Long before I became an Army wife, I looked up to and admired military spouses. As a child I was fascinated and awed by wives of servicemembers. Afterall, they were married to real life GI Joe's! (Ken who?)

As a young girl, I couldn't get enough of listening to the numerous stories my mother and grandmother told me about their lives as military spouses. Little did I know that someday I'd join that awe-inspiring group of women I greatly admired.

However, way back then, what I didn't realize was that the real-life experience of being a military spouse is vastly different than what I'd constructed in my childhood fantasies.

My imaginary play didn't contain kissing my husband goodbye and praying to God every day throughout the deployment that he'd return the same way he left: alive and unharmed. Nor did it include addressing the emotional needs of a young child who missed his daddy terribly.

I didn't envision having a husband who would miss family functions because his job wasn't a typical 9 to 5 workday; or that on several occasions I'd feel like a happily-married-single-mom.

Yet, I also never imagined the wonderful friendships I'd make with other military family members, or the overall feeling of having a huge extended family simply because I was a part of the military community.

I never thought about all of the perks, benefits and resources that are available to military families.

I never envisioned...a lot.

And now, after all these years, my admiration for military spouses remains steadfast, yet the eyes through which I view these women and men has changed.

All of the "idol worship" that once coursed through my veins has transformed into a deep respect. I now see traits such as resiliency, courage, and an ability to adapt and overcome some of life's biggest challenges, all while carrying a tremendous invisible weight upon their shoulders.

I also see these remarkable military spouses carry out endless acts of selfless giving  -- charitable endeavors that aren't reserved for only their family or the military. Anyone in need is fair game.

And so, on this Military Spouse Appreciation Day, I'd like to say to my fellow military spouses: Thank you for your hard work and all the sacrifices you make.

Your efforts are recognized and appreciated by starry-eyed young kids and grown-ups who realize that fantasy and reality are often two different things.

Share Your Experience
Reflecting on your own experience, is being a military spouse the same or different than what you envisioned prior to marrying your servicemember?

May is National Military Appreciation Month, however, throughout the month there are several days designated as military special observances - days meant to recognize, remember and pay tribute to America's servicemembers and military families.

For example, even though today kicks off National Military Appreciation Month, May 1 is also Loyalty Day -- a day where Americans reaffirm their loyalty to the United States and reflect and remember all the freedoms our great country offers.

And speaking of freedoms and National Military Appreciation Month, I'd like to personally thank all of the current and former U.S. servicemembers for defending and preserving the countless freedoms and liberties afforded to me and millions of others.

Your hard work and all the sacrifices you have made and continue to make on our nation's behalf are appreciated not only during the month of May, but throughout the entire year.

Thank you for keeping us safe and making us proud!

Photo by Senior Chief Mass Communication Specialist Gary Ward. Photo courtesy of U.S. Navy.

In the aftermath of the tornados that occurred earlier this week and in mid-April, many people have a deep desire to offer assistance to those affected. "How can I help?" is a common question many are asking.

To make your search easier, here are a few reputable organizations that are seeking donations:

The American Red Cross
Monetary donations may be made online at Red Cross.org. You may also use your mobile phone to donate $10 by texting REDCROSS to 90999. (The charge will appear on your wireless bill.)

If you prefer to donate via phone you may call 1-800-RED-CROSS.

You may also mail a check or money order to your local chapter or the national organization at:
American Red Cross
P.O. Box 37243
Washington, DC 20013

The Salvation Army
The Salvation Army is providing help to storm victims in Tennessee, Alabama and Mississippi. To make a monetary donation online, please visit the Salvation Army's donation page or call 1-800-SAL-ARMY to donate by phone. (Make sure and tell them to designate your contribution to the April 2011 Tornado Outbreak fund.)

If you prefer to send a check or money order, please mail it to:
The Salvation Army Disaster Relief
P.O. Box 100339
Atlanta, GA 30384-0339

(To ensure your funds are used for storm victims, please write in the memo section of your check "April 2011 Tornado Outbreak.")

Alabama and Mississippi
In addition to the above mentioned organizations the Alabama Emergency Relief Fund and Mississippi Disaster Recovery Fund are in need of donations and volunteers.

Operation Homefront's North Carolina Chapter
In response to the storms that occurred on April 16, Operation Homefront has set up a disaster relief fund to help military families stationed at or near Ft. Bragg, Camp Lejeune and Seymour AFB.

Monetary donations can be made online or you may send a check or money order to:

Operation Homefront of North Carolina
4728 Park Road, Suite A
Charlotte, NC 28209

It's important to note that 100% of your donation to Operation Homefront will go to help military families affected by the storms.

In addition, The USO of North Carolina is seeking donations to help military families affected by the storms. Also, a list of needed items and drop-off locations are posted on Beth Jones' Camp Lejeune Living blog.

Hey folks, just a reminder that the application deadline to register your child for the Operation Purple Summer Camp is April 29, 2011.

For those of you unfamiliar with the program, Operation Purple is a free summer camp for military kids between the ages of 7-17 and is sponsored by the National Military Family Association.

Since 2004, more than 30,000 military children of active duty, Reserve and Guard have attended the free summer camps.

A listing of camp dates, locations and an application are located on the NMFA Program's page.

Above photo courtesy of U.S. Army.