Today was one of those days.  Simply put it was amazing.  It was one of those days where you could see the extraordinary in the ordinary. 

I had been wracking my brain for a few days trying to come up with the "right" song to add to a slideshow I was putting together.  Last night I finished editing all of the photos that would be used in the slideshow therefore, the pressure was on.  I started out my morning in my usual way, but kept thinking "I've gotta find "the" song!"  And then it happened.  While driving my daughter to school this morning, I heard a song and knew that it was the one that I wanted to use!  I could not wait to get home and get working on the slides! 

I finally got everything put together and the video was processing just about the same time that my daughter arrived home.  I let my computer work it's magic and took the kids to the mall to do some shopping. 

At the mall, we (my son, daughter and I) saw two young guys from the Army.  When my daughter saw them, she stopped and waved at them.  I wish I could have taken a picture of her beaming smile while she was waving at them.  When I realized that she was stopping to thank them I had to bite my tongue to keep from crying.  I have never been so proud as a parent.  The two soldiers took the time to stop and chat with my kids and give them Army stickers. 

The photo sessions that I've done through OpLove and Operation Attachment have meant so much to me.  More so than I can ever convey in words.  What I did not realize is that it was making an impact on my daughter!!  Typically she does take an interest in what I'm editing, which I love.  For my first two OpLove sessions, I was lucky enough to arrange with her teacher to go in and create cards with her class for them.  I could kick myself for not taking pictures of those drawings that the kids created because they were amazing.  We talk about the men and women who serve in the military, but she knows very little - that they have a very important and very special job.  It sometimes takes them away from their families for a long time.  She knows that they are heroes and deserve every thank you we can offer to them.  Tonight I watched that knowledge come full circle and I am so proud of her.  I have been blessed in life to have a career doing what I love and I am so fortunate to have found a small way to thank our military families for their strength and dedication.  To know that I've also passed some of this along to my daughter - extraordinary!

By the way, the session that I had been working on this week was for a military family.  I can't share their photos with you just yet because they are a complete surprise to Dad, who is currently half way through deployment.  I finally did get that video to upload and I sent it Mom.  A short time after she viewed the video and all of the pictures we took last weekend she sent me a text thanking me.  Her words were so sweet and kind that I have to try hard not to cry!  

So tonight my heart is smiling.  Today was one of those days.  

♥ -

    Kristi