A Moment to Brag

Several months ago, Jay took a couple of tests for some competition that I am not even going to pretend that I know anything about. All I know is that he took the tests. Apparently, all Airmen E-4 to E-6 in select career fields were supposed to be taking it. We thought that a handful would be chosen to go to San Antonio for the final test and didn't think much else about it.

Well, today, Jay was informed that he would be going to San Antonio for 4 days. He came in 2nd out of all E-4s through E-6s in his entire career field, so he will be receiving a silver medal. So, why does he need to be in San Antonio for four days? He talked to someone who had gone before and apparently it is a four day long award ceremony filled with wining and dining. It is quite the big deal. How awesome is he? I know, I know! He is the GREATEST!!!! Way to go, Jay!

I just wanted to take a moment to tell everyone how incredibly awesome my husband is. We haven't been to San Antonio since he graduated from basic. It is going to be so much fun! YEA!!!

Why I Serve

Exactly seven years ago today, as I was getting ready for work, I received a phone call from a friend: "Have you seen what is on the news?" I turned on the TV and was shocked at what I was seeing. How could that happen in our great nation? What would it mean for my family's future? What could I do to help ensure that the freedom I so highly cherished would endure for my children and their children?

I went to work that morning with a renewed resolve to do my very best at my chosen profession. September 11, 2001 marked almost one year to the day since I had first raised my arm and taken a solemn oath to "protect and defend the Constitution of the United States from all enemies, foreign and domestic, and to bear true faith and allegiance to the same." On that day when America changed forever, I resolved that I would do what I could to ensure that such a thing will never happen again, and that my children's future will be bright.

Serving in the military is not always easy. It has required great sacrifice of me. If those sacrifices only impacted me, I would hardly think of the cost, but my family has had to pay even higher sacrifices for my choice to defend this great nation. My children have spent many nights not knowing where I was, other than that "Daddy is in the desert, and God is protecting him." My wife has had to comfort their fears for my safety, all the while depending upon that God to bring me home safe. The joy of each reunion when I would return safely to my family has always been tempered by the knowledge that the next deployment was just around the corner. No, serving in the military has not been easy.

So why, then, do I serve? The word "serve" is the key. I do not do it for myself, but for others. Of highest concern to me is my own family. I serve so that my wife and my children will be free. But my concern extends far beyond my own immediate family. I serve to ensure that my fellow countrymen may enjoy their God-given rights to liberty. I serve that liberty might be brought to the oppressed in nations other than my own. I serve for others. I serve for liberty.

Military service is a sacrifice, but it is a sacrifice in its truest and purest sense: a holy offering. It requires giving up my own comforts and conveniences in order to preserve something of infinitely greater worth: freedom. There are those in this world who would take that freedom from us; it has been so from before the beginning of time. Despite the opposition, there are those who, like me, have answered the call to defend that supernal gift which God has granted us. Our service is given as an offering to our God.

I do not serve for the glory of the world. I do not serve in order to receive any thanks. There are many people who oppose what I do, yet I serve to preserve their freedom to hate me just as I serve to preserve another's freedom to be grateful. The only glory I seek through my service is the glory that can only truly be found in a free society: glory given to God without fear of reprisal from oppressive outside influences.

Thomas Jefferson said that it is a self-evident truth that God has endowed us with the unalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. God has endowed us with those freedoms, but there are those who are trying with all their might to deny us what God has given us. That threat has always existed, and will continue to exist. What would my life be without that freedom? And so, I have answered my nation's call, and I am proud to wear the uniform of the United States of America.

This is why I serve.

Where were you...?

Has it really been seven years? I'll admit, it has been a pretty emotional morning for me. I've been listening to music that touches my heart to the core, looking at pictures that are still so familiar, and remembering. I remember it like it was yesterday. We were living in Monterey, California. I still feel the heartache from it as I did that day.

So many people killed, so many families' lives devastated. My heart poured out to them. I wanted to do something, anything, but what was there to do? I felt helpless. My heart ached, as it aches right now, as I remember.

I remember candles being lit across the nation. We were no exception. We gathered with neighbors to light candles, we sang heartfelt songs to God, we prayed with all the energy of our soul for our great nation, the people of it, and especially those whose lives were so directly impacted by this great tragedy. I remember the unity of our nation, the flags in every yard and on every car. Everyone doing what they could to help their neighbor, just because of the love we felt for each other. The pain that we all shared in, affected us in marvelous ways. We reached out to others more. We couldn't see anyone suffering without giving a helping hand in any way that we could.

Isn't this how God wants us to treat each other? Does it always take pain, heartache, and suffering for us to remember that we are all children of a loving God? A loving God that founded this great nation and has blessed and prospered it ever since. Our founding fathers were truly inspired by God. They knew that, and I know that. We have been so blessed because we are a nation under God. Seven years ago this great nation under God was attacked. In this, at least, or finally, political parties were united. We truly were a united nation. This would not ever happen again. Sacrifices were made. Men and women went to fight for us, for our families and our futures.

How grateful I am for these sacrifices that are still being made to keep my family and this great nation safe. Sacrifices that are not unfamiliar to me. Sacrifices that affected my family directly. My husband has gone to fight in this war, on multiple occasions. I know what it is like to try and struggle as a single mom, trying to make things work while he was gone. Trying to comfort children while you feel like your own heart is breaking. Not knowing how you are going to survive another day. The list could go on and on. I know that there are many who have it so much harder than I. I know that many have made the ultimate sacrifice. I just want to say how much I appreciate the men and women, and the families of the men and women, who serve, and sacrifice, to keep our country safe. Who serve to make sure that the future will be bright for our children, as so many have done before us.

My heart goes out to those families who are separated at this time. To those single moms and dads, many who are temporary, and many who are not, my heart pours out to you. May God watch over and protect you and your loved ones. May He pour blessings out upon you. May you know that these sacrifices are not made in vain. They are needed. They are appreciated. Thank you, all of you, for what you do!

God bless this great nation, America!!!