I have been in tears much of the evening.  I am humbled to consider what so many have endured and sacrificed for my freedom.  I know that it can sound cliche, but it is true:  FREEDOM IS NEVER FREE.  We are so blessed to be citizens of the United States of America.  When I was young, I don't think I really gave much thought to a day like today.  I don't even know if I was certain what a veteran was.  How proud I was of my two young children today, as they told me what a veteran was, and called their great-grandpa (who served and was a POW in WWII) to say Happy Veteran's Day and to tell him thank you for serving our country.  I imagine it was a blessing to him, as well.

That said, how I wish I could have heard them tell their own father that.  But duty calls, and he is currently away.  We talked about him today, and we sent things with him when he left to open on 11/11.  So he knows we're very proud of him.  I am honored to be married to a veteran.  I am grateful beyond words for the sacrifices that he continues to make for our country and our family.  He knows that the Lord has called him to this work, and so no matter how difficult it is, he continues to serve honorably, with integrity, and when he has to...leave his family and his beloved homeland behind to help defend our freedom and the freedom of others around this great globe.

Honey, if you happen to read this, words truly cannot begin to express how proud I am of you.  I thank God for your courage and commitment.  Scripture says that Jesus did not come to BE served, but TO serve.  And I know that He has given you a servant's heart.  Thank you for serving our Savior, our family, and our great nation.  You sacrifice so much, I cannot imagine what it would be like to have to go away like you do.  To say that I'm thankful for God's protection of your very life would be to put it far too mildly.  I am so humbled that He chooses to bring you home safely to us.  I trust He will do the same again at the end of this trip.  For now, until I can tell you in person, please hear from the bottom of my heart:  THANK YOU.  What you do is not done in vain.  Your wife and children are proud of you and your nation owes you a debt of gratitude.  You are my hero.  Happy Veteran's Day, Sweetheart.  I love you.