I am an Army kid. My dad has gone to war seven times. It is always hard and scary when he’s gone. He shows courage wherever he is. Even though he doesn’t actively go onto a battlefield, he is still in the face of danger. The courage he has is endless. I also think that my sisters, mom, and I feel courageous when he is gone. We always trust the Lord when Dad is gone. No matter what happens, we have to give all our hopes and dreams to Him and trust that He will help. My dad went to Iraq for nine months once, and it was terrifying. I remember my sisters and I would eat a Hershey kiss each night to be like he was giving us a goodnight kiss. I have moved five times and have been courageous enough to go everywhere.

We moved overseas to Baumholder, Germany two years ago. It was mandatory to go on flights and trust we wouldn’t go down. I am scared of heights and the rickety German flights did not help me.

I have been shaped and armored by courage to protect me and to be my help. I trust my courage and I will help my family despite any cost. My father does the same but more. I don’t know what I’d do without him. Dad hasn’t gone on a deployment for the last two years. He has made time for us all – my mom, sisters, dog, and I.

We all are important to him, and he means even more to us. We pack, move, unpack, settle in, pack, and move again. It’s a cycle that never stops. We are in this current assignment for only one year. I remember my mom telling me that our life wasn’t supposed to be like this.

When I was born, my parents thought we would stay in Colorado forever. But my dad felt called to join the Army again, but this time as a Chaplain, not an Artillery Officer. Now he is safer, because when he does deploy he is there for the Soldiers, to preach and help, not to fight. He deserves everything and more. The courage that all Army Rangers and dependants have is overflowing. My dad has a good friend that got shot in his shoulder. Getting shot is painful and hard to overcome. Yet he survived and is still serving in the Army.

Being stationed where we are, we are around people from every branch of the Military. My sisters are friends with girls from the Space Force and Marines. I have friends from the Army, Air Force, and non-serving. Everyone on this base is courageous and trusting. The military sends us somewhere, and we move. I am moving to North Carolina this summer and I am trusting we will be safe with God’s love around us. As challenging as military life is, I am grateful for the way it has helped me grow in courage.