Semi-Finalist #8: Mary Lou Vandergriff

**This story is a bit different because this semi-finalist was nominated by her husband who served in our military. Thank you for your service, Larry.**

Dear Ms. Humphreys,

I wanted to say thank you for what you're doing to help our veterans. Being a disabled vet, I can appreciate what your aid means. Also, I wanted to tell you of someone that is doing something similar. My wife, Mary Lou, wrote a cookbook last year based on Mexican recipes she grew up with. She donated all proceeds to helping feed the homeless in our area.

We live just south of St. Louis. During our first outing, we met several disabled vets livingon the street. Since then, we've joined forces with our church and two others to expand our efforts. Visit Youtube and search for Hopeville St.Louis, and you find one community that we help.

She is so shy that it's hard to find apicture of her relaxed and smiling. I like this one because Mary Lou is relaxed and smiling. Sorry, I can't afford a new camera so I wasn't in the shot. Seriously, I hope you can use the photo on your blog. I read your blog late last week, and what you've done for these young kids and their wives is fantastic.

Which is more rewarding,feeding a vet or seeing his tears when his child gets new clothes and toys?I don't know. Thank you for what you are doing.

Larry E. Vandergriff

Thank you, Larry!!! I think what Mary Lou is doing is simply outstanding and I'm honored you shared her story with us. To all the readers, Mary Lou is working on getting her cookbook out there so we can all buy one and help support our vets! I'll keep you posted and let you know how things progress.

2nd Annual U.S. Military Family Contest--Entries Welcome!

Last year, as a special thank you to our service members and their families, I held a very special contest for Military Wives. It turned out to be an incredibly rewarding experience. I had the privilege of meeting several incredible women and their beautiful families. It's so easy to forget that there are real people who are deeply affected by the conflict overseas. Hearing the personal stories of these families helped me remember that our troops are husbands, fathers, brothers and sons who are immensely loved and sorely missed.

I have decided to make this an annual contest. I am very excited to report that ASMBA-STAR, an outstanding organization for Vets and their families, has agreed to continue their partnership with me.

This contest will run from Memorial Day Weekend through Labor Day Weekend. Once again, a portion of my annual book sales will be donated to ASMBA-STAR.

Who is eligible? This year I've opened the contest up to ALL U.S. Military Families. Moms, Dads, Sons, Daughters, Wives, Husbands, Sisters, Brothers. If you have a family member that is serving our country...tell us about them!

How do you enter? Send an email to sarataneyhumphreys@hotmail.com with a picture of you and your family member in uniform. Tell us a bit about what branch he/she serves in, where you've been stationed, challenges and so forth.

Please put "2nd Annual Military Families Contest" in the subject line.

Once a week, beginning Memorial Day weekend, I will pick one entrant to be highlighted on my blog. These weekly entrants are semi-finalists. Labor Day weekend I will select three winners.

Second Prize: A $25 Amazon Gift Card, a signed copy of "The Amoveo Legacy" and a Team Amoveo T-Shirt.

First Prize: A $50 Amazon Gift Card, a signed copy of "The Amoveo Legacy" and a Team Amoveo T-Shirt.

Grand Prize: A book signing event at their local Bookstore and the winner will be the special guest of honor. 5 Free Signed copies of "The Amoveo Legacy. (1 for them and 4 of their friends) A $100 Amazon Gift card and a Team Amoveo T-Shirt.

I hope you'll help me spread the word about this contest. I look forward to meeting more incredible families! You can support our veterans and their families by purchasing a copy of "The Amoveo Legacy" or donate directly to ASMBA-STAR .

Semi-Finalist Week #11 for the U.S. Military Wives Contest

My name is Tonya Ganze and I'm married to LCpl Dustin A. Ganze of the United States Marine corps reserve. We have been together for 2 years and married on March 15Th of this year. Dustin has been with Ordnance Maintenance Co. in Waco, Texas for 3 years. In addition to the reserves he works a full time civilian job. He takes on all this responsibility without any complaints, all to support his family and country. Sadly we lost Dustin's mother 3 months before our wedding day. She was so very proud of him and wanted more than anything to see him marry in uniform, which he did. We are waiting very patiently to hear from his unit about deployment. Dustin was to deploy to Iraq in May but it has now been pushed back until sometime around December. This will be his first deployment and despite the fact that he is the sole provider for our family he is very willing to go. He believes if some of his brothers and sisters in the corps can be deployed 2 or 3 times he can definitely take his turn. His going may mean someone else doesn't have to take another tour. In the military each day with your loved one is cherished. We have friends who have had to miss out on anniversaries, births, and their children's growing up due to multiple deployments. I am very proud of my husband and the choices he makes out of pure love and care for us. The Marine Corps has definitely strengthened the wonderful person he is.

--Tonya, a proud Marine Wife

**Remember, as part of this summer long contest, I will be donating a portion of my proceeds from all of my book sales between the dates of 6/1/09-8/31/09 to ASMBA STAR an outstanding charity for Veterans and their families**

Week #7 Semi-Finalist!

My name is Jennee Allan. My husband is a CW3 and is currently deployed for a year, will be back June 2010. He has been active duty army since January 2002 and we have lived in 7 states. He went in as a helicopter pilot, flew for a few years, deployed to Iraq, and came home struggling with PTSD. It was triggered mostly when he flew his helicopter so he had to resign from that. His heart can do nothing more than serve this country and so he changed MOS to flying UAS's. Which he is now doing in Taji Iraq.

