Today - Veterans Day

The following will be quite transparent so read on with carefulness.

Today is Veterans Day and for some reason, the tears are barely kept away. The bank is closed today and therefore I am at home. I really should be cleaning up my house since I have some company coming for lunch but this is a little more important at the moment!

How did he go from this -


to this??


Here is a part of the story from my point of view and since this is my blog - I can do that!! :))

David has always been a fighter - he kinda started out that way being born 3 1/2 weeks early and barely over 5 pounds! But trust me, he quickly made his presence felt and known in this world! He hasn't stopped if you want the truth! :))

We went on a trip just after his graduation from high school and we knew the thoughts that were going on his head about his future. We were in a church service over the 4th of July and we stood while the National Anthem was played and I looked up at this young man beside me who was fighting tears and I knew. Looking back, I can say - I knew. But that knowledge brought a battle along with it. I was not in agreement with what he wanted to do. My son had to stay around home and marry someone and work in the church and do exactly what I thought he should! I know - not too smart of me huh? We continued on with our trip that summer and the whole time, the battle raged. Not just with me though - the battle going on with David was evident. We came home and he struggled. Finally, he went for his physical for his decision had been made - a pilot he wanted to be for the Marine Corp. I prayed. Not in the right way of course. I mean, I was his mother and I knew best. He came home and laid down on the floor in the living room and was an unhappy boy. He couldn't be a pilot since he was color blind. And so, the battle continued on and was getting worse. One evening, I was already in bed for the night, my husband came into our room and said these words that forever changed our lives as we would know them. "Leah, I am going into David's room and I am telling him that he has our permission and full support to join the Marines". My response?? "No he doesn't". The battle took a different course for a few minutes while I argued my point! But in the end, that is exactly what he did. For David, the inward battle was probably ending but for me, the all-knowing Mom, it was only beginning and getting worse with each second. The dreaded day arrived and we drove him to Ft Pierce and said our goodbyes and my heart was ripped out of my chest. How could this be happening? This was all so wrong. For the next 3 months our communication was through letters about once a week. He was surviving and I lived for those letters. Graduation day was an unbelievable memory! Proud of him???? Oh you had better believe it! But guess what? The battle was still on! We kept on with living - something new now because we had a Marine. Life just kept going and we along with it. Then, it was the "D" word. Deployment. There is absolutely no way in the world I can tell you what that 7 months was like and you simply cannot understand it unless you have lived through it. I remember the comparisons people made between their child going off to college and mine going off to war! Yea right - two things that are exactly alike! NOT!!! Not even close. I lived for the weird phone number on the caller id and no matter where I was - that was a phone call I took! Yes - even in the middle of church!! But - for me, the battle was still on! Then, homecoming day finally arrived and nothing prepared me for the emotions of that day! Wow - I actually felt like I could breathe for the first time in 7 months.

Today - my pudgy little baby is a full grown adult in his last months in the Marine Corp. He is married to the best girl parents could ask for and his baby girl is set to make her appearance in March. Wow - what a man! I am so proud of him!

As for the battle?? Guess what?? It is still ongoing. Want to know why? BECAUSE I AM HIS MOM!!!!!!! God has used some circumstances recently to remind me that I battle because I care and because I am normal! But you want to know what I am really learning?!?! God is faithful - especially when I battle in the place of prayer! The devil is working overtime to destroy my children. I wonder why he has not figured out that God and a Mom make an awesome team!

So - David - I am so incredibly proud of you and thank God every day that you are who you are! YOU are such a hero to me - just below your dad if you want the truth! I love you!