This week another Hero was killed in Afghan along with 3 others. While I have never met him or his wife, just reading about him I could tell what a special young man he was. His wife is a member of a Army Wives chat board that I belong to and while we have not seen one another, it hit us like a ton of bricks.
Bubba was a 28 year old Captain in IRR status and was re-called last year. He leaves behind a very strong and loving wife and a precious little boy who was the light of his life. From reading different sites and what others have written about him, made all of us realize how lucky we were to have him fighting for our country. He was a graduate of West Point and made his family so proud of him. He and his wife had such plans when he got back home and now she will carry out those plans without him. While I do know some of what she is feeling, I do not know the feeling of coming home to find Chaplains waiting for you to tell you your life has now been halted and turned upside down. It was bad enough for me to get a knock on the door years ago. Bubba was just home on R&R just 2 weeks ago and was able to speak to his wife about his feelings. The one thing she said that he had told her was right before he left to go back and that was, "If something happens while I'm gone, I will be at peace with myself as I have everything in my life that I could ask for".
Our time is down to single digit weeks before my Hero heads to defend our lives, freedom and country. All of the people on my chat board have gone thru so many emotions this week and our hearts are breaking for Bubba's family. This tragedy has hit "home" so to speak and made us all have a wake up call, so to speak. Please keep Bubba's family in your thoughts and prayers and understand I will not give out any other information due to security reasons, OPSEC, and for the safety of his family. Please keep Mike and all of our loved ones in the military in your prayers and thoughts. While you may not think it matters, it does. I can tell you knowing that people who care are thinking of them makes it a little easier for each of us to go on another day.
We will be heading back home in a few weeks for a visit with our families and friends before Mike leaves. We are excited to go back home since it will have been a year since we were there, but at the same time we are sad because we know that it will mean he is leaving in just a little while. Kyla and I have so much support here in Texas we know we will be alright but all the support in the world does not take away any fears and the reality of what is going on.
Like I have asked before please please keep Bubba and his family in your thoughts and prayers..
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
As time goes by....
Well we are now into February and things are moving so fast for us while I know it is moving slow for so many waiting on their loved ones to come home. It seems like this time has just jumped right up in my face and stuck it's ugly tongue out at me. I know I'm not the only one going thru this but we all have our own ways to get our feelings out and this is mine.
We spent the last weekend running all over getting things that he will need when he does leave that the military DOES NOT provide. People would actually be surprised as to how much the soldiers have to pay out of their pocket for things and it isn't a small amount. Some things we picked up are to keep him comfortable while gone.
Mike tried very hard to pack up his one box Sunday before I got up so I wouldn't see him but it didn't work. So I sat and watched and then went to the bathroom and let it out in there so no one would know, didn't work. Mike found a metal travel mug in his car that he wants to take with him because it has Peanut's teeth marks on it from her chewing on it. When he told me that I just melted. They have to have some things ready to go very very soon so time draws near..
While none of us are happy about our loved ones leaving for an extended period of time, there isn't a one of us who could not be prouder of them as they do get ready to leave. As it gets closer I can tell little changes in Mike, not bad ones, but more sensitive. Kyla isn't talking to much about it. It is hard on her as a lot of her friends' parents are coming home now and she is getting ready to see her daddy off.
We have been having meetings to help us prepare for this but I don't think any amount of meetings can help you with the many emotions that you go thru. I am trying to come up with a couple of things to "sneak" into a bag for Mike to find when he gets there to help him get thru this too. Some people complain about having their loved ones around them so much, not us... We love when he comes home in the middle of the day to surprise us and to spend time with us. These moments mean so much to us. I have been taking many pictures to keep and to send also.
On a different note, I have started working part-time. A friend of mine down here has a very special foster son in her home who has cerebral palsy. He is 10 years old and the most special boy. His laughter and smile just melts your heart. She has been so generous that she has worked my schedule so that I only work one evening a week and the rest are mornings. I love working with him and it is what I love doing. Once Mike leaves Kyla will be coming to the house where I am so that she isn't home alone on my one evening and during the summer. We have met some of the most wonderful people down here.
I will write more as time allows and as I'm allowed to post.
We spent the last weekend running all over getting things that he will need when he does leave that the military DOES NOT provide. People would actually be surprised as to how much the soldiers have to pay out of their pocket for things and it isn't a small amount. Some things we picked up are to keep him comfortable while gone.
Mike tried very hard to pack up his one box Sunday before I got up so I wouldn't see him but it didn't work. So I sat and watched and then went to the bathroom and let it out in there so no one would know, didn't work. Mike found a metal travel mug in his car that he wants to take with him because it has Peanut's teeth marks on it from her chewing on it. When he told me that I just melted. They have to have some things ready to go very very soon so time draws near..
While none of us are happy about our loved ones leaving for an extended period of time, there isn't a one of us who could not be prouder of them as they do get ready to leave. As it gets closer I can tell little changes in Mike, not bad ones, but more sensitive. Kyla isn't talking to much about it. It is hard on her as a lot of her friends' parents are coming home now and she is getting ready to see her daddy off.
We have been having meetings to help us prepare for this but I don't think any amount of meetings can help you with the many emotions that you go thru. I am trying to come up with a couple of things to "sneak" into a bag for Mike to find when he gets there to help him get thru this too. Some people complain about having their loved ones around them so much, not us... We love when he comes home in the middle of the day to surprise us and to spend time with us. These moments mean so much to us. I have been taking many pictures to keep and to send also.
On a different note, I have started working part-time. A friend of mine down here has a very special foster son in her home who has cerebral palsy. He is 10 years old and the most special boy. His laughter and smile just melts your heart. She has been so generous that she has worked my schedule so that I only work one evening a week and the rest are mornings. I love working with him and it is what I love doing. Once Mike leaves Kyla will be coming to the house where I am so that she isn't home alone on my one evening and during the summer. We have met some of the most wonderful people down here.
I will write more as time allows and as I'm allowed to post.
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