Dayton is a very transient city, due to Wright Patterson Air Force Base. Many families are only here for a short amount of time and then move on to their next assignment. Knowing your assignment is only temporary (2 to 3 years usually), it can be so easy to isolate yourself, to draw into yourself or your family to protect yourself from the hurt of developing friendships and then moving on. Well, the Altenhofen family is one of the many military families in Dayton, yet they have not let the fear of pain and hurt keep them from living in the here and now, making friendships and allowing their lives to intertwine with others. I am encouraged by the way they have developed deep friendships, joind community and established a home here although they already know their next assignment is not here in Dayton. My prayer for Tara and Jason is they continue to pursue community and friendships in the midst of a transient life, to never isolate but to love fearlessly. And may these pictures serve as a reminder that you will always have a home here in Dayton!
“The future is called ‘perhaps,’ which is the only possible thing to call the future. And the important thing is not to allow that to scare you.”
~ Tennessee Williams