Topic : Military Families Support

Hi everyone.  I've been a member here for a little while - but have never posted.  I kind of felt that I really didn't belong at this site.  So many people and so many problems.  Reading here made me feel guilty that everything was so wonderful in my family's life.  But, I found this board today.  I felt like sharing.  

My only child joined the Army right after 9/11.  He had been married only a short time before - but he felt very strongly about what he NEEDED to do.  His father and I have always backed him up on whatever he wanted to do.  He moved his wife to our house when he left for bootcamp and schooling.  She was a joy to have and a welcome part of our family.  Her and I flew to his graduation and were both so proud when he graduated with honors and special recognitions by the Commander.  Shortly after training, he ( and our daughter in law) moved to his first duty station in Kansas.)  Not long after that, he got orders to ship off to Iraq.  He was in the first waive of soldiers that were sent to take control of the country.  I was nervous, but was able to track him via the imbeded reporters.  I knew which one was assigned to his unit and could search Yahoo photos.  I got to see soldiers in his company and charted the procress on a big map I kept on the wall.  (I have an APS diary/phots of the entire 1st year)  I had my ups and downs as the news photos weren't always positive.  But, I watch HIS tank pull down the statue of Sadam in Kerbala.  (I didn't know it was HIM until he returned after his first year and was looking as what I had gathered.  He was AMAZED and was real excited to see the photo.)  Anyway....... He had come home to his wife on leave midway through his first tour - and to our surprise and pleasure left us with the most beautiful gift...... the beginings of our granddaughter.  (insert BIG smile here)  He made it back to his wife when his first tour was up.  We got to see them for a little while and threw partys for them complete with family and friends.  They had our little bundle of joy later that year.  As we all knew would happen, he got orders to head back to Iraq for another year.  He asked us if we would watch his family while he was gone.  We were thrilled that we were given the chance to pull our expanded family under our wings and give our son a little less to worry about while he was doing his important job.  Hubbie and I were in 7th heaven and really took to the job of having a little baby in the house.  Mommy hopefully got all the breaks she needed and I got a helper with keeping the house up as I keep a full time job.  Being that I'm out of the house all day, this gave my daughter in law the freedom to have the place to herself and baby.  The year went by fast - and we documented all the highlights on DVD movies which we copied and sent to Iraq for Daddy to see. We also set up a web cam so we could all see each other.  This was a big PLUS over the first time he was there.  Well........ He came back to the states after his tour.  I stayed home and hubbie and daughter in law and baby flew back to Kansas to meet him.  (He didn't know his dad would be there.)  It was kind of funny... I got the call from the Army that he was on a flight to come back and he called me from Ireland to keep me posted on his progress - he even called me from Main..... I never let on that he would be seeing his dad soon.  (insert another big grin)  When the welcome home ceremony was over (which hubbie recorded on DVD for me to see) he walked over to where the stroller was waiting, looked up and saw his dad.  Since the recorder was rolling, I got to see the look on his face - close up.  He says "Mom, you finally kept a secret from me!"  I think it was only fitting that it be a good one like this.  (Insert the biggest grin here) The kids stayed there  for about a month and hubbie flew there to bring back our daughter in law and baby - and a truck full of goods - towing a SUV.  A couple of months later, Hubbie flew back there and helped our son move the rest of the stuff back - and him, done with his active duty.  He'll be inactive reserve for a few more years.  It's done now - we all survived the little ups and downs.  Our family is stronger than ever.  The kids lived with us while they both secured employment - and have just recently moved into a place of their own - just a few miles from home.  Now, it's time for Hubbie and me again. (We're going on 30 years of marriage)  Our job isn't done, we're just getting a little break.   I see them almost every day and most of the time we gravitate to the family table.  I read a few words of wisdom in the funny pages of all places.  I'll give credit to "for better or worse" :  If you cut the apron strings cleanly, they'll want to spend more time in your kitchen. (this may go better on a different board - but those boards are too depressing.) 

I hope I haven't bored anyone.  Everything wasn't always "UP", sometimes we had to work a little to find something positive to balance out our emotions.  I'm far from perfect - but if there is anything I can say or share to give someone a little BOOST, I'd be happy to try.   

Now, does this site have a Grandma brag site? I'd love to discuss the feeling I get when I see that little bundle run to me with her arms outstretched calling:  GRAMA!!!)    LOL!!!!!  OK..... I'm done.   Thanks for listening. (reading)