Sunday, March 27, 2011
"All gave some, some gave all."
A week ago today, my military family got word of a fallen comrade in Caleb's troop. Last weekend all the wives back here were "uneasy" as none of us had heard anything from any of our husbands. I can't tell you the amount of texts I received and sent from other spouses/friends (some in different units) that asked the same thing "have you heard from your hubby?" No. None of us heard ANYTHING. By Saturday night we all knew something was wrong, but just had to wait. I can't even describe how terrible the waiting feels. You don't even know what you're waiting for- but all you want, is to hear from your husband... I know I didn't sleep much at all, as I was up praying for my husband, his comrades, and all of the families... Sunday morning I "got the call" saying that someone had been killed, and several others had been critically injured... as relieved as I was, I didn't know WHO had been affected by this "incident"... again, we all waited. I finally heard from Caleb shortly after, and was so relieved. At first we were only able to chat via facebook messages, and every single typed letter made me smile... I heard from my husband. While talking to him, and several other wives we found out who had been injured and killed... and our hearts broke for his family/friends, as well as our soldiers. This comrade of Caleb's laid his life down for us... he will never be forgotten. I can't imagine the pain and hurt that my husband and his friends had to deal with- he was one of their friends. I did not know the man very well, but I knew him... I also knew his wife and his family. We all mourned the loss of this soldier, and will continue to go on with our lives, but his family is forever changed... and we are all forever changed. Please continue to pray for our soldiers (and their families)- every day. They need more prayers, encouragement, and support than any of us know, or will ever know. Keep them in your thoughts and prayers every day and night.
I'm no Hero
Were it not for the BRAVE, there would be no land of the FREE. God Bless Our Soldiers.
“Let me be a free man. Free to travel. Free to stop. Free to work. Free to choose my own teachers. Free to follow the religion of my fathers. Free to think and talk and act for myself.”
A few weeks ago I was in a fabric store, and while the clerk was cutting out the camo-colors, I told her what I was making, and that my husband is currently deployed. We chatted for about 10 minutes about the war, Caleb, our bundle of joy coming in less than 12 weeks, and random other things. When she was all done, she got teary-eyed, stopped what she was doing and shook my hand. "Thank YOU for everything that you're doing. Thank your husband as well for serving ALL of us. I am free because of him, and my grand-daughter, whom I adore and love with all of my heart has a better life and is free because of him and his soldiers. Thank you- your husband and you are my hero's..., none of you get the thanks you truly deserve." WOW. I was dumbfounded and at a loss for words. I told her I was no hero, because I'm really not doing anything, but thank you, and that I would tell him thanks from her... I was fighting back tears the entire way out of the store. SHE called ME a hero... I am NO hero by any means. My husband is my hero, and the hero of many others. The soldiers fighting for us and the soldiers who have fought for us are the true heroes, but I don't consider myself a hero. I'm not the one thousands of miles away from my family and friends for an entire year... I'm not the one who has to stay up for days at a time. While I'm complaining about working an 8 hour day ("a FULL work day") my husband and his comrades have been up for 12 hours and are STILL working, and aren't complaining. They don't get a day off- yes, they work every day of the year... and did I mention that there are no sick days? There aren't. I'm not the one who has gone through months-years of training and have missed holidays, birthdays, and anniversaries... I'm here, able to share in those holidays with other friends and family members. I'm definitely not a hero... a hero is described as someone with exceptional courage, nobility, and strength. Well, that does NOT mean me- what-so-ever. I am not a courageous person- people may think I am because I'm a military wife, and so I may be considered "courageous or strong" because of that title, but it is not my usual nature. I am courageous and strong because I have to be. I am strong/courageous for my family/friends back here, and I am strong for my husband. I wouldn't have it any other way though. I am strong because my husband is strong. I admire him in so many ways, and look up to him- due to that, I am strong. I want to be more like him. I wish I had half the strength he does, and half the determination, drive, heart, desire, perseverance, and courage. My husband is my hero. As for that lady though, if I can be her hero I will be- because even though I'm not a "spitting image" of my husband, I do take pride in the fact that he has helped make me the person I am today, so if that heroism has rubbed off from him then so be it. Caleb is my hero... he always has been and always will be.
“Let me be a free man. Free to travel. Free to stop. Free to work. Free to choose my own teachers. Free to follow the religion of my fathers. Free to think and talk and act for myself.”
A few weeks ago I was in a fabric store, and while the clerk was cutting out the camo-colors, I told her what I was making, and that my husband is currently deployed. We chatted for about 10 minutes about the war, Caleb, our bundle of joy coming in less than 12 weeks, and random other things. When she was all done, she got teary-eyed, stopped what she was doing and shook my hand. "Thank YOU for everything that you're doing. Thank your husband as well for serving ALL of us. I am free because of him, and my grand-daughter, whom I adore and love with all of my heart has a better life and is free because of him and his soldiers. Thank you- your husband and you are my hero's..., none of you get the thanks you truly deserve." WOW. I was dumbfounded and at a loss for words. I told her I was no hero, because I'm really not doing anything, but thank you, and that I would tell him thanks from her... I was fighting back tears the entire way out of the store. SHE called ME a hero... I am NO hero by any means. My husband is my hero, and the hero of many others. The soldiers fighting for us and the soldiers who have fought for us are the true heroes, but I don't consider myself a hero. I'm not the one thousands of miles away from my family and friends for an entire year... I'm not the one who has to stay up for days at a time. While I'm complaining about working an 8 hour day ("a FULL work day") my husband and his comrades have been up for 12 hours and are STILL working, and aren't complaining. They don't get a day off- yes, they work every day of the year... and did I mention that there are no sick days? There aren't. I'm not the one who has gone through months-years of training and have missed holidays, birthdays, and anniversaries... I'm here, able to share in those holidays with other friends and family members. I'm definitely not a hero... a hero is described as someone with exceptional courage, nobility, and strength. Well, that does NOT mean me- what-so-ever. I am not a courageous person- people may think I am because I'm a military wife, and so I may be considered "courageous or strong" because of that title, but it is not my usual nature. I am courageous and strong because I have to be. I am strong/courageous for my family/friends back here, and I am strong for my husband. I wouldn't have it any other way though. I am strong because my husband is strong. I admire him in so many ways, and look up to him- due to that, I am strong. I want to be more like him. I wish I had half the strength he does, and half the determination, drive, heart, desire, perseverance, and courage. My husband is my hero. As for that lady though, if I can be her hero I will be- because even though I'm not a "spitting image" of my husband, I do take pride in the fact that he has helped make me the person I am today, so if that heroism has rubbed off from him then so be it. Caleb is my hero... he always has been and always will be.
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