Wednesday, September 10, 2014

The Lone Soldiers

We all do it...We all try to put our best feet forward on our blogs, but today I'm going to give you a glimpse into the craziness that was my kitchen on Saturday.


That's what it looks like when I'm baking three brownies pans, two chicken pot pies, breakfast quiche, and Carbonara {with spaghetti squash} for the first time. It was worth it, though, even if it took days to tackle those dishes. Our friend Joel was coming home from the same training that Will was recently subjected to, and as a single soldier with no family around it was up to our new 'Rucker family' to step up! Everyone deserves a Homecoming.






I'm most proud of the scrapbook we made him. You'd think we would put together a thoughtful montage of the past few months to show him we care, but that just wouldn't do. Instead, Will came up with the idea to go to his house while he was gone and party it up in 'his honor'. This involved doing anything fun we could think of and capturing it for the scrapbook. Moral of the story, we may have strange ways of 'house sitting' and showing you we love you, but you can't deny that we are creative in our methods and we really do care!







On a serious note, it breaks my heart when some soldiers are deployed and they don't get a SINGLE care package, when they come home and no one is there to show them that their sacrifice was worth it, or when they have to spend the holidays completely alone. It's everyone's responsibility to do what they can to make up for that, and every little bit helps: Invite them for holidays, send care packages, attend a homecoming, or just send a Christmas card. The secret is that it will make you feel just as good as they do when receiving. Promise.

Regard your soldiers as your children, and they will follow you into the deepest valleys; look on them as your own beloved sons, and they will stand by you even unto death.- Sun Tzu




19 comments:

Unknown said...

I love how you take time to talk about soldiers, they dont get as much appreciation as they should

P!nky said...

Awwww that's so wonderful! I often wonder about the single solider, living alone and coming home to no one. I know he appreciates it very much and I have to say thank you, too.

I bet all that food tasted amazing!!!

<3

Jenn said...

I love that you guys are such a support system for your friends. That's how it should be--I just love you even more for being that amazing person :)

Kerry @ Till Then Smile Often said...

I am sure he was so appreciate of you guys taking time to make his homecoming special. Breaks my heart to know so many don't get that when they come home.

♥ ♥ Just a Girl in Love w/ a Soldier ♥ ♥ said...

OMG, how fun. You guys are seriously the best friends someone could have!!!! I would have been cracking up looking through the scrapbook you put together!!!!

A Life Without Mofongo said...

I'm more than sure he must of been so happy. I loved this idea.

Mandie said...

You, my friend, are awesome! He should feel really lucky to have you in his life. Good job, girlie! I love it! :)

Mandie ~ http://badbrewpack.blogspot.com/

Emmett Katherine said...

I'm sure your friend was surprised by his scrapbook and what went down in his house while he was away!

I think the sentiment of looking out for those that don't have family or friends close by is important, something we could all remember and act on :)

Cece @Mahogany Drive said...

You guys are so sweet. That is awesome!! You are the kind of friends that everyone wants and wants to be like. : )

Jen said...

I love this, so awesome!

SMD @ lifeaccordingtosteph said...

What a great homecoming! You're all good eggs.

That's what my kitchen looks like during food prep too - you can see it a lot of times in any pics I take in there on Sunday morning. LOL

Karen M. Peterson said...

I know a lot of soldiers don't get packages or letters, which is sad, but I never thought of soldiers not getting amazing homecomings. That breaks my heart! I want to adopt a soldier. How do I do that?

Rach said...

Haha! The baseball note made me laugh! So glad you guys were there to party with him! :)

Jamie said...

Love this.

Amanda said...

Haha. I love this! You guys are the best, seriously!

The Siberian American said...

I saw this featured on Karen's blog so I wanted to come and say that what y'all did was so sweet. It's so sad that some soldiers don't have family to come home to!

Team O'Connor said...

I've never seen Joel so happy! You are a sweetheart for taking such good care of him.

Kate @ Daffodils said...

What a wonderful thing for yall to do!

Kenzie Smith said...

I love how you guys did this! You are too amazing ♥

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