Can't Do It Alone
by Stephanie B
So many emotions and thoughts go through my mind when I think of how to describe my AF life. People wonder how you cope with the demand of military life. It's because we have each other. We share a special bond of being part of the AF family. I never realized how much we really need each other, until my husband deployed and I got sick. I was a mother of three. If it weren't for two special ladies from Family Advocacy, I don't know what I would've done. They watched my kids while I went to appointments, listened to me when I needed to talk, and they became my friends. During this, I never knew that one of them was going through chemo and battling cancer. She never said a word about her own life struggle. She was always just there for me. It was Christmas time and my family was struggling. We didn't know how we were gonna afford presents for our kids. One evening our doorbell rang, it was the "Santas in Blue." They were there to brings us gifts. How did they know how much we needed them? We will be forever grateful. I will never forget the day when my neighbor died unexpectedly. I tried to be there for the family the best I could by bringing them flowers. I struggled, thinking of what to say to them. After all, what do you say to a husband and children after they lost their wife/mother? I just stood there and listened as they showed me photos. It was difficult.
My AF family has affected my family's life in many ways. I've learned that I've needed others, just as much as they've needed me.
And to my husband, I feel so much pride being your AF wife.