We have 4 beautiful Children and I am pregnant with our 5th, due October 2nd.We are both from Utah. After we had out first child we decided to move to New York. Michael worked in Manhattan when the twin towers went down. That morning he had been on the phone doing business with a few people that ended up losing their lives. It just made him stronger in his conviction to Join the Army. We moved to Alabama(Fort Rucker), North Carolina(Fort Bragg), Tennessee(Fort Campbell), Arizona(Fort Hauchuca), and a place in Victorville, California for UAS training.Some of the challenges that I have faced have been the obvious; single parenthood, fear for my husbands safety, moving and changing states/ homes. etc.However, the one that I want to focus on in is something not so obvious.

I remember feeling this last time he was deployed but not to the extent that I feel it now.I have a flame burning inside me and it seems to get bigger. I have a strong desire to help people understand (those that don't, of course) the depth of what is done for them. I have selfless and selfish reasons for wanting to do this.What I mean by "What is done for them" is first, the selfless sacrifice that each soldier gives to this country by getting deployed, and second the family members left behind.The living conditions of the soldiers is not comfortable by any means. They live with Hot 145 degree weather, some live in tents on cots, other on bunk beds in a slightly air conditioned building, if they are lucky. They eat MRE's, stay in their hot uniform, even when they are off, witness deaths and awful things that the natural eye cannot comprehend, and I think hardest of all live alone while the ones they love are back at home.

Because my husband struggled with PTSD, I have a new perspective of what is sacrificed for the country as I lost a part of my husband that will never come back, because of the affects of war.So, what I have been doing is trying to rally others to help give back, even just a little for what is done for them. I ask people to send my husband and the other soldiers packages, I ask for discounts where I go, I try to be honest about my husbands living conditions with those that ask. But I truly feel I am not doing enough to help people understand the depth of the sacrifice. I feel Joy when I see receptive hearts and minds. I feel a duty, for my husband and other sacrificing soldiers to fight my own war over here of helping a clueless population truly understand. Of course I know that as humans, we don't usually understand things that are not tangible. But when I have reached a heart, my Joy is extreme. But again, I am still left with the burning flame inside me and want to know even more of how I can help educate others and they in turn will sacrifice as well, for our country.

When someone serves me, like mows my lawn, offers child care, gives a discount at the store, sends my husband a package, listens to me heartily explain the living conditions, says thank you to me or my husband, etc. It makes me so happy and it helps me to feel that I want to continue with this sacrifice. However, most people do not do all those things. Most people just live their lives unaware of what is done. That it makes me feel angry, I don't feel proud of.I hope I have explained what is in my heart and I also seek for answers of ways to quench the flame. I trust it is their for a reason and that others who have this flame might find me and we can educate, lovingly together.

Sincerely, Jennee Allan

**Reminder--I am donating a portion of my proceeds from book sales 6/1/09-8/31/09 to ASMBA STAR--a top notch Veteran's charity**

Week #6 Semi Finalist--U.S. Military Spouse Contest

My husband is in the Navy. The picture I attached was from the actual night he deployed to Iraq this past March 2009. This is our second deployment since being married and our first one with a child (now 7 months, a girl). We've been married for a little over six years now. Honestly, the most difficult thing about the military life is having to send my husband off to war. I struggled with our first deployment because my husband was fresh out of a Navy school/training & had never deployed doing his current job. To make matters worse, about a month before he left in 2007, a friend from that same Navy school/training was killed in Iraq. I was still mourning the loss of our friend as I watched my husband climb aboard the large aircraft carrying him to the same destination & job! I suffered with anxiety and had a few actual panic attacks while he was away. It was mentally exhausting! I finally got myself pulled together about a month before my husband came home from that initial deployment with the help of God, my church, other military wives, and a counselor to deal with grief and anxiety.

In 2007 I was so nervous about having children when my husband returned because I knew I just couldn't be the "mess" I was during that deployment with small children to care for in future deployments. I am happy to share that I have found and made my peace with deployments. It is possible to make peace with deployments. Honestly, all the glory goes to God. He saw & still sees me through every single day, whether my husband is home or deployed.

Our current station is in California. Another challenge in the "military life" that I've recalled, is that my husband doesn't like me to share specifics about his command/job in public forums. It's difficult to "cheerlead" for your husband when he's the reluctant hero.

Sincerely,

Amy

The Meaning of Memorial Day

This is a little cross blogging. I posted this on HEA's Blog on Friday at the start of Memorial Day weekend. I was just setting up our hot dogs and hamburgers and thought that perhaps it was appropriate to post it here as well.

Happy Memorial Day weekend everyone! Memorial Day weekend has become the kick-off to summer time. Vacations, bar-b-ques, beaches, pools, cold beer and hot nights. All of these words, and several more, have become synonymous with Memorial Day weekend and summer fun. However, this holiday weekend was not founded for hot dogs and potato salad. I think sometimes everyone, including myself, forgets that.

This weekend we are supposed to be remembering those who have fallen and given their lives for us, for our freedom.This weekend there are thousands of American families who have empty seats at their picnic tables and yellow ribbons around the oak trees. For many families those seats will remain empty. Those young men or women will not return home. They gave their lives in exchange for the freedom we all enjoy. For others, those seats sit empty waiting to be filled again.So this weekend when you raise a glass, take a moment to remember. Remember how lucky you are to have your loved ones with you. Remember those who are fighting far away for you and for me. Pray that they come home soon and give their families the best Happily Ever After of all.