Angie, Sarah, Mandy and "Meridot"
Last night Mandy and I helped Christy host a holiday open house. Fort Stewart has brand new housing for the families so they decided to sponsor a home tour for families on the base. Christy's house looked wonderful! She is one of those Martha Stewart types that transforms each room of the house into a winter wonderland. I was stationed in the living room and had points of interest to share. My favorite 2 were the family photo and the stockings. The photo is of my great-great-great grandmother, Prudence Jane's 8oth birthday celebration. It has always been a favorite picture of mine that can also be found at my parent's and grandmother's homes. The other fact about the room that I loved sharing with visitors was that the children's stockings were made of material from "the Colonel's" boyhood woobie! This got a chuckle out of most guests!
After the tour ended, we got a chance to visit the other homes on the tour. They were all located on the same block and the families were mengeling with eachother as we walked freely in and out of their homes. All were decorated beautifully, but also had their own distinct taste and style. My favorite decoration I saw was in the front window of a home. They had purchased the "FRAGILE" leg lamp from The Christmas Story... it's was priceless! One common thread in all the homes was the sense of family and accomplishment. Walls and counters were covered with pictures of weddings, births, military balls, promotions and graduations.
We ended the tour at General Lynch's residence. The Commanding General and his wife Sarah seem to be so down to earth and welcoming. There was a group of about 20 ladies that had gathered there with some of their husbands for appetizers and margiritas. But it was the women who stood out in the group. I stood back and realized that I was in a room full of people who's families make the ultimate sacrifice for the rest of us. These women are eachother's neighbors, friends, support system and extended family when they are away from their own families and when their husbands are serving. The sisterhood was evident in the exchange of hugs, friendly conversation and warm atmosphere. Most of them move every two years and have half of their worldly possessions in storage somewhere in the US. I just don't know how they do it... they are a rare and very special breed! Being in the military has given their families wonderful experiences of living all over the world, meeting Presidents and delegates and opportunities other families could only dream of, but it is a lifestyle that takes a very strong foundation.
This June many of their loved ones will be deployed to Iraq for the 3rd time in 3 years. My Uncle Mark is among those who will be going back. Please keep not only him, but all of the families of the 3rd ID from Fort Stewart in your thoughts and prayers.
After the tour ended, we got a chance to visit the other homes on the tour. They were all located on the same block and the families were mengeling with eachother as we walked freely in and out of their homes. All were decorated beautifully, but also had their own distinct taste and style. My favorite decoration I saw was in the front window of a home. They had purchased the "FRAGILE" leg lamp from The Christmas Story... it's was priceless! One common thread in all the homes was the sense of family and accomplishment. Walls and counters were covered with pictures of weddings, births, military balls, promotions and graduations.
We ended the tour at General Lynch's residence. The Commanding General and his wife Sarah seem to be so down to earth and welcoming. There was a group of about 20 ladies that had gathered there with some of their husbands for appetizers and margiritas. But it was the women who stood out in the group. I stood back and realized that I was in a room full of people who's families make the ultimate sacrifice for the rest of us. These women are eachother's neighbors, friends, support system and extended family when they are away from their own families and when their husbands are serving. The sisterhood was evident in the exchange of hugs, friendly conversation and warm atmosphere. Most of them move every two years and have half of their worldly possessions in storage somewhere in the US. I just don't know how they do it... they are a rare and very special breed! Being in the military has given their families wonderful experiences of living all over the world, meeting Presidents and delegates and opportunities other families could only dream of, but it is a lifestyle that takes a very strong foundation.
This June many of their loved ones will be deployed to Iraq for the 3rd time in 3 years. My Uncle Mark is among those who will be going back. Please keep not only him, but all of the families of the 3rd ID from Fort Stewart in your thoughts and prayers.
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