As we spend time with our loved ones this holiday season, there are thousands of families across the country whose loved ones won't be home for Christmas.
Those are America's military families, and there are many in our area.
The families are no doubt proud of their loved ones serving overseas, but that doesn't mean they miss them any less during the holidays.
The Heins family of Socastee is one of those families. Army Staff Sergeant Kevin Heins is currently serving a one year deployment in Kuwait while his wife Pam and his two young children, Caroline and Eric, are home, missing their father and husband.
"He fights for our country, and that's very good that he's doing that," said Eric Heins about his dad.
"He's my best friend in the world," said Pam, Kevin's wife.
Kevin is on the second deployment of his 18-year military career.
"He's close to retirement, so I'm looking forward to that. I hope this is the last deployment," admits Pam.
She says having a husband a world away helps to puts things in perspective.
"You realize you take a lot of little things for granted, you know. You don't have somebody here to help you carry the groceries in the house, or somebody to help you mow the grass or just little things around the house that you don't realize they help you with. They seem huge when they're gone ... and somebody to talk to at night," said Pam.
"I miss him because I love him, and he's really funny, and he makes me happy all the time," recalled Eric, a fourth grader.
"It's really hard because we don't have a dad that's actually here that can help us," said sixth grader Caroline Heins.
She continued, "My mom is struggling, trying to keep me and my brother, trying to help both of us in school and stuff. It's really hard on her, and it's really hard on us."
And they all admit, no time is more difficult than the holidays.
"He's not here to help with the Christmas shopping and picking out the presents and things and the dinners," said Pam.
"You know, you're sitting there missing him at dinner... It took me awhile to get used to having that -- only three seats set at the dinner table instead of four. Little things like that's when you notice he's not here, when you're sitting around and there's an empty chair at the dinner table," said Pam.
To help fill the void, the Heins family does little things. They have a soldier-inspired nutcracker figure -- a replica of dad, of course -- on display with their Christmas decorations.
The also have a blown up image of Kevin in his U.S. Army fatigues in their living room.
But of course, they admit nothing can replace their dad and husband.
"We really miss him. I'm proud of him, beyond words, I'm really proud of him. It's been tough, at times, but he's doing, he's doing a great thing. And for that I'm grateful," said Pam Heins.
The family says the help and support of friends and family has made the past year just a little bit easier.
Staff Sergeant Kevin Heins is expected to be home in January of 2010.
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