Every military wife has a song – a song that they listen to when they’re sad, or plays when they’re happy, or needing some serious motivation to keep going. On our last deployment, two of my favorites that were always on my iPod’s “most played” playlist were Avril Lavigne’s “When You’re Gone” and “Keep Holding On.” I know, neither one is faith-based, but I have to say for the “Keep Holding On” song, that it often felt like God was speaking to me through those words, letting me know He was here for me and that things would be okay.
What are the songs that keep you going? What are the songs that mean the most to you? Comment and let us know and we’ll take the 10 most popular answers and list them in our next newsletter!
*Everyone who participates will be entered into a drawing for a free copy of Faith Deployed: Encouragement for Military Wives. Drawing will be at noon on June 30th! Enter as often as you like!
UPDATE (7/2/09): Using Random.org, #3 was picked and the winner of our drawing is Ebony! She has won a free copy of Faith Deployed. Ebony, I’ll email you to get your address so we can send this out to you. Congratulations and thanks to everyone who participated! Keep checking back for new giveaways!
Popularity: 51% [?]
The song that makes me think of my husband since he has been gone is "Believe" By: Skillet. It just says a lot about some things that have been said and some hurts i've been having. It describes how i've been feeling to a tee…This first time apart has really been rough…
Julia
Does the hurt ease up at all? I'm not a military wife but I am a Marine girlfriend, and this is our first time apart.
Sarah
I hate to say it but no. I’m a marine wife currently going through a deployment. (not my first) my husband and I got married when I was young, and that made it harder because I was still finishing school. But you just have to rely on your fellow girls going through the same thing.
Kylie
Could you (Kylie) offer some advice? You’re this first wife I’ve seen that was juggling school as well. I got married in November of last year and I am now finishing up with my last semester of school. He was deployed from March 2010 to March 2011. I attend school 1200 miles away from where he is stationed and frankly it sucks. To me I feel that when he is state side we should be enjoying our time together and it sucks that we can’t. I spent a full month with him over my winter break and needless to say it was amazing. It was honestly the most amount of time we’ve been able to see eachother for consequtive days. I left him to go back to school three days ago and I already cannot stand it. I fear that when I am finally able to go out and be with him for good he’ll be deployed again and that scares the hell out of me. No one understands how I feel or how badly I want to be with him right now.
Kellie
Kellie,
I feel like I can relate to your story alittle bit. My husband and I met online. He was stationed in another state 12 hours south of me. I was still attending school and at the time we met I had a year left to graduation. We married in July ’09 and I graduated in Dec ’09. Between July-Dec we kept our separate residences for my schooling purposes. When I graduated he flew up and we packed up my car and drove “home” together. That was when our marriage really started. My husband was at station that could deploy at any time, day, night, holiday, etc. When they called he had to be ready. Most deployments were planned and lasted a few weeks. but the first deployment I endured alone in our apartment, now pregnant with horrible morning sickness was a huge wake-up call to what being a military wife can entail. Luckily, my husband was home for the birth but he was gone a total of 4 months throughout my pregnancy.
We are now at a new station, where he is on a huge boat that deploys every 2 months. For the most part it is a literal schedule of 2 months home, 2 months gone, etc. Now with a child who doesn’t recognize Daddy when he comes home, its hard. I have been a few long distance relationships in the past but with things like skype and simple phone calls can help ease the pain. On the boat, we get email. That’s it. He calls when they dock somewhere but mostly its 0-2 emails a day. Waking up to an email inbox is heartbreaking.
I know my story is alittle different that yours, and I can completely relate to your missing him and the frustration of wondering when your marriage will really start. God choice you for your husband because he knows you are strong enough to handle this. School is keeping you busy, and as hard as it is, use that as your outlet. Throw yourself into school to stay busy. My outlet is church and my son, but I’ve been in positions where there was no outlet at all. If you haven’t yet read GOD Strong: A Military Wife’s Spiritual Survival Guide by Sara Horn, I highly recommend it. It really talks you through deployment and it has lots of story from other service wives. I hope I have helped or at least eased your mind. You are not alone in this. God Bless!
Amber
"I Knew I Loved You" by Savage Garden (our song)"Here Without You" by 3 Doors Down (for when he's gone)"It Is Well (With My Soul)" (when things are rough)
Dawn
I have to say my new fav would be Britt Nicole's "Walk on Water!" I can't believe how much this song seems to be directed to my and wives! She wrote this song for her mother who was actually wanting to open a girls home and they end up doing it in their home! She basically talks about stepping out of the boat with faith and doing what God calls us to as he promises to keep us above water! It is beautifully amazing and encouraging- step out and walk on that water WITH God!
Beth Anne Deems
Your Hands by JJ Heller
Olivia
The songs I have been listening to this deployment are
Porcelain Heart- Barlow Girl
Surrender- Barlow Girl
Your the Reason I come home-Ron Pope
Life aint always beautiful- Gary Allen
Come Home Soon- SheDaisy
It's amazing how a song can lift your spirits and give you renewed resolve. When I am having an "off" day, just listening to these few songs helps to remind me that this is just temporary and soon we will all be back together with God's loving grace.
Megan
When im sad and miss my soldier i listen to
A Soldier's Wife- Roxie Dean
Sleeping With The Telephone- Reba McEntire
The Soldier Song- Sally Mudd
21 Guns- Green Day
Winter
The song that gets me through is "Start Saving Me" by Mike Corrado. It is absolutely amazing!
Tricia
When it all gets to be too much (no matter the reason) I listen to "Jesus Take the Wheel" by Carrie Underwood.When I miss him and need a pick me up I listen to "Red White and Blue" by Brian McKnight.When I'm happy I listen to "People Are Crazy" by Billy Currington, in the car really loud and sing along because my husband and I do that when he's home. It always makes me laugh when I do. He's been gone for 145 days 8 hours 46 minutes and 36 seconds. And will be home in less than 45 days for two weeks.
Mrs. Santiago
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bpMxw9kTwr0
This is mine right now as of today… Music and hearing my kids laugh, along with my sword( the word) is all I have to get me through….
Heather
Come Home Soon by SheDaisy
Heather Tabers
"There is Love" by Chasen. No matter where he goes or how long he has to stay or how he changes while he's there, there will always be love for him in my arms!
P.S. If you're still entering people for the drawing I already have the book
Stephanie
“No matter where he goes or how long he has to stay or how he changes while he’s there, there will always be love for him in my arms!”
thats beautiful
Samantha
My songs are "Forever Love" by Reba McEntire … "Lifeline" by Mat Kearney … "You're Not Alone" by Meredith Andrews … "Heavenly Day" by Patty Griffin …
Shamberly C.
Every military wife has a song
dana76
“Stronger” by Mandisa and “While I’m Waiting” by John Waller
Amber
I have SO many songs! But a few of my favorites are “Strong Enough” by Matthew West, “Faith” by Jordin Sparks, “I Can Wait Forever” by Simple Plan, “Wouldn’t Change a Thing” by Matthew West, “Hold me Together” by Royal Tailor, and “From Where You Are” by Lifehouse. I could keep listing them haha but figure these are some of my most encouraging
Stephanie