Memorial Day

This morning I am being served by my active duty service member. 

If you've not been around many active duty service members (many of you undoubtedly know veterans), then you should go to www.thepioneerwoman.com today. She has some amazing pictures on her blog today of service members coming home from being away. 

And pictures can only do so much. I have only been to one coming home ceremony. I should go to all of them but there are so many around here. They are so touching. So moving. Definitely tear jerkers. I have SO many friends who have gone through multiple deployments, a very special friend who's going through one now that I wish I could be there for, and a friend whose husband is just stationed on the other side of the world. Friends (dependents) who've had children, celebrated (multiple) birthdays and anniversaries, and moved their entire households without their spouses. I know many families have it hard with one or even two working parents. Being in a military family in a military community is especially hard, especially special, especially difficult and if you're not in a military community and doing these things it is even harder because most don't quite understand. 

Chances are, even if you're not in a military community, there is a spouse and/or family living near you. You'll be able to tell this by seeing their DOD sticker on their front windshield of their car, usually on the bottom corner on the driver side or in the top middle. If you see that, tell them thank you. I have a lot of friend who actually go home to their families while their service member is deployed. 

It's hard to understand what dependents go through as military families. Moving, time away from the service member (whether it's 14 hour days, days or weeks or months away at a time), where the service members mindset is constantly, etc. Please be praying for these people who serve our country.

I have a special place in my heart for the dependents because I am one. And I am a mother to two of them. And the focus really should be the whole military family, because they all serve together. It definitely is a group effort. 

As we have already dodged a deployment this year, please be praying for us as we will undoubtedly face one in the near future.