Letting go of our children is really tough. They go to college, but they still come home. My experience has been that not until they are "grown" do I have to worry about truly "letting go", meaning my influence and my control is gone(or at very least dwindling). Today I let my son Caleb "go". He is headed to Germany to serve his country for at least two years there and he will then likely serve at least one term in Iraq or Afghanistan. So for the next three years he will be away from home.
I am about to "let Chelsea go" but that's just to Georgia:) It is (I think right now) so much harder to let a child go around the world and know they are not coming back at the end of the semester or at the end of vacation.
I am so very grateful to have a neat friend whose husband serves in the Army as a PA and they are stationed just 30 minutes from the base Caleb will be stationed on. It is comforting to know that on the other side of the world there is a wonderful "momma" just 30 minutes from my son! I truly think it's a God thing!
This letting go is terribly hard and while in theory I thought it would be a very therapeutic thing(you know, raising my children to be wonderful Christians and good citizens and then watching them leave home to live life to their fullest)...but it really isn't nearly as fun feeling as I thought it would be. I wonder when that moment comes?
For now, I am grateful for the spirit and confidence my son shows and ever so prayerful for his future.
This was our day:
Chelsea and I were up early and out the door with Caleb (Chelsea helping carry his huge load).
We met Scott's parents at Cracker Barrel in Franklin and had breakfast. Today was Bill's birthday.
We waited for Scott to meet us at the airport in Nashville....
They gave up passes to go back as sit with Caleb until he boarded his plane...I am ever so thankful for those extra minutes! Scott gave Caleb some special scriptures he had printed and laminated to keep in his wallet. He gave them to Caleb and Caleb was putting them in his wallet.
Caleb and his backpack...it weighs almost as much as him:)
Chelsea took several pictures as they began to board Caleb flight, it is hard to be sad with such a funny guy!
My dad was in the Air Force the first 15 years of my life. We have been there and appreciate what you are doing as a family sending your son to help protect our country. You all will be in our prayers!
ReplyDeleteYour son is one of the greatest, funniest guys I have ever had the pleasure of meeting mam. Even though we were only together for 9 weeks, he quickly became my best friend. He turned something so miserable into some of the best times I have ever had. As strange as this sounds, we even began acting like an old married couple. Three years seems like a long time, but he will be back before you know it. He is a squared away soldier and I only wish I could be there with him.
ReplyDeletePVT Blake Smithson
Hey,
ReplyDeleteI am delurking here...
I am one of your readers in Germany. If Caleb wants to come and visit Dusseldorf or Cologne or something else in our area, he is more than welcome to send me an email to talk about staying with us. :-) We have plenty of room.
My emailaddress is: silkereiners(a)gmail.com
Have a good day!
Thank you all:)
ReplyDeleteBecky, I don't think I knew your dad was in the service? Very neat. Thanks for sharing:)
Blake, Thank you! Caleb loves you like a brother (not sure about a wife..lol)!
"Been there, done that" I will pass your email on to Caleb:) It might be a little while until he is traveling, but I imagine once he is settled he will want to "see the world":)
We, too, are so very thankful for the service of young men like your son and can only imagine how hard it must be on a mama's heart.
ReplyDelete