Advent is a season of waiting by its very definition. We celebrate the anticipated arrival of our Messiah, Jesus. The girls and I are making an advent wreath this morning (a little late, but that's par for the course around here!) with my hope to keep this season focused on Christ.

We military wives are pros at waiting.

Most of us are far from home--the friendly comfort of where we grew up, and we would much rather spend the holidays among the familiar, with family. But for many of us, it's not an option.

So we wait.

Some of us are overseas, many in countries actually hostile to Christianity. There are no Merry Christmas signs, lights, trees, manger scenes, candles or anything else signifying there is anything special to this season. What we wouldn't give to hear a good old fashioned "Merry Christmas!" from a store clerk or the sound of a Salvation Army bell ringing. But for this year....it's not to be.

So we wait.

For still others, it's close to moving time again. We celebrate Christmas with a partially packed or unpacked house, do the best we can to help the children have a good Christmas and think to ourselves "It'll be better next year".

And we wait.

For many of us, we will celebrate Christmas--whether for the first time or one of many years- without our beloved spouses.  They may be on an extended remote tour, or deployed in harm's way every single day. There is nothing we can do but pray.  We hope and cling to faith.

And we wait.

For those who wait along with me, please let me offer a simple Merry Christmas to you. My prayers are with you every single day.  You're not forgotten.

Perhaps having all the comforts and things we loved stripped from us reminds us Who is truly our hope--Jesus.

Know that He will not let you down as you continue to wait.

God bless you, my sisters.