A Letter to Start Our Journey
My Dearest Friend,
Before anything else, I want you to know how glad I am that you are here. Across the many seasons of this life, writing has always been the way I steady myself. Journals tucked on nightstands, scraps of words scribbled between errands, pages filled when the weight of a moment grew too heavy to hold silently—writing has been my companion for as long as I can remember.
But these letters are something new. They are not the private words of a diary or the polished reflections of a book. They are a middle place—an offering. A way of opening the door and saying, “Come sit with me awhile. Let’s talk about what this life really feels like.”
Because this life carries so much: the ache of farewells, the joy of unexpected friendships, the invisible labor that binds communities together, the questions that rise when we are starting over yet again. It is a life of change, yes, but also of resilience and of connection that spans miles and years.
In these letters, you may not find perfect answers, but you will always find honesty. You will meet the stories that have shaped me, the lessons I am still learning, and the glimpses of hope that keep me steady. My prayer is that, as you read, you will feel less like a stranger peering in and more like a friend who has always had a seat at the table.
So let us begin here, with this first letter. May it be the start of many conversations, and may it remind us both that even in the constant change of military life, there is always the gift of walking alongside one another.
