Head to Toe Prayers

The United States Military Academy requires its cadets to send a letter out to parents within the first few days of Beast (Cadet Basic Training). Today we were overjoyed to get a coveted letter from our son.

We haven't been able to talk to Nate since saying our farewells. Apparently next week we will get a 10 minute call from him. I will be sitting by the phone on the specified days and potential times until I get to hear his voice.  

In the meantime, a one page handwritten letter will suffice. In the letter, Nate indicated he had had a tough day and received a lot of "personal attention." One thing you don't want at West Point is "personal attention." The mom in me wants to make the 12 hour trek in my mini-van and just pick up my boy but that's not what he wants or needs. He will prove it to himself that he can do all things through Christ who strengthens him. 

What Nathan needs is prayer. Specifically for his big toe. He smashed it a few days ago and it has turned purple.  This might seem like a strange prayer request but for a new cadet going through Beast (Basic Cadet Training), it's a huge deal. I cut my big toe on my honeymoon in Portugal, and trust me, big toes are very useful. For the remainder of my honeymoon in Portugal and Spain, I walked around with stitches on the bottom of my big toe. That's when I learned the value of phlanges (ew, big, fancy word!). My son is learning the truth behind God's Word found in Psalm 139:14 "I am fearfully and wonderfully made." He needs his big toes and probably will never take them for granted again.

If you read this post, please lift my boy, head to toe, inside and out, body and spirit up to the Lord along with all the other cadets. 

Two 4ths of July

Last year I spent the fourth of July in an emergency room in Miami. I was on a mission trip and one of the girls on my team was sick. We were preparing to board a flight for Lima, Peru the next morning and the organizers of the mission trip didn't want her leaving the country if she shouldn't go. So instead of fireworks and patriotic songs, I prayed in the emergency room, held her hand and acted as a surrogate mom. Thankfully we both boarded the plane very early the next day and spent 10 amazing days serving the Lord in Peru.

At the same time, my oldest OS was touring Europe. He was attending Student Leadership University and taking in many sites. Pretty much living large and in charge. My middle son was at a church camp, my sister was on bed rest for the remainder of her pregnancy, my mom had just gotten out of the hospital. My husband and our youngest OS were headed to the mountains for a fishing trip. We were all over the place in every sense of the word. It was a memorable fourth for all of us. 

This year we'll be together - my parents, my sister and her family, the DH, the two OS and me. No foreign countries, no hospital, just having a hometown holiday. Hallelujah! But it will be unusual also because Nathan isn't here. It's my first Independence Day as a mama of a soldier, his first in the Army. (I can't believe I just wrote that sentence...A year ago I never dreamed I would have made that sentence.)

Nate's not checking out the Italian 

girls or eating pizza in Florence like he was during SLU last year. Pretty sweet gig for a 17 year old boy, huh? 

He's not mowing lawns or pestering me about not having enough food in the house either. He's probably marching, learning "knowledge," polishing his shoes and doing push-ups. We all have to get used to the change. This is a new picture we have of our son. He's the fourth cadet from the left. 

We're heading downtown for an old-fashioned fourth of July event and I'm ready to be decked out in all my West Point regalia. Although I miss my son intensely, this is the proudest holiday I've ever had. I certainly hope I run into someone I know, I've got to tell somebody about my boy! 

God bless my son and the country he serves. I carry you in my heart. 

Feeling better - mama of a soldier presses on...

We are currently experiencing a drought in our part of the country and if I had collected my tears in some type of container, (an incredibly large container), I think I personally could have solved the problem two days ago. Today is a better day although it was quite painful walking into the house and past my son's room. 

The last thing I want to be is maudlin so I'm concentrating on good things. I don't even like the the word maudlin, it sounds annoying, therefore I'm trying my best to not be characterized as such. 

Instead, I'm going the other extreme by wearing my West Point Mom Class of 2012 t-shirt with my West Point Class of 2012 matching canvas bag while driving my mini-van with the Proud Parent of West Point Class of 2012 bumper sticker and reading Absolutely American (an amazing West Point book, highly recommend) and sporting my West Point Class of 2012 baseball cap. My husband has a West Point Parent license plate holder, a West Point Dad Class of 2012 t-shirt, a West Point golf shirt, an Army baseball cap and a Proud Parent to be a West Point Cadet's Parent bumper sticker along with an Army lapel pin. Can you notice a theme here? Does it seem just a little over the top? Who cares! 

