This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Walmart. All opinions are 100% mine.
When my husband was deployed in 2011, the holidays just didn't feel like the holidays. Although I was surrounded by family and friends, the thought of him spending Christmas in a tent and thousands of miles away just didn't scream merry and bright. On top of that, I was 9 months pregnant and unsure he would be making it home for the birth of our first child. I was stressed, depressed, and just generally down in the dumps.
But as always, things seem to work themselves out. Although we didn't get to spend Christmas together, he arrived home December 30th and just in time for the arrival for our baby boy. Our reunion was one for the books; after not seeing him for exactly 7 months, he was home and in my arms for two whole weeks. Although I would have to send him back to war in 14 short days, I was so thankful to spend New Years with him and have him there to hold my hand through the delivery of our son.
As a military family, we are used to celebrating birthdays, milestones, and holidayswithout our spouses. Although it's not easy, we know when duty calls, it calls. When my husband deployed, I wanted to be near friends and family. Having the support of loved ones is one of the biggest blessings a military family can have during the stressful times of a deployment. Especially during the holidays, family and friends are pretty much all we have.
This holiday season, Walmart, Operation Homefront and Fisher House are teaming up for Walmart's "Holiday Salute to Military Families" initiative, in which $2 million in grants will be given to military families for toys, meals, and lodging assistance. With all of the emotinal stress these families go through during the holiday season, I think it's absolutely heartwarming that the families that need it most will not have toworry about the financial burdens as well.
December 3rd is Giving Tuesday; If you're looking for a way to give back this holiday season, be sure to visit fisherhouse.org/Walmart or operationhomefront.net/Walmart for more information. Any donation goes a long way and will mean more to these military families than I can ever tell you in words. Although most of these families won't spend the holidays with their loved ones, bringing a smile to their face is the next best thing.
You can Join in our Holiday Salute to Military Families here :)