“To everyone at Big Sky Bravery,

There are some gifts that are impossible to measure, and what Big Sky Bravery gave our family is one of them.

As a military family, it feels like the biggest sacrifice the family makes is time together. Ten deployments have meant several years apart, missed milestones, and seasons where duty came before family. While we have always been grateful for the opportunity to serve, those years also left little room to simply be together, to grow as a family, to slow down, and to enjoy each other without the demands of military life constantly pulling us in different directions.

Because of BSB, we experienced something that was far more meaningful than a vacation. We were given the gift of uninterrupted time together.

For one incredible week, we weren't thinking about schedules, work, or the responsibilities waiting for us back home. We were fully present with one another. We witnessed our three boys seeing and doing things for the first time as a family of 5 and that has rarely happened over the past 10 years. We laughed more than we have in a long time and celebrated a birthday as a whole family which has happened so rarely.

My husband and I have visited Montana before, but this experience was entirely different. For the first time in what feels like a very long time, we weren't navigating deployments or preparing for a next chapter. We were simply a family, making memories together.

The greatest gift wasn't found in any single moment, but in a feeling that returned to our home long before we ever unpacked our bags, which are still not fully unpacked. This week together felt light and happy and showed us what it feels like to slow down, to be present, and to enjoy one another. Those are memories and lessons that will stay with our family forever.

Thank you for this opportunity. Your kindness created space for true connection and joy. Things that can often be difficult to find after years of separation.

We will always be grateful for BSB. Thank you for helping us rediscover something priceless: the simple joy of being together.”