In some way, it connects me/us with my/our son. I might wash my West Point Mom shirt in a couple of days if it starts to stink but I will stay in the laundry room and put it on as soon as it comes out of the dryer. Do you think I'm kidding!? I'm not! 

This picture is of me and the two OS while still at West Point...featuring four items of USMA gear along with the jade necklace my friend whose husband is serving in Korea. 

Despite hundreds of miles that separate us, I am tethered to my child by these small efforts. Since I like to sew, earlier this spring, I made Isaac a pair of camo-boxer shorts and a camo-pillow case. My nephew Josiah now has a camo-bib. I sewed a camo-apron which I love. Suddenly my favorite colors are either red, white and blue or black, grey and gold. I can't be there with him while he is learning "knowledge" or doing push-ups or making his bed with incredible speed and execution so in spirit, this is my mama's way of showing support. 

He doesn't know it but I do and it makes me feel better = less tears. I cried so much on Monday that I had salt deposits under my eyes. My two OS said, "Mom you have this white stuff under your eyes." I went to the restroom at West Point and it wasn't Kleenex, it wasn't makeup, it was dried up tears. Yeah, it was that bad. 

While at the Panera Bread line today, while I was wearing my West Point Mom Class of 2012 t-shirt, a man approached me and said that he used to attend the Sunday night concerts up there by the tip of the Hudson River. I saw that place just a few days ago and it brought me a measure of joy. I felt connected and held back my floodgates.  

During this time of transition though I have to share this with you. I haven't been able to collect my tears and find a useful purpose for them but someone has. It is God. Scripture says in Psalm 56:8 "You number and record my wanderings; put my tears into Your bottle--are they not in Your book?"  

I can't tell you how many times I have clung to that truth. If you know people who are hurting, sad or lonely, share that timeless message with them. God is recording their tears in His bottle, on His scroll. They matter to Him. And if you see me, for goodness sake, please compliment me on my new USMA fashions, it will help this mama of a soldier!

Go Army, Beat Navy!

Check out how things are going as we now await "the phone call" and a silly way we included our NC into a little family fun!

Link to a newscast about R-Day at West Point, I wouldn't have lasted 10 minutes!

Btw, I love all your comments and stories and want to put them in a future post. They are inspiring even to non-military folks! Keep 'em coming!

Soldier Boy

 

When Nathan turned the corner in the Oath Ceremony, I think I saw a little glimmer of a smile. I think he saw us running after him trying to get a few more pictures. This is a picture of Nate marching with his Company. Doesn't he look so handsome? It was God's favor that we were able to see our son fairly easily.This was like the most important parade I've ever seen in my whole entire life and trust me, I was desperate to see my child! We were already warned we might not be able to spot him and it was recommended to just simply "adopt" a cadet and start taking pictures. New cadet parents then post them on a website and you might just get a picture of your son/daughter. But oh, what joy it brought to my soul when I saw New Cadet Nathan! He was still hanging in there, praise the Lord! His newly shaved head and BCG's (otherwise known as glasses), his crisp uniform, my son saluted and seemed to be following orders after a blurry day of instruction. No wavering or hesitation, just a steely eyed forward gaze. There were other people shouting things to their cadets, in particular friends and siblings, as for me, I was simply speechless as the tears poured down my face. Mark yelled something like, "Go, Baby!" but I knew Nathan wouldn't like it if his mom said something cutesy or strange. I have gotten in trouble numerous times for spontaneous outbursts and I don't think I want to mess around with a soldier! HA! We were absolutely exhausted so I can only imagine how he felt. While waiting for the ceremony, I finished my letter to him and got it in the mail. I have to write him everyday, that is my promise to myself.

The ride back on our nearly final leg of the journey was quiet. Sniffles could be heard from the back and I had to comfort my two remaining olive shoots who were missing their big brother. We all just want to get back home and resume a new level of normalcy and wear all our newly acquired West Point clothes. I will be wearing something West Point every time I go to the grocery store, Target, anywhere there is a chance someone will see me and realize, "Hey, wait a second, that's not just an ordinary woman, that's a mama of a soldier in the aisle, wow she's a West Point mom!" HA! One door is shut, another one is opening, we're all adjusting to this new season of life...if you want to read more about this, click here. Jon Scott, anchor on FOX "News Live" shares his experiences when he dropped his own son off at West Point last year. It is really interesting.

