Reminder: Don't take anything for granted.

Yesterday at the Dallas Cowboys training camp we catered a meal to wounded Veterans.  These were guys in wheelchairs, missing arms and legs and still covered in fresh bandages.  One guy had 2 metal legs and looked like a robot from the waist down.  Another was covered from head to toe in a protective suit from what I assume was a burning accident.  He only had holes for his eyes, mouth and nose.  I had never seen these heros in person before.  It was the most humbling experience I've had in a long time. 
    One guy brought his 5 year old son with him.  The dad had lost his arm but his little boy was sitting next to him and you could just see the twinkle in his eye every time he looked at his dad the war hero.  Forget the Dallas Cowboys, my Daddy's home from overseas!  He didn't lose his life, just his arm.  We can still play catch and he'll see me grow up to be a football player or even a hero like him.  Wow...
     I've been in San Antonio for 6 years and I've respected the military men and women I see all over town but this experience was just what I needed before I leave to Dallas.  I will not have the opportunity to see this Dallas because there aren't any military bases.  But I will not forget the men and women who do serve my country and make sacrifices for my safety everyday.

I also just heard from my friend in Afganistan who told me the following story via facebook chat:
"today we had a major weather storm out here and we were out on mission.
so i wanted to finish first, which we did, but on the way back we saw a village near by was flooded
people everywhere and they ran to us asking for help cuz there were women and children stuck in houses and they had no way to get to them
so i made the decision to stay and help and we pulled out all the kids, infants, and women but one. we couldnt reach her in time
but they thanked us for trying our best and we took photos of the whole thing but my "bosses" only saw that my people were out of uniform
they didn't give my boys any credit for saving that village, all they said was where is his gloves, where is the eye protection, etc
we were in a flood the gloves were soaked and useless
the eye pro were fogging up and blinded us but they got mad cuz we didnt wear them"
It is unfortunate that leadership in every profession can be frustrating to deal with but the next time I hate on my boss for making me wear pantyhose, I'll think about how I'm just coordinating breakfast, lunch and dinners, not saving a village from a massage flood!
 
And (because good things come in 3's) I'm so happy my friend Tanya's brother is home safety from his active duty!!

My friend Ricky's Platoon

Living life to the fullest...and grateful for the freedom to do so!

-Rachel Kellar