Rob is asleep on the couch. Around midnight he will get a call and if they don't hear from every single one of the soldiers in his battalion he will have to go in at some random hour of the night for who knows how long. On his weekend. All because the government has decided that their agendas are more important that getting a budget passed and stopping the shut down. I could sit here and point fingers, just like all the politicians have been doing all day, but I'm not going to. It's the GOVERNMENTS thing. Each and every one of them is responsible. I'm praying something happens in the next 2 and a half hours. In the meantime let me share some pick me ups that have made today not quite as stressful.
"Congressmen who willfully take action during wartime that damages morale and undermine the military are saboteurs and should be arrested, exiled, or hung."
— Abraham Lincoln
"perhaps we ship the dirty politicians overseas and let them stand on the front line.-without pay." This was posted on Kellie Pickler's twitter just a few minutes ago. Surprisingly out of all the stars I follow (many county, some celebrities, others just famous people in general) she is the only one that has posted about this shut down today. That has to tell us something about the famous people who "care-about-their-fans". Or maybe I'm just being judgmental as I feel it's a much bigger deal than many American's are making it. Maybe unless you are in the military or a federal employee you just don't realize what this means. How sad.
This next thing that I am going to post I found on a blog that I anonymously follow. It's a blog of an Army wife that I will probably never meet. But today I came across her blog and this really made me.. well.. cry. I hope it makes you smile, and feel some pride for your country even though our government is taking a lot of that pride away tonight. We live in America.. the home of the free, because of the brave.
"Over 1 million "angry Americans" take a stand on Facebook saying that this is absolutely unacceptable. Here are some fabulous stories of grateful Americans standing proud behind our troops. Please PLEASE feel free to add your own thank you stories in the comments sections. Our troops and families need all the positive encouragement that we can get. There is enough negativity going around so lets lift each other's spirits a bit.
A few years ago, my husband and I were planning a vacation. We wanted to rent a beach house on a cliff in Northern California, but it was WAY out of our price range. I contacted the owner and asked if he would rent the house for a weekend instead of a whole week. I explained that we only had a limited window to travel because my husband is a Marine and had to report to his new duty station soon. The wonderful home owner gave us his beach house FOR FREE for the week! We both cried when he offered it to us. Years later, we still stay in contact with this generous man. We will never forget his kindness.
My fiancé is in Afghanistan and my co-workers reached out to me and are buying things to send him in my care packages... I couldn't believe their thoughtfulness and generosity! They really showed me they cared and it was a true "thank you." I can't wait to put the package together and ship it out!
I have two great "thank you" stories. I used to be on active duty and both of these happened in an airport. On my way home from Iraq for my 18-day R&R, I was walking through the airport (in uniform of course) trying to get to my connection. I was walking down the terminal when I felt someone tugging on the cuff of my ACU top. I looked down and it was a little girl, no older than four. She was looked at me and said, "Thank you for what you do." I almost lost it. So sweet.
The second was when I was going BACK to Iraq after my R&R was over. I was in Atlanta and they have this big holding area for all the Soldiers heading back into theater. They got us all together and then lead us to our gate. As the big group of us was walking through the terminal, EVERYONE got on their feet and started clapping. It was such a great feeling and gave me good vibes to go back to Iraq and finish out my deployment.
As a wife of a wounded soldier I am in awe of the support that we have gotten! It sucks that our men and women don't get much when they are healthy and fighting to keep us all safe. However, I am grateful and will be forever thankful that there are organizations to help us when the government fails. Wow! I turned the corner. Anyway....we (my husband and I) didn't do it for the "thanks" we did it because that's what we were called to do.
P mentioned something in his most recent email update to his family. He talked about how when he "played Army" on the weekends in college (aka in the National Guard), he'd get a random person who'd walk up to him about once a year and say thank you.
He said, "And it always took me by surprise when someone actually took the time to walk up and thank me. I'm one who doesn't need to be thanked at the end of the day, because I can say that I'm truly doing something I enjoy and don't really consider it work. And I also know that those little "pick me ups" if you will although not needed or called for can change your day and later on down the road like now when you sit miles away from everyone you know and only see what is slapped in the news reminds you why you do what you do, and helps you get out of bed some days when you wake up and your like why do i do this."
My favorite thank you story was when he returned from the last deployment before this one and we spent a night in a really nice hotel in Portland. The porter who helped us take our bags up to the room was young but talkative and figured out that hubs was a soldier returning home. He thanked him and dropped our bags off and left. About 10 minutes later, there was a knock at the door and when we opened it there was a bottle of champagne and a basket of munchies with a simple note on hotel letterhead that said "Thank you for all you've done for us." I got a little teary eyed, but hubs just said "free booze!" Haha :)
Four times when I've gone to the post office to mail a package, I've gotten up to the window only to hear "the person ahead of you paid to mail your package, you don't owe us anything." By the time I heard this, the person who was ahead of me was long gone, and there was no way to thank them. I stood there in shock each time, and twice started crying. It really is the little things that matter. We've never gotten to thank those who who have done these little things for us, but we appreciate them more than they will ever realize.
I've actually had a lot of comments on my blog from people stopping in from linky parties who find out I'm an Army wife. When they say thank you I cry. I'm even worse if someone says it to my face. I am just so full of pride in what my husband does that it brings me to tears. I love this post.
my favorite thank you was in an airport bar (classsyyyyyy) and 2 ladies sitting next to me noticed my wedding rings and mentioned i look too young to be married and drinking.. and i was like oh im 21, and they were like oh but your married! and asked if we were both in school and i said no my husbands in the army hes in iraq right now, those women were like OMG, youre so young and here we are complaining about being away from our husbands for a few days etc. we don't think you wives get enough appreciation for all you do, thank you.
My husband and I had just gotten to our new duty station. After a very long day of house hunting, a trip to the hospital, and DH trying to get his footing at work, we went out to dinner. This older man and his son both came up and thanked my husband for his service. The next thing I new, they turned to me and thanked me for all I do as a military wife. It was the first time I had been thanked for supporting my husband.
Just yesterday I went up to a soldier at a car wash and thanked him for his service and shook his head. He was caught off guard and embarassed a bit,but i needed to tell him. He needs to know that myself and my family do appreciate his service.
My favorite thank you moment was last week when Robbie got home from his deployment. As the they all started down the escalator in the airport the entire place was on it's feet clapping and cheering. My heart was fluttering and my eyes filled with tears. I was just so very proud!
My greatest Thank you moment was when my husband was flying to training and the flight attendant asked him to wait in the back of the line and she said that she will make it up to him...Well when he got to her she said wait here...then came back 5 minutes later and gave him first class seating...The whole works food and all...He was greatful cause he is a taller guy a 6'4 so he is usually crammed on a plane but not in first class...He said he slept like a baby too...Those type of things make me so happy to hear...They work hard and deserve things that are little to the person that is giving but so big to our soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines...I HEART GOOD OLE AMERICANS;)
I think the best thank you was when my DH was deployed and a neighbor mowed our lawn for me. My son just would not nap that day. I wasn't feeling too hot either, but it needed done badly. I ended up having to lay down with our son to get him to nap, and when we got up, the lawn had been mowed. I wish I knew who did it. I'm still so thankful for that kind gesture.
I know we don't do this for the praise but its nice sometimes to be reminded of the simple fact that what you do matters. There are so many more stories like this out there, I don't even have time to copy and paste them all. But in case anyone hasn't told you lately....
Thank you."
Anyway, if the government shuts down, please think about us. Even if it doesn't, please think about us.
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