When I rise in the morning, I give thanks that I’m still among the living. I have many classmates, that is no longer with us. I came from a rather  large class, we have been very close, you can say it has felt like family, too me.

First - I think you are fantastic!  Growing up there were no women doing these jobs - and if there were a few around - they were never taken seriously.  Hats off to all women doing the job - being the job - doing it all and having it all!  Be safe and take care of yourself while doing it. 

I too rise in the morning or afternoon or even evening and thank g-d for letting me live yet another day.  I was diagnosed with MS and some days are just a little harder than others but I am trying.  I have lost a lot of use in my hands so I started to use them more with craft projects.  Now after filling my families homes with my crafts is nice and I know that they like them, but I needed to stop.  I listened to a story on a news show about soldiers coming back on leave and going to see their babies that were born while away or they are just making it back on-time.  Here are these men that have given so much and I can only say thank you to them but now, when I travel I bring a bag filled with baby booties that I hand made and decorated them with beads, pearls, ribbon, embroidery and more and for the female soldiers I bring them embroidered pillow cases.  The cases say stuff like, sweet dreams and it is with many colors and flower making up the lettering.  Also cases with butterflies, lady bugs, flowers and vines.  When I approach they are a bit worried, I think, about if I am a scammer or not.  I am not and explain that I don’t want anything from them except a smile and if the booties don’t fit - I ask that they forward them to another soldier and call me and I will send out a larger size.  It is the littlest thing that I can do, something so very small and in the grand scheme of things - a drop in the bucket - but I like to see their faces at that moment - they smile, they laugh, they even cry sometimes.  Thank you for reading : )