You Inspire Me - Week 2

I watched three full hours of NFL Hall of Fame speeches last night.  Yep, I love football, but I also love to get inspired and motivated.  A couple speeches were so-so, a few were okay, but the last two were powerful.  Both were filled with stories of football memories, but they were more about teaching lessons about how to be successful in life.

But my inspiration this week is not a NFL hero.  It's about an ordinary woman whom I've never met.  An ordinary woman that has to do extraordinary things to live a normal life.

Today's Inspiration: Army Blogger Wife, a.k.a. ABW

I've been fortunate to come across ABW's blog over the past few months through a mutual friend.  She writes about coping with being the wife of a soldier, while raising their three children.  Her husband has just been deployed for his fourth tour - this time to Afghanistan, for a year.

Fourth Tour.  Afghanistan.  For a Year.  I Cannot Comprehend.

ABW inspires me because she not only has to play the role of mother and supportive wife, but for the next year has to keep a sense of normalcy for her children, while her husband is serving his county on the other side of the world.

On top of all the everyday tasks she must take on by herself, she must find strength in herself to be a strong mother for her children.   There's no 'Go ask Daddy' diversions when she doesn't have the courage to say no.  There's no 'Honey, I need a girl's night out' demands when she's had a stressful day.  No husband to open the pickle jar or to rub her feet at night.

My husband has always taught me to prepare for the worst, but to always hope for the best.  That phrase means so much more to the wife of a soldier.  In this recent post, she describes an absolute heart-wrenching scene at at deployment briefing for family.  ABW's 9-year old daughter got up in front of a group of hundreds of people to ask, "Is my daddy going to come home?"  Can you even imagine having the emotional strength as well to comfort your children?

I don't know ABW.  I've never met her.  Yet, every night before I fall asleep, I find myself thinking about her.  I pray that her family copes well over the next year.  I hope that ABW will have the strength and courage to be the strong presence for her children while Daddy is away.  I want her to have friends around to help her and support her.  I anticipate a safe return of her husband so that she can have the 'normal' life that I have.

My husband served 20 years in the military in the Air National Guard. He was only on active duty twice. Once he stayed at the base...and came home EVERY night.  The other time was a 2-week 'tour' to New Orleans during Hurricane Katrina. Both of those times were hard for me, but I knew it wouldn't last long and I knew he was on American soil. It was only a matter of time before I was able to smell and touch him again.  

I'm sure anyone who has spent time away from someone they love will always speak about the little day to day things that many of us take for granted.  So today if you find yourself complaining about your husband's quirks, think about ABW.  Think about not having those little quirks that drive you crazy and how much you would miss them if he wasn't around.  Appreciate the moment.  Cherish the times.  Think about what others endure for us.