To My Veteran

Today is Veteran's Day.  

I won't go on and on about the specifics of my husband's career or what life is really like as a military family.  But I will say this....

Dear Peter,

Growing up you know I always said there were two things I wasn't looking for in a man.  1. one shorter than me 2. someone in the military.  I maintained this through college and beyond and to this day know that it was only by God's grace that I said yes to you when you asked me out on our first date.

As you know, after you dropped me off I went to my upstairs apartment in downtown Charleston convinced that we'd be together forever.  And I was right.  Sort of.

The military isn't exactly the place to be if you want to be together.  We've spent birthdays anniversaries, holidays and entire pregnancies apart.  We've been through medical issues, broken airplanes and delays.  We've moved from sea to shining sea, leaving behind the place we first called home together.

Through everything our life in the military has handed us you have continually been my rock.  You serve your country just as selflessly as you serve our family.  You put the interests of others first.  You sacrifice for the good of others.  You strive for excellence in all you do.  You make me so proud to stand beside you.

So no matter where the military sends us I know I can count on you to make me laugh.  To push me to be the best wife, mother and friend I can be.  To support me.  To sacrifice for me.  To love and cherish me.

What a blessed country we live in that people like you chose to serve and sacrifice in the same way you do for your family.

I love you and I'm honored to stand beside you!

Love,

Laura