It's About the Soldier's Sibling Too. 




Several years ago when I began this blog, I mentioned that being a military mom isn't JUST about being a military mom.  There is Scott as well, our son who is back in Buffalo with his family.  After a somewhat amicable divorce from his first wife, Tina, Scott met and fell in love with Violet.  We love Vi as our daughter already, and she always makes sure we know the feeling is mutual.  She is an awesome young woman who not only loves Scott, but Veronica as well.  Tina knows this - Vi gives Veronica wonderful care every weekend when she comes to visit.   This is all good.
Recently, Vi has had some serious health issues related to Crohn's disease.  If you are familiar with this disease, you know that it is very painful and can cause serious complications.  The complications part finally caught up to Vi and she will be having surgery in a couple of weeks.  Scott has been very worried and I knew that not going to Buffalo to support them is just not an option.  Laurie realizes this and understands that I need to go and help her brother and his fiance right now. 
Got a great fare on a flight after Vi called me this morning with her surgery date, and I'll be boarding a plane to Buffalo to go and help out the kids for about 10 days.  As much as I hate to be going for the REASON I am going, I am excited that I will see Scott and Vi and Veronica more than once this year.  I hope to see some friends and extended family while I am there, but every visit that I have with others outside of my time with the kids will be a bonus.   A BIG bonus. 
Of course there are Ron and Kasey who will stay here, and that means two holes in my heart for 10 days. BIG holes.  My two men, big and small will miss me a little bit too, (I hope), but I am so thankful for the price of the flight that makes this visit so much easier on our budget, and for the income tax refund which came our way just in time.  God does bring blessings even in the difficulties of life.
And so, I need to begin my lists.  There are many:  Kasey's birthday party list, the meals I want to put in the freezer before I leave, the little incidentals I need from Walmart before I leave....socks, makeup, a pair of jeans and/or new sneakers.   And of course the little "somethings" I want to take to Scott, and Vi, to Veronica, and to Luke.
It IS about the soldier's sibling, and even though so much of my life is here in CO, those I love in Buffalo are just as much of a blessing to me and I am ALWAYS mindful of - and thankful for - them.
I can't wait to wrap my arms around them all.

I Guess It Runs In the Family



Since Laurie and Stephen are both away, Ron and I are the "parents" who now receive the emails from Kasey's teacher so we know what we are supposed to be doing and what needs to be done or what the kids are supposed to be doing as class or individual assignments.  Since we have both met his teacher, it's been a very easy transition - most of the time.  The homework was a little intimidating until I figured out the website but now things are going pretty smoothly.  Of course I always forward the emails to Laurie so she knows what is going on. 
The other day we "parents" received an email outlining a poster project the kids were being asked to do, and the plans for the Valentine's Day party.
The project - very specific - was to make a poster using 100 of the same thing - buttons, beads, anything crafty.  They are celebrating 100s week.  When I told Kasey that night at the dinner table that we needed to make a poster, I asked him what he thought he wanted to make.
"A FLAG, GRANDMA!!"
Boy after my own heart.  And so, we went to Michael's on Saturday, bought everything - we chose buttons - and started the project on Sunday morning.  Felt, GLUE (way too much glue but it was a glue stick so it made for less mess), red, white, and blue buttons.  Stars, hearts, plain buttons - all red, white, and blue.  This morning I went to Hobby Lobby to get the yellow buttons for the yellow ribbon banner which I had suggested ("GREAT IDEA, GRANDMA!!").   And of course enough white buttons for the stars.
Above you see Kasey with the finished product.  A proud little boy - not of his achievement, but that it represents his pride in his mom and dad.
Things have changed here - we will not be moving.  Stephen might be coming home earlier than we expected and Laurie will be deploying much sooner than she and Stephen (or Ron and I) ever expected.
Kasey doesn't know any of the changes yet - doesn't know that his Mom will now be one of those soldiers we pray for at dinner (as his Daddy is now) when we add to the blessing, "and please Lord, watch over the soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan."
Another difficult year ahead - but his pride runs deep.  And as I mentioned earlier, a boy after my own heart.
Your prayers are appreciated, very, very much.
God bless our troops.