We owe our love and respect to all those serving in the military. They sacrifice many things to protect our country, not the least of which is precious time with their families. When a person deploys, it is always difficult for families. This is particularly true for kids who miss things such as morning hugs and being tucked in at night by the military parent.
Deployment often means long distances and long periods of separation. In recent years, however, technology is making communication a bit more consistent. One Colorado family recently devised a genius way for their family to keep in touch.
Jordan Dorn of Colorado Springs has been deployed since September, and his wife and two daughters miss him terribly. That can be seen in a report by 11 News that shared the family's story and the unique way they keep in touch using a fairly common piece of technology that many of us have at home. Jordan's wife, Kristy Dorn, shared an adorable social media video that will tug on your heartstrings showing how they do it.
Jordan can see his family every day.
Home security seems to be a necessity these days. Many families have cameras on their homes and doorbells that help them keep an eye on what is happening on their property. Those nifty cameras also have speakers you can use to scare away people or critters, but the Dorns also use them to do something just as important: talk to dad thousands of miles away.
Kristy Dorn shared a video on Instagram of her daughters Myla and Adalyn, saying hi to dad on their way to school.
The girls wave, and one yells, "Bye, dad! Love you! Muah! Muah! Muah! Muah! Muah! Take my heart!"
No, take ours!
It started as something simple.
Kristy told 11 News that talking to the camera was just a once-in-a-while thing at first but that it has become a daily treat for the family. Jordan would occasionally say hello to his family when they were outside, but now the girls talk to their dad all the time. They have gotten into the habit of saying hello and blowing kisses as soon as they get outside.
"This go around has been really hard because the girls have kind of developed their own feelings and emotions," she said.
Jordan is always with his family.
Kristy posted another video on Instagram that shows Jordan presenting his girls with "daddy dolls" to keep him close while he is away. The soft dolls are made with Jordan's image in his Army combat uniform.
In the clip, the girls immediately hug their dolls, and it is easy to see how much they love their daddy. Followers love the dolls, and there were even suggestions about how to make them better.
"Love this! Spray cards with his cologne and put them in the back pockets," someone wrote.
The Dorns are a proud military family.
Kristy's Instagram is filled with photos and videos paying tribute to military families. One post shows the family's home and a wall decorated to celebrate America and Jordan's commitment to his country. It serves as a tool to help the family get through Jordan's deployment and is another reminder that he is always with them.
"I remember standing in Hobby Lobby sobbing while I pieced this together. This has been such a good visual for our girls to try and understand it all ❤️ ," Kristy wrote in a post.
Kristy's posts are touching a lot of hearts.
Many spouses and children have experienced the same heartache during a deployment. Kristy's Instagram is a place of comfort and reflection for many of them. The doorbell video, for instance, has more than 6 million views, and it is bringing a lot of joy.
"Man no one understands how much this actually mean until it's them going thru it … Hard life being active duty and having kids, this hit home for me … they really are all we think about while we out there ," one person wrote.
"I just want to say this is what love is! Being able to appreciate things in life that matter," a commenter shared. "These kids will grow up to continue to appreciate the things they have. You have done an amazing job raising these beautiful children and this will have the domino effect to so many! God Bless!"
"As a dad, and an over the road trucker gone for months at a time I can verify if this was for me, it would make my dark days a little brighter, my long nights a little bit shorter, my loneliness a little less alone, and most importantly my heart a little less empty," the man agreed.
"I want to not only thank your husband for his service but you as his wife and those beautiful children. America wouldn't be America without people like your husband and yourself!! God bless the unites states of America! " another person wrote.
