SOL 11/28/17 - Thankful
As we celebrated Thanksgiving this year with family, we shared all that we were thankful for. The main theme remained "Family", followed by the blessings that God gives to us each day and for those servicemen and women who serve (and have served) our country.
We were again blessed to be able to spend Thanksgiving Day with a group of 49 young sailors who will be completing their basic training this week. This is the third year that hubby and I have joined our son and daughter-in-law in helping to host a dinner and day away from base. When in basic, these men and women are totally isolated from the world. They have no phones, computers, internet, newspapers, CANDY. But on Thanksgiving Day, they are granted a leave from base.
They have access to phones to call home, newspapers to read, cards to play, TV to watch and a delicious meal to leisurely enjoy. Plus Santa brings present for each of them to enjoy. This year Santa brought some drones, mini speakers, Kindles, Walmart gift cards and four travel vouchers. One young man was lucky enough to receive the travel voucher and he will be visiting with his Dad who has been deployed and he hasn't seen in two years.
This year we were also blessed to have 20 veterans from the VA Home come for the dinner. These men had served during WW II, Viet Nam, Korea. Some were in wheel chairs, some unable to speak plainly, but our young Sailors wheeled them around, talked with them, got them their dinners and appreciated all that they had been through. It was an amazing sight.
Hugs were shared along with stories of home and tears were shed. One young man who was married asked me for advice as a military wife. He listed to my response and thanked me for helping him to understand how his wife will feel when he comes home.
While they were all appreciative of what we did for them on this Thanksgiving, I feel that I got so much more out of doing something special for others. It always seems that the more we give of ourselves, the more we get back. So thankful and filled with Joy.
We were again blessed to be able to spend Thanksgiving Day with a group of 49 young sailors who will be completing their basic training this week. This is the third year that hubby and I have joined our son and daughter-in-law in helping to host a dinner and day away from base. When in basic, these men and women are totally isolated from the world. They have no phones, computers, internet, newspapers, CANDY. But on Thanksgiving Day, they are granted a leave from base.
They have access to phones to call home, newspapers to read, cards to play, TV to watch and a delicious meal to leisurely enjoy. Plus Santa brings present for each of them to enjoy. This year Santa brought some drones, mini speakers, Kindles, Walmart gift cards and four travel vouchers. One young man was lucky enough to receive the travel voucher and he will be visiting with his Dad who has been deployed and he hasn't seen in two years.
This year we were also blessed to have 20 veterans from the VA Home come for the dinner. These men had served during WW II, Viet Nam, Korea. Some were in wheel chairs, some unable to speak plainly, but our young Sailors wheeled them around, talked with them, got them their dinners and appreciated all that they had been through. It was an amazing sight.
Hugs were shared along with stories of home and tears were shed. One young man who was married asked me for advice as a military wife. He listed to my response and thanked me for helping him to understand how his wife will feel when he comes home.
While they were all appreciative of what we did for them on this Thanksgiving, I feel that I got so much more out of doing something special for others. It always seems that the more we give of ourselves, the more we get back. So thankful and filled with Joy.
What a gift to share your Thanksgiving with so many! Your willingness to invite members of the service and veterans speaks volumes about the kind of people you are. And I love that you did it with your son and daughter-in-law.
ReplyDelete