Pakistan – The Power of Connection

Islamabad has a charm of its own.

The Story

Pakistan wasn’t about sightseeing. Life in Islamabad isn’t especially touristy or glamorous—but for me, it was the most important stop of my journey. It was about one thing: being with Dave.

This year-long deployment had been hard—harder than I can describe. Reuniting with him, even for just a stretch of ordinary days, was the anchor I needed. We didn’t check off tourist lists or pose for epic photos. Instead, we reveled in something infinitely more precious: time together. Sitting side by side. Talking. Laughing. Sharing meals. Simply being. After months apart, that was enough.

The Reflection

Those days with Dave were a reminder that connection doesn’t always require grand gestures. Sometimes the quietest moments—the mundane, the ordinary—are the most life-giving. Just being in the same room felt like a luxury.

But deployment casts a long shadow. As wonderful as it was to be together, it was also bittersweet. I knew this was only temporary. I knew he would return to long hours and I to long stretches alone. That reality was heavy.

In those quiet hours by myself, I had time to think—sometimes therapeutically, sometimes terrifyingly. I reflected on the past, the present, and the future. I found myself grateful for the chance to ponder, even as I wrestled with the loneliness of it.

Conversations with Sami

Some of my favorite memories came from time spent with Sami, our Pakistani “brother.” He invited us into his shop, showed us stunning handmade carpets, and welcomed us to share two iftar meals with him and some of his family. (His wife and mother are amazing cooks—and who knew I would love goat so much?)

One evening, Sami asked us: “How do you let your children go?” In his culture, families often live together across generations. In ours, children leave home to spread their wings. His question pierced my heart. I thought about how much I miss my kids, even as I rejoice in their independence. I realized there is no right or wrong way—only different expressions of love and family across cultures.

The Lesson

Pakistan taught me that connection is both fragile and fierce. Fragile, because deployment is lonely and hard. Fierce, because love can endure distance, silence, and sacrifice. It also taught me that connection comes in many forms—spouses, children, friends across cultures—and each one shapes us.

Beyond Travel

This isn’t just about life as a military spouse. We all face seasons where life is heavy, quiet, or monotonous. Those seasons invite us to cherish the people who anchor us, to open ourselves to friendships that broaden us, and to see that even in the ordinary, there is extraordinary grace.

One Year Later

Looking back now, Pakistan is still the heart of my journey. It wasn’t the most glamorous stop, but it was the most essential. It reminded me that I don’t want to do life without Dave. That even in the hard seasons, love is worth every sacrifice. And that sometimes, the greatest adventure is simply being with your person.

A Question for You

Who anchors you when life feels heavy? And how can you nurture that connection today—whether through small, ordinary moments or deep, intentional reflection?

Next Stop

From quiet days in Pakistan to mountaintop revelations—next up, Croatia.

In the Market?

And speaking of Sami… if you’re in the market for amazing carpets, click here to follow his Instagram. He ships to the United States!