Children are amazing!
Thank you, precious little girl!
Your country loves you!
♥
Pixiemom
16 years ago
It’s a cute story, but I’m curious about how they worked it out. Was the father already on his way home so they called the news station and told them to be there and publish this story? Or did this little girl wanting her daddy home for Christmas actually qualify as grounds for the military to reschedule things? What about all the other kids who wanted their parent(s) home and didn’t make it onto the news? I guess when I’m just a little bitter when I suppose I should be touched. My kids are missing the second Christmas in a row due to my husband’s deployment. It would have been nice to have him home to see our youngest daughter’s birth as well. But I never encouraged the kids to wish for a pipe dream like ‘Daddy’ being back at a certain time. I’d never want to disappoint them like that if something fell through. I don’t know. I guess I just don’t get it. There are too many details left out for me.
@Pixiemom: No, I understand your concerns, but I’m pretty sure everything will be okay with them. That’s Christmas, after all ) And children always get their miracles, regardless what crisis are we, adults, transiting now…
Best wishes and greatest respect to those on the frontlines who protect all our freedoms and peace. It’s great to see the americans fighting the arabs instead of us. By the way, the locals here(singaporeans) actually have helped out a little bit with Iraq. They had a ship guarding some of the coalition ships and also had an air transport making runs into Baghdad airport. I remember this because a couple of years ago, the english media interviewed some local military pilots who were making the runs into Baghdad airport and they complained that their plane usually had small arms fire directed at it going in and going out. Now I think it’s very peaceful and basically the Iraq situation is over, and the americans have succeeded in building a new ally in iraq, instead of the rabid terrorist country it once was. Quite an achievement.
Rocky_B
16 years ago
Pixiemom;
They said he had been there since March, which means at least over 6 months, so I’m guessing he might have been on rotation between assignments. On deployments, after the first 6 months, the military has an option to extend for up to another 6 months. They’ll often cut this short, which would prevent one from receiving a “short tour” ribbon for being stationed at a single overseas assignment for at least one full year. At least this is how it works AF, the other services may be different.
Still it’s a sweet video & brings to mind the time missed from being with loved ones when overseas. The children seem to grow up so fast and that’s time we can never get back; missing out on the significant events of family members and the children, to include; weddings, graduations, first words, first steps, school events, and yes LOL, even toilet training. Those are things we could only experience vicariously through the memories of our home support teams (Who are due no less credit for their contributions), or perhaps via a video which our peers gladly gather around to share the experience. There are sacrifices being constantly made by family members on both sides of the world. One of the best ways to honor a service-person if you can’t be there to do something for them, is to lend some support or a hand to those trying to take care of business back home without them. Anything from a hug or someone to talk, to watching the kids so the “mom, dad, grandparents, or other extended-family guardians can do things many take for granted such as a chance to go out and do some Christmas shopping, make an appointment or have a little “personal time” to set aside their constantly hectic lives for a little R&R.
If you know singles that are stationed at a location near you, invite them into your home for a little while. We have a tradition in my family where for holidays we combine our celebrations with an “orphan’s dinner”, where we take in lonely single friends who would otherwise be sitting alone with a dish from the microwave while everyone else is celebrating oblivious to them.
And it doesn’t have to be a servicemen or women. Do it for a college kid or that old person down the street who is living alone, perhaps because their spouse has passed or they never wed.
All I’m saying is don’t look out for “only #1” during the holidays, as is all too common in today’s fast-paced world. Share the love.
Children are amazing!
Thank you, precious little girl!
Your country loves you!
♥
It’s a cute story, but I’m curious about how they worked it out. Was the father already on his way home so they called the news station and told them to be there and publish this story? Or did this little girl wanting her daddy home for Christmas actually qualify as grounds for the military to reschedule things? What about all the other kids who wanted their parent(s) home and didn’t make it onto the news? I guess when I’m just a little bitter when I suppose I should be touched. My kids are missing the second Christmas in a row due to my husband’s deployment. It would have been nice to have him home to see our youngest daughter’s birth as well. But I never encouraged the kids to wish for a pipe dream like ‘Daddy’ being back at a certain time. I’d never want to disappoint them like that if something fell through. I don’t know. I guess I just don’t get it. There are too many details left out for me.
@Pixiemom: No, I understand your concerns, but I’m pretty sure everything will be okay with them. That’s Christmas, after all ) And children always get their miracles, regardless what crisis are we, adults, transiting now…
A very touching story but as Pixiemom reminds us there are many families who will be missing a parent this holiday season.
I hope that any neighbors or friends of family members will help to fill some of that gap but it won’t ever substitute for the real thing.
Best wishes and greatest respect to those on the frontlines who protect all our freedoms and peace. It’s great to see the americans fighting the arabs instead of us. By the way, the locals here(singaporeans) actually have helped out a little bit with Iraq. They had a ship guarding some of the coalition ships and also had an air transport making runs into Baghdad airport. I remember this because a couple of years ago, the english media interviewed some local military pilots who were making the runs into Baghdad airport and they complained that their plane usually had small arms fire directed at it going in and going out. Now I think it’s very peaceful and basically the Iraq situation is over, and the americans have succeeded in building a new ally in iraq, instead of the rabid terrorist country it once was. Quite an achievement.
Pixiemom;
They said he had been there since March, which means at least over 6 months, so I’m guessing he might have been on rotation between assignments. On deployments, after the first 6 months, the military has an option to extend for up to another 6 months. They’ll often cut this short, which would prevent one from receiving a “short tour” ribbon for being stationed at a single overseas assignment for at least one full year. At least this is how it works AF, the other services may be different.
Still it’s a sweet video & brings to mind the time missed from being with loved ones when overseas. The children seem to grow up so fast and that’s time we can never get back; missing out on the significant events of family members and the children, to include; weddings, graduations, first words, first steps, school events, and yes LOL, even toilet training. Those are things we could only experience vicariously through the memories of our home support teams (Who are due no less credit for their contributions), or perhaps via a video which our peers gladly gather around to share the experience. There are sacrifices being constantly made by family members on both sides of the world. One of the best ways to honor a service-person if you can’t be there to do something for them, is to lend some support or a hand to those trying to take care of business back home without them. Anything from a hug or someone to talk, to watching the kids so the “mom, dad, grandparents, or other extended-family guardians can do things many take for granted such as a chance to go out and do some Christmas shopping, make an appointment or have a little “personal time” to set aside their constantly hectic lives for a little R&R.
If you know singles that are stationed at a location near you, invite them into your home for a little while. We have a tradition in my family where for holidays we combine our celebrations with an “orphan’s dinner”, where we take in lonely single friends who would otherwise be sitting alone with a dish from the microwave while everyone else is celebrating oblivious to them.
And it doesn’t have to be a servicemen or women. Do it for a college kid or that old person down the street who is living alone, perhaps because their spouse has passed or they never wed.
All I’m saying is don’t look out for “only #1” during the holidays, as is all too common in today’s fast-paced world. Share the love.