Podcast

EP 20: The War at Home; The Side of Being a Military Spouse That’s Never Talked About with Katie Palenzuela

In Episode 20, we hear from Katie Palenzuela; a friend of mine for which I have the utmost respect. She is a supportive wife to her husband Rob, an empowering mother to their two kids, a relentless CrossFit athlete and coach, a speech pathologist, a daughter, a sister…

Another label she chooses to wear with strength, pride, and courage is Military Spouse. With that title comes a responsibility I pray I never have to experience. I hate to say that but the way she paints this picture will stop you in your tracks and pull at your heart strings in a way that I can’t describe. You’ll have to listen. It’s just… it’s just so hard.

Because she’s such an eloquently, talented writer, for this episode she chose to read a blog entry of hers titled Quiet on the Homefront in which she emotionally and vulnerably dives into the side of being a military spouse rarely talked about.

“Standing in a hangar at 3AM with hundreds of other people, all collectively holding their breaths, as they have been for months, all waiting to breathe again.”
Katie Palenzuela, Quiet on the Homefront, Strong Anyway

Strong Anyway is her blog which has had nearly 2 million views due to a January entry that went viral overnight. The viral entry is called That is America and since it was posted 8 months ago has had 1.8 million views.

Her words rocked 1.8 million readers within days. Her gift… the way she takes emotions and thoughts and forms them into words and sentences is unrivaled by amateur writers. Read her writing and your reaction will be, “Amateur?! Come on now!” Yes. Amateur – she only started last fall.

As soldiers are leaving their families to protect ours, they’re leaving behind their spouses to make all the decisions, attend all the events, raise the kids, cook the meals, pay the bills, celebrate birthdays, create fun, memorable holidays, buy homes, move homes, attend weddings… funerals… all on their own. It’s the part that no one likes to think about because focusing on this reality makes their absence even heavier.

“For half of our married life, we’ve been apart.”
Katie Palenzuela, Quiet on the Homefront, Strong Anyway

The statement, “I don’t know do you do it” is one she and all military spouses hear all too often. “It’s all we’ve ever known.” is the quick simple answer she and many others respond with.

This episode will show you what it’s really like… what charges the incredibly emotional homecoming videos we’ve all been sucked into, unable to stop watching, on Facebook and YouTube.

Katie, Rob… I don’t know how you do it. I’m humbled continually by military families who choose to make this sacrifice to protect our families, our homes, our freedoms. I love you and I pray protection over you and all military families. I speak for all who will listen to this episode when I say THANK YOU for your vulnerability, transparency, humility and strength in sharing this message. You are unbelievably more powerful than you may ever know.

“The one thing we have never truly known is peace. I am part of a generation of spouses who have never not expected to send their husbands away, again and again.”
Katie Palenzuela, Quiet on the Homefront, Strong Anyway