I grew up with comfortable familiarity wrapped around me like wide-blue skies around my Oklahoma prairies. And because I grew up in the same town and literally had family for neighbors, not once did I work to meet people or make friends. So, when my Air Force man put a ring on my finger and moved me to the moon {aka Ohio}, I had myself quite the adjustment period. And quite the cry fest. Or fifty.
As a freshly minted Air Force wife, my husband’s Aunt Hetty handed me encouragement in words spoken and on paper. Not only did she know what it was like to be a military wife, but she knew what it was like to leave familiar surroundings. After all, she moved from her native Holland to follow her Air Force love to another country altogether.
Aunt Hetty must have known this small town girl could use some help in the role as military wife. And Lord have mercy, was she ever right. I was clueless about everything. I assumed friends would fall from the sky {they didn’t} and no one gave me a head’s up in that pre-9/11 era my husband would frequently travel {he did}. On one particularly lonely evening, I dug out a card from Aunt Hetty, and her words gave me direction I needed:
“The best thing you can do for yourself is get out and about. Don’t wait for friends to come to you. Go find them.”
I’ve found that to be easier said than done through the years, but more often than not Aunt Hetty’s advice has been right on the money. If I want near and dear relationships, I need to give some here and now effort. The only way to guarantee never making friends is never trying.
Whether you are a military wife or not, do you have an Aunt Hetty in your life? Someone who has “been there done that” and lived to tell? Lives still today to encourage you? Thankfully, the Lord has brought me many other military wife encouragers, and they are my family away from family. On this Military Spouse Appreciation Day, I salute them. And you. You there, the one whose life drips with responsibilities. You do your best to balance children with dinner with dishes with checkbooks all while supporting your marriage and spouse through countless crazy seasons. You may drop a ball or two or more, but you know perfection isn’t the goal, only perseverance in the process. What you do is seen and matters so much.
Thank you.
If you’ve landed here from Household 6 Diva or Riding the Roller Coaster, welcome! I’m a sixteen-years-and-counting Air Force wife and twelve-years-and-counting mama to three darling young’uns. Why do I ‘Chase Blue Skies’? Because when I do, I find the Creator in everything come rain or shine. And *that* gives fresh air. I write largely of marriage and parenting relationships, the military lifestyle, and how faith weaves through everything . I’ve also written a lot about friendship, something we military wives get a fast-track education in.
You can read more about messy ol’ me here as well as other words I write here.
I hope you will stay a while and discover that while our military lifestyle brings changing landscape, the fresh air hope found in looking up stays the same. Enjoy the wide open spaces a bit with me? I can tell I already like you!
Such great advice for all of us. Military or not. *Get out…don’t wait for friends to come to you.* It’s worship in the living. Connecting is a choice.
Rich blessings this weekend, sweet friend.
Same to you, Amy! I’m so thankful for you here. xo
Happy Military Spouse Appreciation Day to you too, dear Kristen!
And same to you, you rock star AF wife! Love ya!
This had me in tears as I was thinking of my sister-in-law, who is an Army wife. The family is facing another move in June. They were just a few hours away from us for 9 years, at Ft. Hood, and then had to move to Virginia. I miss her so much! I made sure to share this with her. Thank you for this reminder.
Thanks for sharing here, Christina. The sacrifices of military families leave ripples farther than we think, huh? Praying for cheap flights and frequent visits with your sister in spite of the distance. xo
Happy Military Spouse Appreciation Day.
I am also an Air Force wife!
Stopping by from the blog hop.
Happy Milspouse Appreciation Day!!
My grandmother was my Aunt Hetty. It was so strange for me to leave active duty and become a milspouse. Like you I thought I would have instant friends and that was so far from the truth. I was also in a world of shock when we moved to Japan and my husband was gone more than he was home and my Gramma was there supporting me every step of the way. Giving me advice to get through those long lonely days and months. Today, I feel like I am a much stronger wife and mother.
Thank you for sharing and being apart of the blog hop! Happy Military Spouse Appreciation Day!
Hi Kristen!
I’m visiting from the MilSpouse Blog Hop! Happy Military Spouse Appreciation Day to you!
It’s so nice to meet you!
Happy MilSpouse Appreciation Day
Love, love love what you had to say and I am so thankful to have found you through the blog hop!
I am looking forward to following your blog!
I hope you have a wonderful Mother’s Day weekend!
LOVE everything you said here! So encouraging and true, and I look forward to reading more! Newest follower.
Happy Mothers Day!
Great advice. I’m new to the Air Force life…we don’t even go to our first base until early next year. But I know I’m going to have to push myself out of my comfort zone to make new friends. I’m really excited about meeting new people, but sometimes it’s hard to make the first move. Someone, I can’t remember who, said that the other ladies are likely feeling the same way….we’re all in the same boat together. That helped put it in perspective and made me much more at ease. Can’t wait to see what God has for us!
I love your blog description at the bottom. Love how you came up with your blog name!
what a wonderful reminder!
bless you,
janelle
What an encouraging post! So refreshing. I just signed up for emails
Hope you had a Happy MLS & Mother’s Day!
Blessings,
Heather
Hi! I am a little late from the BlogHop but I wanted to say that you have a beautiful family! It was nice to meet you! Happy belated military spouse appreciation day and Mother’s Day!!!! Amanda