As military spouses, we are faced with numerous challenges: Moving every two years, being without our spouse for long periods of time, deciphering the washing instructions on uniforms.

But, one of the things that binds us together is our ability to meet these challenges and to adapt and overcome.

This post was going to be about the awesome time Big Sarge, the kids, and I had in Talkeetna, Alaska. I was going to tell you about taking a train for the first time in 20 years, seeing Denali, and having a great time as a family.

But, instead of being at the train station, I am at my house, listening to my younger daughter breathe.

The poor thing came down with croup just two days before our trip. I am absolutely paranoid about her breathing—she had RSV as a 1-month-old, and I worry that it might still affect her. My older daughter is starting to develop the symptoms of it as well.

What to I do? Adapt and overcome.

When Bullet insists that the humidifier is making her sicker, I tell her I will leave it on for only 15 minutes.  By the time 15 minutes is up, she is snoring. Do I turn it off? Nope. She also refuses to have Vicks put on her chest. So, I put some onto a tissue and hid it in her favorite toy’s clothes. Yep, I’m a horrible mother.

So, we aren’t going on a train ride today? Adapt and overcome.

The girls want to watch TV, so we found National Geographic specials on Netflix about Alaska. It’s not the same, of course, but it is still exciting to think that we live in this beautiful state. And it’s also more educational than My Little Pony reruns. I also brought down some of my yarn stash for them to look through, and they each picked out yarn for me to crochet hats for them.

If I sit and focus on what goes wrong (not only unexpected illness, but throughout my life), then the disappointment will surely make me bitter.

When I adapt and overcome, I take control of my circumstances and not let the circumstances control me.

Often times, what we can create out of disappointment is so much better than what we originally had planned. So, when your PCS orders are changed for the fourth time, when your husband has CQ on your anniversary, and when you feel like you have no control—adapt and overcome.