The Most Amazing Feeling!

So I have some pictures to upload and post from the past week or so and was going to do that today... but then I was just blown away this morning! Cole forgot his beret and Sierra and I needed to run it to his office before heading to the gym. It was a bit of an inconvinance but needed to be done. So we were making decent time and then when we were headed off post we saw one, two, three cops of bikes with lights running headed our way. At first I thought "oh NO" there's been a horrible accident or something. Then a few more came... and as they continued towards us... and the main gate for post I realized that they were guiding the caravan of buses home full of soldiers returning from Afghanistan. A flood of emotions overwhelmed me and are returning once again. Some may disagree with me but for those of you that have experienced it I'm sure you can relate. The emotions range right up there with holding your new born child for the first time... and as I can imagine, holding your new adoptive child for the first time. The tears of joy streamed down my face as I tried to concentrate on driving safely! I honked my horn as the buses passed and my face smiled so wide that my jaw hurt!

Then I was taken back to reality a bit as Sierra sat in the back seat insisting we pray for all the people in trouble! (A few months back we passed an ambulance in route to a hospital and I taught her to stop and pray a prayer for those that were needing help or in trouble. Ever since if she even hears a sirene we stop to pray together.) I tried to find the words to explain to her that these people were not in trouble and that it was a joyous thing the police men were trying to help with. As I was still overwhelmed with an incredible since of joy, relief, excitment, etc I also realized in the pit of my being two things: 1) that soon we will be trying to explain to Sierra why her daddy is going away, and 2) it was only last Wednesday that I saw them hosting the last memorial for this brigades recently fallen soldiers.

As Sierra and I prayed for the reunions of the troops on those buses and the months ahead for them, I couldn't help but pray for the families of those troops who will not return. The sacrifices that are given are greater than what I can fathom. Only a week and half ago in church sat two men of the wounded warriors battalion here on post. One with injuries not as obvious to the naked eye, and another with no legs left to bare and no vision left to see those around him. As we sat thorugh mass Sierra was intrigued by these men, especially the one in a wheel chair and was very eager to shake his hand and wish him "peace". I had listen to him speak with his fellow solider throughout mass and heard him tell him thank you for bringing him.... that mass was his "recharge" each week. WOW... what a wonderful outlook he had on life. It wasn't until Sierra wished him "peace" did I realize that he no longer had his legs, but his vision either. What an encouragment that has been to me the last weeks.

Some have given all, some have given much... for the duration of their lives, and some are still giving. For those that wear the uniform... and for those that stand beside them to serve on the home front my prayers go out. May God bless and keep our soliders, their families, their relationships, and our country. I am so proud to stand beside my husband, a solider, a father, a leader, a man of courage and a man who fears our God.