Mrs Obama’s Visit to Fort Bragg

“I encourage everyone out there, within the sound of my voice, to reach out on your own — through schools, PTA, Little Leagues, churches, workplaces — and find out if there’s a soldier or a soldier’s family right there in the community who needs a little extra support,” Mrs. Obama said in her speech. “They’re there. Something as simple as offering help with car pool duty can make the world of difference to a parent who’s trying to hold the family together during a very stressful time.”

But what I DO have is abundant!
I have neighbors. Moms who watch my boys periodically for no reason; just to make sure I get some “me time”. Dads who have kept my driveway “snow-blown” all winter. Friends who take the time to call to make sure everything is ok over here.

I have friends from church. We get together once a week to study God’s word, yet, they are my touch of reality. One gal understands the ‘single-mom’ thing and is SO welcoming of my boys when we show up each Wednesday night. She helps them with jackets; she makes popcorn just for them and just smiles when I ask a ‘stupid’ question… like “should I bring food next week for the group?”

I have family. This is a big one. I grew up an Air-Force Brat. I know what it means to not have family in the area. My own family lives over four hours from me. (Although four hours would be a short drive considering how far we grew up from my parents’ families.) My family lives in the same area and I am the one that isn’t at the table when the rest of the family gathers for an impromptu dinner at Mom & Dads. It hurts. BUT I do have the in-laws; whom I get a long with quite well! My mother-in-law watches the boys when I need a break. My father-in-law comes on a moment’s notice and fixes the furnace when it dies on a Sunday morning. My sisters-in-law are a hoot and make me laugh when we chat!

So, back to Mrs. Obama’s stop at Fort Bragg. I realize I have it good, not great, but good. Is there someone around you that is struggling? I haven’t had any ‘organizations’ per-say come to my aid like Mrs. Obama talks about. But we can’t rely on organizations… we have to rely on *people*. Maybe you could be the person a fellow-military spouse needs!