Like many Americans, I was lucky enough to be able to spend the holidays with family.  This was maybe my best Christmas ever because I got to spend it with my daughter for the very first time (and she's 30 years old).  Her mother and I divorced when she was very young so it took three decades to be able to spend a Christmas Eve and a Christmas Day with her.... but it was worth the wait; my wife, my daughter, and Gabrielle's friend had an amazing time together.  Here's a picture of her (I know it's sideways but I'm not tech savvy enough to rotate it) in a recent performance.  She's a professional ballet dancer and teacher in Los Angeles.

What's the relevance of this to the Army Strong Story reader?  As I was thinking how it was the very best Christmas I'd ever had, it made me realize even more fully just how much thousands of Soldiers are giving up by being deployed or on duty throughout the holiday season.  Nearly all of us will be serving away from our Family during one or more holiday season during our career -- that's part of the job.  But we shouldn't forget or stop appreciating those Soldiers and their Families who are apart.