Today the most remarkable thing happened.  I was standing out in my driveway at about 7:30pm saying goodbye to my sister who had dropped by and this man walked up.  He said, “Do you live here?”  I said, “Yes I do.”  Of course I am thinking oh crap!  Scary man walking up to my driveway at night and I am home alone.  Eeeeekkkk. 

He hands me a note and says that his wife is the blockwatch captain and they had just found out that my husband was overseas from another of my nieghbors.  He said he was sorry that he had not found out sooner but that his name, address, and phone number were on the paper and I could call anytime no matter what.  And if I ever needed help with anything to call. 

I said thank you and told him that Ryan would be back in a few weeks due to my haveing surgery and he said no matter that I could still call anytime and of course if Ryan left again.  They would be available. 

Now let me say I was already overwhelmed by the kindness of this gesture.  You see in Phoenix you don’t really get to know your nieghbors.  Everyone stays strangers.  I don’t know why.  But I love this neighborhood.  Even my mailman knows my name and that my husband is gone and I am having surgery.  He even gave me his wife’s cell number if I ever needed help.  Wonderful people here. 

All that to say I was already overwhelmed and then I read the note. Here it is except for the names and numbers.

Name
Address
Phone number

Hi, I’m *******,
And I am home all day,
if you should ever need
anything-  Thank you
for you families service
to our country.  (Then she put a little smiley face)

I burst into tears. Sometimes I start to feel as if only military families remember what is going on right now.   I don’t want recognition and neither does my husband.  I just get frusterated sometimes with people who don’t remember that while they are enjoying their everyday life there is a soldier sleeping on a floor, or eating freeze dried turkey, or missing the birth of their first child. And them someone makes a gesture like this and I am reminded that there are people out there that are aware.

I am so thankful for my neighbors.  For all of them who make me feel safe to live here alone.  I can’t express how much it means to me. 

I hope all of you have a good Monday.  May God bless you and keep you and make his face to smile upon you.  (Sorry my pastor says that at the end of every sermon and I think it is beautiful.)