My Hero! #HonoringOurHeroes

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #HonoringOurHeroes #CollectiveBias

I’ve been known to write a few emotional posts, I am also known to get emotional while writing these posts, so Kleenex® for the win! Today, I’m talking about my heroes (because I couldn’t choose only one hero) as part of #HonoringOurHeroes. Yes, there is Kleenex on hand. Thank you, Fred Meyer. 🙂

 

My Dad, My Hero

I have many heroes in my life. They are people who have shown me immense amounts of love, perseverance, and strength. When I was a little girl my dad was my hero, I thought my dad was a real life action figure. 🙂  He was unquestionably muscular, strong, short, and he wore a uniform.  I remember thinking how tough he was and how secure I felt with him around, especially when I was dangling from his arm as he flexed it. (My dad would let us line up to swing on his arm while he flexed!)  I owe the fire inside of me to him, I know my never quit attitude comes from him. 🙂 Thanks, Dad! 🙂

My Mom, My Hero

My mom was just as tough every time our real life action figure/hero left home on deployment. I especially thought my mom was tenacious when my dad shipped off to war. Even when there were piles of crumpled up Kleenex® on her bed while she wrote ten page letters to my dad while watching the war live on CNN, she was strong to me. She was tough through tears and fear.  She held our family together, made sure we did good in school, took us to our sports activities, and she still made it to work every day (weekends off 🙂 ).

Once I was at the PX with a friend, we were talking about our futures and I said, “I don’t think I want to marry a soldier, it’s a hard life.”  But you know as much as I do, love is love and love conquers all. I fell hard for a soldier from Ohio. He was handsome, strong, kind, and he looked HOT in his uniform.  🙂  (I did not meet him in his uniform, but when I first saw him in his uniform I got weak in the knees. To be honest I still do every day- no uniform needed.)  We fell in love, he got out of the Army, we got married, we had a baby, and then he joined the Army again– September 2002.

History Would Repeat Itself

History would repeat itself, I became the devoted wife crying with crumpled up Kleenex® surrounding me while I watched the news of the war. I had a slight modification to my story, because for me not only was my husband shipped off to war, but my sister from another mister (another hero) was deployed, too. When you’re a military family Kleenex® Brand is a staple in your home during deployment, not only for sad tears but happy tears too.

My husband and I were lucky that he was part of communications, I was able to speak to him often. We would cry and laugh over the phone often; something my mom didn’t get to do when my dad was at war. I truly appreciate my mom, my hero. She did what I was doing, but she did it with four kids and for way longer. My dad served 22 years in the Army, my mom was by his side for almost all of it. My husband did 8, I was there for some of it. They say military spouses are the backbone of the Army, my mom was certainly ours.

My Husband, My Hero… Our HERO

My husband, is our hero. While he was deployed, we always felt his love. He wrote us letters, sent us sweet pictures, and kept me laughing. He showed me as much support as he could while he was away. I knew I could always count on him to cheer me up regardless of the distance that stood between us. When he was deployed to Iraq I purchased a recliner for him, my daughter wouldn’t let ANYONE sit in it. She filled that chair with drawings she drew for him almost every day. She kissed his picture every morning when she woke up and every night before bed. By the time my husband returned from Iraq that picture frame was all sticky with love. 😀 

One of the first things my husband did when he got home: he sat in his chair and read his chair mail. That’s who he is, always making things about others, even on his first day home.

He has been my biggest cheerleader, my “bestest” friend ever, and the world’s greatest papa to our three babies. I am lucky that he is my partner on this journey called parenthood. He is always there to sign up to do the extras for the kids and if I need help he’s always there for me. When I’ve felt like I’m falling apart, he has always been there to help me piece it all back together. He is my hero. (A little late, but Happy Father’s Day, babe! I love you!)

Those Who Support Our Military, My Heroes 🙂

Thank you, Kleenex, Kroger and Fred Meyer for giving me the opportunity to highlight a few of my heroes today. I gladly support companies who give back to our military and partner with the USO. The USO was there to welcome home my husband and his unit, which meant a lot to me, and of course to him. When you purchase one Kleenex® Facial Tissue 4-pack bundle from your local Fred Meyer or other Kroger stores they will along with Kleenex® Brand donate one pocket pack to the USO.

Also, there are 13 giveaways, one from each Kroger family of stores, with a prize valued at up to $100! You can enter the giveaway by sharing your “Hero Story” on social media tagging your “Hero Story” with Krogers’ hashtag #HonoringOurHeroes.  If you would like to learn more about honoring our heroes, please visit the Honoring Our Heroes Website.

Do you need help locating a Kroger store near you? Here is a helpful store locator.