With Mission Accomplished, We Begin Again.
At 7:45 last night, following the very last notes of Proud to be an American, the double doors opened, and in a cloud of dust, 160 American warriors marched into the packed event room. And with tears of joy, relief, and pride, Ron and I realized that the greatest blessing a military parent can experience was ours once again. Stephen had come home safely from the sands of a place far, far, away. Laurie had arrived here the night before and we were so thankful that while trying to make it through a program so intense, only God's will could have helped the Army's plan and had allowed her to be here at that moment. We let the tears of joy, pride, and relief fall; and whatever fear had been hiding in our hearts for the past year fell away with those tears. And as we observed a moment of silence for those who had given the ultimate sacrifice, I knew that but for the Grace of God, those prayers would have been for our soldier. We sang The National Anthem and the Army Song and then they were dismissed to their families. Ron and I started snapping pictures immediately as Stephen and Laurie, who was holding on to a slightly overwhelmed Kasey - made their way through the masses to find each other. And when they did, no amount of film could capture the love in that moment.
Eventually, we made our way outside, Stephen got his bags from the bus, and we made our way to where we had parked the pick-ups. Final hugs and kisses, and they piled into their truck, we into ours - and drove away in separate directions. Even as the distance grew between us, their happiness followed our truck like a sunbeam - even in the darkness of the evening hours.
Ron told me I had done well during the ceremony - meaning I had cried, but had maintained my composure. :) With his words, the floodgates opened. And I said. "the toys are all at home but the little boy will be missing" Of course, referring to Kasey.
When we got home, I hugged Ron and said, "well, it's just us two again, but we accomplished OUR mission too."
For ten months, one of the first sounds we heard in the morning was Kasey's little voice. Happy or grumpy, it was a sound we treasured. Do you remember those days back in October? The "honeymoon" period of the first few days of his settling in, the moments of trying to consoling Kasey's homesick little heart, the difficult moments in the morning when pre school didn't seem an acceptable option to him. I remember those "difficult" mornings when, after dropping Kasey at school, I prayed for strength and guidance on my way to work...knowing that Ron and I had a blessed (but awesome task) in front of us. And all the while askng God to remind me that this was a 3 year old boy - far from his mommy; and that his daddy was even further away - "getting the bad guys, grandma."
But the days rolled into weeks, and then months. And soon enough, it was Christmas and Kasey had both of his parents with him to celebrate the holiday. They had nearly two weeks together as a family. And, as Laurie and Stephen once again had to go their separate ways, they left with knowing our selling the house and moving into our on the road home was just ahead - and with us would be Kasey and we would all be waiting for Stephen when he arrived home.
And so, here we are. The first morning of our new life. Just how many journeys is a couple our age blessed enough to travel?
There will be other days with Kasey - times when we could be asked once again to be his guardians. Because the US Army is what it is. Unpredictable - but like no other.
And I smile now because I know that in a hotel not too far from here, a little family is getting to know each other again after so long apart. And the smile is also because we have had this wonderful gift from God - a mission He so graciously led us through.
At 7:45 last night, following the very last notes of Proud to be an American, the double doors opened, and in a cloud of dust, 160 American warriors marched into the packed event room. And with tears of joy, relief, and pride, Ron and I realized that the greatest blessing a military parent can experience was ours once again. Stephen had come home safely from the sands of a place far, far, away. Laurie had arrived here the night before and we were so thankful that while trying to make it through a program so intense, only God's will could have helped the Army's plan and had allowed her to be here at that moment. We let the tears of joy, pride, and relief fall; and whatever fear had been hiding in our hearts for the past year fell away with those tears. And as we observed a moment of silence for those who had given the ultimate sacrifice, I knew that but for the Grace of God, those prayers would have been for our soldier. We sang The National Anthem and the Army Song and then they were dismissed to their families. Ron and I started snapping pictures immediately as Stephen and Laurie, who was holding on to a slightly overwhelmed Kasey - made their way through the masses to find each other. And when they did, no amount of film could capture the love in that moment.
Eventually, we made our way outside, Stephen got his bags from the bus, and we made our way to where we had parked the pick-ups. Final hugs and kisses, and they piled into their truck, we into ours - and drove away in separate directions. Even as the distance grew between us, their happiness followed our truck like a sunbeam - even in the darkness of the evening hours.
Ron told me I had done well during the ceremony - meaning I had cried, but had maintained my composure. :) With his words, the floodgates opened. And I said. "the toys are all at home but the little boy will be missing" Of course, referring to Kasey.
When we got home, I hugged Ron and said, "well, it's just us two again, but we accomplished OUR mission too."
For ten months, one of the first sounds we heard in the morning was Kasey's little voice. Happy or grumpy, it was a sound we treasured. Do you remember those days back in October? The "honeymoon" period of the first few days of his settling in, the moments of trying to consoling Kasey's homesick little heart, the difficult moments in the morning when pre school didn't seem an acceptable option to him. I remember those "difficult" mornings when, after dropping Kasey at school, I prayed for strength and guidance on my way to work...knowing that Ron and I had a blessed (but awesome task) in front of us. And all the while askng God to remind me that this was a 3 year old boy - far from his mommy; and that his daddy was even further away - "getting the bad guys, grandma."
But the days rolled into weeks, and then months. And soon enough, it was Christmas and Kasey had both of his parents with him to celebrate the holiday. They had nearly two weeks together as a family. And, as Laurie and Stephen once again had to go their separate ways, they left with knowing our selling the house and moving into our on the road home was just ahead - and with us would be Kasey and we would all be waiting for Stephen when he arrived home.
And so, here we are. The first morning of our new life. Just how many journeys is a couple our age blessed enough to travel?
There will be other days with Kasey - times when we could be asked once again to be his guardians. Because the US Army is what it is. Unpredictable - but like no other.
And I smile now because I know that in a hotel not too far from here, a little family is getting to know each other again after so long apart. And the smile is also because we have had this wonderful gift from God - a mission He so graciously led us through.
My heart will always have a yellow ribbon tied around it for the men and women who are still deployed, or are looking at their orders to go to the mountains of Afghanistan or the sands of Iraq.
My last words to you this morning would be to say THANK YOU. For your prayers, your help, your encouragement along the way.
For your appreciation of what it has meant to Ron and me.
I ask you for one more prayer - of thanksgiving - that after this awesome and amazing year, God's grace has allowed me to remain...
A Two Star Mom.
My last words to you this morning would be to say THANK YOU. For your prayers, your help, your encouragement along the way.
For your appreciation of what it has meant to Ron and me.
I ask you for one more prayer - of thanksgiving - that after this awesome and amazing year, God's grace has allowed me to remain...
A Two Star Mom.
5 comments:
Welcome Home Stephen!!! Your post brought tears to my eyes as only your wonderful words can.
I am so glad Stephen is back home!
Thank you Stephen for your sacrifice.
Life goes on..."Thank God!"
Wow!!! You just made me feel all the emotions again that I felt when Seth came home from his first deployment. I say first because we were there for his homecoming the first time, but not the second. It's different when you're there and they come running or marching in...the welcoming roar from all the families, the excitement of the moment, the overwhelming sense of pride, the silent prayers of thanksgiving, the tears of joy.
I'm so happy that Stephen's home and especially glad that Laurie was able to be there so that they could actually be a whole and complete family for a while.
But, hey, where are the pictures??
Sorry K - pictures are over at my other blog. Guess they really belong here. I will work on that today, ok? :)
GOD BLESSED YOU ALL!!!
Post a Comment