Commentary: Make every moment count Published Dec. 31, 2014 By Senior Master Sgt. Shannon Ledgewood 7th Special Operations Squadron RAF MILDENHALL, England -- Here we are again, facing the holiday season with the new year just around the corner. Most people may be feeling the crunch as they attempt to manage their personal and professional challenges. Knowing that this time of year is coming, they can't prevent falling behind as the days speed past. If only there was a little more time. Last year, I was deployed during the holidays. Like most military families, it wasn't the first time we had been apart during this time of year. The people I worked with were amazing and the mission was non-stop, but all of us had thoughts of family and home on our minds. In general, deployments provide a person time to think about what they're missing from home - even more so during the holidays. My family and I spoke by phone or video, yet it was difficult not to think about how much time we were spending apart. I wondered what meals they were eating, which gifts were under the tree and what family traditions would be continued while I was thousands of miles away. The truth was they were missing me just as much as I was missing them. One night, after a standard 12-hour shift, my mind stumbled across some wise words that hit home for me: "Every deployment, exercise, temporary deployment, late night mission or time spent away, we write checks to our loved ones with the promise of time together at a later date." These sage words came from Col. Christopher Ireland, a previous 352 Special Operations Group commander. He regularly emphasized the importance of making sure we make moments count with our families. My goal this holiday season is to pay the bill on last year's checks and spend quality time with my family. Quality time with the people you care about does not always require spending money or traveling to exciting places. It can be simple things like gathering together for a meal, taking in a movie or walking around town looking at the Christmas lights. I feel the quality time spent with those you care about is far more valuable than any gift. What most of our family, friends and loved ones really want is our time and attention. And that's a check I don't mind cashing for them. Those of us in the military often forget, in a sense, our families serve too. When we deploy or work late to make the mission happen, they're the ones who are taking care of business at home. It could be anything from putting dinner on the table, doing homework with the kids or walking the dog. Regardless, they are getting it done despite our absence. Isn't it about time we pay the bill?