Home Is Where Your Heart Lives

Quite often, I get the following statement from strangers I meet: “You have got to be from the South!” I grin, nod, and proudly admit with a natural twang that both my husband and I are from the Bluegrass State of Kentucky. Needless to say, we stuck out at our first duty assignment as the Army sent us far away from home, over the Atlantic, and landed us in beautiful Germany (K-town for all of you that have shared the Germany experience). Although we were geographically displaced from family and friends, we couldn’t help but fall in love with all of Germany’s splendor: green rolling hills, pristine gardens, tasty wine, fresh bread and vegetables, friendly neighbors…

It felt like home.

Shortly after arriving in Germany, we received orders that my soldier would leave to go downrange within 60 days. Soon thereafter, we found out we were expecting our first child. This news was quite a shock to us as we had been advised by numerous doctors that our chances of conceiving were slim to none.

Not the case.

You all know as well as I do that life happens, and we as military spouses have no choice but to make the best of not-so-ideal conditions. I wanted my husband there to share in the experience, but in his absence, I wanted my mama, my sister, my family, and my friends.

An ocean away, I soon realized that it was my decision to face this like a big girl. This was the pivotal point in my military spouse mind of when I started to become engaged in the world around me.

FRGs are always a great starting point, especially when there are amazing leaders in place setting the standard. Thank goodness our FRG leader was amazing, which started off my first FRG experience as a positive one. She was the first to reach out and offered personal support as she cheerfully accompanied me to one of my lonely ultrasound appointments. For the first time, I felt like I was home despite the circumstances, and I am thankful for her (Big shout out to Bev Clark). She remains in our family’s lives today and will be a friend and sister to me for all time.

I bet you all can name at least two Bev Clarks for every duty station you’ve been assigned.

The point is, you never know these things unless you are open to experiencing life around you, adventure after adventure. I urge new spouses to jump right in and bask in the infinite resources we have at our fingertips.

Get involved.

Make home wherever you may go.

Home really is where your heart lives, and no matter where the Army may send us, a little piece of my heart remains in the friends that we make along the way, the communities where we volunteer, the schools where our children or ourselves attend, and the combination of time, energy, and love that we pour without reservation into making this ever-adventurous lifestyle such a blessing.