Yellow Ribbon Conference

This weekend we participated in the Yellow Ribbon Conference which is put on by the Army Reserve Family Readiness Program and the Battalion that Chris belongs to. Chris is the commander for one of the four companies that make up the Battalion. The conference was held at the beautiful and historical Sheraton Gunter hotel across from The Majestic theater in downtown San Antonio. Over 400 participants from all across the country came including soldiers and their family members. It was a great program that included speakers and presentations on everything from emotional cycles of deployment to financial readiness. As the Family Readiness Leader for Chris' company I was able to facilitate these sessions, meet family members and recruit volunteers for our Family Readiness Group. I am also able to do it with the help and hard work of my best friends Rikki and Ana who also happen to be FRG leaders for other companies in the Battalion. With a lot of behind the scenes work, the program went off without a snag. As an army wife it's easy to be mad and angry at the Army for "taking" my husband away on these deployments, but if it's going to happen I am grateful to be going through such an experience with best friends along the way. I also have the support from other family members who are going through the same emotions and have the same questions and concerns as myself. As an FRG leader I feel empowered to be an independent women when my husband is gone and I hope that I am able to help others do the same. The Yellow Ribbon Conference was successful and although it makes this upcoming deployment very real and near, I feel its a necessary educational tool for anyone who is about to go through perhaps the hardest year of their life. There is a strong bond between Army family members in that they are the only ones who can possibly know what you are going through and we can support each other in that way. Its an experience that makes you appreciate life, your family, and the world in new ways and makes you ever so grateful for what you have. I know that I am not the same person I was before Chris was deployed...you mature, you are independent, you appreciate, you love more and are stronger than you ever think you can be.