Everyday Heroes.
They really are among us.
And I have to brag on one of them (maybe two).
For those of you that have been hanging around here at TheCreativeLifeinBetween for any length of time know about our amazing McHendy family.
Well – our youngest Jake (who we affectionately refer to as Baby Jake, but who is far from a baby these days!) is now a distinguished Naval officer on a ship that was being commissioned this past weekend. An Everyday Hero he is!
But behind the story of this great hero is another hero. This everyday hero shuns the spotlight, but she does magical, amazing, generous acts of kindness behind the scenes.
She also just so happens to be my BFF. Her name is Jill, and she is astonishingly extraordinary. (Remember the Pay it Forward Christmas Gift Challenge?)
Well – much like any Mom of a military service person would do – Jill sends “care packages.”
But Jill doesn’t send care packages just to her son (our Jake), she sends them to the ENTIRE crew of the ship he is on – EVERY month!
She does it behind the scenes, all on her own, while also working full time and then some in an executive position, being a mom to four grown children and grandma to one (and a half!), and being an amazing friend and philanthropist.
When we recently celebrated Jill’s birthday, Jill insisted on paying the bill for lunch. When paying, she told our server to “keep the change.” The server questioned her to assure she meant what she said, because, you see, Jill tipped our server over double the amount of the cost of our lunch. It was her “gift” to the server – on HER birthday!
That’s the kind of person she is… Someone I can only aspire to be like!
When she was recently called up among dignitaries and military personnel and political celebrities to be honored at the commissioning of the naval ship our Jake is an officer on, she humbly accepted, but raised her arm in respect to doing it “all for the crew!”
I am so stinking proud of her, I had to share! She will likely not be pleased, but hopefully she will forgive me, because she knows I am doing it out of love and respect for the amazing person she is.
Everyday heroes are among us! And I am so honored to call one of them my BFF!
Love you Jill!
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
How wonderful that Jill’s quiet good work is being acknowledged. Excellent, all! (K)
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She is so deserving! 🙂 ❤
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Thanks for sharing about these amazing people!
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thank you for reading about them! I love them both so very much!
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An Awesome tribute to 2 well deserving people! <3!
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so proud of both of them and love them so!
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Such a beautiful tribute to an amazing person.
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She surely is!
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Deep bow to these heroes!
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Indeed! Thank you Beverly!
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What a wonderful post for a wonderful friend! I loved reading this!
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I’m so glad you enjoyed PJ! She is a remarkable woman! Inspires me every day!
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I can tell from your posts that she is a remarkable woman!! I think that is wonderful!
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Jill certainly is a special person and friend. Yes, there are many heroes in our everyday lives. Wonderful post Jodi, thank you for sharing today. 🙂
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you are welcome Terry! I am so privileged to have her as a friend!
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Such a wonderful woman!!
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Isn’t she!!?? 🙂 Thanks John
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the world needs people like her!
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indeed!
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Jill is one amazing woman.
Sent from my iPhone
>
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Isn’t she Aunt Gwen?! I am so blessed to be surrounded by such amazing people and positive influences making our world a better place!
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Thank you for a hating this wonderful story. And thanks to Jake for his service to our country. And to Jill, thanks for raising a son with the values and drive to become an officer in the armed forces of the USA!
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You bring tears to my eyes sweet Mallory! My heart overflows with love and admiration for both of them!
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Everyday heroes may sometimes remain nameless but are never ever forgotten. These are the types of people that leave me with the constant hope of a better tomorrow. Thank you for sharing these wonderful people with us💞
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So true! Jill gives me hope of a better world because of people like her!
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Wow, Jill is an inspiration to us all! I bet she thinks her BFF is pretty great too 🙂
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She surely is an inspiration. The list could truly go on and on!
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I think she sounds like an amazing lady!! I’m glad we share the same name. 😉 And congrats to her and her son!! ❤🛳⭐️ WHOOT!! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
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Well of course she is amazing because she is a jill. Why didn’t I think of that!! 😉👍😝
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Everyday heroes always fill us with hope for the future of our world! Thank you so much, Jodi, for sharing Jill and Jake with all of us. I read with tears in my eyes and so much admiration for each of them. It is a joy to read such happy news! ♡
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I still get teary eyed thinking about it. Glad it touched you too. ☺️
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Awesome heroes!!!!!
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Thanks Pam! They are !
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There are some amazing people out there, Jodi. Thanks for sharing.
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I’m so glad I can call this one friend 👍😉
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What an amazing friend you have!! She is certainly a hero!
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she really is! thanks kathryn!
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So thrilled for Jill! I loved seeing the pictures she posted. She is an incredibly special person. Compassionate, generous, creative, philanthropic are just a few words to describe her. It is an honor to know her (and her family).
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So glad you are her friend too! xoxo
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Italian hugs to you for such a heart warming article. A reflection of good people doing good things!!
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You know our amazing Jill. She is “good people!” Just like you Oh Rob! Just like you! xoxo
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This is a wonderful post Jodi. Jill sounds like an extraordinary person and a great friend.
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She really is – both – and I am so fortunate to have her in my life! 🙂
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That is amazing! I loved sending care packages to my husband when he was in Afghanistan, but I never thought of sending to all the others in his unit. Thanks for sharing! She sounds amazing.
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Yep – that’s the kind of everyday hero she is! 🙂
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Why am I not surprised that you have a friend like Jill? And please tell her how much we appreciate her, and how proud we are of her son. We need more stories of heroes these days… They are true role models!!!
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awh! thanks so much Ann! She is truly a gem – and all of her kids are amazing! I consider them mine too 🙂 ❤
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God bless them both, Jodi. You should be very proud of your son and of a very thoughtful friend.
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I surely am! ❤
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I love hearing about you two gals! I am in awe of you both, and wonder how you have the time and energy to do all the fun, wonderful things you post about! Obviously you have much better time management than I, (as well as the talent and skill) I don’t always get to read your daily blogs until random Saturday mornings…
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Good to hear from you Mary! LOL! I feel I have nothing but time on my hands when I’m not working. 🙂
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Superstar in red, white and blue!
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Amazing story, wish they taught stuff like this at Yale and Harvard, we can use so many more like Jill and you. Bless you for sharing her story.
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☺️
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