Veteran’s Day is drawing down.  Before it officially closes, I’d like to offer thanks to the fathers and sons and grandfathers, the mothers and daughters and grandmothers who promised to protect the land we walk on and the freedoms we so often take for granted.  Thanks to those who are here,  those who are over there,  and those who are gone.

Importantly, thank you to the families of these men and women who make a daily sacrifice while their loved ones are away.  Thank you for all that you do each month-week-day to support your soldiers… to support our soldiers.

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about the story of my husband’s cousin.  He’s a young man with a young wife.  Eight and a half months ago,  while living on the opposite coast from their family in Maine, they welcomed their first children,  sweet preemie twins, a boy and a girl, each an enormous blessing to their family.  And then, still across the country from their family, they suffered a pain I can’t pretend to understand.  Though he fought hard, their baby boy survived only a short while, leaving a deep imprint of love and strength behind.

Soon after, Mom and baby returned home to Maine when Dad was called to service in Afganistan, a world away.  Over the past 8 months, this sweet baby girl has flourished and grown and continued to bless her family, large and small.  She is a bundle of light and goodness and love, shining on everyone who has the pleasure of meeting her.

And her father is a world away.

I am only beginning to know Mom.  One of the first things I learned is that she is an inspiration.  This young family,  is an inspiration.  He-  serving and protecting.  She- tending, supporting and connecting.  I am just beginning to learn about her.

What I have learned is that she is a dedicated and loving mother.  Her daughter is her greatest joy.  She embraces motherhood with enthusiasm and personifies grace in the face of grief and survival.

I’ve learned that she is a dedicated and loving wife.  She is blessed to be able to talk with her husband more frequently than I would have expected.  She anticipates these moments with great enthusiasm and then shares updates in a thankful and positive way.  She sends care packages and writes letters and does everything she can to make her and their daughter a part of his daily life.  Just tonight,  after a web-cam chat, she said to me, “It is amazing how much more you can fall in love with someone when they are not even here.”

I’ve learned that she’s committed to family.  Although married for a relatively short while,  and across the nation for a good portion of that time, she has jumped into this family with both feet.  She invests time and energy and love into her husband’s family.  Beyond his parents and brother and sister, she reaches out to connect with aunts and uncles and cousins.

In the wake of grief she is separated from her partner by land and sea.  She is alone in the seemingly endless stretches of infant sleeplessness.  Yet she embraces each opportunity to connect with her husband and his family (in addition to her own).  This mom is an inspiration.  This family is an inspiration.

I look forward to Dad’s safe return and the opportunity to bare witness to the growth of their family.  I look forward to continuing to learn about and from them.

Once again, I’d like to express my gratitude to all of the families who are impacted by the call of duty.  Thanks to those who remain in the US, for those across the globe, and for those who stay behind-  loving and supporting them,  and inspiring us.

Photos courtesy of the author.