I love shoes! Perhaps that is why I chose this name for my blog. I have realized that the shoes you wear can be characteristic, or symbolic if you will, with obstacles and scenarios of life. For example, my husband wears combat boots. To wear these shoes, one has to be; brave, courageous, and ready for battle. A few months ago I had to wear these combat boots. I did not enjoy wearing them for even a single minute, but I had to be brave. Let me start from the beginning. In mid May my husband came to me and told me those words that every military spouse dreds "honey I am being deployed". The sound of those words bring fear to every woman who hears them. My husband has only been deployed once, but I have heard from other spouses that it does not get any easier with each deployment. However, my husband would not be leaving until several months later, and his order had been cancelled 3 times before, so I did not think too much about it at that time. The rest of the summer cam and went so fast that by the time I knew, it was October and time for us to make our last memories before he left. We decided we would go to Branson the first few days of Autumn to see the , and on the way up we got what to me was the scariest phone call ever. Friday morning we began our drive towards Branson. About and hour into the drive my husband's phone rang. The moment it rang my stomach dropped and I just knew that it was the call I had been dreading. You see by that time my husband had a window for deployment, that weekend. I knew in my heart it would be Sunday, not sure why or how I knew but I was right. We finished our trip and had a great time at the Dixie Stampede. Then Sunday came, we went to church like normal, though no one knew what was going on, and made our way to the base to say goodbye. Ladies, if you know what I am talking about, that last kiss feels scary and cold. When you hug you soulmate, the love of your life and the one that GOD gave you, goodbye it feels like your heart is being ripped out of your chest. I felt completly numb, like I could not breathe or even move. The drive home was very lonely and all I could do was beg GOD to reveal His presence unto me. I needed to feel Him near. I never felt so alone in my life. As I drove home I sobbed and prayed, until suddenly a still small voice said unto me (not audible) "I know how you feel. I am right here with you. I will never leave thee not forsay thee." Those words washed over me life the waves of the ocean. What did I have to be afraid of? GOD has never failed in supplying my every need. I have never known hunger, or thirst or begged for shelter. My GOD has supplied everything. I determined right then and there that I would strap on those combat boots and be brave. The months went by, but they did not fly by like I thought they would. More life they crept by slowly, life the saying "slow as molasses in winten time." At last I could welcome my sweetheart home and take off these boots. As he stepped of the plane though, it dawned on my that GOD did not want me to stop being brave. Oh trust me, I don't wear those boots; every day, I just put them on when I need the extra stength. Ladies we never have to go through anything alone. Our GOD has promised us to be with us always.