The lows are very low, but the highs are very high.
I can't imagine life any other way.
While there are other options (not getting married to that man, having husband get out of military, divorce), none may be acceptable. And even though my husband is away right now, we (both together and as individuals) have grown immensely. Tough times are tough, but I like to think of it as an opportunity for growth. And I had to go through the hardest stuff to get where I am today.
But then life is tough wherever you are, whoever you are. It is all a matter of perspective.
And I am glad you are back safely.
One afternoon at Michael's, I had a bride-to-be come through my line. I asked her when, "Very soon" she answered. Then she informed me that her husband-to-be was in service and they were getting married during his leave. A date that was pushed up to accommodate his schedule.
I looked at her, handed her goods, told her they were on me and to thank her husband to be immensely for his willingness to serve and their bravery for this life that they are chosing together.
It was the very least that I could do.
Thank you to you and yours, many times over again. 
We got married a long time ago.. He was in dress blues. It was peace time, cold war, we lived in a divided Germany twice.
would I trade it? I don't know. We met in High School, went through separations when my folks got stationed somewhere else. but we stuck. some days, I wish we had never seen the Army. but I'm always proud of him.
There's a young lady on my bus, she's engaged to a Marine. we talked a while, and I loaned her a book (married to the military)and she asked me "was it worth it" and I told her... for some of us it is, for some of us, it isn't. But you have to be ready for anything and everything, good and bad.
LAW
Here's my two cents: Knowing what I know now, and living with the passion we have, I can't imagine it any other way. I came home from living in France giddy with Americanism, and ROTC just seemed to fit. If he hadn't been in ROTC when I met him and had just graduated and gotten a job, I'm sure I wouldn't know what I'd be missing...but now I wouldn't trade military life for anything. When he toyed with the idea of getting out last year, I wept. I'll take the bad any day because that means I also get the good.
Oh, I love that! What was the other option? Indeed. I had no choice. I fell in love with a military man. He was my family before we ever got married.
I couldn't imagine my life any other way.
I remember the young couples meeting at Ft. DeRussy, Oahu, Hawaii, during R and R from Viet Nam. Lifelong decisions made during a week or two of passion and dread.
Military life is not for the faint-hearted or uncommitted. It always reminded me of 4th of July fireworks; fabulous lights followed by darkness followed by fabulous lights.
Personally, it cost me my first love but delivered my lasting and true love, married 37 years. It was well-worth the roller-coaster ride.
And happy anniversary this week!
I met Keith while he was in Afghanistan. My Mom met my Dad while he was stationed at Wright Patterson, on his way to Vietnam. When you fall in love with a military man, you know what you're getting- a man dedicated to his family and his country, equally, even when he's off serving his country somewhere instead of being at home, doing homework or attending baseball games.
I met an Army officer a couple of nights ago, who told me that the FAMILIES are the true heroes of the military- they didn't volunteer for the service, yet they follow their husbands wherever their career may take them, and hold down the fort while they're deployed. He said that WE have the hard job. I immediately said "yes, but we knew that when we fell in love with our Soldier."
It's true. It's a choice... but when you look at the alternative, what choice is there?
Wow.
as a mother will tell you, children don't usually give you a choice either... but the LOVE we have for our military guys carries us... and them.
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