Written by Angela Caban,

As the holiday season approaches many of us get wrapped up in shopping, preparing our dinners, writing out cards and attending festivities. But when was the last time we took a step back and noticed what our greatest gifts were? For many military families, our most meaningful gifts don’t necessarily come wrapped in a box with a bow. For many of us, our greatest gift is having family and friends near, as we celebrate the most joyous season and the beginning of a new year.

As a child growing up, my fondest memory of the holiday season was always family gathering and my mother’s delicious cooking. Something that I truly try to keep alive as we all get older, I am lucky to still have all my family gathering for the holidays and I am grateful for that.

I asked reader’s of the Veteran Journal on Facebook, what their greatest gifts were. I share with you these inspiring stories from 8 military families.

My family is my greatest gift. We may have our up and downs, but I move them dearly and could not picture my life without them.

~Kirsten Black U.S. Army Spouse

 

My greatest gift is my children that my husband and I created, along with the wonderful feeling of pride that I have for my husband.  Those are by far the best gifts I have ever received.

~Jennifer Partlow U.S. Army National Guard Spouse

 

My greatest gift was that God brought my husband Brian home safely, after two deployments.   

 ~Amy Wilson U.S. Army Spouse

 

After years of not believing I would ever find someone to spend the rest of my life with, along came Ryan. He has been the biggest blessing in my life and I thank God every day that He felt I deserved such an amazing man. That is the best gift I have ever received whether he is home or away.

~Brittany Dawson U.S. Navy Spouse

 

The greatest gift I have received is a marriage that has gotten stronger through our second deployment. The first deployment, we were apart a total of 2 and half years and our marriage and 3 small children suffered for it. This time around our marriage is healed and whole by the grace of God and we are growing stronger during this separation, we now have four young ones and the baby makes time fly by as we await Daddy’s return.

~Nancy Sheridan U.S. Army Spouse

 

The greatest gift I ever received was my heart transplant. I don’t know anything about my donor except that they are from North Carolina, This gift of life literally required someone to pass their life on to another, and there is no greater gift to me in the world. I want to thank you donor for being a donor and allowing me to enjoy life with my husband and the chance to start a family.

~Desiree Smith Dunn U.S. Air Force Spouse

 

My husband is in Afghanistan and he gets to come home and spend his R&R over Christmas and New Years! I am beyond happy and couldn’t care less about material things this year.

~Sara McEntee U.S. Army Spouse

 

I have received a lot of meaningful gifts through my years, but the most meaningful I have received which brought me to tears, was for Mother’s Day 2009 when my oldest son (getting ready to graduate high school and leave for AF Basic training, all while hubby and dad was gone for a year) with the help of his grandparents, he took his entire senior years worth of ribbons and medals from wrestling and had them put in a frame for me. When I asked him why he would do such a thoughtful thing, he told me it was because I have been by his side with his wrestling since we had moved to WA and he had started in 7th grade. He wanted to do something to thank me for all the time I spent on him. This came from a child who never shows emotion or much love to us, and this just touched my heart and hangs in my house as a reminder of how great and truly blessed I am to have three wonderful boys, who have grown up in this crazy military life.

~Penny Swanson U.S. Air Force Spouse

For more on Angela Caban, visit her website at www.angelacaban.com.

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