So Very Blessed

My family history is very rich with military service, my mom, dad, brother, grandfathers, uncles, aunts,  in-laws, close friends and their families you name it they have served this country, and many of them have gone to war be it Iraq, Afghanistan or others I am unaware of and many of them have gone several times.  On Memorial day we are to remember those who have died in the service and I can not even begin to imagine what that must be like.

Recently the Pioneer Woman has had people submit "coming home" photos of peoples families coming home from war and many of them brought me to tears because they hit so close to home.

 My so sweet brother in law has gone to Iraq or Afghanistan probably more times than I can count on my fingers because that is his job, he goes to war, when he's home they learn more about going to war he enjoys it, BUT he has a wife and two young girls and a son on the way...and he is once again going to be deployed and will probably miss the birth of his son. 

My best friend from high school just had a baby while her husband was deployed and had a newborn and two year old by herself for several months until her husband came home. 

So looking at those pictures brought tears to my eyes because the emotion of families being reunited is so raw and I can just feel the emotion and excitement of daddies seeign their babies for the first time and husbands and wifes being reunited...then there were the pictures of caskets, the men and women who didn't make it home alive....I can say I am so blessed that I have never had to experience that and I thank the Lord every DAY for that.  I don't want to ever experience that, but I do and always will have the utmost respect for those who serve and in honor of memorial day will take a moment of silence myself to send out prayers for those families who have lost friends and loved ones in the service, that they will have the strength they need to continue living and for healing for their broken and torn hearts.

Happy Memorial Day...I'll be at work...someone has to take care of the babies, even on the holidays :)