i'm grateful for . . . 'my social commentary Sunday series' & what today means to my family

Greetings all,

I have been toying with the idea of whether or not i would post anything about the 10 year anniversary of 'September 11'.  You can read, delete, comment, relate, smile, cry - this is my story. I receive many private emails asking about our life, do i worry, is it dangerous, how do the children cope . . . i'm the only Army wife most of you know. 
10 years ago i was heavily pregnant with twins, living in Darwin, my husband had been in the Army for 5 years (already a war veteran) & we had a gorgeous 2y.o. daughter.  When we woke that morning to see the news of planes hitting the World Trade Centres, our daughter's first long sentance ever was "mummy, look, those planes were flying then crashed into the buildings".  I will never forget it.  How do you explain that is real & not Hollywood??  Like why daddy carries a rifle & has a truck with large guns.  Life was changing.  I knew what it meant to our little Australian military family - allied with America, it was going to involve my husband eventually. 

Now i thoroughly support my husband, his career & our choices (he joined the regular Army after we met).  He is a soldier, that is so much more than a job title, it's a whole family putting on a brave face, constantly farewelling him off to war zones, with midnight phone calls & posting random mail off to the desert.  We have lost 29 Australian soldiers (Afghanistan) these past 10 years, some were our friends.  During my husband's last deployment they lost 10 guys from his base alone, in 8 months.  The families of fallen soldiers have a similar mantra 'he was doing what he loves, he had a purpose, he was well trained & his mates supported him'.  It's true, we love them, we're so proud, we understand their desire to go to war & put their training into action.  Me, i distract myself with positives & talking to my husband, honestly, as often as we can, about good days & sad days.  I try not to sound like i'm too capable, as he needs to feel needed, it's tricky, the balance, constantly thinking about how what i say & do, affects him, it can be magnified, out of context, sound like i'm living happily without him.  He might have been shot at, rocketed or lost someone & hasn't told me or can't tell me yet.  I have freedom & can go swimming; he moves about with a pistol & body armour, in 45C heat or -20C blizzards.  We are worlds apart in every possible way.

Right now, he's home with us.  We're loved up.  Look at these beautiful skies. 

 We're outside playing cricket with our 4 children & even our Khan has his own bat!!

 We're enjoying time together, with a delicous lunch - topped off with homemade butter (totally unheroic with a KitchenAid Food Processor, pour in double cream, whip, done).

 This is what we're having for dinner . . . smoked salmon, beetroot & potato salads, with Rye bread & our own butter - thanks Jamie Oliver & your 30 Minute Meals (this receipe was on last night's show & i started writing the grocery list immediately).  It will be plated up on this wonderful fishy platter.  Fresh produce from a farmer's market, a far cry from desert war rations.

So while September 11 was a shock & as a direct result my husband has been to war many times - missing large chunks of our children growing . . . we view it as a good dose of . . . live the best life you can, with the time you have.  Play with your children, eat well, say what you mean & love as hard as you can.  Trust me, sometimes i squeeze my handsome soldier so hard his back cracks!!  He is so easy to love.  
For more Gratefuls, Kymmie is hosting this weekend.  Love Posie
PS my 3 x Lego Hero Factory giveaway ends tonight!!