It was, after all, the third time they've consulted with him this year. The first two times they only got to tell him what they wanted for Christmas. This time, they got presents on the spot.
Sydney got a Barbie mermaid, which was so exciting she asked to take a bath as soon as we got home. As for AJ, we had to explain this was a bonus present. That's the reason he got a bunch of Matchbox cars instead of the Playmobil playset he's been requesting.
Jeff got a call a few days before the party, inviting us to attend. It turns out, there was a special reason for the invitation. The unit wanted to present Jeff with a special award. In honor of his 20 years of service, he was "knighted."
He had been in the middle of a conversation and almost missed it when he was summoned to the stage. Once there, he was presented with the Order of St. George, an honor given to those who've lead Cavalry and Armor Units.
I'm curious - if Jeff is now a knight, does that make me a lady? A dame? Hmmm...
It's only been 10 months since Jeff retired from the Guards, so it was surprising how few people I recognized at the party. It's also a bit embarassing how quickly I've set aside the stress and fear that goes along with being a soldier's wife. Jeff's old unit is slated to deploy next spring, which means way too many of the children at the party this year will be missing a parent next Christmas. While I'm thankful for Jeff's willingness to serve, I'm selfishly far more thankful that he's done.
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