How Different Things Would Be

Today, my cousin Jeremy left for a year long deployment to Afghanistan. He left behind his pregnant wife, Amy, and his two year old son, Aiden. My heart hurts for them both knowing the loneliness they will experience, the worry that will be a part of their daily thoughts, and all the special moments they will miss out on as a family. 

Deployment is a part of Army life. I have many friends that are military spouses and go through the struggles that are a part of every military family's life. When I hear about their deployed husbands or moves across country, I immediately think about how different my life would be had Derik chosen to stay in the Army.

I was pregnant with Braden when Derik's ETS date came along. Between his two young boys living in Houston and our son coming soon, we decided the military life was not right for our marriage and family. It take a strong marriage to make is through the various challenges that being in the military. I have much respect and gratitude to those families serving our country, sacrificing so much within their own family for the greater good. 

Derik got out of the Army about a month before September 11th, 2001. Everyone we knew was deployed within a year. I often wonder if our marriage would have survived the stress of separation and parenting alone. If we made it, would we have had another child? Our decision to stop after Braden had much to do with our crazy work schedules here in Amarillo. Had he stayed in, we definitely would not be in Amarillo. We have friends in Germany, Alaska, and Hawaii. Where the Army would have sent our family?

It's amazing how that one decision, to leave the Army life behind, changes your entire future.While I wonder what might have been, I am so very thankful to be where we are and have the life that we have here. God has blessed us tremendously and we love our lives!

To all of those who are serving or love someone who is serving our country, thank you! Thank you for your sacrifice!  Matt, Josh, & Jeremy....You are in my prayers!