Hi Friends,
It's that time....drum roll please...!!!
Thank you, to everyone for your blog comments and emails! I appreciate all of the time you took to enter the birthday contest. A winner was chosen! Audra, nominated Jeff & Amanda to win a custom furniture makeover! Below, you will find their touching story and see why I chose to honor them! Not only, will Jeff & Amanda receive a custom furniture makeover for free but Audra will as well. I wanted to give a gift with purpose and be a blessing! Audra, nominated someone else without thinking twice! I am so happy to be able to bless both families! If you entered the contest and you were not chosen I am offering 20% off any custom order for you during the month of Sept. (excludes Kitchen makeovers). Thank you, for being with me here and sharing in my adventure. I appreciate each and every comment you make!
Amanda & Jeff
Posted: by Audra
We’ve all seen them- the emotional military reunions. Spouses looking as though the
weight of the world is finally off their shoulders, the strong marine running to embrace
his family, and the children refusing to unwrap their little arms from around daddy’s
neck. One can’t help but be moved by the images; such a beautiful picture of a family
restored. However, these moments of reunion would not be possible without the moment
of saying “goodbye.” Staff Sergeant Jeff and Amanda have had their difficult moments
of goodbye and they’ve been blessed with some beautiful, memorable reunions.
Staff Sergeant Jeff left for a military deployment November 2011- just a couple weeks
before Thanksgiving. He left behind his wife (Amanda), daughter (6), son (4), and
daughter (10 months). Although this is not his first deployment, it is the first deployment
he left three kids behind. Once he arrived at his destination, he realized that the military
had not set up his housing correctly. He had to find his own place to stay for the 9 months
of training and pay for it out of pocket. Jeff and Amanda will not be reimbursed by the
military, so they had to not only pay their mortgage during his deployment, but also had
to pay for the apartment rental the whole time.
Marines understand sacrifice, and so do their families. During Staff Sergeant Jeff’s
deployment, he missed anniversaries, birthdays, holidays, father/daughter dances, and
many other memorable events. Amanda had to experience life as a single mom to three
energetic kiddos who missed their dad tremendously. Unfortunately, life doesn’t slow
down due to a deployment. During Jeff’s deployment Amanda’s van broke down beyond
repair and she had to deal with it and purchase one while Jeff was gone. She also
experienced shingles. Being sick with kids is hard enough, but having shingles, being
away from your husband, and having three kids running around must have been
excruciating. Amanda is not one to complain or ask for help. She is an unbelievably
humble, yet strong woman that has sacrificed so much so that her husband could protect
our freedoms. As we all go about our days, these strong and brave military wives are just
trying to get through each minute, hour and day (276 days to be exact…not that she was
counting). These women have made the biggest sacrifice that a Marine wife can make.
They have supported their husbands and have taken care of their homes, bills and
children, while their Marine has been deployed. Jeff just returned home this past week
and it is such an honor to show our respect and gratitude for such a deserving family. ~
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Thank you, again for all of your entries! We will do more giveaways in the near future! I have been honored to share my birthday with you! ~Valerie
