The story of my husband’s and my meeting was published in a short story titled A Story Book Romance by Guidepost, True Stories of Extraordinary Answers to Prayer, edited by James Stuart Bell, copywrite 2011.

After I left my job in 1976 and became a full-time housewife and mom, I was accepted into the Billy Graham’s School for Christian Writing conference (I was pregnant with my first child at the time). Just when I thought my writing career was going to “take off” so speak, my grandmother needed a place to live, and I heard God whisper to my heart, “take her in.” She was from the south too, and I thought why not? She stayed with us for twelve years until she left to go to her heavenly home.

I felt God’s prompting to write. What I learned in Hawaii was partly the reason I decided to write historical novels. I did write a novel about the Vietnam Era, but did not purse publishing it. At the time Vietnam was something no one wanted to read about. I wrote the Destiny Series, inspired by my grandmother’s stories, and started writing for magazines, newspapers, and then Arcadia Publishing picked me up and I wrote two books for them. I branched into historical romance, because I decided I wanted to write happy endings! 

Many Americans do not know the truth about our American legacy. Our history is being rewritten, distorted, and often times the truth is subdued by progressive historians. On my business cards, I have “Writing America’s Story One Truth at a Time” I feel that is what God wants me to do with the knowledge I reaped during my years of travel. So, after my Arcadia books made it to print, I wrote, The Wind of Destiny (now out of print). CrossRiver Media Group picked me up and I wrote Wilted Dandelions, and the series, Swept into Destiny, Destiny Whirlwind, Destiny of Heart, and Waltz with Destiny. My latest novel is the Amish futuristic, Love’s Final Sunrise. I also do a history blog the 16^th of every month on HHHistory.com

Check out my web page as I continue to write America’s story one truth at a time www.CatherineUlrichBrakefield.com

I shall never forget what John 15:7,8 taught me. Pray believing. The desire of our hearts could be a heartbeat away.

Thank you Catherine for sharing your story with us!

Things I’ve Learned as a Military Brat

• I am proud. Blessed. Honored to be a Navy Brat. Just like you, I wear my “bratness” as a badge of honor that I’ve earned through the moves, schools, tears, laughter, making new friends and missing ones left behind.
• I am the person I am today because of the amazing experiences I had as a kid living all over our beautiful country and abroad.
• I am patriotic to my core and stand when our American flag is raised.
• I’m accepting of others because I’ve walked with many cultures as I created my own.
• I love people not for what they can do for me but because they are unique and each one has an amazing story.

The Specialness of Military Brats

Being a military brat is special. Some of us love the military lifestyle, others hate it, and then there are all those who have a love-hate relationship with the military. Life is hard when you miss your “sponsor”. The service member misses so much but so does the military child. Birthdays. Heartbreaks. Science fairs. Holidays. And much, much more.

Still a Military Brat After All These Years

I’m still a Navy Brat after all these years. For example, often I begin to stand before the movie starts to play in the theater. I’m sure I’m not alone in that. And I feel safe when I’m on base or post. It’s familiar even if I’ve never lived there before.

Structure is good; it’s part of our lifestyle that gives us healthy boundaries. The routines aren’t meant to stifle us; they are in place to support children who live all over the world. Brats need structure to help them know their boundaries. They help us to be strong in new and unknown environments. It’s one of the things we pack up and take with us from tour to tour.

Stay tuned for more of DeeDee’s story on September 13, 2022.