Service Before Self

Meet the Del Rio family. That's my commander presenting them with a check for $5,700. All of it was through fundraisers and donations from my squadron. There are seven people not present in this picture, all of them kids with the oldest being seventeen and the youngest just one year old. So why did we raise this money for them?

Heidi, my commander's wife, heard of Mr. Del Rio's story and was so incredibly moved that she made it a mission to "adopt" this family for the holiday season. She is one of the most generous and kind people I've ever met in my life, so it wasn't really a surprise to me that she wanted to do this. Heidi sent out an email a couple months ago explaining what happened to Rafael Del Rio's sister. After the horrific tragedy, Mr. Del Rio stepped up and without question or second thoughts, took in his sister's four children to raise them as his own.

Over the past couple months, the spouses' club has been selling home made key chains and soliciting businesses for gift cards for the Del Rio family. During our squadron's annual Thanksgiving meal, the spouses' club held a silent auction which brought in $2,500!

The one thing that the family wanted for Christmas was to be able to take the whole family to Disneyland. This would be a way to celebrate a new beginning and to bring the family together. With the money that was raised, Heidi announced that the Del Rio family would be going to Disneyland for three days and four nights, staying on the Disneyland property at one of their three hotels, and have spending cash and the gift cards!

It was amazing listening to my commander talk about how he was impressed with what we were all able to do. He was very proud of my squadron for coming together and doing this for the Del Rio family. Stories like this just touch your heart, especially during the holidays.

I wish the Del Rio family the best for the future!

Random Acts - Opening Doors

One Saturday morning, I went on base with both kids to let dan sleep in. Still sleepy-eyed and in sweats, we drove on base. We went to get breakfast at coffee place near the BX. Even though there's a Starbucks about 50 feet to the right, this coffee shop has the best breakfast sandwiches and has managed to stay open. Thank goodness, because it would be a shame to lose the one great place you can get a quick breakfast on base that isn't Burger King.

After we placed our order, we sat down and watched people come and go as we waited for our food. A group of Airmen came in, all young Senior Airmen (E-4 pay grade in the Air Force), ordered and took a seat at the table right next to the door. They were joking around, chit chatting about their upcoming shift for the day. I noticed from their badge that they were aircraft maintainers.

One of the baristas called out our sandwich orders and I went to go pick it up from the counter while Genie stood by her brother near the door. I walked over to my munchkins and asked Genevieve to carry the bag of breakfast sandwiches so that I could carry Sebastian in his car seat. We started to make our way towards the door and as I was about to open the door, Sebastian started kicking his legs and caused me to throw off my balance and grip. He's such a big baby that his slightest shift in weight in his carries, I'm totally thrown off! :) One of the Airmen at the table close to the door took notice since he was facing our direction. He looked at the guy sitting across from him who had his back to us and gave him a stern look. I heard the Airman say, "What?!" after he noticed he was getting the look from his friend.
"Don't be a jerk, open the door for the lady!"
The Airmen that had his back to us finally caught on.
"Oh!"
He got up out of his seat and opened the door. Genie walked to the door, looked up at the Airman and thanked him. I thanked him as well and thanked his friend that insisted he help us.

Random Acts - Caramel Frappachino

Lately there have been things, nothing too big, that have happened and make me smile or scratch my head. Either I'm in uniform and the act is from/by a civilian or I'm out of uniform and the act is from/by a military member.

I haven't decided if I will make this a weekly post like most bloggers to with "Wordless Wednesday," "Picture Friday," and so on, but I will post ones that stand out to me, both good and bad.


One day after work, I decided to go to Starbucks for a Frappachino. Sure, it was late in the day and I didn't need a pick me up, but it was just one of those warm days and I was simply in the mood for one. I drove to the one closest to our house that had a drive through since I had both kids with me. There was a gold Lexus in front of me, driven by a women who looked to be in her forties. I could see her in her side mirror and smiled even though I thought she probably couldn't see me.

I ordered my caramel Frappachino and waited until it was my turn to approach the window to pay. Genevieve was singing at the top of her lungs making Sebastian laugh. I finally pulled up to the window and the barista handed me the Frappachino. I held out my five dollar bill and he simply shook his head.
"Oh, it's free. The lady in front of you wanted to pay and also thank you for your service."
"Oh wow, thanks. Can you just put my $5 towards the person behind me then? Thank you."

I have experienced people paying for my drink order at Starbucks, but only around the holidays when people are more in the giving mood. When it happens to me, I automatically like to pay it forward to the person after me. I was shocked and proud at the same time. I've always been a proud military member and honored to wear the uniform; I was shocked because since we've moved to California, we don't really encounter people that are grateful for those of us in the military the way those in the South are.

Just hearing that she was thankful for my service was enough, but her random act of kindness definitely put a smile on my face.