Welcome home!

Often I don't feel like my life is "blog-worthy." J.T. and I are typical DINKs - who lead fairly average [busy] lives... working a lot and playing a little.

Today I did something out of the ordinary.

I had the opportunity to go to the DFW International Airport and welcome our troops home.

Armed with a patriotic poster, I had no idea what to expect.

There was a group of about 200, waiting to greet the 110 troops arriving at DFW. While we were waiting, we sang "God Bless America","The Star Spangled Banner" and "O Beautiful".

After a 45 minute wait, we learned that the flight had arrived. A few minutes later, cheers errupted from those that had glimpsed the soldiers walking down the hall.

One by one they filtered through - some basking in the glory of the cheers, some looking shell-shocked and scared. A few had a final destination here in the metroplex, so they were met by loving famiy and friends. Some soliders shook every hand out-stretched to them, while some looked straight ahead.

There were two that made a particular impression on me - one was a boy who reminded me of my little cousin Pete. He could not have been any older than 18 - his face pale and serious, his eyes sad. I found myself wondering what he had witnessed and experienced - imagining him as a carefree boy in years, but a man in experience.

Another man in his 30's was met by a wife and grandmother. The grandmother was a slight thing with wispy white hair and tears rolling down her weathered cheeks. She held one of his hands in both of her small hands, tenderly patting it as they walked. As I watched, my own eyes welled up with tears and my heart offered up a small prayer of thanksgiving for my husband safely at his office.

Since I don't have any family or friends fighting in the war - it's easy for me to forget about what's going on. But after such an emotion-filled experience, my heart echos the words on the posters:

Thank You for What You Do
Welcome Home
&
God Bless America