Daily Read #4: Operation Service

Dont worry. I think there is scriptural support for giving the gift of sight being a very worthy Sunday activity.

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So I could probably write to the end of the contest period on things directly or tangentially related to Ryan's military service and I promise I won't but frankly it's kind of a big deal. Sure the recruiter poster emphasizes that it's just one weekend a month a couple of weeks a year which in the cold war era was maybe true but the current global realities have meant that you don't ever escape the potential that it could be much more than that.

Ryan's group, the Triple Deuce, had one short activation at the beginning of the Iraq War (2003) where they spent a few months domestically before being released. At that time Rachel and Ryan's first child was still measuring her age in months. The second activation began in the early part of 2005 and would consist of nearly 18 months of service, 12 of which were in Iraq. Rachel masterfully timed the birth of their second child a few months into the mission while the guard was still in country. They returned the day before Father's day, appropriately enough, 2006. If you've caught the pattern 2003, 2005, barring some drastic cooling in overseas conflicts another activation period is likely not a matter of if but when.

Obviously being a Guardsman is a choice and it's service that everyday Ryan and his family and now our family have been proud of. There is a lot of good that comes from the service and the Palmers would be the first to acknowledge the blessings they've received through being a part of such a great group of individuals and families. Rachel would argue the chance to see Ryan in his military dress blues make up for a lot of the not so good parts.

Activations are one part of the stick you pick up when you enlist. A part that I'm actually at a loss for words to describe (which is uncommon for me). Rachel could probably give me a few and some of them would likely be unfit for the ears of small children. However I think she would also agree that there are some very treasured parts of an activation that make a still bitter pill that much easier to swallow.

At the top of these I think the one we remain the most grateful for is the outpouring of discrete acts of kindness and thoughtful attention people showed Rachel and her small family during all of the phases of the last activation. None of them would likely merit its own primetime show but Rachel, Ryan and the girls [and obviously people on their perimeter] will remember them far longer than perhaps even those who gave the original service.

When asked to recall some of them, it didn't take much effort. I'll include a few that she remembered but she emphasized that it was pretty much every day that ended in 'y' of that year Ryan was gone where someone went out of the way to take care of them and show that they appreciated the service and sacrifice of Ryan, Rachel and their little girls.

The Huntsmans mowed, trimmed, and fertilized the lawn every week for the entire 18 months (minus the winter months of course) [They did such a great job it was hard for Ryan to not let their yard experience a dip in care when he came back]

Someone took out the garbage to the road every week (Rachel never saw them do it, but has a guess who it was)[maintaining anonymity during this time is pretty impressive seeing as how they had a gravel driveway].

*Mary Christensen paid the Palmer's "flag fee" (the fundraiser for the scouts in the ward)[I think there is a beautiful symbolism to this gesture, a family with an active duty husband/father is already paying quite the "flag fee"]

*Bryce Valley High School bought Christmas for the family 2005. [We actually got to join Rachel and her girls for this Christmas and if holiday cheer is measured by boxes this was a very cheery Christmas. Ryan also was 'present' for some of it via the webcam and I think it had to have been quite comforting to see your little girls overwhelmed with joy and know that they were having a very merry Christmas. Thank you Mustangs. I will always hold you in very high regard]

*A 1st Grade Class or 2nd grade invited Rachel and the girls into their class and they sang them songs and gave the girls some books. [What a great way for the students in this class to see one part of who they have to be grateful for the opportunities our freedom provides them. Credit to the students, their teacher, and the rest of the school community. I'm grateful that the horrible anti-American tone of some school systems has yet to work its way into our school communities).

*A church group painted the house. [ R&R were fortunate to be able to buy the home of Ryan's childhood not to long before the activation. In its purchase condition the house needed a lot of work but the ward kept pace with the speed that Ryan had been setting in making the house a home and he didn't have much catching up to do when he returned].

There is a lot of good to be learned here. First of all there are a lot of good people in the world and I think Rachel felt those in her small community were all on 'active duty' that year. There could be much more said in their praises. Special thanks to anyone else that may not have been mentioned specifically your service was no less appreciated.

I think Rachel also deserves credit for being such a gracious recipient. It would have been fairly easy for Rachel to have withdrawn into the shadows and put up the shades until the light of her life returned. At the time she lived about 10 minutes from my parents and a considerable concentration of her family who would have been happy to have her. Had I been in her position with a newborn and a two year old, if my parents weren't within smelling distance of a dirty diaper I would've thought I was too far. Rachel really didn't increase the number of visits into town that much--a credit to her strength and also the support of the neighborhood and community she was a part of. She let the community around her help her stand on her own. [Not to mention I think she wanted to be at home whenever possible to IM or skype with Ryan, the postal service is faster than my parents internet].

I really think a more difficult part of mortality for many of us to gain is not the compassion necessary to give service but the humility required to receive it. If there is anything that an activation gives you the chance to practice it must be that--humility.

Today, I'm giving you the chance to let the Palmer's practice their humility because they still need your help. They aren't currently experiencing the threat and distance of an activation but these are standard military issue glasses and if dorkiness was a national security risk these spectacles would definitely raise the terror risk to Red.



You can make sure Ryan doesn't ever wear these again. With post Lasik eyes, his prescription is to strong to be able to put these on. Something Rachel and (in the very near future their teenage daughters) would be very very grateful for.

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And if you can let your family and friends know their service is needed too you magnify your own small act of kindness!