Samantha, Jeff, and their three children are Campbell Crossing residents who enjoy this time of year together as a family. “The holidays are calm for us,” said Samantha. “We choose not to go home because we want to be able to enjoy a Christmas tree [and] partake in cookie baking and decorating with our kids.”
Samantha’s military life echoes that of many military spouses. Her husband jokes about their wedding and how they had to “schedule an appointment” during his time home on R&R from a 12-month deployment to Afghanistan. “We didn’t tell our families we were getting married, we just did it!” said Samantha, remembering their courthouse wedding five years ago.
Afterwards, Jeff went back to Afghanistan as a newly married man and dad. “That was the most challenging thing … coming back together as a family after deployment, moving to a new place and my husband coming home to a wife, child, house and bills, but we made it through and expanded our family.”
Having experienced many of the trials of military life, Samantha would suggest that new military spouses stay patient, “even when things get tough they always tend to fall into place. It’s not going to be easy, but it will be worth it. Time apart means more cherished time together. Don’t give up, our spouses need us even more than we think we need them.”