We don’t live a “typical” military life. We haven’t bounced from base to base every couple of years. We haven’t had to endure long stretches of back-to-back deployments. Our journey as a military family has looked a little different — but it has taught us lessons I think any family can use.
Our Start in the Military
Our story began in 2002 when my husband joined the Air Force. As a young, newly married couple, our first stop was Hill AFB in Utah. We were excited, homesick, and figuring out life together in a new place. We made good friends, learned the ropes, and I even found a job I really loved.
After a few years, the chance to return home came up, and we grabbed it. My husband left active duty to join the Guard, and we thought that might be the end of our military chapter. But a few years later, he went back active duty — in a unique position that meant we didn’t have to move. And that’s where he’s been ever since.
A Different Kind of Military Life
While he’s had short trips and deployments over the years, he’s mostly been home. The biggest challenge hasn’t been moving across the country — it’s been adjusting to his ever-changing schedule.
No two weeks look the same. Sometimes he’s off during the week, sometimes weekends, sometimes nights. Early on, we realized we had two choices: fight against the unpredictability, or learn to bend with it.
We chose to bend.
Holidays and Vacations on Military Time
One of the first things we learned was this: it doesn’t matter if Christmas falls on December 25th or December 27th. What matters is celebrating together when he’s home.
Vacations? Planned around his days off, not the calendar. Family outings? Scheduled when he’s available. It’s not always convenient, and sometimes it means saying no to events or traditions that don’t line up with his work. But we’ve learned that the date on the calendar is far less important than the time we get together.
Universal Lessons in Flexibility & Resilience
Even if you’re not a military family, life has a way of throwing curveballs. And the lessons we’ve learned over these years are ones anyone can use:
- Flexibility matters. Plans change. Schedules shift. Learning to go with the flow instead of fighting it makes life so much easier.
- Resilience is built in the small things. It’s not just about big deployments or big challenges — it’s in the daily practice of adapting and adjusting.
- Memories don’t care about dates. Your kids won’t remember if you celebrated Christmas on the 25th or the 27th — they’ll remember how you made them feel.
- Focus on the time, not the timing. When life feels unpredictable, the most important thing is showing up for each other whenever you can.
Gratitude for the Journey
The military isn’t for everyone, but it has been a blessing for our family. It has given us stability, provided a career my husband, and afforded us opportunities — like this beautiful home and the chance to take a month-long road trip together.
More than anything, it has taught us that flexibility and resilience aren’t just survival skills. They’re life skills. And when you learn to embrace them, you find joy in places you never expected.
Unpacking Freedom 
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