Ryan and Christy's Place

Something truly touching happened to me today, and I had to share it.

I have to admit, I've been down and out lately. Little things keep going wrong, and people keep saying well-intended yet rude things to me about Ryan being gone, and all in all, I've been feeling worse than usual about the whole situation. Usually I'm in decent spirits, trying to stay positive, but lately, that's been sort of hard.

Then, I got a wedding gift that I'll never forget.

I checked my mail as usual this afternoon and found a wedding present from my good friend Shannon, who works at the Capitol in Washington, D.C. I've known Shannon since I was 11, and we've always been close. She included a very sweet card with the gift, and a sort of mysterious note that read:

"Christy: You may not of had this in your registry; it is not something you can use per se, but hopefully it is something you can keep as a momento from your wedding day."

Curious, I looked at the present. It was wrapped in glittery paper. I ripped the paper off, and there was a manila envelope. It said: "Certificate: The Flag of the United States of America."

Immediately, my heart started racing. A flag? Inside the envelope was a certificate that said this:

"This is to certify that the accompanying flag was flown over the United States Capitol on April 8, 2005, at the request of the Honorable John J. Duncan Jr., Member of Congress. This flag was flown in honor of Ryan and Christy Seals on the day they began their lives together as husband and wife."

I was crying and my hands were shaking at this point, and I opened the box to reveal a beautiful, folded U.S. flag. Red, white and blue. Of course, I couldn't see it clearly through my tears.

I never would have imagined I would get something like this. I didn't even know it was possible. But on our wedding day, my good friend of 11 years and our Congressman had a flag flown for us in Washington. There aren't even words to describe the feeling in my heart for this beautiful gift. To have the flag of our nation flown on the day we were married, on a day Ryan was home from war -- a flag that symbolizes everything I love, and my pride in my husband, and the men and women that serve with him -- makes my heart swell.

People, and good friends, can sometimes touch your heart in ways you never knew possible. One thing that's true is that God blesses us, and he also blesses America and our beautiful flag, and my beautiful friend Shannon.

-- Christy