My youngest child is six years old.  A deployment

baby, she's spent more than half her life without her father.  She's more geographically advanced than the average child her age.  She can easily point out where Guantanamo, Germany, Albania, and Afghanistan are on the shower curtain map we have hanging in the bathroom to play "where's Daddy".  For the first few years of her life, Sara was sure that Daddy lived at the airport because our life sometimes felt like an endless series of trips to and from the airport to pick up and drop off our favorite soldier.

Any one of my four kids will tell you that "being a soldier" is what Daddy does - it's his job.  And they're very clear on how much Daddy hates to leave them to do his job.  But they'll also tell you how proud they are of him.  And how every service member is someone who is also cherished and missed.

I can't fill Daddy's shoes - I'd never even try.  But I drive on each day - that's what we military wives do.  That's MY job until my hero hubby is back at my side.  And until then, at each meal at my table you'll hear,  "Dear God, Thank you for us being a family.  Please watch over soldiers in harms' way.  Please watch over Daddy and his team and their families until their safe return to their loved ones.  Amen"

On Fathers' Day and everyday - may you cherish the fathers and male mentors you're blessed to have in your life.  Remember to pause and acknowledge those families separated by military service - both those deployed and those who paid the ultimate sacrifice.  On this day when we honor the important men in our life, give thanks to our country's armed services who each day give up milestones, birthdays, anniversaries and holidays in the name of protecting and defending our great nation.

-Randi Cairns, Founder/Executive Director of Home Front Hearts 

The mission of Home Front Hearts is to serve the families that serve our country by: providing support and resources to the families of service members, increasing public awareness of the struggles and sacrifices of military families, and engaging both individuals and businesses in building communities that are responsive to the needs of these families.