I sat in church yesterday as we sang one patriotic song after another while pictures of members of the armed forces flashed on the big screen…the flag going up at Iwo Jima, POW’s coming off a plane from Vietnam, men running in full packs across the Iraqi desert, soldiers hunkered down in trenches on European soil. An overwhelming sense of gratitude came over me and soon I was sobbing. I was feeling a bit embarrassed, because I just couldn’t gain my composure. Then I noticed everyone else around me was crying just as uncontrollably. I wish I could have beamed this image to the members of our armed forces, past and present, and their families. I want you all to know there are still people who care, respect and appreciate your sacrifices.

I promise you, my children will understand the magnitude of your unselfish acts. We remember. Freedom isn’t free.

Sigh. I really miss my husband. I am doing ok. Not really allowing myself to do my usual “hermiting” this weekend. Forcing myself to go out and do stuff. Gonna go in to work and get some work done…gonna swing by Laura’s.

One thing I will share that does bug me. People who don’t “get it.” There are swarms of them out in the Estates right now at the parade. The sheep that will make a comment about my “Half of My Heart is in Iraq Shirt” as if I am not standing right there and able to listen. Idiots. How insensitive and stupid to make a political comment about my shirt when I am within earshot. It was something snide like “oh she must be proud…blah blah blah…something derogatory about George Bush’s war…blah blah blah…” Regardless of what they believe politically, it is our troops out there fighting for their right to run their friggin mouths about politics in front of a deployed service member’s spouse. It took all my willpower to not turn around and go off on them. They ain’t worth my time, energy or passion.

Unfrigginbelievable.

A

By the way GI…one of the reasons I love Brand X so damn much is because it is a place where those who “get it” can be found.

THANK YOU.

A

Thanks to servicemen, servicewomen and their families for all they do and all they sacrifice for us.

Also to those who serve at home as LEO’s, and Emergency and Rescue personnel. Heroes. Every one of you.

“There ain’t not doubt I love this land…”

We often thank those who serve. But as I read BBCF’s post, I am filled with love, respect, and gratitude for HER. And for all the wives and husbands and children who’s loved ones serve our country.

How much they must sacrifice, to be separated from the people they love most, so that I can be home with the people I love most.

We need good people who are willing to go, willing to leave their homes, families and comforts, in order to fight to protect ours. We need good people, still, who are willing to stay, to watch their loved ones leave home, and wait for them to return.

Good people, like BBCF, make sacrifices everyday. They do an honorable thing too. They love their husbands, and wives, fathers and mothers, who serve our country in foreign lands. They support them when the call home, and encourage them to stay strong. They wait, they’re patient, and they stay strong too.

“Behind every good man, stands a good woman.”

Not everyone can serve our country they way our military does. And not everyone can be married to someone who serves so far from home. But men serve, and women serve, and their families stay behind, and love them, and wait from them. They are heroes too, because they love all our heroes, in a way that only they can.

God Bless ALL those who serve, in every way, here, and far from here. Those who ‘fight the good fight,” and those they relay on to encourage them to keep it up. We need them too.

I am going off on a tangent from BCCF’s post.  I HATE hearing I support our troops, but not the war.  Liar!  Supporting the troops is supporting the mission.  Hoping that they WIN!

Oh by all MEANS go on a tangent.  ESPECIALLY when it is a good one.

I have one word for you:

AMEN!

I spoke to BCCF about this last night. She said she refrained from going off, because she has been taught to believe she is a representative of her husband and father, both military men. She was obviously practicing a disciplined restraint, because she didn’t want to make them look bad. Add to this the fact that she is struggling with her husband’s absence…how can we not respect her that much more for holding her tongue?! 

I know we can’t go around beating people up for their political views. But not having the class to shut up in the presence of someone who is sacrificing so much, that’s UNSAT! BCCF, this makes my blood boil.

P.S. Her weeds are overtaking her house again. I don’t have the equipment to take care of it. Anyone out there have the resources and time to help her?