separation. I pray that we are spared the untimate sacrifice of duty to country.

My house is a symbol of our family and its unity. It is a place where we share memories of the past and build dreams of the future. Make willing my heart and hands to do even the smallest tasks that will make our house a better home.

Thank you, God, for daily being with us as we live in the United States Marine Corps. Please grant us your continued blessings, increased strength and infinite guidance, as we live in your honor and glory.

Amen.

Recipe for a Marine Wife

• 1 1/2 cups patience
• 1 cup courage
• 3/4 cup tolerance
• dash of adventure
• 1 pound ability

With the above ingredients:

Add 2 tablespoons elbow grease. Let stand alone for six months. Marinate frequently with salty tears. Pour off excess fat. Sprinkle ever so lightly with money. Knead dough until payday. Season with international spices. Bake 20 years until done. Serve with pride.

~*~Author Unknown

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