Most Memorable Milspouse Moments: Part 3
Welcome to AWN’s Monthly Recon Rendezvous link-up! We’re so glad you’re here. Just as the name implies, Recon Rendezvous is a place of community and connection. It’s an opportunity to explore and learn about our fellow military supporters’ lives, victories, trials, and experiences.
Each month, we “rendezvous” here to provide information, resources, and encouragement. So, do some “reconnaissance,” link up, swing by your “neighbor,” and leave a comment.
The last couple months, we here at AWN have been reflecting on some of our most memorable milspouse memories. (Be sure to catch up on Part 1 and Part 2!)
Today, we wrap up this mini-series, and you can probably guess the main topic of discussion:
Yep, you got it. Homecoming and deployments. (With a few extra bonus memories sprinkled in there.)
I have my fair share of reunion stories too, so it would be hard to narrow it down. When he came home on R&R and proposed during a 12-month deployment. Drill sergeant school graduation. Ranger school graduation. The deployment homecoming when my daughter was old enough to sort of “get it.” And more TDYs than I can remember.
I want to take this time to focus most of this post on our AWN fans and their memories:
“My most memorable milspouse moment is… I have so many to choose from. I’ve been a military spouse wife for more than 14 years now. Deployments, even AT and classes, seeing my husband in his uniform, everything. I cherish him so very much. I’m so proud of him, I can’t even explain it. I guess if I had to choose it would be the day he came home from Iraq and stepped off of that bus. The butterflies in my stomach, the feeling of being in his arms after so long. He’s amazing, and I’m so glad that I’m his wife.” — Bobbie W.
“My most memorable milspouse moment was the day after we got married. We drove from Ohio to Savannah, Georgia, and we still joke that that was our ‘first honeymoon’ since my husband had to report back to work the next day. I vividly remember thinking on the drive how my life was changing, and it all felt like such an adventure that we were embarking on… 12 years later and it’s still an adventure and life changing!” — Tiffany B.
“My most memorable milspouse moment was our firstborn getting to meet her daddy at almost 5 months old… we waited at 4 a.m. in the cold rain of Washington while his bus from the air field was more than an hour late… Mommy was too excited to wait inside.” — Sarah F.
“My most memorable milspouse moment was getting a text from husband saying he completed Civil Affairs selection and had been selected! This sent our family on a rollercoaster ride to a new duty station and a whole new Army life. So proud of all he has accomplished!” — Angelia M.
“My most memorable military spouse moment was a few years ago on deployment four, when the lawn mower axle broke (husband swears he fixed it). I had to go buy another one, and it was hotter than 90 degrees outside. I took my husband’s Dodge Ram pick-up and took my then-4-year-old son and 10-year-old daughter with me. I got up the street to the first stop sign and I heard a thump. The transfer case gear shift gasket broke, and I couldn’t drive the truck any further. I posted on our neighborhood Facebook page for help. One spouse came right away! I’m only a little taller than five feet and my husband’s truck was huge. She and I pushed it back to the house while my daughter steered it and my son said, ‘You can do it, Mommy!’ We got it back to the house, and she kindly let me borrow her mower to finish. Later, I cleaned the pool and the pool pump motor broke. It never ceases to amaze me that when the spouse leaves all heck breaks loose or emergencies happen. Makes you realize how much one is really capable of handling!” — Jennie B.
“My most memorable milspouse moment was when I surprised my husband with a huge party with all of his friends and family. He had just returned from his third tour and he was on block leave. I’ll never forgot the look on his face.” — Revee K.
“My most memorable milspouse moment was when my hubby returned from deployment. He left when our daughter was a tiny baby and came home to a walking, babbling toddler! I spent the whole nine months looking at pictures of Daddy with her and watching videos of him, reading those books that the USO does, hoping she wouldn’t be scared of him when he came back. I cried with relief when it took about five minutes for her to be climbing all over him calling him Daddy!” — Erin H.
“My most memorable milspouse moment was when my husband did a year on tour in Africa. It was the first deployment my son had experienced, and we had just reunited with my husband after Basic Training and AIT. My son was heartbroken, so he couldn’t control himself when it was time for my husband to get in formation for departure. Our son ran into formation with him and the commander came up to us and told my husband he could stay out of formation with his family. The commander had children too, and it was the first time I felt at ease in the Army community. My son and I are still standing behind our soldier awaiting his return once again, now five years later. God Bless America!” — Chrissy J.F.
“My most memorable milspouse moment was really more of a weekend. My husband was commissioned as an officer, graduated college through the green to gold program, and we were married all in the same crazy awesome weekend!” — Joy H.
“My most memorable milspouse moment was having my son two days after my husband’s deployment orders began. He was still stateside and was able to surprise me at the hospital the day I delivered. He had to leave the next day, but I will cherish those few short hours forever!” — Erika L.
“My most memorable milspouse moment is this—our son telling Daddy, ‘Bye.’ It is sad to some, but to me there’s so much love in this moment!” — Audrey B.P.
“My most memorable military spouse moment was when my husband came home from deployment on R&R, and we got married two days later. We had a huge wedding planned, and I was so nervous he wouldn’t make it home in time. We all joked we would Skype if he didn’t make it. I’m so thankful he did. We had 12 great days until he left to finish his deployment.” — Nicole L.
Is it just me, or was this mini-series a bunch of feel-good memories? Do you have any memories you would like to add? Jump in and leave a comment below.
