Be a part of something bigger.

     On the evening of April 16, 2011, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina and the surrounding areas were hit with a horrible band of storms that produced multiple tornadoes.  These tornadoes caused devastation beyond imagination in the lives of Marines and Sailors and their families living aboard Terewa Terrace I and II.  These neighborhoods are base sponsored communities full of children, wives, and families who all serve their country through their fathers or mothers, husbands or wives.

     Thankfully, these storms did not cause any fatalities, they did cause injuries and wide spread destruction.  Leaving almost 100 residents displaced for their beautiful homes and many others living in homes that are damaged.  I personally know of one wife, whose husband deployed less than one week ago to serve his country, whose car was destroyed by the storm.  One young boy, age 23-months, was air lifted because of injuries sustained by the tornadoes destruction of his home.  His mother was home with him and injured herself.  His father at a train up in Mojave Viper, California.  He will be home soon.  

     The community saved that little boys life.  And so I ask this of you.  Help save the community.  A community that is my family.  A community of heroes.  A community of families missing loved ones who are deployed.  A community of fighters.  A community that deserves to be lifted out of the shadows of this devastation.  A community that deserves the support of those outside of it.  

     These photographs show the damaged that occurred during the tornadoes on April 16, 2011.  These photographs were taken by a very talented friend, Kim Graham of Kimberly Graham Photography.  

     I am a military spouse and I can attest to the strength that is the military community.  It is a community where a stranger can instantly become your best friend.  It is a community of families that know exactly what it feels like to have loved ones off fighting a war.  It is a community that never faulters because they carry the weak to strength.  This community will not sleep until they see everyone affected taken care of.  But they cannot do it alone.  They cannot do without help.  

     So I ask you to please forgo your latte today and donate to help the warriors of Camp Lejeune rebuild their lives.  Forgo your pedicure to help rebuild a primary school that is causing displacement of many young students.  Forgo your lunch out of the office, in exchange for a brown bag and help support a young wife rebuild while her husband is deployed.  

     Support your troops when they need it the most.  Support your military.  And support a community that was ravaged by storms.  Help them rebuild.   

     If you would like to donate financially, please follow the following directions. 

          1.  Visit http://uso-nc.org

          2.  Click DONATE in the upper right.

          3.  Click the DONATE NOW button in the top right corner. 

          4.  In the special instructions section, specify JACKSONVILLE TORNADO

     If you would like to donate items to the USO for distribution, please mail these to 

               USO, Jacksonville Center

               9 Tallman Street

               Jacksonville, NC 28540

     Hygiene/toiletry items, baby items, undergarments, and food are being requested most. 

     * Please note that you are seeing Jacksonville in these directions.  Jacksonville is the town in North Carolina that houses Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune.

     * I hope to post pictures to this post soon, but without the permission of some of my friends I cannot do that.  Soon though I hope.  

It means.

     As I sit here, trying to pinpoint my thoughts, I am fighting back tears.  Because my thoughts are thoughts of loss, of sacrifice, of duty to country, of war.  And my heart is fighting the idea that I am a military spouse.  I am mourning the loss of every Soldier, every Marine, every Sailor, every Airman that has been lost in the last 10 years (and the many, many more before it).  But mostly I am trying to wrap my head around what it means to be a military spouse. 

     Now you scratch your head, thinking: "But you have been a military spouse for 4 years now.  You should know this already."  But I did not really get it.  I know what the military is, I know that sacrifices are involved.  My biggest sacrifice, sending my husband to the field for two or three weeks a few times a year.  I never GOT it, because I've never REALLY lived it.  I was spoiled, thankfully.  I was guarded from deployments and war and loneliness and sacrifice for 4 years (because I believe God knew that my husband and I were not ready for those challenges).  

     But now it is hitting me as I read other blogs, watch television shows, and carry my phone everywhere I go exactly what it means.  

     It means that you change.  You change in a way that makes you stronger.  More in love.  More independent.  More successful.  A better wife.  A better mother.  More emotional (at least I am).  

     It means that the "I love you" you used to hear and take for granted, now sends shivers up your spine.  As you never know when you will hear it next.  

     It means that you make decisions on your own that you never thought you'd make alone.  Financial decisions.  Emotional decisions.  Parenting decisions.   

     It means that you will pray/think/hope/whatever it is that you do, more.  You will grow in your relationship with whatever you believe in.  Me, I believe in God.  And He hears on a constant basis how I hope he keeps my husband safe.  And He knows the needs I have, without my ever admitting to them out loud.  

     It means that sometimes ice cream and chicken nuggets are considered dinner foods.  And that sometimes you will eat no dinner at all.  

     It means that bad days are faced alone and without loving arms to greet you when you get home.  You learn to deal with things on your own like you never have before.  Whether it is learning to confide in a friend like you never have before, keeping a journal, praying, exercising, whatever- you learn to cope with not having your spouse there. 

     It means that I may never see my husband take another breath.  It means that my daughter may never really know her father.  It means that my most cherished possession could become a flag, given to me by a Marine.  It could mean that I wear a dress that I will wear only once.  

     It means that my husband is supporting his country and that no matter how he comes home, he is a hero.  And that I pray constantly that he is not called upon to make the ultimate sacrifice.  

     It means that every email is precious.  Every phone call is cherished.  Every I love you is knee-weakening.  Everyday is another day closer to seeing him again and a reason to thank God for our both waking up, healthy.  

     It means that tears flow when I hear taps, no matter what the circumstances, no matter where I am at.  

     It means so much more than this.  But I know that it is something I would never give up.  I would never give up the bad if it meant I couldn't be with my husband.  Because my husband is my hero, my best friend, my soul mate and if being with him means that we must sacrifice and spend time apart, than I will 100 times over.