This past weekend we had an unexpected visitor: Mr. Stephen, one of the Midshipman we sponsored as a Plebe (during his freshman year at the Naval Academy), came to visit. He spent four years at our house (and some summers), and has since graduated, gotten married and will become a father this spring. My boys have not seen him since he graduated - and they were thrilled.

That night, as we were sitting around our kitchen table: my husband, myself, Mr. Stephen and Mr. Sam (one of our current Mids, who will be commissioned an officer this May…aka: graduate) I realized how lucky I am to have these two young men in our lives, and I noted how much our friendships and relationships have changed.

We met both Mr. Stephen and Mr. Sam as 17 year olds just entering the Naval Academy. During their Plebe (freshman) year, they mostly slept on our couch, raved about my food (love them!) and played board games or Wii with our boys. I was thrilled to be their “Sponsor Mom;” it was an honor to serve them as they prepared to serve our country.

But something evolved over their four years at the Naval Academy - and I noticed it sitting at our kitchen table last weekend. We became friends and I enjoy their friendship and presence in our lives. They still play Wii with the boys, but they are adults with whom I know we will always be in touch.

We are often thanked for being a sponsor family. But it is true: in giving, we have recieved the teasured blessing of true friendship.