R-Day, 60 seconds

"You have 60 seconds to say your farewells," a member of the cadre announced as we all stood and prepared for our goodbyes. This petite framed cadet whom I really wanted to hate was just doing her job and I don't envy her of having the task of separating parent and family from child. It was like every sentence she was saying felt like a Peanuts cartoon where Snoopy just hears, "blah, blah, blah, blah." Of course all of us knew it was coming, the mood was solemn as we all filed in and took our seats. I wasn't the only weepy mom in the bunch so I felt a kindred spirit among us. There was such a feeling of love and pride, but we all entered into some private, intimate place in our hearts and hugged our babies for the final time for a long while like we were the only ones in the place. Nate grabbed his meager belongings and confidently strode to the front of the auditorium and never looked back. That was a good thing because if I had seen his face one more time, I would have taken it as a sign to rush forward to get him. I know he is divinely placed where the Lord wants him to be and this is perhaps the most unselfish thing I have ever done as a mother. We prayed and prayed for the Lord to put him where he was supposed to go. I cannot second guess my Heavenly Father. Saying goodbye and letting my beloved child set forth into a new life, I am filled with tears and pride, both never ending.

I remember child birth being very painful but this is really rough. I was in labor for four hours, and it hurt like crud and this process is much longer. West Point is such an austere and noble place, I am humbled to have a son who is in the class of 2012 and have the hat, t-shirt and matching handbag to prove it. I shall be wearing black, gold and gray for a really long time. There is a dignity and a respect I don't recall seeing at other college campuses we visited. This is the right place for my son and I am thankful to have met a lot of nice guys Nathan will soon be calling friends. Take a look and click here at this link to see what his first day was like. OY!

We are all entering a new phase in our lives. After saying our farewells, there were two floors of vendors and organizations to greet us. Nearly ever booth had a box of Kleenex. It was reassuring to see that in the midst of all this decorum and granite, they had chiseled out a lot of compassion and concern.

We arrive home tomorrow and I do laundry which will include some of Nathan's dirty clothes. It will be the saddest load of laundry I have ever done in my life thus far. I found the toe nail clippers he used before we dropped him off at West Point. They were in the hotel bathroom and yep, I cried.

Motherhood is not for the faint of heart. I am the mama of a soldier. I am the PROUD mama of a soldier. Go Army, Beat Navy, Huah!

Psalm 63:7 & 8
For you have been my help, and in the shadow of Your wings I sing for joy. My soul clings to You; Your right hand upholds me.

Leaving Civilian Life Behind

We just ate our last lunch as a civilian family in our home. In about an hour, we will head out for West Point, first stopping at a special family's house along the way which is sure to be a bloggable event. We are becoming a military family, I guess. In true W-H fashion, we did not have a Norman Rockwell dinner or lunch where we were all sitting around the table, laughing and smiling with every bite, singing Kum-Bi-Yah. I guess we are a really human family and my expectations might have been too high. I am disappointed but trying to not dwell on things not ending perfectly like I wanted. :/At this point, I'm averaging about 6-8 crying jags a day and think waterproof mascara is the order of the day for about the next week at least. If you are reading this, please pray for us as we make this important journey. It is becoming a reality and I need to keep my eyes on Jesus. I am the mama of a soldier...I am the mama of a soldier.
"My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever." Psalm 73:26

A Father's Day Gift Every Dad Wants

The tear fest has been re-activated as we are inching closer to the day of sending our boy off to West Point. I think the only one excited about Nate leaving is Aaron because he will be the head honcho (or so he thinks) around the house. He will be the oldest (theoretically) and that's important for a guy stuck in the middle.

Whereas Aaron seems to be just fine, Mark and I were a mess on Father's Day. Although the guys and I gave Mark some pretty sweet gifts: Dunder Miflin Paper Company t-shirt, frisbee golf discs along with handy-dandy holder and a very clever book (click here), it is the written words of our sons that were the most heartfelt and memorable. 

If only every father received such tender sentiments. What a world we would have if every father deserved such merit.

 

Nathan has quite a knack of making cards for others. They are usually hilarious, the guy could get a job at Hallmark, no problem which would be a lot easier than West Point, but I digress.

This Father's Day, Mark received a different style card which included a picture of Mark and baby Nate. 

In the photo, Nate is perched high on his daddy's backpack. Now this same precious child is a young man walking onto a new life and places, proud and muscular, confident and ready. Someone wrote that "tears are pride overflowed." Invest in Kleenex, folks.