Taking leave to support the mission Published Aug. 2, 2012 By Chaplain (Capt.) Mark Hunsinger 11th Wing Chaplain Joint Base Andrews, Md. -- As always, the weeks and months of summer seem to be moving along quite rapidly. As the clock ticks, also comes another season full of folks who are PCS-ing to and from Andrews. Summer reminds us of yet another important season, that of family vacations or depending on your budget, stay-cations (vacations while still at home). If you are like most Airmen, you are undoubtedly finding the culture and climate of the Air Force is busier and busier with more and more demands. With ever increasing demands, the challenge of balancing your life and priorities has become more difficult but all the more critical. Let me encourage all to make it a top priority as you are able to take some leave with the remainder of the summer that you have and invest some time into the critical relationships in your life. Too often the tyranny of the urgent overshadows the rock bottom cornerstones of our lives. Do your best not to allow that to happen to you. To stay resilient and to be an asset to the Air Force, you have to remain vitally connected to the precious ones in your life. Make leave and family vacations a priority with the remaining days of summer you have. In so many ways, the way you take care of your family is critical to the defense of our nation, so do not falter. Pope John Paul II said, "As the family goes, so goes the nation, and so goes the whole world in which we live." Take care of your family and they will take care of you as you take care of our beloved Air Force and nation. When you one day hang up your uniform, you don't want to have a heart filled with regrets that you neglected your family. Seize the days and moments you do have with them. Make each day count, so when you do have to work late or are deployed in a far-off place you can call to remembrance those precious memories until the time you are reunited with your family. Blessings upon your summer and remember to go take a vacation!!