While you're never sure what comes out of his mouth...be certain his heart is pure. A fast-paced, funny show that is safe for the whole family.
Counting Down the Weeks…
I just got off the phone with Alex. He said his good-byes to all of his family but me. We had a great talk for about 15 minutes. There were a thousand things I wanted to tell him but after a while, I prayed with him over the phone and that was it. I made a point to say “I love ya, bud” about a dozen times. And I do. What I wouldn’t give to hug him good-bye once more before he leaves.
His schedule goes something like this: At around 2am, early Tuesday morning August 24th, his platoon will meet in the gym. 4am, they gather their personal items and weapons and sometime between 6-8am, they’ll depart Fort Hood for Germany. Quick layover there before another flight to Kuwait where they will have in-processing for about 3 weeks. From there..they will make the long drive into Karbala, Iraq and that is where the beach party will take place for the next year. He told me that he may be able to call home over the next month to let us know he is safe.
I’m still a bit numb. The fact that he will be serving in the middle east for a year has not yet sunk in. I have eyes and ears but can’t seem to focus or hear. Betsy, Hannah and I feel like there is a 50lb weight on our chest.
We walk alongside many of our friends right now who have sent their kids off to college and take some comfort knowing we are all walking in the same valley together but it still doesn’t seem to take away the hurt.
If you are reading this and still have kids at home…would you do me a favor this upcoming school year? Hug, kiss and tell your children you love them a few extra times a day. I have looked out my back door so many times this past week longing to see Alex wave me out to shoot hoops. “Good night Dad” still rings in my head.
The day before he left home for Fort Hood, we had a family wrestling match on the living room floor. I stretched out my hand with the camera and took a family photo. The date is on the bottom corner. We now have that picture in our bathroom and every time I step out of the shower, I see it and smile. Then I look at the date and whisper to myself…” I’ll never make it 52 more weeks.”
We are chasing after the voice of God longing for words of comfort and peace. And praying the weeks fly by.
David
