Sacred Spaces by Corrie Weathers

Military Spouse of the Year (2015) Corrie Weathers wrote this book about walking a mile in her husband’s shoes. Except instead of a mile, it was a week-long trip with Sec Def Ashton Carter and staff around military bases in the Middle East. Weathers intentionally immersed her heart into the joy and life-altering tragedy her military chaplain husband experienced across multiple deployments to the region. Her journey helped heal parts of her marriage that had been lost to years of separate experiences. 

1. She visited the Kearsarge in December 2015 as part of her trip—that’s the ship Chris was on during his last deployment—when it was over by Bahrain! Chris remembers their group boarding because, as mini air boss, he directed the landing of the helicopters that brought them aboard. I got a kick out of that. 

2. This book would be great for families and friends of servicemembers. Some of her experiences are more Army specific, but the descriptions of the challenges of separations and reintegration had me thinking, “YES, I wish more people understood how hard the disconnect of separation can be.” Then people wouldn’t say things like, “wow, this deployment is just flying by!” I’m like, “yeah, FOR YOU.” Anyway. If you know someone in the military or married to the military, consider reading this book. 

3. I applied to be on the launch team for this book. Then we got orders the week I got an email welcoming me onboard the team, and we ended up moving out of our Norfolk house and driving across the country the week of the launch. Surprise—I dropped the ball on this. But good news: 

4. Corrie Weathers is following up this book with a challenge to military spouses to pursue their spouse’s heart with vulnerability and love, and that challenge is ongoing. Military marriages need more support and encouragement. I support this. 

Before Chris and I were married I was chatting with a military spouse I admired at church. I told her Chris and I were thinking about getting married and asked if she had any advice. She said, “Marriage is hard. The military makes it harder,” and walked off. That is probably true, I think, and that’s exactly why we need other military spouses: to acknowledge the difficulties, share the burdens, point to hope, and encourage each other in the rough spots. 

5. Corrie Weathers is also currently launching the second annual Military Spouse Welness Summit, which is free and online October 17-21. Military spouses can register at http://in-dependent.org/wellness-summit. 

“After working as a mental health counselor serving military marriages for more than eight years, I can say that our military couples need resources more than ever before,” said Corie Weathers, host of MSWS16. “Worldwide tension is not easing up, and spouses continue to hold down the home-front with love for their family and a level of grit that is beyond impressive. For military marriages to stay healthy in the midst of constant change and stress, it is crucial that spouses invest in their wellbeing and have access to the best resources available.”

So this post should have been up months ago, but better late than never. And there is plenty of time to sign up for the spouse summit.