"How important it is for us to recognize and celebrate our heroes and she-roes! " ~Maya Angelou

"A woman is like a tea bag.  It's only when she's in hot water that you realize how strong she is."  ~Attributed to both Eleanor Roosevelt and Carl Sandburg

Rosie the Riveter became one of my heroes during Vic's first deployment. I didn't know how I was going to survive the year ahead of me, I had no idea how I would raise three children, keep my wits about me and continue to support the families that were left behind like we were. Then I met Rosie.
Rosie did all I needed to do with much less than what I had. She didn't have email, she didn't have phone calls, she had no idea what was happening on the battlefield. Rosie survived in a time when women were only supposed to stay at home and cook and clean and raise children. The women who were the military spouses of WWII were forever represented by our fictional "Rosie" , the woman with the red bandanna and blue collar shirt with rolled up sleeves. Rosie took a tough situation and made it what she could. Rosie rolled up her sleeves to work in the factories. Rosie learned new skills, stood solid side by side with her fellow women and did what had to be done.
That famous picture of Rosie is a poster in my house. I recently walked my entire new house holding the poster, looking for the perfect place to hang it. I need it over my desk in my home office. I need it somewhere in the kitchen, I need it in every place in the house. The truth is, I need a reminder of what I'm made of.
I finally hung Rosie over the dryer. It is a quiet place where I can make a difference for my family. Dirty clothes in, clean clothes out. When I'm working in the warmth of the dryer, folding laundry and  considering how quickly the days go - how quickly the clothes are outgrown, how often the sports and school uniforms need to be washed, how the military uniform has changed, I'm there with Rosie. Rosie reminds me of who I really can be. Rosie is tough and beautiful. Rosie has a smile in her eyes and a look of determination on her face. Rosie, representing all of those who worked hard on the home front during WWII, paved the way for those of us today.

I'm forever grateful ~ "We Can Do It!"