Married to the Military: 6 More Years

So for anyone who has not read the last posts or Chris' Facebook he has officially signed his reenlistment papers for another 6 year enlistment. And now a few days later as I have had time to digested it I think it is all starting sink in. It's funny when someone asks and I tell them Chris has reenlisted for another 6 years the first thing they say is, "so how many more deployments is that?" I have heard that from a so many people and my response is, "I have no idea." (because really I don't) I am thinking in my head I need to emotionally get through this one first before I can ever think about another one. He is a military man. He doesn't know anything else and while it is a hard life, really I would not change it. I am so proud of him. I mean I can honestly say that he is such an amazing person and soldier that I would  not change anything. Of course I would have him home with us over anything, any given day. And I know he is miserable in Afghanistan as the conditions are miserable but he is our hero.  I seen my Grandpa today at Wal-Mart and he asked about Chris and as I gave him an update on him my Grandpa got chills and I could see the tears begin to well up in his eyes. He is so proud. As are we. And although a reenlistment means potential deployments it doesn't mean anything for sure. As military life goes. You never know what or where the next year will take your family. So we "just go with it" together as a family as we have for the last 5 years. I cannot think about 6 years from now, my focus is getting him home from this deployment. Even though I am one to focus on the future I cannot think about that when it comes to the military because everything always changes... always. One thing I do know is how proud I am of Chris, how proud Audrey is, and how proud our families are of him and his decisions.

I remember having a conversation with Chris once a few years back (that I will never forget) when we were considering him joining the Guard knowing that there was inevitable deployment. And I asked him, "why did HE have to do it?" Thinking in my head (and being so selfish) why HE of all the men in the country why HE had to reenlist? He had already done his time in the Marine Corps, we had already done one deployment, why did we have to do this again? I remember sobbing and pleading. We had family, we were settled in Ohio, we were done with the military. Why did he "have" to go back? He replied, "I have to do it" I did not understand it then as I sobbed in our living room but I do now. I understand what he wants and needs to do and I understand how selfish I was being. I know his honor and commitment now and his love for our family and our country. I constantly have people thanking me and Chris for what he does for our country. And they always conclude it with, "I know how hard it must be on your family" and of course they don't. They can't unless they have done it. But that does not mean that we sincerely appreciate the gesture, because we do. God Bless all of the men and women away from their families.