As a military wife there are certain things that bring around tearful emotions more than others: songs such as The Star Spangled Banner, God Bless America, and Amazing Grace; a flag-draped coffin;  the site of a Vietnam veteran walking up and thanking your spouse for their service.

This past Thursday, Thanksgiving Day, another site brought tears to my eyes as we were leaving our base -- three buses loaded with Marines leaving for deployment. The Marines leaving wasn't what brought the tears to my eyes. After-all, it is their job. They signed up for it and, in a way, so did their families. Anyone who has volunteered to serve in recent years knows we are war. By the same token, any of the current military members who re-enlisted after September 11th knew we'd be at war for a long time. Deploying to a foreign land to fight a war these days comes as no surprise to any member of the Armed Forces or their families! It is simply a fact of life.

The thing that brought tears to my eyes was the occasion of the departure from the base, a holiday. The sight of the buses flooded my mind with memories of all the holidays our family has been without my husband at home. He has missed countless birthdays, Christmases, Thanksgivings, and anniversaries. As a matter of fact, we did not celebrate an anniversary together for the first 10 years of our marriage.  We understood that it wasn't as if the Marine Corps was out to get us... our marriage never would have lasted if we allowed ourselves to think that way... it's just the way things are when you choose to live this lifestyle.

I can't say that I've never felt like a single mom. That would be a lie. But I can say that I've never felt alone. Even when my husband is deployed, I never make large family decisions without his input. Deployment may actually work as an advantage because it gives us plenty of time to think! My husband may not physically be present but he is an active and engaged member of our family even when he may be six or ten thousand miles away.

More than that though, God has always been with Mike and I, guiding us in the steps we've taken throughout our lives. I have seen His handprint all over my husbands career path, and so I know this is His will for our lives.

He placed my husband and I together in marriage -- total opposites with more out of common than in.

He placed my husband in the military -- an old guy (by military standards) who had given up any hope of being able to serve his country in the military.

That means that together as husband and wife -- the Gunny and the Mrs. -- we are exactly where we are supposed to be!

Who can argue with that?!

Several scriptures have helped clear my thoughts as a military wife when I begin to wonder if God really does know what he is doing, especially on holidays when my dear husband has been far away from us.

Proverbs 16:9 The mind of man plans his way; But the LORD directs his steps.

Jeremiah 29:11 'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the LORD, 'plans for welfare and not calamity to give you a future and a hope.'

Psalm 121:1-8 I lift up my eyes to the hills - where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth. He will not let your foot slip - he who watches over you will not slumber; indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. The LORD watches over you - the LORD is your shade at your right hand; the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night. The LORD will keep you from all harm - he will watch over your life; the LORD will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.

We all have choices in life. We choose to live as a military family. It is not an easy one... maybe even one of the hardest ones out there... but it is our life and we serve it humbly and gladly.

This is my first participation in Sheila Gregoires Wifey Wednesday meme. To view more posts similar to this one, please visit her blog at To Love, Honor and Vacuum. You can also follow Sheila on Twitter @SheilaGregoire

Sallie