This is me.

This is me.

Okay, maybe not. I do daydream about such things, though. You know, domestic housewife who bakes everything from scratch, sews beautiful clothes for her children, saves lots of money, has happy, obedient children, oversees an immaculate home, and still looks magnificent at the end of the day. Reality is slightly different.

This is really me…on a good day.

I can dream, though, and some days I can actually accomplish one of these things. I try not to put too much pressure on myself. I read about the “Proverbs 31 woman” and feel like I have somehow missed the mark. Lately I have seen the Proverbs 31 woman in a new perspective. I was reading a book called “Army Social Customs.” Written in 1958, the book lays out the roll and responsibilities of the Army wife, from who to call on when arriving at a new duty station to how your children should behave at the base pool. I love history and this book has entertained me. It does contain some good information like how to recognize a soldier’s rank and traditions of the Army that are helpful to know. But reading through the whole thing I began to understand why they had to write a book on the subject. Trying to remember how many calling cards to leave where and what the difference was between a coffee and brunch. They even laid out what the appropriate attire was for such things. I would have failed miserably. I did not see jeans and tennis shoes on the list of appropriate attire for anything including a trip to the commissary.

Don’t get me wrong, one of the things I love about the military life is the area of traditions and standard. I like to know expectations and I love the pride soldiers and their families find in the country and Army they serve. I am all about sticking together and representing well, but the idea of fixing my hair and wearing make-up and a dress every day is slightly overwhelming. I am found far more often in sweats with what we call at our house “chalk bottom.” That is right, more than once I have sat right down in the sidewalk chalk art on the driveway.

Thankfully, though, my husband sees me more like this.

And for that I am truly thankful, because being married to him makes me feel like this.

I have come to the determination that I will never be the “perfect housewife.” And I am okay with that because Jesus sees me as His bride and my husband considers me his rockstar. What more could I want?