A Final Thought For the Day

About 10 minutes after Richard came home tonight he called to me in the kitchen, "Hey Mary Katharine, I want you to come see something I have here on the computer.  It reminds me of you and me."  Richard is always smiling, so saying that he had a bit of a smile in his voice does not really differentiate this moment from any other.  However, he had a bit of a smile in his voice.

From time to time Richard has something to show me online.  Usually it is pertaining to Alabama Football and some new recruit that we have just signed or are trying to sign.  And these moments are pretty much contained to after I get out of the shower around 10 or 11 at night.  To get a invitation at dinner time, and so soon after he walked in the door, I was curious to say the least.

You know how sometimes you can look at something, but the first glimpse of it is just a quick over view and while you don't get the whole picture, that "in an instant moment" can either completely draw you in or turn you away?  What I saw completely drew me in.  It was definitely one of those, "Wait, let me take a better look at this" moments.  Here is what I saw.

Okay, so we are a military family.  Because all of you reading this may not be military and because all of you do not really know us, I might have just lost you.  I hope not.

This photo does remind me so much of Richard and me.  He is looking at her.  She is looking away.  Both are smiling.  They are young.  He is Army.  They are in love.  It just reminds me so much of us.  The mannerisms that illuminate from the photo are identical to ours.

So what's the point?  Well, the point is that I love Richard and sometimes it's just like it hits me all in an instant how beautiful my life with him has been.  We all have our own life stories and I can assure you that every military wife has theirs ...

I recently had a younger military wife (a navy wife) ask me my opinion on military life.  She and her husband are at a point where they can either continue on or "get out."  (I've always loved that term ... are we imprisoned or something??!)  What was my opinion, she wondered?  Hmmmm ... you know these are the type of questions that can go in lots of directions.  I don't know.  There have been so many times that I've dreamed of what my civilian counterparts have.  That is so natural, isn't it?  I can say, though, that I've never fully been diagnosed for the "grass is greener" syndrome.  And that is not to say that the military life is the best.  It's been quite difficult at times and far from the best, believe me!  But for me, it's been my life with Richard.  It is our past, our girl's beginning.  It's been tough, but it's been good because I've had my best friend with me along the way.

A neighbor asked me earlier if Richard has that same "happy" smile when he walks in the house ... the same one he has outside.  Oh, yes ... yes he does.  Always.

The above photo can be found here on Vanity Fair's online sight.  If you have a minute, read the article.  It'll give you a little insight into our new Commander in Afghanistan.  He's a good man.  It's a great read.

And btw, Richard likes Petraeus ... just a little (and that's totally an understatement).  He thinks he's "a modern day Eisenhower, " and was completely honored to be able to meet him while in Kuwait last summer.



Goodnight to you all.
Love those God places in your life.
Love what God gives you in life.
Live each day to His glory.

To God be the Glory.
mk