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On Saturday night, Jess and I decided to forgo our regular date night. Instead, we, along with Katie and Brooke, traveled an hour and a half away to a attend a party for a man we had never met or spoken to. No, this was not a family obligation. This party was to celebrate the safe return of the husband of a blogiverse friend of my wife. He had spent the past year serving in Afghanistan. Jess’ friend had no idea we were coming. She had no reason to expect us to come. In fact, she and Jess hardly know each other (they had never met or spoken to each other), but to a degree, that wasn’t the point.
This family is an ordinary family like yours or mine. Like mine, they have two children. Like mine, they have a daughter on the Autism Spectrum. UNLIKE my family, they made it through this last year with one parent serving our country in Afghanistan. Sergeant Major William is a proud member of the National Guard. He is an ordinary guy doing the extraordinary. I am extremely grateful for what the Sergeant Major does. I am always floored by the men and women who are willing to put their lives on the line for me. Because of Sergeant Major William, and the rest of the members of our armed forces, I get to do what I do. I get to be a stay-at-home-dad. I get to run marathons. I get to write this silly, little blog. No matter where you stand on the political spectrum, I think it is important to show gratitude and respect for our soldiers. They are heroes.
But I don’t view Sergeant Major William as the only hero in his family. His wife Rachel, along with many of our servicemen’s spouses, have spent the last year home, alone, going to bed every night wondering if their soldier is going to be okay. Add raising a child on the spectrum and the pressure mounts. I believe Rachel, and spouses like her, deserve recognition for the sacrifices they make so that we can send our soldiers overseas, so that we can do what we do, whether it be running marathons or vegging on the couch or whatever the heart desires.
For a more in-depth description of the party, please check out Jess’ blog post —>HERE<—.
We have Veterans’ Day every year in November. I propose we take today, December 8th, to thank the Rachel’s, Jeneil’s, and every other military spouse who hold the hearts of our soldiers – a Veterans’ Spouse’s Day.
What does this have to do with running? Nothing…and everything.
Run Luau Run 
Well said, Luau. I had read Jess’s account of the party previously, and it is nice to have this additional discussion of it.
It never fails to amaze me how truly connected I feel to so many people I have become blogosphere friends with. I sometimes wonder how we got through before without the unique blend of support, humor, and info sharing that goes on out here.
I am humbled with gratitude for families like Rachel’s and William’s. When I jokingly complain about being a “single parent” when hubs is away for one night on business, I’ll remember to keep it all in perspective – that’s nothing compared to Rachel and families in the same position.
Luau, nicely done! I do know Rachel and I’m in awe as she navigates the military insurance industry in an attempt to get services for her daughter, and let me just say, I would rather give birth standing up in an elevator than have to go through what she goes through an a regular basis. Talk about jumping through hoops. It isn’t bad enough that you have medical issues to deal with, but then this diagnosis, AND insurance crap-which we all know about, but this is 10 times worse. And she did it alone. For a year. MAD PROPS!
So nice job Luau highlighting his service for us, and hers for Rachel Margaret.
I posted a comment on Jess’ blog as well. Thank you for this amazing post Luau. Seeing the world through your eyes is a blessing. We have two choices when life throws us a curve ball – we can become bitter and angry and filled with self pity or open our hearts and eyes to love and gratitude — I am so glad you chose the latter! Holiday blessings and I can feel the angels surrounding all.
So glad you all went. What a special evening.
Well, My Friend. It was indeed an honor to have you and YOUR amazing family join us for such a joyous occasion. What a gift of your time to spend on ‘little ol’ us’ and we surely will never forget it. It was an amazing evening. We met many neighbors for the first time that live only a few houses away, new friends, old ones, “autism peeps” both new and familiar, family and some total strangers made for one of the most enlightening and lively parties! It wasn’t just a Welcome Home party, it was a Welcome to Your New Family Party. Because we are all family, on the most basic level as humans, sometimes it just takes a yank on the few common threads that weave us together to pull us close enough to feel the bond.
Thank you, Luau. Not only was it a fun party, but it was life-changing.