I woke up this morning with a smile! After sleeping in, exercising, cleaning the house and planning a date with my wonderful husband, David, I began to really count my blessings.

I logged onto Facebook and read tributes and prayers for those who have served in the military and those who are currently serving. Our family is a military family because my niece, Melody, married an Army man, Heath. We are proud to be a family who serves the United States.

This service does not go without sacrifice. The year my niece became pregnant, Heath received the call to go back to Iraq for another tour of duty. He missed doctor appointments and hearing his daughter’s heartbeat for the first time. His dedication to our citizens caused him to be absent when Melody felt that first kick and when she went to her ultrasound appointments. The Army granted him 21 days to come home to participate in his daughter’s birth. But Ellie decided to come early, so he witnessed the birth by video (taken by my sister) after his arrival home.

But, I never heard him or Melody complain about these missed milestones. Their hearts for this country remind me to pray a little more for the USA and to believe that with people like Heath, Melody and Ellie there is hope for America.

I am deeply grateful to experience the freedoms like drinking a cup of coffee and just doing nothing on a day when there are men and women serving in the desert for me. There are no words that can truly express my gratitude, so my hope is that this feeble attempt at writing this blog will be the tribute I desire it to be to our troops.

THANK YOU FOR SERVING OUR COUNTRY!

Sandra Stanford